Patent Document

This is a complete application claiming benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/330,766, filed Oct. 30, 2001 now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to plastic price channels of the kind used, for example, with merchandise display shelves in retail outlets such as supermarkets, drug stores, or the like, to receive labels providing information relating to merchandise being displayed on the shelves. More specifically, this invention is directed to a label holder with a locking transparent window or cover member of the type shown in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,632 issued May 14, 1996, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference (the &#39;632 patent) 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the &#39;632 patent, the transparent cover member of a plastic label holder is hingedly and resiliently secured to the bottom of a main body panel to form a pocket between them for reception of a paper label or the like. The cover member has a height such that its top edge is releasably engaged or “locked” behind a downwardly extending lip on the top of the main body panel. A forwardly extending channel-shaped formation is provided along the top edge of the cover, comprising an inner downwardly extending limb and an outer upwardly extending limb between which the top lip of the main body panel is received when the cover is “locked” in position. The outer limb forms a gripping element by which the top edge of the cover can be disengaged from behind the top lip by finger pressure exerted from above, downwardly and outwardly on the upper edge of the outer limb. The construction of the &#39;632 patent is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in use. However, for certain applications it may be desirable to provide means that directly and releasably secure the cover to the main body panel minimizing the entry of dust and other extraneous matter and providing a more secure engagement between the elements. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a primary object of this invention to provide a variety of locking mechanisms for releasably securing the top edge of the cover member of a plastic price channel of the type described above to the top of the main body portion to secure a paper label or the like in a pocket formed between the main body portion and the cover member, with an integral gripping element on the cover member which facilitates release of the locking mechanism when access is required to the label-receiving space behind the cover member. 
   More generally, this invention is directed to the provision of cooperative locking elements on the juxtaposed front surface of the main body panel and rear surface of the transparent cover of a label holder which can be readily engaged and disengaged repeatedly without damage to the product. 
   Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1A-1C ,  2 A- 2 C and  3 A- 3 C are fragmentary side elevational views of a multiplicity of embodiments of locking and releasing mechanisms for a label holder according to the instant inventive concepts; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one form of label holder having the locking and releasing mechanism of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a label holder such as seen in  FIG. 4  showing a rearwardly depending leg for engagement in the lower lip of a C-channel on a merchandise shelf; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial fragmentary perspective view of an alternative label holder embodiment utilizing stripes of adhesive to secure the same to a supporting surface. 
   

   Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
   In the accompanying drawings,  FIG. 1A  show an embodiment of a price channel  10  wherein an integral, generally “T-shaped”, male element  12 , comprising a generally horizontally extending stem  12   a  and a generally vertically extending cross-bar  12   b , is formed on the front surface of the main body panel  14  adjacent the upper edge thereof. A complementary female element  16  is formed on the upper edge of the rear surface of the transparent cover member  18  and defines a channel  16   a  complementary to the cross-bar  12   b  of the male element  12 . The plastic material from which these elements are manufactured can be the same or similar to those used to form the label holder in the &#39;632 patent, and are sufficiently resilient that the channel  16   a  of the female element  16  can be snappingly engaged over the cross-bar  12   b  of the T-shaped male element  12  to lock the cover member  18  to the main body panel  14  to retain a label or the like (not shown) in the pocket  20  formed therebetween. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the release element is an outwardly and upwardly extending limb  22 , which may be formed with an enlarged protrusion or knob  24  on its end to facilitate releasing the engagement between elements  16  and  12  by finger pressure exerted from above, downwardly and outwardly on the upper edge or knob  24  of the limb  22 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1B , parts similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  are marked with the same reference numerals followed by a prime (′). The release element  26  in this embodiment is a T-shaped element with an outwardly extending leg  28  terminating in a vertically extending bar  30 . 
   In  FIG. 1C , wherein parts similar to  FIG. 1A  are designated by a double prime (″), the finger-engaging release element  32  has an outwardly extending portion  34 , and a knob or enlarged protrusion  36 , at its outer end. 
   In the embodiments of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C, wherein similar designations are used, the main body panel and transparent cover member  40 ,  42  of the label holder  44 , are connected by, effectively, a reverse arrangement of elements similar to those of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C, respectively. In this instance, the female element  46  is formed on the main body panel  40  and defines a generally C-shaped internal channel  46   a . The upper end of the cover member  42  has an inwardly extending portion terminating in an enlarged protrusion or male element  48  for resilient interengagement with the channel  46   a . The release elements are similar to those seen in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C, respectively, and bear the same reference characters. 
   In the embodiments of the label holder  50  seen in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, an L-shaped element  52  extends outwardly and upwardly from the main body panel  54  terminating in a finger  55  and forming an upwardly opening pocket  57  between the finger  55  and the front surface of the main body panel  54 . An element  56  on the cover member  58  extends inwardly and around the finger  55  terminating in a downwardly depending finger  60  engaged in the pocket  57  and, together with the rear surface of the cover member  58  defining a downwardly opening pocket  61  receiving the finger  55 . Again, the release elements are similar to those of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C. 
   Obviously, the various embodiments of engaging and disengaging elements and cover elements shown herein can be integrated into a single label holder. Moreover, other similar locking elements and release elements will be readily recognized by those skilled in this art and are to be included within the instant inventive concepts. 
   Further details of a label holder  10  with the locking and releasing elements of  FIG. 1A  are seen in  FIG. 4  as illustrative. In this embodiment, the bottom edge  14   a  of the main body panel and the bottom edge  18   a  of the transparent cover member are integrally or co-extruded to form a resilient bight or hinge connection  15  enabling the cover member to be tipped forwardly for access to the pocket  20  to insert or remove a paper or plastic label (not shown) when the male and female elements  12 ,  16  are disengaged, while biasing the upper portions of the cover member  18  toward the main body panel  14 . The male and female elements  12 ,  16  and the release element  22  are shown as extending along the full length of the label holder  10 , an arrangement that is most convenient for extrusion of these elements and provides the best sealing between the cover member and main body panel. However, it is to be understood that the instant inventive concepts are intended to cover constructions in which these elements are discontinuous. 
   The means for engaging any of the label holder embodiments of this invention in a C-channel on a shelf or attaching the same to other surfaces can be similar to those described in the &#39;632 patent and other well-known prior art label holders. For example, the barb  14   b  at the top edge of the main body panel  14  of the label holder  10  can be engaged in the downwardly depending lip at the top of a C-channel on the front of a merchandise shelf (not shown), with any mechanism, such as the downwardly depending element  72  shown on the back of the main body panel  14  in  FIG. 5  engaged in the upwardly opening lip at the bottom of such a C-channel in a well known manner. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , adhesive strips  80  can simply be provided on the rear surface of the main body panel to secure the label holder  10  to a supporting surface (not shown). 
   In summary, the mechanism for attaching the label holder to any supporting surface, whether it be a flat wall or shelf side surface, a C-channel integral with a shelf front edge, or separate therefrom, or other supporting surfaces, is not critical to the instant inventive concepts. 
   Moreover, any of the label holders of this invention can also be provided with an integral sign-holder (not shown) such as disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/101,726 filed Mar. 21, 2002, the subject matter of which is also incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
   The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the preferred embodiments or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 3