WO2006040265A1

WO2006040265A1 - Method and device for displaying a document

Info

Publication number: WO2006040265A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/054910
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rudolf Eduard Kraan
Original assignee: Kraan Investment B.V.
Priority date: 2004-10-14
Filing date: 2005-09-29
Publication date: 2006-04-20
Also published as: NL1027249C1

Abstract

A document (10), for example a greeting card, can be suspended by its owner in a simple manner in that at least one incision (16) is made in the document and the document material (18) is bent out within the incision, whereby a fastening element (32) is created that is passed over a suspension element (40). Various embodiments are described of a novel device (140) for making said incision, which device is provided with a cutting element (150) comprising the shape of the incision to be provided and an abutment element (154).

Description

Method and device for displaying a document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of displaying a document by means of a suspension element by the owner of said document such that the information of the document remains visible. The invention also relates to a novel device that renders it possible to implement this method in a simple manner.

The term 'document' is to be given a wide interpretation and covers an item of mail received by a private person in the form of a postcard such as a picture postcard or a greeting card, for example a Christmas card or a birthday card. The term also covers a document drawn up within a professional environment for the benefit of the writer himself or others, this document containing text, whether hand- written or not, or one or more drawings. The owner is considered to be the person who has received the document from another person or who has drawn up the document for his/her own use. The suspension element may be a linear element such as a ribbon, a thread, a wire, or a cord or string from which a number of said documents can be suspended. On special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, or public holidays, for example Christmas and the New Year, people usually receive a large number of greeting cards. The recipient of such cards often has the wish to display these cards for a certain period of time in a clearly visible manner. It is usual in that case to suspend the cards from a suspension element such as a piece of string, cord or ribbon tensioned inside the owner's residence. Fastening elements such as special pegs or clamps are available by means of which the cards can be clamped to the suspension element. Since these fastening elements are loose items, they can quite easily get lost, so that the recipient of newly arrived cards may have to search for these elements before he/she can display the new cards.

There is accordingly a demand for a different method of suspending e.g. greeting cards wherein it is not necessary to use loose fastening elements.

GB-A 2 169 554 discloses such a method, wherein one or two holes are punched in a card during the manufacture thereof. This card can be suspended from an elongate suspension element such as a cord or thread in that the suspension element is passed through the hole or holes, so that the card is left hanging from the suspension element. An alternative mentioned in GB-A 2 169 554 is to provide the card with an incision. The recipient can press the card material from the card within the incision, whereby a suspension element made from the material of the card itself is obtained by means of which the card can be clamped to the suspension element.

It is the card's manufacturer here who decides whether this method can be applied, i.e. whether or not cards are to be provided with holes or incisions. This means in practice that a recipient will receive cards provided with holes or incisions as well as cards not so provided. He/she will then not be able to suspend all cards in the same manner. Furthermore, there are recipients who do not wish to suspend their cards, preferring to receive their cards without said holes or incisions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method that gives the recipient a wider freedom in suspending cards or printed matter, wherein the recipient is also capable of suspending conventional cards if so desired, which method can also be used in a professional environment such as an office. The method is characterized in that the owner provides the document in at least one location with an incision of a shape that is not closed into itself, and subsequently presses the document material from the document within said incision, whereby a fastening element is obtained made from the material of the document itself by means of which the document is fastened to the suspension element.

A shape that is not closed into itself is understood to be a geometrical shape such as a circle, rectangle, square, etc. of which a portion, i.e. an arc of the circle or one side of the square or rectangle, has been left out. The omitted portion forms a hinge about which the fastening element can pivot. The incision may be any incision that renders it possible for the document material located within it to be easily pressed outwards, such as a continuous incision or an interrupted incision, for example consisting of a number of small holes (perforations) arranged in accordance with the relevant shape. Preferably, the incision is provided such that, when the document has been removed from the suspension element and the fastening element has been folded back, said fastening element has become substantially invisible.

The present invention renders it possible to suspend also documents other than card-type documents, such as a document made by the owner him/herself or obtained from a colleague, in a simple manner, which is an aspect not mentioned in GB-A 2 169 554. Furthermore, the suspension element need not be a linear element, as specified in GB- A 2 169 554, but may be any other element provided with a more or less sharp edge over which the fastening element of the document can be hooked. This latter possibility may be used in particular if only a single or a few documents are to be suspended.

A preferred embodiment of the method is characterized in that said incision is provided in the document in two locations.

The provision of incisions in two locations creates two fastening elements by means of which the document can be suspended more securely than if only one fastening element were used. In addition, the location of each incision is allowed to be determined with less accuracy now. The line interconnecting the two locations determines the orientation in which the document will be suspended, i.e. defined by the direction of the suspension element.

A first possibility of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the line interconnecting the two locations runs parallel to the upper edge of the document.

An alternative possibility of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the line interconnecting the two locations runs parallel to a lateral edge of the document.

Said upper edge of the document is the edge adjacent an upper portion of the drawing if the document contains mainly a drawing, and the edge adjacent the upper text line if the document contains mainly text. The lateral edge of the document is the edge adjacent the left- or right-hand portion of the drawing or the edge adjacent the beginning or the end of the text lines.

Especially greeting cards such as Christmas cards, birth announcement cards, and birthday cards are often folded or double cards nowadays comprising a front sheet provided with an illustration and a back sheet, the latter being designed to be written on. Such a card may be suspended in that it is folded open, one or two incisions are provided in the back sheet, and the fastening elements are bent out and hooked over the suspension element. The inner side of this card, i.e. the front of the back sheet, can still be viewed after it has been suspended because the card can still be folded out. Other documents may be folded as well.

An embodiment of the method of suspending a folded document without the document having to be folded out prior to being suspended is characterized in that at least one incision is provided in the folded document, and in that document material is pressed outwards within the incision in the back sheet only for obtaining said fastening element. Since the document material is not pressed out within the incision in the front sheet, this incision is substantially invisible. An essential element of the present invention relates to a device of novel design for providing the incision or incisions in the document to be displayed. Since this device is intended in particular for the consumer market, it should be easy to operate, simple, and robust. The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a cutting element and an abutment element which are movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position and between which a portion of a document can be positioned, the cutting element comprises a cutting portion having a geometrical shape not closed into itself, and the cutting portion bears on a corresponding portion of the abutment element in the closed position with a clearance remaining between a non-cutting portion of the cutting element and the abutment element. This device is capable of providing an incision in the document corresponding to the shape of the cutting portion.

The abutment element may be a planar element, i.e. an anvil. An alternative embodiment of the device is characterized in that the abutment element also comprises a cutting portion. A sheet of a document is cut both from the front and from the back with this device, so that the force to be exerted can be reduced.

A robust embodiment of the device is characterized in that the cutting element forms part of a punch, and in that the device comprises a frame in which the abutment element is provided and which is provided with a first opening situated opposite the abutment element for at least partly accommodating the punch, and with a second opening situated between the abutment element and the first opening for accommodating a document that is to be provided with an incision.

A handy embodiment of the device suitable for consumer use is characterized in that the cutting element is provided at an end of a first arm of a pair of levers, and the abutment element is provided at an end, facing the former end, of a second arm of said pair of levers.

This embodiment may have the further characteristic that the pair of levers constitutes a pair of punching nippers. A pair of nippers is a pair of levers with two bent arms which are interconnected with rotation possibility at the areas of their bends such that shorter arm sections on one side of the bends form a pair of jaws that are closed in that longer arm sections on the other side of the bends are pressed together. A comparatively great cutting force can be realized with such an arrangement.

In applications where a smaller cutting force suffices, an embodiment of the device may be used that is characterized in that the pair of levers is a pair of tongs.

A pair of tongs comprises non-bent arms that are hinged together at one end and that are closed in that said arms are pressed together, preferably at the area of the other ends of these arms. This embodiment may be further characterized in that the cutting element and the abutment element are separate elements provided on said ends. An alternative embodiment is characterized in that the abutment element is integral with said second arm.

A further alternative embodiment is characterized in that the cutting element is integral with said first arm.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from and be elucidated with reference to the embodiments to be described by way of example hereinafter. Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figs. Ia and Ib show a conventional single and double card, respectively;

Fig. 2 shows a single card provided with an incision according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of this card after the card material has been bent out within the incision; Fig. 4 presents a rear view of this card;

Fig. 5 shows a single card provided with two incisions for horizontal display;

Fig. 6 shows a single card provided with two incisions for vertical display;

Fig. 7 shows a double card provided with two incisions for horizontal display;

Fig. 8 shows a double card provided with one incision for horizontal display;

Fig. 9 shows a double card of which the front sheet as well as the back sheet has been provided with two incisions; Fig. 10 shows a double card provided with two incisions for vertical display;

Figs. 11 to 16 show examples of incision shapes that can be provided in cards;

Fig. 17 shows a punch with a cutting element according to the invention that can be used for implementing the method;

Fig. 18 shows an embodiment of a device in which this punch can be used;

Fig. 19 shows an alternative embodiment of the cutting element;

Fig. 20 shows am embodiment of the device in the form of a pair of nippers; and Figs. 21 to 25 show embodiments of the device in the form of a pair of tongs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. Ia shows a single greeting card 10 as commonly sent and received. This card has a front side 12 provided with an illustration (not shown) and a rear side 14 on which the recipient's address as well as a wish, greeting, and/or message can be written. Fig. Ib shows a double, folded greeting card 20 with a front sheet 22 provided with an illustration (not shown) and a back sheet 24 on which the sender can write his/her good wishes, greetings and the like. Such a card is usually dispatched in an envelope.

In order to display the card of Fig. Ia, according to the invention, the recipient provides an incision 16 therein as shown in Fig. 2, which Figure shows the card in front elevation. This incision takes the shape, for example, of a circle that is not fully closed. The incision separates the card material 18 within the circle from the remaining card material 19. The card material 18 is still integral with the card material 19 where the incision is not continued, i.e. at the location of a line 30. The incision may be provided by means of a punching element that will be described further below.

Bending of the card material 18 as shown in Fig. 3, during which this card material will pivot about the line 30, creates a retention tag 32 or fastening element. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the card with the bent-out fastening element 32.

Now when the fastening element is passed over a linear suspension element 40 such as a cord, ribbon, etc., as shown in Fig. 4, and is clamped thereon, the card can be suspended from the suspension element. Fig. 4 presents a rear view of the card 10 fastened to the suspension element 40. Fig. 3 also shows the suspension element, but in cross- section in this case.

Fig. 5 shows a single card 34 in which two incisions 36 and 38 according to the invention have been provided. Two fastening elements can thus be pressed out from this card, which elements pivot about the broken lines 37 and 39. The use of two fastening elements renders it possible to suspend the card more securely. The positions of the two incisions 36 and 38 determine the orientation of the suspension, because the direction of the connecting line between these positions will be parallel to the orientation of the suspension element. The card is horizontally suspended in the situation shown in Fig. 4. The width b is greater than the height h of the card shown in Fig. 4, the opposite being the case for the card of Fig. 2.

Alternatively, the card may be suspended vertically. For this purpose, cf. Fig. 6, two incisions 46 and 48 should preferably be provided in this card 44 at a lateral side 13 thereof. The connecting line between the two incisions 46 and 48, or the extension of the pivot lines 47 and 49, is vertical now, as is the orientation of the suspension element.

Fig. 7 shows a double card 50 in which two incisions 56 and 58 according to the invention have been provided. These incisions may be provided in the back sheet of the double card only. For this purpose the card should first be folded open, the incisions are provided in the back sheet, the card material is bent out within the incisions (about lines 57 and 59), and finally the card is at least partly folded back again. The card may then be clamped with its fastening elements, obtained through bending, over a linear suspension element, horizontally in this case. Instead of two incisions, only one incision 52 may be provided in the card 50, as shown in Fig. 8, which Figure needs no further explanation in view of the above. It is also possible to punch the double card in the folded state such that incisions are provided both in the front sheet and in the back sheet. Fig. 9 shows a double card for which this is the case. The double card is shown slightly folded open for making the incisions in both sheets visible. The incisions 56 and 58 in the back sheet are shown in full lines and the incisions 56' and 58' in the front sheet, in actual fact not visible in this elevation, are shown in dotted lines. It is now possible to bend out only the card portions situated within the incisions 56 and 58 so as to obtain the desired fastening elements. The incisions 56' and 58' in the front sheet are not bent out and remain practically invisible. A double card may also be suspended vertically, if so desired. The card's owner will then provide incisions in positions such that the connecting line between these positions is a vertical line. Fig. 10 shows a double card 60 of which the back sheet is provided with two incisions 62 and 64 which, after bending out of the card material present therewithin (about lines 63 and 65), yield two fastening elements by means of which the card can be suspended vertically. The incisions 62 and 64 may be provided in either of the manners described with reference to Figs. 7 and 9.

As is shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the incisions in a double card will be provided at the side of the fold line of that card, which fold line defines the orientation of the suspension.

It may be stated in general that for a horizontal display a single incision and thus a single fastening element suffices, although a better stability is obtained with two fastening elements. Two incisions in the card (single or double) are to be used in principle for vertical suspension or in the case of suspension from an obliquely tensioned suspension element.

Instead of an incomplete circle, the incision may take a wide variety of alternative shapes, for example an elongate rounded shape 70 as shown in Fig. 11, or a similar shape 72 with a bulge 74 at the side of the pivot line 76, as shown in Fig. 12. Furthermore, the incisions may have droplet shapes 78 and 80 as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, or more straight, rectangular shapes 82 and 84 as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. Many more shapes are possible for the incisions in addition to those shown in Figs. 11 to 16, provided they comply with the requirement that they are non-closed shapes such that in all cases the portion of the card material within the incision remains connected to the rest of the card material, defining a pivot line (76, 85, and 89 in Figs. 12, 15, and 16, respectively) at the area of the transition between said material portions.

Furthermore, the lines of the shapes of the incisions need not be continuous (unbroken) lines, but may alternatively be formed by a number of small perforations, i.e. be score lines.

The fact that the method according to the invention was explained above with reference to greeting cards does not imply that it is restricted thereto. As was noted in the introduction, the invention may also be applied to the suspension of a wide variety of documents which one wants to keep on display for a longer period of time. This may be in a more professional environment, the document containing, for example, a time schedule, a calculation, or a drawing.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a novel, unprecedented device that enables the owner, recipient, or private originator of a document to implement the method according to the invention. This device forms an essential part of the invention. The device comprises a cutting element that is moved towards an abutment element, also forming part of the device, during operation of the device until it bears at least partly on said abutment element. The portion of the cutting element facing the abutment element, denoted abutment for short hereinafter, is provided with a profile in relief whose contour corresponds to the shape of the incision to be applied in the document that is to be displayed. The cutting element may be provided on a punch.

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of such a punch 90 designed for use in a prototype of the device. The punch, which is made from a hard material such as, for example, steel, has the shape of a cylinder 92 whose cross-section is, for example, circular and whose upper surface 94 is, for example, planar. The lower portion 96 of the punch is narrowed into a diameter d and constitutes the cutting element. The surface 98 thereof consists of two portions 100 and 102 that enclose an acute angle with one another. When the punch is driven into a document, for example a card, the portion 100 will reach the document first and cut into this document. The portion 100 accordingly is the cutting portion of the cutting element. An abutment present in the device ensures that the portion 102 does not cut into the document. The right-hand portion of Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the punch with the two surface portions 100 and 102 and the dividing line 104 between these two portions. Fig. 18 shows a device 110 according to the invention in which the punch of

Fig. 17 can be used. This device comprises a U-shaped frame 112 with an upper plate 114, a bottom plate 116, and an upright plate 118 forming a rigid connection between the plates 114 and 116. The bottom plate comprises an upright solid cylinder 120 having, for example, a circular cross-section with a diameter d, i.e. equal to the diameter of the narrowed portion 96 of the punch 90. This cylinder constitutes the abutment mentioned above that is to stop the punch. The device further comprises a disc-shaped element 122 that is provided with a hole 124 in its center. This hole also has a diameter d, so that the element 122 can be placed over the cylinder 120. Since the height hm of the disc 122 is greater than the height h^o of the cylinder 120, a cavity remains when the disc 122 is placed in the device, into which cavity the narrowed portion 96 can sink. To achieve that the latter portion can reach this position, a hole 126 has been left open in the upper plate through which the punch can be guided into the device and can be moved towards the abutment. For providing an incision in a document, the latter is introduced into the device such that it rests on the disc-shaped element 122. The punch is subsequently pressed, knocked, or otherwise moved down until it can go no further, i.e. its surface 100 bears on the cylinder 120. The edge of said surface then has made an incision in the document, the size and shape of said incision corresponding to those of the circumference of the surface 100, i.e. of the cutting portion of the cutting element. The surface 102 remains so far removed from the cylinder 120 that this surface will not cut into the document. Since a rotationally symmetrical punch is used in this embodiment, the incision has a shape as shown in Figs. 2 to 10. Although shown as a separate element in Fig. 18, the disc-shaped element

122 will in practice be permanently present in the device and form an integral part thereof. The disc-shaped element 122 and the cylinder 120 may also be replaced by a disc-shaped element with a recessed portion in its center, which portion is, for example, rotationally symmetrical and has a diameter d. It is also possible for the bottom plate to be thicker and to have such a recessed central portion so as to fulfill the functions of the disc 122 and the cylinder 120.

The diameter of the hole 126 in the upper plate 114 depends on which portion of the punch is to be inserted into the device 110. If the narrowed portion 96 of the punch is sufficiently long, only this portion needs to be inserted into the device. The diameter of the hole 126 will be equal to that of the hole 124 then, i.e. equal to d. If it is desired to introduce also a portion of the wider cylinder into the device, the hole 126 must have a diameter equal to that of the cylinder 92.

In Fig. 17, the cutting portion of the cutting element is represented as a planar surface 100. This surface may have a sharp vertical edge, i.e. an edge projecting downwards. A sharper incision can be provided in the document thereby. It is also possible for the cutting portion to comprise part of a ring, or in other words, a hole is provided in the surface 100. Fig. 19 presents a bottom view of a punch with such a cutting ring 130. Said hole is referenced 132 in Fig. 19.

Furthermore, the upper surface of the cylinder 120 is planar in the embodiment of Figs. 17 and 18, so that this cylinder constitutes an anvil and only the lower portion of the punch performs a cutting action. It is alternatively possible, however, to provide the upper surface of the cylinder with a profile that is the same as that of the cutting portion of the cutting element. The heights of this profile are, for example, equal to half the height of the profile shown in Fig. 17. In that case both the cutting element and the abutment, i.e. the cylinder and especially its upper surface, have a cutting effect, and they both ensure, for example to an equal degree, that the desired incision is provided.

The possibilities mentioned in relation to the cutting elements of Figs. 17 to 19 may also be applied to the embodiments of the device to be described below. The embodiment of the device shown in Figs. 17 to 19 is suitable for illustrating the principle of the invention and demonstrating its operation. In practice, this embodiment can be adapted in many ways so as to simplify its operation. Thus known pressure or compression techniques may be used for moving the punch to the abutment. It is desirable especially for the consumer market that the device should be light in weight, simple in design, and easy to operate, preferably with one hand. The size of the device will then be determined mainly by its ease of handling and the force to be exerted.

Fig. 20 shows an embodiment of the device 140 that meets the above requirements. This device takes the form of a pair of punching nippers with two bent arms 142 and 144 that can pivot about a short spindle 145. The portions 146 and 148 of the arms 142 and 144 on the right-hand side form a pair of jaws and are provided on their inner sides with an abutment 154 and a cutting element or punch 150, respectively. The abutment and the cutting element may be designed in various ways, as was described with reference to Figs. 17 to 19. Thus the abutment may be a flat plate or, as shown in Fig. 20, a plate with a cavity 156. The cutting element 150 in this embodiment comprises a slightly curved cutting surface 152 with a sharp edge 153, but it may have an alternative profile. The cutting element, being a surface or a raised rim, may have the shape of one of the patterns from Figs. 11 to 16 or some other shape, the abutment being adapted to match the chosen shape. The inner side of the arm portion 146 may be provided with a raised element 160 against which a document that is to be provided with an incision can be placed, thus functioning as a document stop.

After such a document has been placed within the punch jaws, the right- hand portions 156 and 158 of the arms may be moved together by hand, whereby also the jaws 146 and 148 are moved together. The punch 150 thus moves towards the abutment so that the cutting element 150, possibly in conjunction with a cutting element provided on the abutment 154, makes the desired incision in the document.

It is possible with the device of Fig. 20 to press the cutting element with a comparatively great force against the abutment because of the lever construction, in dependence on the lengths of the arm portions 146 and 148, i.e. a comparatively strong cutting force can be realized. This device is accordingly highly suitable for providing incisions in thicker documents. Lighter and smaller devices may be used for thinner documents.

Fig. 21 shows an embodiment of such a device 190 taking the form of a pair of tongs. It comprises two blade-shaped or strip-shaped arms 172 and 174 of a sufficiently rigid material such as steel, some other metal alloy, or a sufficiently strong synthetic resin. Said arms are interconnected at one end by a hinge construction 178. The other ends of the arms are provided at their inner sides with a cutting element 182 and an abutment 184, respectively. A resilient construction 180, for example formed by two spring elements that can be compressed, keeps the two arms some distance away from one another, so that a document can be inserted between them. The punch and abutment are moved towards one another in that the arms are pressed together, so that the cutting element 182 makes an incision in the document. This may be achieved with no more than two fingers of one hand, for example the thumb and index finger.

The same holds for the embodiment 190 of the device shown in Fig. 22. The construction of this embodiment differs from that of Fig. 21 only in that a different spring construction 192 is used.

The two arms in the device of Fig. 21 may also be replaced with a single blade-shaped or strip-shaped element, for example made of thin steel plating, which element has the same shape in cross-section as the two arms together. The embodiments of the devices shown in Figs. 21 and 22 may be fitted with various cutting elements and abutments as discussed further above.

Fig. 23 shows a yet simpler form of the device. This has a frame similar to that of Figs. 21 and 22, i.e. two arms 202 and 204, which are either hinged together or formed by a single bent element. A cutting element 208 provided with a sharp edge is present on the arm 202. The abutment is no longer a separate element but is formed by a portion 210 of the lower arm 204. A groove may be provided therein which has the same shape and size as the sharp edge of the cutting element and is thus capable of receiving this edge.

In the embodiment 220 shown in Fig. 24, there is no separate cutting element either. This element is now formed by a portion of the upper blade-shaped or strip- shaped arm 222 that projects in downward direction and is obtained, for example, by stamping. Said arm is connected to the lower arm 224 through a hinge construction 226. The abutment is formed by the lower arm, which has an opening 203 for receiving the cutting element. A compact embodiment 240 is shown in Fig. 25. The arms 246, 248 are formed as a single part, the hinge being formed by a cylindrical opening 245 in the connection between these arms. A button 250 resting on a cylinder 244 on the upper arm 246 is suitable for exerting a force with the palm of the hand so as to provide the semi- perforation.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a document (10; 34; 44; 50; 60) by means of a suspension element (40) by the owner of said document such that the information of the document remains visible, characterized in that the owner provides the document in at least one location with an incision (16) of a shape (70; 72, 74, 76; 78; 80; 84, 85, 88, 89) that is not closed into itself, and subsequently presses document material (18) from the document within said incision, whereby a fastening element (32) is obtained made from the material of the document itself, by means of which the document is fastened to the suspension element.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said incision is provided in the document (34; 44; 50; 60) in two locations (36, 38; 46, 48; 56, 58; 62, 64).

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the line interconnecting the two locations (36, 38; 56, 58) runs parallel to the upper edge of the document (34; 50).

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the line interconnecting the two locations (46, 48; 62, 64) runs parallel to a lateral edge of the document (44; 60).

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 for suspending a folded document (50; 60) that has a front sheet (22) and a back sheet (24), characterized in that at least one incision

(56, 56', 58, 58') is provided in the folded document, and in that document material is pressed out within the incision (56, 58) in the back sheet only for obtaining said fastening element.

6. A device for providing incisions in a document for the purpose of carrying out the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cutting element (96) and an abutment element (120) which are movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position and between which a portion of a document (10; 34; 44; 50; 60) can be positioned, the cutting element comprises a cutting portion (100; 130) having a geometrical shape (70; 72, 74, 76; 78; 80; 84, 85, 88, 89) not closed into itself, and the cutting portion bears on a corresponding portion of the abutment element in the closed position with a clearance remaining between a non-cutting portion of the cutting element and the abutment element.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the abutment element (120) also comprises a cutting portion.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the cutting element forms part of a punch (90), and in that the device comprises a frame (112) in which the abutment element (120) is provided and which is provided with a first opening (126) situated opposite the abutment element for at least partly accommodating the punch and with a second opening (127) situated between the abutment element and the first opening for accommodating a portion of a document that is to be provided with an incision.

9. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the cutting element (150; 182; 208) is provided at an end (148) of a first arm (144; 172; 202) of a pair of levers

(140; 170; 190; 200), and the abutment element (154; 184) is provided at an end (146), facing the former end, of a second arm (142; 174; 210) of said pair of levers.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the pair of levers is a pair of punching nippers ( 140).

11. A device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the pair of levers is a pair of tongs (170; 190; 200; 220).

12. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the cutting element

(182; 208) and the abutment element (184) are separate elements provided on said ends.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the abutment element (210) is integral with said second arm.

14. A device as claimed in claim 11 or 13, characterized in that the cutting element (228) is integral with said first arm.