Picture stand

None

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

The present invention relates in general to display devices such as free standing picture frames, and more particularly to a device for displaying photographs or other similar flat items. The device is an inexpensive unitary piece of simple construction.

Freestanding pictures frames are used to display photographs. A variety of designs and constructions of picture frames are known in the art. Typically, such frames have a means of grasping a photo and maintaining it in position.

Several devices for displaying photographs have been developed in art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,286 to Shaffer discloses a panel display system, which includes three separate flat display panels for temporary attachment and removal of photographs, documents, visual aids or the like. The three panels are rotatably connected to one another by hinges. By rotating the panels about their hinges, the display system can be readily converted to a single panel display or a dual panel display. Support members are provided for use when the system is configured as a single panel display.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,278 to Perkins discloses an image or object support apparatus that holds and displays an image or object, such as a photograph, drawing or other graphic work in a spaced position relative to a backing plate. The image or object is supported by struts having grippers enabling easy changing of the image or object.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,991 to Wenkman discloses a frame for display of items such as picture, photograph, certificate, document or the like. The display item is held against the back plate. The frame has a bracket such that the frame may be mounted upon surfaces such as table, desk, counter or the like. The bracket may be inserted into different sockets to change the orientation of the display item. The frame may also be mounted upon a vertical surface by use of holes depending upon the desired orientation of the display item.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,371 to Olsen discloses picture frames constructed from a single flat die-cut foldable paperboard blank convertible into a three-dimensional picture frame without requiring the use of adhesive, adhesive tape, staples, clips or other fastening materials. The picture frame is created by using a paperboard blank, which includes a plurality of rectangular panels separated by fold lines. The rectangular panels are approximately the size of the photograph to be displayed with an opening in the panel through which the photo may be viewed. The rectangular panels include infolding flaps to entrap the photo and hold it in place. Although this picture frame is a unitary piece, the shape and design achieved by folding a paperboard is different from the present invention. Moreover, the means to hold the photograph using the infolding flaps is different from the present invention, which uses slit or cuts for holding the photographs.

Although several picture holding devices are known in the art, the object of the present invention is to provide a unitary piece display device for photographs or other similar flat items that is inexpensive and simple in construction.

A further object is to provide a display device that has a three-dimensional appearance when folded.

A further object is to provide a display device that can also be used in its unfolded condition.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that uses cuts, folds, holes, and slits to hold and display photographs or other similar flat items. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.

The present invention relates in general to display devices, and more particularly to a device for displaying photographs or other similar flat items. The device is a unitary piece and comprises four panels and two flap segments. A first panel is connected to a second panel along a fold line. The first and second panels are of the same size. The third and fourth panels are connected to the side edges of the first and second panels, respectively, along fold lines. Two flap segments, first and second, are connected to bottom edges of the first and second panels, respectively, along fold lines.

The device also includes a slit on each of the first and second panels. The two slits meet at the fold line on the intersection of the first and second panels, thereby resulting in V-shaped cut on the device. The slit incorporates three holes, one at the point of intersection of the two slits, and the others at the two points of termination of the slit. In its unfolded condition, the device can be hung on a wall using the hole at the intersection of the two slits in conjunction with a nail or screw, or by passing a string under the V-shaped cut, through the holes at the points of termination of the slit. Adhesive on the third and fourth panels is used to secure the device on the back side of a picture. When the device is folded and adhered to a photo, the device will hold the photo upright on a surface.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device for holding photographs or other similar flat items in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device being hanged by a screw.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device that is suspended over a string.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device with adhesive.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are different views of the device that is secured to the back of a photograph or other similar flat item using the adhesive.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 . . . Device of the Present Invention

11 . . . First Panel

12 . . . Second Panel

13 . . . Fold Line

14 . . . First Flap Segment

15 . . . Second Flap Segment

16 . . . Third Panel

17 . . . Fourth Panel

18 . . . Slit

19 . . . Hole on the Fold Line

20 . . . Hole at Point of Termination of the Slit

21 . . . String

22 . . . Screw

23 . . . Back of Photograph or Other Similar Flat Item

24 . . . Adhesive

25 . . . Wall

26 . . . Photograph or Other Similar Flat Item

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a device for displaying photographs or other similar flat items is illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in FIGS. 1 through 6 . The device 10 is a unitary piece and has a three-dimensional appearance in its folded state.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the device 10 in its unfolded state is illustrated. The device 10 comprises a plurality of panels and flap segments connected by fold lines. The device 10 includes a first panel 11 that is proportionately sized to correlate to the size of the photograph to be displayed. A second panel 12 which is of the same size of the first panel 11 is connected thereto along fold line 1 3 A. The right side edge of the first panel 11 is connected to a left side edge of the second panel 12 along the fold line 13 A. A first flap segment 14 and second flap segment 15 is connected to the bottom edges of the first and second panels, respectively, along fold lines 13 B. The device further includes third and fourth panels 16 and 17 connected to left side and right side edges of the first panel and second panels, respectively, along fold lines 13 C.

The device includes two slits 18 , one on the first panel 11 and the other on the second panel 12 . The two slits 18 slope downwards and meet on the fold line 1 3 A connecting the first and second panels. This intersection of the two slits 18 results in V-shaped cut on the device. A hole 19 is included at the intersection of the two slits for receiving a hanging means, such as a hook or nail. The device also includes two holes 20 at the point of terminations of the two slits. These two holes 20 are suitably dimensioned to accommodate a string 21 .

The device 10 can be mounted in many ways to display photographs. In its unfolded state, the device 10 is flat and can be mounted to a hanging means, such as a nail 22 , on a wall 23 through the hole 19 at the intersection of the two slits 18 , as seen in FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the device can be suspended over a string 21 as seen in FIG. 3 . The V-shaped cut allows the string 21 to pass through and be received in the holes 20 at the point of termination of the slits 18 .

The folded state of the device 10 is achieved by folding it along the fold lines 13 such that the third and fourth panels are in same plane as the photograph, and the first and second panels maintain an angular relationship to each other, and to the third and fourth panels, respectively. Several folding conditions can be achieved by using different suitable angles for the fold lines 13 .

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , in its folded condition, the device 10 can be supported on a horizontal planar surface. Adhesive 24 is further used to secure the device 10 to the back of a photograph or other similar flat item. The adhesive 24 is adhered on surfaces of the third and fourth panels 16 and 17 . The third and fourth panels 16 and 17 are then adhered to the back of a photograph or other similar flat item by the adhesive 24 . The first flap segment 14 and second flap segment 15 are designed to provide additional support and the desired display angle and enable the bottom edge of the device 10 to uniformly abut the surface on which it rests.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.