GB1584083A

GB1584083A - Docuemnt holder

Info

Publication number: GB1584083A
Application number: GB3318677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WATERHOUSE B
Current assignee: WATERHOUSE B
Priority date: 1977-08-09
Filing date: 1977-08-09
Publication date: 1981-02-04

Description

(54) DOCUMENT HOLDER (71) I, BRANT WATERHOUSE, of 55 Peel Street, London, W.8. a British subject, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a document holder particularly, but not exclusively, for holding maps.

An object of the invention is to provide a document holder which eliminates the need for folding a document, takes up minimal space, and yet allows ready means of access to any part of the document.

The invention provides a document holder comprising two rolling means rotatable about axes which are parallel to but spaced from each other, biassing means associated with each rolling means for biassing the two rolling means for rotation when viewed in an axial direction in opposite angular directions, and a document, which when unrolled is generally rectangular, attached at opposite sides to the rolling means and extending therebetween, whereby the document may be wound from one rolling means to the other for inspection of any part of the document.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a document holder in accordance with the present invention and in an open position, Figure 2 is a part sectional view of one roller and support, and Figure 3 is a section taken along the line A-A of Figure 2.

In the drawings, opposite ends of a map 1 are attached to respective rollers 2, 3 which are rotatably mounted on end support members 4, 5 attached to a casing member 6.

Each roller 2, 3 is hollow and a spigot 7 inside each support member 4, 5 extends into the roller.

For each roller, one spigot 7 has a projection 8 with a hole 9 for accommodting one end of helical spring 10. The spring 10 extends into the roller and carries at its other end a bridge 11. As can be seen from Figure 3 the roller has a pair of opposing grooves 12, 12' accommodating opposite ends of the bridge 11. The bridge 11 can slide longitudinally along the grooves 12, 12', but is prevented thereby from rotating.

During assembly, e.g. before the map 1 is attached to the rollers, the rollers are rotated to provide a sufficient spring bias so that the map 1 is wound automatically on the rollers. Merely by pulling the casing members 6 apart and moving the map 1 by hand, any part of the map may be inspected.

A spacing member in the form of an arm 13 may be pivotably attached to one of the casing members 6 for holding the rollers 2, 3 apart. The biasing of each roller spring should be substantially the same so that the map remains in any desired position.

The above-described embodiment may be modified so that the rollers and supports are removable from the casing members for changing the map. The holder may be used for documents other than maps, e.g. blue prints, architectural drawings, medical charts, etc.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A document holder comprising two rolling means rotatable about axes which are parallel to but spaced from each other, biassing means associated with each rolling means for biassing the two rolling means for rotation when viewed in an axial direction in opposite angular directions, and a document, which when unrolled is generally rectangular, attached at opposite sides to the rolling means and extending therebetween, whereby the document may be wound from one rolling means to the other

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) DOCUMENT HOLDER (71) I, BRANT WATERHOUSE, of 55 Peel Street, London, W.8. a British subject, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a document holder particularly, but not exclusively, for holding maps. An object of the invention is to provide a document holder which eliminates the need for folding a document, takes up minimal space, and yet allows ready means of access to any part of the document. The invention provides a document holder comprising two rolling means rotatable about axes which are parallel to but spaced from each other, biassing means associated with each rolling means for biassing the two rolling means for rotation when viewed in an axial direction in opposite angular directions, and a document, which when unrolled is generally rectangular, attached at opposite sides to the rolling means and extending therebetween, whereby the document may be wound from one rolling means to the other for inspection of any part of the document. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a document holder in accordance with the present invention and in an open position, Figure 2 is a part sectional view of one roller and support, and Figure 3 is a section taken along the line A-A of Figure 2. In the drawings, opposite ends of a map 1 are attached to respective rollers 2, 3 which are rotatably mounted on end support members 4, 5 attached to a casing member 6. Each roller 2, 3 is hollow and a spigot 7 inside each support member 4, 5 extends into the roller. For each roller, one spigot 7 has a projection 8 with a hole 9 for accommodting one end of helical spring 10. The spring 10 extends into the roller and carries at its other end a bridge 11. As can be seen from Figure 3 the roller has a pair of opposing grooves 12, 12' accommodating opposite ends of the bridge 11. The bridge 11 can slide longitudinally along the grooves 12, 12', but is prevented thereby from rotating. During assembly, e.g. before the map 1 is attached to the rollers, the rollers are rotated to provide a sufficient spring bias so that the map 1 is wound automatically on the rollers. Merely by pulling the casing members 6 apart and moving the map 1 by hand, any part of the map may be inspected. A spacing member in the form of an arm 13 may be pivotably attached to one of the casing members 6 for holding the rollers 2, 3 apart. The biasing of each roller spring should be substantially the same so that the map remains in any desired position. The above-described embodiment may be modified so that the rollers and supports are removable from the casing members for changing the map. The holder may be used for documents other than maps, e.g. blue prints, architectural drawings, medical charts, etc. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A document holder comprising two rolling means rotatable about axes which are parallel to but spaced from each other, biassing means associated with each rolling means for biassing the two rolling means for rotation when viewed in an axial direction in opposite angular directions, and a document, which when unrolled is generally rectangular, attached at opposite sides to the rolling means and extending therebetween, whereby the document may be wound from one rolling means to the other for inspection of any part of the document.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rolling means comprises a roller rotatably mounted on support means.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the biassing means associated with each roller comprises a helical spring one end of which is non-rotatably attached to the support means and the other end of which is non-rotatably attached to the roller.

4. A document holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein each roller is hollow and accommodates the respective spring therein.

5. A document holder as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each support means is fixed to a container forming half of a casing for the rollers and document.

6. A document holder as claimed in claim 5, wherein spacing means are provided for holding the rollers apart.

7. A document holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spacing means comprises an arm pivotably attached to one of the casing halves.

8. A document holder as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein each roller and support means are detachable from the respective casing half for changing the rollers and document.

9. A document holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the document is a map.

10. A document holder substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.