US3091482A

US3091482A - Portfolio

Info

Publication number: US3091482A
Application number: US139305A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cirigliano Caesar Anthony
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-09-19
Filing date: 1961-09-19
Publication date: 1963-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-28

Description

May 28, 1963 c. A. CIRIGHLIANO PORTFOLIO Filed Sept. 19, 1961 INVENTOR. 6455A? A- Of/Gl/ANO United States Patent 3,091,482 PORTFOLIO Caesar Anthony Cirigliano, 146 Somerset Ave, Fairfield, Conn. Filed Sept. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 139,305 4 Claims. (Cl. 281-33) This invention relates to an improved portfolio for the storage, transportation and display of material in sheet form.

While the invention has numerous applications, it has been particularly designed for use in the storage, trans por-tation and display of story material, such as the story material used in making presentations in the television field. By way of example, it is common for an advertising agency to prepare pictorial and text material for presentation to a client, corresponding to a proposed television program or commercial. In the past, large and bulky storyboards have been used, each storyboard containing a series of pictures corresponding to successive frames or scenes of the proposed program or commercial, each of the storyboards also containing text which may be narrated by the person making the presentation. These storyboards have been diflicult to store, transport and display.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved portfolio for the storage, transportation and display of pictorial or textual material arranged to be presented in sequential form.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portfolio of the above-described type which may be readily collapsed for storage and transportation purposes, and which may be readily erected for display purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portfolio of the above-described type having simple means for the substitution of different display material.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved portfolio of the above-described type which may be readily erected for display purposes, and wherein sheet material received within the portfolio may be readily sequentially moved into convenient viewing position, with selected material readily accessible to the view of an onlooker and with other selected material readily available for reference by the person making the presentation.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the display unit comprises an outer binder and an inner binder. Each binder comprises a pair of rectangular panels having respective end edges hingedly connected to each other. The remaining end edges of the inner binder panel are hingedly connected to the respective panels of the outer binder. The binders are foldable along their various hinge connections to a closed or collapsed condition in which all of the panels are parallel to each other, with the hinge connection between the inner binder panels located adjacent to the hinge connection between the outer binder panels and with the inner binder panels received between the outer binder panels. In this condition, the portfolio may be readily stored or transported.

The inner binder serves as an ordinary looseleaf notebook, with sheet material received in a ring binder located adjacent the hinge connection between the inner binder panels. Accordingly, in the collapsed condition of the unit, the stored material is amply protected, and yet the entire unit looks like a large notebook.

The binders are further foldable on their hinged connections to display condition in which the successive panels are generally perpendicular to each other. In other words, if one of the outer binder panels is placed upon a horizontal supporting surface, the other outer binder panel extends vertically. One of the inner binder panels 3,091,482 Patented May 28, 1963 ice then extends horizontally, and the other extends vertically. Any suitable means are provided for releasably maintaining the binders in their display condition. It will be apparent that in the display condition, the display sheets may be successively folded to overlie the top face of the horizontal inner binder panel and the outer face of the vertical inner binder panel. The material on the sheets may be so arranged that when pictorial material, for example corresponding to a frame or scene of a television commercial, is displayed on the exposed face of the outer sheet mounted against the vertical inner binder panel, for easy viewing by the onlooker, text material corresponding to the pictorial material being exhibited is then visible upon the top sheet mounted upon the horizontal inner binder panel, in which position it is accessible for reading only to the person making the presentat-ion.

The above-described construction is highly advantageous, because it makes it possible to present material with a minimum of distraction since the onlookers attention can be focused upon the single panel of material which is displayed in vertical viewing position on the portfolio. At the same time, the material can be transported without calling attention to the fact that it is in any Way special or unusual. Furthermore, by the provision of a plurality of ring holders or the like, each holding a different set of sheets, which may be readily replaced in the inner binder, it is possible to make a series of presentations utilizing a single portfolio.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portfolio in accordance with this invention, in collapsed and closed position;

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1, showing the portfolio open but still collapsed;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the portfolio open and erected into display condition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the sheet holder being removed from the inner binder; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sheet holder.

Upon reference to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that it shows an outer binder 9 and an inner binder 20 which are hingedly connected to each other to form a display unit. Said outer binder 9 comprises a pair of

rectangular panels

10 and 1 1 of the same size and shape. Panels 10 and 11 may be made of any suitable stiff material such as is conventionally employed in notebook construction. Thus, said panels 10 and 11 may optionally be made of rigid cardboard which may be appropriately covered with sheet material. Adjacent end edges of said panels 10 and 11 are connected together along their entire width by means of a hinge connection 12 which is not disclosed in detail and which may be any conventional hinge connection. Preferably, hinge connection 12 is a spine of arcuate cross section hingedly connected to the respective adjacent end edges of panels 10 and 11. The

remaining end edges

13 and 14 of outer binder 10 are free.

The inner binder 20 comprises respective

rectangular panels

21 and 22 of the same size and shape. Respective end edges of these

inner binder panels

21 and 22 are connected to each other along the length thereof by means of a spring hinge connection 23, which is optionally of the kind commonly used in spring binders. Said hinge connection 23 is arcuate in cross section and may be flexed in the direction of arrows 1a and 1b (FIG. 4).

Preferably, the

panels

21 and 22 are made of the same material as panels and 11. Preferably, the width and length of

inner binder panels

21 and 22 are less than the width and length of panels 10 and 11. Panel 22 is connected along its remaining end edge, by means of binge connection 24, to panel 11. The distance between hinge connection'24 and hinge connection 12 is preferably substantially the same as the length of panel 21.

Panel 21 is hingedly connected along its remaining end edge, by means of hinge connection 25, to panel 10. The distance between hinge connection 25 and hinge connection 12 is preferably substantially the same as the length .of panel 22. i

The hinge connections are such that the binders are foldable on said hinge connections to closed condition in which the four

panels

10, 11, 21 and 22 are parallel to each other with the hinge connection 23 adjacent hinge connection 12 and with the

inner binder panels

21 and 22 located between the outer binder panels 10 and 11.

Said binders 9 and are further foldable on their hinge connections to display condition in which successive panels are generally perpendicular to each other. In the preferred display condition, panel 10 is adapted to rest upon a flat horizontal support, with panel 11 thenextending generally vertically. Panel 21 then correspondingly extends generally vertically and is located forwardly of and parallel to panel 11. Panel 22 then extends generally horizontally and above and parallel to panel :10.

Any suitable means may be employed for maintaining the unit releasably in its display condition. As shown in the drawing, at each side of the unit, folding

legs

30 and 31 are respectively hinged at their remote ends, by means of pivots 2, to lugs 3 on the

respective hinge connections

23 and 12. The adjacent ends of

legs

30 and 31 are attached to each other by lateral pivot 32, with any suitable means provided (such as friction at the pivots) for locking the

legs

30 and 31 in aligned relationship to maintain the unit in its display condition. It will be apparent that the

legs

30 and 31 may be readily moved to folded condition in order to collapse the unit.

Preferably, in accordance with the invention, I provide .a replaceable-sheet-holder 40 comprising a metal spine 41 to which spaced rings 42 are mounted in the usual manner, three such rings 42 being shown for illustrative purposes. The spine 41 may contain any appropriate conventional mechanism (not shown) for opening and closing the rings for insertion and removal of sheet material therefrom. A plurality of notebook sheets 43 have the usual holes through which the rings 42 are extended in the usual way, so that the notebook sheets may be turned on the rings to be located against either of the

inner binder panels

21 or 22, as desired.

While it is within the scope of the invention to mount the sheet holder permanently on the inner binder, I prefer to make the sheet holder entirely separate so that it is possible to substitute material for display purposes merely by replacing sheet holder 40. To this end, the inner spring binder 20 may be bent slightly (arrows 1a and 1b) so as to provide clearance for removal of the spine 41 (arrow 10) and replacement thereof.

In any event, it will be apparent that with the unit in its erected or display condition, the sheets 43' can initially all rest upon the panel 22 and may be successively turned so as to lie against the exposed or front face of panel 21.

By way of illustration of the use of the unit, each sheet 43 may have pictorial matter 4311 on the face thereof which is exposed when the sheet lies against panel 21, such pictorial matter 43a, for example, depicting a scene of a proposedv television program or commercial. Text material corresponding to the selected picture 43a may be printed upon the opposite face of the next sheet 43, as designated by the reference numeral 43b, in such away as to be exposed while the pictorial matter 43a is exposed, on the top of the stack of sheets on panel 22. Thus, as shown in the drawing, the particular text material '43b which is exposed may be explanatory of the exposed pictorial matter 43a. In this way, it is possible for the person presenting the material to have available for his reading text material corresponding to the pictorial material being displayed, the text material being visible only to the person who is displaying the material.

It will be apparent that the unit may be readily assembled into its viewing position. On the other hand, it is a simple matter to collapse the unit into storage or carrying position, in which position the inner binder panels are located wholly inwardly of the periphery of the outer binder panels. If desired, an optional carrying handle 50 may be attached to panel 10, by any suitable means, and any suitable clasp means 51 may be provided for releasably clamping the two panels together in their closed position. Such clasp means 51 is conventional and is not shown in detail.

While -I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. Display unit comprising an outer binder, an inner binder, each said binder comprising a pair of rectangular panels having end edges of the same width and side edges of the same length and hingedly connected to each other along respective adjacent end edges, the remaining end edges of said panels of said inner binder being hingedly connected to the respective panels of said outer binder, all of the hinge connections being parallel to each other, said binders being foldable on their hinge connections to closed condition in which the panels are all parallel to each other with the hinge connection between the adjacent edges of the respective inner binder panels proximate to the hinge connection between the adjacent edges of the respective outer binder panels and with the inner binder panels between the outer binder panels, said binders being further foldable on their hinge connections to display condition in which successive panels are generally perpendicular to each other and each inner binder panel is parallel to the outer binder panel other than the one to which it is hingedly connected, means for releasably maintaining said binders in their display condition, and means for mounting display sheets on said inner binder within said sheet turnably attached adjacent an edge thereof to said inner binder at the hinge connection of said inner binder panels so that said sheets may be turned to overlie both of said inner binder panels.

2. Display unit comprising an outer binder, an inner binder, each said binder comprising a pair of panels having opposed end edges and hingedly connected to each other along respective adjacent end edges, the remaining end edges of said panels of said inner binder being hingedly connected tothe respective panels of said outer binder, all of the hinge connections being parallel to each other, said binders being foldable on their hinge connections to closed condition in which the panels are all parallel. to each other with the hinge connection between the adjacent edges of the respective inner binder panels proximate to the hinge connection between the adjacent edges of the respective outer binder panels and with the inner binder panels between the outer binder panels, said binders being further foldable on the hinged connections to display condition in which the successive panels are angularly disposed with respect to each other and each inner binder panel is parallel to the outer binder panel other than the one to which it is hingedly connected, means for releasably maintaining said binders in their display condition, andmeans for mounting display sheets on said inner binder with each said sheet turnably attached adjacent an edge thereof to said inner binder at the hinge connection of said inner binder panels so that said sheets may be turned to overlie both of said inner binder panels.

3. Display unit comprising an outer binder, an inner binder, each said binder comprising a pair of rectangular panels having end edges of the same width and side edges of the same length and hingedly connected to each other along respective adjacent end edges, the dimensions of each inner binder panel being smaller than the corresponding dimensions of each outer binder panel, the remaining end edges :of said panels of said inner binder being hingedly connected to the respective panels of said outer binder, all of the hinge connections being parallel to each other, said binders being foldable on their hinge connections to closed condition in which the panels are all parallel to each other with a hinge connection between the adjacent edges of the respective inner binder panels proximate to the hinge connection between the adjacent edges of the respective outer binder panels and with the inner binder panels between and wholly inside the periphery of the outer binder panels, said binders being further foldable on their hinge connections to display condition in which successive panels are generally perpendicular to each other and each inner binder panel is parallel to the outer binder panel other than the one to which it is hingedly connected, means for releasably maintaining said binders in their display condition, and means for mounting display sheets on said binder with each sheet turnably attached adjacent an edge thereof to said inner binder at the hinge connection of said inner binder panels so that said sheets may be turned to overlie both of said inner binder panels.

4. Display unit according to claim 3, said means for mounting display sheets on said inner binder comprising a spine and rings mounted on said spine, the hinge connection between said inner binder panels being adapted to receive said spine frictionally and releasably.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,881,008 Goldman Apr. 7, 1959

Claims

1. DISPLAY UNIT COMPRISING AN OUTER BINDER, AN INNER BINDER, EACH SAID BINDER COMPRISING A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR PANELS HAVING END EDGES OF THE SAME WIDTH AND SIDE EDGES OF THE SAME LENGTH AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER ALONG RESPECTIVE ADJACENT ENDS EDGES, THE REMAINING END EDGES OF SAID PANELS OF SAID INNER BINDER BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE PANELS OF SAID OUTER BINDER, ALL OF THE HINGE CONNECTIONS BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, SAID BINDERS BEING FOLDABLE ON THEIR HINGE CONNECTIONS TO CLOSED CONDITION IN WHICH THE PANELS ARE ALL PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WITH THE HINGE CONNECTION BEWEEN THE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE RESPECTIVE INNER BINDER PANELS PROXIMATE TO THE HINGE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE RESPECTIVE OUTER BINDER PANELS AND WITH THE INNER BINDER PANELS BETWEEN THE OUTER BINDER PANELS, SAID BINDERS BEING FURTHER FOLDABLE ON THEIR HINGE CONNECTIONS TO DISPLAY CONDITION IN WHICH SUCCESSIVE PANELS, ARE GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER AND EACH INNER BINDER PANEL IS PARALLEL TO THE OUTER BINDER PANEL OTHER THAN THE ONE TO WHICH IT IS HINGEDLY CONNECTED, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY MAINTAINING SAID BINDERS IN THEIR DISPLAY CONDITION, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING DISPLAY SHEETS ON SAID INNER BINDER WITHIN SAID SHEET TURNABLY ATTACHED ADJACENT AN EDGE THEREOF TO SAID INNER BINDER AT THE HINGE CONNECTION OF SAID INNER BINDER PANELS SO THAT SAID SHEETS MAY BE TURNED TO OVERLIE BOTH OF SAID INNER BINDER PANELS.