FOLDER FORMING A LEXICON AND A DISPLAY-UNIT

The present invention relates to a new article which is in the form of a folder, providing thereby the possibility of carrying it permanently on oneself.

As is known, it is often very difficult when travelling abroad, particularly in countries having a language little used and where it is very difficult to be understood or to understand an interlocutor, and this while carrying out simple functions such as asking for one's way, being understood in a store, for example, when one wishes to buy shoes for a definite size for someone else, etc.

The invention solves this problem by means of a folder for lexicons providing the possibility of exchanging information in different languages.

According to the present invention there is provided a folder forming a multiple language lexicon comprising:

a) at least two flaps articulated together, b) each of said at least two flaps having an inner face with means for removably securing various lexicons in different languages, c) each of the lexicons having respective identical information so arranged and positioned that they can be brought into coincidence, d) a first one of said at least two flaps being provided with means for positioning at least two removably secured lexicons, and e) a second one of said at least two flaps serving as a support for storage of removably secured lexicons in reserve.

Various other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment.

An embodiment of the invention is shown, by way of a non limiting example, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the lexicon forming folder, in a position showing the display panels which it comprises.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the same folder in an opened position and showing a plurality of lexicons.

- 1 FIGURE 3 is a partial view of a multiple leaf lexicon shown in a half-opened position.

The lexicon forming folder shown in the drawings comprises, for example, three flaps 1, 2 and 3 of rectangular shape, the respective dimensions of which correspond substantially to those of a diary or of a pocket-case for traveller's cheques so that it can be easily placed in a jacket pocket or in a handbag. The flaps 1, 2 and 3 are articulated together at 4 and 5 in order to be folded on each other, the flap 1 coming for example against the flap 2, and the flap 3 forming the cover.

The inner faces of the flaps 1 and 2 comprise flat pockets 6 and 7. The pockets 6 and 7 form retaining elements provided for containing the last leaves 8 of lexicons 9, 9a-9d. Each lexicon 9, 9a-9d comprises, in addition to the leaf 8 which is to be engaged in the pocket, superimposed leaves 10 having lengths progressively increasing from the top to the bottom of the lexicon so as to provide an exposed strip 11 on each of them.

The various lexicons 9 all have, on respective ones of their leaves, titles which are identical but in different languages. For example, lexicon 9a can be in English, lexicon 9b in Spanish, lexicon 9c in Japanese, lexicon 9d in German, etc.

The lexicons placed on the flap 2 are so-called "waiting" lexicons.

The flap 1 supports in a way similar to that which has been just described two lexicons 9 and 92. The lexicon 9, is that corresponding to the mother tongue of the folder owner or to a language with which he is - 2 familiar. The lexicon 92 is made of a lexicon the language of which is that of the country in which is the owner of the folder, or the language which is the mother tongue or the familiar language of an interlocutor.

The pocket 7 is used moreover for supporting a graphic memento 11 formed in a similar way as lexicon 9 by means of superimposed leaves 12 each having a free strip.

Each leaf of the graphic memento 11 shows stylized drawings 13 relating to the words, expressions or phrases which are on the corresponding page of lexicons 9 amd 9_.

As illustrated in Pig. 3 which diagrammatically shows the French language lexicon, the first leaf marked "français" bears information of a very general order, such as the interrogation "parlez-vour français?", "oui", "non", "je desire", "combine", "bon", "mauvais", etc.

The second leaf deals then with a quite particular subject such as urgency subjects, and the free strip shows for instance to this end the word "urgence".

The third leaf relates to another subject, for example health, and shows "sante", etc.

The foregoing explanations show that an inquiry can be easily made. Actually a French citizen being for instance in Finland has at 9, the lexicon in French and at 9„ the lexicon in Finnish. Thus, he can ask questions in this language to an interlocutor. If for some reasons he is not understood by his interlocutor, he can also show the drawing corresponding approximately to the question to be asked, which can provide the interlocutor with the possibility of referring to the Finnish lexicon and therefore the French citizen with that of understanding the - 3 .1181313 answer to the interrogation by referring to the line of the French lexicon corresponding to that of the Finnish lexicon.

The waiting lexicons can be particularly used in various congresses, conventions and meetings where a person of a given mother tongue successively meets persons of other mother tongues. In this case, the only thing to do is to replace lexicon 99 considered hereabove, viz. the Finnish lexicon, by a lexicon of an appropriate language.

Further to the information hereabove described, the folder comprises on its free faces assemblies of graphic signals which also provide the possibility of establishing communication ties with interlocutors. For example, one can provide a row of panels of different colours designated at 14, panels 15 comprising numbers 1 to 9 or 10, another numbers 10, 20, 30, etc. and below usual mathematical signs such as +-%, which enables two interlocutors exchanging with great ease numerical data. Likewise, conversion tables 16 for temperatures as well as length or sizes can be provided. One of the faces or a portion of one of the faces of a panel can be left free in order to place thereon one or several advertising inserts.

Finally, one of the panels will have, inside and as is shown for panel 3, a pocket 17 which can be used for an air ticket, a traveller's cheque book, etc.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described in detail, and various modifications can be carried out without departing from its scope. In particular, the retaining pockets of the lexicons can be replaced by other removable fixation means, and one of flaps can comprise for example a magnetic retaining band of the thread type, of the interlocking or "Velcro'-type, of the self-adhesive type, etc., and the back of the lexicons can comprise a complementary member.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A folder forming a multiple language lexicon comprising:

a) at least two flaps articulated together, b) each of said at least two flaps having an inner face with means for removably securing various lexicons in different languages, c) each of the lexicons having respective identical information so arranged and positioned that they can be brought into coincidence, d) a first one of said at least two flaps being provided with means for positioning at least two removably secured lexicons, and e) a second one of said at least two flaps serving as a support for storage of removably secured lexicons in reserve.

2. A folder according to claim 1, wherein the lexicons are multiple leaf lexicons and comprise similar free strips for shov/ing different subject matters.

3. A folder according to claim 2, comprising a flap for showing two lexicons and a multiple leaf type graphic memento.

4. A folder according to claim 3, wherein the graphic memento shows on the leaves which it comprises stylized drawings complementary to information on corresponding leaves of two lexicons carried by a same flap.