Patent Application
20180116349
This invention relates generally to a modular image display, and more particularly to a modular image display and software that allows a user to customize the display.
Personalization of products helps make that product unique and expressive of who we are as individuals. Whether we realize it or not, we personalize items both consciously and sub-consciously. For example, we personalize our automobiles when we add a pinstripe, window tinting, or wheels. We personalize our wardrobe when we add a belt, tie, or jewelry and we personalize our home when we add wall art or family pictures.
Often time's personalization requires purchasing entirely new products. For example, changing the wall art in our homes requires the old wall art to be removed from the wall and new wall art hung. Jewelry is often time's the same as it usually requires an entirely new piece of jewelry to be purchased. Photos of friends and family require additional personalization since families and friends may expand in number and change as we age.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a modular image display that allows individuals to easily personalize products without having to start from scratch.
This need is addressed by the present invention, which provides a modular image display that allows individuals to change the image of the display without buying an entirely new product.
According to an aspect of the invention, a modular image display includes a base; an image display including a top configured to receive the base therein and an image positioned on the top; and a securing device configured to removably secure the top to the base.
According to an aspect of the invention, a method of customizing a modular image display includes the steps of providing a modular image display having an image display connected to a base; removing the image display from the base; using software loaded onto a processing device to purchase a new image display; and placing the new image display over the base and connecting thereto.
The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,
As shown, the base 12, top 16 and image 18 have a hexagonal shape; however, it should be appreciated that the shape may also be circular, rectangular, or any other suitable shape for displaying an image. The base 12 provides a platform and/or support for the top 16 to be connected to. As illustrated, the bottom includes an upper base surface 20, an opposing lower base surface 22, and a base sidewall 24 interconnecting the upper base surface 20 and the opposing lower base surface 22. The base sidewall 24 extends around a periphery of the base 12. The top 16 includes an image support plate 26 configured to support the image 18 and a sidewall 28 extending along a periphery of the image support plate 26. Together, the image support plate 26 and sidewall 28 form a bottom recess 30 configured to receive the upper base surface 20 and a portion of the base sidewall 24 therein and top recess 32 configured to receive the image 18 therein. When used herein, the directional terms “top”, “bottom”, “side”, etc. are merely for reference and do not imply that any specific orientation of the modular image display 10 is required.
The securing device 14 removably secures the top 16 to the base 12 to allow a user to easily remove the top 16 from the base and replace it with a new top 16. As shown, the securing device 14 is a magnet; however, it should be appreciated that any suitable securing device that allows the top 16 to be easily secured to and removed from the base 12 may be used (for example, a button, snap, hook and loop fastener, etc.). The securing device 14 is received in a recess 34 of the base 12 and is configured to maintain the image support plate 26 of the top 16 adjacent to the upper base surface 20. Alternatively, the upper base surface 20 may be magnetic and/or include one-half of a fastener thereon.
Referring to
A clasp 48 is also connected to the linked modular image displays 10. The clasp 48 includes a first clasp portion 50 and a second clasp portion 52 to allow the bracelet 40 to open up and lay flat on a surface or form a closed loop around an arm. The first clasp portion 50 includes a first section 54 having a full depth “D” of the clasp 48, a second section 56 providing a groove 58, and a third section 60 having a depth equal to about one-half of the depth “D” of the clasp 48. The second clasp portion 50 is about three-fourths a length “L” of the first clasp portion 50 and includes a first section 62 providing a tang 64 for extending into groove 58 and prevent the clasp 48 from being pulled apart and a second section 66 having a depth equal to about one-half the depth of the clasp 48. A securing device 14 may be placed in a recess 68 of either or both of the third section 60 and/or second section 66 to secure the first and second portions 50 and 52 together. As illustrated, when the clasp portions are secured together, they fit in mating engagement to provide a single clasp 48 having a size about equal to a size of a single modular image display 10.
As illustrated in
Referring to
To create an image display,
To add an image 18 and create a new image display 15, the user clicks an add image link 126. The user then chooses images 18 from their existing collection, from shared images, or from an image database from which they can purchase the image. The user can size, rotate, and perform other photo editing options (such as black/white versus color and adding photo effects with filters, etc.) within an image template 128 until they are happy with the layout. The user then clicks a naming link 130 and provides a unique identifier (such as the name of the person or a descriptive word describing the image) for the image 18. The user then clicks the save link 132 and agrees to the terms of the software (to protect against piracy liability, etc.) which adds the image 18 to the user's collection. A sub-menu is also provided at a bottom of the create menu 124 to allow the user to return to the home menu 110 or to directly access other menus.
To manage and/or create the user's own image display,
Once the user has uploaded their image and provided identification data, the user clicks save and publish link 142. If the user agreed to publish their image display 15, then the image is published to the social media portal for others to download.
A social media portal menu 144,
The social media portal menu 144 shows the user's own image display 15 created in the user's image display menu 134 and allows the user to edit the user's image display by clicking an edit user's image display link 146. The social media portal menu 144 also allows a user to quickly share their own image display 15 on a variety of social media networks by clicking on a share my image display link 148 and to search for other user's image displays by clicking on a search link 150. The search link allows the user to search using terms such as “name”, “school name”, etc. to find other users who have shared their image displays 15. The results of the search appear on a slider 152 in the form of an image 18 and associated name given by the users. Once the image displays 15 are provided in the slider 152, the user can click on the desired image display 15 and save it to their collection.
In the event the user cannot find the image display that the user is looking for, the user may click a request link 154 and request a friend or other user to create an image display and upload it for sharing. By clicking the request link 154, an email is sent to the other user requesting them to create an image display 15 along with a link to download the software and/or APP. Once the other user creates the image display 15, the user can then search for the image display 15 and download it into their collection.
The user's collection menu 160,
The static categories provide basic functions. The categories listed in the collections menu 160 may be opened or closed by clicking on a +/− link 164 next to each category. Once the image displays 15 are organized into various categories, the user can choose to add an image display 15 to one of the categories or send the image display 15 to the store 162 for purchase. Any image display sent to the Favorites category are shown on the home menu in slider 122. Image displays 15 sent to the Store category are available for ordering. The collection menu 160 also allows a user to show all image displays by clicking on a show all link 166 or to add additional categories by clicking an add category link 168.
Store menu 170,
As illustrated, only saved image displays 15 sent to the store 162 show up on the store menu 170 for purchase and are displayed on slider 172. Links 174 are also provided to allow the user to purchase other items such as jewelry and parts. A view my orders link 176 is provided to allow a user view past orders and a checkout link 178 is provided to allow a user to complete his/her purchase. As illustrated in
Together, the modular image display 10 and software 100 create a system that allows a user to modify, update, and/or create the modular image display 10. In use, a user uses the software and/or APP 100 to build a modular image display 10. This is done by using the above-described menus to create, request, search, and download image displays 15 into the software 100. For example, if a user wants to create a bracelet 40 having a plurality of image displays 15 showing the user's friends, the user can go to the store menu 170 and purchase a bracelet 40 having a plurality of linked together bases 12 and then download and purchase image displays 15 that friends previously shared on one of the social media networks. Once the desired image displays 15 have been purchased, the user can secure the image displays individually to each of the bases 12, thereby creating a custom bracelet with images of all of their friends. When the user decides to change out the image displays on the bracelet 40, the user simply removes each image display 15 from each of the bases 12 and replaces the image display 15 with a new image display 15 purchased through the store menu 170.
The foregoing has described modular image display. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
