US3270791A

US3270791A - Fabric storage device

Info

Publication number: US3270791A
Application number: US356399A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nancy R Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-04-01
Filing date: 1964-04-01
Publication date: 1966-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1983-09-06

Description

Sept. 6, 1966 N. R. HARRIS 3,270,791

FABRIC STORAGE DEVICE Filed April 1, 1964 I N VENTOR (IA NANCY $2 HAR I E3 7712: H a amiwc E. ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,270,791 FABRIC STORAGE DEVICE Nancy R. Harris, 200 Poplar Lane, Richmond, Va. Filed Apr. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 356,399 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates to improvement in the storage of fabrics and more particularly to a device adapted to store and maintain in an unsoiled condition certain relatively delicate fabric articles.

In the average household there frequently is a problem of where to store fabric articles, such as table place mats, after they have been laundered and neatly pressed. All too often the place mats, and for that matter fabric table napkins and the like, are placed haphazardly in a drawer for storage and consequently, as the drawer is opened and closed a number of times and articles removed therefrom, there is a tendency for the place mats to become rumpled and soiled. Therefore, when the time comes to use the stored place mats and like articles there is need for additional pressing to make them presentable for use.

The above problems are encountered in many diverse areas other than the home, especially wherever fabric goods need to be stored for indefinite periods of time. Such areas, for example, maybe where church altar cloths or vestments are used and where salesmen carry about numerous samples of fabric articles that need to be in perfect condition upon presentation, yet after being kept in a sample case these samples may be quite rumpled.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is the provision of a fabric storage device especially designed to contain, arrange and protect fabric articles while in storage awaiting use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a fabric storage device that has a generally round central core with a plurality of superimposed flexible sheets attached thereto; each sheet being adapted to overlay one or more articles and then rolled about the central core.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device of this character which is of simple construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient in use.

Further aims, objects and advantages of this invention will appear from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings showing for purely illustrative purposes embodiments of this invention. It is to be understood, however, that the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fabric storage device in a rolled condition in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the fabric storage device in an unrolled condition showing proper placement of certain articles;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical fragmentary section of a second embodiment of the fabric storage device.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and particularly to FIGURES 1-3 inclusive, there is illustrated the fabric storage device of the present invention which is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Comprising the fabric storage device is a central core, or roll 11, which is preferably manufactured of wood or from such stock as pressed wood that is normally commercially available and formed as an elongated cylinder having a solid core.

To accomplish the heart of the invention of safely "ice storing certain fabric articles, there is provided a pluthe user the sheets 12 should be of a transparent or translucent material whereby the user may be able to determine at a glance upon unrolling the storage device what articles are resting therein. Overlying sheets 12 and superimposed therewith is a cover 13 of any suitable material such as heavy fabric or even a plastic which would adequately serve the purpose of protecting the sheets 12 from damage and marring. Cover 13 extends the full length of sheets 12 and terminates beyond the bottom end 14 of the sheets a sufiicient distance, indicated by 15, to provide an overlap when the storage device 10 is in a rolled condition. In addition the cover has marginal edges 13a, 13b that extend to some degree beyond the sheets 12 to provide transverse protection to the sheets.

At the head end 16 of the sheets 12, the cover 13 forms an extension reverse underflap 17, folded about fold line 17a, to lie between cover 13 and the adjacent sheet. The purpose of the underflap 17 is to provide a concealed fastening area so as to present a pleasing appearance. To fasten the sheets 12 and cover 13 to the roll 11, suitable fastening elements 18 are positioned through underflap 17 then through each of the sheets 12 near the head end 16 and driven into the wooden roll 11. Of course, it is recognized that the fastening elements 18, while shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 as staples, may be of any construction that provides a firm retention of sheets 12 and cover 13 to the roll 11 and it should be noted that as many or as few of the fastening elements 18 needed to accomplish the desired result may be used.

Spaced transversely of and upon the overlap 15 01 cover 13 are a pair of tie straps 21, 22, each comprising elongated highly flexible tie halves 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b respectfully, which are preferably secured by stitching to the cover 13 wherein each half is spaced longitudinally of the cover with respect to the other half. When the storage device 10 is in a rolled condition such as is shown in FIGURE 1, the tie halves 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b are placed around the periphery of the rolled member in opposite directions in order that when the tie halves are secured to one another forming the straps 21, 22, the completed strap overlies the bottom edge 23 of cover 13 to maintain the rolled device 10 in the desired storage condition.

Whenever it is desired to use the instant invention to store substantially flat fabric articles the procedure to follow would generally be to unroll the device 10 to a position similar to that shown in FIGURE 2. Once the device 10 is unrolled the entire stack of sheets 12 would be lifted to expose the cover 13, or alternatively, the bottom most sheet 12 would be left in position to protect a stored article from being placed adjacent cover 13. Once the sheets 12 are in a lifted position the articles to be stored would be placed alternatively between each of the separate sheets 12 until the articles are exhausted or until spaces between the sheets are exhausted. In the embodiment shown therein table place mats, generally indicated by numeral 24, are the articles desired to be stored and, as seen especially in FIGURE 2, the place mats 24 are alternately placed between the separate sheets 12 in a stacked superimposed relation of one place mat between two sheets. As the place mats are placed between the sheets the next top sheet is then laid upon the top portion of the place mat which then allows another place mat to be placed within the device. After this is done the next top most sheet would be then laid upon the most recently inserted place mat and such a procedure continues until either the articles to be stored or the remain ing spaces between the sheets are exhausted. At such time the user would then commence to roll the core 11 longitudinally of the sheet 12 and the stored articles 24 until the entire device is in a rolled cylindrical config uration such as is shown in FIGURE 1. At this time tie halves 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b are placed around the completed cylindrical shape and tied in a suitable knot to complete the tie straps 21, 22. When the storage device is in 6. rolled configuration it can be seen that it taken only a small amount of storage space and When used for such small articles as table mats the entire device may be stored in a normal size cabinet or chest of drawers.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown by FIGURE 4 having a central core or roll 25 which is preferably manufactured from a suitable relatively hard and non-flexible plastic having a central aperture longitudinally therethrough. The plurality of superimposed co-extensive thin flexible sheets 26 are preferably of the same material as the sheets 12 in the previously described embodiment, in any event they should be a plastic material. However, here it is anticipated and required that the outer cover 27 be also made of a relatively thin and flexible plastic material. The material for the cover 27 could obviously be of any desired color and could be imprinted upon manufacturing with a fabric relief design or any other such texture as may be desired. To secure the sheets 26 and cover 27 to the central core 25, a heat bonding method would be used, that is, the sheets and the cover would be stacked in a co-extensive relation and then bonded or welded to the roll 25 by any of the well known methods of plastic bonding known in the art. Such a method would actually fuse together the core 25, sheets 26, cover 27 at predetermined points 28 along the transverse Width of cover 27. In effect all material beneath points 28 would be bonded to one another which would firmly and securely attach the sheets and the cover to the core 25.

From the above description it is seen that there is provided an extremely useful and novel fabric storage device designed to contain, arrange and protect fabric articles while in storage awaiting use and that such device will effect the foregoing objects of the invention.

Various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device adapted to be rolled into a cylindrical configuration for storing fabric articles and the like comprising, an elongated cylindrical core member, a plurality of stacked superimposed co-extensive thin flexible sheets adapted to be separated for the insertion and retention of substantially fiat articles therebetween, a flexible cover member superimposed with one side of the stack of sheets, the cover having a pair of marginal edges and first and second end edges, the first cover end edge being substantially co-extensive with a first edge of the sheets, the second end edge extending beyond the peripheral extent of the stack of sheets to provide an overlap, the first cover end edge having an extension underflap folded about a fold line and positioned between the stack of sheets and the cover, means fixedly securing the first edge of the co-extensive sheets and first cover end edge to the core member, the securing means comprising elongated fasteners projecting through the underflap and the stack of sheets and terminating in the core member, and tie means mounted to the overlap of the cover whereby the tie means are adapted to secure the device in a cylin drical configuration.

2. A device adapted to be rolled into a cylindrical configuration for storing fabric articles and the like comprising, an elongated cylindrical core member, a plurality of stacked superimposed co-extensive thin flexible sheets adapted to be separated for the insertion and retention of substantially flat articles therebetween, a flexible cover member superimposed with one side of the stack of sheets, the cover having a pair of marginal edges and first and second end edges, the first cover end edge being substantially co-extensive with a first edge of the sheets, the second end edge extending beyond the peripheral extent of the stack of sheets to provide an overlap, the first cover end edge having an extension underflap folded about a fold line and positioned between the stack of sheets and the cover, means fixedly securing the first edge of the co-extensive sheets and first cover end edge to the core member, the securing means comprising elongated fasteners projecting through the underflap and the stack of sheets and terminating in the core member, and a pair of elongated highly flexible tie straps affixed to the overlap, each tie strap comprising tie halves spaced upon the overlap in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the core member whereby the tie means are adapted to secure the device in a cylindrical configuration.

3. A device adapted to be rolled into a cylindrical configuration for storing fabric articles and the like comprising, an elongated cylindrical core member, a plurality of stacked semi-transparent superimposed co-extensive thin flexible sheets adapted to be separated for the insertion and retention of substantially flat articles therebetween, a flexible cover member superimposed with one side of the stack of sheets, the cover having a pair of marginal edges and first and second end edges, the first cover end edge being substantially co-extensive with a first edge of the sheets, the second end edge extending beyond the peripheral extent of the stack of sheets to provide an overlap, the first cover end edge having an extension underflap folded about a fold line and positioned between the stack of sheets and the cover, means fixedly securing the first edge of the co-extensive sheets and first cover end edge to the core member, the securing means comprising elongated fasteners projecting through the underflap and the stack of sheets and terminating in the core member, and a pair of elongated highly flexible tie straps affixed to the overlap, each tie strap comprising tie halves spaced upon the overlap in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the core member, whereby the tie means are adapted to secure the device in a cylindrical configuration.

4. A device adapted to be rolled into a cylindrical configuration for storing fabric articles and the like comprising, a plastic elongated cylindrical thin walled core member having an aperture longitudinally therethrough, a plurality of stacked superimposed co-extensive thin flexible plastic sheets adapted to be separated for the insertion and retention of substantially flat articles therebetween, a flexible cover member superimposed with one side of the stack of sheets, the cover having a pair of marginal edges and first and second end edges, the first cover end edge being substantially co-extensive with a first edge of the sheets, the second end edge extending beyond the peripheral extent of the stack of sheets to provide an overlap, means fixedly securing the first edge of the co-extensive sheets and first cover end edge to the core member, the securing means comprising heat bonding the cover and the sheets to the core member along a line parallel to a plane passing through the longitudinal center line of the core and tie means mounted to the overlap of the cover whereby the tie means are adapted to secure the device in a cylindrical configuration.

5. A device adapted to be rolled into a cylindrical configuration for storing fabric articles and the like comprising, a plastic elongated cylindrical thin walled core member having an aperture longitudinally therethrough, a plurality of stacked semi-transparent superimposed coextensive thin flexible plastic sheets adapted to be separated for the insertion and retention of substantially flat articles therebetween, a flexible cover member superimposed With one side of the stack of sheets, the cover having a pair of marginal edges and first and second end edges, the first cover end edge being substantially c0- extensive with a first edge of the sheets, the second end edge extending beyond the peripheral extent of the stack of sheets to provide an overlap, means fixedly securing the first edge of the co-extensive sheets and the first cover end edge to the core member, the securing means comprising heat bonding the cover and the sheets to the core member along a line parallel to a plane passing through the longitudinal center line of the core and a pair of elongated highly flexible tie straps afiixed to the overlap, each tie strap comprising tie halves spaced upon UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,094,009 4/ 1914 Parkhurst. 2,293,979 8/1942 Hopkins 150-52 FOREIGN PATENTS 837,803 5/1952 Germany.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE ROLLED INTO A CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION FOR STORING FABRIC ARTICLES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL CORE MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF STACKED SUPERIMPOSED CO-EXTENSIVE THIN FLEXIBLE SHEETS ADAPTED TO BE SEPARATED FOR THE INSERTION AND RETENTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ARTICLES THEREBETWEEN, A FLEXIBLE COVER MEMBER SUPERIMPOSED WITH ONE SIDE OF THE STACK OF SHEETS, THE COVER HAVING A PAIR OF MARGINAL EDGES AND FIRST AND SECOND END EDGES, THE FIRST COVER END EDGE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CO-EXTENSIVE WITH A FIRST EDGE OF THE SHEETS, THE SECOND END EDGE EXTENDING BEYOND THE PERIPHERAL EXTENT OF THE STACK OF SHEETS TO PROVIDE AN OVERLAP, THE FIRST COVER END EDGE HAVING AN EXTENSION UNDERFLAP FOLDED ABOUT A FOLD LINE AND POSITIONED BETWEEN THE STACK OF SHEETS AND THE COVER, MEANS FIXEDLY SECURING THE FIRST EDGE OF THE CO-EXTENSIVE SHEETS AND FIRST COVER END EDGE TO THE CORE MEMBER, THE SECURING MEANS COMPRISING ELONGATES FASTENERS PROJECTING THROUGH THE UNDERFLAP AND THE STACK OF SHEETS AND TERMINATING IN THE CORE MEMBER, AND TIE MEANS MOUNTED TO THE OVERLAP OF THE CORE WHEREBY THE TIE MEANS ARE ADAPTED TO SECURE THE DEVICE IN A CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION.