CA2510396C - Hangable calendar assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A hangable wall calendar has a stack of sheets that are bound at one edge with a spiral binding or other suitable flip binding. The calendar may have a stitch binding, or be cloth-bound or stapled. An elongated generally tubular hanger member for the calendar has a generally D-shaped profile, with a magnetic strip on the back and a slot running along a bottom wall. The slot is narrower than the diameter of the flip binding but large enough to accomodate the stack of sheets.
The calendar can be slipped out of the holder and flipped to a different sheet, and then slid back into place. Alternatively, the hanger member can have a generally P-shaped profile.

Description

HANGABLE CALENDAR ASSEMBLY
Related Application This application is a division of Parent Canadian Patent Application Serial No.

2,324,525, filed 26 October 2000.
Background of the Invention The present invention relates to wall calendars and other types of flat reference and stationery products in which leaves or sheets of paper are loosely bound. The invention is more specifically directed to an hangable calendar in combination with a tubular hanger that can be attached to a ferromagnetic vertical surface, to wit, by a magnetic strip to a refrigerator door or steel cabinet.
Wall calendars and similar reference planners and charts are usually attached to a wall by means of a permanent fastener, e.g., a nail or picture hanger, or with an adhesive such as two-sided tape. At the end of any month the calendar has to be changed to the next month. In the case of a wire-bound calendar this can be done by removing the calendar from the wall and flipping the leaves or sheets until the proper month is in front. When there is a need to look ahead to a future month for planning purposes, then it may also be necessary to flip to that sheet.
Many modern offices and homes have cabinets, appliances, or partitions made of steel, so that items can be attached to them magnetically. A typical example is a refrigerator, which provides a vertical surface for mounting items for display. Accordingly, it would be useful if a calendar were provided with suitable means for attaching magnetically to a vertical ferromagnetic surface, such as a refrigerator or cabinet. However, no suitable hangers for calendars have been available.
Objects and Summary of the Invention Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a wall calendar or similar reference or management item with a magnetic hanger that permits the wall calendar to be attached magnetically to a vertical surface.
It is a more specific object to provide a magnetic hanger for a calendar that permits the calendar to be easily removed, flipped to a new month, and then reinserted.
According to an aspect of this invention, a hangable calendar assembly has a calendar and a holder. The calendar comprises a stack of sheets each having a top edge, and a flip binding, e.g., a spiral binding or a series of rings, at the top edge. Alternatively, the flip binding may be a saddle-stitched or fabric binding, or a stapled binding. The stack of sheets can be flipped or folded so that any of the sheets is positioned at the firont of the stack. The flip binding has a predetermined diameter that is larger than the thickness of said stack. and, in the case of a saddltstitch binding, a thin profile when the paper sheeu are folded. Tne hanger includes an elongated tubular member having an inner diameter that is larger than the diameter of the flip binding, and could have an extended clip. A slot extends along the tubular member and has a length su~cient to accommodate the stack of sheets. The slot has a width,that is at least as great as the stack thickness of but less than the diameter of the flip binding, but can be e:ctended to include a clip. A mas~etic strip or similar attaching means is disposed on a flat wall of the tubular member for attaching same to a vertical surface. The flip binding can be a wire spiral binding, or can be formed as a series of rings. The clip binding may be flat, with saddle-stitched binding. The tubular member can be extruded semi-rigid elastic, with a generally D-shaped profile. The attaching me3as can be a magnetic strip e:cteading along a flat side of said tubular member. The slot for the calendar can be formed in a bottom wall of the D-shaped profile. The tubular member may have a P-shaped pmtile, with a back wail that e;ctends down from the t~ arcuate top portion, and witha parallel front wall. the facing surfaces of the front and back walls defining a clip.
T'ne calendar assembly of this invention is simple to install and to use. The spiral ur ring binding, or saddle-stitched binding, can slide out one end ui the holder. and the calendar can be flipped. i.e., folded. to a new page, i.e., 3 new month. and then repositioned in the holder by '_l7 sliding Or SLlpplll~ it into the slot. 'the calendar can be removed and replaced whenever necessary, i.e., for making notes on the calendar. The calendar can be placed on a desk. table cr other flat surface for this, ratt~.er thaw needing to make notes on the calendar while it is han_in~.
The assembly of this invention can be used for other multi-sheet planners or charts.
whrrever it is desired to mount same on a steel wall or other similar veaical surrace. and wi-.ere it ?~ would be useful, from time to time. to position a dif~~:ent she; in front.
Ln some embodimer_ts, the Clip binder may be forced of opeaable split-ring binder ring membars, so that sheets or pages can be changed or replaced.

In one aspect, the invention resides in a hangable sheet paper assembly comprising a stack of sheets each having a top portion with said stack having a predetermined accumulative thickness, a flip binding at said top portion binding said sheets such that the stack of sheets can be flipped so that any of said sheets can be positioned at a front of said stack, an elongate tubular hanger member containing a hollow interior and including a side wall, said hanger member having a slot extending along the length thereof and being located away from the side wall, the flip binding being loosely received within the hollow interior of said hanger member to be retained thereby with the stack of sheets extending through the slot, and magnetic means disposed on the side wall of said hanger member for attaching said member to a ferromagnetic surface.
In another aspect, the invention resides in a hangable sheet paper assembly comprising a stack of sheets each having a top portion with said stack having a predetermined accumulative thickness, a flip binding at said top portion binding said sheets such that the stack of sheets can be flipped so that any of said sheets can be positioned at a front of said stack, an elongate tubular hanger member having a slot extending along the length thereof, the flip binding being received within the hollow interior of the hanger member to be retained thereby with the stack of sheets extending through said slot, and attaching means disposed on said hanger member for attaching said member to a vertical surface, the elongate tubular hanger member having a flat back wall, an arcuate top front portion, and a flat front wall extending from said arcuate portion downwards and parallel to said back wall, the slot being defined between said front and back walls, said hanger member having a length sufficient to accommodate said flip binding on said stack of sheets, such that said stack of sheets can slide into the slot in said hanger member between said front wall and said back wall so that, when the stack of sheets is so positioned, the hanger member supports said stack of sheets with the flip binding in said arcuate top portion, the attaching means being disposed on said back wall.
In a further aspect, the present invention resides in hangable sheet paper assembly comprising a stack of sheets each having a top portion with said stack having a predetermined accumulative thickness, a flip binding at said top portion binding said sheets such that the stack of sheets can be flipped so that any of said sheets can be positioned at a front of said stack, an elongate tubular hanger member containing a hollow interior and including a side wall, said hanger member having a slot extending along the length thereof and being located away from the side wall, the flip binding being loosely received within the hollow interior of said hanger member to be retained thereby with the stack of sheets extending through the slot, and attachment means disposed on the side wall of said hanger member for attaching said member to a ferromagnetic surface.
In yet another aspect, the present invention resides in a hangable sheet paper assembly comprising a stack of sheets each having a top portion with said stack having a predetermined accumulative thickness, a flip binding at said top portion binding said sheets such that the stack of sheets can be flipped so that any of said sheets can be positioned at a front of said stack, an elongate tubular hanger member containing a hollow interior and including a side wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall projecting out from the side wall, said hanger member having a slot extending along the length thereof, between the front wall and the bottom wall, and being located away from the side wall, the flip binding being loosely received within the hollow interior of said hanger member to be retained thereby with the stack of sheets extending through the slot, and attachment means disposed on the side wall of said hanger member for attaching said member to a support surface.
The above and many other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of a selected preferred embodiment, which should be read in connection with the accompanying Drawing.

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240.OSSPA
Brief Description of the Drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flip-binding calendar assembly according to an embodiment of this invention, here positioned on a vertical wall of a cabinet.
Fig . 2 is a perspective view showing the flip binding calendar sliding into the holder of this embodiment.
Fig. 3 is an perspective view of the magnetic calendar holder of this embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the holder.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the flip-binding calendar in place in the magnetic holder of this embodiment.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a magnetic calendar holder of a second embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a perspective partial view of a saddle~stitched calendar and holder of the second embodiment.
Fig. 8 is an side view of the second embodiment.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment l5 With reference to the Drawing, Fig. 1 shows a calendar assembly 10 hanging from a vertical steel surface 12, e.g., the door of a refrigerator or other steel cabinet. The calendar assembly 10 is in the form of a stack 14 of pages or sheets of paper or other suitable material, e.g., plastic. In this embodiment, the calendar is shown as a blank grid, but in other embodiments the calendar can have the dates pre-printed, or can have other information included.
.0 Alternatively, the sheets of paper can carry other graphic material, such as photographs, management charts, or other graphics and aids as suits the user's demands. A
tubular holder 16 is magnetically aitached onto the vertical steel surface 12, and is adapted for removably receivzn' the calendar. As shown in Fig. 2, the stack of sheets 14 is loosely bound on a spiral binding arrangement that is positioned along an upper edge of the stack 14. The spiral binding can be a :5 familiar wire binding, although other bindings are possible, including a series of rings. The binding 18 permits the sheets to be flipped over so that a desired one of the sheets is positioned in front, e.g., to begin a new month.
As shown in Figs 3 and 4, the holder 16 of this embodiment is in the form of as elongated tubular extrusion, e.g., of a semirigid plastic material. The holder could also be aluminum or 0 othez material. The tubular holder 16 has a generally D-shaped profile, with a loop portion 20 at a.. ,T, 240.OSSPA
its front. There is a gap or slot 22 formed at a bottom of the D-shaped profile, and extending the length of the holder. Here, the slot 22 is open at both ends, but in other embodiments the slot may be open at one end only. There is a flat side wall 24 at the back of the holder 16, and a strip of magnetic material 26 is attached here for magnetically attaching the holder to the ferromagnetic material of the vertical surface 12. In other possible embodiments, other attaching means could be used, such as double-sided tape for adhesively adhering to a vertical surface. A
small flange 28 projects down from the gap side or lower side of the flat side wall, to provide support.
As shown in Fig. 5, the tubular holder 16 has an inner diameter that is somewhat larger than the diameter of the spiral binding 18, and the slot 22 is slightly wider than the total or accumulative thickness of the stack of sheets 14. The slot is also narrower than the diameter of the spiral binding 18.
The arrangement as described and illustrated here permits the calendar to be slipped sideways in and out of the holder 16 whenever desired. This may be useful, e.g., for placing the stack of sheets onto a flat surface, i.e. a desk or table, for writing onto it. This also makes it possible to flip to a new sheet, i.e., a different month, and then quickly slide the calendar back into position in the holder.
The sheets in the stack 14 can be one-sided, or can be printed on both sides.
In the latter case, the eaiendar can be reversed front-for-back and slid back into the holder to display the back.
?0 In other embodiments, covers can be provided for the ends of the holder 16.
in still other embodiments, the holder can have a different cross-section or profile.
A second embodiment of this invention is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In this second embodiment, a calendar 25 is formed of a stack of sheets 27 that are fastened together with a saddle-stitch binding 28, so that when the stack 27 is bent at the binding there is a top portion or 35 top edge of the calendar. Alternative to the saddle stitching, the calendar may be cloth bound or stapled. In this embodiment the tubular hanger 30 has a P-shaped profile, with a flat back wall 32 and an arcuate portion 34 at the top and front. The arcuate portion 34 defines an elongated tubular opening for the top of the calendar. A flat front wall 36 extends downward from the lower edge of the arcuate portion 34, with the back wall 32 extending further down than the front 30 wall 36. A magnetic strip 38 is attached onto the back surface of the back wall 32 for magnetic 240.055PA
attachment to a steel vertical surface 40. In this embodiment, the front and back walls 32, 36 combine to serve as a clip or clamp for the stack 27 of sheets held between them. The P-shaped profile, and the thickness geometry formed at the binding 28 and associated fold-ovens of the sheets, assist the holder 30 in holding the calendar 25 in place. The clamping force here is gentle enough so that the calendar can be easily slid out aad in, for example, when necessary to tum to a new month.
While this invention has been described with reference to a selected preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment.
Rather, many modifications and variations will present themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (6)

We claim:

1. Hangable sheet paper assembly comprising a stack of sheets each having a top portion with said stack having a predetermined accumulative thickness, a flip binding at said top portion binding said sheets such that the stack of sheets can be flipped so that any of said sheets can be positioned at a front of said stack, an elongate tubular hanger member having a slot extending along the length thereof, the flip binding being received within the hollow interior of the hanger member to be retained thereby with the stack of sheets extending through said slot, and attaching means disposed on said hanger member for attaching said member to a vertical surface, the elongate tubular hanger member having a flat back wall, an arcuate top front portion, and a flat front wall extending from said arcuate portion downwards and parallel to said back wall, the slot being defined between said front and back walls, said hanger member having a length sufficient to accommodate said flip binding on said stack of sheets, such that said stack of sheets can slide into the slot in said hanger member between said front wall and said back wall so that, when the stack of sheets is so positioned, the hanger member supports said stack of sheets with the flip binding in said arcuate top portion, the attaching means being disposed on said back wall.

2. Hangable sheet paper assembly according to claim 1, wherein said elongate tubular member has a generally P-shaped profile.

3. Hangable sheet paper assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said back wall extends downwards further than said front wall.

4. Hangable sheet paper assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said attaching means includes a magnetic strip extending along the flat back wall of the tubular member.

5. A method of mounting a sheet paper assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 on a vertical surface comprising the steps of installing on said vertical surface the elongated tubular hanger member, and sliding the assembly into the slot between the front and back walls of the hanger member so that the flip binding is within the hanger member and is gripped between the front and back walls thereof.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of sliding the assembly out of said slot, flipping the stack of sheets so that a different sheet is in front, and sliding the assembly back in the slot.