Abstract:
A photo display incorporates a support hook(s) as a display adjunct. The hook is fabricated from a flat sheet of material. The material is capable of a high degree of flexing without breaking. Double-sided tape is employed to mount the sheet on a flat, vertical surface such as a wall or door. The sheet is sized to neatly present a display item. The display item may take the form of a photograph, an advertisement, a message, or the like. Other forms of the photo display employ adjuncts that permit easy mailing of a photograph or the like and support for displaying the photograph.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/654,507, filed Dec. 22, 2009 (now pending), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/073,354, filed Mar. 4, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,707), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/798,896, filed May 17, 2007 (now abandoned). 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to supports, and particularly to a photo display hanger and kit that incorporate adjunct support structure therewith. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The use of hooks for supporting objects, such as garments, hats, keys, umbrellas, etc., is commonplace. The hooks are conventionally mounted on walls or doors in the home or office. Unfortunately, conventional hooks are usually unsightly and add no “feng shui” to the surrounding area. Furthermore, conventional hooks are usually “permanently” mounted using a screw fastener or the like, which mars the wall or door. 
         [0006]    Mailing that special photograph of a wedding, birthday, bar mitzvah, etc. to favorite people can be a hassle in that the photograph must be wrapped in a protective covering and then housed in a separate mailing envelope. Furthermore, when received, a frame must be located before the photograph can be properly displayed. The art would certainly welcome a support hook that incorporates a decorative display adjunct and that could easily be mounted or removed from a wall or doorway. The art would also gratefully accept a convenient photo mailer that could also function as a display adjunct for the photograph. Thus, a photo-display hanger and kit solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The photo display hanger and kit of the present invention incorporates a support hook(s). The hook is fabricated from a flat sheet of material. The material may be transparent and is capable of a high degree of flexing without breaking. Double-sided tape is employed to mount the sheet on a flat, vertical surface, such as a wall or door. The sheet is adapted to neatly present a display. The display may take the form of a photograph, an advertisement, a message, or the like. The display can be easily changed without causing the double-sided mounting tape to release. The hook is designed to support a load having a predetermined maximum weight. If the predetermined weight is exceeded, the hook will bend (without breaking) to release the load. This arrangement presents a serviceable support hook in conjunction with a pleasing decorative display. The sheet may also incorporate an array of hooks. Other embodiments of the display device employ adjuncts that permit easy mailing of a photograph or the like and support for displaying a photograph. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, the invention presents a display device that can be easily and quickly mounted to almost any vertical surface. The invention also presents a device that functions as a mailer and support for displaying a photograph on horizontal or vertical surfaces. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0009]    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 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the transparent sheet of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the transparent sheet of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, side view of the transparent sheet and decorative frame of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the decorative frame of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the decorative frame of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the transparent sheet of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the hanger of  FIG. 8  according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an exploded, perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment with hooks positioned in the plane of the sheet of the hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment with hooks bent out of the plane of the sheet of the hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with hooks positioned in the plane of the sheet of the hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with hooks positioned in the plane of the sheet of the hanger with a photo display according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a perspective front view of a photo display prepared for mailing according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a perspective rear view of the photo display of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a perspective, front view of a photo display hanger and kit according to the present invention that incorporate a mailer frame having a pop-out support and slide-out address card. 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is an exploded, rear view of the photo display hanger and kit illustrated in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a rear view of the mailer frame of  FIG. 17  with the slide address card inserted, shown before the end of the slide out card is detached. 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a rear view of the mailer frame of  FIG. 17  with the slide address card inserted, shown after the end of the slide out card is detached. 
       
    
    
       [0030]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Attention is first directed to  FIG. 1 , wherein the hanger with a photo display is generally indicated at  10 . Hanger  10  comprises a sheet of plastic material  12  incorporating a support hook  14 . Sheet  12  is mounted to a vertical surface  16 , such as a wall or a door (as shown). A frame member  30  is removably mounted on sheet  12  in a manner that will be explained below. 
         [0032]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , sheet  12  and hook  14  are fabricated from a single piece of transparent, plastic material. The plastic material has high degree of flexibility that will allow the hook to bend (note phantom lines) without breaking, but has sufficient memory or resilience that the material resumes the hook shape when the bending force is removed. Any transparent material exhibiting these qualities may be utilized to fabricate the sheet if such material is otherwise suitable (costs, availability, non-toxicity, etc.) 
         [0033]    A strip of double-sided adhesive  18  is employed to mount the rear surface of sheet  12  to vertical surface  16 . Adhesive strip  18  is of sufficient size to maintain a bond between sheet  12  and surface  16  when a load of predetermined weight is disposed on hook  14 . A small space  20  is formed between the rear surface of sheet  12  and vertical surface  16 . Space  20  extends from the top edge  12   a  of sheet  12  to the top edge  18   a  of double-sided adhesive strip  18 . As contemplated, a selected display item  22  may be removably disposed in the space  20  in a manner to be viewed through the front surface of sheet  12 . As indicated above, although the present invention is referred to as a hanger with photo display, the display item may take the form of a photograph, a memo or any type of visual material. The dimensions of the display item will be coextensive with the dimensions of sheet  12 . 
         [0034]    Attention is now directed to  FIGS. 4-6 , which illustrate the disposition of decorative frame  30  onto sheet  12 . Frame  30  is configured to encapsulate the perimeter of sheet  12  while leaving hook  14  and the front surface of sheet  12  exposed. The side edges of sheet  12  are received within the sidewalls  32  of frame  30 . Wall  34  is positioned across the rear of frame  30  to form a pocket  36  adapted to receive the top edge  12   a  of sheet  12  therein. This arrangement allows frame  30  to be easily mounted and removed if it is desired to change a display item. Although illustrated as rectangular, it is obvious that the sheet  12  and frame  30  could be fabricated in other configurations and of various sizes, if desired. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment of the invention wherein plural hooks  40  are disposed along a bottom edge  40   a  of transparent sheet  42 . A decorative frame (not shown) is configured to be disposed on sheet  42  in the same manner as described above relative to sheet  12 . This embodiment is especially useful for hanging an array of keys thereon. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are illustrative of a third embodiment of the invention that incorporates a single, unitary sheet  50  provided with a hook  52  at the lower end thereof. The front surface of sheet  50  is designed with a cavity  54  therein. Cavity  54  is adapted to receive a display item  22 , the display item  22  being nested within the cavity  54 . A transparent window  56  is removably press-fitted into cavity  54  to retain the display item  22  in the cavity  54 . Double-sided adhesive strips  18  are employed on the rear surface of sheet  50  to removably mount the sheet on a vertical surface. An opening  58  is formed through sheet  50  to facilitate the removal of window  56  when it is desired to change the display  22 . Although illustrated as rectangular, it is obvious that sheet  50  can be fabricated in other configurations, if desired. Sheet  50  can be transparent, translucent or opaque. 
         [0037]    As best seen in  FIG. 10 , a fourth embodiment of the invention is provided with a unitary sheet  60  having a base  62 . Respective sides  64  extend perpendicularly upward from the base  62 , forming a fork defining a cavity  66 . A single leg  68  extends medially downward from base  62 . A hook  70  is positioned on the front surface of leg  68 . As in the embodiment described immediately above, a display item  22  is sized to nest within cavity  66  and a transparent window  72  is press-fitted into cavity  66  to retain the display item therein. Sheet  60  can be transparent, translucent or opaque. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein the sheet member  80  of the photo display is fabricated to have peripheral dimensions (length and width) to enable the sheet member to fit into conventional mailing envelopes. A photograph display area is centrally disposed in the sheet. Die-cut hooks  82  are disposed in the bottom edge  80   a  and coincident with the plane of sheet member  80  for mailing purposes. Double-sided tape  84  is positioned on the rear surface of the sheet member for mounting purposes as described above. In use hooks  82  are bent out of the plane of the sheet ( FIG. 12 ) when the sheet is to be mounted. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show an embodiment wherein die-cut hooks  86  are positioned below the bottom edge  80   a  of sheet  80 . Hooks  86  are also coincident with the plane of the sheet for mailing purposes and can be bent out of the plane for use ( FIG. 14 ). 
         [0040]    As presently contemplated, the photo display embodiments of  FIGS. 11-14  can be mailed without the use of mailing envelopes if desired. As illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , one merely has to attach a mailing label  90  to the front surface of sheet  80  and attach the photo or the like to the rear surface using tape strips  92 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 17-20  illustrate an embodiment of the invention in the form of a kit that facilitates mailing and display of a photograph or the like. In this embodiment, a transparent mailing envelope  100  also functions as a display adjunct. The mailing envelope  100  comprises a front face  110 , a rear face  112 , a closed first end  114 , an open second end  116 , and closed top and bottom edges  118 . The envelope is fabricated from transparent, plastic material. As presently contemplated, the mailing envelope  100  is sized to removably house a 4″×6″ item, such as a photograph P, for mailing and display. It should be noted, however, that envelopes of other sizes may be employed. An address card  120 , as more precisely described below, is also removably housed in the mailing envelope  100 . 
         [0042]    The front face  110  of the mailing envelope  100  has a decorative border  110   a  disposed around the perimeter thereof for aesthetic purposes. The rear face  112  is provided with a segment  112   a  that is scored around three sides thereof to allow the segment to be popped out from the plane of the rear face  112  to form a stand for the mailing sleeve. It should be noted that the segment  112   a  can support the mailing sleeve in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation, if tabletop display is preferred. A double-sided adhesive strip  115  is disposed on the rear face  112  in a central area thereof, whereby the mailing sleeve can be secured to a vertical surface for display, if desired. The address card  120  has indicia  120   a  inscribed on its front surface for providing mailing information thereon, e.g., designated areas formatted with blank lines where addressee and return address information can be filled in. Perforations  122  are disposed across the card  120  adjacent one end  120   b  of the address card that extends beyond the envelope  100  so that the end  120   b  may be easily detached from the card  120 . An adhesive seal  124  is provided and utilized to seal the open end  116  of the envelope  100 . 
         [0043]    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.