Curtain sample holder and curtain sample rack

Abstract: A curtain sample holder comprises a strip (1) of material to which the top edge of a curtain sample (3) is or can be fixed. The strip of material is divided into an even number of segments (6) by an uneven number of hinges or folds (5) extending at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the strip in such a way that it can be accordion folded in and out. Each of the two ends of the strip (1) of material is connected to one of the two parts of a closing element (2), which parts are provided with means for fixing them to each other in a disconnectable manner. At least the two end segments (6) of the strip of material are of a length which is considerably greater than the width of the closing element (2), and the strip (1) of material is sufficiently flexible to permit folding of the strip of material outwards and inwards when the closing element is in the closed position.

Description: The invention relates in the first instance to a curtain sample holder comprising a strip of material to which the top edge of a curtain sample is or can be fixed, which strip of material is divided into an even number of segments by an uneven number of hinges or folds extending at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the strip in such a way that it can be accordion folded and unfolded, each of the two ends of the material strip being connected to one of the two parts of a closing element, which parts are provided with means for fixing them to each other in a disconnectable manner. Such a curtain sample holder is known from EP-A-0389803. An advantage of this known holder is that the zigzag-shaped curtain sample can be folded out after the holder provided with a suspension hook is taken from a curtain sample rack. For this, the two parts of the closing element have to be disconnected from each other, but the curtain sample cannot be unfolded without opening the closing element. The object of the invention is to eliminate this disadvantage, and to this end the curtain sample holder mentioned in the preamble is characterised in that at least the two end segments of the strip of material are of a length which is considerably greater than the width of the closing element, and in that the strip of material is sufficiently flexible to permit folding and unfolding thereof when the closing element is closed. When folded in, the strip of material projects a relatively great length out of the closing element. Pulling on the middle segments causes the strip of material and the curtain sample to come out into a double-folded state. The sample can be assessed on a large area, and a folded-out curtain sample can easily be found again in a large collection. The folding out can be further simplified if the middle two segments project outwards relative to the other segments when the strip of material is folded in. The strip is preferably made of 1 mm thick polypropylene and a hinge with very long service life is obtained by punching this material halfway through. In order to be able to hinge the segments in only one direction relative to each other, the flexible strip is made from a strip which is folded double in the lengthwise direction, while at the position of each transition between two segments one half of the starting strip is provided with three adjacent fold lines, and the other half of the strip is provided with one fold line which is situated directly opposite the middle fold line of the three fold lines of the one half. In order to protect the stitching thread with which the curtain sample is fixed to the strip from breakage at the position of the fold lines, windows are cut out at the place where the stitching thread for fixing a curtain sample to the strip passes the three adjacent fold lines. For easy fixing of the closing element parts to the flexible strip, each of these parts is provided on the inside with a number of sleeves into which the pins of a closing plate are inserted in a press fit, which pins project through openings in the flexible strip. A detachable mutual fixing of the parts of the closing element can be achieved in a simple manner if each closing plate has at least one lobe and at least one opening, and the lobe of the one closing plate fits detachably into the opening of the other closing plate. The invention also relates to a curtain sample rack designed for accommodating the above-mentioned curtain sample holders, and this rack is characterised in that a large number of recesses placed next to and at some distance from each other are cut out in a top face of the rack, each designed to accommodate a closing element, and in that a vertical slit connects to each recess, in order to allow through outwardly projecting end segments of a flexible strip. The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures. Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show a perspective view of curtain sample holders in three positions. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a plastic strip forming the starting material for the curtain sample holder according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the strip formed by folding double the strip shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a curtain sample holder folded out of the strip shown in Figure 3, without closing element and without curtain. Figure 5 shows a cross-section through a closing element for holding together two ends of the curtain sample holder. Figure 6 shows a cross-section along the line VI - VI in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows a cross-section of the closing element, taken apart. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a curtain sample rack designed to accommodate a large number of curtain sample holders. The curtain sample holders shown in Figures 1a, 1b and 1c comprise a flexible strip of plastic 1, in particular of polypropylene, a closing element 2, and a curtain sample 3 stitched firmly to the strip. As can be seen from Figures 2, 3 and 4, the plastic strip is formed from an elongated strip which is folded double along a fold line 4. The strip 1 is divided into six segments 6 by five transverse folds or hinges 5. Each hinge comprises three adjacent fold lines 7 in one half of the starting strip and a single fold line 8 directly opposite the middle fold line of the three fold lines in the other half of the starting strip. The fold lines are formed by punching the plastic material of the starting strip halfway through. Figure 4 shows how this produces the hinges 5, by means of which the holder 1 can be fan-folded (see also Figure 1a). In the folded-in position the middle two segments project outwards. The strip 1 with the curtain sample is folded out by pulling on these middle segments (Figure 1b, Figure 1c). It will be clear that an excellent display of the curtain sample is achieved with relatively little curtain material. At the position of each set of three adjacent fold lines 7 a window 9 is cut out in the strip 1. This ensures that the stitched seam with which the curtain sample is fixed to the strip 1 will not break quickly. As can be seen from Figures 5, 6 and 7, the closing element 2 is composed of two identical halves which are detachably connected to each other, and each of which is made up of an outer cap 10 and an inner closing plate 11. The closing plates 11 have three pins 12 which are inserted through three openings 13 in one end of the plastic strip 1 and are inserted into sleeves 14 of the cap 10, with the interposition of said strip. The pins 12 are in this case press-fitted in the sleeves 14 in such a way that they are difficult or impossible to detach. Each of the two closing plates 11 also has a lobe 15 and an opening 16, the two closing plates being situated opposite each other in such a way (Figure 7) that the lobe 15 of one can be inserted through openings in the strip into an opening of the other closing plate 11, and vice versa. The connection thus produced between the two halves of the closing element is detachable. Figure 8 shows how a number of curtain sample holders according to the invention are fitted in a curtain sample rack 17. The rack has a large number of recesses 18, of which the cross-sectional shape essentially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the closing elements formed in Figure 6. A slit 19 also connects to each recess, in order to allow through the outward projecting end segments of the strip 1. In order to prevent the curtain sample from hanging crooked, the central axes of the recesses 18 can form an angle relative to the vertical. The main advantages of the design described above are that: the fan-folding of the sample creates a spatial effect which makes the display clearer and makes the association with full curtains simpler; the curtain sample can be unfolded and flapped out fully, and can thus be assessed flat; the size of the curtain sample can be reduced by half; a curtain sample hanging in a rack and folded out can easily be found again. Of course, all kinds of modifications and additions are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: Curtain sample holder comprising a strip (1) of material to which the top edge of a curtain sample (3) is or can be fixed, which strip of material is divided into an even number of segments (6) by an uneven number of hinges or folds extending at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the strip in such a way that it can be accordion folded and unfolded, each of the two ends of the material strip (1) being connected to one of the two parts of a closing element (2), which parts are provided with means (15,16) for permitting fixing thereof to each other in a disconnectable manner, characterised in that at least the two end segments (6) of the strip (1) of material are of a length which is considerably greater than the width of the closing element (2), and in that the strip (1) of material is sufficiently flexible to permit folding and unfolding thereof when the closing element is closed. Curtain sample holder according to Claim 1, characterised in that the middle two segments (6) project outwards relative to the other segments when the strip (1) of material is folded in. Curtain sample holder according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the flexible strip is made from a strip which is folded double in the lengthwise direction, and at the position of each transition between two segments (6) one half of the strip is provided with three adjacent fold lines (7), and the other half of the strip is provided with one fold line (8) which is situated directly opposite the middle fold line of the three fold lines (7) of the one half. Curtain sample holder according to Claim 3, characterised in that windows (9) are cut out at the place where the stitching thread for fixing a curtain sample to the strip passes the three adjacent fold lines (7). Curtain sample holder according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of the two parts of the closing element is provided on the inside with a number of sleeves (14) into which pins (12) of a closing plate (11) are inserted in a press fit, which pins project through openings (13) in the flexible strip (1). Curtain sample holder according to Claim 5, characterised in that each closing plate (11) has at least one lobe (15) and at least one opening (16), and a lobe of the one closing plate fits detachably into the opening of the other closing plate. Curtain sample rack (17) designed for accommodating a large number of curtain sample holders according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a large number of recesses (8) placed next to and at some distance from each other are cut out in a top face of the rack, each designed to accommodate a closing element (2), and in that a vertical slit (19) connects to each recess, in order to allow through outwardly projecting end segments (6) of a flexible strip (1).

Inventors: SOEDE WIBO, SOEDE, WIBO
Applicants: HASKERLAND BV, HASKERLAND B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A47F7
IPC codes: A47F7, A47F5, G09F5