Abstract:
A device for storing and providing ready access to cards having a substantially rigid base member with a continuous rectangular wave-shaped slit therein. The slit forms a first set of tabs and a second set of tabs. The device further includes translucent card holders mounted on the base member for storing the cards. Each card holder has complementary slots for receiving the first set of tabs. The second set of tabs retain each card holder in place to prevent disengagement from the first set of tabs. Each card holder can be flipped to provide access to other card holders.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a flip chart card file for visibly storing numerous cards adjacent to each other. More specifically, it relates to a flip chart card file in which the upper card files can be flipped open to reveal the cards in a lower card file. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Filing systems are known where individual card holders can be attached to or removed from a base unit. For example, the U.S. Patent to Salley, No. 2,122,956, the U.S. Patent to Klein et al, No. 2,177,071, and the U.S. Patent to Hopen, No. 3,292,632, disclose various recording and filing systems. U.S. Pat. No. 2,122,956 discloses a filing system where tabs of the base unit seat within cut outs on the card holders. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,177,071 and 3,292,632 disclose systems in which the individual card holders are provided with tabs which are inserted into cut outs in the base. These patents all have certain disadvantages in that the individual card holders are not securely mounted to the bases and can therefore become accidentally separated from the bases. 
     More recently, card files have been manufactured in which the individual card holders, made from a translucent vinyl material, are permanently welded to the bases. Manufacturing these types of card files can be expensive, particularly if many card holders are attached to each base. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a flip chart card file that can be inexpensively and simply manufactured. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flip chart card file in which the card holders are securely mounted to the base. 
     These and other related objects are achieved according to the invention by a device for storing and providing ready access to a plurality of items. The device includes a base member having a plurality of slits therein. Each slit forms a first set of tabs and a second set of tabs. The device further includes an item holder mounted on the base member for storing the items. The first and second set of tabs work in conjunction with each other to mount the item holder, retain it in position and permit it to be flipped. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings that disclose two embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
     FIG. 1 is a front, side elevational view of the flat base with a card holder in phantom line according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a card holder for mounting on the base; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the card holder; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the base and mounted card holders from FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the flat base with mounted card holders from FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the alternate embodiment from FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing how each card holder is mounted to the base; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the flat base with card holders mounted thereon; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing an alternate cardholder; 
     FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a further cardholder; and 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the cardholder in FIG. 11. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there is shown a flat base 10 which optionally includes holes 11a, 11b, and 11c along a margin 12. Holes 11a, 11b and 11c can be spaced along margin 12 to allow flat base 10 to be placed into a three ring binder or other organizer with rings. Flat base 10 is made from a substantially rigid material, for example, vinyl or polyvinyl chloride. Base 10 is provided with numerous parallel slits 14 that extend continuously across the central part of the sheet. Slits 14 do not extend to a lower section 15 of the sheet. Each individual slit is in the shape of a continuous rectangular or square wave and has upwardly extending tabs or teeth 20, 22, 24 and 26 which alternate with downwardly extending tabs or teeth 21, 23 and 25. Each tab has a free end and an attached end. The free ends of the downwardly extending tabs are adjacent to the attached ends of the upwardly extending tabs. The free ends of the upwardly extending tabs are adjacent to the attached ends of the downwardly extending tabs. On either side of slits 14 is a region 28 and 29 shaped as a narrow strip. A card holder 16 or 17, which will be described further below, is shown in phantom on the lower part of base 10. One card holder 16 or 17 would be attached to each slit 14. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a two-sided item or card holder 16 and a single-sided item or card holder 17. Both card holders 16 and 17 have a first set of pockets 50 and 51 for receiving cards or other notes or written material. Card holders 16 and 17 may optionally have one pocket or more than two pockets. Card holders 16 and 17 can be made from any substantially flexible translucent or transparent material, for example, vinyl or polyvinyl chloride. Two cards can be placed into each pocket 50 or 51 with the backs of the card facing each other so that the opposite facing card are visible through the front and back of the pocket. Card holders 16 and 17 also both have an attachment region 52 which includes a series of aligned central slots 31, 33, 35 and 41, 43, 45, which are arranged end-to-end. The attachment regions also include a pair of aligned end slots 38, 39, and 48, 49, which are arranged end-to-end with the central slots. The central slots and end slots are all in spaced co-linear relation to each other. Between the central slots and the end slots are several panels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 40, 42, 44, 46. Card holder 16 further includes two additional pockets 54 and 55, which are symmetrical with pockets 50, 51, while card holder 17 terminates at an edge 57 which borders attachment region 52. Pockets 50, 51, 54 and 55 are formed by folding and welding a single sheet of vinyl or by placing two sheets of vinyl together and welding the three closed sides of the pockets. Card holder 16 forms a symmetrical configuration about the axis of the slots or about a line parallel and intermediate the slots. 
     FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the invention with FIG. 5 showing an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof. Base 10 is made of outer layers 18a and 18b. Between layers 18a and 18b is a frame member 19a and a middle layer 19b. Base 10a is constructed as follows. Outer layer 18a is laid flat and covered with frame member 19a that extends around the periphery of outer layer 18a, for example, in the regions of lower section 15 and margin 12. Middle layer 19b is placed within frame member 19a. Outer layer 18b is then placed over frame member 19a and middle layer 19b. Frame member 19a is made from cardboard, for example, to provide structural rigidity to base 10a while the outer layers are all made from vinyl, for example. The outer edges of base 10a are then welded together to seal around frame member 19a. Slits 14 are welded contemporaneously by heating layers 18a, 18b  and 19b within the confines of frame member 19a. Each slit 14 passes completely through base 10a as can be seen in FIG. 5. Card holder 16 is mounted on flat base 10 by placing pockets 54 and 55 through a slit 14 so that pockets 50 and 51 remain on one side of base 10a while pockets 54 and 55 extend from the opposite side of base 10a, as can be seen in FIG. 4. As can be seen in FIG. 8, downwardly extending tabs 21, 23 and 25 pass through slots 31, 33 and 35. Card holder 16 is slid upward toward the attached end of downwardly extending tabs 21, 22 and 23 so that panels 30, 32, 34 and 36 are located above the free ends of upwardly extending tabs 20, 22, 24 and 26. End slots 38 and 39 overlap regions 28 and 29. The free ends of upwardly extending tabs 20, 22, 24 and 26 lock card holder 16 in place and prevent it from sliding down, toward the free end of the tabs 21, 23, 25, and out of engagement with downwardly extending tabs 21, 23 and 25. As a result of this lock, the card holders, as can be seen in FIG. 4, can be flipped upwardly into position 60 so that the cards facing side 61 can be viewed as well as the cards located in the lower card holders. 
     In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, base 10b is provided with slits 14 that pass entirely through first layer 70. A backing layer 71 is located behind first layer 70. An adhesive layer 72 is then mounted to the rear of second layer 71 and a covering layer 73 covers adhesive layer 72 for shipping and handling. Card holder 17 is mounted to base 10b by placing edge 57 through a slit 14 and folding it down so that edge 57 resides between first layer 70 and second layer 71 behind the upper edges of pockets 50 and 51. Base 10b is formed from outer layers 18a and 18b, frame member 19a and middle layer 19b similar to base 10a. Base 10b is supported by the structural rigidity of frame member 19a with slits 14 located within frame member 19a. 
     Downwardly extending tabs 21, 23 and 25 pass through slots 41, 43 and 45 as can be seen in FIG. 8. Pockets 50 and 51 extend from one side of base 10b, as can be seen in FIG. 6. The free ends of upwardly extending tabs 20, 22, 24 and 26 lock against regions 40, 42, 44 and 46 so that card holder 17 can be flipped upward so that the cards facing side 62 can be viewed as well as the lower tiered cards. Protective layer 73, as shown in FIG. 7, can then be peeled off and base 10b can then be mounted on a wall or other surface with adhesive layer 72. Optionally, card holder 16 and/or 17 can have slots which allow it to be slid downward onto the upwardly extending tabs, with the downwardly extending tabs resting against the panels to lock the card holder in place. 
     FIG. 9 shows base 10a with cardholder 80 (FIG. 10) forming two pockets 85a and 85b on one side of base 10a. Pocket 85a forms one tier with pocket 85b positioned slightly lower to form a second tier. A central region 81 is disposed on the second side of base 10a, opposite pockets 85a and 85b. FIG. 11 shows a further cardholder 82 with pockets 86a, 87a, 86b and 87b. As can be seen in FIG. 12, pockets 85a, 86a and 87a are disposed opposite pockets 85b, 86b and 87b. Accordingly, when they are mounted onto base 10a, as shown in FIG. 9, pockets 85b, 86b and 87b face upwardly. The cardholder then passes through one of the slits with central region 81 extending along the back of base 10a to an adjacent slot. The cardholder then passes through the adjacent slot with pockets 85a, 86a and 87a also facing upwardly. As can be appreciated, base 10a is ideally provided with an even number of slots to be used in pairs. 
     While only several embodiments of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.