GB2258636A - Stabilising documents during processing by office machinery. - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for stabilising documents, for example in a typewriter, comprises a sheet (10) of a flexible material having an adhesive strip (12) along one edge thereof. The adhesive strips may be protected by a release-paper. Devices (10) may, for example, be made as discrete items, or as a continuous roll from which the items may be detached. In use, the device is adhered to the bottom edge of the front face a document with the adhesive stripe slightly overlapped therewith. As the document is transported by the platen of an office machine, the device adheres to the platen at approximately the same time as the pressure rollers of the machine lose contact with the lower edge, thereby preventing the paper from skewing when printing close to said lower edge. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR STABILISING DOCUMENTS This invention relates to a device for stabilising documents during typing or similar processing.

Many documents, notably official forms, can be completed by the use of a typewriter or similar machine. Such documents are often pre-printed with information relating to the purpose of the document, leaving spaces to be filled in by the user. At least some of the said spaces will be near to the lowermost edge of the document and it is well-known that when typing in those spaces, the document tends to slip out of its correct position in the typewriter.

It has now been found that the aforesaid slippage can be avoided by means of a device according to the present invention.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for stabilising documents during typing or similar processing, said device comprising a sheet of a flexible material removably attachable to a document and to extend from the lowermost edge of said document.

The device may, for example, be made of paper, card, metal foil or plastics film. A particularly suitable material is the cellulose film available under the Registered Trade Mark CELLOPHANE.

Suitably, the device is narrower than the document with which it is to be used.

Alternatively, the device may be adapted (for example, by means of perforations) to be used in connection with documents of specified width (such as DIN A4, DIN A5 or the like).

The adhesive may be any convenient pressure-sensitive adhesive capable of bonding on contact and of being removed without damage to the document.

Conveniently, the adhesive can comprise a strip extending along an edge of the device.

A device according to the present invention may be made as a single unit and may, for example, be provided in packets containing a number of such units.

Alternatively, the device can be made as a continuous roll with the adhesive extending, in the form of a strip, along one edge of the roll.

Each device can be provided with markings or perforations so that the width and length of the device can be adjusted as required.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings (wherein like numerals denote like parts): Figure 1 is a schematic view of a device according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a device according to a second aspect of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a device according to the present invention when used in connection with a document.

In Figure 1, the device 10 consists of a sheet 11 of paper, having a width W and a length L. Along one edge of sheet 11, there is provided a strip 12 of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, which is in turn protected by a release-paper 13.

Markings or perforations are provided on the sheet 11 to facilitate adjustment of the width and length of the sheet. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, width W can be reduced to W1 or W2 by cutting or tearing along broken lines 20 and 21 respectively. Length L can similarly be reduced to L1 by cutting or tearing along chain-dotted line 22.

In Figure 2, a plurality of devices 11, 11A, 11B, 11C... are joined together into a continuous roll 30. In addition to the markings or perforations hereinabove described (not shown in Figure 2), perforations are provided at 31, 32, 33, 34... to permit removal of a single device from the roll 30.

Referring now to Figure 3, a device 11 is attached, by means of adhesive strip 12, to the lowermost edge of a document 40 before the document, with the device attached, is inserted into a typewriter.

Claims (8)

1. A device for stabilising documents during typing or similar processing, said device comprising a sheet of a flexible material removably attachable to a document and to extend from the lowermost edge of said document.

2. A device according to Claim 1, made of paper, card, metal foil or plastics film.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which said device is removably attachable to said document by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive capable of bonding on contact with, and of being removed without damage to, said document.

4. A device according to Claim 3, in which said adhesive comprises a strip extending along an edge of said device.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, made as a single unit.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, made as a continuous roll having the adhesive extending, in the form of a strip, along one edge of the roll.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, said .device being provided with markings or perforations whereby the dimensions of said device can be adjusted.

8. A device for stabilising documents, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.