US2828848A

US2828848A - Label holding attachment for typewriters

Info

Publication number: US2828848A
Application number: US473137A
Authority: US
Inventors: Symonds Henry Reginald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-12-06
Filing date: 1954-12-06
Publication date: 1958-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-01

Description

April 1953 H. R. SYMONDS 2,828,848

LABEL HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Dec. 6. 1954 INVENTOR. HEW/P) R, 5YMO 5 United States Patent LABEL HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS This invention relates to a new and improved label holding attachment for typewriters. More particularly the invention relates to a device which may be removably attached to the platen of a typewriter for the purpose of holding small pieces of paper, such as labels, tags, cards and the like, in position while being typed. Reference is made to my copending patent applications Serial Nos. 350,180 and 370,389, now' Patent No. 2,758,695.

Small pieces of paper, such as druggists labels, are many times not of sufiicient length so that the pressure rolls of standard typewriters engage and hold them in position. Unless manually held in place, such labels tilt or fall from position, thus creating a problem, particularly where large numbers of such labels are used. The present invention is an instrumentality for holding labels in place.

The invention is of particular importance in that the device may be installed and removed rapidly and easily and the labels may be inserted in position in the device and withdrawn rapidly and easily.

One of the features of the instant invention is the provision of a device of the character described in which two separate pieces of flexible plastic are employed. The label is retained by inserting the upper edge thereof under a flap in the device, which flap is located spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the device as a whole. It will be understood that the device may be inverted, whereupon the flap is located spaced upwardly fromthe lower edge of the device. The portion of the device above the upper edge of the label is preferably of considerable flexibility as distinguished from the portion which engages the label itself, the flexible upper portion of the device more closely conforming to the cylindrical contour of the platen and hence facilitating revolving the platen without interference with the pressure rolls and the. like, which are otherwise apt to damage the label-holding device. At the same time, the flap which holds the upper edge of the label may be of sufiicient rigidity adequately to retain the label in place and yet sufiiciently flexible to assume the cylindrical shape required for conformance with the shape of the platen.

Because of the simplicity and low cost of the device, it is readily adapted for use as an advertising medium. The fact that the device is intended for more or less permanent positioning on the platen, brings an advertising message printed or otherwise aflixed to the device, to the attention of the user at frequent intervals. A typical example of the use of the device is in typing druggists prescription labels. The device itself may be printed with advertising copy of a druggists supply house, thereby bringing the advertising message to the attention of the druggist while he is typing labels at frequent intervals throughout each working day. Alternately, the advertising message may be printed on a separate sheet which is installed under the label holder on top of the platen.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each. of the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the typewriter platen with one modification of the device installed thereon and with a label inserted in the device;

Fig. 2 is a section through the platen transverse to the axis thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, modified in that the advertising message of the druggists supply house is printed on a separate slip which fits under the main portion of the holder;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a modified device in which the holder is pre-fonned to conform to the cylindrical shape of a platen;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the device;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another modified form of the device;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another modification of the device;

Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11 are perspective views in reduced scale showing different locations for the application of adhesive to hold the device in position on a platen;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section through a platen showing the devices of Figs. 9 and 10 installed in place, and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the forms of Figs. 8 and 11 installed in place.

The present invention will be described as applied for use in typing druggists prescription labels of, the type attached to bottles, tubes and boxes in which prescription medicines are dispensed. It will be understood that the invention has other uses than in typing such labels, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to such use. Prescription labels are generally small in dimension and have a length such that when in typing position on the platen of a .conventional typewriter, 'the pressure rolls which function to retain conventional-size paper in position, do not contact the labels. Accordingly, the labels tend to shift in position while being typed, all of which causes inconvenience to the typist and detracts from the finished appearance of the label.

A conventional cylindrical typewriter platen 21 is shown in the accompanying drawings, the details of construction of such platen being of no concern to the present invention. Pressure rolls 22 are commonly employed in various positions depending upon the design of the particular typewriter to engage the paper being typed. As is illustrated herein, the location of the pressure rolls 22 is such that a small paper druggists label 23 is not held and engaged by the pressure rolls while being typed. The primary purpose and object of the present invention is to afford a means to hold the label in position despite the fact that it is not engaged by the pressure rolls 22. The conventional druggists label 23 is commonly supplied with printed material 24 such as the name and address of the druggist. The blank space above the printed matter 24 is commonly used for typing in the number of the pre-. scription, the name of the doctor, and the directionsfor use of the drug. The holding device which is the subct of the present invention is so constructed and de' signed as to obstruct or interfere with use of the blank space above the printed matter 24 as little as possible.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. l to; 3' inclusive, a flexible, relatively thin main body p'ortionv 26 having dimensions greater than those of the label 23, is employed. Thus the body portion 26 fits around the. platen 21 and may be permanently or temporarily heldin position as by adhesive 33 at the top and adhesive 34 at the bottom or the like. To facilitate engagement'of the device with the platen, a relatively more flexible and preferably thinner strip 27 overlaps the upper edge of the main body portion 26 and is adhered thereto by means of adhesive 28. In place of adhesive, the two;

members

26 and 27 may be adhered together'by' heiatrr a i g. T b n i b m s at a. vo atile sqlven iionfj other conventional means for bonding plastic and the like together, the location of the bond being preferably at that location indicated by reference numeral 28. It

willbe noted that a space 29 is provided under the bottorn edge of the leading strip 27. The upperedge of the label 23 may be inserted under the flap 29 and held in position thereby. If the device is used for advertising purposes, an advertising message 31 of the druggists supply house may be printed directly upon the main body portion 26 or the strip 27. Alternatively, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, a separate sheet of material 32 such as apieceof paper may be printed with the advertising message and suitably attached to the back of main body portion 26. Inasmuch as the main body portion 26 is preferably transparent, the message printed on the slip 32 is visible. In order to adhere the device to the platen, adhesive 33 is applied to the top edge of the leading strip 27 and adhesive 34 to the bottom edge of the main body portion 26. As hereinafter set forth in detail, the location of

adhesives

33 and 34 is subject to considerable modification. A protective cover may initially be placed over the adhesive and removed immediately before use, as well understood in the art.

In the modification of the device shown in Fig. 4, the main body portion 36 is initially shaped in arcuate form conforming to the curvature of a conventional platen. The curved form assists in locating the device in position on a platen. The

adhesives

33 and 34 illustrated in Fig. 4 may be eliminated if the resiliency of the material of which the body member 36 is formed is sufiicient to hold the device in position on a platen. In other respects the device illustrated in Fig. 4 is essentially the same as that shown in Fig. 3.

In the device shown in Fig. 5, the main body portion 37 is folded over in a flap 38 at its top edge. To secure good adherence of the flap 38 in such position as to engage the upper edge of the label which is inserted thereunder, adhesive 39 should be applied at the fold. As has previously been indicated, heat sealing or sealing with a volatile solvent may be substituted for the adhesive 39. The space 41 under the flap 38 is sufiicient for proper gripping of the upper edge of the label. The leading strip 42 is bonded by any suitable means to the back of the main body portion 37 adjacent the upper end thereof,

and projects upwardly over the top of the flap 38. As has been set forth with reference to the previous modifications, it is desirable that the leading strip be more flexible than the main body portion 37 and generally for such purpose the leading strip 42 may be thinner than the material of which the main body portion 37 is formed.

Adhesive33 and 34 is applied to adhere the device to the platen.

If the device shown in Fig. 6, the leading strip 43 is applied to the top of the flap 38 instead of to the underside of the main body portion 37 as is shown in Fig. 5.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the main body portion 46 may be of a height equal to the full height of the holding device. A separate, preferably less flexible strip 47 is secured to the main body portion 46 by means of adhesive 48, thereby providing space 49 under the bottom edge of the strip 47 for insertion of a label (not shown). Thermal or chemical bonding of strip 47 to body portion 46 may be employed. It will be noted that the space 49 for insertion of the label is spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the main body portion 46 an appreciable distance, thereby providing a portion above the strip 47 which is more flexible and adheres more satisfactorily to the platen when the device is installed thereon. Reversal of the position of strip 47 so that it is at the bottom may be preferred.

In Fig. 8, a device generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, is illustrated, it being understood that in place of the device shown in Fig. 8, various devices such as those shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 might be substituted.

The location of the adhesive is the distinguishing feature strip is adhered to the back surface of said main of Fig. 8. As therein illustrated it will be noted that the adhesive 51 is applied to the front surface of theupper edge of the leading strip 27. As shown in Fig. 13, if the length of the device is greater than the circumference of the platen 21, the upper and lower edges of the device overlap, and hence the adhesive 51 bonds itself to the underside of the bottom edge of the main body portion 26. This form of device is satisfactory in that the adhesive does not come in contact with the platen and hence no adhesive remains on the platen when the device is removed.

As shown in Fig. 9, the adhesive -52 is applied to the back of the upper edge of the leading strip 27. As shown in Fig. 12, with the device installed on the platen with the upper and lower edges overlapping, the adhesive 52 adheresto the bottom of the main body portion 26 to hold the device in place on the platen. It will be noted by contrasting Figs. 12 and 13 that the overlapping edges are reversed.

In Fig. 10, the adhesive 53 is applied to the front of the bottom edge of the main body portion 26. The installed position of the device shown in Fig. 10 is that illustrated in Fig. 12.

In Fig. 11, the adhesive 54 is applied to the back of the bottom edge of the main body portion 26. The installed position of the device in Fig. 11 is illustrated in Fig. 13.

Although the foregoing invention has been described insome detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Holding means for holding labels on a platen comprising, a thin, flexible main body portion, adhesive on said holding means to adhere said holding means to a platen, and a leading strip overlapping the upper edge of said main body portion and adhered thereto at a position spaced upwardly from the lower edge of said leading strip, the lower edge of said leading strip being independent of and separated from the opposed surface of said main body portion.

2. Holding means for holding labels on a platen comprising, a main body portion, a flap formed on said main body portion at a location spaced downwardly from the top edge of said device, said flap being open along its lower edge for insertion of the upper edge of a label beneath the flap, and adhesive for securing said holding means in position on a platen, said holding means being more flexible above said flap than below said flap.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which a leading strip is positioned overlapping the upper edge of said main body portion, the lower portion of said leading strip comprising said flap.

4. A device according to claim 2 in which a separate strip is adhered to said main body portion at a location spaced downwardly from the upper edge of said main body portion, the space under the lower edge of the strip comprising said flap.

5. A device according to claim 2 in which said main body portion is folded over along its upper edge to provide said flap and which further comprises a leading strip adhered to said main body portion along its upper edge.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which said leading body portion.

7. A device according to claim 5 in which is further provided a leading strip adhered to the upper front surface of the turned over portion of said main body portion.

De Saussure May 3, 1921