IL45682A - Means for the protection and the display of documents - Google Patents

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO MEANS. FOR THE PROTECTION AND S9L Y - ¾g§@35&S£eK OF DOCUMENTS AND THE' LIKE .

The present invention relates to a device for the protection and presentation of documents and the like.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for the presentation and/or protection of documents and the like, which device comprises first and second sheets between which, in use, such document or the like is inserted, at least one of the sheets being resilient, the first sheet providing a base on which such document can be laid and the second sheet having folded opposed longitudinal and/or lateral border portions therealong the distance between the opposed border portions being less than the corresponding dimension or dimensions of the first sheet, in the relaxed conditions of the first and second sheets, such that with such document or the like between the first and second sheets, the first and second sheets can be releasably interlocked by forcing border portions of the first sheet to engage the border portions of the second sheet and whereafter the sheets will remain inter-locked by frictional engagement between the corresponding border portions of the first and second sheets.

One of these sheets may be provided, suitably at the border portions thereof, with raised up portions which, in use, engaged in depressed portions of, or apertures in, the other of the sheets so as to assist in interlocking the sheets.

One or both of the sheets may be provided with means for suspending the assembly comprising the first and second sheets and the document or the like therebetween from a support. The suspension means may comprise holes adjacent to one of the edges of the sheets to permit the passage of a suspension cord or the like or it may comprise at least one suspension member provided on that surface of the first sheet which, in us®, faces away from such documents. This suspension member may be integral with the first sheet and provides an elongate space or passage through which a suspension cord or the like can pass. Alternatively, the suspension member may be in the form of a flap obtained by folding one of the sheets adjacent to its edge and in this case suspension of the sheets and document can be achieved by hooking this flap over a suspension cord, for example.

At least part of at least the second sheet may conveniently be trans a ent to enable whatever document or the like which is between the sheets to be viewed without the need for disengaging the sheets from one another.

In some embodiments &t is advantageous for the first sheets to have border portions folded in a corresponding manner to the border portions of the second sheet so that in the interlocked conditions the border portions of the two sheets are in surface to surface contact. In other embodiments the border portions of the second sheet are arranged to engage in slots provided in the first sheet the slots being formed in border portions of the first sheet and extending along and adjacent to edges of the first sheet.

As to the materials from which the first and second shs&s may be made, the first sheet may be made of any appropriate material which can be transparent or non=transparent materials such as, for example, plastics, g¼ss, metal, wood, agglomerated panel, cardboard, reinforced paper, rubber, fabric, cork, which may be rigid or flexible, whilst the second sheet may conveniently, for example, be made of any appropriate transparent material making it possible to see the whole document to be presented and/or protected.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 show schematically different embodiments of the device for the . presentation and/or protection of documents or the like, according to the present Invention; Figures 3 , nd 4 show schematically various forms of suspension means which may be used in the embodiments of the present invention; Figures 7 and 11 show schematically further embodiments of the present invention; Figures 12 and 13 show schematic side views of embodiments provided with support means; and Figure 14 shows schematically a part of an embodiment of the invention having a further form of suspension means.

Figure 1 shows ■ an end view of an embodiment of the device for the protection and presentation of documents and the like according to the invention. This embodiment comprises two plastic/sheets 1 and 2 between which is inserted the document to be presented and/or protected. Sheet 1 forms the base on the inner surface 17 of which rests the document to be protected and/or presented (not shown) . The sheet 2 has a widthji'which is slightly less than the width J[ of sheet 1, Two lateral border portions 4 of sheet 1 are obtained by folding the sheet 1 adjacent to the lateral edges thereof. In the same way two border portions 3 are obtained by folding sheet 2 adjacent to the lateral edges thereof. The respective widths of borders 4 and 3 are such that the said borders substantially cover one another when sheets 1 and 2 are assembled.

After resting the document to be protected and/or presented on the surface 17 of sheet 1, sheet 2 is applied to the document as covered by sheet 2 which is then releasably interlocked by pushing border portions 3 and ft into contact 3 is less than the distance JL between border portions 4, and in view of the resilience of the sheets 1 and 2, these sheets are thereby releasably friction fitted together with the document retained securely therebetween.

The securing in place of the document between sheets 1 and 2, particularly when its suspension is envisaged, can be further improved by providing the lower edlge of sheets 1 and 2 with foifed border portions which help to prevent the document slipping from between sheets 1 and 2.

The interconnection of the superimposed plastic sheets can be assisted by providing the border portions of one sheet with raised up portions which engage in depressions (14 in Figure 5) or apertures in the corresponding border portions of the other sheet. This is also shown in Fig. 2 by projections 13 in one sheet 11 engageable in depressions 13 in the other sheet 12. Where the sheets are provided with folded lower border portions such as 15 in Figure 6 to support the lower edge of an upright document these lower border portions can also be provided with raised up portions and depressed portions such as 16 to assist in interlocking the sheets.

Embodiments of the present invention can be used with various types of documents such as official documents and papers, drawings, plans, reproductions of works of art, lithographs, serigraphs, zylographs, geographical maps, information to be displayed etc., without* this however representing a limitative list and the formats of the embodiments can be chosen having regard to the documents and the lice whose protection and/or presentation is desired.

In the same way the plastic sheets can have any appropriate thickness for use and can be transparent, colourless or tinted, whereby the colouring given to the sheets can have a protective nature, e.g. relative to light, or ornamental, can extend over the whole sheet or only over a portion of the latter. Moreover, the sheets can carry identification indicia or ornamental figures provided by any appropriate means, e.g. by engraving or printing.

Although in the figures, the sheets are rectangular the shapes shown are not limitative and the sheets can have any geometrical shape appropriate for the documents to be protected and/or presented, 6r any geometrical shape suitable for ornamental presentation.

The interlocked sheets can be placed on a horizontal or oblique support or can be vertically suspended by hooking to a wall or, for example, to rode in which case they are provided with suspension means. These suspension means can for example comprise holes (not shown) preferably made in pairs adjacent to the upper edge of each of the plastic sheets, whereby the passage of a suspension cord or the like through these holes permits the assembly comprising the interlocked sieets and the document therebetween to be suspended.

The suspension means can also comprise, as shown in Figure 3, plastic members 5 which are advantageously but not fabricated separately from the sheet 1, these members 5 being carried on the outer surface of sheet 1 to define therewith a space 6 through which suspsision cord or the like cm be threaded.

This space can be formed in part by a depression in the outer surface of sheet 1 and can be rectilinear as in Figure 4, U-shaped, V-»shaped, inverted U-shaped or inverted V°shaped (auch as the spaces defined by depression 8 in Figure 4) or can have any other suitable shape.

The suspension means can be provided by providing a rearwrdly projecting flap at the upper edge of the sheets, this flap providing an elongate recess permitting the passage of a suspension cord therealong.

As a variant, such an upper border portion such as 18 in Figure 4 can have holes 9 for the passage of a suspension cord therethrough. Similar holes 10 can be provided on a lower folded border portion such as 19 and these holes 9 and/or 10 can be used to mount the assembly comprising the interlocked sheets and the document therebetween movably along suspension rods.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention for use with documents, lithographs, "gouaches", reproductions etc. and which comprises a base sheet 20 of width ft which can be of any appropriate material, which may be transparent or not and which may or may not be provided on its rear surface with suspension means 21 or support means. On its inner surface rests the document to be presented and/or protected. The sheet 20 for carrying the document is slldingly inserted along the inner surface 22 of upper sheet 23 which is made from a transparent material and whose width is slightly less than the width , of base sheet 1. The friction arising due to the width differences of the two plates takes place between borders 24 which form with surf ce 22 of sheet 23 an angle ( which is preferably less than 90° so as to ensure- a better securing in place of base sheet 20. For example angle α could be between 1 and 85° although the range of from 45° to 85° can be advantageous.

Angle α can beiade as small as possible as shown in Figure 8 to form slides 26 , within which slides base sheet 25 for the positioning thereof via its inner surface against the inner surface 28 of upper sheet 27, Whatever the value given to angle , it is advantageous to provide an abutment at the lower edge of the presentation and/or protection means. This abutment (of.

Figure 8) can comprise a continuous or discontinuous border 30 made along the inner edge of sheet 31 in such a way that base sheet 29 is securely maintained at its lower end. In the same way an abutment of the same type can be provided along the upper edge of sheet 31.

As shown in Figure 10, the connection between the base sheet made of any suitable material, which can be transparent or not, and the upper sheet is effected by arrranging slots 33 in base sheet 32 ttemgh which are passed the lateral borders 35 carried by upper sheet 3 , thus ensuring a particularly reliable connection as well as a frame for the document to be presented and/or protected by means of the portions 36 of the base sheet which extend laterally beyond the slots.

Depending on the material used for the base sheet 32 or 37, it is possible to obtain decorative or utilitarian effects of vey varied types.

The embodiment shown in Figure 11 has the appearance of a box 38 surrounded by a frame 39 which can be indispensable in cases where it is desired to exhibit objects such as masks, sculptures models and other objects having a substantial thickness.

Besides its function as an abutment, border portion 30 can serve as a base support as shown in Figure 12 obviating any need for ovi g suspension means or any special support surface such as a desk, stand or the like.

This embodiment Is also provided with suspension means 40 of the type described hereinbefore with reference to Figure 2.

As a variant, the upper border 41 with which the upper sheet 42 of Figure 14 is provided is shaped in such a way as to constitute not only an upper abutment for maintaining in place base sheet 29, but also in such a way as to constitute a suspension means along a wire, cable or. the like which Is horizontally positioned. In the same way lateral borders 26* of sheet 27 shown in Figure 8 can also under certai conditions constitute suspension means hooked to wires or the like positioned in a vertical manner.

Embodiments of the present invention can be equipped with per se known support means of the stand type such as 44 in Figure 13 which form an integral part of the rear portion of base sheet 43 to which they are advantageously articulated at 45. These stands 44 are maintained in a position for exposure by any appropriate means such as for example a spring 46.

Claims (20)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. A device for the presentation and/or protection of documents and the like, which device comprises first and second sheets between which, in use, such document or the like. s inserted, at least one of the sheets being resilient, the first sheet providing a base on which such document can be laid and the second sheet having folded opposed longitudinal and/or lateral border portions therealong the distance between the opposed border portions being less ten the corresponding dimension or dimensions of the first sheet, in the related conditions of the first and seeond sheets, such that with such document or the like between the first and second sheets, the first and second sheets can b® releasably interlocked by forcing border portions of the first sheet to engage the border portions of the second sheet and whereafter the sheets will remain interlocked by frictional engagement between the corresponding border portions of the first and second sh

2. , A device according to Claim 1, wherein raised up portions on one of the sheets are arranged to engage, in use, in depressed portions of, or apertures in the other of the sheets to assist in interlocking the sheets.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the raised up portions and depressed portions, of or apertures in the sheets are provided at the border portions of the sheets.

4. , A device according to Claim 3, wherein, the raised up portions are provided on laterally disposed border portions of the second sheet.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 and including means for suspending the sheets from a support

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the suspending means comprise holes adjacent to one of the edges of the sheets to permit the passage of a suspension cord or the like.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the holes are provided through at least one of the longitudinal or lateral border portions of one of the sheets.

8. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the suspending means comprises a least one suspension member provided on that surface of the first sheet which,, in use, faces away from such document.

9. A device according to Claim 8„ wherein the . suspension member is integral with the first sheet.

10. A device according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the suspension member is arranged to allow a suspension cord or the like to pass therethrough.

11. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the suspension member comprises a flap obtained by folding one of the sheets adjacent its edge and permitting the passage and securing in place bgiween the flap and the remainder of said one sheet of a suspension cord or the like.

12. A device according to any one of the precedin claims wherein at least part of at least the second sheet is transparent.

13. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the first sheet is substantially flat. = ~

14.. A device according to Claim 13, wherein the border portions of the second sheet are arranged to engage in slots in the first sheet, the slots extending along and ad cent to edges of the first sheet.

15. A device according to any one of the preceding claims herein the opposed lateral or longitudinal border portions of at least the second sheet form with the portion of sheet therebetween an angle which is equal to or less than 90°,

16. A device according to Claim 15 wherein said angle is from 1° to 85°.

17. Means according to Claim 16 wherein the angle is from 45° to 85°.

18.. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the opposed lateral or longitudinal border portions of the second sheet are substantially parallel to the portion therebetween of the second sheet.

19. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the border portion of one of the sheets provides a support for enabling the said means to stand on a support surface.

20. A device for the presentation and protection of documents and the like such device being substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the drawings. ^