WO2002089639A1

WO2002089639A1 - Greetings card support

Info

Publication number: WO2002089639A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/002088
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rachel Anne Jacobson
Original assignee: Rachel Anne Jacobson
Priority date: 2001-05-10
Filing date: 2002-05-10
Publication date: 2002-11-14
Also published as: GB2379634B; GB0111320D0; GB2379634A

Abstract

A device for supporting a folded greetings card or the like is described. The device consists of a base member (2) having abutment means (3, 4, 5, 6) provided thereto. A first (16) and second (17) sheet of a folded greetings card (15) is held in place by said abutment means.

Description

Greetings Card Support

The invention relates to a support for supporting greetings cards and the like for display.

Conventional greetings cards typically consist of a sheet of card which has been folded so as to provide a front sheet, a back sheet and a spine. A picture and/or printed greeting is usually shown on the outside of the front sheet, space being provided inside the card (usually on the inside of the back sheet) to display a printed and/or written message. Such a card is usually designed so as to stand up with the spine either generally vertical or generally horizontal, although other configur tions are known.

In use, the card is placed on a surface, the fold being opened somewhat so that the card can stand up. A known problem with such cards is that they are rather unstable. There is a tendency for vertically spined cards to fall over when brushed against or even due to air currents. In the case of a horizontally spined- card, the weight of the card tends to push the fold further and further open, causing the card to flatten out rather than stand up. Furthermore, cards can be very elaborate - many cards have badges or other decorative items attached thereto, which increases the instability of the card. A number of solutions have been proposed to this problem. UK Patent Application No. GB 2218042 (Harris) shows a greetings card support in the form of a pair of deep-grooved strips of rigid material with a firm hinge at their junction. A horizontally or vertically spined card is slotted into the grooves, the firm hinge holding the card open at the desired angle. This device would however be rather difficult to use, as slotting the card into the groove so that the hinges of the card and support coincide would require considerable manual dexterity. The device would also be complicated to manufacture.

Another solution has been proposed in UK Patent Application No. GB 2143664 (Brooker) . This shows a card support comprising a planar element with two hinged flaps, each flap having an adhesive portion. In use, the user attaches a flap to the front and back sheets respectively. The support then holds the card open at a fixed distance. This device also has disadvantages. The contact adhesive is protected before use by protective paper, which is peeled off before use. Peeling off the protective paper and attaching the support to the card at precisely the right locations is again an operation which requires considerable manual dexterity. Furthermore, after use the device is discarded.

There is therefore a requirement for an improved device avoiding the above disadvantages. In particular, there is a requirement for a reusable device that is simple to use and economical to construct and in which adjustment of the card position is simple and straightforward.

It is an object of the present invention to fulfil the above requirements.

According to the above object, the invention provides a support device for a folded card, the said card having been folded to provide at least a first sheet and a second sheet, the support device comprising a substantially planar base member adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface supporting the card, the base member being provided with generally upwardly projecting first and second abutment means, the card in use being placed on the base member so that the said first sheet abuts against the first abutment means, the second sheet abutting against the second abutment means, the card being thereby supported.

Advantageously, the base member is additionally provided with third and fourth abutment means disposed opposite the said, first and second abutment means respectively, so as to form first and second slots between the said first & third, and said second & fourth abutment means respectively, the card in use being supported so that a first sheet rests in the said first slot and a second sheet rests in the said second slot. According to one embodiment, each said abutment means comprises an abutment member affixed to the said base member.

According to another embodiment, each said abutment means comprises a folded section of the said base member. Advantageously, the said base member consists of at least a first and second layer, the said first and second abutment means comprising folded portions of the said first layer, the said third and fourth abutment means comprising folded portions of the said second layer.

According to a further embodiment, each said abutment means comprises an upwardly protruding tab, each said tab being formed by a portion of the said base member.

According to a still further embodiment, first and second grooves are formed in the said base member, the said first & third and second & fourth abutment means respectively comprise opposing faces of said first and second grooves .

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show schematically various embodiments of the present invention. The figures are not to scale . Figure 1 shows a device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 2 in use;

Figure 4 shows a device according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 shows a device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1, a card support device (1) comprises a base member (2) upon which are provided first to fourth abutment members (3,4,5 and 6) respectively. A first slot (7) is formed between said first (3) and third (5) abutment members, a second slot (8) being formed between said second (4) and fourth (6) abutment members. Although the abutment members (3-6) shown are cylindrical in form, they may be of any shape providing that they can be attached to the base member (2) (or moulded as part of the base member) and abut sufficiently to provide a stable card support .

Figure 2 shows a card support device according to another aspect of the invention. The device comprises a base member (2) which consists of two layers (9, 10) attached together along a majority of their length. Each layer is left free at both end regions, and the end of each layer is folded so as to form abutment means (11 - 14) . Although the abutment means of Figure 2 are spiral in form, it is possible, depending on the rigidity etc. of the layer material, to provide folds of alternative configurations, for example a simple L-shaped fold. The abutment means (11 - 14) are analogous to the abutment members of Figure 1, also forming first and second slots (7, 8) .

In Figure 3, the device of Figure 2 is shown in use .^' A card (15) is- folded so as to form first and second sheets (16, 17) . In use the card is placed so that the first sheet is supported in the first slot (6) and the second sheet is supported in the second slot (7) .

The card shown in Figure 3 is horizontally spined so that the first and second sheets are parallel. With vertically spined cards, the first and second sheets (16, 17) diverge as the card is splayed open. Figure 4 shows a device particularly suitable for use with a vertically spined card. In the device of Figure 4 first and second slots (7, 8) diverge. The front sheet of a vertically spined card will fit in the first slot (7) and the back sheet in the second slot (8) . Figure 5 shows a device suitable for use with either type of card. In Figure 5, slots (18 - 19) are formed in the base member. Depending upon the type of card, slot 19 or 20 is used for the back sheet. This embodiment requires a thicker base element. It is also possible to provide a device similar to that of Figure 4 with a plurality of abutment members so as to provide either parallel or diverging slots. Alternatively, it is possible to support a horizontally spined card using the device of Figure 4, merely by placing the back sheet of the card in front of the fourth abutment member (6) rather than in the back slot (8). Cards of other configurations (e.g. diagonally spined or irregularly spined) may also be supported.

Of course there may be sufficient flexibility in the card (and possibly also in the device if made out of a sufficiently flexible material) so that the direction in which each said slot extends is not critical. Furthermore, it may not be necessary to provide all four abutment members as shown in Figure 1. If the fourth and/or third abutment members (6,5) are not provided (Figure 4) the card will still be prevented from opening out and the card support will still function, although this will not prevent the card from closing. However, since most ■ cards (particularly horizontally spined cards) are unstable because they tend to open, rather than tending to close, two or three abutment members may be sufficient.

The device may bear a promotional message or other text. Suitable materials for the device include paper, card, plastics material, metal. Any material may be used which allows construction of a device according to the invention. A functioning prototype was constructed out of paper, having a configuration as shown in Figure 1.

Claims

1. A support device (1) for a folded card (15), the said card having been folded to provide at least a first sheet (16) and a second sheet (17) , the support device (1) comprising a substantially planar base member (2) adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface supporting the card, the base member (2) being provided with generally upwardly projecting first and second abutment means (3, 4), the card in use being placed on the base member so that the said first sheet (16) abuts against the first abutment means (3), the second sheet (17) abutting against the second abutment means (4) , the card (15) being thereby supported.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the base member (2) is additionally provided with third and fourth abutment means (5, 6) disposed opposite the said first and second abutment means (3, 4) respectively,- so as to form first and second slots (7, 8) between the said first (3) & third (5) , and said second (4) & fourth (6) abutment means respectively, the card (15) in use being supported so that the first sheet (16) rests in the said first slot (7) and the second sheet- (17) rests in the said second slot (8) .

3. A device according to either of claims 1-2 wherein each said abutment means (3 - 6) comprises an abutment member protruding upwardly from the said base member (2) .

4. A device according to either of claims 1-2 wherein each said abutment means (11 - 14) comprises a folded section of the said base member.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the said base member (2) consists of at least a first and second layer (9, 10) , the said first and second abutment means (11, 12) comprising folded portions of the said first layer (9) , the said third ^■ and fourth abutment means (13, 14) comprising folded portions- of the said second layer (10) .

6. A device according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein first and second grooves (18, 19) are formed in the said base member (2) , the said first & third and -second & fourth abutment means respectively comprise opposing faces of said first and second grooves.

7. A device according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein each said abutment means comprises an upwardly protruding tab, each said tab being formed by a portion of the said base member.

8. A device according to any previous claim wherein a plurality of abutment means are provided so as to accommodate different relative configurations of first and second sheets.

9. A device substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings .