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US 6,742,296 B2Granted
System for mounting front-loaded photographs
AssigneeWet Puppy Products, LLC
InventorsThomas A. Johnson, Scott Larsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System for mounting a thin flat object such as a photograph into a curvilinear recess formed in the front of a substrate, using a curvilinear decorative flexible retaining ring. The retaining ring is retained either by interference or frictional engagement with a smooth sidewall portion of the recess wall. Optionally, a transparent protective cover may be included.
Claims8
A system for mounting thin flat items, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a single unitary member having an outer surface defining at least one recess therein, said recess having an opening thereinto from said outer surface, a closed, planar bottom surface, and a curvilinear recess wall connecting said closed planar bottom surface to said recess opening in said outer surface, said recess wall having a smooth curvilinear sidewall portion intersecting said planar bottom surface, said recess wall defining a continuous curvilinear periphery of said recess having a first peripheral outline, a first peripheral dimension and a second peripheral dimension, whereby the first peripheral outline and first peripheral dimension define the smallest shape and size, respectively, of the recess, and whereby the first peripheral outline and the second peripheral dimension define the shape and size, respectively, of said recess at the intersection of said sidewall portion and said planar bottom surface;
- a continuous flexible decorative retaining ring, said retaining ring having a curvilinear peripheral outline corresponding to said first peripheral outline arranged to contact said sidewall portion, said retaining ring being disposed in the recess, said retaining ring having a third peripheral dimension smaller than the first peripheral dimension, so as to retain a said thin flat item that has been inserted into the recess opening;
- and
- wherein the second peripheral dimension of the recess is greater than the first peripheral dimension of the recess, whereby said retaining ring is held in place by interference engagement with said sidewall portion of the recess.
1 more element
A system for mounting thin flat items, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a single unitary member having an outer surface defining at least one recess therein, said recess having an opening thereinto from said outer surface, a closed, planar bottom surface, and a curvilinear recess wall connecting said planar bottom surface to said recess opining in said outer surface, said recess wall having a smooth curvilinear sidewall portion intersecting said planar bottom surface, said recess wall defining a continuous curvilinear periphery of said recess having a first peripheral outline, a first peripheral dimension and a second peripheral dimension, whereby the first peripheral outline and first peripheral dimension being the smallest shape and side, respectively, of the recess, and whereby the first peripheral outline and the second peripheral dimension represent the shape and size, respectively, of said recess at the intersection of said sidewall portion and said planar bottom surface;
- a transparent protective cover, said cover being disposed in the recess so as to rest on top of the this, flat item and to hold the item against the planar bottom surface of the recess, said cover having a curvilinear peripheral outline corresponding to the first peripheral outline of said recess but having a slightly smaller peripheral dimension than the first peripheral dimension of said recess, whereby said cover is arranged to fit inside said recess;
- a continuous flexible decorative retaining ring, said retaining ring having a curvilinear peripheral outline corresponding to said first peripheral outline arranged to contact said sidewall portion, said retaining ring being disposed in the recess and having a third peripheral dimension smaller than the first peripheral dimension, so as to retain said transparent protective cover in the recess;
- and
- wherein the second peripheral dimension of the recess is greater than the first peripheral dimension of the recess, whereby said retaining ring holds said protective cover in place by interference engagement with said sidewall portion of the recess.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.