GB2143664A - Card support - Google Patents

Abstract

A conventional greetings card is generally unstable when on display and can easily be blown or knocked over. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a support device for a greetings card comprising a planar element 1 having a surface adapted to lie on a horizontal surface on which the card is to be supported. The planar element 1 has folded extensions 2, which are hinged along lines 3 and are adapted to be attached, by means of contact adhesive 4, to the leaves of the card. The contact adhesive 4 would normally be covered by protective paper which is only peeled immediately before the support is to be used. The use of a planar element 1 provides greater stability to the card, and securing the leaves to the extension 2 at a fixed distance apart ensures that the card will always remain open at a fixed angle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Card support This invention relates to a support to be used to support greetings cards and the like for display.

A conventional greetings card is usually folded to form a spine from which front and rear sheets project, and maybe designed to be stood on a horizontal surface with the spine either vertical or horizontal. When the spine is vertical, the card is usually easily upset by air currents or light mechanical shocks, and also the weight of the card tends to cause damage and distortion to the card itself thus imperilling its aesthetic appeal when displayed and also upsetting its equilibrium making it more likely to be blown or knocked over. When the spine is horizontal, the weight of the card tends to cause it to open progressively further, leading to eventual complete flattening of the card, particularly if it is stood on a polished or other low friction surface.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a support device for a folded greetings card or the like comprising a planar element having a surface adapted to lie on a horizontal surface supporting the card, the planar element having folded extensions to be attached to the leaves of the card when the card is folded for support by the horizontal surface.

Preferably, the folded extensions are each provided with a film of contact adhesive for attachment to the leaves of the card, and the contact adhesive may be covered with a peelable protective layer.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a greetings card in combination with the support device in accordance with the invention as set forth above.

The use of the flat surface provides greater stability to the card and securing the leaves to extensions at a fixed distance apart ensures that the card will always be open at a fixed angle.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa prospective view of a card support in accordance with the preferred form of the invention folded up in preparation for attachment to a card with its spine vertically; Figure 2 is a plan view, to a somewhat reduced scale, showing the salient features of the support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation of the support of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the support of Figure 2.

As illustrated in the drawing, the support comprises a central planar element (1) and two extensions (2) which are foldable about hinge lines (3). The hinge lines may be formed by scoring, if the support is made of card, or may be moulded in where the support is formed of plastics material, particularly polypropylene which has the property of forming integral hinges.

In order to secure the extensions (2) to the insides of the leaves of a greetings card, the outside surfaces of the extensions (2) are provided with a layer or coating of contact adhesive indicated by the reference numeral 4 in Figures 1 and 3. This surface may be roughened to assist in forming a good adhesive bond.

In storage and transit, such an adhesive layer would be covered by a peelable protective paper or like layer. It will be noticed that the hinge lines (3) are angled in relation to the sides of the planar element (1) so that, as shown in Figure 1, the extensions when folded up are obliquely transverse to the planar element (1). The angle included between them is defined strictly by the angles between the hinge lines (3) and the sides of the planar element, and this included angle itself defines the angle at which the support number holds the card open when the leaves are attached in flat manner to the extensions (2).

In use, the weight of the card is not taken solely on the edge of the card but it is in fact distributed over the whole area of the planar element (1), and the presence of this element also tends to stabilise the card against mechanical or aerodynamic shocks.

It will be appreciated that where the support is to be used on a card with the spine horizontal in the display position, the hinge lines (3) will be parallel with each other, and preferably orthogonal to the parallel sides of the planar element (1).

Various other modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. A support device for a folded greetings card or the like comprising a planar element having a surface adapted to lie on a horizontal surface supporting the card, the planar element having folded extensions to be attached to the leaves of the card, when the card is folded, for support by the horizontal surface.

2. A support device as claimed in claim 1, in which the folded extensions are each provided with a film of contact adhesive for attachment to the leaves of the card.

3. A support device as claimed in claim 2, in which the the contact adhesive is covered with a peelable protective layer.

4. A support for a greetings card substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. A greetings card in combination with a support device as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Card support This invention relates to a support to be used to support greetings cards and the like for display. A conventional greetings card is usually folded to form a spine from which front and rear sheets project, and maybe designed to be stood on a horizontal surface with the spine either vertical or horizontal. When the spine is vertical, the card is usually easily upset by air currents or light mechanical shocks, and also the weight of the card tends to cause damage and distortion to the card itself thus imperilling its aesthetic appeal when displayed and also upsetting its equilibrium making it more likely to be blown or knocked over. When the spine is horizontal, the weight of the card tends to cause it to open progressively further, leading to eventual complete flattening of the card, particularly if it is stood on a polished or other low friction surface. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a support device for a folded greetings card or the like comprising a planar element having a surface adapted to lie on a horizontal surface supporting the card, the planar element having folded extensions to be attached to the leaves of the card when the card is folded for support by the horizontal surface. Preferably, the folded extensions are each provided with a film of contact adhesive for attachment to the leaves of the card, and the contact adhesive may be covered with a peelable protective layer. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a greetings card in combination with the support device in accordance with the invention as set forth above. The use of the flat surface provides greater stability to the card and securing the leaves to extensions at a fixed distance apart ensures that the card will always be open at a fixed angle. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa prospective view of a card support in accordance with the preferred form of the invention folded up in preparation for attachment to a card with its spine vertically; Figure 2 is a plan view, to a somewhat reduced scale, showing the salient features of the support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation of the support of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the support of Figure 2. As illustrated in the drawing, the support comprises a central planar element (1) and two extensions (2) which are foldable about hinge lines (3). The hinge lines may be formed by scoring, if the support is made of card, or may be moulded in where the support is formed of plastics material, particularly polypropylene which has the property of forming integral hinges. In order to secure the extensions (2) to the insides of the leaves of a greetings card, the outside surfaces of the extensions (2) are provided with a layer or coating of contact adhesive indicated by the reference numeral 4 in Figures 1 and 3. This surface may be roughened to assist in forming a good adhesive bond. In storage and transit, such an adhesive layer would be covered by a peelable protective paper or like layer. It will be noticed that the hinge lines (3) are angled in relation to the sides of the planar element (1) so that, as shown in Figure 1, the extensions when folded up are obliquely transverse to the planar element (1). The angle included between them is defined strictly by the angles between the hinge lines (3) and the sides of the planar element, and this included angle itself defines the angle at which the support number holds the card open when the leaves are attached in flat manner to the extensions (2). In use, the weight of the card is not taken solely on the edge of the card but it is in fact distributed over the whole area of the planar element (1), and the presence of this element also tends to stabilise the card against mechanical or aerodynamic shocks. It will be appreciated that where the support is to be used on a card with the spine horizontal in the display position, the hinge lines (3) will be parallel with each other, and preferably orthogonal to the parallel sides of the planar element (1). Various other modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A support device for a folded greetings card or the like comprising a planar element having a surface adapted to lie on a horizontal surface supporting the card, the planar element having folded extensions to be attached to the leaves of the card, when the card is folded, for support by the horizontal surface.

2. A support device as claimed in claim 1, in which the folded extensions are each provided with a film of contact adhesive for attachment to the leaves of the card.

3. A support device as claimed in claim 2, in which the the contact adhesive is covered with a peelable protective layer.

4. A support for a greetings card substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. A greetings card in combination with a support device as claimed in any of the preceding claims.