WO1993015492A1

WO1993015492A1 - Card display device

Info

Publication number: WO1993015492A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000031
Authority: WO
Inventors: John David Reisner
Original assignee: John David Reisner
Priority date: 1992-01-30
Filing date: 1993-01-23
Publication date: 1993-08-05

Abstract

An organiser for storage and display of information panels or cards comprises at least one housing (1). The or each housing is attachable so as to be fixed in position with respect to a keyboard or like component. The housing(s) form(s) an assembly for the storage and display of the panels or cards. The assembly comprises a storage sub-assembly (5) in or upon which the panels or cards may be stored ready for use and a display sub-assembly (7, 8, 10) in or upon which more than one panel or card may be displayed ready for viewing.

Description

TITLE: CARD DISPLAY DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to an organiser for storage and display of information panels or cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: There is a need for a handy way of storing and displaying information panels or cards. It is known to use a rotary system in which such panels or cards are rotatably attached to a spindle, whereby, as the spindle is rotated, a selected panel or card may be positioned for display. However, such a rotary system is relatively bulky and not easily adaptable for use with elongated panels or cards. Furthermore, it is not easy with such a system to display more than one information panel or card. Hence, it would be desirable to provide a compact storage and display system which is capable of dealing with such elongated panels or cards and wherein more than one information panel or card may be viewed concurrently from a comfortable line of sight.

Thus it is an object of the invention to provide a compact storage and display system which meets the abovementioned desideratum and which can also handle information panels or cards of various dimensions, in particular panels or cards of differing lengths.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: This invention provides an organiser for information panels or cards which comprises at least one housing, the or each housing being either attachable so as to be fixed in position with respect to a keyboard or like component or integral with the keyboard or like component, the housing(s) forming an assembly for the storage and display of the panels or cards, the assembly comprising a storage sub-assembly in or upon which the panels or cards may be stored ready for use and a display sub-assembly in or upon which more than one panel or card may be displayed ready for concurrent viewing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

Figure 1 relates to^"one of a first group of embodiments of the invention and is a front perspective view from above and to one side of a housing of an organiser according to the invention;

Figure 2 relates to another of a first group of embodiments of the invention and is a rear perspective view from above and to one side of a housing of an organiser according to the invention;

Figure 3 relates to one of a second group of embodiments of the invention and is a front perspective view from above and to one side of an organiser according to the invention; and

Figure 4 relates to one of a second group of embodiments of the invention and is a front perspective view from above and to one side of portion of an organiser according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: The expression "or like component" used in conjunction with "keyboard" in this specification refers to any item of computer or computer peripheral equipment such as a disc drive.

The expression "attachment means" includes the concept of "slots" as defined below in relation to respective groups of embodiments.

The storage sub-assembly and the display sub-assembly may be functionally separate or one sub-assembly may incorporate part or all of the functions of the other sub-assembly.

In addition each sub-assembly may be integral with the assembly as a whole or attachable/detachable to form the assembly.

In the first group of embodiments the word "slots" includes indents or grooves. Furthermore, the word "slots" is intended to include embodiments in which holes pierce the flat plate means, each hole being so shaped and of sufficient inside dimension(s) that it can accommodate a rod piercing that hole. However, such a hole need not pierce the flat plate means completely.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing(s) is/are conveniently J-, U- or V-shaped with the inside bottom of the J, U or V forming part of a storage well for information panels or cards. (Note the J-shape does not have an upper cross stroke). In a variation on the embodiment just described, the housing(s) is/are substantially O-shaped, preferably with an upper entrance in the O-shape for storage purposes for panels or cards.

For example, considering a J-shaped housing, the short upward stroke of the J is represented by a low pillar joined to a taller pillar forming the long upward stroke of the J. The two pillars may be joined by a generally horizontal connector component which may be straight, curved or any other suitable shape. The taller pillar is conveniently provided with at least two points of attachment, each point of attachment being adapted, for example, to accommodate the upper edge of an information panel or card, securing it and displaying the panel or card for viewing. It is also possible to provide the low pillar with a point or points of attachment, whereby information panel(s) or card(s) may be secured and displayed.

The or each housing may be adapted to be attachable to a keyboard or like component. For example, where one housing only is used, it may be attached to the rear of a keyboard or like component. Where more than one housing is used, for example, two housings, one housing may be attached to each side of a keyboard or like component.

Alternatively the or each housing is formed integrally with the casing of the keyboard or like component. If the or each housing is adapted to be attachable, an adhesive strip with a peelable cover may be used. Alternatively, the or each housing may be screwed, bolted or clamped to the respective casing of the keyboard or like component.

In another embodiment, a housing may be spaced from the side of a keyboard or like component using an extension piece. This extension piece may be separate from or integral with the housing. Thus, if housings are located one on each side of a keyboard or like component, the distance between housings may be adjusted to accommodate panels or cards of differing dimensions.

In another embodiment the housing comprises a relatively flat plate means provided with a plurality of slots.

The words "plate means" are intended to be interpreted broadly to indicate an integer which is substantially flat but can be of a selected thickness, whether relatively thin or relatively thick.

In one embodiment, each slot is preferably adapted to expand sufficiently to accommodate a relatively thin or small diameter rod in a "snap fit". However, the concept of a snap fit is meant to include any case where the distance tolerance of the slot is such that the rod will be held substantially rigidly.

In one embodiment, one way of ensuring that the slots may expand is to provide a subsidiary slot or slots to one side, preferably one or each side, of a principal accommodation slot. The

-material from which the plate means is made may be metal but is preferably a resilient plastics material.

The internal bottom portion of the plate means may be of any suitable shape to accommodate stored panels or cards. The bottom portion may be serrated to separate the panels or cards.

Each plate means may be associated with a support means, which may or may not be integral with the plate means. The support means may be so adapted that the plate means may be free-standing or the support means may assist attachment of the base means to the keyboard or like component.

The housings may be located on or joined to a base means. This base means may take various forms, for example, it may be adapted to enable the distance between the housings to be adjustable, such as by the provision of tracks. The housings may be attached to the base means in any manner which would not interfere with the function of the housings.

A housing may comprise a single pillar or a plurality of pillars, such as an array of pillars. Where a housing comprises a plurality pillars, it is preferred to arrange the structure of the or each housing so that any taller pillar is to the rear as viewed by an observer. However, this arrangement may be reversed. Furthermore, the or each pillar may be erected at an angle to the vertical and either fixed in position or hinged. Yet again, such a pillar may take a branched shape and/or may be curved in shape. It may also be desirable in some instances to have more than two pillars in each housing, for example, to form more than one storage well. Again, one or more of the pillars may be so constructed as to be extendible, for example, telescopic in action, so that its or their relative height(s) may be adjusted. Yet again, one or more of the pillars may be collapsible or foldable.

Information panels or cards may be attached to the or each housing either directly, by means of rods to which the panels or cards are attachable, or by means of clamps which are each attachable at one end to the housing and at the other end to a panel or card.

The points of attachment of the information panels or cards to the or each housing maybe, for example, slots, with the extended meaning given above, the points of attachment being associated with the or each housing. It is preferred that the panels or cards may be rotatable with respect to the points of attachment so that each side of a panel or card may be viewed or one side viewed with greater convenience. Where, for example, a housing comprises one or more pillars, points of attachment may be provided in or on one or each pillar, either on their inner or outer faces.

When the organiser according to the invention is in use for display purposes, at least one information panel or card would be displayed but two or more could be displayed. In an alternative form of the invention the housings are conveniently hollow or solid blocks into which are let a plurality of slots. The housings are preferably joined by a base means and are arranged sufficiently far apart that information panels or cards may be stored or suspended as required between the housings. The distance between the housings may be adjustable.

In the second group of forms of the invention, the word "slots" refers to elongated apertures which may extend through the housings or partially only into the housings.

The storage and suspension slots may be arranged horizontally, vertically or at some angle to the horizontal. Alternatively the storage and suspension slots may be curved. For example, the storage slot and the suspension slot may be joined so as to form one continuously curving slot. Yet again the storage and suspension slots may be joined at an angle, for example, to form a generally V-shaped configuration, the V-shape in this embodiment being viewed as if on its side.

In another preferred embodiment of this group of forms of the invention, an upper horizontal and lower horizontal slot are provided in each housing, the horizontal slots being in communication with each other by means of a vertical slot in each housing, forming a generally U-shaped configuration in each housing, the U-shape in this embodiment being viewed as if on its side. Each slot may be provided with a recess or recesses into which the elongated rods may be seated to effect appropriate positioning of the display panels or cards for the purpose of comfortable viewing.

Each slot may be provided with a "passing point" or "passing region" wherein the elongated rods may be changed in position with respect to each other. For example, in the U-shaped configuration embodiment, each vertical slot may be wider than the connecting horizontal slots. Alternatively, the slots as a whole may be sufficiently wide to allow the positions of the elongated rods to be exchanged.

An information panel or card may be attached to each elongated rod by use of a plurality of clamp means or a single clamp means which extends along each elongated rod for the major proportion of the distance between the housings.

The housings, and base means where present, are conveniently made from some inert plastics material but may be made from enamel- coated metal such as steel or aluminium. The elongated rods and clamp means are conveniently made from some rigid metallic material but may also be made from suitable plastics material.

With regard to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, numeral 1 indicates a housing generally. A taller pillar 2 is joined to a lower pillar 3 by way of a connector component 4 forming a well 5 in a flat-bottom J-shaped configuration. Taller pillar 2 has an upper, flat end 6 across which extends a lateral slot 7. An inwardly facing, upwardly sloping slot 8 is also provided laterally across inner face 9 of taller pillar 2. Lower pillar

3 has an upper, flat end 10 across which extends a lateral slot 11. Thus the slots are adapted to receive, for example, an edge of an information panel or card, a rod for holding such a panel or card or a clamp for clamping such a panel or card.

A peelable adhesive strip 12 is- located on connector component

4 on side 13 for the purpose of attaching the housing 1 to a keyboard or like component. Alternatively holes (not shown) may be provided in face 13 to attach the housing 1 to the keyboard or like component.

Turning to Figure 2, the housing is indicated generally by numeral 20 comprising a plate means 21 and associated support means 22. A taller pillar 23 is joined to a lower pillar 24 by connector component 25.

Slots are formed on all the operative sides of the taller pillar 23 and lower pillar 24 including their respective tops. Thus top 26 of taller pillar 23 is provided with two transverse slots 27 and 28 separated by a central recess 29. Slot 27 is bounded by ridge 27A and slot 28 by ridge 28A, the ridges being located on the respective sides of recess 29.

On inner side 30 of taller pillar 23 a transverse, principal slot 31 is formed between two parallel slots 32 and 33. Ridges 31A and 31B separate the principal slot 31 from the parallel slots 32 and 33.

A rod 34 may be inserted into principal slot 31, ridges 31A and 31B moving sideways to accommodate the rod. The bottom of principal slot 31 may be so shaped that it holds rod 34 in position. Analogous considerations apply to principal slot 27, ridge 27A and principal slot 28 and ridge 28A.

In base 22, holes 35 and 36 on face of the support means 23 are intended to accommodate fixing means to a keyboard or like component. Note, however, that housing 1 may be free-standing as opposed to being fixed to the keyboard or like component.

Note that support means 22 may be omitted and the plate means 21 turned on its side so that either taller pillar 23 or lower pillar 24 may act as a base for housing 20. In such as case the positioning of the slots may require alteration.

Note also that the housing 20 illustrated is a left hand housing, as viewed from the front of the keyboard or like component.

Turning to Figure 3, numeral 50 indicates an organiser according to the invention generally. Numerals 51 and 52 indicate housings at opposite ends of base means 53. In housing 51, a suspension slot 54 communicates with storage slot 55 by way of communication slot 56. Similarly, suspension slot 57 communicates with storage slot 58 by way of communication slot 59 in housing 52. Numeral 60 indicates an information panel or card attached to elongated rod 61, and is shown in an intermediate position. Finally, an information panel or card 62 is attached to an elongated rod 63, and is shown in an intermediate position. If each of information panels or cards 60 and 62 are rotated in the direction of the respective curved arrows, they may be viewed by a person looking in the direction of arrow A.

Turning now to Figure 4, one housing 70 is shown attached to base means 71. A storage slot 72 is shown connected to suspension slot 73 by way of angular joining slot portion 74. A recess could be provided at the bottom of slot 73 in the region distant from angular joining slot portion 74. Furthermore, a recess could be provided at the bottom of angular joining slot portion 74. In this embodiment the information panels or cards need not be rotated to be viewed. Thus the elongated rods supporting the respective information panels or cards may be inserted into the recesses in slot 73 suggested above and angular joining slot portion 74 respectively. The information panels or cards may be viewed by a person looking in the direction of arrow B.

Claims

We claim :

1. An organiser for information panels or cards which comprises at least one housing, the or each housing being either attachable so as to be fixed in position with respect to a keyboard or like component or integral with the keyboard or like component, the housing(s) forming an assembly for the storage and display of the panels or cards, the assembly comprising a storage sub-assembly in or upon which the panels or cards may be stored ready for use and a display sub-assembly in or upon which more than one panel or card may be displayed ready for concurrent viewing.

2. An organiser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage sub-assembly and the display sub-assembly are functionally separate or one sub-assembly incorporates part or all of the function of the other sub-assembly.

3. An organiser as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each sub-assembly is integral with the assembly as a whole or attachable/detachable to form/take apart the assembly.

4. An organiser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each housing comprises a pillar or a plurality of pillars.

5. An organiser as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one pillar is provided with associated attachment means.

6. An organiser as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each housing comprises an array of pillars joined by a connector component, at least one of the pillars being longer or taller than the other pillar or pillars, each pillar being provided with associated attachment means for more than one panel or card.

7. An organiser as claimed in claim 6, wherein the array of pillars is so joined by the connector component as to form a well or wells for storing panels or cards.

8. An organiser as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the edge of a panel or card, an attachment rod for a panel or card or a clamp means for a panel or card may be inserted into respective attachment means on each housing.

9. An organiser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the or each housing comprises a substantially flat plate means.

10. An organiser for information panels or cards which comprises at least one housing, the or each housing being either attachable so as to be fixed in position with respect to a keyboard or like component, the housing(s) being generally in the form of a substantially flat plate means provided with a pillar or an array of pillars, there being at least two attachment means provided in association with the pillar or each pillar, each attachment means being adapted to store or display a panel or cards.

11. An organiser as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each housing comprises a tall pillar and a low pillar joined by a connector means at their lower ends, as viewed in use.

12. An organiser as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein each attachment means comprises a transverse slot located on lateral or upper faces of the or each pillar.

13. An organiser as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein each attachment means comprises a principal transverse slot in parallel with a second slot to one side of the principal slot or a second slot and a third slot on each side of the principal slot wherein a rod to which the panel or card is attached may expand the principal slot to grip the rod with a selected degree of firmness.

14. An organiser for information panels or cards which comprises a first housing attached to a second housing, each housing being provided with at least one storage slot and at least one suspension slot, the slots being in communication with each other, in combination with a plurality of elongated rods to each of which an information panel or card may be attached, the elongated rods bein adapted to fit through the slots and also pass over or under each other within the slots thus changing position with, respect to each other, whereby a plurality of information panels or cards may be stored or suspended as desired.

15. An organiser as claimed in claim 12, wherein the storag and suspension slots are joined at an angle to form generally V-shaped configuration, the V-shape being viewe as if on its side, and are of such dimension in at leas one region that the position of the elongated rods may b altered with respect to each other.