Holder for two-dimensional articles

Abstract

The holder for two-dimensional articles includes at least two opposed, parallel slots or grooves adapted to grip the opposite edges of a thin, flexible display article (e.g., photo, business or other sign, artwork, etc.). The slots or grooves have a span therebetween slightly less than the span of the article to be held therebetween, and the bottom portions of the slots or grooves may be more widely spaced from one another than their upper edges. Thus, one edge of the article may be inserted into one slot and the article flexed to tuck the opposite edge in the opposite slot, with the resulting curvature of the article producing a spring-like effect that urges the opposed edges into the slots of the holder. A number of embodiments may be provided, e.g., multiple slots to hold multiple articles in a horizontal and/or vertical array, different slot configurations, easel and wall mounts, etc.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/213,422, filed Jun. 5, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to brackets, frames, and the like for holding and displaying photos and similar articles, and particularly to a holder for two-dimensional articles having opposed parallel slots for gripping the edges of the two-dimensional article for display of the article.

2. Description of the Related Art

Innumerable frames, brackets, and the like have been developed over the years to hold various flat articles such as pictures, signboards, etc. Most such devices comprise a border with a removable backing sheet or plate, with the display article being sandwiched between the backing sheet and a transparent cover plate extending across the front of the assembly. Other such devices may allow the display article to be installed from the front, or perhaps through a slot in one side. All such devices secure the display article as a flat sheet by sandwiching the display article between other components of the device, i.e., at least a border and a backing sheet or plate, if not a transparent front cover sheet or plate.

An example of such a display device is found in Japanese Patent No. 10-66,637, published on Mar. 10, 1998. This reference describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a picture frame having a hinged side member. The side member is opened to expose a slot for insertion or removal of the picture within the frame.

Thus a holder for two-dimensional articles solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The holder for two-dimensional articles is a rigid flat plate having two opposed, parallel article gripping slots or grooves in the front face thereof. The slots or grooves are configured for gripping and holding the opposite edges of a thin and flexible two-dimensional article, such as a photograph, display sign, artwork, etc., to display the article. The opposed slots or grooves may be of many different configurations, so long as their lowermost or deepest portions are more widely spaced from one another than are their corresponding upper edges, or at least the outer walls of the opposed slots are parallel to one another and normal to the surface of the plate.

The article gripping slots in the plate are spaced apart from one another a distance or span slightly narrower than the width of the display article to be placed therein. One edge of the display article is inserted into one of the slots or grooves, and the display article is bent or curved slightly to allow the opposite edge of the article to be tucked into the opposite slot. The naturally flat article tends to spring back to its flat state, thereby extending or urging its two opposite edges more deeply into the slots or grooves of the plate to hold the article securely therein.

Various embodiments of the holder may be provided. One embodiment includes only two mutually opposed slots for holding a single display article. The plate may be made taller and the slots extended from the upper to the lower edge, thereby allowing two or more display articles to be displayed one above the other in the plate. Alternatively, or in addition to such an embodiment, another embodiment may include a series of laterally disposed slots allowing a plurality of display articles to be shown alongside one another. Various slot configurations may be provided, e.g., relatively narrow slots angled away from one another at their bases or lowermost points, dovetail slot configurations, raised and inwardly turned flanges, etc., as desired. The plate may include a stand to provide for an easel or desktop display, and/or a hanger attachment on the back to provide for wall hanging.

Another embodiment dispenses with the solid plate and provides two parallel, spaced apart standards or members secured to one another by a series of connectors. The spaced apart members include a series of longitudinal and lateral article gripping slots or grooves therein, formed in their front faces and in their mutually facing surfaces as well. The slots or grooves provide the same function as in the other embodiments described further above, i.e., to compress a flexible sheet of material between a given slot pair and hold the sheet of material in the device for display.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, front perspective view of a first embodiment of a holder for two-dimensional articles according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an environmental front perspective view of a second embodiment of a holder for two-dimensional articles according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a holder for two-dimensional articles according to the present invention, showing the installation of an article therein.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a fourth embodiment of a holder for two-dimensional articles according to the present invention, showing the installation of an article and cover sheet therein.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a holder for two-dimensional articles according to the present invention, showing its general configuration.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The holder for two-dimensional articles relates to various embodiments of a holder for thin and flexible two-dimensional articles, e.g., photographs, signboards, artwork, etc. FIG. 1 of the drawings provides an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment 10 of the holder for two-dimensional articles. The holder 10 comprises a rigid plate 12 having a front surface 14, a substantially planar and unbroken rear surface 16 opposite the front surface, a first lateral edge 18, an opposite second lateral edge 20, an upper edge 22, and an opposite lower edge 24. While the plate 12 of FIG. 1, and other embodiments disclosed herein, are rectangular, it will be seen that the various holder plate embodiments do not necessarily have to be rectangular, but could be formed to have various other regular or irregular geometric shapes as desired.

The plate 12 has sufficient thickness to permit at least one pair of article gripping grooves or slots to be cut or otherwise formed into the front face 14 thereof, with the slots extending into the body of the plate 12 for some depth. In the example of FIG. 1, the holder 10 includes a single pair of article gripping slots comprising a first slot 26 adjacent to the first lateral edge 18 and a second slot 28 adjacent the second lateral edge 20. The two slots 26 and 28 are parallel to one another and serve to grip the corresponding first and second lateral edges LE1 and LE2 of a two-dimensional display article D therebetween.

The display article D (photograph, flexible panel, etc.) is slightly wider than the span between the two slots 26 and 28, and is sufficiently flexible to allow it to be bowed or flexed slightly. The first lateral edge LE1 of the display article D is inserted into the first slot 26, and the display article D is bowed or flexed to compress the width of the display article sufficiently to allow its second lateral edge LE2 to be inserted into the second slot 28. The springback of the flexible display article urges its two lateral edges LE1 and LE2 outwardly into the slots 26 and 28, thereby causing the slots to grip the edges of the display article D and hold it in place within the holder 10.

The holder for two-dimensional articles 10 of FIG. 1 is configured as a desktop or easel embodiment, with a support 30 extending rearwardly therefrom. The support may be in any of a number of different forms, e.g., the solid panel shown in FIG. 1, or one or more rigid or folding pegs, posts, brackets, legs, etc., as desired. The holder 10 of FIG. 1 is also relatively basic in that it includes only a single pair of slots, i.e., slots 26 and 28. It will be noted that while the two slots 26 and 28 are adjacent the respective lateral edges 18 and 20 of the plate 12, the slots may be formed along the upper and lower edges instead, or perhaps in addition to, the lateral slots 26 and 28 to provide greater versatility for the holder 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment 110 of the holder for two-dimensional articles. The holder 110 includes a rigid plate 112 with opposite front and rear surfaces 114 and 116, opposite lateral edges 118 and 120, and opposite upper and lower edges 122 and 124, generally along the lines of the holder 10 of FIG. 1. However, the holder 110 of FIG. 2 is significantly wider, with a width sufficient to install and display two articles therein. The holder 110 includes a first pair of article gripping grooves or slots 126a and 126b, and a second pair of article gripping grooves or slots 128a, 128b. The first slot 126a is located near the first lateral edge 118. However, its corresponding second slot 126b is located near the center of the plate 12. The two slots 128a, 128b are located to the opposite side of the centerline of the plate 12, with the slot 128a being located adjacent to the center and its corresponding slot 128b located adjacent the second lateral edge 120. In this manner, two display articles D1 and D2 may be displayed alongside one another in the holder 110.

It should also be noted that the slots or grooves 126a through 128b extend completely across the height of the plate 112, i.e., from the upper edge 122 to the lower edge 124 and are open to each of those edges. It will be seen that no specific limitation is made for the height of the holder 110, i.e., the span from its upper edge 122 to its lower edge 124. This span may be considerably greater than that shown in FIG. 2, and/or the display articles D1 and/or D2 may have a shorter vertical span, thus allowing two or more such display articles to be installed vertically along each pair of slots 126a, 126b and/or 128a, 128b, if so desired. The greater width of the holder 110 also allows a single wider display article to be installed therein if desired, spanning the distance from the first slot 126a to the opposite slot 128b at the opposite edge of the plate 112.

It should also be noted that the plate 112 of the holder 110 does not include an easel stand or support, as does the plate 12 of the holder 10. Rather, the holder 110 has a wall hanging attachment support 130 extending from its rear surface 116. It will be seen that the easel type support provided with the holder first embodiment 10 of FIG. 1 may be used in lieu of the hanger fixture 130 for the holder 110 of FIG. 2, and/or the wall hanger attachment support of the FIG. 2 holder may be used with the holder 10 of FIG. 1, if so desired.

FIG. 3 provides an illustration of an article holder 210 differing slightly from the holder 10 of FIG. 1, and also showing the installation of a two-dimensional article D therein. The article holder 210 differs from the holder 10 of FIG. 1 primarily in that the two article gripping slots 226 and 228 do not extend completely across the plate 212, from the upper edge 222 to the lower edge 224 thereof. This may be desirable in some embodiments, as it provides greater assurance that the display article D cannot slip from the slots 226, 228 from either end thereof.

The display article D shown in FIG. 3 may be identical to the display article D shown in FIG. 1 and may comprise a photograph, business sign, artwork, or any article formed as a thin and flexible, essentially two-dimensional sheet. The opposite first and second lateral edges LE1 and LE2 define a width W therebetween, with the width W being slightly greater than the span S between the lower or bottom edges of the two article gripping slots 226 and 228. The first lateral edge LE1 has been inserted in the first slot 226, with the angle of the slot 226 and stiffness of the display article D resulting in the opposite second lateral edge LE2 being suspended above the plate 212 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3. The second lateral edge LE2 is then compressed slightly toward its opposite first lateral edge LE1 to cause the display article D to bow slightly in the center. This reduces the span between the two lateral edges LE1, LE2 to a distance slightly less than the span S between the two slots 226, 228, allowing the second lateral edge LE2 of the display article D to be inserted into the second slot 228 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. The natural stiffness of the display article D tends to straighten the article, thereby urging its two lateral edges LE1, LE2 apart from one another and further into the two slots 226, 228. The outward pressure of the two lateral edges LE1, LE2 within the slots 226, 228 serves to grip the outboard sides of the slots, thereby retaining the display article D within the holder 210. The display article D is easily removed from the holder 210 when desired, merely by pulling the bowed central portion of the article D outwardly away from the plate 212 to withdraw the two lateral edges LE1 and LE2 from their respective slots 226 and 228.

FIG. 4 provides an elevation view of yet another embodiment of the holder for two-dimensional articles, designated as holder 310. The holder 310 comprises a plate 312 having a front surface 314, opposite rear surface 316, first lateral edge 318, opposite second lateral edge 320, upper edge (not shown), and lower edge 324. The holder 310 provides somewhat greater versatility than other embodiments described further above, in that the holder 310 includes a series of three different slot configurations, with each slot pair having a different span therebetween.

First and second slots 326a and 326b are somewhat inboard of the other slot pairs, and accordingly have the shortest span or distance therebetween. A display article having a somewhat shorter width might be installed in the two slots 326a, 326b. It will be seen that the specific configuration of the slots is not critical to the invention. The two slots 326a, 326b have “dovetail” cross sections, with the two outer walls sloping downwardly and outwardly away from one another, and the two inner walls sloping downwardly and inwardly away from their outer walls. This results in the lowermost edges of the outer walls of the two slots having a greater span therebetween than the upper edges of the slot outer walls, i.e., the outer walls extend at an angle downwardly and outwardly from the upper surface 314 of the plate 312. This provides greater security for the display article installed therein, as the overhanging upper edge of the outer wall of each slot provides better retention of the outwardly biased edge of the display article.

The third and fourth article gripping slots 326c and 326d are formed as angled kerfs in the plate 312, with their angles extending downwardly and outwardly from one another. As in the case of the “dovetail” configuration slots 326a and 326b, the two slots 326c, 326d have each have an outer wall and an opposite inner wall parallel thereto, e.g., outer and inner walls 332a and 332b of the kerf slot 326d. The outer wall 332a has a lowermost or bottom edge 334a and an opposite upper edge 334b at the upper surface 314 of the plate 312, with the opposite slot 326c being configured in a mirror image. Thus, the upper edges of the slots 326c and 326d define a first span S1 therebetween, with the more widely spaced lowermost edges of the slots defining a somewhat wider second span S2 therebetween to provide for the secure capture and holding of the display article therebetween.

A third type of slot configuration is designated as fifth and sixth slots 326e and 326f. These two slots each comprise an upstanding wall extending outwardly from the front surface 314 of the plate 312, e.g., 336 of the sixth slot 326f, with a flange 338 extending inwardly (i.e., toward the opposite corresponding slot) from the upper edge of the wall. This wall and flange configuration define a slot functioning much like the others described to this point, i.e., having a deeper portion capturing one edge of the display article therein. It will be seen that the walls 336 are vertical or normal relative to the surface of the plate 312, rather than having their lowermost edges farther apart than their uppermost edges, as in the case of the other slot examples. Adequate security is provided for holding the display article in the upstanding slots 326e, 326f due to the inwardly extending flanges 338. Alternatively, the upstanding walls could be sloped away from one another at their bases, as in the cases of the other slot embodiments described further above, or any of those other slot embodiments may have outer walls vertical or normal to the plane of the plate, as in the case of the upstanding slot embodiment 326e, 326f of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, a display article D is shown with its first lateral edge LE1 inserted into the fifth slot 326e, with the opposite second lateral edge LE2 remaining free, as shown in solid lines. The completely installed configuration is shown in broken lines with the second lateral edge tucked into the sixth slot 326f, similarly to the installed display shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. FIG. 4 also shows an additional transparent protective cover sheet C having substantially the same width or span as the display article D, being installed between the two slots 326e and 326f over the display article. The use of such a protective cover sheet C is optional, and may be used as desired.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of still another embodiment of the holder for two-dimensional articles, designated as holder 410. Rather than having a single solid plate, the holder 410 comprises rigid, parallel first and second bars, respectively 412a and 412b. The bars may have rectangular or other regular or irregular geometric cross sections as desired, but each bar preferably includes at least a front face, respectively 414a and 414b, and mutually facing inboard faces, respectively 416a and 416b. The two bars 412a, 412b are spaced apart from one another by a series of connectors 418a through 418d extending therebetween; more or fewer connectors may be used as desired. It will be seen that additional bars (not shown) may be added to the holder 410 configuration by adding additional connectors extending outwardly from either of the two bars 412a, 412b, if so desired.

Each bar 412a, 412b includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of, longitudinal article gripping slots in the front face 414a, 414b thereof. These front longitudinal slots are designated as upper slots 420a, 420b and lower slots 422a, 422b, with slots 420a and 422a residing in the first bar 412a and slots 420b and 422b residing in the second bar 412b. The upper slots 420a, 420b are aligned directly across from one another, with the lower slots 422a, 422b also being aligned directly across from one another. It will be seen that although no display articles are shown installed in these slots 420a through 422b, their function and use is essentially the same as described further above for the various slots of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4. Also, while angled kerf type slots are shown in FIG. 5, it will be understood that other types of slots as shown in FIG. 4 may be used in lieu of or in addition to the slots illustrated in FIG. 5.

The two spaced apart bars 412a, 412b allow the installation of additional inboard article gripping slots on their mutually facing inboard faces 416a and 416b. While only the upper and lower second inboard longitudinal slots 424b and 426b are shown along the inboard face 416b of the second bar 412b due to the perspective orientation of FIG. 5, it will be understood that due to the mirror image configurations of the two bars 412a and 412b, corresponding facing inboard slots are provided along the inboard face 416a of the first bar 412a. Corresponding inboard longitudinal slots are aligned directly across from one another, enabling a display article to be installed between the two corresponding slots. Additional mutually facing inboard slots may be provided, depending upon the lengths of the two bars 412a, 412b. The connectors 418a through 418d have lengths to provide a span between the inboard faces 416a, 416b slightly less than the lateral span of the display articles to be placed therebetween, thus assuring that the lateral edges of the display article will be gripped by the two corresponding inboard facing slots when the article is installed therebetween. FIG. 5 shows a first display article D1 in broken lines extending between the two upper inboard slots, with the display article D1 having its opposite first and second lateral edges inserted in the corresponding mutually facing inboard slots.

It has been noted further above that the slots might be disposed horizontally or laterally instead of or in addition to the vertical array shown in the plate embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4. The embodiment of FIG. 5 includes such horizontally or laterally disposed slots in the two bars 412a and 412b. A pair of first or uppermost lateral article gripping slots, respectively 428a and 428b, is shown near the upper ends of the two bars 412a and 412b, with a pair of second horizontal slots 430a, 430b extending across the bars somewhat lower than the first pair. Each first slot is aligned directly opposite its corresponding first slot, with each second slot being aligned directly opposite its corresponding second slot. The first and second lateral slot in each bar has an angle opposite that of its counterpart, i.e., the first lateral slots 428a, 428b extend inwardly and upwardly from the front surfaces 414a, 414b of the two bars, while the second lateral slots 430a, 430b extend inwardly and downwardly from the front surfaces of the bars. This angular disposition of the slots serves the same function as described further above to grip the edges of a two-dimensional display article placed therein. In the example of FIG. 5, an additional third lateral slot pair 432a, 432b and fourth slot pair 434a, 434b are also provided across the two bars 412a, 412b, with the two slots of the third pair being aligned laterally with one another and the two slots of the fourth pair also being laterally aligned. As in the case of the first and second slot pairs, the third and fourth slot of each bar are angled opposite one another to grip a display article, e.g., display article D2, by its opposite upper and lower edges. While the display article D2 is shown being gripped by all four of the slots 432a through 434b, it will be seen that a lightweight two-dimensional display article may be secured adequately in the holder 410 by only two of the lateral slots of one bar, e.g., third and fourth slots 432a and 434a of the first bar 412a, if so desired. In this manner, yet another display article may be secured by the corresponding two slots 432b and 434b of the second bar 412b, if so desired.

The various embodiments of a holder for two-dimensional articles described herein provide for the display and rapid exchange of articles therein, for the display of photos, artwork, advertising matter, business cards, and/or any other type of display material disposed upon a thin and at least slightly flexible two dimensional sheet of material. The holder may be constructed to fit virtually any size of display article, from larger sheets of artwork down to smaller business cards and the like, and any of the embodiments may be configured for desktop or tabletop display or for display as a hanging article on a wall or other suitable surface. The holder in its various embodiments may be constructed of a wide array of suitable materials, e.g., plastic, wood, and/or metal, with the materials being mixed if so desired. The resulting versatility of the holder will find widespread application and use for the display of a wide variety of two-dimensional articles.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A holder for two-dimensional articles, comprising a rigid plate having a front surface, a substantially planar and unbroken rear surface opposite the front surface, mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, and mutually opposed upper and lower edges, the front surface having at least one pair of article gripping slots disposed therealong, the slots being parallel to one another and having an outer wall defining a lowermost edge and an upper edge, the lowermost edges and the upper edges of the slots defining lower and upper spans, respectively, therebetween.

2. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1, further including at least one thin, flexible two dimensional display article having mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, the lateral edges of the display article defining a width at least slightly greater than the lower span of the slots of the pair, the first lateral edge of the display article being removably insertable into the one of the slots of the pair, the second lateral edge of the display article being removably insertable into the other of the slots, the slots compressing and gripping the display article therebetween.

3. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of the plate has a plurality of pairs of article display slots disposed therealong.

4. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1, wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall parallel to the outer wall.

5. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1, wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall sloping downwardly and inwardly away from the outer wall.

6. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1, wherein each of the slots comprises a wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the plate, each of the walls having an upper edge with a flange extending therefrom, the flanges extending toward one another.

7. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1, wherein each of the slots extends to the upper and lower edges of the plate.

8. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1 further including a support extending from the rear surface of the plate, the support selected from the group consisting of easel stands and wall attachments.

9. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 1, wherein the lower span is at least slightly greater than the upper span of the slots.

10. A holder for two-dimensional articles and a display article therewith, comprising in combination:

a rigid plate having a front surface, an unbroken rear surface opposite the front surface, mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, and mutually opposed upper and lower edges, the front surface having at least one pair of article gripping slots disposed therealong, each of the slots being parallel to one another and having an outer wall defining a lowermost edge and an upper edge, the lowermost edges and the upper edges of the slots defining lower and upper spans, respectively, therebetween; and

at least one thin, flexible two dimensional display article having mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, the lateral edges of the display article defining a width at least slightly greater than the lower span, the first lateral edge of the display article being removably inserted into one of the slots, the second lateral edge of the display article being removably inserted into the other slot, the slots compressing and gripping the display article therebetween.

11. The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to claim 10, wherein said at least one pair of article ripping slots comprises a plurality of pairs of article display slots disposed along the front surface of said plate.

12. The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to claim 10, wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall parallel to the outer wall.

13. The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to claim 10, wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall sloping downwardly and inwardly away from the outer wall.

14. The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to claim 10, wherein each of the slots comprises a wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the plate, each of the walls having an upper edge and a flange extending therefrom, the flanges extending toward one another.

15. The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to claim 10, wherein each of the slots extends to the upper edge and to the lower edge of the plate.

16. The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to claim 10 further including a support extending from the rear surface of the plate, the support being selected from the group consisting of easel stands and wall attachments.

17. The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to claim 10, wherein the lower span is at least slightly greater than the upper span.

18. A holder for two-dimensional articles, comprising:

a first bar;

a second bar spaced apart from the first bar, the second bar extending parallel to the first bar, each of the bars having a rigid component having at least a front face, each of the front faces having at least one longitudinal article gripping slot defined therein, the longitudinal slot of the first bar being aligned with the corresponding longitudinal slot of the second bar; and

a plurality of connectors extending between the bars.

19. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 18 wherein each bar has an inboard face, the inboard face of the first bar facing the inboard face of the second bar, each of the inboard faces having at least one longitudinally disposed inboard article gripping slot formed therein, the inboard article gripping slot of the first bar being aligned with the corresponding inboard article gripping slot of the second bar.

20. The holder for two-dimensional articles according to claim 18 wherein each said bar has at least a first and a second lateral article gripping slot defined therein, the first lateral slot of each said bar being aligned with one another and the second lateral slot of each said bar being aligned with one another.