For convenience, the invention will generally be described below in connection with its use in respect of tables in restaurants and cafes. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this use and has wide application.

Background Art It is a notorious fact that the floors of restaurants and cafes, particularly the floors of outdoor eating areas, are seldom perfectly level. As a result, tables in these establishments are sometimes unevenly supported and can teeter or wobble, especially when pressure is applied to one part of a table by a patron.

This problem has long been recognised. However, until now, solutions have been provided on an ad hoc basis. For example, match books have been used to wedge a table leg, or a wad of paper has been used for the same purpose.

Disclosure of the Invention This invention provides a wedge device comprising a sheet of material having at least one line of weakness for the purpose of permitting the sheet to be folded about each such line of weakness.

The wedge device of the invention preferably comprises a sheet of material which is of a size the same as or similar to a business card. This size is preferred because it is a convenient size for storing in business card holders. In addition, the sheet may carry promotional material, especially advertising relating to the premises where the wedge device of the invention can be made available to patrons.

The sheet comprising the wedge device of the invention may be made from any suitable material. Some suitable materials are plastics, especially recycled plastic material, and cardboard. The thickness of the material of the sheet should be chosen in accordance with the number of lines of weakness and the shape to be assumed by the wedge device when assemble. For example, if there is a single line of weakness only, it may be necessary to use a relatively thick sheet.

It is preferred that the sheet is printable, so that the device of the invention can be used for promotional purposes, as indicated above. If the sheet is made of paper or cardboard, it may be laminated with a protective coating to preserve printing.

The sheet may be of any desired shape, but a rectangular shape is preferred. In a different preferred embodiment, the sheet may be a circular shape and made of cardboard, for example.

It is within the scope of this invention that the sheets be cut from a large sheet, for example by die cutting or heat stamping. In this way, twelve rectangular sheets of approximately business card size could be stamped from an A4 sized sheet.

The wedge device of the invention incorporates at least one line of weakness.

This may be a line of perforation or may take any other form which enables the sheet to be folded about the line of weakness. For example, the line of weakness may take the form of a score line. Other means of providing a line of weakness will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of this invention.

It is preferred that there is more than one line of weakness. It is further preferred that the lines of weakness are arranged so that the sheet can be folded along at least two axes. For example, the device of the invention may comprise a sheet of rectangular or circular shape with two intersecting diagonal lines of weakness. In another embodiment, the device of the invention may comprise a rectangular sheet with one longitudinal line of weakness and two transverse lines of weakness. In yet another embodiment, the device of the invention may comprise

a rectangular sheet which is divided into three segments by two transverse lines of weakness.

The lines of weakness may be located on opposite faces of the sheet. For example, there may be two lines of weakness on one face and two lines of weakness on the reverse face, the respective lines of weakness on one face not being a mirror image of those on the reverse face.

Although in most cases the sheet in the device of the invention will be planar, it is to be appreciated that the sheet may have a profile which itself is shaped. For example, the sheet may be divided into three segments as in the embodiment last described above. In cross section, each of the segments has a triangular shape, so that when folded about the lines of weaknesses, the segments can cause an increase in the depth of the wedge in its assembled state, to a greater or lesser degree, depending on whether one segment is folded against the second segment only or whether the third segment is also folded on top of the first two.

If desired, or required because of the positioning of the lines of weakness, the sheet may contain one or more holes to facilitate folding and prevent undue strain.

This invention also provides a method of making a wedge device, including the steps of : providing a sheet of material of desired shape ; and forming on said sheet at least one line of weakness for the purpose of permitting the sheet to be folded about the or each line of weakness.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in connection with certain embodiments depicted in the accompanying sketch drawings in which :

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the wedge device of the invention, seen from above ; Figure 2 is a plan view of the wedge device of Figure 1, seen from below ; Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention ; Figure 4 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the invention ; and Figure 5 is a side elevation of the embodiment in Figure 4.

Best Modes of Carrying out the Invention Referring first to Figure 1, wedge device 10 has sheet 12 of polyethylene or other plastic material. A first pair of score lines 14 and 16 and a second pair of score lines 18 and 20 are formed in sheet 12. These are shown in dashed outline in Figure 2. Bridge 15 joins line 14 to line 18, while bridge 17 joins line 16 to line 20.

Holes 26,28, 30 and 32 are made through the thickness of sheet 12 as shown.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the reverse of sheet 12 has score lines 34,36, 38 and 40 (shown in dashed outline in Figure 1). These are bridged by lines 33,35, 37 and 39.

It will be appreciated that if the score lines 14, 16, 18, 20,34, 36,38 and 40 are replaced by a line of perforation in each case, they may be formed by die cutting applied to one side of sheet 12 only. In that case, there may be no necessity to include holes 26, 28,30 and 32.

To assemble wedge device 10, sheet 12 is folded at score lines 14 and 18 and at score lines 16 and 20 and then about score lines 34,36, 38 and 40 to form a wedge which can then be placed under the leg of a chair or table to stabilise it.

Holes 26,28, 30 and 32 are necessary to enable the described folding to take place and to reduce strain on sheet 12.

Referring now to Figure 3, wedge device 50 has a sheet 52 of cardboard.

Horizontal score line 54 divides sheet 52 in half. Vertical score lines 56 and 58 divide sheet 52 into thirds.

To assemble wedge device 50, sheet 52 is first folded about score line 56 or 58 and next folded about score line 58 or 56. Next, sheet 52 is folded about score line 54. The manner of folding combined with the thickness of the cardboard material results in a V-shaped wedge with sufficient resiliency to stabilise most chairs and tables.

In Figure 4, wedge device 60 has sheet 62 which is divided into thirds by score lines 64 and 66. However, sheet 62 is not flat. As can be seen from Figure 5, in profile sheet 62 has three triangular shaped portions 68,70 and 72 separated by score lines 64 and 66.

To assemble wedge device 60, portion 68 is folded about score line 64 as shown by arrow A to form a wedge which has, at its maximum thickness, the combined bulk of portions 68 and 70. If this combined bulk is insufficient to stabilise the desired table or chair or other item, portion 72 can be folded about score line 66 in the direction of arrow B, provide a wedge of even greater dimension.

Industrial Apolicability The wedge device of the invention can be manufactured for comparatively little cost and is a useful adjunct for restaurants and bars, especially outdoor restaurants and bars, where patrons can make use of the wedge device to stabilise tables and chairs.

The wedge device of the invention is ideally suited to carry advertising and promotional concepts. The device of the invention may be substituted for a business card and thus have a dual purpose.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that various embodiments of the invention, other than those described above, are within the spirit and scope of this invention.