Device for supporting a substantially planar article

Abstract

A device for supporting a substantially planar article, such as a photograph. The device includes a support layer having a size substantially similar to the substantially planar article. The device also includes a plurality of mounts arranged for receiving portions of the substantially planar article therein to secure the substantially planar article relative to the support layer.

1 . A device for supporting a substantially planar article comprising: 
 a support layer having a size substantially similar to the substantially planar article; and    a plurality of mounts arranged for receiving portions of the substantially planar article therein to secure the substantially planar article relative to the support layer.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts is formed by affixing a securing tab to a portion of the support layer to provide a pocket to receive a corner portion of the substantially planar article.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the securing layer is affixed to a portion of the support layer by heat bonding.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the securing layer is affixed to a portion of the support layer with an adhesive material.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts comprises a slit formed in the support layer, each slit aligned to receive a portion of the substantially planar article.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts comprises an opening formed in the support layer, each opening being shaped to receive a portion of the substantially planar article.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts comprises a tab formed in the support layer, each tab being shaped to receive a portion of the substantially planar article.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer is transparent to allow viewing of the portions of the substantially planar article received by the mounts.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer has a front side and an opposite back side, wherein the substantially planar article is secured to the front side of the support layer, and further comprising: 
 means for attaching the device to a substrate provided on at least a portion of the back side of the support layer.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the means for attaching the device to a substrate comprises an adhesive material.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a release liner removably provided on the adhesive material.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive material is a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive material is a permanent adhesive.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises a transparent polymeric material.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the transparent polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, and an ionomer.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises a paper material.  
   
   
       17 . A device for securing a photograph to a substrate comprising: 
 a support layer having a first major surface and a second major surface;    a plurality of mounts arranged to secure the photograph on the first major surface; and    an adhesive material on at least a portion of the second major surface.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts is formed by affixing a securing tab to a portion of the first major surface of the support layer to provide a pocket to receive a portion of a corner of the photograph.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts comprises a slit formed in the support layer, each slit aligned to receive a portion of the photograph.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts comprises an opening formed in the support layer, each opening being shaped to receive a portion of the photograph.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of the plurality of mounts comprises a tab formed in the support layer, each tab being shaped to receive a portion of the substantially planar article.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the device has a size substantially similar to a size of the photograph.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a release liner removably provided on the adhesive material.    
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive material is a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive material is a permanent adhesive.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the support layer comprises a transparent polymeric material.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the transparent polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, and an ionomer.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the support layer comprises an opaque fibrous material.  
   
   
       29 . A device for securing a photograph to a substrate without exposing the photograph to adhesive, the device comprising: 
 a support layer having a size substantially similar to the photograph and having a front side and a back side;    a plurality of mounts arranged to secure the photograph on the front side of the support layer; and    an adhesive material on at least a portion of the back side of the support layer.    
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 a release liner removably provided on the adhesive material.    
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the adhesive material is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the adhesive material is a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the adhesive material is a permanent adhesive.