Display device

Abstract

A display device for photographs having a transparent sheet with a first and a second side. An opaque grid is formed on one of the sides of the transparent sheet and this grid forms at least two distinct and independent viewing areas through the transparent sheet. A pockets page is disposed over one of the sides of the transparent sheet. This pockets page includes a receiving slot associated with each viewing area so that, upon insertion of a photograph or similar item through the receiving slot, the pockets page positions and supports the photograph in alignment with the viewing area associated with the slot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to display devices for planar items, such as photographs.

II. Description of Relevant Art

There have been many previously known devices for displaying flat articles, such as photographs. Typically, these display devices comprise a frame having a front and a rear side. A transparent sheet is mounted within the frame on its front side while a mat with a cutout is positioned flatly against the transparent sheet. The flat item to be displayed is then mounted within the frame and positioned with tape to maintain alignment with the mat cutout.

A primary disadvantage of these previously known display devices, however, is that the mat typically included a single cutout so that only a single planar article could be displayed by the display device. Furthermore, since the article to be displayed may vary in size, it has been previously necessary to individually cut the mat so that the size of the mat cutout corresponds to the shape and size of the flat article to be displayed. This, however, is disadvantageously labor intensive and, thus, expensive.

A still further disadvantage of these previously known display devices for flat articles is that such display devices were not well suited for many applications in which the display of flat articles, such as photographs, is desired. For example, many persons attach various pictures and other flat articles to a refrigerator surface by magnets, tape and/or the like. These previously known display devices having frames, however, are not well suited to use in such an application.

Similarly, it would be desirable to display flat articles in items such as notebooks, paper binders and the like. These previously known display devices, however, were not well suited for such applications.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a display device for displaying a plurality of flat articles, such as photographs, which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices.

In brief, the display device of the present invention comprises a transparent sheet having a first side and a second side. An opaque grid is associated with either the first or second side of the transparent sheet and this grid forms at least two distinct and independent viewing areas through the transparent sheet. In practice, the grid may be printed onto the transparent sheet or, alternatively, comprise a separate mat which is flatly positioned against the transparent sheet.

A pockets page is then disposed over either the first or second side of the transparent sheet. This pockets page includes a plurality of slots so that one slot is associated with each area. These slots permit the insertion of a flat article through the receiving slot. Upon doing so, the pockets page positions and supports the flat article in alignment with the viewing area associated with the receiving slot.

Alternatively, diagonal slots corresponding to the corners of the flat article can be cut through the transparent sheet and positioned to receive the corners of the flat article.

The display device of the present invention can be utilized to display flat articles in numerous different applications. For example, the display device can comprise the front or back of a paper binder. Similarly, the display device may be used to attach planar articles to a refrigerator, locker, file cabinet, or similar planar surface with magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners, adhesive, and/or the like. Horizontally, the display device may be used to display planar articles as table or desk mats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIG. 1 and enlarged for clarity;

FIG. 4 is an elevational exploded view illustrating a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded elevational view illustrating a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but of the third preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view illustrating one application of the display device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference first to FIGS. 1-3, a first preferred embodiment of the display device 10 of the present invention is illustrated. The display device 10 includes a transparent sheet 12 having a first side 14 and a second side 16. The transparent sheet 12 is preferably made of a transparent plastic material although other transparent materials may be alternatively used. In addition, the transparent sheet 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 as being generally rectangular in shape although the transparent sheet 12 may assume any shape without deviation from either the spirit or scope of the present invention.

An opaque grid 18 is applied to one side 14 or 16 of the transparent sheet 12. This opaque grid 18 forms at least two distinct and independent viewing areas 20 through the transparent sheet 12.

In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opaque grid 18 is formed by printing the grid 18 on one side 14 or 16 of the transparent sheet 12. Any conventional printing process may be utilized to print the grid 18.

With reference now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, a pockets page 24 is positioned flatly against the side 16 of the transparent sheet 12. The pockets page 24 includes a slot 26 for receiving a flat article such that one slot 26 is associated with each viewing area 20 on the transparent sheet 12. The slots 26 thus enable a flat article 28, such as a photograph, to be inserted in between the pockets page 24 and the transparent sheet 12.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the pockets page 24 is secured to the transparent sheet 12 in alignment with the grid around at least a portion of each viewing area 20. Preferably, heat welds 30 are used to secure the pockets page 24 to the transparent sheet 12 around at least a portion of each of the viewing areas 20 and form a pocket between the transparent sheet 12 and the pockets page 24 for each viewing area. Thus, upon insertion of the flat article 28 in between the pockets page 24 and transparent sheet 12, the pockets page 24 both positions the flat article 28 in alignment with the viewing area 20 associated with the slot 26, and also supports the flat article 28 in the pocket formed between the pockets page 24 and transparent sheet 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the attachment 30 between the pockets page 24 and transparent sheet 18 extends around three sides of each substantially rectangular viewing area 20 while the slot 26 extends across the remaining side of the rectangular viewing area 20. This, however, is by way of example only and it will be understood that it is only necessary that the pockets page 24 support and position the flat article 28 in alignment with the viewing area 20 regardless of the shape of the viewing area 20.

Still referring to FIG. 2, although preferably a heat seal or heat weld is formed between the pockets page 24 and transparent sheet 12 around at least a portion of each viewing area 20, other means of attaching the pockets page 24 to the transparent sheet 12 may alternatively be used. In addition, the pockets page 24 is also preferably secured to the transparent sheet 12 around the entire outer periphery of the pockets page 24 thus securing the outer edges of the pockets page 24 to the transparent sheet 12 and thereby creating a sealed or finished edge from a perimeter die which provides a nice feel and finish quality.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second preferred embodiment of the display device 10′ is shown. The display device 10′, like the display device 10 in FIGS. 1-3, includes a transparent sheet 12 having two sides 14 and 16 and an opaque grid 18 which defines at least two viewing areas 20 through the transparent sheet 12. The grid 18, as before, is preferably printed on one of the two sides 14 or 16 of the transparent sheet 12 in the same fashion as the first preferred embodiment of the invention in FIGS. 1-3.

The second preferred embodiment of the display device 10′, however, differs from the first preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3 in that the pockets page 24′ comprises two flatly abutting sheets 40 and 42. The first sheet 40 is transparent and the sheets 40 and 42 of the pockets page 24′ are secured together in any conventional fashion, such as heat welds 44 around at least a portion of each viewing area 20 and in alignment with the grid 14. A slot 46 is also formed through the second sheet 42 of the pockets page 24′ for each viewing area 20 to allow a flat article, such as a photograph, to be inserted into pockets formed between the sheets 40 and 42 of the pockets page 24′. In doing so, the attachments 44 between the first sheet 40 and second sheet 42 of the pockets page 24′ not only support the flat article but also position the flat article in alignment with the viewing area 20.

After the first sheet 40 and second sheet 42 of the pockets page 24′ are assembled together, the pockets page 24′ is then attached to the side 16 of the transparent sheet 12 and secured together in any conventional means, such as a heat weld 50. Furthermore, with the pockets page 24′ attached to the transparent sheet 12, flat articles that are inserted through the slots 46 between the sheets 40 and 42 of the pockets page 24′ are positioned in alignment with the viewing areas 20 formed through the grid 18.

With reference now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a third preferred embodiment of the display device 10″ is shown which includes the transparent sheet 12 having two sides 14 and 16. The third preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 also includes the pockets page 24′ as comprising the two sheets 40 and 42 in the same fashion as previously described.

The third preferred embodiment of the display device 10″ differs, however, from the previously described embodiments of the display device in that the opaque grid 18 is not printed on the transparent sheet 12. Instead, an opaque mat 70 is sandwiched and encapsulated in between the pockets page 24′ and the transparent sheet 12. The mat 70 thus defines distinct viewing areas 72 which are aligned with the pockets formed in the pockets page 24′. Any conventional means may be utilized to secure the transparent sheet 12 and pockets page 24′ together.

With reference now to FIG. 8, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in which the display device 10 or 10′ or 10″ forms a cover 82 of a paper binder. Other applications of the present invention include a display device attached to a front planar surface, such as a refrigerator, locker or file cabinet.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple and yet highly effective display device for displaying flat articles, such as photographs. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display device for flat articles comprising:

a transparent sheet having a first side and a second side,

an opaque grid on one of said first and second sides of said transparent sheet, said grid forming at least two distinct and independent viewing areas on said transparent sheet,

a pockets page disposed on one of said first and second sides of said transparent sheet, said pockets page having a flat article receiving slot associated with each viewing area so that, upon insertion of a flat article through said receiving slot, said pockets page positions and supports the inserted flat article in alignment with the viewing area associated with the receiving slot.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said grid comprises a printed coating on said one side of said transparent sheet.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said grid comprises a mat.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said mat comprises cardboard.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pockets page is secured to said transparent sheet along portions of said grid.

6. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said pockets page is secured to said transparent sheet by heat welding.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pockets page comprises a first transparent pockets page and a second pockets page, said first and second pockets pages being secured together in areas in registration with said grid.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein each said slot is in registration with a portion of said grid.

9. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein an outer periphery of said transparent sheet is secured to the outer periphery of said pockets page.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the display device comprises a cover of a binder.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said transparent sheet comprises a plastic, vinyl, or related clear, rigid material.