Patent Publication Number: US-8973764-B2

Title: Sample display holder

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 61/845,636 filed on Jul. 12, 2013, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments herein relate generally to devices used to display material samples. 
     Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, there was no efficient way to display cellular fabrics for window coverings. In particular solutions involved either having an attachment outside the fabric swatch or having a cover that needed to be manufactured over the swatch and the attachment to hold the fabrics down in a closed position. Embodiments of the disclosed invention resolve these problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     A sample display holder, configured to present a fabric covering. The sample display holder can include a backer board, mechanically coupled to a plurality of joined cellular material sample sections can further comprise a rear cellular material sample section mechanically coupled to the backer board and a front cellular material sample section mechanically coupled to a label. Each cellular material sample section can further comprise a cell mechanically coupled to and surrounded by the fabric covering. Each cell and each fabric covering can further comprise a front hole and a rear hole wherein all holes are aligned. A magnetic unit can be attached to the backer board and further comprising a mounting mechanically coupled to a magnet. A magnetic plate can be mechanically coupled to the front cellular material sample section. In a first mode of operation, the plurality of joined cellular material sample sections can be compressed by magnetically coupling the magnet to the magnetic plate. In a second mode of operation, the plurality of joined cellular material sample sections can be expanded by pulling the label away from the backer board. 
     In some embodiments, each cell and each fabric covering can be shaped as a modified quadrilateral having a front side and a rear side parallel to the backer board. The front side and the rear side can be joined with a top side and a bottom side which are configured to expand and collapse to accommodate the magnet. 
     In some embodiments, a display deck can be detachably coupled to the backer board. In some embodiments, the display deck can be detachably coupled to the backer board with a hook and loop fastener. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, shown with some samples in an extended position. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a detail section view of an embodiment of the invention, taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a detail section view of an embodiment of the invention, taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     By way of example, and referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of sample display holder  10  comprises backer board  12 . Backer board  12  is mechanically coupled to a plurality of display modules  14 . Each display module  14  further comprises a plurality of joined cellular material sample sections  16 . Each cellular material sample section  16  further comprises cell  20  mechanically coupled to and surrounded by fabric covering  18 . Of the plurality of joined cellular material sample sections  16 , there is a rear cellular material sample section  16  mechanically coupled to backer board  12  and a front cellular material sample section  16  mechanically coupled to label  22 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an assembly views of sample display holder  10 . Each cell  20  and fabric covering  18  further comprises a front hole  24  and a rear hole  24  wherein all holes  24  are aligned. Backer board  12  is mechanically coupled to magnetic unit  26 . Magnetic unit  26  comprises mounting  28  mechanically coupled to magnet  30 . Front cellular material sample section  16  is mechanically coupled to magnetic plate  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , backer board  12  is mechanically coupled to hook fastener  34 . Display deck  38  is mechanically coupled to loop fastener  36 . In this regard, backer board  12  is detachably coupled to display deck  38 . Display deck  38  could stand alone in some embodiments or it could be a part of a book of samples. In either case, embodiments of the present invention facilitate displaying samples. 
     Mounting  28  is perpendicular to backer board  12  such that magnet  30  extends through each hole  24 . Each cell  20  and each fabric covering  18  have a distinctive shape that enables this feature. The shape is a modified quadrilateral having a front side and a rear side parallel to backer board  12 . The front side and the rear side are joined with a top side and a bottom side which are configured to expand and collapse. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  demonstrate that, in a first mode of operation, to use sample display holder  10 , a user simple pulls label  22  distant backer board  12 . In a second mode of operation, to store sample display holder  10 , a user then compresses label  22  proximate backer board  12  until magnetic plate  32  is magnetically coupled to magnet  30 . 
     Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.