GB2347348A

GB2347348A - Display device for cards, etc.

Info

Publication number: GB2347348A
Application number: GB9904638A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Tomlinson
Original assignee: Herbert Walker & Son
Current assignee: Herbert Walker & Son
Priority date: 1999-03-02
Filing date: 1999-03-02
Publication date: 2000-09-06
Also published as: GB9904638D0

Abstract

A display device for the display of generally flat articles such as greetings cards, photographs, letters and the like, comprising a display portion having therein a plurality of slits 15 providing, when the device is in use, a staggered array of generally upwardly directed tabs 16. The display device is simple and economical to manufacture, and enables a relatively high number of greetings cards or the like to be displayed, in close proximity to one another.

Description

Title: Display Device Description of Invention This invention relates to a display device of the type which may be used for the display of generally flat articles such as greetings cards, photographs, letters and the like, referred hereinafter for the sake of convenience as a display device"of the kind specified".

A variety of such devices are known, with GB 2129296B disclosing a device provided by superimposed first and second sheets of cardboard, wherein the articles to be displayed are pinched between the periphery of one sheet and the sheet positioned beneath it. The construction shown in GB'296B does however suffer from a slight drawback in that it is difficult to maintain securely in position large, and hence relatively heavy, greetings cards and the like, and it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a display device of the kind specified which alleviates this problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention. there is provided a display device of the kind specified comprising a display having therein a plurality of slits which provide, when the device is in use. a staggered array of generally upwardly directed tabs.

The tabs, when the device is in use, may be provided in two generally parallel columns, with the tabs of one column being vertically offset from the tabs of the other column.

Conveniently, the columns may overlap one another, so that the tabs of one column lie between or at least partly between the tabs of the other column.

Conveniently, the ends of each slit may be located at different distances from the bottom of the device.

Whilst the slits may be of any shape which provides a generally upwardly directed tab, it is preferred that the slits be curved or at least partcurved.

Desirably, the slits are generally semicircular, with the ends of each slit conveniently lying, during use of the device, on a line disposed at approximately 45 or less to the horizontal.

The display portion may be provided by a sheet of generally resilient yet bendable material such as relatively stiff card or the like.

To increase the rigidity of the device, there may be provided a backing portion on which the display portion is mounted.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, but by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein : FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the display device, and FIGURE 2 shows the device of Figure 1 with some greetings cards positioned thereupon.

Referring to the Figures, the display device 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a display portion, in the form of a generally rectangular but scalloped edged sheet of card 11, mounted on a backing portion 12. The periphery 13 of the backing portion lies inboard of the periphery 14 of the display portion.

The display portion comprises a plurality of slits 15, each of which is generally semicircular in shape, with the slits providing a staggered array of generally upwardly directed tabs 16 by which greetings cards 17 or the like' may be retained for display by the device.

As shown, the tabs are provided in two generally parallel columns, with the tabs of one column being veatically offset from the tabs of the other column. Moreover, the two columns in this example overlap at their edges, so that the tabs of one column lie partly between the tabs of the other column. In this way, a relatively large number of cards or the like may be accommodated without the requirement for an excessively wide display portion.

The device may comprise attachment means by which it may be secured to a wall, for example. Alternatively, the device may be free-standing.

As shown particularly in Figure 2, the staggered arrangement of the tabs enables a relatively large number of greetings cards or the like to be displayed by the device, with adjacent cards partly overlapping one another.

Moreover, the ends of the slits (identified by A and B in Figure 2) are located at different distances from the bottom 18 of the device, thus enabling the cards 17 to be displayed at an angle a to the horizontal. In the embodiment shown, the angle a is approximately 35 , although it will be appreciated that other angles could equally well be used.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilise for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A display device of the kind specified comprising a display portion having therein a plurality of slits providing, when the device is in use, a staggered array of generally upwardly directed tabs.
2. A display device according to claim I wherein, in use of the device, the tabs are provided in two generally parallel columns, with the tabs of one column being vertically offset from the tabs of the other column.
3. A display device according to claim 2 wherein the columns overlap one another, so that the tabs of one column lie between or partly between the tabs of the other column.
4. A display device according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein, in use of the device, the ends of each slit are located at different distances from the bottom of the device.
5. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the slits are curved or at least palt-culved.
6. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the slits are generally semicircular.
7. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ends of each slit lie, in use of the device, on a line extending at approximately 45 or less to the horizontal.
8. A display device according to claim 7 wherein the ends of each slit lie, in use of the device, on a line extending at approximately 35 to the horizontal.
9. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.