PICTURE STORAGE PROTECTION UNIT
A picture storage protection apparatus with a protective sheet sized to cover at least the exposed portion of the stored pictures in a picture storage compartment or a picture display pocket to protect the pictures against exposure damage. The sheet is capable of being inserted into at least one picture storage compartment and/or a picture display pocket. A picture storage protection apparatus with a protective flap adapted to extend over stored pictures in a picture storage compartment and/or a picture display pocket to protect the stored or displayed pictures against exposure damage. The picture storage compartment is attached to a picture frame or a picture display pocket.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of picture storage protection devices, and more particularly to a device for protecting pictures in a picture receptacle attached to a picture frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
When pictures are stored in a receptacle, such as a storage compartment or display pocket of a picture frame, as in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/045,793, which is incorporated herein by reference, a portion of the photo extends above the top of the storage compartment or display pocket to allow for easy removal, especially when the receptacle is attached to a picture frame. While the extending portion of a stored picture can be easily gripped, to enable people to select and/or remove stored pictures more easily, the extending portion is exposed to possible damage, such as edge-curling of the picture, ultra-violet light, splashing of liquid, and dust. A protecting device is needed to prevent damage to pictures stored in such picture receptacles.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the invention address some or all of the concerns discussed above. Products according to the invention have the potential to be simple to manufacture, inexpensive, and widely accepted. People can use such a photo storage protection apparatus to prevent exposure damage to such stored pictures.
In accordance with the present invention, a preferred embodiment for a picture storage protection apparatus comprises a combination of a picture receptacle and a protective sheet. The protective sheet is sized to cover the exposed portion of the stored pictures in a picture storage compartment or a picture display pocket against exposure damage to the stored pictures, and the protective sheet is capable of being inserted into at least one picture storage compartment or display pocket in the manner that a person inserts a picture into such a picture storage compartment or display pocket. A picture receptacle refers to a picture storage compartment, a picture display pocket and a combination of a picture storage compartment and a picture display pocket. The protective sheet is made of a material, such as an opaque, generally rigid paperboard, capable of protecting the stored pictures against damage. Preferably, the sheet material has at least one of the properties of ultra-violet light blocking, splash blocking, and anti-glare. Moreover, an exposed surface of the sheet is preferably the same color as a rear of the picture storage compartment or display pocket, and at least one surface of the sheet is capable of bearing indicia related to the contents of the picture storage compartment. In a further embodiment of the protective sheet, an optional memory label is mounted to a front surface of the protective sheet, thereby permitting owners of photographs to write the contents of the picture receptacle on the memory label.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the picture storage protection apparatus comprises a picture frame having at least one picture receptacle, said at least one such receptacle being mounted to the picture frame, and a protective flap adapted to extend over the stored pictures in the picture receptacle to protect against exposure damage to the stored pictures. A picture receptacle refers a picture storage compartment, a picture display pocket, or a combination of a picture storage compartment and a picture display pocket. A first end of the protective flap is attached to a rear of the picture receptacle that is attached to the frame, and a second end of the flap is adapted to extend over pictures in the receptacle. The protective flap is formed of a material capable of folding over the stored pictures in the receptacle, such as paper or plastic. Moreover, the protective flap is preferably formed of an opaque material having at least one of the properties of ultra-violet light blocking, splash blocking, and anti-glare.
The first end of the protective flap is attached to a rear of the picture display pocket or to a rear of the picture frame through adhesives, nails, hinges, living hinges, or a combination thereof. A closure device holds the second end of the protective flap closed against the storage compartment. The closure device can be elastic bands, tie strings, magnets, mating snaps, any equivalent devices or a combination thereof.
Alternatively, the first end of the protective flap is removably attached to a rear of the picture display pocket or to a rear of the picture frame using Velcro fasteners, snaps, magnets, tie strings, elastic strings, or a combination thereof. Again, a closure device holds the second end of the protective flap closed against the storage compartment.
In another alternative embodiment, the second end of the protective flap is attached to a rear of a picture storage compartment or a picture display pocket using a flexible attachment device. The flexible attachment device can be a hinge, living hinge, or other similar attachment device. In the case of living hinges, the storage compartment and the protective flap are formed of a material capable of forming a living hinge, such as polypropylene.
In another alternative embodiment, the second end of the protective flap is removably attached to a rear of the storage compartment or to a rear of the picture display pocket using at least one mating snap, Velcro fasteners, or another attachment device. A closure device holds the first end of the protective flap closed against the storage compartment. The closure device can be elastic bands, tie strings, magnets, mating snaps, or any equivalent or a combination thereof.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection, but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring to
As shown in
The picture receptacle 20 with the stored pictures 24 is shown in
For the sake of convenience and clarity, terms such as “front,” “rear,” “top,” “height,” and “width” will be used herein to describe the relative placement and orientation of various components of the invention, each with respect to the border elements as they appear in
In a preferred embodiment, the sheet 12 is composed of a material capable of protecting stored pictures against exposure damage. Preferably, the sheet is formed of a material having at least one of the properties of ultra-violet light blocking, splash blocking, and anti-glare, such as is found with cardboard, plastic, wood and metal.
A rear surface 14 of the sheet 12 is preferably the same color as a rear wall 22 of the picture receptacle 20 as shown in
Referring to
In
The storage compartment 40 of the
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
The first end 32 of the protective flap 30 can be attached permanently or removably to a border of the display pocket 50, or even to a border element 62 of the frame 60. The permanent attachment can be achieved through conventional means, such as nails, hinges, living hinges or adhesives. The removable attachment can be achieved through snaps, Velcro fasteners, or other similar devices.
The protective flap 30 preferably has a width and a depth that are equal to, or greater than, the storage compartment 40, and a height that is preferably less than one half of the height of the storage compartment 40. Alternatively, the protective flap 30 can have a height that is equal to, or greater than, the storage compartment 40. In all the embodiments, the dimension of the protective flap should be sufficient to cover the exposed section of the stored pictures in the picture receptacle 66.
The protective flap 30 is formed of a material flexible enough to extend or fold over pictures stored in the storage compartment 40 and the display pocket 50 and/or of a material capable of forming living hinges. In particularly preferred embodiments, the protective flap 30 is formed of a material having at least one of the properties of ultra-violet light blocking, splash blocking, and anti-glare, such as is found with cardboard, plastic, wood and metal.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
In
To form the living hinge 136, the rear wall 148 of the storage unit 140 is formed, such as by injection molding or casting, of, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene. In other embodiments of the storage protection unit, the picture receptacle 166 (the combination of the storage compartment 140 and the display pocket 150, or only one of these) is preferably fabricated from plastic, although all other sufficiently durable materials, including, but not limited to various rigid, semi-rigid, and flexible materials, are also contemplated. Although it is preferred that the receptacle 166 be a unitary body, it is contemplated that the display pocket 150 and the storage compartment 140 can be separate, independent bodies, positioned apart from one another on the rear of the border element 162, or positioned together after mounting one independent body to the other.
The storage compartment 140 is preferably deep enough to accommodate a plurality of pictures, for example, in the range of 5-10, for convenient storage while the pictures are not on display in the picture display pocket 150. The pictures can be inserted into the picture storage compartment 140 through the top opening 141 and be stacked in the picture storage compartment 140 in the manner of a deck of playing cards. The picture display pocket 150 has an additional feature of a finger notch 152 in the top edge of the wall 155 that allows convenient removal of pictures from the picture display pocket 150.
The protective flap 130 is in a closed position when the frame is on display, as shown in
Magnified views of the mating snaps 133 and 169 are shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Preferably, as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
The removable attachment can be achieved through mating snaps 333, 363, 339 and 369 as shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A picture storage protection apparatus comprising:
- a. a picture frame having a picture receptacle adapted to receive at least one picture therein with at least a portion of said at least one picture having a first major surface exposed; and
- b. a protective sheet sized to cover at least a portion of the first major surface of said at least one picture against exposure damage when said protective sheet is mounted in said at least one picture receptacle substantially parallel with the first major surface.
2. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a picture storage compartment.
3. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sheet is a material having at least one of the properties of ultra-violet light blocking, splash blocking and anti-glare.
4. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 2, wherein an exposed surface of the sheet is the same color as a rear of the storage compartment.
5. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one surface of the sheet is capable of bearing indicia related to the contents of the picture storage compartment.
6. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a label mounted to at least one surface of the protective sheet.
7. A picture storage protection apparatus comprising:
- a. a picture frame having a picture receptacle mounted to the picture frame;
- b. a protective flap having a first end adapted to extend over at least one picture in said receptacle for protecting said at least one picture against exposure damage.
8. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the protective flap is formed of a material capable of folding over pictures in the receptacle.
9. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 8, wherein the protective flap is formed of a material having at least one of the properties of ultra-violet light blocking, splash blocking and anti-glare.
10. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the picture receptacle comprises a picture display pocket attached to the picture frame, and a picture storage compartment attached to the picture display pocket.
11. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first end of the protective flap is adapted to extend over pictures in the picture storage compartment, and a second end of the protective flap is attached to a rear of the picture display pocket.
12. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second end of the protective flap is pivotably mounted to a rear of the picture display pocket by at least one hinge.
13. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a closure device holding the first end of the protective flap closed against the picture storage compartment.
14. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 13, wherein the closure device comprises elastic bands attached to sidewalls of the picture storage compartment.
15. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 13, wherein the closure device comprises at least one snap on the flap with a corresponding mating snap on the outside of the picture storage compartment.
16. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 13, further comprising at least one memory label mounted to a rear of said at least one picture storage compartment for recording the contents of said at least one picture storage compartment.
17. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second end of the protective flap is removably attached to the rear of the picture display pocket through at least one snap with a corresponding mating snap on an outside of the picture display pocket.
18. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first end of the protective flap is adapted to extend over pictures in the picture display pocket, and the second end of the protective flap is attached to a rear of the picture storage compartment.
19. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second end of the protective flap is pivotably mounted to a rear of the picture storage compartment by at least one hinge.
20. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a closure device holding the first end of the protective flap against the picture display compartment.
21. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 20, wherein the closure device comprises at least one snap with a corresponding mating snap on an outside of the picture display pocket.
22. The picture storage protection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second end of the protective flap is removably attached to the rear of the picture storage compartment through at least one snap with a corresponding mating snap on an outside of the picture storage compartment.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 10, 2009
Applicant: WILTON INDUSTRIES, INC. (Woodridge, IL)
Inventors: Joshua Michael Broehl (Worthington, OH), Bryan Martin Shova (Columbus, OH)
Application Number: 12/136,143
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101);