Spring-loaded holders

Abstract

Several different types of spring-loaded holders. The first type is a cam-based holder which can activate a cam action for holding a stack of art sheets. The second type is a toggle holder which can be toggled between a closed position for holding a stack of art sheets and an open position for loading and unloading said art sheets. Such holders can be installed in a picture frame for holding a stack of art sheets of varied thicknesses. These holders can be further modified and used in a variety of holding boards including fun boards, bulletin boards and poster boards. A one-piece injection molded stretcher with grid will increase the strength of the stretcher and allow thinner stretcher to be used. It is proposed that a framed art ensemble be sold in a retail store. Each ensemble comprises a frame with the present holders and a plurality of matching art sheets of standard sizes.

1 . A device for holding one or more sheets, comprising: 
 (A) a spring-loaded holder having: 
 (a) a holder base, and  
 (b) a rotatable member rotatable with respect to said holder base for releasably holding said one or more sheets.  
   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  in which said spring-loaded holder is a cam-based holder having: 
 (a) a cam,    (b) a cam follower/leader, and    (c) a spring for 
 (i) maintaining intimate surface contact and engagement between said cam and said cam follower/leader, and  
 (ii) activating a cam action and exerting a torque to said cam-based holder for detachably holding said one or more sheets.  
   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  also comprising 
 (B) a picture frame having a frame body for: 
 (a) mounting said cam-based holder thereon, and  
 (b) displaying a sheet of said one or more sheets through said frame body.  
   
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  in which said frame body has a step for mounting said cam-based holder thereon.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2  also comprising 
 (B) a board for: 
 (a) mounting said cam-based holder thereon, and  
 (b) displaying a sheet of said one or more sheets.  
   
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  in which said spring-loaded holder is a toggle holder toggleable between 
 (i) a closed position for detachably holding said one or more sheets, and    (ii) an open position for loading and unloading said one or more sheets.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  also comprising 
 (B) a board for: 
 (a) mounting said toggle holder thereon, and  
 (b) displaying a sheet of said one or more sheets.  
   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6  also comprising 
 (B) a picture frame having a frame body for: 
 (a) mounting said toggle holder thereon, and  
 (b) displaying a sheet of said one or more sheets through said frame body.  
   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  in which said frame body has a step for mounting said toggle holder thereon.  
   
   
       10 . A business method for a retail store comprising: 
 (A) providing a plurality of art sheets for wall display, each having a standard planar size,    (B) providing a wall frame having 
 (a) a standard internal size substantially same as said standard planar size of each of said art sheets, and  
 (b) a spring-loaded holder for detachably holding said art sheets in said wall frame, and  
   (C) selling said art sheets and said wall frame as an ensemble to a retail store customer in one business transaction or one pseudo business transaction.    
   
   
       11 . The business method of  claim 10  in which said spring-loaded holder is a cam-based holder having: 
 (a) a cam,    (b) a cam follower/leader, and    (c) a spring for 
 (i) maintaining intimate surface contact and engagement between said cam and said cam follower/leader, and  
 (ii) activating a cam action and exerting a torque to said cam-based holder for detachably holding said one or more sheets.  
   
   
   
       12 . The business method of  claim 10  in which said spring-loaded holder is a toggle holder toggleable between 
 (i) a closed position for detachably holding said one or more sheets, and    (ii) an open position for loading and unloading said one or more sheets.    
   
   
       13 . The business method of  claim 10  also comprising 
 (D) offering said retail store customer an incentive for making said one business transaction or one pseudo business transaction.    
   
   
       14 . The business method of  claim 13  in which said incentive is a reduction on the purchase price required to be paid by said retail store customer for said ensemble.  
   
   
       15 . The business method of  claim 10  including selling said art sheets and said wall frame as a pre-packaged ensemble to said retail store customer in one business transaction.  
   
   
       16 . An art frame assembly for displaying a canvas art comprising: 
 (A) an art frame,    (B) a stretcher for supporting said canvas art, and    (C) a spring-loaded holder for holding said stretcher and said canvas art in said art frame.    
   
   
       17 . The art assembly of  claim 16  in which said spring-loaded holder is a cam-based holder having: 
 (a) a cam,    (b) a cam follower/leader, and    (c) a spring for 
 (i) maintaining intimate surface contact and engagement between said cam and said cam follower/leader, and  
 (ii) activating a cam action and exerting a torque to said cam-based holder for detachably holding said one or more sheets.  
   
   
   
       18 . The art assembly of  claim 16  in which said spring-loaded holder is a toggle holder toggleable between 
 (i) a closed position for detachably holding said one or more sheets, and    (ii) an open position for loading and unloading said one or more sheets.    
   
   
       19 . The art assembly of  claim 16  in which said stretcher is a one-piece plastic molded stretcher.  
   
   
       20 . The art assembly of  claim 19  in which said stretcher has a grid for enhancing the rigidity of said stretcher.