Container for a stack of pictures

Abstract

A container for a stack of a variable number of pictures is disclosed. The container comprises at least two members movable relative to each other, one of which members holds the stack at at least one but not all of its edges, permitting the stack to be removed in the direction of one of the non-embraced edges.

I claim: 
     
       1. A container for accommodating a stack comprising a variable number of pictures, said container comprising an engagement member and a housing member, one of said members having a display window, and one of said members being movable relative to the other between a closed relative position and an open relative position; and a biasing device for urging at least one picture of a stack of pictures against said display window; said engagement member including picture-support means for engaging at least one and at most three edges of a stack of pictures in said container, said picture-support means being arranged such that, when said members are in said open position, the stack is accessible for removal from the container is a direction toward an edge not engaged by said picture-support means, and said .[.picture-support means.]. .Iadd.engagement member .Iaddend.being shaped to limit motion of a stack in either direction perpendicular to the planes of the image-bearing surface of each picture of the stack, when said members are in said open position. 
     
     
       2. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said two members are pivotable with respect to each other. 
     
     
       3. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said two members are linearly movable with respect to each other. 
     
     
       4. A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said container has a substantially block-shaped form having a longest block side and a shortest block side, and wherein said two members are relatively pivotable with respect to each other about an axis extending parallel to the longest block side. 
     
     
       5. A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said container has a substantially block-shaped form having a longest block side and a shortest block side, and wherein said two members are relatively pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the shortest block side. 
     
     
       6. A container as set forth in claim 4, wherein said two members are relatively slidable with respect to each other in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the pictures in a stack supported by said picture-support means. 
     
     
       7. A container as set forth in claim 6, wherein said two members interengage telescopically. 
     
     
       8. A container as set forth in claim 6, wherein said two members are movable relative to each other into said closed relative position by a sequence of two relative motions which are made in two directions orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
       9. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said members has a stop edge to align at least one picture with respect to said display window by engaging those edges of that picture which are not held by either said member. 
     
     
       10. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said engaging member has a window pane that serves as said display window. 
     
     
       11. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biasing device comprises elastic elements. 
     
     
       12. A container as set forth in claim 11, wherein said biasing device holding said stack comprises volume compressible strips. 
     
     
       13. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biasing device comprises springs. 
     
     
       14. A container as set forth in claim 13, wherein said springs are disposed in one of said members and are relaxed when said members are in said open position. 
     
     
       15. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display window includes a transparent pane, and wherein said biasing device comprises a transparent bonding layer on one side of said pane adjacent the picture to be presented at said window, for securing the picture to said pane. 
     
     
       16. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biasing device comprises separating elements defining, adjacent said display window, a shallow chamber dimensioned to accommodate only one picture, and a second chamber adjacent said shallow chamber for the accommodation of at least one additional picture; said picture-support means also engaging at least one edge of a picture in said shallow chamber. 
     
     
       17. A container as set forth in claim 1, having at least one hole to enable said container to be used as a wall frame. 
     
     
       18. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is stackable with identical containers. 
     
     
       19. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container has a side wall transverse to said display window, and further comprising a label on said side wall. 
     
     
       20. A container as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a stand-up foot. 
     
     
       21. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biasing device is in said engagement member. 
     
     
       22. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing member and said engagement member are formed integrally with each other. 
     
     
       23. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biasing device and said picture-support means are so arranged as to enable a picture urged against said display window by said biasing device to be removed from said container without disordering other pictures in said container. 
     
     
       24. A container for pictures, said container comprising an engagement member and a housing member, one of said members having a window and having a bonding means on a portion of said one of said members for holding a picture at said window for display through said window, and one of said members being movable relative to the other between a closed relative position and an open relative position; and one of said members having picture-support means for accommodating at least one picture, said picture-support means being so arranged as to support a picture at at least one and not more than three edges of such picture and to permit removal of such picture from said picture-support means in a direction toward an edge of such picture not supported by said .[.picture support.]. .Iadd.picture-support .Iaddend.means, said .[.picture-support means.]. .Iadd.engagement member .Iaddend.further being so shaped as to limit movement of a stack of pictures in either direction perpendicular to the plane of the image-bearing surface of each picture of the stack, when said members are in said open position. .Iadd.25. A container for accommodating a stack of a variable number of pictures, said container comprising a first frame part and a second frame part pivotably connected to the first frame part, one of said frame parts having a display window, means for holding an uppermost picture of said stack in flat engagement against said window when the container is closed, one of said frame parts having stack edge supporting elements while the stack, with the container open, is removable at a non-supported edge, said window having a contour spaced from a container contour, said support elements being spaced from said container contour sufficiently to position the stack with respect to said window, and that frame part which has said support elements further having transport elements engaging beneath the stack so as to convey the stack out of the other frame part upon opening of the container. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.6.  The container of claim 25 wherein said window and said support elements are on the same frame part. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The container of claim 25 wherein said support elements engage two parallel stack edges. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The container of claim 25 wherein said support elements extend substantially over the entire length of an engaged stack edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The container of claim 25 wherein said transport 
     
     
        elements are disposed on said support elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  The container of claim 29 wherein said transport elements and said support elements extend substantially over the entire length of an engaged stack. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The container of claim 25 wherein said picture holding means and said support elements are on the same frame part. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The container of claim 25 wherein said picture holding means is on the first frame part and the support elements are on the second frame part. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The container of claim 32 wherein said transport elements are spaced from one another so as to permit engagement of said picture by said holding means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The container of claim 25 wherein said picture holding means include at least one bias spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. The container of claim 34 including means for locking it in its closed status against the bias of said at least one spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. The container of claim 25 including a releasable locking means for locking the container in its closed status. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The container of claim 25 including support elements for three 
     
     
        of four stack edges. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38.  The container of claim 37 for pictures having two parallel edges which are longer than two orthogonal shorter edges thereof, and wherein said support elements are allocated to two longer and one shorter picture edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The container of claim 38 wherein said support elements extend over substantially the entire length of engaged stack edges. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. The container of claim 39 wherein said transport elements are mounted on the support elements for said longer edges. .Iaddend..Iadd.41. The container of claim 25 wherein said frame parts are connected by means of a hinge integrally injection-molded therewith. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The container of claim 25 including a prop so as to permit its use as a picture stand. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The container of claim 25 including a transparent window pane. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The container of claim 25 wherein said picture holding means are adapted to urge the entire stack against said window. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. The container of claim 44 including bias spring means for urging the stack against the window. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46. The container of claim 45 wherein said window and said bias spring means are mounted on the same 
     
     
        frame part. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47.  The container of claim 45 wherein said bias spring means are mounted on the first frame part and the window is mounted on the second frame part. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. The container of claim 25 wherein said picture holding means include spacer elements defining a shallow picture accommodating space beneath said window. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. The container of claim 48 including a stack accommodating chamber beneath said picture accommodating space. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. The container of claim 49 wherein said spacer elements define said stack chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. The container of claim 48 wherein said support elements are adapted to engage a picture in said shallow space and a stack in said chamber. .Iaddend.