GB2344761A

GB2344761A - Card holder

Info

Publication number: GB2344761A
Application number: GB9827655A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dudley Hallam Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-16
Filing date: 1998-12-16
Publication date: 2000-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-16
Also published as: GB2344761B; GB9827655D0

Abstract

A card holder for greetings cards and the like, comprising a series of retaining elements 10, separated by a plurality of string sections 16 and 18, each retaining element 10 being insertable through an aperture 28 in a card 26.

Description

CARD HOLDER The present invention relates in general to the field of an apparatus for holding cards, and particularly but not exclusively to an apparatus for holding greetings cards.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly concerned with the problem of holding and displaying greetings cards in a domestic environment.

Greetings cards are typically folded to be self-supporting when partially open. However, cards tend to be received in batches celebrating a particular event and often the number of cards received exceeds the space available for displaying the cards in a self supporting manner. Also, greetings cards tend to be relatively unstable and can be knocked down by a strong draught or accidental touch.

Therefore it is desired to provide an apparatus for displaying greetings cards which minimises the space required and which ideally holds the cards securely whilst on display.

In a typical known arrangement cards are displayed by being placed over a string or like element, but the cards tend to slip over one another unless the string is kept taught and level. Also, greetings cards are often intended to be displayed with a fold arranged substantially vertically whereas when placed over a string the fold must lie horizontally with the result that the greetings card is not displayed as intended.

It is also known to use a peg or clip to attach each greetings card to a string or like display element but this adds handling difficulties and the pegs or clips are prone to breakage or loss.

Although the problems described above most commonly apply to greetings cards, it has been found that the same or analogous problems apply to other items. The term"card" will be used to generically cover any item for display, without limitation. The term"card"is intended to cover a broad range of relatively small and lightweight items but is not intended to limit the invention in this respect.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding a card. Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an apparatus for holding a greetings card, and ideally a plurality of greetings cards, or the like.

According to the present invention there is provided a card holder comprising retaining means for operatively retaining a card, said retaining means being arranged to cooperate with an aperture in a card to be retained; and support means for supporting said retaining means, said support means comprising a plurality of sections having said retaining means arranged between at least two of said sections.

Preferably, at least a portion of said retaining means is operatively capable of passing through an aperture in a card to be retained. In a preferred arrangement at least a portion of the retaining means passes through an aperture in a card to be retained to thereby lie against a portion of the card surrounding the aperture. In another embodiment the retaining means is capable of passing through an aperture in a card to be retained and retains the card in cooperation with the support means.

Preferably the retaining means in a first configuration is arranged to pass through an aperture in a card to be retained, and in a second configuration is arranged to lie across the aperture. The retaining means may be moved between the first and second configurations, preferably by turning the retaining means and ideally by turning the retaining means through an angle of about 90 .

Suitably, the retaining means is rigid. Ideally the retaining means is sufficiently rigid to retain a card at least when in the second configuration.

Preferably, the retaining means is smaller than an aperture in a card to be retained, at least when in the first configuration, such that the retaining means or at least a portion thereof may pass through the aperture.

Suitably, the retaining means is arranged to be larger than the aperture, suitably when in the second configuration. The retaining means may expand between the first and second configurations.

In the preferred embodiment the retaining means is suitably formed as a bar or a rod, and ideally as a toggle. The retaining means is suitably arranged to be longer than an aperture in a card to be retained, but to have a width or diameter less than the aperture.

Conveniently, in a first configuration the retaining means is arranged substantially perpendicular to an aperture in a card to be retained and ideally perpendicular to a major plane of the card containing the aperture. In a second configuration the retaining means lies across the aperture parallel, i. e. co-planar to the major plane.

The support means may take any suitable form but is preferably elongate and preferably flexible. Suitably, said support means comprises a continuous element.

Preferably the support means comprises cord, wire, monofilament, fibre or string or the like. Said support means may comprise one or more modular elements such as a chain of links.

Each of the plurality of sections of the support means is suitably a continuous or modular element, and most preferably comprises string or the like.

Preferably, at least two sections of the support means are arranged to meet at the retaining means, and suitably the sections are divided by the retaining means. In alternate arrangements more than two support means may meet at the retaining means.

In a preferred arrangement, the support means is arranged such that at least two sections are provided either side of the retaining means. The sections may be provided in any suitable configuration. Where two sections meet at the retaining means, it is preferred that the sections lie opposite one another.

In. the preferred embodiment the support means is coupled to the retaining means such that in use the retaining means may be inserted through an aperture in a card to be retained, whilst the support means extends on an opposite side of the aperture to the retaining means. The support means may be at least partially insertable through the aperture, preferably following the retaining means.

The retaining means may be coupled to the support means by any suitable arrangement including but not limited to gluing, moulding or welding the retaining means to the support means, or by mounting the retaining means internally within the support means, such as by weaving the support means around the retaining means. Further, the retaining means may be integrally formed with the support means. In the preferred embodiment the retaining means is provided with an aperture therethrough for receiving the support means. Ideally the aperture is provided transverse to the longitudinal axis of the retaining means.

Preferably the card holder is provided with attachment means for attaching the card holder to an object.

Suitably the attachment means comprises a loop, handle, hook or other element. The card holder may be used in a substantially vertical configuration where conveniently the attachment means is provided at or near one end of the support means. Additionally or alternatively the card holder may be used in a substantially horizontal configuration where conveniently the attachment means is provided at or near either end of the support means. In a further embodiment, the attachment means is provided at one or more intervals along the length of the support means.

In. a preferred embodiment the card holder comprises a plurality of retaining means. Suitably, each retaining means is arranged between at least two sections of the support means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for holding a card, comprising the step of inserting a retaining means through an aperture in a card, such that the card is retained by the retaining means. The method preferably comprises the step of forming an aperture in a card.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred card holder; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a retaining element of the card holder of figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing part of the card holder of figure 1 in use; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the example of a card holder intended for use with greetings cards. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention is of general application and is not limited to this exemplary use.

Referring firstly to figure 1, the preferred card holder comprises an elongate flexible support element 14 and a plurality of retaining elements 10. The retaining elements 10 divide the string 14 into a plurality of sections 16,18.

Suitably, the string 14 is continuous having the retaining elements 10 arranged at intervals therealong. The card holder may be used in a vertical configuration attached for example by a hook 22 at one end of the string 14.

Alternatively the card holder may be used in a substantially horizontal configuration supported by hooks 22,24 at either end thereof. Most conveniently, the card holder is intended to be supported against a wall or may hang freely in space. In one embodiment (not shown) the hooks 22,24 are replaced by any suitable alternative such as loops formed in the ends of the string 14.

Conveniently, the card holder may be coupled to a retaining element such as a drawing pin or a nail. In a further embodiment (not shown) the card holder is provided with further attachments such as hooks 22,24 at intervals along the length thereof.

Referring now to figure 2, each retaining element 10 is suitably formed as a short bar and acts as a toggle. The bars 10 are conveniently rigid and may comprise any suitably material including, for example, metal or plastics material. The toggles 10 may be formed by chopping a length of extruded plastics material into short sections.

Each toggle 10 is suitably provided with an aperture 12 transversely therethrough. The aperture 12 allows the toggle 10 to be mounted to the string 14. Most conveniently the string 14 is tied in a knot around the toggle 10 after passing through the aperture 12, in order to secure the toggle 10 at a predetermined position. That is, the plurality of toggles 10 are preferably fixed at predetermined intervals along the string 14. However, in alternative embodiments (not shown) the toggles 10 may move freely along the string 14 or may be readily movable along the string 14 and then maintained in a desired position. Conveniently, the card holder may be supplied as a kit of parts for assembly by the user.

Referring now to figure 3, a portion of the card holder is shown in use retaining a card 26. An aperture 28 is suitably provided in the card 26. In this example the card 26 is a greetings card intended to be displayed with a fold line 30 running substantially vertically between a front portion 32 and a rear portion 34. The aperture 28 is conveniently provided in the rear portion 34 of the card 26, preferably near to the fold line 30. It has been found that this position is relatively discreet and causes minimal alteration to the aesthetic appearance of the greetings card. The aperture 28 is conveniently formed using a hole punch or other hole forming implement.

As shown in figure 3, the card 26 is displayed by inserting the toggle 10 through the aperture 28 such that it lies on the opposite side of the aperture from the two sections 16,18 of the string 14. Ideally the string 14 is readily flexible allowing the toggle 10 to be manipulated through the aperture 28. In use, the string 14 is suitably drawn relatively taut such that the card 26 is firmly retained between the toggle 10 and the string 14.

The toggle 10 is suitably sized in relation to the aperture 28 (or vice versa) such that the toggle 10 may pass through the aperture 28 when perpendicular to a major plane of the card 26, and may then be turned to lie across the aperture 28 co-planar with the major plane of the card 26.

In a further embodiment (not shown) at least one end of the toggle 10 may be arranged suitable for piercing an aperture in the card 26. For example, one end of the toggle may be formed at an angle or as a point.

Referring now to figure 4, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown of generally similar construction to the first embodiment described above with reference to figures 1,2 and 3. In the embodiment of figure 4 each retaining element comprises a toggle 10 separated from the support means 14 by a linking element 11. In this embodiment the supports means may be rigid and the linking element 11 is suitably flexible such as string.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. A card holder, comprising: retaining means for operatively retaining a card, the retaining means being arranged to co-operate with an aperture in a card; and support means for supporting the retaining means, the support means comprising at least two sections, wherein the retaining means is arranged between the sections.
2. A card holder according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the retaining means is operatively capable of passing through an aperture to thereby lie against a portion of the card surrounding the aperture.
3. A card holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining means in a first configuration is arranged to pass through the aperture, and in a second configuration is arranged to lie across the aperture.
4. A card holder according to claim 3, wherein the retaining means is moveable between the first and second configurations by turning the retaining means relative to the support means.
5. A card holder according to claim 4, wherein the retaining means is sufficiently rigid to retain a card at least when in the second configuration.
6. A card holder according to any preceding claim wherein the retaining means is formed as a toggle.
7. A card holder according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the retaining means is expandable between the first and second configurations.
8. A card holder according to any preceding claim wherein the support means comprises a plurality of flexible and elongate sections.
9. A card holder according to any preceding claim wherein the support means comprises a continuous element.
10. A card holder according to any preceding claim wherein at least two sections of the support means are arranged to meet at the retaining means.
11. A card holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means is coupled to the retaining means such that in use the retaining means may be inserted through an aperture in a card to be retained, whilst a major portion of the support means extends on an opposite side of the aperture to the retaining means.
12. A card holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means are at least partially insertable through the aperture, following the retaining means.
13. A card holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means is provided with an aperture therethrough for receiving the support means.
14. A card holder according to claim 13, wherein the aperture is provided transverse to the longitudinal axis of the retaining means.
15. A card holder according to any preceding claim wherein the card holder is provided with attachment means for attaching the card holder to an object.
16. A card holder according to claim 15 wherein the attachment means comprises a loop, handle, or hook.
17. A card holder according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the attachment means is provided at or near one end of the support means, such that the card holder is operatively supported depending from the attachment means.
18. A card holder according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the attachment means is provided at either end of the support means.
19. A card holder according to any preceding claim wherein the card holder comprises a plurality of retaining means.
20. A card holder according to any preceding claim wherein each retaining means is arranged between at least two sections of the support means.
21. A method of holding a card, comprising the step of inserting a retaining means through an aperture in a card, such that the card is retained by the retaining means.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the method comprises the step forming an aperture in a card.
23. A card holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
24. A method of holding a card, substantially as hereinbefore described.