Patent Publication Number: US-7222449-B1

Title: Wall-mounted picture display device

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/412,178 filed Sep. 20, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a device for displaying photographs, pictures, post cards, mementos, and other objects. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wall-mounted display device having a substrate and a transparent picture pocket for receiving the object to be displayed. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is already known in the prior art to provide a transparent device for the display of photographs, pictures, post cards, mementos, and other objects. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,557 issued Sep. 20, 1988 to Bowman and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,968 issued Jul. 31, 1990 to Wagner each discloses such a device. Moreover, it also known in the prior art to provide a wall decorating system having pictorial cutouts removably adhered to a flat, wall-mounted background. U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,604 issued Feb. 13, 1990 to Martinez et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,764 issued Apr. 15, 1997 to Schwarz et al. disclose examples of such wall decorating systems. However, the prior art is characterized by certain structural and functional limitations which allow for improvement in the art. 
   For example, there is a need in the art to provide a picture display device for displaying a picture or other object on a wall. Such a device should allow for the easy removal and replacement of displayed objects, such that a person may quickly and easily exchange the displayed object without having to remove the display device from the wall. Additionally, there is a need in the art for a wall-mounted picture display device capable of being attached to a wall without the use of nails, thumbtacks, pins, or other mechanical fastening devices. Such a device would be ideal for the display of objects in a setting, such as a college dormitory room, where the displays are only intended to be temporary. 
   Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an improved wall-mounted picture display device that allows for easy insertion of the object to be displayed, as well as easy attachment of the display device to the wall. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-noted shortcoming of prior art display devices, as well as shortcomings not specifically mentioned, are overcome by the present invention which generally provides a picture display device for exhibiting a display object. The picture display device includes a generally flat substrate having a surface that is in contact with an adhesive layer such that the display device is capable of being attached to a wall, and a generally flat pocket having a surface that is in contact with an adhesive layer such that the pocket can be secured to the substrate. When the picture display device is attached to the wall, the display object may be inserted or removed from the pocket without detaching the display device from the wall. 
   According to another embodiment, the picture display is largely the same as the embodiment of the preceding paragraph, however, the generally flat pocket is replaced by a thin piece of transparent material such that a pocket is formed between the substrate and the transparent material. 
   According to yet another embodiment, the picture device includes a plurality of either flat pockets or pieces of transparent material such that the picture display device is capable of accommodating a plurality of display objects. 
   Furthermore, both the adhesive layer contacting the substrate and the wall and the adhesive layer contacting the pocket and the substrate may either be of a permanent or a non-permanent nature. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will be readily apparent with reference to the appended description and drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation view showing an embodiment of the picture display device of the present invention, wherein a single object is displayed; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view showing the picture display device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view showing the picture display device of  FIG. 1  having a picture pocket constructed according to a different embodiment than that of  FIG. 2 , and; 
       FIG. 4  is an elevation view showing an additional embodiment of the picture display device of the present invention, wherein numerous objects are displayed. 
   

   DETAILED WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE 
   Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a wall-mounted picture display device for the convenient display of photographs, pictures, postcards, mementos, and other objects, hereafter simply referred to as ‘display objects.’ The wall-mounted picture display device of the present invention easily attaches to a surface, such as a wall or ceiling, and provides for the easy removal and replacement of display objects without having to detach the device from the wall. It will be appreciated, as the description proceeds, that the invention is useful in other embodiments and for other applications. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wall-mounted picture display device  10  of the present invention generally includes a flat substrate  12  and a transparent picture pocket  14 . Substrate  12  both provides a surface to which the transparent picture pocket  14  can attach, and attaches the overall picture display device  10  to a surface  16 , such as a wall or ceiling. The flat substrate  12  can be constructed from any number of materials, including materials already known in the art, such as wall paper, wall paper border, wall paper posters, poster board, construction paper, etc., or from materials especially developed for the present invention. Furthermore, substrate  12  can be comprised of either a flexible material for attachment to a curved surface, or a rigid material having greater structural integrity. Generally, substrate  12  is a flat component defined by a top edge  20 , a bottom edge  22 , a right edge  24 , a left edge  26 , a rear surface  28 , and a front surface  30 . 
   The particular embodiment exemplified in  FIG. 1  shows a substrate  12  having a definite, predetermined height, that is, the distance Y between edges  20  and  22 , and an indefinite, undetermined length, the distance X between edges  24  and  26 . According to this embodiment, the substrate  12  is initially provided in a roll or other form having an indefinite length, where its eventual length X is determined by cutting a section from the initial roll. Conversely, this embodiment has a definite, predetermined height Y, which is precut such that the roll from which substrate  12  is provided has a uniform height along its entire length. It should be noted, however, that this is only one embodiment of substrate  12 , as the substrate could just as easily be constructed having lengths and heights differing from those shown. For instance, the substrate could be provided with a length X and height Y that were both of a predetermined distance, such that the substrate constituted a precut rectangle having predetermined dimensions. Furthermore, the height and length of substrate  12  shown in  FIG. 1  could be switched, such that the height was of an indefinite, undetermined distance and the length was of a definite, predetermined distance. It is also possible to provide substrate  12  such that both the length X and the height Y are of an indefinite and undetermined nature, thereby requiring a person to cut both of these dimensions. Also, the various edges  20 – 26  can be diverging, converging, wavy, jagged, cut with a particular pattern, etc. Stated differently, substrate  12  of the present invention may be provided having one of numerous shapes, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is simply one of them. 
   Rear surface  28  is provided with an adhesive layer  32  for attaching the substrate, and hence the entire picture display device  10 , to wall  16 . Adhesive layer  32 , which can be seen in the cutaway portion of  FIG. 1 , may be of either a permanent or non-permanent nature. In the permanent adhesive embodiment, an adhesive with a high degree of tack is used to permanently attach the picture display device  10  to the wall. For instance, adhesive similar to that used for hanging wall paper could be utilized. Alternatively, in the non-permanent adhesive embodiment, an adhesive with a medium or low degree of tack is used to removably attach the display device  10  to the wall. Thereby, allowing for easy removal or repositioning of the display device  10  without causing damage to the wall. The non-permanent embodiment is especially useful in scenarios where a person wishes to decorate a room, such as a dormitory room, for a temporary period of time. Furthermore, the adhesive layer  32  could be directly applied to rear surface  28  using a spray or rolling process, or it could be in the form of a thin piece of two-sided adhesive tape. Also, the adhesive may be applied over the entire rear surface  28 , as shown in the cutaway section, or it may be selectively applied, such as only around the perimeter of the substrate. The front surface  30  of the substrate provides a surface to which the transparent picture pocket  14  may attach itself. The particular front surface embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  includes a pictorial design, blades of grass in this example, but could be one of an infinite number of designs. Furthermore, the design could be part of a common “motif,” such that the substrate and display object  18  were of a corresponding theme. The front surface  30  could simply be a solid color, a decorative design, or any other appropriate depiction. Regardless of the particular aesthetic characteristics of front surface  30 , it is intended to receive transparent picture pocket  14 . 
   Picture pocket  14  is constructed of a transparent material, such as a thin, flexible plastic material, and is designed to slidably receive a display object  18 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the picture pocket  14  includes a top edge  40 , a bottom edge  42 , a right edge  44 , a left edge  46 , a rear layer  48 , and a front layer  50 . As with substrate  12 , the various dimensions of the picture pocket  14  may vary extensively in order to accommodate objects of various sizes and shapes. Thus, the rather square like embodiment seen in  FIG. 1  is simply an example of one embodiment. As is known in the art, rear layer  48  and front layer  50  are preferably melted, fused or otherwise joined together along three of the four edges  40 – 46  to form a pocket for receiving display object  18 . Obviously, it would present problems if the one non-joined edge was the bottom edge  42 , as the object would simply slide out of the pocket. However, any other combination of the edges could be joined in order to retain an object  18 . For instance, the top edge  40  could be left non-joined such that the object could be inserted from the top. Likewise, either the right edge  44  or left edge  46  of the front and rear layers  48 ,  50  could be left non-joined to allow for slidable insertion from the side. Also, it is possible to only have two of the four edges, preferably the top and bottom edges  40 ,  42  joined, such that object  18  could be inserted from either side. The particular embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  provides for insertion of the display object from the right side, as indicated by the solid arrow. 
   One side of rear layer  48  is in contact with an adhesive layer for attaching the transparent picture pocket  14  to substrate  12 . That adhesive may either be of a permanent or a non-permanent nature. As previously discussed, use of an adhesive of a permanent nature does not permit the picture pocket to be removed, repositioned, adjusted, etc. from substrate  12 . An adhesive layer of a permanent nature includes those examples where a separate, permanent adhesive is applied in between the picture pocket and the substrate, as well as those examples where a portion of the picture pocket is melted such that the melted material fuses to the substrate, thus forming a solidified adhesive layer. Use of a non-permanent adhesive layer, on the other hand, allows for the quick and easy removal, addition, or repositioning of the picture pocket  14  to the substrate  12  without causing damage to either the substrate or the picture pocket. It should be noted, however, that instead of having an adhesive applied to rear layer  48 , the adhesive could alternatively be applied to front surface  30  of substrate  12 . The rear layer  48  shown here is transparent in nature, as can be seen by the transparency between the outer edge of display object  18  and the perimeter of the picture pocket  14 . It is possible, though, that rear layer  48  could be a solid color, preferably a color complimentary to either the front surface  30  of the substrate or the display object. In that case, the portion of the rear layer  48  not covered up by the display object  18  would act as a sort of background or border surrounding the perimeter of the display object. 
     FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the picture pocket  14  which is largely the same as that previously described, but lacks a rear layer  48 . A pocket for retaining the displayed object  18  is simply formed by directly adhering, melting or fusing two or three edges of a single piece of thin transparent material, such as front layer  50 , to the substrate  12 . As with the previous embodiment, it is possible to adhere different combinations of edges to form the desired pocket. For instance, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a cutaway section shows an adhesive strip  52  extending along top edge  40 . This adhesive strip does not extend downward along right edge  44 . Rather, it provides an opening or slit along the right edge through which object  18  can be inserted. It is possible, however, to alternatively leave the top edge  40 , the left edge  46 , or a combination thereof open instead of the right edge shown in this example. Furthermore, the adhesive layer, shown here as strip  52 , can either be comprised of a separate adhesive material inserted between the picture pocket and the substrate, or it can be formed from melted picture pocket material that solidifies to adhere the two components together. 
     FIG. 4  shows an additional embodiment of the wall-mounted picture display device  60  of the present invention which is designed to display multiple display objects  62 – 68 . Similar to the embodiments previously discussed, the picture display device  60  includes a flat substrate  70  and several transparent picture pockets  72 – 78 . Substrate  70  is largely the same as that previously discussed, thus, a second explanation has been omitted. Likewise, the transparent picture pockets  72 – 78  are similar to either of the two transparent picture pocket  14  embodiments previously discussed. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  has primarily been included to demonstrate that numerous transparent picture pockets  72 – 78  could be attached to a single substrate  70 . Picture display device  60  could be designed such that the substrate and the attached objects all portray a common theme, or they could be random objects that are unrelated. 
   In use, the wall-mounted picture display device  10  may either be permanently or non-permanently attached to a wall, ceiling, or other surface. Once attached, one is able to insert and remove display objects without having to detach and take down the picture display device  10 . Furthermore, in the embodiment where the adhesive layer located between the transparent picture pocket  14  and the substrate  12  is non-permanent, the picture pocket can be rearranged, removed, added, etc. without having to detach and take down the picture display device  10  from the wall. 
   Although the description of this invention has been given with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed in a limiting sense. Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.