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Containment and display device for visual objectsContainment and display device for visual objects description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060288622, Containment and display device for visual objects. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/682,699, filed May 20, 2005. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to a device for containing and displaying a visual object or objects, and more particularly, to a containment device including a hard enclosure configurable in a containment mode for safely holding a visual object or objects, such as, but not limited to, one or more photographs, cards, medals, or compact discs, and which is configurable in a display mode for suspending the visual object or objects for easy viewing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A variety of applications have been observed for a device capable of securely and safely containing one or more visual objects such as any of those listed above, yet which is also capable of being easily and readily configured for displaying the object or objects in a highly visible manner. For instance, with the current craze of scrap booking and the fact that most "keepsake" pictures that people retain are of a 5.times.7 inch size or smaller, there is a huge need to allow people to quickly and easily display these pictures and store them. Also, within the scrap booking arena, there are other, preferably flat, items to be stored as keepsakes alongside the pictures. With respect to scrap books, there is no good way to display the images/keepsakes other than displaying a one page at a time, possibly on a table or stand. Additionally, many transient persons, such as traveling salespersons and the like, service personnel, dormitory residents, athletes, and vacationing families; and hospital, residential care and nursing home patients and residents, often desire to have personal photographs and other memorabilia that can be quickly and easily displayed when desired, yet which will be safely and securely stored during travel or other times when the photographs and other memorabilia are not to be viewed. Typically, hospital, nursing home and residential care facilities have few locations within the rooms thereof suitable for displaying cards from well-wishers, photographs, mementos, and the like, and as a result, patients and residents are only able to briefly view them, and there is the danger that the cards and other items will be lost or discarded by cleaning or other institution personnel. Further, often photographs and works of art are printed on or with a medium which is not stable or degrades when exposed to sun and/or other light, moisture, pollutants and other environmental conditions. As result, many people desired to have the ability to quickly display such items, and quickly store them in a protected environment. [0004] Additionally, presently a common medium for storage of music and video is the compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD), hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to by the term compact disc. Commercially produced and some home produced ones of such compact discs include cover art or labels identifying the content thereof. It is often desirable to have the ability to safely display and view the cover art or labels of several of these discs at one time to enable selecting one or more to play or load into a player. [0005] Still further, it is foreseen that children and other persons would cherish commercial and hand made cards, works of art and other mementos commemorating important events, such as birthdays, baptisms and other religious milestones, graduations, retirement, and the like, and would like to have the capability to view such items from time to time, yet conveniently and safely store them together. [0006] Accordingly, what is sought is a device for containing and displaying a visual object or objects, including a hard enclosure in which the object or objects can be safely and securely stored, yet which is openable for deploying and displaying the object or objects for viewing as desired, and which overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations discussed above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] What is disclosed is a device for containing and displaying a visual object or objects, including a hard enclosure in which the object or objects can be safely and securely stored, which is openable for deploying and displaying the object or objects for viewing as desired, and which overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations set forth above. [0008] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, a containment and display device for visual objects is disclosed, which includes a hard-enclosure including first and second housing portions cooperable and configurable in a containment mode or state for defining and enclosing an interior cavity having a predetermined extent in a predetermined direction. The device additionally includes a visual object containment medium configurable in a generally flat or unfolded or unrolled display mode or state for receiving and displaying at least one generally flat object or item, the visual object containment medium when in the display mode having a predetermined extent greater than the predetermined extent of the interior cavity. The visual object containment medium is compactable from the display mode to a compacted mode, for instance, by folding or rolling, so as to have a predetermined compacted extent equal to or marginally smaller than the predetermined extent of the interior cavity in the predetermined direction of the enclosure when in the containment mode, so as to be cooperatively receivable therein. And, the visual object containment medium preferably has a first edge portion extending at least generally transversely to the predetermined direction and connected to one of the first and second housing portions, so as to be suspendable therefrom. As result, one or more visual objects, which can include, for instance, but which is not limited to, a photograph; a medal; a coin; a compact disc or digital video disk; a card; artwork; religious icon, or the like, in the compacted mode can be safely and securely stored in the interior cavity of the enclosure when in the containment mode, and the enclosure can be conveniently and easily opened and the visual object containment medium configured in the display mode for displaying the visual object or objects, as desired or required. [0009] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the visual object containment medium has a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion and connected to another of the first and second housing portions. As a result, neither portion of the housing is likely to be lost, and the visual object containment medium can be quickly and easily compacted into one or both of the housing portions to allow closure of the enclosure. [0010] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the visual containment medium includes an array of pockets configured for receiving a plurality of the generally flat objects in edge to edge relation, respectively. The array of pockets can include, for instance, columns and rows of pockets extending in two directions, respectively. The individual pockets can be configured or sized and shaped for receiving visual objects to be displayed and stored therein, such as any of those set forth above, such as a work of art, card, photograph, compact disc, or the like. [0011] In another preferred aspect of the invention, the visual object containment medium comprises at least one clear film layer, and can be constructed, for instance, to include clear film pockets configured for receiving one or more of the visual objects. In this regard, this may be similar to the pages of well-known, commercially available photo albums and scrap books. [0012] According to still another preferred aspect of the invention, at least one of the first and second housing portions of the enclosure includes an element configured for suspending the containment and display device beside a vertical surface. This can include, for instance, a strap, loop, ring, or other simple element that can be used to suspend the invention from a hook, nail or shelf, so as to hang along or beside a vertical surface, such as a wall, window or door. [0013] Also according to the invention, the device of the invention can comprise a visual art kit, additionally including at least one element of an art medium adapted for use in creating a two-dimensional artwork containable within the interior cavity with the visual object containment medium, such as art or construction paper, and one or more pencils, crayons and/or paints. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a containment and display device for visual objects according to the present invention, illustrating a visual object containment medium thereof unfolded in a display mode; [0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 with the visual object containment medium thereof partially folded between the display mode thereof and a compacted mode; [0016] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with first and second housing portions of a hard enclosure thereof cooperatively engaged for containing the visual object containment medium within an interior cavity thereof; [0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; [0018] FIG. 5 is another fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, illustrating insertion of visual objects into pockets of the visual object containment medium; [0019] FIG. 6 is another fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, illustrating a different manner of insertion of visual objects into pockets of the visual object containment medium; [0020] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, illustrating details of an optional strap thereof; Continue reading about Containment and display device for visual objects... 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