GB2262179A

GB2262179A - A holding device for sheet material

Info

Publication number: GB2262179A
Application number: GB9223947A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Richard John Hume; Roderick Julian Mcbrien; Neil William Bates; Hans Peterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-23
Filing date: 1992-11-16
Publication date: 1993-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-16
Also published as: GB9124936D0; GB2262179B; GB9223947D0

Abstract

A device 10 for holding an item such as a sheet of paper comprises a row of bristles 7 in a strip 12. The bristles are biassed by their inherent flexibility in a holding direction to provide a row of discrete frictional contact regions against a wall or a reaction surface 25 of the device. The device is arranged such that in use a sheet of paper can be pushed into contact with the bristle ends to be frictionally held between the bristles and the wall or reaction surface. Instead of the strip of bristles, a strip of flexible pvc, or two contacting strips of bristles or pvc may be provided. Alternatively, a magnet may be provided which is magnetically biassed in the holding direction, or a plurality of discs biassed by gravity down a slope in the holding direction. <IMAGE>

Description

A HOLDING DEVICE The invention relates to a holding device and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a holding device for holding a sheet of paper.

There are a number of known ways of, for example, holding a sheet of paper against a vertical surface for viewing or display. Pin-boards are known on which paper is held by one or more pins. This results in damage to the paper and the pins are loose and may be lost. It is known to use a magnet to hold a sheet of paper against a metal surface such as the door of a refrigerator. Again, the magnet may be lost. In both cases the paper is only supported in one place so that it may not hang straight.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a holding device for holding an item, the device comprising at least one holding element, the or each holding element being biased in a holding direction to provide a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged such that in use an item can be pushed into contact with the regions of the or at least one holding element to be held. In this way, an item held by the device can be held at a desired angle because it will be contacted at a plurality of contact regions of the or each holding element along a line across it and not just at a single point, like a pin, or a small region, like a magnet. Holding of the item is also readily achieved as the item need simply be pushed into position.

There may be a plurality of holding elements and preferably, each frictional contact region is provided by a single holding element.

The device may be arranged to hold a sheet and preferably the device is arranged to hold a sheet of paper.

Preferably, the device is arranged to hold an item vertically.

The device is preferably arranged to be secured to a surface which may be a vertical surface and the device may include adhesive thereon to enable it to be secured.

The or each holding element may be biased in any suitable way, and preferably, the or at least one holding element is resiliently biased. The or each resilient element may be resiliently biased, for example, by a spring, but preferably, the or each such element is itself resilient. The or each resilient element may be arranged to bend or flex when an item is pushed into contact with the contact regions.

Preferably, the or each resilient element is slim in the direction perpendicular to the direction of bias.

This aids flexing. In a preferred embodiment, the or each resilient element is filamentary. The holding means may therefore comprise, for example, a row of bristles which are bent or flexed when an item is pushed against them. Preferably, the or each resilient holding element is angled rearwardly. This reduces any resistance to an item being pushed against the or each holding element and increases resistance to removal of an item held by the device. The or each resilient holding element may be angled rearwardly at between at between 300 and 890, preferably 350 and 600, and most preferably, at about 500. This minimises the chances of the filaments folding back when an item is removed from the holding device and also enables a suitably strong bias force.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a holding device for holding an item, the device comprising at least one holding element, the or each holding element being biased in a holding direction by gravitational or electromagnetic forces to provide single elongate frictional contact region or a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged such that in use an item can be pushed into contact with the region or regions of the or at least one holding element to be held.

In one embodiment, at least one holding element is arranged to move on a guide ramp under gravity to bias it in the holding direction. The contact surface of the or each element which contacts its guide ramp may be curved such that the or each element rolls on its guide ramp. A plurality of the elements may be arranged side-by-side and their side surfaces are then preferably configured to allow independent movement.

In this way irregularly shaped items can be held because each element can move independently to engage a different part of the item. Preferably, the elements have flat side surfaces. Preferably, the or each element is a roller or a disc.

In a further embodiment, at least one element is magnetically biased. The or each element may be a magnet.

In the case where at least one element is arranged to move on a guide ramp under gravity and/or at least one element is magnetically biased, the or each element is preferably provided in a retaining housing and preferably a common retaining housing is provided.

Where the device is arranged to be secured to a surface, such as a wall, that surface may provide a reaction for the or each holding element.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a holding device for holding an item, the device being attached to a surface of a body and comprising at least one holding element, the or each holding element being biased towards or against the body surface to provide a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged to hold an item between the or at least one holding element and the body surface against the bias on the or each holding element in contact with the item.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a holding device for holding an item, the device comprising at least one holding element and reaction means, the or each holding element being biased towards or against the reaction means to provide a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged to hold an item between the reaction means and the or at least one holding element, against the bias on the or each holding element in contact with the item.

In a preferred embodiment, according to the first or third aspect of the invention, the device includes a reaction surface adjacent the or each holding elements and the device is arranged to hold an item between the or at least one holding element and the reaction surface. The reaction surface thus constitutes the aforesaid reaction means. The reaction surface preferably includes a lead surface along which an item can be moved towards the or each holding element.

Where the device is arranged to be secured to a surface such as a wall, preferably, a reaction member of the device which defines the reaction surface is arranged to be secured to a surface. The reaction member may be tapered such that the lead surface is at least partly sloped. In this way, a sheet of paper, for example, can be slid along the surface and up the tapered part of the lead surface onto the reaction surface.

The means of retaining or mounting the or each holding element is preferably connected to the reaction surface. Preferably the connection is rearwardly of the or each holding element such that the connection forms a stop for an item. This also ensures that, for example, where a piece of paper is pushed into the device it is held at the top and any information on it is not obscured. The reaction surface and the connection may be integral and preferably are formed as an extrusion, for example, from aluminium or plastics material such as PVC. This simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacture.

In an alternative embodiment, the device includes at least one second holding element providing a second row of frictional contact regions adjacent the first and the device is arranged to hold an item between the first and second holding element or elements. The or each second holding element thus constitutes the aforesaid reaction means. Where the or each element is retained in a retaining housing, the or at least one retaining housing of one row is preferably connected to the or each retaining housing of the other row. The connection may be rearwardly of the holding elements such that the connection forms a stop for an item. This simplifies construction of the retaining housings. The retaining housings preferably form a common retaining housing and preferably are integral. This may further simplify the construction.The common retaining housing is preferably formed from an extrusion and may be made from aluminium or a plastics material such as PVC.

Seven embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a end elevation of a holding device in a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a end elevation of a second embodiment of the holding device of the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the holding device of the invention; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a fourth embodiment of the holding device of the invention; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a fifth embodiment of the holding device of the invention; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a sixth embodiment of the holding device of the invention, and Fig. 7 is a perpendicular view of a seventh view of the invention of the holding device of the invention attached to a wall.

In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the holding device 10 comprises a main body ii mounting a row of dense bristles in a strip 12. The main body 11 is uniform along its length and may be formed as an extrusion in aluminium, for example, or in any suitable plastics material. The main body comprises a generally flat reaction part 13 which is connected at its top edge to a convexly curved connecting part 14 which curves downwardly from the top edge 15 of the reaction part 13 to a short connecting arm 16 on the end of which is a mounting part 17. The arm 16 extends downwardly and towards the reaction part 13 over a short distance and the mounting part 17 is generally cylindrical and external shape and includes a slot 18 which faces towards the reaction part 13 and which leads to a longitudinal axial bore 19 in the mounting part 17.The part 9 of the bore 19 opposite the slot 18 is semi-circular in cross-section while the part 8 adjacent the slot 18 is square in crosssection. The bore 19 receives a correspondingly shaped head 20 of the strip 12 which mounts the bristles 7. The bristles 7 are slightly longer than the distance to the reaction part 13 so that the bristles are flexed by engagement with the inner reaction surface 25 of the reaction part 13. The bristle strip 12 may be of a known commercially available type and may for example be the type sold under the name "Dendix Multi-Strip Type SMS AAA". On the outer side surface 26 of the reaction part 13, three parallel longitudinal ribs 27, 28, 29 are provided. The upper rib 27 is adjacent the upper edge 15 of the reaction part 13.Between the other two ribs 28, 29 is provided an adhesive pad 30 by means of which the holding device can be attached to a flat surface such as a wall. The adhesive pad 30 is generally opposite the mounting part 17. The reaction surface 25 is flat and smooth, and a lead surface 31 is provided which slopes towards the outer surface 26 of the reaction part 13 such that the reaction part 13 is tapered. The lead surface 31 intercepts the reaction surface 25 at a level below the level of the mounting part 17 and opposite the lower rib 29.

In use, the holding device 10 is attached to a wall by the adhesive pad 30. A sheet of paper will slide up the lead surface 31 onto the reaction surface 25 and will pass under the bristles 7 of the bristle strip 12 to be held between the bristles and the reaction surface 25. The connection part 14 together with the reaction part 13 act as a stop for the sheet of paper to prevent it being moved too far into the device and hence ensure that written matter on the paper is not obscured. The mounting part 17 mounts the bristle strip 12 such that the bristles face at an angle of about 500 to the perpendicular to the reaction surface 25. This angle has been found to be particularly suitable in preventing bristles from bending back when a sheet of paper is removed from the device.Using the Dendix bristle strip mentioned which has 15mm long bristles and providing the axis of the bore 19 at a distance of 8.6mm from the reaction surface 25, the bristle strip 12 will apply a force to a sheet of paper which is sufficient to prevent the paper falling out of the device, for example when a door is opened or when a fan is in the region of the device, but which is not so strong that thin weak paper such as fax paper cannot be pushed under the bristles. If the force is too strong then paper such as fax paper will simply buckle when pushed rather than sliding under the bristles.

The outer surface of the connection part 14 may bear advertising matter as may the region of the reaction surface 25 below the level of the mounting part 17 and/or the lead surface 31.

The embodiment of Fig. 2 is very similar to the embodiment of Fig. 1 and the same reference numerals are used for equivalent features. Where the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment is in that the bristle strip 12 is replaced by a strip of flexible material 40 such as flexible PVC. The flexible strip 40 is integral with a generally cylindrical head 41 which is retained within a generally cylindrical axial bore 42 in the mounting part 17. The strip 40 is dimensioned so as to be slightly flexed in contact with the reaction surface 25. The strip 40 extends for the whole length of the holding device 10, and includes slits from the contact edge to divide it into separate elements.

Alternatively, a plurality of smaller, non-slitted holding strips 40 may be provided side-by-side. In operation, a sheet of paper is retained between the strip or strips 40 and the reaction surface 25.

The construction of the embodiment of Fig. 3 is also similar to the embodiments of Fig. 1 and 2 and the same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features. The embodiment of Fig. 3 differs from the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 in that there is no mounting part 17 and the connecting arm 16 extends at constant cross-section down close to the reaction part 13. The connecting arm 16, the connecting part 14 and the reaction part 13 together with end caps (not shown) on the ends of the holding device define a retaining housing 49 to retain a plurality of discs 50 which are arranged side-by-side in a row along the housing, the axis of the discs 50 being parallel to the axis of the device 10. The arm 16 has a smooth flat inner surface 51 and the discs rest under gravity against the surface 51 and the reaction surface 25.

In operation with the device on a wall, a piece of paper can be slid up the lead surface 31 onto the reaction surface 25 and through the gap between the reaction surface 25 and the end of the arm 16 into the housing 49. The sheet of paper will be pushed under the discs 50 thus rolling the discs 50 up the inner surface 51 of the arm 16 which forms a guide ramp for the discs 50. Gravity will hold the discs 50 against the sheet of paper which will be trapped between the discs 50 and the reaction surface 25. The discs 50 are shown as relatively thin with similar proportions to a coin, but they may be thicker if desired and indeed a single cylindrical rod may be used in another embodiment. If discs are used, however, then an irregularly shaped item can be pushed into the device and different discs will be displaced by different amounts while each acting to frictionally retain the item.This is also an advantage of the bristle strip embodiment of Fig. 1 and of the embodiment of Fig. 2 e.g. in which a plurality of relatively narrow strips 40 may be provided.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment which includes two bristle strips 12 of the type described in relation to Fig. 1. The two bristle strips 12 are arranged at an angle of about 800 to one another and the head 20 of each is retained and mounted in a mounting part 60, 61 similar to the mounting part 17. The mounting parts 60, 61 are connected by a connecting part 62 which is U-shaped in cross-section comprising two upright side parts 63, 64 and a transverse top part 65. The side part 64 includes on its outer surface an adhesive pad 30 by which the device can be secured to a wall. The mounting part 60 which is connected to the side part 64 is downwardly tapered to intersect the flat outer surface 66 of the side wall 64.

In use, the device is secured to a wall by the adhesive pad 30 and an item such as a sheet of paper is introduced between the mounting parts 60, 61 and engages the bristles 7 of the bristle strips 12. It is pushed between the two bristle strips 12 and retained by the frictional pressure exerted by the bristles 7. The U-shaped part 62 and in particular its top part 65, acts as a stop for the item to prevent it moving too far into the holding device. If the item is slid along the wall, the tapered shape of the mounting part 60 will guide the item past the mounting part 60 and into the device.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment which is similar to the embodiment of Fig. 4 and the same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features. The embodiment of Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment of Fig. 4 in that the bristle strips of the Fig. z embodiment are replaced by a flexible strip or strips 40 of the type shown in Fig. 2. In use, the device acts in a similar way to the device of Fig. 4.

In the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 5, the main part 11 may be made from rigid PVC and the flexible strip 40 may be made form flexible PVC. Using the two shct process the flexible and rigid PVC parts may be formed integrally.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment which includes the same reaction part 13 as in the embodiments of Fig. 1 to 3.

A top part 70 extends perpendicularly from the upper edge 15 of the reaction part 13 and at its outer edge 71, a side part 72 extends perpendicularly downwards.

A base part 73 extends perpendicularly inwards from the lower edge 7 of the side part 72 to leave a gap between the inner edge of the base part 73 and the reaction surface 25. A magnet 76 is retained by the reaction part 13, the top part 70, the side part 72, the base part 73 and end caps (not shown) on the device which form a retaining housing 77. The magnet 75 is similar in outer shape to the inner surface of the retaining housing 77, excerpt that the edge of the magnet 76 adjacent the gap between the base part 9 and the reaction part 13 is shaped or cut off to form a sloping surface 78. Either a single magnet 76 may be provided which extends over the length of the retaining housing 77 or a plurality of magnets 76 may be provided side-by-side.

In use, a piece of paper 79 is pushed into the gap between the base part 73 and the reaction surface 25 and engages the sloping surface 78 of the magnet 76 which guides the paper 79 under the magnet 76 to hold the paper.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment which is the same as the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 except that the reaction part is not present and the connecting part 14 is connected to an upright flange 80. The flange 80 includes apertures 81 to receive screws to attach the device to a surface such as a wall 82. In use, a sheet of paper is slid along the wall under the bristles 7 of the bristle strip 12 to be held between the bristle strip 12 and the wall 82 which provides a reaction surface.

While the embodiments have been described to hold a piece of paper in use, it is apparent that they could also hold other items. Where an item which is thicker than a sheet of paper is intended to be held, the holding elements constituted by the bristles 7, the strip 40 or the discs 42 may not be in contact with the reaction surface 25, 82, or in the case of the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5 in contact with opposite similar holding elements, but instead may be spaced apart but by a distance less than the width of the item to be hed.

The embodiments using the bristle strip 12 have the advantage of low weight over the other embodiments.

Claims

1. A holding device for holding an item, the device comprising at least one holding element, the or each holding element being biased in a holding direction to provide a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged such that in use an item can be pushed into contact with the regions of the or at least one holding element to be held.

2. A holding device for holding an item, the device comprising at least one holding element and reaction means, the or each holding element being biased towards or against the reaction means to provide a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged to hold an item between the reaction means and the or at least one holding element, against the bias on the or each holding element in contact with the item.

3. A holding device for holding an item, the device being attached to a surface of a body and comprising at least one holding element, the or each holding element being biased towards or against the body surface to provide a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged to hold an item between the or at least one holding element and the body surface against the bias on the or each holding element in contact with the item.

4. A holding device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein there is a plurality of holding elements.

5. A holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each frictional contact region is provided by a single holding element.

6. A holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to hold a sheet.

7. A holding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the device is arranged to hold a sheet of paper.

8. A holding device as claimed in any precednj claim, wherer the device is arranged to hold an item xertican

9. A holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to be secured to a surface.

10. A holding device as claimed in claim 9, herein the device is arranged to be secured to a vertical surface.

11. A holding device as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the device includes adhesive thereon to enable it to be secured.

12. A holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one holding element is resiliently biased.

13. A holding device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the or each holding element is itself resilient.

14. A holding device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the or each resilient element is arranged to bend or flex when an item is pushed into contact with the contact regions.

15. A holding device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the or each resilient element is slim in the direction perpendicular to the direction cf bias.

16. A holding device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the or each resilient element is filamentary.

17. A holding device as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the or each resilient holding element is angled rearwardly.

18. A holding device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the or each resilient holding element is angled rearwardly at an angle of between 300 and 890.

19. A holding device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the or each resilient holding element is angled rearwardly at an angle of between 350 and 60 .

20. A holding device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the or each resilient holding element is angled rearwardly at an angle of 500.

21. A holding device as claimed in any of claws '4 te 20 when dependent on claim 1 cr claim 2, wherein the device includes a reaction surface adjacent the o each holding elertent and the device is arranged to hold an item between the or at least one holding element and the reaction surface.

22. A holding device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the reaction surface includes a lead surface along which an item can be moved towards the or each holding element.

23. A holding device as claimed in claim 22, wherein, where the device is arranged to be secured to a surface such as a wall, a reaction member of the device which defines the reaction surface is arranged to be secured to that surface.

24. A holding device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the reaction member is tapered such that the lead surface is at least partly sloped.

25. A holding device as claimed in any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the means of retaining or mounting the or each holding element is connected to the reaction surface.

26. A holding device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the connection is rearwardly of the or each holding element such that the connection forms a stop for an item.

27. A holding device as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein the reaction surface and the connection are integral.

28. A holding device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the reaction surface and the connection are formed as an extrusion.

29. A holding device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 20 when dependent on claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device includes at least one second holding element providing a second row of frictional support surfaces adjacent the first and the device is arranged to hold an item between the first and second holding element or elements.

30. A holding device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the means of retaining or mounting the or each holding element of the first row is connected to the means of retaining or mounting the or each holding element of the second row.

31. A holding device as claimed in claim 3CI, wherein the connection is rearwardly of the holding element such that the connection worms stp fer an item.

32. A holding device as claimed in claim 30 cr 1, wherein the two means for retaining or mounting the elements and the connection are integral.

33. A holding device as claimed in claim 32..

wherein the two means for retaining or mounting t elements and the connection are formed as an ext-ruson.

34. A holding device for holding an item, the device comprising at least one holding element, the or each holding element being biased in a holding direction by gravitational or electromagnetic forces to provide single elongate frictional contact region or a row of frictional contact regions, the device being arranged such that in use an item can be pushed into contact with the region or regions of the or at least one holding element to be held.

35. A holding device as claimed in claim 34 or any of claims i to 12 or any of claims 21 to 33 when dependent on any of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one holding element is arranged to move on a guide ramp under gravity to bias it in the holding direction.

36. A holding device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the contact surface of the or each element which contacts its guide ramp is curved such that the or each element rolls on its guide ramp.

37. A holding device as claimed in claim 35 or 36, wherein a plurality of the elements is arranged sideby-side.

38. A holding device as claimed in claim 37, wherein the side surfaces of the element are configured to allow independent moment.

39. A holding device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the elements have flat side surfaces.

40. A holding device as claimed in any of claims to 39, wherein the or each element is a roller or a disc.

41. A holding device as claimed in claim 34 or any of claims 1 to 12 or any of claims 21 to 33 when dependent on claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one element is magnetically biased.

42. A holding device as claimed in claim 41, ;;herein the or each element is a magnet.

43. A holding device as claimed in any of claims 34 to 41, wherein the cr each element is provided in a retaining housing.

44. A holding device as claimed in claim 42, wherein a common retaining housing is provided.

A holding device as claimed in claim 43 cs 44 when dependent on claim 29, wherein where the or each element is retained in a retaining housing, the or at least one retaining housing of one row is connected to the or each retaining housing of the other row.

46. A holding device as claimed in claim 45, wherein the connection is rearwardly of the holding elements such that the connection forms a stop for an item.

47. A holding device as claimed in claim 45 or 46, wherein the retaining housings form a common retaining housing.

48. A holding device as claimed in claim 46, wherein the retaining housings are integral.

49. A holding device as claimed in claim 45 or 47, wherein the common retaining housing is formed from an extrusion.

50. A holding device of holding an item, the device being substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 of the accompanying drawings.