Abstract:
A holder for a stack of a variable number of pictures is disclosed. The holder includes a clamping device whereby a stack of pictures in the holder is held against a window. Pictures can be added or removed at an open end of the window frame or through the back of the frame. Alignment devices are provided, preferably on at least two sides of the frame, to align the uppermost picture in the stack with the window.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a division of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 537,521, filed Sept. 30, 1983 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to holders for stacks of pictures, and relates more particularly to holders capable of holding stacks of different thicknesses, such as stacks comprising different numbers of pictures. A holder of this general type is described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,820, issued Jan. 6, 1981. 
     Known picture holders typically enclose a stack of pictures completely. Therefore, in order to add or remove pictures from the stack, the holder must be opened. The bias system for engaging the stack of pictures in the holder is disabled when the holder is opened. Such known picture holders are relatively complex. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a picture holder having a simple bias system, capable of being manufactured with minimum expense. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a picture holder having means for positioning pictures in a window display. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The picture holder of the invention comprises a window for displaying the uppermost picture of a stack of pictures, a clamping device for holding pictures in the holder and against the window, and alignment means for positioning the stack relative to the display window. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken from line 2--2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a view analogous to the view shown in FIG. 2, but shows a second preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the second embodiment, taken from arrow 4 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken from line 5--5 of FIG. 7, showing a third preferred embodiment wherein a transverse stop means is disposed in a separate holding member. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken from line 6--6 of FIG. 8 showing a fourth preferred embodiment wherein transverse and longitudinal stop means are disposed in a separate holding member. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the holding member of the third embodiment. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the holding member of the fourth embodiment. 
     FIGS. 9-11 illustrate a simple additional member by means of which the holder can be transformed to a stand-up frame. 
     FIG. 12 is an end view of a fifth preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment, taken from line 13--13 of FIG. 12. 
     FIG. 14 is an end view of a sixth preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 15 shows a side view of a seventh preferred embodiment, having a spring arm biasing means. 
     FIG. 16 shows the seventh embodiment in its stack exchange position. 
     FIG. 17 is a bottom view taken from arrow 17 of FIG. 15 of the seventh embodiment. 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of one of the spring arms in its unstressed position in the seventh embodiment. 
     FIG. 19 is a top plan view of an eighth preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the eighth embodiment, taken along line 20--20 of FIG. 19. 
     FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the eighth embodiment. 
     FIG. 22 is an end view of a ninth preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 23 is a bottom view taken from arrow 23 of FIG. 22 of the ninth embodiment. 
     FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate an inner deflectable wall of the ninth embodiment with the holder empty and during insertion of a stack of pictures, respectively. FIG. 24 is taken from line 24--24 of FIG. 23. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a frame 100 having a window cut-out section 102 that surrounds and defines a window. The uppermost picture 104 of a stack of pictures is shown displayed in the window 102. Edge parts 106 are provided at the longitudinal sides of the frame 100 and serve as clamping means, as described below. Edge parts 106 extend behind the window (i.e., below the window in FIGS. 1 and 2) and bend toward the underside of window 102, and are adapted to resiliently open to receive the stack of pictures and urge the stack behind the window against the frame portion 100. If a pane is inserted into the window cut-out section 102, the pictures are urged flat against the pane. The stack is aligned along the longitudinal sides of the frame by longitudinal stop means or alignment means 108. Stop means 108 extend along the cavities formed by edge parts 106. Transverse abutment stop or alignment means 110 (FIG. 2) extends orthogonal to stop means 108 and downward (in FIG. 1) from transverse edge 112 of frame 100. The end of the frame opposite stop member 110 is open for removing or adding pictures. The insertion of a stack of pictures is facilitated by the fact that corners 114 of the edge parts 106 extend angularly away from the window cut-out section 102 to form a ramp along which the stack can be guided. 
     The resilient deflection of edge parts 106 depends upon the thickness of the stack. A wide range of stack thicknesses can be accommodated if, for example, edge parts 106 made of elastic steel are mounted to a plastic frame 100 as shown in FIG. 2. The stop means 108 and 110 are integral with the plastic frame. Even if transverse abutment stop 110 is integral with the frame 100, deflection of edge parts 106 is not prevented because stop 110 is separated at both of its ends from edge parts 106 (FIG. 2). 
     A second alternative embodiment wherein the transverse abutment stop 110&#39; extends over the entire length of transverse edge 112 of the frame 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. A separating slot 116 is provided to permit unrestricted resilient deflection of the edge parts 106. T-members 107, integrally formed with the transverse abutment stop 110 and extending inward, ensure that the stack of pictures is covered by the frame to the same extent on each side (it is desired that this coverage be as small as possible). Further, this alternative version is provided with a window pane 118 inserted in window cut-out section 102 of frame 100. 
     FIGS. 5-8 show third and fourth alternative embodiments. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 7, the stack of pictures is contained in a holding member 119 (illustrated in FIG. 7). Holding member 119 comprises stop members or alignment means 110 which extend transversely with respect to the resilient edge parts 106. The holding member 119, containing a stack of pictures between members 108, is pushed into frame 100 under edge parts 106 so that the latter press the stack against the holding member 119, as shown in FIG. 5. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 8, holding member 119&#39; (FIG. 8) also has stop means or alignment means 108 which extend parallel to edge parts 106. Thus, holding member 119&#39; provides alignment means on all sides of the stack. In both embodiments, holding members 119 and 119&#39; serve as window panes and so are made of a transparent material, such as clear plastic. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an injection molded part 120 comprising two plate-shaped sections 122 and 126. Plate-shaped section 122 has a width &#34;b&#34; equal to the width of the pictures to be held and is secured at one edge to the other plate-shaped section 124 at an angle. Section 122 can be inserted together with a stack of pictures into the holder as shown in FIG. 10, with section 122 lying between the stack and the resilient edge parts 106. The narrower plate-shaped section 124 serves as a foot to support the holder as an up-standing frame. FIG. 11 illustrates in side view how part 120 is inserted if the holder is to be used as a frame with transversely formed pictures, i.e., with section 122 between the stack and only one edge part 106. 
     In the fifth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the clamping means do not engage the stack with elastic bias but hold the stack in place by means of friction. The holder in the fifth embodiment comprises a double wall structure frame 130 having four inner walls 134 and four outer walls 135, and having a window opening 132, with or without a pane. The inner walls 134 of the double wall structure 130 form aligning stop means or alignment means to adjoin a picture stack 136 with respect to the window opening 132. Two opposing inner walls 134 (of the four inner walls) further have pivot openings 137 which each receive a respective pin 138. Each pin 138 is integrally formed with a respective vane or clamping means 140. The width of the vanes is dimensioned such that two edges of each vane 140 frictionally engage the two remaining inner walls 134 of the double wall structure 130 (i.e., those inner walls 134 to which the vanes 140 are not hinged). Because of this frictional engagement, vanes 140 will remain in a position into which they have been brought manually; if moved as far as possible against the stack 136, therefore, the vanes 140 urge the stack 136 flat against the back of window opening 132. 
     As is illustrated in FIG. 14, a pin pivot is not required. For example, if a suitable plastic material such as polypropylene is used, a pivot 142 can be formed integrally with respect to the frame and the vanes. 
     FIGS. 15-18 illustrate a seventh embodiment. The holder comprises a frame 150 having a window opening 152 and aligning stop means or alignment means 156 at and integral with the shorter or transverse side walls 154 of the frame (see FIG. 17). Window opening 152 can be provided with a transparent plastic pane. Also integrally formed with the frame 150 are posts 160 which extend back from a front plate 158 and parallel to longitudinal or longer side walls 155. Posts 160 serve as stop means for supporting a stack of pictures 162 at the longer edges of the pictures. Posts 160 have incisions 164 into which a biasing means, such as leaf springs or spring arms 168, are mounted. Each spring arm 168 has a pair of holes 166. The distance between holes 166 on each spring arm 168 exceeds the distance between the incisions 164 on posts 160 into which the spring arm 168 is mounted. Each spring arm, thus, can assume two positions. In the first position (FIG. 15), the free ends 171 of the spring arms 168 bias the stack 162 to the window 152. If pressure is exerted on central spring bow 170 of spring arms 168 between posts 160, the spring arm 168 will snap into the second position, shown in FIG. 16. This spring movement is the so-called &#34;frog-spring effect&#34; or &#34;snap-spring effect&#34;. A stack can be removed or inserted when the spring arms 168 are in the second position, as illustrated in FIG. 16. After insertion of a stack 162, a push on the spring ends 171 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 16 will reestablish the first position shown in FIG. 15. 
     FIGS. 19-21 illustrate an eighth embodiment, in which two holders 180 and 180&#39; are connected by means of a pivot 181. The holders may be disposed such that the two windows 182 are either juxtaposed (FIG. 21) or back-to-back (FIGS. 19 and 20). The holders 180 and 180&#39; each comprise side walls 184 perpendicular to the window, bottom wall 186 perpendicular to and connecting side walls 184, and support rails 188 extending toward each other from the side walls 184. A biasing means, such as leaf springs 190, is received in the spaces defined by rails 188 and the front of each holder for urging an inserted stack of pictures toward windows 182, as shown in FIG. 20. The stack can be exchanged via the open top of the holder. 
     FIGS. 22-25 illustrate a ninth embodiment. The holder, like the fifth and sixth embodiments shown in FIGS. 12-14, has a double wall structure comprising outer walls 202, inner walls 204, and frame member 206 surrounding and defining a window 200. Two strips 208 of volume compressible material, such as foamed plastic, are mounted, such as by gluing, on one of the longer or longitudinal inner walls 204 (on the right-hand side of FIG. 23). The opposite (left-hand) inner wall 204 is provided with incisions 210 respectively opposite strips 208, to form a deflectable member 214. Indentations 212 formed in the frame member 206 to which member 214 is attached permit member 214 to be elastically deflected toward the adjacent, parallel outer wall 202, as shown in FIG. 25. On the deflectable member 214, at places opposite to strips 208, strips 216 similar to strips 208 are secured. The distance between the two opposite inner walls 204 is selected in accordance with the respective dimension of the stack to be held by the holder. To permit the insertion of the stack (FIG. 25), the inner wall portion 214 is deflected. The stack compresses strips 208 and 216, as seen in FIG. 22. As can be seen in FIG. 24, however, strip 216 tapers in the direction of the window so that the uppermost picture can flatly engage in the window without having to press against a thickness of compressible material.