U.S. patent number 3,698,111 [Application Number 05/113,260] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-17 for document holder.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pyramid, Inc.. Invention is credited to Thomas R. Smith.
United States Patent |
3,698,111 |
Smith |
October 17, 1972 |
DOCUMENT HOLDER
Abstract
A generally rectangular document holder comprising a pair of
flexible film-like transparent sheets fixed along opposite sides to
a pair of elongated magnetic strips. The document holder will
receive and retain a document such as an automobile registration to
permit displaying the document in a suitable location within the
automobile.
Inventors: |
Smith; Thomas R. (Newton,
IA) |
Assignee: |
Pyramid, Inc. (Newton,
IA)
|
Family
ID: |
22348463 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/113,260 |
Filed: |
February 8, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/661.01;
40/711; 40/600 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
1/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
1/10 (20060101); G09F 1/00 (20060101); G09f
003/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/10,1A,1B,129C,142A,155 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A document holder, comprising: at least two sheets of flexible,
self-supporting, film-like material at least one of which is
transparent plastic, said sheets being superimposed one on the
other in a generally contiguous relationship and collectively
having a pair of opposite edges generally parallel to each other, a
pair of elongated strips of magnetic material each having a recess
longitudinally formed therein of a width approximately the combined
thickness of said sheets of film-like material for receiving one of
said pair of opposite edges in a mating tongue and groove
connection, and means for fixing each of said opposite edges in the
recess of the mating elongated strip, said sheets of material being
responsive to manual manipulation for flexing open and separating
one sheet from the other at a generally central position between
said opposite edges to form an open-ended document-receiving pocket
between the sheets, said sheets being responsive to the releasing
of force thereon for returning to the superimposed generally
contiguous relationship to frictionally retain a document
therebetween.
2. A document holder, comprising: at least two sheets of flexible
self-supporting, film-like material at least one of which is
transparent plastic, said sheets being superimposed one on the
other in a generally contiguous relationship and collectively
having a pair of opposite edges generally parallel to each other, a
pair of elongated strips of magnetic material each having a recess
longitudinally formed therein of a width approximately the combined
thickness of said sheets of film-like material for receiving one of
said pair of opposite edges in a mating tongue and groove
connection, and means for fixing each of said opposite edges in the
recess of the mating elongated strip, said sheets of material being
responsive to the application of manually applied transversely
directed force on the elongated strips in the general plane of the
sheets of material for springing open and separating one sheet from
the other at a generally central position between said opposite
edges to form an open-ended document-receiving pocket between the
sheets, said sheets being responsive to the releasing of the force
on said strips for returning to the superimposed generally
contiguous relationship to frictionally retain a document
therebetween.
3. A document holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said magnetic
strips are formed of flexible magnetic material for forming and
holding said document holder to an arcuate surface.
4. A document holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said two sheets
of transparent plastic material are placed back-to-back to form a
reversible document holder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a document holder and more particularly
to a document holder for displaying a document such as a
registration or a permit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art document holders such as for holding an automobile
registration have included a case having a transparent member
assembled with stitching and held in a selected location by a clip,
a spring, or adhesive strips. All of the prior art document holders
have serious disadvantages or limitations because of inconveniences
associated with using and holding the registration in an
automobile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the instant invention to provide an
improved display holder for a document.
It is a further object to provide an improved document holder
including magnetic side strips for maintaining the document holder
in a selected display position.
It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an
improved document holder including a pair of transparent sheets
forming a pocket and further including magnetic side strips so that
the holder is reversible and may be held in a selected display
position on a metallic member.
The instant invention achieves these objects in a document holder
comprising two sheets of flexible material, at least one of which
is transparent, and further comprising a pair of magnetic strips at
opposite sides of the sheets.
Construction of the device and further objects and advantages
thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an
examination of the accompanying sheet of drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention
with similar numerals referring to similar parts throughout the
several views wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a face of the document holder comprising the instant
invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the
document holder as taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a framentary sectional view of an alternate construction
for a document holder; and
FIG. 4 is another alternate construction for a document holder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown what may be considered a face
view of a generally rectangular document holder 10. Referring also
to FIG. 2, it is seen that the document holder 10 comprises two
sheets 13 and 14 of transparent film-like plastic material such as
"Mylar" or other suitable transparent flexible plastic and a pair
of elongated edge strips 15 and 16 along the opposite and generally
parallel top 19 and bottom 20 of the rectangular sheets 13 and
14.
The sheets of transparent plastic 13 and 14 are flexible but are
generally self supporting in the size used in the document holder
disclosed. The two sheets, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, have a
generally superimposed contiguous relationship and will
frictionally retain a document, such as indicated by broken line 21
in FIG. 1, in a relatively fixed position once inserted between the
sheets 13 and 14. The edge strips 15 and 16 may be manually moved
toward each other to separate or spring open the two sheets 13 and
14 and permit insertion of the document 21 from one of the ends 23
or 24.
The edge strips 15 and 16 may be somewhat flexible and be formed of
a magnetic material such as an extruded magnetic elastomeric
material. Each of the edge strips 15 and 16 include a groove or
recess 25 along one side to receive the edge 19 or 20 of the pair
of sheets 13 and 14 in a tongue and groove construction. Each of
the opposite edges 19 and 20 of the two sheets 13 and 14 may be
retained in the respective grooves in a fixed relationship by the
use of adhesive. One of the edges of one of the sheets 13 and 14,
however, could be left unglued to permit the opening of the one
sheet, such as front sheet 13, for the insertion of the document
from the front instead of the ends 23 or 24 of the holder 10 as
previously indicated.
The use of magnetic strips 15 and 16 along the edges of the holder
10 permits a simple low cost construction that is both attractive
and convenient in use. The flexible sheets 13 and 14 will bend
around an automobile steering column, for example, and the magnetic
strips 15 and 16 will mount the holder 10 in the selected position.
The flexible sheets 13 and 14, in cooperation with the magnetic
strips 15 and 16, will also permit use of the holder 10 on the dash
ledge. The absence of clips, springs, and adhesive permit easy and
convenient removal of the holder 10 for reference to the document.
The magnetic strips 15 and 16 will not wear out from use as will
clips, springs, or adhesive strips. The use of transparent material
for both of the sheets 13 and 14 permits the holder 10 to be
reversible for use of either side or for use of both sides for
viewing the front and back of a document. Furthermore, an
additional sheet can be added to provide separate pockets for two
or more documents.
Alternate constructions for a document holder are shown in FIGS. 3
and 4. The two sheets of transparent material 29 and 30 may be
secured in a sandwich type construction to the side or sides of an
edge strip 31 of magnetic material with adhesive as in FIG. 3. Or a
pair of sheets 33 and 34 may be secured to the magnetic strip 35
with staples 36 as in FIG. 4. In each of these constructions the
transparent sheets 29 and 30 or 33 and 34 will bend to at least
partially conform to a selected metallic surface or component and
the magnetic strips 31 or 35 will retain them thereon.
In the foregoing drawings and specification, there has been set
forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific
terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and
the proportion of parts as well as the substitution of equivalents
are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient
without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.
* * * * *