Poster display apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6224174
  • Patent Number
    6,224,174
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, December 9, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 1, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Cuomo; Peter M.
    • Tran; Hanh V.
Abstract
A poster display apparatus provides a slanted back, a curved front, opposing sides, and a bottom that define an interior space. The apparatus holds posters therein in an upright display position. An antislip member of the apparatus reduces the relative movement of the posters to one another and to the apparatus. The front and back slant backward near the bottom portion of the posters causing the bottom portions of the posters to slant backward. The backward slant also reduces movement of the posters during browsing. One alternative includes an adjustable front and back to maintain the relative distance and force between the front and the posters, the back and the posters, and the posters themselves further reducing the slippage of the posters during browsing.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of Invention




The present invention relates to the field of displays. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for displaying a plurality of posters in an upright display position that allows the user to easily view the posters, remove and replace the posters, and that reduces potential damage to the posters.




2. Related Art




Presently, when posters are sold, one manner in which they are typically displayed is by placing them in holders designed to hold two posters back to back and that are pivotally mounted at their back end to allow a potential purchaser to flip through the selections. These devices are relatively expensive and bulky limiting the selection of available posters. Further, use of the devices at conventions is impractical, difficult, and costly because transporting the bulky device requires a relatively large truck and reduces the space available for transporting product.




Another manner of displaying posters is to simply stack the posters on a table and allow the patrons to sort through the posters. However, this method is inconvenient and often results in damage to the posters and lost inventory.




Yet another method of displaying posters is to mount each of the posters to a piece of stiff cardboard, or other backing, designed to keep the poster straight and protected. The posters with the backing are then placed in a box-like structure with the posters and backing resting on a bottom edge. The potential purchaser may then flip through the available selections. Although this method of displaying posters is relatively space efficient, the backing does significantly increase the space required for the display and transport of the posters. Additionally, the cost of the backing material makes its use for less expensive posters impractical; and the labor required to attach each of the posters to the backing increases the cost of the posters and decreases the usefulness of the display method.




Displaying the posters vertically in a box-like structure without a backing material has been impractical to date primarily because the posters bend and their weight exerts a force against the bottoms of the posters pushing the bottoms together. Thus, the posters are difficult to pull from the display resulting tearing of the posters and the pulling of a plurality of posters (either fully or partially) from the device at one time. Further, replacement of the posters into the display is difficult, or impossible, due to the bunching of the poster bottoms. Accordingly, the posters pulled from such a display are often simply set aside resulting in a disorderly display area and damage to the posters. Therefore, displaying posters in this manner is not practical, effective, or cost efficient.




A seldom used technique for displaying posters is to simply mount the posters to the walls and provide the posters to the customer from inventory when purchased. However, this method requires substantial wall space, limits the available selection, and is impractical for conventions.




Thus, there remains a need for a cost effective, space efficient manner of displaying posters for sale.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




To achieve such improvements, the present invention generally provides a poster display apparatus adapted to hold a plurality of posters in a substantially upright display position that reduces bunching of the bottom portions of the posters allowing a customer to easily browse through the posters, remove posters from the apparatus, and replace posters in the apparatus. The poster display apparatus also provides a lowered, preferably curved front that facilitates browsing of the posters and reduces damage to the posters. The posters are placed in the apparatus without backing material so that the device can easily hold a substantial number of posters without requiring substantial space.




One aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for displaying posters that provides a body having a front, a back, opposing sides, and a bottom, the body defining an interior space and an upper opening. The body is adapted to hold and display a plurality of posters in a substantially upright display position.




Preferably, the front of the body is adapted to maintain a bottom portion of the plurality of posters at an angle to the bottom of the body. The angle between the abutment surface and the bottom of the body is preferably less than about ninety degrees, but in an alternative embodiment is approximately equal to about ninety degrees. Thus, the abutment surface is adapted to maintain a bottom portion of the plurality of posters proximal the bottom of the body at a nonperpendicular angle to the bottom of the body with the bottom portion slanting toward the back of the body.




Additionally, the front of the body defines a curved abutment surface having a bottom end proximal the bottom of the body and an opposite apogee end that is convex with respect to the interior space and that is adapted to support the plurality of posters in a forward position. The length of the abutment surface is approximately equal to the height of the plurality of posters. The apogee end of the abutment surface, in alternative embodiments, curves downward or is at least about horizontal. A portion of the abutment surface intermediate the apogee end and the bottom end is preferably about horizontal to maintain the posters in a forward position.




Preferably the abutment surface provides a nonslip coating adapted to reduce the slippage between the abutment surface and the plurality of posters. In one embodiment, the nonslip coating is rubber.




In another preferred embodiment, the back of the body is adapted to maintain a bottom portion of the plurality of posters at an angle to the bottom of the body. Typically, the back of the body and the bottom of the body form an angle that is greater than about ninety degrees. In alternative embodiments the back of the body is substantially flat or arcuate. In the curved back embodiment, the back of the body is preferably convex with respect to the interior space.




Preferably, the apparatus also provides an antislip member attached to the body that is adapted to reduce the relative motion of the plurality of posters to one another and to the body. The antislip member is attached to the bottom and/or the sides of the body. Therefore, in one embodiment, the bottom of the body has an upper surface adapted to provide increased friction between the upper surface and a bottom of the plurality of posters. This increased friction is accomplished using grooved defined by the upper surface, a roughened upper surface, or an antislip member such as, inter alia, sandpaper, rubber, or a mild adhesive.




An alternative embodiment employs opposing sides of the body that each have an inner surface adapted to provide increased friction between the inner surface and opposing sides of the posters. For example, the sides may have a brush attached to the inner surface of each of the opposing sides of the body with the brushes adapted to provide increased friction between the inner surface and the opposing sides of the plurality of posters. In another embodiment, the sides have springs attached thereto that are adapted to bias at least a portion of the opposing sides inward against the opposing sides of the plurality of posters.




Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a body that is adapted to maintain a predetermined relative distance between the front of the body and the plurality of posters, the back of the body and the plurality of posters, and the plurality of posters themselves. Thus, the body is adapted to maintain a predetermined force between the plurality of posters, the front, and the back. Accordingly, to provide the desired adjustability, the front of the body is adjustably positionable and/or the back of the body is adjustably positionable. In alternative embodiments, the front of the body is adapted to move vertically, to selectively rotate about a pivot point, and to move forward and rearward. Likewise, in alternative embodiments, the back of the body is adapted to selectively rotate about a pivot point and to move forward and rearward.




To reduce the potential of damage to the posters, the opposing sides of the body preferably each define an upper edge with the upper edge having a chamfer on an inner portion thereof.




So that the apparatus may be easily transported, the opposing sides preferably define handles therethrough.




Another aspect of the invention provides a plurality of interconnected bodies that each are adapted to hold and display a plurality of posters in a substantially upright display position. The bodies may be connected side by side, back to back, or at adjacent rear corners of the bodies.




Another alternative embodiment of the present invention provides a body that has a front section, including the front of the body, and a back section, including the back of the body. The front section and the back section are removably attachable to one another. A storage wall is removably attachable to the back section, extends between the opposing sides, and is spaced from the back of the body. The storage wall, the opposing sides, and the back define a back section interior space adapted to maintain a plurality of posters therein.




Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for displaying posters that provides means for holding and displaying a plurality of posters in a substantially upright display position and means for maintaining the relative position of the plurality of posters to facilitate removal and replacement of individual posters. Preferably the invention provides means for maintaining a bottom portion of the plurality of posters at a nonperpendicular angle slanted toward a back of the means for holding, means for reducing the slippage between the plurality of posters and the means for holding, and means for maintaining the relative force between the plurality of posters, a front of the means for holding, and a back for the means for holding.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a top elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a side elevational, partial cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a side elevational, partial cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a partial elevational view showing one embodiment of an antislip member attached to the side of the body.





FIG. 7

is a side elevational, partial cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 8

is a side elevational, partial cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 9

is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention providing two bodies attached side by side.





FIG. 10

is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention providing two bodies attached back to back.





FIG. 11

is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention providing three bodies attached near their rear corners.











It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The present invention generally provides a poster display apparatus adapted to hold a plurality of posters in a substantially upright display position that reduces bunching of the bottom portions of the posters allowing a customer to easily browse through the posters, remove posters from the apparatus, and replace posters in the apparatus. The poster display apparatus also provides a lowered, preferably curved front that facilitates browsing of the posters and reduces damage to the posters. The posters are placed in the apparatus without backing material so that the device can easily hold a substantial number of posters without requiring substantial space.





FIGS. 1 through 4

are isometric, top, side, and front views respectively of one embodiment of the present invention. In general, the poster display apparatus


10


provides a body


12


that has a front


14


, a back


16


, opposing sides


18


, and a bottom


20


. The body


12


defines an interior space


22


between the front


14


, back


16


, sides


18


, and bottom


20


and an upper opening


24


. The body


12


is adapted to hold and display a plurality of posters


2


in a substantially upright position.




Posters


2


are substantially flat, thin, and flexible having opposing display surfaces and a periphery, or edge. As used herein, the “upright display position” shall mean that the poster


2


rests on an edge of the poster


2


extending generally upward therefrom. Preferably, in such a position, the display surface(s) containing the product indicia thereon are facing in a direction that is convenient for the customer to view. Also, preferably, the plurality of posters


2


are oriented with the display surface(s) containing the product indicia thereon facing in the same direction and with the display surfaces of adjacent posters


2


abutting one another (i.e. with no backing or other material interposed therebetween; although such material may be placed therein, the posters


2


may be placed in individual wrappings, protective material may be placed therebetween, and other similar modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention). Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the posters


2


are “stacked” and positioned on their bottom edges, in the upright display position, within the interior space


22


of the body


12


.




The body


12


is sized according to the size of the posters


2


to be held therein. The height of the back


16


is preferably at least as high as the height of the posters


2


.




However, the front


14


of the body


12


does not typically extend upward the full height of the posters


2


so that the customer may easily browse through the posters


2


flipping them to a forward position in which they bend over the front


14


. Although the front


14


may be a relatively thin, flat member or have a squared comer, the front


14


preferably has an abutment surface


30


facing the interior space


22


of the body


12


that is curved. The curved abutment surface


30


reduces the damage to the posters


2


when they are placed in the forward position by eliminating comers and the like. The curve of the abutment surface


30


is preferably convex with respect to the interior space


22


to accommodate the natural bend of the posters


2


as they are placed in the forward position. To maintain the posters


2


in the interior space


22


, however, the front


14


presents at least a portion thereof that extends upward. The front


14


then curves forward and curves to a horizontal or downward orientation (in alternative embodiments) near its apogee end


34


(the end of the front


14


opposite the bottom end


32


which is proximal the bottom


20


of the body


12


) to facilitate browsing of the posters


2


. Providing at least a portion of the abutment surface


30


of the front


14


in a horizontal orientation helps to maintain the posters


2


in the forward position. Preferably, the length of the abutment surface


30


is at least as long as the height of the posters


2


in order to support the full length of the posters


2


in the forward position. In one alternative embodiment, the abutment surface


30


of the front


14


provides a nonslip coating


36


, such as rubber or other material, that is adapted to reduce the slippage between the abutment surface


30


and the plurality of posters


2


.




The sides


18


preferably define an aperture therethrough that serves as a handle


40


. The handle


40


is sized to accommodate a person's hand and is positioned relatively near the top to facilitate stable and convenient carrying. Also, an upper edge


44


of the upper surface


52


includes a chamfer


42


on an inner portion thereof. The chamfer


42


eliminates the sharp corners of the upper edge


44


and helps to reduce any damage to the posters


2


as they are removed and replaced in the apparatus


10


.




As stated previously, displaying a plurality of posters


2


in the manner of the present invention has, in the past, been deemed ineffective due to the flexible nature of the posters


2


that allows the posters


2


to bend which exerts a force, from the weight of the posters


2


, on the bottom of the posters


2


causing the posters


2


to “bunch” at the bottoms and exert lateral forces between the posters


2


. Bunching of the posters


2


is exacerbated when a customer browses through the plurality of posters


2


. During browsing, the customer flips the posters


2


, in turn, to a forward position in which at least an upper portions of the posters


2


are bent forward to reveal the poster


2


immediately behind the posters


2


in the forward position. The bottoms of those posters


2


in the forward position tend to slide back


16


due to the natural resiliency of the posters


2


, thus exerting additional lateral bunching forces on the bottom portions


4


of the posters


2


. The resulting lateral forces, or bunching, make removal and replacement of the posters


2


difficult. The present invention addresses these problems using three basic approaches which may be used individually or in combination. In general, these three components/approaches of the apparatus


10


that eliminate bunching are (1) maintaining a bottom portion


4


of the posters


2


at an angle, (2) increasing the friction between the body


12


and the posters


2


to reduce slippage or movement (bunching) of the posters


2


, and (3) maintaining a relatively constant distance between the front


14


and the posters


2


, the back


16


and the posters


2


, and the posters


2


themselves.




Accordingly, the front


14


and/or the back


16


of the body


12


is adapted to maintain a bottom portion


4


of the posters


2


at an angle to the bottom of the body


12


so that at least the bottom portion


4


of the poster


2


slants toward the back


16


of the body


12


. Such a slant, or angle, is effective at reducing bunching because, as the customer browses through the posters


2


flipping the posters


2


to the forward position, the weight of the posters


2


tends to resist the backward motion of the bottom portions


4


of the posters


2


because of their angled orientation. The weight of the poster


2


tends to force the angled bottom forward, toward the front


14


of the body


12


; whereas moving the upper portion of the poster


2


forward tends to force the bottom backward. Therefore, the forces counteract one another reducing slippage, movement, and bunching.




The front


14


of the body


12


has a bottom end


32


proximal the bottom


20


of the body


12


and an opposite apogee end


34


. To facilitate the angled orientation of the bottom portion


4


of the posters


2


, at least the portion of the front


14


of the body


12


proximal the bottom end


32


of the front


14


is angled with respect to the bottom


20


of the body


12


at an angle of less than ninety degrees (i.e. the front


14


and the bottom


20


form a nonperpendicular angle) with the bottom portion of the front


14


slanting upward toward the back


16


of the body


12


. Therefore, the bottoms of the posters


2


placed in the interior space


22


tend to move somewhat toward the front


14


due to their flexibility and the bottom portions


4


of the posters


2


tend to also slant toward the back


16


of the body


12


at an angle to the bottom


20


. Thus, the angled bottom portion of the front


14


maintains an angled bottom portion


4


of the posters


2


which reduces slippage and bunching. Note that the front


14


may be pivotally mounted to the sides


18


to allow for adjustment of the relative angle of the front


14


to the bottom


20


.




The back


16


of the body


12


is preferably attached to the body


12


at an angle to the bottom


20


to provide the desired angle of the bottom portion


4


of the posters


2


. Thus, the back


16


and bottom preferably form a nonperpendicular angle therebetween that is greater that ninety degrees when measured from the interior space


22


. Therefore, the back


16


preferably slants backward. With a back


16


that is slanted, the front


14


and bottom


20


may intersect at a substantially ninety degree angle although this is not necessarily preferred.




In one embodiment, the back


16


of the body


12


is substantially flat. However, in an alternative embodiment, the back


16


is arcuate and has a convex curve with respect to the interior space


22


. One advantage of the arcuate back


16


is that it may help to correct any bends formed in the posters


2


created as a result of their remaining bent in the forward position for an extended period of time.




Also, the angle of the back


16


may be adjustable.

FIG. 5

is a side elevational, partial cross sectional view of a body


12


having a back


16


that may be adjusted. The bottom of the back


16


is pivotally attached to the sides


18


of the body


12


so that the back


16


is free to rotate about the pivotal attachment. A movable back support


48


fits within a slot


64


in each of the sides


18


of the body


12


; the slot


64


defines a plurality of back support positions. By moving the back support


48


to the different positions, the angle of the back


16


to the bottom


20


changes. Note that the embodiment shown is but one possible embodiment among many and any embodiment that provides for the adjustment of the angle of the back


16


to the body


12


is acceptable.




Another manner of reducing bunching is to increase the friction between the body


12


and the posters


2


. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an antislip member


50


attached to the body


12


that is adapted to reduce the relative motion of the posters


2


to one another and to the body


12


. The antislip member


50


may be attached to the bottom


20


or to the sides


18


of the body


12


. In one embodiment, the bottom


20


has an upper surface


52


that is adapted to provide increased friction between the upper surface


52


of the bottom


20


and the posters


2


. Increasing the friction may be accomplished in a variety of ways such as by providing lateral grooves in the upper surface


52


, roughening the upper surface


52


, or attaching an antislip member


50


to the upper surface


52


of the bottom


20


. Examples of suitable antislip members


50


include, inter alia, sandpaper, rubber, a mild adhesive, a soft plastic, a short brush, or other similar materials.




In an alternative embodiment, shown in

FIG. 5

, the opposing sides


18


of the body


12


have an inner surface


54


that is adapted to increase the friction between the inner surface


54


and the opposing sides


18


of the posters


2


. This may be accomplished by attaching an antislip member


50


, such as brushes


56


or other materials, to the inner surfaces


54


.

FIG. 6

shows another alternative embodiment for increasing the friction between the inner surfaces


54


and the sides


18


of the posters


2


provides springs


58


attached to the opposing sides


18


of the body


12


that are adapted to bias at least a portion of the opposing sides


18


inward against the opposing sides


18


of the posters


2


. One end of the compression spring


58


is attached to an inner surface


54


of the side of the body


12


and the opposite end of the spring


58


is attached to a side abutment


60


. The spring


58


pushes the side abutment


60


against the side of the posters


2


increasing the frictional force therebetween.




The third primary manner of reducing bunching of the posters


2


is maintaining a relatively constant distance between the front


14


and the posters


2


, the back


16


and the posters


2


, and the posters


2


themselves. Thus, in one embodiment, shown in

FIG. 7

, the body


12


is adapted to maintain these relative distances and the relative forces therebetween. To maintain the relative distances, the front


14


or back


16


may be adjustably positioned. For example, in one embodiment, the front


14


attaches to the sides


18


using an attachment pin


62


on each side that rides in a slot


64


formed in each of the sides


18


. The slots


64


define a plurality of front


14


positions between which the front


14


may be moved. The adjustment pins


66


and slots


64


may be used to provide for adjustment of the front


14


in a front-to-back, vertical, or other direction (although the figure shows a front-to-back arrangement). Note that many other embodiments may be used to provide for the adjustable positioning of the front


14


.




A similar system is employed in one embodiment of an adjustable back


16


. In this embodiment, the pivot pin attached to the bottom


20


of the back


16


extends through slots


64


in the side of the body


12


. Likewise, adjustment pins


66


attached to the back


16


at a position offset from the body


12


extend through a second set of slots


64


defined by the sides


18


of the body


12


. The slots


64


each define a plurality of positions for the respective pins. Moving the pins between the positions defined by the slots


64


allows for the selective positioning of the back


16


as well as the adjustment of the angle formed between the back


16


and the bottom


20


. The pin and slot


64


arrangement may be used to adjust the front-to-back as well as the vertical positioning of the back


16


.





FIG. 8

is a side elevational view of one alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the body


12


is formed of a front section


70


, which includes the front


14


of the body


12


, and a back section


72


, which includes a back


16


of the body


12


. The front section


70


and the back section


72


are removable attachable to one another such as by hooks, screws, clamps, or the like. A removable storage wall


74


is provided. The storage wall


74


is selectively attachable to the back section


72


of the body


12


at an end of the back section


72


opposite the back


16


. Thus, the storage wall


74


, which extends between the sides


18


of the body


12


, along with the back


16


, the sides


18


, and the bottom of the back section


72


, define a back section interior space


76


adapted to maintain a plurality of posters


2


therein. As the curved front


14


may occupy about two-thirds of the total length, or depth, of the body


12


, separating the two sections enhances the portability of the device. Also, the back section


72


may be used to store and ship posters


2


therein. Then, when the apparatus


10


requires refilling, the back sections


72


of the body


12


may simply be replaced (i.e. the empty back section


72


removed and the full back section attached). Thus, the removable back section


72


including the storage wall


74


facilitates shipping and provides interchangeability. Note that the front section


70


is also relative expensive in relation to the back section


72


due to the curved upper surface


52


of the front


14


.





FIGS. 9 through 11

shows alternative embodiments of the invention that provide a plurality of interconnected bodies. As shown in the figures, the bodies may be attached to one another side-to-side, back-to-back, or adjacent their rear corners, respectively. In such arrangements, the bodies may share common sides


18


, backs


16


, and the like.




Note that the bodies may have legs attached thereto, may rest on a table or the floor, or may provide other support members or methods.




While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow.



Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for displaying posters, comprising:a body having a front, a back, opposing sides, and a bottom, the body defining an interior space and an upper opening; the body is adapted to hold and display a plurality of posters in a substantially upright display position; the front of the body defines a curved abutment surface having a bottom end proximal the bottom of the body and an opposite apogee end, the abutment surface is adapted to maintain a bottom portion of the plurality of posters proximal the bottom of the body at a nonperpendicular angle to the bottom of the body with the bottom portion slanting toward the back of the body, an antislip member attached to the body, the antislip member adapted to reduce the relative motion of the plurality of posters to one another and to the body, the bottom of the body having an upper surface adapted to provide increased friction between the upper surface and a bottom of the plurality of posters; and, the abutment surface is further adapted to maintain the plurality of posters proximal the opposite apogee end of the abutment surface substantially horizontal and slanting toward the front of the body.
  • 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the abutment surface is convex with respect to the interior space.
  • 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the abutment surface and the bottom of the body form an angle of about ninety degrees.
  • 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the abutment surface and the bottom of the body form an angle of less than ninety degrees.
  • 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length of the abutment surface is approximately equal to the height of the plurality of posters.
  • 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the abutment surface further comprises a nonslip coating adapted to reduce the slippage between the abutment surface and the plurality of posters.
  • 7. The apparatus of claim 6, the nonslip coating is rubber.
  • 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back of the body is adapted to maintain a bottom portion of the plurality of posters at an angle to the bottom of the body.
  • 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back of the body and the bottom of the body form an angle that is greater than ninety degrees.
  • 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back of the body is substantially flat.
  • 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper surface is roughened.
  • 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said antislip member is attached to the bottom of the body, the antislip member adapted to reduce the relative motion of the plurality of posters to one another and to the bottom of the body.
  • 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antislip member comprises sandpaper attached to the upper surface of the bottom of the body.
  • 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antislip member comprises rubber attached to the upper surface of the bottom of the body.
  • 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antislip member comprises a mild adhesive attached to the upper surface of the bottom of the body.
  • 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the opposing sides of the body each having an inner surface adapted to provide increased friction between the inner surface and opposing sides of the plurality of posters.
  • 17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a brush attached to the inner surface of each of the opposing sides of the body, the brushes adapted to provide increased friction between the inner surface and the opposing sides of the plurality of posters.
  • 18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising springs attached to the opposing sides of the body, the springs adapted to bias at least a portion of the opposing sides inward against the opposing sides of the plurality of posters.
  • 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body is adapted to maintain a predetermined relative distance between the front of the body and the plurality of posters, the back of the body and the plurality of posters, and the plurality of posters themselves.
  • 20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the body is adapted to maintain a predetermined force between the plurality of posters, the front, and the back.
  • 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front of the body is adjustably positionable.
  • 22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the front of the body is adapted to move vertically.
  • 23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the front of the body is adapted to selectively rotate about a pivot point.
  • 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back of the body is adjustably positionable.
  • 25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the back of the body is adapted to selectively rotate about a pivot point.
  • 26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opposing sides of the body each define an upper edge, the upper edge having a chamfer on an inner portion thereof.
  • 27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the opposing sides defining handles therethrough.
  • 28. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:the body having a front section, including the front of the body, and a back section, including the back of the body; the front section and the back section removably attachable to one another.
  • 29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:a storage wall removably attachable to the back section, the storage wall extending between the opposing sides and spaced from the back of the body; the storage wall, the opposing sides, and the back defining a back section interior space adapted to maintain a plurality of posters therein.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Number Name Date Kind
1273894 Madison Jul 1918
1463950 Goldberger Aug 1923
2523347 Weston Sep 1950
3224824 Remke Dec 1965
3583570 Black Jun 1971
3625368 Toms Dec 1971
3817393 Neilsen Jun 1974
4164309 Staats Aug 1979
4193652 Brown, Jr. Mar 1980
4266834 Ackeret May 1981
4312548 Posso Jan 1982
4949484 Finger Aug 1990
5067780 Rickard Nov 1991
5127340 Maro et al. Jul 1992
5346298 Headley Sep 1994
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
103345 Dec 1941 SE