Abstract:
A custom display system includes framing and display assemblies. The framing assembly includes a mat subassembly with mats having character string windows. The display assembly includes a display base with character units mounted thereon and forming a character string. The display base is attached to the mat subassembly for display through the character string window. Modified embodiment mats include one or more image windows. The custom display system can comprise a kit with a selection of character units for creating individualized character strings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to display systems, and in particular to a display system for custom character strings formed from a selection of character units. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Display devices and systems are commonly used for conveying information, decorating, entertaining and other related purposes. Dynamic display systems are capable of changing to communicate different information and images. Such changes are often initiated by changing input signals to the dynamic display systems. Such devices and systems include electronic displays, projected images and various types of interactive communication devices. Digital display devices, such as LCDs and LEDs, are extensively used in dynamically displaying the output of electronic equipment. 
     Many types of displays have sentimental or personal associations, such as various types of portraits. Family members and friends provide popular subjects for portraiture. 
     In view of the highly personalized nature of portraiture, it is often customized with unique framing and other display techniques. For example, various combinations of frames and mats can be employed to customize a display and to compliment the displayed images. Text is often displayed, either by itself or in combination with one or more images. For example, portraiture is often combined with the names of the persons depicted. Other text and images can be included to provide a display which conveys additional information. 
     Many prior art custom display systems suffer from the disadvantages of being expensive, inflexible and limited to operation by trained operators. There is a need for a low-cost system for creating custom displays without special training, tools or equipment. Such a system should provide a wide range of choices in display formats, character styles, frames, mat options and combinations of text and images. Ideally such a system could be adapted for point-of-purchase marketing in retail establishments. A person could select from different alphabets of various lettering styles only those characters needed to form a particular character string, such as a person&#39;s name. One or more mats could be chosen to achieve a desired customized appearance. Additional display subject matter, such as photographs, news clippings, announcements, etc., could be provided by the person assembling the custom display to provide a personalized quality. 
     Greeting cards are an example of a medium for conveying personal messages, and are particularly popular in connection with certain events and occasions. Interactive equipment has been devised for personalizing greeting cards with personal messages, artwork and other design features. However, such equipment is relatively expensive and can require a significant commitment of resources and floor space by a retailer. Moreover, the subject matter available with computerized greeting card printing equipment is often limited to graphics and text stored in the computer&#39;s memory, thus precluding the effective incorporation of such personalized memorabilia as photographs, announcements, news clippings, etc. 
     The present invention addresses some of the shortcomings of the prior art. Heretofore there has not been available a custom display system with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the practice of the present invention, a custom display system is provided, which includes framing and display assemblies. The framing assembly includes a mat subassembly with front and back mats each having front and back faces and a character string window. A display assembly includes a base sheet having a display base with a grid printed thereon. The grid delineates character locations and half character locations. A plurality of character units are provided for forming character strings which can correspond to, for example, a person&#39;s name. The display base is mounted on the back face of the back mat with the character string displayed in the character string window. Modified embodiments of the custom display system include one or more image windows formed in the mat subassembly and one or more images fastened to the back face of the back mat for display through the image windows. The custom display system can comprise a kit with a character assortment corresponding to the alphabet and a variety of mat configurations. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The principle objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing a custom display system; providing such a system which provides different mat options; providing such a system which utilizes individual character units for forming character strings; providing such a system which provides different character unit options; providing such a system which accommodates different lengths of character strings in a mat character string window; providing such a system with mats including image windows; providing such a system which is easy to use without special training, tools or equipment; providing such a system which can produce a wide variety of custom displays; providing such a system which accommodates personalized display subject matter; providing such a system which can incorporate one or more personalized images in the display; providing such a system which can be offered as a kit; providing such a system which is well adapted for point-of-purchase sales in retail establishments; providing such a system which can offer a wide range of different character lettering styles, colors and other visual and aesthetic effects; and providing such a system which is economical to manufacture, efficient in operation, capable of a long operating life and particularly well adapted for the purposed usage thereof. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an upper, exploded perspective view of a custom display system, embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, upper, perspective view thereof, particularly showing a display subassembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view thereof, particularly showing a display base being separated from a base sheet of the display subassembly thereof. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, bottom perspective view thereof, particularly showing the back face of a mat subassembly with the display subassembly mounted thereon. 
     FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of a custom display system comprising a first modified embodiment of the present invention with a center image window and a center image. 
     FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of a custom display system comprising a second modified embodiment of the present invention with a center image window, two side image windows and center and side images mounted therebehind. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words &#34;upwardly&#34;, &#34;downwardly&#34;, &#34;rightwardly&#34; and &#34;leftwardly&#34; will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words &#34;inwardly&#34; and &#34;outwardly&#34; will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import. 
     Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral 2 generally designates a custom display system embodying the present invention. The custom display system 2 generally comprises a framing assembly 4 and a display assembly 6. 
     II. Framing Assembly 4 
     The framing assembly 4 includes a frame 8 with upper, lower and opposite side rails 8a,b,c,d respectively. An optional glass or clear plastic glazing 10 can be mounted in the frame 8. 
     A mat subassembly 12 can comprise any suitable number of mats such as the inner and outer mats 12a,b which are shown. Each mat 12a,b includes inner and outer faces 12c,d and a mat perimeter 12e, which can be sized to fit in the frame 8. Each mat 12 also includes a character string window 12f with upper, lower and opposite side edges 12g,h,i,j. The window edges 12g-j be bevel cut as appropriate. 
     The components of the framing assembly 4 can assume a wide variety of configurations, shapes, sizes and materials as appropriate for desired visual appearances and aesthetic effects. 
     III. Display Assembly 6 
     The display assembly 6 includes a base sheet 14. The base sheet 14 (FIGS. 2 and 3) includes a selvage area 16 surrounding a display base 18 with upper, lower and opposite edges 18a,b,c,d respectively which are demarcated by a dashed cut line 18e. The display base 18 includes front and back faces 18f,g. A grid 20 is printed on the display base 18 in spaced relation within its edges 18a-d. The grid 20 has a generally rectangular configuration with upper and lower horizontal grid lines 20a,b and a plurality of vertical grid lines 20c extending between the horizontal grid lines 20a,b in spaced relation whereby a plurality of character locations 20d are formed and extend in juxtaposed relation horizontally across the display base 18 front face 18f. A plurality of half space dividers 20e are positioned in spaced relation approximately midway between respective pairs of vertical lines 20c and form a plurality of half character locations 18f. 
     A plurality of character subassemblies 22 are provided and each includes a character backing 22a adhesively mounting a character unit 22b thereon with a layer of releasable adhesive 22c. Each backing 22a can include an upper, centered aperture 22d. 
     The character units 22b are adapted to be peeled away from the backings 22a (FIG. 2) and applied in appropriate character locations 20d or 20f as appropriate by means of the adhesive 22c. The character units 22d can be imprinted with suitable characters 22e. Moreover, blank character units 22f and blank half units 22g are provided. A series of characters 22e and/or blank units 22f,g form characters strings 22h which can spell an appropriate word, e.g., a name such as &#34;PATTY&#34; (FIG. 2). 
     The character subassembly 22 is mounted on the inner face 12c of the inner mat 12a by suitable base sheet mounting means, such as tape strips 24a-d. 
     IV. Custom Display System Kit 26 
     The custom display system 2 can include a kit 26 for display and marketing purposes, for example at a retail location in a point-of-purchase display application. The kit 26 includes an assortment of individual character units 22b and different sizes of mats such as 12a or 12b, with different sizes and configurations of openings, for example, 12f. 
     V. Operation 
     In operation, the custom display system 2 is adapted for permitting the assembly of a wide variety of custom displays with character strings 22h, mat subassemblies 12, frames 8 and other components selected, formatted and arranged in various combinations. A character string 22h is determined, such as a person&#39;s name, and the appropriate character units 22b are selected to form the character string 22h. 
     A mat or mats, such as 12a,b, are selected based upon character string windows 12f of sufficient length to accommodate the selected character string 22h. For example, a five character string 22h would fill the window 12f of the inner mat 12a. To display a four character string (e.g., &#34;PETE&#34;, FIG. 1), blank half units 22g are provided at each end of the character string 22h. The character units 22b are peeled from their respective backings 22a and adhesively secured in the character locations 20d. The half dividers 20e facilitate the positioning of the blank half units 22g in respective half character locations 22f. The five character string (&#34;PATTY&#34;, FIG. 2) utilizes the half dividers 20e for locating the character units 22b in the center of the grid 20. 
     With the character units 22b installed on the base sheet 14, the selvage 16 can be cut away (FIG. 3) to leave the display base 18 for taping to the back face 12c of the inner mat 12a with the tape strips 24a-d. As an alternative to the tape strips 24a-d, the display base 18 can be fastened to the mat assembly 12 with other suitable adhesive means, such as a two-sided tape and adhesive. 
     The assembled mat subassembly 12 can be placed in a suitable frame 8 for display. 
     VI. First Modified Embodiment Custom Display System 102 
     FIG. 5 shows a custom display system 102 with a modified mat subassembly 112 including a round image window 114 formed by front and back image window openings 114a,b and generally centered over a character string window 116. An image 118 is mounted on the back of the mat assembly 112 for viewing through the image window 114 by two-sided tape 120. 
     VII. Second Modified Embodiment Custom Display System 202 
     A custom display system 202 comprising a second modified embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6 and includes a modified mat subassembly 212 with an image window array 214 including a generally circular, center image window 216 generally centered over a character string window 218 and formed by front and back image window openings 216a,b in front and back mats 212a,b respectively. A pair of side image windows 220 are provided on each side of the center image window 216 and each comprises front and back image window openings 220a,b in the front and back mats 212a,b respectively. Center and side images 222a,b mounted on the back mat 212a by two-sided tape 224. 
     It will be appreciated that a wide variety of additional custom display systems can be devised which are in the scope of the present invention. For example, various lettering styles and characters could be utilized to form the character strings 22h and the finished custom display systems could be oriented vertically or horizontally. Moreover, various numbers and configurations of image and character string windows could be formed in the mat subassemblies and could assume other geometric shapes, including ovals, diamonds, polygons, etc. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.