Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Check – label – or tag – Holder
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2003-01-28
Schwartz, Christopher P. (Department: 3613)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Check, label, or tag
Holder
C040S642020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06510636
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of display devices, and in particular, to display devices which function to hold and protect a display card(s) which, in turn, provide the desired information to a prospective customer, or for the user.
1. Background of the Invention
The field of display devices is a crowded art and encompasses a wide variety of differing embodiments. Typically, display systems are used both by merchandisers and individuals. On the level of the merchandiser in a large chain store, display systems allow a customer to research the product without assistance from a sales clerk. They generally comprise at least one display card, protected by a transparent film, that visibly displays product information about a product. This product information may be in a variety of forms, for example, a photograph or a written description. Display systems may include a means for mounting the display system at the desired location, e.g. on a shelving unit, or they may use a pre-existing mounting system. At the level of the individual consumer, display systems are often a means to display collectibles, typically collector cards.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,437 issued to ABRAMSON and BAKE teaches a merchandise display system. The system includes supports means for holding display information cards where the support means is an extrusion mountable on a wall or other surface. The support means includes flexible attachment means that allows for the manipulation of the information display cards, where the flexible attachment means is generally a plurality of flexible strips extending from the support means. The free ends of the attachment means are adapted to hold the information display cards.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,691 issued to MANJOS teaches a card display holder and protector. This apparatus comprises first and second transparent panels connected to one another by a common hinge line. The display holder receives the card to be displayed into the recessed portion of the first panel. The second panel has a projecting surface so as to engage the first panel and to maintain the display holder in a closed position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,775 issued to ABRAMSON and STEWART teaches a merchandise information system. This systems comprises a rigid base and a plurality of spaced apart flexible webs, where the flexible webs depend from the rigid base, and display items may be attached to the lower end of the webs. The display items are typically clear plastic envelopes which are adapted to receive display cards or the like. The display items may be viewed through either the front or rear surface of the envelope as the envelopes may be rotated about the respective flexible webs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,427 issued to ABRAMSON and STEWART teaches an overlapping merchandise information display module. This system comprises a rigid base, and a plurality of flexible webs which depend from the lower edge of the rigid base. A series of overlapping display items are attached to the lower ends of each of the webs respectively to display one side of the item. The display items may be rotated about the flexible webs so as to display the other side of the item.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,665 issued to DEETER teaches a portable display case. The apparatus is transparent and has a plurality of compartments for storage, display, and transport of display items. Each case had a transparent plastic cover hingedly connected to the case so as to cover the open front face. Furthermore, each case may be attached to an adjacent case, vertically disposed, by means of a tongue and groove type of fastener.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective display system for displaying a plurality of substantially planar display cards. The protective display system of the present invention comprises at least a first pair of transparent panels, and a flexible living hinge. Each one of the at least a first pair of transparent panels has a front face, a back face, and at least one straight peripheral edge. Furthermore, at least one of the at least a first pair of transparent panels is an envelope which is adapted to receive at least one display card. Each one of the at least a first pair of transparent panels is opposed to one another such that each of the at least one straight peripheral edges are opposed edges. The flexible living hinge is located along at least a portion of the at least one straight peripheral edge of each one of the at least a first pair of transparent panels. Still further, the flexible living hinge is interposed between the at least one straight peripheral edge of each one of the at least a first pair of transparent panels. The at least a first pair of transparent panels is rotatable about the flexible living hinge. The protective display system of the present invention is an unitary structure. Also, the flexible living hinge has greater flexibility than each one of the at least a first pair of transparent panels.
In an alternative embodiment, the at least a first pair of transparent panels comprises a first envelope, and a second envelope. Furthermore, the flexible living hinge is interposed between the first and second envelopes.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least a first pair of transparent panels comprises a first envelope, a second envelope, and a third envelope. Here, the flexible living hinge is interposed between the first and second envelopes, the second and third envelopes, and the third and first envelopes. It is important to note that the flexible living hinge may be extruded.
As an alternative, the protective display system comprises a first envelope, a second envelope, a third envelope, and a flexible living hinge which has a star configuration having three extending webs, and is such that the at least one straight peripheral edge of each one of the envelopes is welded to a respective one of the extending webs.
In a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, the protective display system comprises a first pair of transparent panels and a respective first flexible hinge, a second pair of transparent panels and a respective second flexible living hinge. Each of the first and second flexible living hinges is interposed between each of the respective first and second pair of transparent panels. The first flexible living hinge is placed on top of the second flexible living hinge, and is welded one to another such that each of the first and second flexible living hinges maintains its flexibility when welded one to another.
In the alternative embodiment, the protective display system comprises two pairs of transparent envelopes and a flexible living hinge, and where the flexible living hinge has a star configuration having four extending webs. The protective display system is such that the at least one straight peripheral edge of each one of the envelopes is welded to a respective one of the extending webs.
The flexible living hinge may fulfill the role of a rip stop, where the rip stop functions to impede a tear in the flexible living hinge from progressing down the entire length of the flexible living hinge. The rip stop comprises a plurality of rows of closely spaced inwardly and outwardly directed projections, and each of the plurality of rows is perpendicular to the respective straight peripheral edge. Also, it is noted that the plurality of rows is located along the length of the flexible living hinge.
Typically, the at least one envelope of the protective display system is adapted to receive two display cards, back-to-back. When the first envelope receives two display cards, the first display card is visible through the front face of the first envelope. Furthermore, the second display card received within the first envelope is visible through the back face of the first envelope when the first envelope is rotated at least 90 degrees about the flexible living hinge. Still further, when the first envelope is rotated at least 90 degrees about the flexible liv
Abramson Brian
Ferguson Steven
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