EP0924139A1

EP0924139A1 - Postal container for photographic prints

Info

Publication number: EP0924139A1
Application number: EP98123707A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paolo Poli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-19
Filing date: 1998-12-12
Publication date: 1999-06-23
Also published as: IT242896Y1; ITVI970079V0; ITVI970079U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container consisting of three surfaces (1, 2 and 3) which are disposed joined in a perfectly superimposed manner, two of which (1, 2) are secured to one another in the position of their edges, whereas the third (3) is secured only on three edges; a photographic print (5) or the like can be accommodated inside the said container. One of the three surfaces (1) consists of transparent material, the second (2) is a frame, whereas the third (3) has printed on it, on its surface which faces exterior, the form for the postal address, which is normally present on picture postcards.

Description

The present model relates to a postal container for photographic prints.
It is known that in order to send greetings and messages by post, use is generally made of normal postcards, which generally consist of a photographic representation of the locality visited by the person who is sending the card itself, on the reverse side of which there is a form, on which the person who is sending the card can write the address of the recipient, as well as the greetings and signatures, and can add the stamp necessary in order to send the card itself.
It will be appreciated that by this means, the sender of the card does not have any means of sending the recipient a personalised picture, i.e. which contains the sender, a relative or an acquaintance etc, or which has simply been taken personally by the sender.
In fact, if the user manages to obtain photographic prints taken in the place which is being visited, which is now possible owing to the major development of laboratories which can provide the photographic prints in very short times after the film has been handed in, it is impossible to use a normal photographic print as a card, owing to the nature of its reverse side, which is not at all suitable for having writing and the like put on its surface.
The object of the present model is to provide a postal container which can have a photographic print inserted in it, such that the printed surface of the print is on show, and which is also suitable for being sent immediately. This is obtained by means of the structural arrangement described hereinafter in a specific embodiment, which is provided by way of non-limiting example, with the assistance of the attached figures of the drawings, in which:

figure 1 (Table I) shows an exploded view of the assembly formed by the first surface, which is made of transparent material, of the container according to the model, by the second surface which is in the form of a frame, with outer dimensions the same as those of the preceding surface, and inner dimensions which can contain a photographic print, and by the third surface with the postal form printed on the reverse side;
figure 2 is a view of the reverse side of the third surface;
figure 3 (Table II) shows the assembly according to the model, with the photographic print being inserted;
figures 4 and 5 are two views in cross-section of the assembly illustrated in figure 3, respectively along the lines IV-IV and V-V of the said figure;
figures 6 and 7 (Table III) are enlarged views of the details VI and VII in figure 5, with the print not inserted; and
figure 8 is an enlarged view of the detail VII, with the print already inserted.

As can be seen in the figures, the three surfaces are joined in a perfectly superimposed manner; in particular, the first surface 1 is secured along all four of its edges to the second surface 2, and the third surface 3 is secured on the latter, along three edges only, all advantageously by means of appropriate glue.
The fourth, non-secured edge of the third surface permits insertion of a photographic print 5 or the like, between the joined surfaces.
In order to prevent the photographic print 4 (figure 3) from being able to emerge from the container, particularly when it is being sent, a means can be provided for reciprocal securing of the two edges of the surfaces 2 and 3, when the photographic print has been inserted in the container; this securing means advantageously consists of a strip of glue 4 (figures 3 and 8) which is disposed in the position of the inner surface of one of the two edges, of the type normally used on postal envelopes, and which carries out its function once it has been moistened.
In fact the strip of glue 4 advantageously has its two ends glued to the frame 2, in the position of the vertices of the container; on the other hand in the vicinity of both ends, the strip 4 has a cut 7 provided transversely relative to the latter, and thus the central part of the strip can be raised relative to the frame 2.
It will be appreciated that the reciprocal distance between the two cuts 7 should be such as to permit passage between the latter of the photographic print or the like to be inserted in the postal container. The central part of the strip obviously remains available in order to carry out closure of the container.
In figure 2, it can be seen that on the surface which is on view of the third surface 3, there is the form 6 which is normally present on postcards.
It must also be taken into account that normal photographic prints have an average format of 10.2 x 15.2 cm.
The postal provisions applicable in the European Union specify 12 cm as the maximum dimension for the smaller side of a standardised dispatch. Consequently, the width of the frame 2 disposed around the photographic print will be equal to half the difference between the smaller side of the photographic print and 12 cm.
This edge / frame, in the position of which the reciprocal securing of the other two surfaces which form the container takes place, can be coloured appropriately, or labelled, all for decorative purposes. Decoration can also be provided on the surface which is made of transparent material.
From the above description, it will thus be understood how images which are associated with the person who is sending the greetings can be sent by means of the device according to the model.
In addition, the photographic print travels protected against weather conditions, by means of its own covering, with the advantage that it arrives framed, like a modern postcard.
In the case of travel, there is another advantage, consisting of the fact that the addresses can be prepared before the journey, which makes it possible to avoid wasting valuable time on holiday, which is usually taken to write the addresses, with the almost inevitable occurrence of forgetting some of them.
Finally, on the edges which are disposed around the photographic print, there can be text relating to events such as a Jubilee, the Olympics etc., as well as the names of tourist localities and good wishes for festive occasions and various events.

Claims

Postal container for photographic prints, characterised in that it consists of three surfaces (1, 2, 3), which have the same rectangular shape and the same dimensions, and which are perfectly superimposed and joined to one another, such that the first surface (1), which is made of transparent material, and the second surface (2) in the shape of a frame, are secured in the position of all four of their edges, whereas the third surface (3) is secured to the second surface (2) only along three of their lateral edges, such that the two surfaces (2, 3) are not secured reciprocally in the position of one their edges, such as to permit insertion between the said surfaces of a photographic print (5) or the like, and finally, on the face of the third surface which faces the exterior, there is printed the form for the postal address, which is normally present on the reverse side of picture postcards.
Container according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a reciprocal securing means for the two non-secured edges of the two surfaces (2, 3), once the photographic print has been inserted between the two surfaces themselves.
Container according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the reciprocal securing means for the two edges consist of a strip of glue (4), which is disposed in the position of the inner surface of one of the two edges, of the type which is normally used on postal envelopes, and which carries out its function once it has been moistened.
Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that on the edges of the surface (2) in the form of a frame, on the part which is secured to the first surface (1), which is made of transparent material, there is printed text relative to a locality, an occurrence or event, or simply ornamental designs.
Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that on its first surface (1) which is made of transparent material, there is printed text relative to a location, an occurrence or event, or simply ornamental designs.
Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that on the face which is on view of the surface (3), there is present the form (6) which is normally present on postcards.