Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-24
2001-04-03
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C211S059100, C040S642010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209831
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to electronic product information display systems, and more particularly to a product support and electronic information display device adapted for attachment to a mounting panel having a plurality of mount openings therein, and a related electronic display system.
BACKGROUND
The concept of electronic product information display systems is becoming more and more popular. For example, a system which utilizes an inductive coupling technique to provide power and information to a plurality of electronic display tags is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,537,126 and 5,736,967. Other types of electronic product information display systems utilize RF communication between the electronic display tags and a controller.
The advent of such electronic product information display systems has generated an expanding need for devices suited for implementing such display systems in a wide variety of display structures. For example, existing stores tend to have many different types of product display shelves, stands, racks, rails, etc. One type of product display structure commonly used for smaller items is a mounting panel in the form of a wall board having a plurality of holes or openings therein which are adapted to receive hook type members, commonly referred to as peg hooks, from which products can be hung. The flexibility of such arrangements is advantageous, but in the context of electronic product information display systems the problem lies in the absence of the typical shelf front rail to which electronic display tags have been connected in the past.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and advantageous to provide an electronic product information display system compatible with the mounting panel/peg hook type product display structure. Further, it would be desirable and advantageous to provide a product support and information display device adapted for attachment to a mounting panel and adapted for use with an electronic display tag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention a display system adapted for use in combination with one or more electronic display tags is provided and includes a mounting panel having a plurality of openings therein forming at least one line of spaced openings. A conductor is positioned adjacent the mounting panel and extends along at least a portion of the line of spaced openings. An elongated peg hook frame has a front end and a rear end. The rear end of the peg hook frame includes at least one hook-type member which is positioned within one of the spaced openings of the mounting panel. A coil is positioned at the rear end of the peg hook frame so as to be proximate to the conductor for inductive coupling therewith.
An electronic display tag may be positioned on a front portion of the peg hook frame with a pair of lead wires extending from the tag to the coil which may be wound about a magnetic core. The leads provide information signals to the display tag for controlling the display of information thereby. The leads may also provide power to the electronic display tag, if necessary, as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,537,126 and 5,736,967. Advantageously, the display hook may be removed from the mounting panel for repositioning thereon as desired to provide product support and electronic display information at another location.
In another aspect of the present invention, a product support and electronic product information display device adapted for attachment to a mounting panel having a plurality of mount openings therein is provided and includes an elongated peg hook frame having a front end and a rear end. The rear end of the peg hook frame includes at least one hook-type member for positioning within one of the mount openings of the mounting panel to support the peg hook frame therefrom. An electronic display tag is pivotally connected to the peg hook frame to enable selection of a display angle of the display tag.
In embodiments adapted for inductive communication with a controller, the rear end may also include a magnetic core with a coil wound thereon and leads extending from the coil to the tag. In order to assure that the magnetic core and/or coil is properly positioned adjacent a conductive member extending along the mounting panel, an appropriate biasing mechanism or urging mechanism may also be provided at the rear end of the peg hook frame to aid in pressing the magnetic core in a rearward direction. Again, the subject device provides an electronic display of product information while at the same time permitting simple reorganization within a peg hook type display system.
Advantageously, the electronic display tag may also be pivotally mounted to the information display support to permit selection of a display angle of the display tag when the peg hook frame is positioned on the mounting panel.
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PCT International Search Report; PCT Application No. PCT/US00/40037; filed on Feb. 22, 2000.
Kiplinger Kenneth M.
Lopez Antonio
Display Edge Technology Ltd.
King Anita M.
Thompson Hine & Flory LLP
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