GB2189640A

GB2189640A - Holders for displaying tickets

Info

Publication number: GB2189640A
Application number: GB08708577A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur Walter Hood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-24
Filing date: 1987-04-10
Publication date: 1987-10-28
Also published as: GB8708577D0; GB8610060D0

Abstract

The ticket holder 1, Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an extrusion or moulding of polypropylene of which opposed side edge portions 2 are of reduced thickness and define hinges. Connected by the hinges 2 are lips 3 which include formations 4 adapted to engage with channels 5 of a ticket rail 6. The holder retains a price ticket 7 of thin flexible card by virtue of opposed edges 8 thereof being trapped in the acute angles formed by the lips 3 when these are swung inwardly about the hinges 2 from the positions shown in Fig. 2. Ribs (10) on the formations 4 help grip the ticket rail 6. In Fig. 4, the ticket rail 40 is adapted to fit over the edge of a shelf. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in holders for displaying tickets This invention relates to an improved construction of holder for displaying a ticket, such as a thin piece of card or paper carrying printed matter. The invention is primarily applicable to the field of retail marketing wherein goods displayed on shelves are identified or priced by means of a printed ticket which is applied to a rail or the like along the edge of a shelf. It is known to provide a profiled strip along the edge of a shelf such a strip comprising a generally elongate member having along upper and lower sides opposed facing channels into which the opposed side edges of a ticket strip may be engaged so as to be retained therein. With such profiled shelf edges it is a relatively easy matter to displace either deliberately or accidentally the pricing ticket located therein.In addition, any pricing tickets located in the profile have to be of a relatively substantial nature and generally are of a semi-rigid plastics material for durability.

According to this invention there is provided a holder for a ticket, the holder being engagable with opposed mutually facing channels of a ticket rail or the like, the holder comprising an elongate strip with retaining lips extending along mutually opposed sides said lips being hingedly connected to said sides, the lips including formations to engage with a channel on the ticket rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the strip and lips comprise an integral extrusion with the hinge being formed by a line of reduced thickness. Advantageously, the strip is formed from a natural polypropylene material with the hinge an integral part of the extrusion or moulding.

In an embodiment the juncture between the lips and strip in the area of the hinge forms an acute angle to define a channel which receives the edge of a ticket. The lips may be pivoted about the hinge outwardly to permit engagement of the ticket and then pivoted back about the hinge to trap the ticket and subsequently to allow the formations on the lips to engage with the mutually opposed channels of a ticket rail. Thus, when engaged, the ticket is firmly gripped and the natural resiliency of the material ensures that the strip is firmly retained in the ticket rail.

The front face of the strip may be planar or preferably convexly curved and the material used will be clear or at least sufficiently translucent to enable any printed matter on the ticket inserted therein to be read.

An embodiment according to the invention is described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a strip according to the invention engaged with a ticket rail, Figure 2 shows the strip with the lips opened out, Figures 3a and 3b are front and perspective views of the strip respectively, and Figure 4 shows the strip engaged with a ticket rail of different construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the ticket holder comprises an extrusion or moulding of natural polypropylene material 1 of which opposed side edge portions 2 are of reduced thickness and define a hinge line extending along the length of the strip. Connected with the hinge portions 2 are lips 3 which include formations 4 adapted to engage with channels 5 formed along the side edges of a ticket rail 6. The strip retains a price ticket or the like 7, for example of a thin flexible card material, and as shown in Fig. 1, the ticket is firmly retained by virtue of opposed edges 8 thereof being trapped in the normally acute angle formed at the juncture between the lips 3 and strip 1.In order to facilitate insertion of the ticket 7 the lips 3 may be swung to pivot about the hinge 2 as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the card 7 may be inserted to be brought into juxtaposed relationship with the strip 1 and the lips 3 thereafter pivoted downwardly to firmly trap and secure the strip 7.

The resiliency of the lips 3 in conjunction with the strip 1 enables the formations 4 to be engaged with the channels 5 and the parts thereafter tend to spring outwardly so as to provide firm securement.

The ends of the moulded strip 1, as shown in Fig. 3, may include projecting abutments 9 which serve to prevent the ticket 7 being displaced laterally from behind the strip.

Fig. 4 shows a holder of similar form but in this instance it is engaged with a ticket rail 40 of more complex form. This rail has a mouth portion 41 which may be sprung open to engage with the edge of a shelf. The strip 40 has a particular advantage in that the channels 42 which are adapted to receive the formations 4 on the lips 3 are recessed from the front face whereby a neat and flush front surface to the strip 1 is provided.

The construction according to the invention as may be seen, provides a strip for retaining a ticket which serves to lock the ticket in position and wherein the holder is frameless, thus enabling the whole displayed area to be seen. The construction is also such that the strip may be flexed so as to be received into several different sizes of ticket rails and by using a resilient plastics material such as polypropylene, the strip is virtually indestructible in use.

The novelty of the present invention over the known art is the arrangement of the lips which are hingedly connected to the front face of the strip holder, thus providing a means of attachment to a ticket rail and enabling a thin card to be easily inserted and also trapped when the strip is engaged with the ticket rail.

The front surface of the strip may be unpolished or matt to reduce reflection.

The abutments 9 have end parts 9a which extend into the hinge line 2 a small amount.

Thus when the lips 3 are in the position for engagement with the ticket rail the parts 9a tend to cause extra tension at the ends of the hinge to provide additional grip.

Gripping of the strip 1 by the ticket rail 6 may be enhanced by the provision of ribs or projections 10 adjacent the formations 4.

Claims

1. A holder for a ticket, the holder being engagable with opposed mutually facing channels of a ticket rail or the like, the holder comprising an elongate strip with retaining lips extending along mutually opposed sides said lips being hingedly connected to said sides, the lips including formations to engage with a channel on the ticket rail.

2. A holder according to Claim 1, wherein the strip and lips comprise an integral extrusion with the hinge being formed by a line of reduced thickness.

3. A holder according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the strip will be formed from a natural polypropylene material with the hinge an integral part of the extrusion or moulding.

4. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the juncture between the lips and strip in the area of the hinge forms an acute angle to define a channel which receives the edge of a ticket.

5. A holder according to Claim 4, wherein the lips may be pivoted about the hinge outwardly to permit engagement of the ticket and then pivoted back about the hinge to trap the ticket and subsequently to allow the formations on the lips to engage with the mutually opposed channels of a ticket rail.

6. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the lips have projecting portions which abut the ticket rail.

7. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the opposed ends of the strip have abutments to prevent sideways movement of a ticket held within the holder.

8. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein abutments are positioned within the apex of the hinge line to increase the force required to bring the opposed lips together.

9. A holder for a ticket as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.