Non-adhesive compression matting system and method for framing and archiving a display item

Abstract

A matting system for framing, archiving and displaying display items having a display board with window openings, a carrier board with window openings in line with and slightly larger than the window openings of the display board. The carrier board having hinged doors, which fit into the window openings and a backer board which holds the doors of the carrier board closed so as to maintain the display item between the door and a frame extension created between the dissimilar sized openings of the display board and the carrier board.

1 . A non-adhesive compression matting system for framing, archiving and displaying display items in a frame, comprising: 
 a carrier mat having at least one window and a display mat having an at least one window smaller than the window of the carrier mat, the display mat being adhered to the carrier mat so that the window of the display mat is in-line with the window in the carrier mat; and    a frame extension, being established around the window of the carrier mat by the smaller window of the display mat relative to the carrier mat; and    a display item positioned in the window of the carrier mat; and a backer mat positioned behind the carrier mat.    
   
   
       2 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 1  wherein a door having a flap, the door being substantially the size of the window of the carrier mat, and being in a hinged relationship with an edge of the window of the carrier mat, so that the door may be opened and closed, wherein the closed door holds the display item by compressing the edges of the displayed item against the frame extension.  
   
   
       3 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 1  wherein a door is adhesively affixed to the backer mat, indexed to, and in line with, the window of the carrier mat so that the door holds the display item by compressing the edges of the display item against the frame extension.  
   
   
       4 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a thin laminate film is adhered to the back of the carrier mat and the window in the carrier mat is die-cut completely through the carrier mat and the laminate film on three sides where the fourth side is only cut through the carrier mat leaving the laminate film in tact such that the laminate film forms the hinge between the door and the carrier mat.  
   
   
       5 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the carrier mat is die-cut along a top edge so that the laminate film forms a hinge between the carrier mat and the backer mat so as to hold the doors of the carrier mat in a closed position.  
   
   
       6 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the display mat, the carrier mat and the backer mat are formed from a single piece of mat material, the mat material being sandwiched between two layers of thin laminate film.  
   
   
       7 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the mat material is die-cut through two layers to form three equidistant mat sections whereby the display mat section is folded in front of the carrier mat and the backer mat is folded in back of the carrier mat, where the thin laminate film forms a hinge between the mats.  
   
   
       8 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the display mat is a metal material.  
   
   
       9 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the hinge is comprised of gummed archival tape.  
   
   
       10 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the hinge is comprised of pressure sensitive linen tape.  
   
   
       11 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the hinge is comprised of a non-porous film with an archival grade adhesive.  
   
   
       12 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the hinge is comprised of non-woven polyethylene and adhered using an acrylic adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the hinge is comprised of an acid-free paper adhered with wheat starch, rice starch or a synthetic methyl-cellulose type paste.  
   
   
       14 . The compression matting system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a window edge in the display mat is cut on a bevel.  
   
   
       15 . A method of making a non-adhesive compression matting system for framing, archiving and displaying display items in a frame, comprising: 
 providing a carrier mat having at least one window and a display mat having an at least one window smaller than the window of the carrier mat;    adhering the display mat to the carrier mat so that the window of the display mat is in-line with the window in the carrier mat so as to establish a frame extension around the window of the carrier mat created by the smaller window of the display mat relative to the window of the carrier mat; and    inserting a display item in the window of the carrier mat; and    providing a backer mat positioned behind the carrier mat.    
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein a door is provided having a flap, the door being substantially the size of the window of the carrier mat, and being hinged with an edge of the window of the carrier mat, so that the door may be opened and closed, wherein the closed door holds the display item by compressing the edges of the displayed item against the frame extension.  
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein a door is adhesively affixed to the backer mat, indexed to, and in line with, the window of the carrier mat so that the door holds the display item by compressing the edges of the display item against the frame extension.  
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein a thin laminate film is adhered to the back of the carrier mat and the window in the carrier mat is die-cut completely through the carrier mat and the laminate film on three sides where the fourth side is only cut through the carrier mat leaving the laminate film in tact such that the laminate film forms the hinge between the door and the carrier mat.  
   
   
       19 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier mat is die-cut along a top edge so that the laminate film forms a hinge between the carrier mat and the backer mat so as to hold the doors of the carrier mat in a closed position.  
   
   
       20 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the display mat, the carrier mat and the backer mat are formed from a single piece of mat material, the mat material being sandwiched between two layers of thin laminate film.  
   
   
       21 . The method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the mat material is die-cut through two layers to form three equidistant mat sections whereby the display mat section is folded in front of the carrier mat and the backer mat is folded in back of the carrier mat, where the thin laminate film forms a hinge between the mats.  
   
   
       22 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the display mat is a metal material.  
   
   
       23 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the hinge is comprised of gummed archival tape.  
   
   
       24 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the hinge is comprised of pressure sensitive linen tape.  
   
   
       25 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the hinge is comprised of a non-porous film with an archival grade adhesive.  
   
   
       26 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the hinge is comprised of non-woven polyethylene and adhered using an acrylic adhesive.  
   
   
       27 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the hinge is comprised of an acid-free paper adhered with wheat starch, rice starch or a synthetic methyl-cellulose type paste.  
   
   
       28 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a window edge in the display mat is cut on a bevel.