Method and Apparatus for Framing Greeting Cards

Abstract

An apparatus for framing a greeting card in a manner that allows relatively simple access to the entire contents of the card, while still providing protection and a decorative presentation for the card, is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first mat, a second mat, and a mount board, each of which is equipped with magnetic surfaces to allow all three pieces to hold together when mounted in a picture frame. The first mat resembles a conventional mat used in framing art. The second mat, held to the first mat magnetically, contains two vertical slits that are sized to allow a greeting card to be threaded through the slits and thus mounted to the second mat. The mount board is placed behind the second mat and is held in place magnetically to the second mat. The mount board may be removed by pulling an attached tab.

1 . A method of framing a work, comprising: 
 threading the work through a plurality of slits in a sheet of material, wherein an entire length of an edge of the work is threaded through at least one of the plurality of slits;    positioning the sheet of material within a picture frame; and    attaching a backing behind the sheet of material.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 positioning a mat within the picture frame such that the work is exposed through an opening in the mat.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 affixing the mat to the picture frame with mounting points.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of a surface of the mat is covered in a magnetic material.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the sheet of material is covered in a magnetic material and wherein positioning die sheet of material within the picture frame includes magnetically affixing the sheet of material to the mat.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the backing comprises a mount board, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the mount board is covered in a magnetic material, and wherein attaching the backing includes magnetically affixing the mount board to the sheet of material.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 attaching a magnetic surface to an item associated with the work; and magnetically affixing the item to the sheet of material.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the item is an envelope.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the work is a document.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the document is a greeting card.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for framing a work, comprising: 
 a picture frame;    a first mat, wherein the first mat contains an opening that is sized to allow the work to be viewed through the opening;    a second mat, wherein the second mat contains a plurality of slits that are sized and positioned to allow the work to be held into place upon the second mat by threading the work through the slits, wherein an entire length of all edge of the work is threaded through at least one of the plurality of slits; and    a mount board that is positioned relative to the picture frame, first mat, and second mat so as to enclose the first mat and second mat between the picture frame and mount board.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1   1 , wherein the first mat is held into the picture frame with a plurality of mounting points.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first mat, second mat, and mount board each include detachable attachment surfaces and wherein the first mat, second mat, and mount board are attached to each other in a layered configuration in which the detachable attachment surfaces hold the first mat, second mat, and mount board together in the layered configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the detachable attachment surfaces are magnetic surfaces.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a ribbon attached to the mount board, wherein the mount board may be detached from the second mat by pulling the ribbon.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first mat, the second mat, or the mount board includes a first detachable attachment surface adapted to allow the first detachable attachment surface to attach to a second detachable attachment surface that is adapted to be affixed to an item associated with the work.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first detachable attachment surface and second detachable attachment surface are magnetic surfaces.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the item is an envelope.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the work is a document.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the document is a greeting card.