Abstract:
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.

Description:
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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing Figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2B  is a cross section view of the first embodiment of the present invention taken along line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 2C  is a cross section view similar to that of  FIG. 2B  depicting the use of adhesives to retain the front latticework; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3A  is a rear view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3B  is a rear view of the first embodiment of the present invention depicting the use of stays as retaining means; and, 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   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. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of display device  10 . External frame  11  forms the perimeter of display device  10  and surrounds and supports the inner components of display device  10 . Lattice network  12  is formed from longitudinal strips  14  extending along the length of frame  11  and transverse strips  13  extending along the width of frame  11 . It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that lattice network  12  may contain more than one longitudinal strip  14  and or transverse strip  13  on each length and width, respectively, of frame  11  and that there may be different numbers of longitudinal strips  14  and transverse strips  13  on each length and width of frame  11 . Gap  15  is shown between the inner perimeter of frame  11  and the outermost longitudinal strips  14  and transverse strips  13 . 
   Display area  16  is formed by the innermost transverse strips  13  and longitudinal strips  14 . As will be discussed below, in an alternate embodiment, lattice network  12  may form more than one display area  16 . Within display area  16 , one or more display items  17  are presented. It will be recognized that display items  17  may be small enough to fit totally within the perimeter of display area  16 , may be framed by the innermost strips of lattice network  12  or may extend beyond the strips of lattice network  12  bordering display area  16  into gap  15 . Display items may be photographs, drawings, leaves, patches and/or other memorabilia sufficiently sized to fit within frame  11  as described below. In a preferred embodiment, support means  23 , discussed below in detail, is shown and holds display device  10  in a sloping upright position.  FIG. 2  is a front view of display device  10  more clearly showing front facing  18  which is a transparent sheet behind lattice network  12  covering display item(s)  17 . 
     FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of multi-display device  30 , an alternate embodiment of the present invention. As in display item  10 , frame  31  encloses multi-display device  30  and supports the inner components of multi-display device  30 . Lattice network  32  includes transverse strips  33  and longitudinal strips  34 . There may be more than one longitudinal strip  34  along each length of frame  31  or more than one transverse strip  33  along the width of multi-display device  30 . Multi-display device  30  includes sufficient transverse strips to form a plurality of display areas  36 . Persons of skill in the art will recognize that a plurality of display areas  36  may be formed by sufficient numbers of longitudinal strips  34  as well as a combination of longitudinal strips  34  and transverse strips  33 . As in display device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , each of the display areas  36  is surrounded by transverse strips  33  and longitudinal strips  34 . Gap  35  is formed between frame  31  and lattice network  32 . Display items  37  are seen in each of display areas  36 .  FIG. 2A  is a front view of multi-display device  30  more clearly showing front transparent facing  38  behind lattice network  32  covering the front side of display item(s)  37 . 
     FIG. 2B  is a cross section view of display item  10  taken along line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2 . Frame  11  includes a double shoulder configuration along its inner perimeter which provides two shelf-like projections around the inner perimeter. Front shoulder  20  is seen as supporting transverse strip  13  of lattice network  12 . Not seen in this view, first shoulder  20  also supports longitudinal strips  14  in the same manner as transverse strips  13 . In the embodiment shown, lattice network  12  is removably supported by front shoulder  20 . In an alternate embodiment, lattice network  12  is retained on front shoulder  20  by adhesive A. Rear shoulder  21  holds front facing  18  and transparent rear facing  22 . Display item(s)  17  are held between front facing  18  and rear facing  22  in a sandwich type configuration. The support of front facing  18  and rear facing  22  by rear shoulder  21  enables the presentation of display items  17  to achieve a “floating effect” by supporting the display item(s)  17  with the facings in a “sandwich” tight enough to render them immobile without having them appearing to be supported by lattice network  12  or frame  11 . Front shoulder  20  and rear shoulder  21  are seen to project from the inner perimeter at substantially right angles. The double shoulder configuration enables the load of lattice network  12 , front facing  18 , and rear facing  22 , along with any display item(s)  17  to be distributed over the entire thickness of the interior perimeter of frame  11  giving increased support to each of those elements. In one embodiment, front facing  18  may be removably supported by rear shoulder  21 . In an alternate embodiment, front facing  18  may be attached to rear shoulder  21  by adhesive A as seen in  FIG. 2C . Similarly, rear facing  22  may be removably mounted into rear shoulder  21  or attached to rear shoulder  21  using an adhesive. Using a similar double shoulder configuration as described above in the inner perimeter of frame  31  of multi-display  30  (not shown in  FIG. 2B ), substantially the same support can be realized for display item(s)  37  placed between front facing  38  and rear facing  42 . 
   In a more preferred embodiment, the distance between front shoulder  20  and rear shoulder  21  is evaluated to allow enough room to hold lattice network  12  without disturbing support front facing  18 , display items  17 , and rear facing  22  supported by rear shoulder  21  to prevent display items from moving. Front facing  38  and rear facing  42  may be retained in a removable or attached embodiment as described above with display device  10 . 
     FIG. 3  is a rear view of display device  10  showing one embodiment of retaining means  19 . In the embodiment shown, retaining means  19  are swivel pins attached to frame  11  and that rotate to extend over rear facing  22  to retain lattice network  12  in place against front shoulder  20  and front facing  18 , display item  17  and rear facing  22  against rear shoulder  21 . By retaining means is meant devices that extend over rear facing  22  to hold the above elements in place. Other retaining means include stays such as brads, pins, staples, nails, or other similar devices that extend from frame  11  over rear facing  22  to hold in place the components resting on shoulders  20  and  21 .  FIG. 3B  depicts an example of the use of stays in the form of staple  19   a . In an alternate embodiment, retaining means may include adhesives that hold some or all of the above components in place on shoulders  20  and  21 . Retaining means may be located within the inner perimeter of frame  11  and/or on the rear of frame  11  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2A . 
     FIG. 3  also shows two embodiments of support means  23  which are defined as devices used to support the entire display device  10  or multi-display device  30 . Support means  23  are in functional association with the rear of display device  10  or multi-display device  30  meaning that they are attached to one or more components of the rear side of either display device  10  or multi-display device  30  to support those devices. In  FIG. 3 , support means  23  is a prop hingably attached to slide  23   a  which slides into block  23   b . Block  23   b  is attached to rear facing  22  and is shaped to receive slide  23   a  by creating a cutout of the block sized to receive slide  23   a . In a preferred embodiment, slide  23   a  is sized to be inserted into the cutout to enable display device  10  to be propped on either the long or short side of frame  11 .  FIG. 3  also depicts rings  23   c  as an alternate embodiment to support means  23  which allows display device  10  to be mounted on a wall or similar support. In the preferred embodiment shown, rings  23   c  are positioned to allow display device  10  to be supported in a longitudinal (long side) or transverse (width) position.  FIG. 3  also depicts the embodiment in which the perimeter of display item  17  extends into longitudinal strips  12  and transverse strips  13  surrounding display area  16  to frame display item  17 . Other examples of support means  23  include hanger style devices such as hook and wire assemblies, eyelet hangers, suction devices and other equivalent objects designed to hold display device  10  and multi-display device  30  in place. 
     FIG. 3A  is a rear view of multi-display device  30 . In still another embodiment of support means  23 , support means  23   d  shown in the form of sawtooth supports are seen attached to frame  31 . Also seen is display item(s)  37  positioned over display areas  36  so as to extend into transverse strips  33  and longitudinal strips  34  to give a framed appearance by the strips surrounding that display area  36 . Also seen in  FIG. 3A  is an alternate embodiment in which display items  37   a  are wholly within upper and lower display areas  36  to create a floating effect. It will be recognized that one or more of display areas  36  may have floating display items  37   a  while simultaneously other display areas  36  may have display items  37  positioned to extend into or beyond the surrounding lattice network strips. 
     FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of display device  10 . In the embodiment shown, lattice network  12  is placed onto front shoulder  20 . Front facing  18  is positioned onto rear shoulder  21 . Display item(s)  17  is positioned within display area  16  or if desired, placed within or extended over the strips of lattice network  12 . Rear facing  22  is positioned onto rear shoulder  21  over display item(s)  17  onto rear shoulder  21  and retaining means  19  (not shown) moved or positioned to extend over rear facing  22  to hold all the components in place. Finally slide  23   a  of support means  23 , in this case a prop, is slid into block  23   b  which is attached to rear facing  22 . A similar layering procedure is used for multi-display device  30 . As discussed above, other retaining means  19  and support means  23  may 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.