Patent Publication Number: US-6665965-B1

Title: Ergonomic color sample fan deck

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/439581 filed on Jan. 10, 2003, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to sample display devices and more particularly to color sample fan decks for use in selecting paint colors. 
     Merchants who sell paint typically provide color samples of their paint to assist customers in selecting paint having a desired color and texture. Conventionally, multiple color samples are arranged on a single piece of heavy paper or cardboard, commonly referred to as a color card or a color strip. In a typical color strip, the color samples comprise small rectangular chips or swatches, each having an area less than about 2 square inches. The swatches are of different colors and are arranged in close proximity to each other on one side of the color strip. Usually, the swatches are different tints and shades of a particular hue. A conventional color strip typically has a length of about 8 to about 10 inches and a width of about 1.5 to about 2 inches. 
     Color strips are often displayed in a fan deck, wherein the color strips are arranged in a stack disposed between outer cover panels composed of a thin flexible plastic, cardboard or some other semi-rigid material. The color strips are held together between the cover panels by a pin or a rod that extends through aligned openings in the color strips. The color strips may be pivoted along the shaft in a plurality of directions so as to permit the color strips to be fanned out, which permits a large number of the color strips to be viewed at one time. 
     In conventional fan decks, the outer cover panels do not hold the color strips in place and do not provide much protection for the color strips when the fan deck is being handled or transported. As a result, the color strips often become bent, frayed or otherwise damaged during handling or transportation. 
     In order to better protect color strips in a fan deck, it has been proposed to enclose the color strips in a case or housing, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,809 to Day et al., U.S. Des. Pat. No. 266,543 to Reiss, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 275,337 to Forcan and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 275,817 to Keyser. The fan decks disclosed in these patents, however, are rather complicated and do not contain ergonomic features that facilitate the handling of the fan decks. 
     Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a fan deck that protects paint color strips and has ergonomic features that facilitate the handling of the fan deck. The present invention is directed to such a fan deck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It therefore would be desirable, and is an advantage of the present invention, to provide a fan deck that includes a case and at least one color strip. The case includes a center wall joined between a pair of side walls. Each of the side walls has a longitudinal free edge. At least one of the free edges has a plurality of undulations formed therein. The color strip includes at least one color swatch and has a free edge with a plurality of undulations formed therein. The color strip is connected to the case for movement between an extended position, wherein a majority of the color strip is not disposed between the side walls, and a retracted position, wherein a majority of the color strip is disposed between the side walls. When the color strip is in the retracted position, one of the undulations in the color strip is aligned with one of the undulations in the case. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a color sample fan deck comprising a plurality of color strips held in a case, wherein the fan deck is being held by a user; 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the case and one of the color strips; 
     FIG. 3 shows an end perspective view of the case; 
     FIG. 4 shows a close up view of undulations in the case; and 
     FIG. 5 shows a front perspective view of the fan deck being held by the user with some of the color strips being held in extended positions in a fanned out manner. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It should be noted that in the detailed description that follows, identical components have he same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of he present invention. It should also be noted that in order to clearly and concisely disclose the resent invention, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the invention may be shown in somewhat schematic form. 
     As used herein with regard to a particular coating or paint composition, the terms “dried appearance”, “dried color”, and “dried finish” shall respectively mean the appearance, color, and finish of the coating or paint composition when dried. 
     As used herein with regard to the position of one of the color strips  12  relative to the side walls  18  of the case  14 , the term “extended position” shall mean a position wherein a majority of the color strip  12  is not disposed between the side walls  18 . 
     As used herein the term “undulation” shall mean one of a series of wavelike bends, curves or elevations. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, there are shown various views of a color sample fan deck  10  embodied in accordance with the present invention. The fan deck  10  generally includes a plurality of color strips  12  pivotally held in a case  14 . The case  14  is preferably composed of a rigid plastic and generally has a rectangular shape. The case  14  comprises a center wall  16  joined between a pair of side walls  18 . The center wall  16  includes a lower undulation portion  20 , an upper planar portion  22 , a rounded top edge  24 , a bottom edge  26  and opposing side edges. An enlarged elliptical opening  28  is formed in the center wall  16  in the planar portion  22 , toward the top edge  24 . Each of the side walls  18  includes a top edge  32 , a bottom edge  34 , a free front edge  36  and a rear edge. A pair of aligned holes  40  are formed in the side walls  18  proximate to the bottom edges  34 . The top and bottom edges  32 ,  34  of the side walls  18  are preferably gently curved in the direction between the front edge  36  and the rear edge. T he rear edges of the side walls  18  are joined to the side edges of the center wall  16  at rounded corners  42  (best shown in FIG.  3 ). The bottom edge  26  of the center wall  16  is spaced upwardly about 1⅜ inches from the bottom edges  34  of the side walls  18  so as to form a pivot space  44  between the side walls  18  in the plane of the center wall  16 . The specific dimensions of the case  14  are primarily chosen based on marketing considerations. In a preferred embodiment, however, the side walls  18  each have a length between the top and bottom edges  32 ,  34  of about 12¼ inches and a width between the front edge  36  and the rear edge of about 2{fraction (3/16)} inches, while the center wall  16  has a length between the top and bottom edges  24 ,  26  of about 10{fraction (11/16)} inches and a width between side edges of about 2{fraction (3/16)} inches. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the undulation portion  20  of the center wall  16  includes a plurality of undulations preferably comprising a series of alternating arcuate ridges  46  and grooves or furrows  48 . Preferably, there are four ridges  46  separated by three furrows  48 . The ridges  46  preferably extend above (or outward from) the planar portion  22  of the center wall  16 , while the furrows  48  are preferably coplanar with the planar portion  22 . The distance between the centers of ridges  46  is preferably about 1 inch and the distance between the centers of to adjacent furrows  48  is also preferably about 1 inch. The height of each ridge  46 , i.e., the outward distance from the planar portion  22  to the top of each ridge  46 , is preferably about 0.08 inches. Each furrow  48  is preferably curved and has a radius of curvature of about 0.802 inches. Similarly, each ridge  46  is preferably curved and has a radius of curvature of about 0.802 inches. 
     Also as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the front edge  36  of each side wall  18  includes an undulation portion  50  disposed between upper and lower straight portions  52 ,  54 . Preferably, the undulation portion  50  is located toward the bottom edge  34  of the side wall  18 , i.e., the lower straight portion  54  is shorter than the upper straight portion  52 . The undulation portion  50  includes a plurality of undulations preferably comprising a series of alternating arcuate hills  58  and valleys  60 . Preferably, there ate three valleys  60  separated by two hills  58 . The valleys  60  preferably extend below (or inward from) the upper and lower straight portions  52 ,  54  of the front edge  36 , while the tops of the hills  58  are preferably coplanar with the upper and lower straight portions  52 ,  54 . The distance between the centers of adjacent hills  58  is preferably about 1 inch and the distance between the centers of adjacent valleys  60  is also preferably about 1 inch. The depth of each of the valleys  60 , i.e., the distance from the bottom of each valley  60  to the upper and lower straight portions  52 ,  54 , is preferably about 0.08 inches. Each valley  60  is preferably curved and has a radius of curvature of about 0.802 inches. Similarly, each hill  58  is preferably curved and has a radius of curvature of about 0.802 inches. The undulation portions  50  in the side walls  18  are longitudinally aligned, i.e., the hills  58  in the one undulation portion  50  are longitudinally aligned with the hills  58  in the other undulation portion  50  and the valleys  60  in the one undulation portion  50  are longitudinally aligned with the valleys  60  in the other undulation portion  50 . 
     The undulation portion  20  of the center wall  16  is preferably positioned relative to the undulation portions  50  of the side walls  18  such that a lowermost one of the ridges  46  in the center wall  16  is disposed below the undulation portions  50  of the side walls  18 , while the remaining ridges  46  of the center wall  16  are longitudinally aligned with the valleys  60  of the side walls  18 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown front plan view of one of the paint color strips  12 . Each color strip  12  is generally rectangular in shape and has top and bottom edges  64 ,  66  and front and rear edges  68 ,  70 . The specific dimensions of each color strip  12  are chosen based on the dimensions of the case  14 . Generally, each color strip  12  has a length between the top and bottom edges  64 ,  66  of about 12.25 inches and a width between the front and rear edges  68 ,  70  of about 2 inches. The top and bottom edges  64 , 66  of each color strip  12  are preferably gently curved in the direction between the front and rear edges  68 ,  70 . A hole  72  is formed in each color strip  12  proximate to the bottom edge  66 . As will be described more fully below, the holes  72  in the paint color strips  12  are used to mount the color strips  12  in the case  14 . 
     The front edge  68  of each color strip  12  includes an undulation portion  74  disposed between upper and lower straight portions  76 ,  78 . The undulation portion  74  includes a plurality of undulations that are preferably the same in number and preferably have substantially the same dimensions, spacing and shapes as the undulations  50  in the case  14 . In this manner, the undulations in the undulation portion  74  preferably comprise a series of alternating arcuate hills  80  and valleys  82  and more particularly three valleys  82  separated by two hills  80 . As with the undulation portions  50  in the case  14 , the valleys  82  preferably extend below (or inwardly from) the upper and lower straight portions  76 ,  78  of the front edge  68 , while the tops of the hills  80  are preferably coplanar with the upper and lower straight portions  76 ,  78 . The distance between the centers of adjacent hills  80  is preferably about 1 inch and the distance between the centers of adjacent valleys  82  is also preferably about 1 inch. The depth of each of the valleys  82 , i.e., the distance from the bottom of each valley  82  to the upper and lower straight portions  76 ,  78 , is preferably about 0.08 inches. Each valley  82  is preferably curved and has a radius of curvature of about 0.802 inches. Similarly, each hill  80  is preferably curved and has a radius of curvature of about 0.802 inches. The undulation portion  74  in each color strip  12  is spaced from the hole  72  such that when the color strips  12  are mounted in the case  14 , the undulation portions  74  of the color strips  12  are aligned with the undulation portions  50  of the side walls  18  of the case  14 . 
     Each color strip  12  is comprised of a substrate having a planar front surface with a plurality of rectangular color swatches  86  formed thereon. The color swatches  86  are comprised of different colored coating compositions and are separated by strips of uncoated portions of the substrate. The colored coating compositions preferably cover the front edge of the color strips  12  in the color swatches  86  so as to be visible when the color strips  12  are mounted in the case  14  and are oriented in their fully retracted positions. The colored coating compositions are formulated to have dried colors that are the same as, or substantially similar to, the dried colors of commercially-available paint compositions. In this manner, the color swatches  86  have the same or substantially similar color as the dried colors of commercially-available paint compositions. The dried colors of the commercially-available paint compositions and, thus, the colors of the color swatches  86  may be different tints and shades of a particular hue, or they may be different hues. 
     The substrate of each color strip  12  may be composed of a cellulosic material, such as thick paper or cardboard, or a polymeric material, such as acrylic coated polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. Paper having a thickness of 10 pts. or greater has been found to be useful as the substrate. The colored coating compositions may be solvent-borne coating compositions or latex compositions. A suitable solvent-borne coating composition includes a cellulose-derivative resin, such as nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, or cellulose acetate butyrate, and one or more organic solvents, such as acetone, methylethyl ketone, methyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, and/or nitromethane. A suitable latex composition includes one or more acrylic or vinyl acrylic resins dispersed in an aqueous medium. If the substrate is composed of a cellulosic material, the colored coating compositions are preferably solvent-borne coating compositions. Latex compositions may be used with a cellulosic substrate, however, the cellulosic substrate should be sized to seal its pores against the water in the latex compositions. 
     The commercially-available paint compositions may be architectural paints, automotive paints, or other types of paint. Since paint color strips are predominately used for architectural paints, the paint color strips  12  find particular utility for use with architectural paints, such as interior and exterior latex house paint. 
     Although the colored coating compositions and the commercially-available paint compositions have the same or substantially similar colors, the colored coating compositions and the commercially-available paint compositions may have different compositions. For example, the colored coating compositions may be solvent-borne compositions, while the commercially available paint compositions may be latex compositions. 
     Names and identifying codes  88  for the commercially-available paint compositions are preferably printed on the color strips  12 . The names and the identifying codes  88  of the commercially-available paint compositions are used to produce the commercially-available paint compositions at the point of sale. The names and identifying codes  88  may be printed on the front surfaces of the color strips  12 , in the corners of the color swatches  86  to which they pertain. The names and identifying codes  88  are also preferably printed on the rear surfaces of the color strips  12 , opposite their corresponding color swatches  86 . 
     Conventionally, a merchant who sells paint stocks several different base compositions and a number of different colorant compositions. Most of the commercial paint compositions the merchant offers for sale are a combination of one of the base compositions and one or more colorant compositions, which are mixed together at the point of sale. The amount of base composition and the amount(s) of colorant composition(s) required to produce a particular commercial paint composition are contained in formulas that are stored in a book and/or a computer system located at the merchant&#39;s facility. The formulas are identified by the names and/or identifying codes for the commercially-available paint compositions the formulas represent. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, the color strips  12  are shown disposed in the case  14 . The color strips  12  are aligned together in a stack  90 , which is disposed between the side walls  18 . With the color strips  12  so positioned, the holes  72  in the color strips  12  are aligned so as to define a passage through the stack  90 . A rod (not shown) and a holding pin  92  are provided for securing the color strips  12  to the case  14 . The rod has a body with a first end joined to an enlarged head and a second end having a bore formed therein. The bore may be threaded or provided with holding grooves. The holding pin  92  has an enlarged head  94  joined to a body (not shown). The body of the holding pin  92  may be threaded for engagement with threads in the bore or provided with holding structures (such as barbs) for engagement with holding grooves in the bore. The body of the rod extends through the hole  40  in one of the side walls  18  of the case  14  and through the passage in the stack  90 . The body of the holding pin  92  extends through the hole  40  in the other side wall  18  and is threaded or press fit into the bore in the second end of the body, thereby securing the holding pin  92  to the rod. In this manner, the head of the rod and the head  94  of the holding pin  92  are disposed against the exterior surfaces of the side walls  18 , around the holes  40 , with the body of the rod extending therebetween. Since the head of the rod and the head  94  of the holding pin  92  are larger than the holes  40  in the side walls  18 , the rod, and, thus the color strips  12  are secured to the case  14 . 
     With the color strips  12  mounted in the case  14  as described above, each color strip  12  is pivotally movable about 270° between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. In the fully retracted position, the color strip  12  is fully disposed in the case  14 , between and parallel to the side walls  18 , with the rear edge  70  of the color strip  12  abutting the center wall  16  of the case  14 . In the fully extended position, the color strip  12  extends rearwardly through the pivot space  44  in the case  14  and is disposed at a substantially right angle to the rear surface of the center wall  16 , with the front edge  68  of the color strip  12  abutting the bottom edge  26  of the center wall  16 . In the fully extended position, most of the color strip  12  is not disposed between the side walls  18 . As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of color strips  12  may be moved to extended positions that are staggered so as to form a fan-like display of the color strips  12 . 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, when all of the color strips  12  are in their fully retracted positions in the case  14 , the color strips  12  are aligned together in the stack  90  and the undulation portions  74  of the color strips  12  are aligned with the undulation portions  50  of the side walls  18  of the case  14 . The alignment of the undulation portions  74  of the color strips  12  with each other and with the undulation portions  50  of the side walls  18  forms a plurality of grooves  96  that laterally extend through the side walls  18  of the case  14  and the stack  90  of the color strips  12 . The grooves  96  and the furrows  48  in the fan deck  10  facilitate the holding of the fan deck  10  by a user. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a user may comfortably hold the fan deck  10  in a right hand  100  by placing fingers  102  of the right hand  100  in the furrows  48  in the case  14 , on one side of the fan deck  10 , and placing a thumb  104  of the right hand  100  in one of the grooves  96 , on the other side of the fan deck  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the fan deck  10  may (in similar fashion) be held in a left hand  106  by placing fingers  108  of the left hand  106  in the furrows  48  in the case  14 , on one side of the fan deck  10 , and placing a thumb  110  of the left hand  106  in one of the grooves  96 , on the other side of the fan deck  10 . A plurality of the color strips  12  may be moved from their fully retracted positions to extended positions by inserting a finger  102  of the right hand  100  through the elliptical opening  28  in the center wall  16  of the case  14  and pushing the color strips  12  outwardly. The color strips  12  may then be held in the right hand  100  in extended positions that are staggered so as to form a fan-like display of the color strips  12 . When holding the color strips  12  in this manner in the right hand  100 , a crook  112  of the right hand  100  may be positioned in in one or more valleys  82  of the color strips  12 . 
     It should be appreciated that the fan deck  10  can similarly be held by a left-handed user. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, those embodiments are for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation, and other variations and modifications of the specific embodiments herein described will be apparent to those skilled in the art, all within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited in scope and effect to the specific embodiments herein described, nor in any other way that is inconsistent with the extent to which the progress in the art has been advanced by the invention.