US3211412A - Foldable support for calendar pads - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 12, 1965 E. NICHOL 3,211,412

FOLDABLE SUPPORT FOR CALENDAR PADS Filed April 15, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 MN I INVENTOR.

X ,0 F l 3 GORDON E. NICHOLS W MQZ Q r-v N /'2 Y lo M FIG. 3 ATTORNEYS Oct. 12, 1965 G. E. NICHOLS 3,211,412

FOLDABLE SUPPORT FOR CALENDAR PADS Filed April 15, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 1 cs. 3b l= IO 12 |l I 29/ [I3 I20 INVENTOR.

GORDON E. NICHOLS BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,211,412 FOLDABLE SUPPORT FOR CALENDAR PADS Gordon E. Nichols, Middleboro, Mass., assignor to Winthrop-Atkins Co. Inc., Middleboro, Mass., at corporation of Massachusetts Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 359,981 18 Claims. (Cl. 248-465) This invention pertains to foldable supports of the kind disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 304,009, filed August 23, 1963, Serial No. 304,010, filed August 23, 1963, and Patent No. 3,150,777, dated September 29, 1964 and in particular, supports consisting, in major part at least, of stiff sheet material, for example cardboard, and designed to sustain an article, for example, a calendar pad, photograph, mirror, book, or the like, in an inclined position for convenient observation by a person seated at a table or desk. Supports of this kind are desirably capable of being folded to approximately flat condition to facilitate packaging for shipment or for ready storage, but when set up for use are expected to remain in that position without collapsing and while supporting an article mounted thereon or leaning thereagainst. For maintaining such foldable supports in erected position, many expedients have previously been suggested, most often, the provision of parts which must be manipulated by the user when setting the support up for use, for example, tabs of sheet material, integral or not with the support itself, designed to be bent to angular relation to other parts or for insertion in slits provided in some of the parts and, when once so bent or inserted, acting to prevent collapse of the device, but which must be disengaged manually, in order to permit the support to be folded.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a collapsible support of the above type of a very simple design such that it is easy and relatively cheap to manufacture and which relies upon the use of crossed rigid parts to prevent collapse of the device when once set up, and which, in the mere operation of setting it up, becomes stable so that it will not collapse under load, although no fastening devices need be employed. A further object is to provide a foldable support of the above type which, prior to use, is substantially flat. A further object is to provide a foldable support which may be set up in different ways, for example in order that the article, for instance a calendar pad, may be supported at different selected angles for observation. A further object is to provide a device of the above type which may be restored to its initial flat condition without removal of retaining elements and which may be made with substantially no waste of material.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a support, according to one desirable embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support of FIG. 1, showing a calendar pad mounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is an edge view of the support of FIG. 1, showing it in collapsed or flat condition, that is, before being set up for use;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the support as collapsed in a different manner;

FIG. 3b is a large scale, fragmentary vertical section, illustrating material useful in making the support;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the rear side of the support of FIG. 1 before it is set up for use;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank useful in preparing the support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the support of FIG. 1, set up in a different way such as to afford very substantial frictional resistance to slippage of the support when resting upon a table or desk;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the device of FIG. 1, set up for use in such a way that the calendar pad or the like, which is supported by the device, is more nearly vertical;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a slight modification;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation showing another embodiment of the invention, set up for use;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 9, but showing it set up in another way;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 9, but set up in still another way;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a blank useful in the manufacture of the device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an edge view of the device of FIG. 9, folded in one manner as it may appear before it is set up for use; and

FIG. 13a is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the support as folded in a different manner.

The support, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a plurality of relatively movable parts of substantially rigid sheet material, for example cardboard, and all of the several parts may, if desired, be integrally united as by making them from a single sheet of material. Herein, for ease in identification, one of these parts is referred to as a panel and in most instances constitutes the member to which the pad or other article to be supported is attached or against which the article leans; another of these parts for convenience in identification is referred to as a plate; while another, if such part be comprised in the support, is referred to as a leaf, but these several parts, in accordance with the way in which the support may be set up for use, may perform different functions; for example the part referred to as the-plate may, under certain circumstances, act as a broad horizontal base member or, alternatively, as an upstanding leg. When the support is set up for use, two or more of these parts, in accordance with the particular embodiment, are connected by means such as to define hinge axes about which the united parts may be swung, relatively, in setting up the device for use, and the connecting means comprises at least one strut and at least one brace which, when the device is not in use, may lie in the same plane, each brace and each strut being hingedly connected at its opposite ends, respectively, to two, respectively, of said constituent parts, the hinge axes at the ends of the brace and strut being parallel but those at the opposite ends of the brace being offset, in the same direction, from those at the corresponding ends of the strut whereby, when the device is set up for use, the brace and strut lie in planes which intersect. Thus, without other retaining means, the support will maintain its operative position indefinitely while sustaining an applied load. In thus referring to certain elements as struts and braces, these different terms are used merely for convenience in identification since these elements are in all substantial particulars identical in construction and function, each, as here shown, being a substantially rectangular piece of stilf sheet material, for example identical with that constituting the parts above referred to as panel, plate and leaf respectively, and each being capable of resising tensile or compressive stress in its own plane.

Referring to the drawings (FIG. 1), the support, as there shown, comprises an article-supporting panel which, when the device is set up and in use, is inclined to the vertical, providing a face against which an article, for example, a picture or mirror, may lean or to which a calendar pad C, for example, may be secured. For holding the panel in its operative position, there is provided a plate 11 which, when the device is set up as shown in FIG. 1, is approximately perpendicular to and contacts the panel 10 and constitutes a supporting leg for the panel. The plate 11 is connected to the panel 10 by one or more struts 12 and braces 13. In a preferred construction, a single brace is arranged between two like struts.

When the support is set up for use, the struts and brace are disposed, respectively, in planes which intersect so that, as seen in FIG. 1, the struts 12 incline downwardly from the plate 11 toward the panel 10 while the brace 13 inclines upwardly from the plate toward the panel. The struts 12 are connected by hinge elements at 12a and 12b with the plate and panel respectively, while the brace 13 is connected by hinge elements 13a and 13b respectively, to the plate and panel. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the hinge element 12a is at a higher elevation than the hinge element 13a, while the hinge element 12b is at a lower elevation than the hinge element 1312. In a preferred arrangement, the struts and brace are of approximately the same length between their hinged ends. In setting the support up for use from the collapsed condition of FIG. 3, it is merely necessary to swing the free edges X and Y respectively, of the panel and plate, upwardly from the position of FIG. 3 until the edge Y of the plate contacts the rear face of the panel. The support may now be placed with the edges M and N (FIG. 3) resting upon a horizontal surface and the device is ready for use. Likewise, when the support is collapsed as shown in FIG. 3a, it may be set up by grasping the reinforced portions M and N and swinging them toward each other until the edge Y contacts the panel.

With this arrangement, wherein the struts and braces constitute the only connections between the panel 10 and plate 11 and wherein the hinge connections between the struts and braces and the panel and plate respectively, are at different elevations, so that the struts and braces are disposed in intersecting planes when the device is set up for use, pressure applied to the panel, for example as the result of placing a load upon the panel, is resisted by the action of the struts and braces. For instance, if an applied force tends to cause the upper edge of the part 11 to slide upwardly, relatively to the panel, the strut 12 is placed under tension thus resisting such movement while, alternatively, if there be any force tending to cause the upper edge of the plate 11 to move downwardly, the brace 13 will be tensioned to resist such motion. Thus, the parts will remain in the position shown in FIG. 1 indefinitely and without the aid of fastener devices of any kind until the support is purposely collapsed. Since the upper or free edge of the plate 11 contacts the rear face of the panel 10 with some pressure, resultant from the downward force exerted by the panel (although said edge is easily separable from the panel), the support, as thus set up, may be employed as a rack for holding a stiff card or the like in a generally upright position by inserting the card between the upper edge of the plate and the rear surface of the panel, so that the lower edge of the card rests on the brace 13 while its upper part is gripped between the edge of the plate and the panel.

When it is desired to collapse the device, it may be picked up from the surface upon which it has been standing and the plate 11 and panel 10 may be swung outwardly away from each other until the plate 11 lies in the same plane as the panel 10, as shown in FIG. 3, while the struts and brace lie in a plane parallel thereto, the parts then occupying the relative positions illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the free edges of the plate may be moved downwardly, in contact with the rear face of the panel, until the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 3a.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, a single brace member 13 is interposed between the transversely spaced struts 12, and the axis of the hinge device 13a which connects the brace 13 to the plate 11 is further from the free edge N of the plate than are the hinge devices 12a which connect the struts 12 to the plate. In the same way, the hinge line 13b of the brace 13 is nearer to the free edge M of the panel 10 than are the hinge devices 12b which connect the struts 12 to the panel. Stated in other words, the hinges at 13b and 13a respectively (FIG. 4), which connect the opposite ends of the brace 13 to the panel and plate respectively, are offset to the left, toward the edge M (that is, in the same direction) from the hinges 12b and 12a which connect the opposite ends of the strut 12 to the panel and plate. In other words, a line connecting the score lines 12b (FIG. 4) would be to the right of score line 13b, while a line connecting the score lines 12a would be to the right of the score line 13a. While as herein disclosed the support comprises but a single brace interposed between two struts, it is obvious that if the device is intended to support an article of substantial width, for example a width placard, the number of struts and braces may be increased, all within the scope of the invention; for example two braces, each interposed between two struts might be used, or even a greater number but desirably having one more strut than brace, merely for symmetry.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 1, the plate 11 comprises a reinforcing ply 11a extending along its lower margin, this ply being, for example, of the same material as the plate and being permanently secured against the plate proper by adhesive, staples or the like. It is to this reinforcing ply that the struts 12 and brace 13 are hinged at 12a and 13a respectively. In the same way, the panel 10 comprises a reinforcing ply 10a at its lower margin permanently secured against the panel proper, and it is to this reinforcing ply that the struts 12 and brace 13 are hinged at 12b and 13b respectively. As hereafter noted, the reinforcing plies 10a and 11a may be integrally joined to the panel 10 and plate 11 along the lower edges M and N (FIG. 1) and folded to contact the panel and plate and then secured permanently in this folded posrtion.

In accordance with a preferred construction, the support of the present invention is made from a single blank B (FIG. 5), comprising a core R of cardboard (FIG. 3b) of a character selected, in particular, with reference to its stiffness and weight. The cardboard core R is desrrably covered on one or both faces with flexible material P such, for example as paper or thin cloth, of appropriate color which may be adhered to the cardboard before the latter is cut to shape, or it may be applied to the cardboard after the latter has been cut to the desired dimensions, so that the cloth or paper may be overlapped about the edges of the cardboard to form a pleasing finish. This blank B may be scored or incised to define fold lines 21 and 22 along which the right and left portions of the blank may be folded relatively to the central portion. Adjacent to these fold lines 21 and 22,

the blank has areas 23 and 24, designated by shading, to which adhesive is applied so that when the blank is folded about the fold lines 21 and 22, the adhesivelycoated areas will adhere to the adjacent areas x and 11x respectively to form the reinforce plies 10a and 11a for the lower marginal portions of the panel 10 and plate 11. Longitudinally extending incisions 25 and 26 (FIG. 5) separate the brace 13 from the laterally arranged struts 12. Score lines are also formed to define the hinges 12a and 12b at which the struts 12 are connected to the reinforce plies of the plate and panel respectively. In the same way, score lines are provided which define the location of the hinges 13a and 13b which connect the brace to the reinforce plies of the plate and panel respectively.

As is customary in articles of this general type, the hinges may consist merely of one or more plies of the flexible material P (FIG. 3b), for example cloth or paper, which covers the cardboard core R.

An alternative position in which the device of FIG. 1 may be set up for use is illustrated in FIG. 6, but in this instance the member 11, heretofore referred to as the plate, is now horizontal, constituting a base, while the struts 12 are nearly vertical and the brace 13 inclines upwardly and forwardly at a steep angle. The inclination of the panel 10 to the horizontal is approximately the same as that shown in FIG. 1, but in this instance the plate 11 provides an extended surface for contact with the table or desk upon which the device rests, which may be of advantage if the surface of such a table or desk be highly polished and slippery, since the larger area of contact afforded by the member 11 helps to prevent undesired slipping of the device relatively to the table on which it stands.

In FIG. 7 the device of FIG. 1 is shown as set up in such a way that the panel 10 is horizontal while the plate 11 is at a steep angle to the horizontal, the struts 12 and the brace 13 being steeply inclined, although in intersecting planes as in the device of FIG. 1. With this arrangement, the position of the plate 11 is such that a calendar pad C attached thereto is more nearly vertical than when the device is set up as shown in FIG. 1, which may be of advantage under certain conditions. In this arrangement, the brace and struts support the plate 11 in the set-up condition so that no other fastening means is required to prevent the device from collapsing in response to downward pressure applied to the plate.

As above described, in particular with reference to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the brace member 13 inclines upwardly and forwardly while the struts 12 incline downwardly and forwardly, but by a slight and readily made change in the relative locations of the hinges which connect the struts and brace to the leg and panel, an arrangement such as that of FIG. 8 may be made, wherein the struts 12k incline upwardly and forwardly while the brace member 13k inclines downwardly and forwardly. As shown in FIG. 8, the angle of inclination of the panel 10 to the horizontal is substantially the same as in the device shown in FIG. 1. Obviously, by a change in the relative lengths of the struts and brace, this angle could be changed in accordance with the intended purpose of the support.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a modified construction is illustrated which may be 'set up in different ways for supporting the calendar pad or equivalent device. In this device, as shown in FIG. 9, the panel 40 is inclined to the horizontal at a relatively low inclination, for example approximately 30, and the member 41, corresponding to the plate 11 of the previous embodiment, is shown as parallel to and contacting the panel 40 at the upper part of the latter. In this device, the struts 42 and the brace 43, while hingedly connected to the plate 41, in the same way as the struts 12 and brace 13 of the previous embodiment, have their other ends hingedly connected to a member 50, consisting of stiff sheet material, for example such as is used in 6 making the panel, and which is herein referred to for identification as a leaf, which, in turn, is hingedly secured at 61 to a part 52 constituting the reinforcing ply for the lower edge 14x of the panel 40. When this device is set up as shown in FIG. 9, the panel is inclined at about 30 to the horizontal.

The device of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 is thus somewhat more complicated in construction than that of FIG. 1, although like the device of FIG. 1 it may readily be made from a single unitary blank B such, for example, as is illustrated in FIG. 12. This blank may be of stiff cardboard, such as above described, covered on one or both sides with a flexible material such as paper and is so scored or incised as to define the various part of the support. Thus, a transverse score line at 60 defines that edge of the panel 40, said edge being indicated by the character 14x (FIG. 9), the area of the blank which will constitute the panel being shown at 40t. A second score line 61, parallel to the line 60, forms the opposite boundary of an area 62 which is coated with adhesive and which is folded over at the score line 60 to form one ply of the reinforced marginal portion of the panel 40. The area a to the right of the score line 61 designates that part of the blank which will form the leaf 50. Incisions 25a and 26a define the opposite edges of the brace 43 and the inner edges of the struts 42 and 42x respectively. The character 43b designates the hinge between the brace 43 and the leaf 50, while the hinges between the leaf 50 and the two struts 42 are shown at 42b. At their opposite ends the struts are hinged at 42a to the plate 41, while a hinge 43a joins the opposite end of the brace 43 to the plate 41. The hinges 43a and 43b which unite the opposite ends of the brace 43 to the plate 41 and leaf 50 respectively, are offset from the hinges 42b and 43b which unite the opposite ends of the struts 42 and 42a to the plate 41 and leaf 50 in the same way as those which unite the brace and struts to the plate and panel of the device of FIG. 1.

This blank is folded along the score line to bring the adhesively-coated area 62 into contact with the panel 40, thus providing the panel 40 with its reinforce ply 52.

In FIG. 9 the hinges 42b which unite the struts 42 and 42a to the leaf 50 are shown as resting upon a horizontal surface H on which the edge 14x of the panel also rests, while the hinge at 43b where the brace 43 is joined to the leaf 50 is above the horizontal surface. When the device is thus set up, the parts remain in the position shown without the assistance of fastening means while sustaining a substantial load resting upon the panel.

When not in use, the device may be folded as shown, for example, in FIG. 13, so that the panel 40 and plate 41 lie in the same plane, or alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 13a so that the plate 41 is interposed between the leaf 50 and the panel 40.

In FIG. 10 another arrangement of the device of FIG. 9 is shown, wherein the panel 40 is shown as horizontal, while the leaf 50 is inclined upwardly toward the hinge 42b at which the leaf 50 is joined to the strut 42, while the plate 41 rests upon the upper surface of the panel and the margin of the panel, adjacent to its edge 14x, rests upon the horizontal support H. This arrangement may have certain advantages, for example the lower marginal portion 50m of the leaf is substantially horizontal and thus provides a support for the lower edge of a card or the like, resting upon the upper surface of the leaf 50, in inclined position.

In FIG. 11 the device of FIG. 9 is shown as set up with the plate 41 arranged to provide an extended base, while the panel 40 is supported throughout substantially its entire extent by the underlying leaf 50.

It will be evident that when a support, such as here disclosed, is set up for use, the part with which the calendar pad contacts is disposed in inclined position and in each instance the struts and brace are disposed in inclined intersecting planes. As shown, for example, in

FIG. 6, the brace 13 is substantially perpendicular to the part which supports the calendar pad, while in FIG. 9 both struts 42 are perpendicular to the part which supports the pad, so that in either arrangement the struts and brace collectively constitute a supporting leg which is effective to sustain the panel in the operative, inclined position without the assistance of any fasteners or the like for preventing the collapse of the support in response to the load imposed by the calendar pad.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3a, the latter showing the device folded, it may be set up for use by swinging the edges X and N away from each other. In so doing, the free edge Y of the plate 11 begins to travel toward the edge X, in frictional contact with the rear face of the panel 10. This places the brace 13 under increasing tension until the plate approaches a position of perpendicularity relatively to the panel, accompanied by increasing friction force between the plate and panel until, as the angle between the plate and panel approaches 90, the relative angularity of the brace and struts becomes such that the plate suddenly moves beyond the 90 position, with a distinct snap action, this will be the normal position of the parts when the device is set up for use. It will be apparent that in folding the device, the edge X of the plate must be moved back through the position of perpendicularity relatively to the panel and thus the brace is again placed under tension stress while substantial friction develops between the edge of the plate and the panel. As the edge of the plate is moved toward the lower edge of the panel and approaches a position of parallelism relatively to the panel, the relative angularity of brace and struts becomes such that the pressure between the edge of the plate and panel suddenly decreases and the parts move, with a snap action, back to the folded position of FIG. 3a.

It is obvious that sheet material of other types than that herein specifically referred to and which is suitable for the purpose may be substituted for that herein mentioned and illustrated.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have herein been illustrated and described by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foldable support designed, for example, to hold a calendar pad in an inclined position, said support comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts, each of stiff sheet material, one of said parts being a panel which, when the support is set up, provides a flat surface for contact with the calendar pad, the lower edge of said part, when the device is set up for use, being substantially horizontal and designed to rest upon a flat horizontal surface, and another of said parts being a plate which, when the support is set up according to one optional arrangement, contacts the rear surface of the panel, and elements so connecting said parts as to define hinge axes about which said parts may swing in setting the device up for use, said connecting elements comprising at least one strut and at least one brace which, until the device is set up for use, may lie in the same plane, the panel presenting a smooth, flat surface which is substantially uninterrupted throughout its entire extent and constituting a support for a calendar pad or the like, each brace and strut being hingedly connected at its opposite ends respectively, to two, respectively, of said parts, one, at least of which, is said plate, the hinge axes at the ends of the brace and strut being parallel and horizontal when the device is set up for use but those at the respective ends .of the brace being offset, in the same direction, from those at the corresponding ends of the strut whereby, when the device is set up for use, the brace and strut lie in intersecting planes so that, without other retaining means, the support will maintain its operative position indefinitely while sustaining a load applied to the panel.

2. A foldable support according to claim 1, wherein the panel and plate and all of the connecting elements are of stiff sheet material while the hinges are of flexible material.

3. A foldable support according to claim 1, wherein the panel, plate and all of the connecting elements are portions of a unitary blank comprising a core of stiff cardboard having at least one adhering ply .of relatively thin and flexible material which forms the hinges at which the connecting elements are attached to the panel and plate.

4. A foldable support according to claim 1, further characterized in that the several connecting elements are so constructed and arranged that the plate may be disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to that of the inclined panel with its free edge contacting the panel so that the plate constitutes, in effect, a supporting leg for the panel.

5. A foldable support according to claim 1, further characterized in that the several connecting elements are so constructed and arranged that the plate may be disposed in a horizontal plane to constitute a base of substantial area while the panel inclines upwardly with its upper portion above the base and the connecting elements extending upwardly from the base to the upper portion of the panel so as collectively to provide a leg for the panel.

6. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising a rigid panel to which a calendar pad may be secured and having an edge designed to rest upon a fiat horizontal surface, and a rigid plate also designed to rest upon said surface, and means permanently connecting the panel and plate comprising a rigid elongate strut and a rigid elongate brace, hinges permanently and pivotally connecting the opposite ends of the brace to the panel and plate respectively, and hinges permanently and pivotally connecting the opposite ends of the strut to the panel and plate respectively, the axes of all of said hinges being parallel, and being substantially horizontal when the device is set up for use, but the axes of the hinges which connect the brace to the panel and plate being offset from the axes of the hinges which connect the strut to the panel and plate, the locations of the hinge axes and the lengths of the strut and brace being such that when the support is set up for use, with the aforesaid edge of the panel and with the plate both resting upon a horizontal surface and with the panel inclined upwardly from said edge and with the upper edge of the plate contacting the panel, the parts will remain in such relative positions indefinitely without the assistance of any additional retaining means and while subjected to a load imposed by an object resting upon the sloping panel.

7. A foldable support according to claim 1, and wherein all of the connecting elements are of substantially the same length, and so devised that when the support is set up for use with the panel disposed in an inclined plane and with its lower edge resting upon a horizontal surface and with the plate disposed in a plane parallel to the panel and contacting the latter, the parts will remain in such relative positions indefinitely without the assistance of any additional retaining means and while subjected to the load imposed by an object resting against the sloping panel.

.8. A foldable support according to claim 1, further characterized in having reinforcing means for those marginal portions of the panel and plate which, when the device is set up for use, may rest upon a supporting",

surface.

9. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising a rigid panel, having spaced parallel edges, which, when the device is in use, lies in an inclined plane with one edge resting upon a supporting surface, said support also comprising a rigid leaf hingedly connected to the panel to swing about an axis parallel to and adjacent one of said edges, and a rigid plate connected to said leaf by rigid connecting elements attached by hinges at their V opposite ends to the leaf and plate respectively, the axes of all of the hinges being parallel and horizontal when the device is set up for use, the axes of the hinges which unite certain of the connecting elements to the leaf and plate being so located, relatively to the axes of the hinges which unite a certain other of said connecting elements to the leaf and plate that when the support is set up for use, with one of said edges of the inclined panel resting upon a horizontal surface and with substantially the entire area of the plate contacting the rear face of the panel, the parts will remain in these relative positions indefinitely without the assistance of any additional retaining means and while subjected to the load imposed by an object resting against the sloping panel.

10. A foldable support according to claim 9, wherein the leaf is of sheet material and hingedly connected to the panel to swing about an axis parallel to and adjacent an edge of the panel, said leaf being of a width, measured along a line perpendicular to the hinge axis, approximating that of the panel itself and the plate being of substantially less width, in the same direction, than said leaf.

11. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising a rigid panel and a rigid plate, the support being so designed that, when folded, the panel and plate may lie in the same plane, and means permanently connecting the panel and plate comprising rigid elongate, connecting elements united by hinges at their opposite ends to the plate and to a rigid part attached to the panel respectively, the axes of all of the hinges being parallel and horizontal when the device is set up for use, and the axes of those spaced hinges which unite a certain connecting element to the panel and to said rigid part, respectively, being so located, relatively to the axes of those spaced hinges which unite a certain other of said connecting elements to the plate and said rigid part, respectively, that when the support is set up for use, with the panel disposed in an inclined plane and with the lower edge of the panel resting upon a horizontal surface and with the plate so contacting the panel as to define a dihedral angle whose apex line is horizontal, the parts will remain in these relative positions indefinitely without the assistance of any additional retaining means and while the support is subjected to the load imposed by an object resting against the panel.

12. A foldable support for holding a calendar pad or the like and which comprises a rigid plate and a rigid panel which, when the device is set up for use, presents an inclined face for contact with the calendar pad, the support also comprising a flat, rigid member, of an area approximating that of the panel, and hinge means defining an axis parallel to a transverse edge of the panel uniting said member and panel, and means connecting said member to the plate comprising a rigid strut and a rigid brace, each of sheet material and which, until the support is set up for use, may lie in the same plane, but which, when the support is set up for use, are disposed, respectively, in intersecting planes, and wherein the strut and brace, when so disposed, collectively constitute a leg operative, without the aid of fastener elements, to sustain the panel in operative position.

13. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising a rigid panel and a rigid plate, the support being so designed that until the support is set up for use the panel and plate may be in the same plane, rigid fiat connecting elements, attached by hinges, at their opposite ends to the panel and plate respectively, the axes of all of the hinges being parallel, and horizontal when the device is set up for use, the axes of the hinges which unite certain of the connecting elements to the panel and plate being so located, relatively to the axes of the hinges which unite certain other of said connecting elements to the panel and plate, that when the support is set up for use, with the panel and plate relatively positioned to lie in intersecting planes, the plane of the panel sloping upwardly, they will remain in that relative position indefinitely without the assistance of any additional retaining means and while subjected to the load imposed by an object resting against the sloping panel, the combined Widths of the several connecting elements being substantially equal to the transverse width of the panel.

14. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising a rigid panel and a rigid plate, the support being so designed that until the support is set up for use, the panel and plate may lie in the same plane, rigid connecting elements, attached by hinges, at their opposite ends to the panel and plate respectively, the axes of all of the hinges being parallel and horizontal when the device is set up for use, the axes of the hinges which unite certain of the connecting elements to the panel and plate being so located, relatively to the axes of the hinges which unite certain other .of said connecting elements to the panel and plate, that when the support is set up for use with the panel disposed in an inclined plane and with its lower edge resting upon a horizontal surface and with the plate disposed in a plane which intersects that of the panel and with the plate contacting the panel, the parts will remain in these relative positions indefinitely without the assistance of any additional retaining means and while subjecting it to the load imposed by an object resting against the sloping panel, the outer edges of the outermost connecting elements being in the same vertical planes as the lateral edges, respectively, of the panel.

15. A foldable support according to claim 14, further characterized in that the panel and plate are of stiff sheet material and the connecting elements are likewise of stilt sheet material, the axis of the hinge which connects a brace to the panel being further removed from the edge of the panel which is designed to rest upon said horizontal surface than is the axis of the hinge which connects a strut to the panel, and the hinge axis of a brace, at which it it connected to the plate, is so located that when the panel and plate are in contact, said brace slopes downwardly from the panel toward the plate, the axis of the hinge at which said strut is connected to the panel is in a horizontal plane below .that of the axis of the hinge which connects the brace to the panel, and the strut slopes upwardly toward the hinge which connects it to the plate, the lateral edges of adjacent connecting elements being substantially in contact before the device is set up for use.

16. A foldable support according to claim 13, wherein a single brace is interposed between two struts and the struts and brace constitute the only connection between the panel and plate.

17. A foldable support designed, for example, to hold a calendar pad in an inclined position, said support comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts, each of stiff sheet material, one of said parts, when the support is set up, providing for contact with the calendar pad, the support also including connecting elements comprising a rigid strut and a rigid brace each of sheet material, the strut having parallel hinges at its opposite ends, respectively, connecting it to two others of said parts and the brace having parallel hinges connecting its opposite ends respectively, to the same two parts, the axis of the hinge at one end of the brace being located between the axes of the hinges at opposite ends of the strut, the brace and hinge, when the support is set up for use, being disposed in intersecting planes and collectively constituting a leg operative, without the aid of fastener elements, to sustain the panel in operative position.

18. A foldable support for holding a calendar pad or the like and which comprises relatively movable, substantially rigid sheet-material parts, one of which, when the support is set up for use, presents a smooth, flat surface substantially uninterrupted throughout the entire area of said part for contact with the calendar pad, connecting elements uniting said parts comprising a rigid strut and a rigid brace which, until the device is set up for use, may

lie in the same plane but which, when the support is set up for use, are disposed, respectively, in intersecting, inclined planes, and hinges connecting the opposite ends of .the strut and the opposite ends of the brace to the respective parts which are connected by the strut and brace, the axes of all of the hinges being parallel, and substantially horizontal when the support is set up for use, but with the hinge axes, at the opposite ends of the brace, displaced, in the same direction, from the hinges at the opposite ends of the struts whereby, when the support is set up for use, it maintains its set-up condition without the aid of fastening devices, the combined widths of the several connecting elements being substantially equal to the transverse Width of the part which supports .the calendar pad.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 588,636 8/97 Engstrom 248465 2,252,571 8/41 Kohn 24s 459 2,611,572 9/52 LaRocca 40 124.1 3,033,501 5/62 Nichols 40-120 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FOLDABLE SUPPORT DESIGNED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HOLD A CALENDAR PAD IN AN INCLINED POSITION, SAID SUPPORT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY MOVABLY PARTS, EACH OF STIFF SHEET MATERIAL, ONE OF SAID PARTS BEING A PANEL WHICH, WHEN THE SUPPORT IS SET UP, PROVIDES A FLAT SURFACE FOR CONTACT WITH THE CALENDAR PAD, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID PART, WHEN THE DEVICE IS SET UP FOR USE, BEING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AND DESIGNED TO REST UPON A FLAT HORIZONTAL SURFACE, AND ANOTHER OF SAID PARTS BEING A PLATE WHICH, WHEN THE SUPPORT IS SET UP ACCORDING TO ONE OPTIONAL ARRANGEMENT, CONTACTS THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PANEL, AND ELEMENTS SO CONNECTING SAID PARTS AS TO DEFINE HINGE AXES ABOUT WHICH SAID PARTS MAY SWING IN SETTING THE DEVICE UP FOR USE, SAID CONNECTING ELEMENTS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE STRUT AND AT LEAST ONE BRACE WHICH, UNTIL THE DEVICE IS SET UP FOR USE, MAY LIE IN THE SAME PLANE, THE PANEL PRESENTING A SMOOTH, FLAT SURFACE WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY UNINTERRUPTED THROUGHOUT ITS ENTIRE EXTENT AND CONSTITUTING A SUPPORT FOR A CALENDAR PAD OR THE LIKE, EACH BRACE AND STRUT BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY, TO TWO, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID PARTS, ONE, AT LEAST OF WHICH, IS SAID PLATE, THE HINGE AXES AT THE ENDS OF THE BRACE AND STRUT BEING PARALLEL AND HORIZONTAL WHEN THE DEVICE IS SET UP FOR USE BUT THOSE AT THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE BRACE BEING OFFSET, IN THE SAME DIRECTION, FROM THOSE AT THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF THE STRUT WHEREBY, WHEN THE DEVICE IS SET UP FOR USE, THE BRACE AND STRUT LIE IN INTERSECTING PLANES SO THAT, WITHOUT OTHER RETAINING MEANS, THE SUPPORT WILL MAINTAIN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION INDEFINITELY WHILE SUSTAINING A LOAD APPLIED TO THE PANEL.

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