CA1308907C - Header for merchandise display fixture and sign assembly therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A header for mounting on an upright column or columns of a merchandise display unit, with the header being of generally arcuate configuration, in plan, and having vertically spaced tracks thereon receiving and mounting a removable flexible strip sign or signs, such as for instance a sign having advertising or caption indicia thereon. The tracks are so constructed and arranged that the sign can be expeditiously assembled onto the header by threading the flexible sign through slots and into the tracks for mounting the sign on the header, and also providing for rapid removal or changing of the sign.
The header, in certain embodiments, comprises a plurality of generally circular, in plan, sections connected together at predetermined peripheral locations thereof, with each section being adapted for mounting on a respective column of the display unit.

Description

13~ 7 ~EADER YOR MERCHANDISE DISPLAY FIXTURE
AND SIGN ASSEMBLY THEREFOR
SPECIFICATION
The present invention relates to a display 5 fixture or unit for displaying merchandise, such as for instance, greeting cards, and more particularly relates to header structure for the top of such display Ullit, with the header beiny adapted to mount thereon a sign or signs such as an advertising or 10 caption sigrl.
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVENTION
Various types of article display units or fixtures, are well known in the prior art. For example, it is known in the art to provide what are 15 called "spinner type" display units which consist of a column or columns mounting rotatable merchandise display shelve~ thereon, with such shelves having upwardly facing pockets for receiving and displaying merchandise therein, such as for instance, greeting 20 cards. These display units, known in the art as aforementioned as "spinners" conventionally have a "header" mounted adjacent the upper end of the column or columns of the display unit, and such headers conventionally include thereon caption or 25 advertising indicia.
However, the mounting of signs on such prior art headers has generally consisted of fastening a sign embodying caption indicia to the header, and the a~ility to rapidly mount a sign onto 30 the header alld to rapidly remove and/or change the 13(~89~`7 sign on the header in the event of desire or necessity to change the sign, has not, to applicants' knowledge, heretofore generally been available to users of the displa~ unit.
5 SU~ARY OF TIE INVENTION
The present invention provides a header of arcuate configuration in plan, for a merchandise display fixture or unit, which header includes track strl~ctore thereon which enables the expeditious 10 threadil-g an~i self directing of a flexible strip si(~n into the track structure, for mounting the sign on the }~eader, and for likewise changiny the sign on the header, or removing the sign from the header, if it is desired to change the content of the 15 advertising or the caption on the header sign. Also, the header is initially formed in half sections which are subsequently disposed in stacked back-to-back relation with one another and fastened together along a generally horizontal juncture plane, as by 20 adhesive, or by heat or other suitable bonding procedures, to forM tlle complete header for the merchandise display fixture.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel header for a merchandise 25 display fixture or unit.
Another object of the invention is to provide a header which is comprised of half sections of generally the sarne or identical structure able to be disposed in stacked relationship with one another 30 along a generally horizolltal juncture plane, and 13~8~

enabling expeditious alignment and securement of the two stacked header sections to one another, to form the complete header, so that the latter can be utilized in a merchalldise display unit.
~ still further object of the invention is to provide a header arrangement of the afore-discussed type which includes thereon track structure which when the header half sections are secured or coupled together, provides vertically 10 spaced tracks adapted to receive therein in self directing relatiorl flexible strip sign means for mounting the sign means on the header, and wherein tne sign means can be rapidly threaded into the tracks for mounting of the sign means, and just as 15 rapidly changed, or completely removed from the tracks.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a header of the aforedescribed type which includes vertical openings extending there-20 through, for permi~ting light to pass onto theunderlying merchandise displayed in the fixture, and wherein the header also may provide for facilitating removal of merchandise from the upper-most merchandise receiving pockets of the merchandise 25 holding shelves on the display fixture.
~ still further object of the invention is to provide a novel Merchandise display fixture which embodies an upright column thereon, and merchandise receiving shelf members spaced 30 vertically along the column, with at least certain 13C~ 7 of the shelf members each including an upwardly opening pocket therein adapted for receiving and displaying merchandise therein, such as for instance, greeting cards, and wherein the display 5 fixture includes a header mounted 0!1 the column above th~ shelf members, with the header having means th~reon for expeditiously mounting a flexible strip sign by providing for threading the sign into the sign mounting means on the header, and just as 10 expeditiously providing for movement of the sign relative to the header, or complete removal of the sign from the header, in order to change the sign format.
A still further object of the invention 15 is to provide a header of the aforedescribed type which can be mass produced from plastic material, utilizing known vacuum molding processes, and wherein shipping of the header is facilitated.
Other objects and advantages of the 20 invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
_ FIGURE 1 is 2 generally diagramrnatic, 25 front perspective view of a "spinner type" display fixture including a header er~odying the invention, a number of the conventional individually rotatable shelf members on the columns have been deleted in the FIGURE 1 showing, FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of ~3~ 7 one of the half sections of the header structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, which is adapted to be dispose~ in stacked rel~tion with another like half section along a generally horizontal juncture plane 5 and secured to one another, to form the complete header FIGURE 3 is an end view of the header half section of FIGURE 2 taken from the left hand end thereof, FIGURE ~ is an end view of the header l-alf section of E`IGURE 2 taken from the right hand end thereof:
FIGURE 5 iS a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 15 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view 20 taken generally along the plane of line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 8 iS a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 8-8 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 9 iS a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 9-9 of ~IGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 10 iS a perspective illustration showing the threading of a flexible strip sign into 30 the verticall.y spaced tracks commencing with the central circular section of the header structure of FIGURES 1-9:

13~ i 7 FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 but showing self directing progress of one embodiment of sign about the periphery of the central section of the header structure with the sign ~eing slidably S movable via the tracks from the central section ~nto an adjacent header section (in this instance the right hand header section);
FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of another embodiment of header structure utilizing only two 10 circular header sections connected together at their peripheries, rather than the three connected sections shown in FIGURES 1-11;
FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 13-13 of 15 FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken qenerally along the plane of line 14-14 of FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary, sectional view 20 taken generally along the plane of line 15-15 of FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows, FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 16-16 of FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows, FIGURE 17 iS a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 17-17 of FIGURE l? looking in the direction of the arrows;
FlGURE 18 is a perspective view of the header of FIGURES 12-17, from the top thereof;
FIGURE 19 is a generaily front elevational l3a~8~ia 7 view of the header of FIGURES 12-18, and as mounted on a pair of columns of a merchandise display unit, which may be of the aforementioned "spinner type"
display unit, FIGURE 20 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of header for a merchandise display unit, utilizing a single circular portion having arcuate txack means thereoll for threadin~ly receiving and moun~ing in self directin~3 relation a flexible strip 10 sign;
FIGURE 21 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 21-21 of FIGURE 20 looking in the direction of the arrows:
YIGU~E 22 is a fragmentary, sectional view 15 taken generally along the plane of line 22-22 of FIGURE 20 looking i. the direction of the arrow.s, FIGURE 23 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 23-23 of FIGURE 20 looking in the direction of the arrows:
FIGURE 24 is a fraqmentary, sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 24-24 of FIGURE 2~ looking itl the direction of the arrows;
FIGU~ 25 is a diagrarnmatic perspective view of a three section header of the type of 25 FIGURES 1-11, illustrating the threading of a flexible strip sign into the receiviny tracks on the right hand header section, for mourlting of the associated sign on that header section;
FI~URE 26 is a fragrnerltary, perspective 30 view illustrating the commencement of insertion of a 13(;~ 7 fillet member into the tracks, at the connection between two adjacent header sections which have already had individual signs mounted thereon, for giving tlle general appearance of one continuous 5 sign to the front of the header assembly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, with such fillet also hidinq the connection structure between the header sections, FI~URE 27 is a broken front elevational 10 view of a flexible strip sign having a plurality of different type, spaced, advertising or caption indicia thereon, for use with the headers of FIGURES 1-26; and FIGURE 28 is a broken elevational view of a strip sign illustrating another embodiment thereof, 15 and wherein all of the spaced advertizing or caption indicia thereon are the same type or style.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND
ALTERNATE ~.~ODIMENTS
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Re~erring now again to the drawings, and 20 particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is illustrated a merchandise display fixture or unit 10, which in the embodiment illustrated is of the "spinner" type and comprised of three columns 12, 14 and 16, each of which extends upwardly from a 25 respective base portion 18, and which have a plurality of merchandise receiving members or shelves 20 disposed vertically along the respective column. Each shelf 20 in the embodiment illustrated, comprises upwardly opening pocket 30 structure 22 which is adapted to receive therein merchandise for display, such as for instance greeting cards 22a shown in phantom in FIGURE 1.

13(~ 7 g Shelves 20 are preferably rotatable in generally horizontal planes with respect to the associated column for making readily accessible to the front of the merchandise display unit, the various 5 pockets of merchandise on a respective shelf.
Conventionally, a merchandise display unit may have vertically spaced shelves extending from close to the base 18 thereof all the way up to adjacent tl~e upper end of the display unit, and 10 rel~tively ~lose to the header stru-ture 24 mounted on the top of the columns 12, 14 and 16, and as illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, for ease and simplicity of illustration, only a few of the shelves conventionally mounted on the column or 15 columns are illustrated in FIGURE 1.
Header structure 24, with which the invention is particularly concerned, comprises, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, three, arcuate in plan (circular in the embodiment 20 illustrated FIGURES 2, 10 and 11) sections 24a, 24b and 24c which are connected together by connecting portions 26 at predetermined peripheral locations on the header sections, to form the total header. Each header section 24a, 24b or 24c is 25 associated with a respective column 12, 14 or 16 of the display unit, and has peripheral track 28 extending thereabout, and communicating at the connecting portions 26, with the tracks 28 on the other header sections.
Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2, it will be understood that FIGURES 2-9 illustrate only one half section 29 of the total header structure, with the complete header structure being illustrated in FlGURES 1 and 10 and 11. Thus, to form the total or complete header structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 10 and 11, two of the header half sections 29 5 illustrated in FIGURES 2-9 are utilized in stacked, back-to-back relation with respect to one another alo!lq a g~neral horizolltal ahutment plar-e X-X and then such upper al~d lower stackecl half header sectio!ls ar~ secured to ol)e another by a~y suitable 1~ Ill~'a!~S, to torm ~he complete header. FIGURES 10 and 11 as aforemen~iosed illustrate the comp'ete header comprised of two of the header half sections 29 of FIGURES 2-9 having been fastened to one another in stacked hack-to-back relation along the afore-15 mentioned abutmellt or juncture plane X X. Suchfasteniry of the }-eader half sections can be accomplisl-ed by any suita~le means as for instance, adhesive means, or by heat bonding or heat welding, all of which are known in the art. The header half 20 sections may be expeditiously formed and mass produced for installce, by vacuum molding of suitable known plastic or plastics and which has been found to be an e~pe(3itious method of producing the header.
As can be best seen in FIGURES 2-11, each 25 circular header section 24a, 24b or 24c of each half section 29 comprises a formed cel~tral spindle 30 which is adapted to be received interiorly of the upper hollow end of the associated column in mounting the header on t}-e columns in the merchandise display 30 unit illustrat~d in FIGUR~ 1. The base or back wall 32 13~9G~

of each of the arcuate header sections is provided with openinqs 34 therein which permits light to pass through the header structure onto the underlying merchandise in the pockets 22 of shelves 20, and the formed 5 hollow recess 35 in the lower half section of the complete header facilitates the removal of the merchan-dise from the pockets 22 and more particularly the merchandise in those upper shelves of the merchandise display unit which are ~enerally immediately adjacent lO the bottom o~ the header, and as will be hereinafter described in ~reater detail. Radially extending hollow ribs 36 may be provided on back wall 32 and in recess 35 of each header section, for strengthening purposes. Such ribs may open to the exterior surfaces 15 of the respective header section, as at 37 (FIG. lO).
Each header half section 29 as illustrated in FIGURE 2, preferably has a projection 38 formed on one of its outer arcuate sections (and in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2 is formed on 20 the right hand section 24c) and also a complementary sized recess 40 formed in the other outer arcuate section ~and in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE

2 on the left hand circular section 24a). When a pair of the header half sections 29 (one of which is 25 shown in FIGU~ES 2-9) are assembled with one another in back-to-back stacked relationship, to form the complete header, the projection 38 on the lower half section 29 of the complete header will be received in the recess 40 on the upper half section 30 29, while the projection 3~ on the upper half section will be received in the recess 40 in the lower half 13~9~7 section, for aligning the stacXed header half sections with respect to one another during the attachment there-cf together. As aforementioned, this attachment may be conveniently accomplished by utilization of adhesive or by conventional heat bonding and/or heat riveting methods known in the art, for securing together molded plastic members. In any event, the header half sections ?9 when so disposed in stacked and secured relation, form the complete header.
The vertically spaced tracks 28 on the complete header define upwar~ly and downwardly facing channels for mounting a flexible strip sign e.g. 42 or 42' (FIGURES 1, 10, 27 and 28) on the header. Such sign may be formed of any suitable material, such as 15 for instance flexible plastic or paper, and has imprinted or embodied thereon advertising or caption indicia, such as for instance the caption groups 44, 46 and 48 best illustrated in FIGURES 1, 27 and 28.
The tracks or channels 28 are slotted as at 50 prefer-20 ably adjacent the junctures of the connecting portions26 with the circular header sections, so that the flexible sign 42 or 42' can be conveniently threaded into one header section and slidingly moved along the track structure 28, with one of the caption indicia 25 on the respective sign being adapted to be positioned at a frontal showing location on the respective header section of the merchandise display unit, for advertis-ing, for instance, the type or the origin of merchan-dise being displayed in the shelves 20 of the 30 respective section of the display unit.

13~891~I7 It will be understood that a sign e.g. 42' can be associated with each individual header section with such sign embodying thereon a plurality of spaced identical type advertising or caption indicia groups 5 thereon (FIG. 28) so that the same indicia is located at spaced locations on the periphery of the header, or the sign may have a plurality of different type spa-ed advertising or caption indicia groups thereon (e.g. FIG. 27) so that the caption indicia that is 10 positioned to appear on the front of the respective hea~3er section, can be changed by moving the sign slidingly along the tracks on the respective circular section. In other words, if the caption indicia 48 (FIG. 27) was initially fronting on the respective 15 header section and it was desired to change such advertising or caption indicia to say for instance, the caption indicia 44, the sign may be manually slidingly moved in its track structure on its respec-tive header section until such caption indicia 44 is 20 positioned to appear at the front of the merchandise display unit on the respective header section. Also of course the entire siyn could be changed by thread-ing it out of the respective header section and replacing it with a new sign having a different 25 caption indicia thereon.
It will be noted especially from FIGURES
10 and 11, that the track or channel structure 28 on the header extend about each individual arcuate header section and also are connected as at 51 at 30 the connecting portions 26 of the header. Accordingly, 13~g~7 it is possible to provide one long single strip sign, with a plurality of spaced advertising or caption indicia thereon and to thread the sign into a pair of the spaced slots S0 on the header and then move 5 such single sign about all of the header sections until the desired advertising or caption indicia group appears at the front of the respective section of the header of the merchandise display unit. It will be understood therefore that it is not absolutely neces-10 sary to hav~ three separate signs for header sections?4a, ?4b or ?4c, but that one sign with the adequate grouping of advertising or caption indicia thereon could be utili~ed for presenting three indicia group-ings on the sign facing forwardly to the front of the 15 merchandise display unit of FIGURE 1, while providing for selectively changing such forwardly presented indicia by sliding the sign lengthwise of the retain-ing channels 28, until frontal presentation of other desired caption indicia on the sign is accomplished.
20 However each header section may have its own individual sign of the type for instance shown in FIGURE 28 wherein the spaced caption indicia are of the same type.
Each header section 24a, 24b, 24c preferably embodies sign locating projections or markings 55 25 thcrcon (FI~,S. 7, 3, 10 and 11) which are adapted for alignment with markings or indicia 55a (FIGS. 27 and 28) on the signs to provide a mechanical means for proper positioning of the caption groups on the sign, so that such caption groups face forwardly of the 30 respe^tive header section, without the necessity for visual orientation by the installer.

13~9~7 It will be noted that the aforementioned connecting portions 26 on each half section 29 of the header comprise in the embodiment illustrated, an embossment 54 which has concave-like exterior defining 5 side surfaces 54a and concave, defining end surfaccs 54b with sush side surfaces and end surfaces being in general alignment with the associated track means, for aiding in guidin~ the travel of the flexible sign as it moves on the tracks or channels about the 10 periphery of the rcspective header section or between the header sections.
Referring now to FIGURES 12 through 19, there is shown another embodiment of the header in which only a pair of arcuate header sections 24a' and 24b' 15 are provided connected at connecting portion 26'.
This type of header is adapted for being used in a merchandise display unit which embodies only a pair of columns for mounting shelves 20 thereon rather than the triple column arrangement of the FIGURE 1 20 display unit.
The formed spindle 30' on each half section 29' in this embodiment, may be provided with radially extending external ribs 56 (FIGURES 12 and 13) which are adapted to pass through complementary openings 25 or slots 5~3 (FIGURE 19) at the upper end of the respective column 14' and 16' (or in an adapter for each such column) to interlock the header with the respective column.
In other respects, this header structure 30 is generally similar to that of the header of the 13~t}7 first described embodiment of FIGURES 1-11 and like reference numbers have been utilized to refer to like structural components. This twin circular section header structure also el~odies projection 38 5 thereon adapted to be received within a complementary recess 40 of the stacked back-to-back half sections 29' to form the complete header when the header half sections ar~ joined or fastened together along a ~enerally horizontal juncture plane X-X as for instance, 10 by m~ans of adhesive or the like. Such joined half sections provide the vertically spaced tracks 28 for the complete header and in the same general manner aforedescriked in connection with the FIGURES 1~11 e~bodiment, such track structure preferably including 15 the slots 50 therein for threading thereinto a flexible strip sign to present advertising or caption indicia facing forwardly on the merchandise display unit and for each header section of the header.
Referring now to FIGURES 20~24 there is 20 shown a further embodiment of header wherein only a single arcuate header section is utilized rather than the paired grouping or the triple section grouping of the first described embodiments. FIGURES 20-24, of course, illustrate only a half header section 29", 25 with the complete header being formed by utilizing a pair of the half sections illustrated in FIGURES 20-24, disposed in stacked bacX-to-back relationship, and joined or connected together along a generally horizontal plane X-X to form the complete header.

13(~ 7 ~ his embodiment of header as illustrated also includes ribs 56 on the spindle 30' thereof, similarly to the FIGURES 12-19 embodiment, and liXewise in_lucles a projecting portion 38 and a recess portion 5 40 formed thereon, adapted for coaction with the respective recess and projecting portion on the other header half section when assembled along the afore-mentioned generally horizontal juncture plane, for aligning the stacked upper and lower half sections 10 29" with respect to one another prior to their being attached, to form the complete header~
Referring now to FIGURES 25 and 26, there is illustrated in FIGUR~ 25, the insertion of a flexible strip sign,(e.q. 42'), into the right hand 15 header section of a three section group header (of the type for instance of FIGURES 1-11) subsequent to having already inserted a strip sign 42' into the central header section, and showing one possible entry route into the tracks 28.
In order to give an improved appearance to the advertising or caption indicia and the associated sign structure on the header, aq shown in FIGURE 26, a flexible fillet member 60 may be inserted into the track structure at each of the connector portions 25 26 between each header section, so that at least from the front of the merchandise display unit, the sign mounted on each individual section of the header will appear to be smoothly continuous about the arcuate header configuration, with such fillet member 60 also 30 concealing the connecting structure embossments 54.

13l~

The continuous tracks 28 which extend about the respective header section and across the associated connecting ~ortions 26 provide for mounting and rctaining each applied fillet member 60 in position S at the respective connecting por~ion 26.
~ eferring now again particuarly to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that when it is desired to remove merchandise from the pockets 22 in the shelves 20 lying immediately beneath the header structure of 10 ~he display unit, the merchandise can be raised upwardly into the overlying recess 35 in the respective section of the lower half 29 of the header structure, in order to clear the associated shelf structure, and then the merchandise can be moved laterally and down-15 wardly for complete removal from the display unit.
From the foregoing discussion and accompany-ing drawings it will be seen that the invention pro-vides novel header arrangements for merchandise display fixtures or units, which header arrangements 20 include track structure thereon enabling the expeditiou~
threading in generally self directing relation, of a flexible strip sign into the track structure, for mounting the sign on the header, and for likewise chang-ing the caption or advertising indicia of the sign on 25 the respective header section, or removing the sign from the header if it is desired to completely change the content of the advertising or caption indicia on the header sign.
The sign may have a plurality of different 30 type advertising indicia groups thereon, so that ~3~39Ci7 selected groups can be presented to the frontal side of the header by sliding the sign relative to the retaining track structure on the header, thus elimi-nating the necessity of completely removing a sign 5 from the header if a change in the merchandise being displayed in the merchandise display unit is made, or the sign may have all the same type or style of indicia groups disposed in spaced relation thereon for use with a selected header section.
The invention also provides a header which is initially formed in half sections with such half sections being su~sequently disposed in stacked back-to-back relation with respect to one another, and then fastened together along a generally horizontal 15 juncture plane, as by means of adhesive or other suitable bonding procedures, to form the complete header for the merchandise display fixture.
The invention also provides a header of the aforementioned type which includes means thereon for 20 aligning the header half sections with respect to one another in said horizontal plane prior to accomplishing attachment of the same together, thus facilitating the assembly of the half sections to form the complete header.
The header may also include vertical openings extending therethrough for permitting light to pass onto the underlying merchandise displayed in the fi.Yture, and wherein underside recess areas in the molded header facilitates the remo~al of merchan-30 dise from the uppermost merchandise displaying shelves 13(~

on the merchandise display unit, by providing clearance for the merchandise to be raised upwardly into the interior recess space of the header, and then by moving the merchandise laterally of the shelf members, it 5 is moved out of interfering relationship with and past the respective shelf member.
The specific indicia on the header signs used with ~he multi-sectioned headers are physically separated yet retain a "family" look through the use 10 of the arcuate shape of the grouped sections of the multi-sectioned headers.
The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of 15 such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Claims (18)

1. A header for a merchandise display unit having means of arcuate configuration for mounting a sign thereon and operative to permit threading of a flexible strip sign into sign receiving and retaining relation on said means, and wherein said header comprises a plurality of arcuate, in plan, header sections connected together by portions at predetermined peripheral locations thereon to form total header, with each said header section including thereon said sign mounting means.

2. A header in accordance with claim 1 wherein said header is formed of separate upper and lower portions which are substantially identical to one another as formed and are then joined together along a generally horizontal juncture plane, to form the complete header.

3. A header in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connecting portions comprise an embossment having concave-like exterior defining side surfaces and disposed between each respective header section, said side surfaces being oriented in general alignment with the sign mounting means for guiding the travel of the flexible sign as it moves about the periphery of the respective header section.

4. A header in accordance with claim 1 including a flexible strip sign threaded into said sign mounting means in mounted relation on each said header section of said header, and fillet sign strips inserted into said sign mounting means at the juncture connections of said header sections with one another, so as to give the appearance of one continuous sign rather than a plurality of separate signs as associated with each respective header sections.

5. A header for a merchandise display unit having means of arcuate configuration for mounting a sign thereon and operative to permit threading of a flexible strip sign into sign receiving and retaining relation on said means, said header also comprising a body of generally arcuate configuration in plan with said arcuate means comprising spaced upper and lower tracks on said body following the general contour of said body, for receiving therein in relatively sliding relationship the sign, and operative to mount the latter on said body, and wherein said header comprises a plurality of arcuate, in plan, header sections defining said body, and connected together by portions at predetermined peripheral locations thereon to form the total header, and wherein each said upper and said lower tracks are continuous about each respective header section and also on the connecting portions thereof, whereby a sign can be threaded into one respective header section and moved onto another header section via said continuous tracks.

6. A header in accordance with claim 5 wherein said tracks comprise a pair of channels one of which faces upwardly and the other of which faces downwardly depending on whether said channel is on the lower or on the upper portion of said header with slot means in at least one of said channels for enabling the sign to be expeditiously threaded into the respective upper and lower pair of arcuate channels without substantial frictional resistance during assembly of the respective sign onto said header.

7. A header for merchandise display unit having means of arcuate configuration for mounting a sign thereon and operative to permit threading of a flexible strip sign into sign receiving and retaining relation on said means, and which includes opening means therein extending generally vertically therethrough whereby light can pass without obstruction through said header onto an associated display unit.

8. A header in accordance with claim 7 which is comprised of molded plastic.

9. A header in accordance with claim 7 comprised of general circular sections, in plan, of molded plastic material connected together at certain locations along their peripheries to form a unitary header structure of grouped circular sections, with said arcuate configuration means comprising tracks continuous about each of said circular sections and said connecting certain locations whereby a sign threaded into said tracks adjacent one of said circular sections can be slidably moved and substantially self directed around all of the connected circular sections.

10. A header in accordance with claim 7 including means for mounting said header on a respective column of the merchandise display unit, and wherein the merchandise display unit includes merchandise receiving members having upwardly opening pocket structured therein adapted for receiving merchandise for display, said members being mounted on said column in vertically spaced relation, and wherein said header is disposed adjacent at least one of said members, with said header having recess means therein enabling merchandise to be removed from said pocket structure of said one member by moving it vertically upwardly partially into said recess means and then laterally and downwardly away from obstructing relation to said one member.

11. A header in accordance with claim 7 formed of separate upper and lower portions which are substantially identical to one another as formed and are then joined together along a generally horizontal juncture plane to form the complete header, and including projection and recess means on each said upper and lower portion thereof adapted for coaction with complementary means on the other said portion of the header, for aligning the header portions with respect to one another preparatory to said joining together thereof.

12. A header for a merchandise display unit having means of arcuate configuration for mounting a sign thereon and operative to permit threading of a flexible strip sign into sign receiving and retaining relation on said means, and wherein said header is formed of separate upper and lower portions fastened together along a generally horizontal juncture plane, and including projection and recess means on each of said portions adapted for coaction with one another for vertically aligning the upper and lower portions in said horizontal plane preparatory to fastening the same together.

13. A header for a merchandise display unit having means of arcuate configuration for mounting a sign thereon and operative to permit threading of a flexible strip sign into sign receiving and retaining relation on said means, said header being mounted on the upper end of a merchandise display fixture, said fixture comprising a generally vertical column with merchandise receiving structure projecting radially from said column and having therein upwardly opening pockets adapted for receiving merchandise for display, said header being mounted on the upper end of said column generally adjacent by above the uppermost of said merchandise receiving pocket structure, said header being of arcuate configuration in plan and including a flexible strip sign mounted on said sign mounting means.

14. A display fixture header in accordance with claim 13 wherein said sign mounting means thereon comprises spaced upper and lower tracks on said header receiving therein in relatively slidable and self directing relation said sign, said tracks being slotted at predetermined locations operative to permit said threading of said sign onto said mounting means on said header.

15. A merchandise display unit comprising a base, a column projecting generally vertically upwardly from said base, a plurality of merchandise receiving members disposed vertically along said column, each receiving member defining at least one upwardly opening pocket adapted to receive merchandise therein, such as for instance, greeting cards, and a header mounted on said column generally adjacent the uppermost merchandise receiving member and above the latter, said header having means of arcuate configuration in plan for mounting a sign thereon by threading a flexile strip sign into said sign receiving means on said header, whereby said sign can be conveniently assembled with, moved along, and removed from said header, said sign receiving means comprising upper and lower tracks on said header receiving therein in relative slidable relation said sign.

16. A display unit in accordance with claim 15 wherein said header includes a downwardly projecting spindle portion adapted for coaction with said column for supporting said header on said display unit, and said spindle portion having radially extending ribs thereon coacting with means on said column to interlock said header with respect to said column.

17. A header for a merchandise display unit having means of arcuate configuration for mounting a sign thereon and operative to permit threading of a flexible strip sign into sign receiving and retaining relation on said means, said header including a body of generally arcuate configuration in plan with said arcuate means comprising spaced upper and lower tracks on said body following the general contour of said body, for receiving therein in relatively sliding relationship the sign, and operative to mount the latter on said body, and including a flexible strip sign threaded into said sign mounting means in supported relation thereon, and means on said body adapted for alignment with means on said sign for aiding in positioning said sign for optimum visual effect relation to said body.

18. A header in accordance with claim 17 wherein said means on said body comprises protuberance means positioned respectively on said upper and lower tracks and projecting laterally thereof and positioned in predetermined relation with respect to the arcuate perimeter of said header, and said means on said sign comprising a mark thereon in predetermined relationship to the lengthwise extent of said sign and with respect to the advertising or caption indicia thereon, said sign being adapted to be slidingly moved in said tracks relative to said body unit said mark on said sign is aligned with said protuberance means on said tracks.

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