Patent Application
20110305854
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to visual displays, and, more particularly, relates to decorative frames for displaying artifacts such as photographs, artwork, etc., in which the display is constructed to accommodate decorative material to be associated with an ornament the display itself.
2. Background Art
Numerous displays have been proposed the purpose of which is to prominently display artifacts of significance such as photographs, artwork, collectibles, antiques, and the like. Typical displays comprise a frame having means associated therewith for displaying an artifact. The most commons such display is the well-known picture frame. modified forms of this basic display have also been proposed in a wide variety of configurations, some of which permit the placement of ornamental matter around the periphery of the display such as that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 83,797 to Schmitt, 5,174,054 to Politi, 5,197,213 and 5,335,433 to Borden, 6,510,613 to Baggarly and 6,510,638 to Wang. All of the aforementioned patents disclose picture display frames having rectangular or curved hollow frame members adapted to receive decorative material to accentuate the appearance of the display. These displays have an open area in the centers thereof for mounting and display of photographs or other articles.
None of the above-referenced patents disclose, however, an artifact display which can be completely filed with ornamental material so as to completely surround the displayed artifact. The displays of the above cited patents are relatively complex in their construction, adding unnecessarily to the cost thereof. In addition, they also require the type of time-consuming effort to arrange the displayed material that often tends to cause the owner thereof to avoid maintaining or changing the ornamental material, which detracts from the utility of the display.
None of the above-referenced inventions and patent taken either alone or in combination, teaches, suggests or describes the instant invention as claimed.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an artifact frame comprised of a hollow container bordered on front, rear, left and right sides and bottom to define an interior cavity into which can be placed ornamental material. On the front or back panel, or side or bottom panels, the artifact to be displayed may be mounted. Any number of mounting configurations are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. A top panel may also provided, which may be partially or totally removable to permit access to the interior cavity for the mounting of the artifact and placement of the ornamental material.
It is an object of this invention to provide an artifact display which is easy and inexpensive to construct and which permits the display of the artifact and surrounding ornamental material.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an artifact display which is very simple to manipulate and maintain.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an artifact display which can be used to prominently display an artifact and associated ornamental material to create a striking visual impression.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments of the present invention. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause or result in such benefits, advantages, or solutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of structural components and use steps related to an artifact display Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. The terms “front”, “side”, “rear”, “top” and “bottom” are merely used for expediency. The actual orientation of such panels is subject to the perspective and frame of reference of the viewer.
Front panel 12 is preferably manufactured of a clear material such as glass, Lexan®, Lucite® or any of the other polycarbonate resin thermoplastics or transparent thermoplastics such as acrylic glass, acrylic perspex or plexiglass, or any other transparent material. Optionally, right and left side panels 16, 18, rear panel 14, top panel 20 and bottom panel 26 may be made of such material as well, or may be translucent or opaque.
In the embodiment shown in
An artifact retention member is employed in association with the inner surface of front panel 12, such as spring clip 30. Clip 30 is rigidly connected to the interior surface of front panel 12, as, for example, along a connection surface 31. Clip 30 may be made of any suitable material, such as spring steel, aluminum, plastic (including Lexan®, Lucite®) or any of the other resin-based materials available. Clip 30 may be connected to front panel 12 by mechanical fasteners such as rivets, screws, adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or any other fastening arrangement known to those in the art. Alternatively or additionally, clip 30 may be connected to rear panel 14 or side panels 16, 18.
An artifact A, such as a sheet of paper bearing a photograph, artwork, greeting, message or the like, or any artifact which the user desires to display within display 10, such as an antique or piece of jewelry, may be placed between clip 30 and the inner surface of front panel 12. The proximity of clip 30 to the interior surface of front panel 12 retains artifact A against or in close proximity to the interior surface of front panel 12 to maximize the visibility thereof.
Once artifact A is positioned within clip 30 as shown in
In order to change the appearance of display 10, all that need be done is to open or remove top panel 20 (if present), remove the decorative material, preferably by simply inverting display 10 and pouring the decorative material out, removing existing artifact A, inserting a different artifact into clip 30, re-introducing decorative material of any type into cavity 28 and closing top panel 20 (if present). In this way, an entirely new decorative artifact display is achieved.
Referring now to
As stated previously, decorative material may be placed within cavity 28 after artifact A is inserted in sleeve S. Seam 91 may be colored so as to accentuate and/or outline the artifact.
It will be appreciated that, as top panel 20 may be associated with display 10 in any manner which will occur to those of skill in the art, a slideably, removably connected top panel 20 may be employed, as shown in
It is to understood that the rectangular shape of the display 10 shown herein is intended as a mere example. The display 10 may be provided in any shape, such as circular, oval, elliptical, heart-shaped, triangular, etc., any shape being considered within the scope of the invention.
The embodiments shown in the present disclosure are intended to be nearly exemplary, and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations and/or modifications thereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.
