Patent Publication Number: US-2017363934-A1

Title: Instant photo system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to taking mobile instant photographs, and in particular, a wearable apparatus to provide high quality instant photographs in a high quality branded frame to subjects. 
     People often enjoy having photographs taken at events and parties. Currently, either a photographer will circulate the room with a camera or there will be a backdrop with a photographer taking photographs of subjects and printing the photographs on a stationary printer. The printed photographs often have a logo for the event and perhaps a date. Sometimes, the photographs are placed in low quality frames, where the photo often slides around within the frame or is just discarded by the subject. If the subject takes the low quality frame, it is often discarded. 
     Photographers who circulate a room with only a camera will often provide digital photographs for subjects via email on a website. The subject may be able to print the photograph after leaving the event, but often the subject is unable to print it because of restrictions. The photographers may also provide the photos to the subjects later during the event, but this usually occurs many minutes after the photograph is taken. 
     Finally, photographers may use an instant camera to provide onsite photographs to subjects. These photographs take about a minute to dry and are of a low quality and small size of about 2.5″×4″. They are often smudged if touched before they are dry and because of their low quality are not kept by the subject very long. 
     In view of the current problems faced by photographers at events and subjects attending these events, there is a need to provide a quick, high quality photograph in a high quality frame to subjects. High quality branded framed photographs are more likely to be kept and displayed as a keepsake and are desirable as marketing tools for businesses attending or hosting the events. Providing instant photographs while being mobile is also unobtrusive and fun for guests. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention provides a camera holder that hangs from a strap to be worn by a person, the camera holding having a pocket for a digital camera, a printer holder that hangs from the strap and has a compartment for a portable printer that prints a photograph, and a connection from the digital camera to the printer. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides a method of providing instant photos comprising providing the instant photo apparatus, taking at least one photograph of a subject with the digital camera at the location, selecting a desired photograph to print, printing the desired photograph with the portable printer at any location, supplying a flexible frame having an inside with an adhesive material covered by a removable backing, an outside opposite the inside, an upper portion an opening from the inside to the outside sized to view a photograph, and a lower portion separated from the upper portion by a fold, removing the removable backing, placing the photograph on the inside of the lower portion such that when the frame is folded, the photograph will be centered within the opening, and folding the frame such that the inside of the upper portion adheres to the inside of the lower portion. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention provides a frame assembly to receive a photograph comprising an inside with an adhesive material covered by a removable backing, an outside opposite the inside, a flexible upper portion, an opening from the inside to the outside sized to view a photograph, and a flexible lower portion separated from the upper portion by a fold. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a front-side view of one embodiment of the wearable apparatus as worn on a person; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the wearable apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front-side view of another embodiment of the wearable apparatus as worn on a person; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the wearable apparatus of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front-side view of yet another embodiment of the wearable apparatus as worn on a person; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the wearable apparatus of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front-side view of one embodiment of the frame assembly; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of another embodiment of the frame assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a wearable apparatus to deliver an instant photograph, a frame for displaying the instant photograph, and a method of delivering the instant photograph. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wearable apparatus  1  has a flexible strap  2  to be worn by a person  100 . Preferably, the strap  2  is a belt that is worn around the waist of the person  100 . The apparatus may be made of leather, rubber, canvas, vinyl, stretchable material, cotton, plastic, polyester, and/or any other material. 
     The strap  2  has an attachment  3  on at least one end of the strap  2  to secure the strap  2  around the waist of the person  100 . The attachment  2  may be a buckle, snap, button, hook and loop fastener connection, and/or any other type of connection. In one embodiment, the apparatus  1  has a camera holder  4  hanging from the strap  2  with a pocket  7  for a digital camera  200 . The apparatus  1  may also have a printer holder  5  hanging from the strap  2  with a compartment  8  for a portable printer that prints a photograph. In one embodiment, the printer holder  5  and camera holder  4  are connected to the strap  2  via one piece  6  hanging from the strap  2 . 
     The apparatus  1  may also have a supplement  18  to support and/or protect a printer paper cassette that holds paper to print the photographs and catches the printed photographs so they do not fall onto the ground. In addition, the apparatus  1  may have a pouch  9 . The pouch  9  may be slidably mounted to the strap  2  and can hold any items the photographer may need, including trash, batteries, and/or frames. In a preferred embodiment, the pouch  9  is made of a flexible, lightweight material. The pouch  9  may include a pocket to hold additional items. 
     In one embodiment, there is a connection from the digital camera to the printer to transfer the photographs taken with the digital camera  200  to the printer for printing the photographs. Preferably, the connection is a wireless signal or a cord. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the apparatus  10  has a shoulder strap  13  that supports the printer holder  15 , which connects with the strap  12  that fits around the waist of the person  100 . The shoulder strap  13  may be made of any flexible material that goes over a shoulder of a person  100  to hold the wearable apparatus  10 . In this embodiment, the camera holder  14  that holds the digital camera  200  and the pouch  19  is located on the strap  12 . 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the camera holder  24  is separate from the printer holder  25  when the apparatus  20  is worn by the person  100 . The apparatus  20  may have a paper cassette  26  for the printer  27 . In one embodiment, the connection  28  from the digital camera to the printer  27  to transfer the photographs is a cord. 
     The apparatus is used to provide instant photos. A photographer wearing the apparatus is mobile and may take and provide photographs at any location. The location is, preferably, an event with many people, but may be any location where photographs may be taken. Events may be corporate events and parties, trade shows, product promotions, retail grand openings, sporting events, concerts, galas, fundraisers, employee outings, graduations, wedding receptions, family gatherings and reunions, and any other events. In operation, a photographer takes a photograph of a subject, such as a person, place, or thing, with the digital camera at a location. In many instances, the subject will select the desired photograph, but it may also be selected by the photographer or another person. The desired photograph is printed with the portable printer at any location. Any number of photographs may be taken by the photographer and no photographs need to be printed if not desired, and thus, wasted printed photographs are avoided. The photographs may also be stored electronically and may be shown and shared on websites and other electronic media for the subjects to see then or later. 
     Once the photograph is printed, it may be placed into a frame. As shown in  FIG. 7 , preferably, the frame  40  is flexible and has an inside  41  with an adhesive material  42  covered by a removable backing  43 , an outside  44  opposite the inside  41 , an upper portion  45 , an opening  46  from the inside  41  to the outside  44  sized to view a photograph, and a lower portion  47  separated from the upper portion  45  by a fold  48 . Preferably, the frame is flexible. In one embodiment, the frame  40  is made from 14 pt or heavier card stock. The frame  40  may also have a protective coating. The coating may be used to protect again water damage, fingerprints, wear and tear, or any other possible destruction. The type of coating may be a film laminate or an aqueous coating. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the outside  44  of the frame may be used for any type of marketing, advertising, and promotional use. The outside  44  may have a logo, date, marketing information, event information, design, scannable code, coupon, scratch and sniff, scent, texture, scratch off, and/or any other desired information. The frame  40  may be customized in any way desired. The opening  46  and any other part of the frame  40 , such as the edges, may also be die cut. In one embodiment, the frame  40  includes a magnet or a stand affixed to the lower portion  47  of the frame so that a subject may hang or prop the frame  40  for display. The frame  40  may be of any size and the opening  46  may be of any size to fit a photo. Preferably, for convenience of the subject to keep the photograph, the frame fits a 4″×6″ photograph. The frame  40  may also be sized for a 5″×7″ photograph or a larger or smaller photograph as desired. 
     The mobile printing and framing may occur at the same location as where the photograph was taken or at any other location. This feature is particularly convenient for the subjects to receive keepsake photos quickly with the subjects either waiting at the same location where they were photographed or being able to socialize in a nearby location and be able to still receive their photograph in less than a minute. When the photograph is printed, it does not need extra time to dry and can be handled immediately. The time span from the photograph being taken to the photograph being ready in a frame is, preferably, no more than a minute, more preferably, no more than 50 seconds, and most preferably, no more than 40 seconds. In some instances, the process may take no more than 30 seconds or no more than 20 seconds, depending on the technology used. 
     To place the photograph into the frame, the removable backing  43  is removed. The photograph is placed on the inside of the lower portion  47  such that when the frame  40  is folded along the fold  48 , the photograph will be centered within the opening  46 . The frame  40  is then folded such that the inside of the upper portion  45  adheres to the inside of the lower portion  47 . Because of the adhesive material  42 , the photograph will not slide or fall out of the frame  40 . The framed photograph may then be given instantly to the subject to display. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.