Patent Abstract:
A gravesite memory marker made of transparent flexibly resilient plastic having a pair of nestable members forming a weather resistant framed area for holding a photograph or other memorabilia and a pointed stake for insertion into the ground at the gravesite.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is aimed at providing a durable marker for installation in the ground adjacent a grave site for holding a photograph or other memorabilia in memory of the deceased. More specifically, it is a marker made out of flexibly resilient clear polymer plastic with the photograph or the like secured in a framed area between two similar nested members. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are a number of prior art devices for holding photographs and the like in the form of ordinary picture frames and there are a number of prior art devices for placing signs, such as real estate signs or outdoor sale sign, upright using a stake or post inserted into the ground. These devices usually are made out of a combination of different materials. Some have members or attachments to protect the sign against weather elements and some are constructed so that the content of the sign can be changed from time to time. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A pair of substantially similar nestable members are made out of flexibly resilient transparent plastic such as PVC, each member having a fairly shallow cavity defined by a generally planar floor surrounded by an enclosing wall. The floor has a slight indentation which is dimensioned with respect to the surrounding wall to define a framed area for a photograph or the like. One member is nested snugly within the cavity of the other member with the respective bottom walls in close proximity to securely hold the photograph in place between them within the framed area. A pointed stake extends out from an edge of one of the members for insertion into the ground to hold the marker upright at the gravesite. In addition, a flange may be provided which extends completely around each of the members extending outward from the walls which surround the cavities. The flange in combination with the nested members helps to seal off the interior area where the photograph is contained to protect it against damage from the weather. The two members can be disengaged or pulled apart if desired to remove and/or replace the photograph and then recoupled together. 
   In a preferred embodiment the members and the stake are made integral with one another as a single sheet of plastic with the two members joined together along an edge by a living hinge. Alternatively, the two members may be separate from one another. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  can be considered a plan or front view of an embodiment of the invention in the open condition; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan or front view showing an embodiment of the invention in closed or use position; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectioned view of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A pair of substantially similar members  10 A and  10 B are formed of flexibly resilient transparent polymer plastic such as PVC by a conventional thermo-forming process. Each of the members has a cavity,  11 A and  11 B, respectively, defined by a generally planar bottom or floor  12 A and  12 B, respectively, surrounded by an upstanding wall  13 A and  13 B, respectively. The respective cavity floors  12 A and  12 B each has a very slight outer indentation  14 A and  14 B, respectively, with the outer edges of the indentations defining a frame area  15 A and  15 B, respectively, with their corresponding cavities&#39; surrounding walls  13 A and  13 B. Extending outward from each of the respective surrounding walls parallel to the cavity floor are enclosing flanges  17 A and  17 B, respectively. Attached to and formed integrally with an edge of one of the members, for example,  10 B, is a pointed arrow-like stake  18 . In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1–4 , members  10 A and  10 B are joined together by an integrally formed living hinge  20  at an edge of the respective flanges. 
   In practice, a photograph or other similar flat or planer memorabilia is placed in the depression area  14  of one of the members, for example  14 B, and the other member  10 A is swung about living hinge  20  over member  10 B to nest member  10 B into cavity  11 A. The members are dimensioned and the materials of which they are made are such that member  10 A will nest snugly in cavity  11 B to hold the photograph or the like firmly between the two floors  12 A and  12 B in the framed areas  14 . The snug fit between the side walls  13 A and  13 B not only serve to hold the photograph firmly in place within the framed area but also provide a secure protective shield against weather elements. In addition the overlap of the flanges  17 A and  17 B serve as a further seal against outside weather elements reaching the interior location of the framed photograph. The stake  18  is inserted into the ground adjacent the gravesite to hold the marker upright in place. If desired, the marker can be removed from the ground and the two members  10 A and  10 B disengaged or pulled apart and the photograph removed and replaced in the same manner as described above. 
   Typically, with no limitation intended, a marker made according to the teachings of the invention is made of 0.030 in. clear PVC, an outer width (including flange  17 ) of about 6.25 in., a depth of cavity  11  about 0.38 in., the width of the frame  15  about 0.5 in., the depth of the shallow indentation about 0.08 in. and the dimension of the framed area about 3 in. by 5 in. to hold a conventional 3×5 photograph. 
   Alternatively, the two members  10 A and  10 B, may be formed of the same material but not connected by a living hinge, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In all other respects the marker is identical to the above-described embodiment and functions the same and is used in the same manner with the same attendant benefits and features.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6