GB2277483A

GB2277483A - Folded sheet article

Info

Publication number: GB2277483A
Application number: GB9321961A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Wallace Mcdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-04-22
Filing date: 1993-10-25
Publication date: 1994-11-02
Also published as: GB2277297A; GB9321961D0; GB9308376D0

Description

FOLDED SHEET MEANS

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

2277483 This invention relates to folded sheet means and connection means.

Folded sheet means are known from the present inventor's earlier specification

GB2173448, which have the advantages and operate in the manner indicated therein.

As exemplified therein, a sheet of paper or like material is folded with a first set of concertina folds and, when so folded, is folded with a further set of two concertina folds transverse to the first set. The sheet is provided, at two diagonally opposite comers, with a stiff portion of plastics material having the shape and size of a credit card. These portions lie outside the sheet when folded and enable it to be opened completely, very readily and in many cases with only one hand, and closed (refolded) almost as easily. However, applications have been considered by the present inventor which require improved means to hold the folded sheet means closed. Further, applications have been considered by the present inventor which require the folded sheet means to be connected to a key-ring, chain or other connector and improved connection means are required for this purpose. Examples are: use in the pocket and use on a drawing board.

THE INVENTION The whole of the specification, including drawings, of the present inventor's pending application GB9308376 is hereby imported into the present specification.

According to one aspect of the invention, there are provided folded sheet means as claimed in claim 1 or modifications of this as claimed in claim 35 or 36. There can also be provided the features of claims 3 to 27. The various features of claims 1 to 36 provide folded sheet means that are particularly useful in various contexts, e.g.

in the pocket and on a drawing board. The doubling of the connection function allows a much greater degree of reliability and confidence in use of the folded sheet means than might be expected. For example, while ensuring that it can remain closed and attached to a key-ring, chain or other connector or, if intended to be used free of such connector, providing reinforced fastening, this feature also enables for example ready accessibility, e.g. in the pocket, since one can then feel for the folded sheet means among miscellaneous other articles in the sure knowledge that either the folded sheet means is attached to a key-ring etc., and can thus readily be withdrawn from the pocket, or even if one accidentally opens one connection (to determine what the article is) the other connection will maintain the folded sheet means closed while it is withdrawn from the pocket.

The further features of any one of claims 3 to 27 make the folded sheet means much more useful, particularly easy and economical to manufacture, particularly easy to operate and more effective. The provision of two connection means for releasably connecting together said stiff portions allows a positive and satisfactory means for holding the folded sheet means closed, more particularly when the two connection means are arranged towards opposite ends of the folded sheet means. The tag form of connection means, while allowing for ready manufacture yet is also capable of simple and ready erection by the user. Some of the embodiments also lend themselves to making their opening and/or closure more interesting, which is considered to be an advantage for the folded sheet means when used as a promotional item. For this last use and purpose, the combinations of features in some of the embodiments have been found to be overwhelmingly attractive to the mind, which seems to sense a coordination of purpose and usefulness even though this might not be readily apparent.

In the context of a drawing board, as with a key-ring etc., the folded sheet means are kept closed and yet anchored to make them particularly accessible.

Folded sheet means having the features of claim 30 have the advantages that they are more difficult to open, and particularly by being able to have the features of claim 31 less likely to be opened, by accident, e.g. when reaching into the pocket or by catching on something else in the pocket. Also, the fastening can be made flatter or thinner, more convenient and, particularly by being able to have the features of claim 32, less dangerous, e.g. than having sharp edges which can cause painful damage by running up under a fingernail. When having the feature of claim 31, less material is absent from said other stiff portion, which can therefore remain stronger. These various features can of course be applied without having the other releasable connections and, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a means as claimed in claim 34. By virtue of features disclosed herein, e.g. connection means adapted to serve for a connection which is suitable to form part of a releasable connection, the folded sheet means is suitable for connection to a key- ring and can be provided with the feature of claim 29. By reason of some or all of these features, and others disclosed herein, the folded sheet means are particularly adapted for use in the pocket.

According to other aspects of the invention there are provided connection means as claimed in claim 39 or 41. There can also be provided the further features of claims 40 and 42 to 45. The inventor has appreciated that the tag may have advantages as indicated above even when it is used in a context that does not include folded sheet means. Other advantages are as mentioned above.

-4DESCRIPTION RELATING TO THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of folded sheet means embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figures 3 to 7 are views corresponding to Figure I of alternative embodiments of the invention; Figure 8 is a schematic plan of stages of opening of the Figure 6 embodiment; Figure 9 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention comprising a tag; Figure 10 is a cross-section along the line 10-10 of the Figure 9 embodiment but after the tag has been erected; Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of alternative embodiments of the invention comprising a tag operable in the manner indicated in Figure 10; and Figures 13 to 50 are a series of schematic plan views in explanation and variation of the embodiments of the foregoing Figures, except that Figures 35 to 41 and 45 are partial views (Figures 35 to 38 showing alternative examples of a detail of the top centre of Figure 32, Figures 39 to 41 showing alternative examples of a detail of the right centre of Figure 34 and Figure 45 showing an end or side of a folded closed embodiment with alternative connection means) and Figures 47 and 48 are schematic cross-sections along the lines 4747 in Figure 46 and 4848 in Figure 17 respectively.

Reference is now made to the drawings. In the various embodiments, references having the same first pair of digits denote members that have a similar function, and some of these may not be mentioned herein explicitly, or their function detailed, where this notation makes their function obvious.

-5 Folded sheet means 10, operable in the same manner as the folded sheet article indicated in the present inventor's prior specification GB2173448 is shown in Figures

I and 2 (and, in principle, Figure 8). This comprises a sheet of paper or like material 12 with a first set of concertina folds 14, 14 and a second set of concertina folds 16, 16 transverse to the first set, the sheet being provided with two stiff portions 18, 20 attached to the sheet 12 and arranged to lie on opposite sides of the sheet when it is folded with both sets of folds 14, 16. The stiff portions 18, 20 have the shape and size of a credit card and will usually (but not necessarily) be thinner. The folded sheet means 10 further comprises connection means 22, 24, 52 adapted to serve for at least two releasable connections, at least one (22 and 24) of which connections is between said two stiff portions 18, 20. The two stiff portions 18, 20 are separate from each other in this embodiment, although in the embodiment shown in Figure 8 of the specification of application GB9308376.4 from which the present application claims priority, they are monolithic. In the present embodiment, e.g. as seen in Figures 1 and 2, the folded sheet means 10 comprise two separate connection means 22, 24, adapted to serve for respective releasable connections between said stiff portions 18, 20. The two connection means 22, 24 are at or towards opposite edges of the folded sheet means 10 when folded, as seen in Figure 1. Each of the two said connection means 22, 24 comprises a tongue 26, 28, both tongues 26, 28 extending from one of said stiff portions 18 inwardly thereof in opposite directions, i.e. towards the middle of stiff portion 18, or at least away from the outside (periphery) thereof.

As seen in Figure 3, each of the said connection means comprises a tongue 261, 281, both tongues extending from one of said stiff portions 181 outwardly thereof in is opposite directions, i.e. away from the middle of stiff portion 181, and engaging through slots 45, 46 respectively in stiff portion 201.

As seen in Figure 4, each of the two said connection means comprises a tongue, the two tongues 262, 282 extending from the stiff portions 182, 202 respectively and in the same direction, one tongue 262 extending inwardly of its stiff portion 182 and engaging through slot 452 in stiff portion 202 and the other tongue 282 extending outwardly of its stiff portion 202 and engaging through slot 462 in stiff portion 182.

As seen for example in Figure 1, the folded sheet means 10 comprises two separate connection means 22, 52, one 22 adapted to serve for releasable connection between said stiff portions 18, 20 and one 52 adapted to serve as part of a releasable connection of the folded sheet means 10 to another object, e.g. a key- ring (not shown) by virtue of the latter (or an intermediate link) being a split ring and therefore releasably threadable through the hole.

As seen for example in Figure 7, folded sheet means 10 comprise connection means 522, 523, 662 having a common member 662 adapted to serve for both releasable connection between said stiff members and releasable connection of the folded sheet means 10 to another object, e.g. a key-ring (not shown). Said common member may comprise a ring 662, which interconnects stiff portions 186, 206 and also serves for a releasable connection to, for example, a key-ring (not shown).

Alternatively, said common member may comprise, as shown for example in Figure 6, a tongue 263 with a hole 521 in it or, as shown for example in Figures 9 and 10, a tongue 264 with a loop fastening 64. The loop fastening 64 is formed from a tag 54 partly cut away at line 62 from the tongue 264.

-7 As exemplified in the Figure 3 embodiment and its stiff Portions 181, 281 shown in plan view at 82, Figure 13, one of the connection means 241 comprises a tongue 281 partly cut along line 36 from one of said stiff portions 181. This tongue 281 extends from an interior edge 321 of said stiff portion 181, i.e. an edge which does not connect with the exterior (peripheral) edge of the stiff portion 181.

As seen for example in Figure 9, the tongue 264 has a free end 61 extending inwardly of said stiff portion 183. This may be compared to tongue 26 or 28 seen in Figure 1. The other stiff portion 20, Figure 1, may comprise guide means 42, 44 to receive and locate the tongue 26. This is shown as an option in Figure 1 by using chain lines. Similar guide means may be used for tongue 26. The resulting embodiment is shown in Figure 6 and is found particularly conducive to ready use.

It has what has been called "the right feel".

The manner of operation will be described with reference to Figures 2, 6 and 8.

While Figure 2 is a cross-section of Figure 1, it also shows clearly some of the features of Figure 6. The folded sheet means 101 of Figures 6 and 8 is sold (and received by the end user) in the folded condition seen in Figure 6. To unfold it, stiff portion 185 is grasped (for a right handed person) in the left hand, while portion 205 is grasped in the right hand and is moved in the direction indicated schematically by arrow 67, that is outwards and down through the position shown at 68 to the position shown at 681. Continuing this movement in the manner indicated schematically by arrow 671, stiff portion 205 is turned over and pulled to the right as seen in Figure 8 to open out the folded sheet means 101 to the position shown at 682, and finally pulled almost as far as possible away from stiff portion 185 to open folded sheet 121 almost flat. To refold the folded sheet means 101, reverse movements are used.

Thus, sheet 121 can be completely unfolded with a single movement and completely refolded with a single movement. To lock the stiff portions 185, 205 together, various methods may be used. In one method, portion 205 is pulled slightly down as seen in Figure 8 (as stiff portion 20 to the left as seen in Figure 2) to unroll folded sheet 12 slightly at fold 162, Figure 2. Edge 17, 171 can then be slid easily under edge 19, 191 and, by continuing the movement (of stiff portion 20 to the right as seen in Figure 2) the stiff portion 20, 205 bows somewhat so that edge 21, 211 can readily be slid under edge 23, 231. Another method involves bending down ends 48, 50, Figure 2, to raise and move apart edges 19, 23. It will also be readily apparent how bowing, bending or slight distortion of the two stiff portions and/or the tongues (including tongues 70, 72, Figure 5) can achieve the same result. When first cut out, tongues 26, 28 are flat within stiff portion 18 but, once they are bent out of the plane of stiff portion 18, they retain most of such bend. When stiff portion 20 is released, its overall bowed shape transforms to a flatter shape bent at the ends, somewhat as seen in Figure 2.

In the case of the Figure 7 embodiment, the ring 662 is located permanently through hole 523 in stiff portion 186 and can be made to engage stiff portion 206 through its hole 522 by forcing its entry through slit 53, which may have a chanifered opening (shown in greater detail in Figure 30) to the external edge of stiff portion 206 to facilitate this. The fact that slit 53 is located to the side of hole 522 helps to ensure that portion 206 will not accidentally come free from ring 662 by passing through slit 53. A suitable twisting movement of ring 662 can be used to distort stiff portion 206 in the region of slit 53 in order to open slit 53 when it is intended to release stiff portion 206 from ring 662 to open the folded sheet means.

As seen in Figure 5, the connection means 22 may be replaced by connection means 221 comprising a pair of oppositely directed tongues 70, 72 that project towards or through notches 74, 76 in the respective stiff portions 184, 204 and inter engage. The opposite connection means 24 may be replaced by a U-shaped end part of stiff portion 204 which engages over the corresponding end of stiff portion 184 to hold the same captive in conjunction with tongues 70, 72. End part 80 may, alternatively to the U-shape, be folded over sharply.

For connecting the folded sheet means 10 to a key-ring, chain or other connector, there can be provided a connection means simply in the form of a hole 52. However, as indicated above, an alternative arrangement which can for example be used to avoid the need for a split ring (e.g. 66, Figure 6), comprises, as seen in Figures 9 and 10, a tag 54 extending from an interior edge 56 of one of said stiff portions 183 (or it could almost as well be stiff portion 18, Figure 1), and is adapted to serve for releasable connection of the folded sheet means 102 to another object (not shown).

The tag 54 is partly cut from its stiff portion 183 by cutting it along the line 62, preferably at the same time that tongue 264 is partly cut along line 361 and in the same operation, with the advantages indicated above. Indeed, while tag 54 (as 541, Figure 11) can be cut direct from the stiff portion 183, 184, it is, in the embodiment seen in Figure 8, partly cut from tongue 264 itself extending from stiff portion 183.

It will be seen from Figure 9 that tag 54 is wider at a point 58 nearer to a free end 59 of the tag 54 than at a point 60 further from the free end 59. Tag 54, Figure 9, is T-shaped. Other shapes are possible, e.g. that shown in Figure 31, preferably having right angles at points 57 where the tag 54, 543 engages under opposite portions of edge 56, see Figures 9 and 10.

_10 Tag 54 is erected by the user of the folded sheet means 102, Figures 9 and 10, or the stiff portion 184, Figure 11 (described below) etc. As will be seen from Figures 9, 10 and 11, and with reference to the adjacent parts of the stiff portion 183, which in Figures 9 and 10 will be tongue 264. The tag 54, 541 is shaped and arranged so that it can be located to one side (below as seen in Figure 10) of the adjacent part (tongue 264) of its stiff portion 183 at said nearer point 58 and simultaneously to the other side (above, as seen in Figure 10) of the adjacent part (tongue 264) of its stiff portion 183 at said further point 60, thereby forming a loop 64. In order to erect tag 54 into loop 64, the user presses the point 58 in a direction, as seen in Figure 9, going into the page and presses point 60 out of the page so that the cross-bar of the T-shape at point 58 slides behind (below as seen in Figure 10) tongue 264 and is held captive by the opposed parts of edge 56 from the point 60 towards the root of the T-shape at edge 56, in the manner indicated in Figure 10 and seen in perspective in Figures 11 and 12. This provides the loop 64 of tag 54, as discussed above, to which can be fastened a key, key-ring, chain or other connector 662, 663, 664. It is found in practice that, if the tag 54, and preferably the whole of stiff portion 18, are made of polypropylene sheet material, preferably 1mm thick, the tag 54 (being perhaps 1/2cm wide at point 58 and lem long from root to free end 59) provides a strong, serviceable and long-lasting loop 64.

Other possible materials for the stiff portions, tongues and/or tag might include nylon. They should preferably be hard-wearing, stiff but somewhat flexible, not easily tearable, and preferably with a "memory", i.e. having a degree of elasticity or tendency to return to shape, so that the folded sheet means can be produced and sold with the tongue already standing up at a small angle, of perhaps about 15' to 30'.

This set may be aided by heat and/or pressure.

As seen in Figure 11, the arrangement of tag 541 can be used even without the folded sheet means 10. Whether used in this manner or as part of the folded sheet means 10, it will immediately be apparent that, by putting a chain link or key-ring or other similar member 662, 663 through loop 64, thus not allowing loop 64 to collapse, the portion (cross-bar) of the T-shape at point 58 cannot escape and it is therefore possible alternatively to arrange the tag the opposite way round so that pull is in the opposite direction 551, Figure 12, from the direction of pull 55 shown in Figure 11.

For convenience, the plan views of Figures 13 to 21, 24 to 26, 28 and 46 are exploded to show the two stiff portions side by side but omit the folded sheet. It is to be understood that these views are diagrammatic and in fact, when the folded sheet means is folded with both sets of folds closed, the upper stiff portion (shown on the right of each view and corresponding to the upper stiff portion in Figures 1 to 7) overlies the lower stiff portion (shown on the left of each view and corresponding to the lower stiff portion in Figures 1 to 7), with the folded sheet therebetween affixed to both stiff portions.

Figure 13 is in explanation of Figure 3. Figure 14 is in explanation of Figure 4.

Figure 15 shows a variation of the Figure 4 embodiment in which the internal slot 452 is replaced by an external slot 453. Figure 16 shows another variation of the Figure 4 embodiment in which the slot 453 is replaced by a shortening of stiff portion 202 to form a stiff portion 206, acting in the same manner as the edge 21 in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 17 is in explanation of Figure 5. Figure 18 shows a variation of the Figure 5 embodiment, in which the connection means 221 (70, 72) is replaced by a tongue and recess connection means as seen in Figure 6 but with the tongue on the upper member. Figure 19 shows another variation of the Figure 5 embodiment in which the connection means 221 is replaced by a mirror image 801 of the connection means 80. Figure 20 shows a slight variation of the embodiment of Figure 19, in which the two connection means 80, 801 are laterally shortened. Figure 21 shows a slight variation of the embodiment of Figure 20, in which the edges 173, 213, corresponding to edges 172, 212, are recessed with recesses 47, 49 to accommodate the laterally shortened connection means 802, 803, in the same manner and for the same purpose as the recesses in stiff portion 205, Figure 6. Figure 22 shows the end part of a recessed upper or lower stiff portion, showing that the outer edges such as 41, 43 of a recess, e.g. see Figure 8, can be chamfered as edges 411, 431 to help location of a tongue (or laterally shortened portion such as 802) in any appropriate part of any of the embodiments. Figure 23 shows an alternative to the variation shown in Figure 22, in which the projecting portions 422, 442 have become laterally so short that they are simply guiding projections 423, 443 (with or without the chamfer) on the corresponding edge, e.g. 174, of the stiff portion. Figure 24 shows a variation of the Figure 6 embodiment, in which the tongues (and their corresponding guide means recesses) are laterally shifted with respect to each other. The same can be applied to any other of the symmetrical arrangements of connection means. Figure shows a variation of the embodiments mentioned with reference to Figure 24, in which the connection means at one end is central and there are two oppositely laterally displaced connection means at the opposite end of the stiff portions. It will be realised that, while the vertical (as seen in Figure 8) set of folds 14 (Figure 1), 141 is folded first and the horizontal set of folds 16, 161 is folded second, the sheet 12 could be rotated in its own plane by 90' relative to the two stiff portions 18, 20, 185, 205 so that the Z-shaped cross-section of sheet 12 would not be visible in the Figure 2 cross-section but only in one taken at right angles to that. Alternatively, the opposite connection means 22, 24, Figure 1, could be at the left and right hand sides (as viewed in Figure 8) rather than at the top and bottom as actually shown in Figures 1 and 8. Figure 26 shows a further variation in which three connection means for interconnecting the two stiff portions are all placed in the region of the long edges 38, 38, 381, 381, 382, 382, Figures 1, 8 and 26, at one side of the stiff portions but pointing in alternate directions. If the folded sheet then has the orientation shown in Figure 8, the sheet itself provides a degree of connection between the two stiff portions in the region of the edges 40, 40, 401, 401, 402, 402 at their other side, i.e.

remote from the three connection means. All four such connections can thus be made suitably for them together to hold the folded sheet means closed. Such an embodiment is not considered to be highly efficient at holding the folded sheet means closed but is very interesting to the user because of the required manipulation, somewhat in the nature of a puzzle, making it highly suitable for use as a promotional item. As seen in Figure 27, another variation along the lines of the connection means being only at one long edge, there can be provided solely a connection means in the nature of the connection means 522, 523, 53, 662 shown in Figure 7, the opposite side (right hand side as seen in Figure 27) of the stiff portions being interconnected by the folded sheet as described above in relation to Figure 26. Figure 28 shows a further variation in which two opposite said connection means are provided by press-studs 89 -14and sockets 90. Either both studs can be on one stiff portion or one stud can be on each, and correspondingly for the sockets.

Figure 29 shows two embodiments of the folded sheet means 106, 107 on a drawing board 189 which acts as the aforementioned lower stiff portion so that it is constitutes a modification in which another object (drawing board 189) than the folded sheet means 106, 107 comprises one of the aforementioned stiff portions. The folded sheet 128 has a self-adhesive backing, preferably over the whole of the area of its back segment 138 (comparable to segment 137, Figure 8), and a front stiff portion which extends (to the right as seen in Figure 29) beyond the folded sheet and has its own self-adhesive portion 118. Both self-adhesive portions adhere to the drawing board 189. At least the self-adhesive portion 118 is of a releasable, re-usable selfadhesive material that will allow the stiff portion to be released thereby from the drawing board 189 for opening the folded sheet means 106 and then reconnecting them together, repeatedly. The first-mentioned self-adhesive backing to segment 138 may also be similarly repeatedly releasable and engageable. Folded sheet means 107 varies slightly from folded sheet means 106 in that the self-adhesive portion 118 is replaced by a press stud and socket (or any other suitable connection means indicated hereinabove), e.g. the stud being on the drawing board and the socket on the upper stiff portion, or vice versa, or again the stud being on a lower stiff portion (attached 20 to the folded sheet and separate from the upper stiff portion) which adheres to the drawing board by means of a self-adhesive backing underlying segment 138, which backing may similarly be repeatedly releasable from and engageable with the drawing board.

As mentioned above, Figure 30 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 7 and Figure 31 shows an alternative form 543 of the tag 54, Figure 9.

Figures 32 to 34 show an embodiment in which the two stiff portions 187, 207 are not separate but monolithic, i.e. formed together as a single piece. In Figure 31, the four dashed lines 82, 821, 822, 823 are scored, weakened or otherwise adapted for folding. The folded sheet 127 is attached by a comer segment (as 137, Figure 8) thereof to the back stiff portion 207. The folded sheet means 108 comprises an element 25 that extends from the region of an edge 403 of stiff portion 207 and has a free end 27 and an engaging portion 29. The engaging portion 29 extends back towards said edge 403 in the plane of said element 25. The engaging portion 29 is wholly internal of said element 25, and is preferably formed by making a single cut line 83 during manufacture of the monolithic piece forming stiff portions 187, 207 and spine 34 between them. In use, sheet 127 is folded up completely with both sets of folds and then stiff portion 187 is folded over sheet 127 at fold lines 822, 823 to the position seen in Figure 33. The element 25 is adapted then to fold over the stiff portion 187 at fold lines 82, 821. The stiff portion 187 being provided with edge 31, the engaging portion 83 can then engage under this edge 31 to provide a releasable connection between the two stiff portions 187, 207, as seen in Figure 34. To effect the engagement, the free end is bent up (towards the viewer as seen in Figure 34) slightly and pulled sufficiently to the left (as seen in Figure 34), which action is facilitated by a recess 84 in the edge of stiff portion 187, for the free end 29 to be inserted through slot 33 and engage under edge 31 to provide a releasable connection between the two stiff portions 187, 207. The extremities of element 25 and engaging portion 29 (i.e. the free end 27 and the leading edge 85 respectively) are rounded to -16 avoid painful jabbing, e.g. when one feels for the folded sheet means 108 in the pocket. The engaging portion 29 then remains in the plane of the element 25,albeit a slightly distorted plane in the Figure 34 position. The term "plane" has reference to the adjacent parts of the element 25, i.e. beyond fold line 82.

There may be provided grasping means 15 which, as shown in Figure 32, may be a stiff comer portion with which sheet 127 is provided, or a comer portion bent back or up or curled, or a mere printed indication on sheet 127 that this comer should be grasped, or a stiff portion extending over (and slightly beyond) the whole of folded sheet 127 in the manner of stiff portion 205, Figure 8. To serve as connection means to a key, key-ring, chain or other connector, there may be provided a hole 524, Figure 36, e.g. in the spine 34, or in a tag 51, Figure 35, extending from the spine 34, or adjacent the spine 34 as seen in Figure 37, or a pair of holes 525, Figure 38, to either side of spine 34, both of them being threaded by a single ring 665, preferably circular.

In variations of the embodiments of Figures 32 to 34 just described, instead of having a spine 34, the two stiff portions may be separate and there may be provided suitably a second connection means of any kind disclosed herein for effecting a connection between the two stiff portions 187, 207.

As seen in Figures 39 to 41, the element 251, 252, 253 may alternatively have a Z or C shape. In use, it is distorted by pulling its free end 271, 272, 273 to the left (as seen in Figures 39 to 41) to engage its engaging portion 291, 292, 293 under the engaging edge 31 of the stiff portion 187 and to release it therefrom. The engaging edge may, for example, be provided by a round hole 331 alternatively to the slot 33.

Figure 42 shows a variation of the Figure 32 embodiment in which the connection means 25, 33 is replaced by a simple cut-out 35, which engages over edge 37. (There may be provided an extension 511 with a hole 526.) Figure 43 shows use of two such connection means 351, 352. Figure 44 shows use of cut-out 353 on the top edge and towards one comer, away from the spine 34.

Figure 45 shows an alternative connection means 39 particularly suitable for use at a comer opposite spine 34. If required, a second such connection means 39 can be provided at the other comer opposite spine 34. The connection means 39 comprises, in one of the stiff portions (the front one as viewed in Figure 45), a feature of a comer cut out more or less square and in the other stiff portion (the back one as viewed in Figure 45) an L-shaped cut 86 to enable the resulting end portion 294 to engage over an edge 87 of the cut comer. A difficulty of this embodiment (and some of the others) is that the sheet when folded has to be of reduced length and/or breadth in order to avoid fouling the connection means 39. To avoid this difficulty, both comers of a connection means 39 can be extended outwardly to form a connection means 391.

This can be done in various ways. In the example of means 391 actually shown, the L-shaped cut 86 has become a straight line cut 861. These cuts 86, 861 (as elsewhere, e.g. cut 83, Figure 32) may be provided with a curl 88, 881, 882 to facilitate the necessary distortion of the connection means when fastening the same. Ibis form of connection means 391 may not be acceptable if, for example, the extensions are likely to catch in the pocket.

In all the embodiments, any comer/s can be rounded to help avoid injury, e.g.

when the embodiment is used in the pocket, e.g. due to a sharp comer going up under a fingernail and any of the connection means can be used in any of the positions, as appropriate.

-18 Figure 46 shows a variation of the Figure 28 embodiment, in which the two connection means, each comprising press stud 891 and corresponding socket 901 are located near to adjacent edges instead of two opposite edges of each stiff portion as in Figure 28. Also, as another variation, the sheet 125 is fixed to the back of the back (left hand as seen in Figure 46) stiff portion 188 but folds in front of it so that, when folded, the sheet 125 extends outside the other two adjacent edges 91, 92, i.e. the edges that are free of connection means, as can be seen by the positioning of its fold lines 142, 162. Figure 47 shows a cross-section (not to scale) along the line 4747 when the folded sheet means is completely folded up. Most of the embodiments described herein can be provided with their connection means on two adjacent edges.

These and the Figure 27 embodiment leave at least two adjacent edges free of connection means. In such a case a back-affixed sheet of the Figure 46 kind can be used. This allows use of a larger sheet than one wholly between the stiff portions, which may have to be further reduced in width and/or length to clear the connection means. An exception to the requirement of two adjacent edges free of connection means is illustrated by the sheet 124 shown in dashed lines in Figure 17, as a variation to the above-described embodiment of Figures 5 and 17. This is shown schematically in cross-section in Figure 48 (not to scale). Because of the hook-over nature of connection means 80, this can hook over the folded sheet 124 and the stiff portion 184, now inside sheet 124. This Figure 17 embodiment opens upwardly (as seen in Figure 17) in contrast to the Figure 8 embodiment which opens downwardly, but can be made to open similarly to the Figure 8 embodiment by a rearrangement of the parts, e.g. of the stiff portions 184, 204 on the sheet 124, and possibly of the folding.

Rearrangement of the parts, differently folding the sheet, left handed opening e.g. for - 19 left handed people, landscape orientation instead of portrait, and other possibilities, can be applied to any of the embodiments described herein, e.g. as indicated in Figures 49 and 50, being variations of the Figure 46 embodiment (with the press-stud and socket means being located in the region of the middle of one side and in the region of the far comer of an adjacent side and being located in the region of two diagonally opposite comers, respectively in the two embodiments), and as indicated in Figure 51, being a variation of the Figure 42 embodiment in that it comprises a landscape arrangement.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein and by importation from prior application GB9308376.4 may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed.

Claims

CLAINIS

1. Folded sheet means, comprising a sheet of paper or like material with a first set of concertina folds and a second set of folds transverse to the first set, the sheet being provided with two stiff portions, one of the stiff portions in the region of a corner of the sheet when it is unfolded and the other stiff portion on the opposite side of the sheet when it is folded with both sets of folds, characterised in that it comprises connection means adapted to serve for at least two connections, of which one is releasable or suitable to form part of a releasable connection, and the other is releasable between said two stiff portions.

Folded sheet means, comprising a sheet of paper or like material with a first set of concertina folds and a second set of folds transverse to the first set, the sheet being provided with two stiff portions, one of the stiff portions in the region of a corner of the sheet when it is unfolded and the other stiff portion on the opposite side of the sheet when it is folded with both sets of folds, characterised in that it comprises connection means adapted to serve for at least two connections, of which one is releasable or suitable to form part of a releasable connection, and the other is releasable between said two stiff portions.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two stiff portions are separate from each other.

4. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises two separate connection means, adapted to serve for respective releasable connections between said stiff portions.

Means as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the two said connection means are at or towards opposite edges of the folded sheet means when folded.

2.

6. Means as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterised in that each of the two said connection means comprises a tongue, both tongues extending from one of said stiff portions inwardly thereof in opposite directions.

7. Means as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterised in that each of the two said connection means comprises a tongue, both tongues extending from one of said stiff portions outwardly thereof in opposite directions.

8. Means as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterised in that each of the two said connections means comprises a tongue, the two tongues extending from the stiff portions respectively and in the same direction, one extending inwardly of its stiff portion and the other extending outwardly of its stiff portion.

9. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises two separate connection means, one adapted to serve for releasable connection between said stiff portions and one adapted to serve for releasable connection of the folded sheet means to another object.

10. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises connection means having a common member adapted to serve for both releasable connection between said stiff members and releasable connection of the folded sheet means to another object.

11. Means as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said common member comprises a ring.

12. Means as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said common member comprises a tongue with a hole in it.

13. Means as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said common member comprises a tongue with a loop fastening.

is 14. Means as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the loop fastening is partly cut from the tongue.

15. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that said connection means comprises a tongue partly cut from one of said stiff portions.

16. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that said connection means comprises a tongue extending from an interior edge of one of said stiff portions.

Means as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that said tongue has a free end extending inwardly of the last mentioned said one stiff portion.

18. Means as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that the other of said stiff portions comprises guide means to receive and locate the last mentioned said tongue. 19. Means as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that said guide means comprises two projections as at edge of said other stiff portion to locate the last mentioned said tongue between them.

20. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that said connection means comprise a tag extending from an interior edge of one of said stiff portions and adapted to serve for releasable connection of the folded sheet means to another object.

21. Means as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that the tag is partly cut from its stiff portion.

22. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that said connection means comprise a tag partly cut from a tongue extending from one of said stiff portions and adapted to serve for releasable connection of the folded sheet means to another object.

-23 23. Means as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, characterised in that the tag is wider at a point nearer to a free end of the tag than at a point further from the free end.

24. Means as claimed in claim 23, characterised in that the tag is Tshaped. 5 25. Means as claimed in claim 23 or 24, characterised in that the tag is shaped and arranged so that it can be located to one side of the adjacent part of its stiff portion at said nearer point and simultaneously to the other side of the adjacent part of its stiff portion at said further point, thereby forming a loop.

26. Means as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, characterised in that at least the tag is of polypropylene.

27. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, characterised in that at least one said stiff portion is of polypropylene.

28. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27, characterised in that it is adapted for use in the pocket.

29. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28, characterised in that it is connected to a key-ring.

30. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, characterised in that it comprises an element that extends from the region of an edge of one said stiff portion and has a free end and an engaging portion that extends back towards said edge in the plane or slightly distorted plane of said element, said element being adapted to fold over said other stiff portion, said other stiff portion being provided with an edge under which said engaging portion can then engage to provide a releasable connection between the two stiff portions.

31. Means as claimed in claim 30, characterised in that the engaging edge of said other stiff portion is provided by a slot.

32. Means as claimed in claim 30 or 31, characterised in that said engaging portion has one or more rounded extremities.

33. Means as claimed in claim 30 or 31, characterised in that said engaging portion is wholly internal of said element.

34. Folded sheet means, comprising a sheet of paper or like material with a first set of concertina folds and a second set of folds transverse to the first set, the sheet being provided with two stiff portions, one of the stiff portions in the region of a corner of the sheet when it is unfolded and the other stiff portion on the opposite side of the sheet when it is folded with both sets of folds, characterised in that it comprises an element that extends from the region of an edge of one said stiff portion and has a free end and an engaging portion that extends back towards said edge in the plane or slightly distorted plane of said element, said element being adapted to fold over said other stiff portion, said other stiff portion being provided with an edge under which said engaging portion can then engage to provide a releasable connection between the two stiff portions.

35. A modification of means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, characterised in that one of said stiff portions is not part of said folded sheet means but another object than said folded sheet means comprises such stiff portion.

36. Folded sheet means comprising a sheet of paper or like material with a first set of concertina folds and a second set of folds transverse to the first set, the sheet being provided with a stiff portion arranged to lie on one side of the sheet when it is folded with both sets of folds, characterised in that it comprises connection means is adapted to serve for at least two releasable connections between the folded sheet means and another object, whereby said object is arranged to lie on the opposite side of the folded sheet when it is folded.

37. Folded sheet means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore 5 described. 38. Folded sheet means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

39. Connection means, characterised in that it comprises a tag extending from an interior edge of a sheet of stiff material and adapted to serve for releasable connection of the stiff material to another object.

40. Means as claimed in claim 39, characterised in that the tag is partly cut from the stiff Portion.

41. Connection means, characterised in that it comprises a tag partly cut from a tongue extending from a sheet of stiff material and adapted to serve for releasable connection of the stiff material to another object.

42. Means as claimed in any one of claims 39 to 41, characterised in that the tag is wider at a point nearer to a free end of the tag than at a point further from the free end.

43. Means as claimed in claim 42, characterised in that the tag is Tshaped. 20 44. Means as claimed in claim 42 or 43, characterised in that the tag is shaped and arranged so that it can be located to one side of the stiff portion at said nearer point and simultaneously to the other side of the stiff portion at said further point, thereby forming a loop.

45. Means as claimed in any one of claims 39 to 44, characterised in that at least the tag is of polypropylene.

46. Connection means comprising a tag and substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

47. Connection means comprising a tag and substantially according to any example hereinbefore describe with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

X 1)-1 0 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Folded sheet means (201, 10) comprising a sheet (221, 12) of paper or like material with a first set of concertina folds (261, 14) and a second set of folds (281, 16) transverse to the first set, at which folds (261, 281, 14, 16) the sheet (221, 12) can be folded and unfolded, characterised in that it comprises connection means (1061, 52) adapted to serve as or as part of means for releasably connecting between the folded sheet means (201, 10) and another object, and holding means (241, 22), 24) adapted for releasably holding the folded sheet means folded.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the second set of folds consists of a set of concertina folds (261, 14).

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said holding means comprises an envelope or other container (241), said sheet (221) being adapted to be retained therein for releasably holding the folded sheet means (201) folded.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said sheet (221) is adapted to be retained in said container (241) with the aid of friction and/or at least one mechanical retaining portion (711) of the container (241) and/or springiness of the sheet (221) when folded up due to its mutually transverse sets of folds (261, 281).

5. Means as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the container (241) has an open end (321) and a cut-out shape at the open end (321) to facilitate grasping and withdrawing from it the folded sheet (221).

6. Means as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the container (241) has at least one inwardly directed lip (341) to facilitate retaining the folded sheet therein.

7. Means as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that it includes a carrier (961) for the folded sheet material (221), the carrier (961) being movable into and out from the container (241).

8. Means as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the folded sheet (221) is removable from the carrier (961).

9. Means as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that it comprises means (1081) to limit the extent of relative withdrawal of the carrier (961) from the container (241).

10. Means as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the carrier (961) is provided with a tail (1061) suitable for connection to a key-ring, luggage or other portable object.

11. Means as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10, characterised in that said sheet (221) is provided with a stiff portion (541) which is in the region of a corner of the sheet (221) when the sheet (221) is unfolded, and said stiff portion (541) is provided by the container (241).

-% 42.P. J 12. Means as claimed in claim 4 or 11, characterised in that the container (241) comprises two sheet-like portions (401, 421) hinged together and adapted to be releasably fastened together about the folded sheet (221).

13. Means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sheet (12) is provided with a stiff portion (18) which is in the region of a corner of the sheet (12) when the sheet (12) is unfolded, and said holding means comprise a releasable connection (22) for said stiff portion (18) adapted to serve for releasably holding the folded sheet means (10) folded.

14. Means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sheet (12) is provided with two stiff portions (18, 20) which are in the region of diagonally opposite corners respectively of the sheet (12) when it is unfolded, and said holding means comprise a releasable connection (22) between said stiff portions (18, 20) to serve for releasably holding the folded sheet means (10) folded.

15. Means as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterised in that said holding means comprise two of said releasable connections (22, 24), which together can releasably hold said folded sheet means (10) folded.

16. Means as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the two said releasable connections (22, 24) are in the region of opposite edges (21, 17) of the folded sheet means (10) when folded.

17. Means as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that each of the two said releasable connections (22, 24) comprises a tongue (26, 28), both tongues (26, 28) extending from one of said stiff portions (18) inwardly thereof in opposite directions.

18. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that part or all of the connection means (522, 523, 662) are provided in common with part or all of the holding means (522, 523, 662).

19. Means as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the common means comprise a tongue (264) adapted to provide a connection loop (64).

20. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that it is substantially one-half or one-third of credit card size (8.5cm by 5. 35cm or 3.3in by 2.15in) 20%.

21. Means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sheet (128) is provided with a stiff portion (208) arranged to lie on one side of the sheet (128) when it is folded with both sets of folds, and said connection means (118, 138) are adapted to serve for at least two releasable connections (118, 138) between the folded sheet means (10) and said other object (189), when that object (189) is arranged to lie on the opposite side of the folded sheet (128) thus folded.

22. Means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the folded sheet means (10) has a back portion (138) provided with releasable selfadhesive material for attaching it to a holding surface (107) and a front portion (208) adapted for grasping and opening the sheet (12).

23. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, in the form of a kit of parts comprising said connection means (1061, 52), said holding means (241, 22, 24) and said folded sheet (221, 12) (whether or not the sheet is actually folded up).

24. Folded sheet means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

25. Folded sheet means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

26. Folded sheet means according to any one or more of the Features in the "List of Features" herein.