Photograph holder apparatus

Abstract

A photograph holder comprises a cloth backing material and a plurality of buttons secured to the cloth backing material with thread. The plurality of buttons defines at least one area on the cloth backing material in which a photograph may be secured between the buttons and the backing material. The area may be any shape and/or any size to accommodate the varying shapes and sizes of photographs. The photograph holder may further comprise a frame having a rigid backing and a glass. The cloth backing material and buttons may be disposed between the glass and the rigid backing within the frame.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for holding a document, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a backing material; and   (b) a plurality of fasteners secured to the backing material on a first surface of the backing material, wherein the plurality of fasteners is arranged such that the plurality of fasteners defines at least a first shape having an interior and an exterior, wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners defines a space between the fastener and the first surface of the backing material, wherein the space is accessible from any point about the entire perimeter of the fastener, and wherein a first document is disposable within the interior of the first shape and secured within at least one space of the plurality of spaces defined by the plurality of fasteners.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the backing material comprises a cloth material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the backing material comprises an acid-free material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the backing material is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, wood, metal, paper product, and ceramic. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners comprises the same material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners comprises an item selected from the group consisting of a button, a sequin, a washer, a flower, a bead, a coin, a fabric embellishment, and a foam shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners comprises the same item. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is substantially the same shape. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is substantially the same size. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first shape is a rectangle. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fasteners is arranged such that the plurality of fasteners further defines at least a second shape having an interior and an exterior, and wherein a second document is disposable within the interior of the second shape and secured within at least one space of the plurality of spaces defined by the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners defines both a portion of the first shape and a portion of the second shape. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is secured to the backing material using a fastening material or device selected from the group consisting of thread, string, yarn, elastic thread, an adhesive, staples, and rivets. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 (c) a frame, wherein the backing material is disposed within the frame;   (d) a glass, wherein the glass is disposed within the frame; and   (e) a rigid frame backing, wherein the rigid frame backing is disposed within the frame, and wherein the backing material is further disposed between the glass and the rigid frame backing.   
     
     
         16 . A document holder, the document holder comprising:
 (a) a backing material; and   (b) a plurality of fasteners, wherein a center of each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is secured to a front surface of the backing material such that each fastener defines a space between the fastener and the front surface of the backing material about the center of the fastener, wherein the plurality of fasteners is arranged such that the plurality of fasteners defines at least a first area in which a first document may be secured between the plurality of fasteners and the backing material; and   (c) a rigid frame, wherein the backing material is secured to and disposed within the rigid frame.   
     
     
         17 . The document holder of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of fasteners is arranged such that the plurality of fasteners defines a plurality of areas, and wherein within each area of the plurality of areas a document may be secured between the plurality of buttons and the backing material. 
     
     
         18 . The document holder of  claim 17 , wherein each area of the plurality of areas is substantially the same size. 
     
     
         19 . The document holder of  claim 16 , the document holder further comprising a rigid frame backing, wherein the rigid frame backing is disposed within the frame, and wherein the rigid frame backing is disposed within the frame such that the rigid frame backing is in contact with a back surface of the backing material. 
     
     
         20 . A method for making a document holder using a template, the document holder comprising a backing material and a plurality of fasteners secured to the backing material, the template comprising a template sheet having a plurality of markings, wherein each marking of the plurality of markings corresponds to a possible location of each fastener of the plurality of fasteners, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing the template sheet in a desired location on the backing material;   (b) transferring the location of each marking of the plurality of markings that corresponds to a desired fastener location onto the backing material;   (c) stitching each fastener of the plurality of fasteners to the backing material in the marked locations; and   (d) placing a document within an area defined by the plurality of fasteners and between the plurality of fasteners and the backing material.