U.S. patent number 3,774,332 [Application Number 05/127,279] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-27 for display device for photographs and the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Charles D. Burns Co.. Invention is credited to Marshall C. Schneider.
United States Patent |
3,774,332 |
Schneider |
November 27, 1973 |
DISPLAY DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE
Abstract
A hollow transparent body defined by a plurality of angularly
related interconnected transparent panels. The panels form two
separate U-shaped sections which slidably interlock about a display
item or items for viewing through the transparent panels. The
formed unit is adapted to mount on a stand with a pair of opposed
corners vertically oriented, whereby a full viewing of all faces of
the unit can be effected by a rotation thereof.
Inventors: |
Schneider; Marshall C. (Newton
Centre, MA) |
Assignee: |
Charles D. Burns Co. (Boston,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
22429279 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/127,279 |
Filed: |
March 23, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/720; D11/131;
446/147; 40/737; 40/747; 40/778; D6/301; 446/109; D21/499 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
1/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
1/00 (20060101); G09F 1/12 (20060101); G09f
001/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/138,125H,159,128,1D,156,152,152.1 ;46/24 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. A display device for photographs and the like comprising in
combination a hollow, hexahedron-shaped device 30 having a
plurality of transparent walls and a slightly smaller similar
shaped support 40 spaced within said device to display photographs
and the like adjacent the interior surface of said transparent
walls; said device comprising two slidably engageable detachable
U-shaped sections (32); each section including three walls (36),
(32), (34) permanently attached contiguously and at right angles
and having edge bevelling so that said two sections when facing
each other at a 90.degree. rotation slide together to form the
assembled device with visually indistinguisable joints.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein each section has the exposed edges
of the associated walls beveled at approximately 45.degree. to mate
with the exposed edges on the second section.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein all of the walls are
transparent.
4. The device of claim 3 including a mounting stem engaged with one
section at one end corner defined between a pair of panels thereof,
said stem projecting outwardly from said corner.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said stem comprises an elongated
flexible member having the remote end fixed to a stable base
whereby an oscillating movement of the display unit can be
effected.
6. The device of claim 5 including a multiple duplicate flexible
member supported units associated with a single base.
7. The device of claim 4 wherein said stem comprises a short rigid
stub, a stable base, said base rotatably receiving said stub for a
rotational adjustment of said unit.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said stem includes a seat defined
at the panel end thereof, said seat receiving a corner of the
unit.
9. The device of claim 4 wherein said stem comprises a vertically
elongated pedestal, said pedestal having an angular seat defined in
the upper end thereof, said seat receiving said unit.
10. The device of claim 4 wherein said stem engages an overhead
support for a suspension of the display unit therefrom.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein said overhead support comprises
an elevated portion of a support member, said support member
extending about said display unit and therebelow, and a stable base
associated with said support member.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said stem is rotatably engaged
with said overhead support.
13. The device of claim 3 including a generally arcuate support
member encircling said display unit and engaged with a pair of
opposed corners thereof to suspend said display unit therebetween.
Description
The invention herein is concerned with display devices, and more
particularly relates to such a device wherein an item or items to
be displayed are completely sealed within a hollow transparent unit
exposing the item or items, whether they be photographs, pictures,
coins, medals, or the like, about all sides thereof.
It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a unique
display device which is in the nature of a geometric figure,
normally a cube, and presents a plurality of flat viewing panels
which can be used so as to present all sides of a single contained
item, or enable a selective veiwing of multiple items.
Another highly significant object of the instant invention is to
provide a viewing unit which is so constructed as to be selectively
opened to enable a mounting of the items within the hollow exterior
thereof and, when closed, give the appearance of a sealed unit,
presenting no exposed edges, catches, or the like.
Other significant objects of the invention include the provision of
a display device wherein the item or items to be displayed are
maintained in a completely protected environment, the provision of
a display unit which can be utilized in conjunction with a variety
of stands so as to achieve maximum exposure of all of the faces
thereof, and the provision of a uniquely constructed unit which can
be made in various sizes while retaining the basic structurally
novel features.
The objects sought in the instant invention are achieved through
the provision of a hollow geometric shape formed basically of two
sections, each comprising a plurality of rigidly interconnected
angularly related panels. The two sections open so as to receive
the item or items to be displayed and slidably interlock so as to
confine and seal the items therein. The display unit mounts on an
appropriate support base, normally by means of a mounting stem
projecting from one corner of the assembled unit so as to provide
for an angular orientation thereof whereby a sequential display of
all of the faces thereof can be effected.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basic display unit of the
instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the display unit with the two
sections thereof moved slightly apart;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the display unit
illustrating all of the components thereof;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the assembled
display unit;
FIG. 5 illustrates the display unit mounted on one form of
base;
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 detail the structure of the mounting apparatus of
FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 illustrates a modified mounting stem usable with the base of
FIG. 5;
FIG. 10 illustrates another form of base;
FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another manner of mounting the display
unit on a base;
FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the display unit, alone or in
multiple arrangements, mounted on flexible support stems;
FIGS. 16 and 17 detail the support stem engagement with the display
unit and the associated mounting base;
FIG. 18 illustrates a further mounting arrangement for the display
unit, wherein the unit is engaged at two opposed points;
FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 illustrate various display unit engaging means
to be utilized in conjunction with the support of FIG. 18;
FIG. 22 illustrates a suspended form of display unit mount; and
FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate various modes of movably affixing a
means of suspending the display unit below any supporting
device.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral
30 is used to generally designate the basic display unit of the
instant invention. This display unit can be of any reasonably
multi-facet geometric shape. However, the preferred shape will be
that of a cube, and this cube shape will be used hereinafter to
detail the features of the invention.
The cubic display unit 30 is formed in two duplicate sections 32.
Each of the sections 32 consists of three equal size transparent
panels 34 orientated at right angles to each other so as to define
a U-shaped or channel-shaped configuration. The two legs or
parallel side panels 34 of each of the sections 32 incline slightly
toward each other, on the order of 2.degree., inward from the base
panel. Further, the exposed peripheral edges of all of the panels
34 of each section 32 are inwardly beveled, as at 36. This bevel,
assuming the cubic configuration of the display unit of the
drawings, is at 45.degree. whereby, upon an assembly of the two
sections 32, right angular and visually indistinguishable sliding
joints will be provided.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the sections
32 are assembled by first orientating the sections in inwardly
facing relation to each other and rotated 90.degree. from each
other, after which the sections 32 can be slid inwardly into
overlapped engagement with the corresponding beveled edges 36
sliding on each other until a complete closing of the unit is
achieved. Upon a complete internesting of the sections 32, the
periphery of each section 32 mates with and seats directly against
the complete peirphery of the second section with the beveled
nature of these edges 36 providing a smooth right angular joint
indistinguishable from the rigid angular corners between the
individual panels 34 of each section 32, which rigid corners are
incidentally formed by beveling the corresponding panel edges and
bonding these beveled edges together in any suitable manner.
A positive frictional interlock is provided between the two
sections 32 in that the interengagement between the sections 32
requires a slight outward flexing of the side panels 34 of each
section 32 which, as previously indicated, converge at
approximately a 2.degree. angle toward each other. The nature of
the material of the panels 34 enables this slight flexing, such
panels preferably being of an appropriate transparent plastic
material.
The display unit 30 can be utilized to mount and display any
appropriate item capable of being received therein. For purposes of
illustration, the cube unit 30 has been presented as a photograph
mount utilized as a means for mounting six photographs or pictures.
In order to properly position the pictures, generally designated by
reference numeral 38, an internal positioning block 40 is provided.
The block 40, constructed of any appropriate material such as
cardboard, conforms to the inner configuration of the unit 30 and
incorporates faces spaced sufficiently inward from the inner
surfaces of the unit panels 34 for an accommodation of the
photographs or pictures 38 in a manner contemplated so as to
properly position and retain the individual pictures 38. If deemed
desirable, appropriate picture edge receiving slits 42 can be
provided through the faces of the block 40. Were the unit 30 to be
utilized as a means for mounting and displaying coins, the
positioning block 40 could incorporate coin receiving recesses 44
as suggested in FIG. 3. Likewise, the block 40 can be constructed
of a resilient material so as to seat and locate irregularly shaped
objects. As will be appreciated, the nature of the mounting block
can vary as required in accordance with the particular item to be
positioned and displayed within the unit 30.
Attention is also directed to the fact that the unit 30 can be
utilized so as to permanently retain and seal items should such be
desired. Under these circumstances, once the item is positioned
between the unit sections 32 and the sections 30 assembled, the
meeting edges 36 thereof can be cemented, sealed or permanently
interlocked in any other appropriate manner. In addition, only
selected ones of the panels 34 need be transparent should only a
selective viewing of the interior of the unit 30 be desired.
The unit 30 is particularly adapted to be mounted in an angular
orientation with a pair of opposed corners vertically aligned so as
to achieve maximum visibility of all of the faces thereof. FIGS. 5
through 8 illustrate one manner of mounting wherein a vertically
depending stem or stud 46 is utilized. This stud 46 has a reduced
pin-like upper end portion 48 which is affixed to the end corner
defined between a pair of adjacent panels 34 of one of the sections
32 and projects outwardly at an angle therefrom, normally on a line
which bisects the angles defined by the adjoining panel edges. This
reduced end portion 48 can be affixed in any appropriate manner,
such as by a direct molding thereof into the panels 34, by the
drilling of a hole and a cementing of the end portion 48 therein,
or by an appropriate threaded interlock. The projecting portion 50
of the stem or stud 46 is enlarged and cylindrically configured for
rotational reception within a socket 52 defined within an enlarged
block-like support base 54 whereby a rotational manipulation of the
unit 30 is possible so as to facilitate a viewing of all of the
faces thereof. It will of course be appreciated that the mounting
of the stud 46 in no way interferes with the releasable sliding
interlock between the associated sections 32.
FIG. 9 illustrates a slightly modified form of stud 56 wherein
engagement with the unit section 32 is provided through an upwardly
directed angular seat 58 internally configured so as to correspond
with the angularly related faces of both the section 32 which is to
be rigidly adhered thereto and the second section 32 which is to
slidably interlock with the first section 32 and releasably seat
within the stud seat 58.
FIG. 10 illustrates the stud carrying unit of FIGS. 5 through 9
rotatably affixed to the upper end of an elongated stem or pedestal
60 as opposed to the flat low base 54. The stem 60 is in turn
affixed to an enlarged base 62 which provides the desired stability
therefor. Incidentally, it will be appreciated that using the stud
46, an appearance of a point balanced cube is achieved producing,
in addition to a multiple facet display container, an unusual
decorative item in itself.
FIGS. 11 and 12 present yet another means of supporting the display
unit 30, such comprising the provision of a corner receiving
triangular seat 64 defined directly within the upper end of the
base or support stem or column 60, the display unit merely seating
therein in a manner which will be readily appreciated from the
drawings.
With reference to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, it will be noted that
single, double and triple display units 30 have been illustrated as
associated with a common base. In each instance, each of the
display units has a mounting stem which consists of an elongated
flexible rod 66. The rod 66, in each instance, has, as suggested in
FIG. 16, the upper end thereof rigidly interlocked within the
corner between a pair of adjacent panels 34 on one of the
assiciated unit sections 32, with the lower end thereof, as
illustrated in FIG. 17, rigidly affixed to and embedded within an
enlarged support base 68. The nature of the stem or rod 66 is to be
such so as to slightly flex under the load of the superimposed
display unit 30 and smoothly sway or oscillate upon the
introduction of a lateral force thereto, whether by an actual push
on the associated unit 30 or by a breeze stirring the air
thereabout. When multiple units are utilized, as in FIGS. 14 and
15, contact therebetween will produce a clicking noise and result
in a movement of all of the units. It will also be appreciated that
the flexible nature of the stem 16 allows one to grasp the
associated display unit and maniuplate it within certain ranges so
as to easily view all of the faces thereof.
with reference to FIG. 18, the support structure illustrated
therein includes a flat support base 70 on which any appropriately
configured mounting member 72 is attached, the only limitation to
the shape of the member 72 being that it incorporates a pair of
opposed points which rotatably engage a pair of opposed corners of
the unit 30 in a manner whereby a rotation of the unit 30 is
possible. The mounting member 72 has been presented in FIG. 18 as
being of a simple arcuate configuration.
FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 illustrate various ways of engaging the opposed
corners of the unit 30 for rotational mounting thereof. Such
mountings can consist of a simple aperture 74 through the opposed
portions of the member 72 as in FIGS. 19, a socket 76 formed
directly from the material of the member 72 as in FIGS. 20, or a
separate socket-forming or seat-forming member 78 affixed to the
member 72 as suggested in FIG. 21. In those instances wherein
rotation is desired, the sockets of FIGS. 20 and 21 will be
conical. However, if rotation is not desired, such sockets can be
configured so as to directly correspond with the angular
configuration of the corners.
With reference to FIGS. 22, it will be noted that the display unit
20 is also uniquely adapted to be suspended from a single overhead
point, the unit 30 preferably being rotatable in such an
arrangement. The display unit 30 can be suspended from the upper
end of any artistically configured base mounted support member 80.
FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrated alternate ways to suspend the unit 30.
In FIG. 23, a stem 82 is fixed to and projects from a corner of the
unit 30 and is rotatably received through the overlying portion of
the support member 80. The stem is rotatable relative to the
support member 80 and includes an enlarged head 84 in the upper end
thereof so as to retain it in position. In FIG. 24, the stem is in
the nature of an eye 86 which is releasably received within a
depending hook 88 on the support member 80. This proivsion of an
eye or loop 86 on the stem can also be utilized for a suspension of
the display unit 30 from a cord, chain or wire should it be desired
to suspend the unit 30 in the manner of a mobile, from a Christmas
tree, or from any appropriate overhead structure.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique
display unit has been defined, incorporating a sealed construction
which presents multiple viewing panels and combines with a
plurality of unusual mounting structures which provide maximum
visibility of the various faces thereof.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *