Carrier Tube for Prints, Sheets or Artistic Canvases

This invention relates to carrier tubes for wound documents and prints, and more particularly to a new carrier device wherein the wound print will not unravel or unwind within the tube.

The use of mailing tubes for transporting documents through the mails in well-known in the art. Such devices feature an inexpensive way to protect valuable documents and prints from the rigors of the mailing system, which is known to occasionally deliver our fragile enclosures in more than a single piece.

Transport tubes, despite their widespread use have several disadvantages. Documents placed within the tubes often become unwound, making their removal difficult. If rubber bands are used to maintain a tight sprial, the edges of the document can often experience a torn or ragged cut. Even when the documents are extracted from the tube intact, they often tend to remain curled, i.e. the printed materials tend to acquire a set. Flattening or straightening these prints may be a painstaking and time consuming experience, requiring weighting and counter-rolling.

The present invention has as one of its objectives to maintain the advantages of a carrier tube system, while eliminating the aforementioned drawbacks. The invention seeks to provide a carrier tube device which: (1) preserves the integrity of the document; (2) prevents the document from unwinding in the tube; (3) prevents tearing along the print edges; (4) facilitates the straightening and flattening of the rolled document; and (5) accomplishes the insertion and removal of the printed materials with respect to the carrier tube in a facile and easy manner.

A carrier tube having a display sheet in combination with the tube, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,654,970; issued Oct. 13, 1953. In this invention, the display sheet is reinforced along its edges in order to stand upright with respect to the tube body.

While the present invention also features reinforcements along the edges of the scroll it is not for the same purpose. The invention discloses a protective liner which is reinforced to facilitate the flattening and straightening of the document wound inside the liner. The liner has as one of its objectives to protect the enclosed document.

In another U.S. patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,789; issued: Aug. 6, 1968, it is taught that a tube of wound sheet material can be used as a core for winding a length of material thereon. This device differs from the present invention in that the mandrel or core for winding the document of the present invention is used in conjunction with a backing liner and carrying tube in order to safely and conveniently transport a document. In other words, the core used in the present invention is used to tightly wind the document contained in the backing liner which is then inserted into a carrier tube.

For the purpose of this invention, the terms "document" or "print" shall be defined as any sheet of material to be mailed, carried or transported, including such items as artistic canvases, paintings, drawings, photos, diplomas, certificates, awards, etc.

The invention pertains to a carrying device for a print, sheet or artistic canvas. The device features a flexible liner having at least one pouch in which the print is inserted. The liner is addapted to be wound into a generally spiral shape. The liner and print are then inserted into a hollow-carrying tube. Securing means are provided to prevent the unraveling or unwinding of the wound liner when deposited in the tube. The securing means may be an end cap which is inserted over the wound liner, or it can be a coating of adhesive-like material. Such material may be a Velcro.RTM. or pressure-sensitive tape applied to the back and edge of the liner.

A mandrel or core can also be used to facilitate the winding of the liner. The mandrel can be provided with a rib on each end for guiding the liner upon the mandrel, i.e. as a means to wind the liner in a straight spiral upon the core. The rib can be provided with a slot for locating and anchoring an edge of the liner upon the mandrel.

The liner may be provided with edge reinforcements to assist in flattening and straightening the wound liner and print.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved carrier device for documents or prints;

It is another object of the invention to provide a carrying tube device that will feature the easy insertion and removal of the document from the tube, as well as the maintenance of the integrity and safety of the document.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent and will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mandrel and liner apparatus for the carrier device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the liner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, showing a perspective view of the liner attached to the mandrel as an integral section thereof;

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of the wound liner upon the mandrel as depicted in FIG. 1, and further depicting this apparatus as inserted within a hollow carrying tube; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the edge reinforcement for the liner shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Generally speaking, the invention features a device for carrying or transporting documents or prints. The device comprises a liner into which a document or print is inserted. The liner protects the print from damage as it is wound for insertion into a hollow mailing or transport tube. The device allows for ease of insertion and removal of the wound print from the hollow tube.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a liner 10 is shown being wound (arrow 11) upon a mandrel 12. The liner 10 is typically comprised of flexible material such as vinyl plastic, mesh, or cloth. The liner 10 acts as a backing for the print or document to be placed in the hollow carrying tube 13, shown in FIG. 5.

The liner 10 has two pouches 14 on each end thereof; designated 14a and 14b as more clearly shown in FIG. 3. The print or document 15 (FIG. 3) is placed inside the pouches, such that the document end 15a is inserted into pouch 14a, and the document end 15b is inserted into pouch 14b, respectively. In this fashion, the document 15 is captured by the liner 10 and becomes a temporary integral part of the liner.

As the liner 10, is wound (arrow 11) upon the mandrel 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the liner 10 will protect the document 15 from physical damage and moisture.

The mandrel or core 12 provides a means to wind the liner 10 tightly in a cylindrical or spiral shape. To insure a straightly wound liner 10, the mandrel is provided with a rib 16 disposed adjacent each end 17.

A corresponding rib or side reinforcement 18 which is made of elastic material is provided on each edge of the liner 10, which liner rib 18 aligns with the mandrel rib 16, so that the liner is caused to obtain a straightly wound start.

Referring to FIG. 4, wherein like designations are used for like elements, the liner 10 is fabricated as an integral part of the mandrel 12, such that the liner 10 is always straightly wound upon the mandrel 12. The liner rib 18 in this embodiment is used strictly for reinforcement and for spacing between layers.

As reinforcements, ribs 18 allow the liner to quickly regain a flat profile after the liner 10 is unwound from the mandrel 12. For displaying or for accelerating the flattening, stiff channels 26 are snugly placed over the ribs 18, as shown by arrow 28 in FIG. 1. These channels 26 may come in half side-lengths for storing inside the hollow mandrel 12, as shown in FIG. 5. Two of these channels 26 have enlarged end portions 27 on one end thereof, for overlapping.

End reinforcements 19 are placed over the liner 10, and are used to assist in the flattening of the liner 10 and document 15. The end reinforcements 19 also serve to locate and anchor the liner to the mandrel 12. This is accomplished by placing the reinforcement 19 into the corresponding slot 20 in ribs 16 of the mandrel. In this way, the liner 10 is firmly and securely located with respect to the mandrel 12.

A clip 21 can be optionally slid over (arrow 22) the end 17 of the mandrel 12 to hold the liner 10 in place.

Referring to FIG. 5, a liner 10 is wound upon a mandrel 12, and is inserted within a hollow carrying tube 13, as aforementioned. In order to insure the liner 10 from unraveling or unwinding, end caps 23 are placed over the ends 17 of the mandrel 12.

A cap 24 is also placed over the end 25 of tube 13 to seal-in the contents (document 15, liner 10 and mandrel 12).

The mandrel 12 may be disgarded, and the liner 10 held in wound condition by means of a Velcro.RTM. or other pressure-sensitive backing (not shown) which can be coated upon liner 10, as an optional feature.

Ribs 18 can be manufactured with a serrated or tank-track design, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to facilitate winding of the liner 10 and to eliminate need of the mandrel 12.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented by the following appended claims.