WO1998055982A1

WO1998055982A1 - Display case for two- and three-dimensional objects

Info

Publication number: WO1998055982A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/010298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Necolya G. Fry
Original assignee: Fry Necolya G
Priority date: 1997-06-06
Filing date: 1997-06-12
Publication date: 1998-12-10
Also published as: AU3392097A

Abstract

A display structure supports and protects two- and three-dimensional images. The structure has a transparent cover that is received in a peripheral frame to form a central display area. A mat that has two recesses bears against the transparent cover in order to display a two-dimensional picture in one of the mat recesses. A box attached to the frame behind the mat has a hinged back that exposes a display volume that is in general alignment with the other mat recess. One or more three-dimensional images are placed in the box for mounting in a clean environment that is generally safe from breakage.

Description

DISPLAY CASE FOR TWO- AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

Background Of The Invention

This invention relates to display structures and, more particularly, to a frame with a transparent cover that is superimposed on a mat that separates two- and three-dimension displays from each other, and the like,

Summary Of The Prior Art Decorative frames with transparent covers of glass or plastic to display pictures and other two dimensional visual images are very popular. Frequently, for decorative effect or for other reasons, mats are used to space the image from the inner margins of the associated frames. Quite often, these mats also serve another very important function in that the mat thickness will space the picture or other image from the superimposed transparent cover . The gap between the transparent cover and the picture prevents a physical contact that otherwise might lead to an undesirable chemical reaction between the image and the cover material .

Age and exposure to light also promote chemical reactions that attack the structure and integrity of the image within the frame. In this respect, these mats often serve a further preservative function. For example, by choosing a mat composition that establishes a protective atmosphere within the frame and cover, the degradation of the underlying picture or image can be retarded or even avoided .

"Shadow boxes" are another popular display device. In these devices a lattice of intersecting members form recesses in which several two-and three- dimension objects are mounted for visual display. "Shadow boxes," however, are unsatisfactory from several viewpoints. For example, there is a need, from time-to- time, to withdraw the objects from the "shadow box" and remove accumulated dust not only from the displayed objects, but also from the structure that houses these objects. Removing dust from the "shadow box" is particularly tedious because of the large number of small recesses that often characterize these display devices and from which the collected dust must be removed by hand.

Among the further disadvantages of the typical "shadow box" display structure is the vulnerability of the objects mounted in the respective box recesses. Illustratively, vibrations, handling by observers and similar unnecessary movement of the objects often will cause undesirable wear, soiling and breakage. Summary Of The Invention

Accordingly, there is a need for a display apparatus that can display both two- and three-dimension objects while protecting them from chemical and physical attack.

These difficulties and inadequacies that have marked the prior art are overcome, to a great extent, through the practice of the invention. For example, a frame with a transparent cover is placed over a mat that has at least one recess. The mat, preferably of a material that will chemically preserve the objects to be displayed, bears against the transparent cover to establish a gap between the transparent cover and the underlying image, thereby further improving the preservative function of the display device. In accordance with the invention, the mat recess accommodates at least one two-dimension visual image, e.g., a photograph or a painting, and a three-dimension image, e.g., a souvenir or a suitable memento. The transparent frame and cover combination, moreover, protects the three-dimension image and its associated recess from collecting dust, or inviting unwanted handling and breakage .

Thus, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a structure that both displays and protects ' two- and three-dimension images from chemical attack as well as arresting the deterioration that is inherent in "shadow box" exposure.

These and other features of the invention are described below in more complete detail. For an improved understanding of the invention, the following description of specific preferred embodiments of the invention should be taken with the drawing. The scope of the invention, however, is limited only through the claims appended hereto.

Brief Description Of The Drawing

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a typical embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a side of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 is a side and rear perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5.

Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments Of The Invention

As best shown in Fig. 1, a typical embodiment of the invention has a generally rectangular frame 10 that has frame members 11, 12, 13 and 14, Each of the frame members 11, 12, 13 and 14, moreover, are joined at their respective corners to form the frame 10 and establish a generally rectangular central display area 15. Each of the members 11, 12, 13 and 14 also has a groove or recess (not shown in the drawing) that surrounds inner margin 16 of the frame 10.

A transparent cover 17 of glass or other suitable material is positioned within the central display area 15. The dimensions of the cover 17 are somewhat larger than the corresponding dimensions of the inner margin 16 to enable the periphery, or a marginal strip (not shown in the drawing) of the cover 17 to be seated within the recess (also not shown in the drawing) in the frame 10 that surrounds the inner frame margin 16. Thus, the connected members 11, 12, 13 and 14 that form the frame 10 stabilize the cover 17 in the frame 10 in order to expose to view a broad expanse of the cover 17 in the central display area 15.

In accordance with a salient feature of the invention, a mat 20 of suitable preservative composition that has at least one and preferably two centrally disposed apertures or recesses 21, 22. The mat, moreover, is mounted flush with the side of the transparent cover 17 that is behind the frame members 11, 12, 13 and 14.

An illustrative two- dimension image or picture 23 is mounted behind the recess 22 to expose the picture to view while enabling the thickness of the mat 20 to separate the exposed surface of picture 23 from contact with the opposing surface of the transparent cover 17. The picture 23 can be secured to the adjoining portion of the mat 20 for display within the recess 22 through any suitable means, i.e., glue, corner tabs and the like. The mat recess 21, however, also provides a display area for a three-dimension image, or doll 24. Thus, in accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the doll 24 not only is protected from damage and soiling by means of ^"the transparent cover 17, but the doll 24 also enjoys the benefit of the chemical protection provided through the composition of the mat 20. As best shown in Fig. 2, a box 25 is attached to the unexposed side of the frame 10. The depth of the box 25 is optional and can reflect an appropriate compromise between the width of the doll 24 (Fig. 1) that is to be mounted within the hollow center of the box and the desired separation of the frame 10 (Fig. 2) from the wall (not shown in the drawing) . This depth is established by the width of side members, of which only the side members 26, 27 that join the box 25 to the frame 10 are shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These side members 26, 27 form a hollow central portion 30 (Fig. 1) for the box in which the doll 24 is mounted.

Turning now to Fig. 4, the box 25 is provided with a back 31 that is joined to side member 32 by means of hinges 33. As best shown in Fig. 3, the hinge 33 permits the back 31 for the box 25 to be pivoted relative to the frame member 12 and to expose the hollow central portion 30 in order to mount the doll 24 within. An additional feature of the invention is the alignment between the recess 21 in the mat 20 and the hollow central portion 30 of the box 25 that permits the doll 24 to be displayed prominently within the frame 10.

The hinges 33 and the associated back 31 also enhance the utility of the invention by enabling a new three-dimensional image to replace the doll 24 from time- to- time, according to taste. Further in this same regard, the structure of the box 25 protects the doll 24 from undesirable handling, dust accumulation and the like, while cooperating with the transparent cover 17 to prevent vibration and the like from causing the doll 25 to fall out of the frame 10. Although the frame 10 can be supported in any number of ways, for illustrative purposes, a support wire 34 is attached at the ends to the side member 27 by means of screws 35, 36.

In operation, and as illustrated in Fig. 3, the back 31 is opened to expose the hollow central portion 30 of the structure. An appropriate three-dimension image, such as the doll 24, is inserted into the central portion 30. A suitable two-dimension picture also is mounted against the side of the mat 20 that is exposed when the - back 31 is opened. Best shown in Fig. 1, the picture 23 is, when mounted, aligned with the recess 22 in order to be positioned in alignment with the recess and visible through the associated portion of the transparent cover. The back 31 (Fig. 3) is closed and the entire structure is mounted on a wall, or the like for display. To change the images, it is only necessary to open the back 31, remove either doll 24 or the picture 23, or both. A new display can be mounted in the structure, or the back 31 closed and the display device stored for use at some later time. A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 5 in which a frame 40 is assembled in a form that is reminiscent of a house with a peaked roof. Members 41, 42, 43 and 44, moreover, are joined together to form the frame 40. The frame members 41, 42, 43 and 44 form an inner margin 45 that sustains a transparent cover 46. The transparent cover 46 is engaged at its perimeter in longitudinal recesses (not shown in the drawing) that are formed in the adjoining surfaces of the frame members 41, 42, 43 and 44 which bear against the associated portion of the transparent cover 46.

In accordance with the invention, a suitable mat 47 is mounted against the transparent cover 46. As shown, the mat 47 has two recesses 50 and 51, the recess 51 spacing a two-dimension picture 52 from the transparent cover 46 and the recess 50 providing a display area for a three-dimension image (not shown in the drawing) .

In a manner similar to the embodiment of the invention described in connection with Figs. 1 through 4, and as best shown in Fig. 6, the frame 40 also has a hollow box 53. The box 53, moreover, has side members, of which only the side members 54, 55, 56 and 57 are shown in Fig. 6, and it is these side members that determine the depth of display volume 60. The display volume 60 is in alignment with the mat recess 50 to enable a three- dimension image (not shown in Fig. 6) to be viewed through the transparent cover 46 (Fig. 5) . A back 61 (Fig. 6) , is mounted on the box 53 by means of hinges 62, 63. The hinges 62, 63 permit the back 61 to be selectively opened in order to change or to rearrange the two- and three- dimension images that are on display.

The form of the frame 40, reminiscent of a house, is shown for illustrative purposes only in order to emphasize the flexibility of the invention. For example, the house-like frame 40 can display, in the two-dimension recess 51, a picture of a house and the three-dimension recess 50 can display an image associated with the house in the picture, e.g., a model of the house. The entire frame 40, picture and model of the house, then presents as an attractive display for a real estate sales office.

Consequently, other frame shapes can be tailored, within the scope of the invention, to meet special needs without departing from the principles thereof.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is

1. A display structure for two- and three- dimension images comprising a cover having at least two sides for establishing a display area, a mat having at least one recess formed therein, said mat bearing against one of said cover sides, and a box enclosing at least said mat recess, said box having a side member to establish a depth, said box forming a hollow portion in general alignment with said display area and said at least one mat recess for supporting the images therein.

2. A display structure according to claim 1 wherein said mat comprises at least two recesses, one of said recesses being in general alignment with said display area and said hollow portion to display the three- dimension image therein.

3. A display structure according to claim 2 wherein said second mat recess is in general alignment with said display area to display the two-dimension image therein.

4. A display structure according to claim 1 wherein said structure further comprises a frame, said frame having an inner margin, said inner margin establishing a boundary for said display area.

5. A display structure according to claim 4 wherein said frame inner margin further comprises a recess found therein at said inner margin said cover being received in said recess for support by said frame.

6. A display structure according to claim 1 wherein said cover further comprises a transparent cover.

7. A display structure according to claim 1 further comprising a back for said box and at least one hinge for selectively joining said back to said box.

8. A display structure according to claim 1 further comprising means for mounting the structure.

9. A display structure according to claim 4 wherein said mounting means further comprise a pair of screws secured to the display structure and a support wire attached to said screws for mounting the display device.

10. A display structure according to claim 4 wherein said frame further comprises a plurality of frame members, each of said frame members having at least two ends, said frame member ends being joined to form said frame .

11. A display structure according to claim 10 wherein said frame further comprises a rectangle.

12. A display structure according to claim 10 wherein said frame further comprises a structure that is reminiscent of a house.