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AssigneeERS International, Inc.
InventorsMaria-Teresa Smith, Walter J. Janczyk, James E. Richardson
Estimating the term…
A device is provided for mounting shelf labels on supermarket shelving with a C-channel. Metal shelving is shaped to define a slot extending below the shelf between the flat shelf and the front curved surface, the lower edge of which is shaped to form a return. A metal clip fits into the slot to form a second return opposite the first return. A rail with a bracket and slide engage the first and second returns for mounting shelf labels. Plastic shelf rails for mounting wireless electronic shelf labels are also provided. The lower groove of the rail is shaped to engage latches at the bottom of the electronic shelf label which can only be removed by using a special tool. Also provided is a shelf rail made by co-extruding flexible and rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. The plastic shelf rails have a notch on the back to accommodate metal shelf brackets. To prevent the electronic shelf labels from sliding, they are held firmly in place by a gripping pad. Shelf rails optimized for lower shelves tilt the electronic price display upwards. Two transparent plastic covers for the shelf rail and a plastic shelf rail with integrated cover are co-extruded with resilient ridges for holding paper or plastic cards. A holder, which attaches to a supermarket shelf C-channel, holds the electronic shelf label. A holder for use without shelves has an adhesive backing.
A method of making a plastic rail, the rail having front and rear faces, the rail further having top and bottom edges, said rail formed by extrusion having substantially constant cross section, said rail having opposed first and second features at the front top and front bottom of the rail, said opposed features defining grooves facing each other, said rail formed by extrusion having further a third feature on the rear face extending outwardly by a first distance, said third feature spaced from the bottom of the rear face by substantially said first distance, said third feature formed at a cross-sectional thickness less than half that of the balance of the rail;
A plastic rail, the rail having front and rear faces, the rail further having top and bottom edges, said rail formed by extrusion having substantially constant cross section, said rail having opposed first and second features at the front top and front bottom of the rail, said opposed features defining grooves facing each other, said rail formed by extrusion having further a third feature on the rear face extending by a first distance, said third feature joining the rear face at a position spaced from the bottom of the rear face by substantially said first distance, said third feature formed at a cross-sectional thickness less than half that of the balance of the rail, said third feature substantially parallel with said rear face and defining a slot therebetween.
A method of making a plastic rail, the rail having front and rear faces, the rail having a length, the rail further having top and bottom edges, said rail formed by extrusion having substantially constant cross section, said rail having opposed first and second features at the front top and front bottom of the rail, said opposed features defining grooves facing each other;
A plastic rail, the rail having front and rear faces, the rail further having top and bottom edges, said rail formed by extrusion having substantially constant cross section, said rail having opposed first and second features at the front top and front bottom of the rail, said opposed features defining grooves facing each other, said rail further comprising a resilient bead on the front face thereof between said grooves and co-extruded with said rail, said rail further characterized in that after extrusion, said rear face is milled substantially flat at at least two locations along the length of the rail, said rail further comprising mounted at each of said at least two locations a clip assembly, each said clip assembly comprising a metal bracket mounted to said rail, a metal slide slidable relative to said bracket, and a metal screw in threaded relation with said bracket and sliding said slide in response to rotation of the screw.
A plastic rail, the rail having front and rear faces, the rail further having top and bottom edges, said rail formed by extrusion having substantially constant cross section, said rail having opposed first and second features at the front top and front bottom of the rail, said opposed features defining grooves facing each other, said rail further characterized in that after extrusion, said rear face is milled substantially flat at at least two locations along the length of the rail, said rail further comprising
A plastic rail, the rail having front and rear faces, the rail further having top and bottom edges separated by a first distance, said rail formed by extrusion having substantially constant cross section, said rail having opposed first and second features at the front top and front bottom of the rail, said opposed features defining grooves facing each other, further comprising a resilient bead on the front face thereof between said grooves and co-extruded with said rail;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.