U.S. patent application number 13/573954 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-02 for display, storage and transport arrangement for art.
The applicant listed for this patent is Carla Yvonne Taylor. Invention is credited to Carla Yvonne Taylor.
Application Number | 20130104434 13/573954 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48170929 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130104434 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taylor; Carla Yvonne |
May 2, 2013 |
Display, storage and transport arrangement for art
Abstract
A display arrangement for art, such as the art of young
children, includes an array of transparent envelopes each of which
includes a mat and space to receive art work in the form of sheets
disposed on opposite sides of the mat. Transparent envelopes are
connected to one another with flexible hinges so that the display
is extendible to make both sides of each envelope visible to expose
the art work therein and is foldable by bending the hinges so that
the transparent envelopes stack upon one another.
Inventors: |
Taylor; Carla Yvonne;
(Alexandria, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Taylor; Carla Yvonne |
Alexandria |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48170929 |
Appl. No.: |
13/573954 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61627711 |
Oct 17, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/729 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 1/065 20130101;
A47G 1/0633 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
40/729 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/06 20060101
A47G001/06 |
Claims
1. A display arrangement for art in the form of sheet material, or
other sheet material, comprising: an array of envelopes having at
least one transparent side wherein each envelope has a top edge, a
bottom edge and two side edges and wherein at least one of the two
side edges is open for receiving the sheet material; the array of
transparent envelopes including end envelopes and at least one
intermediate envelope, the intermediate envelopes being connected
to the end envelopes by hinges, whereby the envelopes are foldable
one upon the other to form a stacked package for transport and
storage of the display and are unfolded to depend from one another
to display art inserted in the transparent envelopes.
2. The display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the envelopes have
two opposed transparent surfaces separated by a mat, wherein each
envelope is configured to contain at least one art display on one
side of the mat, and a separate art display on the opposite side of
the mat.
3. The display of claim 1 wherein there is a strip of ribbon or
similar material with Velcro on either end that is used to surround
the display arrangement and connect the ends of the ribbon strip to
secure it around the folded display arrangement for the purpose of
transport, to store and/or to give as a gift of children's sheet
artwork.
4. The display of claim 3 wherein the hinges are flexible
connectors extending between adjacent envelopes which flexible
connectors readily bend when the display is folded for storage and
transport and unbend to unfold the envelopes for displaying the
art.
5. The display arrangement of claim 4 wherein the envelopes have a
stiffness which exceeds the stiffness of the flexible
connectors.
6. The display of claim 5 wherein the flexible connectors are
horizontal bands of Duck tape having a first portion fixed to one
envelope and a second portion fixed to an adjacent envelope, the
horizontal bands having an intermediate portion which is more
flexible than the envelopes, whereby the horizontal bands readily
fold and unfold to stack and unstack the envelopes to provide a
package of art work and a display of the art work,
respectively.
7. The display of claim 6 wherein the horizontal bands of Duck tape
extend parallel to the bottom edges of the envelopes.
8. The display of claim 1 wherein the bands extend transverse with
respect to the bottom edges of the envelopes.
9. The display of claim 1 wherein the envelopes are made of
transparent plastic, sheet material.
10. The display of claim 1 further including attachment couplings
for further envelopes to the bottom envelope of the array of
envelopes.
11. The display of claim 1 further including a ribbon enclosing the
envelopes in a folded package so as to provide for a gift
presentation of the envelopes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/627,711 entitled Display, Storage and Transport
Arrangement for Art filed on Oct. 17, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is directed to a display, storage and
transport arrangement for art. More particularly, this invention is
related to such an arrangement for art, wherein a portfolio of
several works are conveniently displayed and then conveniently
packaged for storage or for the purpose of giving as a gift. The
arrangement is especially useful for children's art or
renderings.
[0003] A secondary use of this invention is directed to a display,
storage and transport arrangement for other forms of sheet
material, such as but not limited children's school projects. More
particularly, this invention is related to such an arrangement for
children's school projects, wherein a portfolio of several projects
are conveniently displayed and then conveniently packaged for
storage. The display arrangement is especially useful to serve as a
reminder to complete school projects or to display completed
projects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0004] Art work made by children is usually displayed on
refrigerators and held by magnets, or taped or thumbtacked to
display boards or walls. Frequently, this type of art is stored in
stacks which may be contained in folders or occasionally within
notebooks, such as loose leaf notebooks for carrying from place to
place. Children's art generally amounts to clutter because it is
frequently not well organized.
[0005] The present invention addresses these short comings by
organizing the art so that it may be conveniently displayed, stored
and transported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0006] In view of the aforementioned considerations a display
arrangement for art in the form of sheet material comprises an
array of transparent envelopes wherein each envelope has a top
edge, a bottom edge and two side edges and wherein at least one of
the two side edges is open for receiving the sheet material. The
array of transparent envelopes includes end envelopes and at least
one intermediate envelope, the intermediate envelopes being
connected to the end envelopes by hinges, wherein the envelopes are
foldable one upon the other to form a stacked package for transport
and storage of the display and are unfolded to depend from one
another to display the art inserted in the transparent
envelopes.
[0007] In a further aspect the envelopes have two opposed
transparent surfaces separated by a mat, wherein each envelope is
configured to contain two separate art displays on opposite sides
of the mat.
[0008] In a further embodiment the hinges are flexible connectors
extending between adjacent envelopes which flexible connectors
readily bend when the display arrangement is folded for storage and
transport and unbend to unfold the envelopes for displaying the
art.
[0009] In a further embodiment the envelopes have a stiffness which
exceeds the stiffness of the flexible connectors.
[0010] In a further embodiment the flexible connectors are made of
bands of transparent Duck brand tape, each having adhesive on one
side and each affixed to two edges of adjacent envelopes, resulting
in a hinge between the two envelopes that is more flexible than the
envelopes. The bands readily fold and unfold to stack and unstack
the envelopes thereby providing a package of the art work and a
display of the art work, respectively.
[0011] In a further embodiment the bands extend parallel to the
bottom edges of the envelopes.
[0012] In a further embodiment the bands extend transverse with
respect to the bottom edges of the envelopes.
[0013] In a further embodiment the envelopes are made of
transparent plastic sheet material.
[0014] In further embodiments the hinges are in the form of webs or
sheets adhered to adjacent envelopes and folded when used as
hinges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Various other features and attendant advantages of the
present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which the reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view of a display configured in accordance
with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a close up back view of the display configured in
accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view of a first side of the display in FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side view of a second side of the display of
FIG. 1
[0020] FIG. 5 is a close up perspective view showing the elements
of the display in FIGS. 1-4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a side view of the first side or closed side of
the folded display of FIG. 3;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a side view of the second side or open side of the
folded display of FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a front view of the display of FIG. 1 in a folded
configuration;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a view of the display showing how sheets of
artwork are slid into the pockets of the transparent envelopes;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the display of FIG. 9 in
folded configuration;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the display of FIG. 10 with
a ribbon wrapped around it;
[0027] FIG. 12 shows the display of FIGS. 1-11 displayed
horizontally with different sheets of artwork;
[0028] FIG. 13 shows an alternative method for hanging the display
with handles on the top and bottom envelopes of the display;
[0029] FIG. 13A shows the display in FIG. 13 in folded
configuration with the handles positioned for easy transport;
[0030] FIG. 14 shows another alternative method for hanging the
display with two loops attached to the top of the top envelope;
[0031] FIG. 14A shows the display in FIG. 14 in folded
configuration;
[0032] FIG. 15 shows an alternative mechanism for hinge connectors
between the envelopes from the current embodiment in FIGS.
1-11;
[0033] FIG. 15A is a close up view of the alternative mechanism for
hinge connectors in FIG. 15;
[0034] FIG. 15B shows the display of FIGS. 15 and 15A in folded
configuration;
[0035] FIG. 16 shows another alternative mechanism for hinge
connectors between the envelopes;
[0036] FIG. 16A is a close up view of the alternative mechanism for
hinge connectors in FIG. 16;
[0037] FIG. 16B shows the display of FIGS. 16 and 16A in folded
configuration;
[0038] FIG. 17 shows yet another alternative mechanism for hinge
connectors between the envelopes;
[0039] FIGS. 17A and 17B are a close up views of the alternative
mechanism for hinge connectors in FIG. 17;
[0040] FIG. 17C shows the display of FIGS. 17, 17A and 17B in
folded configuration;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 1, a display arrangement for art, such
as but not limited to children's art, is shown in a display wherein
art in the form of sheet material is mounted within transparent
plastic envelopes 12, 14, 16 and 18. While four envelopes 12-18 are
shown, the display 10 may include as few as three or more than four
envelopes. For example, there may be five to ten envelopes. The
transparent envelopes are joined to one another by hinges 19, 20
and 21 which in the current embodiment of the invention are made of
bands 25 (FIG. 1) and 25(a) (FIG. 2) of transparent Duck tape. The
Duck tape bands each have adhesive on one side.
[0042] In FIG. 1, showing the front of the invention, the Duck tape
band 25 is adhered to the bottom of envelope 12 and the top of
envelope 14. The upper edge 26 of the Duck tape band is adhered
just above the lower edge 28 of envelope 12; and the lower edge of
the Duck tape band 27 is adhered just below the upper edge 29 of
envelope 14. Similarly, the Duck tape band 25 is adhered to the
lower edge of envelope 14 and the top of envelope 16. The upper
edge 26 of the Duck tape band is adhered just above the lower edge
28 of envelope 14; and the lower edge of the Duck tape band 27 is
adhered just below the upper edge 29 of envelope 16. Similarly, the
Duck tape band 25 is adhered to the bottom of envelope 16 and the
top of envelope 18. The upper edge 26 of the Duck tape band is
adhered just above the lower edge 28 of envelope 16; and the lower
edge of the Duck tape band 27 is adhered just below the upper edge
29 of envelope 18.
[0043] As FIG. 2 illustrates, the placement and adhering of Duck
tape band 25(a) relative to the back-sides of envelopes 12-18 is
identical to the placement and adhering of Duck tape band 25
relative to the front-sides of envelopes 12-18 shown in FIG. 1.
[0044] In FIGS. 1 and 2 the Duck tape bands 25 and 25(a) are two
strips of transparent tape having adhesive on one side. The
adhesive adheres to the outer surfaces of the transparent envelopes
12-18 and to opposed adhesive surfaces on the tapes in the gaps 19,
20 and 21 between the spaced edges 28 and 29 of the envelopes
12-18. With this arrangement the bands 25 and 25(a) have a double
thickness without exposed adhesive in the gaps 19, 20 and 21 that
define the folding hinges of FIGS. 1-2. The hinges 19, 20 and 21
are more flexible than the envelopes 12-18 and as explained further
hereinafter may be of other configurations.
[0045] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the edges 26, 26(a) and 27 and 27(a) of
Duck tape bands 25 and 25(a) adhering to the envelopes are
invisible (dotted lines) because they are covered over by colored
opaque tape 23 and 23(a), e.g., gaffers duct by Tape Brothers.com,
to create a pleasing aesthetic effect. Similarly, in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the bottom edges 28 and top edges 29 of the envelopes 12-18 are
invisible (dotted lines) because they are covered over by colored
opaque tape 23 and 23(a) to create a pleasing aesthetic. Colored
opaque tape 23 further creates a pleasing aesthetic effect by
creating a frame effect around the four edges of envelopes 12-18
and therefore around the sheets of artwork inside the
envelopes.
[0046] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pair of adhesive strips 22 at the top
of each panel 12 and 16. The strips 22 are invisible (dotted line)
from the front of the display in FIG. 1, but are visible from the
back of the display in FIG. 2. The strips 22 are used to hold the
display 10 onto a vertical surface such as a wall, refrigerator or
door. In the current iteration of the invention, the pair of
adhesive strips 22 each are made up of a material similar to
Velcro.TM. on one side and a tacky form of adhesive on the other
side. In the current iteration of the invention, a pair of adhesive
Velcro strips is used such as "hook & loop dry adhesive tacky
tape" by Aleene's (company name). The adhesive side of one strip in
the pair of strips 22 adheres to the back upper edge of envelope 12
in FIG. 2. The adhesive side of the other strip adheres to the
vertical surface such as a wall, refrigerator or door. The Velcro
side of the strip on envelope 12 adheres to the Velcro side of the
other strip on the vertical surface. The result is that the display
10 is held in place on a vertical surface such as a wall,
refrigerator or door when these same kind of adhesive strips are
used on panel 16 as well.
[0047] As shown if FIGS. 1 and 2 colored opaque tape 23 and 23(a)
used in the current iteration, adheres to the front and back edges
of each of the envelopes to create a pleasing aesthetic effect by
hiding the edges 26, 26(a), 27, 27(a) (dotted lines) of the Duck
tape bands and the edges 28 and 29 (dotted lines) of the
envelopes.
[0048] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, hinges 19, 20 and 21 are
displayed from two sides of display arrangement 10. Referring now
to FIG. 3 it is seen that first side edges 32 of the envelopes
12-18 are each closed. As is seen in FIG. 4 the second side edges
34 of each envelope are open so as to receive mats 36 and first and
second sheets 38 and 40 of art material so that the mats 36 are
sandwiched between the sheets 38 and 40. Since the envelopes 12-18
are made of transparent plastic material, the sheets 38 and 40
comprising the art to be displayed are visible through the
transparent surfaces comprising the envelopes 12-18. In that the
edges 34 of the envelopes 12-18 are open in FIG. 4 and the edges 32
of the envelopes 12-18 are closed in FIG. 3, the artwork is
securely retained within the envelopes against the backing of the
mats 36 and yet are readily removable.
[0049] Accordingly, the display of FIGS. 1-4 makes the art objects
readily visible while allowing the art to be easily changed by
sliding the art 38 and 40 in and out of the open edges 34 of the
envelopes 12-18. Since the ends 32 are closed, the sheets of art 38
and 40 are conveniently positioned within the envelopes 12-18.
Adhesive strips 22 are displayed from both sides in FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0050] In the current iteration of the invention in FIGS. 1-4, the
adhesive strips 22 are on the back surfaces of transparent
envelopes 12 and 16, as depicted in FIG. 2. Since adhesive strips
22 will face the vertical surface onto which they adhere art
display 10, sheets of art 40 in FIG. 4 will not be visible from the
front side of art display 10, represented by FIG. 1. Since, as
shown in FIG. 4, adhesive strips 22 and sheets of art 40 are both
placed at the back side of art display 10, the view of sheets of
art 40 will be obstructed by the mat 36 against which sheets of art
38 and 40 rest. Therefore, in this iteration of the invention, it
is recommended to use the art display to display sheets of art 38
only. Placement of sheets of art 40 in the art display is an option
only for storage of sheets of art 40.
[0051] Alternative arrangements for hanging the art display in
which sheets of art 38 and 40 both will be displayed will be
discussed later in this specifications document.
[0052] FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of art display 10 that
incorporates both the front view of FIG. 1 and the side view of
FIG. 4, representing the open sides 34 of the envelopes for
receiving sheet art. Colored opaque tape 23 and 23(a) covers the
top edges 26 and bottom edges 27 of the Duck tape thereby making
the edges 26 and 27 of the Duck tape invisible and creating a
pleasing aesthetic. Colored opaque tape 23 also covers the bottom
edges 28 and the top edges 29 of the envelopes, thereby making the
envelopes' edges invisible and creating a pleasing aesthetic.
[0053] As shown by FIGS. 5 and 2, the elements on the back side of
the art display have the same placement relative to one another as
the elements on the front side of the art display: Colored opaque
tape 23(a) covers the top edges 26(a) and bottom edges 27(a) of the
Duck tape thereby making edges 26(a) and 27(a) of the Duck tape
invisible. Colored opaque tape 23(a) also covers the bottom edges
28 and the top edges 29 of the envelopes.
[0054] Also of note in FIG. 5 is the mat 36 against which sheet
artwork lies and the spaces 38(a) and 40(a) into which sheets of
artwork are placed on either side of mat 36. In this iteration of
the invention, the mat 36 is black and forms an aesthetically
pleasing framing effect around 3 edges (top, right, left) of sheet
artwork that is smaller than the envelope.
[0055] Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the display arrangement
10 is shown folded to form a package 50 for storage and transport.
In order to form the package 50, as illustrated by FIGS. 6 and 7,
the intermediate transparent envelopes 14 and 16 are folded against
one another by bending middle hinge 20. Then the end envelopes 12
and 18 are folded over the two intermediate envelopes 16 and 14 by
bending hinges 19 and 21. This results in the envelopes 12-18 being
stacked to form the package 50. The folded arrangement of the
package 50 is easily transportable. The adhesive strip 22 stays in
place in folded configuration, as seen from both the sides of the
envelopes: the side with closed edges 32 in FIG. 6 and the side
with open edges 34 in FIGS. 7.
[0056] In the illustrations thus far the thickness of the
transparent envelopes 12-18 and the spaces between the transparent
envelopes when the envelopes are stacked are exaggerated to make
clear how the display arrangement functions.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 8, adhesive strip 22 is invisible (dotted
line) from the front view of package 50, as it is adhered to the
back-facing surface of envelope 12, the first envelope in package
50. The front-facing surface of envelope 12 is fully visible. The
top edge of Duck tape 26 is invisible because it is covered by
opaque colored tape 23. Hinge 19 is visible at the bottom of
envelope 12, but hinge 21 is just behind hinge 19 and is therefore
invisible (dotted line). Middle hinge 20 is visible from the top of
envelope 12.
[0058] FIG. 9 illustrates how individual sheets of artwork 38 are
slid into the open sides 34 of envelopes 12-18 when art display 10
is in unstacked position and hanging from a vertical surface by
adhesive strip 22.
[0059] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the package 50 of
FIGS. 6-9 as it appears in an actual embodiment of the invention.
Sheet artwork 38 is displayed in transparent envelope 12 which is
bordered on all four sides by opaque colored tape 23 to create a
pleasing aesthetic framing effect for the sheet artwork 38.
Adhesive strips 22 are in place but not visible behind envelope 12.
Envelopes 12 and 14 are folded together over hinge 19; envelopes 14
and 16 are folded together over hinge 20; and envelopes 16 and 18
are folded together over hinge 21.
[0060] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10. In order to hold the
package 50 together for transport, storage, including but not
limited to giving it as a gift, it is surrounded by a strap 52,
that is made of ribbon or other kind of fabric containing a bow
52(i) made of the same or different material from the strap 52. The
ends of the strap are held together with Velcro 52(ii) shown in
dotted lines. The sheet artwork 38 is partially visible around the
strap 52 and bow 52(i). Since the adhesive strips 22 in FIG. 10 and
in previous Figures leading up to FIG. 11 can be easily removed
without damaging the package 50, FIG. 11 shows the package 50
without the adhesive strips 22.
[0061] As is seen in FIG. 12, the transparent envelopes can also be
extended horizontally for display instead of vertically as is shown
in FIGS. 1 and 9. With this arrangement, the adhesive strips 22 are
placed at the tops of each envelope 12-18 and at the bottoms of
envelopes 12 and 18 to provide appropriate adhesive support for
this horizontal configuration. The closed edges 32 of envelopes
12-18 are downward facing so that the sheet artwork 38(i) remains
in the envelopes and does not slide out. The open edges of
envelopes 12-18 are the upward facing so that sheet artwork 38(i)
will not slide out of the bottom of the envelopes.
[0062] FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative mechanism for hanging the
art display 10 using a loop 54 instead of the adhesive strips 22
illustrated in FIGS. 1-10. The top and bottom envelopes 12 and 18
include loops 54 and 56 with the loop 54 serving as a hanger for
hanging the array of plastic envelopes 12-18 from any location,
such as but not limited to, refrigerator doors, regular doors,
clothes hooks, and hooks on vertical surfaces such as walls. The
loops 54 and 56 may be made of any convenient material, such as a
length of cord or lengths of braided rope, and are held in place by
passing through apertures 58 formed through the top and bottom
edges of the transparent end envelopes 12 and 18, respectively. In
this iteration of the hanging mechanism for art display 10, the top
edge of envelope 12 is reinforced with thick cardboard 60 for the
purpose of helping the envelopes 12-18 lie flat against the surface
onto which the art display 10 is hung. In an alternative iteration
the bottom edge of envelope 18 also is reinforced with thick
cardboard 60 for the purpose of helping the envelopes 12-18 lie
flat against the surface onto which the art display 10 is hung.
[0063] FIG. 13A shows the folded configuration of FIG. 13. The
handles 54 and 56 overlie one another so they can be gripped in one
hand allowing the package 50 of art work to be readily transported
by simply gripping the two now opposed handles 54 and 56. Envelope
12 and its sheet artwork 38 are fully displayed in folded
configuration.
[0064] FIG. 14 is yet another alternative iteration of the hanging
mechanism for art display 10 in which two loops 62 and 64 are used
to hang the art display 10 on vertical surfaces identical to those
identified in the discussion of FIG. 13. The loops 62 and 64
located at the top of envelope 12 may be made of any convenient
material, such as a length of cord or lengths of braided rope.
Loops 62 and 64 are held in place in the same manner in which loops
54 and 56 are held in place in FIG. 13, by passing through
apertures 58 formed through the top edge of the transparent
envelope 12.
[0065] FIG. 14A shows the folded configuration of FIG. 14 with
loops 62 and 64 visible from the top of the package 50. Envelope 12
and its sheet artwork 38 are fully displayed in folded
configuration.
[0066] Turn now to FIGS. 15-17C which illustrate alternative
embodiments of the hinge mechanism between envelopes 12-18.
Starting with FIG. 15, the envelopes are joined to one another by
three hinges, 66, 68 and 70, which in this alternative embodiment
of the invention are made of flexible material such as ribbon
fabric. The ribbon fabric is held in place by passing through
apertures 58(i) formed through the top and bottom edges of the
transparent envelopes 14 and 16, the bottom of envelope 12 and the
top of envelope 18. Furthermore as seen in FIG. 15A, the ribbon
fabric hinges 66, 68 and 70 are joined together at the ends with a
snap in which 66(ii) is adjoined to 66(i) as indicated by
directional arrow 72.
[0067] Because the ribbon fabric hinges 66, 68 and 70 are easily
opened and closed by taking apart or putting together snap pieces
66(i) and 66(ii) at either end of each ribbon fabric hinge, these
hinges can be used to add or subtract the number of envelopes in an
art display 10. A user of the art display can add more envelopes
simply by placing the ribbon fabric hinges 66, 68 and 70 through
the apertures 58(i) and attaching the ends of the ribbon fabric
together using a snap as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 15A.
Similarly, the user of the art display can subtract envelopes from
the art display 10, by removing the ribbon fabric hinges 66, 68 and
70 from the apertures 58(i).
[0068] FIG. 15B shows the folded configuration of FIGS. 15 and 15A
to create package 50 in which envelopes 12-18 are folded in the
same manner as all of the folded configurations of package 50
discussed up to this point. Ribbon hinges 66, 68 and 70 attached to
the bottom edge of envelope 12 are the only hinges that are visible
at the bottom of package 50. The hinges 66, 68 and 70 positioned at
the top of package 50 are mostly invisible, as illustrated with
dotted lines, because they are largely hidden behind the opaque
colored tape 23 that adheres to the outer edges of each of the
envelopes 12-18.
[0069] Turning now to FIG. 16, the envelopes are joined to one
another by two hinges, 74 and 76, which in this alternative
embodiment of the invention are binder rings of either metal or
plastic, commonly used in 3-ring notebook binders. The binder rings
are held in place by passing through apertures 58(i) formed through
the top and bottom edges of the transparent envelopes 14 and 16,
the bottom of envelope 12 and the top of envelope 18. Furthermore
as seen in FIG. 16A, the binder rings forming hinges 74 and 76 can
be opened and closed as directional arrow 78 indicates.
[0070] Because the binder rings 74 and 76 are easily opened and
closed, they can be used to add or subtract the number of envelopes
in an art display 10. A user of the art display can add more
envelopes to the display simply by placing the binder rings 74 and
76 through the apertures 58(i) as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 16A.
Similarly, the user of the art display can subtract the number of
envelopes by removing binder rings 74 and 76 from the apertures
58(i).
[0071] FIG. 16B shows the folded configuration of art display 10 in
FIGS. 16 and 16A to create package 50 in which envelopes 12-18 are
folded in the same manner as all of the folded configurations of
package 50 discussed up to this point. Binder ring hinges 74 and 76
attached to the bottom edge of envelopes 12 and 14 are visible at
the bottom of package 50. Hinges 74 and 76 positioned at the top of
package 50 are largely hidden behind the opaque colored tape 23
that adheres to the outer edges of envelopes 12-18.
[0072] Turning now to FIG. 17, the envelopes are joined to one
another by two hinges, 80 and 82, which in this alternative
embodiment of the invention are made of looped bands of rubber
material, e.g. ElastiNote.RTM. tags (product name) by Martha
Stewart Home Office.TM. and Avery.TM.. The bands forming the hinges
80 and 82 are held in place by passing through apertures 58(i)
formed through the top and bottom edges of the transparent
envelopes 14 and 16, the bottom of envelope 12 and the top of
envelope 18. Furthermore as seen in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the ends,
80(i) and 80(ii) of the bands forming hinges 80 and 82 can be
easily placed together and taken apart as directional arrow 84
indicates.
[0073] Because the bands forming hinges 80 and 82 are easily placed
together and taken apart as illustrated by FIGS. 17A and 17B, they
can be used to add or subtract the number of envelopes in an art
display 10.
[0074] FIG. 17C shows the folded configuration of art display 10 in
FIGS. 17, 17A, and 17B to create package 50 in which envelopes
12-18 are folded in the same manner as all of the folded
configurations of package 50 discussed up to this point. Hinges 80
and 82 attached to the bottom edge of envelope 12 are the only
hinges in the package 50 that are visible at the bottom of package
50. Hinges 80 and 82 positioned at the top of package 50 are
largely hidden behind the opaque colored tape 23 that adheres to
the outer edges of envelopes 12-18.
[0075] While the preferred arrangement is to have rectangular
envelopes, the envelopes may in other embodiments of the invention
be square, circular or any other shape.
[0076] While the preferred use of the invention is to display,
store and transport children's sheet art, the invention can
accommodate other sheet material, including but not limited to
homework assignments, notes, etc.
[0077] From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can
easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention,
and without departing form the spirit and scope thereof, can make
various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to
various usages and conditions.
* * * * *