DATA CARD HOLDER
United States Patent 3837106
A card holding board provided with a plurality of staggered, card receiving pockets along its length is utilized to hold a plurality of data cards in shingled, overlapping relation to each other with a predetermined, data recording margin on each card exposed for the insertion of laboratory test data thereon. A pair of hinged hold down panels attached to the opposite, longitudinal edges of the board are pivoted over the ends of the cards and locked in place to hold the cards firmly against the baseboard during handling of the board and recording of test data in a laboratory.
US Patent References:
Loose leaf binders
Rubinstein - November 1961 - 3008470
Display holder
Gawne et al. - September 1965 - 3205601
GRAPHMATIC MAGNEGRAPH
Bytwork - September 1973 - 3755938
Loose leaf binders
Rubinstein - November 1961 - 3008470
Display holder
Gawne et al. - September 1965 - 3205601
GRAPHMATIC MAGNEGRAPH
Bytwork - September 1973 - 3755938
Inventors:
Lofstrom, Dennis E. (Fort Ripley, MN)
Churchill, William A. (St. Paul, MN)
Thul, Richard L. (St. Paul, MN)
Churchill, William A. (St. Paul, MN)
Thul, Richard L. (St. Paul, MN)
Application Number:
05/341034
Publication Date:
09/24/1974
Filing Date:
03/14/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
40/791, 40/124.200
International Classes:
B42F17/18; G09F3/20; B42F17/00; G09F3/08; G09F1/10
Field of Search:
40/102,104.03,104.17,156,19,124.2,63R,64R 282/29A,29B 281/45
Primary Examiner:
Wolff J. H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Williamson, Bains & Moore
Claims:
I claim
1. A data card holder comprising:
2. A card holder as defined in claim 1, wherein:
3. A card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
4. A card holder as defined in claim 3 wherein:
5. A card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
6. A data card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
7. A card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
8. A card holder as defined in claim 7 wherein:
9. A card holder as defined in claim 7 wherein:
10. A data card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
1. A data card holder comprising:
2. A card holder as defined in claim 1, wherein:
3. A card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
4. A card holder as defined in claim 3 wherein:
5. A card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
6. A data card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
7. A card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
8. A card holder as defined in claim 7 wherein:
9. A card holder as defined in claim 7 wherein:
10. A data card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein:
Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject of this invention is a card holder device, primarily intended for use in medical laboratories and clinics to record, preserve and duplicate test data on patients' specimens in an orderly, error-free manner.
These basic objectives are realized by the use of an elongated baseboard having a plurality of card receiving pockets secured along its length in staggered relation in such a manner as to accommodate a plurality of data cards with a predetermined margin edge portion of each card exposed and unobstructed for the recording of test data thereon. The card receiving pockets are each open at one end, facing one end of the baseboard, to facilitate the insertion of the cards therein and to insure the unobstructed exposure of the data recording margins of the cards.
To hold the cards firmly in place on the board and to prevent them from falling out of the pockets during handling of the board and the recording of data thereon, a pair of hold down panels hingedly attached to the opposite, longitudinal edges of the board are pivoted over the top of the board in firm engagement with end portions of the cards after they are in place. The hold down panels are of limited width in a direction extending transversely of the board so that they do not cover or obstruct the data recording margins of the cards.
The card receiving pockets are preferably formed from lengths of transparent, flexible material, such as cellophane, folded along a longitudinal edge thereof extending transversely of the board to provide pockets having an upper, hinged closure flap which can be raised to insert a card thereunder, and a lower flap which is affixed on the board. The upper flaps of the staggered pockets are of a predetermined, limited width along the longitudinal dimension of the board less than the width of the cards inserted thereunder, so as to provide the exposed, data recording margin along one edge of each card.
A particularly advantageous feature of my card holding device resides in the use of cooperating lock members on the baseboard and the aforesaid hold down panels to hold the panels securely in place in their inwardly pivoted, hold down positions over the data cards.
These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements throughout the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the card holder of this invention, with the card receiving pocket portion shown exploded from its normal position on the baseboard;
FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the fully assembled card holder of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section view of the card holder taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, end view of the baseboard of the card holder shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a vertical section view of the fully assembled card holder taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a vertical section view of the card holder taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, plan view of the card holder showing an alternative embodiment of the hold down panels;
FIG. 8 is an end view of the card holder of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a vertical section view, similar to FIG. 6, showing the hold down panel of FIG. 7 in its closed position;
FIG. 10 is an end view of another embodiment of the hold down panels for the card holder; and
FIG. 11 is a vertical section view of the card holder of FIG. 10 showing the hold down panel in its closed position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The data card holder as shown in FIG. 1 is comprised of an elongated, generally rectangular baseboard 1. Baseboard 1 may be formed from various materials to provide a relatively rigid base structure for the card holder. I have found it advantageous to mold baseboard 1 from polycarbonate. Such molded plastic baseboard possesses the desired rigidity and is also advantageously translucent, for reasons hereinafter explained. Formed along the opposite, longitudinal edges of baseboard 1 are a pair of raised shoulders 2 and 3 which serve as stops and locating devices for data cards.
A pair of hold down panels 4 and 5 are hingedly attached to the longitudinal side edges of baseboard 1 by flexible hinge strips 6 and 7. Preferably, panels 4, 5 and hinge strips 6, 7 are molded integrally with baseboard 1, with hinge strips 6 and 7 being of reduced thickness so that they will be flexible. It will be appreciated that flexible hinge strips 6 and 7 permit panels 4 and 5 to be pivoted inwardly and upwardly from the open positions shown in FIG. 1 to the closed position shown with respect to panel 4 in FIG. 3. In such closed positions, panels 4 and 5 will be disposed in a common plane parallel to the plane of baseboard 1 in overlying relation thereto for the purpose of holding data cards securely in place on the baseboard in the manner set forth below. For the purpose of locking panels 4 and 5 in their inwardly pivoted hold down positions, I provide locking members on baseboard 1 and cooperating latch elements on the ends of panels 4 and 5. Although various locking means could be utilized for this purpose, including magnetic tabs, I have found it advantageous to use the known "Velcro" type of lock. To this end, four fixed locking members 8, 9, 10 and 11 in the form of small fiber pads are attached to the corner areas of baseboard 1 at the locations shown in FIG. 1 inside of raised strips 2 and 3. Two pairs of cooperating latch elements 12, 13 and 14, 15 comprised of a plurality of small, hooked tentacles are attached to the opposite ends of hold down panels 4 and 5. When panels 4 and 5 are swung inwardly to the closed, locking position shown with respect to panel 4 in FIG. 3, the hookds on latch elements 12, 13 and 14, 15 are caught and firmly held by cooperating ones of the lock pads 8, 9, 10 and 11.
For the purpose of receiving and holding a plurality of data cards on baseboard 1, I provide a plurality of pockets on the baseboard, generally indicated reference numberal 16. Each of these pockets is preferably formed from a length of transparent and translucent, flexible material, such as cellophane folded over along a longitudinal edge thereof. The folded edges 18 of each of the cellophane pockets define a hinge line which extends transversely of baseboard 1 with the pockets arranged in the manner shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The folded lengths of cellophane provide a lower flap 20, and an upper, hinged closure flap 22 defining each of the card receiving pockets 16. With flaps 20 and 22 extending transversely of baseboard 1, each pocket will have an open end facing towards one end of the baseboard through which a card may be inserted. Each of the bottom or lower flaps 20 is attached to a backing sheet 23 of cellophane or other clear plastic material by the use of an adhesive, or by a heat sealing process. Lower pocket flaps 20 are arranged along the length of backing sheet 23 in staggered relation to each other as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 with the result that upper, closure flaps 22 will overlap each other in shingled fashion. Upper closure flaps 22 will normally lie flat, and may be swung upwardly about hinge fold lines 18 to permit the insertion of data cards in the pockets. Base sheet 23 is attached by means of adhesive, or other suitable means to the top surface of baseboard 1 inside of the space defined by the four fixed locking pads 8, 9, 10 and 11, as is illustrated in FIG. 1. The width of base sheet 23 and the length of pockets 16 attached thereto is substantially equal to the width across baseboard 1 between the inner edges of raised side strips 2 and 3, with the result that the pocket assembly will abut along its side edges against the inside edges of strips 2 and 3.
A plurality of data cards 24 on which information is to be recorded and preserved are inserted within each of the pockets 16, under top closure flaps 22. Each of the cards 24 is of a predetermined length substantially coinciding with the length of pockets 16. Raised side strips 2 and 3 serve as stops to locate the ends of data cards 24, and to prevent the lateral displacement of these cards within their pockets 16. The width of each of the top closure flaps 22 of pockets 16, along the longitudinal dimension of baseboard 1, is less that the width of data cards 24 inserted thereunder. Thus, with closure flaps 22, and data cards 24 arranged in shingled, overlapping relation to each other in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 5, there will be an exposed and unobstructed data recording margin portion 26 of predetermined width along one edge of each of the cards 24. This is an important and essential feature of the card pocket arrangement of my card holder with respect to its primary, intended use as a workboard for recording data on the cards in testing laboratories.
In utilizing the card holder, hold down panels 4 and 5 are pivoted to their open positions to permit the insertion of a plurality of data cards 24 within pockets 16, under top flaps 22. Then, panels 4 and 5 are swung inwardly to their closed position, illustrated with respect to panel 4 in FIG. 3, wherein panels 4 and 5 will overlie end portions of pockets 16 and data cards 24 in engagement therewith, as is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. The locking engagement of latch elements 12, 13, 14 and 15 on panels 4 and 5 with lock members 8, 9, 10 and 11 on baseboard 1 insures that panels 4 and 5 will be held securely in place in firm engagement with data cards 24. Since pockets 16 are open on one end to provide exposed and unobstructed data recording margins 26 on each card, hold down panels 4 and 5 serve the very important purpose of preventing the cards 24 from falling out of pockets 16 during handling and use of the card holder and the recording of data on margin portions 26. Raised side strips 2 and 3 prevent the lateral shifting of data cards 24 when the baseboard 1 is being handled.
It is to be noted, with respect to FIGS. 2 and 6, that hold down panels 4 and 5 are of a limited, predetermined width along the transverse dimension of baseboard 1, so that panels 4 and 4 will cover only a short length of the ends of data cards 24 when folded inwardly thereover to their hold down positions. The necessary length of data recording margin portions 26 of cards 24 will be left exposed and unobstructed for the recording of data thereon.
In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, I have shown an alternative embodiment of the card holder having a different form of hold down panel and locking means for the hold down panels. Extending along the opposite sides of baseboard 1a are a pair of raised strips, one of which is shown at 28 in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. An elongated detent member 30 in the shape of an angular projection extending above baseboard 1a is formed on each of the raised strips 28. A hold down panel 34 is hingedly connected to each of the strips 28, a notch 36 extending along the length of each of the panels 34 serving as a pivot or hinge point about which panels 34 may be pivoted upwardly and inwardly to the closed position shown in FIG. 9. Extending along the length of each of the panels 34 is an enlarged head portion 38 having an elongated, inclined surface 40 formed thereon. Inclined surface 40 cooperates with the adjacent, upper surface of panel 34 to define a recess which functions as a latch element in cooperation with angular projection 30. As is clearly indicated in FIG. 7, inclined latch surface 40 extends along the length of panels 34 in a direction parallel to detent projection 30. When panels 34 are pivoted inwardly to the closed position shown in FIG. 9, detent projections 30 are received within the recesses under inclined surfaces 40 in secure, locking engagement with head portions 38 of panels 34. A planar surface 42 on each of the panel heads 38 will be disposed in a plane parallel to and above baseboard 1a in the manner shown in FIG. 9 when panels 34 are pivoted to their closed positions. In such position, planar surfaces 42 project inwardly from the inside, vertical faces 32 of strips 28 in engagement with the outer ends of pockets 16 and cards 24 to hold the cards tightly in place in the same manner as described above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6.
In FIGS. 10 and 11 I have shown still another embodiment of the hold down panels and their locking means similar to that shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Raised strips 44 extending along opposite sides of baseboard 1b have elongated detent members 46 formed thereon. Detent members 46 preferably take the shape of outwardly projecting ribs extending above baseboard 1b and having an enlarged locking head formed thereon in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Each of the strips 44 also has an inside, vertical face 48 extending substantially perpendicular to the top surface of baseboard 1b in the same manner as do vertical faces 32 of strips 28 shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Hold down panels 50 are pivotal inwardly to the closed position shown in FIG. 11, and are notched at 52 along their lengths to facilitate their inward bending. Enlarged head portions 54 on hold down panels 50 are formed to provide recesses 56 extending along the entire length of these panels in a direction parallel to detent members 46. Recesses 56 conform to the shape of elongated detent members 46, and receive detent members 46 in locking engagement therewith when panels 50 are pivoted to the closed position shown in FIG. 11. A planar hold down surface 58 on each of the panel heads 50 projects inwardly from the inside faces 48 of strips 44 in overlying, parallel relation to baseboards 1b to serve as card retention surfaces in the same manner as set forth above with respect to hold down surfaces 42 of panels 34.
With respect to the hold down panel and locking structure shown in both the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9 and 10-11, inside vertical faces 32 and 48 of the raised strips are spaced apart across the width of the baseboard by a distance substantially equal to the length of cards 24 whereby these vertical faces of the raised strips serve as stops to locate data cards inserted within pockets 16 and to prevent the lateral diaplacement of the cards in the same manner described above with respect to the inside edges or vertical faces of strips 2 and 3. The hold down panel and locking structures illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 provide a particularly secure locking of the hold down panels in their closed positions because of the long detent members and cooperating latch surfaces extending the length of the baseboard and the resulting large surface area of contact of the locking members.
As noted above, I comtemplate that my card holder will find particular utility in medical laboratories and clinics for the recording of test data obtained on patients ' specimens. The technician can insert a series of patient cards on the card holder, all of which are to have the same type of tests performed with respect thereto, and utilize the card holder as a workboard while the tests are conducted on patients ' specimens and the test results recorded on margin portions 26.
During handling of baseboard 1 in a laboratory or office, with a plurality of cards 24 thereon, the hold down panels serve effectively to prevent the cards from slipping out of pockets 16, which would otherwise happen in the absence of bottom retainer folds on the pockets. Such bottom folds for holding data cards 24 would render my card holder unsuitable for the data recording purpose intended, since the bottom folds on the pockets would cover the marginal edge portions of the cards which must be left fully exposed and unobstructed for the recording of data thereon. Although I have particularly mentioned medical laboratory use as a primary function of my card holder, it will be appreciated that the card holder disclosed herein may be used for recording data of any kind. The clear, translucent baseboard 1 and cellophane pockets 16 permit the entire card holder assembly, with a plurality of cards thereon to be placed in a copying machine to permit copying of the data on the marginal edge portions of the cards, as well as copying of any information which might appear on the back faces of the cards. This is particularly important in medical laboratories, where all of the data on a series of cards relating to a particular series of tests may be reproduced on a copying machine, with the copy sheet then being utilized as a quality control device in laboratories.
I anticipate that various changes may be made in the size, shape, and certain structural features of the card holder disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.
The subject of this invention is a card holder device, primarily intended for use in medical laboratories and clinics to record, preserve and duplicate test data on patients' specimens in an orderly, error-free manner.
These basic objectives are realized by the use of an elongated baseboard having a plurality of card receiving pockets secured along its length in staggered relation in such a manner as to accommodate a plurality of data cards with a predetermined margin edge portion of each card exposed and unobstructed for the recording of test data thereon. The card receiving pockets are each open at one end, facing one end of the baseboard, to facilitate the insertion of the cards therein and to insure the unobstructed exposure of the data recording margins of the cards.
To hold the cards firmly in place on the board and to prevent them from falling out of the pockets during handling of the board and the recording of data thereon, a pair of hold down panels hingedly attached to the opposite, longitudinal edges of the board are pivoted over the top of the board in firm engagement with end portions of the cards after they are in place. The hold down panels are of limited width in a direction extending transversely of the board so that they do not cover or obstruct the data recording margins of the cards.
The card receiving pockets are preferably formed from lengths of transparent, flexible material, such as cellophane, folded along a longitudinal edge thereof extending transversely of the board to provide pockets having an upper, hinged closure flap which can be raised to insert a card thereunder, and a lower flap which is affixed on the board. The upper flaps of the staggered pockets are of a predetermined, limited width along the longitudinal dimension of the board less than the width of the cards inserted thereunder, so as to provide the exposed, data recording margin along one edge of each card.
A particularly advantageous feature of my card holding device resides in the use of cooperating lock members on the baseboard and the aforesaid hold down panels to hold the panels securely in place in their inwardly pivoted, hold down positions over the data cards.
These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements throughout the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the card holder of this invention, with the card receiving pocket portion shown exploded from its normal position on the baseboard;
FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the fully assembled card holder of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section view of the card holder taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, end view of the baseboard of the card holder shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a vertical section view of the fully assembled card holder taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a vertical section view of the card holder taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, plan view of the card holder showing an alternative embodiment of the hold down panels;
FIG. 8 is an end view of the card holder of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a vertical section view, similar to FIG. 6, showing the hold down panel of FIG. 7 in its closed position;
FIG. 10 is an end view of another embodiment of the hold down panels for the card holder; and
FIG. 11 is a vertical section view of the card holder of FIG. 10 showing the hold down panel in its closed position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The data card holder as shown in FIG. 1 is comprised of an elongated, generally rectangular baseboard 1. Baseboard 1 may be formed from various materials to provide a relatively rigid base structure for the card holder. I have found it advantageous to mold baseboard 1 from polycarbonate. Such molded plastic baseboard possesses the desired rigidity and is also advantageously translucent, for reasons hereinafter explained. Formed along the opposite, longitudinal edges of baseboard 1 are a pair of raised shoulders 2 and 3 which serve as stops and locating devices for data cards.
A pair of hold down panels 4 and 5 are hingedly attached to the longitudinal side edges of baseboard 1 by flexible hinge strips 6 and 7. Preferably, panels 4, 5 and hinge strips 6, 7 are molded integrally with baseboard 1, with hinge strips 6 and 7 being of reduced thickness so that they will be flexible. It will be appreciated that flexible hinge strips 6 and 7 permit panels 4 and 5 to be pivoted inwardly and upwardly from the open positions shown in FIG. 1 to the closed position shown with respect to panel 4 in FIG. 3. In such closed positions, panels 4 and 5 will be disposed in a common plane parallel to the plane of baseboard 1 in overlying relation thereto for the purpose of holding data cards securely in place on the baseboard in the manner set forth below. For the purpose of locking panels 4 and 5 in their inwardly pivoted hold down positions, I provide locking members on baseboard 1 and cooperating latch elements on the ends of panels 4 and 5. Although various locking means could be utilized for this purpose, including magnetic tabs, I have found it advantageous to use the known "Velcro" type of lock. To this end, four fixed locking members 8, 9, 10 and 11 in the form of small fiber pads are attached to the corner areas of baseboard 1 at the locations shown in FIG. 1 inside of raised strips 2 and 3. Two pairs of cooperating latch elements 12, 13 and 14, 15 comprised of a plurality of small, hooked tentacles are attached to the opposite ends of hold down panels 4 and 5. When panels 4 and 5 are swung inwardly to the closed, locking position shown with respect to panel 4 in FIG. 3, the hookds on latch elements 12, 13 and 14, 15 are caught and firmly held by cooperating ones of the lock pads 8, 9, 10 and 11.
For the purpose of receiving and holding a plurality of data cards on baseboard 1, I provide a plurality of pockets on the baseboard, generally indicated reference numberal 16. Each of these pockets is preferably formed from a length of transparent and translucent, flexible material, such as cellophane folded over along a longitudinal edge thereof. The folded edges 18 of each of the cellophane pockets define a hinge line which extends transversely of baseboard 1 with the pockets arranged in the manner shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The folded lengths of cellophane provide a lower flap 20, and an upper, hinged closure flap 22 defining each of the card receiving pockets 16. With flaps 20 and 22 extending transversely of baseboard 1, each pocket will have an open end facing towards one end of the baseboard through which a card may be inserted. Each of the bottom or lower flaps 20 is attached to a backing sheet 23 of cellophane or other clear plastic material by the use of an adhesive, or by a heat sealing process. Lower pocket flaps 20 are arranged along the length of backing sheet 23 in staggered relation to each other as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 with the result that upper, closure flaps 22 will overlap each other in shingled fashion. Upper closure flaps 22 will normally lie flat, and may be swung upwardly about hinge fold lines 18 to permit the insertion of data cards in the pockets. Base sheet 23 is attached by means of adhesive, or other suitable means to the top surface of baseboard 1 inside of the space defined by the four fixed locking pads 8, 9, 10 and 11, as is illustrated in FIG. 1. The width of base sheet 23 and the length of pockets 16 attached thereto is substantially equal to the width across baseboard 1 between the inner edges of raised side strips 2 and 3, with the result that the pocket assembly will abut along its side edges against the inside edges of strips 2 and 3.
A plurality of data cards 24 on which information is to be recorded and preserved are inserted within each of the pockets 16, under top closure flaps 22. Each of the cards 24 is of a predetermined length substantially coinciding with the length of pockets 16. Raised side strips 2 and 3 serve as stops to locate the ends of data cards 24, and to prevent the lateral displacement of these cards within their pockets 16. The width of each of the top closure flaps 22 of pockets 16, along the longitudinal dimension of baseboard 1, is less that the width of data cards 24 inserted thereunder. Thus, with closure flaps 22, and data cards 24 arranged in shingled, overlapping relation to each other in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 5, there will be an exposed and unobstructed data recording margin portion 26 of predetermined width along one edge of each of the cards 24. This is an important and essential feature of the card pocket arrangement of my card holder with respect to its primary, intended use as a workboard for recording data on the cards in testing laboratories.
In utilizing the card holder, hold down panels 4 and 5 are pivoted to their open positions to permit the insertion of a plurality of data cards 24 within pockets 16, under top flaps 22. Then, panels 4 and 5 are swung inwardly to their closed position, illustrated with respect to panel 4 in FIG. 3, wherein panels 4 and 5 will overlie end portions of pockets 16 and data cards 24 in engagement therewith, as is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. The locking engagement of latch elements 12, 13, 14 and 15 on panels 4 and 5 with lock members 8, 9, 10 and 11 on baseboard 1 insures that panels 4 and 5 will be held securely in place in firm engagement with data cards 24. Since pockets 16 are open on one end to provide exposed and unobstructed data recording margins 26 on each card, hold down panels 4 and 5 serve the very important purpose of preventing the cards 24 from falling out of pockets 16 during handling and use of the card holder and the recording of data on margin portions 26. Raised side strips 2 and 3 prevent the lateral shifting of data cards 24 when the baseboard 1 is being handled.
It is to be noted, with respect to FIGS. 2 and 6, that hold down panels 4 and 5 are of a limited, predetermined width along the transverse dimension of baseboard 1, so that panels 4 and 4 will cover only a short length of the ends of data cards 24 when folded inwardly thereover to their hold down positions. The necessary length of data recording margin portions 26 of cards 24 will be left exposed and unobstructed for the recording of data thereon.
In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, I have shown an alternative embodiment of the card holder having a different form of hold down panel and locking means for the hold down panels. Extending along the opposite sides of baseboard 1a are a pair of raised strips, one of which is shown at 28 in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. An elongated detent member 30 in the shape of an angular projection extending above baseboard 1a is formed on each of the raised strips 28. A hold down panel 34 is hingedly connected to each of the strips 28, a notch 36 extending along the length of each of the panels 34 serving as a pivot or hinge point about which panels 34 may be pivoted upwardly and inwardly to the closed position shown in FIG. 9. Extending along the length of each of the panels 34 is an enlarged head portion 38 having an elongated, inclined surface 40 formed thereon. Inclined surface 40 cooperates with the adjacent, upper surface of panel 34 to define a recess which functions as a latch element in cooperation with angular projection 30. As is clearly indicated in FIG. 7, inclined latch surface 40 extends along the length of panels 34 in a direction parallel to detent projection 30. When panels 34 are pivoted inwardly to the closed position shown in FIG. 9, detent projections 30 are received within the recesses under inclined surfaces 40 in secure, locking engagement with head portions 38 of panels 34. A planar surface 42 on each of the panel heads 38 will be disposed in a plane parallel to and above baseboard 1a in the manner shown in FIG. 9 when panels 34 are pivoted to their closed positions. In such position, planar surfaces 42 project inwardly from the inside, vertical faces 32 of strips 28 in engagement with the outer ends of pockets 16 and cards 24 to hold the cards tightly in place in the same manner as described above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6.
In FIGS. 10 and 11 I have shown still another embodiment of the hold down panels and their locking means similar to that shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Raised strips 44 extending along opposite sides of baseboard 1b have elongated detent members 46 formed thereon. Detent members 46 preferably take the shape of outwardly projecting ribs extending above baseboard 1b and having an enlarged locking head formed thereon in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Each of the strips 44 also has an inside, vertical face 48 extending substantially perpendicular to the top surface of baseboard 1b in the same manner as do vertical faces 32 of strips 28 shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Hold down panels 50 are pivotal inwardly to the closed position shown in FIG. 11, and are notched at 52 along their lengths to facilitate their inward bending. Enlarged head portions 54 on hold down panels 50 are formed to provide recesses 56 extending along the entire length of these panels in a direction parallel to detent members 46. Recesses 56 conform to the shape of elongated detent members 46, and receive detent members 46 in locking engagement therewith when panels 50 are pivoted to the closed position shown in FIG. 11. A planar hold down surface 58 on each of the panel heads 50 projects inwardly from the inside faces 48 of strips 44 in overlying, parallel relation to baseboards 1b to serve as card retention surfaces in the same manner as set forth above with respect to hold down surfaces 42 of panels 34.
With respect to the hold down panel and locking structure shown in both the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9 and 10-11, inside vertical faces 32 and 48 of the raised strips are spaced apart across the width of the baseboard by a distance substantially equal to the length of cards 24 whereby these vertical faces of the raised strips serve as stops to locate data cards inserted within pockets 16 and to prevent the lateral diaplacement of the cards in the same manner described above with respect to the inside edges or vertical faces of strips 2 and 3. The hold down panel and locking structures illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 provide a particularly secure locking of the hold down panels in their closed positions because of the long detent members and cooperating latch surfaces extending the length of the baseboard and the resulting large surface area of contact of the locking members.
As noted above, I comtemplate that my card holder will find particular utility in medical laboratories and clinics for the recording of test data obtained on patients ' specimens. The technician can insert a series of patient cards on the card holder, all of which are to have the same type of tests performed with respect thereto, and utilize the card holder as a workboard while the tests are conducted on patients ' specimens and the test results recorded on margin portions 26.
During handling of baseboard 1 in a laboratory or office, with a plurality of cards 24 thereon, the hold down panels serve effectively to prevent the cards from slipping out of pockets 16, which would otherwise happen in the absence of bottom retainer folds on the pockets. Such bottom folds for holding data cards 24 would render my card holder unsuitable for the data recording purpose intended, since the bottom folds on the pockets would cover the marginal edge portions of the cards which must be left fully exposed and unobstructed for the recording of data thereon. Although I have particularly mentioned medical laboratory use as a primary function of my card holder, it will be appreciated that the card holder disclosed herein may be used for recording data of any kind. The clear, translucent baseboard 1 and cellophane pockets 16 permit the entire card holder assembly, with a plurality of cards thereon to be placed in a copying machine to permit copying of the data on the marginal edge portions of the cards, as well as copying of any information which might appear on the back faces of the cards. This is particularly important in medical laboratories, where all of the data on a series of cards relating to a particular series of tests may be reproduced on a copying machine, with the copy sheet then being utilized as a quality control device in laboratories.
I anticipate that various changes may be made in the size, shape, and certain structural features of the card holder disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.