Abstract:
A video album having a plurality of photograph sleeves and video monitor housed within the same album. Each photograph sleeve having at least one pocket for housing a photographic image.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/440,166, filed Feb. 7, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to video photograph album. More particularly, in one embodiment, this invention relates to a wedding album having both photographic prints and a video monitor housed within the album. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Over the years wedding photography has remained largely unchanged. Before, during and after a wedding ceremony, a couple generally hires a photographer to capture moments throughout the day. These moments are then printed and placed into a wedding album. 
         [0004]    In the 1980&#39;s wedding videos became popular. Since then, the quality of wedding videos have greatly improved. However, wedding videos are still largely overshadowed by wedding photography. 
         [0005]    Generally, wedding photographs are placed into albums allowing for easy viewing of the photographs. The wedding album can be placed in a family room for easy viewing by guests. 
         [0006]    By contrast, wedding videos are converted and stored on a media such as a VHS tape, DVD, Blue-ray. More recently, digital copies of the wedding video are stored on flash drives, SD cards and the like. To view the wedding video, the media is placed into a player and the video is then played back on a monitor. Because of this the wedding video tends get stored away making viewing more cumbersome. 
         [0007]    People do find it important to have their wedding day captured on video, but after that special day the video is not viewed as much as their wedding album. It is easier to pick up an album and look at pictures than to play a video. However, pictures do lack one major aspect and that is sound and motion. 
         [0008]    Therefore, a simpler way to view wedding videos is desired. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, a wedding album having both photographic prints, and a wedding video is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention describes a video photograph album having a number of pages containing print photographs, a monitor and a speaker. The album allows the user to view pictures, watch and hear the wedding video all in the same device. When wanting to show memories from the wedding day, all that is required is the single device. 
         [0011]    The video album contains a video monitor built into the album. The video monitor may be on a cover, or inside the album along the top, bottom or sides of the photographic sleeves. This allows the viewer to not only look at the pictures from a wedding, but also to watch the video at the same time. 
         [0012]    The video album incorporates the video monitor and the photographs into a single, easy to use product. The resulting album having both photographs and video playback capabilities. An integrated speaker allows for sound playback. 
         [0013]    It is an object of the invention to provide a single device capable of displaying photographic images and video playback. 
         [0014]    One advantage of the invention, is that video playback is added to photographic albums. 
         [0015]    Another advantage of the invention, is that sound playback is added to photographic albums. 
         [0016]    Yet another advantage of the invention, is that the video is stored in the album, allowing for easy playback and reduced risk of losing the video. 
         [0017]    An even further advantage of the invention, is that media ports allow for the video to played on additional devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  depicts a top view of a video album with the front cover closed according to one embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the video wedding album shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  depicts the media buttons according to one embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  depicts the monitor and housing according to one embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  depicts a top view of the video album shown in  FIG. 1  with the front cover open; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  depicts a top view of a video album with the front cover closed and video monitor embedded in the front cover according to one embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  depicts a top view of a video album with the front cover closed and video monitor embedded in the front cover according to one embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  depicts a top view of a video album with the front cover closed and video monitor embedded in the front cover according to one embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  depicts the monitor and housing according to one embodiment; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  depicts the housing and the back cover according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate several embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , there is a video album  100  corresponding to one embodiment. The album  101  contains a video monitor  110  and a plurality of photograph sleeves  120 . 
         [0031]    The album  101  has a front cover  102 , a back cover  103  and a side  104  and a monitor housing  105 . The monitor housing  105  being a housing for the video monitor  110 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5  the video monitor  110  is located along the outer edge  106  of the album  101 , the video monitor  110  being between the front cover  102  and the back cover  103  and to the side of the photograph sleeves  120 . In another embodiment, the video monitor  110  is located on the front cover  102 . In yet another embodiment, the video monitor  110  is located on the back cover  103 . In yet a further embodiment, the video monitor  110  is located between the front cover  102  and the back cover  103  towards a top surface of the album  101  above the photograph sleeves  120 . In a further embodiment, the video monitor  110  is located between the front cover  102  and the back cover  103  towards a bottom surface of the album  101  below the photograph sleeves  120 . 
         [0032]    For the embodiments in which the monitor housing  105  is between the front cover  102  and the back cover  103 , it is preferred that the monitor housing is thicker than the total thickness of all of the photograph sleeves  120  to allow the front cover to rest on the monitor housing  105  when the album  101  is closed. In one embodiment, the album  101  is molded having the monitor housing  105  integrated into either the front cover  102  or the back cover  103 . 
         [0033]    For particular albums, such as wedding albums, it is desirable to have the covers made of well-appointed materials. Such materials include, but are not limited to leathers, wood grain, fabrics, metals, canvas and acrylics. The cover may further include die-cut photograph inserts. 
         [0034]    The video monitor  110  may be any monitor suitable for video playback. In one embodiment the video monitor is a touch screen monitor. In another embodiment, the video monitor is capable of reproducing high definition video. In one embodiment, the video monitor is capable of displaying high definition content and may playback a number of file formats such as, but not limited to MPEG, AVI, MPEG4, MPEG2 and H.264. Playback for the video monitor  110  may be controlled via touch screen capabilities or by media buttons  130 . 
         [0035]    The media buttons  130  may allow the user to play, stop, fast forward, rewind, select sections, adjust volume and adjust the monitor properties. The media buttons  130  may be integrated into a touch screen monitor, may be tactile buttons, may be touch screen controls distinct from the video monitor or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the album further contains a video output for connection to an external monitor. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the album  101  further contains a media card slot  140 . The media card slot may be any suitable media card reader to read solid state, flash or disc drive based memory. Insertion of a media card into the media card slot  140  allows for playback of video content loaded on the media card. In addition to the media card slot  140 , a USB port  142  allows for additional connections. The USB port  142  further allows for an authorized user to access the CPU  150  to adjust the internal settings of the album  101 . The internal memory  160  stores the control settings for the album  101 . In one embodiment, the internal memory  160  also stores the video content. In another embodiment, the video content is stored on a removable media card. In another embodiment, the video content is stored via internal memory. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the album  101  has audio visual ports  143  allowing for external connection of the album to audio visual device. For example, to connect the album to a home theater system or a larger monitor such as a television. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0039]    Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. 
       Parts List: 
       [0000]    
       
           100  Video album 
           101  Album 
           102  Album front cover 
           103  Album back cover 
           104  Album side 
           105  Monitor housing 
           106  Album outer edge 
           110  Video monitor 
           120  Photograph sleeve 
           121  Photograph pocket 
           130  Media buttons 
           140  Media card slot 
           141  Power port 
           142  USB port 
           143  Audio visual ports 
           150  CPU 
           160  Internal memory 
           170  Speaker