Patent Document

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/760,982 filed Apr. 15, 2010, entitled PRICE INFORMATION TAG; application Ser. No. 12/760,982 is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/612,821 filed Dec. 19, 2006, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,765, issued on Sep. 20, 2011, entitled METHOD OF PRINTING, DISTRIBUTING AND PLACING PRICE INFORMATION, which in turn claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/793,170 filed Apr. 19, 2006, entitled METHOD OF PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTING PRICE INFORMATION TAGS under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to price information tags attached to shelves under (or over) the products being sold and to other information associated with products for sale. The present tags are particularly attractive due to the multi-color and high resolution of the digital presses that print them and further have features supporting multi-function and flexible/efficient use. 
     Recently, some stores have begun using a newly-developed extruded price-tag holder attached to a front of in-store shelves. One known extruded price-tag holder (described later in the present disclosure) includes a clear front panel connected along a bottom to a co-extruded opaque rear panel. The front and rear panels define an open-top slot for receiving a “main” price tag, visible through the clear front panel. The clear front panel further includes a frictional three-point slip-fit top attachment system defined by alternating fingers or ridges that allow a “supplemental” price tag to be slipped upwardly into frictional engagement and retained by friction along a top ⅛ th  inch of the supplemental price tag. By this arrangement, a supplemental price tag indicating an “in-store special” can be overlaid on the main price tag, without having to remove the main price tag. The arrangement is advantageous since it allows supplemental price tags to be quickly inserted with a simple upward motion, and also quickly removed by a quick downward pull. 
     However, the three-point slip-fit attachment system of this extruded price tag holder sometimes does not create enough friction to retain the supplemental price tag, which results in the supplemental price tags being knocked out of position toward a side (such as being knocked to an angled position) or results in the supplemental price tags falling completely off the price tag holder. For example, inadequate friction may be caused by wear on the flanges that form the three-point slip-fit retention system. Also inadequate friction may be caused by the extruded flanges being longitudinally warped or “wavy,” which is a fundamental processing problem that often occurs in extrusions due to the extrusion process. This longitudinally warped condition may occur in extrusions as originally manufactured, or may occur over time as the extrusion “creeps” and changes shape over time. For whatever reason, the relationship of the tips of the three flanges intended to cause the frictional retention may vary, resulting in the three flanges in at least some areas not creating sufficient friction on an inserted price tag. An improvement is desired in a price tag so that the price tag will positively and securely engage this three-point attachment system, even if the three flanges are distorted out of their friction-causing positions. However, the improvement must preferably still allow the price tag to be pulled out of the extruded price tag holder without damage to the extruded price-tag holder. 
     Consumers (as well as consumer protection laws) require accurate information about products being displayed on store shelves. Price information (such as a price change) placed on a shelf “too soon” or “too late” causes considerable consumer dissatisfaction (e.g., out-of-stocks or “mis-stocks”) and/or causes significant in-store confusion or delays (e.g., price checks), as well as concern from regulatory agencies. However, getting tags onto shelves is a surprisingly complex and difficult task for a number of reasons. For example, buyers may be negotiating on supplier prices right up to the last possible minute, such that prices and even product availability may be uncertain until the “last possible minute.” Product availability and delivery concerns may also cause uncertainty right up to the last possible minute. Management often wants to make product pricing decisions as close as possible to the “on sale” date so that uncertainties about future product availability and consumer purchasing trends and other price-related strategies can be incorporated into the pricing decisions. Thus, a system is desired allowing retail prices to be set as late as possible to allow optimal (last minute) control over retail pricing, and further a system is desired giving greater control to the retail store management late in the printing process. 
     Aside from timing issues noted above, information management is very difficult. Large stores now carry hundreds of thousands of products, and the logistics of getting timely-printed price information tags in appropriate places on store shelves is a time-consuming, highly-manually-intensive task. An amazing amount of time is spent inefficiently walking from one shelf to another, and from one end of a shelf to another end, as price information tags are attached to shelves under associated product. Further, this often leads to errors, such as tags being put under the wrong product, or tags simply not being put up at all. Further, attachment of the tags must be secure and long-lasting, yet inexpensive and easily engaged. Thus, a system is desired allowing tags to be securely attached, with minimal risk of mis-location, with secure but low-cost attachment systems. Further, it is preferable that a particular tag be able to be attached in multiple ways, given that many stores have different attachment mechanisms on their shelves. 
     Recent studies show that product sales can potentially be increased if the price information tags have high-quality product pictures and color on them. However, this adds greatly to the cost and lead times required for printing the price information tags. Specifically, in order for pictures to be placed on tags, the data for the pictures must be combined with price information, arranged for printing, and then printed. This greatly complicates printing of price information tags, since it compounds problems associated with getting accurate price information onto the tags, with getting accurate pictures onto the tags. Also, the quality of the pictures is very important, since poor photographs will potentially result in the consumer implying poor quality to the store and/or to the products being sold. 
     Some stores have attempted to reduce the lead time for providing price information tags by having in-store printing capabilities. However, it is difficult to control the quality of in-store printing for many reasons. High-quality printing equipment is expensive, and it is often not cost-justified to purchase a high-quality machine for each of several different stores. Further, the ability to produce high quality pictures is closely related to skilled machine operators and good quality printing materials and maintenance of the printing machine. Thus, it is difficult to control the quality of on-site printing machinery over time. 
     Digital presses are relatively new machines, and are capable of producing extremely high-quality pictures at high speeds. Software does exist for managing work flow and information to the digital presses. For example, see Wiechers patent application publications 2005/0030557 A1 and 2005/0043848 A1. However, to the present inventor&#39;s knowledge, the advantages and abilities of digital presses have not been used in the environment of price information tags and displays, where customized real-time information is used in conjunction with attachment technology to form tags and displays having particular structure facilitating their use in a just-in-time manner to optimize their value to a retail store. 
     Thus, a system and method having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention a method of providing supplemental/temporary product information for products on store shelves includes providing a store shelf with a front edge and a tag holder on the front edge, the tag holder having front and rear panels defining an upwardly-open slot for receiving a main price tag and further having a slip-fit top attachment system at a top of the front panel that includes a downwardly-open front throat defined by protrusions; and placing a main price tag into the upwardly-open slot in a position visible through the front panel. The method also includes providing a supplemental information tag with a tag body and a folded attachment flange connected to the body by a fold and having a downward-extending free edge; and temporarily attaching the supplemental information tag by sliding the top edge of the supplemental information tag into the downwardly-open front throat with the downward-extending free edge of the folded attachment flange being biased outwardly by the fold to provide positive engagement with one of the protrusions of the slip-fit top attachment system, with the supplemental information tag being positioned in front of the main price tag. The method also includes later, after the step of temporarily attaching, a step of pulling the supplemental information price tag downwardly with sufficient force to overcome the positive engagement of the folded attachment flange to thus remove the supplemental information tag without disturbing the main price tag, thus temporarily attaching and later removing the supplemental information tag without disturbing the main price tag. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing temporary product information for products on store shelves without removing existing product price tags includes providing a store shelf with a front edge and a tag holder on the front edge, the tag holder defining an upwardly-open slot and further having a slip-fit top attachment system forward of the upwardly-open slot; placing a main price tag into the upwardly-open slot in a position visible from a position in front of the tag holder; providing a supplemental information tag with a tag body and a folded attachment flange along a top edge; temporarily attaching the supplemental information tag over the main price tag by extending the folded attachment flange into the front throat with the folded attachment flange securely engaging the slip-fit top attachment system, with the supplemental information tag being positioned in front of the main price tag; and removing the supplemental information tag by pulling sharply downwardly with sufficient force to overcome the secure engagement of the folded attachment flange and thus remove the supplemental information tag but without disturbing the main price tag. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a combination for providing temporary product information for products on store shelves without removing existing product price tags includes a store shelf with a front edge and a tag holder on the front edge, the tag holder defining an upwardly-open slot and further having a slip-fit top attachment system forward of the upwardly-open slot. The combination also includes a main price tag positioned in the upwardly-open slot in a position visible from a position in front of the tag holder; a supplemental information tag with a tag body and a folded attachment flange along a top edge; the folded attachment flange of the supplemental information tag securely engaging the slip-fit top attachment system, but the folded attachment flange being sufficiently flexible so that the supplemental information tag can be removed by pulling sharply downwardly on the supplemental information tag to bend and thus overcome the secure engagement of the folded attachment flange and thus remove the supplemental information tag but without disturbing the main price tag. 
     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flow chart showing a typical system in prior art for printing price information tags. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing a new inventive system for producing price information tags using a digital press. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a data management system with internet connection for receipt of information from store employees, and showing management of data to the digital presses. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing details of the data management system. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing details of an exemplary system actually used in a test situation/pilot project. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are flow charts disclosing a high speed sign production system using internet, digital press printing, and coordination software,  FIG. 5A  showing data flow,  FIG. 5B  showing server operations, and  FIG. 5C  showing hardware and hardware interconnection. 
         FIG. 5D  is a flow chart similar to  FIG. 5B  but showing a modified/simplified sign production system. 
         FIGS. 6-7  are two sheets with price information tags printed thereon. 
         FIGS. 8-9  are front and side views of a particular price information tag. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a pair of store shelves with price information tags thereon. 
         FIGS. 11-12  are perspective and side views of an alternative price information tag. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view showing three different attachment schemes supported by the tag shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . 
         FIGS. 14-15  are plan and side views of a price information tag, including novel attachment structure. 
         FIGS. 16-16A  are enlarged fragmentary views of a top of the price tag shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of a prior art extruded price-tag holder for attachment to a front of an in-store shelf for supporting products for sale in the store. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the holder from  FIG. 17  supporting the novel price tag of  FIGS. 14-16 ,  FIG. 18A  being an enlarged view of a top of the extruded holder. 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of the extruded holder in  FIG. 18  and including a base price tag positioned within the extruded holder and with the supplemental price tag from  FIG. 15  attached to the extruded holder. 
         FIGS. 20-21  are plan and side views of a windowed price tag. 
         FIG. 22  is a side view of the extruded holder in  FIG. 18  and including a base price tag positioned within the extruded holder and with the supplemental windowed price tag from  FIG. 21  attached to the extruded holder,  FIG. 22A  being an enlarged view of a top of the price tag. 
         FIGS. 23-24  are a perspective and an enlarged side view of the windowed price information tag of  FIG. 20  attached to a store shelf front in a position overlaid on a “main” price information tag. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     In some stores, point-of-purchase signs and shelf tags are printed in black, such as by using laser printers located in the stores. Store employees manipulate pre-determined print batches using web-based software, load pre-printed perforated shells (e.g. stock paper with pre-printed information thereon), print, separate, and then place the signs in their stores on a daily and weekly basis. (See  FIG. 1 .) Notably, a major part of the activity occurs “in-store.” This system requires significant pre-printed inventory, multiple black laser printers, on-site personnel for operating the printers, and is relatively labor intensive. This prior art system typically cannot produce extremely high-quality color pictures due to inherent limitations of the laser equipment, poor maintenance of the printing equipment and/or overuse of spent toner cartridges, etc. 
     A prior art extruded price tag holder  150  ( FIG. 17 ) has recently been developed for attachment to a front of in-store shelves  151 . The extruded price tag holder  150  includes a front half made of clear material including clear front panel  152  and flanges  159 - 162 . The front panel  152  is connected along a bottom  153  to a co-extruded opaque rear half including a rear panel  154 , stem  154 A and attachment flange  154 B. The front and rear panels  152  and  154  define an open-top slot  155  with top throat  155 A for receiving a “main” price tag  156 , visible through the clear front panel  152 . A shelf-attached panel  156 B extends parallel back panel  156  and is connected to it by a spacer stem  156 A. The clear front panel  152  further includes a frictional three-point slip-fit top attachment system  158  that includes a downwardly open front throat  158 A defined by a hood flange  159  and alternating fingers  160 ,  161  and  162 . The fingers  160 - 162  allow a flat “supplemental” price tag  163  to be slipped upwardly into the throat  158 A into frictional engagement such that it is (presumably) retained by friction along a top ¼ inch of the supplemental price tag  163 . By this arrangement, a supplemental price tag  163  indicating an “in-store special” can be overlaid on the main price tag  156 , without having to remove the main price tag  156 . The supplemental price tags now used are flat sheets. The arrangement is advantageous since it allows the supplemental price tags to be quickly inserted with a simple upward motion, and also quickly removed by a quick downward pull. However, there are problems associated with maintaining a relationship of the three-point attachment system of fingers  160 ,  161  and  162 , such that price tags  163  (which are flat sheets) may be knocked out of position or simply fall out due to poor frictional engagement. This is unacceptable and problematic, either early in the life of the holder  150  and especially with wear and passage of time on the holder  150 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present inventive method of printing customized price information tags includes providing: a digital press capable of printing very high resolution multi-color pictures/photographs/graphics at high speed; a data management system with computer hardware connected for internet access; a database of stored information such as pictures, photographs, and symbols; and a supply of sheets having a suitable stiffness (i.e., that resist folding, bending, and wrinkling, and that are durable for good long term appearance) and having a high surface quality (i.e., that provide good appearance of digitally printed fonts and pictures) for use as price information tags attached to a store shelf. Updated information is received electronically via the internet, and combined with selected elements from the stored information using a data management system to generate customized tag data, which is communicated to the digital press to print customized multi-color price information tags and displays. The tags are cut to size and cut to include integral attachment tabs/barbs. The customized tag data is arranged to print tags in a series corresponding to product arrangement (i.e., “plan-o-gram” arrangement) of particular store shelves. The customized price information tags can be printed, cut and shipped on a just-in-time basis and in a predetermined sequence within just a very few hours, such as within 24 hours of receiving the “real-time” digital information off the internet. 
       FIG. 2  shows a system embodying the present invention, where box  100  illustrates a site with store employees (such as buyers or decision makers at a corporate headquarters) input price information/basic tag data via an internet connection  101  to a printer company/site  102  with digital presses. The printer company also has (or has access to) a database  103  of pictures, photographs, symbols, and images; and combines the tag information from the store employees to generate customized price information tags  15  (or displays) on a just-in-time basis. The high-resolution tags  15  and/or signs are delivered daily to the different retail store locations. The management of data is controlled by a web software  104  based on an industry standard, such as by using AccessVia™ software, HP Yours Truly™ software, Printable Technologies™ software or XMPIE™ software. The software  104  is commercially available and the industry standards for communication are known in the art by those skilled in this art, such that they do not need to be described in detail in this application for an understanding of the present inventive concepts. 
       FIG. 3  shows additional detail of the data management software, which includes the internet connection  101 , a “sign request” form  105  for filing out by the end user, an administrator user  106 ′ having templates/rules for managing the data and a background control software such as by using the web software  104 . The manipulated “massaged” customized tag data is routed to the digital press(es)  106  and through in-house control systems for maintaining a particular sequential order of the price information tags  15 . The tags  15  are cut to shape, packaged, and shipped to individual retail store locations in quantities as ordered. Notably, it is contemplated that any digital press could work in the present system, and that digital presses are commercially available, such as HP Indigo™ digital presses, and Xerox I-Gen digital presses. 
       FIG. 4  shows additional details of the software management tool, including its design and assembly stage  108  and its publishing stage  109 . The design and assembly stage  108  includes steps such as template authoring, content management, template management, event construction, staging and proofing, as well as integration of various elements such as stored data, timing, customer and event controls. The publishing stage  109  includes a publishing engine that permits viewing as a display prior to viewing as a printed product. 
       FIG. 5  discloses the system components working in and around the system database, including inputs and outputs to the basic system. In particular, input comes from a file-transfer-protocol web site at the print site  102  as ASCII data, and is manipulated and then fed to the software  104 . The software  104  accesses a sign data manager and image data to generate customized tag data based on an authorizing software, generating a PDF image data (i.e., customized price information tag data) which is fed to the digital press. 
       FIG. 5A  shows a high speed sign (and tag) production apparatus and system capable of receiving and assembling data from archived and internet-received and other data sources, and capable of providing same to digital presses to create on a very short turn-around basis a variety of high quality printed signs and price information tags and other display products. The apparatus is highly automated, and capable of provided printed signs and tags potentially in less than 30 minutes of receiving data input from a customer, and more preferably as low as within 8 minutes of receiving data input through the internet by a client company. The illustration of  FIG. 5A  shows both data flow and inter-relationship/interaction of components. A customer archival tool/software  270  is maintained on a SQL server  272  (SQL means standard query language), and allows for quality analysis (QA) such as high speed troubleshooting and data analysis, and includes digital data transmission software (DTS). The archival software  270  generates an update query  271  for updating an item library of information in a main SQL server  272 . The main SQL server  272  is run by commercially available database control/manager software  273 , includes a database server  272 A, multiple web/print servers  272 B, and distiller workstations  272 C. Notably, these components can be added via simple edits to the manager software  273 , and do not require a major re-design or reconfiguration of the interconnected system, such that the present system is “scalable”. (In other words, components can be added on a modular basis, and the apparatus/system does not require major redesign for each expansion and increase in system capability.) Sign data manager software  273  (such as AccessVia.db) controls the main SQL server  272  and imports and profiles incoming data, converts it to an acceptable format, creates collated batches, and generates reports via the main SQL server  272 . The sign data manager software  273  manages customer images  274  and proprietary images  274 ′ in creating the collated batches and reports. The manager software  273  inputs arranged data to web-interface software  275 , which in turn generates pdf files  276  that are communicated to the product flow control hardware  277  and to the digital presses  278  and  279 . 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates the automated operation of the SQL server  272  and the related software. The main SQL server  272  is controlled via an administration station  280  to generate manual reports  281  and automatic reports  282 . The main SQL server  272  inputs data to a data load balancer  296  (see  FIG. 5C ), which balances data flow by automatically creating a web interface and printing data “stream”  278 ′ and  279 ′ for respective automatic distillers  278  and  279 , which in turn transfer the data “streams” in file transfer steps  286  and  287  to the product flow control hardware and software  277  and to the digital presses  278  and  279 . It is noted that balancers are known in the computer industry and are used in large data processing systems, such that a more detailed explanation is not required. 
       FIG. 5C  shows the hardware and inter-connection of items in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . A file transfer protocol (FTP) server  290  inputs data received at the FTP web site from the internet and makes it available on the internal intranet  291 . Designer workstations with PCs  292  are connected to the intranet  291  and programmed with commercially available software. Also operably connected are a staging server  293 , a staging database server  294 , a production database server  295 , a load balancer  296 , production distiller workstations  297 , and an SQL database server  298 . The load balancer  296  is operably connected to web/print servers  299  and to digital presses  278 - 279 . Notably, the present system is scalable without major reconfiguration nor system adaptation. In other words, the present system can be increased in size and capability relatively easily and without major system redesign by adding additional designer workstations, production distiller workstations, and additional web/print servers. 
     The apparatus and system of  FIGS. 5A-5C  are relatively automated. A modified system ( FIG. 5D ) is contemplated. The appearance and system of  FIG. 5D  is similar to that of  FIG. 5B , but the modified system does not include a balancer, nor an automatic SQL server. Further, the WEB I/F and printing step, the distilling step, and the file transfer steps are manual. Notably, components  280 A,  278 A,  278 A′,  279 A,  279 A′,  286 A,  287 A, and  277 A in  FIG. 5D  are similar in function and arrangement to components  280 ,  278 ,  278 ′,  279 ,  279 ′,  286 ,  287 , and  277  in  FIG. 5B , but in  FIG. 5D  they are programmed for manual operation. This system is still considered to be a high speed sign (and tag) production system. By way of comparison to the system of  5 B, this system&#39;s capability (i.e., the system of  FIG. 5D ) can provide printed signs (and price information tags) from a digital press within about 30 minutes of receiving data input through the internet by a client company. The illustration shows both data flow and inter-relationship/interaction of components. 
       FIGS. 6-7  show two different sheets with customized price information tags  15  printed thereon. Notably, the printed tags are each different from each other. Several tags include very high quality/high resolution printing and pictures/photographs/symbols printed in multiple colors. They are arranged to be cut into individual price information tags,  FIG. 6  having nine tags (each about 3″×5″),  FIG. 7  having 10 tags (each about 2″×3.5″). The two sheets can be printed immediately after each other. The tags each include an eye-catcher section, such as “SAVE $1” or “sale,” and also each include price information and product information. Several of the tags also include the above-noted high quality photographs of the product. Where desired, attachment structure is cut into the tags  15  (such as by forming top and/or bottom barbs or tabs, see  FIG. 8-9 ) and/or adhesive or other attachment structure (see tags  20 ,  FIG. 12 ). The tags  15  are preferably printed in order so that they are sequentially ordered to match a particular store product arrangement (“plan-o-gram”) on store shelves. 
       FIGS. 8-9  show a particular price information tag. The illustrated tag  15  is made from a sheet of 4 mm thick rigid PVC plastic material. However, the tag  15  can be made from another material of sufficient stiffness to form attachment barbs, such as 80# to 100# paper, cardboard or laminate). The sheet material is sufficiently stiff to be snappingly-attached (i.e., using the flexible attachment barbs) for attachment to a shelf-mounted channel (see  FIGS. 10 and 13 ), with the integrally formed attachment barbs  16  and  17  engaging tops and bottoms of the channel. The illustrated top barb or tab  16  is elongated. The illustrated bottom barbs  17  are triangularly shaped with a flexible point  18 . The barbs  17  are spaced apart to form with top barb  16  a three-point attachment matrix that stably engages a shelf-mounted channel ( 11 ). 
       FIG. 10  shows a tag  15  (similar to the tag shown in  FIGS. 8-9 ) configured to attach to a channel  11  (also called a “holder” or “bracket”) on a shelf  10 . The tag  15  ( FIGS. 11-12 ) is sheet of 4 mm thick rigid PVC plastic material  21  cut to size. A plurality of hooks or tabs  22  (three being shown) are die-cut into the blank  21 . Adhesive  23  is placed along a top portion of the tab if desired. Indicia  24  are printed on a front surface of the tag. The top edge of the tag  15  can be linear or have protrusions (see the tag in  FIGS. 8-9 ). 
     The present tag  15  can be attached in three different ways as shown in  FIG. 13 . In the first way, the tag  15  includes a top edge  25  tucked inside a top groove in the channel  11  and the tabs  22  are pushed to snap into the bottom groove in the channel  11 . The attachment is extremely quick. The tag is very simple, with no additional attachment structure required (which provides significant cost savings for those stores having shelf-mounted channels  11 ). Also, the attachment is very secure. In the second attachment method, a different channel  12  is attached to a face of the shelf  10 . The channel  12  includes a finger-like front tab  13  forming a friction abutment with a back surface of the channel  12 . The top edge  25  of the tag  15  slips under the friction member for retention. In the third method, the tag  15  includes the adhesive  23  which is adhered directly to a front surface of the shelf  10 , thus eliminating the need for a channel. It is contemplated that the tag  15  can include all three of the above-mentioned attachment structures or can include just one or two, or can include other known attachment structure such as holes, apertures, and/or various arrangements of attachment tabs. 
     By the above system, the inventor&#39;s study showed that an existing known company could cut printing costs by over one million dollars per year. Further, employee productivity is improved considerably, such as 40% for many employees, both when setting/hanging tags, and also for productivity in general manpower for managing/handling/printing tags. Also, the need for pre-printed stock is substantially eliminated. Still further, in-store errors are reduced, due to the use of sequentially arranged price information tags as supplied to the individual retail outlet stores. Problems associated with out-of-stock items are reduced, due to the shortened lead times required for supplying the present customized price information tags. Also, “false fronts” and mis-information is reduced or eliminated. Also, there are faster “resets,” where old tags are replaced with new updated price information tags, such as up to 40% faster resets where sequentially arranged price information tags are supplied. There is expected to be a considerably faster stocking, with substantial reduction in mis-stocks and mis-information on stocked items. Also, the present system will greatly reduce the need for consumer price checks and will greatly improve correct posting of product-to-price identification. Still further, high quality multi-color photographs and color images are on the price information tags, resulting in higher sales volumes based on consumer attraction to the signage (based on recent marketing studies). There will be improved quality over B&amp;W toner commonly used in black laser printers, and improved paper quality due to the printing capabilities of the digital presses. There is a reduced need for toner cartridges and laser printer consumables and maintenance. Also, signs will be cut by high-volume accurate cutters, as opposed to less accurate local cut or tear systems now used at many retail outlets. Also, signs will be shipped in “plan-o-gram” order according to the layout of a particular store, promoting efficient installation, less wasted manual time, and improved accuracy of sign postings. 
     Modification 
     A price information tag  200  (also called a “price tag”) ( FIGS. 14-16A ) includes a body  201  made from a sheet of material similar to that of tag  15  ( FIG. 8-9 ), and is printed and die cut similar to the processes noted above for tags  15 . Price tag  200  improves on tag  15  and provides yet additional attachment structure. The illustrated bottom barbs  202  are cut into the body  201  and are formed from a continuous wavy slit to have three spaced-apart downwardly-extending barbs  202 . Each barb  202  has a short flat bottom edge which tends to better hold its shape and retaining qualities better than a pointed barb. A length of the flat bottom edge can be varied, depending on the durability needed and depending on the material of body  201  used. A score  203  (or slit) is cut about half way into the material at a location about ⅛ th  to 3/16 inch down from a top of the body  201 , and more preferably about 5/32 inch down from the top of the body  201 , leaving a thin section of material  203 A forming a living hinge. Notably, it is contemplated that a slight fold will also work, or a dashed cut line. This creates a top counter-engaging attachment flange  204  that can be folded, as illustrated in  FIGS. 16-16A . The attachment flange  204  is particularly well adapted for positive and secure attachment to the prior art holder  150  illustrated in  FIG. 18 , as discussed below and shown in  FIG. 19 . A discussion of the prior art holder  150  is found earlier in this disclosure. 
     The price tag  200  ( FIG. 19 ) can be upwardly inserted into the front throat  158 A with a quick upward movement of the price tag  200 . When thus inserted, the folded attachment flange  204  snaps into engagement with the inner flange  160  and holds the price tag  200  very securely and also squarely in position in the holder  150  on the store shelf. A reason for the sureness of engagement by the attachment flange  204  is because the integral hinge material  203 A of body  201  (i.e., that part not cut by slit  203 ) remains sufficient to bias the attachment flange  204  outwardly away from the body  201  at a reverse angle, such that it effectively locks the price tag  200  in a secured position. The folded attachment flange  204  is short enough to easily snap over the holder&#39;s flange  162 , but long enough such that it prevents the price tag  200  from moving to an angled position (which has a poor appearance on a store shelf . . . and which is a precursor to the price tag simply falling out). At the same time, the price tag  200  can be pulled out of holder  150  by a simple downward pull. This is because the attachment flange  204 , when pulled with a conscious “tug,” causes the tag  200  to bend and flex enough to “let go” without damaging or destroying the flanges  160 ,  161 , or ridge  162  of the holder  150 , and without leaving remnants of the price tag  200  in the retention area on the holder  150 . As a result, the retention of the price tag  200  is positive and secure, but releasable. Notably, any of the additional attachment structures shown in  FIG. 13  can also be used on the price tag  200 . 
     A price information tag  250  ( FIGS. 20-21 ) includes a body  251  made from a sheet of material similar to that of tag  15  ( FIGS. 8-9 ) and tag  200  ( FIGS. 14-17 ), and is printed and die cut similar to the processes noted above for tags  15 . For example, the body  251  can be a paper of 80# or 100# weight. The body  251  of tag  250  has a window  252  cut therein, as defined by perimeter material  253 . The perimeter material  253  can include a bendable attachment flange  254  similar to the attachment flange  204  if desired. In a preferred form, a clear plastic sheet  255  is attached to a back side of the body  251  covering the window  252 . A similar clear plastic sheet can also be attached to a front of the body  251  if desired so as to provide a smoother front region around the window  252 . It is contemplated that a clear double-sided tape can also be adhered or laminated to a back of the clear plastic sheet  255 , or that a one-sided clear tape (not shown) can be secured to the body  251  in place of the plastic sheet  255 , with the tape&#39;s adhesive facing rearward (such as if a sticky second attachment structure for adhering to a shelf front is desired on the price tag). As shown in  FIG. 22  (and  FIG. 22A ), this allows the price information tag  250  to be attached to the holder  150 , but allows the base tag  156  to continue to be visible through the window  252 . It is noted that the window-type price information tag  250  provides a significant cost advantage over other window-type tags, because the price information tag  250  is primarily a lower-cost paper (or stiff plastic film), while the more expensive clear plastic with adhesive extends only a length of the window area on the price tag  250 . This is seen to be a great price advantage, when one considers that literally millions of these window-type price tags are used each year. 
     The window price information tag  250  con also be used on a more traditional price holder channel  11  on a shelf  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 23-24 . The channel  11  is C-shaped, and includes top and bottom lips for engaging top and bottom edges of a “main” price information tag  156 . The window  252  of tag  250  (with or without clear panel  255 ) allows the main price tag  156  to be seen, yet displays information printed on its body  251 , such as for indicating in-store specials. The tag  250  includes a top edge for engaging the top lip of channel  11 , and includes bottom barbs  202  for engaging the bottom lip of channel  11  in a position overlaying the main price information tag  156 . 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

Technology Category: 3