Display holder

Abstract

An adjustable display holder comprises a base 2 for attachment to a surface, an arm 4 for supporting a display (8, Fig. 1), and a collar 6. The arm comprises an insert 10 at one end which fits into a socket 14 in the base. The socket and insert have cooperating flat wall portions which limit rotation of the insert relative to the socket to a single plane. The arm extends through an aperture 22 in the collar which attaches to the base, e.g. by means of a threaded connection between the collar and the base, to retain the insert in the socket. The collar is movable between a non-locking configuration, in which the angle of the arm may be adjusted, and a locking configuration in which the angle of the arm is fixed. The insert comprises a first engagement feature 48 which cooperates with a second engagement feature (44, Fig. 10) in the socket to prevent rotation of the arm when the collar is in the locking configuration. The base is preferably configured to be attached to a shelf edge.

Description

The present invention relates to a display holder for holding a display such as a flyer or advert, and particularly to an adjustable display holder. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting such a display holder. Display cards, posters and banners carrying, for example, announcements, adverts, or information can be displayed in many ways. They can hang from the ceiling or be attached to walls. In some settings, such as supermarkets, display holders may be used to carry such displays. Display holders may be mounted to shelves and may comprise an arm that extends from a base of the holder to carry the display. The present invention provides a display holder comprising a base for attaching to a surface, an arm for supporting a display, and a cap, wherein the arm comprises an insert at a first end and the base comprises a socket into which the insert is fitted, the socket being defined by a socket wall, the insert has at least one flat surface which cooperates with at least one flat socket wall portion to limit rotation of the insert relative to the socket to rotation about an axis perpendicular to a plane in which the flat surface and flat socket wall portion extend, the cap can be attached to the socket to retain the insert in the socket and can be arranged in a locking configuration and a non-locking configuration, the arm extending from the insert through an opening in the cap, the insert comprises a plurality of first engagement features which engage with corresponding second engagement features of the cap or socket when the cap is attached to the base in a locking configuration, engagement of the first and second engagement features prevents rotation of the insert such that the arm extends from the base at a fixed angle, the first and second engagement features define at least two angles relative to the base at which the arm can be fixed when the cap is attached to the base in the locking configuration. Providing a display holder in which the angle at which the arm extends relative to the base can be adjusted allows a user to ensure that the arm extends at an angle at which the display element is held at, or close to, a desired angle, for example substantially vertical. The engagement features may define at least two different angles relative to the base at which the arm can be fixed, they may define at least three, at least four, at least five, at least seven, or at least ten, or at least twenty different angles relative to the base at which the arm can be fixed. Providing first and second engagement features that engage to prevent rotation of the insert provides a physical rotation prevention feature rather the relying on friction alone and therefore may provide a more reliable display holder. The engagement between the engagement features may provide a display holder which capable of functioning with wider manufacturing tolerances and therefore a greater variation in dimensions, or allow the display holder to function with greater wear or even some damage than might otherwise be possible. There may be a plurality of first engagement features and fewer second engagement features than first engagement features. In some examples there may be fewer than three second engagement features, for example there may be one, or two, second engagement features which can engage with the plurality of first engagement features at different positions to define the plurality of angles relative to the base at which the arm can be fixed when the cap is attached to the base in the locking configuration. The base is for attachment to a surface. The surface may be a floor, or wall, display unit, or any other suitable surface. The base may be adapted for attachment, particularly releasable attachment, to an edge of a display shelf, for example to a datastrip, in a shop, for example in a supermarket. The attachment to the surface may be by any suitable means, for example using an adhesive, or a magnet, or a fixing element such as a rivet or screw. The base may comprise a base element to which attachment means can be attached or secured. The attachment may be by a clip or clamp attached, or formed integrally, with the base, particularly the base element. The clip may include clip features to engage with a shelf edge, for example a datastrip or other attachment forming a shelf edge. The clip may comprise features that allow it to be attached to two different designs of shelf edge. These datastrips or other attachments include fixings that may be referred to by various names, including shelf edge labels, SELs, EPOS strips, scanner rails ticket strips and electronic shelf edge labels. The base comprises a socket into which the inset of the arm can be received. If the base includes a clip on a first side of a base element, the socket may be on a second side of the base element opposite the first face. The socket is defined by a socket wall and the socket wall comprises a flat socket wall portion. This flat socket wall portion may be substantially planar, or may comprise features rendering the surface non-planar, but with portions that lie in a common plane. The flat socket wall portion and flat surface of the insert to cooperate to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the socket about any axis which is not perpendicular to the flat surfaces. The interaction of the flat socket wall portion and flat surface of the insert may restrict rotation to a single degree of freedom, for example rotation of the arm may be restricted to a change in pitch, but not yaw or roll. The arm comprises an insert at a first end. The arm may comprise an elongate arm element which extends from the insert. The elongate arm element may be substantially straight, or may include one or more curves, bends, or corners. The arm may carry one of more display carriers, such as click sign holder, which are to engage with and carry a display. The display carrier may be integrally formed with the display carrier, or a display carrier may be attached to the arm. The arm may extend at least 100 mm from the insert, or may extend at least 120 mm from the insert. The arm may extend beyond the display holder or terminate at a display holder. A display holder may be provided on the arm less than 5cm, less than 2.5 cm or less than 1 cm from the insert. The arm may extend no further than the display holder. The insert has at least one flat surface. As explained in connection with the flat socket wall portion, the flat surface of the insert may be substantially planar, or may comprise features rendering the surface non-planar, but which allow the flat socket wall portion and flat surface of the insert to cooperate to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the socket about any axis which is not perpendicular to the flat surfaces. The cap can be attached to the base, and this may be any suitable mechanism including, for example, by friction, clips, catches, or a bayonet type attachment. The cap may be screwed onto the base through engagement of corresponding screw threads carried by the cap and the base. Screw threads on the base may be carried by the socket wall. In the locking configuration a gap between the cap and the socket, or between the cap and a base element, may be lower than the corresponding gap between the cap and the socket, or between the cap and a base element, in the non-locking configuration. In the locking configuration the insert may be in contact with both the base and the cap and may be clamped between the base and the cap. In the non-locking configuration the insert may not be clamped between the base and the cap. In the non-locking configuration the insert may be moved, for example translated within the socket, so that it is out of contact with the cap, or a base of the socket. The first and second engagement features may comprise projections and corresponding recesses, for example, ridges and valleys. The engagement features may extend along a feature axis which may be non-perpendicular with, and may be substantially parallel with, an insert axis about which the insert can rotate in the socket when the cap is in the non-locking position. The insert may be substantially cylindrical along an insert axis. The insert may comprise a cylindrical body portion that is substantially cylindrical along an insert axis. The arm may extend from the cylindrical body portion substantially perpendicular to the insert axis. The insert may comprise an outer surface, for example an outer cylindrical surface, on which the first engagement features may be provided. The insert may comprise a flat surface at each end of a cylindrical body. The flat surfaces may be substantially parallel with one another when the display holder is assembled. The flat surfaces may be substantially perpendicular with the insert axis. The socket wall may define a recess extending between opposed flat socket wall portions to accept the insert. The recess may comprise a partial inner cylindrical wall. The diameter of a cylindrical insert may be at least 10 mm, or at least 12 mm. The diameter of a cylindrical insert may be less than 20 mm, or less than 18 mm. The diameter of a cylindrical insert may be between 13 and 17 mm. The associated socket wall may define a socket that is at least 7 mm deep, or at least 8 mm deep. The first engagement features may comprise a plurality of ridges, projections or recesses extending along a surface of the insert, for example a cylindrical surface thereof, for example parallel with the insert axis. The first engagement features may entirely extend around the surface, or may occupy only a limited angular range about the insert axis, for example a gap in the first engagement means may be provided around the arm. Such an arrangement may simplify manufacture, for example such engagement features may be readily mouldable in, for example, plastic. The second engagement features may comprise one or more ridges, projections, or recesses on the cap or base where they can engage the first engagement features. The second engagement features may extend form a base element of the base or from the socket wall. The second engagement features may extend form the cap, for example from a location adjacent the opening through which the arm passes. Such an arrangement may simplify manufacture, for example such engagement features may be readily mouldable in, for example, plastic. The socket wall around the insert may not be continuous. This discontinuity of the socket wall allows the socket wall to flex more readily than a continuous wall, and this may allow the size of the socket to adapt to particular inserts as the insert size and the size of the socket defined by the socket wall may vary due to manufacturing tolerances. The socket wall may be divided into a plurality of parts, for example the socket wall may be split into two parts, the two parts may be two substantially equal halves which together define the socket. The base may comprise a shelf clip for attaching the base to a shelf edge, particularly a data strip of a shelf edge. The shelf clip may be integrally formed with the base, for example it may be integrally formed with, and extend from a base element. The shelf clip may be releasably attachable to the base to allow the shelf clip to be easily switched or replaced. The cap may comprise an internal screw thread. The base may comprise a corresponding external screw thread which may allowing the cap to be screwed onto the base to attach it thereto, for example the cap may be secured to the socket wall. Rotating the cap relative to the base along the screw thread may move the cap between a locking configuration and a non-locking configuration. Rotating the cap relative to the base along the screw thread may alter a gap between the cap and the socket and I or between the cap and a base element. The number of rotations needed to move between engagement of the cap and base screw threads and screwing the cap into the locking configuration may be between 0.5 and 2.5 turns. The number of rotations needed to move between engagement of the cap and base screw threads and screwing the cap into the locking configuration may be at least 0.5 turns, at least 0.75 turns, at least 1 turn, or at least 1.25 turns. The number of rotations needed to move between engagement of the cap and base screw threads and screwing the cap into the locking configuration may be fewer than 4 turns, fewer than 3 turns, or fewer than 2.5 turns. A low number of turns may provide insufficient engagement between the threads to hold the cap to the base. A high number of turns may be inconvenient for a user adjusting the display holder. The pitch of the screw threads may be set to determine the number of rotations required. The display holder may be adjustable so that the arm can be secured relative to the base at a plurality of angels over a range. This range may be between about 50° and 130°, for example between about 53° and 127°. To facilitate setting the adjustable arm at a commonly desired angle relative to the base the insert may comprise an indicator feature. The indicator feature may, alone, or in combination with other parts of the display holder provide visible, audible, or haptic feedback regarding the adjustment of the position the arm relative to the base. The indicator feature may comprise an indicator ridge, projection, or indent. The indicator ridge may interact with the socket, for example a feature, portion, or edge of the socket wall, to provide a visual, haptic, or audible indication of the insert reaching a predetermined angular orientation relative to the socket and I or the base, for example about 68.5°, relative to the angle of the base. Some datastrips to which the display holder may be attached are angled relative to the vertical such that having an arm extending from the base at an angle of between about 50° and 80° for example about 68.5° (about 21.5° from perpendicular to the base) provides an arm which extends substantially parallel with the floor. The display holder may be adapted to attach to a shelf edge in a single, predetermined, orientation, in which the plane in which the flat surfaces extend is substantially vertical. This which may mean that the angle at which the arm extends from the base can be adjusted relative to the vertical, for example to make it extend substantially horizontal (substantially parallel with a floor), or at another angle as may be desired, or suitable for the display. The opening in the cap may comprise a primary opening portion through which the insert cannot pass, for example the primary opening portion may be circular with a diameter less than a diameter of a cylindrical insert. The cap may be installed by passing the arm through the opening until the insert is reached. In some examples the arm may include one or more display carriers which are too large to pass through the opening. The opening may comprise an extended opening portion through which the insert can pass when the insert is arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to the cap. For example, the extended opening portion may be substantially rectangular with a length substantially equal to, or slightly larger than, the diameter of a cylindrical insert and a width substantially equal to, or slightly larger than a length of a cylindrical insert. In such an arrangement a cylindrical insert may be able to pass through the opening only when aligned with, and in a predetermined position with respect to, the extended opening portion, but may not be able to pass though the opening when not so positioned or aligned. The extended opening portion may have a common centre with the primary opening portion, or may be offset therefrom. A common centre may allow the arm component to be swapped with another within the need to remove the cap from the base, will offset centres may provide a more secure attachment as the insert may held by the socket in a position which is offset from the predetermined position of the cap when the cap is secured to the socket. In the locking configuration the extended opening portion may not aligned with and or in the predetermined position with respect to, the insert. The base, arm, and I or cap may be moulded from plastic. All three components may be moulded from any suitable material for example a plastic or mouldable resin. The material may include a recyclable material or a recycled material. The material may comprise a wood filled material. The display holder may comprise no components that are not integrally moulded with one of the base, arm, or cap. This simplifies manufacture and post use recycling as there are no, for example, metal components such as screws or springs in the display holder. The invention also provides a method of adjusting a display holder as described above, the method comprising: arranging the cap in the non-locking configuration in which the first and second engagement features do not engage to thereby allow rotation of the arm relative to the base; rotating the arm to change the angle at which the arm extends relative to the base; moving the cap into the locking configuration. The cap may be moved into the locking configuration by rotating the cap relative to the base. As set out above, the insert may comprise an indicator feature. The indicator feature may comprise an indicator ridge. The indicator ridge may interact with the socket, for example an edge of the socket wall, or a feature thereon, to provide a visual, haptic, or audible indication of the insert reaching a predetermined angular orientation relative to the socket. The arm may be rotated to change the angle at which the arm extends relative to the base until such a visual, haptic, or audible indication is perceived by a user. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 shows a view of a display holder holding a display card; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a display holder; Figures 3 and 4 show views of opposite sides of an arm of a display holder; Figure 5 shows a cross section through a display holder in a non-locking configuration; Figure 6 shows a cross section through a display holder in a locking configuration; Figures 7 and 8 show an exploded view of the base and cap from the front and to the side and from the back and to the side; Figures 9 and 10 show a front view of the base and a cross section through the base along the line A-A of Figure 9; and Figures 11 and 12 show a front view of the cap and a cross section through the cap along the line B-B of Figure 11. Figure 1 shows a view of a display holder 1 comprising a base 2 for attaching to a surface (not shown in this Figure), an arm 4 supporting a display card 8. In this example the display card 8 is wrapped around the arm 4 and extends beyond an end thereof away from the base 2. It should be understood that there are a plurality of other ways in which a display card 8, or other display element could be mounted to the arm 4. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a display holder 1 comprising a base 2 for attaching to a surface, an arm 4 for supporting a display, and a cap 6. The arm 4 comprises an insert 10 at a first end 12 and the base 2 comprises a socket 14 into which the insert 10 can be fitted. The socket 14 is defined by a socket wall 16 and details of the shape of the socket 14 will be shown in more detail in later Figures. The insert 10 have a substantially cylindrical body 18 extending along the insert axis 76 and has a co-axial cylindrical annular projection 20 around an opening 50 through the insert extending from each end face of the cylindrical body 18. End faces of the cylindrical body 18 and co-axial annular projection 20 provide at least one flat surface 24 which cooperates with at least one flat socket wall portion (shown in later Figures) to limit rotation of the insert 10 relative to the socket 14 to rotation parallel to a plane in which the flat surface and flat socket wall portion extend. The cap 6 can be attached to the socket 14 to retain the insert 10 in the socket 14. In this case the cap 6 and socket 14 comprise cooperating screw threads allowing the cap 6 to be coupled to the socket wall 16. As will be shown in later Figures, the cap 6 can be arranged in a locking configuration and a non-locking configuration. The arm 4 extending from the insert 10 through an opening 22 in the cap 6. The insert 10 comprises a plurality of first engagement features 48, in this case a plurality of ridges, which can engage with corresponding second engagement features 44 (not shown in this Figure) of socket 14 when the cap 6 is attached to the base 2 in a locking configuration. Engagement of the first engagement features 48 and second engagement features prevents rotation of the insert 10 such that arm 4 extends from the base 2 at a fixed angle. The first engagement features 48 and second engagement features define at least two angles relative to the base 2 at which the arm 4 can be fixed when the cap 6 is attached to the base 2 in the locking configuration. Figures 3 and 4 show views of opposite sides of an arm 4 of a display holder 1. As can be seen in these Figures, the arm 4 comprises an elongate member 26 extending from the insert 10. The elongate member 26 has the insert at the first end 12 and a transverse member 28 at the opposite, second end 30. The elongate member 26 carries a display carrier 32 which comprises a bracket 34 and a projection 36 to engage with a display card 8 to be carried by the display arm 4. The insert 10 also carries an indicator segment 38 which can be visually oriented in line with the cap 6 to align the arm 4 at substantially 68.5° relative to the base 2. In this example the arm 4 comprises an elongate member 26 that extends beyond the display carrier 32, and the display carrier 32 is formed integrally with the elongate member 26. In other examples the display carrier 32 may not be integrally formed with the elongate member 26 and may be attached thereto. In some examples the elongate member 26 may not extend away from the insert 10 beyond the display carrier 32. Figure 5 shows the display holder 1 in which the base 2 is coupled to a shelf edge 40 using a clip feature 42 which is formed integrally with the base 2 and extends on a side of the base opposite the socket 14. In this Figure the second engagement features 44 can be seen within the socket 14. The second engagement features of this example comprise two ridges that extend from a base element 46 of the base 2. A single ridge could be used, or more than two ridges could be included. The cap 6 in this Figure is in the non-locking position in which the first engagement features 48 of the insert 10 can be disengaged from the second engagement features 44 and the angle of the arm 4 relative to the base 2 can be adjusted. Engagement of the insert 10 in the socket 14 substantially prevents the arm 4 from rotating about an axis other than the insert axis 76 and the space between the cap 6 and base element 46 allow for limited translation of the insert 10. A user can use the clip 42 to attach the display arm to a shelf edge 40 and then adjust 41 the angle of the arm 4 relative to the base 2 until the arm is substantially horizontal, or at any one of a plurality of positions defined by the engagement of the first and second engagement features 48,48 over an angular range of between about 53° and 127°. The orientation of the indicator 38 relative to the cap 6 can be used to facilitate this alignment. Once the arm 4 is at the correct angle, the cap 6 can be screwed onto the socket 14, moving the cap 6 closer to the base element 46. This forces the first engagement features 48 of the insert 10 to move towards, and eventually contact, the second engagement features 44. Figure 6 shows the display holder 1 of Figure 6 in which the cap 6 has been screwed onto the socket 14 of the base 2. Screwing the cap 6 onto the socket 14 forces the insert 10 into the socket 14 towards the base element 46 so that the first engagement features 48 engage with the second engagement features 44 and prevent rotation of the arm 4 relative to the base 2. The reduced space between the cap 6 and base element 46 also acts to clamp the insert between the second engagement features 44 and the cap 6. As there are a plurality of ridges that make up the first engagement feature 48 the second engagement feature 44 can engage with the first engagement features 48 in a plurality of 11 positions to define a plurality of angles relative to the base 2 at which the arm 4 can be fixed when the cap 6 is attached to the base 2 in the locking configuration. In Figure 5 the clip 42 is shown attached to a first shelf edge 40 and in Figure 6 the clip 42 is shown attached to a second shelf edge 42. The clip 42 therefore allows the base 2 to be attached to two different types of shelf edge 40,40’ The clip 42 also includes a finger plate 52 to facilitate removal of the clip 42 from the surface. Figures 7 and 8 show an exploded view of the base 2 and cap 6 from the front and to the side and from the back and to the side. The opening 22 through the cap 6 comprises primary opening portion 66 through which the insert 10 cannot pass. There is also an extended opening portion 54 through which the insert 10 can pass when the insert 10 is arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to the cap 6. The socket 14 comprises a socket wall 16 which is not continuous. In this example the socket wall 16 is divided into two parts 56,58 which are separated by gaps 60. The socket wall 16 comprises flat surfaces 62 which engage with flat surfaces at ends of the annular projection 20 and flat surfaces 64 which engage with flat surfaces at opposite sides of the cylindrical body 18. The flat surfaces 62,64 are substantially parallel with one another and, when engaged with the insert 10, prevent rotation of the insert 10 in the socket 14 about an axis that is not perpendicular to a plane parallel with the flat surfaces 62,64. Figures 9 and 10 show a front view of the base 2 and a cross section through the base 2 along the line A-A of Figure 9. In these Figures the arrangement of the features of the base can be more clearly seen. In particular, the secondary engagement features 44, in this case ridges 68 extending from the base element 46 of the base 2. In this case the ridges 68 are located within the socket 14 on opposite sides of a rectangular hole 70 through the base element 46. The external thread 72 around the outside of the socket wall 16 can also be seen. Figures 11 and 12 show a front view of the cap 6 and a cross section through the cap 6 along the line B-B of Figure 11. In these Figures the arrangement of the features of the cap can be more clearly seen. In particular, the primary opening portion 66 through which the insert 10 cannot pass and the extended opening portion 54 through which the insert 10 can pass when the insert 10 is arranged in a predetermined orientation and position relative to the cap 6. The extended opening portion 54 is offset to one side of the primary opening portion 66 so that, when the insert 10 is seated in the socket 14 and prevented from 5 translating relative to the base 2 rotation of the cap 6 cannot bring the insert into the predetermined orientation and position relative to the cap 6 in which the insert 10 can pass through the opening 22. The internal thread 74 around the inside of the cap 6 that allows the cap 6 to be screwed 10 onto the socket 14 can also be seen.

Claims

1. A display holder comprising a base for attaching to a surface, an arm for supporting a display, and a cap, wherein the arm comprises an insert at a first end and the base comprises a socket into which the insert is fitted, the socket being defined by a socket wall, the insert has at least one flat surface which cooperates with at least one flat socket wall portion to limit rotation of the insert relative to the socket to rotation about an axis perpendicular to a plane in which the flat surface and flat socket wall portion extend, the cap can be attached to the socket to retain the insert in the socket and can be arranged in a locking configuration and a non-locking configuration, the arm extending from the insert through an opening in the cap, the insert comprises a plurality of first engagement features which engage with corresponding second engagement features of the cap or socket when the cap is attached to the base in a locking configuration, engagement of the first and second engagement features prevents rotation of the insert such that the arm extends from the base at a fixed angle, the first and second engagement features define at least two angles relative to the base at which the arm can be fixed when the cap is attached to the base in the locking configuration.

2. A display holder as claimed in claim 1, in which the insert is substantially cylindrical along an insert axis and comprises a flat surface at each end, the flat surfaces being substantially parallel with one another, and in which the socket wall defines a recess extending between opposed flat socket wall portions to accept the insert.

3. A display holder as claimed claim 2, in which the first engagement features comprise ridges extending along a surface of the cylinder.

4. A display holder as claimed in any previous claim in which the socket wall around the insert is not continuous.

5. A display holder as claimed in any previous claim in which the base comprises a shelf clip for attaching the base to a shelf edge.

6. A display holder as claimed in any previous claim in which the cap comprises an internal screw thread and the base comprises a corresponding external screw thread allowing the cap to be screwed onto the base to attach it thereto and move to the cap between a locking configuration and a non-locking configuration.

7. A display holder as claimed in claim 6, in which the number of rotations needed to move between engagement of the cap and base screw threads and screwing the cap into the locking configuration is between 0.5 and 2.5 turns.

8. A display holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which the insert comprises an indicator feature, the indicator feature comprising an indicator ridge, the indicator ridge interacting with the socket to provide a visual, haptic, or audible indication of the insert reaching a predetermined angular orientation relative to the socket.

9. A display holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the opening in the cap comprises a primary opening portion through which the insert cannot pass and an extended opening portion through which the insert can pass when the insert is arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to the cap.

10. A display holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the arm comprises at least one display carrier.

11. A display holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the base, arm, and cap are moulded from plastic.

12. A method of adjusting a display holder, the display holder being as claimed in any preceding claim, and the method comprising:arranging the cap in the non-locking configuration in which the first and second engagement features do not engage to thereby allow rotation of the arm relative to the base;rotating the arm to change the angle at which the arm extends relative to the base; moving the cap into the locking configuration.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, in which moving the cap into the locking configuration comprises rotating the cap relative to the base.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, in which the insert comprises an indicator feature, the indicator feature comprising an indicator ridge, the indicator ridge interacting with the socket to provide a visual, haptic, or audible indication of the insert reaching a predetermined angular orientation relative to the socket and the arm is rotated to change the angle at which the arm extends relative to the base until such an visual, haptic, or audible indication is perceived by a user.

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