Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Check – label – or tag – Holder
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-22
2003-10-21
Davis, Cassandra H. (Department: 3611)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Check, label, or tag
Holder
Reexamination Certificate
active
06634125
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to display devices, and particularly relates to information display devices which are used to display, hold and protect product information display cards at retail stores. In particular, the present invention is directed towards information display systems in which the information display cards within the information display systems may be easily replaced or rearranged by retail store personnel. Furthermore, the information display system of the present invention is such that it may be easily manipulated by the prospective customers so as to obtain ready visual access information on a merchandise item.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Display devices are commonly used by retailers to display product information. Display devices are most suitable for products in which a substantial description of their features and specifications needs to be delivered to customers. Such products may include various electronic devices, automobile accessories, machinery and tools. At the same time, the use of display devices also permits an attractive display of product advertisements.
The field of display devices is indeed a crowded art and encompasses a wide variety of differing embodiments. In general, a display device comprises at least one display card and a transparent panel which overlies at least one display card. The display card provides all of the requisite information about the particular merchandise product. The product information shown on the display card may be in the form of written descriptions, photos, graphic arts or any combination thereof. Typically, a display device is mounted on the front edge region of a shelving unit such that customers have ready visual access to the product information on the display card.
Most display devices available in the market to date are manufactured from a relatively rigid plastic or synthetic resinous material, using an extrusion process. This process requires the expensive preparation of a mould and the cutting of extruded sheets of plastic or synthetic resinous material for the display devices. The entire manufacturing process is time consuming and expensive. In fact, if the retailer demands a large number of display devices, he needs to place orders far in advance. Furthermore, since the unit cost of manufacturing such display devices is so high, purchasing a display device for each kind of product in the retailer's inventory may become very expensive.
The present inventors herein have provided an information display system which is simple and economical to manufacture. The information display system of the present invention is vacuum formed from plastics material. This process of manufacturing is much faster and cost-effective when compared to the extrusion process described above. Here, the expensive construction of an extrusion mould for the information display system is not required, as the base portion of the information display system of the present invention is typically vacuum formed over a relatively inexpensive vacuum forming mould.
Furthermore, the structural features of the information display system of the present invention make it a much more versatile display system than those provided in the prior art. The information display system of the present invention is an integral structure having at least one display pocket which is hingedly attached. Each of the at least one display pocket is openable in at least one of its ends such that at least one information display card may be inserted into the at least one display pocket. The at least one display pocket functions to protect the at least one information display card, especially its edges from damage. Prospective customers may read the information contained on the front and back of the information display cards by simply turning the display pocket on its hinge. Retail store personnel may also easily replace or rearrange the information display card within the information display system of the present invention.
When the information display system comprises at least a first display pocket and at least a second display pocket, however, the at least two display pockets are arranged in such a manner that the first display pocket overlies a substantial portion of the second display pocket. Placement of the display pockets in such an overlapping manner greatly increases the amount of information that can be displayed in a small area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Several typical prior art display devices are now described. They include ABRAMSON and BAKE U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,437, issued Apr. 18, 1989, which reveals a merchandise display system. The system includes support means for holding information display means in the form of items or modules having information on the front and back sides thereof. The support means provided by the invention is an extrusion mountable on a wall or other surface in a position to allow viewing of the information display means or product information modules. The support means comprises flexible attachment means such that manipulation of the information display means is permitted. The flexible attachment means is generally a plurality of flexible strips extending from the support means and having free ends thereof. The free ends of the attachment means are adapted to hold the information display means.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,691 issued May 16, 1989 to MANJOS and TRESTYN, the inventors have provided a card display holder and protector which comprises first and second transparent panels connected to one another by a common hinge line. The display holder receives the card to be displayed into the recessed portion of the first panel. The second panel has a projecting surface so as to engage the first panel and to maintain the display holder in a closed position.
In another U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,775 issued Apr. 25, 1995, the inventors ABRAMSON and STEWART teach a merchandise information system which comprises a support having a rigid base, and a plurality of spaced flexible webs, where the flexible webs depend from the rigid base. The display items are attached to the lower end of the webs, and are arranged in a side by side fashion. Typically, the display items are clear plastic envelopes which are adapted to receive display cards or the like. The display items may be viewed through either the front or rear surface of the envelope as the envelopes may be rotated about the respective flexible webs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,427 issued Sep. 1, 1998 to ABRAMSON and STEWART teaches an overlapping merchandise information display module. The system comprises a rigid base, and a plurality of spaced flexible webs which depend from the lower edge of the rigid base. A series of overlapping display items are attached to the lower ends of each of the webs respectively to display one side of the item. The display items may be rotated about the flexible webs so as to display the other side of the item.
In a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/608,948, filed on Jun. 30, 2000, the present inventors ABRAMSON and FERGUSON herein have provided a protective display system which includes at least a first pair of transparent panels wherein each panel has a front face, a back face, and at least one straight peripheral edge and a flexible living hinge. The at least first pair of panels is an envelope which is adapted to receive at least one display card. The protective display system is an unitary structure and the flexible living hinge has greater flexibility than each of the at least one pair of panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information display system which is adapted to be affixed to the substantially planar top support surface of a shelf having a downwardly depending front edge in the front edge region thereof. The information display system of the present invention comprises a base portion which includes a shelf contacting panel, a front presentation face, a pair of stiffening ribs, and two side panels, together with at least one display pocket. Th
Abramson Brian
Ferguson Steven
(Marks & Clerk)
Davis Cassandra H.
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