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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to holder apparatus for transparencies and, more
particularly, to a folder for holding a plurality of transparencies for
sequential projection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,590 (Bisberg) discloses a three-leaf folder for holding
transparencies to be projected by an overhead projector. The leaves are
hinged to a base element. The base element is disposed on the top surface
of an overhead projector. The apparatus includes a support frame against
which the transparencies may be disposed. Multiple transparencies may be
projected, but the transparencies are overlays, and may accordingly may
not be projected selectively individually.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,740 (Bisberg) discloses another folder for use with an
overhead projector. The apparatus includes structure similar to that of
the '590 Patent. The apparatus of the '740 Patent may be used with the
apparatus of the '590 Patent. Both patents are by the same patentee. The
apparatus includes four separate elements, connected together, with a base
element and three elements secured to the sides of the base element. A
plurality of transparencies is secured between two of the hinged elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,650 (Hayes) discloses a teaching aid for transparencies
usable with an overhead projector. The apparatus includes a base element
to which a number of transparencies are secured for sequential or
individual projection. The base element includes four flaps foldable over
the base element to define a container. The elements are hinged together
to comprise a unitary structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention describes and claimed herein comprises a folder for holding a
plurality of transparencies which may be individually or sequentially
projected by an overhead projector. The apparatus includes a base element
with outwardly extending panels secured to and extending oppositely
outwardly from the base element. The two panels are hingedly secured to
the base panel and the two outer panels are connected together by a pair
of metal strips with tracks extending through or along the strips.
Transparencies to be projected are secured to pins, and the outer ends of
the pins are disposed in the tracks or grooves in the metal strips. The
transparencies may then be pivotly disposed from one panel onto the base
panel for projection, and then may be moved in the track or groove to the
opposite panel.
Among the objects of the present invention are the following:
To provide new and useful folder apparatus for holding a plurality of
transparencies to be projected by an overhead projector;
To provide new and useful apparatus for holding a plurality of
transparencies for sequential and individual projection;
To provide new and useful folder apparatus for holding a plurality of
transparencies, with the transparencies movable from a first storage or
pre-projection position to a projection position, and from the projection
position to a second storage position;
To provide new and useful folder apparatus for sequentially dispensing
transparencies for presentation;
To provide new and useful folder apparatus for sequentially projecting
transparencies in order and for easily and quickly reversing the order as
desired;
To provide new and useful folder apparatus having a base element and two
panels secured to the base element, and the panels are pivotly or hingedly
secured to the base element; and
To provide new and useful folder apparatus for holding a plurality of
transparencies, and the transparencies are secured to pins and the pins
are in turn secured to the folder for movement relative thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in
its use environment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken generally from circle 4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a view in partial section taken generally along line 5--5 of FIG.
4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus in its storage mode.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention open
in its use mode.
FIG. 8 is an end view of a portion of the apparatus of the present
invention.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view sequentially following FIG. 8 and
illustrating the use of the apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged end view illustrating the operation of the apparatus
sequentially following FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged end view illustrating the operation of the apparatus
of the present invention sequentially following FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged end view of another portion of the apparatus of the
present invention sequentially following FIG. 11 and illustrating the
operation of the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an overhead or opaque projector 2 with
transparency holder and folder apparatus 20 of the present invention
disposed on the projector 2. The projector 2 includes a top surface 4, and
a portion of the top surface 4 includes a light source platform 6 on which
the apparatus 20 is disposed. Above the light source platform and the top
4 is a projection lens 8. As is well known and understood, transparencies
are disposed on the light source platform 6 and, when the light within the
projector 2 is turned on, the light is projected upwardly towards the
projection lens 8 and is then projected outwardly onto a screen. A user of
the apparatus stands by the projector apparatus 2 for discussing the
material displayed on the transparencies and projected onto the screen.
The apparatus 20 includes three pivotly connected portions, a center
portion or base 22 and two wing portions 112 and 122.
The apparatus 20 of the present invention is shown in its open position or
orientation on the top 4 in FIG. 1, and the apparatus 20- is shown in
detail in FIGS. 2-12.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus 20, FIG. 3 is a
top or plan view of another portion of the apparatus 20. FIG. 4 is an
enlarged top or plan view of a portion of the apparatus 20 taken generally
from circle 4 of FIG. 3, illustrating a particular texture. FIG. 5 is an
enlarged view in partial section of a portion of the apparatus 20 taken
generally along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the apparatus 20 illustrating the
apparatus 20 in its folded, storage condition and in its open, use
condition, respectively. Dash dot arrows in FIG. 7 illustrate the pivoting
of the wing portions 112 and 122 relative to the base portion 22.
FIGS. 8-12 are side views in partial section sequentially illustrating the
operation and use of the apparatus 20.
For the following discussion, reference will be made to all the Figures in
general, specific reference will be made to particular drawing Figures as
appropriate.
The transparency folder and holder apparatus 20 includes the three primary
portions, a central portion 22 which comprises a base frame and elements
secured thereto, and two outer or wing portions, including the wing
portion or cover 112 and the wing portion or cover 122. The wing portions
or covers are appropriately hinged to the base frame 22.
The base frame 22, which is the central frame, as mentioned above, includes
four perimeter frame members, all of which are shown in FIG. 1. There is a
bottom perimeter frame member 24, a pair of side perimeter frame members
26 and 28, and a top or upper perimeter frame member 30. Within the
perimeter frame members is a central area 32. The central area 32 is
preferably covered by a transparent supporting element or material window.
Secured to the bottom perimeter frame member 24 is a bottom track strip or
guide frame 40. Secured to the upper perimeter frame member 30 is a top
track strip or guide frame 70. The two track strips or guide frame members
40 and 70 are substantially identical to each other.
The bottom track strip or guide frame member 40 includes a base 42 which is
appropriately secured to the frame member 24 by a plurality of fastener
elements 44. The fastener elements 44 may be rivets, or any appropriate
element which secures the base 42 to the frame member 24.
Extending upwardly from the base 42 is a vertical arm 46. The vertical arm
46 includes several connected slots or slot portions extending the length
of the guide frame 40. As best shown in FIG. 2, there is a vertical end
slot 48 which extends upwardly from the base 42. Continuing on from the
top or upper portion of the vertical end slot 48 there is a sloping end
slot 50. At the bottom of the sloping end slot 50 there is a downwardly
extending reversing slot 52. From the reversing slot 52, there is a
longitudinally extending slot 54.
At the opposite end of the guide frame 40 from the reversing slot 52 and
the sloping end slot 50 and the vertical end slot 48, there are three slot
elements which are substantially identical to the latter slots. They
include a reversing slot 56, a sloping slot 58, and a vertical slot 60. In
other words, at the opposite ends of the longitudinal slot 54 are three
slots which are essentially mirror images of each other.
The top guide frame 70, portions of which are best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and
5, is substantially identical to, but is a mirror image of, the bottom
guide frame 40, as indicated above. The two guide frames or track strips
40 and 70 are disposed generally parallel to each other. The guide frame
70 includes a base 72 which is appropriately secured to the frame member
30 by a plurality of fasteners 74, as shown in FIG. 5.
Extending upwardly from the base 72 is a vertical arm 76. The vertical arm
76 includes a vertical end slot 78, a sloping slot 80 extending from the
vertical end slot 78, and a reversing slot 82 at the bottom of the sloping
slot 80. A longitudinal slot 84 extends generally horizontally to the
opposite end of the guide frame 70 from the slots 78, 80, and 82.
At the opposite end of the longitudinal slot 84 from the slots 78, 80, and
82, there is a reversing slot, a sloping slot, and a vertical slot. The
latter slots, not shown, comprise substantially a mirror image of the
slots 82, 80, and 78, respectively. The various slots of the track strip
or guide frame 70 are appropriately aligned with the corresponding slots
48...60 of the track strip or guide frame 40.
The two covers 112 and 122 are appropriately secured to the base frame 22
by hinges 110 and 120, respectively. The length of the hinge portions or
elements 110 and 120 corresponds to the height of the vertical arms 46 and
76 of the guide frames 40 and 70. This is best shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The
hinge elements 110 are, of course, appropriately hingedly or pivotly
secured to the base frame 22 and to the respective covers 112 and 122.
FIG. 6 shows the apparatus 20 in its closed configuration, with the wing
covers 112 and 122 folded to appropriately cover the base frame 22 and a
plurality of mounted transparencies 140 secured to the base frame 22.
In FIGS. 1 and 7, the wing covers 112 and 122 are shown in their open
position, with the plurality of mounted transparencies 140 secured to the
guide frames.
The operation of the transparencies 140 is illustrated primarily in FIGS.
8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, sequentially. However, reference will also be made
to other Figures, such as FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 7, as appropriate, in the
following discussion.
Each mounted transparency 140, perhaps best shown in FIG. 7, includes a
perimeter frame 142 to which is secured a transparency 150. The frame 142
may be made of paper, plastic, or any appropriate material, as desired.
The transparency 150, of course, includes any information or data which is
desired to be projected by the projector 2 onto a screen (not shown) for a
presentation.
Each perimeter frame 142 includes what may be simply referred to as an
inside or side member 144. The inside member 144 includes two end slide
hooks 146 and 148, as best shown in FIG. 3. The slide hooks 146 and 148
are disposed in the slots of the guide frames 40 and 70, respectively. The
end slide hooks 146 may be integral with the frame 142, if desired, or
they may be the outer ends of a separate element extending through a
sleeve on the end of the inside or end member 144 of the perimeter frame
142.
The end slide hooks 146 and 148 are disposed in the slots in the vertical
arms 46 and 76 of the guide frames 40 and 70, respectively. The slide
hooks allow the transparencies 140 to be guided as appropriate for the
storage, projection, and storage again of the transparencies, as will be
discussed below.
Sequentially, the apparatus 20, with a plurality of mounted transparencies
140, is configured as a book, as best shown in FIG. 6. Then, the apparatus
20 may be disposed on a projector 2, and opened as shown in FIG. 7, with
the wings 112 and 122 in their open position, and the transparencies 140
are appropriately stacked, as shown in FIG. 7. This is also shown in FIG.
8. To begin operation of the projector 2 and the apparatus 20, the
transparencies are shifted relative to the slot 148 as shown in FIG. 9,
with the transparencies in their open position, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 7.
To show or project the first transparency 140, the top transparency 140 is
moved upwardly in a vertical slot 48, as indicated in FIG. 10.
Sequentially as illustrated in FIG. 10, the top or uppermost transparency
140 is moved upwardly, with its end slide hooks 146 and 148 moving
vertically in the vertical end slots 48 and 78, respectively. The slide
hooks 146 and 148 then move downwardly in the sloping slots 50 and 80,
respectively, to the reversing slots 52 and 82. The purpose of the
reversing slots is to allow the end hooks to move downwardly so that the
transparencies 140 may be pivoted, as shown in FIG. 11. The transparency
140 is then pivoted through an arc until it lays down, disposed on the
perimeter frame members 24 . . . 30 of the base frame 22 and over the
central area 32 for appropriate projection.
After the projection of the top element is concluded, the transparency 140
then continues its move in the horizontal or longitudinal slots 54 and 84
to the opposite end of the guide frames where the slide hooks will move
upwardly in the sloping slot 58 and its corresponding slot portion in the
guide 70, and downwardly in the vertical slot 60 and its corresponding
slot to the position on the hinge 110 and the wing 112 as shown in FIGS. 7
and 12.
With the top transparency 140 now in the temporary storage position, the
next transparency 140 may then be projected by the same movements
discussed in the preceding paragraphs. When the presentation is completed,
with all of the transparencies 140 being disposed on the wing 112, as
shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 20 is ready to be refolded for storage. The
refolding may, of course, be accomplished directly by moving the
transparencies 140 back to the original position, as shown in FIG. 7, or
they may simply be pivoted in the slots 60 and 80 for a reverse storage
from that which they originally started. It will be noted that the
vertical end slot is wider than the sloping slots 48, 58 and the
horizontal slots to allow for the pivoting of the slide hooks 146, 148
through substantially a 180 degree arc for appropriate storage, etc.
It will also be noted and understood that the transparencies may be stacked
in any order and may be projected from any side, as desired. The left to
right explanation discussed above is merely one alternative. The other
orientation, right to left, which would be reversing from FIG. 12 back to
FIG. 8, may also be employed.
While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative
embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art
many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements,
materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and
otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and
operative requirements without departing from those principles. The
appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such
modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
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