Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: Presentation assembly and material web roll int~n~
_or such presentation Ac~mhly.
The present inv~n~;on relates to a presentation assembly
comprising a housing and a material web which is capable o~
being written on and which is wound into a roll, the roll
being accnmm~Ated in the housing so as to be rotatable about
the longitll~;nAl axis thereof, the housing being provided with
a dispensing slot through which the material web cApAhle of
being written on is dispensed _rom the housing when the roll
is being unwound.
Such an assembly is ~ rl osed in the Boyd application
WO 94/2S294. In this application, the roll is ~ormed by a web
o~ plastic film having an electrostatic ch~ge. The
presentation asse~mbly described by Boyd is in itsel~
particularly convenient, h~Allce it provides the possibility
o~ _orming presentation sheets o_ di~ferent sizes cnming ~rom
lS a plastic ~ilm web roll, which sheets, as a result o~ the
electrostatic ch~se o~ the plastic ~ilm web roll, can readily
be stuck to a sur~ace elsewhere, such as ~or instance a wall,
a window or a door.
The St~n~nuse patent US-A-5,010,671 discloses a writing
pad with electrostatically charged sheets. C~mrA~ed with the
Boyd proposal, such a pad-like construction is di~~icult to
handle, because the user should handle a relatively large pad.
Moroever, in each case, an entire sheet o_ material is used,
even i~ only one single piece o~ information is taken down.
This is a waste o~ material. Also, it has appeared that i~
such pads are stored _or a longer period, the electrostatic
charge leaks away and the adhesive properties decrease
considerably. secause the material is statically charged, this
attracts dust and b~C~m~s dirty during storage.
Inspite of the m~ny advantages that Boyd~s proposal has
over Ston~h~usels proposal, there are nevertheless signi~icant
drAwh~cks inherent in Boyd's proposal which are also inherent
in Stonehouse's proposal. Tt is in particular these drAw~A~ks
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that have stood in the way o~ commercial success of the known
devices.
The invention particularly resides in the recognition of
this problem.
Strangely enough, both the Boyd publication and the
Stonehouse publication only mention a film on which the
writing is erasable. Both Boyd and Ston~h~use have halted
bet~cen ~w~ ~pi~L ~ ons, ViZ . on the one hand the use o_ a film
which is thrown away after use, and on the other the use o~ a
~ilm which can be reused each time, owing to the er~c~h;l;ty
thereof. Apparently, in this line of business, the prejudice
exists that the user wants an erasable film.
The present inventor has had the insight that most users
pre~er a wrlting sur~ace which, as far as the writing
properties and the surface structure are concerned, r~m~ n~.C
one of paper as much as possible. Secret tests among potential
users have conf;rm~ this insight.
Hence, the presentation assembly according to the
invention is characterized in that the material web is
provided with at least one relatively rough main sur~ace, so
that the writing thereon c~nnot be erased, and with means
whereby a part of the material web capable of being written on
can be stuck ~lat to a base.
To the user, it is much more agreeable if the material
web is of non-erasable design. After the material web has been
cut loose, securement o~ the material web part to another
sur~ace involves far less chance of the written text being
wiped out and o~ stain formation on the user's clothes and
hands. Moreover, the material web can easily be rolled up or
un_olded and stored without causing the text to be lost. In
addition, because o~ the relatively rough sur~ace, the
material web is mat. Hence, light f~ll; ng on the material web
is not at the expense of the legibility and the material web
sur~ace is also suitable ~or projection o~, for instance,
ov~h~l sheets and slides. In this connection, one may for
instance think of the projection of diagrams to be ~illed in,
surveys, graphs and the like. Moreover, the relatively rough
,
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or matted surface permits the material web to be written on
with more types of markers and to be preprinted more properly.
Further, the relatively rough sur~ace results in a better
adhesion to all sorts of surfaces, owing to the greater
unevenness. An additional advantage to the producer of the
~ material web is that in the case of a non-erasable material
web, the user will take a new material web part much sooner,
which is favorable for commercial reasons. Compared with the
known ~lip-over with a pad o~ paper sheets, the presentation
assembly according to the invention o~ers the enormous
advantage that it can be o~ a particularly compact design,
because the material web is disposed as a roll. Obviously,
this aspect was known per se ~rom Boyd; however, the writing
sur~ace thereof did not have the desired structure, as a
consequence o~ which Boyd's presentation assembly has never
become a success. With the proposal according to the present
invention, a highly compact presentation assembly is provided
which o~ers a writing surface o~ excellent properties.
In accordance with a further elaboration of the
invention, the markable material web is ~ormed by a paper web,
and the means where~y a paper web part can be stuck ~lat to a
base are ~ormed by a reusable adhesive provided on at least
one main sur~ace of the paper web.
A presentation assembly of such design o~ers the
advantage that the roll can be o~ a relatively cheap design
while the quality of the writing surface is very good. After
all, by most users, paper is considered the most desirable
sur~ace. In order to keep the rolled-up paper ~lat a~ter
unw; n~; ng the roll, and to enable securement thereo~ to all
kinds oE surfaces, the reusable adhesive is provided.
Pre~erably, the reusable adhesive is provided on the
longitll~;n~l edges o~ the paper web. The reusable adhesive can
~or instance be the glue that is also used ~or the yellow
Post-itT2~ notes by 3M, known ~rom practice.
In accordance with an alternative ~urther elaboration o~
the invention, the material web is manu~actured ~rom a plastic
~ilm web, and the means whereby a plastic ~ilm web part can be
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stuck flat to a base are ~ormed by an electrostatic charge
applied to the plastic film web.
The advantage of such an electrostatically charged
plastic ~ilm is that it a & eres particularly easily to all
kinds o~ surfaces and that the t~n~ncy o~ the ~ilm to curl up
is m;nim~ed. Owing to the relatively rough sur~ace o~ the
~ilm, the advantages described in detail hereinabove are
obt~;n~. As a particular advantage o~ the plastic ~ilm, it
can ~urther be mentioned that the relatively rough sur~ace
yields a writing sur~ace which optimally r~;n~c the user
thereo~ o~ paper.
In accordance with a ~urther elaboration o~ the
invention, the sur~ace on the other side o~ the relatively
rough sur~ace of the material web can be relatively smooth, so
that the writing thereon is ;n~ erasable. In the particular
case where a user does temporarily need a writing sur~ace ~rom
which the writing is erasable, the roll can readily be
reversed, so that the smooth, erasable sur~ace ~aces the user
In accordance with a ~urther elaboration o~ the
invention, it is also possible that both sur~aces o~ the
plastic ~ilm web are provided with a relatively rough sur~ace,
so that on both sur~aces, the writing thereon is not erasable.
I~ the material web is a plastic ~ilm web, in order to
~urther strengthen the user's associations with paper, it is
particularly ~avorable i~ the plastic ~ilm web is
nontransparent. For this purpose, the plastic ~ilm web can ~or
instance be o~ a white or colored design.
However, ~or some applications, it is ~avorable i~ the
plastic ~ilm web is transparent One may ~or instance think o~
uses where a particular ~igure underlying the transparent
material web is to be traced.
Another drawback o~ the Boyd proposal is ~ormed by the
construction o~ the blade guide which also constitutes a
pressure strip. A~ter a sheet has been cut ~rom the material
web, the material web should in each case be ~ed through
nn~ne~th the pressure strip again, which is laborious and
causes a great loss of time.
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In order to overcome this drawback, in accordance with a
~urther elaboration o~ the invention, the presentation
assembly is characterized in that at an end upstream of the
dispensing slot, viewed in a material web dispensing
direction, the housing comprises a cutting blade holder guide
to which a cutting blade holder is slidably connected, the
cutting blade holder ext~n~;ng over the dispensing slot, and
that at an end downstream o~ the dispensing slot, viewed in
the material web dispensing direction, the housing comprises a
cutting blade intended ~or cutting o~ a sheet ~rom the
material web. Because the guide o~ the blade is located at the
upstream end o~ the dispensing slot and there is no pressure
strip, the material web, a~ter a sheet has been cut o~, can
readily be ~urther unrolled and stuck to the base by means o~
the electrostatic charge or the reusable adhesive.
In order to have the cutting operation proceed without
any problems, in accordance with a ~urther elaboration of the
invention, the presentation assembly is characterized by a
hardened strip located at the downstream end o~ the dispensing
slot, viewed in the material web dispensing direction, and at
a shortest possible distance there~rom, the hardened strip
serving as cutting sur~ace ~or the cutting blade. Because the
cutting operation can take place at a shortest possible
distance ~rom the dispensing slot, the chance o~ the material
web tucking up as a consequence o~ the cutting operation is
m;n;m; ~ed. In fact, owing to this construction, the dispensing
slot has the action of a pressure strip. In order to ~nh~nce
this action still further, in accordance with a ~urther
elaboration o~ the invention, the presentation assembly is
characterized in that the dispensing slot comprises material
web flattening means, such as a brush or a ~lexible ~lap.
Apart from the fact that the pressure strip action of the
dispensing slot is ~nh~nced thereby, the housing is moreover
less accessible to dust, as a result o~ which, in the case
where the material web is an electrostatic plastic ~ilm web,
the electrostatic charge o~ the plastic ~ilm web is better
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maint~; n~ and the user is provided with a cleaner writing
sur~ace.
To m;n;m;~e shi~ting of the material web roll in the
housing during cutting, which shifting can affect the cutting
operation in a negative sense, the housing comprises, at two
end ~aces thereo~, frustro-conical, rotatably bearing-mounted
roll holders, at least one of which is resiliently slidable in
the direction of the longit~; n~ 1 axis o~ the roll, allowing
the roll to be clamped between the two roll holders with pre-
c~ ession. Owing to this mAnn~ of bearing-mounting the roll
in the housing, a stable positioning o~ the material web roll
is obt~; n~ ~
The housing preferably c~ ises w; n~; ng means which are
engageable rrom the outside o~ the housing and whereby the
roll can be wound and unwound. Such w; n~; ng means can for
instance be constructed as a crank or a t~-~n; ng ]mob. By means
of the w;n~;n~ means, a partly unwound material web can be
wound on the roll again and thus be safely stored in the
housing.
2~ The housing of the presentation assembly according to the
invention can comprise ~asteners ~or att~rhmrnt to a board or
plate-shaped part.
In order to effect that the two surfaces of the material
web can easily be written on without the material web roll
having to be l~llvved ~rom the housing, the att~rhm~nt can be
of such design that the housing can be provided on the plate-
shaped part in two positions, with the dispensing slot always
being located on the same side o~ the plate-shaped part, so
that the ma~erial web in a ~irst position can be written on on
one sur~ace thereo~, and in a second position can be written
on on the other sur~ace thereor.
In accordance with a Iurther elaboration o~ the
invention, an exemplary embodiment o~ the presentation
assembly according to the invention which is particularly
simple to transport is charac~erized by a stretrh; ng screen,
which in a irst condition is rolled up and rorms a compact
unit together with the housing, and which in a second
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condition is unrolled and stretched taut, so that it can serve
as a base for an unwound material web part to be written on.
An alternative embodiment of a presentation assembly
which is easy to transport is characterized by a plate-shaped
part which in a ~irst condition is collapsed and forms a
compact unit together with the housing, and which in a second
condition is unfolded so that it can serve as base for an
unwound material web part to be written on.
In order to further facilitate transportation, in
accordance with a further elaboration of the invention, it is
particularly favorable if the presentation assembly comprises
a collapsible supporting frame which in a collapsed condition
~orms a compact unit with the housing.
It is understood that the presence of a handgrip even
further contributes to a simpler transportation of the
collapsed unit.
The housing of the presentation assembly can for instance
be manufactured in an injection-molding process or by means of
extrusion. In the latter case, a part o~ a desired length is
sawn from an extrusion section and provided with two end stops
which also serve as roll bearing. In this m~nn~, a number of
presentation assemblies of different lengths can be
manufactured in an economical m~nn~
The invention also relates to a material web rol
evidently intended for a presentation assembly as described
hereinabove, at least one surface of the material web being
relatively rough, so that the writing thereon is not erasable,
and the material web is provided with means whereby a material
web part capable o~ being written on can be stuck ~lat to a
base.
Hereina~ter, the invention will be ~urther explained with
reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows the different parts o~ the presentation
assembly according to the invention;
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Fig. 2 shows the plate-shaped part according to Fig. 1,
rolled up into a cont~;n~ ~or cont~; n; ng the other parts o~
the presentation assembly;
Fig. 3 shows the presentation assembly according to the
invention in cross section;
Fig. 4 shows a ~urther em.bodiment o~ the presentation
assembly according to the invention;
Fig. 5 shows a ~ront view o~ an alternative embodiment o~
the presentation assembly according to the invention; and
Fig. 6 shows a rear view o~ the exemplary em.bodiment
shown in Fig. 5.
The presentation assembly shown in Fig. 1 consists o~ a
plate-shaped part 1, built up o~ a number o~ l~m; n~tions which
are coupled together and are slightly displaceable relative to
each other. A presentation assembly 2 is present which is
shown in more detail in Fig. 3, in cross section. By 3, a
supporting ~rame is indicated consisting o~ two legs connected
by pivotable connecting arms 4. The legs consist o~ leg parts
5 and 6, and the leg part 5 can be received within the leg
part 6.
As Fiss. 2 and 3 ~mon~trate~ a detach~hle handgrip 15 is
present, which also serves to ~asten cont~;n~ 12 to a board
21. By 7, an attachment receiving member is indicated. In this
m~nn~, a complete, optionally mobile presentation assembly is
provided.
On the other hand, a~ter use, it is possible to detach
these parts ~rom the supporting ~rame 3 again and to collapse
the supporting ~rame 3 by both moving the legs together and
telescopins them. Thus, a whole is obt~;ne~ which is
su~iciently compact ~or being accommodated, together with the
presentation sheet assembly 2, in the plate-shaped part 1,
rolled up into a tube. This is shown in Fig. 2. The handgrip
15 is att~h~ to the receiving members 22 o~ plate-shaped
part 1.
In Fig. 3, the presentation sheet assembly 2 is shown.
This assemb;y consists o~ a housing, indicated by 12, wherein
a roll 10 oI plastic ~ilm material 11 is accommodated whose
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film is electrostatically charged. The housing can be opened
in a simple m~nn~, allowing the roll 10 to be reversed or
changed while the presentation assembly is in the operative
position, after which it is directly ready for use again,
without super_luous operations. It is understood that for
'' this, it is also possible to choose a paper web, wound into a
roll, which web has been provided with means whereby a paper
web part can be stuck ~lat to a base. Reusable adhesive as is
for instance used for Post-it~ would be suitable for this. The
housing 12 comprises a dispensing slot 13. There is also
provided a cutting blade 14, which is operative adjacent the
dispensing slot 13. The cutting blade 14 can be moved forward
and bac~ward for the purpose of cutting off part 11 from the
plastic film web. In Fig. 3 it is clearly visible that the
guide 23 of the cutting blade holder 24 of the cutting blade
14 is located at the upstream end of the dispensing slot 13
and that the cutting blade 14 is located at the downstream end
of the dispensing slot 13. The cutting blade holder 24 extends
transversely over the dispensing slot 13 In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the blade 14 operates on a hardened cutting
strip 25 against which the blade 14 is pressed during cutting
However, in accor~nce with an alternative elaboration of the
invention, it is very well possible that instead of the
cutting strip 25, a groove is provided wherein the blade 14
operates. With such a construction, the risk o~ the film or
paper 11 tuc~ing up during cutting is m;n;mized
When an electrostatically charged plastic film is used
for the material web, this film pre_erably has a thickness
ranging bet~een 30 and 60 ~m, and more in particular a
thlc~ess c~ abcu~ 35 ~m, an~ ls ~referably ~ whlte fl~m.. It
has appeared that with the construction here shown, the
electrostatic charge of the film material is maint~;n~. This
electrostatic charge is important for enabling a sheet of film
11, a_ter the sheet 11 in question has been written on, to be
_ixed on a wall or the like without necessitating separate
adhesive means. Obviously, the electrostatic charge is also
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important ~or keeping the ~ilm web, rolled up during a longer
time, in a ~lat position when it is being written on.
Fig. 4 illustrates a ~urther embodiment o~ the invention.
The presentation assembly is mounted on a leg consisting o~
telescoping leg parts 8,9. Such a leg can ~or intance be
secured to a wall by means o~, ~or instance, suction cups or
the like, and sheet material can be unrolled there~rom
laterally in accordance with the invention.
Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment o~ the
presentation assembly according to the invention, wherein the
collapsible plate part 1 has been replaced by a stretching
screen 26. In a Eirst condition, the stret~-hi ng screen 26 is
rolled up and ~orms a c~m~ct unit together with the housing,
and in a second condition it is unrolled and stretched taut,
so that it can serve as a base ~or an unwound part o~ plastic
~ilm web or paper web to be written on. For the purpose o~
stretching taut, the screen 26 is tightened by a spring not
shown, and can be unrolled to di~erent OE tents by means o~
the toggle link assembly 27 shown in Fig. 6 A presentation
assembly o~ such design is o~ a light construction and easy to
transport.
The plastic ~ilm web can ~or instance be a ~ilm o~
polypropylene, polyester or vinyl. It is understood that these
materials are mentioned as an example only and that other film
materials or mixtures o~ di~ferent types o~ ~ilm material can
also be suitable. As indicated hereinabove, a paper web may
also serve as material to be written on.
It is essential that ~or the presentation assembly
according to the invention, the material web has at least one
relatively rough surrace, so that the writing thereon is not
erasable, and ~or the sake or the compactness o~ the
presentation assembly, the material is disposed as a roll and
comprises means whereby the material, inclined to roll up, can
be stuck ~lat to a base, while the material web r~m; n~ the
user o~ paper as much as possibie
Although the invention has hereinabove been described
with re~erence to a pre~erred embodiment, it should be
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11
understood that numerous modi~ications can be made thereto
without departing ~rom the scope o~ the present application.
