EP0813380B1

EP0813380B1 - Display device

Info

Publication number: EP0813380B1
Application number: EP96902825A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ian Craigie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-03
Filing date: 1996-03-01
Publication date: 2001-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-01
Also published as: WO1996027314A1; EP0813380A1; EP0813380A4; AUPN145995A0; DE69612738T2; DE69612738D1; ATE200964T1; ES2160228T3

Abstract

The invention provides a display device (99) comprising a generally flat body member (1) that has a visually transparent viewing section. On the rear surface of the body member (1) are two functionally separate elements (2, 3). The first element (2) provides support for a photograph (4) to be displayed through the visually transparent section of the body member (1). The second element (3) attaches to any suitable surface to support the display device, and any photograph (4) the first element (2) may be supporting.

Description

This invention relates to display devices such as those that can be used to display a photograph, or the like, simply, quickly and inexpensively.

Photographs are often displayed from within frames. Conventional frames often comprise a number of components including a frame, a piece of glass or plastic, a backing board or retention device, several clips or pins that hold the whole unit together and a stand. Placing a photograph in a conventional frame, or changing the photograph that is displayed in one can be a difficult and/or time consuming process. In an attempt to overcome the problems of these conventional type frames other types of frames have been created, one style uses the forces of magnetic attraction to eliminate the need for clips or pins in the construction of a frame. Often these magnetic frames consist of two or more, separate parts including that of a body member (front section), from which the picture is viewed and that of a retaining member (rear section) which is used to hold the photo in place. Magnetic forces eliminate the need for clips or pins by drawing the front and rear sections together, the photograph or picture being sandwiched between these two parts. This style of magnetic frame is not without its drawbacks. Firstly, it can be a frustrating process to accurately position a photo in the frame before the magnetic forces close the frame. Secondly, once the frame is closed the photograph can be subjected to unnecessary pressures on its surfaces particularly its edges where the photo is gripped by the frame. This unnecessary pressure can damage a photograph, especially on the sensitive picture side. Upon removal from such frames it has been found that the top surface of a photograph can become de-laminated, part of its surface remaining stuck to the front section where it was subject to unnecessary pressures from the framing unit. There is therefore a need for a photo frame that will allow a person to simply and quickly mount a photograph without complication and that once mounted does not put any unnecessary pressure on the photograph.

In addition to these problems is the emerging trend of placing photographs in all manner of locations, such places include the kitchen and the office. In these locations horizontal surfaces (such as the office desk) are regularly in use and so photographs are necessarily being placed on vertical surfaces. Unfortunately traditional frames are not well suited to being mounted on vertical surfaces such as the draws of filing cabinets and the like. In these locations photos are often mounted by having a piece of adhesive tape stuck onto the photo and the vertical surface that the photo is being attached to. When replacing or moving a photo that has been mounted by a piece of tape the old piece of tape is often removed and this process itself can cause damage to the surface of the photograph. Pins are sometimes used to attach a photo to a vertical surface but these can also damage the photo by leaving holes and marks on the photo's surface. Magnets are sometimes used to hold the photo in place on a metallic surface but these can also leave a mark when they have been used to hold a photo in place. Without a cover a photo is relatively unprotected and it remains exposed to the elements and conditions of the environment in which it is located. When a photo is left exposed like this it may curl up due to its exposure to the elements, and as a result it may be more easily dislodged or damaged by a passer-by. A photo is more likely to be dislodged from a vertical surface if it is not securely attached or has curled up and is no longer lying flat against the surface. Traditional photo frames, because of their many parts (frame, retention unit and stand) and their relative bulk (they are not thin) are not well suited to framing or displaying a photo from a vertical surface in a busy environment such as an office.

A final problem is that of cost, often a photo frame consists of two or more separate parts, each individual component in a photo frame adds to its costs as does each step in manufacturing the separate components of a photo frame. A reduction in the number of components that make up a frame and/or the number of manufacturing steps that are required to produce a frame will result in a reduction in the cost of producing a frame. In a situation where a photo is to be framed on a vertical surface the surface itself can be utilised and so eliminate the need to have the additional expense of a retention device with the frame.

There is therefore the need for a photo frame that can simply and quickly mount a photo on a vertical surface, and once mounted can protect the photo, and when required provide for the simple removal or repositioning of the photo and frame without placing unnecessary pressure on the photograph or without causing damage to the photo.

FR 2 645 421 discloses a display device according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome, or substantially ameliorate, the above mentioned disadvantages by the provision of a display device that can quickly, simply and inexpensively frame a photograph, or the like, on a vertical surface, such as filing cabinet where traditional frames are not well suited for use. In addition it is the object of the present invention to use the surface, that the frame is being attached to, to do away with the need or cost of having a backing or retention device. It is also the objective of this invention to eliminate the need to place any unnecessary pressure on, or damage the delicate surface, of the photograph that is on display.

The present invention provides a display device according to claim 1. Preferred features of the display device are set out in the dependent claims.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings. Illustration will be by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG 6 is a front perspective of a version of the display device.

FIG 7 is a cross section view of a version of the device.

FIG 8 is an enlarged and detailed cross section of the device as shown in FIG 7.

FIG 9 is a rear view of a version of the device.

FIG 6 shows a version of the display device (99) with a masking or framing layer (5) printed on the surface of the body member (1), this can be effective in masking from view, when viewed from the front, the strips, such a masking or framing layer can dramatically enhance the look and appeal of the display device when used for displaying photographs and the like.

FIG 7 shows a version of the device (99) where a first strip (2.1) has an inwardly sloping edge, running the length of element, which as FIG 8 shows can be used to support a photograph (4).

FIG 9 shows the device (99) with the four separate strips (3.2) and (2.2) on the rear surface of the body member (1). As these four strips are of the same magnetic material, such as magnet impregnated plastic strips, they can simultaneously perform the functions of supporting a photograph (4) or the like, and attaching and supporting the display device (99) and a photo. In this particular embodiment, FIG 9, the lower strip (2.2) performs simultaneously the both functions. The other three strips (3.2) perform the second function only.

The above mentioned illustrations only outline, by way of example, a few of the possible embodiments of such an invention, many different versions are possible within the scope of this invention.

In the display device of this invention the body member (1) may be made of different transparent sheet materials. These may include rigid, semi-rigid, resilient or flexible materials. In one form of the invention the body member would be made of a transparent sheet material such as glass or plastic. Preferably the body member would be made of clear plastic being approximately 2mm to 3mm in thickness.

The body member (1) is provided with a peripheral band to create a framing or masking effect. A framing effect may be created by having a layer or layers of paint or ink or the like printed and/or painted on the front and/or rear surface (5) of the body member around the visually transparent central area of the body member. Alternatively a separate framing or masking peripheral band may be attached to the front and/or rear of the body member, such a framing or masking band may be attached to the body member by a variety of means including an adhesive. Any such framing or masking leaves at least, a central viewing portion that is visually transparent between the front and rear surface of the body member.

The first strip functions effectively with a sloping ledge.

The first strip consists of a single strip running along a significant length of the body member.

The first strip is constructed of magnetic material such that it is capable of supporting the photograph or the like that it has resting upon or within it.

A second strip is constructed from magnetic material such that it is capable of attaching the display device to a suitable flat surface and such that it is capable of supporting the display device and any photograph or the like that it is displaying. For attachment to metallic surfaces the magnetic material is used.

A second strip may be constructed in any convenient shape such that it provides sufficient contact area to enable it to attach itself to any suitable surface that the display device is being placed upon and that the resulting bond is of sufficient strength to support the display device and any photograph, or the like, that it may display. The second strip is constructed of a magnetic material that allows the device to be removably attached, to any suitable flat magnetisable surface such as that of a filing cabinet door or the like, without damage to the photo, display device or surface. Additionally the second strip may be constructed of foamed plastic, of approximately 0.6mm to 0.8mm in thickness, having one face adhered to the rear surface of the body member and the other face coated with a pressure sensitive, repositionable contact adhesive protected by a release sheet, having such a material will allow the device to be attached to any suitably flat surface such as a wall or door.

The first strip and the second strips can be constructed to be any thickness such that they can at least preform their specified functions. Preferably the first strip and second strips would have the same thickness and in excess of the thickness of photograph or the like that is being displayed from the display device.

In the display device of the invention one of the strips simultaneously will support and attach the display device to a suitable surface and provide a ledge for a photograph to rest upon.

In use the display device of the invention may be employed as a picture frame device to frame photographs. Additionally or alternatively the device may be used to display office safety instructions, recipes, point of sale information, postcards or the like.

Claims

A display device for displaying a photograph or the like on a vertical metal surface, the device comprising a generally flat body member (1) of a transparent sheet material carrying four strips of magnetic material (2.2, 3.2) on a rear surface of the body member (1) surrounding a central area, the strips of magnetic material enabling the device to be attached to the metal surface by magnetic attraction, with the photograph (4) or the like being disposed in a space defined between the rear surface of the body member and the metal surface and being supported on one of the strips, such that it can be viewed through said central area, characterised in that

a) the body member (1) is provided with a peripheral band (5) to create a framing or masking effect over a peripheral masking area, leaving said central area of the body member (1) visually transparent,

(b) the four strips lying in the masking area so as not to project into the central area, and

(c) at least one of the four strips (2.2, 3.2) has an inwardly sloping ledge running along the length of the strip.
A display according to claim 1, wherein the transparent sheet material is resilient.
A display device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent sheet material is flexible.
A display device according to either of the of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral band is printed and/ or painted onto a surface of the body member.
A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic material is magnet impregnated plastics.
A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body member is made from clear plastic of approximately 2 to 3mm thickness.
A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic strips are of approximately 0.6 to 0.8mm thickness.
A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the magnetic strips is adjacent to the central area surrounded by the peripheral band.