Abstract:
The disclosure is directed to several related forms of PICTURE FRAMES for displaying photographs or similar illustrations. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to 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. This is accomplished by the use of rectangular paperboard panels approximately the size of the photo or other picture to be displayed, with infolding flaps on at least three edges of the panel to engage the edges of the photo to entrap the photo and hold it in place.

Description:
Reference is made to United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/082,337 filed Apr. 20, 1998. 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/295,020 filed Apr. 20, 1999 now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Background of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to several related forms of PICTURE FRAMES for displaying photographs or similar illustrations. More particularly, the invention is directed to 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. This is accomplished by the use of rectangular paperboard panels approximately the size of the photo or other picture to be displayed, with infolding flaps on at least three edges of the panel to engage the edges of the photo to entrap the photo and hold it in place. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Eastman Patent No. 91,728 shows a simple single-fold-two panel photo holder. Friedman Patent No. 4,780,975 shows a single panel display adapted to be a self-mailer. Hearsch Patent No. 4,366,636 shows a two sided easel display device. Blanchard Patent No. 4,275,517 shows a conventional appearing single panel display with a cover which serves as a partial support. Testa Patent No. 5,592,768 shows a display device having separate front and back walls which can be expanded from a flat structure to a three dimensional elliptical shape device by folding inner flaps. Corbo Patent No. 4,854,060 shows a structure which can display up to six photos which, with the aid of a rubber band snaps from a flat mailable structure to a three dimensional display device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Broadly stated the invention is directed to a device for displaying one or more rectangular photographs or similar pictures, the device being composed of a single flat die-cut foldable paperboard blank convertible into a three-dimensional picture frame without the necessity of the use of adhesive or other fastening materials. The paperboard blank includes at least one first rectangular panel approximately the size of the photograph to be displayed with an opening in the panel through which the photo may be viewed. The first panel has a pair of flaps connected along fold lines on two opposed edges of the panel and foldable inwardly toward the back of the photo to be displayed. Another second rectangular panel is connected to an edge of the first panel along a fold line extending between the first named flaps and also is foldable inwardly toward the back of the photo to be displayed. The other panel and flaps when folded inwardly engage three edges of the photo to entrap it and hold it in place. A third panel is connected to the second panel along a fold line and is also foldable inwardly toward the back of the photo. A connection composed of a flap connected along a fold line to the third panel engages the back of the first panel and maintains the device in three-dimensional configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are identified by the same numerals and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a die-cut paperboard blank from which one form of photo display device may be formed; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional photo display device formed from the blank of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second form of die-cut paperboard blank; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional photo display divice formed from the blank of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third form of die-cut paperboard blank convertible into a mailer and a three dimensional photo display device; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional photo display device formed from the blank of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a flat blank, indicated generally at  10 , formed from paperboard such as heavy weight paper or light weight cardboard, which is stiff but also readily foldable. Paperboard blank  10  includes a first rectangular panel segment  11  of approximately the size of the photograph or other picture to be displayed and opening  12  through which the photograph may be viewed, converting the panel  11  into a picture frame. A pair of flap segments  13  and  14  are connected to opposite edges of panel segment  11  along fold lines  15  and  16 , respectively. When a photograph is placed over panel  11  to be viewed through opening  12 , flaps  13  and  14  are folded inwardly on top of the back of the photograph to partially entrap the photograph in the frame. 
     Blank  10  includes a second panel segment  17  which is of the same size as panel  11  and is connected thereto along a fold line  18 . Panel  17  may also have an opening  19  through which a picture may be viewed. A pair of flap segments  20  and  21  are connected to opposite side of panel  17  along fold lines  22  and  23 , respectively. 
     Blank  19  includes a third panel  24  connected to panel  17  along fold line  25 . Panel  24  may have an opening  26  through which a photograph my be viewed, along with flaps  27  and  29  connected along fold lines  29  and  30 , respectively. A further assembly flap  31  which extends the full length of panel  24  is connected thereto along fold line  32 . The ends of the flaps are preferably tapered as shown. Openings  12 ,  19  and  26  are representative of various configurations of frame openings which may be used. 
     To form a frame as shown in FIG. 2, the photographs to be displayed are laid face down over the openings in each panel. The panel end flaps  13 ,  14 , et al are folded inwardly over the backs of the photographs to partially entrap them in the frames. Panels  11  and  24  are folded upwardly along their fold lines with panel  17  and their edges ate brought together so that assembly flap  31  may be inserted in the space behind photograph  33  between the photograph and flaps  13  and  14  on panel  11 . Flap  31  frictionally engages the insides of fold lines  15  and  16  to form the rigid three-dimensional structure shown in FIG. 2, without the means of adhesive or adhesive tape or staples or other fastening means. 
     The edges of the infolded panels along their folded fold lines serve to further entrap the photos being displayed. When the three-dimensional frame is in prism format as shown, photographs are displayed on the two exposed prism faces. Panel  17  which forms the prism base need not have an opening. However, if it does, as shown in blank  10 , then the frame structure can be rotated to alternately display any two of the three framed photos. On the other hand, if the photographs are in vertical format the prism structure can be placed on its end and all three photographs are always on display. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a paperboard blank, indicated generally at  34 , for making a second form of three dimensional photo display. Blank  34  has a first rectangular panel segment  35  having an opening  36  therein. A flap segment  37  is joined to panel segment  35  along a fold line  38 . A pedestal flap segment  39  is connected to the opposite side of panel segment  35  along fold line  40 . Flap  39  is of a length greater than the length of panel  35 . 
     A second panel segment  41  has an opening  42  therein and is connected to panel segment  35  along fold line  43 . A flap segment  44 , similar to flap  37 , is connected to one edge of panel segment  41  along fold line  45 . A pedestal flap segment  46 , similar to flap segment  39  is connected to the opposite side of panel  41  along fold line  47 . A third panel segment  48  having an opening  49  is connected to panel segment  41  along fold line  50 . Flaps  51  and  52  are connected to opposite sides of panel  48  along fold lines  53  and  54 , respectively. An assembly flap  55  is connected to the opposite side of third panel segment  48  along fold line  56 . 
     To form a three dimensional photo display as shown in FIG. 4, photographs are placed face down over each of the openings in the panel segments. Flaps  37 ,  44  and  51  are folded inwardly on top of the backs of the photos. Pedestal flaps  39 ,  46  and  52  are folded inwardly on top of the photos and flaps  37 ,  44  and  51 , respectively. Panel segment  48  is folded upwardly along fold line  50  relative to panel  41  and panel  35  is folded upwardly along fold line  33  relative to panel  41 . The edges of panels  48  and  35  are brought together so that assembly flap  55  folded inwardly on fold line  56  may be inserted behind the photograph on panel  35  and in the space between the photograph and flaps  37  and  39  to frictionally engage the insides of fold lines  38  and  40  and form a rigid three-dimensional structure. The portions of the pedestal flaps which extend beyond the rectangular panels form a base to support the three dimensional photo display. Alternatively, the structure may be inverted and the protruding portions of the pedestal flaps function as finials on which school or sports symbols or corporate logos or the like may be displayed. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown a paperboard blank, indicated generally at  60 , for the formation of a prism-type photo display in combination with a mailer for sending the photograph. Blank  60  includes a rectangular panel section  61  having an opening  62 . A pair of flap segments  63  and  64  are connected to the frame segment along fold lines  65  and  66 , respectively. A second panel  67 , which is of the same size as panel  61  but without any opening therein, is connected to panel  61  along fold line  68 . A second similar panel  69  without an opening is connected to panel  67  along fold line  70 . An assembly flap  71  is connected to panel  69  along fold line  72 . 
     To use blank  60  as a mailer, the photograph to be mailed, and latter displayed, is placed face down over the opening in panel  61 . Flaps  63  and  64  are folded inwardly against the back of the photograph. Panel  61  and the entrapped photograph are folded inwardly upon panel  67 . Then, the composite panels  61  and  67  are folded flat against panel  69 . Assembly flap  72  is folded over the end of the composite structure against the opposite face of panel  67 . The flap is temporarily secured by means of a removable pressure sensitive adhesive seal, removable pressure sensitive adhesive tape, or the like. A personal message may be written on the surfaces of panels  67 . and/or  69 . The address of the recipient may be inscribed on the opposite face of panel  69  and the entire structure may be mailed. 
     Upon receipt of the mailer by the recipient, the temporary fastening means is removed and the mailer is partially opened sufficient to form the prism-like configuration. Then, assembly flap  71  is inserted in the space behind panel  61  between the back of the displayed photograph  33  and flaps  63  and  64  to form the rigid display device shown. 
     In each of the configurations shown, the picture to be displayed is held entrapped by folded-in paperboard blank segments on at least three of its four sides. In the configurations of FIGS. 2 and 6 the picture is held entrapped on three sides by in-folded segments of the paperboard blank but the photograph is supported along its fourth side by the assembly flap bearing against the back surface of the picture. 
     The precut paperboard blanks are preferably scored along the fold lines to facilitate assembly of the picture display devices. 
     Although the picture display devices as shown and described may be assembled without the use of adhesive or adhesive tape or staples or clips or other fastening devices, so that they are readily assembled and disassembled to change the pictures to be displayed, the use of some auxiliary fastening means is not foreclosed, if its use is desired. 
     It is apparent that many modifications and variation of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific. embodiment described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only be the terms of the appended claims.