Improved Holders or Stands for Photographs and the like, applicable also as Mailing Cases.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
Improved Holders or Stands for Photographs and the like, applicable
also as Mailing Cases.
We PHILIP ADAM BECKER and JOHN HENRY CLARK, Manufacturers
residents of Piqua, Miami County Ohio, U.S.A. do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to picture-holders its object being primarily to produce a
simple and cheap device for holding protecting and exhibiting pictures such as
photographs menu cards programmes and similar articles and which may be also
used as a mailing case or envelope complying with the postal laws and rules relating
to "unsealed matter.
"3
To this end the invention consists primarily in a containing case composed of
card-board or similar material folded upon itself in one or more folds; each leaf of
said case being partially perforated in a manner permitting two or more tongues
of the material to be bent inward to overlap at opposite sides of and retain a picture
card or similar object.
It consists also in the device thus constructed further provided upon one of its
outer faces with a suitably designated space for post-office stamp and mailing
address; and also in the provision and combination with the device so constituted
of a stiffening pad of wood or other material adapted to lie between the leaves of
the case and be secured therein by suitable fastenings such as strings metal
clasps etc., permitting the case to be readily opened when required and when in
place protecting the entire case from breakage or other injuries in mail transit.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case partially opened and containing two
pictures.
Figure 2 is a view of the pad detached.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the mode of inserting and securing the
pad in the holder or case.
Figure is a perspective view of the case and pad closed together addressed and
stamped for mailing.
Figure 5 is a detail edge view showing the overlapping tongues securing a picture
in place and
Figure 6 is a general perspective view of a casing having several folds.
Referring now to the drawings illustrating a simple form of the invention. The
case or holder A. consists of a sheet of card board celluloid or any suitable material
folded upon itself at the central line a a and pierced with suitably disposed cuts of
semi-circular or other forms to permit tongues of the material to be pressed inward
and overlapped upon a picture or other object B such as a photograph. Two such
pictures being inserted as indicated in Figure 1 they are thus held securely face to
face as upon opposite leaves or covers of a book.
The form and number of the retaining tongues as also the quality colour, size,
form and ornamentation of the case, are matters of style and may be varied. The
material of the case however should be stiff enough to allow the tongues bb to be
permanently bent and maintain the proper holding angles as indicated in Figure 5
so that a picture can be easily slipped into or removed from its position from the
sides.
The case A is pierced by suitable apertures near each outer margin on the sides
or ends, and furnished with a tying cord or ribbon c or metal fastening. It may be
further pierced with one or more holes at opposite sides of the line a a at the top

page_text: and similarly furnished with a cord d by which it is conveniently hung upon a wall
or elsewhere as desired.
As thus constructed the case A forms a useful protecting casing for pictures,
photographs or cards. For mailing purposes its usefulness is further enhanced by
providing a pad C of stiff cardboard or wood, and preferably covered by soft
material such as cotton-wadding and tissue paper or other material, to form a
cushion. It is placed within the leaves of the casing A as indicated in Figures 3
and 4 to stiffen, the casing and protect the pictures from rubbing etc., in mail
transit. This " pad is also pierced with holes registering with those of the
casing A for insertion of the tying cord c. One outer face of the casing being
provided with suitable blank spaces for postage stamp and mailing address as
indicated in Figure 4, the case with the pad C constitutes a protecting shield and
envelope when secured together by the cord c which can readily be opened by the
postal authorities as required in the case of merchandise or unsealed packages.
"
It will be observed also that the finest photographs or most delicate pictures are
thus efficiently protected, while the transporting case becomes thereafter an
ornamental picture-holder when opened and placed upon a mantel-shelf or hung
upon a wall.
The outsides of the casing-one or both-may also be utilized for carrying the
advertisement of the photographic artist or dealer or merely ornamental matter.
It will be obvious that the casing may be formed to contain but one picture, also
that it may be folded upon itself in the usual manner of map folding, to contain a
series of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A casing or holder of card-board or similar material folded upon itself in one
or more folds and provided with the holding tongues for the reception of card
pictures substantially as set forth.
2. A mailing case for pictures or photographs consisting of a strip of cardboard
or similar material folded upon itself and provided with means for attaching
pictures to the inner sides in combination with a pad of wood or similar material
inserted between the folds of the casing as a stiffener with suitable fastenings
securing the edges of the casing and the stiffening pad together for mailing
purposes substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of the folding case A perforated near the outer margin with
pad C similarly perforated and contained between the folds of the case A and
fastenings (as c) adapted to pass through all the parts and secure them together
substantially as set forth.
4. A casing of card-board or similar material provided with inner opposite
holding tongues to receive pictures and provided with a blank space upon one of its
outer sides for a mailing address in combination with a stiffening pad inserted
between the folds of the casing substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of June 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.