GB2223532A

GB2223532A - Fixing system, a blank incorporating the same and a wallet formed from the blank

Info

Publication number: GB2223532A
Application number: GB8825698A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Raymon Chamberlain
Original assignee: LITHOPLAS Ltd
Current assignee: LITHOPLAS Ltd
Priority date: 1988-09-13
Filing date: 1988-11-03
Publication date: 1990-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-03
Also published as: GB8825698D0; GB8821462D0; GB2223532B

Abstract

There is a system for securing a first component 21 to a second component 1, wherein the first component 21 is provided with a slit or slot 22 and the second component is provided with a tab which has a neck 3 and a relatively enlarged head portion 4; wherein at least the second component 1 is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot 22 and the shape of the tab is such that as, in use, the head portion 4 of the tab is pushed through the slit or slot 22 some deformation of the head portion 4 occurs but as soon as the head portion 4 is fully through the slit or slot 22 the resilience of the material causes the head portion to re-assume its original shape, thus making difficult any subsequent withdrawal of the head portion from the slit or slot. The system is simple to produce and is effective. Also disclosed are a blank which incorporates the system, and a wallet formed from the blank. <IMAGE>

Description

FIXING SYSTEM, A BLANK INCORPORATING THE SAME AND A WALLET FORMED FROM THE BLANK This invention relates to a fixing system, a blank incorporating the system, and a wallet formed from the blank.

Nowadays an increasing number of wallets containing documents for presentation to persons attending a seminar are formed of a plastics material.

Such wallets are conveniently made from a single blank provided with suitable fold lines and slits. The blank can be folded along its fold lines to take the form of a wallet and one part of the wallet can be secured to another by the provision of a tab on the one part which cooperates with a slit in the other part. In one known arrangement the lower front panel (when one is looking directly at the front of the wallet with the wallet standing upright) has a U-shaped slit which delineates a tab, and a panel which in use is to underlie the lower front panel has a slit which is rectilinear over at least the majority of its length. To secure the lower front panel to the underlying panel the tab is forced through the slit in the underlying panel.

Usually one such fixing system is employed on the left hand region of the wallet and an identical system on the right hand region of the wallet. There are, however, two drawbacks associated with this known arrangement. The first is that because the two tab portions formed out of part of the lower front panel of the wallet now are tucked behind the underlying panel the general appearance of the lower front panel is impaired; and the second drawback is that movement of documents contained in the wallet can cause the tab which has been pushed through the slit in the underlying panel to be pushed out of that slit with the result that the wallet bursts open. It is the natural resilience of the plastics material from which the wallet is formed which tends to keep the wallet in a condition in which it is trying to open outwards, the only means for preventing such opening being the two fixing systems mentioned above, apart possibly from a securing system for the upper front panel to secure it in relation to the lower front panel - such a securing system is conveniently of the type disclosed in British Patent Application No. 8502083 (Publication No.

2171140).

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for securing a first component to a second component, wherein the first component is provided with a slit or slot and the second component is provided with a tab which has a neck and a relatively enlarged head portion; wherein at least the second component is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that as, in use, the head portion of the tab is pushed through the slit or slot some deformation of the head portion occurs but as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot the resilience of the material causes the head portion to re-assume its original shape, thus making difficult any subsequent withdrawal of the head portion from the slit or slot.

The system according to the first aspect of the present invention is particularly useful for securing a first component in the form of a first panel to a second component in the form of a second panel, but the invention is not restricted to the case in which the first and second components are panels.

The system of the first aspect of the present invention is particularly useful in respect of first and second components formed of a resilient flexible plastics material but the present invention is not limited to components formed of such a material, as the components could be formed from a suitable board material.

In the case where a wallet is to be formed from a blank, the first and second components can be two different panels of the blank, but the first and second components of the system according to the first aspect of the present invention are not limited to planar, panel-like components. In fact, the components could take any form provided that the first component has the slit or slot (with a space on the far side for accommodating the head portion of the tab of the second component), and provided the second component has the tab.

The term "slit" is normally used herein to cover the case in which no material has been removed from the first component when forming the slit, whereas the term "slot is used herein to cover the case in which some material has been removed from the first component when forming the slot.

In one embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the present invention the slit or slot, preferably a narrow slot, has a rectilinear intermediate portion and two terminal portions which are curved or angled with respect to the intermediate portion, and the tab is planar. As such a tab is forced into the slit or slot the edge regions of the head portion are deformed as they increasingly pass into the terminal regions of the slit or slot but, as soon as the head portion has passed fully through the slit or slot, the resilience causes the head portion to reassume its planar position, with the edge regions of the head portion away from the terminal regions of the slit or slot. The neck is comfortably located in the rectilinear intermediate region of the slit or slot.

In a different embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the slit or slot has a rectilinear first portion and a single second portion which is curved or angled with respect to the first portion, and the tab is planar. In such an embodiment the head is asymmetrically located with respect to the neck of the tab, so that the neck corresponds to, and is located within, the first portion of the slit or slot, and so that the sole portion of the head extending more widely than the neck portion passes through the second portion of the slit or slot.

In another embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the slit or slot is rectilinear over its whole length whereas the head portion is not rectilinear over its full length; thus, for instance, the intermediate region of the head portion, corresponding in width to the width of the neck portion, can be rectilinear, with the edge regions of the head portion, which extend sideways beyond the neck, being curved or angled with respect to the rectilinear intermediate region. This arrangement would in practice be easier to produce by injection molding rather than by stamping.

In another embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the present invention both the slit or slot and the head portion of the tab are not rectilinear over their complete lengths and are differently shaped so that as the head portion is forced through the slit or slot there is deformation of the head portion but, as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot, the head portion reassumes its original shape.

Preferably those edges of the head portion which face that region of the second component from which the neck projects are parallel to the region from which the neck projects so that, once the head portion has been pushed through a slit or slot, these edges of the head portion act firmly over a reasonable length on the far side of the component in which the slit or slot is provided, to form a secure arrangement. Similar considerations apply where the head is asymmetric with respect to the neck.

From the point of view of easing the feeding of the head portion into the slit or slot it is preferred for the head portion to be less wide in its leading edge region than in its trailing edge region, in terms of the intended direction of movement as the head portion is being fed through the slit or slot. The head portion could, for example, therefore have the appearance of a semi-circle, or of a triangle.

Suitable materials from which at least the second component, and preferably both the first and second components, may be formed include polypropylene, high density polyethylene, or a suitable copolymer (ethylene/propylene).

The tab conveniently has the same thickness as the rest of the second component and when the second component is the panel of a wallet formed from a blank of plastics material, the blank preferably has a thickness in the range from 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

When the two system according to the first aspect of the present invention are to be used for securing a lower front panel of a wallet with regard to underlying panels, the two tabs can project laterally from the opposing edges of the lower front panel and can be folded along respective fold lines where the necks join the lower front panel, the underlying panels each being provided with a narrow slot in the region where the underlying panel adjoins the respective sidewall (with the wallet in the upright position). When the tab is folded with respect to the lower front panel and the head portion is pushed through the slot, the appearance of the lower front panel is unimpaired, and the lower front panel is held securely with regard to the underlying panel and adjacent side panel, in a manner much more secure than the known arrangement described earlier.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank having fold lines which partially delineate adjacent panels, the fold lines being located such that by suitably folding the blank along its fold lines a wallet can be created, there being a system, or preferably two systems, for holding the panels in the wallet-like configuration, the or each system being in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

By suitably locating a slit along a fold line in a blank, it is possible for the slit to convert into a slot when the blank is folded.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wallet formed from a blank in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, with the panels held in position in accordance with the system or two systems in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

From the foregoing it can be appreciated that the second aspect of the present invention provides a blank suitable for forming a wallet, the blank being planar and having a plurality of fold lines which, together with the edges of the blank, define panels, wherein a first panel is provided with a slit or slot and a second panel is provided with a tab which has a neck portion and an enlarged head portion; wherein the blank is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that as, in use, the head portion of the tab is pushed through the slit or slot some deformation of the head portion occurs but as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot the resilience of the material causes the head portion to assume its original shape, thus making difficult subsequent withdrawal of the head portion from the slit or slot.

The second panel, which can be the lower front panel of the wallet, can have two tabs, in which case a third panel, which is opposite the first panel, is provided with a slit or slot of the same general type as provided in the first panel.

It is also to be appreciated that the third aspect of the present invention provides a wallet formed from a blank having a plurality of fold lines which, together with the edges of the blank, define panels, wherein a first panel is provided with a slit or slot and a second panel is provided with a tab which has a neck portion and an enlarged head portion; wherein the wallet is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that with the head portion of the tab fully pushed through the slit or slot, part of the head portion is out of alignment with part of the slit or slot, thus making subsequent removal of the head portion from the slit or slot impossible without deformation of the head portion.

The second panel, which can be the lower front panel of the wallet, can have two tabs at opposing edges and the first panel can lie under one edge region of the lower front panel with the slit or slot in a position ready to receive one of the tabs of the front panel, and a third panel, which is to lie under the opposite edge region of the lower front panel, can be provided with a further slit or slot corresponding to that in the first panel for receiving the other tab.

It is convenient for the tabs to be mounted on the lower front panel of the wallet but other arrangements are not excluded from the present invention.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried to effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows part of one embodiment of a panel and an associated tab forming part of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a different embodiment of part of a panel and associated tab, also in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 shows one embodiment of a panel provided with a slot, forming part of the system of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of part of a panel with a slot, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 shows a blank capable of being formed into a wallet, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 shows the same blank as in Figure 5 but folded at an intermediate stage in the construction of a wallet; Figure 7 shows a close-up of part of the wallet formed from the blank Figure 5; Figure 8 shows a different form of slit forming part of the system according to the present invention; Figure 9 shows a tab suitable for use with the slit of Figure 8; and Figure 10 shows a different tab suitable for use with the slit of Figure 8.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a panel 1 having a fold line 2, projecting beyond which is a neck portion 3 of a tab, leading to an enlarged head portion 4 of the tab. The head portion 4 has a straight edge 5 parallel to the edge of the panel 1 near where the fold line 2 is provided. The head portion 4 also has a remote, parallel straight edge 6 which leads into a curved edge region 7 resembling one quarter of a circle which leads to one end of the straight edge 5. Only part of the tab as shown in Figure 1 but the right hand side of the tab would correspond to the left hand side which is shown.

Figure 2 shows a variation on the tab shown in Figure 1. Here the panel 11 is provided with a fold line 12 beyond which projects the neck 13 of a tab, the neck 13 leading to an enlarged head 14. The head 14 has a straight edge 15 parallel to the edge of the panel 11 and has a remote, parallel straight edge 16.

Connecting the two straight edges 15 and 16 is an inclined further straight edge 17. The left hand side (not shown) of the tab shown in Figure 2 would correspond to the right hand side as illustrated.

Figure 3 shows a panel 21 having adjacent an edge thereof a slot generally indicated by the reference numeral 22. The slot has a rectilinear intermediate portion 23 adjacent the edge of the panel 21, and has two inclined terminal portions 24 and 25 which are inclined with respect to the intermediate portion 23.

A different arrangement of slot is shown in Figure 4 where a panel 31 is provided with a slot 32 which has a rectilinear intermediate portion 33 and two arcuate terminal portions 34 and 35.

The tabs shown in Figures 1 and 2 are shown on a slightly larger scale than the panels and slots shown in Figures 3 and 4. It can be appreciated, however, that if a tab such as that shown in Figure 1 or 2 is forced into a slot 23 or 33 as shown in Figure 3 or 4, the edge regions of the head portion 4 or 14 will be deformed as the tab is being forced into the slot so that the edge regions of the head follow the terminal regions 24, 25 or 34, 35 of the slot. Once the tab is through the slot the resilient nature of the material from which the tab is made causes the edge regions of the head to spring back into line with the intermediate region of the head whereby removal of the tab from the slot is prevented.

Figure 5 shows a blank suitable for forming a wallet, the blank generally being indicated by the reference numeral 41 and the blank being defined by its edges and having a plurality of fold lines 42 all of which are shown by discontinuous lines in Figure 5. - The edges of the blank and the fold lines 42 define different panels of the blank. The panels will be named according to the position which they occupy when the blank is folded to form a wallet as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Moving from the left hand end (as shown in Figure 5) of the blank to the right hand end there is a lower front panel 43, a bottom panel 44, a rear panel 45, a top panel 46 and an upper front panel 47. Projecting from one edge of the rear panel 45 is a left side panel 48 which leads to a left underlying panel 49. Projecting from the opposite edge of the rear panel 45 is a right side panel 50 leading to a right underlying panel 51. There are two tuck in panels 52 and 53 adjacent the bottom and left side panels 44, 48 and the bottom and right side panels 44, 50, respectively.

Projecting from the left edge of the lower front panel 43 is a tab 54 having a neck 55 and head region 56, and projecting from the right edge of the lower front panel 43 is a tab 57 having a neck 58 and an enlarged head region 59, the tabs 54 and 57 being similar to that shown in Figure 2.

Provided in the left and right underlying panels 49, 51 are two slots 60, 61 similar to the slot illustrated in Figure 3.

By suitably folding the panels about the fold lines 42 a wallet can be formed and the panels of the wallet held in the correct relative location by virtue of the securing system effected by the head portion 56 of the tab 54 having passed through the slot 60 and by the head portion 59 of the tab 57 having passed though the slot 61.

Figure 6 shows a stage in the formation of a wallet from the blank 41 with most of the panels having been folded into their correct final positions and with the tabs 54 and 57 still slightly above, but about tQ enter, the slots 60 and 61, respectively.

Figure 7 shows the final position with the front panel 43 resting on the underlying panel 51 and with the tab 57 located with respect to the slot 61. The neck 58 of the tab 57 will be actually positioned within the slot 61 but the head region 59 of the tab 57 will be below the slot 61. It can now be appreciated that any movement of documents within the wallet will tend to press the head region 59 of the tab 57 and the head region 56 of the tab 54 against the planar side walls 50 and 48 respectively, thus keeping the tabs 57 and 54 in the planar condition, thereby preventing any removal of the tabs from the slots 61 and 60.

If desired, one or more lock can be provided to secure the upper front panel 47 with regard to the lower front panel 43. The lock or locks and any provision for fixing them relative to those panels are not shown in the drawings, to avoid complicating the drawings.

Figure 8 shows a slit 71 having a rectilinear first portion 72 and a single second portion 73 inclined thereto. The slit of Figure 8 can be used with a tab 81 as shown in Figure 9. This tab 81 has a neck 82 and asymmetrically mounted thereon a head 83 which has a first portion 84 which is an extension of the neck 82 and a second portion 85 which is the region of enlargement. This second portion has an inclined leading edge 86 to assist the passage of the tab 81 through the slit 71.

The tab 91 of Figure 10 is similar to that 82 of Figure 9 and the components 91 to 96 generally correspond to components 81 to 86 respectively, except that the leading edge 96 is more extensive than edge 86.

Claims

1. A system for securing a first component to a second component, wherein the first component is provided with a slit or slot and the second component is provided with a tab which has a neck and a relatively enlarged head portion; wherein at least the second component is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that as, in use, the head portion of the tab is - pushed through the slit or slot some deformation of the head portion occurs but as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot the resilience of the material causes the head portion to re-assume its original shape, thus making difficult any subsequent withdrawal of the head portion from the slit or slot.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second components is a panel.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first and second components is formed of a resiliently flexible plastics material.

4. A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the slit or slot has a rectilinear intermediate portion and two terminal portions which are curved or angled with respect to the intermediate portion, and the tab is planar.

5. A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the slit or slot has a rectilinear first portion and a single second portion which is curved or angled with respect to the first portion, and the tab is planar.

6. A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the slit or slot is rectilinear over its whole length.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate region of the head portion, corresponding in width to the width of the neck portion, can be rectilinear, with the edge regions of the head portion, which extend sideways beyond the neck, being curved or angled with respect to the rectilinear intermediate region.

8. A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein both the slit or slot and the head portion of the tab are not rectilinear over their complete lengths and are differently shaped so that as the head portion is forced through the slit or slot there is deformation of the head portion but, as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot, the head portion reassumes its original shape.

9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein those edges of the head portion which face that region of the second component from which the neck projects are parallel to the region from which the neck projects so that, once the head portion has been pushed through a slit or slot, these edges of the head portion act firmly over a reasonable length on the far side of the component in which the slit or slot is provided, to form a secure arrangement.

10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the head portion is less wide in its leading edge region than in its trailing edge region, in terms of the intended direction of movement as the head portion is being fed through the slit or slot.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the head portion has the shape of a semi-circle or triangle.

12. A system according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 11 when appendant to claim 3, wherein the plastics material is polypropylene, high density polyethylene, or a suitable copolymer (ethylene/propylene).

13. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second components have a thickness in the range from 0.5mm to 3mm.

14. A blank suitable for forming a wallet, the blank being planar and having a plurality of fold lines which, together with the edges of the blank, define panels, wherein a first panel is provided with a slit or slot and a second panel is provided with a tab which has a neck portion and an enlarged head portion; wherein the blank is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that as, in use, the head portion of the tab is pushed through the slit or slot some deformation of the head portion occurs but as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot the resilience of the material causes the head portion to assume its original shape, thus making difficult subsequent withdrawal of the head portion from the slit or slot.

15. A blank according to claim 14, wherein the tab and the slit or slot constitute part of a system according to any one of claims 2 to 13.

16. A blank according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the second panel has two tabs, and wherein a third panel, which is opposite the first panel, is provided with a slit or slot of the same general type as provided in the first panel.

17. A wallet formed from a blank having a plurality of fold lines which, together with the edges of the blank, define panels, wherein a first panel is provided with a slit or slot and a second panel is provided with a tab which has a neck portion and an enlarged head portion; wherein the wallet is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that with the head portion of the tab fully pushed through the slit or slot, part of the head portion is out of alignment with part of the slit or slot, thus making subsequent removal of the head portion from the slit or slot impossible without deformation of the head portion.

18. A wallet according to claim 17, wherein the second panel, which can be the lower front panel of the wallet, can have two tabs at opposing edges and the first panel can lie under one edge region of the lower front panel with the slit or slot in a position ready to receive one of the tabs of the front panel, and a ~ third panel, which is to lie under the opposite edge region of the lower front panel, can be provided with a further slit or slot corresponding to that in the first panel for receiving the other tab.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the tab and slot are substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 1 or 2 and Figure 3 or 4, respectively, of the accompanying drawings.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the tab and slit are substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 8 and Figure 9 or 10, respectively, of the accompanying drawings.

21. A blank according to claim 14, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A wallet according to claim 17, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A system for securing a first component to a second component, wherein the first component is provided with an elongate, generally parallel-sided slit or slot wholly bordered by the material of which the first component is formed, and the second component is provided with a tab which has a neck and a relatively enlarged head portion; wherein at least the second component is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that as, in use, the head portion of the tab is pushed through the slit or slot some deformation of the head portion occurs but as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot the resilience of the material of the second component causes the head portion to re-assume its original shape, thus making difficult any subsequent withdrawal of the head portion from the slit or slot.

9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein that edge or those edges of the head portion which faces or face that region of the second component from which the neck projects are parallel to the region from which the neck projects so that, once the head portion has been pushed through a slit or slot, that edge or those edges of the head portion acts or act firmly over a reasonable length on the far side of the component in which the slit or slot is provided, to form a secure arrangement.

14. A blank suitable for forming a wallet, the blank being planar and having a plurality of fold lines which, together with the edges of the blank1 define panels, wherein a first panel is provided with an elongate, generally parallel-sided slit or slot wholly bordered by the material of which the first component is formed, and a second panel is provided with a tab which has a neck portion and an enlarged head portion; wherein the blank is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that as, in use, the head portion of the tab is pushed through the slit or slot some deformation of the head portion occurs but as soon as the head portion is fully through the slit or slot the resilience of the material causes the head portion to assume its original shape, thus making difficult subsequent withdrawal of the head portion from the slit or slot.

17. A wallet formed from a blank having a plurality of fold lines which, together with the edges of the blank, define panels, wherein a first panel is provided with an elongate, generally parallel-sided slit or slot wholly bordered by the material of which the first component is formed, and a second panel is provided with a tab which has a neck portion and an enlarged head portion; wherein the wallet is formed of a resiliently flexible material; and wherein the relationship between the shape of the slit or slot and the shape of the tab is such that with the head portion of the tab fully pushed through the slit or slot, part of the head portion is out of alignment with part of the slit or slot, thus making subsequent removal of the head portion from the slit or slot impossible without deformation of the head portion.

18. A wallet according to claim 17, wherein the second panel, which can be the lower front panel of the wallet, can have two tabs at opposing edges and the first panel can lie under one edge region of the lower front panel with the srit or slot in a position ready to receive one of the tabs of the front panel, and a third panel, which is to lie under the opposite edge region of the lower front panel, can be provided with a further slit or slot corresponding to that in the first panel for receiving the other tab.