GB2366652A - Swatch sample presentation apparatus. - Google Patents

Abstract

A swatch sample presentation apparatus is provided which includes a plurality of substantially planar samples arranged in two or more groups. Each sample within a group partly overlaps an adjacent sample, but is at least partly offset from it and each group of samples partly overlaps an adjacent group of samples, but is at least partly offset from it. This arrangement permits a portion of every sample to be viewed at any given time. The apparatus further includes a pair of cover elements hingedly coupled to each other via a spine, wherein the spine includes an accessory attachment means for releasably attaching accessories thereto.

Description

2366652 SAMPLE PRESENTATION APPARATUS The present invention relates to a

sample presentation 5 apparatus including a plurality of substantially planar samples.

Typically, sample books for use with planar samples are configured as shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the samples 8, 18 10 being arranged in one or more groups wherein a sample (e.g. 18a) within the or each group partly overlaps an adjacent sample (e. g. 18b), but is of f set in one direction f rom it such that at least a portion of each sample 8, 18 within the group is visible. Where more than on group of samples is included 15 within the presentation book (see for example Figure 2), the groups are spaced apart. These known arrangements work well when the number of samples is relatively low, but when it is desired to include a relatively large number of samples within the sample book, either the portion of each sample that is 20 visible must be made very small, or more than one group of samples must be used, wherein each group entirely overlies or is overlaid by an adjacent group, such none of the samples of the lower group is visible until the upper group of samples has been moved out of the way. This type of arrangement is 25 disadvantageous for a user of the samp-le book, since where there are a relatively large number of samples, it is not 2 possible to compare the features of all of the samples at any one time, since at least some of the samples must be moved out of the way in order to view the samples below these.

5 Additionally, where the samples are for example samples of window covering fabric materials, these are typically grouped either by colour or by pattern, since such fabric materials tend to be provided in a number of different patterns and in different shades of certain colours. Therefore, users can 10 typically view at any given time either the different patterns available for a given colour or the available colours for a given pattern, depending on how the sample book is arranged, but it is not possible to view all of the samples together where there are d large number of samples.

The reason these known types of sample presentation books are popular is that all of the samples tend to have a common dimension, e.g. width. This makes it quick and easy to produce the samples and to assemble the book. However, as noted above, 20 this is at the expense of the user when the sample presentation book contains a large number of samples that may be grouped together in different ways.

In an effort to provide a more user-friendly sample 25 presentation apparatus, -there is now provided a sample presentation apparatus including a plurality of substantially 3 planar samples arranged in two or more groups, wherein each sample within a group partly overlaps an adjacent sample within that group but is offset from or includes a portion which is offset from that adjacent sample, whereby at least 5 a portion of. each sample within the group is visible instantaneously to a user; and each group of samples partly overlaps an adjacent group of samples but is offset from or includes a portion which is offset from that adjacent group, whereby at least a portion of each sample within the 10 presentation apparatus is instantaneously visible to the user.

Although only a relatively small portion of a given sample may be immediately visible, the apparatus is preferably arranged so-that the user can view a larger portion of that sample by 15 moving out of the way the preceding or overlying samples e.g. by folding them back about an axis.

In a preferred embodiment, each sample within a group is offset from the adjacent sample within that group in a first 20 direction and each group is offset from the adjacent group in a second direction which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the first direction. That is to say, the samples in the presentation apparatus may be arranged in a bidirectional cascade.

Samples within a group may have a fixed first dimension, e.g. width, and the offset between adjacent samples within the group may be formed by using samples having a different second dimension, e.g. length. The respective groups may then be 5 offset from one another in the direction of the first dimension, i.e. a sample in a first group partly overlaps a corresponding sample in a second group and is offset widthwise from it.

10 Alternatively, at least some of the samples may include cutout portions of different sizes whereby the samples may be arranged in accordance with the present invention.

As a further alternative, at least some of the samples may be 15 sized differently e.g. in terms of both width and length such that they are capable of being arranged in accordance with the -present invention.

The samples are preferably fabric samples for covering windows 20 e.g. blind fabric materials. This means that the preferred fabric samples of the present invention may be arranged such that all of the different colour shades and all of the different patterns can be viewed together At any given time.

25 The sample presentation apparatus may include a pair of cover elements hingedly coupled to-one another via a spine, which spine preferably includes an accessory attachment means for releasably attaching thereto accessories relevant to the samples of the presentation apparatus.

5 In embodiments. where the presentation apparatus includes a pair of cover elements, the presentation apparatus may be selectively configured in an open configuration in which the two cover elements and the spine are substantially coplanar, or in a closed configuration in which one of the cover element 10 substantially overlies the other of the cover elements, whereby in the open configuration, the samples are visible and in the closed co"nfiguration, the samples are protected by the two cover elements and the spine. Preferably, the sample presentation apparatus further includes a closure means to 15 releasably retain the apparatus in the closed configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figures 1 and 2 show examples of known sample presentation apparatus as described above; Figure 3 shows an elevational view of a first embodiment-of 25 the present invention; Figure 4 shows a plan view of part of the embodiment shown in Figure 3; and Figure S shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the 5 present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show examples of known sample presentation apparatus as discussed hereinabove.

10 Figure 3 shows a sectional view through a sample presentation apparatus 22 according to the present invention in its open c'figuration. The sample presentation apparatus 22 consists on of a f irst cover element 24 and a second cover element 26 the two cover elements 24, 26 being joined by a spine portion 28.

15 The apparatus 22 includes a first hinge portion 44 hingedly coupling the first cover element 24 to one edge portion of the spine 28, and a second hinge portion 46 hingedly coupling the second cover element 26 to a second edge portion of the spine 28. First and second sample protecting elements 30, 32 extend 20 from respective distal ends of the first and second cover elements 24, 26 so that samples 34 within the sample presentation apparatus 22 are protected between the cover elements 24, 26 the spine 28 and the sample protecting elements 30, 32 when the sample presentation-apparatus 22 is 25 in a closed configuration, the closed configuration being defined by the first cover portion 24 overlying the second 7 cover portion 26 and the sample protecting elements 30, 32 being parallel to the spine 28.

A first magnetic catch element 38 is carried by a first 5 support element 50 which extends from one end of the sample protection element 30 such that the first support surface 50 is parallel to the first cover element 24. A corresponding second support surface 48 extends from the second sample protection element 32 and carries a second magnetic catch element 36. The first and second magnetic catch elements 36, 38 are arranged to engage one with the other (i.e. to attract each other) when the sample book is in its closed configuration, whereby the two magnetic catch elements 36, 38 releasably retain the sample presentation apparatus 22 in this 15 closed configuration.

A conventional arrangement for locating the samples within the sample presentation apparatus is also provided whereby the samples are maintained in the desired configuration by a 20 plurality of respective retaining bars 40, 42.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a part of the sample presentation apparatus shown in Figure 3 with the second support surface 48 and the second magnetic catch element 36 25 removed for clarity and Figure 5 shows a plan view of an alternative configuration of the sample elements 34 within a 8 second embodiment of the present invention. For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that in the following description, references to "vertical", "horizontal", and to related terms, refer to the orientation of the sample elements 5 as they are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As can be seen from Figure 4, the samples 34 are arranged in columns A, B, C, D, E of varying widths and rows 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 of varying lengths. More specifically, the 10 difference in length between adjacent rows is 20mm and the difference in width between adjacent columns is 15mm.

To assemble the samples 34 in the desired configuration, the largest sample 65E is firstly located in a desired position,- 15 followed by the successively narrower samples 65D, 65C, 65B, 6SA in that order. Once all of the columns in row 65 are complete, the samples belonging to row 64 are placed in position, in the same order as those of row 65, namely the widest sample 64E first and decreasing in width to the 20 narrowest sample 64A. This process is repeated for the samples which make up rows 63, 62, 61 and 60.

The samples are retained in position by the retaining bars 40 which extend throUgh the samples from a top bar 66.

An alternative arrangement of the 30 samples of Figure 4 is shown in Figure S. In this alternative embodiment, each of the samples 34 have the same -width with each of the adjacent columns 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 being off-set horizontally from 5 its adjacent column. The samples within a particular column have varying lengths such that the difference in the length of adjacent samples 34 within a particular column is 20mm. In this embodiment, the sample presentation apparatus is assembled by starting with the right- hand column 75 and 10 suspending each sample 34 from the four right-hand most support rings 76, starting with the longest sample element 75E, followed by 75D, 75C, 75B and 75A in that order. The next column of samples 74E-A are then located in the desired position by off-setting them by two support-rings 76 to the 15 left (as seen in Figure 5). Again, they are arranged in position sequentially in the order 74E to 74A. This process continues with each of the columns 73, 72, 71 and 70 being off-set from the adjacent column by two support rings 76.

20 The rings 76 are conventional ring binder-type rings which are carried by a ring support member 78 and may be selectively configured in an open or closed configuration, whereby in the open configuration, samples maybe added or removed as desired and in the closed configuration, the samples are secured to 25 the apparatus and may simply be rotated out of the way about the respective rings 76 to which they are mounted, if for example it is desired to see a larger sample portion of a sample located within the apparatus.

It will be apparent to a skilled person that there are other 5 ways of arranging the samples 34 in accordance with the present invention.

These preferred embodiments have been described by way of an example and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art 10 that many alternatives can be made that are still within the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1 A sample presentation apparatus including a plurality of substantially planar samples arranged in two or more 5 groups, wherein each sample within a group partly overlaps an adjacent sample within that group but is offset from or includes a portion which is offset from that adjacent sample, whereby at least a portion of each sample within the group is visible instantaneously to a 10 user; and each group of samples partly overlaps an adjacent group of samples but is offset from or includes a portion which is offset from that adjacent group, whereby at least a portion of each sample within the presentation -apparatus is instantaneously visible to the 15 user.

2. A sample presentation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each sample within a group is offset from the adjacent sample within that group in a first direction 20 and each group is offset from the adjacent group in a second direction and the first and second directions are perpendicular to each other.

3. A sample presentation apparatus according to claim 1 or 25 claim 2 wherein all o- the samples have a substantially identical first dimension and the samples within a group 12 have a different second dimension to provide the offset between adjacent samples within that group, the groups being offset from each other in the direction of the first dimension.

4. A sample presentation apparatus according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the offsets are obtained by providing at least some of the samples with cut-out portions of different sizes.

5. A sample presentation apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the samples vary in size in terms of width or length or both.

6. A sample presentation apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus further includes a pair of cover elements hingedly coupled to each other via a spine.

7. A sample presentation apparatus according to any preceding CIaim wherein the samples are fabric samples suitable for covering windows.

15

8. A sample presentation apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

7. A sample presentation apparatus according to the preceding claim wherein the spine includes an accessory attachment means for releasably attaching thereto accessories.

8. A sample-presentation'apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the apparatus further includes a closure 13 means to releasably retain the apparatus in a closed configuration, wherein the closed configuration is defined by the cover elements being substantially parallel to each other with one of the cover elements 5 overlying. the other of the cover elements and the samples being located between the cover elements.

9. A sample presentation apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the samples are fabric samples 10 suitable for covering windows.

10. A sample presentation apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows I A sample presentation apparatus including a plurality of substantially planar samples arranged in two or more groups, wherein each sample within 5 a group partly overlaps an adjacent sample within that group but is offset from or includes a portion which is offset from that adjacent sample, whereby at least a portion of each sample within the group is visible instantaneously to a user; and each group of samples partly overlaps an adjacent group of samples but is offset from or includes a portion which is 10 offset irom that adjacent group, whereby at least a por-tion of each sample within the presentation apparatus is instantaneously visible to the user; and a pair of cover elements hingedly coupled to each other via a spine, wherein the spine includes an accessory attachment means for Teleasably attaching thereto accessories.

2. A sample presentation apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein each sample within a group is offset from the adjacent sample within that group in a first direction and each group is offset from the adjacent group in a second direction and the first and second directions are perpendicular to 2o each other.

3. A sample presentation apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein all of the samples have a substantially identical first dimension and the samples within a group have a different second dimension to provide the 25 offset between adjacent samples within that group, the groups being offset from each other in the direction of the first dimension.

4. A sample presentation apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the offsets are obtained by providing at least some of the samples 30 with cut-out portions of different sizes.

5. A sample presentation apparatus according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the samples vary in size in terms of width or length or both.

5 6. A sample presentation apparatus according 'to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further includes a closure means to releasably retain the apparatus in a closed configuration, wherein the closed configuration is defined by the cover elements being substantially parallel to each other with one of the cover elements overlying the other of the cover elements and the io samples being located between the cover elements.