Patent Document

RELATED CASES 
     Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly owned and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/946,001 which was filed on Feb. 28, 2014 and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to an improved photography system, method of displaying photographs and a kit used in practicing the present invention. More particularly, the present invention relates to a photography system that is adapted for the display of multiple photographs, particularly two photographs. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a photography system that is adapted for the display of two photographs viewed at opposed angles to the viewing site. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Presently, photographs that are taken are displayed in a frame structure that may contain one or more photographs. However, there does not presently exist a system in which photographs can be merged and yet effectively displayed. In particular, there does not presently exist a means for the display of multiple photographs in effectively one frame structure. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved photography system and associated method in which multiple photographs can be displayed in a single frame structure. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved photography system and method where, in particular, two photographs can be effectively displayed in a single frame structure, to be observed at different transverse angles to the displayed composite display structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention there is provided a system for merging multiple photographs that includes a first register for storing a first photograph; a second register for storing a second photograph; a first separation controller coupled from said first register for establishing a series of vertically-arranged first photograph segments of the first photograph; a second separation controller coupled from said second register for establishing a series of vertically-arranged second photograph segments of the second photograph; and a multiplexer for receiving the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments, mixing the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments, and alternating the placement of the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments to form, from the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments, a composite photograph in which the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments alternate in position across a width of the composite photograph. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the first and second photographs are stored in a digital format; the first separation controller includes a first digital memory storage; the second separation controller includes a second digital memory storage; including an output storage for receiving the composite photograph; in combination with a support substrate for the composite photograph; wherein the support substrate includes a rib structure mounted on a mounting surface of the substrate, said rib structure constructed and arranged to form a series of juxtaposition ribs formed in a parallel array; and wherein the composite photograph is formed in a folded array that includes fold lines that correspond to a demarcation line between respective photograph segments, said folded composite photograph constructed and arranged for mating support to said rib structure. 
     In accordance with another version of the present invention there is provided a method for merging multiple photographs comprising the steps of: storing a first photograph; storing a second photograph; converting the first photograph in order to establish a series of vertically-arranged first photograph segments of the first photograph; converting the second photograph in order to establish a series of vertically-arranged second photograph segments of the second photograph; and mixing the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments by alternating the placement of the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments to form, from the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments, a composite photograph in which the respective vertically-arranged first and second photograph segments alternate in position across a width of the composite photograph. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the first and second photographs are stored in a digital format; the step of converting the first photograph includes providing a first digital memory storage; the step of converting the second photograph includes providing a second digital memory storage; including supporting the composite photograph in a folded manner including fold lines provided between adjacent photograph segment pairs; and including providing a rib structure mounted on a mounting surface of the substrate, said rib structure constructed and arranged to form a series of juxtaposition ribs formed in a parallel array. 
     In accordance with another version of the present invention there is provided a photograph display apparatus comprising a substrate having a mounting surface and a rib structure mounted on the mounting surface of the substrate. The rib structure is constructed and arranged to form a series of juxtaposition ribs formed in a parallel array including successive rib peaks. A composite photograph, that includes alternating photograph segments of respective first and second photograph, is formed in a folded array that includes fold lines that correspond to a demarcation line between respective photograph segments. The folded composite photograph is constructed and arranged for mating support to the rib structure. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the substrate mounting surface is substantially planar; the rib structure forms a saw tooth pattern with the demarcation line being defined between respective teeth of the saw tooth pattern; the rib structure is formed as a single rib structure disposed across the entire width of the substrate; the rib structure is formed as a series of ribs spaced from each other; and the fold lines of the composite photograph correspond in location to peaks and valleys of the rib structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. In the drawings depicting the present invention, all dimensions are to scale. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a photograph A; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of a photograph B; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the photograph A of  FIG. 1  with score lines; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the photograph B of  FIG. 2  with score lines; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the composite photograph showing only a portion of the photograph content with the remaining content, for illustrative purposes, indicated by opposed hash lines; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a template that may be employed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the mounting substrate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the mounting substrate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  and also including the mounted photograph; 
         FIG. 8A  is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the substrate and photograph with an adhesive therebetween; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 7  but with the added and scored composite photograph mounted to the substrate; 
         FIG. 10  is an illustrative diagram showing photographs A and B as well as the composite photograph C; 
         FIG. 10A  is a further schematic illustration in a plan view showing the left and right viewing angles for the respective photos to be observed; 
         FIG. 11  is an electronic block diagram helpful in explaining the principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is an electronic block diagram like that shown in  FIG. 11  with further details for explaining the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a technique by which multiple photographs can be digitally stored and merged to provide a single larger photograph, such as illustrated in  FIG. 10  herein. In accordance with the present invention this system includes a mounting substrate  20 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , with preferably triangular supporting ribs. The digital storing of the photographs allows a mixing or merging step to take place to provide a composite photograph. This composite photograph is then scored at separate sequential photograph segments and mounted upon the mounting substrate. A viewing of the mounted composite shows one photograph at one lateral side and the other photograph at the opposed lateral side. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a first photograph A.  FIG. 2  is an illustration of a second photograph B. One of the purposes of the present invention is to have the ability to replicate these photographs in a different format such as the format illustrated in  FIG. 10  wherein one of the photographs is viewed from the left as indicated by arrow L and the other photograph is observed from the right as indicated by the arrow R. It can be seen from  FIG. 10  that the composite photograph C is illustrated as viewed directly from the front. This particular composite photograph is meant to be mounted to the mounting substrate  20  that is described in detail hereinafter. By this particular mounting arrangement, when one views the photograph mounted on the substrate at a left angular position one can observe, for example, photograph B. Similarly, when one observes the mounting substrate with the photograph attached at a right angular position as indicated in  FIG. 10 , this is a viewing of photograph A. These physical observation angles are approximately 45 degrees or preferably slightly less than 45 degrees at an angle, to be described hereinafter, that is in a range of 40-43 degrees. 
     For a further understanding of the respective photograph viewing positions refer also to  FIG. 10A  which is basically a plan view showing the main planar substrate at 20 and the three viewing angles indicated by a line of sight L 1  wherein photograph B is viewed, as depicted in  FIG. 10  at the right; a line of sight R 1  wherein photograph A is viewed, as depicted in  FIG. 10  at the left; and a direct line of sight C 1  wherein the composite photograph can be viewed, as depicted in  FIG. 10  at the center. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3 and 4  which are basically replications of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. However, for illustration purposes, photograph A includes score lines LA and photograph B includes score lines LB. These score lines are illustrated for the purpose of separating each of the photographs into multiple segments SA and SB, respectively. In accordance with the concepts of the present invention, these segments SA and SB are then sequentially generated as per the composite photograph C of  FIG. 5 . It can be readily observed in  FIG. 5  that the respective segments SA and SB from  FIGS. 3 and 4  alternate in sequence across the breadth BR of the diagram of  FIG. 5 . These segments correspond in total to the total of the segments of  FIGS. 3 and 4  combined. These may also be referred to as segments SA 1  to SA n  related to photograph A and segment SB 1  to Sb n  related to photograph B. For simplicity in  FIG. 5  the different segments are shown in alternating herring bone patterns, but it is understood that a different pattern from respective photographs is found in each separate segment. This is illustrated in the top left corner of  FIG. 5 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, the photographs such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are each considered as digitally stored. In this regard refer to the block diagram of  FIG. 11  that shows photo A and photo B as coupled to the computer device  30 . The device  30  may be any one of a number of different computer processing machines. Computer  30  has the capability of receiving and storing the respective photos A and B as indicated by respective digital storage devices  32  and  34 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 11  is a mixer or multiplexer  36  that is capable of providing the composite photograph of  FIG. 5  with the alternating images at segments SA and SB. This composite signal is illustrated at the output  38  in  FIG. 11 . 
     Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the photographs A and B are meant to be digitally configured as depicted in  FIG. 11 . The composite signal C, as indicated previously, represents the composite photograph of  FIG. 5 . In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention this photograph C can simply be printed out on a conventional printer and then scored on each of the score lines  10 . Alternatively, a template  15  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  with the score lines  16  demarcated thereon may be employed. The template  15  is used as the printing media and thus when the composite signal is printed out, it is formed on the template  15  having the score lines already existing and demarcating between the different segments SA and SB. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 7  for an illustration of the mounting substrate  20  of the present invention. The mounting substrate  20  may have a size slightly larger than the boundaries of the composite photograph of  FIG. 5 . In this regard refer also to the perspective view of  FIG. 9  showing an additional peripheral frame area  25  where some type of a frame (not shown) may be attached and associated with the photograph and template. 
     In  FIG. 7  the diagram of the mounting substrate is illustrated by three spaced apart rows  23  with each row containing sequential triangular-shaped ribs  24 . Refer also to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8  taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 7A , rather than using three spaced apart and separate rows  23 , one could provide a mounting substrate  20  with a single saw-tooth pattern  24 A in which the triangular ribs each extend transversely across substantially the entire width of the mounting substrate  20 . 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  for the purpose of illustrating the construction of the triangular ribs  24 .  FIG. 8A  is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the substrate and photograph with an adhesive therebetween.  FIGS. 8 and 8A  illustrate the substrate supporting ribs at  24 ; the folded composite photograph at  17 ; and the adhesive at  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a series of these triangular ribs in essentially a saw-tooth pattern is disposed in separate rows  23 . This series of triangular ribs  24  is aligned so that each of the peaks of the ribs is in alignment from row to row. For the embodiment of  FIG. 7A  with a single rib construction all peaks are in alignment.  FIG. 8  illustrates a preferred angle of these ribs as angle X. This angle is preferably slightly less than 45 degrees and may be in a range of 40-43 degrees. The fragmentary cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8A  also illustrates an adhesive at  14  which represents the means by which the scored photograph C is mounted to the mounting substrate  20 . In this regard, refer to the perspective view of  FIG. 9  which illustrates the composite photograph C as mounted to the mounting substrate  20  such as with the use of an adhesive of some type. The adhesive may be applied uniformly or may be applied only at certain locations. The adhesive is to be applied sufficiently so as to hold the composite photograph effectively against and to all of the ribs of the mounting substrate  20 . In  FIG. 9  a herring bone pattern is used in order to simplify the diagram. However, each of the different alternating segments of the actual photograph segments is illustrated. 
     The illustration of  FIG. 5  may be construed as a point where the composite photograph is essentially in a planar state. However, for the proper mounting of the composite photograph, the photograph C is to be scored along lines  10  and essentially folded along those score lines into a series of sequential triangular pieces, as depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
     As indicated previously, the diagram of  FIG. 10  is meant to illustrate basically three different viewing angles of the finally mounted photograph on the mounting substrate  20 .  FIG. 10A  is a further schematic illustration in a plan view showing the left and right viewing angles for the respective photos to be observed. The mounting substrate  20  is substantially planar. However, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 10A , by viewing from the left at, for example, a 45 degree angle to the mounting substrate, one observes substantially only photograph B. On the other hand, by viewing the substrate to the right at, for example, a 45 degree angle to the mounting substrate as also illustrated in  FIG. 10 , one observes substantially only photograph A.  FIGS. 10 and 10A  also illustrate a direct frontal observation which is of the composite photograph C which includes alternating photograph segments that are thus then all observed, although this observation has each segment observed at an angle. Photograph C is not considered as a meaningful photograph to observe in that it is a mixture of both photograph segments. As the observe moves from a center position either right or left, once the observer reaches an angle around 45 degrees then only the one photograph is observed; photograph A from the right and photograph B from the left. As the observer moves closer to this 45 degree position the respective photograph becomes more complete and clear. 
     Again, reference has been made previously to  FIG. 11  that shows photographs A and B as well as the respective storage devices  32  and  34 . These storage devices  32  and  34  along with the mixer or multiplexer  36  are considered as part of a conventional computer system  30 . The output from the multiplexer or mixer  36  is representative of the composite and sliced photographs as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As part of the process, the generated composite photograph C is then scored and folded. The following step is to then apply the scored and folded composite photograph to the mounting substrate  20  illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  depicts the composite photograph C so mounted and also depicts a peripheral frame portion  25  about the entire periphery of the substrate that may receive a frame (not shown). 
     Reference is now also made to  FIG. 12  that is a more detailed diagram of the imaging system for creating the photograph composite that is viewable from alternate positions. In  FIG. 12  there are shown photographs A and B, respectively at  42  and  44 .  FIG. 12  also depicts the two registers for digitally storing these photographs, as the respective storage devices or registers  46  and  48 . In the block diagram of  FIG. 12  after the registers  46  and  48 , there are respective segment registers or controllers  50  and  52 . Each of the controllers  50  and  52  stores respective digital segments of each stored photograph. The outputs of the respective controllers  50 ,  52  lead to the mixer or multiplexer  54 , as in the diagram of  FIG. 11 . The devices  46 ,  48 ,  50  and  52 , along with the mixer or multiplexer  54  are considered as part of a conventional computer system. The output from the multiplexer or mixer  54  connects, as shown in  FIG. 12 , to the output digital storage device  56 . The output from the device  56  is representative of the composite and sliced photographs, such as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As part of the process, the generated composite photograph C is then scored and folded. The following step is to then apply the scored and folded composite photograph to the mounting substrate  20  illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  depicts the composite photograph C so mounted and also depicts a peripheral frame portion  25  about the entire periphery of the substrate that may receive a frame (not shown). 
     Having now described one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 3