Abstract:
The present multiple display retainer device is directed to a single polymer extrusion used to retain and display paper, card stock and posters of varying sizes at schools, offices and conference rooms. The device has the capability of retaining one or more articles on the upper side pressure contact area flange, one or more in the central cavity inside surface arid one or more on the lower side pressure contact area flange. Any of the articles held by the retainer may be removed separately without disturbing the other articles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The multiple display retainer relates to devices in many sizes used to retain and display paper, card stock and poster types of materials of varying sizes at schools, offices and conference rooms. Mote specifically this device deals with the unique capability of retaining one or more articles on the upper side, one or more in the central cavity and one or more on the lower side. Made from a thin flexible polymer material that can easily he cut to length and attached to a wall surface by a variety of attachment means. A second unique feature is that any of the articles held by the retainer may he removed separately without disturbing the other articles. An alternate embodiment of the device will employ barbed sections whereby hanger dips can be employed to support lamer posters or banners of a greater weight. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the modern classrooms, wall surfaces tend to be of a smooth non-porous material that can be washed, minimizing the collection of bacteria. Things like, corkboard and tack board are being avoided due to the difficulty in keeping the walls clean and sanitary. This makes it difficult to display articles like homework assignments, artwork or posters. In the elementary grades, children take a great deal of pride in seeing their works displayed on the walls where this has been the common practice for many years. Often in conference rooms displays and posters need to he put up and removed quickly during a meeting where mounting surfaces are not readily available. Smaller sizes of the multiple display retainers will work well in offices and homes for holding notes and reminders. Problems arise where school systems do not want the smooth non-porous surfaces of the walls damaged by the insertion of nails and screws. When masking tape and mending tapes are used to hold the display materials on the walls it is difficult to remove and the walls soon become unsightly. 
         [0003]    Numerous innovations for holding display materials have been provided in the prior art that is described as follows. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the present application as hereinafter contrasted. The following is a summary of those prior art patents most relevant to the multiple display retainers, as well a description outlining the difference between the features of the present application and those of the prior art. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,635 of Susan C. Rudolph describes a frame system for displaying panels such as signs, artwork, photographs, text etc., on a surface such as a wall. Two long tracks have fasteners for fastening them to a surface, Two corresponding cover bars are shaped to slide longitudinally over the tracks while being retained on the tracks. The cover bars have lengthwise grooves for supporting edges of one or more panels between opposite cover bars while allowing the panels to slide along the grooves. Caps are fastened over the ends of the cover bars with removable, tamper resistant, fasteners to prevent the cover bars from being slid out of the tracks until the caps are removed. The system may be mounted on a suffice with the tracks horizontal, vertical or any angle in between. While the tracks will ordinarily be mounted parallel to each other, they may be mounted at angles to each other to accommodate panels of shapes other than rectangular. 
         [0005]    This patent describes a frame system for displaying panels such as signs, artwork, photographs, text etc. on walls where a larger structure is used, and a permanent attachment means is required. It has not been designed for the easy insertion and removal of a variety of sizes of display materials from individual sheets of paper to posters and banners at the same time. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,657 of Richard John Gray describes a document holder comprising a rigid planar board having one side covered by transparent flexible cover, the board and cover at one end being held in a retaining clip, said clip comprising a substantially planar tongue with a channel extending along one edge thereof with an opening facing away from the tongue. 
         [0007]    This patent describes a single document display holder that has not been intended for the use in a classroom to display multiple display materials. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,742 of David E. Pitcher describes a poster gripping extrusion device for the close-in maintenance and rigid support of a flexible sheet of display material. The device includes an elongated planar base having a first or distal edge and a proximal or second edge defining a width of said base. A leg extends parallel to the base, the leg having a distal edge and a proximal edge, and only a single web or bridging portion extending between the second edge and the proximal edge of the leg to provide compactness to the device. A pivotable clamp extends from the distal edge of the leg, the clamp providing a first and a second line of contact between the clamp and the base to securely hold a sheet of material therebetween. The clamp has a distalmost edge which extends beyond the distalmost edge of the base portion of the device, to permit ease of manipulation of the device in “close-in” locations. 
         [0009]    This patent describes another single poster gripping extrusion that will not be capable of retaining more than one item at a time. It has been designed to be utilized in commercial and retail display arrangements. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,075 James E. Hutton describes a mounting strip for clamping flexible sheet material or other objects that includes an elongated U-shaped, rigid plastic channel having a forward leg forming a bearing surface and a rearward leg forming a mounting surface. An elongated flexible gripper tongue is formed along the mounting surface of the channel and includes a clamping surface adapted to engage the bearing surface of the forward leg of the channel for receiving and clamping an article such as sheet material therebetween. The rigid plastic channel and flexible plastic gripper tongue are preferably co-extruded in a single operation to form a one-piece mounting strip having cooperating clamping elements with different durometer harnesses. 
         [0011]    This patent describes a mounting strip for clamping flexible sheet material but is not capable of the unique features of holding display materials in three separate locations. This device would also have to be attached to the wall surface by screws or nails which would damage the wall surface. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,019 of Sidney Rose et al. describes an invention comprised of an elongated extruded poster clamp support assembly for the stiff and reliable hanging of a poster or sign therefrom, comprising an elongated planar base having an upper edge and a lower edge, a channel arranged on the upper edge of the planar base, to permit the clamp to be supported, and a pair of elongated legs attached to the channel, the legs arranged to be rotated into a poster holding orientation by movement about a hinge extending from the channel. The legs thereby define two spaced apart pressure strips biased against the base, for the pinching of a poster therebetween. The invention includes an elongated groove arranged as pan of the channel, for the receipt of a stiffener rod to help keep flat any poster supported in the clamp. 
         [0013]    This patent describes an elongated extruded poster clamp support assembly for the stiff and reliable hanging of a poster or sign. Retailers use such devices for hanging display cards or signs from shelves, cases, and ceilings but this NV (not be useful in a classroom to display homework papers. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,116 of Wells Stone Beringer describes a paper holder that has an upwardly opening slot into which ribs project from each side of the slot. The ribs along the two sides are staggered and alternated with respect to each other so that a single piece of paper inserted into the slot will assume a corrugated configuration and will accordingly remain upright in a free standing position. The base of the holder has a straight edge along which a measuring scale exists so that the holder may also be used for measuring and marking. 
         [0015]    This patent describes still another paper holder that will only hold one sheet of paper at a time and requires a permanent mounting to the wall surface. 
         [0016]    A primary consideration in the production of clamping or retaining devices of the types described above is to limit manufacturing and fabrication costs without sacrificing their ability to firmly and releasably grip flexible sheet material. One problem with such prior art devices is that the housing and clamping elements are formed in separate manufacturing operations, and then later assembled to form the completed clamping devices. Separate fabrication operations increase manufacturing costs and capital expenditures for the equipment. The cost of the device is further increased by the separate assembly operation required to connect the clamping element and housing. 
         [0017]    Another problem with many prior art clamping devices for flexible sheet material is that while the sheet may be inserted directly between the housing and clamping element, it can be removed only by sliding the sheet endwise to one of the ends of the housing and clamping element. This is particularly disadvantageous where the clamping device is fabricated in an elongated strip because the flexible sheet materiel must be moved a large distance to reach the end of the housing and clamping element for removal. 
         [0018]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the multiple display retainer in detail it is to be understood that this is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The multiple display retainer is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying, out the several purposes of the present design, it is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present application. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The principal advantage of the multiple display retainer is that it can easily be attached to a wall surface for displaying materials, and the resulting displays are quickly and neatly set and changed once the apparatus is installed. 
         [0020]    Another advantage is that the multiple display retainer can hold the display materials on the top edge, the central cavity, or the bottom edge. 
         [0021]    Yet another advantage is that the multiple display retainer can hold a variety of sizes of materials at the same time, and the apparatus allows the user to display multiple items using a single component. 
         [0022]    Another advantage is the ability to add or remove any piece of the display material without disturbing the others being held in adjacent positions. 
         [0023]    A further advantage is that the multiple display retainer can be cut to any length required with a pair of scissors, and it is able to be altered in length at the time of use by cutting with common scissors, thus making its versatility invaluable in being scalable to any display space size, making available display space maximized. 
         [0024]    Yet another advantage is that the multiple display retainer or the alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer can hold larger or heavier materials by the means of hanger clips. 
         [0025]    Another advantage with the multiple display retainer is that it can be attached to wall surfaces by a variety of different means, and the device can be used permanently or can be removed and used again without waste, thus being an environmentally friendly answer to what is typically wasteful. 
         [0026]    Yet as further advantage with the multiple display retainer is that it can be split down the middle if only one half is required, and the cost is considerably less compared to typical display items that function in a far less versatile manner. 
         [0027]    And still a further advantage is that the multiple display retainer can be adhered and removed from the wall without damaging the surface, likewise, the displayed materials are not damaged when displayed, and thus allowing them to be reused unlike conventional display systems. 
         [0028]    And yet another advantage of multiple display retainer is to add a means of holding and displaying materials in classrooms where corkboard and tack board are no longer in use and the wall surfaces are a smooth, cleanable, and of non-porous materials. 
         [0029]    These together with other objects of the multiple display retainer, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the multiple display retainer, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of this application. 
         [0030]    The preferred embodiment of multiple display retainer will be a polymer extrusion that will be manufactured in a variety of sizes and at extended lengths that can easily be cut with a pair of scissors to any size desired. A grove down the center cavity has been designed to locate attachment means like upholstery tacks or ball type push pins and also provides a guide when splitting the material down the middle if only one side is desired. Other attachment means will consist of double sticky tape or a hook-loop attachment on the wall mounting surface. It is foreseeable that with the thin cross sectional area of the material and its flexibility that it will be able to be stored and shipped in a roll configuration, minimizing the area required for these applications. 
         [0031]    The design of the multiple display retainer will be such that the two parallel pressure contact areas running the length of the product conic in contact with the wall surface before the central wall mourning surface maintaining continuous pressure against the wall along the top and the bottom. Two longitudinal ribs that run the length of the extrusion adjacent to the central wall mounting surface provide stiffeners to the material as well as flex gapes where the polymer material is allowed to flex over an extended area within the ribs. 
         [0032]    Optional longitudinal pressure ridges can be located along the pressure contact areas to increase the holding capabilities of the device. When display material is slid between the multiple display retainer and the wall, on the top or the bottom at any point, it will be held in position while still being easily removed. The central cavity supplies a third area where articles may be displayed held in position by the means of the two outer flanges where these display materials can also be removes separately. 
         [0033]    An alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer will have barb sections adjacent to the flanges on either side that provide a means to employ hanger clips with double sticky tape or a book-loop attachment means to hang heavier or larger display materials. 
         [0034]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the multiple display retainer, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of application, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present embodiments. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the multiple display retainer. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the design to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the multiple display retainer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0035]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the multiple display retainer and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of this application, wherein: 
           [0036]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the multiple display retainer holding three different sizes of display material, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  depicts an end view of a section the multiple display retainer with square longitudinal ribs in the relaxed position, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  depicts an end view of a section of the multiple display retainer with square longitudinal ribs attached to a wall surface, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  depicts an end view of as section of the first alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer with round longitudinal ribs, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  depicts a second alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer with a barb section adjacent to the flanges on each side of the extrusion, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 6  depicts an end view of the second alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer, constructed accordance with the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of one half of the second alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 8  depicts an end view of one half of the multiple display retainer with ridges along the pressure contact areas running the length of the product, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 9  depicts an end view of a third embodiment of the multiple display retainer with square longitudinal ribs in the relaxed position, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 10  depicts a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 11  depicts a frontal view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer demonstrating posters in place, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 12  depicts a perspective view of the fourth alternate embodiment the multiple display retainer, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 13  depicts an end view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer demonstrating posters in place, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 14  depicts an end view of a fifth alternate embodiment of the the multiple display retainer demonstrating posters in place, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0050]      FIG. 15  depicts a perspective view of a fifth alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer demonstrating a poster in place, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0051]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the multiple display retainer, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the design and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. 
         [0052]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar pads of the multiple display retainer  10 A are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in  FIG. 1  a perspective view of the multiple display retainer  10 A holding three different sizes of display materials, the upper display material  12 , central cavity display material  14  and the lower display material  16 . The upper display materials and lower display materials are held in position by the means of the two parallel pressure contact areas  18  and  20  running the length of the multiple display retainer  10 A pressing against the wall surface  22 . Two square longitudinal ribs  24  and  26  run the length of the device providing stiffening of the material along with flex gaps  28  between the pressure contact areas  18  and  20  and the central wall mounting surface  30 . At the distal ends of the pressure contact areas  18  and  20  are the flanges  32  and  34  that create the central cavity  36  retaining the central cavity material  14 . A groove  38  runs down the inside surface  40  of the central wall mounting surface  30 . Additionally, a bubble level vial  15  can be used to make sure the display retainer  110 A is mounted horizontally level. The level vial  15  can be placed in any position along the display retainer within pressure contact area  20  and held in place while leveling by flange  34 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 2  depicts an end view of a section of the multiple display retainer  10 A with square longitudinal ribs  24 A and  26 A in the relaxed position illustrating the angle X typical on both the top and bottom pressure contact areas  18  and  20 . By being extruded in a semi-concave configuration, when the central mounting surface is pressed against the wall surface  22  additional pressure is achieved at the pressure contact areas  18  and  20 . Varying degrees of angle X can be incorporated into the design depending upon the desired holding pressures of the product and still remain within the scope of this application. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  depicts an end view of a section of the multiple display retainer  10 A with square longitudinal ribs  24 A and  26 A attached to a wall surface  22  illustrating the varied attachment means. The grove down the center cavity  36  has been designed to locate attachment means like upholstery tacks or ball type push pins  42  and also provides a guide when splitting the material down the middle if only one side is desired. Other attachment means will consist of double sticky tape or a hook-loop attachments  44  secured on the on the central wall mounting surface  30 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  depicts an end view of a section of the first alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer  10 B with round longitudinal ribs  24 B and  26 B reducing some of the rigidity in the extruded product so that it might be less resistant to be stored and shipped in a rolled configuration. Here the level vial  15  is shown in place between pressure contact area  20  and flange  34 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  depicts a second alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer  10 C with barb sections  46  and  48  adjacent to the flanges  32  and  34  on each side of the extrusion. Hanger clips  50  are shown positioned on the lower barb section  48 , but will work equally as well reversed and attached to the lower flange  34 . The hanger dips  50  consisting of a bent tab  52  and a flat surface  54  with either a double sticky tape or a hook-loop attachment  44  are used to hang larger or heavier display materials. 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  depicts an end view of the second alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer  10 C clarifying the position of the barb sections  46  and  48  and their relation to the flanges  32  and  34 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of one half of the second alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer  10 C where the extrusion has been split down the middle along the central groove  38 . This operation will work equally as well with the other embodiments of this application. 
         [0059]      FIG. 8  depicts an end view of the one half section of the second alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer  10 C with a series of longitudinal ridges  56  alone the pressure contact area  20  running the length of the product. The pressure ridges  56  will work equally as well on the pressure contact area  18 , helping to restrain heavier display materials. 
         [0060]      FIG. 9  depicts an end view of the third alternate embodiment of the multiple display retainer  10 D displaying the position of the pressure contact area  65  and  66  and their relation to the flanges  64  and  67 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 10  depicts the display material  62  as it is held in place by pressure contact areas  65  and  66  of the flanges  64  and  68  with the wall mounting surface  67  of the third embodiment of the invention. 
         [0062]      FIG. 11  depicts the fourth embodiment of the present invention  10 E showing the central display material  78  as it is held in place by flanges  74  and  75 . The hole  72  accommodates the pushpin  73  or other type of item used to hold the fourth embodiment securely to cork hoard, wall, etc. The outer display materials  77  are seen with the pressure contact areas  76  of the flanges  74  and  75 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 12  depicts the fourth embodiment  10 E of the present invention without the display material. The pressure contact points  76  of the flanges  74  and  75  are seen without the inner display materials present. 
         [0064]      FIG. 13  depicts the flanges  74  and  75  of the fourth embodiment  10 E, and their pressure contact points  76  and the retainer clips  79  for central cavity display material. 
         [0065]      FIG. 14  depicts a filth embodiment of the present invention,  10 F. The rolled paper holder  83  allows the user to unroll and attach to the supporting material  88 , such as cork board, without damage to the display material. The rolled paper is held in place by a rolled paper holder  83 . The display material by is supported by push pins  84  or the like while the upper portion of the display material is held in place by a track  82  with holding means for upper display material  87 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 15  depicts a front elevational view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention  10 F. The supporting means for the invention may be a cork board  88  or the like. The display material  86  is rolled up inside the rolled paper holder  83  and the display material  86  is unfurled from the roiled paper holder  83  and is then attached to the backing material  88  by means of a track  82  and holding means for display material  87 . The holding means may be either of a number of adhesives or a hook and loop material, or some other like material. The rolled paper holder  83  is held in place with push pins  84  or similar means. In operation, this device acts as a second set of hands to hold the paper while the dips are secured into the track  82 . Without it, the paper is typically wrinkled or crushed while trying to install. 
         [0067]    The multiple display retainer  10 A,  10 B,  10 C,  10 D,  10 E and  10 F shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of application of the present design. Elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed for providing a multiple display retainer  10 A,  10 B,  10 C,  10 D,  10 E and  10 F in accordance with the spirit of this application, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this application as broadly defined in the appended claims. 
         [0068]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of this application. The abstract is neither intended to define the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.