Photograph storage and display device

Abstract

 Photographs (B) and negatives (C) are stored within the device (A) so that at least one of the photographs is visible through a transparent window (B). Various flaps (2, 3, 4, 5) may be folded on top of each other to minimise the volume of the device (A) for storage purposes. Alternatively, wing portions (6, 7) may be used to hold apart the flaps (2, 3, 4, 5) to form the device (A) into a display stand.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a photograph storage and display device which can store photographs (and optionally also the photograph negatives) and display the photographs by acting as a display stand.

[0002] Photograph albums are known and some can be positioned upright to act as photograph display stands.

[0003] Also, known film carriers store negative films as strips of, for example, 6 frames each.

[0004] The above albums and carriers are used as storage devices for separately storing the photographs and the film negatives. However, because they are separate, it is very inconvenient to find and remove a desired negative for a particular photograph when, for example, additional printing of the photograph is required.

[0005] Such inconvenience can be overcome by keeping both the photographs and the film carriers together, but it is awkward to use a photograph stand that is separate from the photograph storage device when it is desired to display the photographs while keeping them in the photograph stand. In short, such inconvenience is derived from the fact that the photograph storage, negative film storage and photograph display devices are separate from each other.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a photograph storage/display device comprising a frame portion, a pair of outer cover portions extending from opposite sides of the frame portion and foldable towards one face of the frame portion, a pair of inner cover portions extending from opposite ends of the frame portion and foldable towards said one face of the frame portion, and stand means provided on one of the outer cover portions.

[0007] This device can act as an album or a display stand. Preferably, the device stores the film negatives in addition to the photographs.

[0008] The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a photograph storage/display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1 showing a partially folded state;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 when used as a photograph stand;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a photograph storage/display device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the device of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 5 as it is assembled to form a photograph stand;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 5 when fully assembled as the photograph stand;

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a photograph storage/display device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 9 showing it partially unfolded to form a photograph stand;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 9 showing it fully assembled as a photograph stand;

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a photograph storage/display device according to a still further embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 13 showing it when bags are being removed;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 13 when the bags are inserted;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross-section of the bags;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the device of Fig. 13 when used as a photograph stand;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 13 when folded up;

Fig. 19 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a photograph storage/display device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a photograph storage/display device according to another embodiment of the present invention, when used as a photograph stand; and

Fig. 21 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a photograph storage/display device according to a still yet further embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] With the embodiment of photograph storage/display devices shown in the Figs., photographs and film carriers can be kept together by inserting them inside a frame board portion and folding back inner and outer cover board portions. Each device can act as a photograph stand having a generally triangular prism shape that is visually pleasing.

[0010] Figs. 1 - 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the Figs., a photograph storage/display device A is stamped out from a sheet of thick paper. A main portion of the device is a rectangular frame board portion 1 in the shape of a picture frame, outer cover board portions 2, 3 extending from both of the sides of the frame board portion, inner cover board portions 4, 5 extending from both ends of the frame board portion, and sleeve board portions 6, 7 extending from both sides of the outer cover board portion 2.

[0011] The frame board portion 1 has a length and width sufficient to allow a pair of photographs to be placed side by side. On its inner face is stuck a transparent sheet 8 made of a rigid vinyl chloride.

[0012] The outer cover board portion 2 has substantially the same width as the frame board portion 1 and has on its free side an extension board portion 2a. The outer cover board portion 3 comprises board portions 3a, 3b separated by a longitudinal fold line and a lip board portion 3c.

[0013] The sleeve board portions 6, 7 comprise triangular board portions 6a, 7a which extend along the ends of the outer cover board portion 2 and tongue portions 6b, 7b extending from the portions 6a, 7a via folds.

[0014] On surfaces of the outer cover board portion 2 and the board portion 3b are provided engaging pieces 9, 10 made of engaging material such as "Magic Tape" (trademark).

[0015] Photographs B are received in the storage/display device A with film carriers C which store film negatives of the the photographs B.

[0016] With the device A positioned as shown in Fig. 2, the photographs B printed from film negatives are divided into two piles and placed on the frame board portion 1 and then the film carriers C are placed on the photographs B. Next, the inner cover board portions 4, 5 are folded inwards and then the outer cover board portions 2, 3 are folded inwards. At this time, as shown in Fig. 3, the extension board portion 2a is folded inwards and the sleeve board portions 6, 7 are also folded inwards. Then the outer cover board portion 3 is folded inwards with the board portion 3c overlapping the outer cover board portion 2. The outer cover board portions 2, 3 are held together by the engaging pieces 9, 10. The end result is shown in Fig. 1, with the photographs and film carriers stored in the photograph storage/display device.

[0017] To form a photograph stand, each portion is folded as shown in Fig. 4. Specifically, the board portions 3a, 3b of the outer cover board portion 3 are folded inwards and the extension board portion 2a of the outer cover board portion 2 is folded to overlap the board portion 3b to form a triangular prism body. Then the tongue board portion 6b is inserted into a gap between the board portions 3a and 3b. The tongue board portion 7b is also inserted in the same manner. By doing so, triangular openings at both ends of the triangular prism body are closed by the triangular board portions 6a, 7a of the sleeve board portions 6, 7 to maintain the triangular prism body shape.

[0018] The traiangular prism body assembled as above serves as a photograph stand as shown in Fig. 4 with the frame board portion 1 of the picture frame facing outwards.

[0019] Thus, the above photograph storage/display device can not only store both photographs and film carriers but also can act as a photograph stand. When used as a photograph stand, the photographs can be easily exchanged by moving a desired photograph to the front on the frame board portion from among the many photographs stored therein.

[0020] Figs. 5 - 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the sleeve board portions 6, 7 are formed on both ends of the board portion 3a of the outer cover board portion 3. All the constituent board portions 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b of the sleeve board portions 6, 7 are triangular. The triangular board portions 6b, 7b are punched out in such manner that they remove some of the material of the inner cover board portions. On the outer cover board portion 2 is punched out an engaging tongue 2b. On the board portion 3a is formed a slit 3d for receiving the tongue 2b.

[0021] With this embodiment, the photographs and the film carriers are piled on the frame board portion 1 as for the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 4. The board portions 3b, 3c are folded over the board portion 3a. The sleeve board portions 6, 7 are folded inwards over the board portion 3b after the board portions 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b have been folded up. Then the board portions 3b, 3c are folded towards the frame board portion 2. The innercover board portions 4, 5 are folded inwards and then the outer cover board portion 2 is lastly folded inwards so that the tongue piece 2b is inserted into the slit 3d. Fig. 5 shows the assembled state.

[0022] To make a photograph stand, each portion is folded as shown in Fig. 7.

[0023] Figs. 9 - 12 show another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to that of Figs. 5 to 8 but it omits the board portions 3b, 3c of the outer cover board portion 3. When used as a photograph stand as shown in Fig. 11, even without the board portions 3b, 3c for holding in place outer cover board portion 2, the good appearance of the photograph stand is not impaired.

[0024] Figs. 13 - 18 show another embodiment of the present invention. Construction of the main body of this embodiment is basically the same as that of Figs. 1 - 4.

[0025] The frame board portion 1 has a length and width such that it can display a panoramic (i.e. double width) photograph.

[0026] On the outer cover board portion 3 is provided a flap board portion 9 of about half the depth of the cover board portion 3. On the free side of the flap board portion 9 is stuck one side of a joint band 10 made of soft sheet material. Along the side of the joint band 10 is fixed a bound together group of transparent bags 11 made of polypropylene sheet. Each bag 11 is rectangular and about the same size as the frame board portion 1.

[0027] The tranparent bags 11 may be made of any material which is thin and soft, e.g. vinyl chloride sheet.

[0028] Each bag 11 has a photograph insertion opening in one or both ends. However the opening may be formed in a side instead of an end.

[0029] Each bag 11 (see Fig. 13) can receive a pair of photographs B, B back to back. One of the bags is used for storing the film negatives.

[0030] Because the band 10 is flexible, the bags 11 may be raised and lowered (see Fig. 14) to permit insertion and removal of photographs. When the bags 11 are lowered, the band 10 is positioned between portion 3 and the bags 11 and thus is not visible through the transparent sheet 8.

[0031] When the bags 11 are raised, they act as a photograph album.

[0032] The device A when assembled as a storage device (see Fig. 18) may be hung on the wall by using a hole 3b formed in the outer cover board portion 3.

[0033] Fig. 19 shows a photograph storage/display device according to a further embodiment of the present invention. It differs from the embodiment of Figs. 13 to 18 because the inner cover board portions 4, 5 are stuck on the outer cover board portion 3. Also, the joint band 10 for the bags 11 is stuck directly on the outer cover board portion 3. Since inner cover board portions 4, 5 are stuck down, the joint band 10 is shorter than for the embodiment of Figs. 13 to 18.

[0034] Fig. 20 shows a photograph storage/display device according to a further embodiment of the present invention in which stays 2c, 2c act as stand means and are formed by punching. The stays 2c support the outer cover board portion 3 upright when the device is being used as a photograph stand. The stays 2c may be formed separately from the portion 2 and then fixed on the portion.

[0035] Fig. 21 shows a further embodiment. In this embodiment, the sleeve board portions 6, 7 shown in Fig. 13 are omitted, the inner cover board portions 4, 5 are stuck to the outer cover board portion 3 in the same manner as in Fig. 19, the joint band 10 is short, and the outer cover board portion 2 is short so as to be insertable in the main body. In this embodiment, stays 3c are formed by punching the outer cover board portion 3 so that they may project outwards.

[0036] In the above embodiments, most of each storage/display device is made of paper, but other materials can be used instead, such as a laminated sheet made of paper and a synthetic resin film, a synthetic resin sheet, leather or the like. The storage/display device is easier and cheaper to manufacture if it is punched out from a single sheet of material and then provided with fold lines. However, the constituent parts may be made separately and then assembled.

Claims

1. A photograph storage/display device (A) comprising a frame portion (1), a pair of outer cover portions (2, 3) extending from opposite sides of the frame portion (1) and foldable towards one face of the frame portion (1), a pair of inner cover portions (4, 5) extending from opposite ends of the frame portion (1) and foldable towards said one face of the frame portion (1), and stand means (6, 7) provided on one of the outer cover portions (2, 3).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the stand means (6, 7) comprises wing portions (6, 7) extending from opposite ends of one of the outer cover portions (2, 3), each wing portion (6, 7) having a flap (6b, 7b) insertable into a gap between an appropriate pair of the portions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) to hold at least one of the outer cover portions (2, 3) away from the frame portion (1) to thereby form a display frame.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein a flap portion (9) is provided on the other one (3) of the outer cover portions (2, 3), so that the display frame may be formed by inserting the inner cover portions (4, 5) between the flap portion (9) and said other one (3) of the outer cover portions (2, 3) and by inserting each flap (6b, 7b) of the wing portions (6, 7) between the adjacent one of the inner cover portions (4, 5) and said other one (3) of the outer cover portions (2, 3).

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the stand means are struts (2c, 3c) pivotably mounted on one of the outer cover portions (2, 3).

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the struts (2c) pivot towards the frame portion (1) to hold at least one of the outer cover portions (2, 3) away from the frame portion (1) to thereby form a display frame.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one side of a strip (10) made of flexible material is connected to one of the outer cover portions (2, 3) and the other side of the strip (10) is connected to each one of a plurality of photograph storage pockets (11) each of which is at least partially transparent, the flexible strip (10) permitting movement of the pockets (11) between a photograph loading/unloading position and a position at which a photograph in one of the pockets (11) is visible through the frame portion (1).

7. A device according to claims 3 and 6, wherein said one side of the strip (10) is connected to the associated outer cover portion via the flap portion (9).

8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the distance between the sides of the strip (10) is substantially half the distance between the sides of the associated outer cover portion (3), and said one side of the strip (10) is located substantially midway between and extends generally in the common direction of the sides of the associated outer cover portion (3).

Drawing