US3087457A

US3087457A - Telephone index

Info

Publication number: US3087457A
Application number: US93168A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gildo J Prosen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-03
Filing date: 1961-03-03
Publication date: 1963-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-30

Description

April 30, 1963 G. J. PRosEN TELEPHONE INDEX Filed March 3. 1961 G TIME-SAVER DAILY USING PHONE NUMBERS /8 ADDRESS g4/COMPANY PHONES [g-- ADDRESS y 4 INV ENTOR.

/Y/Sgn BY Vd United States Patent() 3,087,457 TELEPHONE INDEX Gildo J. Prosen, 5122 S. Bishop St., Chicago 9, Ill. Filed Mar. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 93,168 4 Claims. (ci. 11s-135) The invention relates generally to data-retaining devices and more particularly to a device for retaining names, addresses, telephone numbers and the like.

The invention has among its `objects the production of a data-retaining device which will retain a relatively large amount of information in a very small space, as for example, name, address, phone number, etc., and which is so -designed that desired information may be readily segregated from other information on the device, at the same time providing an extremely simple construction which is inexpensive to manufacture and readily adapts itself as a premium item or the like.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a device which maybe constructed entirely of plastic or other suitable material and may be so designed that it is reusable. A

Many other objects and advantages of the invention herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken `approximately on the line 3 3 of FIG. l n

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of a modified form of slide; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of still another modified form of slide construction.

The present invention contemplates the production of a data retention device in the form of a flat sheet of material which is provided with spaces on both sides for the receipt 4of the material to be retained, the device being provided with a slide element which may -be readily moved along the sheet to designate the information sought, and when so positioned will correlate the material on both sides of the card in the event the reverse side of the ydevice is employed for the reception of additional data pertaining to corresponding data on the opposite side thereof. The slide member is so proportioned and constructed that the desired material Iwill stand out prominently to the exclusion of the undesired material.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly t FIGS. 1 through 3, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a card or plate formed from suitable sheet material, as for example, plastic or a plastic coated material, which is provided with a dull mat nish so that it may readily receive and carry information placed on the sheet in either pen or pencil.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the top face of the sheet is provided with a plurality of indicia receiving spaces 3 and 4 arranged in vertical columns, the spaces 3 being adapted to receive the name of an individual, and the spaces 4 the corresponding telephone number thereof. In like manner, the opposite face of the sheet 1 may be provided with spaces 6 and 7 similarly arranged in vertical columns which may contain addresses and other suitable information, as for example, the company by which the individual is employed. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the faces of the sheet may also be provided with suitable legends and other information as well as suitable advertising material in the event the device is used a-s an advertising premium or the like.

Cooperable with the sheet -1 is a slide member, indicated generally by the numeral 8, illustrated in FIGS. 1

through 3 as` comprising two strips of material 9a and 9b which are secured together into an integral structure by suitable means such as a plurality of tubular rivets 1v1, four of which are employed in .the construction illustrated. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheets 9a and 9b are adapted to be maintained in spaced relation by a pair of spacer members 12 adjacent opposite ends of the strips, the rivets 11 extending through the strips 142 andthe end portions of the strips 9a and 9b. The strips 12 are of a thickness generally corresponding to the thickness of the sheet 1, whereby the slide 8 is frictionally maintained in adjusted position on the sheet 1 ibut may be readily moved therealong, *the distance between the inner edges of the Vstrips 12 being slightly greater than the corresponding width of the sheet.

The member 9a is provided with

openings

13 and 14 therein which generally correspond in Asize to the data receiving spaces 3 and 4, whereby the slide may be posi- Vtioned to dispose the

openings

13 and 14 in registration with a corresponding pair of spaces 3 and 4. As illustrated in FIG. Vl, the vertical dimension of the member 9a is considerably greater than the corresponding dimension of Ione of the spaces 3 or 4, that illustrated being approximately three times the height ofa space whereby the data appearing in the window openings y13 and 14 is in elect isolated and prominently displayed to the eX- clusion of the adjacent data on the sheet. Preferably the slide 8 is made of a material having a color which'will contrast with the light material of the sheet 1, thereby emphasizing or accenting the segregating effect of the slide.

Strip 9b in like manner may be provided wit-

h window openings

15 and 16 aligned with the columns of Spaces 6 and 7. The rear side 5 of the sheet 1, in the embodiment illustrated, is designed for the insertion of addresses and names of associated company of the persons listed on the opposite side of the sheet, so thatwhen the slide is properly positioned to indicate a desired name, the

openings

15 and 16 will be aligned with the spaces 6 and 7 containing the additional information with respect to the individual whose name is displayed on the front side of the sheet.

Thus in use, the

spaces

3, 4, 15 and 16 of the -device are properly filled in with the desired information and when information is sought with respect to an individual named on the sheet, the slide is merely moved to position the window opening 13 in a position to expose the desired name, whereupon the phone number will be visible in the ywindow opening 14 and the additional information pertaining to such individual will be displayed in the

window openings

15 and 16.

As previously mentioned, the sheet 1 is preferably provided with plastic faces, the sheet either being made entirely of plastic or provi-ded with a suitable plastic coating which will readily take the printing or other in- -dicia placed upon the sheet, the latter preferably having suitable indicating means such as boxes 17 formed thereon to indicate the approximate area in which the desired information is to be placed so lthat it will be properly aligned with the window openings of the slide. The use of a mat finish on the. surface of the sheet will permit the latter to be readily cleaned and information may be readily removed, as desired.

Suitable means may be provided to prevent undesired separation of the slide 8 from the sheet 1 which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a small stop 18 formed integrally from the sheet 1 by making two parallel slits in the sheet and deforming the portion of the sheet therebetween out of its normal plane and into the path of the slide.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate modified forms of a slide construction.

The slide illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises a pair of members 21a and 2111 corresponding to the strips 9a and 9b, the member 2lb having end portions 22 to which the member 21a is suitably secured, as for example, by cementing or the like, whereby an integral structure is formed. The slide being provided with openings 13 to 16, corresponding to those illustrated in the slide 8.

FIG. discloses a construction wherein the slide is formed from suitable sheet material bent back as in dicated at 23 to form oppositely disposed walls 24a and 24b which may be provided with openings 13-16, the free adjacent end portions 25 and 26 being suitably secured, as for example, by lapping and cementing or bonding of the overlying portions.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a novel data retaining device which is exceedingly simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and very efcient for the purposes intended, the device being so constructed that selected data will be segregated from other material on the sheet and prominently displayed.

Having thus described my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given Ithat various immaterial modications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An index structure comprising an elongated generally rectangularly shaped body member formed from at relatively stit sheet material, each face of said sheet having a plurality of columns of elongated data receiving spaces with said columns extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member and said data receiving spaces extending transversely thereto, and a slide member having a front portion disposed at one side of said sheet `and a rear portion disposed at the opposite side of the sheet with said portions being connected at their corresponding ends, said slide having a window therein for each column of the front face and each column of the rear face, each window being substantially the same size as one of the associated spaces, sai-d slide being movable along said sheet to simultaneously position all of said windows in registery with selected spaces in each column of the front and rear faces, said slide having a dimension in the 4direction of said longitudinal axis which is at least equal to a multiple of the corresponding dimension of said spaces to segregate the selected spaces and make them appear prominent.

2. A structure as defined in claim l, wherein said slide comprises a pair of strips of a length greater than the width of said sheet whereby the ends of said strips project outwardly beyond the side edges of the sheet, spacing means interposed between the projecting end portions of said strips, and fastening means extending through and rigidly connecting said strips and spacing means to form a unitary structure.

3. A structure as defined in claim l, wherein said slide comprises a pair of members of a length greater than the width of said sheet whereby the ends of said strips project outwardly beyond the side edges of the sheet, and spacing elements at the projecting ends of said members, each element being integrally formed with an associated member and rigidly connected with the adjacent projecting portion of the other member to form a unitary structure.

4. A structure as dened in claim 1, wherein said slide comprises a strip of material which is folded to form a band transversely encircling the sheet, the free ends of said strip being overlapped and secured together to form a unitary structure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,353,279 Schulthers Sept. 2l, 1920 1,607,544 McCready Nov. 16, 1926 2,888,899 Graham June 2, 1959

Claims

1. AN INDEX STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED GENERALLY RECTANGULARLY SHAPED BODY MEMBER FORMED FROM FLAT RELATIVELY STIFF SHEET MATERIAL, EACH FACE OF SAID SHEET HAVING A PLURALITY OF COLUMNS OF ELONGATED DATA RECEIVING SPACES WITH SAID COLUMNS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BODY MEMBER AND SAID DATA RECEIVING SPACES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETO, AND A SLIDE MEMBER HAVING A FRONT PORTION DISPOSED AT ONE SIDE OF SAID SHEET AND A REAR PORTION DISPOSED AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SHEET WITH SAID PORTIONS BEING CONNECTED AT THEIR CORRESPONDING ENDS, SAID SLIDE HAVING A WINDOW THEREIN FOR EACH COLUMN OF THE FRONT FACE AND EACH COLUMN OF THE REAR FACE, EACH WINDOW BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS ONE OF THE ASSOCIATED SPACES, SAID SLIDE BEING MOVABLE ALONG SAID SHEET TO SIMULTANEOUSLY POSITION ALL OF SAID WINDOWS IN REGISTERY WITH SELECTED SPACES IN EACH COLUMN OF THE FRONT AND REAR FACES, SAID SLIDE HAVING A DIMENSION IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS WHICH IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO A MULTIPLE OF THE CORRESPONDING DIMENSION OF SAID SPACES TO SEGREGATE THE SELECTED SPACES AND MAKE THEM APPEAR PROMINENT.