Holder for two-dimensional articles

Abstract

The holder for two-dimensional articles includes at least two opposed, parallel slots or grooves adapted to grip the opposite edges of a thin, flexible display article (e.g., photo, business or other sign, artwork, etc.). The slots or grooves have a span therebetween slightly less than the span of the article to be held therebetween, and the bottom portions of the slots or grooves may be more widely spaced from one another than their upper edges. Thus, one edge of the article may be inserted into one slot and the article flexed to tuck the opposite edge in the opposite slot, with the resulting curvature of the article producing a spring-like effect that urges the opposed edges into the slots of the holder. A number of embodiments may be provided, e.g., multiple slots to hold multiple articles in a horizontal and/or vertical array, different slot configurations, easel and wall mounts, etc.

1 . A holder for two-dimensional articles, comprising a rigid plate having a front surface, a substantially planar and unbroken rear surface opposite the front surface, mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, and mutually opposed upper and lower edges, the front surface having at least one pair of article gripping slots disposed therealong, the slots being parallel to one another and having an outer wall defining a lowermost edge and an upper edge, the lowermost edges and the upper edges of the slots defining lower and upper spans, respectively, therebetween. 
     
     
         2 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1 , further including at least one thin, flexible two dimensional display article having mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, the lateral edges of the display article defining a width at least slightly greater than the lower span of the slots of the pair, the first lateral edge of the display article being removably insertable into the one of the slots of the pair, the second lateral edge of the display article being removably insertable into the other of the slots, the slots compressing and gripping the display article therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the plate has a plurality of pairs of article display slots disposed therealong. 
     
     
         4 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall parallel to the outer wall. 
     
     
         5 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall sloping downwardly and inwardly away from the outer wall. 
     
     
         6 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the slots comprises a wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the plate, each of the walls having an upper edge with a flange extending therefrom, the flanges extending toward one another. 
     
     
         7 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the slots extends to the upper and lower edges of the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1  further including a support extending from the rear surface of the plate, the support selected from the group consisting of easel stands and wall attachments. 
     
     
         9 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower span is at least slightly greater than the upper span of the slots. 
     
     
         10 . A holder for two-dimensional articles and a display article therewith, comprising in combination:
 a rigid plate having a front surface, an unbroken rear surface opposite the front surface, mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, and mutually opposed upper and lower edges, the front surface having at least one pair of article gripping slots disposed therealong, each of the slots being parallel to one another and having an outer wall defining a lowermost edge and an upper edge, the lowermost edges and the upper edges of the slots defining lower and upper spans, respectively, therebetween; and   at least one thin, flexible two dimensional display article having mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, the lateral edges of the display article defining a width at least slightly greater than the lower span, the first lateral edge of the display article being removably inserted into one of the slots, the second lateral edge of the display article being removably inserted into the other slot, the slots compressing and gripping the display article therebetween.   
     
     
         11 . The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one pair of article ripping slots comprises a plurality of pairs of article display slots disposed along the front surface of said plate. 
     
     
         12 . The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall parallel to the outer wall. 
     
     
         13 . The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the slots has an outer wall and an inner wall sloping downwardly and inwardly away from the outer wall. 
     
     
         14 . The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the slots comprises a wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the plate, each of the walls having an upper edge and a flange extending therefrom, the flanges extending toward one another. 
     
     
         15 . The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the slots extends to the upper edge and to the lower edge of the plate. 
     
     
         16 . The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to  claim 10  further including a support extending from the rear surface of the plate, the support being selected from the group consisting of easel stands and wall attachments. 
     
     
         17 . The holder for two-dimensional articles and display article combination according to  claim 10 , wherein the lower span is at least slightly greater than the upper span. 
     
     
         18 . A holder for two-dimensional articles, comprising:
 a first bar;   a second bar spaced apart from the first bar, the second bar extending parallel to the first bar, each of the bars having a rigid component having at least a front face, each of the front faces having at least one longitudinal article gripping slot defined therein, the longitudinal slot of the first bar being aligned with the corresponding longitudinal slot of the second bar; and   a plurality of connectors extending between the bars.   
     
     
         19 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 18  wherein each bar has an inboard face, the inboard face of the first bar facing the inboard face of the second bar, each of the inboard faces having at least one longitudinally disposed inboard article gripping slot formed therein, the inboard article gripping slot of the first bar being aligned with the corresponding inboard article gripping slot of the second bar. 
     
     
         20 . The holder for two-dimensional articles according to  claim 18  wherein each said bar has at least a first and a second lateral article gripping slot defined therein, the first lateral slot of each said bar being aligned with one another and the second lateral slot of each said bar being aligned with one another.