GB2092525A - Attaching sheet material to a surface - Google Patents

Abstract

A sheet (5) is attached to a surface (1) by a plastics a strip (3) having one or more inwardly directed lips (4) along one longitudinal edge. The sheet edge can be folded or perforated to engage behind the lips (4). Several strips (3) can be mounted on a common backing piece attached to the surface (1), eg forming a panel, wall, noticeboard, carton, cabinet. The sheet (5) is a card, paper, memorandum poster or index label which can be provided with a crease line to form lip (7). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and means for attaching sheet material to a surface This invention relates to a method and means for attaching a sheet of paper, card or like sheet material to a surface. Such a surface may comprise for example a portable panel, or noticeboard or a wall of a box, carton or filing cabinet. These however are examples only, since the invention may be applied wherever it is desired to affix to a surface a record card notice, memorandom,index label or the like or a series of such items.

According to the invention there is provided a method of attaching a sheet of paper, card or the like material to a surface comprising the steps of fixing to the surface a strip of resilient plastics having along one longitudinal edge thereof one or more inwardly directed lips disposed between the main body of the strip and the surface, providing along an edge of said sheet one or more lip engaging portions, and engaging said portion(s) behind said lip(s) whereby said sheet is engagingly retained with the strip.

The fixing of the resilient strip to the surface may be effected in a number of ways, such as for example by means of pins, but in a preferred embodiment of the invention the strip is provided with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive. As supplied, the adhesive will generally be covered with a film of protective material e.g. paper coated with a release layer which is removed before the use of the strip. Thus the strip is fixed to the surface, and the sheet engagingly retained by the strip, providing a simple and effective method of attaching the sheet to the surface. It will of course be evident that the choice of adhesive may depend upon the manner of surface to which the resilient strip is to be fixed.The engagement of the lip(s) with the said portion(s) impedes removal of the sheet from the strip, and the arrangement is preferably such that the said engagement is achieved with a snap or click action so as to provide the user with an audible indication that the engagement has been properly effected.

The resilient strip used in the method of the invention is preferably, although not essentially, U-shaped in cross-section. In this case the said lip may comprise a longitudinally and inwardly extending flange disposed along one leg of the section. However one such flange could be provided on each leg if desired.

Where a single flange is provided the said pressure sensitive adhesive layer is preferably provided on the other leg of the section, although if desired, the layer could be provided on the flange-containing leg.

The provision of a said flange enables a particularly simple formation of lip engaging portion. In a particularly preferred embodiment the sheet of paper, card or the like is folded along said edge to form a second flange which is mutually cooperative with said strip flange to provide a locking engagement.

To facilitate the formation of said folded flange, a score line or other similar line of weakening may be provided parallel to and spaced inwardly from said edge. In a preferred embodiment the said second flange may be released at either end thereof to provide two ears to the sheet which, when the sheet is engaged with the strip, embrace the strip and serve to prevent or hinder lateral movement to the engaged sheet. Such a release of the end portions of the said second flange may conveniently be effected by cutting or tearing the sheet along for example a previously provided score line or other similar line of weakening substantially perpendicular to the line along which the sheet is folded to provide the said second flange.If it is desired that the sheet engagingly retained according to the present invention by the strip should exhibit a minimal degree of freedom to move transversely to the strip, the said second flange may conveniently be of almost the same depth as that leg of the U-shaped strip on which the inwardly disposed flange is situated. In this case the sheet may be retained by the lateral insertion thereof between the legs of the U-shaped strip. It has also been found that, where the sheet engagingly retained according to the present invention by the resilient strip is provided with the said second flange, lateral insertion of the sheet between the legs of the U-shaped strip is facilitated by the provision to the said second flange of angled ends.

Other ways of providing the engaging connection between lip(s) and portion(s) are however possible in accordance with the invention. For example, with a flanged strip as aforesaid the sheet of paper, card or the like could be provided with a elongate slot extending parallel and adjacent to said one edge, and serving to receive said flange. Alternatively a multiplicity of inwardly directed lips could be formed along said resilient strip adapted for engagement in a multiplicity of cooperating perforations disposed adjacent to said one edge. An advantage of this last mentioned embodiment is that the sheet is restrained from movement longitudinally of the strip as well as transversely thereof.

Where a large sheet, for example a poster, is to be retained according to the present invention, it is convenient for opposite ends of the sheet to be provided with lip engaging portions and to be retained by separate opposed strips positioned so that the sheet retained thereby is held taut.

It will of course be realised that the forcible transverse removal of the retained sheet from the retaining resilient strip is hindered rather than entirely prevented by the lips and lip engaging portions of sheet and strip. By decreasing thickness and increasing resilience of sheet and strip such transverse removal is facilitated. However the increase in thickness of the sheet facilitates the engagement thereof with the resilient strip and decreases the damage suffered by the sheet by retention, removal or general handling. In the present invention, where the sheets are of paper or card and the resilient strips of polyvinylchloride,thicknesses of 0.003 to 0.015 inch and 0.005 to 0.012 inch for sheet and strip are through particularly suitable.Should the ability to undergo forcible transverse removal from the retaining strip be deemed a desirable characteristics of the sheets (as for example may be the case when one strip retains a plurality of sheets) then the thickness and resilience of sheets and strip should be selected accordingly, for example using a 0.007 to 0.010 inch thickness unplasticized PVC strip, paper or card sheets of 0.012 or 0.004 inch thickness respectively might be considered suitable.

Viewed from another aspect the invention provides means for carrying out the method set forth above comprising in combination one or more strips of resilient plastics each having along one longitudinal edge thereof one or more inwardly directed lips, means for fixing the or each strip to a surface, and a supply of sheets of paper, card or the like material each sheet having formed along at least one edge thereof one or more lip engaging portions adapted for engagement behind said lip(s) whereby said sheet may be engagingly retained with the or a said strip.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the lip engaging portion of each said sheet comprises a flange extending along the edge of the sheet and connected thereto by a score line or other similar line of weakening whereby said flange may be folded over out of the plane of the sheet whereby to be retainingly engaged behind said lip(s).

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of strips, either as discrete strips or more preferably as an integrally formed unit, is fixed to the substrate, the said strips being aligned substantially mutually parallel and such that sheets of paper, card or like material engagingly retained by adjacent strips overlap substantially.

This preferred embodiment finds particular utility in the field of card indices, memoranda retainers and the like.

The resilient strip may, if desired, be of a transparent plastics material whereby the outwardly directed face of the flange of the sheet retained by the strip is visible through the strip The outwardly directly face of the flange can thus be used to carry information, such as a heading or title relating to the information on the sheet. This is of particular benefit where the strip forms part of a plurality of strip such as for example in an index or memorandum.

In order that the invention may be readily understood certain embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment, and Figure 3 is a similar view of a third embodiment.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 there is shown part of a notice board 1 presenting a smooth vertical surface. Fixed to this surface by means of a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 2 is an elongate strip 3 of resilient plastics of substantially U-shaped cross section. To one leg of the U is connected an inwardly directed lip in the form of a continuous flange 4 which resiliently engages the inner surface of the other leg.

A sheet of paper 5 is to be retainingly engaged with the strip 3 and thus attached to the surface. Sheet 5 is one of a supply of such sheets in the form of a loose pack or flat pad held together by adhesive in a known way. Each sheet is provided with a score line 6 parallel to but slightly spaced from an edge thereof, and the edge is folded along the score line 6 to form a flange 7.

Upward movement of the sheet 5 into the U-section causes the flange 7 to be pressed flat against the sheet 5 and to pass between the flange 4 and the main body of the strip.

When the free edge of the flange 7 has passed the free edge of the flange 4, the latter resiliently engages the main body of sheet 5 with a snap or click action. Flange 7 under the natural resilience of the sheet material separates from the main body of the sheet and thereafter engages behind flange 4 on a slight withdrawal of sheet 5. The interengagement of the two flanges impedes withdrawal of the sheet in a direction transverse to the strip and it therefore remains firmly retained.

Removal can however be easily effected by sliding the sheet out longitudinally of the strip.

Referring now to Fig. 2 wherein like numerals correspond to Fig. 1, the strip 3 instead of being formed with a continuous flange is provided with a multiplicity of serrated lips 8.

The sheet 5 is formed with a multiplicity of perforated apertures 9 disposed along one edge thereof. Again the edge of the sheet is introduced into the U of the strip section, and the lips 8 engage in the apertures 9 to restrain withdrawal of the sheet 5. A snap or click action is again obtained. Removal can be easily effected by the insertion of a plain edge of card, which could for example be provided by the edge of the sheet remote from that engaged with the strip, between that leg of the strip which is provided with the serrated lips and the perforated edge of the engaged sheet.

Referring to Fig. 3 wherein like numerals correspond to Fig. 1, the strip 3 instead of being discrete is a part of an integraly formed unit 10 which bears a plurality of strips (3,3',3" etc) in vertical registry. In this fashion a plurality of sheets 5, 5' etc may be retained by the integrally formed unit 10, a strip along the bottom edge of each card remaining exposed for, for example, identification purposes.

It will be seen that in these embodiments the sheet of paper or the like is introduced into the strip and a satisfying or click action is obtained on engagement. Removal of the sheet in a transverse direction is thereafter impeded by the engagement of the lips of flanges with the lip-engaging means (flange or apertures) formed in the sheet. Thus a most useful engaging cooperation is obtained between sheet and strip which enables the sheet to be relatively securely fixed to the surface of board 1.

Claims (11)

1. A method of attaching a sheet of paper, card or the like material to a surface comprising the steps of fixing to the surface a strip of resilient plastics having along one longitudinal edge thereof one or more inwardly directed lips disposed between the main body of the strip and the surface, providing along an edge of said sheet one or more lip engaging portions, and engaging said portion(s) behind said lip(s) whereby said sheet is engagingly retained with the strip.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein to effect fixing of said strip to said surface, said strip is provided with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

3. A method as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2 wherein said strip is generally Ushaped in cross-section and said lip comprises a longitudinally and inwardly extending flange disposed along one leg of the section.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said sheet is folded along said edge to form as said lip engaging portion a second flange.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein either or both ends of said second flange is or are released to provide one or two ear portions which when said sheet is engaged with said strip embrace said strip thereby hindering or preventing lateral withdrawal of said sheet from engagement with said strip.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said strip is provided with a multiplicity of inwardly directed lips disposed along one leg of the section and adapted to engage with a multiplicity of cooperating perforations disposed adjacent said edge of said sheet.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said strip is of polyvinyl chloride.

8. Means for carrying out a method as claimed in claim 1 comprising in combination one or more strips of resilient plastics each having along one longitudinal edge thereof one or more inwardly directed lips, means for fixing the or each strip to a surface and a supply of sheets of paper, card or the like material each sheet having formed along at least one edge thereof one or more lip engaging portions adapted for engagement behind said lip(s) whereby said sheet may be engagingly retained with the or a said strip.

9. Means as claimed in claim 8 wherein said lip engaging portion of each said sheet comprises a flange extending along said edge of said sheet and connected thereto by a score line or other line of weakening whereby said flange may be folded out of the plane of said sheet and thereby be retainingly engaged behind said lip(s).

10. Means as claimed in claim 9 wherein further score lines or other lines of weakening extend across said flange whereby when said flange is folded out of the plane of said sheet an ear section may be produced at one or both ends of said flange said ear section(s) serving to hinder or prevent lateral withdrawal of said sheet from engagement with said strip.

11. Means as claimed in claim 8 wherein the or each said strip is provided along one longitudinal edge thereof with a multiplicity of inwardly directed lips and wherein said lip engaging portions of each said sheet comprise a multiplicity of perforations disposed adjacent to an edge of said sheet, the spacing apart of adjacent lips and adjacent perforations being substantially equal.

1 2. Means as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein said one or more strips comprises an integrally formed parallel plurality of strips of resilient plastics.

1 3. Means as claimed in claim 8 substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.