This application claims priority based on request GB1407108.8 filed Apr. 22, 2014
The present invention relates generally to decorative elements but more particularly to decorative translucent panels.
Stained glass windows have been used since the middle ages. Today, they are still being made but are quite expensive. Cheaper alternatives have been developed which used special plastics or paints of various fluidity, textures and colors to reproduce the lead lines and colored glass. Still, these methods involve coloring the sheet glass in a window which makes it hard to clean. Moreover, once done, the stained glass is a rather permanent fixture which is hard to undo, should one change his mind about the looks or the size. There has to be a better way to recreate the feel and look of stained glass.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:
To provide for a stained glass alternative for creating decorative translucent panels.
In order to do so, the invention comprises a rectangular frame member including a rectangular front portion and a rectangular rear portion, each of the front and rear portions having an L-shaped stub extending along a length of a bottom edge thereof, and a channel extending along a length of a top edge thereof, such that when the front and rear portions are placed together the L-shaped stubs form a T-shaped connecting portion and the channels form a frame channel connecting portion. A translucent panel adapted to be slid through a slit opening formed between the top edges of the front and rear portions and held therebetween; an elongated bottom connecting member including a channel in a top portion thereof having a C-shaped cross section and adapted to frictionally slide over the T-shaped connecting portion and hold the front and rear portions firmly together along their bottom edges, and an elongated top connecting member including an elongated top portion and an elongated lower portion having a T-shaped cross section, such that the top connecting portion is adapted to frictionally slide along the top surface of the front and rear top portions and frictionally slide into the channel connecting portion to thereby hold the front and rear portions firmly together along their top edges, and wherein the top connecting member further includes an attachment portion adapted to releasably connect the decorative panel to a support member and held in place within a structural opening.
The attachment portion is formed as an elongated transverse member and includes at least one mechanical fastener adapted to extend through the transverse member and into the support member of the structural opening.
The attachment portion is formed as a ball joint member positioned at an upper center point of the top connecting member, such that the decorative panel can be held in a balanced and stable manner therefrom, and wherein the decorative panel can be rotated around a vertical axis through the ball joint member, and wherein the decorative panel further includes a hanging bracket adapted to releasably attach the decorative panel to the support member. The hanging bracket comprising a rectangular central panel, an elongated loop portion connected along a top edge of the rectangular panel, and an elongated bottom portion having a T-shaped cross section attached to a lower edge of the rectangular panel; and an elongated intermediate connecting member having a T-shaped channel within an upper half thereof adapted to frictionally receive and hold the T-shaped bottom portion of the hanging bracket therein, and an elongated split tubular channel within a lower half thereof adapted to receive and hold the ball joint member therein and thereby the frame member therefrom, such that the frame member can be hung from the support member and rotated in front of the structural opening.
Both vertical sides of the frame member include a magnetic member adapted to releasably attach to a magnetic member of an additional adjacent frame member.
The elongated bottom connecting member further includes a second channel in a bottom portion thereof having a C-shaped cross section and facing in the opposite direction of the channel in the top portion thereof. A first hanging bracket adapted to releasably attach the decorative panel on a first side to a first vertical support member, the first hanging bracket comprising a rectangular central panel, an elongated loop portion connected along a top edge of the rectangular panel and adapted to be releasably attached to the first vertical support member, and an elongated bottom portion having a T-shaped cross section attached to a lower edge of the rectangular panel, such that the bottom portion is adapted to be frictionally receive and held within the second channel of the bottom portion of the bottom connecting member, and a second hanging bracket adapted to releasably attach to the decorative panel on a second side opposite from the first side and to a second vertical support member, the second hanging bracket comprising a rectangular central panel, an elongated loop portion connected along a top edge of the rectangular panel and adapted to be releasably attached to the second vertical support member, and an elongated bottom portion having a T-shaped cross section attached to a lower edge of the rectangular panel and adapted to be frictionally received and held by the attachment portion of the top connecting member. The attachment portion of the top connecting member is formed having a C-shaped cross section that is adapted to frictionally receive the T-shaped bottom portion of the second hanging bracket, such that the decorative panel can be suspended horizontally from between the first and second vertical support members.
The translucent panel is formed as a double glazed panel having a space between two glass sheet; and further includes a strip of LED lights positioned in between the glass sheets and extending around and adjacent an inner perimeter formed by the frame member, and further includes a power cord extending from the strip of LED lights, through the frame member, and extending outwardly therefrom, such that the strip of LED lights can be used to light up the decorative panel.
The panels can be combined in various ways so as to create a system of panels including displayed in a horizontal fashion from a pair of vertical pole members.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
a-b Exploded view and detail of glass holding frame member.
a-b Isometric views showing the insertion of a joining panel.
A decorative translucent panel (10) consists in one or more frame members (12), each holding a piece of decorative glass (14). Each frame has a front portion (16), and a rear portion (18). The two portions (16, 18) are connected together by press fit or by an adhesive mean. Moreover, a bottom connecting member (20), and a top connecting member (24) also serve as connector. The glass (14) is slid between the two portions (16, 18)—before inserting a top connecting member (24)—through a slit opening (13) defined by a gap between the top section of the two portions (16, 18). Magnets (15) are used for connecting panels side by side as per
The bottom connecting member (20) is generally “C” shaped so that a channel (23) is created to receive “L” shaped stubs (25) extending integrally from a bottom section of the front and rear portions (16, 18). Together, the “L” shaped stubs create an inverted “T” which is shaped complementarily from the channel (23). so that a tight fit is created. Similarly, the top connecting member (24) engages the upper part of the frame member (12) with an inverted “T” shape connecting portion which engages a frame channel (26) created when the front and rear portions (16, 18) are joined.
It is important to note that the size and shape of the channels (22, 26) is the same and that both “T” shapes as created by the frame (12) or the top connecting member (20) are also the same shape and size so that there is interchangeability. For example, as seen in
In order to hang a frame (12), at least one of a variety of hardware piece can be used. For example, a hanging bracket (28) (whether long as in
Another way is by using a transverse member (36) which is mechanically fastened to a vertical surface, such as a wall (38) and having the ubiquitous inverted “T” forming part of its design.
Alternatively, as seen more particularly in
The hanging bracket (28) can also be used in a horizontal fashion as seen in
In one variant of the frame (12), one or more strips of LEDs (46) are inserted in a glass holding frame member (48) which substitutes for the decorative glass (14). In this case, double glazing is used, i. e. two sheets of glass (14) are used so that the LED lights (46) are placed thereinbetween so that the frame (12) can glow in the dark. When using two pieces of glass (14) only one need be colored, although both can be. A power cord (50) (or batteries) provides power. LED technology and wiring are known in the art and need not be further discussed.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1407108.8 | Apr 2014 | GB | national |