Abstract:
A device for displaying and exchanging a plurality of documents of various shapes and sizes and for organizing the same. The device of the present invention comprises at least two layers of pliable sheet material. If multiple sheets are used, the sheets may be nested together. The sheets may then be inserted into a binder mechanism where the binder mechanism compressibly engages the layers to create a pressure region adjacent thereto. The frictional force between the sheet material and the inserted document retains a document inserted into the pressure region formed between two adjacent layers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to devices, systems and methods for retaining and displaying documents, photographs and the like. 
   2. Background 
   People often need to view messages, refer to notes, lists, or schedules, display pictures of loved ones, or view multiple documents simultaneously. Consequently, it is not surprising that a variety of ways exist in the prior art for displaying documents, written messages, and even small photos; for example, self-adhesive “Post-it” notes, easels, clips, and cork boards. However, each of these devices has its drawbacks. Self-adhesive “Post-it” notes do not adhere well to the fingerprint resistant finish of a computer workstation, cannot be re-posted several times, easily drop off the monitor, and may be easily lost or misplaced. Clips are limited in the number of documents that can be simultaneously displayed. Easels take up precious desktop space and are also limited in the number of documents that can be simultaneously displayed. 
   A paper channel containing tubular inserts, such as the one shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,800, issued to Junius et al. and incorporated herein by reference, permits more flexibility than the above examples with respect to the number of documents that can be simultaneously displayed; however, such a paper channel physically captures a portion of the document itself. This contact with the document can tear or bend documents or leave impression marks on the documents. The impressions are undesirable on photos and other important documents. Consequently, there is a need for an improved device or system for simultaneously displaying documents, photos and the like. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed toward devices, systems and methods for displaying and organizing documents of various shapes and sizes. In one embodiment described herein, the device of the present invention incorporates a transparent sheet folded to form two layers having a common edge. The common edge of the sheet or layers is then inserted into a binder mechanism, where the binder mechanism urges the layers together to create a pressure region proximate thereto. The adjacent layers of the transparent sheets retain a document inserted therein by electrostatic and frictional force between the sheet material and the document. In another embodiment, several layers of transparent sheets are used to separately hold several documents. In still other embodiments, a wide variety of binders and mounting mechanisms are envisioned. 
   The device may be used in a variety of locations and orientations, such as along an edge of a computer monitor or other office furniture, in kitchens, automobiles or almost any other location. The layers may be tabbed and/or colored to provide for more efficient organization and access to documents. Additionally, the binder mechanisms used to bind the sheet or sheets may be removable to allow a user to easily and quickly reconfigure or clean the sheets. 
   A significant advantage of the present invention is that the binder mechanism does not hold the documents. Instead, electrostatic forces and a pressure region adjacent to the binder mechanism combine to retain the documents. Therefore, the containment of the documents does not rely on gravity, on an active mechanical clipping mechanism, or on an adhesive. The device permits easy insertion and removal of the documents without damaging the documents in any manner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a computer monitor having display devices according to an embodiment of the present invention attached thereto 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a display device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the device of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of the device of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of sheets from the device of  FIG. 2 , in a first configuration. 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the sheets of FIG.  5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of the sheets of the present invention nested together in an alternate configuration. 
       FIG. 8  is an end view of the sheets of FIG.  7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view of one sheet from the device of  FIG. 2 , unfolded. 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of another sheet from the device of  FIG. 2 , unfolded. 
       FIG. 11  is an end view of a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is an end view of the device of  FIG. 11  in an alternate configuration. 
       FIG. 13  is a computer keyboard with an embodiment of the present invention attached thereto. 
       FIG. 14  is a wall mounted telephone with an embodiment of the present invention attached thereto. 
       FIG. 15  is an isometric view of a display device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded side view of the device of FIG.  15 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is generally directed toward devices, systems and methods for retaining and displaying documents. The documents may be retained between two sheets of the device by electrostatic forces and/or by pressure created by binding the device with a binder mechanism. A pressure region exists adjacent to the binder mechanism such that no manipulation of the binder mechanism is necessary to insert or remove a document. The term “documents” as used herein includes anything flat and thin, such as cards, appointment cards, credit cards, pictures, 3×5 cards, receipts, tickets, postage stamps, instructions, “Post-it” notes, recipes, coupons, sports schedules, lottery tickets, drawings, correspondence, letters, post-cards, flyers, school menus, announcements, lists, and warning documents. 
   The present invention provides document display options for work, a home office, home, or virtually anywhere else; it can be used vertically, horizontally, angled or even upside down. The device may be attached to the surface of a variety of products such as a computer monitor, computer keyboard, printer, lamppost, cabinet, appliance, telephone, shelf and/or a desk. The present invention also permits the documents to be easily inserted, removed, and/or exchanged with new documents. Further, the device can be easily and quickly reconfigured to place more important documents in constant view without hindering or obscuring the view of other documents. Many specific details of the present invention are set forth in the embodiments described and illustrated herein to provide an understanding of the invention. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the present invention may have additional and alternative embodiments, or may be practiced without several of the details described in the following description. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the invention mounted to the vertical sidewalls of a computer monitor. The illustrated device  100  is primarily composed of at least two sheets  102 ,  104  of sufficiently rigid and preferably, transparent material attached at a common edge by a binder mechanism  106 . The illustrated binder mechanism  106  pinches together the sheets  102 ,  104 , and also acts as an interfacing component to attach the display device  100  to the sidewalls of a monitor  101 . The binder mechanism  106  may be attached through a variety of means, such as adhesive, foam tape, magnetic strips, or VELCRO®. 
   The binding of the sheets  102 ,  104  creates a region proximate to the binder mechanism  106  wherein documents  107  can be retained solely between the sheet layers themselves by electrostatic and frictional forces. The frictional forces are created in a region proximate to the binder mechanism  106  due at least in part to the pressure exerted by the binder mechanism  106  in conjunction with the rigidity of the sheet material. The binder mechanism  106  may be integrally formed from a variety of materials such as plastic, wood, plastic reinforced composite material, ceramic, or glass with extending flanges biasly separable to releasably receive the sheets. 
   The sheets  102 ,  104  may be made from a variety of materials such as plastic, vinyl, Lexan, Lucite, Acrylic, or any other similar material and may come in a variety of sizes, for example 8½×11 inches can be a typical size and 5½×8 inches can be for a mini version of the device. Additionally, the sheets  102 ,  104  may be color coded to efficiently organize the documents placed therein. The rigidity of the sheet material must be sufficient to create a requisite amount of biasing force between the sheets  102 ,  104  proximate to the binder mechanism  106  to hold a document therebetween. Simultaneously, the sheets must be flexible enough at their free ends to permit a user to easily insert and/or remove a document  107  without having to manipulate the sheets  102 ,  104  or the binder mechanism  106  in anyway. 
   Sufficient rigidity of the sheets  102 ,  104  may be achieved by using the above described sheet material or a substantially similar material having an average thickness in the range of 0.0075 inches to 0.020 inches. A sheet thickness of 0.010 inches may be adequate for sufficiently retaining most documents  107 . However, it is contemplated that the thickness may be increased when large documents  107  or engineering drawings, for example, are to be displayed. Likewise, the device may be sized down such that an average sheet thickness of approximately 0.0050 inches could be adequate when there is only a need to support the display of very small documents  107  or notes. One skilled in the art, however, will recognize that the amount of retaining pressure needed is dependent on the type of sheet material used, the size (i.e., width and length) of the sheet material used, the thickness of the sheet material, and the force exerted by the binder mechanism  106 . Likewise, the force caused by electrostatic energy is a function of the size of the sheets. The present invention anticipates that these parameters may be varied to achieve a custom display device for a specialized purpose other than those discussed herein. 
   Once the binder mechanism  106  has been attached to a structure, the sheets  102 ,  104  of the display device  100  may be slidably inserted therein. A user may then quickly and easily slide a document  107  between two adjacent sheets  102 ,  104  such that the region proximate to the binder mechanism  106  receives and captures at least one edge or corner of the document  107 . 
   As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the display device  100  is capable of retaining multiple documents  107  or retaining just a single document. Mounting more than one display device  100  to a computer monitor  101 , for example, can allow the user to readily display important messages, family photos, or other information while simultaneously displaying a working document. 
     FIGS. 2 through 8  illustrate another display device  200  according to another particular embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the display device  200  has two folded sheets  202 ,  204  formed to create four sheet layers  203 ,  205 ,  207 , and  209 . Each sheet layer  203 ,  205 ,  207 ,  209  has a free end  208 . The unequal distances between the respective free ends  208  of adjacent layers forms a tab-offset  214  between each pair. 
   The sheet layers  203 ,  205 ,  207 , and  209 , when nested together, have a common edge  210 . The illustrated common edge  210  is releasably insertable into the binder mechanism  206 . As stated above, the binder mechanism  206  can exert a compression force on the sheet layers, thereby creating a retention region  212  for releasably retaining the documents. The inclusion of more sheets and subsequent nesting thereof is fully contemplated by the applicant. 
   The binder mechanism  206  may be removable from the sheets  202 ,  204  to permit the user to reconfigure the tab offsets  214 , as illustrated by comparing  FIGS. 6 and 8 . The binder mechanism  206  may be integrally formed with a forward flange  216 , an aft flange  218 , and a backing  220  wherein the forward and aft flanges form the retention portion of the binding mechanism and are biasly separable to releasably receive the sheets  202 ,  204 . The backing  220  may act as the mounting portion of the binder mechanism  206 . The binder mechanism  206  may be made from a variety of materials such as plastic, wood, plastic reinforced composite material, ceramic, or glass, for example. 
   An advantage of the present embodiment is that the sheet layers may be differentially colored. The coloring, combined with the tab offset, permits a viewer to organize and easily locate documents placed between the adjacent sheet layers. Additionally, the free ends  208  may have rounded corners to provide an aesthetic appearance as well as ease the insertion of a document. The inventors appreciate that many of these details can be varied without deviating from the spirit of the invention; for example, the free ends  208  of the respective sheet layers  203 ,  205 ,  207 , and  209  can be aligned with each other to eliminate the tab-offset  214 . Further, more than two sheets may be nested together and the sheets may be different lengths and/or widths in the same set. 
     FIGS. 5-8  illustrate two possible configurations of this particular embodiment of the present invention, wherein the nesting of the sheets  202  and  204  permits the tab offsets  214  to be reconfigured according to the user&#39;s desires. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a user could place a larger document between layers  207  and  209  and smaller documents between layers  209  and  203 , and between layers  203  and  205 . Such a configuration permits the user to maintain their small documents between layers  209  and  203 , and between layers  203  and  205 , while retaining a large “working” document between layers  207  and  209 . The configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  allows easy insertion and removal of the large “working” document, which is amply supported by layer  209 , without disturbing the smaller documents located between the other layers. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate two examples of pre-formed sheets  202  and  204 . The pre-formed sheets  202  and  204  schematically represented may be for a mini-version of the device. As discussed above, the sheets  202  and  204  may be folded along a predetermined crease line  216  to create two sheet layers. Alternatively, the sheets layers may be fabricated by splicing the sheets along the crease line  216  into separate layers. Perforating or scoring the sheets to ensure the accuracy of the folding splicing operation may create the crease line  216 . One skilled in the art, however, will recognize that the sheets may vary in size and be creased either widthwise or lengthwise. It will further be appreciated that these options allow a large variety of configurations. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate another embodiment of a display device  300  releasably inserted into the binder mechanism  306 . In this embodiment, the sheet layers  302 ,  304 ,  306 , and  308  can be formed from separate sheets bonded together along the respective spliced edges  310 . Thermally sealing ultrasonic welding, or mechanically affixing the spliced edges  310  together, for example, may accomplish the bonding operation. Bonding the spliced ends  310  together, in bulk, can provide a more efficient and economic mode of manufacturer. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12  further illustrate two various ways of mounting the device  300  with the binder mechanism  306 .  FIG. 11  demonstrates that the backing  320  of the binder mechanism  306  may be secured horizontally to surface  301 .  FIG. 12  demonstrates that one of the flanges  316  may be used to mount the device vertically to surface  301 . Additionally, the mounting flange, for example the aft flange  316 , may be oriented to project normally from the backing  320  to ensure that the sheets  302 ,  304 ,  306 , and  308  are substantially parallel to the adjacent vertical surface  301  when mounted. As previously noted, the binder mechanism  306  may be secured to the surface  301  by a variety of means such as adhesive, foam tape, magnetic strip, or VELCRO®. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate alternate applications for the display device  100 . For example,  FIG. 13  demonstrates the device  100  horizontally attached to a top portion of a computer keyboard  400 . The keyboard  400  may have a built-in channel (not shown) or a separate binder mechanism  106  may be used to attach the device to the keyboard.  FIG. 14  demonstrates the device  100  as attached to a wall mounted telephone base  401  for home or home office use with the binder mechanism  106 . 
     FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention wherein the display device  500  incorporates a folded sheet  502  which can be slidably inserted into an object having a channel  504 . As such, the channel  504  provides the binding and compression means in a substantially similar manner to the binder mechanism  106  discussed above. The width of the channel  504  may be adjusted using spacers; thus allowing the insertion of only one sheet or multiple sheets. Alternatively, the channel  504  may be formed to receive the binder mechanism  106  of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . As one skilled in the art will understand, the object  500  may be any number of home or office items such as a pen holder, a name plaque, or virtually anything with a channel  504  formed therein. Additionally, the object  500  may be mounted or placed in a horizontal, vertical, or other non-orthogonal orientation. 
   The present invention provides an inexpensive means of displaying a plurality of documents of various shapes and sizes and for organizing the same. A significant advantage of any of the foregoing embodiments is that the binder mechanism does not engage the documents. The device permits easy insertion and removal of the documents without damaging the documents in any manner. The device permits the insertion and removal of individual documents without disturbing the other documents. The device can be configured to place larger documents in full view of the user without disturbing smaller documents retained by the device. The sheet layers extending from the binder mechanism provide protection for the documents retained therein and provide an efficient method of sorting and organizing documents. 
   An additional advantage of the present invention is the ability to attach the device to any number of objects. Even with the binder mechanism attached to an object, the sheets may be slidably releasable to permit quick and easy reconfiguration. 
   From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.