Lattice network display device

The present invention is a display device configured to display sheet like materials such as photos, cards, pictures, patches, and the like. It includes an external frame with a double shoulder configuration in its internal perimeter, a lattice network formed into one or central display areas and supported by the front shoulder, and a transparent front facing a transparent rear facing supported by the rear shoulder. Display items are supported between the front facing and rear facing. Retainers of various types may be used to hold the components in place. Supports are described for mounting or otherwise displaying the display device of the present invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to display devices, particularly to framed display devices, and more particularly to framed display devices having a lattice network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Framed display devices are well known globally. Frames provide a structure to art work by preventing the rolling or folding of a display item. They also provide a measure of protection from destruction by protecting the edges of items on display.

In addition, the structure and surface features of frames themselves may contribute to the appearance of a piece of work on display. There are numerous examples of decorative and artistic frames that are able to enhance the item or items displayed by a frame. For example, U.S. Pat. No. D9,732 to Gray discloses a frame in which the four sides are shaped into the form of vines. U.S. Pat. No. D248,356 to Tougas et al. discloses a frame in which each of its sides has a wicker-type configuration. U.S. Pat. No. D200,159 to Mueller, et al. discloses a frame with sides having a wavy configuration and also includes two diagonally crossed pieces in the rear.

One contemporary trend in artistic display is the presentation of “floating” displays in which the displayed item has the appearance of being suspended in space by being held by transparent facings. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0121195 to Moon discloses such an artistic display system. U.S. Pat. No. D369,679 to Lankford is another example of picture holders designed to hold a floating display item.

What appears to be lacking in the field is a display device that combines the structural and artistic advantages of a frame with the capacity to support a floating display item. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0216345 to Wadusky discloses a support frame having four corner mounting devices that support front and rear facings that hold one or more display items sandwiched between the two facings. However, the four mounting devices are only positioned at the four corners and do not extend along the length and width of the facings. U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,958 to Kofoed discloses a picture framing kit with a lattice system that sits behind a transparent facing within an exterior frame, but does not disclose any methods or components that would enable a floating display effect.

What is needed then is a device that would provide the structural and artistic advantages of an external frame while still giving display items a floating effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a display device including a frame having an inner perimeter and outer perimeter in which the inner perimeter is configured in the form of two shoulders, a lattice network formed from strips attached to the first or front of the two shoulders, the lattice network having at least one display area in which the display area is surrounded by some or all of the strips, a front facing fabricated from a transparent material and set into the second or rear shoulder, and a rear facing fabricated from a transparent material and positioned to rest on the front facing, and retaining means positioned to retain the front and rear facings. In a preferred embodiment, support means in functional association with the rear of the display device are provided to support the display device.

The present invention also includes an alternate embodiment in which the lattice network is formed into a plurality of display areas each of which is surrounded by some or all of the strips of the lattice network. This alternate embodiment includes a frame having an inner perimeter and outer perimeter in which the inner perimeter is configured in the form of two shoulders, a lattice network formed from strips attached to the first of the two shoulders, the lattice network having a plurality of display areas wherein each of the plurality of display areas is surrounded by some or all of the strips, a front facing fabricated from a transparent material and set into the second or rear shoulder, and a rear facing fabricated from a transparent material and positioned to rest on the front facing, and retaining means positioned to retain the front and rear facings. In a preferred embodiment, support means in functional association with the rear of the display device are provided to support the display device.

One object of the invention is to provide a framed structure that gives structural support and artistic effect to the invention.

A second object is to provide a device that allows for the presentation of display items using a floating effect.

A third object is to allow for the display of a plurality display areas within the display device.

An additional object is to provide a display device that enables the display of both framed and floating display items.

A further object is to provide a frame configured to provide sufficient support for the items held within the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention.

While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Adverting to the drawings,FIG. 1is a front perspective view of one embodiment of display device10. External frame11forms the perimeter of display device10and surrounds and supports the inner components of display device10. Lattice network12is formed from longitudinal strips14extending along the length of frame11and transverse strips13extending along the width of frame11. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that lattice network12may contain more than one longitudinal strip14and or transverse strip13on each length and width, respectively, of frame11and that there may be different numbers of longitudinal strips14and transverse strips13on each length and width of frame11. Gap15is shown between the inner perimeter of frame11and the outermost longitudinal strips14and transverse strips13.

Display area16is formed by the innermost transverse strips13and longitudinal strips14. As will be discussed below, in an alternate embodiment, lattice network12may form more than one display area16. Within display area16, one or more display items17are presented. It will be recognized that display items17may be small enough to fit totally within the perimeter of display area16, may be framed by the innermost strips of lattice network12or may extend beyond the strips of lattice network12bordering display area16into gap15. Display items may be photographs, drawings, leaves, patches and/or other memorabilia sufficiently sized to fit within frame11as described below. In a preferred embodiment, support means23, discussed below in detail, is shown and holds display device10in a sloping upright position.FIG. 2is a front view of display device10more clearly showing front facing18which is a transparent sheet behind lattice network12covering display item(s)17.

FIG. 1Ais a front perspective view of multi-display device30, an alternate embodiment of the present invention. As in display item10, frame31encloses multi-display device30and supports the inner components of multi-display device30. Lattice network32includes transverse strips33and longitudinal strips34. There may be more than one longitudinal strip34along each length of frame31or more than one transverse strip33along the width of multi-display device30. Multi-display device30includes sufficient transverse strips to form a plurality of display areas36. Persons of skill in the art will recognize that a plurality of display areas36may be formed by sufficient numbers of longitudinal strips34as well as a combination of longitudinal strips34and transverse strips33. As in display device10shown inFIG. 1, each of the display areas36is surrounded by transverse strips33and longitudinal strips34. Gap35is formed between frame31and lattice network32. Display items37are seen in each of display areas36.FIG. 2Ais a front view of multi-display device30more clearly showing front transparent facing38behind lattice network32covering the front side of display item(s)37.

FIG. 2Bis a cross section view of display item10taken along line2B-2B ofFIG. 2. Frame11includes a double shoulder configuration along its inner perimeter which provides two shelf-like projections around the inner perimeter. Front shoulder20is seen as supporting transverse strip13of lattice network12. Not seen in this view, first shoulder20also supports longitudinal strips14in the same manner as transverse strips13. In the embodiment shown, lattice network12is removably supported by front shoulder20. In an alternate embodiment, lattice network12is retained on front shoulder20by adhesive A. Rear shoulder21holds front facing18and transparent rear facing22. Display item(s)17are held between front facing18and rear facing22in a sandwich type configuration. The support of front facing18and rear facing22by rear shoulder21enables the presentation of display items17to achieve a “floating effect” by supporting the display item(s)17with the facings in a “sandwich” tight enough to render them immobile without having them appearing to be supported by lattice network12or frame11. Front shoulder20and rear shoulder21are seen to project from the inner perimeter at substantially right angles. The double shoulder configuration enables the load of lattice network12, front facing18, and rear facing22, along with any display item(s)17to be distributed over the entire thickness of the interior perimeter of frame11giving increased support to each of those elements. In one embodiment, front facing18may be removably supported by rear shoulder21. In an alternate embodiment, front facing18may be attached to rear shoulder21by adhesive A as seen inFIG. 2C. Similarly, rear facing22may be removably mounted into rear shoulder21or attached to rear shoulder21using an adhesive. Using a similar double shoulder configuration as described above in the inner perimeter of frame31of multi-display30(not shown inFIG. 2B), substantially the same support can be realized for display item(s)37placed between front facing38and rear facing42.

In a more preferred embodiment, the distance between front shoulder20and rear shoulder21is evaluated to allow enough room to hold lattice network12without disturbing support front facing18, display items17, and rear facing22supported by rear shoulder21to prevent display items from moving. Front facing38and rear facing42may be retained in a removable or attached embodiment as described above with display device10.

FIG. 3is a rear view of display device10showing one embodiment of retaining means19. In the embodiment shown, retaining means19are swivel pins attached to frame11and that rotate to extend over rear facing22to retain lattice network12in place against front shoulder20and front facing18, display item17and rear facing22against rear shoulder21. By retaining means is meant devices that extend over rear facing22to hold the above elements in place. Other retaining means include stays such as brads, pins, staples, nails, or other similar devices that extend from frame11over rear facing22to hold in place the components resting on shoulders20and21.FIG. 3Bdepicts an example of the use of stays in the form of staple19a. In an alternate embodiment, retaining means may include adhesives that hold some or all of the above components in place on shoulders20and21. Retaining means may be located within the inner perimeter of frame11and/or on the rear of frame11as shown inFIGS. 2 and 2A.

FIG. 3also shows two embodiments of support means23which are defined as devices used to support the entire display device10or multi-display device30. Support means23are in functional association with the rear of display device10or multi-display device30meaning that they are attached to one or more components of the rear side of either display device10or multi-display device30to support those devices. InFIG. 3, support means23is a prop hingably attached to slide23awhich slides into block23b. Block23bis attached to rear facing22and is shaped to receive slide23aby creating a cutout of the block sized to receive slide23a. In a preferred embodiment, slide23ais sized to be inserted into the cutout to enable display device10to be propped on either the long or short side of frame11.FIG. 3also depicts rings23cas an alternate embodiment to support means23which allows display device10to be mounted on a wall or similar support. In the preferred embodiment shown, rings23care positioned to allow display device10to be supported in a longitudinal (long side) or transverse (width) position.FIG. 3also depicts the embodiment in which the perimeter of display item17extends into longitudinal strips12and transverse strips13surrounding display area16to frame display item17. Other examples of support means23include hanger style devices such as hook and wire assemblies, eyelet hangers, suction devices and other equivalent objects designed to hold display device10and multi-display device30in place.

FIG. 3Ais a rear view of multi-display device30. In still another embodiment of support means23, support means23dshown in the form of sawtooth supports are seen attached to frame31. Also seen is display item(s)37positioned over display areas36so as to extend into transverse strips33and longitudinal strips34to give a framed appearance by the strips surrounding that display area36. Also seen inFIG. 3Ais an alternate embodiment in which display items37aare wholly within upper and lower display areas36to create a floating effect. It will be recognized that one or more of display areas36may have floating display items37awhile simultaneously other display areas36may have display items37positioned to extend into or beyond the surrounding lattice network strips.

FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of display device10. In the embodiment shown, lattice network12is placed onto front shoulder20. Front facing18is positioned onto rear shoulder21. Display item(s)17is positioned within display area16or if desired, placed within or extended over the strips of lattice network12. Rear facing22is positioned onto rear shoulder21over display item(s)17onto rear shoulder21and retaining means19(not shown) moved or positioned to extend over rear facing22to hold all the components in place. Finally slide23aof support means23, in this case a prop, is slid into block23bwhich is attached to rear facing22. A similar layering procedure is used for multi-display device30. As discussed above, other retaining means19and support means23may be used.

Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which changes would not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.