US2074704A - Color card - Google Patents

Description

G. E. OSBORNE COLOR CARD March 23, 1937.

Filed Sept. 2, 19255 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNvlzNToR Glenn EOsborne M BY v ATTORNEYS March 23, 1937.

G. E. osBQRNE coLoR'cARD Filed sept. 2, 193s 2 sneetssheet 2- mvENToR j Glenn EOsborne' 'u 4fnrlnu-:Ys

l 25 claims.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLOR CARD Glenn E. Osborne, Maplewood, N. J.

Application September 2, 1933, Serial No. 687,924

2 Claims.

This invention relates to color cards.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve color cards. A more particular object of my invention is to bring out the true color cast or color value by associating or combiningy the color sample or area with a black background of dull or light-absorptive finish. Still further objects of my invention are: to avoid the too-dark and mournful or otherwise 10 unattractive appearance resulting from the use of a wholly black color card; to overcome the reluctance and prejudice sometimes encountered in the trade to a black color card; and to make conveniently possible a comparison or study of the 15 color sample with either or both the light-absorptive black background of my invention or the conventional light-reflecting white background.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and 20 such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the color card elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specication and sought to be deiined in the The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a color card embodying features of my invention, said card displaying skeins of yarn;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of a portion of said color card;

Fg. 3 is a section of a modified form. of color .0241

Fig. 4 is a section of a still different color card 35 arrangement;Y

Fig. 5 shows a color card suitable for use with `knit or woven samples;

Fig. 6 is a section taken in the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

,0 Fig. l is a section of a color card of still another type;

Fig. 8 illustrates a color card employing a separate removable mat to make optionally available the desired black background;

-45 Fig. 9 is a modified form of mat; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a multiple-leaf `color card.

Color cards have been known for many years and have been very extensively used for over V50 fifteen years in an effort to reproducibly stand- `ardize colors of the season or fashion. These cards may be referred to as a single card, but it Vwill be understood that in practice a number of pages or leaves may be foldably joined together,

`55 as is illustrated, for example, in Figs. l and 10.

(Cl. SiS- 14) The card is conventionally white, and it has heretofore been thought that white is the proper background to bring out the color cast or value when comparing the various samples. I have found that the true or actual color cast is 5 brought out against a black background, particularly a dull or light-absorptive black background, far more satisfactorily than against the conventional white background. While I do not wish to be committed as to the theory behind 10 this discovery, for the discovery may be considered as an empirical one, I believe that with a white background the light reflection is so great that it has a tendency to affect the color, making it look lighter and changing its cast, whereas with 15 a light-absorptive black background this, reilection is cut down to an absolute minimum and the color is not affected and is seen in its true tone. Also, the reection of light from a white background has a tendency to tire or fatigue the eye so that it is not as sensitively responsive to the diiferent tones of color as when using the black background.

Following this discovery I have successfully employed color cards using an entirely black sur- '25 face or background, but these cards have not met with universal favor for there is some initial prejudice in the trade against this change from white to black background. The purchaser frequently feels that he would like to contrast v the color with a White background as Well as with a black background. Also, it must be kept in mind that different manufacturers distribute their color cards among the purchasing trade to solicit future orders, and the attractiveness of the color card is of some sales value. The black color card affects some people with a feeling of foreboding or mournfulness. With these various problems in view I have devised a number of diiferent forms of color card which make optionally available either the black or the white background. These will be described in greater detail by reference to the iigures of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. l, the color card comprises a pair of cards or leavesZ and 4 the inside sur- 45 face of either or both of which may be used as a color card, depending upon the number of colors to be displayed. The merchandise being offered in the present case is yarn, and this yarn is made up into small skeins, 6, better shown in Fig. 2, which are cemented or otherwise mounted on the card. A part of the skein, in this case the middle portion 6, lies above a black background area 8, while the end portions of the skein lie on the white background area. To

enhance the artistic appearance and esthetic appeal of the card, each of the skeins is shaped by cross threads I0 which divide thersame into a middle portion 6 and end portions I2. Also the background area 8 is made circular and of a diameter substantially equal to the distance between the necks Il). The skeins are preferably disposed at an angle, as shown. With this arrangement the card retains a light over-all color, and yet the tone or cast of the color may be studied against a black background. At the same time the color may also be studied against a White background. The parts of the skein are dened and separated by the necks I8, thereby facilitating the desired contrast of the color with either a black or a white background.

The black background 8 is preferably a light- `absorptive or dull-finish black. For this purpose I find that it is exceedingly diflicult to merely print the card with the desired background and to thereby obtain the kind of nish preferred. Instead I nd it desirable to employ a layer of dull or suede-iinished material and to cement the same to the surface of the card. A suede-like finish is desirable, and a paper having a finish closely imitating suede is available and is most convenient for this purpose. Structurally it will be understood that the card has preliminarily cemented thereon discs of suedelike black paper, and that the skeins are subsequently cemented in place over these discs.

The arrangement described in Figs. l and 2 is intended to provide a black background while minimizing the black area on the card. A different arrangement fullling the objects of my invention but not so greatly minimizing the black background area on the card is shown in Fig. 3 in which a color card I4 contains a black background area I8 in the form of a rectangle disposed vertically on the card. Skeins 6 of yarn are cemented on the card, half of the skein being disposed over the black background area I8, and the other half projecting from the black area and lying over the white area of the card. Here again I prefer to provide the area I8 by cementing on the surface of card I4 a layer of black material having a dull or suede-like finish.

Still another arrangement of color card is shown in Fig. 4. In this case the card 24 has preliminarily cemented thereon a black background area 28 which may, if desired, be provided with a serrated edge 30 and windows 32, these decorative features serving to improve the overall appearance of the card. The yarn is made up into skeins 26 centrally tied at 34 to give the same a bow-like shape. The skeins are cemented in place on the card, half of the skein being superposed on the black background 28, and half being superposed on the white area of the card. The neck 34 helps demark the two halves of the skein and thereby facilitate study of the tone on either the black or the white background. At the same time the appearance of the individual skein is improved by this bowlike shape.

Still another form of my invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this case the invention is applied to swatches or samples of fabric rather than to yarn in strand form. Furthermore, provision is made for contrast of the color with either the white or the black background at the option of the user. For this purpose the card 36 is provided With swatches or samples of knitted or Woven fabric 40 which are secured to the card at one edge, in this case the upper edge 42. 'Ihe black background area 44 is disposed directly beneath the sample 40 and is coextensive in area therewith. With the samples 48 left fiat in place, as at the bottom of Fig. 5, the colors are observed against a white background. However, by lifting any sample upwardly, as shown at the top of Fig. 5, the color may be contrasted with a black background.

Structurally the desired result is preferably obtained by making the card 36 of a rear or backing member 35 and a front sheet 31, the latter preferably being White in color and having cut therethrough windows corresponding to the color samples. Before applying the front 1amination 36 to the rear lamination 35, the latter is provided with a layer of material, preferably black suede-finished paper 44. The top edge 42 of the sample 48 is cemented between the front lamination 31 and the background material 44, this construction being best shown in Fig. 6. With this arrangement the sample is contained and more or less protectively housed Within the window or recess formed by cutting out the front layer 3'I of the color card.

In Fig. 7 I show a color card 46 provided with a black background area 48 and skeins of yarn 50. These skeins of yarn consist simply of parallel strands and are disposed partially in a black background 48 and partially in the white card 46. To lend some decorative effect to the skeins, the ends are preferably terminated in sinuous lines 52, the desired shape being obtained by similarly shaping Windows cut through the front layer of the card 46, and through which windows the skeins are exposed. The background area 48 is preferably obtained by cementing to card 46 a layer of dull or suede-finished black material, and this material may be cut away with the outer portion of the card when forming the windows.

In Fig. 8 I show a form of the invention in which the black background may be made in the form of a separate and removable mat. Speciflcally, the preferably white color card 54 is provided With differently colored skeins of yarn 56 which may, if desired, be defined by specially shaped windows like those shown in Fig. '7, and similarly cut through a front lamination of material forming a part of the card. As so far described the card may be considered conventional. However, I further provide with the card a black mat 58 which may be made of thin cardboard having a dull or suede black finish. This mat is provided with windows 68 corresponding to and so disposed as to mate with the windows or the skeins 56 on card 54. By placing the mat 58 over the card 54, the entire card is covered except the skeins or samples which are then exposed through the Windows 60. 'I'he colors may thereupon be examined in contrast with a lightabsorptive black background. At the same time the colors may also be studied against a white background by simply removing the mat 58. It will be appreciated, of course, that the complete folder or color card may consist of a number of leaves or cards 54 on all of which the color samples or areas 56 are preferably similarly disposed, so that a single black mat 58 may be placed over any leaf or page of the complete folder.

In Fig. 9 I show a modif-led form of mat 62 which is generally ladder-like in configuration. This mat corresponds to the background area 48 shown in Fig. 7, and is intended to be disposed at the middle of a color card such as is shown in Fig. 8. By thus placing the mat the skeins may Cal Cil

be studied in contrast with both a black and a White background.

It may be of interest to point out that chronologically the development of the present invention has proceeded practically in reverse order to the foregoing description. The provision of permanently black color cards, while successful, met with some resistance, as I have already explained. I thereupon provided the arrangements shown in Figs. 8 and 9 which proved exceedingly popular but which were subject to the defect that the mat was susceptible of being lost or damaged. The arrangement shown in Fig. '7 overcame this difficulty, for the black background was a permanent part of the color card. The arrangements shown in Figs. 3 and 4 follow the same principle, but the skeins are made more attractive in appearance, and the area of black background is somewhat reduced. The arrangement of Figs. l and 2 is designed with a view to actually minimizing the necessary black area while at the same time obtaining an effective color contrast against a black background.

It will be understood that while many of the f figures are fragmentary, and that while I have frequently referred to the color card as a single card, in practice the card may be in the form of a substantial folder made up of a considerable number of individual leaves or cards foldably joined in edge to edge relation, and that Fig. 10 is included as illustrative of this complete assembly.

I may observe that while I have referred to the card, exclusive of the black background area, as being white, it is not essential that this portion of the card be a true white, for, if desired, a light or pale or neutral color may be used differing from true white. For example, I have employed light gray and also metallic silver. In every case, however, the color sample is at least partially contrasted with a preferably dull black background. The reference in the appended claims to a White card is therefore intended to be construed as including immaterial variations from white, as, for example, the gray or silver alreadyV mentioned.

It is believed that the mode of constructing theless, because of established precedent and prejudice I make available color contrast with a light or white background as well as with the black background. Furthermore, the dark and unattractive appearance of an entirely black color card is readily avoided by an advantageous limitation and disposition of the black background area on a white or light color card.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred forms,r

many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A color card comprising a neutral or white card, a plurality of differently colored skeins of yarn mounted thereon, each skein of yarn being drawn inwardly at spaced points, and a circular disc of black on the card beneath the middle portion of the skein and exposed on either side of the skein, whereby the color cast may be observed against the black background at the middle of the skein and may be observed against the neutral or white background at the ends of the skein.

2. A color card comprising a white card, a plurality of differently colored skeins of yarn mounted thereon, each skein of yarn being drawn inwardly at spaced points, and a circular disc of suede-finished black paper cemented on the card beneath the middle portion of the skein and exposed on either side of the skein, whereby the color cast may be observed against the black background at the middle of the skein, and may be observed against the white background at the ends of the skein.

GLENN E. OSBORNE.

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