Patent Publication Number: US-2003222128-A1

Title: Picture postcard mailer with rigid frame and stand

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] Priority is hereby claimed to provisional application Ser. No. 60/383,858, filed May 29, 2002, and incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The invention is directed to a picture postcard mailer that can also double as a permanent framing member for pictures, photographs, and the like. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0003]FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a picture postcard mailer according to the present invention, with the stand extended.  
     [0004]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with the stand retracted and the entire mailer laid flat.  
     [0005]FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1  
     [0006]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a picture postcard mailer according to the present invention, with the stand retracted. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0007] A first embodiment of the invention is directed to a picture postcard mailer comprising a frame portion that defines an aperture therethrough. The frame portion further defines a cross-sectional pocket therein, the cross-sectional pocket being dimensioned and configured to retain an image therein such that the image is visible through the aperture. The postcard further comprises a stand portion connected to the frame portion and movable between a retracted position and an extended position and a detachable writing surface attached to a peripheral edge of the frame portion. The postcard also includes means for maintaining the stand portion in the extended position.  
     [0008] The postcard mailer is preferably fabricated from paper-based materials. It is also preferred that the postcard mailer be dimensioned and configured to fit within a mailing envelope of corresponding dimensions.  
     [0009] A second embodiment of the invention is a picture postcard mailer comprising a frame portion as defined in the first embodiment, and a detachable writing surface attached to a peripheral edge of the frame portion and detachable from the frame portion, the writing surface being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the retracted position, the writing surface contacts the frame portion in face-to-face orientation. The second embodiment of the invention further comprises a stand portion connected to the frame portion and movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the stand portion defines an arcuate notch. Lastly, the postcard mailer of the second embodiment includes a retractable tab disposed within the arcuate notch defined by time sad portion, the tab movable between a retracted position substantially co-planar with the frame portion, and an extended position substantially perpendicular to the plane of the stand portion, and wherein when in the extended position the tab contacts a peripheral edge of the arcuate notch.  
     [0010] A third embodiment of the invention comprises picture postcard mailer as described in the first two embodiments, wherein when the writing surface is in the retracted position, the writing surface contacts the frame portion in face-to-face orientation, with the stand portion and the retractable tab disposed between the writing surface and the frame portion.  
     [0011] Referring now to the drawing figures, where the same numbers are used throughout the various views to designate the same elements, the invention is a picture postcard mailer  10 , having a frame portion  12  defining an aperture  14 , and stand portion  16 , means for maintaining the stand portion in an extended position  18 , a detachable writing surface  20 , and a cross-sectional pocket  22  defined within the frame portion.  
     [0012] Referring now specifically to the perspective renderings shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the picture postcard mailer  10  includes a rigid frame portion  12 , that defines an open area  14  (see FIG. 4). Additionally, within the frame is defined a cross-sectional cavity  23  (shown in broken lines) that is accessed via an opening  22  or  22 ′ in the sidewall of the frame portion  12 . In this fashion, a picture, photograph, or other flat image is slid into the cross-sectional cavity via opening  22  or  22 ′, and the image thus appears within the aperture  14 . Thus, the frame portion  12  of mailer will surround an image, in the same fashion as a conventional picture frame, with the displayed image resting within, and held in place by, the cross-sectional cavity.  
     [0013] Note that as shown in the drawing figures, the frame portion  12  is roughly square. This is for purposes of brevity only. The frame portion may take any desired shape, such as triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal (i.e., any polygon), circular, oval, etc. Likewise, the aperture  14  is also shown as a rectangle. The frame portion  12  may define an aperture  14  of any shape or dimension, without limitation.  
     [0014] It is preferred that the frame portion  12  be made from a suitably stiff, paper-based material, such as heavy-stock paper, paper board, Bristol board, card board, matting board, and the like. The frame portion  12 , may also be made from wood, metal, plastic, etc. The frame portion  12  may also be made by a composite or laminate of two or more layers of these materials (either the same or different materials), with the cross-sectional pocket  23  being defined between two adjacent layers. Alternatively, where the frame portion is monolithic, the cross-sectional pocket is simply a void defined within the frame member itself.  
     [0015] The cross-sectional pocket  23  defined within the frame portion may be accessed from any point along the perimeter of the frame portion  12 . For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the cross-section pocket is accessed from the top via opening  22 . In FIG. 1, however, the cross-sectional pocket  23  is accessed from the side via opening  22 ′ or from the top  22 . In short, the opening to access the cross-sectional pocket may be located at any line (or curve) along the perimeter of the frame portion  12 .  
     [0016] A writing surface  20  is attached to the frame portion  12  at folded joint  21 . See FIG. 2. The joint  21  may be perforated to allow easy removal of the writing surface  20 . The writing surface may be of any shape or dimension, either the same as or different from the frame portion  12 . The preferred embodiment is shown in the figures, where the outer perimeter of the writing surface  20  matches that of the frame portion  12 . The joint  21  allows the writing surface to fold flat (in face-to-face orientation) with the frame portion  12 , thereby enabling the entire picture postcard  10  to be inserted into an envelope and mailed.  
     [0017] A key aspect of the invention is the stand portion  16 , and the means for maintaining the stand portion in an extended position  18 . The stand portion  16  is attached to one of the inner perimeters of the frame portion  12  (i.e., the perimeter that defines the aperture  14 ). See FIG. 1, reference  17 . The stand portion  16  folds outwardly from rear face of the frame portion  12 , thereby serving as a stand to hold the frame portion in a substantially upright position. The means for maintaining the stand portion in an extended position  18  takes the form of a retractable tab that extends in a plane roughly perpendicular to the plane of the stand portion  16 , and which abuts the stand portion  18 . As shown in FIG. 1, the means  18  comprises a retractable tab or flange  19  that is movable within an arcuate notch or hollow  19 ′ in the stand portion. When extended, the tab  19  contacts the peripheral edge of the notch  19 ′, thereby holding the stand  16  in an extended position via friction. The tab  19  may also include a centrally located notch (not shown) to aid in maintaining the stand  16  in the extended position.  
     [0018] In operation, an image to be displayed is placed within cross-sectional pocket  23 , via opening  22  or  22 ′. If a message is to be sent along with the image, the message may be written on writing surface  20 . The picture postcard mailer can then be sent to its intended recipient via post. The recipient may, if desired, remove the writing surface  20 , by tearing along joint  21  to separate the writing surface from the frame portion. To display the image held within the frame portion, the stand  16  is extended and the tab  19  is also extended to hold the stand  16  in place. The frame portion  16  will thus be held in substantially upright position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.