Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to visual display apparatus for displaying photos or the like.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     One thing that most people would enjoy is to have the opportunity to occasionally look at selected photos or the like, without having to be inconvenienced by any mechanical details associated with that process.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     Relevant prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 2,878,607 issued in 1959 to Alves for a Photo-Mount Greeting Card.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to the present invention I provide a foldable card assembly comprising a generally rectangular front card member that is divided to form two separate front card pieces of equal size and shape, and a back support card member of essentially the same size and shape as each of the separate front card pieces. The back support card member has its respective side edges hingedly secured to the lateral centers of respective ones of the front card pieces. The front card pieces normally occupy a common plane in front of the back card member, but may be rotated by one hundred eighty degrees relative to each other and to the back card member, to then occupy a common plane behind the back support card member.  
         [0005]     It is convenient to visibly display a first photo as a unit on the front card member, with two separate portions of the first photo being then supported on respective front card pieces. At the same time a second photo may be displayed on the back surface of the back card member. Then when the front card pieces are rotated by one hundred eighty degrees relative to each other and to the back card member, the front surface of the back card support member together with the now forwardly exposed surfaces of the adjacent inner portions of the front card pieces may collectively support a third photo visibly displayed as a unit.  
         [0006]     According to the invention the preferred method of providing hinged support by the back support card member for the front card pieces is to provide the back support member with protruding ends that protrude beyond the hinge lines, fold the back support member along the hinge lines, and then glue or otherwise secure the protruding end portions of the back support card member to the back surfaces of respective outer portions of the front card member. As a result, there are then two areas on the back surfaces of the respective front card pieces, and two areas on the front surface of the respective protruding portions of the back support card member, that will not be used to support a photo or the like. Their surfaces will not be visible to the user of the product because they are secured together in a face-to-face engagement.  
         [0007]     In the preferred embodiment of my invention a feature of particular interest is that a wallet-size photo holder may be used to display two photos that are readily visible, plus another that is normally hidden from view. Other features of my invention provide other folding actions to make it possible for the same easily transportable package to visibly display selected ones of more than three different photos or the like. 
     
    
     DRAWING SUMMARY  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of my novel foldable card assembly in its normal unfolded state, in which only the front surface of the front card member is visible, and which is also the point of commencement for Step  1  of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view of the front of the assembly after Step  1  of  FIG. 9 , when it has been partially unfolded by separating the two separate front card pieces on the vertical cut line between them, and also rotating them one hundred eighty degrees about their respective vertical axes;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the assembly in a further unfolded state after Step  2  of  FIG. 9 , when its upper and lower quarters have been rotated one hundred eighty degrees on respective horizontal fold lines;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the assembly after Step  3  of  FIG. 9  has been completed, and prior to the commencement of Step  4 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view of the back side of the assembly in its normal unfolded state, showing only the back surface of the back support card member, and which also conforms to the starting position for Step  1  of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a view of the assembly from its back side, after Step  1  of  FIG. 11  has been achieved by rotating upper and lower parts by one hundred eighty degrees on a horizontal fold line between them;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view of the back side of the assembly after Step  2  of  FIG. 11  has been completed, by separating two central portions of the assembly on a vertical separation line between them and at the same rotating left and right quarter portions of the assembly on respective vertical fold lines, to then assume the position shown in Step  3  of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a view of the back side of the assembly after Step  3  of  FIG. 11  has been completed;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  shows the sequence of unfolding steps from the  FIG. 1  state into the  FIG. 2  state and then into the  FIG. 3  state and then into the  FIG. 4  state;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  shows a different sequence of unfolding steps, in which according to its Step  1  the upper and lower quarters are rotated about horizontal fold lines to achieve the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 ; then in its Step  2  the then-side portions are folded back to achieve the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 ; and then in its Step  3  the then upper and lower portions are folded along horizontal lines to achieve the configuration of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  shows a sequence of unfolding steps when starting from the back side of the assembly;  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  shows still a different unfolding sequence starting from the back of the assembly;  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  shows a sequence of unfolding steps for a modified embodiment in which the card assembly is relative tall but relatively narrow in a horizontal direction;  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  shows a sequence of unfolding steps for another embodiment of the invention in which the card assembly is relatively wide in a horizontal direction but not very tall;  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  shows how the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-12  can be made from a single rectangular cardboard member, in a folded-out condition showing certain surfaces of the back side that are not normally visible because of being glued together;  
         [0023]      FIG. 16  shows how the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-12  can be made from a single rectangular cardboard member, being illustrated in a folded-out condition in which both all of the front surfaces of  FIG. 1  and all of the back surfaces of  FIG. 4  are exposed at the same time;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 17A, 17B , and  17 C show the complete steps in which the card assembly of  FIGS. 1-12  and  15 ,  16  may be made;  
         [0025]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of my invention in a partly folded-out form; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional and expanded view of the foldable card assembly of  FIG. 18  taken on the line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIRST EMBODIMENT  
     (FIGS.  1 - 12  and  15 - 17 )  
       [0027]     In the first embodiment of my invention the card assembly is made from a single rectangular piece of cardboard of which the rearward or back surface is shown in  FIG. 17A  while the front or forward surface is shown in  FIG. 17B . Heavy black lines indicate that the cardboard is cut on those lines. This is schematically illustrated by a pair of scissors and associated arrow pointing to one of the black lines.  
         [0028]     The sole cardboard member of my first embodiment is functionally divided into 32 sections or panels, 20 of which are visible on the back side as shown in  FIG. 17A  while the remaining 12 are visible on the front side as shown in  FIG. 17B . The view of the front side of the sole cardboard member as seen in  FIG. 17B  is inverted or rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the back side as seen in  FIG. 17A .  
         [0029]     A longitudinal cut line is made which, as shown in  FIG. 17A , separates panels C 3 , B 1 , and C 4  above the line from panels C 5 , B 2 , and C 6  which are below the line. Panels B 1  and B 2  are of the same size and shape. The very same cut line is visible in  FIG. 17B  from the front side of the cardboard where panels D 3 , D 1 , and D 5  above the line are separated from panels D 4 , D 2 , and D 6  below the line. The longitudinal cut line extends exactly one-half the length of the cardboard member.  
         [0030]     Two other cut lines are also made in the sole cardboard member of my first embodiment, which are perpendicular to the cut line initially described. One of them separates panel C 1  from panels C 3  and C 5  as seen in  FIG. 17A , and panel A 1  from panels D 3  and D 4  as seen in  FIG. 17B . The other of those cut lines separates panels C 4  and C 6  from panel C 2  as seen in  FIG. 17A , and panel A 2  from panels D 5  and D 6  as seen in  FIG. 17B .  
         [0031]     Eight of the 32 separately identifiable panels are not visible in the operating condition of the product, because they are glued together, in pairs, in face-to-face relationship.  FIG. 17C  shows the front side of the completed assembly, the same as is shown in  FIG. 1 . In order to arrive at the completed assembly as shown in  FIG. 17C , upon starting with the back side of the sole cardboard member exposed as shown in  FIG. 17A , certain folding and gluing operations are performed. One section of the cardboard member consisting of panels B 3 , C 1 , and B 4  can be folded relative to the remainder of the cardboard member, because of the cut line that was previously made between panels C 1  and panels C 3 , C 5 . And another section consisting of panels B 5 , C 2 , and B 6  can be folded relative to the remainder of the cardboard member because of the cut line that was previously made between panels C 2  and C 4 ,C 6 . Thus there are a total of eight folds, four of which are made longitudinally while the other four are made transversely.  
         [0032]     After all those fold lines are formed the gluing operations will next be done. Panels Y 1  and Y 2  are glued together in face-to-face relationship. Panels Y 3  and Y 4  are glued together in face-to-face relationship. Panels Z 1  and Z 2  are glued together in face-to-face relationship. And panels Z 3  and Z 4  are glued together in face-to-face relationship. Then the entire lateral ends of the cardboard member are folded inward so that the front face appears as is shown in  FIG. 17C .  
       DESCRIPTION OF SECOND AND THIRD EMBODIMENTS  
     (FIGS.  13  and  14 )  
       [0033]     The embodiments of  FIGS. 13 and 14  are constructed in the same manner as the first embodiment, except that a cardboard member of a different rectangular configuration is used. It will of course be understood that the rectangular cardboard member could, if desired, be actually square.  
       DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     (FIGS.  18  and  19 )  
       [0034]     According to the present invention I provide a foldable card assembly  100  comprising a generally rectangular front card member that is divided to form two separate front card pieces  10  and  20  of equal size and shape, and a back support card member  30  of essentially the same size and shape as each of the separate front card pieces. The back support card member has its respective side edges hingedly secured to the lateral centers of respective ones of the front card pieces, as indicated by dotted lines in  FIG. 18 . The front card pieces normally occupy a common plane in front of the back card member, but may be rotated relative to each other and to the back card member. In  FIG. 18  the front card pieces are shown in partially rotated position. When fully rotated by one hundred eighty degrees relative to each other and to the back card support member, they would then occupy a common plane behind the back support card member.  
         [0035]      FIG. 19  is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 , showing the complete structure in more detail and in a slightly expanded form for purpose of illustration. Left front panel  10  has a front surface  12  and a back surface  14 . Right front panel  20  has a front surface  22  and back surface  24 . Back support card member  30  has a front surface  32  and a back surface  34 . As seen in  FIG. 19 , the back support member  30  also has a left extension panel  40  with front surface  42  and back surface  44 . It also has a right extension panel  50  with front surface  52  and back surface  54 .  
         [0036]     The front surface  42  of back extension  40  is glued by a glue layer  60  to half of the back surface  14  of front side piece  10 . The front surface  52  is glued by a glue layer  62  to half of the back surface  24  of front side piece  20 . The back card support member is folded on the dotted lines shown in  FIG. 18 , in order to provide hinges to support the the front panel  10 ,  20 . It is important to use cardboard material or the like, that will fold well but still be reusable for a number of times.  
         [0037]     When the front side pieces  10 ,  20 , are fully rotated by one hundred eighty degrees relative to each other and to the back support member  30 , the picture  70  on the front surface  32  of the central back support member  30  will then be fully exposed to view. The back surfaces  44  and  54  of the back support extensions will then be in face-to-face engagement with the back surface  34  of the back support card member  30 .  
         [0038]     It is convenient to visibly display a first photo as a unit on the front card member, with two separate portions of the first photo being then supported on respective front card pieces. At the same time a second photo may be displayed on the back surface of the back card member. Then when the front card pieces are rotated by one hundred eighty degrees relative to each other and to the back card member, the front surface of the back card support member together with the now forwardly exposed surfaces of the adjacent inner portions of the front card pieces may collectively support a third photo visibly displayed as a unit.  
         [0039]     According to the invention the preferred method of providing hinged support by the back support card member for the front card pieces is to provide the back support member with protruding ends that protrude beyond the hinge lines, to fold the back support member along the hinge lines, and then to glue or otherwise secure the protruding end portions of the back support card member to the back surfaces of respective outer portions of the front card member. As a result, there are then two areas on the back surfaces of the respective front card pieces, and two areas on the front surface of the respective protruding portions of the back support card member, that will not be used to support a photo or the like. Their surfaces will not be visible to the user of the product because they are secured together in a face-to-face engagement.  
         [0040]     In the preferred embodiment of my invention a feature of particular interest is that a wallet-size photo holder may be used to display two photos that are readily visible, plus another that is normally hidden from view. Although the extension panels  40  and  50  are illustrated in  FIG. 19  as being secured to the respective outer portions of the front pieces  10 ,  20 , they may optionally be secured to respective inner portions of the front pieces  10 ,  20 . In the first instance the hidden photo or picture such as  70  may be exposed on surfaces  32 ,  14 ,  24 . In the latter instance the picture would be displayed on surfaces  32 ,  42 ,  52 .  
         [0041]     Other features of my invention provide other folding actions to make it possible for the same easily transportable package to visibly display selected ones of more than three different photos or the like, as shown in  FIGS. 1-12  and  15 - 17 .  
         [0042]     Other modifications within the scope of our inventive concept will be apparent to those persons skilled in the art. Although the presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail in order to comply with requirements of the patent laws, it will be understood that the scope of the invention is to be measured only in accordance with the appended claims.

Technology Category: g