Display device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6792709
  • Patent Number
    6,792,709
  • Date Filed
    Friday, August 24, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 21, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A display device having one or more liquid-filled chambers through which an object may be viewed as if it were submerged in liquid. The display device includes a frame member having four sides, at least two of the sides each having a viewing aperture. At least two substantially transparent liquid-filled chambers can also be provided in a side-by-side or back-to-back alignment, and are positioned within the frame member in substantial corresponding relationship with one of the viewing apertures.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to a display device, and specifically to a display device having one or more liquid-filled chambers behind which an object can be positioned so as to appear as if it is submerged when viewed through the chamber.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Many types of display devices have been devised for displaying objects such as textual and pictorial images. Conventional display devices are often used in the retail industry for displaying advertising information. In addition, conventional display devices are most often used for personal use to display photographs.




Conventional display devices have been devised which include a frame member having transparent front portion, a rear portion, and a transparent liquid-filled cell positioned therebetween. A photograph or the like is positioned between the liquid-filled cell and the rear portion, so that the pictorial or textual image can be viewed through the cell and front portion.




However, such conventional display devices are inadequate, because they allow only one photograph or other object to be displayed at a time. Further, such conventional liquid-filled display frames only allow for viewing of a single object from one direction, namely, from the front portion of the frame member.




Therefore, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a liquid-filled display device which can display multiple pictorial or textual images simultaneously, while making such objects appear as if they are submerged in the liquid.




It is a second object of the present invention to provide a liquid-filled display device which can display pictorial or textual images for viewing from more than one direction while making such objects appear as if they are submerged in the liquid.




It is a third object of the present invention to provide a liquid-filled display device which is easy and economical to manufacture.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The above-listed objects are met or exceeded by the present apparatus for displaying pictorial and/or textual images and the like. A liquid-filled display device is provided having a frame member having four sides, at least two of the sides each having a viewing aperture. At least two substantially transparent liquid-filled chambers are also provided, and are positioned within the frame member in substantial corresponding relationship with one of the viewing apertures.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is a top perspective view of a display device of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is an exploded view of the display device of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional diagram of the display device taken alone line


3





3


of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a magnified view of a cross-sectional view of a pre-assembled liquid-filled chamber taken from FIG.


3


.





FIG. 5

is a bottom perspective view of a frame member.





FIG. 6

is a top view of a divider member.





FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional diagram of the divider member taken cross line


7





7


in FIG.


6


.





FIG. 8

is a magnified view of a cross-sectional view of an energy director taken from FIG.


7


.





FIG. 9

is a magnified view of a pre-assembly cross-sectional view of the divider member and frame member taken from FIG.


3


.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the display device.





FIG. 11

is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment of the display device.





FIG. 12

is a cross-sectional diagram of the alternate embodiment of the display device taken alone line


12





12


of FIG.


10


.





FIG. 13

is a cross-sectional diagram of the alternate embodiment of the display device taken alone line


13





13


of FIG.


10


.





FIG. 14

is an exploded cross-sectional diagram of a liquid-filled chamber taken alone line


14





14


of FIG.


11


.





FIG. 15

is a magnified view of a cross-sectional view of a portion of the liquid-filled chamber taken from FIG.


14


.











WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered merely an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention only to the embodiment illustrated.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, and as previously mentioned, the display device


10


of the present invention includes a substantially cubed-shaped frame member


12


having a frame member top wall


14


and four side walls


16


, each side wall


16


having a viewing aperture defined by edge


18


. Four liquid-filled chambers


22


are positioned within the frame member


12


such that the frame member


12


substantially surrounds the four chambers


22


. However, alternate embodiments are contemplated wherein one or more chambers


22


are positioned in the frame member


12


.




Each chamber


22


includes a substantially planar and transparent front wall


24


, an opposing curved and transparent rear wall


26


, a chamber top wall


28


, a chamber bottom wall


32


(see FIG.


3


), and opposing chamber side walls


33


. In the preferred embodiment, the rear wall


26


is convex-shaped. However, the rear wall


26


could also be concave-shaped or substantially flat as well. In addition, the front wall


24


could also be curved. The chamber top wall


28


, bottom wall


32


and side walls


33


need not be transparent. It is preferred that the height and width of the chamber front wall


24


be of sufficient length to ensure that the edges of the front wall


24


are not visible through the aperture


18


when the chamber


22


is positioned within the frame member


12


. Further, each chamber


22


is positioned within the frame member


12


so as to be in substantial alignment with one of the frame member side wall apertures


18


, preferably so that the edges of the chamber front wall


24


are not visible through the aperture


18


.




Dividing means for positioning the four chambers


22


within the frame member


12


is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the dividing means is a divider member


34


having four curved surfaces


36


positioned in substantially perpendicular relative relationship to each other. In the preferred embodiment, the curved surfaces


36


are concave-shaped. However, the curved surfaces


36


could also be convex-shaped, or some other shape that is equivalent or complimentary to the shape of the rear wall of the chamber, as well. In either case, it is preferred that shape of each curved surface


36


substantially correspond to that of the chamber rear side


26


. As will be further discussed below, the divider member


34


is fixedly connected to the inside surface


38


(see

FIG. 5

) of the frame member top wall


14


by affixation means.




Retention means for retaining the chambers


22


within the frame member


12


is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the retention means are retaining tabs


38


extending from the bottom portion of each dividing member curved surface


36


which engage the chamber bottom wall


32


(See FIG.


3


), thus substantially preventing the chamber


22


from sliding out of the frame member


12


. In the preferred embodiment, two retaining tabs


39


are provided for each chamber


22


. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the two retaining tabs


39


are positioned so as to engage the chamber bottom wall


32


proximal to the edge formed by the intersection of the chamber bottom and side walls


32


,


33


, respectively. However, the invention is not so limited. Alternate embodiments are contemplated wherein only one retaining tab


39


is employed, and/or wherein the retaining tab extends from an inside surface of the frame member


12


.




Each chamber


22


is provided with a holder for positioning an object


42


relative thereto behind its rear wall


26


, so as to enable viewing of the object


42


through the front wall


24


of the chamber


22


. The holder may include one or more tabs (not shown) and/or clips (not shown) operably associated with the chamber


22


, frame member


12


or divider member


34


; an adhesive associated with the chamber


22


, frame member


12


or divider member


34


; and/or a void or slot formed behind the rear wall


26


of the chamber


22


.




In the preferred embodiment, the holder is a slot or void. Slot defining means is provided for positioning each chamber


22


with respect to its corresponding divider member curved surface


36


, so as to define the void or slot therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, the slot dividing means includes a plurality of positioning tabs


44


extending from each of the chamber side walls


33


in substantially perpendicular relationship to the front wall


24


. The positioning tabs


44


contact the divider member curved surface


36


causing the chamber front side


24


to abut or contact the inside surface


44


of the corresponding frame member


16


, which, in turn, forms a slot or void between the chamber rear surface


26


and the divider member curved surface


36


. An alternate embodiment is contemplated wherein the tabs


44


extend from the divider member


34


.




It is within the above-mentioned slot or void that the substantially planar object


42


is positioned for viewing through the frame member sidewall aperture


18


and in turn the chamber


22


. The object


42


may be anything capable of being inserted into the slot or void, such as a photo, drawing, picture, advertisement or the like. Each divider member curved surface


36


is provided with a cutout defined by edge


48


, which provides a means by which a user can grasp the object


42


for removal from the slot.




A removable bottom member


52


is provided having a plurality of apertures defined by edge


54


. A plurality of corresponding rounded tabs


56


extend from the inside surface of the frame member sides


16


, proximal to the bottom-most edge of each side


16


. When the bottom member


52


is inserted into the frame member


12


, the apertures


54


and tabs


56


cooperate so as to removably secure the bottom member


52


within the frame member


12


.




The manufacture and assembly of the display device


10


will now be discussed with reference to

FIGS. 3 through 9

. In the preferred embodiment, the frame member


12


, the components for the chambers


22


, divider member


34


, and bottom member


52


are manufactured using a thermoplastic material which is substantially impact resistant, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, and are formed using conventional injection-molding equipment. The particular thermoplastic material employed will depend on the injection-molding process employed, and it should be understood that one with ordinary skill in the relevant art could readily choose the particular thermoplastic to be employed.




After the requisite parts have been formed, assembly of the display device


10


is carried out as follows. First, the chambers


22


are assembled. Referring to

FIG. 9

, in the preferred embodiment, the chamber curved rear wall


26


, side walls


33


, top wall


28


and bottom wall


32


form an integral member. A circular-shaped fill hole defined by edge


58


is formed through the bottom wall


32


, preferably during the injection-molding process. A corresponding fill hole cap


62


is also provided. The chamber front wall


24


is fixedly attached to the above-noted integral member by affixation means. In the preferred embodiment, the affixation means includes joining the chamber front wall


24


to the integral member using a suitable joint in combination with a thermal welding method. Such methods include, but are not limited to, ultrasonic welding, vibration welding, radio-frequency welding, and electromagnetic or induction welding.




In the most preferred embodiment, the affixation means employed is an energy director joint design in combination with an ultrasonic welding method. Referring to

FIG. 4

, the chamber front wall


24


includes a recessed butt or contact surface


64


which extends around the periphery of the front wall inside surface


66


. A corresponding sealing flange


68


having a triangularly-shaped energy director


69


extends from the flange's distal face


72


. To assemble the front side


24


to the integral member, the front wall


24


is positioned so that the recessed butt or contacting surface


64


contacts the energy director


69


. Using ultrasonic equipment, ultrasonic energy is then applied to the combination at the intersection of the butt or contacting surface


64


and the energy director


69


, thereby causing the energy director


69


to melt and fixedly join the butt or contacting surface


64


with the flange distal face


72


.




Next, the chamber


22


is filled with a liquid


74


, which is inserted into the chamber


22


through the fill hole


58


. In one embodiment, the chamber


22


is filled with a viscous liquid, such as glycerine, and contains particulate matter, such as sand, glitter and the like. In another embodiment, the chamber


22


is filled with a bubble producing substance, such as a surfactant, which causes bubbles to produce when the chamber


22


is agitated. In yet another embodiment, the liquid


74


may contain two or more liquids of varying polarity which, when the chamber


22


is agitated, form an emulsion or colloidal suspension. In addition, coloring pigments could be added to the liquid


74


to produce a coloring effect. The chamber


22


could also contain water or a gas such as air.




Once the chamber


22


is filled, the fill hole


58


is sealed using the fill hole cap


62


. In the preferred embodiment, the fill hole cap


62


is fixedly secured using an adhesive, one which is preferably inert with respect to the liquid


74


inserted into the chamber


22


. Alternate embodiments are contemplated wherein the fill hole cap


62


is fixedly secured using a thermal welding method.




Once the chambers


22


are assembled, the display device


10


can then be assembled. First, the divider member


34


is fixedly secured to the inside surface


38


of the frame member top wall


14


using affixation means. In the preferred embodiment, the affixation means includes joining the divider member


34


to the frame member


12


using a suitable joint in combination with a thermal welding method. Such methods include, but are not limited to, ultrasonic welding, vibration welding, radio-frequency welding, and electromagnetic or induction welding.




In the most preferred embodiment, the affixation means employed is an energy director joint design in combination with an ultrasonic welding method. Referring to

FIG. 5

, a joint member


76


having a butt or contact surface


78


extends from the frame member top wall inside surface


38


. Referring to

FIGS. 6

,


7


and


8


, a corresponding triangularly-shaped energy director


82


extending from the divider member's upper edge


84


is provided.




The assembly of the display device


10


is carried out as follows. Where the divider member


34


and the retention tabs


38


form an integral member, the chambers


22


are first positioned so that the chamber positioning tabs


44


and bottom surface


32


contact the divider member curved surface


36


and retention tabs


38


, respectively. Thereafter, the combination is inserted into the frame member


12


so that, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the divider member energy director


82


contacts the frame member butt or contacting surface


78


. Ultrasonic energy is then applied to the combination at the joint using ultrasonic welding equipment, thereby causing the energy director


82


to melt and fixedly join the butt or contacting surface


78


to the divider member upper edge


84


.




In the alternative, where the divider member


34


and the retaining tabs


39


do not form an integral member, the divider member


34


is first secured to the frame member


12


as described above. Next, the chambers


22


are inserted into the space or void provided between the frame member side walls


16


and the divider member curved surface


36


. Next, the retention retaining tabs


39


are fixedly secured to the bottom surface (not shown) of the divider member


34


using one of the above-noted thermal welding methods.




In either of the above two alternative embodiments, after the divider member


34


and chambers


22


are secured in the frame member


12


, the bottom member


52


is secured within the frame member


12


by inserting the rounded tabs


56


into the apertures


54


provided in the bottom member


52


, thus completing the manufacture and assembly process.




As shown in

FIG. 10

, and as previously mentioned, an alternate embodiment of the display device


100


of the present invention includes a substantially rectangularly-shaped frame member


102


having a top wall


104


, two side walls


106


and two opposing viewing walls


108


, each viewing wall having a viewing aperture defined by edge


112


. As shown in

FIG. 12

, two liquid-filled chambers


114


are positioned within the frame member


102


. Each chamber


114


is positioned within the frame member


102


so as to be in substantial alignment with one of the frame member side wall apertures


112


.




Slot defining means is provided for positioning the chambers


114


within the frame member


102


so as to define a slot between the two chambers


114


. Referring to

FIGS. 12 and 13

in combination, in the preferred embodiment, the slot defining means includes on or more separating tabs


116


extending from the inside surface


118


of the frame member side walls


106


in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto. The separating tabs


116


extend between the chambers


114


, forcing the chambers


114


to abut or contact the viewing wall inside surfaces


122


. It is within the above-mentioned slot or void that one or more substantially planar objects


124


are positioned. The one or more objects


124


may be anything capable of being inserted into the slot or void, such as a photo, drawing, writing, printed material, picture, advertisement, greeting card or the like.




A removable bottom member


126


is provided for removably securing the chambers


114


and one or more objects


124


within the frame member


102


. The bottom member


126


includes a plurality of recessed regions defined by edge


128


. A plurality of corresponding rounded tabs


132


extend from the viewing wall inside surfaces


122


, proximal to the bottom-most edge of each wall


108


. Referring to

FIGS. 12 and 14

, when the bottom member


126


is inserted into the frame member


102


, the recessed regions


128


and tabs


132


cooperate so as to removably secure the bottom member


126


within the frame member


102


.




The manufacture and assembly of the alternate embodiment of the display device


100


will now be discussed with reference to

FIGS. 12

,


15


and


16


. In the preferred embodiment, the frame member


102


, the components for the chambers


114


and bottom member


126


are manufactured using a thermoplastic material which is substantially impact resistant, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, and are formed using conventional injection-molding equipment. The particular thermoplastic material employed will depend on the injection-molding process employed, and it should be understood that one with ordinary skill in the relevant art could readily choose the particular thermoplastic to be employed.




After the requisite parts have been formed, assembly of the alternate embodiment of the display device


100


is accomplished as follows. First, the changers


114


are assembled. Referring to

FIG. 9

, each chamber


102


includes a substantially planar and transparent front wall


134


, an opposing transparent rear wall


136


, a chamber top wall


138


, a chamber bottom wall


142


(see FIG.


2


), and opposing side walls


144


(see FIG.


12


). It should be noted that the chamber top wall


138


, bottom wall


142


and opposing side walls


144


need not be transparent.




In the preferred embodiment, rear wall


136


, top wall


138


, side walls


144


and bottom wall


142


form an integral member. A circular-shaped fill hole defined by edge


148


is formed through the bottom wall


142


, preferably during the injection-molding process. A corresponding fill hole cap


152


is provided. The chamber front wall


134


is fixedly attached to the above-noted integral member by affixation means.




In the preferred embodiment, the affixation means includes joining the chamber front wall


134


to the above-noted integral member using a suitable joint in combination with a thermal welding method. Such methods include, but are not limited to, ultrasonic welding, vibration welding, radio-frequency welding, and electromagnetic or induction welding.




In the most preferred embodiment, the affixation means employed is an energy director joint design in combination with an ultrasonic welding method. Referring to

FIG. 16

, the chamber front wall


134


includes a recessed butt or contact surface


154


which extends around the periphery of the front wall inside surface


156


. A corresponding sealing flange


158


having a triangularly-shaped energy director


162


extends from the flange's distal face


164


. To assemble the front wall


134


to the integral member, the front wall


134


is positioned so that the recessed butt or contacting surface


154


contacts the energy director


162


. Using ultrasonic welding equipment, ultrasonic energy is then applied to the combination at intersection of the butt or contacting surface


154


and the energy director


162


, thereby causing the energy director


162


to melt and fixedly join the butt or contacting surface


154


with the flange distal face


164


.




Next, liquid


168


(see

FIG. 14

) is inserted into the chamber


114


through the fill hole


148


. In one embodiment, the chamber is filled with a viscous liquid, such as glycerine, and contains particulate matter, such as sand, glitter and the like. In another embodiment, the chamber


114


is filled with a bubble producing substance, such as a surfactant, which causes bubbles to be produced when the chamber


114


is agitated. In yet another embodiment, the liquid


168


may contain two or more liquids of varying polarity which, when the chamber is agitated, form an emulsion or colloidal suspension. In addition, coloring pigments could be added to the liquid


168


to produce a coloring effect. The chamber


114


could also contain water or a gas such as air.




Once the chamber


114


has been filled, the fill hole


148


is sealed using the fill hole cap


152


. In the preferred embodiment, the fill hole cap


152


is fixedly secured using an adhesive, one which is preferably inert with respect to the liquid


168


into the chamber


114


. Alternate embodiments are contemplated wherein the fill hole cap


152


is fixedly secured using a thermal welding method.




Once the chambers


114


are assembled, the alternate embodiment of the display device


100


can then be assembled. First, the chambers


114


are inserted into the frame member


102


and positioned so that the separating tab


116


extends between the chambers


114


. Next, the bottom member


126


is secured within the frame member


102


by inserting the rounded tabs


132


into the recessed regions


128


provided in the bottom member


126


, thus completing the manufacture and assembly process.




The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application of these principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims as set forth below.



Claims
  • 1. A display device having a plurality of sides for viewing one or more objects, comprising:a first substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber associated with a first side of said plurality of sides; a second substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber associated with a second side of said plurality of sides; each of said chambers having a front wall and a rear wall and a holder operably associated therewith for receiving at least one of the one or more objects substantially behind said rear wall; wherein said at least one of the one or more objects is substantially visible through said front wall and said rear wall of at least one of said first and second chambers when said at least one of the one or more objects is positioned substantially behind said rear wall of said at least one of said first and second chambers, so as to make said at least one of the one or more objects appear as if it is submerged in said liquid.
  • 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein said rear wall of each chamber is curved.
  • 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said holder of each of said first and second chamber comprises a slot formed behind said rear wall of each of said chambers for receiving at least one of said one or more objects to be displayed.
  • 4. The display of claim 1, wherein said holder is selected from the group consisting of tabs, clips, and adhesives.
  • 5. The display device of claim 1, further comprising dividing means for positioning said first chamber relative to said second chamber.
  • 6. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a divider member operably associated with said first and second chamber for positioning said first chamber relative to said second chamber.
  • 7. The display device of claim 6, further comprising at least one object interposed between said first chamber and said divider member.
  • 8. The display device of claim 6, further comprising a first object interposed between said first chamber and said divider member; and a second object interposed between said second chamber and said divider member.
  • 9. The display device of claim 6, further comprising a frame member substantially surrounding said first and second chambers.
  • 10. The display device of claim 9, further comprising retention means for substantially retaining each of said first and second chambers within said frame member.
  • 11. The display device of claim 9, further comprising retaining tabs operably associated with said divider member.
  • 12. The display device of claim 9, further comprising a bottom member operatively associated with said frame member.
  • 13. The display device of claim 6, wherein said divider member includes at least two substantially curved-shaped surfaces; and each of said first and second chambers includes a substantially curved rear wall.
  • 14. A display device for viewing one or more objects, comprising:a first substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a second substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a divider member operably associated with said first and second chambers for positioning said first chamber relative to said second chamber; slot defining means for defining a slot between each of said first and second chambers and said divider member; each of said first and second chamber having a front wall, a rear wall and a holder operably associated therewith for receiving at least one of the one or more objects substantially behind said rear wall; and wherein said at least one of the one or more objects is substantially visible through said front wall and said rear wall of at least one of said first and second chambers when said at least one of the one or more objects is positioned substantially behind said rear wall of said at least one of said first and second chambers, so as to make said at least one of the one or more objects appear as if it is submerged in said liquid.
  • 15. A display device for viewing one or more objects, comprising:a first substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a second substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a divider member operably associated with said first and second chamber for positioning said first chamber relative to said second chamber; positioning tabs associated with each said first and second chambers and said divider member for defining a slot between each of said first and second chambers and said divider member; each of said first and second chamber having a front wall, a rear wall and a holder operably associated therewith for receiving at least one of the one or more objects substantially behind said rear wall; and wherein said at least one of the one or more objects is substantially visible through said front wall and said rear wall of at least one of said first and second chambers when said at least one of the one or more objects is positioned substantially behind said rear wall of said at least one of said first and second chambers, so as to make said at least one of the one or more objects appear as if it is submerged in said liquid.
  • 16. A display device for viewing one or more objects, comprising:a first substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a second substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a divider member operably associated with said first and second chamber for positioning said first chamber relative to said second chamber; a frame member substantially surrounding said first and second chambers; at least one retaining tab operably associated with each said liquid-filled chamber for substantially retaining each said liquid filled chamber within said frame members each of said first and second chamber having a front wall, a rear wall and a holder operably associated therewith for receiving at least one of said one or more objects substantially behind said rear walls; and wherein said at least one of the one or more objects is substantially visible through said front wall and said rear wall of at least one of said first and second chambers when said at least one of the one or more objects is positioned substantially behind said rear wall of said at least one of said first and second chambers, so as to make said at least one of the one or more objects appear as if it is submerged in said liquid.
  • 17. A display device for viewing one or more objects, comprising:a first substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a second substantially transparent, liquid-filled chamber; a divider member operably associated with said first and second chamber for positioning said first chamber relative to said second chamber, wherein said divider member is fixedly connected to said frame member; a frame member substantially surrounding said first and second chambers; each of said first and second chamber having a front wall, a rear wall and a holder operably associated therewith for receiving at least one of the one or more objects substantially behind said rear wall; and wherein said at least one of the one or more objects is substantially visible through said front wall and said rear wall of at least one of said first and second chambers when said at least one of the one or more objects is positioned substantially behind said rear wall of said at least one of said first and second chambers, so as to make said at least one of the one or more objects appear as if it is submerged in said liquid.
  • 18. A display device having a plurality of sides for viewing one or more objects, comprising:a first substantially transparent liquid-filled chamber associated with a first side of the said plurality of sides; and a second substantially transparent chamber associated with a second side of the plurality of said sides; at least one of said first and second chambers having a holder operably associated therewith for receiving said one or more objects; and each of said first and second chambers having a front wall and a rear wall; wherein at least one of said one or more objects is substantially visible through said front wall, a rear wall and said rear wall of at least said first chamber when the object is positioned substantially within said holder, so as to have the object appear as if it were submerged in the liquid.
  • 19. The display device of claim 18, wherein said first and second chambers are each liquid-filled.
  • 20. The display device of claim 19, further comprising a slot defining tab operably associated with said frame member and said first and second chambers for defining a slot between said chambers.
  • 21. The display device of claim 18, wherein said holder is selected from the group consisting of tabs, clips, and adhesives.
  • 22. The display device of claim 18, further comprising a frame member substantially surrounding said first and second chambers.
  • 23. The display device of claim 22, further comprising a bottom member operatively associated with said frame member.
  • 24. The display device of claim 22, further comprising slot defining means for defining a slot between said chambers.
  • 25. The display device of claim 18, further comprising at least one object of said one or more objects interposed between said chambers.
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Number Name Date Kind
777305 Priestnall Dec 1904 A
1627270 Burnham May 1927 A
1777944 Trovato Oct 1930 A
1991683 Kelly Feb 1935 A
2144551 Skolnick Jan 1939 A
2200696 L'Heureux May 1940 A
2548706 Corning Apr 1951 A
3771246 Ebner Nov 1973 A
4353327 Shroyer Oct 1982 A
4686784 Smithies Aug 1987 A
4879824 Galloway Nov 1989 A
4889748 Dudley Dec 1989 A
4944969 Usui Jul 1990 A
5090358 Waldman Feb 1992 A
5125175 Huff Jun 1992 A
5291674 Torrence Mar 1994 A
5853824 Liu Dec 1998 A
5979091 TenBrink Nov 1999 A
6027774 Fine et al. Feb 2000 A