Patent Publication Number: US-7708429-B2

Title: Illuminated document display system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention generally relates to document display cases. In particular, the present invention relates to an illuminated document display system. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Documents convey graphical and textual information that may be necessary to make a determination about how to act or react in a particular situation. These documents include maps, charts, lists, codes, etc. For example, a foreign individual may repeatedly use a graphical map of a new city to navigate to a desired location. 
   Unfortunately, documents printed on conventional paper materials are vulnerable to damage from heat, water, chemicals, radiation, and other materials. Therefore, users often house particular documents in cases or sleeves for protective viewing. Preferable existing document case and sleeve technologies protect documents and maintain the ability to view their contents while housed within the particular case or sleeve. These technologies often utilize transparent materials for viewing while protecting the document from external elements. Unfortunately, many of these technologies impede a user&#39;s ability to view portions of a document or effectively store the document during periods of non-use. 
   Many documents are utilized intermittently and therefore must be capable of convenient concealment or storage while not in use. Paper based documents are conventionally stored by folding or otherwise minimizing their dimensions. Unfortunately, the process of repeatedly folding a paper document causes damage and eventually renders the document unusable. Therefore, a system of effective document concealment and storage must also maintain protection of the document so as not damage the document during repeated processes of concealment and subsequent exposure for utilization. Almost all existing document protection systems fail to provide a convenient means for concealment when the document is not in use. Likewise, almost all existing systems of document storage and concealment fail to provide sufficient protection from damage as a result of repeated storage. 
   In order to receive information from a printed document, a user must have the ability to view the document. At night and in certain optically constrained regions, a user may not have sufficient sunlight to view a document unassisted. As a result, users may carry an illumination system for viewing a document and physically navigating during the night or in an optically contained region. However, it is cumbersome to independently support, orient, and operate both a document and an illumination system to allow for effective visual inspection of a document. In addition, certain circumstances may require a user to avoid non-essential optical illumination for purposes of maintaining concealment or so as not to attract attention. For example, covert military operations often require personnel to minimize damages by attempting to maintain concealment during execution. However, even in these circumstances individuals must receive visual information from particular documents. 
   Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a document display system that overcomes the problems discussed above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an illuminated document display system. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable document display case configured to house at least one document for discrete illuminated visual viewing. The display case further includes an illumination system, a document protection system, and a storage system. The illumination system is configured to house an illumination device in a manner that facilitates visually receiving information from a document while minimizing external non-document light transmission. The document protection system provides a receptacle to protectively house a document while maintaining the ability for a user to view the document. In addition, the document protection system is configured to enable the illumination system to transmit light upon the document. The storage system enables the illumination system and document display system to be manipulated in a manner to provide for convenient storage without damaging the document. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for illuminating a document in a manner to receive visual information from the document while minimizing non-document light transmission. A third embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for storing an illuminated document display system by minimizing the dimensional characteristics of the illuminated document display system. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following description of the invention can be understood in light of the Figures, which illustrate specific aspects of the invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the invention. In the Figures, the physical dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions will be omitted. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a illuminated document case in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the illuminated document case illustrated in  FIG. 1 , shown in a curved configuration to facilitate directed light transmission on a portion of a housed document; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a illuminated document case, including a system for housing and illuminating a multi-page document; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the insertion of an electrical and a chemical light device into one embodiment of an illuminated document case, respectively; and 
       FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate a method for rolling the illuminated document case of  FIG. 1  for purposes of storage and/or concealment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an illuminated document display system. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable document display case configured to house at least one document for discrete illuminated visual viewing. The display case further includes an illumination system, a document protection system, and a storage system. The illumination system is configured to house an illumination device in a manner that facilitates visually receiving information from a document while minimizing external non-document light transmission. The document protection system provides a receptacle to protectively house a document while maintaining the ability for a user to view the document. In addition, the document protection system is configured to enable the illumination system to transmit light upon the document. The storage system enables the illumination system and document display system to be manipulated in a manner to provide for convenient storage without damaging the document. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for illuminating a document in a manner to receive visual information from the document while minimizing non-document light transmission. A third embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for storing an illuminated document display system by minimizing the dimensional characteristics of the illuminated document display system. While embodiments of the present invention are directed at illuminated document display systems, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention may also be applicable to other areas. 
   The following terms are defined as follows: 
   Illumination device—a device configured to generate illumination in a particular optical pattern. 
   Electrical illumination system—an electrically powered system configured to generate visible or non-visible illumination of a particular optical pattern. For example, a conventional bulb or LED flashlight. 
   Chemical illumination system—a chemically powered system configured to generate visible or non-visible illumination in a particular optical pattern. For example, a CYALUME™, KRILL™ Light, or CHEMSTICK™. 
   Reference is initially made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a perspective view of an illuminated document case in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, designated generally at  100 . The illuminated document case  100  further includes a sleeve  110 , a receptacle  120 , and a storage flap  130 . The sleeve  110 , receptacle  120 , and storage flap  130  are flexibly coupled to one another to facilitate rotational articulation along the illustrated vertical axis. The sleeve  110  further includes a transparent member  104 , a housing  106 , a document  108 , a pair of releasable coupling members  102  and  112 , and a resealable opening  114 . The document  108  is disposed within a hollow internal region of the sleeve  110  such that it is housed within the housing  106  and can substantially be viewed through the transparent member  104  as illustrated. The transparent member  108  is coupled to the housing  106  to enclose the hollow internal region. The transparent member  108  may be composed of any flexible transparent material including but not limited to plastic composites. Likewise, the housing  106  may be composed of any flexible durable material such as CORDURA™, canvas, or some combination thereof. The resealable opening  114  is positioned on an end of the sleeve  102  opposite the receptacle  120 . The resealable opening  114  allows the document  108  or some other item to be inserted and/or removed from the internal hollow region. The resealable opening  114  may include some form of resealing system such as VELCRO™ or a zipper. The pair of releasable coupling members  102  and  112  are configured to facilitate releasably securing the illuminated document case  100  in a dimensionally minimized configuration as will be illustrated and described in further detail with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5D . 
   The receptacle  120  is flexibly coupled to one of the ends of the sleeve  110  as illustrated. The receptacle  120  is configured to enable an illumination source to discretely illuminate a portion of the sleeve  110 . The receptacle includes an illumination device  122 , a light transmission  124 , a pair of expandable members  125 , an illumination opening  126 , and support cover  128 . The illumination device  122  is configured to generate illumination using any system including but not limited to electrical and chemical. Various shapes, sizes and illumination systems may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. The illumination device  122  is inserted lengthwise into the receptable as shown and described with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The light transmission  124  is a representation of the optionally engaged light transmission from the illumination device. For example, if the illumination device is electrical, and turned on, the light transmission  124  is configured to transmit through the illumination opening  126  as illustrated. The pair of expandable members  125  are optionally coupled to the receptacle to partially obstruct/direct a portion of the light transmission  124  onto the sleeve  110  and to facilitate releasably engaging the illumination device  122  within the receptacle  120 . Likewise, the support cover  128  is shaped and disposed to selectively support the illumination device  122  in the receptacle while obstructing/directing the light transmission  124  onto the sleeve as illustrated. Various shapes and configurations of covers and openings may be utilized in accordance with the present invention for supporting an illumination device and directing light transmission onto the sleeve. 
   The storage flap  130  is an optional component of the illuminated document case  100  which may be flexibly coupled to the receptacle  120  on the opposite side of the sleeve  110 , as illustrated. The storage flap  130  may be utilized to store items relevant to the document  108 , the illumination device  122 , or any other supply. For example, the storage flap  130  may house additional illumination devices, bulbs, batteries, documents, etc. The illustrated storage flap  130  includes a base  132 , a top front pocket  136 , a top front pocket cover  134 , a bottom front pocket  140 , a bottom front pocket cover  138 , and a rear pocket (not shown). Various shaped pockets and storage systems may be utilized including VELCRO™ attachments, buttons, pocket drains, etc. 
   Reference is next made to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a perspective view of the illuminated document case illustrated in  FIG. 1  shown in a curved or folded configuration to facilitate directed light transmission on a portion of the housed document. In operation, the illuminated document case  100  may be articulated in various manners to direct the light transmission  124  at the document  108  or a particular portion of the document  108  for detailed inspection. Because the receptacle  120  is flexibly coupled to the sleeve  110 , and both the receptacle  120  and sleeve  110  may be composed of substantially flexible material, it is possible to articulate the receptacle  120  in many ways with respect to the document  108 . Likewise, the articulation of the receptacle may be utilized to minimize light transmissions  124  away from the document  108  for purposes of concealment. 
   Reference is next made to  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an illuminated document case, including a system for housing and illuminating a multi-page document, designated generally at  200 . The illustrated illuminated document case  200  also includes a first sleeve  210 , a second sleeve  250 , a receptacle  220 , and a storage flap  230 . The first sleeve  210  further includes a transparent member  204 , a housing  206 , a first document  208 , a pair of releasable coupling members  202  and  212 , and a resealable opening  214 . The receptacle further includes an illumination device  222 , a light transmission  224 , a pair of expandable members  225 , an illumination opening  226 , and support cover  228 . The storage flap  230  further includes a base  232 , a top front pocket  236 , a top front pocket cover  234 , a bottom front pocket  240 , a bottom front pocket cover  238 , and a rear pocket (not shown). The first sleeve  210 , receptacle  220 , and storage flap  230  and their respective components operate in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The second sleeve  250  is flexibly coupled to the first sleeve  210  and the receptacle  220  in a manner that allows light transmission  224  to be selectively directed at either the first sleeve  210 , the back/bottom of the second sleeve  250 , or the front/top of the second sleeve  250 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second sleeve  250  is hinged along the right side of the first sleeve  210  so as to allow the second sleeve  250  to fold out of the way and not obstruct the illumination or viewing of the first sleeve  210 . The second sleeve  250  further includes a second transparent member (not shown), a second housing  256 , a second document (not shown), an illumination opening  258 , and a resealable opening  254 . The second transparent member and second housing  256  also allows a document to be protected within the second housing while still preserving view through the second transparent member. In addition, the second sleeve  250  may further allow both the back/bottom and front/top of a document to be viewed. A similar resealable opening  254  is illustrated on the second sleeve  250  as disposed on the end opposite the flexible coupling to the first sleeve  210 . The illumination opening  258  is disposed on the side of the second sleeve  250  that is flexibly coupled to the receptacle  220  and first sleeve  210 . The illumination opening  258  allows the light transmission  224  from the receptacle to transmit through the second sleeve  250  onto the first sleeve. It should be noted that any number of additional sleeves may be similiarly configured as the second sleeve  250  such that the illuminated display case  200  can be configured to independently illuminate any one sleeve and corresponding document. 
   Reference is next made to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , which illustrate the insertion of an electrical and a chemical light device into one embodiment of an illuminated document case, respectively.  FIG. 4A  illustrates a partially exploded illuminated document case  300  including an electrical illumination device  322 . The illuminated document case  300  further includes a sleeve  310 , a receptacle  320 , and a storage flap  330 . The sleeve  310  and storage flap  330  operate and are configured in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The receptacle  320  further includes the electrical illumination device  322 , a pair of expandable members  325 , an illumination opening  326 , and support cover  328 . In operation, the illustrated electrical illumination device  322  is inserted lengthwise into the receptacle  320  by expanding the expandable members  325  and orienting the electrical illumination device  322  such that the illumination region is disposed within the illumination opening  326 . The electrical illumination device  322  may then be selectively turned on and off to create light transmission through the illumination opening  326  onto the sleeve  310 . Various electrical illumination devices may be utilized in accordance with the present invention including but not limited to a LAZERBRITE2™ device. 
   Likewise,  FIG. 4B  illustrates a partially exploded illuminated document case  300  including a chemical illumination device  422 . The illuminated document case  400  further includes a sleeve  410 , a receptacle  420 , and a storage flap  430 . The sleeve  410  and storage flap  430  operate and are configured in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The receptacle  420  further includes the chemical illumination device  422 , a pair of expandable members  425 , an illumination opening  426 , and support cover  428 . In operation, the illustrated chemical illumination device  422  is inserted lengthwise into the receptacle  420  by expanding the expandable members  425  and orienting the chemical illumination device  422  such that the illumination region is disposed within the illumination opening  426 . The chemical illumination device  422  may be activated to create light transmission through the illumination opening  426  onto the sleeve  410 . Various chemical illumination devices may be utilized in accordance with the present invention including but not limited to a CYALUME™ or KRILL™ device. 
   Reference is next made to  FIGS. 5A-5D , which illustrate a method for rolling the illuminated document case of  FIG. 1  for purposes of storage and/or concealment. The illuminated document case is generally designated at  500  and further includes a sleeve  510 , receptacle  520 , and a storage flap  530 . Additional details regarding the components of the illuminated document case  500  are described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . The sleeve  510  further includes a pair of releasable coupling members  502  and  512 . The illustrated releasable coupling members  502 ,  512  utilize a VELCRO™ attachment system. However, any other releasable coupling or closure system may be utilized to support the illuminated document case  500  in the most dimensionally contained configuration.  FIG. 5A  illustrates a substantially unrolled, expanded, or flat configuration in which an illumination device in the receptacle  520  may be utilized to illuminate a document in the sleeve  510 . The storage flap  530  is initially rolled a particular amount around the receptacle  520  toward the sleeve  510  to transition to the state illustrated in  FIG. 5B . The storage flap  530  and receptacle  520  are then rolled further within the sleeve  510  to transition to the state illustrated in  FIG. 5C . Both of releasable coupling members  502 ,  512  are directly viewable and oriented in substantially the same direction. The sleeve  510  is then rolled up further to join the two releasably coupling members  502 ,  512  thereby releasably engaging a rolled configuration of the illuminated document case  500  for convenient storage and transportation. 
   It should also be noted that various sizes and shapes of sleeves, receptacles, and storage flaps may be incorporated into an illuminated document case in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For example, larger 8″×16″ or 16″×16″ sleeves may be utilized to accept correspondingly sized single or multi-page documents. Likewise, a larger and/or longer receptacle may be included such that it may house larger or multiple illumination systems for transmitting an increased amount of light onto the document. In addition or alternatively, additional receptacles may be placed on the opposite and/or adjacent sides of the sleeve from the first receptacle to house additional illumination systems that transmit light onto the document from multiple locations. This may be particularly important for illuminating larger documents. For example, two illumination sources may be disposed on adjacent sides of a 16″×16″ document to properly illuminate the entire two-dimensional surface of the document. Various other multiple receptacle, sleeve location, and size configurations have been contemplated and are consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
   Additional embodiments may further include various modular coupling mechanisms for releasable attachment. For example, a MOLLE™ attachment system is often used by the military to attached various accessories onto a soldiers jacket or pants. Interwoven straps and attachments may be positioned on the illuminated document case to be compatible with this type of system. Likewise, additional strips of VELCRO™, lanyards, carabiners, snaphooks, buttons, and other releasable closure systems may be utilized to attach as an accessory to an existing article of clothing or storage. 
   Various other embodiments have been contemplated, including combinations in whole or in part of the embodiments described above.