US3505973A - Shopper's reminder - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1970 L. M.. BAKER 3,505,913

SHGPPER S REMINDER Filed May 1. 1968 l 1.WE.\'T0R. f2.1 Z//y M 19a/(er BY v United States Patent O 3,505,973 SHOPPERS REMINDER Lily M. Baker, P.O. Box 324, Clayton, Ala. 36016 Filed May 1, 1968, Ser. No. 725,702 Int. Cl. G09f 7/02; A44b 1 7 00 U.S. Cl. 116-135 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shoppers reminder comprising a strip of flexible material such as fabric on which there may be written a list of items desired from a supermarket. Opposite each named item is secured means to attach a removable marker indicating that such item is desired. A plurality of the markers are slidably arranged on a flexible member such as a piece of string, the flexible member being secured at its end to the strip of material. The entire device may be folded for convenience in carrying.

My invention relates to a shoppers reminder and has for an object the provision of a simple, foldable reminder which the housewife or shopper may keep in the kitchen, preferably hung on the wall, to remind her of items that she needs, the need being indicated by placing a removable marker opposite each item, and the entire device being foldable for carrying in the purse. When the shopping is in progress and as the individual items are taken from the shelves the markers are removed from opposite the listed items.

A further object is to provide a shoppers reminder comprising a length of flexible material such as cloth, on one side of which is printed a list of the items normally needed, and opposite each of which projects the stud end of a snap or the like. A plurality of markers are captively and slidably arranged on a string, the string being secured at its ends to the upper and lower portions of the strip of material whereby the markers may be slid up and down the string, permitting the use of a fewer total number of movable marker members than the number of items listed on the body of the reminder.

Briefly, I propose a shoppers reminder which consists of a strip of length of flexible material, which may, by way of example, be on the order of two inches wide and approximately twenty inches long. On the front of such strip of material I print the names of various items of household supplies. Opposite each such named item, and projecting from the surface of the body of the reminder is the stud end of an ordinary snap, or similar device. Secured adjacent the upper and lower ends of the strip of material are the ends of a flexible member such as a piece of ordinary nylon thread of small size. ISlidably mounted, but frictionally engaged thereon, are complementary snaps which serve as markers and which are adapted to be snapped onto the projecting stud ends of the snaps carried by the body portion. By having the snaps slidable on the string, I am able to use a fewer number of such slidable markers than the total number of items on the list inasmuch as it is unlikely that the householder would be out of or desire all of the items which can be printed on the list. The device is used by hanging it on a wall in the kitchen and every time the householder notes that she is out of a given item she places a snap in the appropriate place. Since the device is flexible it may be folded and quite easily carried either in a small case for the same or in the householders purse. As the items are taken from the shelves the appropriate snaps are released, indicating that this item has been placed in the shoppers basket. When all of the markers have been unsnapped, the housewife knows she is through ice shopping and the string retains the markers captive for reuse.

A device illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which:

FIG. l is a fragmental front elevational view showing some of the captive markers in place and others not in place;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line II-II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmental detail sectional view taken generally along line III-III of FIG. 1 and illustrating one of the markers snapped in place.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I illustrate at 10 a length of flexible material forming the body of my improved shoppers reminder. While of course it would be possible to use a single thickness of such material I preferably make the front sheet 11 thereof separate from the back sheet 12 for a purpose later to appear.

On the front sheet 11 there is ample room for listing a large variety of items commonly used in and around the household. For instance, the list may start with air fresheners and end with vinegar. With a strip of material about twenty inches long I am able to list thereon some ninety separate items.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the reminder may be made by folding the back sheet 12 over and under at one edge 13, and similarly over and under at the opposite edge 14. Projecting outwardly from the surface of the front sheet 11, and located opposite each of the items is the stud portion 16a of an ordinary, dress type snap 16. It Will be noted that the enlarged head portion 17 of the snap 16 is effectively trapped between the two sheets of material. By using material which may be adhered by heat, I effectively trap the snaps in place, opposite the respective items.

Secured at one end to the front of the device as at 18 is a length of flexible string-like material such as nylon filament 19. The opposite end of the filament 19 is secured at 21 to the lower end of the body strip.

Threaded onto the nylon filament are a plurality of markers in the form of snaps 22, complementary to the snaps 16 embedded in the material. The snaps 22 are fewer in number than the total number of items listed inasmuch as it is quite unlikely that the householder at any one time would need all of the items on the list.

At 24 I indicate a loop of material through which the filament 19 passes and which is large enough to permit the snaps 22 to be passed therethrough. There may be one or more of such loops and they hold the string of captive snaps 22 fairly close to the body of the device inthe event ia good number of them are unsnapped. It will also 'be understood that the length of the filament 19 is slightly longer than the total distance between the Ipoints 18 and 2.1.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved shoppers list together with the advantages may now be explained and understood. As stated, in constructing the devices I propose to use two sheets of material 11 and 12. The snaps 16 have their heads embedded between the two layers of material with the portions 16a thereof projecting outwardly, opposite the printed names of the items. The entire device may be hung on the wall by means of an eyelet 26 and as the houswife notes that she is out of given items the snaps 22 are placed opposite the same. Since the device is flexible it may be folded into a compact space and conveniently carried in the purse. As the items are selected from the shelves and placed in the basket the snaps 22 are removed, indicating that the order for the particular item has been lled. Upon 3 4 completing the shopping it is only necessary to check t0 surface of said length of material on which said items see whether or not any snaps remain in place in order for are noted, one to known when he is through shopping. (c) a length of exible, string-like material secured at The plurality of captive snaps 22, slidable up and down each of its ends adjacent the upper and lower ends of on the string or filament 19 aiord a convenient means 0f r, the length of exible material, and having the markers yalways available for immediate use. a (d) a plurality of marker members in the form of c0m- The loop or loops 24 are desirable to hold the string of plementary snaps captively and slideably mounted on markers 22. adjacent the front of the device when a large the string-like eXible member and disposed selecnumber of them are unsnapped. tively to be removably placed on the marker snaps.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it l0 will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so References Cited limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and UNITED STATES PATENTS mcdliiartllpns wlthout departing from the spirit thereof. 753,601 3/1904 Mensing 116 135 1,548,690 8/1925 Swanberg 116-135 1. In a shoppers reminder, 15

(a) a length of flexible material provided with a strip of backing material and having on the front surface LOUIS R PRINCE Pnmary Examiner thereof printed notations of a plurality of items, F. SHOON, Assistant Examiner (b) holders for a plurality of marker members opposite each of said notations comprising snaps having heads 20 U.S. C1. X.R.

thereof located between said strips of material and 116-130; 24,203 their shank portions projecting outwardly past the

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