Card comprising several mutually separable photoframes

Abstract: The card 1 includes front and rear layers 3, 4 and 2 which are creased, superimposed on each other and bonded together in selected regions 33-36. The front layer 3, 4 includes substantially discreet photoframe fronts 23-26 containing display apertures 31. The rear layer includes corresponding photoframe backs 5-8 which are mutually connected by strips 10-13, which are joined to the backs by lines of perforations 14. The perforations are inset from the corresponding edges of the photoframe fronts such that, when the strips are removed to separate the photoframes, the perforated edges of each photoframe back are inset behind the attached photoframe front.

Description: This invention relates to cards which comprise two or more mutually separable photoframes (which may also be called photomounts). BACKGROUND In the field of commercial photography it is common to provide packs of photographs containing photoframe cards which can be divided along perforation lines to form two or more individual photoframes. The provision of such cards rather than separate photoframes reduces both manufacturing and packing costs. Taking the case of cards which provide four photoframes as a typical example, the cards are formed of front and rear sheets which are bonded together, and both sheets have two superimposed mutually perpendicular perforation lines. Thus, by bending the card back and forth along the lines of perforations the card is easily separated into four substantially identical photoframes. For a number of years it has been recognised that the edges formed by the perforations are ragged and unsightly compared with die cut edges, but hitherto, nobody has successfully overcome this problem. One factor is that the individual photoframes are normally intended to accept photographs of standard sizes, which limits the scope for changing the design of the card. Similarly, the photograph packs also tend to have size limitations, imposing a further restriction on the changes which can be made. Another factor is that although, on the one hand, the photoframes must be easily and intuitively separable by the end user, on the other hand they must not come apart during packing otherwise the product will be rejected by the photographers. The present invention seeks to provide a form of multiple photoframe card which is capable of meeting these longstanding requirements. Document GB-A-2 235 472 discloses a multiple photoframe card according to the preamble of claim 1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a multiple photoframe card which includes superimposed front and rear layers which are bonded together in selected regions, the front layer including a plurality of substantially discreet photoframe fronts and the rear layer including a plurality of corresponding photoframe backs which are mutually connected by strips joined to the backs by lines of perforations, said lines of perforations being inset from the corresponding edges of the photoframe fronts such that, when the strips are removed to separate the photoframes, the perforated edges of each photoframe back are inset behind the attached photoframe front. Since any non-perforated edges of the backs will normally be of neat appearance they may be inset behind the framing elements or aligned with the edges of the photoframe fronts. At least one of the strips is preferably provided with an end portion which is not joined to the adjacent backs by perforations, thereby forming a grasping tab. In a preferred form of card the front and rear layers are formed from a single sheet and each photoframe front is joined to the respective photoframe back by an integral hinge. The front and back of each photoframe are preferably bonded at their margins which are opposite the hinge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for producing a quadruple photoframe card in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a rear view of an individual photoframe which has been separated from the completed card. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The photoframe card blank 1 which is shown in Fig. 1 by way of example is intended to provide four substantially identical rectangular photoframes. The blank is die cut from a single sheet of stiff card, and is viewed from the rear. The opposite front surface may be overprinted or otherwise provided with an aesthetically attractive finish. The blank is substantially rectangular and includes a central region 2 having two opposite end flaps 3 and 4. The central region 2 has four photoframe backs 5-8 which are mutually connected by an intervening cruciform section 9 forming four tear-off strips 10-13. The strips 10-13 are joined to the backs 5-8 by lines of perforations 14, except for the opposite end portions 15 and 16 of the two longer strips 10 and 11 which are completely separated from the backs to form graspable tabs. (Similar tabs could be provided at the ends of the two shorter strips 12 and 13, if desired.) The photoframe backs 5-8 include conventional die-cut support arms 17-20 which can be bent out of the plane of the sheet to allow the photoframes to be stood up in use. Since such support arms are well known they will not be described further herein. The two flap portions 3 and 4 are joined to the central region 2 by respective hinge lines 21 and 22 formed by incomplete cuts made part-way through the thickness of the card (illustrated by long and short dashes for the purpose of the drawing). Each flap provides two discreet photoframe fronts, 23, 24 and 25, 26, which are essentially separated from each other by die cuts 27 and 28, although for convenience of handling a small number of short bridges may join the fronts as indicated at 29 and 30. Each photoframe front has a central display aperture 31 formed by removing the central region. It should also be noted that for aesthetic reasons the corners of the photoframe fronts 23-26 can be rounded as indicated at 32, which is not easily achieved with existing photoframe cards. The photoframe card is completed by applying narrow bands of adhesive 33-36 along the innermost margins of the photoframe backs, opposite the hinge lines 21 and 22. The flaps 3 and 4 are then folded over the central region 2 so that the photoframe fronts become superimposed on the backs to which they are bonded by means of the adhesive. Although in this example the four fronts 23-26 touch at their adjacent edges it would in fact be possible to leave small gaps between the adjacent edges provided the gaps are smaller than the strips 10-13. The completed cards can be inserted into photograph packs for example. The end user can easily separate the four individual photoframes by grasping the tabs 15 and/or 16 and removing the strips 10-13 along the lines of perforations 14. A photograph of the appropriate size can then be slid between the front and back of the photoframe to display the photograph through the front aperture 31. Fig. 2 shows the photoframe formed by the back 5 and front 23. It can be seen that the perforated edges 37 and 38 of the photoframe back are inset behind the photoframe front so that the ragged edges are not visible from the front of the photoframe. Only the neat die cut edges of the photoframe fronts can be seen. The die cut edges 39 of the photoframe backs could be aligned with the front edges, but in order to preserve a neat symmetrical appearance it is preferred to inset these edges also. In the present example the connected hinged edges 21 and 22 form the top edge of the photoframe, although the photoframes could be orientated in the blank such that the hinge lines form any of the four edges. Furthermore, although it is preferred to form the front and rear layers of card from a single blank it is possible to form the superimposed layers from separate sheets of card so that, for example, the back of the photoframe could be a different colour to the front. In addition, it should be apparent that the invention is not restricted to quadruple photoframe cards (i.e. four per card or "4 on"). Cards can be produced in a similar manner to provide different quantities and sizes of photoframes with different aperture styles, other configurations commonly used in the trade being 2, 3, 6, 8 and 12 photoframes per card. It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

Claims: A multiple photoframe card which includes superimposed front and rear layers (3, 4; 2) which are bonded together in selected regions (33-36), the front layer (3, 4) including a plurality of substantially discreet photoframe fronts (23 - 26) and the rear layer (2) including a plurality of corresponding photoframe backs (5 - 8) which are mutually connected by strips (10, 13) joined to the backs (5-8) by lines of perforations (14), characterized by said lines of perforations (14) being inset from the corresponding edges of the photoframe fronts (23 - 26) such that, when the strips (10, 13) are removed to separate the photoframes, the perforated edges of each photoframe back are inset behind the attached photoframe front. A multiple photoframe card according to Claim 1, in which at least one of the strips (10,13) is provided with an end portion (15, 16) which forms a grasping tab which is not joined to the adjacent photoframe backs by perforations. A multiple photoframe card according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the front and rear layers are formed from a single sheet (1 ) and each photoframe front is joined to the respective photoframe back by an integral hinge (21, 22). A multiple photoframe card according to Claim 3, in which the front and back of each photoframe are bonded at their margins which are opposite the hinge.

Inventors: LANGSWORTHY BRIAN, WRIGHT JOHN, LANGSWORTHY, BRIAN, WRIGHT, JOHN
Applicants: DENIS WRIGHT LTD, DENIS WRIGHT LIMITED
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A47G1
IPC codes: A47G1