Article holder and display device

A device for retaining and displaying one or more photographs includes a pair of frames which are mirror images and are connected along one edge by a hinge. Each frame has an outer wall approximately equal in size and shape to the photograph and a plurality of side walls extending at an obtuse angle in the same direction from a periphery of the outer wall. The hinge permits the frames to be moved from an open position wherein the photograph can be inserted between the outer walls to a closed position wherein the photograph is retained between the outer walls. An opening in at least one of the outer walls permits the photograph to be displayed. An outer surface of each of the outer walls has a groove formed therein for retaining one end of a pair of legs attached to a base portion of a clip. The base portion of the clip can be placed on a generally horizontal surface and the legs will maintain the outer walls of the frames in a generally vertical position to display the photograph. Interior latch means can be provided to maintain the frames in the closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention generally concerns a device for retaining and displaying 
articles and, in particular, a device for retaining and storing 
photographs whereby at least one of the photographs can also be displayed. 
While there are many businesses concerned with the processing and printing 
of photographic film, the prints are generally delivered to the customer 
in the same manner. A paper envelope having one pocket for the prints and 
another pocket for the negatives is inserted inside an outer paper 
envelope which typically had been utilized to deliver the exposed film to 
the developer. When the customer receives the prints, he either places the 
prints in an album, or puts one or more prints in a picture frame for 
display, or leaves the prints in the envelope for storage. 
If the prints are placed in an album, it is inconvenient to carry the album 
around in order to display the prints to others. If one or more prints are 
placed in a picture frame, they are separated from the rest of the prints 
which may be of the same subject matter and therefore desirable to keep 
together. If the prints are left in an envelope, each envelope must either 
be marked on the outside or opened separately in order to determine which 
envelope contains prints which are desired to be viewed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns a combination holder and display device for 
articles such as photographic prints. A pair of cooperating frame-like 
retainers are connected together along one edge with a hinge to form a 
container for the articles. The retainers are similar to a picture frame 
in that the center section is cut away for viewing the articles retained 
between the two frames. The frames can be formed of a plastic material and 
the hinge can be a "living" hinge which is formed at the same time the 
frames are molded. The frames can be maintained in a closed position to 
retain the articles by cooperating latch pieces molded integral with the 
frames, or by a retaining clip which engages the outer surfaces of the 
frames. The retainer clip is generally triangular in cross section with 
one side forming a base and the other two sides forming a pair of legs for 
engaging grooves formed in the exterior surfaces of the frames. When the 
base side of the clip is placed on a horizonal surface, the clip supports 
the frames in a vertical position allowing the articles to be viewed 
through the opening in either one or both of the frames.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
There is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, an article retainer and display device 
or container 11 having a first or front frame 12 and a second or rear 
frame 13. Although the frames 12 and 13 could be formed as separate items, 
it is preferable to mold them at the same time and connect them together 
with a hinge 14 along an outer edge of a side wall 15 of the frame 12 and 
an outer edge of a side wall 16 of the frame 13. 
Preferably, the frames are made of a plastic material and the hinge 14 is a 
"living" hinge. Some of the plastic materials which can be utilized to 
form the container 11 include polypropylene, polyethylene and polystyrene. 
However, any suitable material can be utilized. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the first side 16 is formed at an obtuse angle to a 
planar outer wall 17 defining a display face of the rear frame 13. The 
outer wall 17 has a generally rectangular central opening 18 formed 
therein. The edges of the outer wall 17 are connected to the side wall 16 
and side walls 19, 20, and 21. The side walls 16 through 21 are connected 
together at their ends to enclose the periphery of the outer wall 17. Each 
of the sides 16, 19, 20 and 21 extends from the planar surface 17 at an 
obtuse angle away from the rectangular opening 18. 
The first or front frame 12 is formed in a similar manner with an outer 
wall 22 having a generally rectangular opening 23 formed therein. The side 
15 and sides 24, 25 and 26 enclose the outer periphery of the planar 
surface 22 and, like the sides connected to the planar surface 17, extend 
at an obtuse angle away from the rectangular opening 23. 
Typically, the frames 12 and 13 and the hinge 14 are molded in the position 
shown in FIG. 1 where the frame 12 is outlined in phantom. The frames 12 
and 13 are rotated about the hinge 14 to bring the sides 20 and 25 
together as illustrated in FIG. 3. The arrow 27 in FIG. 1 demonstrates the 
movement of the frame 12 from the open position shown in phantom to the 
partially closed position shown in solid lines. 
Once the two frames 12 and 13 have been closed, they can be retained in the 
closed position by any suitable latching means. For example, as shown in 
FIGS. 2 through 4, a clip 28 engages the outer surfaces of the outer walls 
17 and 22 to retain the frames 12 and 13 in the closed position. The clip 
28 includes a base portion 29 generally rectangular in form with a pair of 
legs 30 and 31 attached to and extending from the longer sides of the base 
portion 29. The legs 30 and 31 are formed at acute angles with respect to 
the base portion and are angled toward one another. The edge of the leg 30 
opposite the edge attached to the base portion 29 has an inwardly facing 
lip 32 formed thereon which is generally semi-circular in cross-section as 
shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, the leg 31 has a semi-circular inwardly facing 
lip 33 formed along the edge opposite the edge which is attached to the 
base portion 29. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the outer surface of the outer wall 22 has an 
outwardly facing groove 34 formed therein extending substantially parallel 
to the side 25. Similarly, the outer surface of the outer wall 17 has an 
outwardly facing groove 35 formed therein which extends substantially 
parallel to the side 20. The clip 28 is formed such that the distance 
between the lips 32 and 33 is less than the distance between the bottoms 
of the grooves 34 and 35. The clip 28 may be formed of a plastic material 
which is strong and resilient. When the frames 12 and 13 are in the closed 
position, as shown in FIG. 4, the clip is engaged with the frames by 
spreading the legs 30 and 31 apart and engaging the lips 32 and 33 with 
the grooves 34 and 35, respectively. This may be accomplished by engaging 
the lips 32 and 33 with the ends of the grooves and sliding the clip 28 
toward the center of the sides 20 and 25, or by sliding the lips 32 and 33 
over the outer surfaces of the outer walls 22 and 17 respectively until 
they engage the grooves 34 and 35 respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the 
base portion 29 may be bowed slightly toward the legs 30 and 31 and may 
contact the mating edges of the sides 20 and 25. 
The clip 28 may also engage any other pair of mating sides in order to 
maintain the frames 12 and 13 in the closed position. For example, grooves 
36 and 37 can be formed in the planar surfaces 17 and 22 respectively and 
extend substantially parallel to the sides 21 and 26, respectively. 
Grooves 38 and 39 can be formed in the planar surfaces 17 and 22, 
respectively, and extend substantially parallel to the sides 19 and 24 
respectively. Grooves 40 and 41 can be formed in the surfaces 17 and 22, 
respectively, and can extend substantially parallel to the sides 16 and 15 
respectively. 
There is shown in FIG. 5 an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the 
line 5--5 of FIG. 2. This figure illustrates the configuration of the 
crossing of the grooves 34 and 39 and is similar to the other seven points 
at which grooves cross on the frames 12 and 13. The end of each groove can 
be chamfered as at 42 to assist in camming the respective lip of the clip 
28 into engagement with the respective groove, and thereby facilitate the 
application of the clip 28 into an operative position. 
The clip 28 also can function as a stand for the frames 12 and 13. If the 
base portion 29 is placed on a horizontal surface, the frames 12 and 13 
will be held in an upright position such that any articles retained 
between the frames can be viewed through the rectangular openings 18 and 
23. Since the clip 28 can engage any pair of sides, articles such as 
photographs can be displayed in their proper viewing position. The 
interior spacing between the planar surfaces 17 and 22 can be dimensioned 
to firmly retain a standard number of photographs such as twelve, 
twenty-four, or thirty-six. Furthermore, the outer surface of the base 
portion 29 can be formed with a rough or matte surface suitable for 
receiving a written identification of the articles contained within the 
frames. In the alternative, the outer surface of the base portion 29 can 
be embossed or preprinted with identifying or advertising material. 
There is shown in FIG. 6 an alternative means for retaining the frames 12 
and 13 in the closed position. FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of 
an inside portion of planar surfaces 17' and 22' which are similar to the 
planar surfaces 17 and 22. Connected to the planar surfaces 17' and 22' 
are sides 20' and 25' respectively which are similar to the sides 20 and 
25 shown in FIG. 4. On the interior of the side 20' are formed a pair of 
spaced apart projections 43 and 44 which typically are in the form of 
spheres. Attached to the side 25 is a tab 45 having a width slightly 
greater than the minimum distance between the projections 43 and 44. The 
plastic material from which the projections 43 and 44 and the tab 45 are 
formed is flexible enough so that the tab 45 can be forced between the 
projections 43 and 44 and snap into engagement behind them to retain the 
frames 12 and 13 in the closed position. 
The frames 12 and 13 can be made in various sizes to fit the standard sizes 
for photographs. Some of the more popular sizes are three inches by five 
inches, four inches by six inches and five inches by seven inches. The 
retainer and display device according to the present invention could be 
supplied with the photographs from the processor or could be sold 
separately. The device can be provided in various colors and surface 
finishes, as desired. 
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and 
mode of operation of the present invention has been explained and 
illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be appreciated 
that the present invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically 
explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.