US3734155A

US3734155A - Multiple pocket card holder

Info

Publication number: US3734155A
Application number: US00109155A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Stenger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-01-25
Filing date: 1971-01-25
Publication date: 1973-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-22

Abstract

A multiple pocket card holder is provided having means wherein a plurality of card holding members can be nested one within the other within a cover member and firmly and securely retained in this relationship by means of a clip member which frictionally engages flexible hinge members of the card holders between the legs of the clip member. The clip member is formed to provide an elongated line of contact between portions of its opposing legs which engage the flexible hinge members and is of resiliently deformable material so that the elongated line of contact is maintained as the clip member slidably engages one, two or more of the flexible hinge members.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Stenger [54] MULTIPLE POCKET CARD HOLDER [76] Inventor: Hanns G. Stenger, 70-11 34th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY. 11372 [22] Filed: Jan.25,1971

[21] Appl. No.: 109,155

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l50/39, 24/73 B, 24/259 R,

206/39, 281/46 [51] Int.Cl ..A45c 11/18 [58] Field of Search ..206/39, 40.5;

150/38, 39; 24/11 M, 11 F, 49 C, 153 PC, 255 H, 255 P, 259 R, 73 B; 281/46, 50

[ 1 May 22,1973

3,018,532 1/1962 Rinaldi ..150/39 X Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg [57] ABSTRACT A multiple pocket card holder is provided having means wherein a plurality of card holding members can be nested one within the other within a cover member and firmly and securely retained in this relationship by means of a clip member which frictionally engages flexible hinge members of the card holders between the legs of the clip member. The clip member is formed to provide an elongated line of contact between portions of its opposing legs which engage the flexible hinge members and is of resiliently deformable material so that the elongated line of contact is maintained as the clip member slidably engages one, two or more of the flexible hinge members.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY 2 2 I975 m m w H M a I k 4 r A n h 2 H m E: I 6 m. F m. 8 m m 7 INVENTOR. HANNS s. STENGER BY ATTORNEYS MULTIPLE POCKET CARD HOLDER This invention relates to a multiple pocket card holder which is provided with a plurality of envelopes for receiving cards and with clip means for retaining individual card holding members in a nested relationship enabling them to be longitudinally engaged by or removed from the clip means. The card holder of the invention is of a size so that it can be readily carried in a shirt or jacket pocket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art is replete with various means and holders which act as binders for retaining such such items as looseleaf pages, hinged envelopes, cards, and the like in a fixed position while permitting such items to be added to or removed from such binder means.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,454,182 to Myer, discloses a holder for use with a looseleaf binder which comprises a U-shaped member wherein one leg of the U-Shaped member is inserted behind sewed pages of a book while the other leg is utilized to engage loose pages which are retained between these legs in a pressing engagement.

In providing a binder or holder for passbooks, U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,532 to Rinaldi discloses the use of coopcrating spring means having detents or stops to retain a plurality of winged envelopes, while U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,078,898 and 3,141,213, also to Rinaldi, disclose simi lar spring and post means as well as a single spring means adapted to engage notches in winged envelopes.

As exemplified by the prior art patents referred to above, therefore, there have been generally provided holder or hinder means which are of complex construction and which are designed to function in cooperation with another member and/or which provide only point to point contact in serving to retain pages or envelopes in pressing engagement. With such holder or binder means the insertion or removal of pages or envelopes is achieved by laterally removing the pages out of or inserting them into engagement with the holder or binder means and, in most instances, these holder or binder means must be partially disassembled or disengaged in order to remove or insert the pages or envelopes.

THE INVENTION It has now been found that the shortcomings of such prior art devices can be overcome by providing the multiple pocket card holder of the invention which generally comprises: a plurality of card holding members each having a pair of open-topped envelopes to receive printed matter therein, the envelopes being hingeably secured to each other enabling them to be folded and also enabling a plurality of them to be nested within one another; and, a U-shaped clip member, one leg of which exhibits varied flexibility throughout its length and which is disposed in linear contact along a substantial portion of the length of the other leg so that card holding members can be slidably inserted into and removed from the clip member. The configuration of the clip means of the invention is such that a plurality of card holding members can be retained in a fixed position through the linear area of contact of the legs of the clip member with the flexible hinges of the card holding members. Such an arrangement facilitates removal and insertion of one or more card holding members from the clip means without necessity of any disassembly or other manual manipulation of the clip means so that the card holder of the invention is simple and easy to use while offering a great degree of flexibility in its use.

The invention will become more clear when consid' ered together with the accompanying drawings wherein the various views are set forth to illustrate certain preferred embodiments thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a plurality of the card holders of the invention in alignment prior to being nested within each other and firmly retained in their nested relationship by the clip means of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a card holder of the invention showing one manner by which the clip means can be positioned thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 illustrating, in an alternate embodiment of the invention, another manner in which the clip means can be positioned on a card holder;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view illustrating one embodiment of the clip means of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the clip means shown in FIG. 6 and illustrating; by dotted lines one manner by which the configuration of the clip means of the invention can be obtained; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 7 illustrating the disposition and relationship of a plurality of card holding members engaged by the clip means of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 the pocket card holder of the invention comprises a plurality of card holding members consisting of a cover member 10 and a plurality of card holding members as shown at 11 and 12. The cover member 10 and each additional

card holding member

11, 12 are shown as comprising a pair of rectangular open-topped envelopes 13 which are joined to each other at their adjacent longitudinal edges by means of a flexible hinge member 14. In other adaptations of the invention described hereinafter, however, cover member 10 can be of somewhat different structure than the other, inner

card holding members

11 and 12.

The envelopes 13 are preferably made from a selfsupporting, transparent or clear plastic material, while the flexible hinge members 14 can be provided from similar plastic materials, leather, synthetic leather compositions, and the like. When transparent or clear material is provided on both sides of an envelope 13, a card or other item containing printed matter on both sides, or two items each printed on one side, can be inserted in the envelope 13 so that the printed matter can be easily read through both surfaces thereof. Insertion and removal of such cards or other printed matter into and out of the envelopes 13 can be facilitated by providing a thumb slot in the upper, open edges of the envelopes 13 as indicated at 15.

Since each pair of envelopes 13 are joined by a flexible hinge member 14, the

members

10, 11 and 12 can be arranged in a nesting relationship and secured in this relationship by a clip means generally indicated at 16. Once thusly secured, the envelopes 13 can be turned or flipped in the same way as the pages in a bound book to find the printed material desired or required to be referred to at any time. If desired, the external portions 13a of envelopes 13 of the cover member 10 can be of a transluscent or opaque material such as the type of material used for the flexible hinges 14, to facilitate imprinting the outer surfaces thereof.

The clip means 16 of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 5-8 comprises a generally U-shaped clip member having a rear leg 17 integrally joined by a looped portion 17a to a front leg 18 which is of varying flexibility throughout its length, and which is formed so that it provides linear contact with the rear leg 17 along a substantial portion of the length of rear leg 17.

When the flexible hinge 14 of the cover member is of single ply construction, then clip means 16 can be secured thereto with the rear leg 17 and the front leg 18 on each side of the flexible hinge member 14 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the flexible hinge of the cover member 10 is of double ply construction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 at 140 and 14b, then it is preferred that the clip means 16 be secured thereto so that its rear leg 17 is inserted between

plies

14a and 14b in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, rear leg 17 will always be in contact with the flexible hinge 14 of the cover member 10 while front leg 18 is free to engage either the same flexible hinge or those of other card holding members nested within the cover member 10.

The lower portion of the front leg 18 of clip means 16 preferably includes an angularly disposed or beveled tip as shown at 19, which facilitates insertion of one or more card holding members into engagement with the

legs

17, 18 of clip means 16.

The clip means 16 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 6 with rear leg 17 being of uniform width throughout its length and front leg 18 being somewhat narrower than rear leg 17 at the beveled tip 19 and tapering to a further reduced width adjacent looped end 17a. This narrow, tapered construction imparts to front leg 18 varying flexibility which permits an elongated line of contact 20 to be maintained between

legs

17 and 18 as the clip is accommodated to slidably engage one, two or more flexible hinge members 14, each of the

card holding members

10, 11 and 12 being inserted and removed therefrom along the longitudinal axis of their flexible hinge members 14.

The clip means 16 is preferably made form moldable plastic material and one manner by which it can be formed is illustrated in FIG. 7. Initially, the clip means 16 is formed so that it has the configuration shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7 with the back leg 17 integrally joined to the front leg 18 by looped portion 17a. At this stage, the radius of looped portion 17a is such that only point-topoint contact can be provided between the end of front leg 18 and a point on the body of rear leg 17 such as is indicated at 21. To obtain the configuration of the clip means of the invention, looped portion 170 can be heated and reformed byproper application of pressure such as at points 21a and 21b until the configuration shown in solid lines in FIG. 7 is obtained. This reforming, coupled with the variable resilience in the tapered portion of leg 18, establishes a firm pressing engagement of front leg 18 against rear leg 17 throughout the linear area of contact 20.

In a preferred embodiment, that portion of rear leg 17 extending beyond the beveled tip 19 of front leg 18 is also provided with a detent as shown at 22 which is positioned to mate with an aperture 23 in the hinge member 14 of the cover member 10 as shown in FIG. 8. If desired, the next innermost card holding member 11 can be similarly provided with an aperture 24 and detent 22 can be of sufficient length to engage at least a portion of this aperture 24 by extending through aperture 23 of cover member 10. By providing this assemblage, cover member 10 can be retained fixedly secured between

legs

17 and 18 of the clip member 16 whenever additional card holding members are inserted or withdrawn therefrom. When the next innermost card holding member 11 is also provided with an aperture 24 (FIG. 8), detent 22 can be of a dimension so that it engages only a portion of the aperture 24 of this card holding member 11 enabling it to be inserted or withdrawn from the clip member 16 without any difficulty.

As shown in FIG. 8, it will be noted that the elongated area of contact 20 is maintained by front leg 18 in engagement with the flexible hinge 14 of the card holding member adjacent to it and this linear area of contact will remain substantially unchanged as a limited number (up to about six) of flexible hinges 14 are inserted between

legs

17 and 18.

One practical use and adaptation of the card holder of the invention is that of a work guide which can be utilized with jobs having both fixed and variable information requiring easy and ready reference. In such use, the cover member 10 can be provided with transparent envelopes 13 into which there can be inserted specific identification data as well as general information and data to which repeated reference will be made. Other card holding members, such as 11 and 12, can then have inserted in their envelopes 13 additional information sheets or cards containing specific data relating to separate jobs or separate operations of a single job with which the user is involved. The flexibility of use provided by the individual card holding members permits data forms relating to several jobs or operations to be collectively inserted into or removed from the card holder as, for example, when passing on job data forms from an individual in one work shift to an individual in a succeeding work shift.

When the card holder of the invention is utilized in this manner, it may be desirable for the cover member 10 to be of slightly larger dimensions than additional, nested card holding members so that the cover member 10 can fully envelop and protect the nested

card holding members

11, 12 as well as the data cards inserted in their envelopes. In special instances, the cover member 10 can simply comprise printed plastic sheets coupled by a flexible hinge 14 with the clip means 16 associated therewith and a plurality of nested

card holding members

11, 12 then interchangeably associated with the cover member 10.

While the card holder of the invention has been described with particular reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawing, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and those practicing the invention that the various structural features need not be strictly adhered to. For example, thumb slots 15 can be located at the outer corner edges of the

card holding members

10, 11 and 12 and these members can be flexibly hinged to each other at adjacent ends rather than at adjacent longitudinal edges. Hence, although the invention has been described with particularity and in some detail, it should be understood that changes, alterations and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art and those practicing the invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed:

1. A multiple pocket card holder comprising: a double' ply cover member having a double ply, openedtopped flexible hinge, a plurality of card holding members adapted to be nested one within another and within said cover member, each of said members having a pair of open-topped envelopes with the adjacent longitudinal edges of said envelopes being joined to each other by means of a flexible hinge; and, an integral, U-shaped clip means having opposed legs and adapted to be positioned over the tops of said flexible hinges disposing the legs of said clip means downwardly along a substantial portion of said hinges, one leg of said clip means being disposed between the plies of the cover member hinge and always in engagement with the hinge of said cover member, while the other leg of said clip means is free to frictionally engage the hinge of at least one other card holding member along a line of contact common to said other leg and the hinge of said other card holding member, said one leg of said clip means being elongated and integrally joined at one looped end thereof to said other leg of said clip means which is also elongated but shorted than said one leg, the free end of said other leg being narrower than said one leg and of tapered configuration to a further reduced width adjacent said looped end, the narrow, tapered configuration of said other leg imparting variable flexibility thereto such that an elongated line of contact is achieved and maintained as said clip means accommodates a plurality of said card holding members enabling said members to be firmly retained in a fixed position by said U-shaped clip means while freely permitting slidable insertion and removal of said members into and out of engagement with said clip means.

2. A multiple pocket card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said envelopes nested within said cover member are transparent.

3. A multiple pocket card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein cooperating means are provided on said cover member and said clip means such that accidental displacement of said clip means from said cover means is prevented.

4. A multiple pocket card holder as defined in claim 3 wherein said cooperating means comprises an aperture formed in the flexible hinge of said cover member and a detent on said one leg of said clip means positioned to engage said aperture as said clip means is positioned on said cover member.

5. A clip means for supporting a plurality of flat card holding members having flexible hinges in prearranged position, said clip means being of generally U-shaped contour having an elongated rear leg integrally joined at a looped end thereof to an elongated front leg which is shorter than said rear leg, the free end of said front leg being narrower than said rear leg and of a tapered configuration to a further reduced width adjacent said looped end, said front and rear legs having an elongated line of contact therebetween and the narrow, tapered configuration of said front leg imparting variable flexibility thereto such that said elongated line of contact is maintained when said clip means accommodates the reception of the flexible hinges of a plurality of flat card holding members between said front and rear legs, the end of said front leg being provided with a beveled tip facilitating insertion of said flexible hinges into engagement with said front and rear legs, and a detent on that portion of said rear leg extending beyond the end of said front leg, said detent being intermediate the sides of said rear leg and projecting therefrom in the direction of said front leg a distance less than the protrusion of said beveled tip.

Claims

1. A multiple pocket card holder comprising: a double ply cover member having a double ply, opened-topped flexible hinge, a plurality of card holding members adapted to be nested one within another and within said cover member, each of said members having a pair of open-topped envelopes with the adjacent longitudinal edges of said envelopes being joined to each other by means of a flexible hinge; and, an integral, U-shaped clip means having opposed legs and adapted to be positioned over the tops of said flexible hinges disposing the legs of said clip means downwardly along a substantial portion of said hinges, one leg of said clip means being disposed between the plies of the cover member hinge and always in engagement with the hinge of said cover member, while the other leg of said clip means is free to frictionally engage the hinge of at least onE other card holding member along a line of contact common to said other leg and the hinge of said other card holding member, said one leg of said clip means being elongated and integrally joined at one looped end thereof to said other leg of said clip means which is also elongated but shorted than said one leg, the free end of said other leg being narrower than said one leg and of tapered configuration to a further reduced width adjacent said looped end, the narrow, tapered configuration of said other leg imparting variable flexibility thereto such that an elongated line of contact is achieved and maintained as said clip means accommodates a plurality of said card holding members enabling said members to be firmly retained in a fixed position by said U-shaped clip means while freely permitting slidable insertion and removal of said members into and out of engagement with said clip means.