Patent Publication Number: US-7219460-B1

Title: Document displaying system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/043,888, filed Jan. 26, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,354, which in turn is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/638,157, filed Aug. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,930. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to document displaying devices and more particularly pertains to a new document displaying system for facilitating easy changing of documents to be displayed. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of document displaying devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,493 describes a device for displaying advertising in a floor surface. Other examples of document displaying devices include U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,446; U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,659; U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,263; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,087; U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,597; U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,933; U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,489; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,991. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that provides for additional stability of a frame, support of the system&#39;s weight, and easy front access to the document being displayed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by utilizing an intermediate member which is positionable in the frame assembly between the transparent cover member and the backing member to aid the frame in both retaining its shape and transferring at least a portion of the frame assemblies weight to the vertical support surface to which the system is coupled. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a new document displaying system that provides a coupling mechanism, which is hidden from view to reduce tampering with the document being displayed. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new document displaying system that has a groove along the back edge of the system adjacent to the vertical support surface to facilitate, for example, the painting of a vertical support surface on which the displaying system is mounted without requiring the removal of the displaying system from the vertical support surface to obtain a suitable appearance. 
   To this end, the present invention generally comprises a support assembly having a backing member selectively couplable to a vertical support surface; a frame assembly operationally coupled to the support assembly; a transparent cover member operationally couplable to the frame assembly, and abutting a perimeter edge of the transparent cover member; and a pair of magnetic coupling members for selectively operationally securing the transparent cover member to the support assembly. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective exploded view of a new document displaying system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic exploded perspective view of a variation of the new document displaying system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic partially exploded cross-sectional view of a multi-piece version of the variation shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a version of the variation of  FIG. 6  with several elements consolidated into a single piece. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic perspective view of the variation shown in  FIG. 6  shown in an assembled condition. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 9  thereof, a new document displaying system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the document displaying system  10  generally comprises a support assembly  20 , a frame assembly  30 , a transparent cover member  40 , and a pair of magnetic coupling members  50 . 
   The support assembly  20  includes a backing member  22  which is selectively couplable to a vertical support surface  2  such as a wall. The frame assembly  30  is operationally couplable to the support assembly  20 . The transparent cover member  40  is operationally couplable to the frame assembly  30 . The frame assembly  30  abuts a perimeter edge of the transparent cover member  42 . The transparent cover member  40  is for protecting a document  4  to be displayed. The pair of magnetic coupling members  50  is for selectively operationally securing the transparent cover member  40  to the support assembly  20 . 
   Preferably, an intermediate board member  32  is positionable in the frame assembly  30  between the support assembly  20  and the transparent cover member  40 . The intermediate board member  32  provides support for the frame assembly  30  and aids the frame assembly  30  in retaining its shape. 
   In a preferred embodiment, at least one back mounting aperture  24  extends through the backing member  22  for facilitating securing the support assembly  20  to the vertical support surface  2 . More preferably two back mounting apertures  24  are used to inhibit the system  10  from pivoting across the vertical support surface  2 . 
   At least one intermediate mounting aperture  34  may extend through the intermediate board member  32 . The intermediate mounting aperture(s)  34  is aligned with the back mounting aperture(s)  24  for facilitating securing the intermediate board member  32  to the vertical support surface  2 . Thus, a portion of the weight of the frame assembly  30  is supported by the intermediate board member  32 . 
   In an embodiment the transparent cover member  40  includes an opaque portion  44  extending around a perimeter edge  42  of the transparent cover member  40 . The opaque portion  44  provides an appearance of a mat around the document being displayed. The opaque portion  44  may also conceal the magnetic coupling members  50  from view when the system  10  is fully assembled. 
   In a further embodiment the frame assembly  30  further comprises a side portion  36  and a back portion  37 . The side portion  36  is for encompassing a perimeter edge  42  of the transparent cover member  40 . The back portion  37  is coupled to the side portion  36 . The back portion  37  is positionable between the backing member  22  and the transparent cover member  40 . 
   In a preferred embodiment the frame assembly  30  further comprises a side portion  36  and a front portion  38 . The side portion  36  is for encompassing a perimeter edge  42  of the transparent cover member  40 . The front portion  38  is coupled to the side portion  36 . The front portion  38  abuts a front edge of the transparent cover member  40  for assisting in selectively coupling the transparent cover member  40  to the support assembly  20 . 
   In a further embodiment a first one  52  of the pair of magnetic coupling members  50  is operationally coupled to the transparent cover member  40  and a second one  54  of the pair of magnetic coupling members  50  is operationally coupled to the backing member  22 . Thus the transparent cover member  40  is selectively securable to the backing member  22 . 
   In another embodiment a first one  52  of the pair of magnetic coupling members  50  is operationally coupled to the frame assembly  30  and a second one  54  of the pair of magnetic coupling members  50  is operationally coupled to the backing member  22 . Thus the frame assembly  30  is selectively securable to the backing member  22 . 
   In even still a further embodiment the backing member  22  has a groove  26  extending along a back edge providing a space between the frame assembly  30  an the vertical support surface  2  when the frame assembly  30  is coupled to the backing member  22 . 
   In an illustrative optional variation  60  of the display system, such as that shown illustratively in  FIGS. 6 through 9  of the drawings, includes an outside perimeter frame element  62  that extends along the outer perimeter of the system  60 . The outside perimeter frame element  62  may include a back portion  64  which extends in a back plane of the system  60  and a side portion  66  which extends about the back portion  64  and extends forwardly, preferably in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the back portion  64  of the frame element  62 . The outside perimeter frame element  62  is designed to allow multiple stacking of document displaying systems  60 . 
   The back portion  64  of the frame element  62  may define a void in which an intermediate filler element  68  is located, and the intermediate filler element  68  may be a separate element from the perimeter frame element  62  (such as that shown in  FIG. 7 ), or may be permanently united to the frame element  62  (such as that shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
   A rear spacing element  70  is located rearwardly of the intermediate filler element  68 , and extends outwardly to the frame element  62 . In some embodiments of the system  60 , the perimeter edge of the rear spacing element  70  does not extend to the outer surface of the side portion of the frame element  62 , thereby creating an indented groove to form a reveal or painter&#39;s edge behind the frame element  62 . The recessed groove of the rear spacing element  70  also allows for multiple stacking of document displaying systems  60 . The rear spacing element  70  may also be formed as an element separate from the frame element  62  ( FIG. 7 ), or may be permanently united to the frame element  62  ( FIG. 8 ). 
   A document backing element  72  is positioned forwardly of the intermediate filler element  68 , and extends forwardly of the back portion  64  of the frame element  62  to thereby form a perimeter channel  74  between the document backing element  72  and the side portion  66  of the frame element  62 , in front of the back portion  64  of the frame element  62 . A document  4  is positionable on a forward surface of the document backing element  72 . The document backing element  72  may be formed as a part separate from the perimeter frame element  62  ( FIG. 7 ), or may be permanently united to the frame element and other elements of the system  60  ( FIG. 8 ). 
   A first magnet  76  is positioned in the perimeter channel  74  and extends along at least a portion of the perimeter channel  74 , and in some embodiments extends substantially continuously along the channel. A forward surface of the first magnet  76  is indented or depressed with respect to the forward surface of the document backing element  72 . 
   The system  60  also includes a lens element  78  that is preferably substantially transparent and is positioned in front of the document backing element  72  and the back portion  64  of the frame element  62 , and extends over these elements. The lens element  78  holds the document sheet  4  against the document backing element  72 . The lens element  78  may have a shiny finish or a matte finish, which reduces noticeable fingerprints and provides a clear viewing window to the document sheet  4 . The lens element  78  is preferably substantially coextensive with the space between the side portions of the frame element  62  ( FIG. 8 ). The lens element  78  provides a rigid surface to rest the document sheet  4  against prior to the lens element  78  being positioned inside of the frame element  62 . 
   A second magnet  80  is mounted on a rearward side of the lens element  78  ( FIG. 7 ) for magnetically and releasably attaching to the first magnet  76  when the magnets  76 ,  80  are brought into proximity to each other as the lens element  78  is moved into the frame element  62  ( FIG. 8 ). The second magnet  80  may extend along at least a portion of the perimeter of the lens element  78 , and in some embodiments extends substantially continuously along the perimeter of the lens element  78 . When the lens element  78  is positioned in the frame element  62 , the second magnet  80  which protrudes from the rearward side of the lens element is inserted into a portion of the perimeter channel  74  that is not occupied by the first magnet  76  so that the first and second magnet may substantially occupy the channel. Thus, the thickness of the first magnet  76  and thickness of the second magnet  80  may substantially equal the depth of the channel below or behind the forward surface of the document backing element  72  ( FIG. 8 ). Further, the protrusion of the second magnet from the rearward side of the lens element  78  may function to position the document  4  with respect to the lens element  78  prior to assembly with the remainder of the system  60 . The lens element  78 , when made of a plastic material, can also temporarily create a static adhesion with the document sheet  4  prior to lens element  78  being coupled to the remainder of the system  60 . The magnet-to-magnet bond is relatively strong in character and resists undesired separation of the lens element  78  from the remainder of the system  60 . 
   Optionally, the lens element  78  may have a relatively opaque perimeter border  82  of the lens element  78  to shield the second magnet  80  (and the first magnet  76 ) from view when the system  60  is assembled. The border  82  may extend beyond the extent of the second magnet  80  to conceal the edges of the document  4 . The opaque border  82  may be any opaque color. 
   As in the earlier described embodiment, the outside perimeter frame element  62  peripherally encompasses the transparent lens element  78 , and aids the alignment of the lens element  78  with the frame element  62 , and the alignment of the second magnet  80  and the first magnet  76 . The outside perimeter frame element  62  thus conceals and protects the edge of the lens element  78 . The arrangement of the elements of the system thus permits removal of the lens element  78  (and the document  4 ) from the front of the system  60 , so that the system may be fixedly and relatively permanently attached to a wall surface. 
   The substantially coextensive relationship between the lens element  78  and the inner perimeter of the frame element  62  resists unauthorized or casual removal of the document from the system, as a suction cup or other suction generating device is required to engage the forward side of the lens element  78  and pull the lens element  78  outwardly from the cavity formed by the side portions  66  of the frame element  62 . 
   One or more recessed mounting apertures  84  may be located in the system  60 , and may penetrate the intermediate filler element  68 , the rear spacing element  70 , and the document backing element  72 . The recessed mounting apertures  84  allow mounting hardware  6  to completely remain below the flat surface of the document backing element  72  to permit the document sheet  4  and the transparent lens element  78  to be unhindered by the hardware  6 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.