EP1760679A1

EP1760679A1 - Horizontally nestalbe document holder

Info

Publication number: EP1760679A1
Application number: EP06018056A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Timothy D. Killinger; Aaron W. Smith
Original assignee: Sanford LP
Current assignee: Sanford LP
Priority date: 2005-09-01
Filing date: 2006-08-30
Publication date: 2007-03-07
Also published as: US20070045145A1; CN1973724A

Abstract

Horizontally nestable document holders having structure arranged such that, when nested with other similar document holders, all portions of the front-most document holder are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders nested therewith. The front-most document holder may be removed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to desktop organization devices and devices for displaying documents for informational purposes and, more specifically, to document holders having a capability to be stored in a nested manner for purposes of shipping, storage, and merchandising.

Brief Summary

Retail floorspace is a valuable commodity, particularly in office supply stores. Office supply storage rooms or supply closets are also of limited size. While it is known to provide holders for literature, such as signs, magazines, brochures, and the like, and to make holders nestable, conventional nested literature holders are not adequate for retail display. For instance, conventional literature holders nest in such a manner that a portion of a forward-most literature holder on a shelf or table sits under a portion of all, or at least some, of the other literature holders with which it is nested. As such, in order for a consumer to remove the forward-most literature holder, either for inspection or potential purchase, it is necessary for the consumer to provide support to the remaining literature holders. Otherwise, removal of the front-most literature holder has a tendency to cause the remaining literature holders nested therewith to topple over, undesirably cluttering retail display areas, requiring labor to maintain good order, and potentially damaging the literature holders or other merchandise.
Some consumers may consider the effort required in picking up a front-most literature holder for inspection or potential purchase, in such a manner that avoids movement of the remaining holders with which it is nested, so great that they decide not to bother. One possible solution is to display the products inverted or backwards, such that a bottom or rear side of a literature holder faces the consumer. However, displaying the products inverted or backwards is less attractive from a consumer standpoint. It may even appear to a consumer that the products displayed in such a manner are not for sale, or, depending on the products' orientation and location on a store shelf, are intended to be accessed from an adjacent aisle. Conventional nested literature holders also typically require additional packaging materials placed between one another in an effort to prevent damage (such as by scuffing, breaking, or scratching) to the literature holders. Another drawback is that, even when nested, it is only possible to display a less than optimal amount of literature holders at a time on a given footprint of retail floorspace. A further drawback of conventional literature holders is the complexity of their manufacture. Many conventional literature holders are made of molded plastic. There is little draft, particularly in the lower portions of the literature holders, increasing the level of difficulty in the tooling used for molding. Due to draft considerations, wall thicknesses are non-uniform and undesirably high in some locations of the document holders, increasing materials costs.
It would therefore be desirable if organizational devices, such as literature holders, could be horizontally nested in such a way that a front-most device may be removed without compromising the stability of remaining devices with which it is nested, and with no additional effort on the part of the consumer or stock-keeping personnel. It would also be desirable to provide organizational devices, such as literature holders, that improve upon or overcome some or all of the other disadvantages of conventional literature holders described herein.
Various document holders are disclosed herein which have the capability to be nested in such a manner that a front-most document holder may be displayed in a front-facing manner and removed by a consumer for inspection or potential purchase without any additional effort with regard to the remaining holders nested therewith, and without compromising the stability of the remaining holders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested document holders of a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 1B is a front plan view of one of the document holders shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 1C is a right side view of the document holder shown in Fig. 1B;
Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested document holders of a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 2B is a front plan view of one of the document holders shown in Fig. 2A;
Fig. 2C is a right side view of the document holder shown in Fig. 2B;
Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested document holders of a third embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 3B is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested document holders of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested document holders of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 4B is a right side view of one of the document holders shown in Fig. 4A;
Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 4C-4C of Fig. 4A, of one of the document holders shown in Fig. 4A;
Fig. 5A is a front perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested, multi-tiered document holders of a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 5B-5B of Fig. 5A, of one of the multi-tiered document holders shown in Fig. 5A;
Fig. 5C is a rear perspective view of a plurality of the horizontally nested, multi-tiered document holders shown in Fig. 5A;
Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested, multi-tiered document holders of an seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 6B-6B of Fig. 6A, of the horizontally nested, multi-tiered document holders shown in Fig. 6A;
Fig. 7A is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested, multi-tiered document holders similar to those shown in Fig. 6A, with one of the document holders having three tiers, and another of the document holders having six tiers;
Fig. 8A is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested document holders of a eighth embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Fig. 8B is a perspective view of a plurality of horizontally nested document holders of a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of a document holder 10 according to the present disclosure is shown in Figs. 1A-1C. The document holder 10 includes a document display surface panel 12. The document display surface panel 12 may be transparent or translucent, and the document holder 10 may be provided with a document retention wall 14, disposed parallel or nearly parallel to, and immediately behind, the document display surface panel 12. The document retention wall 14 is connected to the document display surface panel 12 along at least one edge of the document retention wall 14 such as along a bottom 16 of the document retention wall, and the document retention wall 14 is biased in a direction toward the document display surface panel 12, so that a document (not shown) may be sandwiched between the document retention wall 14 and the document display surface panel 12.
The document holder 10 may have other means by which a document is retained thereon for display, in addition to or in lieu of a document retention wall 14. For example, the document holder 10 may be provided with a clipboard-type or easel-type clip (not shown) on the document display surface panel 12, or three or four angled pockets may be provided on a front, or rear (provided the document display surface panel 12 is transparent or translucent) of the document display surface panel 12 to receive corners of a document to be displayed. Alternately, an elongate pocket may be provided along the top, bottom, or sides of the document display surface panel 12, on cither the front, or rear (provided the document display surface panel 12 is transparent or translucent) of the document display surface panel 12, to receive sufficient portions of a document to retain the document to be displayed. As a further alternative, a suitable material for the document display surface panel 12 may be used such that adhesive or one or more magnets can provide the means by which a document is retained thereon.
In the first embodiment, each document holder 10 is provided with a pair of legs, 18, 20, which may be in the form of wing-like integral appendages. Each leg 18, 20 forms an angle ω with respect to a rear side of the document display surface panel 12 that is greater than 90°, but less than 180°. No portion of a front-most document holder 10a extends underneath either of the other document holders 10b, 10c horizontally nested therewith. When nested, all portions of the front-most document holder 10a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the other document holders 10b, 10c. The front-most document holder 10a may be removed from a shelf or table on which it is displayed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 10b, 10c with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 10b, 10c.
A second embodiment of a document holder 30 is shown in Figs. 2A-2C. This embodiment also includes a document display surface panel 32, and may include a document retention wall 34 connected along one edge thereof, such as along a top edge 36, to the document display surface panel 32. Each document holder 30 includes a pair of legs 38, 40, which may be in the form of wing-like integral appendages. One of the legs 38 extends rearwardly of the document display surface panel 32, and the other leg 40 extends forwardly of the document display surface panel 32. The leg 38 forms an angle with respect to a rear side of the document display surface panel 32 that is greater than 90°, but less than 180°. The leg 40 forms an angle with respect to the front side of the document display surface that is greater than 90°, but less than 180°.
When horizontally nested, a front-most document holder 30a may be removed from a shelf or table on which it is displayed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 30b, 30c with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 30b, 30c. As in the first embodiment, all portions of the front-most document holder 30a are arranged prominently of-each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 30b, 30c nested therewith.
Turning to Fig. 3A, a third embodiment of a document holder 50 is shown. As in the first and second embodiments, the document holder 50 includes a document display surface panel 52. A document retention wall 54 may be provided, which is connected to the document display surface panel 52 along one edge, such as along a top edge 56 of the document retention wall 54. There is a narrow gap between the document display surface panel 52 and the document retention wall 54 into which a document (not shown) may be inserted.
A base 58 projects forwardly from a lower edge 60 of the document display surface panel 52. The base 58 provides an ideal location on which to add indicia, such as a message, corporate logo, a monogram, or other information, in a conspicuous, eye-catching location, which indicia is visible even when a document is received for display in the document holder 50. The indicia may be printed directly on the base 58, or added by way of a pre-printed adhesive label applied to the base 58. The base 58 includes a pair of side legs 62, 64. The document holder 50 is horizontally nestable, such that a plurality of similar document holders 50a, 50b, 50c may be horizontally nested in such a manner that the front-most document holder 50a may be removed from a shelf or table on which it is displayed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 50b, 50c with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 50b, 50c. As in the first and second embodiments, all portions of the front-most document holder 50a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 50b, 50c nested therewith.
As shown in Fig. 3A, the document display surface panel 52 may be concave, i.e. bowed inward, about a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder 50. As an observer moves past the document holder 50, such as in the direction indicated by directional arrow 66 in Fig. 3A, the visibility of a document displayed in the document holder 50 may be somewhat limited relative to a flat document display surface, but this may be advantageous for document holders used, for example, as photograph frames, as copy holders, as recipe stands, and the like.
A fourth alternate embodiment of a document holder 70 is shown in Fig. 3B. The fourth embodiment is similar to the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1A-1C, but the document holder 70 has a document display surface panel 72 which may be convex, i.e. bowed outward relative to a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder 70. As an observer moves past the document holder 70, such as in the direction indicated by directional arrow 74 in Fig. 3B, the visibility of a document displayed in the holder 50 is increased relative to a flat document display surface. This is advantageous for document holders used, for example, to attract passersby, because at least a portion of a document displayed in the document holder 70 is in such persons' line of sight for a greater length of time than a document displayed on a document holder having a flat document display surface panel.
The document holder 70 includes legs 76, 78, and a plurality of similar document holders 70a, 70b, 70c may be horizontally nested together in such a manner that the front-most document holder 70a may be removed from a shelf or table on which it is displayed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 70b, 70c with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 70b, 70c. As in the first, second, and third embodiments, all portions of the front-most document holder 70a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 70b, 70c nested therewith.
The document holder 70 may alternately have a concave document display surface panel 72, similar to the document holder 50 shown in Fig. 3A. Likewise, the document holder 50 shown in Fig. 3A may alternately have a convex document display surface 52 similar to the document holder 70 shown in Fig. 3B, or may have a flat document display surface 52, similar to the document holders 10, 30 shown in Figs. 1A-2C.
A fifth embodiment of a document holder 80 is shown in Figs. 4A-4C. The document holder 80 includes a document support surface panel 82, which may be inclined, and a document receiving tray area 84. The document receiving tray area 84 is defined by a front wall 86 and side walls 88, 90. The front wall 86 provides an ideal location on which to add indicia, such as a message, corporate logo, a monogram, or other information, in a conspicuous, eye-catching location, which indicia is visible even when documents are received in the document holder 80. The indicia may be printed directly on the front wall 86 or added by way of a pre-printed adhesive label applied to the front wall 86. The side walls 88, 90 gradually taper inwardly from the rear to the front of the document holder 80. The taper of the side walls 88, 90 allows for an orderly accommodation of multiple widths of documents, such as magazines and brochures, within the document holder 80. For example, relatively wider magazines may be placed toward a rear of the document receiving tray area 84, while narrower documents, such as brochures, maybe placed toward a front of the document receiving tray area 84. A rear side of the document holder 80 is open. The document receiving tray area 84 is open opposite the front wall 86, and under the document support surface panel 82. In other words, a bottom edge of the document support surface panel is spaced upward from a bottom of the document bolder 80, leaving an opening. This opening under the document support surface panel 82 facilitates horizontal nesting of similar document holders 80a, 80b. When nested, the front wall 86b of the document holder 80b can project through the opening under the document support surface panel 82 of the front-most document holder 80a.
A floor 92 of the document receiving tray area 84 may terminate forwardly of the document support surface panel 82 to accommodate the front wall 86b so as to form document holders 80a, 80b which, when horizontally nested, are such that all portions of the front-most document holder 80a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 80b nested therewith. At a rear end of the floor 92, a partial rear wall 94 or lip may be provided, as shown in Fig. 4C.
Alternatively, no floor 92 may be provided for the document receiving tray area 84, in which case documents may still be supported by the document holder 80 on a desktop, shelf, or table, but the bottom of the documents rest directly on the surface of such desktop, shelf, or table, and the documents would have to be removed from the document holder 80 prior to moving the document holder 80.
The document holder 80 may be provided with a hole 96 in the document support surface panel 82 to permit hanging the document holder 80 from a peg or display rail, such as may be found on a retail pegboard or slat board display (not shown). The document holders 80a, 80b may be horizontally nested even when displayed on such a display rail. The hole 96 may also be used by the consumer to mount the document holder 80 to a wall using a conventional fastener, such as a screw and a standard wall mount bracket.
In Figs. 5A-5C, a sixth embodiment of a document holder 100 is shown. The document holder 100 includes multiple tiers, such as a first or lowermost tier 102, a second or intermediate tier 104, and a third or uppermost tier 106. The document holder 100 includes a document support surface panel 108 which provides support to documents retained in a document receiving tray 110 of the uppermost tier 106. The document receiving tray 11.0 is defined by a front wall 112, side walls 114, 116, and a floor 118. The front wall 112 of the document receiving tray 110 of the uppermost tier 106 also serves as a document support surface for a document receiving tray 120 of the intermediate tier 104. The side walls 114, 116 also serve as the side walls of the document receiving tray 120. The document receiving tray 120 is also provided with a floor 122, and a front wall 124. The front wall 124 also serves as a document support surface for a document receiving tray 126 of the lowermost tier 102. The document receiving tray 126 is defined by the side walls 114, 116, a front wall 128, and a floor 130. The front wall 128 provides an ideal location on which to add indicia, such as a message, corporate logo, a monogram, or other information, in a conspicuous, eye-catching location, which indicia is visible even when documents are received in the document holder 100. The indicia may be printed directly on the front wall 128, or added by way of a pre-printed adhesive label applied to the front wall 128. While indicia may also be added to the front walls 112, 124 of the document receiving trays 120, 110 of the other tiers 106, 104 of the document holder 100, such indicia may be obscured from view by documents received in the lowermost tier 102 and/or the intermediate tier 104.
To facilitate horizontal nesting of multiple similar product holders 100a, 100b, 100c, a rear of each respective document holder 100 is open, and the side walls 114, 116 gradually taper inwardly from the rear to the front of the document holder 100. As in the document holder 80, the taper of the side walls 88, 90 allows for an orderly accommodation of multiple widths of documents, such as magazines and brochures, within the document holder 100. To further facilitate horizontal nesting, each floor 118, 122, 130 of the respective tiers terminates well forward of the open rear of the product holder 100. The floor 130 of the document receiving tray 126 of the lowermost tier 102 terminates below the front wall 124 document receiving tray 120 of the intermediate tier 104. The floor 122 of the document receiving tray 120 of the intermediate tier 104 terminates below the front wall 112 of the document receiving tray 110 of the uppermost tier 106. The floor 118 of the document receiving tray 110 of the uppermost tier 106 terminates below the document support surface panel 108. By providing an open rear and floors 118, 122, 130 that terminate well forward of the rear of the document holder 100, the front walls 112, 124, 128 of a similar document holder 100b can be received in an open cavity within the front-most document holder 100a. In a like fashion, a rear-most similar document holder 100c can be received in an open cavity within the document holder 100b.
When nested, all portions of the front-most document holder 100a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 100b, 100c nested therewith. The front-most document holder 100a may be removed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 100b, 100c with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 100b, 100c.
The document holder 100 may have reinforced holes 132, 134 in the document support surface panel 108 to permit hanging the document holder 100 from a pair of spaced pegs or display rails, such as may be found on a retail pegboard or slat board display (not shown). The document holders 100a, 100b, 1 00c may be horizontally nested even when displayed on such a pair of display rails. The reinforced holes 132, 134 may also be used by the consumer to mount the document holder 100 to a wall using conventional fasteners, such as screws and standard wall mount brackets.
A seventh embodiment of a document holder 150 is shown in Figs. 6A-7B. Like the sixth embodiment, the document holder 150 of the seventh embodiment includes multiple tiers, 152, 154, 156. Each tier includes a document receiving tray 158, 160, 162. At the front of each of the document receiving trays, instead of a front wall extending the width of the document holder 150, a left front wall portion 164, 166, 168 and a right wall portion 170, 172, 174 is provided.
The sides of each of the document receiving trays 158, 160, 162 are defined by side walls 176, 178 of the document holder 150. To facilitate horizontal nesting of similar document holders 150a, 150b, the side walls 176, 178 taper inwardly from a rear of the document holder 150 toward a front of the document holder 150, and the rear of the document holder 150 is open. As in the document holders 80, 100, the taper of the side walls 176, 178 allows for an orderly accommodation of multiple widths of documents, such as magazines and brochures, within the document holder 150. In order to provide added stability and to further facilitate horizontal nesting, a bottom rear corner 180 of one or both side walls 176, 178 may flare laterally outwardly relative to a majority of the surface of the respective side wall 176, 178, to some extent. The side walls 176, 178 may each have a rear edge that is slanted toward the front of the document holder 150 from top to bottom, as best shown in Figs. 6B, 7B, or alternatively, may have a vertical rear edge (not shown), like the rear edge of the side wall 116 of the document holder 100. When nested, all portions of the front-most document holder 150a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 150b nested therewith. The front-most document holder 150a may be removed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 150b with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 150b.
Each document receiving tray 158, 160, 162 is further defined by a floor 182, 184, 186. Each floor 182, 184, 186 of the document holder 150 has a rear that terminates at a display support wall 188, 190, 192 associated with the respective tier 152, 154, 156, so as not to interfere with wall portions 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174 of a similar document holder nested therewith.
As shown in Figs. 7A-7B, the document holder 150a is horizontally nestable not only with other similar document holders 150b having the same number of tiers, but also with document holders 150c having additional tiers than provided by the document holder 150a. For example, the document holder 150a having three tiers is nestable with the document holder 160c having six tiers.
An eighth embodiment of a horizontally nestable document holder 200 is shown in Fig. 8A and a ninth embodiment of a horizontally nestable document holder 220 is shown in Fig. 8B. These embodiments are similar to the fifth embodiment of the document holder 80 shown in Figs. 4A-4C. However, when documents are displayed on a document holder 80 having a flat document support surface panel 82, the documents so displayed are less rigid, and more subject to curling over, than if a curve about a generally vertical axis were imparted to the documents by the document support surface panel. Thus, the document holder 200 shown in Fig. 8A is provided with a document support surface panel 202 that is convex, i.e. bowed outward, relative to a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder 200. Documents received in the document holder 200 tend to conform to the convex shape of the document support surface panel 202, thereby imparting greater rigidity to the documents, relative to documents received in the document holder 80 having a flat document support surface panel 82.
The document holder 200 includes a document receiving tray 204 defined by sidewalls 206, 208, a front wall 210, and a floor 212. The front wall 210 may have a convex shape that echoes the shape of the document support surface panel 202, which has an effect of facilitating the conforming of documents received in the document holder 200 to the shape of the document support surface panel 202.
The sidewalls 206, 208 taper inwardly from an open rear of the document holder 200 toward a front of the document holder 200. As in the document holders 80, 100, 150, the taper of the side walls 206, 208 allows for an orderly accommodation of multiple widths of documents, such as magazines and brochures, within the document holder 200. The document support surface panel 202 has a lower edge spaced above a bottom of the document holder 200 a sufficient distance to accommodate a front wall 210b of a similar document holder 200b nested therewith. The floor 212 also may terminate forwardly of the document support surface panel 202 to accommodate the front wall 210b of the similar document holder 200b nested therewith.
A document holder 200a is horizontally nestable with similar document holders 200b, and may even be horizontally nested with a dimensionally compatible document holder 80 having a flat document support surface panel 82. When nested, all portions of the front-most document holder 200a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 200b nested therewith. The front-most document holder 200a may be removed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 200b with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 200b.
The document holder 200 may be provided with a hole 214 in the document support surface panel 202 to permit hanging the document holder 200 from a peg or display rail, such as may be found in a retail pegboard or slat board display (not shown). The document holders 200a, 200b may be horizontally nested even when displayed on such a display rail. The hole 214 may also be used by the consumer to mount the document holder 200 to a wall using a conventional fastener, such as a screw and a standard wall mount bracket.
The document holder 220 shown in Fig. 8B is provided with a document support surface panel 222 that is concave, i.e. bowed inward, about a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder 220. Documents received in the document holder 220 tend to conform to the concave shape of the document support surface panel 222. As with the document holder 200, this curvature of the documents about a generally vertical axis imparts greater rigidity to the documents, relative to documents received in the document holder 80 having a flat document support surface panel 82.
The document holder 220 includes a document receiving tray 224 defined by side walls 226, 228, a front wall 230, and a floor 232. The front wall 230 may have a concave shape that echoes the shape of the document support surface panel 222, which has an effect of facilitating the conforming of documents received in the document holder 220 to the shape of the document support surface panel 222.
The sidewalls 226, 228 taper inwardly from an open rear of the document holder 220 toward a front of the document holder 220. As in the document holders 80, 100, 150, 200, the taper of the side walls 226, 228 allows for an orderly accommodation of multiple widths of documents, such as magazines and brochures, within the document holder 220. The document support surface panel 222 has a lower edge spaced above a bottom of the document holder 220 a sufficient distance to accommodate a front wall 230b of a similar document holder 220b nested therewith. The floor 232 also may terminate forwardly of the document support surface panel 222 to accommodate the front wall 230b of the similar document holder 220b nested therewith.
A document holder 220a is horizontally nestable at least with similar document holders 220b. When nested, all portions of the front-most document holder 220a are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders 220b nested therewith. The front-most document holder 220a may be removed without compromising the stability of any of the remaining document holders 220b with which it is nested, and without having to provide any support to the remaining document holders 220b.
Although the document support surface panel 108 and at least the front walls 112, 124 of the document receiving trays 110, 120 of the document holder 100 are shown to be flat, these may alternately all be concave, similar to the document support surface panel 202 and front wall 210 of the document holder 200, or alternatively, convex, similar to the document support surface panel 222 and front wall 230 of the document holder 220. Likewise, the document support surface panels 188, 190, 192 of the document holder 150 may be convex or concave.
The document holders described herein may be formed of substantially uniform wall thickness without unnecessary excess material. The ease with which the document holders described herein are horizontally nested, and individually removed from other similar document holders with which they are nested, reduces product damage (such as scuffing, scratching, or breaking) without the need for intermediate packaging materials, significantly increases the amount of document holders that can be placed on a given footprint of retail or storage space, and facilitates restocking shelves or other retail displays.
While various preferred embodiments have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that variations may be made that are within the scope of the appended claims. Further, while each of the embodiments describes a document holder, it will be recognized that the holders disclosed herein may hold articles other than documents, and still be considered within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A horizontally nestable document holder comprising:
a document display surface panel;

a first leg extending from a first side of the document support surface panel; and

a second leg extending from a second side of the document;

at least one of said first and second legs forming an angle of greater than 90° relative to a rear side of the document display surface panel.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second legs form an angle of greater than 90° relative to the rear side of the document display surface panel.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 2, wherein the angle formed by one of the first and second legs relative to the rear side of the document display surface panel is less than 180° and the other of the first and second legs forms an angle relative to a front side of the document display surface panel that is greater than 90° and less than 180°.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 1, further comprising means for retaining a document on the document display surface panel.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 5, wherein the means includes a document retention wall disposed immediately behind the document display surface panel, the document retention wall biased toward the document display surface panel.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 1, wherein the document display surface panel is bowed inward about a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 1, wherein the document display surface panel is bowed outward relative to a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 1, wherein, when nested with similar document holders, all portions of a front-most of the nested document holders are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders nested therewith.
A horizontally nestable document holder comprising:
a document support surface panel;

a first side wall tapering inwardly from an open rear of the document holder toward a front of the document holder;

a second side wall tapering inwardly from the open rear of the document holder toward the front of the document holder;

a first document receiving tray extending forwardly of the document support surface panel, said first document receiving tray defined by the first and second side walls and a front wall extending at least partially between the first and second side walls.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 9, wherein the document support surface panel has a bottom edge spaced above a bottom of the document holder to accommodate the front wall of a similar document holder nested therewith.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 9, wherein, when nested with similar document holders, all portions of a front-most of the nested document holders are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders nested therewith.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 9, wherein the first document receiving tray is further defined by a floor.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 12, wherein the floor extends from the front wall to a position under the document support surface panel.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 12, wherein the floor extends from the front wall to a position forward of the document support surface panel.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 14, wherein an upturned lip is provided along a rear of the floor.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 9, further comprising at least one additional document receiving tray provided at a height other than a height of the first document receiving tray.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 16, nestable with at least one additional document holder including a greater number of document receiving trays than the horizontally nestable document holder of claim 16.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 9, wherein the document support surface panel is bowed inward about a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 18, wherein the front wall is bowed inward about a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder, facilitating the conforming of documents received in the document holder to the shape of the document support surface panel.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 9, wherein the document support surface panel is bowed outward relative to a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder.
The horizontally nestable document holder of claim 20, wherein the front wall is bowed outward relative to a generally vertical axis in front of the document holder, facilitating the conforming of documents received in the document holder to the shape of the document support surface panel.
A plurality of horizontally nested document holders, each of said document holders comprising:
a document support surface panel; and

side support structure tapering inward from a rear of the document holder toward a front of the document holder; wherein all portions of a front-most of the nested document holders are arranged prominently of each corresponding portion of the remaining document holders nested therewith.
The plurality of horizontally nested document holders of claim 22, wherein each of the document holders includes at least one hole through the document support surface panel.