WO1997001838A1

WO1997001838A1 - A combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure

Info

Publication number: WO1997001838A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/006240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael J. Leake; George Guon; Albert O. Cota
Original assignee: Leake Michael J; George Guon; Cota Albert O
Priority date: 1995-05-15
Filing date: 1995-05-15
Publication date: 1997-01-16
Also published as: AU2640195A

Abstract

A combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card structure (10) that consists of a photo frame (12) having integrally attached an overlapping back cover (30). The cover (30) is divided into three panels: an outward panel (32) having a first card cutout (32G), a center panel (34) having a second card cutout (34G) and a U-shaped card retainer (42), and an inward panel (38) that attaches to the photo frame (12). When the outward panel (32) is folded over and attached to the center panel (34), the two card cutouts (32G, 34G) are aligned and the card retainer (42) forms a composite card retaining section (44) having a card slot (44B) into which is inserted a telephone card. When the composite card retaining section (44) is separated from the frame (12) and angled outwardly, the combination (10) can be placed on a flat surface to allow both the picture in the photo frame and the telephone card in the section (44) to be viewed simultaneously.

Description

A COMBINATION PHOTO FRAME AND

TELEPHONE PREPAID CALLING CARD RETAINING STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to the general fields of telephone prepaid calling cards and photo frames and more particularly, to a gift item that integrally combines a photo frame and a telephone-card viewing and retaining structure. BACKGROUND ART

For the past few years, the using, collecting, trading, and giving of telephone prepaid telephone cards, which are also known as telephone cards and phone cards, has become increasingly popular. This popularity is now world wide and has prompted the establishment of stores and mail order companies that deal exclusively with the selling and trading of these cards. Telephone prepaid calling cards typically include on one side a picture and on the opposite side data of well known athletes, movie, TV and radio personalities, as well as other historical and celebrated individuals.

There are numerous ways that these telephone cards can be stored and displayed, with the most popular being a loose-leaf binder having plastic sheets with inserts that typically accept nine cards per sheet. A more formal way for displaying and giving of a single telephone card, has been lacking in the prior art until the introduction of the instant invention. The inventive photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure includes a composite card retaining section having a card slot into which is inserted a telephone card. The card retaining section is particularly adapted for aesthetically displaying and retaining cards of significant value, sentiment or rarity. The invention also allows the option of having a larger photograph of the person portrayed on the telephone card or a related subject, to be inserted into the frame section of the invention.

A search of the prior art was conducted in several department stores, speciality stores, drug stores, catalogs and business gift companies to determine what types and design configurations were available for displaying single telephone cards or trading type cards. This search disclosed that there were no integrated structures that combined a photo frame with a card section having a slot into which is inserted a telephone card. Further, no structure was located where the photo frame can be held upright by either the structure of the card section or an integrated frame stand. Thus, the prior art did not disclose any items that read directly on the claims of the instant invention.

This application is related to the applicant's copending POT application serial number PCT/US94/12869, filed 7 November 1994 and entitled: PHOTOFRAME AND GIFT

CARD COMBINATION.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The telephone prepaid calling card and photo frame combination incorporates within a single article of manufacture, a means by which a telephone prepaid calling card, hereinafter telephone card, and a complimentary photograph or related picture can be stored and displayed. In its basic form and function the invention consists of two major structural elements: a photo frame and an integral overlapping back cover.

The photo frame includes a front side, a back side, and a lower edge. The frame also includes means for having a photo or the like inserted and retained therein.

The overlapping back cover consists of an integral outward panel, center panel and inward panel. The outward panel has a first card cutout therethrough, and a side edge that is integrally attached to a first side edge of the center panel. The center panel further has a second side edge and a second card cutout therethrough that is in alignment with the first card cutout when the outward panel overlaps the center panel. The inward panel has a side edge that is integrally attached to the second side edge of the center panel. The inward panel is also attached to the back side of the frame by an attachment means.

The center panel also has attached a card retainer having inner dimensions that exceed the dimensions of the first and second card cutouts. when the outward panel is folded over and attached to the card retainer, a composite trading card section is formed that includes a card slot, into this slot is inserted and retained a telephone card that can be viewed from either side of the overlapping back cover. The invention includes a non-functional telephone card that resembles the functional telephone card. when the functional telephone card is not being used, it remains within the card slot. However, when the functional telephone card is needed, it is removed from the card slot and the non-functional telephone card is inserted. Thus, allowing the combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure to retain its aesthetics quality when being viewed. Alternatively, a non-functional telephone card can be inserted into the card slot together with a functional telephone card. with this arrangement, when the functional card is removed, the non-functional card can still be viewed.

There is no limitation as to the type of material that can be used to manufacture the frame. The overlapping back cover can also be made of most any type of thin material that can be creased and folded. However, a thin cardboard or a thin opaque plastic is preferred. For aesthetics, the overlapping back cover may be colored or textured to compliment the color and texture material of the frame. Additionally, to further explain or add data pertaining to the telephone card, a signature of the person portrayed on the telephone card can be added to the composite card section as well as other embellishment and indicia.

The photo in the frame section, may consist of a larger complimentary photo or a photo of the person or persons featured on the telephone card. since some telephone cards have a high monetary and trading value, these cards may also be encased in a hermetically sealed plastic cover before they are inserted into the card retainer.

Further enhancements to the invention include a grooved wall hanger for hanging the combination and photo frame and telephone card retaining structure to a wall; a friction hinge which is attached to the back side of the frame's lower section. The hinge allows the telephone card and photo frame combination to rest upon a flat surface. Alternatively, the overlapping back cover can be separated and angularly displaced from the photo frame to allow the lower edges of the back cover and the frame to be placed upon a flat surface so that the front sides of the photo frame and the overlapping back cover with the telephone card can be viewed. A luminescent panel that attaches to the back sides of a clear plastic or glass frame may also be added. The luminescent panel allows the trading card and photo frame combination to function as a night light.

in view of the above disclosure it is the primary object of the invention to produce an article of manufacture that combines the benefits of a photo frame with an integral telephone card section that allows the safe keeping and viewing of the card. in addition to the above primary object it is also an object of the invention to provide a gift item that:

o provides an aesthetic method of protecting and viewing valuable telephone cards,

o allows a telephone card to be easily removed from and inserted into a protected card retainer,

o allows the photo frame and overlapping back cover to hold up the combination,

o is unique in appearance,

o has applicability for commercial advertising as well as gift giving,

o is sized to be mailed, and

o is cost effective from both a manufacturer and consumer points of view.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combination Photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the photo frame.

FIGURE 3 is a back elevational view of the photo frame.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a photo frame having its front sides painted with a photoluminescent paint.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a photo frame made of a clear material and having a Photoluminescent paint or tape attached to its back side.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a photo frame made of a clear material and having an electrically powered electoluminescent panel attached to its back sides.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the overlapping back cover fully extended with its inward panel attached to the back sides of the photo frame.

FIGURE 8 is a partial elevational view which details the U-shaped photo retainer attached to the center panel of the overlapping back cover.

FIGURE 9 is .a top sectional view showing the overlapping back cover in its folded configuration with a full-sized inward panel attached to the back sides of the photo frame. FIGURE 10 is an elevational back view showing a channel attached to the upper section, lower section and outward section of the photo frame and that is sized to accept and retain the inward panel of the overlapping back cover shown to the left of the figure.

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the channel attached to the photo frame.

FIGURE 12 is an elevational back view showing a plurality of male detents attached to the back sides of the photo frame and a corresponding set of aligned female detents or bores located on the inward panel of the overlapping back cover.

FIGURE 13 is a top sectional view showing the overlapping back cover in its folded configuration with an inward panel, having a narrow width, attached to the back side of the photo frame's inward section.

FIGURE 14 is an elevational back view showing the narrow width back panel attached to the back side of the photo frame's inward section.

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view showing the composite card retaining section of the overlapping back cover displaced by an angle ø from the back sides of the photo frame.

FIGURE 16 is an elevational back view showing the location of a photo frame support hinge.

FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view showing the location of the photo frame support hinge in an outward frame holding position and in dashed lines, in a stowed position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment that combines within a single article of manufacture, a means for storing and displaying a telephone prepaid calling card and a photo frame into which is inserted a photo or picture that compliments the card. The telephone prepaid calling cards, which are also referred to as telephone cards and phone cards, hereinafter telephone cards, typically include on one side, a picture of well known athletes, movie, TV or radio personalities and other historical and celebrated individuals. On the opposite side of the card is located data pertaining to the subject individual. The telephone card and/or the framed picture may also include the signature of the individual.

The preferred embodiment of the combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure 10 as shown in FIGURES 1-17, is comprised of two major elements: a photo frame 12 and an integral overlapping cover 30.

The photo frame 12 which can be manufactured of most any material, consists of an upper section 14, a lower section 16, an inward section 18 and an outward section 20 as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. The upward section has an upper edge 14A, a front side 14B and a back side 14C; the lower section 16 has a lower edge 16A, a front side 16B and a back side 16C; the inward section 13 has an outer edge 18A, a front side 18B and a back side 180 and the outward section 20 that has an outer edge 20A, a front side 20B and a back side 20C. From the back sides of the frame is formed a perimeter step area 22 as shown in FIGURE 3, that allows a photo to be inserted and retained therein by a retaining means. Before a photo is placed into the frame, a protective translucent material 24 may be inserted into the perimeter step area.

in a distinctive embodiment of the frame 12, the front sides of the frame 12 sections 14,16,18 and 20 are painted with a photoluminescent paint 26 as shown in FIGURE 4. Alternatively, the frame is constructed of a translucent or transparent material 24 such as glass or acrylic plastic as shown in FIGURE 5. To the back side of the frame sections 14,16,18 and 20 is painted the photoluminescent paint 26 or a photoluminescent tape 27 is attached as shown in FIGURE 5. The photoluminescent paint 26 or tape 27 is designed to luminesce for several hours after the paint or tape has been exposed to a light source, such as sunlight or an incandescent light bulb. In lieu of the Photoluminescent paint or tape, an electroluminescent panel 28 can be attached to the back sides 14,16,18 and 20 of a frame 12 that is also constructed of a translucent or transparent material 24. The electroluminescent panel 28 as shown in FIGURE 6, requires the application of an electrical power source 29, which allows the panel 28 to luminesce as long as power is applied. with the inclusion of the luminescent paint 26, tape 27 or the electroluminescent panel 28, the invention 10 is able to function as a night light or to add to the aesthetics of the basic design.

The second element of the combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure 10 is the overlapping back cover 30 which is preferably made of a thin rigid material such as cardboard or plastic. The cover 30 is comprised of: an outward panel 32, a center panel 34 and an inward panel 38 as shown in FIGURE 7. The outward panel 32, further consists of a first side 32A, a second side 32B, an upper edge 32C, a lower edge 32D, a first side, edge 32E, a second side edge 32F. The outward panel also has a first card cutout 32G therethrough and may also include a finger opening 32H centered at its upper edge 32C over the first photo cutout 32G. The opening allows a telephone card inserted into a card slot 44B described infra, to be easily removed.

The center panel 34 has a first side 34A, a second side 34B, an upper edge 34C, a lower edge 34D, a first side edge 34E, and a second side edge 34F. The first side edge 34E is integrally attached to the second side edge 32F of the outward panel 32 by a cover crease 36. The center panel further includes a second card cutout 34G therethrough that is in alignment with the first card cutout 32G when the outward panel 32 overlaps the center panel 34.

The inward panel 38 has a first side 38A, a second side 38B, an upper edge 38C, a lower edge 38D, a first side edge 38E and a second side edge 38F. The first side edge 38E is integrally attached to the second side edge 34F of the center panel 34 by a frame crease 40. The frame crease 40 is located adjacent to the outer edge 18A of the inward section 18 of the frame 12 and has its first side 38A attached to the back sides of said frame 12 by an attachment means that preferably consists of an adhesive. when so attached, the upper edge 38C of the inward panel 38 is in alignment with the upper edge 14A of the frame's upper section 14 and the lower edge 38D of the inward panel 38 is in alignment with the lower edge 16A of the frame's lower section 16.

To complete the structure of the overlapping back cover 30, a U-shaped card retainer 42 is employed. As shown best in FIGURES 7 and 8, the U-shaped card retainer 42 has a front side 42A, a back side 42B and an opening 420 having inner dimensions that exceed the dimensions of the first and second card cutouts 32G,34G. The photo retainer 42 as shown best in FIGURE 8, is attached with the upper edges 42D of its opening 42C adjacent the upper edge 340 of the center panel 34. The front side 42A is attached against the second side 34B of the center panel 34 by an attachment means which preferably consists of an adhesive.

As shown in FIGURE 9, when the outward panel 32 is folded at the cover crease 36, so that its second side 32B rests over the back side 42B of the card retainer 42, a composite card retaining section 44 is formed. The section 44 has a lower edge 44A and an upper card slot 44B into which is removably inserted and retained a telephone card that can be viewed from either side of the retaining section 44. To protect the telephone card, it may be enclosed in a protective transparent cover 25, as shown in FIGURE 1, before they are inserted into the photo slot 44B. Further, to provide additional protection, especially for valuable telephone cards, the transparent cover 25 may include a means for being hermetically sealed. Also, to enhance the aesthetics and/or to indicate the purpose of the invention 10, the composite card retaining section 44 can include on either side, a signature of the individual featured on the telephone card and other embellishment and/or indicia as shown in FIGURE 1.

The inward panel 38 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 8, is preferably sized to cover the entire back side of the frame 12 and be attached thereto by an attachment means, when so sized, the inward panel 38 functions as a frame backing. The inward panel may be attached thereto by an adhesive or by two other methods. The first method as shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, comprises a rigid channel 24. that is attached adjacent the upper edge 14A of the upper section 14, the lower edge 16A of the lower section 16 and to the outer edge 20A of the outer section 20 of the frame 12. when so attached, a channel opening 24A is created adjacent the outer edge 18A of the frame's inward section 18. This channel and opening allows the inward panel 38 to be inserted and held therein by friction.

The second inward panel 38 attachment method comprises, as shown in FIGURE 12, a male detent 20D located on at least two corners of the back side of said frame 12. To compliment the male detents, a female detent or bore 38G is located on at least two aligned corners of the inward panel 38. when the female detent or bore 38A are pressed into the corresponding male detents 20D, the inward panel 38 is attached to the frame 12.

in lieu of the full sized inward panel 38, as shown in FIGURE 9, the inward panel 38 may instead be sized to have a width 381 as shown in FIGURE 14, that is sized to fit and be attached only to the back side 180 of the inward section 18 of the frame 12 as shown in FIGURE 13 and 14. In this case, the inward panel would be preferably attached by means of an adhesive 38H. Also, to maintain the picture within the frame structure, two or three picture clips 38J as shown in FIGURE 13, may be attached to the back side sections of the frame 12.

The combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure 10 has provisions to allow it to be set upright on its edges, to be hung on a wall or propped-up by means of a stand.

To allow the combination 10 to be set upright on its edges, as shown in FIGURE 15, the composite photo retaining section 44 is angularly displaced by an angle 0 from the inward panel 38 attached to the frame 12. The lower edges 32D, 34D and 38D of the overlapping back cover 30 and the lower edge 16A of the frame 12 are then placed on a flat surface to allow the combination 10 to remain upright and viewed.

To allow the combination 10 to be hung on a wall, a grooved wall hanger 48 is utilized. The hanger 48 as shown in FIGURE 10 may be attached to the back side 140 of the upper section 14 of the frame 12. If the inward panel 38 completely covers the frame 12, the hanger 48 is attached to the outer surface of the panel 38 as shown in FIGURE 12. in either case, the hanger 48 allows the combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure 10 to be hung on a wall with the front side of the photo frame 12 and the first side of the card retaining section 44 exposed to a viewer.

To allow the combination 10 to be propped-up, a frame support hinge 50 is used. This hinge as shown in FIGURES 16 and 17, consists of a vertical member 50A and a horizontal member 500. The vertical member 50A consists of a lower edge 50B and has a length that is substantially equal to the length of the frame's lower section 16 as shown in FIGURE 16. The horizontal member 500 has an inward edge 50D that is frictionally hinged to the lower edge 50B of the vertical member 50A. The vertical member 50A is attached, by an attachment means, to the back side 16C of the frame's lower section 16, either directly to the frame or via the inward panel 38. when so attached, the horizontal member 50C can be angularly positioned and held there by friction, to allow the combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure 10 to be placed upon a flat surface, when the combination 10 is being stored or is in transport, the horizontal member 500 can be positioned upward, against the vertical member 50A as shown by the dashed lines in FIGURE 17. While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, in lieu of a telephone card, baseball and football trading cards as well as other types of similarly sized trading cards can be retained and displayed as described above. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLA I MS

1. A combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card structure comprising:

a) a photo frame having a front side, a back side, and means for having a photo or picture inserted and retained therein, b) an overlapping back cover comprising:

(1) an outward panel having a first side edge, a second side edge and a first card cutout therethrough,

(2) a center panel having a first side edge and a second side edge, where the first side edge is integrally attached to the second side edge of said outward panel, with said center panel further having a second card cutout therethrough that is in alignment with the first card cutout when said outward panel overlaps said center panel,

(3) an inward panel having a first side and a first side edge, where the first side edge is integrally attached to the second side edge of said center panel, and where the first side of said inward panel is attached to the back side of said photo frame by an attachment means, and

(4) a card retainer having inner dimensions that exceed the dimensions of the first and second card cutouts and that is attached by an attachment means, to said center panel, where when the outward panel is folded over said card retainer, a composite card retaining section is formed having an upper card slot into which is removably inserted and retained a telephone card that can be viewed from either side of said composite card retaining section.

2. A combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card structure comprising:

a) a photo frame having a lower edge, an inward section that includes a front side, a back side, an outer edge and a lower edge and means for having a photo or picture inserted and retained therein, b) an overlapping back cover comprising:

(1) an outward panel having a first side, a second side, a first side edge, a second side edge and a first card cutout therethrough,

(2) a center panel having a first side, a second side and a first side edge, where the first side edge is integrally attached to the second side edge of said outward panel by a cover crease, said center panel further having a second card cutout therethrough that is in alignment with the first card cutout when said outward panel overlaps said center panel,

(3) an inward panel having a first side and a first side edge, where the first side edge is integrally attached to the second side edge of said center panel by a frame crease that is located adjacent the outer edge of said photo frame's inward section, where the first side of said inward panel is attached to the back side of said photo frame by an attachment means, and,

(4) a card retainer having inner dimensions that exceed the dimensions of the first and second card cutouts and that is attached by an attachment means, to the second side of the center panel, where when the outward panel is folded over the cover crease and its second side is attached to the card retainer by an attachment means, a composite card retaining section is formed having a lower edge and an upper card slot into which is removably inserted and retained a telephone card that can be viewed from either side of the composite card retaining section, where when the composite card retaining section is angularly displaced from said photo frame, the respective lower edges of said card retaining section and said photo frame may be placed upon a flat surface to allow said photo frame and telephone card inserted into said composite retaining structure to remain upright and viewed.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said overlapping back cover is made of a thin rigid material.

4. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said inward panel attachment means comprises an adhesive.

5. The combination as specified in claim 2 further comprising a frame support hinge comprising:

a) a vertical member having a lower edge and a length substantially equal to the length of said photo frame's lower section, and

b) a horizontal member having an inward edge that is frictionally hinged to the lower edge of the vertical member, where when the vertical member is attached by an attachment means, to the back side of said photo frame's lower section, the horizontal member can be angularly positioned to allow said photo frame and said composite card retaining section to be placed upon a flat surface, and when said combination is being stored or is in transport, the horizontal member can be positioned upward, against the vertical member.

6. The combination as specified in claim 2 further comprising a protective translucent material inserted into said photo frame prior to the insertion of a photo.

7. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said composite card section can include on either side, embellishment and indicia that indicates the purpose of said combination.

8. The combination as specified in claim 7 wherein said indicia comprises a signature of the person portrayed on said telephone card.

9. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said combination further comprises a non-functional telephone card that is inserted into the card slot on said composite card retaining section when a functional telephone card is removed for use.

10. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said combination further comprises a non-functional telephone card that is inserted into the card slot on said composite card retaining structure together with a functional telephone card, thus, when said functional telephone card is removed for use, the non-functional card remains in place and can be viewed.

11. A photo frame combination and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure comprising:

a) a photo frame comprising an upper section having an upper edge, a front side and a back side; a lower section having a lower edge, a front side and a back side; an inward section having an outer edge, a front side and a back side and an outward section having an outer edge, a front side and a back side, from where the back sides of said photo frame is formed a perimeter step area that allows a photo to be inserted and retained therein by a photo retaining means,

b) an overlapping back cover comprising:

(1) an outward panel having a first side, a second side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, a second side edge and a first card cutout therethrough,

(2) a center panel having a first side, a second side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, where the first side edge is integrally attached to the second side edge of said outward panel by a cover crease, with said center panel further having a second card cutout therethrough that is in alignment with the first card cutout when said outward panel overlaps said center panel,

(3) an inward panel having a first side, a second side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, where the first side edge is integrally attached to the second side edge of said center panel by a cover crease that is located adjacent the outer edge of the inward section of said photo frame and having its first side attached to the back side of said photo frame by an attachment means, where when so attached, the upper edge of said inward panel is in alignment with the upper edge of said photo frame's upper section and the lower edge of said inward panel is in alignment with the lower edge of said photo frame's lower section, and

(4) a U-shaped card retainer having a front side, a back side and an opening having inner dimensions that exceed the dimensions of the first and second card cutouts, where the retainer is attached with the edges of its opening adjacent the upper edge of said center panel and with its front side attached against the second side of said center panel, where when the outward panel is folded at the cover crease, so that its second side rests over the back side of the photo retainer, a composite card retaining section is formed having a lower edge and an upper card slot into which is removably inserted and retained a telephone card that can be viewed from either side of the card retaining section, where when the composite card retaining section is angularly displaced by an angle ∅ from the outward section of said photo frame, and the lower edges of the card retaining section and said photo frame are placed upon a flat surface, said combination photo frame and telephone prepaid calling card retaining structure remains upright and can be viewed.

12. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said overlapping back cover is made of a thin rigid material.

13. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said outer panel further having a finger opening centered at its upper edge over the first card cutout, where said opening allows a telephone card inserted into the card slot to be easily removed.

14. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said inward panel is sized to cover the entire back sides of said photo frame and be attached thereto by an attachment means, to allow said inward panel to function as a frame backing.

15. The combination as specified in claim 14 wherein said inward panel attachment means comprises a rigid channel attached adjacent the upper edge of the upper section, the lower edge of the lower section and to the outer edge of the outer section of said photo frame, where when so attached, a channel opening is created adjacent the outer edge of the inner section of said frame that allows said inward panel to be inserted and held therein by friction.

16. The combination as specified in claim 14 wherein said inward panel attachment means comprises:

a) a male detent located on at least two corners of the back side of said photo frame, and

b) a female detent or bore located on at least two aligned corners of the first 5 ide of said inward panel, where when the female detent or bores are pressed into the corresponding male detents, the inward panel is attached to said photo frame.

17. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said inward panel has a width equal to the width of said frame's inward section and is attached to the backside of the inward section by means of an adhesive.

18. The combination as specified in claim 11 further comprising a grooved wall hanger attached to the back side of the upper section of said photo frame, where said hanger allows said combination to be hung on a wall with the front side of the photo frame and the first side of the card retaining section exposed to a viewer.

19. The combination as specified in claim 11 further comprising a frame support hinge comprising:

b) a horizontal member having an inward edge that is frictionally hinged to the lower edge of the vertical member, where when the vertical member is attached by an attachment means, to the back side of said photo frame's lower section, the horizontal member can be angularly positioned and held by friction to allow said combination to be placed upon a flat surface, and when said combination is being stored or is in transport, the horizontal member can be positioned upward, against the vertical member.

20. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said means for attaching the photo retainer to the second side of the center panel of said frame comprises an adhesive.

21. The combination as specified in claim 11 further comprising a translucent material placed into the perimeter step area of said frame prior to the insertion of a photo.

22. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein the first and second card cutouts and the card retainer are sized to allow a telephone card to be inserted into the card slot in the composite card section, which allows both the front and back of the telephone card to be viewed.

23. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said telephone card is enclosed in a protective transparent cover before insertion into the photo slot.

24. The combination as specified in claim 23 wherein said transparent cover has means for being hermetically sealed.

25. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein the perimeter step area of said photo frame is sized to allow a photo complimentary to the telephone card to be inserted and viewed.

26. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein the composite card section can include on either side embellishment and indicia that indicates the purpose of said combination.

27. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein the front sides of said photo frame are painted with a photoluminescent paint that luminesces for several hours after said painted photo frame is exposed to a light source, where said photoluminescent paint allows said photo frame to function as a night light.

28. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said photo frame sections are made of a translucent or transparent material, where to the back side of said photo frame sections is attached an electroluminescent tape that luminesces for several hours after said tape has been exposed to a light source, where said luminescent tape allows said photo frame to function as a night light.

29. The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said frame sections are made of a translucent or transparent material, where to the back side of said Photo frame sections is attached an electroluminescent panel that luminesces when said panel is connected to an electrical power source, where said luminescent panel allows said photo frame to function as a night light.