AU6127300A - Photograph albums - Google Patents

Description

wP Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: STEPHEN GRANT Stephen Grant DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000.

"Photograph Albums" Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): PQ3056/99 filed 24 September, 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: P:XoPER\RSH\phocoaabu~ pe.do-21 Sqcptmb~n, -2- PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS The present invention relates to photograph albums, and more particularly to photograph holders for use in photographic albums.

In one conventional form of photographic album, the photographs are held in transparent pockets carried by backing sheets. More particularly, each backing sheet may have on both sides a transparent overlay sheet which forms a pocket which is closed around the upper and lower edges and along the outer side edge, the pocket being open along its inner 10 side edge for insertion and removal of photographs. Typically the pocket is divided horizontally into two or three parts along the height of the sheet with each part serving to receive a different photograph which is inserted horizontally through the open inner side of the pocket, the division between the parts of the pocket acting to prevent slippage of photographs between the adjacent parts. The sizing of each part of the pocket is such that the major dimension of a typical standard size photograph x can only extend Shorizontally across the pocket. This means that for photographs taken in so-called portrait mode in which the major dimension of the photograph extends vertically rather than horizontally, these must be inserted into the pockets in incorrect orientation therefore requiring the album to be rotated back and forth through 90 degrees to properly view the S 20 different photographs taken in landscape mode and portrait mode.

According to the present invention there is provided a photograph holder for use in a photographic album, said holder comprising a backing sheet, a transparent cover sheet overlying the backing sheet, said cover sheet defining with the backing sheet a pocket for receiving photographs, said pocket being open at an inner side for insertion of photographs from that side into the pocket and said pocket being divided vertically into at least two parts including an upper part and a lower part for receipt of a respective photograph into each said part by insertion horizontally via the open inner side of the pocket, said pocket also having a further opening for insertion of a photograph vertically into the pocket, the division between adjacent said parts of the pocket being such that a photograph inserted vertically into the pocket via the further opening can lie in both adjacent parts of the pocket with a major dimension of the photograph being directed substantially vertically.

P:OPERMRSH~phtoafhuns Vpc.dom-2l Sept-sba. 2000 -3- Advantageously the pocket is divided vertically into adjacent parts by horizontally spaced seals spaced by a distance sufficient to allow passage there between of the width dimension of a standard size photograph inserted vertically via the further opening.

Advantageously, the spacing between the two seals is only slightly larger than the width dimension of a standard size photograph so as to provide substantial lateral location of the photograph.

Preferably the further opening is formed by a slot at, or adjacent to, the upper edge of the 10 cover sheet.

o *o Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a front view of a photograph holder of sheet-like form in accordance with a 15 first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view of the holder of Figure 1 from the rear; FIGURE 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an alternative embodiment of the holder; and FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a yet further alternative embodiment of the 20 holder.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 a photograph holder of sheet-like form for incorporation into a photographic album in conjunction with a multiplicity of like holders, comprises a backing sheet 2 carrying a transparent cover sheet 4. The upper, lower, and outer edges 4a, 4b, 4c of the cover sheet 4 are substantially coincident with the corresponding edges of the backing sheet 2, and the inner edge 4d of the cover sheet 4 is spaced inwardly from the inner edge of the backing sheet 2. The cover sheet 4 thus defines with the backing sheet 2 a pocket 6 which is closed along its upper, lower and outer side edges and open along its inner side edge. The pocket 6 is divided horizontally into upper and lower parts 6a, 6b by spaced seals 8. Although in principle it would be feasible for the cover sheet 4 to be sealed to the backing sheet 2 along its upper, lower, and outer edges and also at intermediate P:\OPER\RSH photoa1b e spe.doc-21 Seqn~cr 2000 -4positions to form the dividing seals, in practice as the backing sheet 2 would normally have photograph-receiving pockets 6 at both sides (as is the case in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and it is expedient to seal together the upper, lower and outer edges of the transparent cover sheets 4 on both sides of the backing sheet 2 and to seal intermediate parts of the two cover sheets 4 together through small apertures 10 in the backing sheet not only to form the divisions between the upper and lower parts 6a, 6b of each pocket 6 but also to secure the two cover sheets 4 relative to the backing sheet 2. With this arrangement, photographs can be inserted horizontally into each part 6a, 6b of the pocket 6 through the open side of that part along its inner edge, with the major dimension of the photograph extending horizontally across the pocket as occurs with conventional albums.

In accordance with the invention, each pocket 6 has a further opening 12 provided at the top of the pocket 6 through which a photograph taken in portrait mode can be inserted vertically into the pocket so that its major dimension extends vertically. The two seals 8 which divide the pocket 6 into its two parts are spaced horizontally by a distance sufficient to allow passage of a photograph inserted via the upper opening 12 so that the photograph can extend along the height dimension of the pocket 6 with upper and lower parts of the photograph lying in the upper and lower parts of the pocket respectively. Advantageously, the spacing between the seals 8 is only slightly greater than the minor dimension of a S 20 standard size photograph (the width direction of a photograph in portrait mode) so that the seals 8 act to locate the photograph within the pocket.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper opening 12 for insertion of a photograph in the portrait mode is defined by a horizontal slot cut into the cover sheet 4 adjacent its upper edge. However in an alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 3, the opening 12 is defined by cutting out part of the sealed upper edge portions of the two connected cover sheets 4 on both sides of the backing sheet 2 and possibly also that the adjacent edge part of the backing sheet.

It will therefore be appreciated that in accordance with the invention, by appropriately spacing the seals 8 defining the two parts 6a, 6b of each pocket 6 and by the incorporation P:\OPER\RSH\phoomlbs spe.do-2 Septcmba. 2000 of an additional opening 12 into the pocket 6, the pocket can also hold a photograph in portrait mode already in the correct orientation for viewing.

In Figure 4 there is shown an alternative embodiment in which the pocket 6 is divided into upper, intermediate, and lower parts 6a, 6b, 6c by two sets of seals 8a, 8b, with the spacing between the two seals of each set again being sufficient to permit passage of a photograph inserted vertically through the upper opening 12. A pocket of this type can thus hold three photographs in landscape mode or two in portrait mode inserted through the upper opening 12. It can also receive through the upper opening a panoramic format photograph using 0OO the Advanced Photographic System (APS) being of a length which is a multiple of the length of a standard photograph. Although, of course, when the holder used to mount a photograph in panoramic mode the photograph will not be in the correct orientation for viewing, nevertheless it is still a benefit as it provides versatility of usage in enabling not only mounting of landscape and portrait mode photographs in the correct orientation, but also facilitates mounting of panoramic mode photographs. Although in the embodiment of Figure 4, the upper opening 12 is shown to be in the form of a slot in the transparent cover sheet 4 in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, it may alternatively be formed by a cut-out in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 3.

00 20 The embodiment has been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (4)

1. A photograph holder for use in a photographic album, said holder comprising a backing sheet, a transparent cover sheet overlying the backing sheet, said cover sheet defining with the backing sheet a pocket for receiving photographs, said pocket being open at an inner side for insertion of photographs from that side into the pocket and said pocket being divided vertically into at least two parts including an upper part and a lower part for receipt of a respective photograph into each said part by insertion horizontally via the open inner side of the pocket, said pocket also having a further opening for insertion of a photograph vertically into the pocket, the division between adjacent said parts of the pocket being such that a photograph inserted vertically into the pocket via the further ."iopening can lie in both adjacent parts of the pocket with a major dimension of the photograph being directed substantially vertically.

2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is divided vertically into adjacent parts by horizontally spaced seals spaced by a distance sufficient to allow passage there between of the width dimension of a standard size photograph inserted vertically via the further opening. 20

3. A holder according to claim 2, wherein the spacing between the two seals is only slightly larger than the width dimension of a standard size photograph so as to provide substantial lateral location of the photograph.

4. A holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the further opening is formed by a slot at, or adjacent to, the upper edge of the cover sheet. PAOPEft\RSHfphoafbw qc do 21 Sqtcmbea -7- A photograph holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 21st day of September, 2000 STEPHEN GRANT By his Patent Attorneys: :0 0*DAVIES COLLISON CAVE