BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to label holders for use for example, in supermarkets and other stores generally for labelling merchandise displays and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a versatile label holder which can be used to support a label in a variety of applications such as, for example, at the front edge of a merchandise display shelf or, for example, at the front end of an elongate merchandise support hook which projects from a stand or an apertured board.

There are a variety of label holding devices currently available which are made from plastic sheet material and the like. Generally, such devices are each designed for a specific or particular label holding -purpose and are generally not sufficiently versatile to be used in a variety of situations or to provide a variety of different label holding orientations.

It is another object of the invention to provide a versatile label holder made of plastic sheet material

which has increased versatility insofar as it can be adapted to different label holding orientations so that it can be used in different applications.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a label holder which can support a variety of labels and is particularly adapted to hold non-adhesive paper labels, a capability which is somewhat unique in such an inexpensive, versatile device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a label holder of the type described which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A label holder in accordance with the invention generally comprises a substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material, conveniently a die-cut sheet of stiffish plastic of a type generally known for such purposes. The rectangular sheet has a main body panel, an upper mounting panel connected to the body panel by a first transverse fold or bend line and a lower ledge-defining panel connected to the body panel by a second transverse fold line. Further, the body panel is formed adjacent the first fold line with at least one cut-out defining a foldable tab for retaining a label inserted between the tab and the ledge-forming panel when the ledge-forming panel is folded upwardly about the second transverse fold line. Such a construction, while capable of holding an adhesive label has the unique capability of also supporting a non-adhesive paper label in a secure manner.

The mounting panel is provided with a suitable form of attachment means for securing same for example along the front edge of a shelf or an elongate hook-mounted plastic label support so that the main body panel can be folded to extend downwardly from the front edge of the shelf or support. The attachment means may, for example, be in the form of an adhesive or a mechanical fastening means such as a tab portion formed on the mounting panel adapted to engage in a slit or the like at the forward end of a plastic label holder support.

With a structure in accordance with the invention, when mounted in the manner noted above, the shelf-forming panel can be folded either forwardly with respect to the main body panel so that a label can be held on the front face of the main body panel between the aforesaid foldable tab and the shelf portion. In this orientation of the holder, the shelf-forming portion forms a convenient guide surface which may be used for guiding a bar code reader or the like if, the label, for example, carries a bar code.

In an alternative orientation, when the holder is supported as aforesaid, the shelf-forming panel can be folded backwardly with respect to the main body panel and in this case, a label can be held against the back surface of the main body panel between the aforesaid tab and the shelf forming panel. This orientation, is useful for example, if it is desired to protect the front surface of the label and clearly must be used with a label holder sheet of transparent or semi-transparent material.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuring description and claims read in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a face view of a blank for forming a label holder in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is side elevational view of the blank folded into a first label holder configuration;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the blank folded into a second label holder configuration;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the label holder shown in Figure 2 attached to a merchandise display shelf;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the label holder of Figure 3 attached to a merchandise display shelf;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the label holder of Figure 3 attached to the forward edge of a plastic label holder support;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a second embodiment label holder according to the invention; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an upper portion of the second embodiment label holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown a blank 10 which may be die-cut from a large sheet of plastic, for example, such plastic being of a type well known for forming label holders and the like. The blank is formed with a main body panel 12, an upper mounting panel 14 separated from the main body panel by a first transverse fold or bend line 16 and a lower generally thinner ledge-forming panel 18 separated from the body panel by a second transverse bend or fold line 20. Additionally, in the body panel 12, adjacent the first bend line 16, there are formed a pair of adjacent dish-shaped slits or cuts 22 each of which defines a fold-out tab 24. One surface of the mounting panel 14 may, for example, be provided with contact adhesive not evident in Figure 1.

The blank 10 may be folded into two alternative label-holding configurations or orientations shown respectively in Figures 2 and 3. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the body panel 12 is folded down substantially at right angles to the mounting panel 14 about the first transverse fold line 16 and the shelf-forming panel 18 is folded up behind the body panel. In this configuration, a label 26 can be held in place against the rear surface 28 of the body panel between the tabs 24 and ledge forming panel 18. The blank will be folded so that the previously referred to adhesive, indicated at 30 in Figure 2 is on the undersurface of the mounting panel 14. In this configuration, the label holder may, for example, be attached along the front edge portion of a merchandise display shelf 32 or the like as shown in Figure 4. The label is protected against the rear

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surface of the body panel and clearly in this arrangement the blank 10 should be of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

The blank 10 may alternatively be folded into a label holding configuration as shown in Figure 3. In this configuration, the body panel 12, is again folded down at right angles to the mounting panels 14 with the adhesive 30 on the undersurface of the mounting panel. In this case, however, the ledge-forming panel 18 is folded up in front of the body panel so that the label 26 can be held on the front face 34 of the body panel between the tabs 24 and the ledge-forming panel 18.

As shown in Figure 5, the blank when in the orientation of Figure 3 can be secured at the forward edge of a shelf 32 as previously described. In this case, the label will be presented on the front face 34 of the holder and if the label carries, for example, a bar code 36 the upwardly folded ledge-forming panel 18 forms a convenient guide and support for a bar code reader 38. The shel -forming panel 18, accordingly provides a structure similar to the guide ledge on the merchandise information display tag disclosed in my prior U.S. patent number 4,537,821 issued August 27, 1985.

A label holder as described in relation to Figures 2 - and 3 can also conveniently be used at the forward end of a plastic label holder support 40 as shown in Figure 6. The support 40 is of a type generally used in combination with an elongate product support hook on which products may be suspended for display. Examples of such elongate plastic supports, may be seen in my earlier patents numbers 4,703,570, 4,665,639, 4,525,944, 4,646,454.

Accordingly, no further details of such supports are needed herein.

Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment label holder structure 10' which is similar to the previously described structure 10 except for the construction of the upper mounting panel 14'. In this case, panel 14' is provided with a pair of generally V-shaped cutouts 42 defining a tab 44 therebetween. A fold or bend line 46 may also extend between the bases of the cutouts. The label holder 10' is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a elongate label holder support 40' which is similar to support 40 except that it has a slit at its forward end defining a mounting tab 48. This type ^• of structure is also illustrated, for example, in the aforenoted patents numbers 4,703,570, 4,665,639 and 4,646,454. The tab 44 forms an attachment means for securing in the slit defined by tab 48 and the portions 50 on opposite sides of tab 44 form ears which sit on the upper surface of support 40' and resist upward tilting of the holder 10' by engaging such upper surface.

It is evident from the foregoing that the invention provides a useful and versatile form of label holder which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture yet provides a device suitable for use in a variety of different applications, being particularly adapted to _ securely hold non-adhesive paper labels.

While only preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail, the invention is not limited thereby and modifications can be made within the scope of the attached claims.