US2841416A - Portable display binder - Google Patents

Description

a l, 1958 A. M. BARRETT 24mm PORTABLE DISPLAY BINDER Filed July 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l W, i VTQMW i AZZ 22 IN V EN TOR. fizz/M2272 Kai fez! y 1953 A. M. BARRETT 2,841,436

PORTABLE DISPLAY BINDER Filed July '7. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f2 7 INVENTOR.

fizz/2w? 272B 1/ ,myw,

United States Patent PORTABLE DISPLAY BINDER Arthur M. Barrett, Winnetka, 111., assignor to The Barrett Bindery Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 7, 1953, Serial No. 366,547 4 Claims. (Cl. 28l33) The present invention relates to protable display devices and, particularly, to loose leaf binders of the easel type,

adapted for use by salesmen and others in presenting to prospective customers sales literature, pictures, charts and analogous materials in convenient form.

Display devices of the general character are known, but prior proposals in the art have suffered certain disadvantages, among which are: lack of economy, impractical structural disposition of the components of the binder which leads to a lack of continuity in the presentation of material, inconvenient viewing angles, lack of adequate strength, lack of ready adaptability to revision of the material to be presented, and others.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable display binder overcoming the above noted disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable display binder adapted to assume and be used in three viewing positions, which positions provide optimum viewing angles for presentation of materials to a single person, or to groups of varying numbers of persons, whether those persons be sitting or standing, whereby the binder is adapted for a wide variety of sales and promotion presentations.

A further object of the invention is the provisionof an improved display binder adapted for the accomplishment of the above objects and including full solid outside covers and backbone, whereby the binder is neat and attractive in appearance and of sturdy construction.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved display binder including means for reinforcing and supporting the binding device incorporated in the binder, whereby the material to be presented is firmly supported, retained and guided in all positions which the binder is adapted to assume.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of reinforcing means for portions of the binder whereby the binder may be formed of light Weight materials and yet be sturdy and provide a firm support for the materials to be presented.

In accordance with the above objects, and as additional objects of the invention, I provide an improved portable display binder comprising an outer case of substantially conventional loose leaf type binder construction including solid front and rear cover boards hingedly connected at their inner longitudinal edges to a solid backbone. This outer case is adapted for the reception of an inner case of generally similar construction and of sub stantially the same size, the two cases being hingedly connected along the top edges thereof. The inner case includes front and rear cover boards hingedly connected at their inner longitudinal edges to a backbone, but the inner case differs from the outer in that the same is split or divided across its width by a hinged connection disposed in spaced parallel relation to the hinged connection of the two cases, whereby the cover boards and backbone of the inner case are each divided into upper and lower sections. A binding device of a length substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the binder is secured to the lower section of the backbone of the inner case, and to support the device, particularly at that portion thereof overlying the upper section of the backbone of the inner case, a metallic supporting plate is disposed between the device and the backbone of the inner case. Also, metallic reinforcing strips are secured to the outer longitudinal edges of the lower sectionsof the cover boards of the inner case.

As thus constructed, the two cases are adapted to be disposed immediately adjacent one another and folded closed whereby the solid boards of the outer case provide a very sturdy book having the appearance of a conventional loose leaf binder, within which the inner case and the display materials carried by the binding device are disposed and protected.

From the closed position, the front cover boards of the two cases are adapted to be folded away from the rear cover boards thereof, to a flat position, the conventional loose leaf binder open position, which position is ideal for the viewing of materials mounted on the binding de vice by two or three persons seated side by side or by a group of persons standing around a table.

From the flat viewing position, a second viewing position is obtained by moving the lower sections of the inner case toward the top edge of the outer case whereby hinged movement occurs between the top edge of the outer case and the top edge of the upper sections of the inner case and between the lower edge of the upper sections of the inner case and, the upper edge of the lower sections of the inner case to dispose the upper sections of the inner case in a position approximately transverse to the plane of the outer case, whereby the lower sections of the inner case are disposed at a relatively low angle of inclination with respect to the outer case. By placing the outer case on a horizontal surface, a desk or table top, the relativelylow angle of inclination of the lower sections of the inner case to the horizontal provides an optimum viewing angle for one or more people seated at the desk or table. In this position, as will be appreciated, the material to be presented is supported by the binding device and the lower sections of the inner case, the metal reinforcing plate beneath the binding device supports the portion of the binding device extending freely beyond the upper edge of the lower section of the backbone of the inner case, and the reinforcing strip at the outer edge of the lower section of each cover of the inner case rigidifies the cover sections for the firm support of the material to be presented.

A third viewing position is obtained by opening the binder to the flat viewing position described above, swing ing the lower edges of the inner and outer case away from each other about the hinge connection at the top of the two cases, and resting the binder on the lower edges of the two cases, whereby the inner case is disposed at a relatively high angle to the surface, such as a desk or table top, upon which the binder is rested, which viewing position is highly advantageous for presentation of materials to a relatively large group of people sitting or standing at some distance from the desk or table.

In all of the viewing positions above enumerated, the material to be presented is mounted on the binding device and may be moved either from the rear cover to the front cover or vice versa. Also, the display sheets in the binder may bear presentation material on either or both sides thereof. One particularly advantageous feature of the binder of the present invention is that the same lends itself to a simultaneous showing of pictorial representations and explanatory reading matter. For example, a picture or chart could be mounted to the rear side of one sheet and explanatory notes could be printed on the front side of the next succeeding sheet, so that asthe' pages wereturned, a picture orchart would be disposed'at, the left side of the binder and correlated printed matter would-be disposed at the right. In all uses, the continuity of the material presented is excellent. "Fromlthe foregoing; itiwill 'be' appreciated' that the present inventionp'rovides a great many "advantages in display binders, includingthe' provision; of optimum display angles for a variety of purposes, ,go'od appearance,

' strength and economy. I a V I 'Another object of the" invention is the provision of Still another object of the invention is the provision" of 'an im'proved display binder including economically andpracticall y disposed covering materialfor the binder, which material provides the hinged connections above described. f i

O therobjects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in'the following detailed description of a' preferred embodiment of the invention.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art 7 with the manner of making and using the display binder of my invention, I shall describe, in connection with t the accompanying1drawings,.a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and preferred manners of making and using the same.

In the drawings: I Figurel 'is a'perspective View of the display binder of the invention in its closed position; I I Figure 2 is a layout viewof'the two cases of the display binder, showing the outer side'of the outer case and theinner side of the inner case; r

v Figure 3 is a side elevation of the binder in its high angle viewing position; v r

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the binder in its low angle viewing position;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the length of the-binder in .its flat position, the view being taken'su'bstantially" on 'line 5,5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a crosssectional view taken along the width of the binder in its flat position, the view being taken substantially online 6- 6 of Figure 5; and v Figure 7 is .a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the length of theback bone of'the binder inits low angle viewing position, showing a different form of abutment means than that shown in Figure 6. f

Referringnow to thedrawings, I have shown the portable display .binder of the present invention as including an outer case 10 made up of a full, solid or one piece, generally rectangular, front cover board 12, an identical rear cover board 14, and a full solid backbone 16 disposed intermediate the front and rear covers 12' and 14. The front and rear covers 12 and 14" are pivotally' or hingedly connected at their inner longitudinal edges to the backbone 16, 'as is indicated at 18. The outer case, which is shown with its outer surface exposed and upsidedown in Figure 2,'is adapted for the reception of an'inner case 20, which is shown with its innersurface tions 2'2U and'22l5, respectively, upper and lower rearu Y cases.

, 2,s41,41e V A 4w 1 a, pivotal connection 30'at the'topledges thereof, whereby the outer case overlies the inner, and is adapted toenclose the inner case as is shown in Figure 1.

The inner case 20 differs from the outer case 10 in that the same is divided across its width by a hinged or pivotal connection 32 disposed in spaced parallel relation to the hinged or pivotconnection 30 of the two As will be appreciated, the hinge connection 32 divides the componentsof the inner case into upper and lower sections, namely','upper andtlowerl front cover seccover sections '24U' and 24L, respectively, and upper and lower backbonesections 26 U and 26L, respectively. The location of the dividing hinge or' pivot '32 may be varied as desired, but preferably is'so disposed'that the lower sections of the inner case comprise a greater portion of the longitudinal dimension or length of the binder than the upper sections.

In manufacture, the cover-" sections 12, 14, 16,-22U,

22L, 24H, 24L, '26U and 26L preferably are separate boards which may suitably comprise high grade cardboard, or the like, and the hinged or pivotal connections 18, 28, 30 and 32 are provided by an ornamental covering for the boards, as is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In'

particular, the ornamental covering, which may comprise leather, imitation leather, plastic and like flexible materials, includes an outer cover 34 disposed t otthe exterior of the outer case 10, and covering the entireexterior sur face of the sections'12, 14 and 16 of the outer case and providing the hinged connections 18. At the two sides and bottom of the case, the cover 34 is folded over the edges of the outer case and suitably secured to'the inner surface thereof as'by gluing. At its upper edge; however, the cover 34 extends beyond the upper'edge of theonter case and is secured, suitably by gluing, to the inner surface of the inner case, as is indicated at 36, whereby the cover34'also provides the hingeconnection 30. The inside or exposed surface of the inner case 20 is covered by a covering sheet38 which overlies the portion 36 of the cover 34 and extends over the whole inside surface of the case 20 to provide the hinged connections 28 and32, the edges of the sheet 38 being turned over a the side and bottom edges of the inner case and suitably secured to the opposite surface of the case. The

' said opposite surface of the inner case is preferably covered by a sheet 40 which at its'upper edge extends beyond the inner caseand' is secured to the inside surface of the outer case, wherebythe same reinforces the hinged connection 30as well as the connections 28 and 32 The inner surface of the outer case may be covered by a suitable sheet 42. g g h is preferably -a high-grade, wear-resistant simulated leather, the inside covering 38 is preferably a simulated,

high-grade, fine-textured leather, and the sheets 40 and exposed and right side up in Figure 2. The inner case 20 is of a construction similar to that of the outer case and is made up of a front cover 22, a'rear cover 24 and a backbone 26 to which the covers 22'and' 24 are ,hingedly or pivotally connected at'their inner'longitudinal edges, as is'indicated at 28; The outer and inner cases 10 and 20' are secured to one another by means of a hinged or 42 may be of the same or cheaper grades of simulated leather.

When the boardsare thus covered; a binder or binding device 44, preferably a ring binder of conventional and well' known construction is secured tothe' lower sec tion 26L of the backbone 26 ofvthe inner" case 20 inia conventional manner. The binder mechanism is of a length corresponding; to that of the binder, but is "secured'only to the lower sectioniof the inner backbone and has no connection to the backbone of the outer case nor to the upper section of the backbone of the inner' case. To provide a firm support for thebinder mechanism, despite its relatively limited mounting, afm'etal reinforcing or supporting plate46fis secured to the lower surface of the binder mechanism 44, suitably by rivets or the like, so that the plate 46 is confined between the meehanism'44 and the backbone 26 of the inner case.

In use, the inner and outer cases are adapted to be folded, from theposition shown in Figure 2, along the hinged connection 30,'to dispose the inner'case within the outer. The covers may then belfolded simultane In manufacture, the outer cover 34 ously along the hinged or pivot connections 18 and 28 to the closed position shown in Figure 1, wherein the solid cover boards and backbone of the outer case provide a sturdy construction and afford an attractive appearance, wherein display materials detachably held in the inner case by the ring binder 44 are covered and protected and wherein the overall appearance is that, generally, of a conventional loose leaf note book. In this position, the display binder is readily transported from place to place by the salesman or other person who is to make a display presentation.

From the closed position of Figure 1, the binder is adapted to be opened to a first viewing position by moving the front covers 12 and 22 away from the rear covers 14 and 24 along the fold lines or hinges 18 and 28. When thus opened, the binder affords a fiat viewing position as is shown in Figure 6 which is the normal open position of a conventional loose leaf note book. The fiat viewing position is ideal when the materials in the book are to be viewed by one, two or three people sitting side by side, with one of the people holding the binder, and when the materials are to be viewed by a group of people standing around a table upon which the binder is laid.

A second viewing position is obtained by disposing the binder in the flat viewing position and moving the lower edge of the inner case toward the top edge of the cases, or in other words, with the binder in the flat position facing a viewer, the top ring of the binder mechanism 44 may be grasped and moved away from the viewer. Such movement results in relative pivotal movement between the upper and lower sections of the inner case, about the hinge 32, and between the upper sections of the inner case and the outer case about the hinge 30, whereby the upper sections 22U, 24U, and 26U, of the inner case are moved to a position generally transverse of the outer case and the lower sections 22L, 24L, and 26L, of the inner case are moved to a relatively low angle of inclination with respect to the outer case, as is shown in Figure 4. To support and retain the binder in this low angle viewing position, suitable abutment means is secured to the backbone of the outer case in spaced relation to the lower edge thereof, which means is adapted to be engaged by the lower edge of the backbone of the inner case, whereby the inner case is held as is shown in Figure 4. While the abutment means is preferably secured to the backbone of the outer case, it will be appreciated that the means may, if desired, be provided on either or both of the cover boards as well. The abutment means may take various forms, for example, the form of a button 48, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, extending through the outer backbone 16 and projecting above the inner surface of the same for engagement by the lower edge of the inner backbone 26. As an alternative, a metallic strap or strip 50, as shown in Figure 7, may be secured to the outer backbone 16, suitably by rivets 52, the strip including an upstanding end portion 54 adapted to be engaged by the lower edge of the inner backbone 26. The button 48 is preferably headed, and the end portion 54 of the strip 50 is preferably spaced from the inner surface of the backbone 16 by a suitable distance, so that the lower edge of the backbone engages under the abutment means to provide a positive positioning and retaining means. However, the abutment means does not project sufficiently above the inner surface of the outer case in any way to obstruct the disposition of the inner case within the outer case in the fiat or closed position of the binder, as will be appreciated from Figures 1 and 6.

The angle of inclination in the low angle viewing position may be varied to meet particular requirements, but I have found the 25 degree position to be optimum. Accordingly, the length of the upper and lower sections of the inner case and the disposition of the abutment means are preferably such as to provide a viewing angle 6 Y of approximately 25 degrees. For example, in a binder having an overall length of 12", the inner case may suitably be approximately 11 /2" in length, the lower edges of the inner and outer cases being spaced by /2", and may suitably be divided into upper sections of 3 /8 in length and lower sections of 8%" in length, in which case the abutment means could suitably be disposed approximately 3%" from the lower edge of the outer case to provide a 22 degree angle of disposition of the lower sections of the inner case with respect to the outer case, which angle is sufiiciently close to 25 degrees for present purposes.

The low angle position afiords an optimum viewing surface for the presentation of display materials to one or more persons seated at a desk or table. In such position, the material to be displayed is detachably retained by the ring mechanism 44, and is supported on the lower sections 22L, 24L, 26L, of the inner case 20 and by the end portion of the ring mechanism 44 extending freely beyond the hinged connection 32. The reinforcing or supporting plate 46 serves to rigidify and support this portion of the ring mechanism, whereby the display material is adequately and firmly supported and whereby the ring mechanism is retained stationary while sheets of display material are moved from one cover to the other. All sections of the cases 10 and 20 are preferably formed of substantially rigid material, as will be appreciated from the foregoing, so that the assumption of the difierent viewing angles by the binder is readily and conveniently accomplished, and in all positions, a firm support and retention of the display material is provided. However, it is to be noted thatthe supporting plate 46 rigidifies and supports the lower section 26 of the inner backbone and engages the abutment means, 48 or 50, whereby the inner backbone 26 may be made of relatively light stock. To rigidify and support the remainder of the inner case, and to accommodate the utilization of relatively light stock in the formation of all of the sections of the inner case, the lower sections 22L and 24L of the front and rear covers 22 and 24, respectively, of the inner case are preferably reinforced by channel or U-shaped metallic members 56 engaged with the outer longitudinal edges of those sections. Preferably, the reinforcing members 56 are applied to the sections 22L and 24L prior to assembly and covering of the sections so that the same are hidden from view and thus do not detract from the esthetic appearance of the binder.

A third viewing position is aiforded by the display binder of the present invention by opening the binder to its flat position, swinging the lower edges of the two cases apart about the hinged connection 30, and resting the binder on the lower edges of the two cases, as is shown in Figure 3, thus to provide a high angle viewing position. In such position, the upper and lower sections of the inner case tend to pivot with respect to one another in a direction opposite to that occurring in the low angle viewing position, so that the inner case, due to the disposition of the binding mechanism 44, effectively comprises solid cover boards and a solid backbone whereby the high viewing angle position is maintained. While the high angle viewing position may be varied, I have found 65 to be an optimum position for substantially all types of displays. Accordingly, I provide limit or stop means between the two cases 10 and 20 to limit the spreading thereof to such position as will afford approximately a 65 inclination of the inner case to the surface upon which the binder is rested. Preferably, such limit or stop means is in the form of a flexible, but nonstretchable, strap 58 or the like suitably secured to the inside of the outer case 10 and the outer side of the inner case 20, suitably by means of rivets 60 or the like. When the abutment means, 48 or 50, is provided on the backbone, as is preferred, straps 50 are preferably disposed between both the front covers 12 and 22 and the rear covers 14 and 24 of the two cases, the straps preferably being secured to' the lower sections of the covers of the inner ease as is indicated by the disposition of the rivets 60; in Figure 2 Howevenother placementof the v strapor straps may be employed as desired. As an example ofjthe disposition {of the straps 58, reference is made to the binder described in the above discussion of the inner case at 5 from the lower edge thereof and to I the outer caseat 5 /2" from the lower edge thereof. To provide an'attra'ctive external appearance, the rivets 60 securedto the outer case are preferably applied to the cover boards 12 and' 14 prior to application of the outer covering'34, asis indicated in dotted'lines in Figure 2. As will be appreciated, the high angle viewing position is ideal for the presentation of display materials to a group of perso'ns sitting or standing at some distance from a table or desk upon which the binder is rested in the position described. e

In some instances, it maybe desirable to dispose the display binder at 'an'elev'ation higher than that of a table or; the like, such'as when a person is making a presentation to a'large group of people while standing before them, in which case, the hinge connection 30 accommodates-support of the binder in its flat position, but vertically'disposed, by passing a supporting string between the two cases and 20 and resting the material defining thehinge30 on such string;

V In all viewing positions provided,'the display sheets to be shown are mounted on the ring mechanism 44 and may be freely'moved from one side of the binder to the other to provide a consistent continuity of display enraterials.

The display sheets may bear display matter on either or both sides thereof, "and the disposition of the sheets in side by side relation, after at least one sheet has been turned, particularly accommodates the simultaneous presentation of pictorial and Written displays, as

has been pointed out hereinbefore. The ring binding mechanism accommodates the ready assembly and mount: ing of display materials and provides a very convenient apparatus for revising and changing the sequence of the display sheets.

- From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved display binder that is highly economical and practical in manufacture and assembly, that is very sturdy and attractive, and yet light in weight, that provides three viewing angles, each'of which is optimum for certain conditions, with the three positions meeting alltconditions, and that assures perfect continuity of the materials 7 displayed.

While I have described what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be appreciated that various" changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of theinvention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: a t l i V l. A display binder comprising similar outer and inner cases, 'said outer case including a pair of substantially rigid covers hingedly connected with respect to each other along the inner edges thereof, said inner case including a pair of covers hingedly connected with respect to each other along the inner edges thereof and each including substantially rigid corresponding sections hingedly connectedalong a common line transversely of the hinged connections of said covers, said cases being hingedly concase adjacent and paralleli'to the hinged connection of said covers of said inner'case and only to the side of the hinged connection of the' sections of said covers of said inner case opposite the hingedconnection of said cases, the binder affording a fiat viewing position by moving 7 the two sets'jof correspondingj'covlerst of the two cases away from one another about the hinged" connections of said covers, a low angle viewing position by disposing the binder in said flat position and moving the'edge of said inner case opposite the hinged connecticn of said cases toward the'hinged connection of said cases to dispose the sections of each cover of said inner case at an inclination to the covers of saidrouter case, and a high angle viewing position by disposing the binder in said fiat position, moving the edges of said cases opposite the hinged connection thereof apart and resting the binder on the said edges .of said cases, stop means between corresponding portions of said cases limiting separation of said cases 7 to define the high angle viewing position, and abutment means mounted adjacent the edge of said' outer: case opposite the hinged connection of said cases and engageable by the adjacent edge of said inner case to define the low angle viewing position. i

2. A display binder comprising generally similarinner and outer cases, each comprising a backbone and front and rear covers hingedly connected at their inner longitudinaledges to the backbone, said cases being hingedl y e connected to one anotheralong one edge thereof trans-- versely of'the connections of said covers, said backbone and covers of said inner case each comprising corre sponding sections hingedly connected along a common line in spaced parallel relation to the hinged connection of said cases, a binding device of a lengthesubstantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of said inner case connected to the section of the backbone of said inner case opposite the hinged connection of said cases, the

binder affording a flat viewing position by folding the corresponding sets of covers ofthe two cases away from 7 one another to dis'pose the backbone and the two covers of each case in substantially the same plane, a low angle viewing position by disposing the binder in the flat posi tion and moving the edge of the inner case opposite the hinged connection of the two cases towardsaid hinged connection to dispose the sections of each member oftthe inner case at an inclination to the corresponding mcm bers of the outer case, and a high angle viewing position by disposing the binder in the flat position, spreading the lower edges of the two cases apart and resting the binder on the lower edges of the two cases, stop means between nected to one another along one edge thereof transversely l by said inner case, said'device being secured to said inner corresponding portions of the two cases; limiting separationof the cases to define the high angle viewing posi tion, said stop means and said cases'being so related as to dispose said inner case at an angle of approximately 65 tothe' surface upon which the binder is rested, and

abutment means secured to said outer case and projecting 7 toward said inner case, said abutment means being on gageable by tthetedge of said inner case opposite-the hinged connection of said cases to define the low angle viewing position, said abutment means and the dimen-t sions of said outer case and the sections of said inner case being so related asto dispose the section of the back- I bone of said inner case to which said binding device is connected at an angle of approximately 25 with respect to the plane of said outer case.

3. A display binder comprising an outer case and an inner case, said outer case including a solid backbone V andrsolid front and rear cover boards hingedly connected to said backbone at their inner longitudinal edges, said inner case comprising a backbone and front and rear cover boards hingedly connected to said backbone at their inner longitudinal edges and each comprising correspond ing upper and lower'sections hingedly connected along 7 a common line, said cases being hingedly connected along the top edges thereof in spaced parallel relation to the hinged connection of the upper and lower sections of said backbone and covers of said inner case, the hinged connection of the upper and lower sections of said inner case being disposed nearer the top edge of said inner case than the lower edge thereof, a binding device of a length sub stantially equal to that of the backbone of said inner case secured solely to the lower sectionof the backbone of said inner case, a supporting plate disposed between the backbone of said inner case and said binding device to support the portion of said binding device adjacent the upper section of the backbone of said inner case, the binder affording a flat viewing position by moving the front covers away from the rear covers to expose said binding device, the binder affording a low angle viewing position by disposing the same in said flat position and moving the lower edge of said inner case toward the top edge of said outer case to dispose the upper sections of said inner case generally transversely of the outer case, the binder atfording a high angle viewing position by disposing the same in said flat position, moving the lower edges of said cases away from one another and resting the binder on the lower edges of said cases, abutment means mounted on the backbone of said outer case between said cases in spaced relation to the lower edge of said cases, said abutment means being adapted for engagement by the lower edge of the backbone of said inner case to retain the binder in said low angle viewing position, the length of the sections of said inner case and the disposition of said abutment means being such as to provide a low viewing angle of approximately 25, reinforcing strips applied to the outer longitudinal edges of the lower sections of said covers of said inner case, and stop means extending between and connected to at least one cover of said outer case and the lower section of the corresponding cover of the inner case to retain the binder in said high angle viewing position, said stop means defining a maximum separation between said cases to dispose said inner case at a high viewing angle of approximately 4. A loose-leaf binder for containing and for displaying contained material comprising an inner cover member including front, back and intermediate portions, an outer cover member coextensive with said inner cover member when said binder is closed including front, back and intermediate portions, said inner and outer cover members being pivotally connected along the upper edges permitting said members to separate at the lower edges and form an easel, flexible strap members secured at their ends to and limiting separation of said members, a hingebreak transversely across said inner cover member below the upper edge and above the transverse center line permitting the portions therebetween to pivot rearwardly and downwardly, means secured to said outer cover member engageable by the lower edge of said inner cover member when the portions of said inner cover member above said hinge-break are in rearwardly and downwardly folded position providing a second easel, and a ring metal secured to the intermediate portion of said inner cover member for retaining material to be contained and displayed, said ring metal being free of said intermediate portion of said inner cover member above said hingebreak.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,404,579 Chilcote et al Jan. 24, 1922 2,159,612 Barrett May 23, 1939 2,258,273 Barrett Oct. 7, 1941 2,595,064 Ericson Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 458,085 Germany Mar. 31, 1928

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