Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02491375 2004-12-31
MAILABLE PHOTO HOLDER AND CARD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001 ] The present invention relates to greeting cards, photo albums, picture
frames and
other types of devices and articles for holding one or more pictures, and,
more
particularly, to a photo album or picture holder that is particularly adapted
to be mailed.
[0002] People generally like to share special memories and stories about
events such as
the birth of a baby or pictures of children, a religious ceremony, a
graduation, a birthday,
an anniversary, a travel experience, a holiday celebration, a new pet or gift,
or thoughts of
a friend with loved ones or friends who are far away. Typically, they will
send writings
and photos or photo greeting cards to in an attempt to convey the story. In
the case of
photo greeting cards, the recipient often likes to display the card for others
to see. A
letter with accompanying loose photos is not always effective in readily and
clearly
conveying information about specific subjects in the photo and, in any event,
they cannot
be displayed effectively for others to see. Though photo greeting cards are
easier to
display for others, they are not suited for conveying a story since they can
accommodate
only a single photograph and, if a writing surface is provided, it is not
positioned across
from the pictured subject in a way that notes can be taken and associated with
specific
parts of the photo. A photo album with plastic pages has the advantage of
being useful to
display a number of photos. However, the album is suitable only for collecting
and
storing photos, and not for conveying the story associated with the photos
because the
album provides no surface for recording notes and thoughts in a way that the
notes can be
readily associated with a particular photo. The album is not intended, and is
not suited, to
function as a greeting card. Further, the material from which the plastic
pages are made
is not suitable for displaying the photo when the album is standing upright
due to the
flexibility of the pages. Therefore, unless the album is lying on a flat
surface, it is not
suitable for displaying the photos for others to see.
[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a photo holder that can be used to
present a picture
story using more than one photo and that has a surface on which notes about a
special
event can be written to convey the story associated with the photos. There is
also a need
CA 02491375 2004-12-31
for such a holder that is easy to mail and that can be displayed by the
recipient if it is
desired to convey the story to others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a photo holder that encourages the
giving of
photos along with the sharing of memories in written form. The invention
offers in a
mailable holder and card format ample room for more than one picture and room
to tell a
story with pictures and writings about a special event. The invention can
optionally
frame the photos with a decorative sturdy border such that the product can be
displayed
as a framed work of art. The invention differs from other products in that the
invention
provides a photo holder that is designed to hold more than one picture and to
provide
space to write about the photo or experience in an easy to mail format.
[0005] Thus, the present invention provides a mailable photo holder, or album,
and card
that allows the mailing of more than one photo and provides writing surfaces
for
greetings that can be displayed if desired. Thus, the present invention
provides the ability
to tell a story associated with the photos stored and displayed in the
invention in a form
that is conveniently mailable and adapted to be displayed by the recipient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment may be
understood
better if reference is made to the appended drawing, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photo album and card provided by the
present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the album and card shown in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the album and card shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a view showing the main frame of the album and card shown in
FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of an alternate photo album and card
provided by
the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the album and card shown in FIG. 5;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the photo album and card shown in FIG.
l, with
the photo page turned to show the back of the page;
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[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the album shown in FIG. 1 in its
mailing
configuration; and
[0015] FIG. 9 is a section view of the holder shown in FIG. 8 taken along the
line 9-9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIGS. 1 through 6, 8 and 9 show a mailable photo holder and card 10
that is
provided by the present invention. The mailable photo holder, or album, and
card 10
allows the mailing of more than one photo and provides writing surfaces for
greetings
that can be displayed if desired. Thus, holder 10 provides the ability to tell
a story
associated with the photos stored and displayed in holder 10 in a form that is
conveniently mailable and adapted to be displayed by the recipient. FIG. 8
shows holder
10 in its mailing configuration, ready to be addressed and mailed just as it
is shown in
FIG. 8, without an envelope. Holder 10 is preferably constructed of paper
material,
though plastic may be used to protect the photos, and includes a number of
photo pages
14 (only one shown) that defines a photo pocket. Holder 10 can, therefore,
hold more
than one photo and corresponding writing surfaces for notes. Although only one
photo
page 14 is shown, any desired number of photo pages 14 may be provided to
allow holder
10 to hold a desired number of photos, and the photo pages 14 can be
configured to hold
the photos in any variety of positions as long as a surface is provided to
write notes and
comments adjacent each photo.
[0017] Holder 10 includes an elongated mailer or back page 12 that can be made
of
paper, plastic or a combination of the two. Mailer 12 functions as a wrap
around mailer
that covers and protects the contents of holder 10 during shipment of holder
10, and,
when mailer 12 is wrapped around the contents of holder 10 and secured in its
mailing
configuration, provides a compact package that is easy to transport. Mailer 12
defines
one or more (only one shown) inside photo page 12 with a pair of photo pockets
16 that
offer additional places for a photo or photos and note writing. The photo
pages 14 of
holder 10 can be bound to mailer 12 permanently like a book or temporarily
with a pair
of removable ties 20 that are tied together through holes 22 defined by photo
pages 14
and holes 24 defined by mailerl2, or with another suitable fastener. Photo
pages 14 can
be made of paper, plastic or a combination of the two. Photo pocket 16
provides a holder
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for a photo and space for notes. Sections 26 and 28 wrap around the contents
of holder
when the holder 10 is to be mailed, Closure tab 30 is inserted into a die cut
slot 32
formed in one of the photo pockets 16.
(0018] Photo page 14 provides a pocket for a photo and space for taking notes.
Side 33
5 of photo page 14 defines an opening 34 through which the photo held by page
14 can be
viewed. Sides 34 and 36 of page 14 define a pocket for holding a photo.
Surface 42 of
side 36 provides space for taking notes associated with the photo held in a
confronting
pocket adjacent to it, and surface 44 of side 33 provides limited space for
taking notes
associated with the photo held by page 14. Sides 34 and 36 are sealed together
by any
10 suitable means around their edges, with the exception of a portion of their
edges 38 and
40, respectively. The unsealed edges 38 and 40 form an entry through which a
photo can
be inserted and held between sides 34 and 36. The unsealed edges 38 and 40
need not
extend across the full height of page 14, but only to the extent needed to
admit a photo
between sides 34 and 36. The size of the pocket formed by page 14 is fixed by
the size of
the edges of sides 34 and 36 that are sealed together. The size of the pocket
should be
large enough to allow for easy insertion of the photo, yet small enough to
stabilize the
position of the photo in the pocket.
(0019 Similarly, each photo pocket 16 provides a pocket for a photo and space
for
taking notes. Side 46 of pocket 16 defines an opening 48 through which the
photo held
by pocket 16 can be viewed. Sides 46 and 50 of pocket 16 define a pocket for
holding a
photo. Surface 52 of side 50 provides space for taking notes associated with
the photo in
the pocket adjacent to it, and surface 54 of side 46 provides limited space
for taking notes
associated with the photo held by pocket 16. Sides 46 and 50 are sealed
together by any
suitable means around their edges, with the exception of a portion of their
edges 56 and
58, respectively. The unsealed edges 56 and 58 form an entry through which a
photo can
be inserted and held between sides 46 and 50. The unsealed edges 56 and S 8
need not
extend across the full height of pocket 16, but only to the extent needed to
admit a photo
between sides 46 and S0. The size of the pocket formed by pocket 16 is fixed
by the size
of the edges of sides 46 and SO that are sealed together. The size of the
pocket should be
large enough to allow for easy insertion of the photo, yet small enough to
stabilize the
position of the photo in the pocket.
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(0020] Mailer 12 can define a perforated edge 80 so that the panels 26 and 28
(which do
not include photos or notes) and tab 30, which are exposed during mailing, can
be
discarded if unsightly.
(0021 ] The size of holder 10 is determined by the size of the photos to be
stored in
holder 10. Holder lU is designed to store 4"x 6" photos. The measurements can
change
for different sized pictures..
(0022] Holder 10 may be folded up around joints 60, 62, 64, and 66, and
fastened in the
mailing configuration shown in FIG. 8 by inserting tab 30 into slot 32, and
then mailed as
it is, without an envelope. The address of the recipient is entered on surface
72 of holder
10. Alternatively, holder 10 may be mailed more conventionally in an envelope.
(0023] Each photo pocket in holder 10 functions as a frame for the picture
held by the
pocket, and is made with at least two pieces of sturdy materials attached
together
whereby the picture can slide between the two attached materials to be housed
in the
pocket. The material may be paper or plastic or a combination of the two. The
material
should be sturdy enough to hold the picture in a stable fashion within holder
10 so that
holder 10 can stand upright for display if desired, as shown in FIG. 1. The
frame offers
stability to the pocket and aesthetically sets off the picture. The frame also
allows the
picture to appear matted allowing it to be used within a three-dimensional
frame if
desired. The openings of the pockets have a die cut shape on the edge of the
pocket for
easier insertion and removal of the pictures.
(0024] A pair of spacers 70 may be provided between the sides of each page 14
and
pocket 16 to space the sides apart and facilitate the insertion of a photo
therebetween.
(0025] Any of the surfaces may be used for pre-printed artwork, but sufficient
space
should remain for notes.
(0026] Pages 14 can be permanently bound by stapling, gluing or sewing, or
made to be
removable. If removable, holes 22 and 24 will be punched in the various
components
along a common edge of holder 10 through which a removable tie can be attached
such as
a piece of fabric, metal, or plastic closure. If the holder 10 is bound by a
removable
fastener, this allows for additional pages 14 to be added or removed.
Removable pages
l4can be used as matted photos to be later inserted in a three-dimensional
frames if
desired.
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[0027] When holder 10 is used in its self mailer configuration, wrap around
panels 26
and 28 protect the pictures when mailed and surface 72 of panel 26 provides a
space for
writing the address and stamps. Inserting tab 30 into slot 32 when holder 10
is in the self
mailing configuration assures safe mailing of the holder 10 such that the
photos will not
fall out. The device can close via a paper or plastic tab 30 slipping into a
die cut slot 32.
[0028] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate mailer 112 for holder 10. Mailer 112 is
identical
to mailer 12, with the exception that mailer 112 uses hook and loop (Velcro)
fasteners
114 and 116 to seal holder 10 in its self mailing configuration instead of a
tab 30 and a
slot 32. Holder 10 can also use a mailer that closes with ribbons, and elastic
or buttons or
any other suitable fastener.
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