CA1332282C

CA1332282C - Display sign system

Info

Publication number: CA1332282C
Application number: CA 613791
Authority: CA
Inventors: Benjamin L. Garfinkle
Original assignee: CLAMP-SWING PRICING Co
Current assignee: CLAMP-SWING PRICING Co
Priority date: 1989-02-03
Filing date: 1989-09-27
Publication date: 1994-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-11
Also published as: WO1990009016A1; AU5081890A

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A grocery display sign in which a support backing is provided with one or more regions for accepting and displaying interchangeable alpha-numeric product identifiers and pricing information. The support backing is provided with a window region for accepting and supporting a planar insert, the latter possessing product identifying information on both of its planar sides so that the product information can be read by viewing the front of the display sign and on the rear of the display sign through the window region.

Description

, The present invention deals with a sign sys-tem most advantageously employed in a grocery or super-market environment. Signs of this nature are exten-sively used in identifying the product and price of such diverse items as produce, meat and poultry prod-ucts, as well as deli and dairy items.
Virtually all consumers are familiar with signs currently employed by grocery stores and super-markets to identify and display the pricing of various meat and deli items. Such signs have a generally plas-tic support backing provided with ridges, as well as slots for accepting alpha-numeric product identifiers.
More specifically, numerals are provided with support extensions which are intended to pass through slots to retain elements on said support backing. As such, the grocery or supermarket clerk can readily change the pricing information as needed.
Similarly, a planar insert possessing prod-uct identifying information can be removable and in-serted on support backing by passing the corners of theplanar insert through slits beneath raised portion. In employing such a display sign system, a single support backing can be employed for an unlimited number of products by simply changing the pricing numerals and planar inserts.
It is quite apparent that virtually all of the alpha-numeric product identifiers appear on the front of the sign which is intended to face the con-sumer. As a consequence, the sales person, viewing only a surface of the backing is not privy to the alpha-numeric product identiiers without removal of the sign or product from its display, or by contorting to see what the consumer sees. Often times, the sales person will attempt to identify the product on surface through the use of a self-made embossed label or grease pencil.
Regardless of which expedient is employed, the sales person is required to provide his own product identifi-B

"
~:~............ - ~. .

~;.~ ` . ` .. ` .

1 33~8~

ers and to change these identifiers each time front face of the display sign is changed. This not only results in additional work for the sales person, but also can result in errors and inaccuracies when the harried sales person forgets to change his own self-made labeling to comport the changes seen by the consumer.
It is thus an object of the present inven-tion to provide a display sign system which eliminates the deficiencies of the prior art as enumerated above.
It is yet a further object to the present invention to provide a display sign system whereby alpha-numeric product identifiers visible to the con-sumer are also visible to the sales person, thus eliminating the additional work and inaccuracies inherent in the use of prior sign systems.
The present invention deals with a grocery display sign comprising a support backing having one or more regions for accepting and displaying interchange-able alpha-numeric product identifiers and pricing information. The present invention is improved over the prior art by providing a window region within the support backing and a planar insert for being removably retained by the support backing to substantially cover the window region. The planar insert possesses product identifying information on both of its planar sides so that the product identifying information can be read both on the front of the display sign and through the window region by viewing the back of the display sign.
These and further objects will be more readily appreciated when considering the following disclosure and appended drawings wherein:
Figs. lA, lB, lC, and lD represent the front and rear faces of typical prior art grocery display sign systems; and Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D represent the grocery display sign system of the present invention.

~ ~:
:~. . :
~:, :, : . ': ~

- 2a -Such signs are shown in Figs. lA and lB, lC
and lD wherein a generally plastic support backing 10 C.", .... . ~

-r, .

~ 3 ~ 1 3 32282 is provided with ridges 17 and 18, as well as slots 16 and 19 for accepting alpha-numeric product identifiers.
More specifically, numerals 11 are provided with sup-port extensions 15 which are intended to pass through slots 16 to retain elements 11 on said support backing.
As such, the grocery or supermarket clerk can readily change the pricing information as needed.
Similarly, planar insert 12A/12B possessing product identifying information can be removable and inserted on support backing 10 by passing the corners of the planar insert through slits 19 beneath raised portion 17. In employing such a display sign system, a single support backing can be employed for an unlimited number of products by simply changing the pricing nu-merals 11 and planar inserts 12A/12B.
It is quite apparent in examining Figs. lA, lB, lC and lD that virtually all of the alpha-numeric product identifiers appear on the front of the sign which is intended to face the consumer. As a conse-quence, the sales person, viewing only surface 13 ofbacking 10 (Fig. lD) is not privy to the alpha-numeric product identifiers without removal of the sign or product from its display, or by contorting to see what the consumer sees. Often times, the sales person will attempt to identify the product on surface 13 through the use of a self-made embossed label or grease pencil.
Regardless of which expedient is employed, the sales person is required to provide his own product identifi-ers and to change these identifiers each time front face 14 of the display sign is changed. This not only results in additional work for the sales person, but also can result in errors and inaccuracies when the harried sales person forgets to change his own self-made labeling to comport to changes seen by the consumer.
Turning to Figs. 2A, a grocery sign display is shown comprising support backing 30 having a front B^ ~

.

~ 4 ~ 1 332282 , face 31. Unlike the prior art configuration shown in Fig. lA, the support backing of the present invention is provided with an open window region 33. Although the numerical pricing information of the present invention is virtually of the same nature as that discussed previously regarding Fig. 1, the present invention is now provided with planar insert 34A/34B which is in-tended to be held by support backing 30 by inserting corners of the planar insert through slots 35 at ridges 36.
In viewing Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, it is seen that the product identifying information is re-peated on both planar sides of insert 34A/34B. As such, the sales person in viewing rear side 32 (Fig. 2B) of the grocery display sign is readily cognizant of the product being sold. In addition, information which is relevant only to the sales person can be employed on backside 34B of the planar insert, such as the scale code identifying the price per pound of the item being sold.
The advantages inherent in employing the grocery display sign of the present invention are read-ily apparent. Each time the product identifying infor-mation is changed while employing a common support backing, the sales person is simultaneously provided with the change. No longer does the sales person have to provide his own handmade identifier or remove the display sign to read the product identifying informa-tion available to the customer.
It is to be understood that modifications and changes in the preferred embodiment of the inven-tion herein described and shown can be made without de-parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

B: :

. ~ - .
..... .
r i~ ' '' . ~

r . : ~ ~

Claims

1. A service food display sign for displaying product identifying and product pricing information comprising a support backing having two regions, the first region for removably displaying product pricing numerals and the second region for removably displaying product and identifying information, said second region comprising an open window and planar insert having front and rear surfaces for being removably retained by said support backing to substantially cover said open window, said planar insert possessing product identification information on both planar sides thereof so that said product identifying information can be read both on the front and rear of the display sign.

2. The service food display sign of claim 1, wherein said support backing is provided with ridges and slots for accepting and securing said product pricing numerals and planar insert.