Abstract:
A display device is disclosed for displaying multiple album covers and allowing for display of one or more clamshell album covers in an open or closed configuration. Album covers can be inserted into display areas of the device or removed therefrom for handling and play substantially without movement or manipulation of the frame. In certain embodiments, each of the display areas can be independently accessed to insert or remove an album cover without disturbing album covers in the other display areas. Such independent access may be provided by way of vertical and/or horizontal slots formed in the frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates in general to devices for storing and displaying album covers and, in particular, to a display frame for displaying multiple album covers and allowing for display of one or more clamshell album covers in an open or closed configuration. The invention also allows for convenient insertion of album covers into a display area and removal of album covers or contained albums sleeves for handling and play, substantially without movement or manipulation of the frame.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The advent of the digital recording revolution and compact disks has left many people with collections of albums, e.g., 33⅓ R.P.M. vinyl records, that are seldom if ever used. In many cases, the owners of these albums are reluctant to depart with these albums that may have been collected over a long period of time at what seemed substantial expense. Such reluctance is often not merely a matter of pecuniary concern, but reflects a great subjective value of the albums and album covers to the owner. In this regard, the owner may wish to retain albums for occasional playing because the recordings are not readily available in digital format, the owner does not wish to repurchase the recording in digital format or the owner simply prefers, in nostalgic moments, to use an old record player or hear the recording on vinyl in spite of (or perhaps because of) scratches, crackles and other historical artifact.  
           [0003]    For many, album covers also have artistic value. Many recording artists designed their covers with great care understanding that their fans would spend substantial time enjoying the album covers while listening to the recordings. Such album covers artistically complemented the recordings in a way that, as a practical manner, is different from the way that today&#39;s listeners typically enjoy listening to multiple digital recordings loaded into a magazine or platter. Thus, for a certain generation, a glimpse of the album covers of Pink Floyd&#39;s “Dark Side of the Moon” or the Beatle&#39;s “Sgt. Pepper&#39;s Lonely Hearts Club Band” may evoke a flood of memories, and hearing certain songs may immediately evoke images of album covers. Such album covers also often included lyrics and other information that the album owner may wish to occasionally peruse even today.  
           [0004]    It has now been more than a decade and perhaps two decades since most collectors purchased their last albums. There are undoubtedly millions of albums stored in attics, basements and closets in crates or cardboard boxes. Most of these collections will probably be disposed of eventually, once their owners decide that the albums will no longer be used, keeping the records is foolish sentimentality and the storage space can better be used for other purposes.  
           [0005]    A number of display or storage devices for albums has been proposed. In some cases, such displays have provided for encasement of an album cover, e.g., behind glass, or have otherwise been designed in apparent contemplation of long-term storage like a kind of museum piece. However, such displays do not readily permit removal of the album covers or albums for periodic playing and use in the manner for which they were originally designed. Moreover, such displays are generally designed to store/display only a single sleeve album cover or closed clamshell album cover. Other storage units accommodate multiple albums, for example in book-like arrangement, but do not provide for simultaneous display of multiple album covers, including open clamshell covers, or do not allow for convenient access to albums/covers without movement or manipulation of the storage device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is directed to a device for storing and displaying multiple album covers in a manner that allows for convenient removal of the album covers, or album/sleeves contained in the covers, for handling or play. The inventive device allows for storage of single sleeve album covers and for storage of clamshell album covers in a open or closed configuration. In certain embodiments, access to the album covers and/or sleeves and albums can be obtained substantially without moving or manipulating the display device which may be hung on a wall or the like, where it may be inconvenient to remove or manipulate the device.  
           [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for allowing simultaneous display of multiple album covers with independent access to individual album cover display areas. The device includes a wall mountable frame for supporting multiple album covers in separate display areas such that each of the album covers can be viewed from a front side of the frame. Independent access is provided to each of the display areas such that any one of the display areas can be accessed for inserting or removing an album cover while the other cover(s) remains displayed in its display area for viewing from the front of the frame. Preferably, each album cover can be accessed without removing the frame from the wall to permit convenient periodic access for handling or play. In this regard, access may be obtained via passive or stationary elements, such as slots, or via active elements such as flaps, covers, bars or hinged panels that can be deployed to access particular display areas. Such independent access advantageously reduces the need to handle album covers other than the one that the user desires to access or to manipulate associated frame portions, thereby simplifying access and reducing the potential of damage or wear.  
           [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an album cover display device is provided that has slots for inserting and removing album covers to or from (“relative to”) display areas. The slots preferably extend to a side or top edge of the device frame such that individual display areas can be accessed substantially without moving (e.g. dismounting the frame from the wall) or manipulating (e.g., deploying flaps, covers, bars, hinged panels or the like) the album cover display device. Preferably, the slots include pairs of slot ends that define ports at one or more of the frame edges for access to the display areas. In this regard, multiple ports are preferably provided to allow independent access to multiple display areas.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
         [0010]    FIGS.  1 A- 1 B show sleeve-type and clamshell album covers that can be displayed in the devices of the present invention;  
         [0011]    FIGS.  2 A- 2 B are front perspective and side views, respectively, of an album cover display device in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0012]    FIGS.  3 A- 3 F show various alternative configurations of album cover display devices in accordance with present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    The present invention is directed to album cover display devices that allow for display of multiple album covers and that further allow for convenient access to individual album covers as may be desired. In the following description, the invention is set forth in the context of various embodiments that allow for access to album covers via slots formed in a frame. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative implementations are possible in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, the following description should be understood as exemplifying the invention and not by way of limitation.  
         [0014]    The display devices described below allow for simultaneous display of multiple album covers and for display of sleeve-type as well as clamshell album covers. FIGS.  1 A- 1 B illustrate a sleeve-type album cover and a clamshell album cover respectively. As shown in FIG. 1A, the sleeve-type album cover  100  includes one slotted panel  102  for receiving and album therein. An additional paper or plastic sleeve may be received within the slotted edge  104  for further protecting the album. Typically, such album covers include a front face and a rear face where the front face includes artwork, the name of the artist and/or album, and other information. The rear face typically identifies the album contents, e.g., identifies the songs or other material that is included on each side of the album. Additional artwork and information such as credits for the artists, composers etc. may be included on the album cover.  
         [0015]    A clamshell cover  106 , as generally illustrated in FIG. 1B, typically includes two panels  108  and  110  that fold about a central crease  112 . At least one of the panels  108  or  110  normally includes a slotted edge  114  to receive an album and protective sleeve therein. In the case of a double album, each of the panels  108  and  110  may be slotted. The front and rear sides of the album cover  106  may include information similar to that on sleeve-type album covers. Additional artwork and other information, such as lyrics, may be printed on the inner surfaces (not shown) of the album cover  106 .  
         [0016]    In the case of a sleeve-type album cover, it may be desired to display the cover so that either the front or backside can be viewed. In many cases, the front cover of the album is designed to be the primary display surface. It will further be appreciated that access for inserting an album/sleeve or removing an album/sleeve is provided via the slot, typically at the right edge of the album cover as viewed from the front side. In the case of a clamshell album cover, it may be desired to display more than one surface of the album cover. For example, when the album cover is unfolded, the front and back surfaces can be simultaneously viewed from a single vantage point. Alternatively, both of the inner surfaces can be viewed from a single vantage point, e.g., so as to peruse song lyrics or other information.  
         [0017]    Referring to FIGS.  2 A- 2 B, an album cover display device in accordance with present invention is generally identified by reference numeral  200 . The display device  200  advantageously allows for simultaneous display of multiple album covers including sleeve-type album covers and/or clamshell album covers. Moreover, the display device  200  allows for independent access to multiple display areas.  
         [0018]    As discussed above, independent access to multiple display areas may be provided in various ways including by use of passive and/or active elements. In the illustrated embodiment, such independent access is provided by way of a slotted frame. This implementation of the invention has certain advantages related to ease of construction, ease of the operation, and reduced potential for malfunction or wear.  
         [0019]    In particular, the illustrated display device  200  includes a number of slotted crossbars  202 A-C interconnected by a number of upright bars  204 . Although alternative configurations are possible in accordance with the present invention as discussed below, the illustrated device  200  includes three crossbars  202 A-C and three upright bars  104  defining four display areas  206 A-D. The four display areas  206 A-D allow for display of, for example, four sleeve-type album covers, four folded clamshell album covers, two unfolded clamshell covers, one unfolded clamshell cover and two sleeve-type or folded clamshell covers, or various other combinations.  
         [0020]    The crossbars  202 A-C include slots for slidably receiving the album covers. Specifically, the top crossbar  202 A has a slot  210  formed in a bottom surface thereof. The center crossbar  202 B has an upper slot  212  formed in a top surface thereof and a lower slot  214  formed in a bottom surface thereof and the bottom crossbar  202 C. has a slot  216  formed in a top surface thereof. Preferably, the slots  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  extend to at least one of the side ends  224  or  226  of the device  200 . In the illustrated embodiment, the slots  210 , 212 , 214  and  216  extend across the entire width of the device  200  to both side ends  224  and  226 . In this manner, each of the display areas  206  A-D can be independently accessed. That is, display area  206 A can be accessed by sliding an album cover through slot pair  210 , 212  from the left side  224  of the device  200 . Similarly, display area  206 B can be accessed by sliding an album cover within slot pair  210 , 212  relative to the right side  226  of the device  200 . Display area  206 C can be accessed by sliding an album cover within slot pair  214 ,  216  relative to the left end  224  of the device  200 . Finally, display area  206 D can be accessed by sliding an album cover within slot pair  214 ,  216  relative to the right end  226  of the device  200 . Thus, each of the display areas  206  A-D can be independently accessed to insert or remove an album cover or to insert or remove an album/sleeve without removing the album cover. In the case of the clamshell album cover containing a double album, each album can be independently accessed.  
         [0021]    The device  200 , display areas  206  A-D and slots  210 , 212 , 214  and  216  may be dimensioned to accommodate various types of albums. The illustrated device  200  is dimensioned to display conventional 33⅓ R. P. M. records and the slots  210 , 212 , 214  and  216  are dimensioned to receive either sleeve-type album covers or unfolded clamshell album covers. Moreover, the slots  210 , 212 , 214   216  are dimensioned to allow for sliding and album covers therein with minimal friction. In this regard, the illustrated frame has a Heights each of about 29 and half inches candy with W. of about 30 inches. Each of the slots  210 , 212 , 214  and  216  has a width of about ⅛ of an inch. The upward facing slots  212  and  216  have a depth of about ⅛ inch. The downward facing slots  210  and  214  have a depth of about ⅜ of an inch. Each of the crossbars  202 A-C and upright bars  104  may be conveniently constructed from wood 1×2s or 1×3s. The center crossbar  202 B and center upright bar  104  are centered to form display areas  206  A-D of substantially equal size. Such construction allows for display of album covers within the display areas  206  A-D with minimal obstruction of the album cover surfaces while permitting access to the display areas  206  A-D with minimal friction. In particular, because of the increased depth of the downward facing slots  210  and  214 , and album cover can be lifted slightly as it is slid through the slots  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  to reduce friction and potential rubbing damage. If desired, the slots  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  may be treated to further reduce friction. For example, the slots  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  may be waxed or may be lined with felt or another soft material to facilitate sliding of album covers therein with reduced friction and correspondingly reduced potential for friction damage. The slots  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  may be appropriately widened for this purpose.  
         [0022]    The illustrated device  200  is preferably hung from a wall or other surface such that the slots  210 , 212 , 214  and  216  are oriented substantially horizontally, thereby reducing the likelihood that album covers will accidentally sliding out of the device  200 . In this regard, a conventional picture hanger  222  may be attached to the backside of the top crossbar  202 A at the center thereof. It will be appreciated that the crossbars  202 A-C and upright bars  204  may be interconnected in a variety of ways. For example, in order to effect a strong and durable connection, the crossbars  202 A-C and upright bars  204  may be attached using a tongue and groove connection secured by an adhesive or fasteners. Alternatively, for ease of construction, the crossbar s  202 A-C and upright bars  204  may be stacked on top of one another and attached using fasteners such as nails, screws or the like. In such cases, either the crossbars  202 A-C or upright bars  204  may be on the top/foreword face. In the illustrated embodiment, the upright bars  204  are disposed on top of the crossbars  202 A-C. The crossbars  202 A-C and upright bars  204  are interconnected by way of screws inserted from the rear side  220  of the device  200  through the crossbars  202 A-C into the upright bars  204 . In this regard, one screw may be used and each intersection of the crossbars  202 A-C and upright bars  204 . As shown in FIG. 2B, the screws are inserted along the axes  216  so as to avoid interference with the slots  210 , 212 , 214  and  216 .  
         [0023]    A number of alternative configurations of album cover display devices in accordance with present intention are shown in FIGS.  3 A- 3 F. Referring first to FIG. 3A, a display device  300  is illustrated that includes four album cover display areas  301  arranged in a horizontal row. Accordingly, the device  300  may be used to display four sleeve-type or folded clamshell album covers, two unfolded album covers or combinations thereof. Slots for accessing the display areas  301  may be oriented vertically and/or horizontally. It will be appreciated that horizontal slots advantageously allow for display of unfolded clamshell covers. However, horizontal slots do not allow for independent access to the inner display areas  301 . Thus, horizontal and/or vertical slots may be utilized depending on the intended use of the device  300 . In the case of vertical slots, it will be appreciated that appropriate stops may be provided that the bases of such slots to retain album covers within the associated display areas  301 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3B illustrates a display device  302  including four album cover display areas  303  arranged in a vertical column. Again, access to the display areas  303  may be provided by vertical and/or horizontal slots. However, as it will generally be undesirable to display an unfolded clamshell album cover in a vertical configuration, horizontal slots may be sufficient for many applications of the illustrated device  302 .  
         [0025]    The device  304  of FIG. 3C includes five display areas  305  generally arranged in the shape of a cross. The display areas  305  may be accessed via vertical and/or horizontal slots. It will be appreciated that the central display area  305  cannot be independently access via slots as described above. In this regard, an alternative mechanism may be provided for allowing independent access to the central display area  305 . For example, a hinge mechanism  307  may be built into the frame to allow the frame components that define the central display area  305  to pivot out of the plane of the plane of the remaining display areas for loading and unloading of album covers. Alternatively, the central display area  305  may be reserved for an unslotted panel of a clamshell cover or other covers/panels for which frequent access is not desired.  
         [0026]    FIGS.  3 D- 3 E illustrated devices  306  and  308  respectively similar to the embodiments of FIGS.  3 A- 3 B but with only three display areas. Again, each of the display areas may be accessed via horizontal and/or vertical slots.  
         [0027]    Finally, FIG. 3F illustrates a device  310  including nine display areas  311  arranged in a two-dimensional array. The display areas  311  may be accessed via vertical and/or horizontal slots. It will be appreciated that the central display area will require a mechanism other than slots if independent access is required.  
         [0028]    While various embodiments of the present intention have been described in detail, it is apparent that further modifications and adaptations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.