US3514875A - Fabric sample display - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 41970 F, HOWARD 3,514,815

FABRIC SAMPLE DISPLAY Filed May '7, 1968- United States Patent O Mlce 3,514,875 FABRIC SAMPLE DISPLAY Fred Howard, New York, N.Y., assignor to Howard Displays, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 7, 1968, Ser. No. 727,181

Int. Cl. G09f 5/ 04 U.S. Cl. 35-55 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore fabric sample display `devices have been usually provided for the display of a fabric or carpet sample by a device which provides a backing member, a handle and a front ap member, all assembled by a multiplicity of rivets and screw fasteners. Themanufacturing cost of such display devices is greatly in excess of that for those of the present invention, and it is more troublesome to replace samples than with the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The fabric or carpet display device of the present invention comprises a unitary integral member which is flexibly hinged to provide a large backing member, a relatively narrow top or edge member and a narrow front flap member which may provide advertising or informational data. On the underside of the narrow top member is positioned an elongated, integral jaw member formed of resilient material, such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or nylon, the jaw member having a pressure member and another jaw member provided on its interior surface with upwardly directed teeth or ridges, so that when a fabric sample, such as a carpet sample, is forced between the jaws it is rmly held against dislocation in normal use and yet may be easily removed by sliding it sideways relatively to the jaw members.

At the upper surface of the jaw member, it is formed with an elongated hollow tubular section, open at the top to provide a downwardly enlarged cavity to bear against the under side of the top member.

A unifying holding member has spaced protuberances which are projected through apertures in the top member to be forced into engagement with the cavity in the jaw member whereby the parts are assembled in tight relationship so they do not become accidentally separated.

The jaw member is preferably so spaced relative to the main backing member that small samples of other sarnples of fabrics of different colors may be mounted on the backing member without causing a bulging of the display device.

Optionally, a member having multiple channels may be mounted on the backing member to receive and retain small samples within the confines of its channels.

Patented June 2, 1970 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical, illustrative and peferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment in an open or unfolded position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of a fabric holding member as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sample holding device as shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to the present preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings:

The fabric sample display comprises a backing member 10 which is only slightly larger in area than the carpet or other fabric sample 11 to be displayed thereon. If the fabric sample is 24 by 36 inches the backing memlber may be 26 by 38 inches.

At its upper edge, member 10 is integrally connected to an intermediate narrow upper edge member 12 and to a narrow front flap member 14. The members 10, 12 and 14 are all preferably connected to each other to form an integral structure with flexible hinge portions 16 and 18 where the edge member 12 is connected to the members 10 and 14.

Preferably, the members 10, 12 and 14 are each formed of a core member, such as a hard-board or rather rigid sheet with a plastic sheet on both sides of the hard board, the edges of the plastic sheet being heat-sealed, and the boards being so spaced at their adjacent edges so that hinged joints 16, 18 are formed along both side edges of the narrow edge member 12.

The intermediate narrow edge member 12 is provided with two or more apertures 13 through which a handle or unifying member may be inserted to engage the sarnple holding member, thereby completely assembling the display unit.

Between the back member 10 and the front ap 14 and held firmly against the under side of the member 12 is a fabric sample holding -jaw member 20 having downwardly open jaws, the jaws being adapted to engage and hold a fabric sample 11 by its edge.

The jaw member 20 preferably comprises an extended member formed of a relatively stiff, resilient plastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, nylon or polypropylene. On its upper surface the member 20 is formed with a narrow upper slot or opening 22 which is downwardly enlarged to constitute a somewhat triangular cavity 24. On the rear side of the member 20, the jaw member is provided with a resilient tongue 26, while on its front side it is provided with a depending strip 28 on the inner face of which are formed a series of short, upwardly extending teeth 30. As a sheet of fabric or a carpet sample 11 is positioned between the tongue 26 and the teeth 30, the edge of the sample 11 is engaged and held against all but deliberate removal.

The jaw member 20 is provided with a longitudinally extending cavity beneath the narrow upper opening 22, and while this cavity may be of various shapes involving a downwardly enlarged cavity, it is preferably formed as shown in section in FIG. 4. There the opening forming slot 22 is adjacent V-shaped cavity 24 having transverse shoulders so that a member 32 may be forced into the cavtiy, but may be removed only with diflculty.

The handle or unifying member 33 comprises a rigid member with legs 34 spaced to provide a handgrip. At the lower end of each leg 34 is a protrusion 36 to extend into and through apertures 13 and into the slot 22 through which the arrow-headed protrusions 32 may engage and be seated in the cavity 24. Thereby the assembly is completed and held against all but intentional disassembly.

The sample 11 may be removed edgewise with only slight manipulation of the jaw 26, but is firmly held against vertical displacement.

If desired, smaller samples 40 of other color carpets of related design may be adhesively attached to the front face of back member 10, as shown in FIGS. l and 2.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a modied embodiment of the invention in which the backing member 10' is provided with a channeled member 42 formed as a sheet with integral T-shaped ribs 44. Member 42 may be formed as an extrusion molding of a plastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. The spaces between the ribs 44 are adapted to receive small carpet samples which are held by the narrow exterior ledges of the ribs 44. Member `42 may be cemented or riveted to hold it to the backing member 10.

The display member is assembled with a minimum of labor, allows the samples to be easily replaced, and allows the large carpet sample 11 to be thrown back in a horizontal position without any tendency for it to return and obscure the view of the small samples 40 which are used to show other colors of the fabric.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may `be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A fabric sample display comprising a flat backing member attached to an intermediate edge member and a front flap, said two members and flap being hingedly connected together, an elongated resilient, integral jaw member to engage and releasably hold a fabric sample by engagement with an edge portion thereof, said jaw member having a downwardly enlarged concavity along its upper end to 'bear against the said intermediate edge member, and a unifying holding member above the intermediate edge member and having downwardly extending, enlarged protuberances to extend through apertures in said edge member and engage in and hold the jaw member fast to the holding member.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1 in which the backing and edge members and flap are integral.

3. A display as clamed in claim 1, in which the jaw member has alower opening and is formed from a resilient material with teeth on one of its inner sides slanted away from the lower opening of the jaw member.

4. A display as claimed in claim 1, in Whch the at backing member is adapted to receive a plurality of small fabric samples and the jaw member is so positioned to space the lfabric sample away from the backing member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,868,029 7/1932 Steinthal 281-19 2,120,819 6/l938 Steinthal 20G-82 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 206-82; 281-19

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