GB2129296A

GB2129296A - Display clip/apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2129296A
Application number: GB08236678A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Wentworth Peter Rootham; Ruby Mary Rootham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-23
Filing date: 1982-12-23
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: GB2129296B

Abstract

Display clip means, comprising sets of respective two sheets (20, 21), where in any said set a respective first sheet (20) extends outwardly beyond the edge of a respective second sheet (21), at least one of said first and second sheets having at least one edge portion (23) bendable away from the other of those first and second sheets such that between those first and second sheets at least one inlet mouth (24) can receive at least a portion of at least one item (7) to be displayed. The display clip means, or display apparatus comprising a plurality of the display clip means, can be utilised for displaying greeting cards, other cards, notes, or photographs, etc. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display clip/apparatus This invention relates to the display of items, e.g. the display of greetings cards, other cards, notes, or photographs.

A first aspect of the present invention provides display clip means, comprising sets of respective two sheets, adjacent said sets being provided such that at least a portion of a said sheet is common to two adjacent said sets such that those two adjacent sets abut each other, wherein in any said set a respective first sheet extends outwardly beyond the edge of a respective second sheet, at least one of said first and second sheets having at least one edge portion bendable away from the other of those first and second sheets such that between those first and second sheets at least one inlet mouth can receive at least a portion of at least one item to be displayed, said first and second sheets being able to pinch (preferably resiliently) between them said received item until that item has been removed out of said at least one inlet mouth.

It should be noted that the word sheet refers to a sheet as such or a sheet that is a portion of something else, e.g. of a larger sheet (see later below).

A second aspect of the present invention provides display apparatus, comprising: a plurality of said display clip means according to said first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, said sheet bendable edge portion is resiliently bendable. Said first or second sheet can have any suitable shape(s). Some examples of those shape(s) and resultant display(s) are appearances that are disclike, ladderlike, roselike, rosettelike, snakelike, starlike, sunburstlike, tabularlike, wheel like, or worm like. Any sheet's periphery can be plain, profiled, or divided. Some examples of profiling or division are notches) and/or scalloping in the edge of a said sheet.

Profiling or division of sheets can be the same or different. e.g. in a said set, profiling of said first and second sheets (when both have profiled peripheries) can be the same or different.

Divisions or profiles of sheets can be at least partly aligned or at least partly unaligned with respect to those sheets. At least one said sheet can have at least one axis of symmetry or no axis of symmetry. Said edge portion of a said sheet can be subjected to temporary bending away of that portion so as to aid or enable at least one said inlet mouth to be sufficiently open for receiving at least a portion of at least one item to be displayed. Said bending away could be used for revealing optional information (e.g. colour and/or other information) behind that portion. A said sheet can have any suitable appearance(s), e.g. have at least one colour, at least one texture, at least one light reflection property, at least one light transmission property, or opacity; and be of any suitable material(s), e.g. cardboard plastics material, or metal.

In any said set of sheets, the two sheets are different in size because of the first sheet's extension, but those sheets can be similar or dissimilar in appearance of their outlines, e.g.

both sheets can be similarly disclike or similarly tabular. Said first sheet's extension can constitute at least one first support abutment for at least one said received item. Said first sheet and/or said second sheet can have a periphery profiled or divided e.g. with at least notch and/or at least one scallop to give at least one second support abutment for at least one said received item.

Preferably, at least one said sheet is planar, but could have curvature, e.g. be concave or convex.

A plurality of said sheets can be disposed in any suitable manner(s) in at least one direction. In one embodiment, a plurality of sets comprises at least two said sets disposed in succession one above the other. In a second embodiment, a plurality of sets comprises at least two said sets disposed in succession sideways relative to each other. In either of said successions, at least two sets can touch each other. When at least two sets are in succession sideways relative to each other, at least two sheets in at least two sets can be integral with each other. In either of said successions, at least two sets can be spaced apart relative to each other. When at least two said sheets are spaced apart, there can be at least one optional spacer means spacing apart at least one portion of a sheet from at least one portion of an adjacent sheet.Some examples of spacer means are: distance piece(s) (e.g. shims or washers); or fastener means (e.g. adhesive between adjacent said sheets). When at least two said sheets are interconnected other than when they are integral with each other, at least one connection means can provide at least one said interconnection.

Some connection means are a chain, clip, cord, ribbon, rod, staple, stitch, or thread. Said connection means can be at least partly flexible and/or at least partly rigid. Said connection means can be adapted to aid or enable collapse of a plurality of sheets and/or sets.

At least one said sheet or at least one said set can be at least partly collapsible, e.g. such that said collapse can be utiiised in packaging said display clip means or said display apparatus. But the manner in which said collapse is provided must be consistent with the intended use of said display clip means or said display apparatus. For example, when said display apparatus comprises a plurality of said sets hanging in succession one above the other, collapse of that plurality can be enabled or aided by at least one crease, fold, or score, etc. when a sheet is integral with another sheet, and/or at least one other optional articulation means (e.g. hinge means, for instance a flexible portion of sheet material), or an equivalent thereof.

Said inlet mouth can be closed or at least partly open when it contains no said received item. Said inlet mouth can have any suitable dimensions, e.g. sufficient width for receiving at least a portion of width of at least one greetings card. Said inlet mouth can have at least one dimension that is the configuration of an open figure (e.g. an arc) or the configuration of a closed figure (e.g. an annulus). A plurality of said inlet mouths can be disposed in the configuration of an open figure or in the configuration of a closed figure. A plurality of said inlet mouths between adjacent sheets could lead to an optional single compartment between those sheets.At least one said inlet mouth can be partitioned so as to provide optional compartments (rather than one compartment) between the sheets constituting that mouth, When a said received item enters a said inlet mouth, at least a portion of that item will pass into at least one said compartment, as appropriate. At least a portion of the bottom of any said compartment can be closed or open (e.g.

when the top and bottom of a said compartment correspond to diametrically opposite inlet mouths of a said set). In any said set, the sheets can be fixed or movable relative to each other, other than for the purpose of defining a said inlet mouth, e.g.

at least one sheet can be rotatable or static.

Said display clip means or said display apparatus, can display a plurality if said received items, the display being in any suitable manner(s), e.g. in at least one tier comprising at least one said item. At least two said items can be staggered relative to each other, or have any other suitable disposition(s). When there is a plurality of said tiers, those tiers can be disposed in at least one direction. At least two said tiers can be staggered relative to each other, or have any other suitable dispositions. Some examples of displays of a plurality of said received items are when said at least one display clip means or said display apparatus are In the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example of the present invention: Fig. 1 shows a rose or rosette display apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows a tabular display apparatus.

In Fig. 1, rose display apparatus 1 has an assembly of four circular sheets 2 to 5 (e.g. each made of suitable cardboard or suitable paper) are disposed in succession one above the other. In each set of adjacent said sheets, a first sheet (e.g.

sheet 2) extends outwardly beyond an edge of a second sheet (e.g. sheet 3), and each sheet has the appearance of a scalloped disc, the scalloping assisting portions of edge of a sheet (e.g. sheet 3) to be respectively bent away temporarily to enable a corresponding inlet mouth 6 defined between that edge and the other sheet to be sufficiently open to receive an edge portion of a greetings card 7. The rose display apparatus enables tiers of said inlet mouths. The sheets constituting those mouths are fastened together by adhesive between them and/or by a pin, staple, or stitch, etc. The sheets resiliently pinch the received card(s) 7.

In Fig. 2, tabular display apparatus 1 9 has an assembly of two tabular sheets 20,21, each regarded as a plurality of sheets integrally interconnected to each other, such that sheets 20, 21 provide a plurality of sets of two sheets disposed in succession sideways relative to each other, the succession extending downwardly in the orientation shown in Fig. 2, which orientation could be directed in any other suitable direction.

Sheet 20 is behind sheet 21 and extends outwardly beyond sheet 21. The edges of sheets 20, 21 are each scalloped, adjacent scalloped portions of each of those sheets being adjacent ones of said integrally interconnected sheets. The scalloping assists bending away of portions of edge 23 of sheet 21, this bending enabling or aiding corresponding inlet mouth(s) 24 between sheets 20 and 21 to be sufficiently open to receive an edge portion of a greetings card 7. The received card 7's lower edge can be disposed in any suitable manner, e.g. as shown or such that it projects over and leans on a lower scalloped portion of edge 23 of sheet 21 (so as to aid or enable support of card 7 in addition to support provided by resilient pinching between sheets 20, 21.

There are e.g. two creases, folds, or scores F extending across each of sheets 20, 21.

Corresponding creases, folds, or scores F are respectively aligned one above the other, so as to aid or enable collapse by folding the tabular display. A crease, fold, or score F is one example of articulation means. Another example is a flexible portion of sheet material.

The details shown in the drawings can be modified in any suitable manner(s), e.g. in accordance with the description given above before the first reference to the drawings.

Display clip means or display apparatus of the present invention can serve any useful purpose(s), e.g. provide a pleasing display of greetings cards or of other articles. Viewable portions of displayed articles can comprise information, e.g. a greetings or slogan. Said notches or scalloping are examples of divisions. Divisions can comprise optional information, e.g. a scale of dates and/or a scale of times. Said display clip means or display apparatus of the present invention can be oriented in any suitable manners, e.g. the tabular display apparatus of Fig. 2 could be oriented such that the downwards succession shown is oriented sideways left to right, or right to left, or slope in any direction, change in orientation being provided by orienting the tabular display apparatus suitably.

Claims (filed on 20/10/83) 1. Display clip means, comprising sets of respective two sheets, adjacent said sets being provided such that at least a portion of a said sheet is common to two adjacent said sets such that those two adjacent sets abut each other, wherein in any said set a respective first sheet extends outwardly beyond the edge of a respective second sheet, at least one of said first and second sheets having at least one edge portion bendable away from the other of those first and second sheets such that between those first and second sheets at least one inlet mouth can receive at least a portion of at least one item

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. card. Said inlet mouth can have at least one dimension that is the configuration of an open figure (e.g. an arc) or the configuration of a closed figure (e.g. an annulus). A plurality of said inlet mouths can be disposed in the configuration of an open figure or in the configuration of a closed figure. A plurality of said inlet mouths between adjacent sheets could lead to an optional single compartment between those sheets. At least one said inlet mouth can be partitioned so as to provide optional compartments (rather than one compartment) between the sheets constituting that mouth, When a said received item enters a said inlet mouth, at least a portion of that item will pass into at least one said compartment, as appropriate. At least a portion of the bottom of any said compartment can be closed or open (e.g. when the top and bottom of a said compartment correspond to diametrically opposite inlet mouths of a said set). In any said set, the sheets can be fixed or movable relative to each other, other than for the purpose of defining a said inlet mouth, e.g. at least one sheet can be rotatable or static. Said display clip means or said display apparatus, can display a plurality if said received items, the display being in any suitable manner(s), e.g. in at least one tier comprising at least one said item. At least two said items can be staggered relative to each other, or have any other suitable disposition(s). When there is a plurality of said tiers, those tiers can be disposed in at least one direction. At least two said tiers can be staggered relative to each other, or have any other suitable dispositions. Some examples of displays of a plurality of said received items are when said at least one display clip means or said display apparatus are In the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example of the present invention: Fig. 1 shows a rose or rosette display apparatus. Fig. 2 shows a tabular display apparatus. In Fig. 1, rose display apparatus 1 has an assembly of four circular sheets 2 to 5 (e.g. each made of suitable cardboard or suitable paper) are disposed in succession one above the other. In each set of adjacent said sheets, a first sheet (e.g. sheet 2) extends outwardly beyond an edge of a second sheet (e.g. sheet 3), and each sheet has the appearance of a scalloped disc, the scalloping assisting portions of edge of a sheet (e.g. sheet 3) to be respectively bent away temporarily to enable a corresponding inlet mouth 6 defined between that edge and the other sheet to be sufficiently open to receive an edge portion of a greetings card 7. The rose display apparatus enables tiers of said inlet mouths. The sheets constituting those mouths are fastened together by adhesive between them and/or by a pin, staple, or stitch, etc. The sheets resiliently pinch the received card(s) 7. In Fig. 2, tabular display apparatus 1 9 has an assembly of two tabular sheets 20,21, each regarded as a plurality of sheets integrally interconnected to each other, such that sheets 20, 21 provide a plurality of sets of two sheets disposed in succession sideways relative to each other, the succession extending downwardly in the orientation shown in Fig. 2, which orientation could be directed in any other suitable direction. Sheet 20 is behind sheet 21 and extends outwardly beyond sheet 21. The edges of sheets 20, 21 are each scalloped, adjacent scalloped portions of each of those sheets being adjacent ones of said integrally interconnected sheets. The scalloping assists bending away of portions of edge 23 of sheet 21, this bending enabling or aiding corresponding inlet mouth(s) 24 between sheets 20 and 21 to be sufficiently open to receive an edge portion of a greetings card 7. The received card 7's lower edge can be disposed in any suitable manner, e.g. as shown or such that it projects over and leans on a lower scalloped portion of edge 23 of sheet 21 (so as to aid or enable support of card 7 in addition to support provided by resilient pinching between sheets 20, 21. There are e.g. two creases, folds, or scores F extending across each of sheets 20, 21. Corresponding creases, folds, or scores F are respectively aligned one above the other, so as to aid or enable collapse by folding the tabular display. A crease, fold, or score F is one example of articulation means. Another example is a flexible portion of sheet material. The details shown in the drawings can be modified in any suitable manner(s), e.g. in accordance with the description given above before the first reference to the drawings. Display clip means or display apparatus of the present invention can serve any useful purpose(s), e.g. provide a pleasing display of greetings cards or of other articles. Viewable portions of displayed articles can comprise information, e.g. a greetings or slogan. Said notches or scalloping are examples of divisions. Divisions can comprise optional information, e.g. a scale of dates and/or a scale of times. Said display clip means or display apparatus of the present invention can be oriented in any suitable manners, e.g. the tabular display apparatus of Fig. 2 could be oriented such that the downwards succession shown is oriented sideways left to right, or right to left, or slope in any direction, change in orientation being provided by orienting the tabular display apparatus suitably. Claims (filed on 20/10/83)

1. Display clip means, comprising sets of respective two sheets, adjacent said sets being provided such that at least a portion of a said sheet is common to two adjacent said sets such that those two adjacent sets abut each other, wherein in any said set a respective first sheet extends outwardly beyond the edge of a respective second sheet, at least one of said first and second sheets having at least one edge portion bendable away from the other of those first and second sheets such that between those first and second sheets at least one inlet mouth can receive at least a portion of at least one item

to be displayed, said first and second sheets being able to pinch (optionally resiliently) between them said received item until that item has been removed out of said at least one inlet mouth.

2. Display clip means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display clip means corresponds to a display having an appearance that is disclike, ladderlike, roselike, rosettelike, snake like, starlike, sunburstlike, tabularlike, wheellike, or wormlike.

3. Display clip means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one said sheet edge portion is resiliently bendable.

4. Display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the periphery of at least one said sheet is plain, profiled, or divided.

5. Display clip means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the periphery of at least one said sheet comprises notches and/or scalloping.

6. Display clip means as claimed in claim 5, wherein a said first sheet and/or a said second sheet has at least one notch and/or at least one scallop, to give at least one support abutment for at least one said received item.

7. Display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of said sets comprises at least two said sets disposed in succession one above the other.

8. Display clip means as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of sheets comprises disclike sheets.

9. Display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of said sets comprises at least two said sets disposed in succession sideways relative to each other, at least two sheets in those at least two said sets optionally being integral with each other.

10. Display clip means as claimed in claim 9, wherein said plurality of sheets comprises tabular sheets.

11. Display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one said sheet or at least one said set is at least partly collapsible.

12. Display clip means as claimed in claim 11, comprising at least one crease, fold, or score when a sheet is integral with another sheet, and/or at least one other articulation means, optionally hinge means.

13. Display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one said inlet mouth is able to receive at least a portion of: at least one greetings card or other card, note, or photograph.

1 4. Display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a plurality of said inlet mouths.

1 5. Display clip means, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, when at least one said sheet is made of cardboard or suitable paper, plastics material, or metal.

16. Display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising at least one connection means for interconnecting at least two said sheets together.

1 7. Display clip means substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Display clip means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. Display apparatus, comprising a plurality of said display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 8.

20. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said display apparatus has an appearance that is disclike, ladderlike, roselike, rosettelike, snankelike, starlike, sunburstlike, tabularlike, wheellike, or wormlike.

21. Display apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Display apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of displaying at least one item, comprising displaying said at least one item by utilising at least one said display clip means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, and/or utlising at least one said display apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least one said item is a greetings card or other card, a note, or a photograph.

25. A method of displaying at least one item, said method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of displaying at least one item, said method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.