Holder for sheet material

Abstract

A support for holding sheets of flexible material such as paper, plastics and thin metal foils. The support includes an elongated frame which may be tubular or channel shaped and includes a base and side walls which defines a cavity which extends lengthwise of the frame. A U-shaped loop formed of a flexible, resilient plastic has a bail connecting a pair of legs. Each leg terminates in a distal end. The U-shaped plastic loop is positioned in the cavity of the frame with the bail of the U-shaped plastic loop extending outwardly of the cavity and the distal ends of the legs engaging the frame. The legs of the U-shaped plastic loop cooperate with the side walls of the frame to receive and retain sheets of flexible material inserted into the cavity between the U-shaped plastic loop and one of the side walls of the frame. The legs of the U-shaped plastic loop may be formed with feet that are seated in slots formed in the elongated frame. A pocket may be formed in a side wall of the support for holding objects thicker than sheets of materials.

1 . A support for holding sheets of flexible material, said support comprising: 
 an elongated frame,    said frame including a base and a pair of side walls upstanding from said base,    said base and said side walls defining a cavity extending lengthwise of said frame,    a U-shaped loop formed of a flexible, resilient plastic, said loop having a bail connecting a pair of legs with each leg having a distal end,    said U-shaped loop located in said cavity of said frame with said bail extending outwardly of said cavity and said distal ends of said legs engaging said frame, and    said legs of said plastic loop cooperating with said side walls of said frame to receive and retain at least one sheet of a flexible material inserted into said cavity between said plastic loop and one of said side walls of said frame.    
   
   
       2 . The support of  claim 1  in which said elongated frame is tubular and said side walls converge towards each other to define an opening into said cavity for receiving said bail of said U-shaped loop and at least said one sheet of a flexible material.  
   
   
       3 . The support of  claim 1  in which slots are formed in said frame and said distal ends of said legs of said U-shaped loop are received in said slots.  
   
   
       4 . The support of  claim 1  in which each side wall terminates in a lip at its upstanding end with each lip extending over said cavity towards the other tip of said lips to define an opening into said cavity for receiving said bail of said U-shaped loop and at least said one sheet of flexible material.  
   
   
       5 . The support of  claim 1  in which a foot is formed at the distal end of each leg of said U-shaped loop and each foot engages said base of said frame.  
   
   
       6 . The support of  claim 5  in which a spacer formed on said base separates said feet.  
   
   
       7 . The support of  claim 1  in which said side walls of said frame are curved in similar arcs to impart a strengthening bend to a sheet of a flexible material inserted into said cavity between said plastic loop and one of said side walls of said frame.  
   
   
       8 . The support of  claim 4  in which said lips of said side walls are curved in similar arcs to impart a strengthening bend to a sheet of a flexible material inserted into said cavity between said plastic loop and one of said lips.  
   
   
       9 . The support of  claim 1  in which J-shaped slots are formed in said frame, a foot is formed at the distal end of each leg of said U-shaped loop, a toe is formed at the end of each of said feet with said feet and toes of said legs seated in said J-shaped slots.  
   
   
       10 . The support of  claim 9  in which said base is reduced in thickness adjacent said feet of said U-shaped loop.  
   
   
       11 . The support of  claim 1  in which a pocket for receiving objects is formed in a side wall of said frame.