GB2407262A

GB2407262A - Holder for business cards

Info

Publication number: GB2407262A
Application number: GB0324233A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steve Boys
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-16
Filing date: 2003-10-16
Publication date: 2005-04-27
Also published as: GB0324233D0

Abstract

A holder for holding and presenting one or more business cards comprises a single piece of sheet material having first and second folds (12,14) across its width to define: (i) a central portion (20) which is dimensioned to be larger than the business cards to be held; (ii) an upper portion (18) and (iii) a lower portion. Card retaining means, preferably slits (24,26), are provided on the lower portion for holding the business card(s).The outwardly facing surface of the central and upper portion (18,20) has textual information administered thereto. When the holder is moved to its open position the revealed upper and central portions of the holder have textual information administered there to. A tab (28) and slit (30) may hold the holder closed.

Description

1 Holder 3 The present invention relates to a holder, and 4 particularly,

but not exclusively, to a holder for holding and presenting one or more business cards.

7 In attempting to sell products and services, it is 8 essential that a salesperson leaves a potential 9 customer with relevant information. It is particularly important when "cold calling" to leave 11 eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing material, 12 especially if the material is to reach the relevant 13 person within a company and avoid being discarded by 14 an initial contact, for example, a secretary or receptionist.

17 The material left by the salesperson may range from 18 glossy brochures to simple leaflets or business 19 cards.

21 Whilst glossy brochures may provide a professional 22 look and a detailed account of the products/services 1 offered, the salesperson may not wish to expose 2 their entire sales message without first 3 establishing how relevant their products/services 4 are to the potential customer. Also, it may not be economically viable to produce a large volume of 6 quality brochures.

8 Moreover, brochures or leaflets alone are very 9 impersonal and are all too easily discarded by an initial contact. It is known to attach a business 11 card to a brochure or leaflet to enable a potential 12 customer to easily and directly contact the correct 13 salesperson. Business cards are often affixed to 14 brochures etc. by stapling and are therefore not aesthetically pleasing.

17 Business cards alone are commonly used by 18 salespersons as a more convenient, straightforward 19 and inexpensive marketing tool. However, business cards are also very easily discarded if they are not 21 given directly to the relevant contact within a 22 company, particularly if they are one of many 23 indistinguishable business cards competing for a 24 potential customer's attention.

26 According to the present invention there is provided 27 a holder for holding and presenting one or more 28 business cards, said holder comprising a single 29 piece of sheet material, said material having first and second folds across its width to define: (i) a 31 central portion between the first and second folds 32 which is dimensioned to be larger than the business 1 cards to be held; (ii) an upper portion above the 2 first fold extending above said central portion; and 3 (iii) a lower portion below the second fold 4 extending below said central portion; wherein the height of the lower portion is less than the height 6 of both the upper and central portions and wherein 7 card retaining means are provided on the lower 8 portion for holding the one or more business cards.

Preferably, the sheet material, and hence the upper, 11 central and lower portions, are substantially 12 rectangular in shape.

14 Alternatively, the sheet material, and hence one or more of the upper, central and lower portions, are 16 non-rectangular in shape.

18 Preferably, the holder is moveable between a closed 19 position in which the business card is concealed and an open position in which the business card is 21 exposed.

23 Preferably, the holder is moved to its closed 24 position by firstly folding the lower portion, holding the one or more business cards, at the 26 second fold such that both the lower portion and the 27 one or more business cards overlap the central 28 portion and subsequently folding the upper portion 29 at the first fold to overlap both the lower and central portions such that the lower portion is 31 interposed between the central and upper portions 1 and the business card is interposed between the 2 lower portion and the upper portion.

4 Preferably the card retaining means comprises one or more card retaining slits.

7 Alternatively, the card retaining means may be an 8 adhesive.

Preferably, the card retaining slits are adapted to 11 enable a portion of the business card being retained 12 to extend beyond the edge of the lower portion 13 opposite the second fold.

Preferably, the card retaining slits are adapted to 16 retain standard sized business cards having a length 17 of 90mm.

19 Preferably, the height of the upper portion is less than the height of the central portion.

22 Preferably, the upper and lower portions are 23 provided with one or more corresponding retaining 24 means adapted to retain the holder in its closed position.

27 Preferably, the retaining means comprises one or 28 more tabs on the upper portion positioned on the 29 edge lying opposite the first fold, said one or more tabs being received in one or more corresponding 31 slits on the lower portion.

1 Preferably, the tabs are formed integrally with the 2 sheet material.

4 Alternatively, the retaining means comprises Velcro, stud or adhesive fasteners adapted to 6 retain the holder in its closed position.

8 Preferably, the outwardly facing surface of the 9 upper portion of the holder is provided with an area for addressing the holder to a particular person.

12 Preferably, the outwardly facing surface of the 13 central portion has textual information administered 14 thereto.

16 Preferably the textual information on the outwardly 17 facing surface of the central portion is contact 18 information.

Preferably, when the holder is moved to its open 21 position, the revealed surfaces of the upper and 22 central portions of the holder have textual 23 information administered thereto.

Preferably the textual information on the revealed 26 surfaces of the upper and central portions is a 27 personalized message.

29 Preferably, the sheet material is a uniform piece of card material.

1 Alternatively, the sheet material may comprise cut 2 out portions or transparent or translucent portions.

4 Preferably, the card material is coloured with pantone metallic ink.

7 Preferably, the length and width of the 8 substantially rectangular sheet material is 250mm x 9 150mm with the first fold being made at a distance of 90mm from the upper transverse edge of the sheet 11 material and the second fold being made at a 12 distance of 188mm from said upper transverse edge.

14 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to 16 the following drawings, wherein: 18 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the holder in an unfolded 19 state (without the business card); Fig. 2 is a plan view of the holder in a partially 21 folded state corresponding to the open position 22 (holding the business card); and 23 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the holder in a folded 24 state corresponding to the closed position.

26 Fig. 1 shows a sheet material 10 having a first fold 27 12 and a second fold 14. The first fold 12 is made 28 along the width of the sheet material 10 at a 29 distance of 90mm from the upper transverse edge 16 of the sheet material 10 (i.e. the edge of the sheet 31 material lying opposite the first fold 12). The 32 second fold 14 is made along the width of the sheet 1 material 10 at a distance of 188mm from the upper 2 transverse edge 16.

4 The first and second folds 12, 14 define an upper, central and lower rectangular portions 18, 20 and 22 6 of differing surface area.

8 Diagonal card retaining slits 24, 26 are formed in 9 the lower portion 22 for holding a business card 34 (see Fig. 2).

12 A tab 28 is formed integrally with the upper portion 13 18 and a corresponding slit 30 is formed in the 14 lower portion 22.

16 Textual information 32 is administered to the 17 surfaces of the upper and central portions 18, 20 of 18 the sheet material.

Textual information 36 is also applied to the 21 outwardly facing surface of the upper portion (see 22 Fig. 3) when the holder is in its closed position.

23 Further textual information is applied to the 24 outwardly facing surface of the central portion (not shown) when the holder is in its closed position.

26 In use, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower portion 22 is 27 folded along the second fold 14 such that it 28 overlaps the central portion 20. The lower corners 29 of a business card 34 are then inserted into the diagonal card retaining slits 24. When retained 31 within the card retaining slits 24, an upper portion 32 of the business card 34 extends beyond the edge of 1 the lower portion 22 lying opposite the second fold 2 14.

4 Once the business card 34 is retained within the card retaining slits 24 of the lower portion 22, the 6 upper portion 18 is folded along the first fold 12 7 such that it overlaps both the lower and central 8 portions 20, 22. The lower portion 22 is therefore 9 interposed between the central and upper portions 18, 20 and the business card 34 is interposed 11 between the lower portion 22 and the upper portion 12 18. Once the upper and lower portions 18, 22 are 13 folded in this way, the holder is in its closed 14 position concealing the business card 34 from view.

16 The holder is retained in its closed position by 17 inserting the tab 28 on the upper portion 18 into 18 the corresponding slit 30 in the lower portion 22.

The holder now resembles a gift and can be 21 personalized by addressing it, in the space 36 22 provided on the outwardly facing surface of the 23 upper portion 18, to a particular person.

The sheet material 10 is made from a smooth 26 surfaced, high quality paper such as Cyberstar. It 27 will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 28 the nature and aesthetics of the holder will 29 increase its visual impact and increase the chances of it reaching its intended recipient.

1 Once it reaches its intended recipient, the 2 aforementioned qualities increase the chances that 3 the recipient will be compelled to open the holder 4 and read its contents. The holder is opened by removing the tab 28 from slit 30 and unfolding the 6 upper portion 18 to reveal a personalized sales 7 message 32 and present the business card 34 in a 8 pleasant fashion.

The business card 34 is retained within the holder 11 in a way which allows it to be easily removed from 12 the lower portion 22 of the holder.

14 Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

17 The sheet material may be made of paper or any other 18 suitable foldable substrate.

The card retaining slits may be semicircular instead 21 of being straight cuts in the sheet material angled 22 at 45 degrees with respect to the second fold. s

Claims

6 Claims 8 1. A holder for holding and presenting one or more business

cards and the like, said 9 holder comprising a single piece of sheet material, said material having first and second folds across its width to define 11 (i) a central portion between the first and second folds which is dimensioned to be 12 larger than the business cards to be held, 13 (ii) an upper portion above the first fold extending above said central portion, 14 (iii) a lower portion below the second fold extending below said central portion; wherein the height ofthe lower portion is less than the height of both the upper and 16 central portions and wherein card retaining means are provided on the lower portion 17 for holding the one or more business cards.

19 2 A holder as claimed in claim 1, the sheet material, and hence the upper, central and lower portions, are substantially rectangular in shape.

22 3. A holder as claimed in either claim l or claim 2, is moveable between a closed 23 position in which the business card is concealed and an open position in which the 24 business card is exposed.

1 4. A holder as claimed in any either claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, is moved to its 2 closed position by firstly folding the lower portion, holding one or more business 3 cards, at said second fold such that both the lower portion and one or more business 4 cards overlap said central portion and subsequently folding the upper portion at the first fold to overlap both the lower and central portions such that the lower portion is 6 interposed between the central and upper portions and said business card is 7 interposed between the lower portion and the upper portion 9 5. A holder as claimed in claim 4, said lower portion card retaining means comprises substantially one or more card retaining slits.

12 6 A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein card retaining slits are 13 adapted to enable a portion of the business card being retained to extend beyond the 14 edge of the lower portion opposite the second fold.

16 7. A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein card retaining slits are 17 adapted to retain standard sized business cards having a length of 90mm.

19 8. A holder as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the height ofthe upper portion is less than the height of the central portion 22 9. A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower 23 portions are provided with one or more corresponding retaining means adapted to 24 retain the holder in its closed position.

1 10. A holder as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the retaining means 2 comprises one or more tabs on the upper portion positioned on the edge lying 3 opposite the first told, said one or more tabs being substantially received in one or 4 more corresponding slits on the lower portion.

6 l I A holder as claimed in claim l O. wherein the tabs are substantially formed 7 integrally with the sheet material 9 12 A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the outwardly facing surface ofthe upper portion ofthe holder is provided with an area for addressing the 11 holder to a particular person.

13 l 3 A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the outwardly facing 14 surface ofthe central portion has textual information administered thereto.

16 14 A holder as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the outwardly facing 17 surface of the central portion is contact information.

19 l 5. A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein when the holder is moved to its open position, the revealed surfaces of the upper and central portions of 21 the holder have textual information administered thereto 23 16. A holder as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the textual 24 information on the revealed surfaces of the upper and central portions is a personalised message 2 17 A holder as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the sheet material is 3 substantially a uniform piece of card or plastics material.

18 A holder as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the card material is 6 coloured with pantone metallic ink.

8 19 A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the length and width 9 ofthe substantially rectangular sheet material is 250mm x 150mm with the first fold being made at a distance of 90mm from the upper transverse edge ofthe sheet 11 material and the second told being made at a distance of 1 88mm from the said upper 12 transverse edge 14 20 A holder substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.