Abstract:
A substantially stocking-shaped photograph album and method therefor, comprising a base portion, at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf coupled to the base portion, and at least one sleeve coupled to the substantially stocking-shaped leaf, wherein the sleeve is dimensioned to receive a photograph in order to provide a way to store and display photographs in a festive photo album. Preferably, an audio device can be activated to play a melody while viewing the pictures.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to photo albums and methods therefor and, more specifically, to a substantially stocking shaped photo album and method therefor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Photo albums have often been used as a way to store photographs. The photograph album allows the user to place many photographs in an organized fashion. Although the pictures in a photo album can obviously be viewed, picture frames are often preferred when the primary goal is to display the photograph as opposed to merely storing it. However, picture frames, although capable of displaying photos, generally do not offer the ability to store large quantities of photographs. 
     The holiday season is a time when friends and family are interested in displaying many photos. Christmas time is an especially festive period when many people come together. This time, which is often spent indoors because of the weather as well as a desire to spend quality time with one another, is an ideal time for displaying photos of friends and family. 
     It is often the case, however, that when a person has many photographs that he or she wishes to display there is no cost-effective way to display all of the photos. Using many picture frames is not only costly but also takes up a lot of space. Putting the photos in an album often means giving up on displaying them for all to see. Some people attempt to solve this problem by leaving a photo album open, thus using it for both storage and display. However, this solution requires a great deal of counter space, which often makes it impractical. 
     A need therefore existed for a photo album designed for the holiday season, which is also capable of both storing and displaying photographs in a space-saving, festive and attention drawing manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a substantially stocking-shaped photo album capable of both storing and displaying photographs in a space-saving and attention-drawing manner. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a photo album designed for the holiday season having an audio device designed to play a melody. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a substantially stocking-shaped photo album is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a base portion, at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the leaf is coupled to the base portion, and at least one sleeve dimensioned to receive a photograph, the at least one sleeve is coupled to the at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of displaying pictures is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a base portion, providing at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf having a top portion and a bottom portion, coupling the top portion of the at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf to the base portion, providing at least one sleeve dimensioned to receive a photograph, coupling the sleeve to the at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf, and inserting a picture into the at least one sleeve. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a close-up view of FIG. 2, showing a photograph being inserted into a sleeve. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album, showing the base portion in white with green trim, the leaf portion in red and the border of the sleeve in gold. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, reference number  10  refers generally to the preferred embodiment of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album of the present invention. The substantially stocking shaped photo album  10  generally comprises a base portion  12  (shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 ), at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf  14  (shown in FIGS. 1-3) and at least one sleeve  16  (shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 ). The at least one leaf  14  has a top portion  18  (shown in FIGS. 1-2) and a bottom portion  20  (shown in FIGS.  1 - 2 ). The top portion  18  of the leaf  14  is coupled to the base portion  12 . The at least one sleeve  16  is dimensioned to receive a photograph  22 . The sleeve  16  is coupled to the leaf  14 . Preferably, the sleeve  16  is comprised of a thin, plastic-type transparent material, although it should be clearly understood that any substantially transparent material capable of securely holding a photograph  22 , such as glass, is within the spirit and scope of this invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment the at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf  14  is approximately 12 inches in length and six inches in width, although it should be understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  10  in which the at least one substantially stocking-shaped leaf  14  deviates, even substantially, from the preferred dimensions in either direction. 
     In the preferred embodiment, four sleeves  16  dimensioned to receive photographs  22  are coupled to a front side  24  of the at least one leaf  14 , and an additional four sleeves  16  are coupled to a back side  26  (shown in FIGS. 2,  3 ,  5  and  6 ) of the at least one leaf  14 . While, in the preferred embodiment, four sleeves  16  are coupled to both a front side  24  and a back side  26  of the at least one leaf  14 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  10  in which as few as one sleeve  16  is coupled to as few as one side of the at least one leaf  14 , for example when one desires to use the album to display a very large picture. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the base portion  12  comprises an audio device  28  (shown in FIG. 1) designed to play a melody when activated. It should be understood that the audio device  28  may comprised of a semiconductor chip or a miniature playback device with speakers, or some other device capable of producing sound. The audio device  28  is preferably activated when a viewer of the album  10  depresses a button  30 . The audio device  28  is preferably designed to play the song “Christmas and Love” (Copyright Registration No. Eu981947), although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  10  in which no audio device  28  exists, or in which the audio device  28  plays a song other than, or in addition to, “Christmas and Love.” 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  10 , hereinafter  100 , is shown. The substantially stocking-shaped photo album  100  is essentially the same as before, although the base portion  12  is white, the front side  24  of the substantially stocking-shaped leaf  14  is red, the top portion  18  of the leaf  14  is green and a border  17  (shown in a break-away view of FIG. 4) of the sleeve  16  is gold. The purpose of assigning colors to the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  100  is to make the album  100  more festive and appealing to the eye so as to draw viewers to the pictures  22  found within the album  100 . For Christmas, the colors listed above could be used, whereas other colors might be more suitable for other holidays. During Christmas time, the base portion  12  of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  100  may be coupled to a mantle (not shown) next to actual Christmas stockings (not shown). Displaying the photo album  100  in this way saves space and brings attention to the photographs  22  both due to their position as a centerpiece in the room as well as due to the novelty of the photograph album  100 . While, in this embodiment, the base portion  12  is white, the top portion  18  of the substantially stocking-shaped leaf  14  is green, the front side  24  of the substantially stocking-shaped leaf  14  is red, and the border  17  of the sleeve  16  is gold, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  100  in which alternative colors are assigned to the various components of the photo album  100 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, an alternative embodiment of the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  10 , hereinafter  200 , is shown. The substantially stocking-shaped photo album  200  is essentially the same as before, although six leaves  14  are used, each leaf holding four sleeves  16  on the front side  24  and four sleeves  16  on the back side  26  for a total of eight possible pictures  22  per leaf  14 , and a grand total of 48 pictures  22  for a six-leaf photograph album. The substantially stocking-shaped photo album  200  also preferably comprises an alternative configuration of the audio device  28 , hereinafter  280  (shown in FIG.  6 ). The audio device  280  is essentially the same as before, although the audio device  280  comprises a pressure-sensitive activation device  290  designed to activate the audio device  280  when one of the substantially stocking-shaped leaves  14  is raised by the viewer. In this embodiment, as soon as a viewer lifts up one of the leaves  14  to view additional pictures  22 , the pressure sensitive activation device  290  activates the audio device  280 , producing a melody. While, in this embodiment, the substantially stocking-shaped photo album  200  comprises both an audio device  280  as well as six substantially stocking-shaped leaves  14 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the substantially stocking shaped photo album  200  in which as few as one leaf  14  is used with an audio device  280  or in which six leaves  14  are used without an audio device  280 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.