The invention generally relates to document display cases. In particular, the present invention relates to an illuminated document display system.
Documents convey graphical and textual information that may be necessary to make a determination about how to act or react in a particular situation. These documents include maps, charts, lists, codes, etc. For example, a foreign individual may repeatedly use a graphical map of a new city to navigate to a desired location.
Unfortunately, documents printed on conventional paper materials are vulnerable to damage from heat, water, chemicals, radiation, and other materials. Therefore, users often house particular documents in cases or sleeves for protective viewing. Preferable existing document case and sleeve technologies protect documents and maintain the ability to view their contents while housed within the particular case or sleeve. These technologies often utilize transparent materials for viewing while protecting the document from external elements. Unfortunately, many of these technologies impede a user's ability to view portions of a document or effectively store the document during periods of non-use.
Many documents are utilized intermittently and therefore must be capable of convenient concealment or storage while not in use. Paper based documents are conventionally stored by folding or otherwise minimizing their dimensions. Unfortunately, the process of repeatedly folding a paper document causes damage and eventually renders the document unusable. Therefore, a system of effective document concealment and storage must also maintain protection of the document so as not damage the document during repeated processes of concealment and subsequent exposure for utilization. Almost all existing document protection systems fail to provide a convenient means for concealment when the document is not in use. Likewise, almost all existing systems of document storage and concealment fail to provide sufficient protection from damage as a result of repeated storage.
In order to receive information from a printed document, a user must have the ability to view the document. At night and in certain optically constrained regions, a user may not have sufficient sunlight to view a document unassisted. As a result, users may carry an illumination system for viewing a document and physically navigating during the night or in an optically contained region. However, it is cumbersome to independently support, orient, and operate both a document and an illumination system to allow for effective visual inspection of a document. In addition, certain circumstances may require a user to avoid non-essential optical illumination for purposes of maintaining concealment or so as not to attract attention. For example, covert military operations often require personnel to minimize damages by attempting to maintain concealment during execution. However, even in these circumstances individuals must receive visual information from particular documents.
Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a document display system that overcomes the problems discussed above.
The present invention relates to an illuminated document display system. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable document display case configured to house at least one document for discrete illuminated visual viewing. The display case further includes an illumination system, a document protection system, and a storage system. The illumination system is configured to house an illumination device in a manner that facilitates visually receiving information from a document while minimizing external non-document light transmission. The document protection system provides a receptacle to protectively house a document while maintaining the ability for a user to view the document. In addition, the document protection system is configured to enable the illumination system to transmit light upon the document. The storage system enables the illumination system and document display system to be manipulated in a manner to provide for convenient storage without damaging the document. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for illuminating a document in a manner to receive visual information from the document while minimizing non-document light transmission. A third embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for storing an illuminated document display system by minimizing the dimensional characteristics of the illuminated document display system.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.
The following description of the invention can be understood in light of the Figures, which illustrate specific aspects of the invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the invention. In the Figures, the physical dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions will be omitted.
The present invention relates to an illuminated document display system. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable document display case configured to house at least one document for discrete illuminated visual viewing. The display case further includes an illumination system, a document protection system, and a storage system. The illumination system is configured to house an illumination device in a manner that facilitates visually receiving information from a document while minimizing external non-document light transmission. The document protection system provides a receptacle to protectively house a document while maintaining the ability for a user to view the document. In addition, the document protection system is configured to enable the illumination system to transmit light upon the document. The storage system enables the illumination system and document display system to be manipulated in a manner to provide for convenient storage without damaging the document. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for illuminating a document in a manner to receive visual information from the document while minimizing non-document light transmission. A third embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for storing an illuminated document display system by minimizing the dimensional characteristics of the illuminated document display system. While embodiments of the present invention are directed at illuminated document display systems, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention may also be applicable to other areas.
The following terms are defined as follows:
Illumination device—a device configured to generate illumination in a particular optical pattern.
Electrical illumination system—an electrically powered system configured to generate visible or non-visible illumination of a particular optical pattern. For example, a conventional bulb or LED flashlight.
Chemical illumination system—a chemically powered system configured to generate visible or non-visible illumination in a particular optical pattern. For example, a CYALUME™, KRILL™ Light, or CHEMSTICK™.
Reference is initially made to
The receptacle 120 is flexibly coupled to one of the ends of the sleeve 110 as illustrated. The receptacle 120 is configured to enable an illumination source to discretely illuminate a portion of the sleeve 110. The receptacle includes an illumination device 122, a light transmission 124, a pair of expandable members 125, an illumination opening 126, and support cover 128. The illumination device 122 is configured to generate illumination using any system including but not limited to electrical and chemical. Various shapes, sizes and illumination systems may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. The illumination device 122 is inserted lengthwise into the receptable as shown and described with reference to
The storage flap 130 is an optional component of the illuminated document case 100 which may be flexibly coupled to the receptacle 120 on the opposite side of the sleeve 110, as illustrated. The storage flap 130 may be utilized to store items relevant to the document 108, the illumination device 122, or any other supply. For example, the storage flap 130 may house additional illumination devices, bulbs, batteries, documents, etc. The illustrated storage flap 130 includes a base 132, a top front pocket 136, a top front pocket cover 134, a bottom front pocket 140, a bottom front pocket cover 138, and a rear pocket (not shown). Various shaped pockets and storage systems may be utilized including VELCRO™ attachments, buttons, pocket drains, etc.
Reference is next made to
Reference is next made to
Reference is next made to
Likewise,
Reference is next made to
It should also be noted that various sizes and shapes of sleeves, receptacles, and storage flaps may be incorporated into an illuminated document case in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For example, larger 8″×16″ or 16″×16″ sleeves may be utilized to accept correspondingly sized single or multi-page documents. Likewise, a larger and/or longer receptacle may be included such that it may house larger or multiple illumination systems for transmitting an increased amount of light onto the document. In addition or alternatively, additional receptacles may be placed on the opposite and/or adjacent sides of the sleeve from the first receptacle to house additional illumination systems that transmit light onto the document from multiple locations. This may be particularly important for illuminating larger documents. For example, two illumination sources may be disposed on adjacent sides of a 16″×16″ document to properly illuminate the entire two-dimensional surface of the document. Various other multiple receptacle, sleeve location, and size configurations have been contemplated and are consistent with embodiments of the present invention.
Additional embodiments may further include various modular coupling mechanisms for releasable attachment. For example, a MOLLE™ attachment system is often used by the military to attached various accessories onto a soldiers jacket or pants. Interwoven straps and attachments may be positioned on the illuminated document case to be compatible with this type of system. Likewise, additional strips of VELCRO™, lanyards, carabiners, snaphooks, buttons, and other releasable closure systems may be utilized to attach as an accessory to an existing article of clothing or storage.
Various other embodiments have been contemplated, including combinations in whole or in part of the embodiments described above.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20080018960 A1 | Jan 2008 | US |