U.S. patent application number 11/743539 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for method for simultaneously displaying a plurality of items.
Invention is credited to Robert G. Salatka, Coral Teza.
Application Number | 20080000126 11/743539 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38875147 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000126 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teza; Coral ; et
al. |
January 3, 2008 |
METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF ITEMS
Abstract
A method of simultaneously displaying a plurality of separate,
flexible, generally flat display items on a generally vertical
surface comprises hanging a first elongated frame member having a
flat planar back panel with a front flange extending therealong and
an elongated channel extending between the flat planar panel and
the front flange for receiving a first edge of the display items by
securing the flat planar back panel on the vertical surface,
inserting the first edge of at least one of the display items in
the first elongated frame member channel, inserting the second edge
of the display item in a second elongated frame member having a
flat planar back panel with a front flange and a channel extending
between the flat planar back panel and the front flange for
receiving a second edge of the display item and aligning the second
elongated frame member substantially parallel to said first
elongated frame member, and hanging the second elongated frame
member by securing the flat planar back panel on the vertical
surface substantially parallel with the first elongated frame
member.
Inventors: |
Teza; Coral; (Encinitas,
CA) ; Salatka; Robert G.; (Encinitas, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
38875147 |
Appl. No.: |
11/743539 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11403518 |
Apr 12, 2006 |
|
|
|
11743539 |
May 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
11013892 |
Dec 15, 2004 |
7055275 |
|
|
11403518 |
Apr 12, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/745 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 1/12 20130101; G09F
7/08 20130101; G09F 15/0012 20130101; A47G 1/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
040/745 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/16 20060101
A47G001/16 |
Claims
1. A method of simultaneously displaying a plurality of separate,
flexible, generally flat items on a generally vertical surface
comprising: hanging a first elongated frame member comprising a
flat planar back panel having a front flange extending therealong
and having an elongated channel extending between said flat planar
panel and said front flange for receiving a first edge of the items
to be displayed by securing the flat planar back panel on the
vertical surface; inserting the first edge of at least one of said
plurality of items to be displayed in said first elongated frame
member channel; inserting the second edge of said at least one of
said items in a second elongated frame member comprising a flat
planar back panel having a front flange extending therealong and
having a channel extending between said flat planar back panel and
said front flange for receiving a second edge of said one or more
items and aligning said second elongated frame member substantially
parallel to said first elongated frame member; and hanging said
second elongated frame member by securing the flat planar back
panel thereof on the vertical surface substantially parallel with
said first elongated frame member.
2. A method of claim 1 further comprising hanging said first
elongated frame member and said second elongated frame member along
substantially horizontal axes.
3. A method of claim 1 further comprising hanging said first
elongated frame member and said second elongated frame member along
substantially vertical axes.
4. A method of claim 2 further comprising inserting first and
second edges of other of said plurality of items into channels of
the secured first and second elongated frame members,
respectively.
5. A method of claim 3 further comprising inserting first and
second edges of other of said plurality of items into channels of
the secured first and second elongated frame members,
respectively.
6. A method of claim 1 wherein the first and second elongated frame
members are initially joined along a common flat planar back panel
having an elongated notch extending along the length thereof, and
wherein the cross-sectional thickness along said notch is less than
the cross-sectional thickness of said common flat planar back
panel, said method further comprising severing said common flat
planar back panel along said notch and separating said first
elongated frame member from said second elongated frame member
prior to said hanging.
7. A method of simultaneously displaying a plurality of separate,
flexible, generally flat items on a generally vertical surface
comprising: determining distance between a first edge and a second
edge of an item to be displayed; hanging a first elongated frame
member comprising a flat planar back panel having a front flange
extending therealong and having an elongated channel extending
between said flat planar panel and said front flange for receiving
a first edge of the items to be displayed by securing the flat
planar back panel on the vertical surface; hanging a second
elongated frame member comprising a flat planar back panel having a
front flange extending therealong and having a channel extending
between said flat planar back panel and said front flange for
receiving a second edge of said one or more items by securing the
flat planar back panel thereof on the vertical surface
substantially parallel with said first elongated frame member and
spaced apart therefrom with the distance between the respective
channels thereof being approximately the determined height or width
of a flat item to be displayed; and inserting the first edge and
the second edge of the item to be displayed in the channels of said
first and said second frame members, respectively.
8. A method of claim 7 further comprising hanging said first
elongated frame member and said second elongated frame member along
substantially horizontal axes.
9. A method of claim 7 further comprising hanging said first
elongated frame member and said second elongated frame member along
substantially vertical axes.
10. A method of claim 7 wherein the first and second elongated
frame members are initially joined along a common flat planar back
panel having an elongated notch extending along the length thereof,
and wherein the cross-sectional thickness along said notch is less
than the cross-sectional thickness of said common flat planar back
panel, said method further comprising severing said common flat
planar back panel along said notch and separating said first
elongated frame member from said second elongated frame member
prior to said hanging.
11. A method of claim 7 wherein said step of determining distance
is carried out prior to hanging said first frame member.
12. A method of claim 7 wherein said step of determining distance
is carried out after hanging said first frame member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/403,518, filed Apr. 12, 2006, entitled
WALL-MOUNTED DISPLAY ASSEMBLY FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING A
PLURALITY OF ITEMS, which is a divisional of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/013,892, filed Dec. 15, 2004, which issued
Jun. 6, 2006 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,275, each of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the aforesaid parent application and patent, there is
described a display assembly for displaying personal memorabilia,
for example photos, drawings, tickets, and other such items. The
aforesaid display assembly allows the display items to be front
loaded and removably inserted for simultaneously displaying the
plurality of separate and generally flat items in a neat, orderly,
efficient, convenient and attractive manner. The aforesaid
application and patent are incorporated herein by reference, in
their entireties, respectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In this application there are described methods for mounting
a display assembly on a generally vertical surface. The display
assembly comprises a pair of opposing frame members in which are
secured the items to be displayed. The pair of frame members are
independently or separately mounted and spaced apart and thereafter
the items to be displayed are easily inserted into the frame
members for display. More specific details of the method and the
individual steps for mounting or hanging the respective frame
members will be described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates the mounted display assembly with a
plurality of separate, flexible and generally flat items displayed
therein on a generally vertical surface or wall;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a portion of the
display assembly components properly spaced and aligned on the wall
surface;
[0006] FIG. 3 is an end view of the display assembly components
illustrating another embodiment for convenient mounting on a
vertical surface;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of another display
assembly embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a display assembly
mounted adjacent to a door frame; and
[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates a display housing with end caps secured
on the frame members.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] To display the plurality of separate, flexible, generally
flat items on a generally vertical surface according to the method
described herein, the user will obtain a display assembly described
in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,275 and the aforesaid
application Ser. No. 11/403,518. The elongated display assembly
comprises upper and lower frame members, each having a
substantially flat planar back panel with a front flange extending
along the length of the panel and forming an elongated channel
extending between the flat panel and the front flange. In one
embodiment of the display assembly, the back panel is notched or
scored along its length and is separated into the upper and lower
frame members by severing or otherwise disjoining or parting the
back panel along the notch or score. Such an embodiment is
illustrated in FIG. 4 prior to severing or disjoining the back
panel. In another embodiment, the display assembly obtained is
provided with the upper and lower frame members already separated;
such an embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a display assembly having display items 20, 22,
24 installed in the display assembly along vertical walls 11. The
method of hanging the display assembly is carried out by first
hanging a first elongated frame member on the generally vertical
surface or wall. Where the display assembly is to extend
substantially horizontally along the vertical surface or wall, it
may be preferable to hang the lower of the two frame members first
whereby the elongated channel extending along the bottom or lower
edge of the display assembly provides support for the bottom edge
of a flat display item while the second upper elongated frame
member is secured and hung on the vertical wall. With a display
item resting and supported in the first, lower elongated frame
member, the user may readily determine the desired spacing between
the upper and lower elongated frame members by placing the
elongated channel of the upper frame member along the upper edge of
the display item having its lower edge supported in the lower frame
member. Thus, the height or vertical dimension of the supported
display item itself dictates and determines the desired frame
member spacing without having to measure a distance between the
upper and lower edges of the item to be displayed or measuring a
space separating the frame members prior to hanging the upper frame
member. Such a step for properly spacing and hanging the first and
second frame members horizontally is especially convenient and
easily accomplished where the back surface of the flat planar back
panels is provided with means for securing the back panel to the
vertical surface. For example, a double-backed tape or similar
tacky material or hook and loop fabric, or the like, may be
supplied and if not already located on the back surface of the back
panels it may be applied by the user. The back panels are then
simply pressed against the vertical surface to hang the upper and
lower frame members.
[0012] Typically it is desirable to hang the upper and lower
substantially horizontal frame members on the vertical surface
substantially parallel with one another. Such a parallel
arrangement will be pleasing to an observer, and supports and
retains the items to be displayed even though the upper and lower
edges of items are not precisely parallel, so long as even a
portion of an upper and lower edge of the display items are secured
in the respective upper and lower frame member channels. However,
other alignments may be used, such as hanging the first and second
frame members vertically or even angled along the vertical surface
or wall, again, preferably with the frame members substantially
parallel. Moreover, depending on the item to be displayed, if
different shapes of display items or different sizes are used, one
may hang the first and second frame members in different
alternative configurations, rather than parallel. In any case, it
will be preferred to first hang a first frame member, and
thereafter hang a second frame member in the desired position
relative to the first frame member, with the frame members
separated and spaced according to the dimensions of the item or
items to be displayed.
[0013] Observing also FIGS. 2 and 3, upper and lower frame members
13 and 17, respectively, have been secured or hung to a
substantially vertical surface or wall 11 and separated by space
18. Lower frame member 17 includes a substantially planar back
panel 15 with a front flange 14 at the lower end or edge and
forming a channel 28 between the flange and the back panel.
Similarly, upper frame member 13 comprises a flat backed panel 15
with a front flange 26 extending along the upper end or edge of the
frame member and forming a channel 26 between the flange and the
back panel. The back panels of the respective upper and lower frame
members may be provided with holes 25 if screws, nails or the like
are to be used. Other means such as a double-backed tape 40 and 41
as shown in FIG. 3 may be used for securing the frame members
against the vertical surface. However, other materials, for
example, glue or releasable, removable putty, paste or wax such as
silicone or microcrystalline museum wax, hook and loop fabric, or
equivalent means known to those skilled in the art may be used.
[0014] In FIG. 4, the display assembly embodiment illustrated
incorporates a notch or score 16 along back panel 15 in its initial
condition, so that prior to installation, it is desirable to sever
or otherwise disjoin the upper and lower frame members along the
notch or score. This may be accomplished by cutting or fracturing
the common back panel to separate the upper and lower frame
members.
[0015] In the previously described steps for hanging the upper and
lower frame members, the distance or separation between the frame
members is not specifically measured, but determined by using a
display item itself to determine the distance of separation.
Alternatively, the height or width of a display item may be
measured prior to or after the first elongated housing member is
secured or hung on the vertical surface, and thereafter the second
elongated frame member hung substantially parallel to the first
frame member and separated by the measured distance, prior to ever
inserting a display item. In the aforesaid steps of hanging the
upper and lower frame members, although the preferred steps of
hanging the lower frame member first and thereafter the upper frame
member may be preferred, it is not a necessary requirement.
Instead, the upper frame member may be first secured, the upper
edge or edge portion of a display item inserted into the channel of
the upper frame member, and thereafter the lower elongated frame
member is hung while supporting or holding the display item in the
upper frame member. The lower frame member may be properly spaced
from the upper member by inserting the lower edge of the display
item into the elongated channel of the lower frame member, and then
securing the lower frame member on the wall or vertical
surface.
[0016] Observing FIG. 5, the display assembly is mounted and hung
around a door or door frame and/or around a window or window frame.
Such an assembly may include one or more horizontal components and
one or more vertical components aligned and cooperating to frame a
door, window or similar structure or feature. Thus, as is
illustrated in FIG. 5, the assembly is mounted on a wall around a
door, with the display assembly having a horizontal component 50
and vertical components 51 and 52, with upper and lower front
flanges 12 and 14 as previously described, and vertical front
flanges 42 and 44. Items to be displayed in the vertical frame
member are inserted as previously described, edge to edge or spaced
apart as desired. In such vertical alignment, where edge friction
of an item within the channel is insufficient to maintain desired
position, the use of tape or removable wax or putty behind any item
to be displayed or along an edge may be used.
[0017] In FIG. 6, a display assembly embodiment incorporates an end
cap 30 along an edge or end of the upper and lower frame members.
The use of end caps and instillation is fully described in the
aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,275. The use of end caps is
optional.
[0018] Installation of the display items may be accomplished by
simply slightly bending the items so that their respective upper
and lower or first and second edges are directed into and secured
in the channels along the frame members. The items may be removed
and/or rearranged conveniently from the front as desired. It may
also be preferred to install a transparent cover or film for
protecting and further retaining the items to be displayed. In FIG.
3, a transparent cover 21 is shown installed in the display
assembly with upper and lower edges of the transparent cover
received in the upper and lower channels 26 and 28, respectively. A
preferred film may include ultraviolet protection to prevent fading
of the displayed items as well as to avoid bowing, shriveling,
bending or other deformation once the display items have been
inserted in the frame members. The transparent cover is preferably
flexible plastic which returns and retains its substantially flat
shape after installation. Use of such a protective cover is
especially preferred where humidity or temperature changes may
cause unprotected display items to become aged or deformed.
Protection is especially desirable where the items to be displayed
are thin sheets of paper such as drawings, magazine pages, and the
like susceptible to wrinkling unless protected and supported in a
generally flat condition.
* * * * *