WO2023089526A1

WO2023089526A1 - Support for a sheet and method of making thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2023089526A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/061094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Lombardini
Original assignee: Plastex Sa
Priority date: 2021-11-19
Filing date: 2022-11-17
Publication date: 2023-05-25
Also published as: IT202100029261A1

Abstract

A method for making a laminar support (1) to be hang on a support wall to support a sheet of paper, cardboard or similar material parallel to the support wall. The method comprises a single step of moulding - in a single mould - a polymeric material so as to obtain a base body (10) with a support surface (11) for the sheet defining a first plane and at least one pair of abutment elements (20) spaced from the first plane by a predetermined distance to block the sheet and keep it in a position substantially coplanar to the latter.

Description

SUPPORT FOR A SHEET AND METHOD OF MAKING THEREOF

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of objects, and it particularly relates to a method for making a support for a sheet of paper, cardboard or the like, as well as a support for the latter.

State of the Art

The use of supports for sheet of paper, cardboard or the like in all fields in which there arises the need to exhibit the latter maintaining the wholeness thereof, is known.

As a matter of fact, affixing a sheet on a noticeboard is subject to rapid wear if not appropriately protected.

Typically, the aforementioned supports are made of polymeric material and include a support plane of the sheet, which includes or does not include an edging, and at least one or two grippers or removable stop elements which block the sheet on a support plane, being coupled with the latter.

It is therefore clear that such components are made separately, typically with the moulding method, and then coupled to obtain the finished product.

However, this entails an excessive use of time and resources, which inevitably weighs on the final cost of the support.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention to provide a method for making a particularly efficient support for sheets of paper, cardboard or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for making a support that allows a significant cost-effectiveness.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for making a support for sheets that is simple and practical to implement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support for sheets that is particularly cost-effective.

These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a method and/or a support as described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.

The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of the laminar support 1;

FIG. 2 is an axonometric schematic view of the rear of the laminar support 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along a plane 1-1 of the laminar support 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of a section along a transversal plane of the mould 52, regarding which FIG. 4B is the enlargement of a detail.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a laminar support 1 to be hang on a support wall, such as for example a wall, a partitioning element, a noticeboard or the like, for supporting a sheet of paper, cardboard or similar material.

Furthermore, herein described is a method for making an aforementioned support 1.

Essentially, the method may allow to obtain the support 1 through a single moulding step, for example by injecting molten polymeric material, typically plastic, in a single dedicated mould 52.

However, it is clear that the moulding step may also be carried out using a method other than injection without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Basically, the moulding will allow to obtain the support 1 consisting of a single base body 10 which may be quadrangular - in plan view -, for example quadrangular-shaped, with consecutive sides 10', 10", 10"' and 10^vi.

Preferably, the base body 10 may have an extension along a longitudinal axis X and it may be symmetrical with respect to a median plane nM passing through the axis X.

However, it is clear that the base body 10 may have any other shape without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Advantageously, the base body 10 may include a flat support surface 11 which may define a plane nl.

The flat surface 11 may include a face 110 on which there may be placed the sheet and an opposite face 111 which may adhere to the support wall parallel thereto.

The base body 10 may include one or more pairs of abutment elements 20, for example a pair of fins, which may be spaced from the plane nl by a distance d, for example between 0.1 and 1 cm, preferably between 0.2 and 0.6 cm.

This will allow to block the sheet on the support surface 11.

To this end, the abutment elements 20 may define a plane n2, that is they may be planar, so as to effectively resist against a possible removal of the sheet from the base body 10.

Preferably, such abutment elements 20 may be obtained along two edge areas 12' and 12" of the base body 10, in a symmetrical position with respect to the median plane nM.

However, it is clear that the abutment elements 20 may be obtained at several edge areas without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Suitably, in order to make the abutment elements 20, the mould 52 may include at least one pair of counter-shaped protrusions 50', 50" with respect to the abutment elements.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, particularly shown in FIG. 4A, the protrusions 50', 50" may be only two, so as to obtain a single pair of abutment elements 20.

In a more preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the two abutment elements 20 may be symmetrical with respect to the median plane nM.

After injecting the polymeric material into the mould 52, such protrusions 50' and 50" may allow to obtain the abutment elements 20at the two edge areas 12' and 12".

In this manner, the support surface 11 and the abutment elements 20 of the base body 10 may be monolithic with respect to each other, that is they will define a single piece in which the joint of the pieces is suitable to support the transfer of stresses through the contact surface.

In addition, it is clear that a single moulding step will allow to obtain the finished product, that is the support 1 provided both with the support for the sheet, that is the support surface 11 and the elements for blocking the same, that is the abutment elements 20.

Even more specifically, the protrusions 50', 50" may include respective support surfaces 51' and 51" substantially flat and substantially equal to the plane n2.

Suitably, the base body 10 may include a pair of through openings 23', 23" due to the obtainment of the abutment elements 20 at the edge areas 12' and 12".

However, it is clear that the base body 10 may include several pairs of through openings 23', 23" due to the obtainment of several pairs of abutment elements 20.

Furthermore, it is clear that the abutment elements 20 and of the respective through openings 23', 23" may be carried out in the single moulding step.

On the other hand, the moulding step may solely allow to obtain the abutment elements 20 and not the through openings 23', 23" which may also be obtained in a subsequent step, for example by die cutting, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

In the preferred embodiment described herein, the abutment elements 20 and the respective through openings 23', 23" may be obtained in a single injection moulding step.

Preferably, the protrusions 50', 50" may be fixed into the mould 52 both during the moulding step and subsequently to the latter.

Specifically, the protrusions 50', 50"may be fixed into the mould 52 both during the injection of the polymeric material into the latter and subsequently to the injection.

In other words, the mould 52 may be without movable parts.

However, it is clear that the mould 52 may have movable parts without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Advantageously, there may be provided for a plurality of protrusions 50', 50" in the form of inserts with different height which can be interchanged and inserted in an appropriate seat 500', 500" in the mould 52.

In this manner, the choice of inserts 50', 50" of a predefined height may affect the size of the distance d mentioned above.

Preferably, the mould 52 may include a pair of reliefs so as to obtain a pair of longitudinal grooves 21' and 21" during the moulding step so as to obtain a tab 22 which can be moved with respect to the plane nl between a position coplanar thereto and one or more positions in which the latter and the plane defined by the tab 22 are incident.

In particular, the latter may oscillate with respect to the plane nl.

Specifically, the tab 22 may be substantially quadrangular - in plan view - with a base side 220 which may be a single body with the support surface 11, two sides 221' and 221" facing the grooves 21'and 21" and a side 222 lying on the edge area 13. In particular, such grooves 21' and 21" may be parallel to each other and they may be obtained at an edge area 13 spaced from the edge areas 12' and 12".

It is clear that the oscillation of the tab 22 may facilitate the positioning and the pickup of the sheet onto/from the support surface 11 in a per se known manner.

In particular, by simply pressing, the tab 22 may be spaced from the plane nl, so as to facilitate both the positioning of the sheet and a subsequent pick-up thereof.

It is clear that the mould 52 may include several pairs of reliefs so as to provide several pairs of longitudinal grooves 21', 21" so as to obtain several tabs 22 with the characteristics described above without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the edge areas 12' and 12" may be at the sides 10' and 10'", while the edge area 13 may be at the side 10".

However, it is clear that the edge areas 12', 12" and 13 may each also be at a different side of the base body 10 without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the base body 10 may include a framelike element 30 obtained in the moulding step along the perimeter p thereof due to the presence of an appropriate counter-shape present in the mould 52.

Suitably, such frame-like element 30 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane nl and it may have a height h equal to the distance d, so as to surround and contain the sheet inside the base body 10.

This may contribute to maintaining the wholeness of the sheet for longer.

In addition, the abutment elements 20 may extend in a perpendicular direction with respect to the frame-like element 30 so as to protrude with respect to the latter.

Preferably, the support 1 may include two pairs of holes 40' and 40" made on the support surface 11 so as to hang the support 1 on the support wall.

For example, the pair of holes 40' may be obtained along the axis X while the pair of holes 40" may be symmetrical with respect to the latter.

To this end, the mould 52 may include appropriate protrusions such that the aforementioned pairs of holes 40' and 40" are created during the moulding step.

However, it is clear that there may be provided for a single pair of holes without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

In a per se known manner, the base body 10 moulded with the aforementioned characteristics may therefore be removed from the mould and it may define the finished product, that is the support 1.

Advantageously, the support 1 may include a cover made of optically transparent material, that is a material that can be passed through by the light, possibly in a diffused manner.

For example, such cover may be a sheet made of transparent plastic which can be placed on the sheet to be supported and blocked on the support surface 11 by the abutment elements 20.

Even in this case, the oscillation of the tab 22 may facilitate the positioning and picking up of the optically transparent cover.

It is therefore clear that the described method may allow to obtain a support 1 that is particularly cost-effective through a single moulding step, with ensuing significant cost and time-effectiveness in the manufacturing step.

The present invention may include various parts and/or similar or identical elements. Unless otherwise specified, similar or identical parts and/or elements will be indicated using a single reference number, it being clear that the described technical characteristics are common to all similar or identical parts and/or elements.

In the light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-set objectives.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants. All details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A method of making a laminar support (1) to be hang on a support wall to support a sheet of paper, cardboard or similar material parallel to the support wall, the method comprising a single step of moulding - in a single mould (52) - at least one polymeric material to obtain a base body (10) with a support surface (11) for the sheet defining a first plane (nl) and at least one pair of abutment elements (20) monolithically made with the latter, said abutment elements (20) being spaced from said first plane (nl) by a predetermined distance (d) to block the sheet and keep it in a substantially coplanar position with the latter, said at least one pair of abutment elements (20) being made at at least one first and one second edge zones (12', 12") of the same base body (10) opposite to each other with respect to a median plane (nM) substantially perpendicular to said first plane (nl).

2. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein said mould (52) has at least one pair of counter-shaped protrusions (50', 50") at said at least one first and one second edge area (12', 12") so as to obtain said abutment elements (20), said base body (10) at the latter having a corresponding at least one pair of through openings (23', 23").

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said mould (52) has a single pair of countershaped protrusions (50', 50") at said at least one first and one second edge area (12', 12") so as to obtain a single pair of said abutment elements (20), said base body (10) at the latter having a single corresponding at least one pair of through openings (23', 23").

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said abutment elements (20) define a second plane (n2) substantially parallel to said first plane (nl), said protrusions (50', 50") including a respective support surface (51', 51") substantially flat and substantially parallel to said second plane (n2).

5. Method according to one or more of claims 2 to the preceding, wherein said single moulding step is carried out by injecting said at least one polymeric material into said single mould (52).

6. Method according to one or more of claims 2 to the preceding, wherein said abutment elements (20) and said at least one pair of through openings (23', 23") are obtained during the single moulding step.

7. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein said protrusions (50', 50") are fixed in said mould (52) both during the single moulding step and subsequently to the latter.

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8. Method according to any one of claims 2 to the preceding, wherein said protrusions (50', 50") are in the form of an insert which can be inserted into a respective appropriate seat (500', 500") in said mould (52), there being provided for a plurality of protrusions (50', 50") which can be inserted into said seats (500', 500") and having heights different from each other so as to modulate the size of said predetermined distance (d).

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said single moulding step enables to obtain only said laminar support (1).

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said single moulding step includes providing a frame-like element (30) extending in a substantially perpendicular fashion along the perimeter (p) of said base body (10) to surround the sheet, said frame-like element (30) having a height (h) substantially equal to said predetermined distance (d), said abutment elements (20) extending from said frame-like element (30) in a manner substantially perpendicular to the latter.

11. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said single moulding step comprises providing - at a third edge area (13) of said base body (10) spaced from said first and second edge area (12’, 12") - at least one pair of longitudinal grooves (21', 21") so to obtain a respective tab (22) movable with respect to said first plane (nl) so as to facilitate the insertion/ removal of the sheet.

12. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein said single moulding step comprises providing - at a third edge area (13) of said base body (10) spaced from said first and second edge area (12', 12") - a single pair of longitudinal grooves (21', 21") so to obtain a single tab (22) movable with respect to said first plane (nl) so as to facilitate the insertion/ removal of the sheet.

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said base body (10) is substantially quadrangular-shaped, said first and second edge areas (12', 12") being arranged at two opposite sides of said base body (10), said third edge area (13) being arranged at a third side of said base body (10), said at least one pair of longitudinal grooves (21', 21") or respectively said single pair of longitudinal grooves (21', 21") extending in a fashion substantially perpendicular to said third side from said frame-like element (30) so that the portion of said base body (10) interposed therebetween defines said tabs (22) or respectively said tab (22).

14. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said single

8 moulding step includes providing at least one pair of through holes (40', 40") at said support surface (11) so as to allow the fixing of the laminar support (1) to the support wall.

15. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutment elements (20) of said at least one pair of abutment elements (20) are symmetrical with respect to said median plane (nM).

16. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said predetermined distance (d) is comprised between 0.1 and 1 cm, preferably 0.2 and 0.6 cm.

17. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said single moulding step is carried out by injecting said at least one polymeric material into said single mould (52).

18. A laminar support to be hang on a support wall to support a sheet of paper, cardboard or similar material parallel thereto, comprising a base body (10) made of a polymeric material, said base body (10) including a support surface (11) for the sheet (F) defining a first plane (nl) and at least one pair of abutment elements (20) arranged at at least one first and one second edge portion (12', 12") thereof opposite to each other with respect to a median plane (nM) substantially perpendicular to said first plane (nl), said abutment elements (20) being spaced from said first plane (nl) by a predetermined distance (d) to block the sheet and keep it in a position substantially coplanar to the latter, said base body (10) and said at least one pair of abutment elements (20) being mutually monolithic.

19. Support according to the preceding claim, wherein said base body (10) comprises - along the perimeter (p) thereof - a frame-like element (30) extending in a fashion substantially perpendicular to the base body (10) to surround the sheet, said frame-like element (30) having a height (h) substantially equal to said predetermined distance (d), said abutment elements (20) defining a second plane (n2) substantially parallel said first plane (nl) to extend from said frame-like element (30) in a manner substantially perpendicular to the latter.

20. Support according to the preceding or previously-preceding claim, wherein said at least one first and one second edge area (12', 12") of said base body (10) include at least one pair of through openings (23', 23") at said at least one pair of said abutment elements (20).

21. Support according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said at least one first and one second

9 edge area (12', 12") of said base body (10) include a single pair of said abutment elements (20), said base body (10) at the latter having a single corresponding at least one pair of through openings (23', 23").

22. Support according to any one of claims 18 to the preceding, wherein the abutment elements (20) of said at least one pair of abutment elements (20) are symmetrical with respect to said median plane (nM).

23. Support according to any one of claims 18 to the preceding, wherein said predetermined distance (d) is comprised between 0.1 and 1 cm, preferably 0.2 and 0.6 cm.

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