GB2288569A

GB2288569A - Mailable Picture Frame

Info

Publication number: GB2288569A
Application number: GB9408070A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul William Edmonds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-04-22
Filing date: 1994-04-22
Publication date: 1995-10-25
Also published as: GB9408070D0

Abstract

An article for postal transmission comprising a generally planar envelope or pouch which is adapted to receive a pictorial (eg photographic) insert, the article comprising a viewing portion extending over a major portion of the area of one side of the article through which the insert may be viewed and an area on the other side of the article adapted to receive and display postal and message information. The pouch may be sealable after insertion of a photograph. A rear leaf may serve as a foldable leg to stand the article on a surface. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Article for postal transmission" Description of Invention This invention relates to an article for postal transmission.

According to the present invention, I provide an article for postal transmission comprising a generally planar article comprising a receptacle in which is adapted to receive an insert, the article comprising a viewing portion extending over a major portion of the area of one side of the article through which the insert may be viewed and an area on the other side of the article adapted to receive and display information. The area may comprise a first area to receive and display an address and a second area to receive or be pre-printed with a postage frank or to receive a postage stamp and, optionally, a third area adapted to receive and display a personal message.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, I provide an article for postal transmission comprising a generally planar article comprising a first rectangular lamina portion and a second rectangular lamina portion joined to each other at three sides to define a receptacle therebetween which is adapted to receive an insert, the first portion comprising a viewing portion extending over a major portion of the area of the rectangular first portion so that the insert may be viewed, the second portion having an external surface providing an area adapted to receive and display and address and a second area to receive or be pre-printed with a postage frank or to receive a postage stamp and, optionally, providing a third area to receive and display a message.

The insert may be any desired object but is preferably a photograph or other pictorial representation.

The viewing portion may permit at least a major portion of the insert to be viewed and preferably the whole, or substantially the whole, of the pictorial representation carried by the insert.

Locating means may be provided to locate the insert relative to the viewing portion.

The locating means may comprise locating elements adapted to engage the insert and disposed between the first and second lamina portions.

Means may be provided to retain the insert in the pocket.

Said means may be an adhesive tag adhesively secured to at least one of said portions and extending across the gap between the first and second portions of the fourth side of a rectangle.

The two portions may be formed integral with each other over at least a portion of one side.

The viewing portion may be an aperture formed in said first portion.

The viewing portion may be provided with a transparent window.

The article may be provided with a flap which may be disposed so as to extend over the viewing portion, for example during postal transmission.

The flap may be movable to occupy a position in which it acts to support the article in an upstanding position.

Two examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a first portion of an article embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is an elevation of a second portion of the article of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary section, to an enlarged scale similar to the section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 but of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 6 is a section through the article of Figure 5 but showing a flap thereof in an alternative position.

Referring to the figures, an article for postal transmission comprises a generally planar article indicated at 10 comprising a first rectangular lamina portion 12 and a second rectangular lamina portion 14. The portions 12 and 14 are joined to each other along at least part of three sides 16, 18, 20 to define a pocket 22 therebetween.

In the illustrated example, the two portions 12, 14 are made as two separate rectangular lamina elements joined together along the whole of the three sides by means of an adhesive 13.

If desired however, the portions 12, 14 may be formed integrally with each other along at least one side and adhesively secured along the remaining side or sides. Indeed, the lamina portions may be made in any desired manner and although in the present example they are made of paper or cardboard, they may be made from any suitable material such as a synthetic plastics material.

The pocket 22 provides a receptacle in which an insert such as a photograph 24 is received. In the present example, the photograph 24 or other pictorial representation comprises a photograph of the kind conventionally produced by an instant camera comprising a frame part 26 and a picture part 28 in which an image, provided by a processed photographic emulsion, is displayed.

The first portion 12 has a viewing portion 30 provided therein which, in the present example, comprises a simple rectangular opening but which may be provided by an opening in the otherwise opaque first portion 12 or may be provided by an opening in the otherwise opaque portion 12, the opening being provided with a transparent window of suitable material such as cellophane or other material. The part of the first portion surrounding the receiving portion 30 may be decorated as shown at 31.

The boundary 15 of the adhesively secured together parts provides locating means to locate the photograph 24 or other insert in a predetermined position relative to the viewing portion 30.

If desired, additional elements, not shown, may be provided between the parts 12 and 14 to provide such locating means. For example, strips co-extensive with the areas of the adhseive 13 and adhesively secured to one or both of the parts 12, 14 as appropriate.

The second portion 14 is provided with an area comprising a first area 32 to receive and display address information, a second area 34 to receive and display a postage frank or a postage stamp or to be pre-printed with a postage frank and, optionally, a third area 36 upon which any desired information may be received and displayed such as a personal message.

The second portion 14 is provided with a retaining means to retain the photograph 24 within the receptacle 22. In the illustrated example, the retaining means comprises a tab 38 suitably secured to the second portion 14 and adhesively securable to the first portion 12 so as to extend past the open end of the receptacle 22 and thus retain the photograph 24 therein.

If desired, any other suitable retaining means may be provided, for example by providing a tab similar to the tab 38 but making it permanently secured to the first part 12 and adhesively securable to the second portion 14.

Alternatively, a tab similar to the tab 38 may be provided which is adhesively securable to the first and second portions 12 and 14 after the photograph 24 has been disposed in the receptacle 22. If desired, any other suitable form of retaining means may be provided.

Although in the present example the case of a rectangular article for postal transmission to receive a photograph comprising a picture part 28 in a frame 26 has been described, if desired the article for postal transmission may be of other configuration than rectangular and/or the photograph may be of a different kind such as a photograph comprising solely a photographic "print" namely a sheet of paper or other substrate provided with a photographic emulsion upon which a photographic image is displayed without the presence of a separate frame.

Further alternatively, the article may receive an insert of any desired element but preferably the element is provided with some form of pictorial representation.

If desired, the first portion 12 may be provided with an area to receive an address or other information or personal message.

An article embodying the present invention may be utilised, for example, by a photographer who may speculatively or to order take a photograph of an individual or individuals and may invite the individual or individuals to purchase a print of the photograph together with the article for postal transmission so that the purchaser may send, for example to friends or colleagues, a "personalised postcard" displaying the photographic print and accompanied by any desired message.

In Figures 5 and 6 an alternative embodiment is shown which is the same as the previously described embodiment but is also provided with a flap 40 secured to the article along an edge 41 by means of a hinge portion 40a or by any other suitable means or by virtue of being formed integral with one of the parts 12, 14. The flap 40 may occupy the position shown in Figure 5 during postal transmission so as to extend over and close the viewing portion 30. The flap may be narrower than the article and so cover only the viewing portion 30 and, if desired, narrow side regions adjacent thereto. If desired, the flap 40 may have a decorative outer surface or it may be provided with an address or personal message or other information.

The flap 40 may be retained in this position by any suitable means such as an adhesive or a "VELCRO" type fastening provided in the region indicated at 42 or by providing the flap 40 with a folded-over portion 43 and providing the securing means in the region indicated at 44.

When the article has reached its destination, the flap 41 may be moved to the position shown in Figure 6 to act as a leg to prop up the article in an upstanding position so that the insert can conveniently be viewed.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms or means for performing the desired function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An article for postal transmission comprising a generally planar article comprising a receptacle in which is adapted to receive an insert, the article comprising a viewing portion extending over a major portion of the area of one side of the article through which the insert may be viewed and an area on the other side of the article adapted to receive and display information.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein the area comprises a first area to receive and display an address and a second area to receive or be pre-printed with a postage frank or to receive a postage stamp and, optionally, a third area adapted to receive and display a personal message.

3. An article for postal transmission comprising a generally planar article comprising a first rectangular lamina portion and a second rectangular lamina portion joined to each other at three sides to define a receptacle therebetween which is adapted to receive an insert, the first portion comprising a viewing portion extending over a major portion of the area of the rectangular first portion so that the insert may be viewed, the second portion having an external surface providing an area adapted to receive and display and address and a second area to receive or be pre-printed with a postage frank or to receive a postage stamp and, optionally, providing a third area to receive and display a message.

4. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the insert is a photograph or other pictorial representation.

5. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the viewing portion permits at least a major portion of the insert to be viewed.

6. An article according to claim 5 wherein the viewing part permits the whole, or substantially the whole of the pictorial representation carried by the insert, to be viewed.

7. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locating means is provided to locate the insert relative to the viewing portion.

8. An article according to claim 7 when dependent directly or indirectly on Claim 3 wherein the locating means comprises locating elements adapted to engage the insert and disposed between the first and second lamina portions.

9. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided to retain the insert in the receptacle.

10. An article according to claim 9 when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 3 wherein said means is an adhesive tag adhesively secured to at least one of said portion and extending across the gap between the first and second portions at the fourth side of the rectangle.

11. An article according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 10 when dependent on claim 3 wherein the two portions may be formed integral with each other over at least a portion of one side.

12. An article according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 11 when dependent on claim 3 wherein the viewing portion is an aperture formed in said first portion.

13. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the article is provided with a flap which may be disposed so as to extend over the viewing portion, for example during postal transmission.

14. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.