US2146041A - Sample carrying and exhibiting device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7,1939. v D. woLFsoN ET AL 2,146,041

' v SAMPLE CARRYING AND EXHIBITING DEVICE .Filed June 19, 1957 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES SAMPLE CARRYING AND EXHIBITING DEVICE David Wolfson and Samuel H. Berlin, New York, N. Y.

Application June 19, 1937, Serial N0. 149,042

7 Claims.

The present improvements relate to devices for carryingand displaying samples of cloth and other ilexible sheet materials, but they may be adapted and used withincertain limits for other materials.

Samples of cloth and other exible sheet materials are now carried or shipped, kept on hand and displayed in various ways. Thus, they are pasted or otherwise secured on stili cards, the

lo pages of books and folders and are also assembled by being bound together and to one another with or without intervening sheets of paper or the like. All these methods are objectionable for one or more reasons. The books or sheafs are more or less heavy, cumbersome and costly, and must be spread out on some relatively at surface to exhibit their contents; the cards are necessarily limited in size for convenient handling and are easily scattered and confused, and when samples are bound together without being mounted they are easily soiled or wrinkled and are not convenient to handle. There are other objections familiary to those who have to do with such samples.

The present improvements are designed to overcome the objections to the means heretofore employed and to provide a simple, efficient and effective device for making up, carrying, distributing and exhibiting such samples. They include essentially a roller with means for removably mounting and rotating it and a backing sheet of flexible material having a smooth surface secured along one edge to said roller and on which the samples are mounted, in overlapping relation, by

being secured to said sheet along their edges nearest the roller, so that when the sheet is wound on said roller the samples are wound with it to form a compact roll, yand when the same is unwound, the said samples-which have their outer faces next to the smooth surface thereofwill unwind with it and be quickly exposed to View. 'I'his arrangement permits the use of a sheet or curtain of any desired length and the mounting thereon of any desired number of samples, which maybe rolled up in such a manner that the samples are wrapped in and protected by the sheet and compressed to a certain extent so as to preserve them in smooth, unwrinkled condition at all times and during transportation and 5o handling. y These rolls may also be packed in tubes and mailed, carried or otherwise transported therein. When the samples are to be displayed it is only necessary to take hold of the lower edge of the backing sheet and pull onit to quickly expose all the samples thereon for ex-y amination. This may be done very easily when the rollers are mounted in the frame, and may even be done without difculty when the rollers are not so mounted, the sheet being disposed in either case in substantially vertical or horizontal or intermediate positions, according to the convenience of the user, and the samples retaining their flat overlapping relation without any smoothing or other manipulation, and the lower edges of the samples being slightly curled out- 10 wardly so as to be easily grasped by the fingers and the samples thus lifted and separated from one another for close examination. If the samples become disarranged in handling they can be restored to normal condition instantly by 15 lifting the roller, so that the sheet is in substantially vertical position or in horizontal position With the face of the sheet which carries the sample down.

Another advantage of the improvements resides in the arrangement which permits the application of any one of the samples on the ilexible sheet separately to the body of a model or dummy so as to permit one selecting cloth for a garment to judge its appearance when worn.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those familiar with sample devices from the following speciiication and the accompanying drawing, in which an exemplary embodiment of the improvements is described and shown.

In the said drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a sample carrying and displaying device embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows of that figure;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a exible sample carrying sheet with samples thereon and a roller on which it is to be wound;

Fig. 4 is a side or edge View of the parts shown in Fig. 3; 40

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional enlarged View of the sample carrying or backing sheet with samples thereon on the line of Fig. 2.

The sample carrying and backing sheet I is also a wrapping and protecting sheet for the samples when they are rolled therewith on the roller, the said samples being sandwiched between coils of the said sheet when so rolled and having their outer exposed surfaces in contact with the back thereof. The sheet is therefore made of a sheet of strong, flexible fabric with an enameled or otherwise hard, smooth surfaced back I which not only renders the sheet waterproof but prevents the samples from sticking u thereto when they are unrolled, sol that they will assume as they are unrolled a flatwise position and will not stick to the said surface of the sheet and become disarranged or wrinkled. This is important, particularly when samples of thin fabric or other delicate material are carried.

The upper edge of the sheet I is turned over the roller 2 and secured thereto by staples 3 passing through the sheet and into the roller, or by other suitable fastening means, and the roller has knobs or handles 4 by which it may be rotated to wind or roll up the sheet and its samples- Through the looped lower edge of the sheet a removable bar 5 is passed, and this bar permits the user to draw the sheet and the samples thereon out easily. It also extends beyond the edges of the sheet so that when the sheet is rolled up in the case or holding frame its extendingends will' engage the sides of the said frame and prevent the said lower edge from being drawn inside the said holder where it cannot be easily reached by the lingers. When a roll is inserted in the holder the bar 5 is removed so that its lower edge can be easily passed to the outside thereof by an unwinding motion, after which the bar is inserted. The bar also has considerable weight, so that it will byits gravity assist in the unwinding operation, and when the roller is not held in a holding frame will cause the sheet with the samples thereon to unwind by gravity.

It will be understood that the sheet may be unwound vertically, as where it is supported on a shelf or other elevated support or horizontally, as when it is placed on a table or other horizontal `surface. It will also be understood that a spring roller may be employed and positioned in suitable place vacant.

brackets or a holder to automatically wind up the sheet and samples after the manner of the ordinary spring shade roller of the Hartshorn type.

The samples E, B, 1, l', etc. are attached to the sheet I by being secured thereto, by stitching 8 or other suitable means, along their edges nearest the roller, so that they are otherwise free to be lifted and examined on both sidesand tested for strength texture and other qualities. They are arranged in overlapping relation so that a portion of each and every sampleon the sheet is Visible, A prospective purchaser of fabric or other sheet material is thus enabled to select a sample from the numerous samples displayed and then examvine the full sample by turning up the samples above the one selected and overlapping it so that they will fall over the roller and behind the sheet or, when the roller is in a holder, on the top of the holder. When one of the lower samples is selectedv for examination those above it may be rolled upuntil the upper edge of the selected sample is near the roller or holder. The selected sample can then be examined and tested as if it were the only sample on the sheet. If the stock of a fabric or the like is exhausted or for any other reason the same is to be taken off sale, it is Yonly necessary to remove the sample representing it and substitute another in its place, or leave its Pieces also may be cut from the samples and given to the purchaser without disturbing any of the other samples.

One of the advantages of the improvements is found in the opportunity afforded by the looped lower edge of the sheet in which the bar 5 is held to print or otherwise mark thereon the general character of the goods represented by the samples-on each sheet. As many rollers as desired, up to sixy or more, may be mounted in a single holder, with the lower edges of the sheet kthereon exposed to View at the front of the holder. Therefore to select a line of samples of any variety of goods it is only necessary to select the sheet on which samples of such variety are displayed by the markings on the bottom of the sheet and then unroll that sheet and its samples by drawing the sheet out of the holder.

The case or holding frame comprises a boxlike member having bottom 8, sides 9, back I0 and hinged cover II with depending front flange I2 in spring frictional contact with the forward upper edges of the sides when the cover is closed. The cover also has depending side flanges I3 overlapping the upper edges of the sides, and it is hinged to the Yupper edge of the back at I4. A A

handle I6 is secured centrally to the back, and by this handle the case or frame may be carried or hung vertically if desired. Open ended vertical slots Il are provided in the ends of the holder to receive the rollers 2, and permit them to rotate for the winding and unwinding of the sample sheets. These rollers may beeasily removed by raising theY cover and then liftingl them out of their slots, and may be placed in position by simply dropping them into such slots. A curved partition i8 separates the front roller from the one behind it, and leaves a channel between it and the bottom of the case through which the sheet in the rear and its samples may pass. Feet I9y of rubber or other compressible material are located on the bottom 8 of the holder, preferably at the corners thereof. In the drawing the case or holding frame receives two rollers only, but the construction is substantially the same where three or more rollers are provided for, the case being merely made deeper and longer from front to backflexible, tough material secured at one end to` said roller and adapted to be rolled up and unrolledY thereon, a frame, means for removably holding said roller for rotation in said frame, means for causing said roller to rotate in said frame tov roll up and unroll said sheet, rows of samples-of flexible sheetfmaterial attached to one side of saidl sheetin overlapping relation and extending outwardly therefrom and adapted tovroll and unroll therewith, said samples being securedV at one edge to and extending freelyfrom said sheet sandwichedfbetween coils of the sheet when rolled up, the edge of each sample which is secured to said sheet being the edge nearest said roller.

2. A device for displaying samples of cloth and other material, comprising a roller, a sheet of exible, ktough material secured to said roller and adapted toV be rolled up and unrolled thereon, a

frame, means for removably holding said roller for rotation in said frame, means for causing said rollerrk to rotate in said frame to roll up and unrollV said sheet, rows of samples attached to said sheet'atfone edge and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the roller but otherwise free of said sheet and adapted-v to roll andV unroll therewith, said samples-being` sandwich'e'df between coils ofthe sheet when rolled up, andV their freerportions being arranged-to unwind from said roller before their attached portions.

3. A device for displaying samples of cloth and other material, comprising a roller, a sheet of flexible, tough material secured to said roller and adapted to be rolled up and enrolled thereon, a frame or casing, means for removably holding said roller for rotation in said frame or casing, means for causing said roller to rotate in said frame to roll up said sheet, rows of samples attached to said sheet and extending outwardly therefrom and adapted tol roll and unroll therewith, said samples being sandwiched between coils of the sheet when` rolled up, said samples arranged in overlapping relation throughout the major portion of their areas but each having a portion exposed to view when in unrolled position, said samples being attached near the edges which are nearest the roller and being free at their opposite edges and throughout the major part of their areas, the construction and arrangement being such that the said samples are unrolled together and while in close contact with one another by unrolling the sheet and unroll free edges first with-and while maintaining a position parallel with the sheet.

4. A device for displaying samples of cloth and other material, comprising a roller, a sheet of flexible, tou-gh material secured tosaid roller and adapted to be rolled up and unrolled thereon, a

frame, means for removably holding said roller for rotation in said frame, means for causing said roller to rotate in said frame to roll up and unroll said sheet, rows of samples attached to said sheet and extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to roll and unroll therewith, said samples being sandwiched between coils of the sheet when rolled up,said samples being attached near the edges which are nearest the roller and being free at their opposite edges and throughout the major part of their areas, the construction and arrangement being such that the samples unroll free edges first with said sheet.

5. A device for displaying samples of cloth and other material, comprising a roller, a sheet oi flexible, tough material secured to said roller and adapted to be rolled up and unrolled thereon, a

between coils of the sheet when rolled up, said samples being attached near the edges which are nearest the roller and being free at their opposite edges and throughout the major part of their areas, the construction and arrangement being such that the samples unroll free edges first with said sheet.

6. A device for displaying samples of cloth and other material, comprising a roller, a sheet of exible, tough, relatively smooth material hard surfaced on one side secured to said roller and adapted to be rolled up and unrolled thereon, a frame, means for removably holding said roller for rotation in said frame, means for causing said roller to rotate in said frame to roll up and unroll said sheet, rows of samples attached to the side of said sheet opposite the hard surfaced side at their edges nearest the roller, and extending outwardly therefrom but otherwise free of said sheet and adapted to roll and unroll therewith, said samples being sandwiched between coils of the sheet and in contact with said hard surface when rolled up, said samples arranged in overlapping relation throughout the major portion of their areas each having a portion exposed to View when in unrolled position, said samples being attached near the edges which are nearest the roller and being free at their opposite edges and throughout the major part of their areas, the construction and arrangement being such that the samples unroll free edges rst with said sheet.

7. A device for displaying samples of cloth and other material comprising a roller, means connected therewith for rotating the same and thereby winding and unwinding a sheet of material thereon, a sheet of material fixed to said roller and adapted to be rolled up and unrolled thereon by the rotation of the later, said sheet having a smooth, hard surface on one side, samples of material mounted on the opposite side of said sheet by being secured thereto near one of their edges and extending away from said sheet and being free thereof in a direction leading away from said roller, said samples having their said free portions in overlapping relation with other samples and arranged to be wound with said sheet on said roller by the rotation of the latter and to be surrounded by said sheet when so wound with their surfaces opposite those secured to the sheet in Contact with said smooth surface.

SAMUEL H. BERLIN.

DAVID WOLFSON.

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