Frame system formed from single sheet and transparent cover

Abstract

A three-dimensional, lightweight and thin frame made from a single sheet of formable material such as printed and embossed paper and a flexible transparent cover. The cover is countersunk into and held flat against a mat region in the center of the front of the frame, leaving the surrounding frame region free for whatever two- and three-dimensional ornament is desired. An article holding recess is further countersunk into the center of the mat region such that when an item is placed therein the cover may still lie perfectly flat and away from the item. The article holding recess may be accessed by pulling the cover up from one side of the mat region, where it is held with restickable adhesive, while the other side remains firmly in place, held with permanent adhesive. An article for display, such as a photo, may then be fixed against the back of the article holding recess, which is also covered with restickable adhesive, and the cover then smoothed back down flat. The primary embodiment also includes integral easel legs formed at the perimeter of the frame region which may be folded back to support the frame leaning back in either portrait or landscape position; the legs may further interlock flat behind the frame for transport or hanging. A secondary embodiment includes greeting card functionality, a third embodiment is designed for hanging only, using restickable adhesive on the back of the frame, and a fourth embodiment shows how the article holding recess may be accessed through a slot or hole in the back of the system if a permanently fixed, immobile cover is desired.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A system for holding and displaying substantially planar articles, comprising: 
 (a) a main body formed from a single sheet of material having a front or viewing side and a back or hidden side, said main body comprising: 
 (1) a frame region running substantially around the outward periphery of said viewing side,  
 (2) a substantially planar mat region lying within the periphery of said frame region and countersunk into said frame region,  
 (3) at least one viewing aperture through the plane of said mat region and lying within the periphery of said mat region,  
 (4) an article holding recess behind said viewing aperture,  
 (5) a substantially planar backing area within and at the back of said article holding recess,  
   (b) a substantially planar and transparent sheet forming a cover of the same size or smaller than said mat region, but larger than said article holding recess;    (c) cover fixing means for fixing said transparent cover in a substantially planar disposition against said mat region;    (d) article retaining means for retaining said article in a substantially planar position such that its viewing side is visible within said viewing aperture;    whereby a frame system of minimal cost and complexity yet substantial functional and aesthetic appeal may be achieved.    
     
     
         2 . A frame system for holding one or more substantially planar display articles, comprising: 
 (a) at least one display article of a predetermined size and thickness having a front or viewing side and back or hidden side;    (b) a main body having a front or viewing side and a hidden or back side, said main body comprising: 
 a frame region running substantially around the outward periphery of said viewing side,  
 a substantially planar mat region lying within said frame region,  
 at least one viewing aperture through the plane of said mat region and lying within its periphery;  
   (c) a substantially planar and transparent sheet forming a cover of the same size or smaller than said mat region, but larger than the viewing aperture or apertures;    (d) cover fixing means for fixing said transparent cover in a substantially planar disposition against said mat region;    (e) article retaining means for retaining said article in a substantially planar fashion such that its viewing side is visible within said viewing aperture;    whereby a frame system of minimal cost and complexity yet considerable functional and aesthetic appeal may be achieved.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said main body is entirely formed from a single sheet of material, whereby further savings in cost and complexity may be achieved.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said mat region is substantially countersunk into said frame region, whereby the edges of said cover are hidden and protected.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said viewing aperture is an aperture into an article holding recess with a substantially planar backing area, said recess countersunk into said mat region and integrally formed from the same single sheet as said main body.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a back access opening is provided in said article holding recess, said opening at least large enough to allow said display article to be inserted into and retained by the article holding recess such that the desired portion of said article's viewing side is visible through said viewing aperture.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said planar transparent cover is flexible and said cover fixing means only permanently fixes a portion of the planar contact area between said mat region and said cover, such that said cover may be flexed open sufficiently to insert or remove said article.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein some portion of said backing area is coated with an adhesive.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said planar transparent cover is flexible and said cover fixing means comprises: 
 (a) a permanent adhesive along only a portion of said contact area, such that said cover may be flexed open sufficiently to insert or remove said article; and    (b) a restickable adhesive along at least a remainder of the portion of said contact area, such that said cover may be held flat and retained sufficiently to prevent said article from slipping out of said article holding recess.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a removable label insert is provided in said article-holding recess, said insert formed with a pull tab projecting sufficiently out from underneath said cover such that said tab may be readily seen and grasped.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back side of said backing area is wholly or partly covered with an adhesive, whereby the frame system may be applied to any acceptable planar substrate, such as a wall, fridge, window, cabinet or the like.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a flap of planar material suitable for writing on integrally formed with said main body, creating a greeting card portion which can be folded back against said hidden side of said main body.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one flap of material integrally formed with said main body and means to fix said flap against on a wall.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one standing leg integrally formed with said main body.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said flap also doubles as a standing leg.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein two such legs are provided and further include interlocking means to keep both said legs folded substantially flat against said main body.  
     
     
         17 . A method for holding and displaying substantially planar articles, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming a main body from a single sheet of material having a front or viewing side and a back or hidden side, forming said main body comprising the steps of: 
 (1) forming a frame region running substantially around the outward periphery of said viewing side,  
 (2) forming a substantially planar mat region lying within the periphery of said frame region and countersunk into said frame region,  
 (3) forming at least one viewing aperture through the plane of said mat region and lying within the periphery of said mat region,  
 (4) forming an article holding recess behind said viewing aperture  
 (5) forming within and at the back of said article holding recess a substantially planar backing area,  
   (b) providing a substantially planar and transparent sheet to serve as a cover of the same size or smaller than said mat region, but larger than said article holding recess;    (c) providing cover fixing means for fixing said transparent cover in a substantially planar disposition against said mat region;    (d) providing article retaining means for retaining said article in a substantially planar position such that its viewing side is visible within said viewing aperture;    whereby a frame system of minimal cost and complexity yet considerable functional and aesthetic appeal may be achieved.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the said step of providing a planar transparent cover further entails ensuring that said cover is flexible and wherein the step of providing said cover fixing means further comprises the steps of: 
 (a) applying a permanent adhesive along only a portion of said contact area, such that said cover may be flexed open sufficiently to insert or remove said article; and    (b) applying a restickable adhesive along at least a remainder of the portion of said contact area, such that said cover may be held flat and retained sufficiently to prevent said article from slipping out of said article holding recess.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of forming a backing area further entails coating some portion of said backing area with an adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , adding the step of integrally forming at least one standing leg when forming said main body.