Picture frame

Abstract

An integral frame and mailer formed from a single blank is disclosed. The blank includes a frame having a frame front panel joined to a frame rear panel along a fold line. The frame rear panels includes easel forming cuts and has glue flaps foldably joined to opposite sides of the rear panel. The glue flaps define locator strips when folded and joined to both the front and rear panels. The locator strips each present an edge that abuts edge-to-edge with an adjacent edge of a photograph inserted into the frame for locating the photograph side-to-side relative to the viewing aperture of the frame. The frame rear panel is foldably connected to a mailer including front and rear mailer panels that wrap around both the frame front and rear to fully enclose and sandwich both the front and rear of the frame for mailing.

1 . An integral frame and mailer comprising; 
 a) generally rectangular frame front and rear panels connected along three sides with a fourth side open to provide an entry for the insertion of a photograph between the frame front and rear panels, the front panel having a photograph viewing aperture;    b) a pair of locator strips between the front and rear panels, the locator strips disposed along each of two opposite sides of the frame extending perpendicular to the open side with both the frame front and rear panels being adhered respectively to opposite surfaces of each strip;    c) the locator strips having parallel inboard edges that define a photograph receiving space therebetween, the inboard edges comprising guides slidably engageable edge-to-edge with opposite side edges of a photograph inserted through the entry and into the space so as to provide side-to-side positioning of the photograph relative to the viewing aperture; and    d) a first mailer panel foldably connected to the frame rear panel along a first fold line for folding to a position superimposed over the frame front panel.    
   
   
       2 . An integral frame and mailer as in  claim 1  wherein each locator strip is generally L-shaped with the short leg of the L-shape extending generally parallel to the frame entry and an edge of each short leg being engageable edge-to-edge with a leading edge of a photograph inserted into the frame to provide end-to-end positioning of the photograph relative to the viewing aperture.  
   
   
       3 . An integral frame and mailer as in  claim 1  wherein the end portion of each locator strip adjacent the entry is tapered outward towards an adjacent frame side to facilitate the insertion of a photograph into the space between the inboard edges of the locator strips.  
   
   
       4 . An integral frame and mailer as in  claim 1  wherein the locator strips are formed by glue flaps foldably connected to opposite sides edges of the frame rear panel and are folded inward over the frame rear panel to locate the glue flaps between the frame front and rear panels.  
   
   
       5 . An integral frame and mailer as in  claim 1  wherein the frame rear panel includes a separation line adjacent the first fold line, the separation line and first fold line being parallel.  
   
   
       6 . An integral frame and mailer as in  claim 1  including a second mailer panel connected to the first mailer panel along a second fold line parallel to the first fold line the first and second mailer panels being foldable over the frame front and rear panels respectively to sandwich the frame panels therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . An integral frame and mailer as in  claim 1  wherein the thickness of each locator strip is substantially equal to the photograph thickness.  
   
   
       8 . An integral frame and mailer as in  claim 6  including a closure flap connected along a third fold line to the second mailer panel and the third fold line being parallel to the first and second fold lines.  
   
   
       9 . A blank for forming a combined picture frame and mailer comprising: 
 a) a frame front panel having an photograph viewing aperture therein;    b) a frame rear panel connected to the frame front panel along a first fold line;    c) a mailer rear panel connected to the frame rear panel along a second fold line; and    d) locator strips foldably connected to opposite side edges of the frame rear panel that are perpendicular to the first fold line, each locator strip having an outboard edge that extends parallel to the opposite side edges of the frame rear panel and the outboard edges upon the folding of the strips over the frame rear panel defining photograph engaging guides that slidably engage edge-to-edge with side edges of the photograph.    
   
   
       10 . A blank for forming a combined picture frame and mailer as in  claim 9  wherein each of the locator strips is generally L-shaped wherein the short leg of the L-shape is adjacent the first fold lie and extends outward from the side edge of the frame rear panel, each of the short legs having an edge that extends parallel with the second fold line.  
   
   
       11 . A blank for forming a combined picture frame and mailer as in  claim 9  including a second mailer panel connected to the first mailer panel along a third fold line, the first, second and third fold lines being parallel.  
   
   
       12 . A method of preparing a picture for mailing comprising: 
 a) forming a frame having three closed sides and an open side by 
 i) folding glue flaps over opposite side edges of a frame rear panel, the glue flaps each having an inboard edge that is parallel to the frame side edges,  
 ii) adhering a surface of the glue panels to side edge portions of the frame rear panel,  
 iii) folding a frame front panel having a viewing aperture over the rear panel and adhering side edge portions of the front panel to a reverse surface of the glue flaps leaving the side opposite the fold open for the insertion of a photograph;  
   b) inserting a photograph through the open side of the frame and into a space between the frame front panel and the frame rear panel and slidably engaging opposite side edges of the photograph edge-to-edge against adjacent parallel inboard edges of the glue flaps;    c) the sliding edge-to-edge engagement acting to locate the photograph side-to-side relative to the viewing aperture;    d) folding a first mailer panel connected to the frame rear panel at the open end over the front panel; and    e) effecting a seal to maintain the mailer panel disposed over the frame front panel for mailing.    
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 12  wherein the glue flaps are generally L-shaped and the short leg of each glue flap has an edge equally spaced from and generally parallel to the open side of the frame, and inserting of the photograph into the frame continues until a leading edge of the photograph contacts edge-to-edge the short leg edge of the glue flaps  
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 12  comprising: 
 a) folding a second mailer panel connected to the first mailer panel over the frame rear panel; and    b) folding a closure flap connected to the second mailer panel over the first mailer panel and the step of effecting a sealing comprises sealing the closure panel to the first mailer panel.