Patent Publication Number: US-6339890-B1

Title: Multiple position easel mat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to frames or mats for photographs and the like and more particularly to an easel mat or frame having a support structure which facilitates orientation of the frame either vertically or horizontally. 
     Frames for photographs, pictorial and printed material are configured and manufactured in styles nearly as numerous as the types of material they accept. Wood and metal section frames typically include glass to protect the material contained therein and are generally hung on walls. Frames which are smaller in scale and intended for table or desk top display may also be constructed of such materials. Such frames are frequently maintained in an oblique position by a pivoted support secured to the back of the frame. 
     A third class of products include frames which are manufactured of cardboard or heavy paper stock. Such frames or mats generally include two or more panels or layers of material which define a pocket into which is slid and positioned the photographs, pictorial and printed material. Given the great variety of photographic formats and print sizes as well as the acknowledged need to accept material which is rectangular and which may have widely varying aspect ratios, openings in such frames are often rectangular. 
     Square openings may also be included in such frames. Whereas square frame openings are orientation insensitive, that is, they accept square pictorial material when oriented in either a vertical or horizontal orientation, a frame having a rectangular opening for a rectangular photograph must be oriented to display the photograph, pictorial or printed material in its proper orientation. That is, whereas a square frame may simply be supported and oriented in one orientation as any square photograph may be properly installed therein, a rectangular frame or a frame including a rectangular opening must be capable of orientation matching that of the rectangular photograph, pictorial or printed pictorial material to display it properly. 
     The present invention is directed to a frame or mat having a support structure which enables selective positioning in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A multiple position easel mat or frame for photographs and the like includes a frame portion having one or more openings and a pocket which receives photographs, pictorial or printed material having configurations generally corresponding to the size and shape of the openings in the frame and a support portion which includes a pair of flaps having interengaging tabs and slots. The frame portion comprises a front and a back panel which are secured together to define the pocket. Preferably, the flaps are integral portions of the front and back panels. The flaps of the support portion are configured and, when engaged, disposed to support the frame in either a vertical or a horizontal orientation to accommodate the orientation of the photographs, pictorial or printed material. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an easel mat or frame for photographs and the like which may be positioned either vertically or horizontally. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an easel mat or frame for photographs and the like having a support structure which readily supports the mat or frame in a vertical or horizontal orientation. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an easel mat or frame having a pair of flaps including interengaging tabs and slots which support the frame in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an easel mat or frame having a front panel and a rear panel which define a pocket for photographs and the like and a pair of flaps which are integral with the panels. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component, element or feature. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of an easel mat or frame according to the present invention disposed vertically to display a photograph having a longer horizontal axis; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear, perspective view of an easel mat or frame according to the present invention in a vertical orientation; 
     FIG. 3 is a front, perspective view of an easel mat or frame according to the present invention disposed horizontally to display a photograph having a longer vertical axis; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear, perspective view of an easel mat or frame according to the present invention in a horizontal orientation; 
     FIG. 5 is a front, elevational view of an easel mat or frame according to the present invention in preassembly configuration; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the back of an easel mat or frame according to the present invention illustrating the insertion of a photograph; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the back of an easel mat or frame according to the present invention illustrating the positioning and assembly of the two flaps. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 , and  5 , a multiple position easel mat or frame according to the present invention is designated by the reference numeral  10 . The easel mat or frame  10  is disposed in a vertical orientation and is preferably supported on a horizontal surface  12  of a desk, cabinet, shelf, table or other furniture  14 . The easel mat or frame  10  includes a frame portion  16  and a support portion  18 . The frame portion  16  comprises a front panel  22  and a rear panel  24  of heavy paper or cardboard stock. The frame  10  may be formed by folding along one edge and the application of an adhesive along the edge opposite from the fold and one shorter edge or may be fabricated of two separate panels of heavy paper or cardboard stock which are secured together by an adhesive along all but one edge. The front panel  22  includes at least one large rectangular opening or cutout  26  to receive a similarly sized photograph  28 , pictorial or printed material. The photograph  28  of, for example, landscape has its long axis disposed horizontally. The frame portion  16  and specifically the front panel  22  may also include one or more square, circular, oval, rectangular, or any polygonal shaped openings or cutouts  32  which receive square or slightly rectangular photographs such as a photograph  34  of a souvenir. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 present the easel mat or frame  10  according to the present invention in a horizontal orientation on the surface  12  of the furniture  14 . Here, a photograph  38  having its long axis disposed vertically is positioned within the rectangular opening or cutout  26  of the easel mat or frame  10 . The square or slightly rectangular cutout  32  accepts another photograph  42  or pictorial material which is either square or slightly rectangular. 
     It will be appreciated, particularly when viewing FIGS. 2 and 4, that the support portion  18  provides suitable support to the frame portion  16  such that the frame portion  16  is disposed at an attractive, aesthetic angle from the vertical either in the vertical orientation illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the horizontal orientation illustrated in FIGS.  3  and  4 . It will also be appreciated that the rectangular opening or cutout  26  which has its long axis oriented perpendicularly to the long axis of the frame portion  16  is presented by way of example and illustration only. A frame portion  16  having a rectangular opening  26  with its long axis parallel to the longer dimension of the frame portion  16  is a configuration also comprehended by the inventors. Finally, it should be appreciated that while FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the easel mat or frame  10  according to the present invention lying on what may be denominated its left side as it appears in FIG. 1, the support portion  18  is symmetrical about the longer center line of the frame  10  and thus it may be readily disposed on what may be denominated its right side as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Thus, the easel mat or frame  10  of the present invention may be disposed in any one of three orientations. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 , the support portion  18  of the easel mat or frame  10  includes a first, front or smaller flap  52  and a second, rear or larger flap  54 . The first, smaller flap  52  is trapezoidal in shape and is preferably an integral portion or extension of the front panel  22 . A fold or crease line  56  is preferably formed in the heavy paper or cardboard stock to facilitate uniform and accurate folding along the line representing the common edges of the front panel  22  and the first, smaller flap  52 . Extending from the fold line  56  at an angle of approximately 15° are two oblique, mirror-image edges  58 . The first, smaller flap  52  terminates in male connectors such as a pair of spaced apart, trapezoidal tabs or projections  62 . 
     The second, larger flap  54  is likewise an integral portion or extension of the rear panel  24 . Again, a fold or crease line  66  is preferably formed at the juncture of the rear panel  24  and the second, larger flap  54  to ensure uniform and accurate folding. The second, larger flap  54  defines mirror image edges extending from the crease line  66  which define a straight portion  68 , a knee  72  and an oblique portion  74 . The oblique portion  74  forms an angle of approximately 5° to 10° relative to the straight portion  68 . Slightly over half the distance from the crease line  66  to a terminal edge  76  of the second, larger flap  54  are female connectors such as a pair of aligned, spaced apart slots  78  having a length slightly greater than the base width of the pair of trapezoidal tabs  62  and spacing which corresponds to the spacing of the pair of tabs  62 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, appropriate photographs such as the photograph  28  are slid into the pocket  82  defined by and disposed between the front panel  22  and the back panel  24  such that the photograph(s) are properly arranged, aligned and positioned within the openings or cutouts  26  and  32 . Next, the first, smaller flap  52  and the second, larger flap  54  are creased and folded along the crease lines  56  and  66  generally into the positions illustrated in FIG.  7 . The trapezoidal tabs  62  are then inserted into the respective, aligned slots  78  and the flaps  52  and  54  are allowed to relax. The easel mat or frame  10  may then be disposed in either the vertical position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the horizontal position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 (or the reverse horizontal position) so that the photograph in the rectangular opening or cutout  26  is properly oriented. In either orientation, the easel mat or frame  10  is positioned and maintained at a slight oblique angle from the vertical on the surface  12  which is both aesthetically pleasing and which assists viewing of the photographs  28 ,  34 ,  38  and  42 , pictorial or printed material displayed therein. 
     As an optional or alternative construction, the second or larger flap  54  may include a die cut, fold-out support tab  90  which may be folded out from the second or larger flap  54  to assist support of the frame assembly  16  as illustrated in FIG.  2 . It should be appreciated, however, that the fold-out support tab  90  is optional and that the construction of the easel mat or frame assembly  10  from sufficiently heavy paper or cardboard stock will generally eliminate the need for the support tab  90 . 
     It will thus be appreciated that an easel mat or frame  10  according to the present invention is readily disposed in either a vertical or a horizontal position. In either position, the easel mat or frame  10  is inclined at a small angle from the vertical to aesthetically display photographs, pictorial or printed material. 
     It should also be appreciated that, as is often the case with-slot and tab fasteners, their locations may be exchanged if desired and that other connection or attachment means may be substituted for such features while still embodying the present invention. 
     Lastly, it should be appreciated that the support portion  18  and specifically the flaps  52  and  54  facilitate disposition in three orientations: vertically as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and horizontally on either its left side as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 or its right side as a user sees fit. 
     The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by the inventors for practicing this invention. It is apparent, however, that apparatus incorporating modifications and variations will be obvious to one skilled in the art of display frames and mats. Inasmuch as the foregoing disclosure presents the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention and is intended to enable any person skilled in the pertinent art to practice this invention, it should not be construed to be limited thereby but should be construed to include such aforementioned obvious variations and be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.