(57) A writing unit comprises a moulded plastics support (1) having an upwardly facing
rectangular recess (2). A pressure pad (not shown in Figure 1) is positioned in the
support (1) and protrudes into the recess (2). The pressure pad is surrounded by non-slip
material blocks (5, 6). A flap (8) of flqxible PVC is secured to the support at one side and has a free end which is received
in a recess (13). A holder (20) for a card-shaped article having an integrated circuit
or memory and one or more contacts is mounted in the support (1). The holder 120)
comprises a housing (29) having a pair of laterally spaced guides (33, 34) to support
the card-shaped article at a predetermined position (Figure 3) relatively to the housing
(29). The housing (29) is pivoted to a base member (27) having a pair of contacts
(38, 39). The housing is pivotable from an open position shown in Figure 3 to a second
position in which the contacts (38, 39) of the base member (27) engage corresponding
contacts on a card (21) located in the housing (29). In use, a writing medium such
as a slip of paper is inserted between the flap (8) and the support (1) and rests
on the non-slip material (5) while a credit card (21) is inserted in the holder (20).
A portion of the slip is positioned under an aperture (14) in the flap (8). The non-slip
material (5, 6) and the flap (8) cooperate to hold securely the slip of paper in position
while information is written onto the slip through the aperture (14).
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