Display rack for documents

Abstract

 Document holder for holding magazines, brochures and other looseleaf papers in an upright position, with a relatively large portion of each document being exposed to view. The device is constructed in modular form being composed of detachably connected modulation units (11) and is readily increased and decreased in size by adding a substracting unit to hold different numbers of papers. The disclosed embodiment is constructed as a wall-mounted rack.

Description

[0001] This invention pertains generally to document holders, and more particularly to a display rack for holding a plurality of looseleaf papers in an upright position.

[0002] The tendency of magazines, brochures and other looseleaf papers to buckle and collapse due to their own weight makes it difficult to hold such papers for display in an upright position. Consequently, such papers are frequently stacked in piles on a horizontal surface or placed in racks in which no more than a small portion of each sheet is exposed. When stacked in piles, the papers may take up valuable counter space or other working surfaces, and when placed in a rack with only limited exposure, the papers are difficult to see without removing them at least partially from the rack.

[0003] It is in general an object of the invention to provide a new and improved document holder for holding magazines, books and other looseleaf papers in an upright position.

[0004] Another object of the invention is to provide a document holder of the above character in which a relatively large portion of each document is exposed to view.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a document holder of the above character which is constructed in modular form and is readily increased and decreased in size to hold different numbers of papers.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a document holder of the above character which is portable.

[0007] These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a document holder having a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined partitions spaced in overlapping fashion along an axis to form a plurality of vertically aligned paper holding compartments having front and rear walls defined by alternate ones of the partitions. Each of the partitions has a nonlinear profile in horizontal section such that the walls of each container constrain papers placed therein to a horizontally curved configuration which confers rigidity to the papers and enables them to stand in the compartments without bending under their own weight. The front wall of each compartment extends to a lower vertical height than the rear wall and engages only the lower portions of the papers in the compartment with the upper portions of the papers being exposed and visible above the front wall. The document holder is constructed in modular form, and the number of compartments is readily changed by adding or removing modular sections. In one disclosed embodiment which is particularly suitable for hanging on a wall or other vertical surface, the compartments are formed by pocket-like members connected together in overlapping fashion along the vertical axis.

[0008] 

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the document holder according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of one of the modular units which make up the document holder of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5a is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating an alternative connector for joining the modular units together in the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 5b is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 5b-5b in Figure 1, illustrating another alternative connector for joining the modular units together in the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0009] The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-4 comprises a plurality of similar modular units 11 which are detachably connected together to form a rack suitable for mounting on a wall or other vertically extending support surface. Each of the modular units comprises a pocket-like member having a horizontally curved, generally rectangular outer wall or panel 12, and a pair of side flanges 13 which extend rearwardly from the lateral margins of the outer wall. A cross-member 14 extends horizontally between the side flanges on the back side of the outer wall about midway between the upper and lower margins of the outer wall and is rigidly affixed to the back side of the outer wall and to the inner sides of the side flanges. The upper portions 16 of the side flanges are generally rectangular in profile, with rear edges 17 which are generally parallel to the lateral margins of outer wall 12, and the lower portions 18 of the side flanges are tapered, with rear edges 19 which are inclined relative to the lateral margins of the outer wall. Cross-member 14 has a top flange 21 which is generally perpendicular to outer wall 12 and a rear flange 22 which depends from flange 21 and is aligned with the rear edge portions 19 of the side flanges. A mounting hole 24 is formed in flange 22 for receiving a mounting hook or other fastener whereby the rack can be attached to the wall or other supporting surface.

[0010] Modular units 11 are connected together in overlapping fashion along a vertically extending axis with the upper edge of each outer wall being aligned generally opposite the top flange 21 of the cross-member of the next adjacent modular unit, and the upper rear edge portions 17 of side flanges 13 abutting against the lower portion of the outer wall of the next module. The outer walls of the adjacent modules are thus spaced apart in generally parallel relation to form the front and rear walls of paper holding compartments 26, with side flanges 13 and cross-member flanges 21 forming the side and bottom walls of the compartments. The lower rear edge portions 19 of side flanges 13 are aligned vertically for engagement with the wall or other mounting surface, and outer walls are inclined upwardly and outwardly as best seen in Figure 2. The paper holding compartments are thus offset or spaced vertically, with the upper portions of papers 28 in one compartment being exposed and visible in front of the lower portion of the next compartment. Any desired number of modules can be employed to provide a corresponding number of compartments.

[0011] The upper modular section 31 of the embodiment of Figures 1-4 is generally similar to the other sections except it is truncated and terminates at the cross-member. This section is somewhat longer than the lower portions of the other modules, and the top flange 21 of its cross-member serves as a decorative cap for the rack.

[0012] Outer walls or panels 12 have a nonlinear profile in horizontal section such that papers 28 placed in compartments 26 are constrained by the walls to a horizontally curved contour which confers rigidity to the papers and enables them to stand in the compartments without bending under their own weight. In the embodiment illustrated, the walls are arcuately curved, but they can have any suitable configuration which will confer rigidity to the papers.

[0013] Hook-like tabs 32, 33 project from the rear edges 17 of side flanges 13 and are received in slots 34 in the outer wall 12 of the next adjacent module to releasably secure the modules together in interlocking form. These connectors are engaged by inserting the tabs of one module into the slots of a second and moving the first module in a downward direction relative to the second. They are disengaged by moving the first module in an upward direction relative to the second and withdrawing the tabs from the slots.

[0014] Figures 5a and 5b illustrate alternatives tab 35, 36 for connecting the modular units together. Tabs 35 are employed at the upper rear corners of flanges 13, and tabs 36 are employed below. Tabs 35 project upwardly and rearwardly from the flanges and include a generally rectangular upper portion 37 and a rounded lower portion 38. These tabs are engaged by inserting upper portions 37 into slots 34 and rotating the module downwardly through an angle of 90° to position upper portions 37 behind the outer wall of the next adjacent module. Tabs 35, 36 have laterally projecting shoulders 39 which engage the back side of the outer wall of the adjacent module when the tabs are inserted into the slots of that module. These connectors are disengaged by inwardly directed lateral pressure on the side flanges from which the tabs project.

[0015] Modular units 11 can be fabricated of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic, sheet metal or cardboard. Outer wall 12 and side flanges 13 are preferably formed as a unitary structure, and cross-member 14 can be affixed to the outer wall and the side flanges by any suitable means.

[0016] It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved document holder has been provided. While only certain presently preferred embodiments have been described in detail, as will be apparent to those familiar with the art, certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. In a document holder for holding a plurality of papers in an upright position: a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined partitions spaced in overlapping fashion along a vertically extending axis and forming a plurality of vertically arranged paper holding compartments having front and rear walls defined by alternate ones of the partitions, each of said partitions having a nonlinear profile in horizontal section such that the walls of each compartment constrain papers placed therein to a horizontally curved configuration which confers rigidity to the papers and enables them to stand in the compartments without bending under their own weight, the front wall of each compartment extending to a lower vertical height than the rear wall and engaging only the lower portion of papers in the compartment with the upper portion of said papers being exposed and visible above the front wall.

2. The document holder of Claim 1 wherein the partitions are detachably connected together in modular fashion and the number of compartments is readily changed by adding or removing partitions.

3. The document holder of Claim 1 wherein each of the partitions is part of a pocket-like module having a generally rectangular, curved outer wall which forms the partition, a pair of side flanges extending rearwardly from the outer wall and resting against the outer wall of the next adjacent module, and connector means extending between the side flanges and the outer wall of the next adjacent module for detachably connecting the modules together.

4. In a document holder for holding a plurality of papers in an upright position: a plurality of pocket-like modules detachably connected together in overlapping fashion to form a plurality of vertically arranged paper holding compartments spaced such that the upper part of a paper placed in one of the compartments is exposed and visible in front of the lower portion of the next adjacent compartment, each of said pocket-like modules comprising a generally rectangular upwardly and outwardly inclined outer wall having a nonlinear profile in horizontal section, flanges extending rearwardly from the lateral margins of the outer wall, a cross-member extending horizontally between the flanges to the rear of the outer wall about midway between the upper and lower margins of the outer wall, said flanges being generally rectangular in profile above the cross-member and having a rear edge portion engageable with the lower portion of the outer wall of another module such that the outer walls of the two modules are in spaced parallel relation and form the front and rear walls of a paper holding compartment with the flanges and the cross-member forming side and bottom walls of the compartment, said flanges being tapered below the cross-member and having vertically aligned rear edge portions engageable with a vertically extending surface, and connector means carried by the flanges for releasably securing the modules together.

5. The document holder of Claim 4 wherein the connector means comprises locking tabs which project from the flanges of one module and interfit with another module.

Drawing