Modular Photo Storage Assembly and System

Abstract

Modular photo storage assemblies are provided for storing photographic materials. Each modular photo storage assembly can be both individually displayed and interchangeably engaged as a module in a photo storage system.

1 . A modular photo storage assembly, comprising:
 a base portion including a chamber for receiving photographic media;   a cover portion, hingedly connected to said base portion, said cover portion including:
 a photo retaining section sized to receive and retain a single photographic print; and 
 an opaque frame section surrounding said photo retaining section on at least three sides; 
   said base portion further including a retaining key for retaining a photodisc in a locked position in said chamber; and   said base portion and said cover portion mating to, in said closed position, retain said photographic media in said chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said photo retaining section is a pocket for receiving said single photographic print, said modular photo storage assembly further including a lens removably engaged with said cover portion above said photo retaining section. 
   
   
       3 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said photo retaining section is formed of a clear material and said cover portion includes rails for retaining said single photo in said photo retaining section under said clear material. 
   
   
       4 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opacity of said opaque frame section is achieved by texturing the material. 
   
   
       5 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opacity of said opaque frame section is achieved by using a colored material. 
   
   
       6 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , further including an indentation for receiving an adhesive label. 
   
   
       7 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion additionally includes at least two holes for hanging said modular photo storage assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said two holes permits the modular photo storage assembly to be hung in a landscape orientation and the other of the two holes permits the modular photo storage assembly to be hung in a portrait orientation. 
   
   
       9 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 7 , wherein both of said two holes are used to hang the modular photo storage assembly in one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation 
   
   
       10 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 9 , including at least a third hole through said base portion, said third hole being used to hang the modular photo storage assembly in the other one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation. 
   
   
       11 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , additionally including at least one stand foot, storable in said chamber and removably engageable with an external face said base portion to act as a stand for the photo storage assembly. 
   
   
       12 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of said base portion and said cover portion further includes a spring biased key member. 
   
   
       13 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said spring is actuable between a first position and a second position by depressing and releasing a thumb button, respectively. 
   
   
       14 . A modular photo storage assembly, comprising:
 a base portion including a chamber for receiving photographic media;   a cover portion, hingedly connected to said base portion, said cover portion including:
 a photo retaining section sized to receive and retain a single photographic print; and 
 an opaque frame section surrounding said photo retaining section on at least three sides; 
   said photo retaining section being a pocket formed in said cover portion, said photo retaining section being covered by a removable a lens; and   said base portion and said cover portion mating to, in said closed position, retain said photographic media in said chamber.   
   
   
       15 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said cover portion includes rails for retaining said lens over said photo retaining section, said lens sliding on said rails. 
   
   
       16 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said opaque frame section surrounds said photo retaining section on only three sides and said photo retaining section and wherein said lens is retained over said photo retaining section by a securing plate, said securing plate completing said opaque frame section on its fourth side. 
   
   
       17 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said securing plate and said lens are joined as a single piece. 
   
   
       18 . The modular photo storage assembly of  claim 14 , wherein one of said base portion and said cover portion further includes a spring biased key member. 
   
   
       19 . A modular photo storage system, comprising:
 a modular photo storage assembly, including:
 a base portion including a chamber for receiving photographic media; 
 a cover portion, hingedly connected to said base portion, said cover portion including a photo retaining section sized to receive and retain a single photographic print; and 
 said base portion and said cover portion mating to, in said closed position, retain said photographic media in said chamber; 
   a frame assembly including a pocket for receiving said modular photo storage assembly; and   a key member for lockingly engaging said photo storage assembly into said frame assembly.   
   
   
       20 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 19 , wherein said key member includes a spring mechanism to retain said modular photo storage assembly within said frame assembly. 
   
   
       21 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 20 , wherein said spring mechanism is located on a portion of said photo storage assembly, said key member interlocking with a mating portion located on said frame assembly. 
   
   
       22 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 21 , wherein depression of a portion of said key member permits said photo storage assembly to be disengaged from said frame assembly. 
   
   
       23 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 19 , wherein a rear face said frame assembly includes a stand portion mounted thereto, said rear face being curved and said stand portion is nested in said curved face in a folded position, such that said frame assembly can sit flush on a surface contacting said rear face. 
   
   
       24 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 23 , wherein a ratchet portion on said stand portion engages a ratchet portion on said frame assembly, said ratchet portions matingly engaged to adjust and frictionally maintain an angle of separation between said stand portion and said frame assembly when said stand portion is in an unfolded position. 
   
   
       25 . A modular photo storage system, comprising:
 a plurality of photo storage assemblies, each photo storage assembly including:
 a base portion including a chamber for receiving photographic media; 
 a cover portion, hingedly connected to said base portion, said cover portion including,
 a photo retaining section sized to receive and retain a single photographic print, and 
 an opaque frame section surrounding said photo retaining section on at least three sides; 
 
 said base portion and said cover portion mating to, in said closed position, retain said photographic media in said chamber; and 
   at least one modular connector for removably engaging at least two of said plurality of photo storage assemblies, in order to retain said at least two of said plurality of photo storage assemblies in a stable configuration.   
   
   
       26 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 25 , wherein said at least one modular connector engages at least one corner of each of said at least two of said plurality of photo storage assemblies. 
   
   
       27 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 26 , wherein said at least one modular connector is an elastomeric sphere. 
   
   
       28 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 25 , wherein said at least one modular connector engages at least one edge of each of said at least two of said plurality of photo storage assemblies. 
   
   
       29 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one modular connector includes an elastomeric sphere. 
   
   
       30 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one modular connector is a linear bracket. 
   
   
       31 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 30 , wherein said linear bracket includes an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       32 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 30 , wherein said linear bracket includes a rigid extrusion. 
   
   
       33 . The modular photo storage system of  claim 25 , wherein said at least one modular connector includes a magnet. 
   
   
       34 . A modular photo storage system, comprising:
 at least one photo storage assembly including:
 a base portion including a chamber for receiving photographic media; 
 a cover portion, hingedly connected to said base portion, said cover portion including,
 a photo retaining section sized to receive and retain a single photographic print, and 
 an opaque frame section surrounding said photo retaining section on at least three sides; 
 
 said base portion and said cover portion mating to, in said closed position, retain said photographic media in said chamber; and 
   a cube shaped frame including at least one opening for receiving said at least one photo storage assembly in said frame, such that said cover portion is displayed on a face of said cube.   
   
   
       35 . The photo storage system of  claim 34 , wherein said cube shaped frame includes at least five openings, each of said five openings for receiving at least one photo storage assembly in an orientation that displays a cover portion of said at least one photo storage assembly on a face of said cube. 
   
   
       36 . The photo storage system of  claim 35 , wherein said cube shaped frame further includes, a carousel in communication with the sixth face.