Abstract:
A photographic mounting system correlates photographs with height by providing a vertically mountable ruler configured to adjustably receive and hold photograph frames at various adjustably selected heights on the ruler. The frames, in turn, hold the photographs, thus allowing placement of the photographs at selected heights on the ruler. Various locking mechanisms are disclosed to secure the frames to the ruler and prevent inadvertent or unauthorized removal. Also disclosed is a virtual equivalent of the physical system, the virtual equivalent having a greater variety of possible modifications and a greater amount of information linked to various growth indicia.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is an original application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH &amp; DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention is NOT the subject of any government contract or government funding. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method of mounting pictures and a mounting system for pictures. 
     People like to keep photographs of various stages of growth of their children. These pictures are usually kept by age. People sometimes keep records of the height of their children, and one such record is a series of lines on a doorframe to indicate the date a child reached a certain height. Reliably correlating pictures or other visual media to height, either in addition to age or independently of age, is often difficult. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a way of easily correlating photographs with the age of the photographic subject. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a photographic mounting system correlates photographs with height by providing a vertically mountable ruler is configured to adjustably receive and hold photograph frames at various heights on the ruler. The frames, in turn, hold the photographs, thus allowing placement of the photographs at selected heights on the ruler. In an alternate embodiment, the ruler and frames are virtual images on a computer display. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an adjustable wall mounting system for photographs; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of a ruler of the system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rectangular picture frame of FIG. 1 with a flared tab, the flare being a circular bead; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the frame of FIG. 3, taken along lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of a fastener head capture system of the ruler of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of a tongue and groove connector for upper and lower portions of the ruler of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a transportation and display box for the system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of an alternate direct fastening wall mounting system for the ruler of FIG. 1, with oval photographic frames; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate upright oval picture frame with a flared tab, the flare being a square bead; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate polygonal frame with a flared tab, the fare being a polygonal bead; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an upper side portion of the ruler of FIG. 1, showing a spacer dowel ready to be installed; and 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a virtual growth chart simulating the growth chart system of FIG. 1, but with added features. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an adjustable wall mounting system  100  for photographs  130 . System  100  includes a ruler  102  and a plurality of frames  104 - 121 . Ruler  102  is configured for easy mounting on a vertical surface  122  such as an inside wall  124  of a house (not shown). Frames  104 - 121  are mounted at various vertical locations on, and project from, opposite sides  126  and  128  of ruler  102 . Frames  104 - 121  hold a photograph  130 , poem, letter, certificate, computer graphic, or other media of a size adapted to fit within frames  104 - 121 . Ruler  102  contains height indicia  132 , such as markings indicating vertical height, in inches or centimeters, from a floor  134 . 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of ruler  102 , showing two keyhole-shaped grooves  136  and  138  on the left and right sides  140  and  142 , respectively, of ruler  102 . A bottom view (not shown) would be similar. Grooves  136  and  138  each have a narrower outer portion  144  and a wider inner portion  146 . This “keyhole” configuration of grooves  136  and  138  allows grooves  136  and  138  to receive and retain beaded tabs (described below) of frames  104 - 121 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of frame  104 . Frames  105 - 121  would be similar and preferably interchangeable left to right and right to left, although some frames could be adapted for left-hand mounting and others could be adapted for right-hand mounting. Frame  104  has a border  147  and tab  148 . Tab  148  has a bead  150  at an outer end  151 . Tab  148  is slidably received in grooves  136  and  138  with bead  150  disposed within wider portion  146 . Bead  150  is a circular bead with a diameter greater than the width of narrower outer portion  144 , so that bead  150  cannot pass outwardly through portion  144 , thus bead  150  and portion  144  cooperate to retain frame  104  on ruler  102 . In essence, tab  148  is outwardly flared, so that when it is placed in a matching inwardly flared groove on an edge of ruler  102 , the tab can slide vertically but cannot be pulled laterally out of the groove. Thus, “flared” as used herein does not mean or require continuity of increasing thickness, but merely greater thickness at one end than the other to prevent the lateral pull-out while permitting vertical sliding. The vertical sliding need not be loose, but can have considerable resistance such that the frame does not move on its own without significant added force. This simplifies adjustment. Alternatively, the tab and groove may only be loosely congruent so that additional dowels or other spacers are required to maintain position of the frames vertically on the ruler. 
     A photographic slot  149  is provided on the inner edge of border  147  so that when ruler  102  is in place the ruler blocks slot  149  and prevents the photographs from coming out of frames  104 - 121 , but this slot could be placed elsewhere on the frame. For example the slot could be on the outer side opposite it shown location so that even when positioned, photographs could still be removed. While that is considered not as aesthetically pleasing, it might be more desirable to some users who do not want to have to remove frames from the ruler to change photographs or other media. 
     FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of frame  104  taken along lines  4 — 4  of FIG.  3  and looking outward. A side cross-sectional view (not shown) of frames  105 - 121  is, preferably, similar to that for frame  104  although larger or smaller frames could be used, if desired. The location of photographic slot  149  is better shown in FIG. 4, and it is again noted that ruler  102  would cover slot  149  when frame  104  is in place to both hide slot  149  from view and to block removal of photograph  130  from frame  104 . 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of a ruler  102 . Ruler  102  has a mounting slot  152  on its rear surface  154 . Slot  152  is of the conventional “flanged keyhole groove” type. However, a transverse retainer pin  156  is added to the conventional setup to retain a head  158  of a mounting screw  160  in an upper part  162  of slot  152 . Screw  160  would be threaded into wall  124  leaving head  158  exposed. Slot  152  is then placed over head  158  in conventional manner and ruler  102  slid downward to move head  158  into upper part  162 . Retainer  156  is then inserted into a retainer hole (not shown) and passed just below and under head  158  to block head  158  from moving downward out of slot  152 . Ruler  102  also has a transverse blocking pin  161  (see FIG. 8) near the bottom or lower end of grooves  136  and  138  in order to prevent frames  104 - 121  from falling out the bottom of grooves  136  and  138 . Any other blocking device could be substituted, such as a bottom plug, bottom cap or even a wad of gum, as the purpose of the blocking device is to block the lower end of grooves  136  and  138 . Of course, the blocking device should not be unsightly and it is preferably removable and reusable. A similar blocking pin (not shown) or blocking device could be used at the upper end to prevent kids from pulling the frames upwardly out of grooves  136  and  138 . A locking pin (not shown) of any suitable conventional design could even be used as blocking pin  161  for added security. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of a connector  163  for connecting an upper part  164  of ruler  102  to a lower part  166  of ruler  102 . Connector  163  comprises a pair of aligned flange grooves  168  and  170  in upper part  164  and lower part  166 , respectively, and a flat or flanged or +-shaped bar  171  configured to be inserted into, and preferably fill, grooves  168  and  170  to hold upper part  164  onto lower part  166 . Ruler  102  could be made as a single tall ruler, but connector  163  allows ruler  102  to be split into upper parts  164  and lower parts  166  in order to facilitate easier packaging and transportation. Upper part  164  and lower part  166  are preferably three feet long. This allows part  164  and part  166  to be used as standard yardsticks in the event the customer ever tires of having a growth chart photograph mounting system. Other lengths could be used, also. 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a transportation and display box  172  for system  100 . Box  172  is a rectangular box containing a plurality of equally spaced vertical internal divider tabs  173  on an inner wall  174  of box  172 . Dividers  173  are aligned across from each other on inner wall  174  so as to provide a plurality of pockets  175  for frames  104 - 121 . The lateral distance  176  between dividers  173  is approximately equal to the width of ruler  102 , so that ruler  102  is firmly held within space  176  and between dividers  173 . Cloth, plastic, paper or other dividing sheets  178  are preferably placed between parts  164  and  166  and frames  104 - 121  during initial transportation to the customer to prevent premature scratching of the surface of growth chart system  100 , although that is an option that could be eliminated without departure from the invention claimed below. Likewise, while a wooden style display box is shown in FIG. 7, a cardboard, metal, plastic or other material box (not shown) of any suitable style could be used to hold system  100  or any of the alternate systems described above or below, if desired. 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of an alternate wall mounting system  180  for photographs, in which upper and lower parts  164  and  166  are configured with screw holes  181 , 182  and  183 , 184 , respectively, so that four conventional screws can be used to fasten ruler  102  on wall  124 . Mounting system  180  has oval frames  186 , instead of square frames  102 , and this poses no particular problems. Tabs  188  are substituted for tabs  148 . Tabs  188  on frames  185  are configured with a flat portion  193  having rectangular bead  194  to show that it is not necessary to have a circular bead. Grooves  136  and  138  would be replaced by grooves with rectangular inner portions (not shown). Other suitable matching grooves and beads could be used instead providing the tabs have a bead or other larger thickness equivalent to prevent the frames  186  from falling out of the ruler. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an oval picture frame  192 , with a rectangular bead  194  to further emphasize the possibility of using alternate shapes for in place of exemplary beads  150  and exemplary grooves  136  and  138 . 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a polygonal frame  196  with a polygonal bead  198 , to show that yet other bead configurations are possible. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a top portion of ruler  102  showing use of a pair of exemplary spacing dowels, ribbed spacing dowel  199  and unribbed spacing dowel  197  to hold adjacent frames  104 - 21  at any desired spacing relative to each other. Ribbed spacing dowel  199  is configured to give a flush fit with both inner portion  144  and outer portion  142  of grooves  136  and  138 . Dowel  197  is a standard round dowel cut to any desired length. Dowel  197  or  199  is inserted into groove  136  or  138  to produce any desired spacing between adjacent frames  104 - 121 . In order to use a standard circular dowel as dowel  199 , it is preferably that inner portion  144  be of circular cross-section. 
     FIG. 12 shows a virtual photographic mounting system  200 , which could be programmed in known fashion with digital images (described below) on a monitor  201  to give an online simulation of the system  100  of FIGS. 1-11. 
     In use, ruler  102  could be 60 inches long and 3 inches wide, with markings in both centimeters and inches. Alternately, ruler  102  could be just in inches or just in metric units. Since babies are usually more than 24″ tall by the time they begin to stand, the bottom of ruler  102  could be placed a foot or more above the floor and this would allow ruler  102  to be used on walls that have base moldings without having to remove, cut or otherwise modify the base moldings. Ruler  102  could ultimately be made about 1 in. wide like a standard yardstick, if that was the user&#39;s desire. More commonly, however, the user would want a wider ruler in order to differentiated from a standard yardstick and to allow use of additional markings on the ruler. Ruler  102  would first be assembled by inserting bar  171  into grooves  168  and  170  to hold upper part  164  onto lower part  166 . Ruler  102 , thus assembled, would be turn backwards and placed on wall  124  and a mark made on wall  124  at the desired location of upper part  162 . Mounting screw  160  is then screwed into the wall  124  at the mark with head  158  projecting outwardly from wall  124  Slot  152  is then placed over head  158  in conventional manner and ruler  102  slid downward to move head  158  into upper part  162 . Retainer  156  is then inserted into a retainer hole (not shown) and passed just below and under head  158  to block head  158  from moving downward out of slot  152 . Blocking pin  161  would be inserted in lower part  166 , if not already there, to prevent frames  104 - 121  from dropping out the bottom of grooves  136  and  138 . One or more dowels  199  or other specially shaped dowels (not shown) conforming fully to grooves  136  and  138  or other shaped groove (not shown) of a desired height would then be place in groove  136  or  138  and slid down into contact with pin  161 . One or more of picture frames  104 - 121  would then be attached to ruler  102  by inserting bead  150  into the top of groove  136  or  138  and sliding that frame or frames down into contact with dowel  199  to position that frame  104 - 121  at the desired height. Another dowel  199  of the same or different length would then be inserted into groove  136  or  138  to set the height of a second collection of one or more of frames  104 - 121  and that second collection would be lowered into position in similar manner to that previously described. The process would then be repeated until the desired number of frames  104 - 121  was positioned properly. Process would be reversed to remove one or more of frames  104 - 121  from ruler  102 . 
     FIG. 12 shows a customized graphical user interface (“GUI”) in the form of a virtual photographic mounting system  200 . System  200  provides a computer simulation of the above-described physical mounting system  100 , although tabs and slots are replaced by graphical location systems of conventional design such as image boxes or text boxes. In virtual mounting system  200 , a monitor  201  is caused to display one or more virtual ruler images  202  along with digital media images  204 . Images  204  are associated by arrows or lines leading to height indicia  206 ,  208 ,  210  on image  202 . A cursor  212  is placed over a selected digital image  204  to activate a hyperlink  214  or “cursor over” or “click on” or other activating feature to produce a desired response. The link could even be the height indicia  206 , with the image  204  hidden until the cursor is placed on the height indicia. Digital photographs  216  are “inserted” into digital images  204  placed at associated heights on virtual ruler image  202 . System  200  allows association of a wide variety of digital images  204  with selected heights on ruler  202 , such as video clips, audio clips, written documents, copies of certificates, links to web pages or websites, all keyed to various heights of a child. In system  200 , the height indicia  206  could be replaced by other indicia such as age or residential locations. The variability of graphical representation which computer programs are able to display and the ability to use hyperlinks, drop down menus or other hidden commands and initially hidden features and displays allows a great variety of presentations, all within the overall context of a graphical display keyed to indicia of a person&#39;s life or career. However, the computer rendition of virtual mounting system  200  still contains the basic concepts of growth chart monitoring system  100 . A mouse  218  or keyboard  220 , or voice command or any other current or future control or command method can control the display on monitor  201 . The physical descriptions given above in FIGS. 1-11 and any claims below are to be understood to also include their virtual equivalents. The virtual equivalents can achieve electronically the same general visual impression or results by adjustably linking data to a scale in substantially the same way with substantially the same visual structure, and substantially the same basic visual results although the virtual system can be more robust and more quickly, extensively and easily modified, easily saved and easily duplicated for a variety of persons. The physical system  100  is intended to produce a given visual result, and will have a more tangible touch and feel desirable to many users. The virtual system  200  can produce a more robust simulated duplicate of that visual result to those who prefer computer simulations to allow for added features. The desired mental image is thus achieved whether the system is physical or virtual. 
     The above description is provided to fulfill the statutory duties of enablement and best mode disclosure. However, it will be understood from the alternate physical and virtual systems disclosed above that various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, and that different users will have different views of which embodiment is best. By way of further example, while an exemplary vertical ruler, which is the best mode known to the inventor at the time this specification is filed, is shown in the drawing, the ruler could be oriented in any desired position and could measure any desired criteria. For example, and to make the point of the wide variety of embodiments possible, another exemplary embodiment could be 20 feet wide or more and 100 yards long or more and be mounted on the inside of the roof of an NFL domed stadium or NBA arena and have photographs or banners depicting historic accomplishments of the home team in frames mounted along the side. Or, alternatively, a vertical or inclined ruler could be mounted in a baseball outfield seating section to show the distance or height over the wall of historic home runs. Similarly, a ruler could be mounted near an Olympic event, such as a ski long jump, to show historic record jumps. A vertical ruler could be used at a fundraiser to show historic results of past fundraising campaigns or current milestones. So, while a specific “growth chart” is shown in the drawings, there are many other uses for and embodiments of the invention within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, a wide range of equivalents exists to the term “growth chart” and all other terms used in the following claims. All matter contained in the foregoing description is illustrative and exemplary rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with any claims appended hereto and their broad equivalents interpreted as broadly as is possible while still distinguishing from the prior art. 
     Any patents referenced herein are incorporated in their entirety for purposes of background information and additional enablement.