GB2214465A

GB2214465A - Improvements in data handling arrangements

Info

Publication number: GB2214465A
Application number: GB8801138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Townley Gill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-01-19
Filing date: 1988-01-19
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Also published as: GB8801138D0

Abstract

An assembly of information or data unit carrying modules so connected by hinges or otherwise as to be able to open out into an array to display and access the data units concerned or to come together stacked or folded on each other to be a suitable size for storage and transport and to form part of, or to fit or to fold into a suitable storage and transport container or case. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in Data Handling Arrangements Technical Field This invention relates to means for displaying, filing, storing, containing and transporting modules or frames holding units of data or information. It relates primarily but not exclusively to such modules described in my co pending patent application No. 8726223 which hold paper or card pages containing data and referred to as data units.

No. 8726223 should be referred to, and in general this present invention refers to modules which are substantially flat, though some thickness - to house insect specimens, for instance, can be accommodated.

Background Art Wall racks for holding wages cards, say, and brief cases for carrying papers and sectioned filing boxes for papers, are all known.

Object of the Invention The object is to enable a considerable volume and detail of data to be contained and sized for transport and filing and displayed say for title or summary scanning and for rapid access and selection and protected from damage in a manner more efficient and more easily used than hitherto, with minimum page turning, introducing thought discontinuity, and with minimum alteration of the arrangement of the individual data units.

In accordance with the Invention modules carrying data units on one or both sides are so joined together preferably by metal or flexible say rubber hinges that they open out as a whole to display their data on one side on wall or table or self standing in one configuration, and may after be reversed as a whole to display data on the other side, and in another configuration they fold together or stack on top of each other, usually substantially in concertina fashion, so as to become of suitable overall dimensions for storage and transport say in a brief case, or themselves substantially forming one or more sides of a storage and transport case.

During change from one configuration to the other the individual data units on the modules are left substantially undisturbed.

Actual dimensions and the number of modules will depend on the nature and application of the data unit. In some cases it may be advantageous for some or all of the hinges used to be demountable, i.e. they will split and can be rejoined.

The invention will now be described with reference to one embodiment having twelve modules each 3/8 inch (1 cm) thick and 10 inches (25.5 cm) by 16 inches (40.7 cm) in width and length, folding to a case size approximately of 10 x 16 x 5 inches, yet opening out to a 48 inches high by 40 inches wide display, this latter being considered to be about the maximum size one operator can scan without substantially moving his own position.

Such an embodiment can carry some 380 data units of A4 paper size, spaced 1/2 inch apart.

This emodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which 1 to 12 are data unit carrying modules showing data on their front or upper side and 14 is a case into which they fit, 15 and 16 being the two opposite lids of the case.

Module 1 is hinged along axis ab to Module 2 for it to fold front face down on to 1.

Module 2 is hinged along axis cd to Module 3 for it to fold back to back on to 2.

Module 3 is hinged along axis ef to Module 4 for it to fold front to front on to 3.

Module 4 is hinged along axis gh to Module 5 for it to fold back to back on to 4.

Module 5 is hinged along axis ij to Module 6 for it to fold front to front on to 5.

Modules 7 to 12 are similarly joined together, but substantially in mirror image so as to stack together on Module 7.

Module 1 may be attached to lid 15 and module 7 to lid 16 so as to fold into case 14 with the lids when they close.

Here demountable hinges between case and lids enable the case to be removed, if required, for module display. When the modules are in open array for display their data units can be easily accessed and scanned. When they are stacked closed the data units are protected.

It should be noted that some data units at the bottom of the module concerned will project beyond the boundary of the module. For storage and transit these may be pushed back to within the boundary or folded over on themselves so as to be within the boundary. This necessity is reduced if each vertical column or series of modules is made as long as possible and if the number of columns located side by side in the array is minimised.

The whole array may provide an additional second display, but at the expense of some data unit protection, if the modules carry data units on both sides, the front and the back, and the whole array is reversed back to front.

Other arrangement of the modules are possible. If for instance a hinged spacer piece is provided on axis hl between modules 1 and 6 then 6 may be thus connected to 1 and with its own satellites 4 and 5 be stacked on top of 1 and its satellites 2 and 3.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. An assembly of data unit carrying substantially flat modules joined together preferably by flexible or solid hinges in which in one configuration the modules open out to form an array or display of the data carried on their front surfaces and in which in another configuration they fold or stack together to form an assembly of suitable dimensions for storage or transport substantially without the location and arrangement of the individual data units themselves having to be altered.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 in which the modules carry data units on both sides and the whole array may be reversed to show a second display.

3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2 in which the stacked modules form a part of a storage or transport case or container.

4. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2 in which the stacked modules fit or fold onto a storage or transit case or container.

5. An assembly according to claims 1 to 4 in which the module stack or stacks is attached to a lid or lids of a storage or transit case or container.

6. An assembly according to claims 1 to 5 in which the display is of the order of 4 feet by 4 feet in size and can carry some 360 data units separated by half an inch from each other.

7. An assembly substantially as described herein.