Fabric Display Kit

Abstract

A rigid spine member hingedly supports front and back covers. Each of the covers includes two generally rigid portions which are separated by a hinge spaced apart from and parallel to the sides of the spine member. A central divider member is connected to the middle of the spin member and extends between the covers. Stacks of fabric are arranged between each of the covers and the divider member in side-by-side relationship. Each stack of fabric includes variations of the same primary color, with the primary colors of adjacent stacks being different.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fabric display kits, and more particularly, to portable display kits for enabling inspection of a large number of fabric swatches in a desired color.

THE PRIOR ART

It has long been a problem in the wholesale and retail marketing of fabrics to present a wide variety of cloth textures in a number of colors to prospective buyers. As an example, fabrics for use with draperies, slip covers, upholstery, bedspreads, valances, wall coverings, window shades and the like are made in a wide range of fabric textures and colors. Fabric salesmen have thus heretofore resorted to carrying a large number of loose fabric swatches of different colors which could be inspected by a prospective buyer. Such a technique not only involves transportation and handling of a large mass of heavy fabric material, but a customer is often dissuaded from thumbing through such a large mass of fabric swatches.

Jobber sample books have also been developed wherein sample fabric swatches are cut into squares and bound into a sample book. Such sample books have, however, been extremely heavy and have not been able to contain a desirable amount of fabric samples. In addition, it has not have heretofore feasible to arrange fabrics of similar colors together for ease of inspection and comparison. Moreover, such books have been difficult to handle due to their size, and have generally been difficult to maintain in an opened position due to their tendency to fall back into the closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a fabric display kit is provided which includes a generally rectangular rigid spine member having rigid sides depending normally therefrom. Front and back covers hingedly depend from the sides, with each of the covers including two generally rigid portions separated by a hinge which is spaced apart from and parallel from the sides of the spine member. A central divider member depends from the middle of the spine and extends between the covers. A plurality of stacks of fabric swatches are attached at one end of the spine member and are disposed in a side-by-side relationship between each of the covers and the divider member. The finish side of the fabric swatches adjacent the front cover of the book are disposed in opposite directions from the fabric swatches disposed adjacent the rear cover of the book.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a rigid spine member has an elongated rectangular configuration and includes sides which extend from the edges thereof. Front and back covers are pivotally connected opposite ones of the sides, with each of the covers having a hinge portion extending therethrough to facilitate opening thereof. A divider member is connected within the spine member and has a hinge portion across the length thereof. A first set of stacks of fabric swatches are arranged between the front cover and the divider member in a side-by-side relationship. A second set of stacks of the fabric are connected to the spine member and are arranged between the back cover and the divider member in a side-by-side relationship. Each of the stacks of fabric has a different primary color relationship than the adjacent fabric stacks.

THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fabric display kit of the invention in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view of the kit shown in FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the fabric kit shown in FIG. 3 in an open position; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the kit shown in FIG. 1 in a maximum tilted open position;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the present kit is generally designated by the numeral 10 and includes a generally rectangular rigid spine member 12 which includes a handle mounted thereon for ease of transportation. Rigid sides 16 depend upon the spine 12, with end portions 18 completing the generally rectangular binder assembly. A front cover 20 is pivotally connected to side 16 by a hinge 22. Front cover 20 comprises a relatively narrow rigid portion 24 which is separated from a wider rigid portion 26 by a flexible hinge 28. Hinge 28 may comprise an area of reduced thickness to enable the portions 24 and 26 to pivot relative to one another. A rear cover 30 is pivotally connected to the opposite side 16 of the spine member 12 at a hinge 32. Rear cover 30 consists of a relatively narrow rigid portion 34 which is separated from a wider rigid portion 36 by a flexible hinge 38.

A central divider member 40 is connected within the spine member 12 and extends between the front cover 20 and the rear cover 30. A plurality of fabric swatches 42 and 44 are disposed between the divider member 40 and the front and rear covers in a manner to be subsequently described. The fabric swatches 42 and 44, and the divider member, are connected at the ends thereof within the spine member 12 by suitable fastener members 46.

FIG. 2 illustrates the present fabric display kit in an open position. A first set of stacks 50a-d of fabric swatches may be seen to be arranged between the front cover 20 and the divider member 40 in a side-by-side relationship. Each of the stacks 50a-d have generally the same thickness and the same width, and each are connected within the spine member 12 by the fastener members 46 at the ends thereof. Each of the stacks may individually be bent backwards, as shown by stack 50a, to enable inspection thereof. An important aspect of the invention is that each of the stacks 50a-d are comprised of fabrics of different texture, but which have the same general primary color so that a prospective buyer may inspect all fabric swatches of the same color at the same time. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, when the book is in its open position, the ends of each of stacks 50a-d are somewhat staggered to enable visual inspection of the colors of the lower swatches in each stack.

In addition to a hinge in the divider member closely adjacent to the spine member, the divider member 40 may be seen to include a hinge portion 52 extending along the length thereof to facilitate maximum opening of the book, as will be later described. Additionally, a second set of stacks of fabric swatches 54a-d are disposed between the divider member 40 and the rear cover 30 in a side-by-side relationship. Each of the stacks 54a-d have essentially the same thickness and are of essentially of the same width, with each of the stacks being connected at the end thereof within the spine member 12 by the fastener members 46. Again, each of the stacks of fabric swatches 54a-d have a similar primary color which is different from the adjacent stacks of fabric. An important aspect of the invention is that the finish or pattern side of the swatches in the stacks 54a-d are disposed in a different direction than the swatches 50a-d, so that the book may be reversed and easily inspected from either side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hinges 28 and 38 on the front and rear covers enable the present kit to accommodate the increased thickness of the fabric swatches without increasing the size and weight of the spine member. Referring to FIG. 3, the hinge 28 enables the front cover 20 to bend in such a manner as to keep the kit in a stable open position. This enables the customer to flip through the various fabric swatches without the kit tending to become closed. In this open position, the edges of the fabric swatches may be seen to be staggered for ease of visibility. As shown in FIG. 4, in the most extreme open position of the kit, the kit may be maintained in a very stable open position for long periods of time. This is primarily because of the bend portion 52 in the divider member 40, and because of the hinges 28 and 38 on the covers. Of course, when it is desired to inspect fabric swatches 54a-c, the book is merely reversed in position and the rear cover opened.

The present fabric display kit thus enables a large combination of fabric patterns and color combinations to be placed before a prospective buyer, without the requirement of handling, transporting or storing large masses of fabric swatches. The grouping of colors of the present fabric swatches enables the prospective customer to examine all textures and patterns of the fabric in a given primary color in the same general location. The staggering of the edges of the fabric swatches when the book is open enables the customer to quickly pick out the cloth and color which he desires. The use of the various hinges of the invention enables the book to be maintained in very stable open positions.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended to encompass those changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fabric display kit comprising:

a generally rectangular rigid spine member having rigid sides depending normally from opposed edges thereof,

front and back covers hingedly depending from said sides,

each of said covers including two generally rigid portions separated by a hinge which is spaced apart from and parallel to the sides of said spine member,

A central divider member depending from the middle of said spine member and extending between said covers, and

a plurality of stacks of fabric swatches each having a width less than the total width of said spine member and being attached at one end to said spine member, said stacks disposed in a side-by-side relationship between each of said covers and said divider member such that the finish side of the fabric swatches on opposite sides of said divider member are disposed in opposite directions.

2. The fabric display kit of claim 1 wherein the fabric swatches in each said stack are provided with variations of the same primary color, the primary colors of adjacent stacks being different.

3. The fabric display kit of claim 1 wherein said divider member includes a bend portion along the width thereof and spaced parallel from said spine member to enable said kit to remain in a stable open position.

4. The sample display kit defined in claim 1 wherein the rigid portions of said covers are angled with respect to one another in order to accommodate the thicknesses of said fabric swatches.