BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to display devices for photographs and, more particularly, to picture frames adapted for easy transport.

2. Background of the Invention

Postcards are commonly used for communicating with friends and loved ones and are both economical and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a picture frame postcard adapted for transport using conventionally available mail service is provided that includes a housing defining an interior space adapted to contain a photograph or other visual display device. The housing further includes a removable panel on a front face of the housing that permits the recipient of the picture frame postcard to view the photograph contained within the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. la is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a picture frame postcard prior to assembly in a substantially flattened condition;

FIG. lb is a rear view of the picture frame postcard of FIG. la in a substantially flattened condition prior to assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of the picture frame postcard of FIG. la by folding the unassembled picture frame postcard about a predetermined line;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the assembly of the picture frame postcard of FIG. la by folding the unassembled picture frame postcard about a predetermined line;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the picture frame postcard of FIG. la in an assembled condition; FIG. 5 is a rear view of the picture frame postcard of FIG. la in an assembled condition;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the assembled picture frame postcard of FIG. 4 illustrating the removal of the perforated panel;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the picture frame postcard of FIG. 6 with the perforated front panel removed;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the perforated panel;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the perforated panel of FIG. 8 demonstrating folding the perforated panel about a predetermined line;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the perforated panel of FIG. 8 demonstrating folding the perforated panel about another predetermined line;

FIG. 1 la is a rear perspective view of the use of the folded perforated panel to support the picture frame postcard;

FIG. l ib is a side view of the use of the folded perforated panel to support the picture frame postcard; FIG. 12a is a rear perspective view of another use of the folded perforated panel to support the picture frame postcard; and

FIG. 12b is a side view of another use of the folded perforated panel to support the picture frame postcard.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a picture frame postcard permitting an individual to mail a picture to a friend or loved one that can be displayed by the receiving party using only the picture frame postcard. While illustrated by means of specific illustrative embodiments providing a picture frame postcard, the illustrative embodiments will also find broad application to a wide-range of applications calling for the

transmission of visual information using a conventional mail or parcel delivery service. Therefore, the illustration by means of a picture frame postcard is meant to be illustrative and not limiting.

Referring to FIGS, la, lb, 2, 3, 4 and 5, a preferred embodiment of a picture frame postcard 100 will now be described. The picture frame postcard 100 is constructed from a main panel 110 having a front face 120, a rear face 130, upper and lower edges 140 and 150, upper left and right edges 160a and 170a, and lower left and right edges 160b and 170b. The main panel 110 further includes an upper region 180 and a lower region 190 defined by a scored dividing line 200. In a preferred embodiment, the lower region 190 is used to provide postage and address information for mailing the picture frame postcard 100.

The main panel 110 may be approximately rectangular in shape and may have overall dimensions of approximately 7" x 9 1/2" with a thickness of about 1/32". In a preferred embodiment, the main panel is substantially rectangular in shape and has overall dimensions of about 7" x 9 1/2" with a thickness of about 1/32". The upper region 180 of the main panel 110 may be approximately rectangular in shape and may have overall dimensions of approximately 7" x 5 1/16". The lower region 190 of the main panel 110 may be approximately rectangular in shape and may have overall dimensions of approximately 7" x 4 1/2". In a particularly preferred embodiment, the left and right upper edges 160a and 170a are longer than the left and right lower edges 160b and 170b. In this manner the upper region 180 will overlap the lower region 190 thereby providing a sealing flap that may be provided with an adhesive surface for sealing the interior of the picture frame postcard 100. The overall dimensions of the picture frame postcard 100 may be adjusted to accomodate a range of photograph sizes. The main panel 110 may be constructed from any number of conventional lightweight materials. In a preferred embodiment, the main panel 110 is constructed from paper postcard stock.

The scored dividing line 200 may be positioned approximately parallel to the upper edge 140 and the lower edge 150. In a preferred embodiment, the scored dividing line 200 is substantially parallel to the upper edge 140 and the lower edge 150. The scored dividing line 200 may be provided using conventional scoring methods.

The upper region 180 of the main panel 110 includes an upper scored line 210

defining a flap 220, a removable perforated panel 230 having upper, lower, left and right outer edges 230a, 230b, 230c, and 230d, a first scored line 240, a second scored line 250a and a third scored line 250b, and first, second, third, and fourth glue areas 260, 270, 280 and 290. The upper scored line 210 may be aligned approximately parallel to the upper edge

140 and may be positioned approximately 3/8" to 1/2" from the upper edge 140. In a preferred embodiment, the upper scored line 210 is aligned substantially parallel to the upper edge 140 and is positioned about 5/8" to 1/2" from the upper edge 140. The upper scored line 210 may be provided using conventional scoring methods. The flap 220 may be provided with a glue area 260 having an adhesive surface covered with peelable tape. The adhesive surface and peelable tape of the preferred embodiment may be applied using conventional methods and materials. In this manner, the user of the picture frame postcard 100 may easily remove the peelable tape and fold over the flap 220 to seal the interior of the picture frame postcard 100. In an alternative embodiment, the glue area 260 may be provided with a dry adhesive that must be applied with moisture by the user in order to seal the flap 220. In still another alternative embodiment, the user may simply apply an adhesive or other sealing device such as, for example, tape or staples to seal the picture frame postcard 100.

The removable perforated panel 230 may be approximately rectangular and may have overall dimensions of approximately 4 1/2" x 3". In one preferred embodiment, removable perforated panel 230 is substantially rectangular and has overall dimensions of about 4 1/2" x 3". In an alternative preferred embodiment, the removable perforated panel is substantially square. The perforations of the removable perforated panel 230 may be produced using conventional methods. The first scored line 240 may aligned approximately parallel to the left and right edges 230c and 230d and may be positioned approximately halfway between the left and right edges 230c and 230d. In a preferred embodiment, the first scored line 240 is aligned substantially parallel to the left and right edges 230c and 230d and is positioned substantially halfway between the left and right edges 230c and 230d. The first scored line 240 may be provided using conventional scoring methods.

The second and third scored lines 250a and 250b may aligned approximately

parallel to the upper and lower edges 230a and 230b and may be positioned approximately 3/4" to 1" from the upper edge 230a. In a preferred embodiment, the second and third first scored lines 250a and 250b are aligned substantially parallel to the upper and lower edges 230a and 230b and are positioned about 1" from the upper edge 230a. The second and third scored lines 250a and 250b may be provided using conventional scoring methods.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the removable perforated panel 230 further includes a slotted perforated edge 235 to facilitate the removal of the removable perforated panel. The slotted perforated edge 235 may be provided using conventional methods of slotting. The second, third, and fourth glue areas 270, 280 and 290 are provided adjacent to the upper left edge 160a, the scored dividing line 200 and the upper right edge 170a respectively. In a preferred embodiment, a thin layer of a conventional adhesive is applied to each of these glue areas, 270, 280 and 290, to permit assembly of the picture frame postcard by folding the upper and lower regions 180 and 190 about the scored dividing line 200. This will bring the upper and lower regions 180 and 190 into intimate contact thereby bonding the upper and lower regions 180 and 190 together. This can also be used to hold the photograph or other visual display in place by means of the adhesive placed on the glue areas, 270, 280 and 290. In an alternative embodiment, other types of bonding agents such as, for example, tape or staples may be used. The lower region 190 of the main panel 1 10 includes a perforated slot 300, and fifth, sixth and seventh glue areas 310, 320, and 330.

The perforated slot 300 may positioned approximately halfway between and parallel to the lower left and right edges 160b and 170b. In a preferred embodiment, the perforated slot 300 is positioned about halfway between and substantially parallel to the lower left and right edges 160b and 170b. The perforated slot 300 may range from approximately 1 3/4" to 1 13/16" in length. In a preferred embodiment, the perforated slot is about 1 13/16" in length. The perforated slot 300 may be positioned approximately perpendicular to and halfway between the scored dividing line 200 and the lower edge 150. In a preferred embodiment, the perforated slot 300 is positioned substantially perpendicular to and halfway between the scored dividing line 200 and the lower edge 150. The perforated slot 300 may be provided using conventional slotting methods.

The fifth, sixth and seventh glue areas 310, 320, and 330 are provided adjacent to the scored dividing line 200, the lower left edge 160b and the lower right edge 170b respectively. In a preferred embodiment, a thin layer of a conventional adhesive is applied to each of these glue areas to permit assembly of the picture frame postcard by folding the upper and lower regions 180 and 190 about the scored dividing line 200 into intimate contact. In an alternative embodiment, other types of bonding agents such as, for example, tape or staples may be used.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the picture frame postcard 100 is assembled by folding the upper and lower regions 180 and 190 about the scored dividing line 200 and placing the upper and lower regions 180 and 190 into intimate contact. The adhesive agents applied to the glue areas 270, 280, 290, 310, 320 and 330 will then bond the upper and lower regions 180 and 190 together to form the completed assembly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The interior region of the completed picture frame postcard 100 may then be used to hold a photograph or other visual display device. The interior region of the picture frame postcard 100 may then be sealed by folding over the sealing flap 220.

In an alternative embodiment, one or more semi-circular slots 400 may be provided in addition to or in lieu of one or more of the glue areas, 270, 280, 290, 310, 320 and 330 to hold the photograph or other visual display in place within the picture frame postcard 100. Furthermore, one or more of the glue areas 270, 280, 290, 210, 320 and 330 may be omitted since the flap 220 will hold the assembled picture frame postcard together.

The picture frame postcard 100 may then be sent to a friend or loved one using conventional mail or parcel delivery services. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the recipient of the delivered picture frame postcard 100 may then display the photograph or other visual display by removing the perforated panel 230. Note that the photograph or other visual display device may be oriented vertically or horizontally as indicated by the arrows V and H.

Referring now to drawing Figures 8, 9, 10, 1 la, 1 lb, 12a and 12b, the use of the perforated panel 230 to facilitate the display of the photograph or other visual display device contained within the picture frame postcard 100 will be described. The removable perforated panel 230 having been removed from the picture frame postcard may be divided into sub-panels identified as first portion 230e and second portion 230f each having first

and second flaps 230g and 230h defined by the scored lines 250a and 250b. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 la, 1 lb, 12a and 12b, the first or second portions 230e or 230f may then be used to support the picture frame postcard 100 in either of two orientations by inserting the first or second flaps 230g or 230h into the slot 300. In an alternative embodiment, additional sub-panels may be provided by adding additional scoring lines oriented similar to scoring line 240. In yet another alternative embodiment, no sub-panels may be provided at all. A picture frame postcard has been described that permits an individual to send a photograph or other visual display device to a friend or loved one using conventional mail or parcel services. The recipient of the picture frame postcard may then easily display the photograph contained within by removing a removable panel and then support the photograph contained within by supporting the picture frame postcard using the removable panel. Alternatively, the recipient of the of picture frame postcard may display the photograph contained within a conventional picture frame with the picture frame postcard providing a matte for the photograph contained within. While the apparatus has been described with reference to specific illustrative embodiments of a picture frame postcard, the teachings of the present illustrative embodiments will find wide application to any number of applications requiring the transmission of visual information using conventional mail or parcel delivery services.