Patent Publication Number: US-2012043864-A1

Title: Easy Access Display Frame System for Pins and Medals

Description:
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     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: 
     The displaying of 3 dimensional objects within a display case mounted upon the wall has traditionally fallen into 2 catagories the first is of the nature often seen in retail establishment. These usually are accessible via a hinged door. The second are those which are once mounted meant to be of the permanent nature. Like those used to hold a folded flag or autographed baseballs for example. 
     At times picture frames have also been used to display 3 dimensional objects, but these uses are much the same as the prior mentioned permanent display cases and at times the line between a wall mounted display case and a framed display of an item have been blurred. 
     There exists a category of items that while three dimensional in nature are only limitedly so, and thus can be displayed in generally a more two dimensional format. Examples of such items would be military medals, sports medals, cloisonné and enamel pins. While frames and display cases for such items do already exist none allow ease of access or exchange of items displayed. 
     There exists a great many collectors of pins who have no way of easily displaying their pins while at the same time protecting them from dust, smoke, and other contaminents. Most often such collectors resort to mounting the pins on cork boards and the like. This neither protects them nor does it create a necessarily pleasing visual display. 
     Likewise, the display cases that are available are both costly and difficult to use, allowing no easy method of access which is a key consideration to collectors who often wish to trade their pins with other collectors. 
     No currently available display device allows for both an ease of access important to collectors who often trade and add to their collection as well as a protected method of display found in a display case or frame. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The unique design of this invention grants ease of access as well as an ideal method where by the displayed items can be removed, replaced, exchanged in mere seconds. Yet it does so while still providing an extremely stable method of display. It does this utilizing a minimal amount of material and components making it readily affordable to the public market. 
     The object of this invention is to provide a wall mounted display case having an internal member which fits into the outer unit, this inner member can be inserted and removed from the outer unit in a simple one step action. This inner member is then able to support the entire load of the assembled display. 
     Additionally, the ability to easily remove the entire frame from the wall allows the frame with its display pieces to be easily transported, and thus used in a temporarily display situations such as a trade or art show. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a three dimensional view 
         FIG. 2   a  is a cross-section side view of a preferred embodiment of the mounted on a wall. 
         FIG. 2   b  is a front view of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 3   a  is a side view of a preferred embodiment with the female and male edges of the outer unit and inner member. engaged but prior to the pivoting and engagement of the remaing edge by the mechanism which locks the remaing edges in place. 
         FIG. 3   b  is a cross-section view of the preferred embodiment with the female and male edges of the outer unit and inner member. engaged but prior to the pivoting and engagement of the remaing edge by the mechanism which locks the remaing edges in place. 
         FIG. 4   a  is a back view of the inner member. 
         FIG. 4   b  is a back view of the outer unit without the inner unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings 
     The invention is Easy Access Display Frame System for Pins and Medals.  FIG. 1  is a three dimensional view (suitable for inclusion on the front page) with the female and male edges of the outer unit and inner member engaged but hidden from view prior to the inner member pivoting into the locked position. 
     The inner unit composed of it&#39;s two side pieces  10 , top  4  and bottom  11  within which the preferred locking mechanism of magnets  12  have been mounted, is placed into the outer unit, composed of parts  1 - 3 ,  5 - 9 ,  16  &amp;  17 . This is done by aligning the inner unit so that the male edge  19  of piece  4  is moved into the female cavity of piece  3 , once engaged piece  19  severs as a pivot point  21  from which the remainer of the inner unit swings  22  into a locking position  18 . Once in this position the inner unit is held in place by the locking mechanisms within the outer unit  16  and inner member  12 , which in the preferrred embodiment are magnets. The outer unit is composed of the frame face  1 , frame edge side and bottom pieces  9 , frame edge top piece  3  containing female edge, stop  2  creating viewing space and holding glass  5  in place, Side  17  and bottom  9  piece also contains magnets  16  used in this embodiment as the locking mechanism. 
     The outer unit and the inner member hold the panel/board  8  in place allowing the display of desired pieces  7 , in the display area  6  as shown in  FIG. 2   a    
       FIG. 2   a  is a detailed cross section view showing the preferred embodiment of the invention assembled and mounted upon a wall  15  with example display items  7 . It shows the outer unit with the inner member engaged and mounted upon a wall by means of a bracket  13  mounted into the wall by a screw  14 . The weight of the assembled frame hanging upon the angled edge of the bracket  13  together with the angled edge  20  opposite the male edge on the top piece of the inner frame  4 , holds the frame upon the wall. 
       FIG. 2   b  shows a frontal view where the face of the frame  1 , mounting panel/board  8  and example of pins or medals displayed  7 . 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a side view of the outer unit with the inner member placed engaging the male edge of the inner member into the female edge of the outer unit this positioning is prior to the pivoting of the inner member into the back of the outer unit where it is engaged by the locking mechanism. Visible in this view is the frame face  1 , frame side  17 , inner unit  10  and one of the side locking mechanism of the inner unit  12 . Also shown is where the matching locking mechanism  16  is located on the inside the outer unit this as shown in  FIG. 4   b  would not be visible from an outside view. 
       FIG. 3   b  shows a side cut away view of the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2   a  The pivot point  21  where the male and female edges engage, the postion of the inner member prior to pivoting, the arch of the inner member swinging into postion and the inner member in it&#39;s final locked position  18 . 
       FIG. 4   a  shows the back view of inner member composed of the top piece  4  with the male edge  19  and angled edge  20 , side pieces  10  and bottom piece  11 . Also shown is the location of the magnetic locking mechanisms  12 . 
       FIG. 4   b  shows the back view of the outer unit. Visible are portions of the frame face  1 , frame sides  17 , bottom  9 , stops  2  holding the glass in place and creating the viewing space  6 , the top piece containing the female edge  4 . Also shown is the location of the magnetic locking mechanisms  16 .