U.S. patent application number 10/504022 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for mounting arrangement for product display prongs.
This patent application is currently assigned to HL DISPLAY AB. Invention is credited to Ahlund, Bengt, Josefsson, Borje, Sjoberg, Marten.
Application Number | 20050121573 10/504022 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20287035 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050121573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ahlund, Bengt ; et
al. |
June 9, 2005 |
Mounting arrangement for product display prongs
Abstract
Mounting device for merchandise display prongs intended for
displaying merchandise in shops and the like and comprising a
cantilever arm (11), and made from one or more parallel wires or
rails, for carrying the merchandise. The device comprises two
interacting parts, a first part (1) of which is intended to be
mounted on a supporting structure (10), while the second part (4)
is movable relative to the first part. The two parts are made with
releasable locking means which make it possible to lock the second
part (4) at different heights relative to the first part (1) so as
to allow height relative to the first part (1) so as to allow
height adjustment of merchandise display prong (11) supported by
the second part. It is preferred that the second part (4) is made
in the form of a slide which is displaceable along the first part
(1).
Inventors: |
Ahlund, Bengt; (Sollentuna,
SE) ; Sjoberg, Marten; (Stockholm, SE) ;
Josefsson, Borje; (Sorberge, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
HL DISPLAY AB
Skarpnack
SE
|
Family ID: |
20287035 |
Appl. No.: |
10/504022 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
January 29, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE03/00147 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/220.21 ;
248/304 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0823 20130101;
A47F 5/0838 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/220.21 ;
248/304 |
International
Class: |
A47K 001/00; E04G
003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 21, 2002 |
SE |
0200513-0 |
Claims
1. A mounting device for merchandise display prongs, comprising a
cantilever arm, made from one or more parallel wires or rails, for
carrying the merchandise, which device comprises means for
receiving and securing the attachment ends of the prongs,
characterized in that said device comprises two interacting parts,
in that a first of these parts is intended to be mounted on a
supporting structure, in that the second part is movable relative
to said first part, in that said means for receiving and securing
the prongs are arranged on said second part, in that said parts are
made with releasable locking means which make it possible to lock
said second part at different heights relative to the first part so
as to allow height adjustment of a merchandise display prong
supported by the second part.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said
second part is displaceable along the first part.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said
second part is made in the form of a slide which can slide along
the first part while being guided by the first part.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the
first part is in the form of an elongate strip, and in that said
slide is made with guide flanges which grip over the longitudinal
edge portions of the strip.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said
locking means comprise a number of adjustment notches or adjustment
openings on one part and at least one projection, intended for
engagement in these, on the opposite part.
6. The device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the
adjustment notches are arranged on the first part made in the form
of an elongate strip, and in that the projection is arranged on the
second part made in the form of a slide.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the
projection is made in the form of a hook means arranged on a
resilient maneuvering arm, and in that the arm, in the rest
position, presses the hook means into engagement with the
adjustment notches or adjustment openings in the first part.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said
first part is made with a mounting hook adapted so as to be capable
of being hooked firmly on a horizontal profiled bar in a supporting
structure.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said
means for receiving and securing the prongs consist of holes, made
in the second part, for receiving the attachment ends of the
prongs.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said
second part comprises an attachment means for a rod which extends
above and parallel to the merchandise prong and is provided, at its
outer end, with a label holder for receiving one or more labels
with information relating to the merchandise to be carried by the
prong.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting device for
merchandise display prongs intended for displaying merchandise in
shops and the like and comprising a cantilever arm, made from one
or more parallel wires or rails, for carrying the merchandise,
which device comprises means for receiving and securing the
attachment ends of the prongs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Merchandise display prongs of the type indicated above are
widely used in shops for displaying and holding ready a great many
different kinds of merchandise. The prongs can be arranged in rows
located one above another, and such an arrangement of prongs can be
used for displaying various types of merchandise of different size.
It is sometimes desirable to exchange the merchandise on, for
example, one row of prongs for other merchandise of greater or
smaller height than the previous merchandise.
[0003] As the space in a shop is very expensive, it is desirable
for it to be possible to make more effective use of available
space. It is therefore important that the items of merchandise
displayed on prongs are separated from one another in the vertical
direction by an optimum spacing which is determined on the basis of
inter alia the fact that the items are to be easy to remove from
the prong and the display of the merchandise is to create an
attractive visual impression at the same time as the space is to be
utilized in the best way. This means inter alia that the positions
of the prongs have to be changed when the merchandise they carry is
exchanged for other merchandise of different size.
THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One object of the present invention is to produce a mounting
device for merchandise display prongs, which inter alia allows easy
adjustment of the position of the prongs in the vertical direction
without the prongs having to be disengaged.
[0005] The invention is based on the realization that this aim can
be achieved by making the mounting device for the prongs in the
form of two parts, one part of which, to which the prongs are
attached, can be displaced relative to the other part, which is
mounted on a supporting structure.
[0006] In this connection, it is particularly characteristic of a
mounting device of the type indicated in the first paragraph that
the device comprises two interacting parts, that the first of these
parts is intended to be mounted on a supporting structure, that the
second part is movable relative to said first part, that said means
for receiving and securing the prongs are arranged on said second
part, that said parts are made with releasable locking means which
make it possible to lock said second part at different heights
relative to the first part so as to allow height adjustment of a
merchandise display prong supported by the second part.
[0007] By means of a device of this type, the vertical position of
a prong can be changed easily by loosening and then displacing one
of said parts relative to the other, fixed part. The prong does not
then have to be disengaged in connection with this adjustment,
which makes this operation considerably easier.
[0008] It is preferred that said second part is displaceable along
the first part, the second part suitably being made in the form of
a slide which can slide along the first part while being guided by
it.
[0009] The first part is suitably in the form of an elongate strip,
the slide being made with guide flanges which grip over the
longitudinal edge portions of the strip.
[0010] The locking means suitably comprise a number of adjustment
notches or adjustment openings on one part and at least one
projection, intended for engagement in these, on the opposite part.
It is preferred that the projection is made in the form of a hook
means arranged on a resilient maneuvering arm and that the arm, in
the rest position, presses the hook means into engagement with the
adjustment notches or adjustment openings in the first part.
[0011] Further features of the invention emerge from the following
patent claims.
[0012] The invention will be described in greater detail below with
reference to the embodiments shown by way of example in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a
mounting device according to the invention.
[0014] FIGS. 2 and 3 show longitudinal sections through the device
according to FIG. 1 mounted on a bar and with component parts in
two different relative positions.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a device according to the
invention with merchandise display prong and holder for price label
pocket mounted.
[0016] FIGS. 5-9 show different views of the device according to
FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
mounting device according to the invention.
[0018] FIGS. 11 and 12 show parts of the device according to FIG.
10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] The mounting device according to FIG. 1 comprises a first
part 1 in the form of an elongate, strip-shaped body with
adjustment openings in the form of recesses 2. The strip is
provided, on the rear side, with a hook-shaped mounting means 3
(see FIGS. 2 and 3) for mounting on a supporting structure, for
example comprising a horizontal tubular profile 10 of rectangular
cross section.
[0020] Mounted on the strip 1 is a second part 4 which is in the
form of a slide. The slide is provided with two opposite guide
flanges 5 which grip around the edge portions of the strip 1. The
slide 4 can then be displaced along the strip while being guided by
it. Reference number 6 designates a maneuvering arm which, on the
inside, is made with a locking hook 7 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Both the
strip 1 and the slide 4 are suitably made of plastic material.
[0021] As the device is intended to support what is known as a
double prong 11 consisting of two parallel wires (see FIG. 4), the
slide 4 is made with two holes 8 intended to receive the attachment
ends of the prong. Reference number 9 designates another hole in
the slide 4, which is intended for mounting a rod 12 which is to
project above and parallel to the wire prong and to bear at its
outer end a label holder for one or more labels with price
information relating to the merchandise carried by the prong.
[0022] In the sectional view in FIG. 2, the locking hook 7 on the
maneuvering arm 6 is in locking engagement with one of the recesses
2 in the strip 1. A prong mounted on the slide 4 is then fixed in a
certain vertical position in relation to the strip 1 mounted on a
supporting structure.
[0023] When it is desired to adjust the position of the prong in
the vertical direction, the maneuvering arm 6 is taken hold of and
bent outward slightly, which is possible owing to the flexibility
of the arm, the engagement of the locking hook 7 with the
associated recess 2 being released (see FIG. 3). The slide 4 with
the associated prong can then be displaced in the vertical
direction into the desired position, in which the slide will again
be fixed when the maneuvering arm 6 is released so that the locking
hook 7 can enter into renewed engagement with another recess 2. It
has then been possible for this adjustment, which is very easy to
perform, to take place without the prong having had to be
demounted. As a price label rod mounted in the hole 9 follows the
movement of the slide 4, this rod also will retain its position
relative to the prong and the merchandise on it.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a holder device according to the
invention with double prong 11 and price label rod 12 mounted, and
FIGS. 6 and 7 show this arrangement seen from above and,
respectively, below. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the same arrangement seen
from directly in front and, respectively, behind.
[0025] By virtue of the fact that the prong 11 is attached
relatively high up on the slide 4, while the locking hook 7 is
located further down, a moment is obtained when the prong is
loaded, which further improves the locking function of the locking
hook 7.
[0026] FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of a mounting device
according to the invention intended for a merchandise display prong
13 in the form of an essentially plane profiled rail. In this
connection, reference number 14 designates a feed device for
merchandise on the prong, which feed device can be maneuvered via a
grip part 15. Reference 16 relates to a displaceable slide, and 17
a strip with engagement openings 18.
[0027] The prong 13 is pushed onto an attachment means 19 on the
slide 16 (see FIG. 12) and is locked by means of a plug 20 which
fits in a hole 21 in the slide. As in the case of the previous
embodiment, the slide 16 can be displaced along the strip 17 (see
FIG. 11) and locked in the desired position relative to it by means
of a locking hook on the arm 6, which enters into engagement with
adjustment openings 18 in the strip.
[0028] The invention has been described above in connection with
the embodiments shown in accompanying drawings. However, these can
be varied in several respects within the scope of the patent
claims. The slide can thus also be used, for example, for attaching
other types of prong, such as a single wire prong. For this, only
the attachment openings in the slide have to be modified so that
they are suitable for the prong concerned. The mounting strip can
be made with, instead of locking openings, a series of locking
heels which interact with a locking hook arranged on the slide. The
opposite may also be possible, that is to say the locking hook can
be arranged on the strip, while locking openings or locking notches
are arranged on the slide. According to the above, the mounting
strip shown is intended to be mounted on a rectangular profiled
bar. However, the mounting part of the strip can be varied and
adapted for mounting on another bearing element without departing
from the inventive idea. Likewise, the maneuvering arm on the slide
can be made in such a way that it can be pressed in to release a
locking engagement, for example owing to pressing-in of the end of
the arm bringing about deflection of another part of the arm, where
the locking hook is positioned. The slide can also be guided in
another way, for example in slots in the mounting strip.
* * * * *