This disclosure relates generally to a folder for displaying, carrying, and/or storing pages of music, print material, or the like. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a folder which allows multiple pages to be displayed with a reduced number of manual page turns.
A folder for carrying and displaying sheets of material as described herein may include two or more panels, each of the panels having two vertical edges and being connected to at least one other panel by at least one vertical edge and forming two or more connected vertical edges, the folder being foldable along each of the connected vertical edges. Each of the panels may have a front side and a back side, with one or both of the front side and back side of each of the four panels having an attachment member configured to hold at least one sheet of material.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the disclosure are described herein, including various embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the figures described below.
References to the figures throughout the description are for convenience only. As provided herein, embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may include one or more additional components or features not illustrated in the figures. Similarly, one or more of the illustrated components or features may be omitted and/or substituted for a different component or feature in any of the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more alternative embodiments.
During the course of the performance and practice of music, it may be useful for the performer to read sheet music of compositions. Often sheet music compositions are multiple pages in length. This may necessitate that the performer turn the sheet music while performing. Depending on how the sheet music is scored for these page turns, they can often be inconvenient and as a result, the musician may be forced to omit some of the music in order to make the page turn.
A professional musician performing at a concert may have someone else to follow—along in the music and turn the pages manually for the musician. However, this option is inconvenient and/or costly. Musicians may also attempt to limit page turns by taping multiple pages together (such as 3 or 4 pages) and then pull all the taped pages away at once. This may be referred to as a “page throw.” A page throw may be difficult to execute and if used during a performance and can be distracting for the audience. Additionally, sheets of music standing alone can sag and may not be displayed flat, making it more difficult for the musician to read the notes.
Accordingly, the present disclosure includes a folder and method for displaying sheets of music in a way that limits the necessary manual page turns. According to one embodiment, the folder may include four panels connected in a row, with one or more of the panels having a front side configured to hold a sheet of material and a back side configured to hold a sheet of material.
According to one configuration, the four panels may be connected to one another by their vertical edges, and may be foldable along such connected vertical edges.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the folder may include a semi-rigid or rigid material to support sheets of material and prevent them from sagging.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the front and back sides of the panels has an attachment member disposed thereon configured to secure at least one sheet of material. Attachment members can be any known in the art, and according to one configuration, the attachment member may be a clear or transparent pocket configured to hold at least one sheet of material. Alternatively or additionally, the attachment member may include corner tabs, clips, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro), frictional members, clamps, pins, magnetic retainers other members known to hold paper and the like.
In some embodiments, the clear or transparent pocket may be eraseably markable, such that annotations or marking may be made on the transparent pocket that reference the displayed sheet underneath. The markings may be subsequently removed or erased. In some embodiments, the transparent pocket may be formed by attaching a clear or transparent film (e.g., plastic) to a face of a panel. Thus, a panel may have plastic sheet attached to a front face and a back face in order to form a transparent pocket on each of the front face and the back face of the panel. The plastic sheet may be secured on at least a portion of at least two sides, or three of the four sides, in order to form a pocket with at least one opening. For example, the pocket(s) may have an opening on a top, bottom, and/or side(s) of the pocket.
In some embodiments, each panel may comprise a clear pocket. That is, a panel may comprise two sheets of transparent plastic joined on two or three edges such that sheets of music may be placed within the pocket back-to-back, such that the sheets are displayed facing in opposite directions.
According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the folder may be stored and transported by folding it such that its dimensions are the width and height of a single panel, with a depth of four panels.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the folder may be formed of two or more panels, with each of the panels having a front side and a back side, and one or more of the front sides and the back sides having one or more attachment members. The attachment members may cooperatively secure one or more sheets or individually secure one or more sheets.
These and other aspects of the present disclosure are realized in a music folder and method of use as shown and described in the following figures and related description. It will be appreciated that various configurations of the disclosure may not include each aspect set forth above and aspects discussed above shall not be read into the claims unless specifically described therein. The various embodiments of the disclosure may be used independent of one another and/or combined in any suitable combination or permutation of embodiments.
The following description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. The skilled artisan will understand, however, that the systems and methods described herein can be practiced without employing these specific details, and that the methods and systems can be used for purposes other than those described herein with or without modification. Indeed, the systems and methods described herein can be modified and used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. The drawings and descriptions are intended to provide examples of various aspects of various embodiments and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the drawings may show aspects of various embodiments in isolation and the elements in one figure may be used in conjunction with elements shown in other figures.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “one configuration,” “an embodiment,” or “a configuration” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment, etc. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places may not necessarily limit the inclusion of a particular element to a single embodiment, rather the element may be included in other or all embodiments discussed herein.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of products or manufacturing techniques that may be used, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments discussed in the disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
The systems and methods described herein are not limited to any particular structures, process steps, or materials discussed or disclosed herein. It is understood that any of a wide variety of materials, sizes, shapes, configurations, and adaptations are possible to suit a particular need or use.
It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, singular forms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may encompass the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member.
Concentrations, amounts, proportions and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. Such ranges or numerical values are used by way of example, and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.
Each of the front sides 25 and back sides 28 may be adapted to hold at least one or more sheets of material, such as a sheet of music, by way of an attachment member 30. The attachment member 30 may be any suitable attachment member for sheets of material known in the art. By way of example, a clear pocket may be provided with an opening for inserting or removing a sheet. The opening may be on a top or bottom of a portrait orientation, as illustrated in
In one alternative embodiment, as illustrated in
While clear protectors are illustrated as the attachment members in many embodiments, any of a wide variety of attachment members are possible, including corner tabs, clips, adhesives, and the like. For example, the attachment member could be a binder clip, or metal fasteners designed to engage holes punched in sheets of material. Numerous other means for holding a sheet of material may also be employed and would be within the scope of the current disclosure.
Turning now to
The panel may include a margin 32 around the outside edge of the panel to allow for folds. In various embodiments, the size of the margins may be minimized. In other embodiments, the size of the margins may be selected to allow for notations, folding, or other uses. According to the panel 14 in
According to the panel 14 in
According to a configuration of a folder which utilizes four panels—each panel being capable of holding and displaying at least one sheet of music on its front side 25 and at least one sheet of music on its back side 28—the folder may be utilized to store and/or display at least eight sheets of music at a time. In various embodiments, one or more panels may not have a front and a back side. In various embodiments, when the multi-page presentation folder is in a closed position, an outward facing panel may not be configured to hold a sheet, but rather have a logo or other decorative marking or image. In some embodiments, the multi-page presentation folder may include only three panels, capable of displaying up to six sheets with minimal manual page turns. In some embodiments, the panels may be removed or added to a multi-page presentation folder as desired. In such embodiments, panels may be selectively attached to one another by a foldable or hinging temporary connection member, such as metal fasteners, hinges, sewn hinges, molded hinges, magnets, or the like.
In a six panel embodiment, three sheets may be displayed at first, then a single “page turn” may reveal six more sheets and a final “page turn” may review the last three sheets—for a total of twelve sheets. The various illustrated embodiments include a four-panel multi-page presentation folder for displaying up to eight sheets with only two manual page turns, or up to six sheets with only one manual page turn.
It may also be desirable to store the music in the multi-page folder in order to protect the music and keep it organized, and it may also be desirable to be able to easily transport the folder. When storage or transportation of the folder is desired, the folder may be folded along each of the connected vertical edges 22, as indicated by the arrows 38 in
In use, a musician or other presenter may select up to eight pages of sheet music to be practiced or performed. If sheets of music are inserted into the appropriate attachment members on the fronts and backs of the four panels 14, up to eight sheets of music may be practiced or performed with only two manual “page turns,” or turns of the folder, as described herein.
After selecting sheets of music, the musician may then select a multi-page presentation folder as described herein. By way of example, the musician may select a presentation folder that utilizes four panels, with each of the four panels having a sheet attachment member consisting of a clear pocket with a hole at the top for insertion and removal of sheets. The sheet attachment member may be provided on the front side and back side of each of the four panels. The panels in
The musician may then load the presentation folder by inserting the sheets of music through the holes in the tops of the clear pockets in the following order (as shown in
After the multi-page folder has been loaded in this order, the musician may close the folder as shown in
According to
According to
Turning now to
In an alternative embodiment, the attachment members 130 may be configured to each secure one or more sheets in a portrait orientation with a significant portion of the sheet extending out of the attachment member 130. For example, the illustrated attachment member 130 may be 8.5 inches wide, but only 1-10 inches tall, such that between 10 and 1 inches, respectively, of the sheet extend up and out of the attachment member 130 (or beyond the attachment member in cases in which the attachment ember is a clip).
Alternatively, two attachment members—each configured to hold a single sheet of material in a landscape orientation—on each of the front sides and back sides of the panels 114a and 114b may be provided.
According to the configuration shown in
A folder for carrying and displaying sheets of material as described herein may include four panels, each of the four panels having two vertical edges and being connected to at least one other panel by at least one vertical edge and forming three connected vertical edges, the folder being foldable along each of the three connected vertical edges. Each of the four panels may have a front side and a back side, with one or both of the front sides and back sides of each of the four panels having an attachment member that is configured to hold at least one sheet of material.
The attachment member may include a pocket, corner tabs, clips, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro), frictional members, clamps, pins, magnetic retainers, and/or other members known to hold paper and the like. It is appreciated that a combination of two or more attachment members may be used in combination. For example, in one embodiment, one or more sheets are inserted into a transparent pocket and secured to a panel via a hook and loop fastener or via corner tabs, or via a clip. As described herein, the folder may be formed of a semi-rigid material. An amount of space may be provided between the vertical edges and the attachment members.
A folder for carrying sheets of material and displaying the sheets may include a pair of panels joined together at a center of the folder and foldable at the center, with each panel having inner and outer surfaces such that the inner surface of each panel is disposed on the inside of the folder, and the outer surface of each panel is disposed on the outside of the folder when the folder is in a closed position. The inner surfaces and outer surfaces may each have an attachment member disposed thereon, the attachment member configured to hold at least two sheets of material. The attachment member may include a clear pocket or corner tabs or the like.
A folder for presenting and storing sheets of material may include a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth panels may have a left vertical edge and a right vertical edge; the right vertical edge of the first panel being connected to the left vertical edge of the second panel; the right vertical edge of the second panel being connected to the left vertical edge of the third panel; and the right vertical edge of the third panel being connected to the left vertical edge of the fourth panel. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth panels may include a front and a back, each of the front and the back having an attachment member disposed thereon configured to display at least one sheet of material.
A method for presenting sheets of material is also provided, the method including: selecting a folder having a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel; each of the first, second, third, and fourth panels having a left vertical edge and a right vertical edge; the right vertical edge of the first panel being connected to the left vertical edge of the second panel; the right vertical edge of the second panel being connected to the left vertical edge of the third panel; and the right vertical edge of the third panel being connected to the left vertical edge of the fourth panel. All four panels may have a front and a back, each of the front and the back having an attachment member disposed thereon configured to display at least one sheet of material.
The method may include inserting sheets of material in this manner: inserting a first sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the back of the second panel; inserting a second sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the back of the first panel; inserting a third sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the front of the first panel; inserting a fourth sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the front of the second panel; inserting a fifth sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the front of the third panel; inserting a sixth sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the front of the fourth panel; inserting a seventh sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the back of the fourth panel; and inserting an eighth sheet of material into the attachment member disposed on the back of the third panel.
The phrases “connected to” and “integral with” and other related terms refer to any form of interaction between two or more components, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromechanical, and electromagnetic interaction(s). Two components may be connected to each other, even though they are not in direct contact with each other, and even though there may be intermediary devices between the two components.
Various manufacturing techniques, materials, and combinations thereof may be used to create and/or enhance the multi-page presentation folder described herein, including various metals, plastics, rubbers, etc. For example, one or more of the following materials may be utilized: polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidine chloride, polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), polypropylene, and/or other types of plastics and rubbers. Various manufacturing processes may be utilized as well, including, but not limited to, extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, three-dimensional printing, casting, etching, molding, joining, evaporative-pattern casting, spray forming, dip molding, thermoforming, sewing, fusing, and/or other processes.
Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the systems and methods of the disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments. In addition, the steps of a method do not necessarily need to be executed in any specific order, or even sequentially, nor do the steps need to be executed only once.
This disclosure has been made with reference to various embodiments, including the best mode. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. While the principles of this disclosure have been shown in various embodiments, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, elements, materials, and components may be adapted for a specific environment and/or operating requirements without departing from the principles and scope of this disclosure. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
This disclosure is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope thereof. Likewise, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to various embodiments. However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, a required, or an essential feature or element. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined by the claims provided herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2718911 | Solomon | Sep 1955 | A |
2908308 | Dearholt | Oct 1959 | A |
3286831 | Giberstein | Nov 1966 | A |
3958348 | Sakamoto | May 1976 | A |
5711627 | Chapman | Jan 1998 | A |
6334631 | Hollander | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6938931 | Davis | Sep 2005 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20140346217 A1 | Nov 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61825759 | May 2013 | US |