Abstract:
A multi-functional display with an adjustable aperture to accommodate pictures, photographs, or artwork of different sizes. The display can be used as a postcard or as a stationary frame for displaying pictures in an upright position. The display is made from a blank of flexible material such as paper.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/175,690, filed Jan. 12, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to displays and more particularly, to a multi-size, adhesive-backed paper display for displaying photographs, postcards, and small artwork. The paper display of the present invention can be used as a postcard. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Finding an appropriate means to display cherished photographs or artwork can be a daunting task. Even finding a suitable means for displaying a vacation photo can be difficult because a frame of the appropriate size must be found, and even then there is no way to send the framed photo to someone without enclosing the photo and frame in a package and mailing the entire package, which can be expensive. It would be extremely advantageous to have a picture or artwork frame that was so versatile that it could readily be used as either a postcard or a stationary frame. 
     The prior art describes a variety of display means for displaying photographs and the like, for example, an ornamental design for a photo display frame made from paper is described in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 3,86,008, issued on Nov. 11, 1997 to M. S. Wong. U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,852, issued on Feb. 22, 1977 to E. O. Davis, describes an apertured mailing card. The mailing card consists of first and second card sections. The first card section contains an adhesive surface for carrying an object such as a photograph. The second card section is attached to the first card section and includes an opening situated for general alignment with the adhesive surface of the first card section when the first and second sections are in a folded condition. 
     A picture frame derived from a sheet blank is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,794, issued on Nov. 1, 1994 to H. W. Wood. The picture frame is configured to provide straight peripheral frame sections which are closed at the corners and may project at less than a 90 degree angle from a base to produce an attractive beveled border. U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,341, issued on Sep. 14, 1999 to J. A. Cross, describes a display device and easel. The frame is fabricated from a single piece of paperboard divided into three foldable panels which are die-cut according to a predetermined pattern to create a display opening and easels for supporting the frame in a horizontal or vertical orientation. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a display means that is extremely versatile in its functionality. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a display means that has an adjustable aperture to accommodate different size photographs. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a display means of novel configuration made from a blank of flexible sheet material. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a display means that is low cost and economical to manufacture. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a display means for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     To meet the above objectives, the present invention provides a conformable photo postcard display. The configurable display means of the present invention is made using a novel and innovative folding sequence that produces a display means with a unique and distinctive configuration. The photo postcard display is formed from a blank of flexible sheet material such as paper and configured to function as either a postcard or a stationary frame. The photo postcard display has an adjustable aperture to accommodate photographs of different sizes. 
     The visual display means of the present invention is efficiently designed with strategically placed adhesive material ensuring its structural integrity. The photo postcard display has a stand for exhibiting the photo postcard display in an upright position. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a front plan view of an unfolded sheet of paper that is eventually folded into a photo postcard display showing the initial fold lines according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B is a front plan view of a folded sheet of paper that has been folded along the initial fold lines showing the second fold lines and the directions of the next folding action. 
     FIG. 1C is a front plan view of a folded sheet of paper that has been folded along the second fold lines showing the third fold lines and the direction of the ensuing folding action. 
     FIG. 1D is a front plan view of a folded sheet of paper that has been folded along the third fold lines showing the conformation of a large apertured photo postcard display. 
     FIG. 2 is a front plan view of an unfolded sheet of paper that is eventually folded into a photo postcard display showing the locations of adhesive tapes and fold lines. 
     FIG. 3A is a front plan view of the unfolded sheet of paper that is eventually folded into a stand for a photo postcard display showing the fold lines and the bottom adhesive tape&#39;s location. 
     FIG. 3B is a front plan view of a folded photo postcard display stand showing the top adhesive tape&#39;s location. 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a photo postcard display with a stand. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention, as depicted in FIGS.  1 A-D, 2 , 3 A-B, and  4  is a conformable photo postcard display  100  with a size adjustable centrally disposed viewing aperture  160 , 162 . FIG. 1A is a front view of an unfolded square shaped blank of flexible sheet material  100  such as paper that is eventually folded into a photo postcard display  100 . The initial fold lines  102  are shown in FIG.  1 A. Each corner  109  of the sheet of paper  100  is folded towards the center  115  of the sheet of paper  100  as indicated by the directional arrows  103 . This folding action produces a smaller square structure  125  defined by the initial fold lines  102 . The centrally disposed photograph receiving aperture  160 , 162  readily displays 3″×5″ or 4″×6″ pictures or pieces of artwork because the aperture  160 , 162  is scalable. The conformable display  100  can be made of any suitable flexible sheet material. 
     FIG. 1B is a front view of the folded sheet of paper  100  that has been folded along the initial fold lines  102  showing the location of the second fold lines  104  and the direction  105  of the next folding action. The apex  114  of each triangular shaped section  110  is folded back in the direction  105  indicated until the apex  114  of each triangular shaped section  110  reaches the midpoint  135  of each edge or side  102  as depicted In FIG.  1 C. The edges or sides  102  of the smaller square folded structure  100  shown in FIG. 1B are defined by the initial folding lines  102  shown in FIG.  1 A. The second folding lines  104  shown in FIG. 1B define a first smaller aperture  160  shown in FIG.  1 C. The aperture  160  shown in FIG. 1C can readily accommodate a picture, photograph, or artwork having 3 inch×5 inch dimensions. 
     FIG. 1C is a front view of a folded sheet of paper  100  that has been folded along the second fold lines  104  showing the location of the third fold lines  106  and the direction  107  of the ensuing folding action. The third folding lines  106  define a second larger aperture  162  as shown in FIG.  1 D. FIG. 1D is a front view of a folded sheet of paper  100  that has been folded along the third fold lines  106  showing the conformation of a large aperture photo postcard display  100 . The aperture  162  shown in FIG. 1D can readily accommodate a picture, photograph, or artwork having 4 inch×6 inch dimensions. The trapezoidal shaped folded section  120  produced by the third folding action gives the photo postcard display  100  a distinctive and decorative appearance as depicted in FIG.  1 D. This distinctive and decorative appearance consists of a symmetrical arrangement of movable folds  112 , 120 . 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of an unfolded sheet of paper  100  that is eventually folded into a photo postcard display  100  showing the locations of adhesive material  130 , 132  and fold lines  102 , 104 , 106 . The third folding action along the third fold lines  106  produces an additional crease  108  as shown in FIG. 2 because the third folding action involves folding a folded segment  117  (see FIG.  1 C). This skeleton or framework of adhesive material  130 , 132  such as adhesive tape maintains the structural integrity of the photo postcard display  100 . 
     FIG. 3A is a front view of an unfolded sheet of paper  138  that is eventually folded into a stand  140  for a photo postcard display  100  showing the fold lines  150 , 152 , the directions  151 ,  153  of the folding actions, and the bottom adhesive tape&#39;s location  160 . The first folding action along the first fold line  150  in the direction  151  indicated shortens the length of the stand  140 , and subsequently stabilizes the stand  140 . The second folding action along the second fold line  152  in the direction  153  indicated also shortens the length of the stand  140 . The stand  140  can be made of any flexible sheet material. The conformable display  100  and the stand  140  can be made of the same flexible sheet material or made of different flexible sheet materials. 
     FIG. 3B is a front view of a folded photo postcard display. stand  140  showing the top adhesive tape location  162 . The upper folded segment  156  with its adhesive material  162  serves as the point of attachment between the photo postcard display  100  and the stand  140  as shown in FIG. 4 which shows a side view of a photo postcard display  100  with stand  140 . The stand  140  holds the display  100  in an upright position for easy viewing of the display  100  as depicted in FIG.  4 . 
     The exact dimensions of the photo postcard display and stand can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of the picture, photograph, or artwork being displayed. In a preferred embodiment, a blank of flexible sheet material having 8 inch×8 inch dimensions is used, and a 3″×5″ smaller aperture and a 4″×6″ larger aperture are produced. Once a blank of flexible sheet material has been properly configured, a picture, photograph, or artwork can be easily inserted into the photo postcard display. A picture, photograph, or artwork is inserted into a partially open photo postcard display, that is, the folds of the photo postcard display are not closed. The folds of the photo postcard display are then closed and secured in place by the adhesive material framework which in turns holds a picture, photograph, or artwork securely in place. The picture, photograph, or artwork is readily removed by unfolding the photo postcard display. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and adaptations of the present invention as well as alternative embodiments of the present invention may be contemplated. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.