US3265072A

US3265072A - Photo-album

Info

Publication number: US3265072A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1966-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-09

Description

15mg. 9, 1966 R GROSS 3,265,072

PHOTO-ALBUM Filed Dec. 30, 1964 /NvE/v-roR 5? RoBERT @Ross 2.," 76 5 Y u 4 M 52 54 A T TORNE Y United States Patent O 3,265,072 PHOT-ALBUM Robert Gross, 4111 W. Devon Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60646 Filed Dec. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 422,2S7 1 Claim. (Cl. 129-20) The present invention relates to photo-albums and more particularly to that type of album which is designed for use in the storage, care and display of small snapshot variety photographs. Such photographs currently prevail in standard sizes, among the more common sizes being 3% X 41A, 31/2 x 31/2 and 4% X 4%.. Albums are usually designed to accommodate photographs of one par- Iticular size and the present invention is applicable to a single-size photo album.

An extremely common type of photo-album employs between the two hinged covers thereof `an up-and-down series of over-lapping at envelopes which are formed of transparent plastic material, are hinged within the album along the fold line between the covers, and are open along their distal or outer side edges in order to provide entrance slots through which photographs may be inserted. When two photographs are thus inserted into a given envelope in back-to-back relationship, the photographs thereon are visible from opposite sides of the envelope through the transparent plastic material of which the envelope is formed. When the album is in its closed condition, the various envelopes overlie one another somewhat like the pages of a book. When the album is in its open condition with the covers spread apart, ilipping or swinging of the envelopes from one side to the other provides access to the back-to-back photographs for viewing purposes.

The envelopes which are associated with and form parts of an album of the aforementioned type are invariably tailored to fit the particular photographs to be stored in the album. Thus, if, it is desired to identify a given photograph, it is necessary to write the necessary information directly upon the picture side of the photograph, preferably on the lower margin of the photograph. Such Writing directly upon the photograph is undesirable, particularly if the photograph is subsequently to be reproduced, and it frequently is impractical, especially if the photograph presents a glossy surface which does not readily receive ink or pencil writing. Some photo-'albums make provision for up-and-down olfset staggering of adjacent transparent envelopes so that the writing on the bot-tom margin of a photograph in one envelope will not be covered by the photo in the next superjacent envelope, but when such staggering is resorted to, back-to-back storage of photographs in the same envelope precludes vis-ibility of the marginal legending on one side of each pair of photographs. Stated otherwise, a group of envelopes thus staggered will pre'- sent visible legending when the group is viewed from one side thereof but, when viewed from the other side, any legending which may have been applied to the lower margins of the various photographs will be concealed.

The present invention is concerned with a novel photoalbum which makes provision for the display of photographs in back-to-back relationship in indivi-dual transparent envelopes, one for each pair of photographs, and which provides for up-and-down staggering of the envelopes in offset relationship, yet in which, despite such staggering, provision is made for identifying each photogra-ph by suitable written legending, the legending being visible from both sides of a group or series of the staggered envelopes in the album.

The provision of such a photo-album constitutes the principal object of the invention and, in carrying out this object, it is contemplated that the various transparent renvelopes be made slightly higher, in the vertical direc- Patented August 9, 1966 tion of the album, than the height of the photographs to be installed therein and that each pair of photographs be mounted upon a special holder card which subsequently is inserted within the associated envelope and substantially fills the same areawise. Each holder card is provided with means for maintaining the two photographs in their back-to-back relationship but with one photograph extending upwardly from the lower edge of the card and the other photograph extending downwardly from the upper edge of the card. The two photographs are thus slightly offset with respect to each other so that on one side of the pair of photographs (consi-dered collectively) there is space on the card above the viewed photograph for an insc-ription or labeling while, on the other side of the pair, there is a space on the card below the viewed photograph for any desired inscription or labeling.

The provision of such a transparent envelope, in combination withsuch hold card, constitutes the essence of the present invention. The invention is directed specifically to the novel photograph-holder card, as well asthe association of such a card in a photo-album assembly.

lIn the accompanying single sheet of drawings forming a part of this speciiication, one illustrative embodiment of a photo-album constructed accor-ding to the present invention is illustrated.

`In this drawing:

YFIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a photo-album embodying the principles of the present invention and showing the album in its open condition;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the photograph-holder cards which are employed in connection with the album of `FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG, 2 but showing the holder card with a pair of photographs operatively installed thereon; and

FG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a photo-album is designated `in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and includes right and left hand cover sections 12 and 14 and an interconnecting hinge section 16. The hinge section 16 is connected to the cover sections 12 and 14 by fold lines 18 and 20, respectively. The three sections 12, 14 and 16 constitute a book-like holder or folder for retaining an inner articulated photograph-retaining assembly 22.

The photograph-retaining assembly 22 involves in its general organization a longitudinally split, exible hinge member 24 which is of tubular design and has slots 26 at closely spaced regions along its axial extent in order to provide a series of arcuate retaining lingers 28. The latter normally curlinto the tubular configuration of the hinge member but may selectively be pulled outwardly to expose the ends thereof for installation thereon a plurality of up-and-down series of photograph-receiving envelopes 30, as well as a series of relatively stiff separator sheets 32, the nature and function of which will be described presently.

The separator sheets 32 a-re provided with series of slots 34 along their proximate side margins, the arcuate lingers 28 of the exible hinge member 24 projecting loosely through the slots and thus serving hingedly to support the separator sheets for sidewise swinging movement about the axis of said hinge member. One of the separator sheets 32 is inserted or tucked into a pocket 36 on the right hand cover section 12, thus releasably maintaining the entire photograph-retaining assembly 22 in position within the folder.

Except for their departure in size from standard photograph-retaining envelopes, the previously mentioned envelopes 30 are conventional in design and each envelope `is hinged adjacent to its proximal or inner side edge for swinging movement about the axis of the hinge member 24, the hinge connection consisting of a plurality of slots 40 which are arranged in series form, extend through both thicknesses of the envelope, and are adapted loosely to receive a corresponding number of the arcuate retaining lingers 28 of the hinge member 24. As shown in FIG. 1, each envelope 30 is formed with five such slots and is supported on iive of the fingers 28. The distal or outer side edge end of each envelope is open as indicated at 42 to provide an entrance slot for a pair of back-to-back photographs. Preferably, each envelope is formed of any suitable transpa-rent plastic material. The separator sheets 32 and the envelopes 30 are preferably installed upon the hinge member 24 in such a manner that the separator sheets alternate with a series or group of the envelopes and the envelopes of each group are arranged in overlapping relationship so that when a group or portion of a group is disposed above the right hand cover section 12, successive envelopes underhang the lower edges of the next adjacent overlying envelopes. Similarly, when a group or portion of a group of envelopes is disposed above the left hand cover section 14, successive envelopes underhang the upper edges of the next adjacent overlying envelopes.

The arrangement of the aforementioned folder and the separator sheets 32, as well as of the overlapping envelopes 30 thus far described is more or less conventional and no claim is made herein to any novelty associated with the same, the novelty of the present invention consisting rather in the provision of a novel photograph holder card for each envelope. Each holder card is removably receivable in its associated envelope and serves to maintain a pair of photographs in back-to-back relationship so that one photograph is visible through the envelope when the latter ovcrlies the right hand cover section 12 and the other photograph is visible through the envelope when the latter ovcrlies the left hand cover section 14. Moreover, each holder card is so designed that, regardless of which cover section the associated envelope ovcrlies, a space on the holder card remains visible through the envelope and may be employed, if desired, for the application thereto of identifying writing or legendmg.

One of the novel photograph holder cards is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 50. Such holder card is in the form of a rectangular sheet 'of cardboard or the like, the height of which is slightly less than the height of the associated envelope 30 in order that the card may be readily inserted into said associated envelope and when in place will till the envelope interior. The height of the holder card 50 is in excess of the height of each photograph which is to be installed on the card. While various dimensions for the holder card are contemplated, preferably the height of the card is on the order of one-half inch in excess of the height of a photograph 51 so that when the lower edge 52 of the photograph is aligned with the lower edge 54 of the holder card, a space 56 of suflicient height and area for the application of written material 58 thereto will be provided above the photograph. Similarly, when the upper edge 60 of a photograph 51 is aligned with the upper edge 62 of the holder card, a space 64 will be provided below the photograph for application of written material 66 thereto.

Each holder card 50 is reversible either from top to bottom or from side-to-side and is adapted to receive thereon two of the photographs 51, the photographs being disposed in back-to-back relationship with the body portion of the cardboard holder card sandwiched therebetween. To retain the two associated photographs, each holder card is provided with two generally horizontally extending slits which, in the position of the holder shown in FIG. 2, include an upper slit 68 and a lower slit 70. The slits are tier as shown at the left hand side of FIG. l.

straight except for the provision of short laterally turned end portion 72 which, in combination with the straight portions of the slits, provide an upper downwardly extending narrow retaining flap 74 and a lower upwardly extending narrow retaining flap 76. The

flaps

74 and 76 are adapted to be displaced laterally in either direction out of the plane of the holder card 50 for the purpose of receiving thereunder the upper or the lower edge, as the case may be, of a photograph 51. The slits 63 and 70 are so spaced from the

edges

62 and 54, respectively, of the holder card that when the upper edge 60 of a photograph is inserted beneath the flap 68, the lower edge of the photograph will substantially coincide with the llower edge 54 of the holder card and the photograph will overlie and conceal the lower flap 76. Similarly, when the lower edge 52 of a photograph is inserted beneath t-he flap 76, the upper edge 60 of the photograph will substantially coincide with the upper edge 62 of the holder card with the photograph overlying and concealing the upper tlap 74. Such a disposition of two photographs 51 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is the intended disposition of photographs on the holder card 50 according to the present invention.

When two photographs 51 are disposed on the holder card in the manner described above and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two photographs will be disposed in back-to-back relationship with the body portion of the holder card sandwiched between the photographs. On one side of the card, the space 56 above the adjacent photograph is exposed for writing purposes while, on the other side of the card, the space 64 beneath the photograph is exposed for writing purposes.

As shown in FIG. 1, an assembly of one holder 50 and two photographs 51 in the relationship of FIGS. 3 and 4 is adapted to be inserted into each envelope 30 and, when a series of such assemblies has been elected, such envelopes as may be caused to overlie the cover section 14 will present the writing spaces 56 to view in a vertical Similarly, such envelopes as may be caused to overlie the cover section 12 will present the writing spaces 64 in a vertical tier as shown at the right hand side of this view. The photographs 51 are thus conveniently catalogued by respective visible indicia or legending 58 or 66, depending upon which side of the envelopes are facing the viewer.

In using the photo-album 10, any given photograph may be singled out for viewing and exposed to view by the simple expedient of selecting the associated indicia or legending and then swinging such photograph-containing envelopes as may overlie the associated envelope to an out-of-the-way position through an angle of thus transferring such envelopes to the opposite side of the open photo-album. Closure of the photo-album will, of course, automatically position all of the envelopes in overlapping relationship between the two cover sections 12 and 14. If desired, legending Emay be applied to the separator sheets 32 for identification and selection of any particular group of envelopes.

The invention is not to 'be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claim is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a photo-album of the character described, in combination, a pair of cover sections and an interconnecting hinge section, a hinge member positioned adjacent to said hinge section, a series of transparent rectangular envelopes having their proximate side edges carried by said hinge section and having respective open edges, other than their proximate side edges, adapted for reception therethrough of selected pairs of back-to-back photographs, and a unitary normally fiat unfolded rectangular photograph holder card disposed in each envelope, said holder card being slitted to provide two hinged photograph-retaining flaps electve on opposite sides of the holder card respectively to receive thereunder an edge of a photograph, one of said flaps being disposed a slight distance inwardly from the upper edge of the holder card and projecting downwardly therefrom and the other ap beingdisposed a slight distance inwardly from the lower edge of the holder card and projecting upwardly therefrom, the space immediately above said one downwardly projecting flap on one side of the holder card presenting a legend-receiving area and the space immediately above said other flap on the other upwardly projecting side of the holder card similarly presenting a legendreceiving area, adjacent envelopes being disposed in slightly overlapping relationship in the vertical direction of the card holder so that when the photo-album is in its open condition with certain envelopes overlying one of the cover sections and with certain other envelopes overlying the other cover section, all of the legend-receiving areas on the sides of the photograph holders remote from the Vadjacent cover sections will be exposed to View.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,011 1/1937 Engel 129-20 2,259,787 10/ 1941 Trussell 129-20 2,274,944 3/ 1942 Trussell 129-20 2,560,725 7/ 1951 Jones 129-20 2,926,444 3/ 1960 Atkins 129-20 X JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.