US20060243874A1

US20060243874A1 - Device for holding changeable element

Info

Publication number: US20060243874A1
Application number: US11/118,241
Authority: US
Inventors: Stacy Fifer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-29
Filing date: 2005-04-29
Publication date: 2006-11-02

Abstract

A device for displaying changeable elements. The device is mountable by adhering or mechanically attaching to a structure, a vehicle, or other item. The device can have an elongated body into which a decorative or instructional element can be inserted and be readily changeable. Connectors on the device allow for extending the length of the device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention pertains to decoration, display and also to instructional aids. In particular, the invention pertains to the positioning of a decorative element that can be readily changeable.
Normally a decorative element, such as a wallpaper border is adhered in place with the use of wallpaper paste or with the use of adhesive backing on some wallpapers. Decorative elements in a home or vehicle are often fixed and can become dated with the passage of time as styles and colors change.
A problem is that when a desire arises to change a decorative element, it is difficult to remove it because it has been fixed in place. Glue or another semi-permanent adhesive is used to fix the decorative element in place. The removal of the wallpaper or border can cause tearing of the paint or wallboard beneath the wallpaper/border. A wallpaper steamer may be required to help remove the glued wallpaper. However, a wallpaper steamer is a messy and cumbersome machine to use. Moreover, even after the wallpaper has been steamed, a blade and significant elbow grease may be needed to work the wallpaper off the underlying surface. Even then, some damage may occur to the underlying surface.
Removal of a fabric or carpet decorative element in a vehicle may be even more difficult as there may be no easy way to remove the fabric or carpet.
Another problem is because of the involved removal procedure described above, redecorating is often ignored leading to an out of date look of the room, home, office display space, etc. Particularly, if a sale of the home or vehicle is being contemplated a dated look can be a disadvantage and slow the sale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a device for holding an element that can be readily changed as desired. The changeable element that can be used with the device can a wallpaper border strip, a strip of carpet or material, a strip or cardboard or other paper or plastic, etc. The device can be used for decorative purposes or for practical purposes such as a chair rail to keep the wall from being marred.
The changeable element can be of a larger size as a mural, poster, educational chart or other information/art. The device is useful for decorating a home or other structure, such as a car or truck, a recreational vehicle, a boat, a ship, an airplane or another structure.
A different pattern or design can be readily inserted into the device and give an entirely different decorating feel to an environment. Fabric, carpet and other materials can be used with the device to achieve a desired effect.
Thus updating of the decor is quicker and much easier than by current known methods. Also the updating of information, art, etc. is quicker and much easier than by current known methods. When a sale of a home or a vehicle is undertaken, presenting the home or vehicle in its best light is desirable in order to hasten the sale.
The device has an elongated body with a lip extending from the upper edge and a lip extending from the lower edge. The changeable element is designed to slide into a track formed between the lips and the changeable element is held by the upper and lower lip near to the body of the device.
The body of the device can be comprised from plastic, metal, fiberglass or other materials. Lighter weight materials are useful when the device is mounted high on a wall. Metal is a good material when the device is of a larger configuration such as a frame as a teaching device.
The body of the device can be provided in lengths and the lengths can be added to each other as desired to extend to fit a necessary dimension. Connectors on the edges of the elongated body are connectable with connectors on another elongated body to achieve the desired length. Connectors can be interlocks, adhesive, tabs and receptacles, hook and loop fasteners, and other types of connectors.
Conversely, the body can also be cut to a desired length if the length is too great for the desired space/location.
Attachment of the device in a desired position can be achieved by affixing the device in location with adhesives. Apertures can be provided through the elongated body. Attachment of the device can be achieved by inserting a nail staple, screw there the aperture in the body of the device into the structure to affix the device in the desired position. Hook and loop fasteners can be used to keep the device in the desired location.
The device for holding a changeable element is used by attaching the body to a structure and inserting an element into the body of the device.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description when read with in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements throughout the several views, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an environmental view of a device for holding a changeable element with the decorative element partially inserted to the device;
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of device of FIG. 1 showing the edges, the connectors and the upper lip and the lower lip;
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of device of FIG. 1 showing the upper lip and the lower lip;
FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the device of the invention showing one type of connection between sections of the device; and
FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the device with a different connection between the sections of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIG. 1, device 10 is thereshown as positioned on wall 12 of structure 14. In this case, device 10 is positioned on wall 12 near to ceiling 16. Wallpaper 18 is shown as being inserted into device 10.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, device 10 has elongated body 20 with upper edge 22 with lip 24 extending therefrom and lower edge 26 with lip 28 extending therefrom. Device 10 has edge 30 and edge 32 extending between upper edge 22 and lower edge 26.
Connectors 34 are provided on edge 30 and 32 for interengagement on device 10 with another device 10 to extend the total length.
Aperture 36 is shown on elongated body 20 of device 10 through which attachment can be made of elongated body 20 to desired location.
Now turning to FIG. 4 thereshown is device 10 of the invention. Device 10 comprises connectors 34 with point 40 and receptacle 42 to engage with point 40 on another body (not shown).
Now turning to FIG. 5 thereshown is device 10 of the invention. Device 10 comprises connectors 34 having offsets 44, 46 on edge 30 and 32 for engagement with matching offset on another body.
It is to be understood that the device herein described could be employed for uses and purposes beyond those for decorating.
Having described the invention, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for holding a changeable element, the device comprising

a body having a length with an upper edge of the body extending to an upper lip from the upper edge and a lower edge of the body with a lower lip extending from the lower edge, whereby a changeable element can be inserted into the device and the changeable element is held in position in the body by the upper lip and the lower lip.

2. The device for holding a changeable element according to claim 1, wherein the body of the device being a first body and having a connector on the first body for interengaging with a connector on a second body for connecting the first body with the second body for extending the length of the device for holding a changeable element.

3. The device for holding a changeable element according to claim 2, wherein the connector for connecting the first body with a second body for extending the length of the device for holding a changeable element comprises a tab on the first body engageable with a tab on the second body.

4. The device for holding a changeable element according to claim 2, wherein the connector for connecting the first body with a second body for extending the length of the device for holding a changeable element comprises an adhesive on one of the first body and the second body engageable with the other body.

5. The device for holding a changeable element according to claim 2, wherein the connector for connecting the first body with a second body for extending the length of the device for holding a changeable element comprises an interlock between the first body and the second body.

6. The device for holding a changeable element according to claim 2, wherein the connector for connecting the first body with a second body for extending the length of the device for holding a changeable element comprises a hook fastener on one of the first and second body and a loop fastener on the other of the first and second body.

7. A device for holding a changeable element in an environment, the environment having structure, the device comprising

a body having a length with an upper edge extending to an upper lip from the upper edge and a lower edge with a lower lip extending from the lower edge, whereby a changeable element can be inserted into the device and the changeable element is held in position in the body by the upper lip and the lower lip, the device being positionable to the structure of the environment.

8. A device for holding a changeable element in an environment, according to claim 7 wherein the structure of the environment comprises a room having at least one wall and a ceiling, wherein the device is positionable on the upper edge of a wall near the ceiling for display of the changeable element.

9. A device for holding a changeable element in an environment, according to claim 7 wherein the structure of the environment comprises a vehicle having at least one surface, wherein the device is positionable on the surface.

10. A device for holding a changeable element in an environment according to claim 7 further comprising attaching the device to the structure of the environment.

11. A device for holding a changeable element in an environment according to claim 10 whereby the device is attachable to the structure of the environment with adhesive.

12. A device for holding a changeable element in an environment according to claim 10 whereby the device is attachable to the structure of the environment by a mechanical fastener emplaced through an aperture in the body of the device.

13. A device for holding a changeable element in an environment according to claim 10 whereby the device is attachable to the structure of the environment with a hook and loop fastener.

14. A method of using the device for holding a changeable element according to claim 1, the method comprising the following steps attaching a body having a length with an upper edge of the body extending to an upper lip from the upper edge and a lower edge of the body with a lower lip extending from the lower edge to a structure, and inserting an element into the body of the device.