Frame

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6293038
  • Patent Number
    6,293,038
  • Date Filed
    Friday, July 23, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 25, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A frame system for holding a normally flat picture and bending it into a concavo-convex shape for adding a three dimensional effect and/or eye movement effect to its display. This concavo-convex shape can be created by either urging the picture toward a pre-curved transparent plate or placing the picture in a pre-curved holder. In this frame system an arch-shaped void space is provided for housing a complementary three dimensional article and/or reinforced picture supported by magnetic means. A top edge glass and bottom edge glass are placed in the present frame system perpendicular to the pre-curved transparent plate. A top edge picture sheet and bottom edge picture sheet can be displayed through said top edge glass and bottom edge glass, respectively, for complementing the main picture on display, and for creating a 3D feeling toward the main picture in the mind of the viewer. Pre-curved backing plate with adhesive and pre-curved mat sheet provide 3D space needed for the display of fabric art, relief arts or any 3D object in the present frame system.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates in general to vertically positionable calendars. Such calendars can either be vertically mountable on a wall or nearly vertically positionable on a table. This invention also relates to frames in general, and more specifically relates to frames for mounting calendars.




Most conventional calendars consist of a stack of calendar sheets in either loose or book forms. Each of these calendar sheets typically contains a calendar date table illustration and a calendar picture illustration. It is often desirable to display the calendar picture illustration in a suitable frame to enhance its aesthetic value. However, framing of a vertically positionable calendar is not generally done because there is no desirable way to frame the calendar picture illustration while exposing the calendar date table illustration for memorandum writing and date checking.




For a typical calendar, the calendar picture to be displayed are limited by the pictures selected by the calendar manufacturer. It is sometimes desirable that the displayed calendar picture be temporarily replaced by a custom picture. There is no calendar system in the prior art that can alternately display a calendar picture and a custom picture in a desirable manner.




U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,038,666 and 2,179,857 describe a calendar pad attached to a conventional picture frame. In this prior art the calendar pad does not have calendar pictures displayable in the picture frame. The picture frame serves as nothing more than a holder for the calendar pad.




For a large wall-mounted calendar the frame assembly to be chosen for the display of the calendar is unavoidably large and heavy. It is desirable for such frame calendars that the change of the calendar display can be achieved without taking down the frame from the mounting wall. No frame assembly known in the prior art can be adapted for such use without the need of taking down the frame during the calendar display changes.




It is desirable that the appearance of a calendar frame or picture frame be changeable to complement the picture on display. No frame system in the prior art is capable of changing the appearance of its frame in easy and desirable manner.




Display cases are generally known in the prior art for the display of collectable articles such as coins, sea shells, etc. It is often desirable that a background picture or narrative sheet be displayed along with the articles on display. This is difficult for most display cases since they are generally incapable of removably mounting a picture sheet. On the other hand, no picture frame known in the prior art is equipped with desirable support structure for the simultaneous display of the collectable articles and background pictures.




Most conventional picture frames basically allow a picture to be displayed as it is. It would be desirable to provide a picture frame that could add some 3D effect to a mounted picture. This 3D effect is absent if the picture is viewed by itself without the frame.




It would also be desirable to provide a picture frame which, in addition to displaying a main picture, could also display one or more complementary pictures that would create a 3D feeling toward the main picture in the mind of a viewer. Such 3D feeling is absent if the main picture is viewed by itself without the frame, with or without said complementary pictures placed on the side of the main picture.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In the present invention a frame calendar is disclosed in which the frame is an integral part of the calendar. The calendar also includes a stack of calendar sheets with each one having a calendar picture illustration and a calendar date table illustration. All calendar sheets are mounted on the frame with one calendar picture illustration in view through the window of the frame and one calendar date table illustration exposed outside the frame.




Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to provide a frame calendar which elegantly displays each calendar picture in a frame. It greatly enhances the aesthetic value of the calendar picture on display. In the mean time the calendar date table on display is exposed outside of the frame to facilitate memorandum writing and calendar date checking without disassembling the frame.




In the present frame calendar system a custom picture can be placed in the frame and be displayed in lieu of the calendar picture. One is no longer limited by the pictures selected by the calendar manufacturer. The picture chosen for display can also be changed as frequently as desired. After the end of the calendar year with the removal of the calendar sheets the present system is readily converted to a picture frame/storage device and used indefinitely for storing and displaying custom pictures. The calendar pictures can also be separated from the calendar date tables and stored in the frame for future display if desired.




In the present invention an one-piece molded back member with resilient arms is disclosed. It greatly eases the effort in loading and unloading the calendar sheets and custom pictures. Two insertion tabs and a spring clip on the back member allow each loading or unloading to be achieved in two simple steps. After each loading the resilient arms of the back member are in engagement with the corners of the stack of the calendar sheets/custom pictures. It allows the calendar sheets/custom pictures to be properly stored and displayed regardless of the number of sheets mounted up to the capacity of the frame.




The frame of the present invention can have a frame border which is molded to form some carved art pattern with many openings. A stack of border sheets with different contrasting colors can be loaded behind the frame border. The first border sheet of the stack will be partially visible through the openings. This allows the appearance of the frame to be easily changed. The top border sheet on display can therefore be chosen to complement the calendar picture or custom picture on display.




Alternatively, the frame border of the present invention can also have a border window. A stack of border sheets with different printed graphic patterns can therefore be loaded with the top sheet displayed through the border window. More variation of the appearance of the frame can be achieved in this design. A border mat with an intricate laser-cut pattern coupled with one or more matching border sheets as disclosed in the present invention would make the appearance of the frame and its variation even more interesting.




In addition to a stationary window glass a second window glass is also provided in the frame of the present invention. Unsymmetrical tabs on the sides of this second window glass are engageable with many grooves having different depths on the inner side wall of the frame. This allows the second window glass to be stopped at four different depths while mounted, depending on the orientation of the entry of the second window glass. Consequently, a void space with adjustable depth is created between the stationary window glass and the second window glass.




The newly created space will allow dried flowers, reinforced laser-cut pictures, etc., to be installed and displayed. In the mean time, a complementary calendar sheet or custom picture is also mounted behind the second window glass and displayed. This creates a vivid and interesting three dimensional display. The changing of the calendar sheet/custom picture for display can be achieved without affecting the articles mounted in the front of the second window glass.




Small collectable articles such as coins, sea shells, etc., can also be mounted in the space between the stationary window glass and the second window glass. This is achieved with support members of the present invention. Support building blocks, support building plates and other support members can be assembled into support assemblies with different shapes and complexities for the support and display of small collectable articles. One other novel support member with a magnetic plate is also disclosed. This support member is designed to be individually mounted in the frame assembly for supporting an article on display. This support member is magnetically held in place and will not easily slide down under load.




A frame assembly of the present invention can also be equipped with a support base for the support of assembled toy building blocks. This allows the display of the assembled toy building blocks to be accompanied by a complementary custom picture or calendar picture. Paper toy figures with novel attachment members of the present invention can also be added to make the overall display much more interesting.




A large wall-mounted frame calendar is unavoidably bulky and heavy. Several embodiments of the frame calendar of the present invention enable such large calendar/custom pictures to be loaded and unloaded without taking down the frame assembly from the wall. The frame body of the frame assembly swings open horizontally. It requires no lifting or holding of the heavy frame body during the loading or unloading operation.




Also disclosed in the present invention is a frame system for holding a normally flat picture and bending it into an one dimensional concavo-convex shape for adding a three dimensional effect and/or eye movement effect to its display. This one dimensional concavo-convex shape can be created by either urging the picture toward a pre-curved transparent plate or placing the picture in a pre-curved holder. In this frame system an arch-shaped void space is provided for housing a complementary three dimensional article and/or reinforced picture supported by magnetic means. A top edge glass and bottom edge glass are placed in the present frame system perpendicular to the pre-curved transparent plate. A top edge picture sheet and bottom edge picture sheet can be displayed through said top edge glass and bottom edge glass, respectively, for complementing the main picture on display, and for creating a 3D feeling toward the main picture in the mind of the viewer. Pre-curved backing plate with adhesive and pre-curved mat sheet provide 3D space needed for the display of fabric art, relief arts or any 3D object in the present frame system.




Other objects and advantages of this invention reside in the construction of parts and the combination thereof, the mode of operation and use, as will become more apparent from the following description.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing a frame calendar system of the present invention, with parts broken away. The frame calendar is shown disassembled to reveal the details of each component.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention, with parts broken away.





FIG. 3

is a perspective view showing a spring plate used in the frame calendar system of FIG.


2


.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention, with parts broken away.





FIG. 5

is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the frame calendar system of

FIG. 4

after assembling, taken substantially on a horizontal plane containing the line


5





5


of FIG.


4


.





FIG. 6

is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention, with parts broken away.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention, with parts broken away.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view showing an inner side wall of the frame calendar system of

FIG. 7

, shown in section and drawn on a larger scale than FIG.


7


. This view shows the engagement of a second window glass with the inner side wall of the frame body of FIG.


7


.





FIG. 9

is a fragmentary perspective view showing one variation of the frame body of FIG.


7


.





FIG. 10

is a fragmentary perspective view showing another variation of the frame body of FIG.


7


.





FIG. 11

is a fragmentary perspective view showing a border glass of the frame body of FIG.


10


.





FIG. 12

is a fragmentary perspective view showing yet another variation of the frame body of FIG.


7


.





FIG. 13

is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention, with parts broken away. A support base shown in this figure is drawn on a larger scale than the rest of the frame calendar system.





FIG. 14

is a perspective view showing a portion of a frame assembly of

FIG. 13

, drawn on a larger scale than

FIG. 13

, illustrating the use of a support base for supporting a dried flower for display in the frame assembly.





FIG. 15

is a perspective view showing a portion of a frame assembly of the present invention, illustrating the use of a support base for supporting a reinforced laser-cut picture mounted in the frame assembly.





FIG. 16

is an elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the support base of the present invention, for the support and display of an assembled toy horse.





FIG. 17

is a perspective view showing a portion of the support base of

FIG. 16

, with two mounted toy building blocks.





FIGS. 18 and 19

are perspective views showing the two toy building blocks of FIG.


17


.





FIG. 20

is an elevational view showing a paper toy figure supported on the toy horse of FIG.


16


.





FIG. 21

is a perspective view showing a portion of an attachment member of the paper toy figure of

FIG. 20

, to be engaged with a toy building block of the toy horse of FIG.


20


.





FIG. 22

is an elevational view showing a seventh embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. Also shown in this figure is a support assembly of the present invention for the support of small articles in the frame assembly of the present frame calendar system.





FIG. 23

is a top view showing a portion of a support building plate of the support assembly of FIG.


22


.





FIGS. 24 and 25

are sectional views of the support building plate of

FIG. 23

, taken substantially on lines


24





24


and


25





25


of

FIG. 23

, respectively.





FIG. 26

is a perspective view showing an eighth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention.





FIG. 27

is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the frame calendar system of

FIG. 26

after assembling, taken substantially on a vertical plane containing the line 27—27 of FIG.


26


.





FIG. 28

is a perspective view showing a small figurine, drawn on enlarged scale, resembling an eagle.





FIG. 29

is a perspective view showing a support member with six suction cups for the support of small articles to be displayed in the frame assembly of the present invention.





FIG. 30

is a perspective view showing a ninth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention.





FIG. 31

is a perspective view showing the back side of a frame of the frame calendar system of

FIG. 30

, in the open position.





FIG. 32

is a perspective view showing a calendar sheet assembly of the frame calendar system of FIG.


30


.





FIG. 33

is a perspective view showing the calendar sheet assembly of

FIG. 32

, disassembled to show its details.





FIG. 34

is a perspective view showing a border backing plate of the present invention.





FIG. 35

is a perspective view showing a tenth embodiment of the frame system of the present invention.





FIG. 36

is a perspective view showing a front body that can be hinged on the frame system in FIG.


35


.





FIG. 37

is a perspective view showing a new reinforcement sheet.





FIG. 38

shows an assembled frame system of the present invention.





FIG. 39

shows another assembled frame system of the present invention.





FIG. 40

is a schematic drawing explaining an eye movement effect of the present frame system.





FIG. 41

is a perspective view showing a novel holder of the present invention.





FIG. 42

is a perspective view showing another novel holder of the present invention.





FIG. 43

is a perspective view showing edge glasses and edge sheets of the present invention.





FIG. 44

shows a picture sheet and two edge sheets for display in the 3D frame of the present invention.





FIGS. 45



a


and


45




b


show two examples indicating that both edge sheets and the main picture can be taken from a single original picture to produce a wrap-around effect.





FIG. 46

shows a 3-piece mat set mountable in the 3D frame of the present invention.





FIG. 47

shows a 3D frame with a pre-curved mat plate for holding a three dimensional article.





FIG. 48

shows a pre-curved backing plate with double sided adhesive for holding a fabric art.





FIG. 49

shows a pre-curved backing plate with double sided adhesive for holding a mesh screen.





FIG. 50

shows the schematics of a 3D frame for the explanation of the curvature radius(R), curve height (CH), and minimum depth (Dmin) of the frame rabbit as a function of the frame width (W).





FIG. 51

is a perspective view, showing a fastening means for the 3D Frame of the present invention.





FIGS. 52



a


and


52




b


are schematic drawings showing a flexible pre-curved glass and the adjustment of its curvature radius (R).





FIG. 53

is a perspective view, showing a preview frame which allows a picture to be viewed for its eye movement effect and 3D effect.





FIG. 54

is a perspective view, showing the back side of a 3D frame with internal lighting system.





FIG. 55

shows the schematics of an improved heat forming unit for making the pre-curved glasses and backing plates of the present invention.















REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS












FIG. 1















50




frame body




52




glass






54




calendar sheet




56




calendar sheet






58




calendar sheet




60




calendar sheet






62




back member




64




elastic band






65




frame assembly




66




custom picture sheet






68




custom picture sheet




70




custom picture sheet






72




frame window




74




back surface






76




rabbet




80




top wall






82




side wall




84




side wall






86




top studs




90




side studs






92




bottom studs




96




calendar picture









illustration






98




calendar date table




100




perforation line







illustration








102




holes




104




holes






106




bottom edge














FIGS. 2-3















120




calendar sheet




122




calendar sheet






124




calendar sheet




126




frame assembly






128




back casing




130




frame body






132




mounting holes




134




hinges






136




latch




138




catch






139




frame window




140




glass






142




side studs




144




bottom studs






146




custom picture sheet




148




custom picture sheet






150




back member




152




holes






154




wire guard




156




catch






157




dash line




158




spring plate






160




horizontal arms




162




vertical arms






164




groove




166




breakaway section






168




second window




170




tray






172




thumb notch




174




notch






176




light adhesive














FIGS. 4-5















200




frame assembly




202




back casing






204




framebody




206




frame window






208




mounting hole




210




hinges






212




latch




214




catch






216




back member




218




calendar sheet






220




custom picture sheet




222




custom picture sheet






224




glass




226




spring wire






227




wire legs




228




fasteners






230




fasteners




232




top stud






234




side studs




236




bottom studs






238




top slot




240




side slots






242




bottom slots




244




rail guard






246




horizontal section




248




side section






250




end elbow




252




leg






254




dash line




256




stops






258




dash line




260




breakaway section






262




indentation line














FIG. 6















302




frame assembly




304




frame body






306




back casing




307




frame window






308




glass




310




top wall






312




side walls




314




hinges






316




spring leaf




318




steps






320




custom picture sheet




321




bottom edge






322




breakaway section




324




second window






326




bottom plate




327




notch






328




calendar sheet




329




bottom edge






330




clamp




332




bars






334




clearance opening




336




mounting hole






338




calendar sheet




340




calendar book






342




back board




344




tabs












FIGS. 7-8















401




frame assembly




402




frame body






404




border sheet




406




border sheet






408




first window glass




410




second window glass






411




back member




412




custom picture sheet






414




calendar




417




frame window






418




outer wall




419




top wall






420




side walls




422




bottom walls






423




inner partitioning wall




424




inner top wall






426




inner side wall




427




inner side wall






428




inner bottom wall




430




slot hole on bottom wall






432




slot hole on top wall




434




counter recess






440




calendar page




442




calendar page






443




upper stack




444




lower stack






445




binding loops




446




holes






448




lips




449




steps






450




outer portion




452




center portion






454




top wall




456




side walls






457




mounting hole




458




arms






459




end portion




461




tabs






462




spring clip




464




tooth






466




bent end




468




opening gap






469




opening gap




470




tab






471




tab




472




tab






473




tab on second window









glass 410








475




counter step




477




groove






478




groove




479




groove






480




groove




481




groove






482




groove




483




groove






484




groove




485




groove






486




groove




487




groove






488




groove




489




groove






490




groove




491




groove






492




groove




494




frame border






495




openings (miniature









border windows)














FIGS. 9-12















502




frame body




504




outer wall






506




inner partitioning wall




508




frame border






510




frame window




512




top border window






514




side border windows




516




bottom border window






520




frame body




522




outer frame






524




inner frame




526




outer wall






528




outer frame flange




530




studs






532




inner partitioning wall




534




inner frame flange






536




studs




538




frame window






540




border glass




542




holes






550




frame body




552




center display glass






554




border display glass




556




partitioning wall












FIG. 13















600




frame assembly




602




frame body






604




glass




606




border sheet






607




border mat




608




back member






610




support base




612




custom picture sheet






614




calendar sheet




616




outer frame






618




inner frame








620




combined window/




622




holes







border glass








624




top outer wall




626




side outer walls






628




stud




630




stud






632




stud




634




stud






636




frame window




638




frame window glass portion






640




border glass portion




642




connection portions






644




tabs




646




mat openings






648




calendar openings




650




perforation line






652




border section




654




calendar picture section






656




perforation lines




660




resilient arm






661




resilient arm




662




resilient arm






663




resilient arm




664




tabs






666




slot openings




668




spring clip






670




tooth




672




bent end






674




slot hole




676




mounting holes






678




sprint leaf




680




easel plate






682




easel arms




684




slots






686




narrow sections




688




horizontal grooves






689




end insert




690




slot






692




holes




694




opening






696




runners




698




opening recess












FIGS. 14-15















700




dried flower




710




frame assembly






712




front window glass




714




back window glass






716




reinforced picture




718




reinforcement board






720




photograph




722




support base






724




slot














FIGS. 16-21















730




support base




731




frame body, not shown






732




toy building block assembly




734




first toy building block






735




second toy building block




736




top wall






738




side walls




740




cylinder studs






742




internal stud




744




cylinder studs






748




top wall




750




side walls






752




cylinder studs




754




internal stud






756




bottom toy building block




760




paper toy figure






762




first half




764




second half






765




crease line




766




attachment member






768




attachment member




770




boy's hand






772




coat




774




holes






776




toy building block




778




cylinder studs






782




cylinder studs




784




block












FIGS. 22-25















800




frame assembly




802




frame body






804




frame border




806




frame window






808




top border window




810




side border window






812




bottom border window




814




corner border windows






816




outer wall, not shown








818




inner partitioning wall,









not shown








820




border glass








822




border sheet




824




first window glass






826




second window glass




828




counter step, not shown






830




inner bottom walls, not shown




832




horizontal groove,









not shown






834




support base, not shown




836




cylinder studs, not shown






838




support assembly




840




rigid support members






842




support building blocks




844




support building plates






846




miniature table




848




cylinder studs, not shown






850




internal stud, not shown




851




top wall






852




side wall




854




top cylinder studs






856




bottom cylinder stud




858




feed through hole






860




cross slots




862




sea shell






864




sea shell




866




sea shell






868




table legs




870




leg stud






872




sea shell




874




sea horse






876




flexible wire or string














FIGS. 26-27















900




frame assembly




902




frame body






903




first window glass




904




middle section






906




back casing




908




second window glass






910




back member




912




calendar






914




mounting hole




916




top wall






918




side wall




920




side wall






922




bottom wall




924




bottom wall






926




frame window




928




sixteen grooves






930




tabs




932




horizontal grooves






933




resilient arms




934




support base






935




opening




936




runners






937




opening recess




938




spiral ring






940




lip




942




steps






944




back member walls




946




resilient pad






950




support member




952




molded support piece






954




magnetic plate




956




magnet block






958




marked stop position




960




top calendar sheet






962




bottom calendar sheets














FIG. 28















970




figurine




972




magnetic plate












FIG. 29















980




support member




982




suction cups






984




sea shell














FIGS. 30-34















1010




frame




1012




calendar sheet assembly






1014




frame body




1015




window






1016




back door




1018




spring plate






1020




inner spring leaf




1022




outer spring leaf






1024




calendar sheets




1026




window glass






1028




slot holes




1030




inner frame






1032




L-shaped stud walls




1034




spring clips






1036




calendar picture section




1038




calendar date table section






1040




border section




1042




L-shaped slot holes






1044




border backing plate




1046




picture backing plate






1047




step








1048




opening




1050




bent section






1060




border backing plate




1062




opening






1064




bent section




1066




raised section












FIGS. 35-42















1100




frame system




1102




frame body






1104




backboard




1106




first transparent plate






1108




second transparent plate




1110




backing plate






1112




magnet




1114




magnet






1116




picture




1118




rabbet






1120




frame window




1122




easel






1124




magnetic strip




1126




vinyl tape






1128




magnetic sheet




1130




lamination layer






1132




protective sheet








1140




front body




1142




flat transparent plate






1144




front body window








1150




reinforcement sheet




1152




Mylar sheet






1154




protective sheet




1156




picture






1160




frame system




1162




scenery picture






1164




eagle reinforced picture




1166




animal figurines






1170




frame system




1172




bridal picture






1174




reinforced picture








1180




holder




1182




bolts






1184




stud




1186




channels






1188




transparent sheet




1190




magnetic sheet






1192




holder




1193




vertical portion






1194




horizontal portion




1195




elbow






1196




channels














FIGS. 43-46















1202




pre-curved glass




1204




custom picture






1206




pre-curved backing plate




1208




top edge glass






1210




bottom edge glass




1214




top edge sheet






1216




bottom edge sheet




1222




main picture






1224




3D picture frame




1226




top edge sheet






1228




bottom edge sheet




1230




picture sheet






1231




dancers




1232




floor






1233




wall




1234




top edge sheet






1235




bottom edge sheet




1236




main picture






1237




picture sheet




1238




top edge sheet






1239




bottom edge sheet




1240




main picture






1241




3-piece mat set




1242




center mat






1244




top edge mat




1246




bottom edge mat












FIGS. 47-49















1250




3D frame system




1252




frame body






1254




flat glass




1256




backing plate, not shown






1258




pre-curved mat plate




1260




center opening






1262




lead glass angel




1264




blue paper sheet






1270




cross stitching fabric art




1272




pre-curved backing plate






1274




double-sided adhesive




1280




mesh screen






1282




pre-curved backing plate




1284




double-sided adhesive












FIG. 50















1290




pre-curved glass




1292




picture sheet






1294




pre-curved backing plate




1296




3D frame body






1298




backboard














FIG. 51















1300




pre-curved glass




1302




picture






1304




pre-curved backing plate




1306




3D frame body






1308




strap




1310




Velcro ribbon male






1312




Velcro ribbon female














FIGS. 52a-52b















1320




3D frame body




1322




strap, not shown






1330




card board strip














FIG. 53















1340




pre-view frame




1342




base plate






1344




grooves




1346




grooves






1348




poles




1350




top plate






1352




grooves




1354




grooves












FIG. 54















1360




3D frame




1362




light fixture






1364




fluorescent lamps




1366




pre-curved backing plate












FIG. 55















1370




heat forming unit




1372




convex mold






1374




concave mold




1376




holder






1378




side plate




1380




bottom plate






1382




threaded rods




1384




top plate






1386




compression spring




1388




washers






1390




nuts




1392




glass sheets






1394




backing plates




1396




flexible steel sheets





















DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 1







FIG. 1

shows a first embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. It consists of a frame body


50


, glass


52


, calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


, a back member


62


and an elastic band


64


. The frame body


50


, glass


52


, back member


62


and the elastic band


64


can be grouped together and referred to as a frame assembly


65


. Custom picture sheets


66


,


68


and


70


are also shown in the figure. These custom picture sheets can be personal photo prints, documents, etc., that do not contain calendar date information. They can be optionally added for display if desired.




The front side of the frame body


50


is not shown but can be of any suitable design. Formed within the frame body


50


is a frame window


72


through which all pictures are to be displayed. The frame body


50


has a back surface


74


. Also shown on the frame body


50


is a rabbit


76


in which the glass


52


is to be placed. The depth of the rabbit


76


is about the same as the thickness of the glass


52


so that the glass


52


, once place into the rabbit


76


, will be flush with the back surface


74


of the frame body


50


.




A top wall


80


and two side walls


82


and


84


are provided which are largely perpendicular with respect to the back surface


74


. No bottom wall is provided which will be clear from the following description. An eyelet, not shown, can be provided on the top wall


80


for hanging the frame body


50


on a vertical wall.




Also located on the back surface


74


of the frame body


50


are two top studs


86


, two side studs


90


and two bottom studs


92


. All of these studs are small rods projecting outward from the back surface


74


. They are preferably integral part of the frame body


50


and positioned around the frame window


72


largely as shown. The length of each of these studs is approximately the same as or slightly less than the depth of each of the top wall


80


and the side walls


82


and


84


.




Four calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


, and


60


are shown in

FIG. 1

, but more sheets can be provided. The front side of each of these calendar sheets contains a calendar picture illustration


96


and a calendar date table illustration


98


. These two illustrations are separated by a perforation line


100


.




On each calendar sheet there are six holes


102


located near the outer perimeter of the calendar picture illustration


96


. These holes


102


have hole diameters slightly larger than the diameters of the studs


86


,


90


and


92


and are engageable with these studs for the mounting of the calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


on the frame body


50


.




The back member


62


serves as a backing for the calendar. It has a size similar to that of the calendar picture illustration


96


. It also has six hole openings


104


to be engaged with the studs


86


,


90


and


92


of the frame body


50


.




For mounting the calendar sheets on the frame body


50


the frame body


50


is placed on a table with the back surface


74


facing up. The glass


52


is first loaded into the rabbet


76


. The entire stack of the calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


is then loaded face down into the frame body


50


as guided by the top wall


80


and the side walls


82


and


84


. The back member


62


is next loaded on the top of the calendar sheets. After these loading the six studs


86


,


90


and


92


of the frame body


50


will be inserted through the holes


102


of the calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


and the holes


104


of the back member


62


.




The elastic band


64


is then installed to secure the assembled calendar assembly. The elastic band


64


is stretched and wrapped around the exposed portion of the six studs


86


,


90


and


92


. The friction between the elastic band


64


and the studs will firmly retain the elastic band


64


in place. As a result the calendar sheets will be secured by the elastic band


64


and will not slip off the studs during normal use.




There are many ways to wrap the elastic band


64


around the studs


86


,


90


and


92


. A loop can be formed around one or more studs to further secure the mounting of the calendar sheets on the frame body


50


. A cross can also be formed to provide some support to the center portion of the calendar sheets and the back member


62


.




The use of the elastic band


64


makes the assembly and disassembly of the frame assembly


65


extremely easy. Such band can be made at low cost and easily replaced when worn out.




After the calendar system is assembled it can be hung on a vertical wall for display. The calendar picture illustration


96


of the calendar sheet


54


is properly framed and displayed through the frame window


72


. The calendar date table illustration


98


of the same calendar sheet


54


is also on display, but is exposed below the frame window


72


.




It is clear that the calendar system as described provides an important advantage over most conventional calendars in that it allows the picture portion of the calendar sheets to be framed. It greatly enhances the aesthetic value of the calendar picture on display. In the mean time the calendar date table portion of the calendar sheets on display is exposed beyond the frame window. This arrangement will facilitate the calendar date checking and memorandum writing on the calendar sheet without disassembling the frame assembly.




At the end of each calendar date table period the expired calendar sheet is removed. This is done by disassembling the frame calendar in reverse order as the frame assembling procedure described above. The expired calendar sheet can be either discarded or placed on the back of the calendar sheet stack for record keeping.




It is also possible to renew the calendar date table without disassembling the frame assembly


65


. In the assembled and hanging position the perforation line


100


of each calendar sheet is positioned nearly at the same level as the bottom edge of the frame body


50


. Thus the lower half of the calendar sheet containing the expired calendar date table illustration


98


can be torn off along the perforation line


100


. This will expose the calendar date table illustration


98


of the next calendar sheet. Of course in this way the calendar picture illustration


96


of the expired calendar sheet is still to be continuously displayed.




Any time during the calendar year a custom picture sheet


66


can be loaded in front of the calendar sheet


54


and be displayed. For example, the frame body


50


can be designed for framing a photo print of popular size of 8″×10″ (203 mm×254 mm). This is achieved by providing the studs


86


,


90


and


92


to enclose a rectangular area slightly larger than 8″×10″ (203 mm×254 mm).




To mount the custom picture sheet


66


into the frame body


50


the frame calendar system is first disassembled. The custom picture sheet


66


is loaded face down into the area enclosed by the studs


86


,


90


and


92


. The calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


and the back member


62


are then loaded into the frame in the manner previously described. This is followed by placing the elastic band


64


as described before.




The custom picture sheets


68


and


70


can also be loaded in the frame body


50


for storage. They can be loaded either in the order as shown in

FIG. 1

or be placed anywhere between the calendar sheet


54


and the back member


62


.




The ability to display a custom picture in lieu of the calendar picture adds a very important feature to the present calendar system. One is no longer limited by the pictures selected by the calendar manufacturer. A custom picture with proper size can be displayed any time in place of the provided calendar picture. This display can also be changed as frequently as one would wish.




One other important feature to be pointed out is that the calendar system of the present invention provides a convenient way for storing the custom pictures. A stack of varying number of custom picture sheets can be stored in the frame body


50


. The maximum number allowable is only limited by the design of the frame body


50


which requires that after all calendar sheets and custom picture sheets are mounted an exposed length of the studs


86


,


90


and


92


be available to be engaged by the elastic band


64


.




After the calendar year with all the expired calendar sheets removed, the frame assembly


65


can be converted to a picture frame. Here a picture frame is commonly referred to as a frame with a largely centered frame window for removably holding a custom picture and displaying the custom picture through the frame window. For a picture frame made of transparent materials such as glass the frame window is no longer necessary and a glass display area can be provided instead.




Of course the converted picture frame of the present invention also serves as a picture storage device for storing varying number of pictures. With all calendar sheets removed after the conversion even more custom pictures can now be stored in the converted picture frame.




Obviously, after the calendar year it is also possible that only the bottom portion of all calendar sheets containing the calendar date table illustration


98


be torn off along the perforation line


100


. Some or all of the upper portion containing the calendar picture illustrations


96


can still be stored and displayed in the frame body


50


, just like the custom picture sheets


66


,


68


and


70


.




The primary function of the frame assembly


65


is to serve as a support and display means for a calendar. Once the frame assembly


65


is converted to a picture frame it is no longer a part of calendar system. In the present embodiment there is no physical change required when the frame assembly


65


is converted to a picture frame. But this may not be the case for frame assemblies to be described in the later section.




One of the critical elements in the present calendar system is a plurality of studs around the frame window. These studs are sheet supporting means for supporting and mounting the calendar sheets and the custom picture sheets on the frame body.




The support of the custom picture sheets and the calendar sheets by the studs with the frame assembly vertically mounted are achieved through two different mechanisms. As is clear from

FIG. 1

the support of the custom picture sheets


66


,


68


and


70


is achieved by allowing a bottom edge


106


of each of these custom picture sheets rest on the studs


92


. The studs


86


and


90


serve to guide the custom pictures in place.




On the other hand the support of the calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


is achieved due to the presence of the holes


102


which are in hanging engagement with the studs


86


,


90


and


92


. In this regard the holes


102


can be termed as hanging receiving means while the studs as hanging means. The engagement between the hanging means and the hanging receiving means of the present invention allows the upper half of the calendar sheet containing the calendar picture illustration to be displayed through the frame window and allows the lower half of the calendar sheets containing the calendar date table illustration to be supported by suspension and on display below the frame window.




In

FIG. 1

the holes


102


are circular while the studs


86


,


90


, and


92


are in the form of round rods. Certainly, there are many variations on the shape and form of the hanging means and hanging receiving means of the present invention. In addition to studs, other commonly known hanging devices that can also serve as the hanging means for the present application may include nails, walls, recess and clamps. In addition to holes, other means such as notches, slots, steps can also be provided on the calendar for serving as the hanging receiving means for the present application.




It is clear from the above description a novel calendar system is disclosed. This calendar system consists of a plurality of calendar sheets and a frame assembly with a frame window. One or more custom picture sheets can be optionally added to this calendar system. Each said calendar sheet contains a calendar date table illustration and a calendar picture illustration. The frame assembly has sheet supporting means for removable supporting and mounting each said calendar sheet and custom picture sheet in the frame assembly, and for simultaneously displaying one said calendar picture illustration through said frame window and displaying one said calendar date table illustration below said frame window, and alternatively for simultaneously displaying one said custom picture sheet through said frame window and displaying one said calendar date table illustration below said frame window. After the calendar year the frame assembly can be converted to and continuously used as a picture frame.





FIGS. 2-3







FIG. 2

shows a second embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. It consists of a plurality of calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


, and a frame assembly


126


which has a back casing


128


and a frame body


130


. There are two mounting holes


132


on the back casing


128


for the mounting of the back casing


128


on a vertical wall. The frame body


130


is pivotally mounted with hinges


134


on the back casing


128


for horizontal rotation therewith. Latch


136


and catch


138


are provided for securing the frame body


130


when the frame body


130


is in closed position.




A frame window


139


is located on the frame body


130


. Mounted over this frame window


139


is a glass


140


. Two side studs


142


and two bottom studs


144


are located on the back side of the frame body


130


as shown. Two custom picture sheets


146


and


148


are optionally included which have bottom edges engageable with the bottom studs


144


for mounting the custom picture sheets


146


and


148


on the frame body


130


.




The calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


are similar to the calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


shown in FIG.


1


. The top half of each calendar sheet has a calendar picture illustration while the lower half has a calendar date table illustration. Four mounting holes, not shown, are provided on each calendar sheet and are engageable with the studs


142


and


144


for mounting the calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


on the frame body


130


.




A back member


150


is also shown which has four holes


152


engageable with the studs


142


and


144


.




A wire guard


154


is shown rotatably mounted on the back side of the frame body


130


. A catch


156


is provided for removable holding the wire guard


154


in a closed position. This wire guard


154


can be rotated to an open position as illustrated by the dash line


157


for loading or unloading the calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


and the custom picture sheets


146


and


148


.




When the wire guard


154


is in the closed position as shown in the figure, all the calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


and the back member


150


can be pulled back and stopped by the wire guard


154


. This allows ample room immediately in front of the calendar sheet


120


to facilitate mounting, removing or examining the custom picture sheets for display and storage. A new custom picture sheet can be added for display or storage by simply inserting it from the top into the space between the calendar sheet


120


and the glass


140


. This is achieved without taking down the calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


and the back member


150


from the frame body


130


.




Shown in

FIG. 3

is a spring plate


158


which is made of resilient materials. It has two horizontal arms


160


and two vertical arms


162


joined together in the shape of a cross. Each of the vertical arms


162


has a groove


164


engageable with the wire guard


154


. The spring plate


158


can be snapped onto and firmly retained by the wire guard


154


by momentarily pressing the ends of the vertical arms


162


toward each other while pushing the spring plate


158


toward the wire guard


154


. The spring plate


158


can be removed from the wire guard


154


by simply pulling it out while momentarily pressing the ends of the vertical arms


162


toward each other.




To move all the custom picture sheets and calendar sheets from the loosely held position as shown in

FIG. 2

into their final mounted position one simply pushes the custom picture sheets and the calendar sheets along with the back member


150


toward the frame window


139


. The spring plate


158


is next mounted on the wire guard


154


. In this mounted position the horizontal arms


160


of the spring plate


158


will be partially deformed and in contact with the back member


150


. The spring force in the horizontal arms


160


will continuously urge the custom picture sheets and the calendar sheets toward the frame window


139


and enable the first sheet in the stack of custom picture sheets and calendar sheets to be properly displayed through the glass


140


.




It is also to be noted that the wire guard


154


can be turned to the open or closed position without removing the spring plate


158


from the wire guard


154


. The loading and unloading of the calendar sheets and custom picture sheets can all be done with the wire guard


154


in its open position. After loading, the wire guard


154


is simply closed with the mounted spring plate


158


pushing all custom pictures/calendar sheets into their final position for display.




The lower half of the frame body


130


is termed breakaway or removable section


166


. This section


166


is engageable with the lower portion of the calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


that contains the calendar date table illustrations.




The breakaway section


166


has a second window


168


through which the calendar date table illustration is to be displayed. This window


168


elegantly frames the calendar date table illustration display and significantly enhances the aesthetic value of the entire calendar system.




The lower end of the breakaway section


166


is a tray


170


. When mounted the lower end of the calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


are tucked in this tray


170


so that the bottom of the calendar sheets will not be curled with frequent use.




The width of the second window


168


is slightly wider than the width of the calendar sheets


120


,


122


and


124


. A thumb notch


172


is located on the bottom of each calendar sheet. It is possible to engage the thumb notch


172


of the calendar sheet


120


by a finger and pull out and lift the calendar sheet


120


. This allows the calendar date table illustration of the calendar sheet


122


to be revealed for examination without disassembling the calendar. After the examination the calendar sheet


120


can be pushed to the back of the second window


168


and tucked in the tray


170


.




As seen in

FIG. 2

a notch


174


is provided on each side between the breakaway section


166


and the upper section of the frame body


130


. This makes it easy to break away the breakaway section


166


when it is no longer needed.




During the calendar year the frame assembly


126


mainly serves as a component of the calendar system of the present invention. The frame window


139


is located on the upper portion and not in the center of the frame body


130


. After the end of the calendar year with all the calendar sheets removed the breakaway section


166


is no longer needed and can be removed as just described. This effectively converts the frame assembly


126


to a picture frame which has a frame window


139


located in the center of this picture frame. From now on this picture frame will be solely used for holding custom picture sheets and displaying a custom picture sheet through the centered frame window


139


.




It is to be noted that the principle of the breakaway section


166


is also applicable to the other embodiments of calendar systems of the present invention. For example, a breakaway section, similar to the breakaway section


166


can also be provided and be part of the frame body


50


of FIG.


1


.




Also shown in

FIG. 2

is a thin layer of light adhesive


176


applied to the back side of the calendar sheet


122


. This light adhesive is readily available commercially which when applied as shown, can hold a sheet of calendar or custom picture sheet pressed to it. Further more, due to its low adhesiveness, it allows the attached calendar sheet or custom picture to be easily peeled off without damaging the surface of the removed sheet.




It is preferable that a small area on the back of each calendar sheet be applied with a thin layer of the light adhesive material just described. This allows the calendar sheets to be neatly formed as a pad which greatly eases the mounting and removal of the calendar sheets at the end of each calendar date table period.




After the expiration of the calendar date table period and with the lower half of the calendar sheet torn off, the upper half with the light adhesive can be turned over and serve as a mat for holding and displaying a small custom picture which otherwise is too small to be mounted in the frame assembly


126


. With the light adhesive the custom picture to be displayed can be adhered to the back of the upper half of the calendar sheet. This calendar sheet is then loaded in the frame assembly


126


with the adhered custom picture facing the glass


140


. Depending on the size of the custom picture and the coated light adhesive area, it is possible that more than one custom picture can be placed on a calendar sheet and displayed. The calendar sheet with light adhesive coating is also suitable for storing such custom pictures when not on display.




Obviously, the calendar sheets


54


,


56


,


58


and


60


of

FIG. 1

can also be applied with a layer of light adhesive in the same manner just described. As a matter of fact, any sheet mountable in the frame body of the present invention can be coated with a layer of light adhesive to serve as a picture mat.




In comparison with the previous embodiment, the present calendar system as illustrated in

FIGS. 2 and 3

is most suitable for framing calendar sheets or custom picture sheets of larger size. It enables the change of the display of the calendar sheets or custom picture sheets without taking down the frame from its hanging position. The frame body


130


swings horizontally which does not require holding the frame body


130


during such change. With the present design, the loading and unloading of custom picture sheets are easily achieved without removing the calendar sheets. The use of the spring plate


158


will assure all calendar sheets and/or custom picture sheets properly mounted regardless of the number of sheets mounted up to the capacity of the frame assembly


126


. The picture on display will also be properly urged against the glass


140


and the frame window


139


.

FIGS. 4-5







FIGS. 4 and 5

show a third embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. This embodiment has the most complicated frame structure among all frames disclosed so far. It is mainly designed for the storage and display of very large calendar sheets and custom picture sheets. The primary goal is to ease the effort in loading and unloading the calendar sheets and custom picture sheets.




Shown in

FIG. 4

is a frame assembly


200


for the present calendar system. It has a back casing


202


and a frame body


204


with a frame window


206


. One or more mounting holes


208


are provided on the back casing


202


for mounting the back casing


202


on a vertical wall and making the back casing


202


stationary. The frame body


204


is mounted on the back casing


202


with hinges


210


and is horizontally rotatable with respect to the back casing


202


. Latch


212


and catch


214


are provided for securing the frame body


204


when in closed position.




A back member


216


serves as the sheet supporting means. A calendar sheet


218


(shown in FIG.


5


), custom picture sheets


220


,


222


and a glass


224


can all be mounted on and supported by the back member


216


. The back member


216


in turn is mounted on the back casing


202


using a long spring wire


226


. Only one half of the spring wire is shown in

FIG. 4

for the sake of clarity since the other half is merely a mirror image of the first half. The spring wire


226


has two legs


227


which are fastened to the back casing


202


by fasteners


228


. The middle section of the spring wire


226


has a shape of a “U” and is attached to the back side of the back member


216


by several fasteners


230


.




The spring wire


226


is shaped to support the back member


216


in a bottom tilted position when the frame body


204


is open as shown in FIG.


4


. In this bottom tilted position the back member


216


is tilted with the bottom portion of the back member


216


positioned farther away from the back casing


202


than the upper portion of the back member


216


. This bottom tilted position is very desirable which greatly facilitates the loading and unloading of the calendar sheets and custom picture sheets.




A top stud


232


, two side studs


234


, and two bottom studs


236


are located on the upper section of the back member


216


. The top stud


232


and the side studs


234


can simply be rods extending outward from the back member


216


. However, the bottom studs


236


are preferably in the form of plates with wide base for providing better support of the custom picture sheets


220


and


222


.




The glass


224


is preferably made of clear plastics such as acrylics. It is formed with a top slot


238


, two side slots


240


and two bottom slots


242


to be engageable with the top stud


232


, side studs


234


and the bottom studs


236


, respectively, for the support of the glass


224


. It is noted that the front end of the bottom stud


236


is wider than the slot


242


and will prevent the glass


224


from slipping off the bottom studs


236


accidentally.




Also shown in

FIG. 4

is a rail guard


244


. This rail guard


244


can be made of metal rod which is bent to form a horizontal section


246


, a side section


248


and a end elbow


250


. A leg


252


is also provided, and one end of which is welded to and perpendicular to the side section


248


. The other end of the leg


252


is inserted into and rotatably mounted on one side wall of the back casing


202


. When the rail guard


244


in not needed it is rotated to a recessed position inside the back casing


202


as indicated by the dash line


254


.




The frame body


204


can be rotated horizontally to an open position after the latch


212


is separated from the catch


214


of the back casing


202


. Once the frame body


204


is open the back member


216


will be automatically extended forward to the bottom tilted position just described. At this time the glass


224


and the custom pictures


220


and


222


are also tilted and rest on the back member


216


.




The rail guard


244


can be next rotated to a horizontal position as shown in

FIG. 4

with the end elbow


250


stopped by the back casing


202


. After this the glass


224


can be pulled away from the back member


216


and leaned against the horizontal section


246


of the rail guard


244


in a top tilted position as shown in FIG.


4


. One can now easily flip through the stack of the custom picture sheets for examining the installed custom picture sheets. A new custom picture sheet can also be inserted into the stack through the clearance between the glass


224


and the back member


216


.




For mounting a very large custom picture on the back member


216


it is preferable that the rail guard


244


be remained at the recessed position and not to be used. The loading or unloading of custom pictures is achieved by first taking down the glass


224


. A custom picture sheet to be displayed is then simply placed on top of the stack of the custom picture sheets already in place. This mounting method will assure best protection of the custom picture sheets during loading and unloading of the custom picture sheets. After the custom picture sheet is loaded the glass


224


is then reinstalled on the back member


216


.




For the sake of clarity the calendar sheet


218


is not shown in

FIG. 4

but is shown in FIG.


5


. This calendar sheet


218


and more sheets like it can be made similar to the calendar sheet


54


of FIG.


1


. Five mounting holes can be provided on the calendar sheet


218


to engage with the studs


232


,


234


and


236


for the support of the calendar sheet


218


on the back member


216


. Obviously the glass


224


must first be taken down before the loading and unloading of the calendar sheet


218


.




Once the glass


224


, custom picture sheets


220


and


222


, and the calendar sheet


218


are properly mounted on the back member


216


, the frame body


204


can be rotated to its closed position as shown in FIG.


5


. This is achieved by turning the frame body


204


with the right hand while the left hand goes through the frame window


206


and pushes back the glass


224


to its vertical position. The latch


212


is next latched into the catch


214


which locks the frame body


204


in the closed position.




With the frame body


204


in the closed position the spring wire


226


will be deformed as partially shown in FIG.


5


. The stored spring force in the deformed spring wire


226


will constantly urge the back member


216


toward the frame window


206


with the glass


224


in firm contact with the frame body


204


.




As shown in

FIG. 4

a set of four rotatable stops


256


are mounted on four corners of the back casing


202


. These stops


256


can alternatively allow the closing of the frame body


204


to be achieved in two easy steps. In the first step one hand will push the glass


224


to its vertical position and the other hand will rotate each of the four stops


256


into positions as indicated by the dash lines


258


. This will allow the glass


224


to be held in the upright position by these stops


256


after the holding hand is removed from the glass


224


. In the second step the frame body


204


is closed and latched. As seen in

FIG. 5

, with the frame body


204


in the latch closed position the glass


224


is further pushed inward slightly and separated from the stops


256


.




The lower half of the back member


216


is a breakaway section


260


which is separated from the upper half of the back member


216


by an indentation line


262


. The breakaway section


260


is engageable with and in support of the lower half of the calendar sheet


218


containing the calendar date table illustration. At the end of the calendar year the breakaway section


260


can be easily broken away from the upper section of the back member


216


along the indentation line


262


for converting the present frame assembly


200


into a picture frame.




One major difference between the frame calendar system shown is

FIGS. 4 and 5

and the first two frame calendar systems shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


is in the design of the sheet supporting means. In the first two frame calendar systems the studs used for the support of the calendar sheets and custom pictures are located on the frame bodies. On the other hand, such studs are instead located on the back member of the frame assembly shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

.





FIG. 6







FIG. 6

shows a fourth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. In this embodiment a frame assembly is disclosed which has two or more distinctively different supporting means. One of these supporting means is exclusively for supporting and mounting the calendar while the second supporting means is exclusively for supporting and mounting the custom picture sheets.




The major component in the present calendar system is a frame assembly


302


which consists of a frame body


304


and a back casing


306


. The frame body


304


has a frame window


307


which is covered by a glass


308


. A top wall


310


and two side walls


312


are provided in the frame body


304


as shown in the figure.




The back casing


306


is pivotally mounted with hinges


314


on the frame body


304


for rotation thereof. Latch and catch, not shown, are provided on the back casing


306


and frame body


304


, respectively, for securing the back casing


306


when it is in the closed position. A spring leaf


316


is attached to the back casing


306


for urging any mounted calendar or custom picture sheets toward the frame window


307


when the back member


306


is secured in the closed position.




As seen in

FIG. 6

the bottom of each of the side wall


312


is formed into a step


318


. These steps


318


are custom picture supporting means to be described below.




Also shown in

FIG. 6

is a custom picture sheet


320


optionally provided for display in the present frame assembly


302


. This custom picture sheet


320


has a width slightly narrower than the inside width of the frame body


304


but is wider than the clearance between the two steps


318


. This enables the custom picture sheet


320


to be mounted in the frame body


304


by simply resting the bottom edge


321


of the custom picture sheet


320


on the steps


318


.




The lower half of the frame body


304


is a breakaway section


322


. It has a second window


324


and a bottom plate


326


. A notch


327


on each side of the frame body


304


is provided between the breakaway section


322


and the upper section of the frame body


304


.




A calendar sheet


328


is shown in FIG.


6


. This calendar sheet


328


is made of relatively firm paper materials. It has a calendar picture illustration and a calendar date table illustration on its front side. The width of this calendar sheet


328


is narrower than the clearance between the two steps


318


. This will allow the calendar sheet


328


to be mounted in the frame assembly


302


with the bottom edge


329


of the calendar sheet


328


resting on the bottom plate


326


, which in this case is a calendar supporting means.




Once the calendar sheet


328


and/or the custom picture sheet


320


are properly mounted the back casing


306


is closed. In this mounted position the calendar picture illustration of the calendar sheet


328


is displayed through the frame window


307


while the calendar date table illustration of the calendar sheet


328


is simultaneously displayed through the second window


324


. Obviously, if the custom picture sheet


320


is also mounted in front of the calendar sheet


328


, the present calendar system will display the custom picture sheet


320


through the frame window


307


while simultaneously display the calendar date table illustration of the calendar sheet


328


through the second window


324


.




A clamp


330


is also shown in FIG.


6


. It is slidably mounted on a pair of bars


332


rigidly attached to the underside of the top wall


310


. The handle portion of the clamp


330


is extended above the top wall


310


through a clearance openings


334


on the top wall


310


. A mounting hole


336


is shown on the clamp


330


for vertically mounting the frame assembly


302


.




Instead of the calendar sheet


328


and the likes, a calendar sheet


338


of different design can also be alternatively mounted in the present frame assembly


302


. Here the clamp


330


is used to hold the calendar sheet


338


by clamping the top portion of the calendar sheet


338


. With the calendar sheet


338


clamped in place, it can be pushed forward until the clamped calendar sheet


338


is stopped at its display position. The back casing


306


is then closed to complete the assembly.




Instead of the calendar sheets


328


and


338


a calendar book


340


can also be alternatively mounted and displayed in the frame assembly


302


of the present invention. This calendar book


340


has a back board


342


which is slightly longer than the individual calendar sheets in the calendar book


340


. This calendar book


340


can be mounted in the frame assembly


302


by resting the bottom edge of the back board


342


on the bottom plate


326


. Alternatively, the calendar book


340


can also be mounted in suspension by clamping the top portion of the back board


342


by the clamp


330


.




It is clear from the above description that the clamp


330


serves as a calendar supporting means for removably supporting the calendar sheet


338


or the calendar book


340


by suspension, and for displaying one calendar picture illustration through the frame window


307


and simultaneously displaying one calendar date table illustration through the second window


324


.




The width of the second window


324


is slightly wider than the width of each calendar sheet of the calendar book


340


. This will allow the page containing the displayed calendar date table illustration to be lifted for checking the calendar date table on the next page without disassembling the present calendar system. Two tabs


344


are provided for holding down the sheets of the calendar book


340


in it assembled position.




After the end of the calendar year with all the calendar sheets removed the breakaway section


322


can be removed along the notches


328


. This effectively converts the frame assembly


302


into a picture frame.





FIGS. 7-12







FIG. 7

shows an fifth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. It consists of a frame assembly


401


which may include a frame body


402


, border sheets


404


and


406


, first window glass


408


, second window glass


410


and a back member


411


. One custom picture sheet


412


can be optionally mounted on the present frame calendar system. A calendar


414


which is in a book form is also included in the present system.




The frame body


402


can be made from molded plastics or other moldable materials including metals, glass, etc. It has a frame window


417


on which the first window glass


408


is firmly attached. An outer wall


418


which may include a top wall


419


, two side walls


420


and two coplanar bottom walls


422


is provided in the frame body


402


. An inner partitioning wall


423


consisting of an inner top wall


424


, two inner side walls


426


and


427


, and two coplanar inner bottom walls


428


is also provided which surrounds the frame window


417


as shown in the figure.




A slot hole


430


is provided on each of the bottom walls


422


. A slot hole


432


is also shown on the top wall


419


. A counter recess


434


can be provided if desired. This recess


434


and the slot holes


430


and


432


are to be engaged with the back member


411


to be described below.




The calendar


414


is shown in the form of a book which is openable to expose a page


440


containing a calendar picture illustration and a page


442


containing a calendar date table illustration. In this open position the calendar


414


is divided into an upper stack


443


which includes the page


440


and a lower stack


444


which includes the page


442


. Two binding loops


445


are provided which can be simply two ribbons going through two holes


446


of each sheet of the calendar


614


.




As seen in the figure each sheet in the calendar book


414


is formed to have a lip


448


and two steps


449


one on each side of the lip


448


. This lip


448


provides the space for the binding holes


446


so that when the calendar


414


is mounted on the frame body


402


all these binding holes


446


of the upper stack


443


will be covered and not visible through the frame window


417


. The two steps


449


of the upper stack


443


are provided to be rest on the inner bottom walls


428


when the calendar


414


is mounted on the frame body


402


.




The back member


411


is preferably made of molded plastics which can be mass produced at low cost. It has an overall shape that fits the back side of the frame body


402


. An outer portion


450


of the back member


411


is flat while a center portion


452


is raised which joins the outer portion


450


through a top wall


454


and two side walls


456


. A mounting hole


457


is provided on the center portion


452


for mounting the assembled frame calendar on a vertical wall.




As seen in the figure there are four resilient arms


458


integrally formed on the back member


411


. These arms


458


are projecting outward from the center of the center portion


452


. Each of these arms


458


is formed at an angle away from the plane of the center portion


452


. Each arm


458


has an end portion


459


which is slightly curved as shown. When not pressed the end portions


459


of the four resilient arms


459


are preferably located on a plane slightly beyond the plane of the outer portion


450


.




A tab


461


is located on the bottom of the back member


411


on each side of the outer portion


450


. A spring clip


462


is integrally formed on the top of the center portion


452


. It has a shape of an inverted “7” as viewed in the figure. A tooth


464


with a slant surface and a bent end


466


are located on the top of the spring clip


462


.




The calendar


414


can be mounted on the frame body


402


by simply placing the top stack


443


of the calendar


414


into the space enclosed by the inner partitioning wall


423


of the frame body


402


against the frame window


417


. The back member


411


is subsequently mounted to hold the calendar


414


in place.




The back member


411


is mounted by first inserting the two tabs


461


of the back member


411


into the slot holes


430


of the frame body


402


. As the back member


411


is pushed toward the frame window


417


the tooth


464


of the spring clip


462


will be initially stopped at the counter recess


434


of the frame body


402


. A further push of the back member


411


toward the frame window


417


will cause the spring clip


462


to yield downward and the slant surface of the tooth


464


to slide along the lower edge of the recess


434


until the upper tip of the tooth


464


clears the recess


434


. The tooth


464


will continue move forward under the push force until it drops into the slot hole


432


and locks the back member


411


to the frame body


402


. To release this lock one can simply push down the bent end


466


to move the tooth


464


out of the slot hole


432


and at the same time pull back the whole back member


411


away from the frame body


402


.




As the back member


411


is installed on the frame body


402


the end portions


459


of the resilient arms


458


are in contact with the calendar


414


and are pushed back against the spring force of each resilient arm


458


. This spring force will continuously urge the upper stack


443


against the frame window


417


and allow the upper stack


443


to be properly mounted and the page


440


containing the calendar picture illustration properly displayed regardless of the number of sheets in the stack up to the capacity of the frame body


402


.




There are three critical elements in the back member


411


of the present invention. These three elements, namely, the tabs


461


, the spring clip


462


, and the resilient arms


458


, are worked in combination for the mounting of the calendar


414


. During the mounting of the calendar


414


the tabs


461


of the back member


411


is first engaged with the frame body


402


. The spring clip


462


is next engaged with the frame body


402


, during which the resilient arms


458


are deformed against its spring force and thus urging the mounted upper stack


443


of the calendar


414


toward the frame window


417


.




The removal of the back member


411


is achieved by first pressing down the bent end


466


of the spring clip


462


to release the tooth


464


from the slot hole


432


of the frame body


402


. At this time the stored spring force in the resilient arms


458


will automatically push the back member


411


away from the frame body


402


thus facilitating the disengagement of the spring clip


462


from the frame body


402


. The back member


411


is next lifted to remove the tabs


461


away from the slot holes


430


.




In comparison with the prior arts, the back member


411


of the present invention provides following three advantages: 1. Both the installation and removal of the back member


411


are achieved in a simple insert-and-push or press-and-lift step; 2. The installed back member


411


will allow a stack of calendar sheets/custom picture sheets to be properly mounted regardless of the number of sheets in the stack up to the capacity of the frame body


402


; 3. The one-piece molded back member


411


can be mass production at low cost.




Once the back member


411


is properly mounted on the frame body


402


the frame assembly


401


is ready to be mounted on a vertical wall. In this mounted position the steps


449


of the upper stack


443


of the calendar


414


is rest on the inner bottom walls


428


while the lower stack


444


of the calendar


414


is hung in free suspension. The calendar picture illustration on the page


440


will be displayed through the frame window


417


and the calendar date table illustration on the page


442


will be in full view beneath the frame body


402


.




The custom picture sheet


412


can also be loaded in front of the upper stack


443


and be displayed through the frame window


417


if desired. More custom pictures, not shown, can also be stored in the frame body


402


.




After the end of the calendar year the calendar


414


can be removed and the frame assembly


401


is converted to a picture frame/storage device. Obviously more custom pictures can be stored at this time.




Upon closer examination, it can be seen that the inner partitioning wall


423


virtually performs the same function as the studs


86


,


90


and


92


of the frame body


50


shown in FIG.


1


. The inner bottom walls


428


are engageable with the bottom edge of the custom picture sheet


412


for the support of the custom picture sheet


412


in a manner similar to the engagement between the studs


92


and the custom picture sheets


66


,


68


and


70


shown in FIG.


1


.




At the same time, these inner bottom walls


428


are also engageable with the calendar


414


for the hanging support of the calendar


414


. In this case the steps


449


of the upper stack


443


can be viewed as hanging receiving means while the inner bottom walls


428


as the hanging means. The engagement between the hanging means and the hanging receiving means allows the upper stack


443


to be supported and mounted in the frame body


402


and the page


440


containing a calendar picture illustration to be displayed through the frame window


417


. This same engagement also allows the lower stack


444


to be supported by suspension with the page


442


containing a calendar date table illustration to be displayed below the frame window


417


.




It is also to be noted that an opening gap


468


exists between the two coplanar bottom walls


422


and another opening gap


469


exists between the two coplanar inner bottom walls


428


. These gaps are provided to accommodate for the lips


448


and the binding loops


445


of the calendar


414


. Obviously the size of these gaps will vary depending on the design of the lips and/or the book binding means.




The first window glass


408


is preferably mounted on the frame body


402


by friction or other suitable means so that the glass


408


can be made self supporting in place. On the other hand, the second window glass


410


is structured to be mountable on the frame body


402


at various positions depending on the orientation of the entry of the second window glass


410


into the frame body


402


.




Shown in

FIG. 8

is the enlarged elevational view showing a portion of the second window glass


410


as viewed in FIG.


7


. This glass


410


is preferably molded from transparent materials such as acrylics. There are two tabs


470


and


471


on the right side of the glass


410


and two tables


472


and


473


on the left side of the glass


410


as viewed in FIG.


8


. It is noted that these four tabs are unsymmetrically located on the sides of the glass


410


.




Also shown in

FIG. 8

is the enlarged perspective view of the inner side walls


426


and


427


as they are cut off from the rest of the frame body


402


. Each wall is truncated to form a counter step


475


as shown in the figure. These counter steps can be used for holding a custom relief picture as to be described below.




There are a total of sixteen grooves molded on the inner side walls


426


and


427


. As seen in the figure grooves


477


,


478


,


479


and


480


are located on the upper portion of the wall


427


while grooves


481


,


482


,


483


and


484


are located on the lower portion of the wall


427


. Similarly, grooves


485


,


486


,


487


and


488


are located on the upper portion of the wall


426


while grooves


489


,


490


,


491


and


492


are located on the lower portion of the wall


426


. All these grooves are of the same size except for their depths. The grooves


477


,


481


,


486


and


490


extend throughout the inner side walls


426


and


427


to a depth marked by “A”. The grooves


478


,


482


,


485


and


489


extend to a depth marked by “B”. The grooves


480


,


484


,


487


and


491


extend to a depth marked by “C”. The grooves


479


,


483


,


488


and


492


have the shortest depth as they extend only to a depth marked by “D”. The position marked by “E” is the depth of the counter step


475


and is also the starting point of all the grooves.




The width of the second window glass


410


is designed such that when the glass


410


is mounted in the frame body


402


the tabs


470


,


471


,


472


and


473


of the glass


410


must be seated within the grooves of the inner side walls


426


and


427


. When the glass


410


enters the frame body


402


in the orientation as shown in

FIG. 8

, the tabs


470


,


471


,


472


and


473


will be seated within the grooves


477


,


481


,


486


and


490


, respectively. Since these four grooves extend throughout the inner side walls


426


and


427


to the depth “A”, the glass


610


can enter all the way until it is stopped and in contact with the first window glass


408


.




The loading of the second window glass


610


in the frame body


602


to the depth “A” above-described is suitable for a two-layer display application. For example, a transparent sheet with graphic pattern can be mounted between the first window glass


408


and the second window glass


410


while a custom picture or calendar picture is mounted behind the second window glass


410


. In this case the mounted custom picture or calendar picture is still largely visible except for the portion covered by the graphic pattern on the transparent sheet. The graphic pattern serves to complement and enhance the aesthetical value of the custom picture or calendar picture on display.




On the other hand, if the glass


410


is rotated to a new orientation different from that shown in

FIG. 8

before it enters the frame body


402


the glass


410


will be stopped at different depths depending on the exact orientation of the glass


410


during its entry. For example, the glass


410


can be rotated horizontally by 180 degree from its original orientation as shown in FIG.


8


. Referring to the figure, after this rotation the right side of the glass


610


will go to the left, the front side will go to the back and the top side still stays at the top. When the glass enters the frame body


402


after this horizontal rotation the tabs


470


,


471


,


472


and


473


will be seated in the grooves


485


,


489


,


478


and


482


, respectively. In this orientation the glass


410


will be stopped at the depth marked by “B”. This creates a space between the first window glass


408


and the second window glass


410


when the glass


410


is properly mounted. This created space between the point “A” and the point “B” is useful for the mounting and display of a three dimensional object as will be further described below.




The window glass


410


can also be rotated


180


degree vertically from its

FIG. 8

orientation before its entry. Again referring to

FIG. 8

, after this rotation the top side of the glass


410


will go to the bottom, the front side goes to the back, and the right side still stays at the right. In this case the tabs


470


,


471


,


472


and


473


will be seated in the grooves


484


,


480


,


491


and


487


, respectively. The glass


410


, once properly mounted, will be stopped at the depth marked by “C”.




The last possible 180 degree rotation of the glass


410


is a rotation of 180 degree within the plane of the glass


410


. With this rotation the top side of the glass goes to the bottom, the right side goes to the left, and the front side still stays at the front. In this orientation, the tabs


470


,


471


,


472


and


473


will be seated within the grooves


492


,


488


,


483


and


479


, respectively, during the entry of the glass


410


. After mounting, the glass will be stopped at the depth marked by “D” which creates a large space between the point “A” and the point “D”.




In the above three orientations a space of varying depth is created between the first window glass


408


and the second window glass


410


when the second window glass is mounted on the frame body


402


. This allows the frame assembly


401


to serve as a display case for displaying one or several three-dimensional objects within the created space. At the same time, a custom picture or calendar picture is also displayed behind the second window glass


410


. The displayed custom picture may contain a narrative describing the object on display or a background picture complementing the displayed objects. Objects of different size can be accommodated by varying the depth of the space between the glasses


408


and


410


.




In the present embodiment, all the grooves are located on the inner side walls


426


and


427


. It is also possible to provide grooves on the inner top wall


424


and the inner bottom walls


428


to support the mounting of a glass with different tab design at four different depths. Furthermore, if the inner wall


423


and the matching window glass


410


can be made circular instead of rectangular as shown in

FIG. 8

, more variations in the mounting depth can be achieved with proper design of the grooves and the matching tabs.




In

FIG. 7

the part of the frame body


402


surrounding the frame window


417


and joined the outer wall


418


and the inner partitioning wall


423


is termed frame border


494


. This frame border


494


can be molded to form some carved art pattern. A small portion of the frame border


494


with such a carved art pattern is shown in FIG.


7


. In addition to the aesthetic value contributed by this carved pattern, the frame border with this pattern is also required to achieve two additional purposes. First, there must be adequate solid branches joining the outer wall


418


and the inner partitioning wall


423


to provide adequate strength to the frame body


402


. Secondary, it is desirable that many openings


495


be formed in this frame border


494


. These openings


495


can have different sizes and shapes. They are essentially many miniature border windows


495


, the purpose of which will be clear from the description below.




The border sheet


404


is shown placed behind the frame border


494


and between the outer wall


418


and the inner partitioning wall


423


. The color of this border sheet


404


can be in sharp contrast with that of the frame border


494


. When placed behind the frame border


494


, a portion of this border sheet


404


is visible through the many openings or miniature border windows


495


of the frame border


494


.





FIG. 7

also shows the second border sheet


406


which has the same size as that of the border sheet


404


but of different color. As a matter of fact, even more border sheets are desirable so that one border sheet with a desirable color can be chosen for display to complement the calendar picture illustration or the custom picture on display. As the calendar sheet or custom picture sheet on display is replaced by a new one the border sheet on display can also be replaced if desired. This is an interesting and convenient way to change the appearance of the frame assembly


401


to complement the picture on display.




A stack of border sheets including the border sheets


404


and


406


can be easily loaded in the frame body


402


and held in place by the back member


411


. It can also be removed by first taking down the back member


411


. The calendar


414


must also be removed before the loading and unloading of the border sheets.





FIGS. 9

to


12


show some variations on the design of the frame body for providing different border appearance.

FIG. 9

shows one corner of a frame body


502


which can be similar to the frame body


402


and can be used for the mounting and displaying of the calendar


414


and/or custom picture sheet


412


. This frame body


502


can be formed by molding. It consists of an outer wall


504


, an inner partitioning wall


506


and a frame border


508


. A frame window


510


is formed within the inner partitioning wall


506


for the display of the calendar


414


and the custom picture sheet


412


. Formed in the frame border


508


are one top border window


512


, two side border windows


514


, and one bottom border window


516


, not shown. A border sheet similar to the border sheets


404


and


406


can be mounted behind the frame border


508


and be displayed through the border windows


512


,


514


and


516


. This border sheet can be printed with graphic pattern to enhance the appearance of the frame body


502


. Of course more border sheets can be provided to quickly and easily change the appearance of the frame body


502


by changing the border sheet on display.





FIG. 10

shows one corner of a frame body


520


which consists of an outer frame


522


and an inner frame


524


individually formed. The outer frame


522


has an outer wall


526


and an outer frame flange


528


on which a series of studs


530


are located. Similarly, the inner frame


524


has an inner partitioning wall


532


and an inner frame flange


524


on which a series of studs


536


are located. Formed within the inner frame


524


is a frame window


538


through which a calendar picture or a custom picture can be displayed.





FIG. 11

shows one portion of a border glass


540


of the frame body


520


. This border glass


540


is preferably molded from a transparent plastics such as acrylics. It has a series of holes


542


of identical sizes located near its outer edge and inner edge.




The frame body


520


is assembled by placing the border glass


540


on the outer frame flange


528


and the inner frame flange


534


and pressing all studs


530


and


536


into the holes


442


of the border glass


540


. The press fitting between the studs


530


and


536


and the holes


542


will hold the three pieces into an assembled unit.




Once assembled, one or more border sheets, such as the border sheets


404


and


406


shown in

FIG. 7

, but printed with graphic pattern, can be mounted on the frame body


520


. Again, the appearance of the frame body


520


can be quickly changed by changing the border sheet on display.





FIG. 12

shows one corner of a frame body


550


which is molded entirely from transparent materials such as glass. This frame body


550


has a center display glass


552


and a border display glass


554


separated by a partitioning wall


556


. In spite of the fact that no window is provided in this frame body


550


, it can be used for displaying custom picture or calendar picture through the center display glass


552


and displaying a border sheet through the border display glass


554


in a similar manner as the frame body


402


of FIG.


7


.





FIG. 13







FIG. 13

shows a sixth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. It consists of a frame assembly


600


which may include a frame body


602


, glass


604


, border sheet


606


, border mat


607


, back member


608


, and support base


610


. One custom picture sheet


612


can be optionally mounted. A calendar sheet


614


is also shown as part of the present frame calendar system.




In construction the frame body


602


is similar to the frame body


520


shown in

FIGS. 10 and 11

. It is assembled by joining an outer frame


616


and an inner frame


618


by a combined window/border glass


620


. Small holes


622


are shown on the combined window/border glass


620


into which studs of the outer frame


616


and inner frame


618


, not shown, but similar to the studs


530


in

FIG. 10

, are inserted for the assembly of the frame body


602


.




The outer frame


616


consists of a top outer wall


624


and two side outer wall


626


. The inner frame


618


has four L-shaped studs


628


,


630


,


632


, and


634


at four corners on the back side of the inner frame


618


. Enclosed within these four studs is a frame window


636


through which a custom picture or calendar picture can be displayed. There are four grooves of different depths on each of these studs. These grooves are similar to and serve the same function as the grooves


477


to


492


shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

.




The combined window/border glass


620


is a one-piece plate molded from transparent plastics. It consists of a frame window glass portion


638


and a border glass portion


640


interconnected by four connection portions


642


. The frame window glass portion


638


is mounted over the frame window


636


. Since the border glass portion


640


is firmly attached to the outer frame


616


and the inner frame


618


, the frame window glass portion


638


will always remain mounted over the frame window


636


.




The mounting of the glass


604


with four unsymmetrical tabs


644


on the frame body


602


at four possible depths is virtually identical to the mounting of the second window glass


410


on the frame body


402


as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

. The supporting of the custom picture sheet


612


on the frame body


602


is achieved simply by resting the bottom edge of the custom picture sheet


612


on the studs


632


and


634


.




The border sheet


606


is basically similar to the border sheets


404


and


406


shown in FIG.


7


. The border mat


607


is also a kind of border sheet with its size same as that of the border sheet


606


. The border mat


607


is made of non-transparent sheets but with many openings


646


. These openings


646


are shown in the shape of cross randomly located on the border mat


607


. These openings are preferably achieved by laser cutting which is known to make very intricate cut patterns on frame mats.




The border mat


607


and border sheet


606


are mounted together on the frame body


602


and supported by the studs


628


,


630


,


632


and


634


. The border mat


607


is readily visible through the border glass portion


640


of the combined window/border glass


620


. The border sheet


606


is mounted behind the border mat


607


and is partially visible through the openings


646


of the border mat


607


.




The frame assembly


600


of the present invention may have several border mats with a variety of cut patterns and many border sheets with different contrasting colors. The appearance of the frame assembly


600


can thus be easily changed by the judicious choice of one border mat-border sheet pair to be displayed in complementing the displayed custom picture or calendar picture.




The calendar sheet


614


, which is partially shown, has four L-shaped openings


648


. It can be mounted on the frame body


602


by inserting the studs


628


,


630


,


632


and


634


through these openings


648


for the hanging support of the calendar sheet


614


. Located on the middle section of the calendar sheet


614


is a perforation line


650


. A calendar date table illustration is printed on the calendar sheet


614


beneath this perforation line


650


and is displayed below the frame body


602


when the calendar sheet


614


is properly mounted on the vertically positioned frame body


602


.




The calendar sheet


614


above the perforation line


650


is further divided into a border section


652


and a calendar picture section


654


which two are separated by the four openings


648


and four perforation lines


656


. A calendar picture illustration is printed on the calendar picture section


654


and can be displayed through the frame window


636


and the frame window glass portion


638


when the calendar sheet


614


is mounted on the frame body


602


.




The border section


652


of the calendar sheet


614


is mounted directly behind the border glass portion


640


. This border section


652


can have a printed border art pattern which can be displayed to complement the calendar picture on display. After the end of each calendar date table period with a new calendar sheet displayed, not only the calendar picture illustration is changed, the appearance of the frame body


602


will also be changed due to the change of the order section


652


on display.




At the end of the calendar year all the border sections


652


can be saved by tearing it apart from the rest of the calendar sheet


614


along the perforation lines


650


and


656


. The saved border sections


652


can be continuously used for display to enhance the appearance of the picture frame and complement the custom picture on display.




The back member


608


is similar to the back member


411


shown in

FIG. 7

but with several improvements. It is preferably made of a one-piece molded plastics for reasons to be disclosed below.




Located near the center of the back member


608


are four resilient arms


660


,


661


,


662


and


663


. These resilient arms serve the same purpose as the resilient arms


458


shown in

FIG. 7

, although somewhat different in their shape.




A tab


664


is located near the bottom of each side of the back member


608


. These two tabs


664


are to be engaged with two slot openings


666


on the two side outer walls


626


of the frame body


602


.




A spring clip


668


is integrally formed as part of the back member


608


. A tooth


670


and a bent end


672


are located on the top of the spring clip


668


. This tooth is to be engaged with a slot hole


674


located on the top outer wall


624


of the frame boy


602


. A mounting hole


676


is also provided for hanging support of the assembled frame assembly


600


.




The spring clip


668


will yield against its spring force when a outside force is applied on the back member


608


during the mounting of the back member


608


. It is to be noted that in the present embodiment the yield movement of the spring clip


668


is within a plane in parallel with the plane of the back member


608


. In this way, the spring clip


668


will not cause the overall thickness of the back member


608


to be significantly increased.




Also integrally formed on the back member


608


are two spring leaves


678


. The centers of these spring leaves


678


are anchored near the sides of the back member


608


. Each arm of the spring leaves


678


is projecting away from the front side of the back member


608


. The end of each arm is curved backward to form a smooth contacting surface.




After placing all the calendar sheets


614


, custom pictures sheet


612


and the associated components the back member


608


can then be installed on the frame body


602


. This is achieved by first inserting the two tabs


664


of the back member


608


into the two slot openings


666


of the frame body


602


. As the back member


608


is pushed toward the frame window


636


the tooth


676


of the spring clip


668


will be initially stopped at the top outer wall


624


. A further push of the back member


608


will cause the spring clip


668


to yield downward and the slant surface of the tooth


670


to slide along the lower back edge of the top outer wall


624


until the upper edge of the tooth


670


clears this edge. The tooth


670


will continue move forward until it drops into the slot hole


674


and locks the back member


608


to the frame body


602


.




As the back member


608


is installed in the frame body


602


the resilient arms


660


,


661


,


662


and


663


will be in contact with the custom picture sheet


612


or the calendar sheet


614


. The spring leaves


678


will also be in contact with either the border section


652


of the calendar sheet


614


or the border sheet


606


. Depending on the number of sheets installed in the frame body


602


both the resilient arms


660


,


661


,


662


,


663


and the spring leaves


678


will be deformed to a various degree. The spring force in the deformed resilient arms


660


,


661


,


662


and


663


will continuously urge the custom picture sheet


612


and/or the calendar picture section


654


of the calendar sheet


614


against the frame window


636


. At the same time the spring force in the deformed spring leaves


678


will continuously urge the border mat


607


, border sheet


606


and/or border section


652


against the border glass portion


640


of the combined window/border glass


620


. All the calendar sheets


614


and custom picture sheet


612


will be properly mounted regardless of the number of sheets installed up to the capacity of the frame body


602


.




It is interesting to point out that the resilient arms


660


,


661


,


662


and


663


are operated independent from the spring leaves


678


. This is important since the four resilient arms must be able to yield in responses to the changing position of the glass


604


without affecting the operation of the spring leaves


678


.




The removal of the back member


608


is achieved by first pressing down the bent end


672


of the spring clip


668


to release the tooth


670


from the slot hole


674


of the frame body


602


. At this time the stored spring force in the resilient arms


660


,


661


,


662


,


663


and the spring leaves


678


will automatically push back the back member


602


away from the frame body


602


thus facilitating the disengagement of the spring clip


668


. The back member


608


is next lifted to remove the tabs


664


away from the slot holes


666


.




Also molded on the back member


608


are a easel plate


680


and two easel arms


682


. One end of each of the easel plate


680


and the easel arms


682


is pivotally connected to the rest of the back member


608


. When the frame assembly


600


is supported in a vertical hanging position the casel plate


680


and the easel arms


682


are not needed and remain in its natural position within the plane of the back member


608


.




After the calendar year when the frame assembly


600


is converted to a picture frame it is sometimes desirable to position the picture frame on a table in an upright position supported by the easel plate


680


. This can be easily achieved by pulling one end of the easel plate


680


away from the plane of the back member


608


thus forming one additional leg for the support of the picture frame in a upright and somewhat tilted position.




The easel arms


682


can also be optionally used to lock the easel plate


680


in an extended position. As seen in

FIG. 13

the easel plate


680


has two slots


684


with their shape as shown in the figure. Each of the easel arms


682


has a narrow section


686


which can be momentarily twisted to make entry into the slots


684


. After both narrow sections


686


of the easel arms


682


become engaged with the slots


684


the easel plate


680


will be held in the extended position indefinitely.




When the easel plate


680


is not needed for the support of the frame assembly


600


the easel arms


682


can be disengaged from the easel plate


680


by removing the narrow sections


686


out of the slots


684


. The easel plate


680


and the easel arms


682


are then restored to their original positions with the plane of the back member


608


.




For most conventional picture frames the easel is a piece attached to the back of the back member. This makes the overall thickness of the combined back member/easel uneven. When a picture frame with such combined back member/easel is hung on a vertical wall the frame very often can not be evenly positioned.




On the other hand, in the present invention in which the easel is made part of the back member as a one-piece molded plastics, no such unevenness due to the presence of the easel plate


680


and the easel arms


682


. The frame assembly


600


will always be hung evenly without the interference of the easel. Of course, by making the back member-easel a one-piece molded plastics considerable cost saving can also be achieved over the conventional approach.




Also shown in

FIG. 13

is the support base


610


which is drawn in enlarged scale to show its details. It can be mounted on the frame body


602


for the support and display of a three dimensional object in the space between the frame window glass portion


638


and the glass


604


when the glass


604


is mounted in a spaced apart position.




As shown in

FIG. 13

a horizontal groove


688


is provided at the bottom edge of each of the studs


632


and


634


. An end insert


689


is shown on each end of the support base


610


. The support base


610


can be mounted by sliding the end inserts


689


into the horizontal grooves


688


and be positioned between the frame window glass portion


638


and the glass


604


.




A slot


690


nearly running the entire length of the support base


610


is provided on the support base


610


. A total of six holes


692


are also shown in the support base


610


. Both the slot


690


and the holes


692


can be used for the support of a three-dimensional article to be displayed.




The ability of spaced apart mounting of the glass


604


and the provision of the support base


610


opens up a new use for the frame assembly


600


of the present invention. It allows a three-dimensional article to be displayed along with the display of a custom picture or calendar picture. The custom picture or calendar picture can be a narrative or background picture complementary of the three-dimensional article on display. Several example illustrating the use of the support base


610


will be described below.




In the present invention the support base


610


is made part of the back member


608


. In the plastic molding process the support base


610


is molded within an opening


694


and separated from the rest of the back member


608


except for two runners


696


located on the two opposite ends of the opening


694


. The support base


610


is carried by the back member


608


when not in use.




The support base


610


can be easily broken away from the rest of the back member


608


by breaking the two runners


696


. Once removed the support base


610


can be readily slid into the horizontal grooves


688


and be used for the support of a three-dimensional article to be displayed in the frame assembly


600


.




As shown in

FIG. 13

an opening recess


698


is also formed in the back member


608


. This opening recess


698


is an rectangular opening. The width of this rectangular opening is slightly wider than the width of the support base


610


. The length of this rectangular opening is about the same as that of the support base


610


not including the two end inserts


689


.




At a later date when the support base


610


is no longer needed and is removed from the horizontal groves


688


the support base


610


can be stored in the back member


608


. This is achieved by pushing the support base


610


into the opening recess


698


. The upper part of the support base


610


will be lodged into the opening recess


698


and held in place by friction between the support base


610


and the


698


.




By making the support base


610


part of back member


608


and providing a storage place in the back member


608


achieve one important advantage. The support base


610


is always securely stored when not in need and is readily available when needed. Of course by making it part of the back member


608


will also greatly reduce the production cost over making one support base separately.





FIGS. 14-15







FIG. 14

shows, in enlarged scale, a portion of the frame assembly


600


of

FIG. 13

for illustrating the use of the support base


610


for supporting a three-dimensional article to be displayed in the frame assembly


600


along with a custom picture or calendar picture. It is seen in

FIG. 14

that the support base


610


is removably mounted on the stud


634


of the frame body


602


. Its position in the frame body


602


can be adjusted by sliding the base insert


610


along the horizontal grooves


688


of the studs


634


and


632


.




Also shown in

FIG. 14

is a dried flower


700


with its stem inserted into one hole


692


of the support base


610


. A custom picture sheet or calendar picture sheet portraying a garden scene, not shown, can be mounted in a manner previously described. This picture of garden will then be displayed along with the dried flower


700


through the frame window


630


and the frame window glass portion


638


of the combined window/border glass


620


.





FIG. 15

shows a portion of a frame assembly


710


which may be similar to the frame assembly


401


of

FIG. 7

or the frame assembly


600


of FIG.


13


. This frame assembly


710


may include a front window glass


712


and a back window glass


714


mounted in a spaced apart relationship.




Also shown in

FIG. 15

is a reinforced picture


716


which is placed in the space between the front window glass


712


and the back window glass


714


. This reinforced picture


716


is made by adhering a reinforcement board


718


to a photograph


720


or any other suitable means. The cutting of the reinforced picture


716


to an intricate shape is typically achieved by laser cutting known in the prior art.




The next item to be described is a support base


722


which is similar to the support base


610


of FIG.


13


and is removably mounted as part of the assembled frame assembly


710


. This support base


722


has a slot


724


which is specially designed for holding the reinforced picture


716


in an upright position as shown by firmly inserting the reinforced picture


716


into the slot


724


.




A calendar sheet containing a scenery calendar picture illustration, not shown, may be removably mounted behind the back window glass


714


in a manner previously described. In the present arrangement the scenery calendar picture suddenly becomes the background scene to the reinforced picture


716


which is also on display. This is an interesting way to add a personal touch to a commodity calendar supplied by the manufacturer.




It is noted that the reinforced picture


716


is displayed in front of the scenery calendar picture and separated from it by the back window glass


714


. This creates a three-dimensional effect which considerably enhances the aesthetic value of the calendar presentation.




At the end of the calendar date table period when a new calendar sheet is displayed, the scenery calendar picture illustration on this new calendar sheet again becomes the background scene to the same reinforced picture


716


.




Many interesting three-dimensional picture frame presentation can also be made by displaying a custom picture behind the back window glass


714


along with a reinforced picture displayed on the foreground. For example, the reinforced picture may show a father playing ball with his little boy while the custom picture shows a home backyard with mother sitting and watching.




In the presentation shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

a three-dimensional article is displayed along with a calendar sheet or custom picture sheet which is placed behind and separated from the article by the glass


604


or


714


. With the frame assembly of the present invention it is also possible to display a three-dimensional article and a custom picture in a new way described below. In this way the three-dimensional article is “blended” in the custom picture thus producing an interesting three-dimensional effect.




Before installing the three-dimensional article and the custom picture in the frame assembly


600


, the first step to be taken is to decide the depth of the field desired. Here the depth of the field is defined as the distance between the combined window/border glass


620


and the glass


604


. The desired depth of the field can be chosen by properly orienting the glass


604


during its entry into the frame body


602


as discussed above and shown in FIG.


8


.




The picture to be displayed is cut to a size with its width and height larger than the width and height of the frame window


636


by approximately twice the depth of the field, respectively. A square is cut off from each of the four corners of the picture. The length of each side of this square approximately equals to the depth of the field. This will produce a picture with four flaps. These four flaps can be folded up loosely while allowing the printing on the picture including all four flaps visible.




A three dimensional article can be glued to the bottom flap. Now the custom picture with the article can be installed in the frame body


602


. The glass


604


is next installed. This is followed by the installation of the calendar sheet


614


, if needed, and the back member


608


.




After the installation, the custom picture and the article are firmly held between the combined window/border glass


620


and the glass


604


in the frame body


602


. Both the article and the custom picture are displayed through the frame window


636


. Since the article is glued to the bottom flap which is also part of the custom picture a three-dimensional effect is thus created.




For article not readily supportable by the custom picture the support base


610


can also be used for the support of such article. Obviously, a feed through hole or clearance is required on the bottom flap for such installation.





FIGS. 16-21







FIGS. 16

to


19


disclose another type of support base for supporting a toy building block assembly and for displaying the toy building block assembly along with a custom picture or calendar picture.




Toy building blocks are widely known prior arts. Once the assembling of the toy building blocks is completed it is often desirable that the toy building block assembly be placed in a display case for later viewing. It is also desirable that the display of the toy building block assembly be accompanied by the display of a picture complementary to the toy building block assembly. The frame calendar system of the present invention along with the support base shown in

FIGS. 16 and 17

elegantly accomplishes all these goals at low cost.




Shown in

FIGS. 16 and 17

is a support base


730


which can be removably installed in a frame body


731


, not shown, but can be similar to the frame body


602


of FIG.


13


. Also shown in

FIG. 16

is a toy building block assembly


732


resembling a horse.




Shown in

FIGS. 17

,


18


, and


19


are two commonly known toy building blocks


734


and


735


. The first toy building block


734


generally has a shape of a rectangular block with a top wall


736


and four side walls


738


. Two cylinder studs


740


are integrally formed on the outside surface of the top wall


736


. An internal stud


742


is integrally formed on the inside surface of the top wall


736


.




As seen in

FIG. 17

numerous cylinder studs


744


are integrally formed on the top side of the support base


730


. The size of each cylinder stud


744


are the same as that of the cylinder studs


740


. The spacing between any two adjacent cylinder studs


744


are the same and equal to the spacing between the two cylinder studs


740


of the block


734


.




The second toy building block


735


is twice as large as the first building block


734


. It has a square top wall


748


and four identical side walls


750


. Four cylinder studs


752


are integrally formed on the outside surface of the top wall


748


. One internal stud


754


is integrally formed on the inside surface of the top wall


748


.




As shown in

FIG. 17

the first toy building block


734


can be mounted on the support base


730


with two adjacent cylinder studs


744


of the support base


730


inserted into the cavity formed by the side walls


738


and the internal stud


742


of the toy building block


734


. Similarly, the second toy building block


735


can be mounted on the support base


730


with four adjacent cylinder studs


744


of the support base


730


inserted into the cavity formed by the side walls


750


and the internal stud


754


of the toy building block


735


.




Toy building blocks with sizes multiples of that of the toy building block


735


can also be similarly constructed as known in the prior arts. These blocks and the toy building blocks


734


and


735


can be assembled into a toy building block assembly


732


as shown in

FIG. 16

or many other interesting figures.




The mounting of the toy building block assembly


732


on the support base


730


is achieved by simply engaging all toy building blocks


756


at the bottom of the toy building block assembly


732


with the corresponding cylinder studs


744


of the support base


730


.




Once mounted, the support base


730


with the installed toy building block assembly


732


can be placed in the frame body


731


in a manner similar to the placement of the support base


610


in the frame body


602


of

FIG. 13. A

glass similar to the glass


604


of

FIG. 13

can then be loaded. This is followed by the mounting of a complementary custom picture sheet or calendar sheet.




For a frame calendar having 12 monthly calendar picture illustration, one unique toy is building block assembly can be designed for each calendar sheet. For example, in one month an instruction is given for making an toy building block assembly resembling a sport car, the calendar picture to be displayed can be a computer graphics-generated scene showing a desert road loading the toy sport car to a distant magic kingdom. In another month when the assembled toy building block is to be a dinosaur the accompanied background calendar picture can show a jungle with many contemporary animals.




In the above description, a novel frame calendar system with support base is disclosed for serving as a display case for a well-known toy, toy building block assembly. Furthermore, this frame calendar system allows a calendar picture complementary to the toy building block assembly to be displayed each month along with the toy building block assembly. Both the calendar picture and the toy building block assembly are displayed simultaneously through a frame window of the frame calendar system. At the same time a calendar date table illustration is exposed outside the frame window to facilitate calendar date checking and memorandum writing.




After the calendar year with all the calendar sheets removed, the frame body


731


can be converted for storing and displaying custom picture sheets. A new toy building block assembly can be constructed and displayed along with a custom picture sheet. As taught in the present disclosure this custom picture sheet can also be displayed during the calendar year if desired.





FIG. 20

shows the same toy building block assembly (toy horse)


732


mounted on the support base


730


as in FIG.


16


. This figure also shows a paper figure toy


760


resembling a boy riding on the toy horse


732


. The addition of this paper figure toy


760


will undoubtedly make the overall display much more interesting.




The paper figure toy


760


can be made of paper or any suitable sheet materials printed with desired image. It is folded into two halves


762


and


764


, not shown, along a crease line


765


. Each of these halves bears an image of a boy riding on the toy horse


732


.




There are two attachment members


766


and


768


on each of the halves


762


and


764


. These attachment members are engageable with the toy building block assembly


732


to allow the paper figure toy


760


to be firmly mounted on the toy horse


732


.




The two attachment members


766


and


768


of the first half


762


are located near the boy's hand


770


and the lower corner of the boy's coat


772


, respectively. The two attachment members


766


and


768


of the second half


764


are also similarly located.




The details of the attachment member


768


is shown in FIG.


21


. This attachment member


768


is a flap adjacent the coat


772


. It is folded at right angle to the coat


772


as shown. There are two holes


774


on this attachment member


768


.




It is assumed that the construction of the toy horse


732


starts at the bottom. The mounting of the attachment member


768


will take place after a toy building block


776


, which is to be placed with the attachment member


768


, is just assembled. As shown in

FIG. 21

the mounting of the attachment member


768


is done simply by inserting two cylinder studs


778


of the block


776


through the holes


774


of the attachment member


768


. The attachment member


768


of the second half


764


is also similarly mounted at this time by engaging it with two cylinder studs


782


of the block


776


. Another block


784


to be assembled on the top of the block


776


is then mounted. This will firmly hold the two attachment members in place between the two adjacent blocks


776


and


784


.




The two attachment members


766


are later mounted similarly as the assembling of the toy horse


734


progresses. Once the entire assembling is completed the paper figure toy


760


will be solidly built into the toy horse


732


and not separable until the toy horse


732


is disassembled.




In order to enhance the appearance of an toy building block assembly some plastic figures can be made and added to the assembled toy building block as known in the prior arts. In these prior arts, such plastic figures normally can only be added to the assembled toy building blocks after the assembling process is completed. It do not have attachment members of the present invention which can be sandwiched between two adjacent toy building blocks during the assembling of the toy building blocks.




The incorporation of one or more attachment members of the present invention in a paper figure toy or any paper ornaments allows a paper ornament to be easily assembled into the toy building block assemblies. Such paper ornaments can be mass produced at low cost. The use of paper ornaments with attachment members is most beneficial when the final assembly is to be installed in the frame assembly of the present invention. In this case the paper ornament, in spite of its fragile nature, is well protected and less prone to damage during the display.





FIGS. 22-25







FIGS. 22

to


25


disclose a novel support assembly that can be installed in a frame assembly of the present invention for the support and display of small articles such as rare coins, sea shells, jewelry, etc. This support assembly is assembled by linking three or more rigid support members. Each of these rigid support members has at least one insertion element and one receiver element. The insertion element of a first rigid support member is removably engageable with the receiver element of a second rigid support member. At the same time the receiver element of the first rigid support member is also removably engageable with the insertion element of a third rigid support member. In this way the three rigid support member are joined together to form a rigid support assembly.




Each rigid support member also has support surface for the support and display of small articles. It is also desirable that specially designed support means be provided on the rigid support members for securing the small articles in place.




When three or more rigid support members are joined together to form the support assembly this support assembly will be capable of supporting and displaying many small articles in the frame assembly in which a calendar picture or custom picture is also to be displayed. The size and shape of the support assembly can be varied at will to allow each displayed article to be positioned at any chosen location adjacent the scene or narrative in the displayed calendar picture or custom picture that complements the article.




For purpose of illustration

FIG. 22

shows a seventh embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. It includes a frame assembly


800


which initially serves to support a calendar of the present invention. After the calendar year this frame assembly


800


can be converted to a picture frame and picture storage device. Furthermore, this frame assembly


800


will also serve as a display case for the mounting of the support assembly of the present invention.




The first element of the frame assembly


800


is a frame body


802


. The front portion of this frame body


802


is similar to the frame body


502


of FIG.


9


. It has a frame border


804


which encloses a frame window


806


. A top border window


808


, two side border windows


810


and a bottom border window


812


are formed in the frame border


804


. Four corner border windows


814


are also provided on the four corners of the frame border


804


to further enhance the appearance of the frame body


802


.




The back side of the frame boy


802


can be constructed largely similar to that of the frame body


402


shown in FIG.


7


. This frame body


802


may have an outer wall


816


and an inner partitioning wall


818


, both not shown, but can be similar to the outer wall


418


and inner partitioning wall


423


, respectively, of the frame body


402


as shown in FIG.


7


.




A border glass


820


is provided and placed behind the frame body


802


and between the outer wall


816


and the inner partitioning wall


818


. One or more border sheets


822


similar to the border sheets


404


and


406


of

FIG. 7

are also provided which can be loaded behind the border glass


820


and be visible through all border windows


808


,


810


,


812


and corner border windows


814


.




A first window glass


824


is partially shown in FIG.


22


. It is firmly mounted on the frame window


806


by friction or other suitable means. A second window glass


826


is mounted behind and spaced apart from the first window glass


824


. This can be achieved by resting the second window glass


826


against a counter step


828


, not shown, which can be similar to the counter step


475


of the frame body


402


shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

. Of course, the space between the first window glass


824


and the second window glass


826


can also be made adjustable by providing a plurality of grooves on the inner partitioning wall


818


in a manner similar to what described above. The provided space will serve to accommodate the support assembly to be described below.




The inner partitioning wall


818


may have two coplanar inner bottom walls


830


, not shown, which may be similar to the inner bottom walls


428


of the frame body


402


shown in

FIG. 7. A

horizontal groove


832


, not shown, is provided on the edge of each inner bottom wall


830


, in the same manner as the horizontal grooves


688


on the studs


632


and


634


shown in FIG.


13


.




A support base


834


, not shown, is also provided as part of the frame assembly


800


. Numerous cylinder studs


836


, not shown, are integrally formed on the top side of the support base


834


in the same manner as the cylinder studs


744


on the support base


730


shown in FIG.


17


. The support base


834


can be slid into the horizontal grooves


832


and be supported similar to the mounting of the support base


610


in the horizontal grooves


688


of the frame body


602


as shown in FIG.


14


.




Also shown in

FIG. 22

is a support assembly


838


. This support assembly


838


is assembled from numerous rigid support members


840


which may include support building blocks


842


, support building plates


844


, and a miniature table


846


, all of which are shown in FIG.


22


.




As shown in

FIG. 22

the support building blocks


842


serve as the foundation to the present support assembly


838


. Each of these support building blocks


842


may have four cylinder studs


848


, not shown, and one internal stud


850


, also not shown, similar to the cylinder studs


752


and the internal stud


754


, respectively, provided in the toy building block


735


shown in

FIGS. 17 and 19

. This will allow the support building blocks


842


to be anchored to the support base


834


in the same manner as the mounting of the toy building block


735


on the support base


730


shown in FIG.


17


. Several such support building blocks


842


can be assembled into a stack of any desired height as shown in FIG.


22


.




In the present invention each of the four cylinder studs


848


is considered as an insertion element. These insertion elements are removably engageable with a second support building block above it by inserting the cylinder studs


848


into the cavity around the internal stud


850


of the second support building block. In this case the cavity is considered as a receiver element.





FIGS. 23

,


24


, and


25


show in detail, a portion of the support building plate


844


. This portion is shown consisting of a top wall


851


, two side walls


852


, four top cylinder studs


854


and one bottom cylinder stud


856


, integrally formed together.




In addition to the above-mentioned components, several more provisions are provided on the support building plate


854


. One such provision is a feed through hole


858


located on the top wall


851


. The other provision is a cross slot


860


on the top of each top cylinder stud


854


.




The mounting of a support building plate


844


on a support building block


842


is achieved by inserting the cylinder studs


848


of the support building block


842


into the space between the side walls


852


and the bottom cylinder stud


856


of the support building plate


844


. In this case the cylinder studs


848


are insertion elements while the space between the side walls


852


and the bottom cylinder stud


856


is the receiver element. Once mounted on the support building block


842


, the support building plate


844


will serve two important functions. The first function is to allow for the mounting of other rigid support members


840


. The second function is for the placement of small articles to be displayed.




As shown in

FIG. 22

three sea shells


862


,


864


and


866


are placed on the three support building plates


844


. For simplicity, these sea shells can be simply laid on the top surface of the support building plates


844


. However, for the sake of security, it is recommended that each sea shell be placed by inserting a portion of the sea shell into the space between two or more adjacent top cylinder studs


854


.




The support building plate


844


of the present invention is also suitable for the support and display of many other collectible articles. A collectible coin can be inserted into a slot of the cross slot


860


of the top cylinder stud


854


and be displayed. A plate type item can be inserted into several such slots on adjacent top cylinder studs


854


. A collectible pen can be inserted into one feed through hole


858


of the support building plate


844


. A pearl can be placed on the center cavity of the cross slot


860


. A gold chain can be hung around one top cylinder stud


854


and displayed.




The cross slot


860


and the feed through hole


858


of the support building plate


844


are specially designed support means for securing the small articles in place. Similar support means can also be provided on the support building blocks


842


and the miniature table


846


.




The miniature table


846


is a one-piece molded plastics or ceramics. It has two or more legs


868


. Integrally formed at the bottom end of each leg


868


is a small stud


870


. These studs


870


can be inserted into the center cavity of the cross slot


860


for the support of the miniature table


846


on the support building plate


844


.




Receiver elements, not shown, can be formed on the top of the miniature table


846


. These receiver elements can be used to receive insertion elements of more support building blocks


842


to expand the present support assembly


838


, if desired. A sea shell


872


is shown rest on the miniature table


846


.




The miniature table


846


is very functional in serving its purpose of supporting a small article for display. But such a support structure can be made into any artistic shape for enhancing the overall appearance of the frame display. For example, a miniature figurine can be made showing a person holding a tray. This figurine can then be installed on the support building plate


984


with the tray holding a small article for display. Of course insertion elements and receiver elements can also be provided on the figurine to make it part of the support assembly.




Also shown in

FIG. 22

is a sea horse


874


which is held in suspension by a flexible wire or string


876


. The string


876


is shown tied to the support building plate


844


. This string


876


is not considered as a rigid support member of the present support assembly


838


.




One great virtue of the support assembly


838


of the present invention is its versatility. It can be assembled from only a few pieces of rigid support members


840


for holding just one or two articles. It can also be assembled by as many pieces of rigid support members


840


as possible within the frame body


802


. Its shape can also be varied to adapt to the articles on display.




In summary, a novel support assembly is disclosed which is assembled from several rigid support members for the support and display of small collectible articles. This support assembly is removably mountable in a frame assembly of a frame calendar system. A complementary custom picture or calendar picture can also be mounted in the frame assembly behind the support assembly. This allows both the collectible articles and the complementary custom/calendar picture to be displayed simultaneously through the frame window of the frame assembly.





FIGS. 26-29







FIGS. 26

to


29


disclose several other types of novel support members of the resent invention. Each of these support members is not intended to form a support assembly as discussed above, but is individually mountable in a frame assembly of the present invention for the support and display of a small article. This article is also displayed along with a complementary custom picture or calendar picture mounted in the same frame assembly.





FIGS. 26 and 27

show an eighth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. It consists of a frame assembly


900


which may include a frame body


902


, first window glass


903


, middle section


904


, back casing


906


, second window glass


908


and back member


910


. A calendar


912


which is in the book from is also included in the present system.




The frame body


902


can be made of any conventional frame materials. The middle section


904


and the back casing


906


are preferably made of molded plastics. As seen in

FIG. 26

the frame body


902


and back casing


906


are hinged on and rotatable with respect to the middle section


904


. Latches and catches, not shown, but can be similar to the latch


136


and catch


138


shown in

FIG. 2

, are provided for individually locking the frame body


902


and back casing


906


to the middle section


904


in closed positions as shown in FIG.


27


.




One or more mounting holes


914


are provided on the back casing


906


for mounting the back casing


906


on a vertical wall. When so mounted both the middle section


904


and frame body


902


are each rotatable with respect to the back casing


906


.




The front side of the frame body


902


is not shown but can be of any conventional design as desired. The first window glass


903


is permanently mounted over the frame window of the frame body


902


.




The middle section


904


is similar to the portion of the frame body


402


bounded within the inner partitioning wall


423


as shown in FIG.


7


. This middle section


904


consists of a top wall


916


, two side walls


918


and


920


, and two coplanar bottom walls


922


and


924


. Surrounded by all these walls is a frame window


926


.




Just as what shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

and described above, there are a total of sixteen grooves


928


of different depths carved on the inside surface of the side walls


918


and


920


. These grooves allow the second window glass


908


with four unsymmetrical tabs


930


to be positioned at four different depths depending on the orientation of the entry of the second window glass


908


. Each of the two coplanar bottom walls


922


and


924


has a horizontal groove


932


which is similar to the horizontal grooves


688


shown in FIG.


13


.




There are four resilient arms


933


integrally formed on the back casing


906


. These resilient arms


933


are similar to the resilient arms


458


shown in FIG.


7


and serve to urge the mounted calendar


912


against the frame window


926


when the back casing


906


is locked to the middle section


904


in the closed position.




As shown in

FIG. 26

, a support base


934


is molded as part of the back casing


906


. This support base


934


is housed within an opening


935


and separated from the rest of the back casing


906


except for two runners


936


located on the two opposite ends of the opening


935


. An opening recess


937


is also shown on the back casing


906


for storing the support base


934


once it is removed from the opening


935


and not in use.




The calendar


912


is bonded into a book with the use of a spiral ring


938


. Except for the covers each calendar sheet is presented with a calendar data table illustration on one side and a calendar picture illustration on the other side. Similar to the calendar book


414


of

FIG. 7

each calendar sheet of the calendar


912


is also formed to have a lip


940


to accommodate the spiral ring


938


and two steps


942


for engagement with the bottom walls


922


and


924


when the calendar


912


is mounted on the middle section


904


.




The back member


910


is a molded plastic rectangular plate with four shallow walls


944


on its four sides. A resilient pad


946


is glued to the inside surface of the back member


910


as shown in FIG.


27


. This resilient pad


946


can be made of rubber or soft resilient foam that can yield under pressure and restore to its original shape once the pressure is removed.




The frame assembly


900


, in addition to being a calendar frame, picture frame and picture storage device, will also serve as a display case for the support members of the present invention. A support member


950


is shown in

FIGS. 26 and 27

. This support member


950


includes a molded support piece


952


and a magnetic plate


954


. The molded support piece


952


is preferably molded from plastics. It has a flat top for holding any suitable article to be displayed in the frame assembly


900


. Any support means such as holes, slots, etc. can also be molded on the support piece


952


for securing the article in place.




The magnetic plate


954


is attached to the back of the molded support piece


952


. This magnetic plate


954


can be an iron plate, which is strongly magnetic, or can even be a magnet by itself. A thin coating can be applied to this plate


954


to prevent corrosion of the plate and to reduce scratch on the second window glass


908


during the contact between the glass


908


and the plate


954


.




Also shown in

FIGS. 26 and 27

is a small magnet block


956


. This magnet block


956


is to be used for holding the support member


950


as described below.




The frame assembly


900


, calendar


912


and the support member


950


can be assembled by first opening the frame body


902


and the middle section


904


to the position shown in

FIG. 26

with the back casing


906


mounted on a vertical wall. The first item to be installed is the second window glass


908


. Prior to installation, this glass


908


needs to be oriented to the position shown in

FIG. 26

so that after entry the second window glass


908


will be stopped at the position marked as


958


shown in FIG.


27


. In this position a tab


930


of the second window glass


908


is engaged with the lowest grooves


928


of the side wall


920


as partially seen in FIG.


27


.




The next item to be installed is the calendar


912


. Prior to installation the calendar


912


is open to expose the calendar date table to be displayed and the calendar picture opposite to this table. The calendar sheet


960


containing this picture shall be the one and the only one calendar sheet to be mounted within the middle section


904


. This calendar sheet


960


is mounted simply by resting the steps


942


of this sheet on the bottom walls


922


and


924


and pushing the sheet


960


to right behind the second window glass


908


. All the other calendar sheets


962


are simply hung in suspension below the middle section


904


.




While temporarily holding the top calendar sheet


960


against the second window glass


908


by the left hand, the right hand can pick up one magnet block


956


and holds it against the calendar sheet


960


at any point on the sheet


960


. The left hand is now free which will go ahead pick up a matching support member


950


and place it in front of the second window glass


908


near the magnet block


956


in the back of the second window glass


908


. The magnet block


956


will exert a strong magnetic force across the calendar sheet


960


and the second window glass


908


and hold the support member


950


in place. This magnetic force will also maintain the calendar sheet in position next to the second window glass


908


.




While still holding the support member


950


and magnet block


956


by the left hand and right hand, respectively, slowly move the support member


950


and magnet block


956


in pair until the support member


950


is rest on the desired location in relation to the scene on the exposed calendar picture. During the above movement the support member


950


and the magnet block


956


should be pulled apart slightly in order to avoid scratching the second window glass


908


or the calendar sheet


960


.




After the placement of the above support member


950


and magnet block


956


pair, move such pairs can be placed in the same manner. Once all placements are completed, the back member


910


is placed behind and next to the calendar sheet


960


. Now the middle section


904


can be rotated toward the back casing


906


and locked together.





FIG. 27

shows what happened when the middle section


904


and the back casing


906


are locked together. Under the pressure from the four resilient arms


933


the back member walls


944


will be firmly pressed against the calendar sheet


960


on its four sides. This will ensure the calendar sheet


960


be firmly mounted with its calendar picture illustration properly displayed through the frame window


926


.




The thickness of the magnet block


956


and the resilient pad


946


are such that when the back member walls


944


are in contact with the calendar sheet


960


as above described, the portion of the resilient pad


946


in contact with the magnet block


956


will be deformed slightly. This deformation of the resilient pad


946


will help trap the magnet block


956


in place against the calendar sheet


960


. Consequently, the support member


950


will also be positioned firmly and will not easily slide down at a later time.




It has been suggested that only one calendar sheet


960


be installed within the middle section


904


. This is to minimize the decrease of the magnetic force across the second window glass


908


. Obviously, more calendar sheets can be allowed as long as the magnetic force applied across the second window glass


908


is still adequate in holding the support member


950


and its load in place.




At this point the frame body


902


is still open and all the installed support members


950


are still exposed. All the articles to be displayed can now be placed on the support members


950


. The frame body


902


is then shut close and locked to the middle section. This completes the entire assembling procedure.




After the assembling described above, the frame assembly


900


becomes a display case displaying the articles placed on the support members


950


. At the same time the calendar


912


is mounted in the frame assembly


900


with one calendar picture illustration complementary to the articles displayed through the frame window


926


. One calendar date table is also displayed but is exposed below the frame assembly


900


to facilitate date checking and memorandum writing.




After the calendar year the calendar


912


can be removed, but any one calendar sheet can still be mounted on the frame assembly


900


to provide a background scenery complementing the articles on display. Obviously any custom picture with proper size can also be mounted to serve the same purpose.




If the frame assembly


900


is not used as a display case it can simply be a picture frame and picture storage device with large storage capacity. In this case the second window glass


908


can be reoriented to enter through the deepest horizontal grooves


928


. Furthermore, the back member


910


may even by temporarily removed to further increase the picture storage capacity.




Instead of the support member


950


the support base


934


can also be used for supporting and displaying three dimensional articles in the frame assembly


900


. The support base


934


is easily broken off from the two runners


936


and can be slid into the horizontal grooves


932


. Articles such as the dried flower


700


and reinforced picture


716


shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

, respectively, can all be installed in the support base


934


for display in the frame assembly


900


along with the calendar


912


or a custom picture.




It is interesting to note that when the support base


934


is used, the change of articles for display can be achieved without unlocking the middle section


904


from the back casing


906


. All that is needed is to open the frame body


902


away from the middle section


904


to get access to the front side of the middle section


904


and the support base


934


.




On the other hand, the change of the calendar sheet or custom picture alone for display can be achieved by just opening the middle section


904


away from the back casing


906


without unlocking the frame body


902


. This is desirable in certain situations. For example, a reinforced picture installed on the support base


934


showing a person on the foreground will remain the same when the calendar picture bearing background scenery is changed from month to month.




The frame assembly


900


also provides ample space for installing other type of support bases such as the support base


730


shown in FIG.


16


. This support base


730


can be readily slid into the horizontal grooves


932


. It may be necessary that the second window glass


908


be reoriented for its entry in order to provide maximum space for accommodating the support base


730


. A toy building block assembly such as the toy horse


732


shown in

FIG. 16

can then be mounted on this support base


730


and displayed in the frame assembly


900


along with a calendar picture or custom picture.




With a support base similar to the support base


730


installed in the frame assembly


900


a support assembly such as the support assembly


838


shown in

FIG. 22

can also be mounted. Small articles such as sea shells, pearls, collectable stones, etc. can then be supported on the support assembly and be displayed in the frame assembly


900


along with the complementary custom picture or narrative sheet.





FIG. 28

shows a small figurine


970


resembling an eagle. It is preferably made by molding process. Attached to the back of the figurine


970


is a magnetic plate


97


in size similar to the magnetic plate


954


shown in FIG.


26


. This figurine


970


, with the help of the magnet block


956


, will then be able to be mounted on the second window glass


908


in exactly the same manner as the mounting of the support member


950


.




Imagine a picture of American wild west displayed in the frame assembly


900


. Mounted near the top of the picture is the eagle


970


looming in the sky. Near the bottom is a reinforced picture mounted on the support base


934


showing a rodent trying to find a place to hide from the attacking eagle. The choice of combined display involving a calendar picture or custom picture and one or more articles as taught in the present invention is indeed limitless.




Shown in

FIG. 29

is a support member


980


having six suction cups


982


on its back side. This support member


980


can be mounted on the second window glass


908


by firmly pressing the support member


980


against the second window glass


908


until most of the air within the cups


982


is expelled. Once the pressing force is removed the vacuum created within the cups


982


will firmly attach the support member


980


to the second window glass


908


.




An article such as a sea shell


984


to be displayed is next placed on the supports member


980


. A custom picture or calendar picture is also mountable in the frame assembly


900


and can be displayed along with the sea shell


984


.




In comparison with the support member


950


, the support member


980


is even easier to install in the frame assembly


900


. However, any slight defect in the suction cups


982


will cause air to leak in after a long display period. Therefore, such support member


980


is best suited for short term display or for articles less likely to break if fall.





FIGS. 30-34







FIGS. 30-34

show a ninth embodiment of the frame calendar system of the present invention. It comprises a frame


1010


and a calendar sheet assembly


1012


. As seen in

FIG. 31

, the frame


1010


has a frame body


1014


with a window


1015


and a swing type back door


1016


. Attached to the back door


1016


is a spring plate


1018


which includes four inner spring leaf


1020


and four outer spring leaf


1022


.





FIG. 32

shows the calendar sheet assembly


1012


which is assembled and ready to be mounted in the frame


1010


.

FIG. 33

also shows the same calendar sheet assembly, but which is disassembled to illustrate the details of a stack of calendar sheets


1024


and other components.




Referring to

FIG. 33

, a window glass


1026


with four slot holes


1028


is shown. Also shown is an inner frame


1030


with four L-shaped stud walls


1032


and four spring clips


1034


. This inner frame


1030


can be mounted on the window glass


1026


with the four stud walls


1032


extended through the four slot holes


1028


. The four spring clips


1034


will also engage with the four slot holes and lock the inner frame onto the window glass


1026


.




Placed behind the window glass


1026


is a stack of calendar sheets


1024


. Each of these sheets


1024


has a calendar picture section


1036


, a calendar date table section


1038


and border section


1040


. A perforation line is located between the border section


1040


and the calendar date table section


1038


. Perforation lines are also located between the calendar picture section


1036


and the border section


1040


. All these perforation lines are provided to facilitate the separation of all these sections similar to the perforation lines


656


and


650


shown in FIG.


13


.




Each of the calendar sheets


1024


has four L-shaped slot holes


1042


. All these calendar sheets


1024


can be mounted behind the window glass


1026


with the slot holes


1042


engaged with the stud walls


1032


of the frame


1030


for hanging the calendar sheets


1024


.




Placed behind the calendar sheets


1024


are one border backing plate


1044


and one picture backing plate


1046


. It is preferable that these two plates be cut out of a elastic plastic sheet such as polycarbonate.




The first thing to be noticed in the border backing plate


1044


is a large opening


1048


cut out of the border backing plate


1044


. This opening


1048


allows the border backing plate


1044


to clear the four stud walls


1032


of the inner frame


1030


when the border backing plate


1044


is mounted behind the calendar sheets


1024


, as seen in FIG.


32


.




As implied by its name, this border backing plate


1044


serves as a backing to the border section


1040


of the calendar sheets


1024


. It will prevent the appearance of unevenness or wrinkle in the border section


1040


when it is mounted behind the window glass


1026


and placed in the frame


1010


.




It is seen in

FIG. 32

that the border backing plate


1044


has a length slightly longer than that of the calendar sheets


1024


. Also notice that it has a bent section


1050


at its bottom. More details will be disclosed below in connection with the operation of the border backing plate


1044


.




The picture backing plate


1046


is simply a rectangular plate made of plastic sheet or cardboard. It should have a size slightly smaller than the calendar picture section


1036


and can be fit inside the four studs


1032


of the inner frame


1030


when placed behind the calendar sheets


1024


.




After all the components shown in

FIG. 33

are assembled into a calendar sheet assembly


1012


as shown in

FIG. 32

, they can be placed in the frame body


1014


shown in FIG.


31


. The border backing plate


1044


is loosely fit within the rabbet of the frame body


1014


. The back door


1016


can now be closed and locked which produces a assembled frame calendar as shown in FIG.


30


.




It is to be noticed that when assembled the four stud walls


1032


of the inner frame


1030


are inserted into the opening


1048


of the border backing plate


1044


. As long as the border backing plate


1044


is held in place in the frame


1010


, the inner frame


1030


is also secured in position. Further more, since the inner frame


1030


is locked into the window glass


1026


, the window glass


1026


will also be held by the border backing plate


1044


when mounted in the frame


1010


vertically. At this point, the calendar sheets


1024


are also properly hung on display due to the engagement between the slot holes


1042


and the stud walls


1032


.




It is clear from the above disclosure that the border backing plate


1044


of the present invention will serve a new function in addition to being a backing to the border section


1040


. When assembled and placed in the frame


1010


the border backing plate


1044


will hold the window glass


1026


and the inner frame


1030


in place without falling. It will also support the calendar sheets


1024


for display in the frame


1010


.




When the back door


1016


is closed the four outer spring leaf


1022


will be in contact with the border backing plate


1044


, while the inner spring leaf


1020


will be in contact with the picture backing plate


1046


. This will allow the border section


1040


and calendar picture section


1036


to be urged toward the window glass


1026


, independent of each other, regardless of the number of sheets in each section, up to the capacity of the frame


1010


.




It is seen in

FIG. 32

that the width of the calendar date table section


1038


is narrower than that of the border section


1040


. This is achieved by providing a step


1047


on each side of the calendar sheet


1024


. The width of the calendar date table section should also be slightly narrower than that of the window


1015


of the frame body


1014


. This is to assure that when mounted in the frame


1010


the calendar date table section


1038


can be freely turned without opening the frame


1010


. Obviously, the length of the calendar date table section must also be short enough to clear the bottom rabbet of the frame body


1014


.




The depth of the bent section


1050


of the border backing plate


1044


is about the same as that of the rabbet of the frame body


1014


. When the back door


1016


is closed and locked it will be in contact with this bent section


1050


and force the bottom of the border backing plate


1044


forward toward the rabbet of the frame body


1014


. This will allow the lower half of the border backing plate


1044


to support writing memo on the calendar date table section


1038


.




In

FIG. 34

, a different border backing plate


1060


is disclosed. Similar to the previous version, this border backing plate


1060


also has a top opening


1062


and a bent section


1064


. The difference is that the lower half of the border backing plate


1060


has a raised section


1066


which is achieved by typical sheet forming process.




As seen in

FIG. 34

, this raised section


1066


has a raised surface which is more raised toward the bottom of the plate


1060


. It is important that the raised section


1066


must clear the rabbet of the frame body


1014


when the border backing plate


1060


is mounted in the frame


1010


.




There are several new advantages provided by this improved border backing plate


1060


. First of all, the raised section


1066


will add some structure rigidity and thus allow thinner sheet at lower cost to be used. This raised structure will render more support to the writing on the calendar date table section, and will not cave in easily under the pressure exerted during writing.




When mounted the calendar date table section should extend slightly below the bottom of the raised section


1066


. It is to be noticed that this raised section


1066


will push the mounted calendar date table section forward and away from the frame body


1014


. This will facilitate the grabbing of the top calendar sheet by its bottom edge, for turning the page for date checking.




The frame calendar system of the present invention as embodied by

FIGS. 30-34

allows both the calendar picture


1036


and the date table


1038


to be displayed through the frame window


1015


. The calendar picture


1036


is elegantly frame and protected behind the window glass


1026


. The date table


1038


is also framed but exposed to facilitate memo writing and page turning.




At the end of the month, the expired calendar sheet can be removed after opening the frame


1010


. Alternatively, the date table


1038


can also be torn off along the perforation line to expose the next month's date table without opening the frame


1010


. In this case, the current calendar picture will be continuously displayed for the new month.




With the present frame calendar system any calendar picture


1036


can be displayed at any time by simply removing the calendar picture


1036


from the calendar sheet along the perforation lines and placing it immediately behind the window glass


1026


. Of course, a custom picture of appropriate size can also be similarly displayed as taught previously.




Upon the expiration of the calendar sheet the border section


1040


can also be separated from the calendar picture


1036


and date table


1038


and stored in the frame


1010


. This allows any one border among the stored borders to be chosen for display to complement the displayed calendar picture or custom picture.





FIGS. 35-42







FIGS. 35-42

disclose a tenth embodiment of the frame system of the present invention. It embodies a frame system for holding a normally flat picture sheet and bending it into a one dimensional concavo-convex shape for adding a three dimensional effect to its display. It also creates an arch-shaped void space in front of the displayed picture for housing and displaying a three dimensional articles and/or reinforced pictures complementary to said first picture. Magnetic means are also employed for magnetically supporting these three dimensional articles and/or reinforced pictures in the frame system.




The frame system


1100


shown in

FIG. 35

includes a frame body


1102


, backboard


1104


, first transparent plate


1106


, second transparent plate


1108


, and a backing plate


1110


. It may also include one or more magnets


1112


and


1114


. Also shown in

FIG. 35

is a flat custom picture


1116


to be mounted in the frame system


1100


.




The frame body


1102


has a rabbet


1118


and a largely flat frame window


1120


through which all pictures are to be displayed. The backboard


1104


is hinged on the frame body


1102


. It is horizontally rotatable between an open position as shown in the figure and a closed position. It can be locked in its closed position using means such as latch


136


and catch


138


of

FIG. 2

or any conventional clip means. Located on the back side of the backboard


1104


is an easel


1122


for placing the frame system


1100


on a table in a tilted position. This easel


1122


is not shown but can be similar to the easel


680


in FIG.


13


.




The first transparent plate


1106


is a flat rectangular plate. The second transparent plate


1108


has a width and height same as that of the first transparent plate


1106


but is curved. It can be made of plastics through conventional molding or plastic thermal curving process. As seen in the figure it has a curvature in the horizontal axis in the shape of an arc and can thus be termed one-dimensional concavo-convex. The backing plate


1110


has a size and curvature largely same as that of the second transparent plate


1108


.




It is a simple matter to mount the picture


1116


in the frame system


1100


. One simply holds the first transparent plate


1106


, the second transparent plate


1108


, the picture


1116


and the backing plate


1110


as a stack in the order and orientation as shown in FIG.


35


. The stack is then placed in the frame body


1102


. The backboard


1104


is next closed and locked which completes the picture mounting process.




Once in the closed position the backboard


1104


will press the backing plate


1110


forward which in turn will bend the picture


1116


until the picture


1116


is bent to the same curvature as that of the second transparent plate


1108


. This curvature will add a three dimensional effect to the illustration on the picture


1116


. This is true regardless whether the illustration is a scenery or a close up item such as a bowl of fruits.




In the above discussion it is required that (1) the picture


1116


is a flexible sheet such as a photographic paper; and (2) the thickness of the stack with the picture bent is about the same as the depth of the rabbet


1118


in the frame body


1102


. The second transparent plate


1108


and the backing plate


1110


are normally rigid, but also can be somewhat flexible as long as the final thickness of the stack can be made to meet the above criteria.




One other interesting effect from the closure of the backboard


1104


is the formation of an arch-shaped void space between the flat first transparent plate


1106


and the curved second transparent plate


1108


. This void space is usable for housing a three dimensional article such as a small figurine complementary to the picture on display. Further discussed in the following is a novel magnetic means for holding such a three dimensional article in the void space.




Referring to

FIG. 35

, the bottom surface of the rabbet


1118


is covered by a magnetic strip


1124


which in turn covered by a black vinyl adhesive tape


1126


. This magnetic strip


1124


is preferably made of ferromagnetic material such as iron or steel. The adhesive tape


1126


serves to attach the magnetic strip


1124


to the rabbet


1118


and to protect it from rust and to provide a natural black background.




The backing plate


1110


is shown made of a curved magnetic sheet


1128


which is covered on each side by a lamination layer


1130


. The magnetic sheet is preferably a steel sheet with a thickness of 0.010″ (0.25 mm) or less. The lamination layer


1130


can be a conventional adhesive-coated plastic sheet of 0.003″ (0.076 mm) in thickness. The lamination layers


1130


serve to protect the magnetic sheet


1128


from rust. The size of the lamination layer


1130


should be slightly larger than that of the magnetic sheet


1128


so that all edges of the magnetic sheet


1128


are covered by the soft lamination sheets


1130


for easy handling.




As stated above, the magnetic sheet


1128


needs to be made curved. Alternatively, if the magnetic sheet


1128


is a full hard cold rolled low carbon steel of 0.007″ (0.18 mm) or less in thickness it is quite flexible. In this case a curved sheet such as a duplicate second transparent plate


1108


can be placed behind the magnetic sheet


1128


to force such curvature on the backing plate


1110


when mounted.




The magnet


1114


is a commercially available magnet strip typically coated with an adhesive on one side which is covered by a easily removable protective sheet


1132


. This strip can be cut to any length desired with a scissors. The ceramic magnet block


1112


or magnet disc, not shown, are generally stronger magnet for its size and are widely used for craft.




A three dimensional article such as a figurine of suitable size can be displayed in the frame system


1100


by first attaching one or more magnets


1112


or


1114


to the bottom or back of the article. This article can then be placed either on the adhesive tape


1126


or the second transparent plate


1108


and be magnetically held by the magnetic strip


1124


or the magnetic sheet


1128


.




In the frame system of the present invention the first transparent plate


1106


mainly serves to shield and protect the three dimensional article placed behind the first transparent plate


1106


. But on the other hand, there are advantage by not having this first transparent plate


1106


at all. In this case, the second transparent plate


1108


, the picture


1116


and the backing plate


1110


can just be assembled in one stack and placed in the frame body


1102


. The backboard


1104


is next closed and locked. This will bend the picture


1116


and rest the second transparent plate


1108


against the rabbet


1118


. Consequently an arch-shaped void space is again formed between the flat frame window


1120


and the curved transparent plate


1108


. In this way one can access this void space any time through the frame window


1120


for placing and rearranging the three dimensional articles for display along with the displayed picture


1116


.





FIG. 36

discloses a front body


1140


which can be hinged on the frame body


1102


in FIG.


35


and be rotatable horizontally with respect to the frame body


1102


between an open position and a closed position. Carried on this front body


1140


is a flat transparent plate


1142


mounted over a front body window


1144


of the front body


1140


. This flat transparent plate


1142


serves as a substitute for the first transparent plate


1106


shown in FIG.


35


. Just as the first transparent plate


1106


, this flat transparent plate


1142


serves to shield and protect the three dimensional article placed in the frame system


1100


. Furthermore, one can also open the front body


1140


any time to place and rearrange the display of the three dimensional articles without disassembling the frame system


1100


. This operation can be achieved even without taking down the frame system


1100


if it is hung on a wall.




Disclosed in

FIG. 37

is a new type of reinforced picture that can be easily made for display in the frame system


1100


. In this figure a new reinforcement sheet


1150


is shown which can also be supplied as part of the frame system


1100


. It is a Mylar sheet


1152


with one side coated with a layer of adhesive which is covered by a removable protective sheet


1154


. The Mylar sheet


1152


is chosen for its tough, durable, lay-flat characteristics. Most importantly, it can be easily cut to any intricate shape with a simple household scissors when its thickness is less than 0.015″ (0.38 mm).




Also shown in

FIG. 37

is a picture


1156


showing an illustration of an eagle. A reinforced picture of this eagle can be made by first lifting and cutting off one portion of the protective sheet


1154


to expose enough area of the adhesive on the Mylar sheet


1152


for the picture


1156


. The picture sheet


1156


is then laid on the exposed adhesive. The reinforced picture of the eagle can now be made by simply cutting along the outline of the eagle using a scissors. The above-described eagle reinforced picture is ideally mountable on the second transparent plate


1108


of the frame system


1100


with the use of one magnet block


1112


applied with a layer of adhesive. This magnet block


1112


can be attached to the back of the reinforced picture and be oriented vertically for mounting on the curved second transparent plate


1108


. The eagle reinforced picture is now magnetically held and displayed in front of the picture


1116


. Because of the reinforcement sheet


1150


an eagle illustration is shown firmly flat and spaced apart from the picture


1116


which further enhances the three dimensional effect of the presentation.





FIG. 38

shows the first example of an assembled frame system of the present invention. This frame system


1160


includes all components shown in FIG.


35


and described above. Mounted in this frame system


1160


is a scenery picture


1162


which would appear three dimensional if viewed in the actual frame. Also mounted in front of the picture


1162


are an eagle reinforced picture


1164


and several animal figurines


1166


. All animal figurines


1166


are attached with the magnets


1114


and mounted on the vinyl tape


1126


and magnetically held by the magnetic strip


1124


. The eagle reinforced picture


1164


is made exactly as described above and is mounted on the second transparent plate


1108


and magnetically held by the backing plate


1110


.




The frame system


1100


of the present invention as demonstrated in the example shown in

FIG. 38

discloses a new three dimensional picture frame display. It allows a user turn an ordinary flat picture into a curved three dimensional display. In the mean time an arch-shaped void space in front of the picture is created for housing one or more figurines and photo sculptures complementary to the picture. The result is an interesting three dimensional show. More importantly, the reinforced picture of the present invention can be easily made. The mounting of such reinforced pictures and three dimensional articles can also be easily achieved.





FIG. 39

shows another example of the assembled system of the present invention. Displayed in this frame system


1170


is a bridal picture which would appear three dimensional if viewed in the actual frame. Also displayed is a reinforced picture


1174


commemorating such an important day in her life. This reinforced picture


1174


is attached with a magnet


1112


on its back. It is mounted on the Vinyl tape


1126


and is magnetically held by the magnetic strip


1124


.




One other interesting effect when the frame assembly is used to display a facial portrait is that the eyes on the portrait appear to follow the viewer as the viewer moves in front of the frame. This effect is explained in FIG.


40


. Furthermore, due to the curved display, the image of the person will appear slightly slimmer.




One point needs to be made is that for best eye movement effect the frame should be placed in such a way so that the line of sight between the frame and the viewer's eyes is perpendicular to the plane of the frame. Since this frame is usually placed on a table at a level lower than that of the viewer's eyes, it is highly recommended that the frame be tilted which makes the easel


1122


of the frame system


1100


very desirable.





FIG. 41

discloses an improvement on the frame system


1100


of

FIG. 35

by providing a novel holder


1180


which can be joined to the backboard


1104


of the frame system


1100


using a pair of bolts


1182


or other suitable means. This holder


1180


is made of a flexible plastic sheet which is curved horizontally to an one dimensional concavo-convex shape as shown in the figure. A small stud


1184


extends downward from the holder


1180


and is bent to a right angle at the end. The ends of two sides of the holder


1180


are curved back to form two vertical and parallel channels


1186


.




Also shown in

FIG. 41

are a thin flat and flexible transparent sheet


1188


, picture


1116


, and a flat and flexible magnetic sheet


1190


. All these three sheets are of the same width and length as seen in the figure. The transparent sheet


1188


will replace the second transparent plate


1108


of FIG.


35


. The magnetic sheet


1190


can be a low carbon steel sheet and can replace the backing plate


1128


of FIG.


35


.




Prior to the mounting of the picture


1116


the backboard


1104


is open to the position as shown in FIG.


35


. The first transparent plate


1106


is mounted in the frame body


1102


held against the frame window


1120


. The transparent sheet


1188


, the picture


1116


and the magnetic sheet


1190


are next gathered as a stack in the order as shown in the figure. This stack is slid into the two channels


1186


until it is stopped at the stud


1184


. At this time the picture


1116


, as well as the transparent sheet


1188


and the magnetic sheet


1190


will be bent to a curvature same as that of the holder


1180


.




At this point any three dimensional articles or reinforced picture to be displayed can now be placed either on the vinyl tape


1126


to be magnetically held by the magnetic strip


1124


or on the transparent sheet


1188


to be magnetically held by the magnetic sheet


1190


. After this the backboard


1104


can be closed and locked which completes the mounting process.




Just before the backboard


1104


is fully closed one side of the holder


1180


will first touch and be stopped by the first transparent plate


1106


. Further closing of the backboard


1104


will force the holder


1180


to swivel slightly. The holder


1180


and the installed stack will also be flatten slightly. This will bring both channels


1186


in contact with the transparent plate


1106


after which the backboard


1104


will be completely closed.




After the completion of the mounting process the assembled frame system is ready for display. It will be seen that the installed picture


1116


is curved which imparts a three dimensional effect to the illustration in the picture


1116


. The installed three dimensional articles or reinforced pictures are also displayed in front of the picture


1116


.





FIG. 42

discloses another version of the holder of present invention. This holder


1192


is made of ferromagnetic metal sheet such as iron or steel and is formed by stamping or other suitable means. It has a vertical portion


1193


and a horizontal portion


1194


. A small elbow


1195


integrally joins above two portions. The vertical portion


1193


is structurally similar to the holder


1180


of FIG.


41


. It is curved horizontally to an one dimensional concavo-convex shape with two vertical channels


1196


on the two sides. The horizontal portion


1194


is a flat rectangular plate which allows the holder


1192


to stand on a table.




The transparent sheet


1188


and picture


1116


of

FIG. 41

are also shown in FIG.


42


. The magnetic sheet


1190


of

FIG. 41

is no longer needed for the holder


1192


which is itself magnetic.




The picture


1116


is mounted by simply inserting the picture


1116


, together with the transparent sheet


1188


, down the two channels


1196


until they are rest on the horizontal plate


1194


. After installation, both the picture


1116


and the transparent sheet


1188


will be bent to a curvature same as that of the holder


1192


.




At this point any three dimensional articles or reinforced pictures to be displayed can now be placed on the horizontal plate


1194


or the transparent sheet


1188


and be magnetically held by the holder


1192


. The assembled holder


1192


can then be placed in the frame body


1102


after which the backboard


1104


is closed and locked. The finished frame system


1100


shall then be ready for display.




Unlike the holder


1180


which is flexible, the holder


1192


is rigid and fixed in its dimension. In order to fit the holder


1192


snugly in the frame system


1100


the depth of the holder


1192


, plus the thickness of the first transparent plate


1106


if present, shall be equal to the available depth of the rabbet


1118


. The width and height of the holder


1192


should also match that of the rabbet


1118


to assure a good fit.




One other point needs to be made is that the width of the transparent sheet


1188


is also very critical for it to be properly bent into a curvature same as that of the holder


1192


. The horizontal width of the transparent sheet


1188


should be equal to the length of the arc in the holder


1192


, as viewed from the top, extending to the ends of two channels


1196


. Too wide the width will cause the transparent sheet


1188


to bend out of shape, while too short the width will prevent two ends of the transparent sheet


1188


to touch the channels for proper bending.




Naturally, the width of the picture


1116


should not be too wide to fit into the two channels


1196


. However, a narrower picture will still fit and be properly curved as long as it is sandwiched between the curved holder


1192


and the curved transparent sheet


1188


.





FIGS. 43-46







FIGS. 43-46

disclose one more innovative feature in the 3D picture frame of the present invention. This feature is schematically shown in FIG.


43


. In this figure, a pre-curved glass


1202


, a custom picture


1204


, and a pre-curved backing plate


1206


are intended to be mountable in the frame body


1102


of the frame system


1100


of

FIG. 35

, in the same manner as the second transparent plate


1108


, picture


1116


, and the backing plate


1110


, respectively.




In addition to the pre-curved glass


1202


, there are also two rectangular transparent glass


1208


and


1210


shown in FIG.


43


. The glass


1208


, termed top edge glass


1208


, is positioned between the top edge of the pre-curved glass


1202


and the top member of the frame body


1102


. Similarly, the glass


1210


, termed bottom edge glass


1210


, is positioned between the bottom edge of the pre-curved glass


1202


and the bottom member of the frame body


1102


in the mounted position.




The remaining two items in

FIG. 43

to be described are a top edge sheet


1214


and a bottom edge sheet


1216


. The top edge sheet


1214


can be inserted between the top edge glass


1208


and the top member of the frame body


1102


. Similarly, the bottom edge sheet


1216


can be inserted between the bottom edge glass


1210


and the bottom member of the frame body


1102


.




It is clear from FIG.


43


and the above description that, once mounted in the frame body


1102


, the top edge sheet


1214


and the bottom edge sheet


1216


are positioned perpendicular with respect to the custom picture


1204


. It is also clear that the top edge sheet


1214


, bottom edge sheet


1216


and the custom picture


1204


are all visible through the glasses


1208


,


1210


and


1202


, respectively. The significance of these two facts will be clear by the three examples shown in

FIGS. 44-46

and described in the following discussion.




In

FIG. 44

a picture


1222


of a group of children is displayed in a 3D picture frame


1224


. This picture frame


1224


is structurally similar to the frame system


1100


of FIG.


35


and includes the pre-curved glass


1202


, pre-curved backing plate


1206


, and the edge glasses


1208


and


1210


as shown in FIG.


43


.




The picture


1222


will be curved when it is sandwiched between the curved glass


1202


and the backing plate


1206


. The very nature of this curvature will impart a 3D effect to the picture


1222


mounted in this frame


1224


.




Composition in a picture may also be employed to enhance its 3D effect. One good way to achieve this 3D effect is to take a picture of a large group of people packed together against a structureless background such as wall, lawn, sky, etc. The image of these people, when curved up in this 3D frame, will appear to “float” above the background—an interesting 3D effect.




Also shown in

FIG. 44

are a top edge sheet


1226


and a bottom edge sheet


1228


. The top edge sheet is not visible in the frame


1224


. The “sky” in the top edge sheet


1226


and the “grass” on the bottom edge sheet


1228


, plus the green lawn in the picture


1222


curved around the children, create a natural 3D effect.




Since this grass foreground on the bottom edge sheet


1228


is perpendicular to the children's image in the picture


1222


, a sense of depth is created which further enhances the 3D feeling in the mind of the viewer.




The contribution of the edge sheets


1226


and


1228


to the overall aesthetic appearance of the picture presentation is also obvious. A foreground covered by natural “grass” is certainly more appealing than the bare frame rabbet.




The concept of the edge sheet opens up a totally new dimension in the concept of picture frame. Users will have total freedom in choosing the two edge sheets to complement the main picture on display.





FIGS. 45



a


and


45




b


disclose another novel concept in the making of the edge sheets. In

FIG. 44

the top edge sheet


1226


and the bottom edge sheet


1228


are chosen separately from the main picture


1222


. But in

FIGS. 45



a


and


45




b


the edge sheets and the main picture can be taken from a single original picture sheet.




The picture sheet


1230


in

FIG. 45



a


shows a group of dancers


1231


, a floor


1232


, and a wall


1233


. A portion of the picture sheet


1230


is shown trimmed off to form a top edge sheet


1234


and a bottom edge sheet


1235


. The remaining portion of the picture sheet


1230


constitutes the main picture


1236


. These edge sheets


1234


and


1235


, as well as the main picture


1236


can be mounted in the 3D picture frame


1224


in the same manner as the top edge sheet


1226


, bottom edge sheet


1228


, and the main picture


1222


, respectively, as shown in FIG.


44


.




There are several advantages in the use of one single picture sheet to satisfy all the picture needs in the present 3D frame. The first one is the cost economy and convenience. But most importantly, it will be assured that the obtained edge sheets will more likely match the main picture in color and pattern since they are all obtained from a single picture sheet.




There is one other unique advantage associated with the single sheet concept in the 3D frame of the present invention. Once mounted in the 3D frame


1224


, the dancers


1231


are literally surrounded in three dimension by the same floor


1232


and the same wall


1233


appeared in the edge sheets


1234


,


1235


and the main picture


1236


. It achieve a wrap-around effect which further strengthens the 3D feeling in the mind of the viewer.




It should be noted that the concepts of the wrap-around effect and depth of the field have been illustrated before in this Application in one embodiment in connection with

FIGS. 14-15

(p.41, line 19 to p. 42, line 3). But the present approach as shown in

FIGS. 45



a


represents a drastic and unobvious improvement over this earlier version. It is clearly more superior in two important aspects. The first one is the curved image which extends to the entire width of the picture and will achieve more pronounced 3D effect. Obviously, a separate edge sheet is more easier to make and install. It also enables an edge glass to be placed between the main picture and the edge sheet and to separate the two from each other. Better protection to the edge sheet by the edge glass is also achieved.




The picture sheet


1237


shown in

FIG. 45



b


can also be similarly trimmed to form a top edge sheet


1238


, a bottom edge sheet


1239


and a main picture


1240


. They can also be mounted in the 3D frame


1224


for achieving wrap-around effect and superb 3D effect.




Because of the needs for professional lighting and back drop set up, the picture sheet


1237


is more likely obtained in a studio. Many professional cameras generally yield photographs with square or near square formats. Such photographs will be excellent candidates for making such 3D presentation in a frame of rectangular shape.




Photo matting is widely used in picture framing. A mat with bevel cut opening will enhance the aesthetic appearance of the framed picture. It will also allow a small picture to be mounted in an otherwise large frame.

FIG. 46

discloses a novel 3-piece mat set


1241


that are mountable in the 3D frame of the present invention.




The present mat set


1241


includes a center mat


1242


which is just like a conventional mat with a bevel cut opening. It can be sandwiched between a curved glass and backing plate of proper size and be curved when mounted in a 3D frame of the present invention. A picture can be attached to the backside of the center mat


1242


and also be curved to exhibit the desired 3D effect and eye movement effect.




The mat set


1241


in

FIG. 46

also includes a top edge mat


1244


and a bottom edge mat


1246


. These two edge mats can be mounted in a 3D frame of present invention in the same manner as the edge sheets


1214


and


1216


of

FIG. 43

mounted in the frame body


1102


of FIG.


35


. The edge mats


1244


and


1246


are preferably cut from the same mat sheet from which the center mat


1242


is also cut. In this way, the two edge mats


1244


and


1246


will have the same color and texture as that of the center mat


1242


. Once mounted, these two edge mats will blend nicely with the center mat to enhance the overall appearance of the 3D frame system.





FIGS. 47-49






One of the major features in the 3D frame of the present invention is the creation of 3D space in the shape of an arch. A three dimensional article such as reinforced pictures


1164


and


1174


and figurines


1166


can be magnetically held in this 3D space and be displayed. In this section several other novel means for holding three dimensional articles of various kind in this 3D space will be disclosed.





FIG. 47

discloses a novel 3D frame system


1250


which is basically the same as the 3D frame system


1100


in

FIG. 35

except with some changes for the purpose of holding a three dimensional article. This 3D frame system


1250


comprises a frame body


1252


, flat glass


1254


and pre-curved backing plate


1256


, very much like the frame body


1102


, first transparent plate


1106


and backing plate


1110


, respectively, in FIG.


35


.




Also seen in

FIG. 47

is a pre-curved mat plate


1258


. This mat plate


1258


has a center opening


1260


similar to the center mat


1242


shown in FIG.


46


. But there are two important differences separating the mat plate


1258


and the center mat


1242


. First, the mat plate


1258


is typically made of plastics such as Acrylic which can be pre-curved by thermal forming process. On the other hand, the center mat


1242


is cut from conventional paper mat which can not be pre-curved easily. The second difference is in term of their functions. The center mat


1242


is to be sandwiched between a pre-curved glass and a pre-curved backing plate for displaying a flat sheet held behind the center mat


1242


. On the other hand, the mat plate


1258


does not require a pre-curved glass on its front because the mat plate


1258


is pre-curved by itself for holding a three dimensional article, the details of which is to be described in the following discussion.




Held behind the mat plate


1258


is a three dimensional article which in this case is a lead glass angel


1262


mounted on a blue paper sheet


1264


. Since the blue paper sheet


1264


is pressed between the pre-curved mat plate


1258


and the pre-curved backing plate


1256


, it will also be curved and form a curvature same as that of the mat plate


1258


. The mounted lead glass angel


1262


, because of its physical dimension, will clear and extend beyond the center opening


1260


toward the frame window of the frame body


1252


. In this way, the lead glass angel


1262


will be largely held within the arch-shaped 3D space between the flat glass


1254


and the mat plate


1258


.




The mat plate of the present invention will have broad application for holding sheets with relief arts or supported three dimensional objects. However, in order to operate this mat plate


1258


successfully, several criteria must be observed. First, the sheet held by the mat plate


1258


must be flexible in order to be pushed back for creating the needed 3D space. Obviously, the size of the relief art or three dimensional objects must be small enough to clear the center opening of the mat plate. The depth of the relief art or objects must not exceed that of the created 3D space.




For the present discussion, fabric arts generally refer to any arts employing fabric sheet as its substrate or supporting sheet. This may include commonly known oil or Acrylic paintings on canvas, and cross stitching, needlepoint, or embroidery on cotton or synthetic fabric sheets.




Many such fabric arts will need framing for their proper display. It is difficult to frame such fabric arts due to its softness nature. It is also often required that no intimate contact on its front surface to a glass sheet be allowed.





FIG. 48

discloses one novel means for supporting and displaying such fabric arts in the 3D frame of the present invention. This would enable the 3D effect or eye movement effect to be achieved in such fabric arts. It would also create needed 3D space for the proper display of certain fabric arts.




In

FIG. 48

a cross stitching fabric art


1270


is shown adhered to a pre-curved backing plate


1272


with the use of a double-sided adhesive


1274


. This fabric art


1270


, with the backing plate


1272


, can be mounted in the frame body


1102


of FIG.


35


and displayed behind the flat glass


1106


.




The backing plate


1272


is similar to the backing plate


1206


in FIG.


43


. It is made of plastic sheet and is thermally formed to a desired curvature. The double-sided adhesive


1274


is preferably a rubber based pressure sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may include a foam layer which adds some softness to the contact and helps smooth out some unevenness typically found on the back side of the cross stitching art sheet


1270


.




One major advantage in the use of the pre-curved backing plate


1272


with double sided adhesive


1274


is to ensure that the entire back surface of the soft fabric art


1270


is adhered to the backing plate


1272


and thus conformed to the curvature of the backing plate


1272


. This is important for achieving the desired 3D effect and eye movement effect.




Since the fabric art


1270


is closely adhered to the backing plate


1272


, a well defined arch-shaped 3D space is created between the fabric art


1270


and the flat glass


1106


. This 3D space is especially desirable for some fabric arts such as ribbon embroidery which needs considerable amount of clearance in front of the art sheet.




The use of rubber based adhesive also has one advantage of allowing most fabrics to be removably adhered to the backing plate


1272


. This is desirable during the initial mounting process for adjusting the positioning of the fabric art


1270


. This fabric art


1270


can also be easily removed later from the backing plate


1272


when it is no longer needed for such display.




For certain fabric arts such as oil canvas painting it is possible to mount the blank canvas sheet on the backing plate


1272


before the painting process. This blank canvas supported by the backing plate


1272


can be readily held steadily on a conventional easel stand for the painting work. This means that the painting is done on a pre-curved canvas sheet. It is desirable since the canvas sheet does not have to be curved again after painting and can be readily mounted in a 3D frame for display.





FIG. 49

shows a sheet of conventional mesh screen


1280


which is referred to as plastic canvas in the trade. It is made of soft plastics and may have ten or less mesh per inch (2.54 cm). It serves as a substrate for yarn needlepoint. But it can also be used for holding any objects such as dried flowers that can be fastened onto the mesh screen


1280


with one or more pieces of twisted wires.




Also seen in

FIG. 49

is a novel pre-curved backing plate


1282


with a layer of double-sided adhesive


1284


. This backing plate


1282


, similar to the backing plate


1206


in

FIG. 43

, is mountable in a 3D frame such as the frame body


1252


in FIG.


47


. It is placeable behind the flat glass


1254


for forming an arch-shaped 3D space between the flat glass


1254


and the backing plate


1282


.




Once the mesh screen


1280


is loaded with yarn needlepoint or other art objects it can be attached to the backing plate


1282


with the help of the double-sided adhesive


1284


. The mesh screen


1280


will be conformed to the curvature of the backing plate


1282


. This in turn will yield adequate 3D space to accommodate the installed art objects once the backing plate


1282


, along with the mesh screen


1280


, is mounted behind the flat glass


1252


in the frame body


1252


.




The mesh screen


1280


is a flat and flexible plastic sheet. It is possible with the present teaching, that a mesh screen made of hard plastics such as ABS can be molded with a predetermined curvature for the present application. No pre-curved backing plate would be needed. Once loaded with are objects, this mesh screen can be directly mounted in the 3D frame body


1252


for display.





FIG. 50






In this section a brief discussion on the curvature of the glass


1108


and backing plate


1110


of

FIG. 35

will be made. In order to achieve the most ideal 3D effect, and more critically, the eye movement effect, the degree of the curvature of the glass must be carefully chosen. With inadequate glass curvature the eye movement effect may not be easily noticeable. On the other hand, with too much of the glass curvature, the image of the person in the picture may begin to show some distortion.





FIG. 50

shows the schematics of a curved glass


1290


, a picture sheet


1292


, and a curved backing plate


1294


resting on a 3D frame body


1296


. A backboard


1298


is also shown closing off the frame body


1296


. Also marked in the figure are several terms which are defined as follow:




R=Curvature Radius; radius of the inside surface of the glass


1290


or the backing plate


1294


, indicating the curvature of the glass


1290


or backing plate


1294


.




W=Width of the frame body


1296


, or the curved glass


1290


.




CH=Curve Height which is calculated based on the terms R and W.




Dmin=Minimum Depth of the frame rabbet which is equal to the sum of the thickness of the glass


1290


, picture sheet


1292


, and backing plate


1294


, plus the curve height.




AL=Arc Length; the length of the glass before it is curved.




It is found that the ratio of the curvature radius (R) to the frame body width (W) generally stays constant for ideal 3D effect or eye movement effect regardless of the 3D frame size. For a 3D frame with W=8″ (20.3 cm), the ideal curvature radius (R) was experimentally found to be 13″ (33 cm) for achieving satisfactory eye movement effect. Therefore, the curvature radius can be expressed as a function of the frame body width (W) as follow:






R=(13/8) W=1.625 W (for eye movement effect)  (1)






Referring to

FIG. 50

, the curve height (CH) of the glass


1290


is expressible in the following formula:






(R—CH)


2


+(0.5 W)


2


=R


2


  (2)






Combining the equations (1) and (2) the following equation can be deduced.






CH=0.079 W (for eye movement effect)  (3)






The arc length (AL) is related to the curvature radius according to the following equation.






AL=0.6255 R (for eye movement effect)  (4)






For a given frame body width (W), the critical dimensions of the 3D frame (R, CH, AL) for achieving satisfactory eye movement effect can therefore be determined based on the equations (1), (3) and (4). The following table lists such dimensions for three commonly used 3D portrait frames for achieving satisfactory eye movement effect.





















Frame










Body




Curvature




Curve




Arc







Width




Radius




Height




Length







W




R




CH




AL













 8″




13″  




0.632″




 8.13″







(20.32 cm)




(33.02 cm)




(1.61 cm)




(20.65 cm)







11″




17.88″




0.869″




11.18″







(27.94 cm)




(45.42 cm)




(2.21 cm)




(28.41 cm)







16″




26″  




1.264″




16.26″







(40.64 cm)




(66.04 cm)




(3.21 cm)




(41.31 cm)















The curvature radius (R) required for best 3D effect is generally smaller than that for eye movement effect. This means that for a given frame body width (W) the glass must be more curved for achieving desirable 3D effect than that for the eye movement effect.




It was discovered that for a frame body width (W) of 10″ (25.4 cm), the required curvature radius (R) for the pre-curved glass or backing plate is also 13″ for achieving satisfactory 3D effect. Therefore, the required curvature radius (R) can be expressed as a function of the frame body width (W) as follow:






R=(13/10) W=1.3 W (for 3D effect)  (5)






The equation (2) is also applicable here which, when combined with the equation (5), will yield the following equation.






CH=0.1 W (for 3D effect)  (6)






The arc length (AL) is also related to the curvature radius (R) by the following equation.






AL=0.79 R (for 3D effect)  (7)






The equations (5) to (7) will provide a guide for the determination of the critical dimensions (R, CH, AL) of the 3D frame for achieving satisfactory 3D effect. The following table lists such dimensions for three commonly used 3D landscape frames for achieving satisfactory 3D effect.





















Frame










Body




Curvature




Curve




Arc







Width




Radius




Height




Length







W




R




CH




AL













10″




13″  




1.0″




10.26″







 (25.4 cm)




(33.02 cm)




(2.54 cm)




(26.06 cm)







14″




18.2″




1.4″




14.37″







(35.56 cm)




(46.23 cm)




(3.56 cm)




(36.5 cm)







20″




26″  




2.0″




20.53″







 (50.8 cm)




(66.04 cm)




(5.08 cm)




(52.15 cm)















It should be pointed out that the equations (1) and (5) only provide a guideline for the design of 3D frames in achieving satisfactory eye movement effect and 3D effect. The exact choice of most suitable value of R must also be dependent on two other factors which are difficult to generalize.




The first factor of concern is the difference in perception of the eye movement effect and 3D effect by each individual viewer. It is possible that a picture mounted in a 3D frame may show a great eye movement effect or 3D effect to a first viewer, while fails to impress a second viewer under the same condition.




The second factor to be considered is the size of the critical image in the picture in relation to the width of the frame body (W). The critical image refers to the image in the picture to be viewed and judged for its eye movement effect or 3D effect.




For example, the picture in

FIG. 39

is to be viewed for its eye movement effect. The critical image will be the lady's face. In the case of

FIG. 45



b


which is to be viewed for its 3D effect. The critical image will be the image of the two persons in the picture.




Generally speaking, for a given 3D frame, the larger the critical image in relation to the width of the frame, the more pronounced the achieved eye movement effect or 3D effect will be. If a person's image in a picture is too small, it is suggested that the picture be cropped to yield a smaller picture. This smaller picture can then be mounted in a smaller 3D frame which will come with its own set of R and CH values, more suitable for bringing out the desired eye movement effect or 3D effect.




In view of the above-mentioned factors, the preferable curvature radius (R) for eye movement effect or 3D effect in most case would be within the 30 % range from the value indicated by the equation (1) or (5), respectively. It can be expressed mathematically by the following two equations.






















1.14 W < R < 2.11 W




(for eye movement effect)




(8)







0.91 W < R < 1.69 W




(for 3D effect)




(9)















It is also preferable that the curvature radius (R) be individually set within this 30% range to fit each viewer's own circumstance.





FIG. 51







FIG. 51

discloses a novel fastening means for the 3D frame of the present invention. In this figure a stack of pre-curved glass


1300


, picture sheet


1302


, and pre-curved backing plate


1304


is shown placed in a 3D frame body


1306


. Also shown in this figure is a strap


1308


which may include a pair of Velcro ribbons


1310


and


1312


with one ends of said ribbons secured to two opposing inside walls of the 3D frame body


1306


.




It is important that the anchoring ends of each Velcro ribbon be positioned as close as possible to the edge of the backing plate


1304


along its straight side. This will ensure that the strap


1308


will tightly wrap around the curved backing plate


1304


from edge to edge to securely fasten the stack to the 3D frame body


1306


.




Velcro is a trade name of a hook fastener commercially available from Velcro USA, Inc., Manchester, N.H., USA. There are two parts to each Velcro strap. The first part is the male part which consist of a layer of closely packed hook-like fiber. The second part is the female part which has a layer of closely packed loops. When the two parts are pressed together many hooks will enter the loops and thus lock the two parts together. The strap can be untied by simply pulling one part up and away from the other part. With enough length for overlap the two parts can overlap at any point thus allowing the tightness of the strap easily adjustable.




Obviously, with the present teaching many other types of straps can also be adopted. This may include a conventional two-ring buckle that allows a ribbon to be locked between the two rings. Snap-on type buckle is also an acceptable choice.




The unique advantage in the use of strap


1308


as opposed to any conventional clip-type stops for the present 3D frame system is that the soft ribbon in the strap will tightly wrap around the entire length of the curved backing plate from one straight side edge to the other. This will prevent the entire stack from popping loose or out of position during shipping or heavy handling.





FIGS. 52



a


and


52




b






The curved glass of the present invention is preferably made of Acrylic sheet which is available commercially in non-glare grade which would eliminate most glare in the present 3D frame system. At adequate thickness the Acrylic sheet can be heat treated to form a rigid curved glass for the present application. But for the sake of cost economy a thinner thickness at 0.060″ (0.15 cm) or less is preferable. One other reason for this choice is that the formed Acrylic sheet is flexible which has some advantages as will be clear in the following discussion.





FIG. 52



a


shows the same curved glass


1290


, picture sheet


1292


, and backing plate


1294


, rested on a 3D frame body


1320


whose width (W) is slightly wider than that of the 3D frame body


1296


of FIG.


50


. It is assumed that the curved glass is made of Acrylic sheet of 0.060″ (0.15 cm) thick or less and is flexible. The picture sheet


1292


is assumed to be flexible. The backing plate


1294


can also be flexible if it is made of Acrylic sheet or other plastic material such as high impact polystyrene (HIPS) of thickness of 0.060″ or less.




Also installed, not shown in the figure, in the frame body


1320


is a strap wrapped around this stack of the curved glass


1290


, picture


1292


, and backing plate


1294


, all of which are considered flexible. An downward force applied by the strap will collapse the stack and cause it to spread out to fill the entire width of the 3D frame body


1320


. This is a convenient way to reduce the curvature of the curved glass


1290


and backing plate


1294


. It also illustrates a new use of the present novel strap means for adjusting the curvature of the curved glass.





FIG. 52



b


again shows the same stack of the curved glass


1290


, picture sheet


1292


, and backing plate


1294


, resting on the same 3D frame


1296


of FIG.


50


. This figure also shows a cardboard strip


1310


inserted to each side of the stack. Since this stack is flexible as assumed before, it can be easily squeezed to reduce its width (W) and increase its curve height (CH). This is a convenient way to increase the eye movement effect or 3D effect on the displayed picture


1292


. A strap is not shown, but also can be included to hold down the stack and fasten it to the 3D frame body


1296


.




It should be noted that the above described method for adjusting the curvature of the curved glass


1290


and backing plate


1294


is recommended only for making small adjustment. Such adjustment by bending or depressing the curved glass will mainly change the curvature in the middle section and will cause the curved glass to be out of round. This will consequently distort the observed image in the picture. For making large change of the curvature a new curved glass and backing plate with different curvature radius (R) must be made.




In a rare occasion even a flat but flexible glass and backing plate can be bent to fit into a 3D frame body and fastened by a strap. Referring to

FIG. 52



a


the pre-curved glass


1290


and pre-curved backing plate


1294


can be replaced by a normally flat but flexible glass and backing plate, both of which will be bent to fit into the 3D frame body


1320


. This approach is useful but is not recommended in general because such glass and backing plate are very likely out of round and may produce unpleasant distorted image. However, for very large 3D frames with width exceeding several feet this approach may become acceptable as the image distortion problem using 0.060″ Acrylic sheet becomes less severe while the normal approach of making pre-curved glasses is getting more expensive.





FIG. 53







FIG. 53

shows a fixture or preview frame


1340


which allows a picture to be viewed for its eye movement effect and/or 3D effect. It has a base plate


1342


shown with two grooves


1344


and


1346


with different curvatures. Two poles or threaded rods


1348


are mounted on the base plate


1342


. Also shown in the figure is a top plate


1350


which has two holes for the poles to penetrate there through and for the top plate


1350


to slide along the poles


1348


. Means such as nuts or clips, not shown, may also be included for holding the top plate


1350


at a desired height above the base plate. There are also two grooves


1352


and


1354


on the top plate which are mirror images of the two grooves


1344


and


1346


, respectively, on the base plate.




The picture to be viewed can be sandwiched between a glass and a backing plate. The entire stack is inserted into one of the grooves on the base plate


1342


. The top plate


1350


is then lowered to engage with the stack and firmly hold the stack between the top plate


1350


and the base plate


1342


for viewing.




It is interesting to note that the preview frame


1340


can also be used to hold a blank canvas adhered to a pre-cured backing plate. The mounted unit can be used for later painting work. Upon completion, the finished art can be transferred to a 3D frame for display.




A supporting sheet such as the paper sheet


1264


of FIG.


47


and mesh screen


1280


of

FIG. 49

can also be similarly mounted between two pre-curved mat plate


1258


of FIG.


47


. Double-sided adhesive can be applied to one or both pre-curved mat plates


1258


and bind the supporting sheet into a single unit. This unit is then mounted on the fixture


1340


for relief art work, dried flower arrangement, etc., that may require access to both sides of the supporting sheet. Upon completion, the finished art work, along with the two mat plates


1258


, can be removed from the fixture


1340


and mounted in a 3D frame for display.





FIG. 54







FIG. 54

discloses another innovative improvement in the present 3D frame system. Because of the need of high rabbet depth there is no easy lighting condition that can make the entire display area equally visible. The most difficult area is near the top center of the picture which is often covered in the shadow of the top frame moulding.





FIG. 54

shows the back side of a 3D frame


1360


of the present invention with its backboard removed. Mounted on each of the two inside vertical walls of the 3D frame


1360


is a light fixture


1362


with a fluorescent lamp


1364


. Also shown in the 3D frame


1360


is a pre-curved backing plate


1366


which is preferably made of white translucent material such as Acrylic sheet so that the light from the lamp


1364


will be diffused to cover the entire picture uniformly.




With the present lighting system the picture in the 3D frame


1360


will always be properly lighted regardless of the surrounding light condition. Furthermore, this unique 3D frame may even serves as a room light source under certain condition.





FIG. 55







FIG. 55

discloses the schematics of an improved heat forming unit


1370


for making the curved glasses and curved backing plates of the present invention. In spite of its low cost of manufacturing it is capable of producing large number of curved sheets with good quality.




The central components of the present heat forming unit


1370


is a convex mold


1372


and a matching concave mold


1374


. Both these molds are preferably machined from aluminum block for better heat conductivity. The width of these molds can be slightly less than the width of the 3D Frame (W) while the radius of the curved surface is designated by equation (1) or (5) depending on the type of the effect to be desired.




The convex mold


1372


and concave mold


1374


are shown placed in a holder


1376


which includes two side plates


1378


and a bottom plate


1380


firmly joined together. The distance between the two side plates is set to be the same as the 3D frame's inside width (W). For best heat conductivity, these plates are also preferably made of aluminum.




Also shown in the figure are two threaded rods one on each side of the molds


1372


and


1374


. These rods are threaded into the two threaded holes on the bottom plate


1380


. A top plate


1384


is also shown which has two clearance holes for inserting the threaded rods


1382


there through. A compression spring


1386


, washer


1388


, and a nut


1390


are engaged with each rods


1382


as shown in the figure.




Before loading, the convex mold is removed from the holder


1376


. The compression spring


1386


, washers


1388


and nuts


1390


are all temporally removed from the threaded rods


1382


. At this time only the concave mold is placed in the holder


1376


and centrally positioned between the two threaded rods


1382


.




The flat glass sheets


1392


and flat backing plates


1394


to be thermal formed must be cut to predetermined size for the 3D frame chosen. They are alternately loaded into the holder


1376


one sheet at a time. This will assure that each matching pair will have the same curvature and to avoid any miss match due to possible variation on the curvature from batch to batch.




It is important that upon loading, each sheet must be individually pressed down and bent to a curvature similar to that of the concave mold


1374


. The sheet will stay curved once the pressing hand is lifted. This is important since it would be very difficult to bend a large stack of flat sheets at a later time due to the friction between adjacent sheets. The side of each loaded sheet must be in touch with both the side plates


1378


and the sheet beneath it. The presence of gap between two adjacent sheets at either side indicates that the liner length of the sheet must be trimmed before further proceeding. On the other hand, the sheet with inadequate linear length will not stay curved




It is not unusual that after ten or more pairs are loaded, some small gap may exist in the middle section. This gap will be mostly eliminated later when pressure is applied. Several sheets of flexible steel


1396


are also optionally added to the top and bottom of the loaded pack. These sheets will provide a smooth surface in contact with the glass sheet and backing plate.




Once the sheet loading is completed, the convex mold


1372


can be placed on top of the stack. The top plate


1384


, springs


1386


, washers


1388


can now be slid down along the threaded rods


1382


. The nuts


1390


are then applied and threaded down along the rods


1382


. Further tightening the nuts will compress the compression springs


1386


and close down the gap existed in the middle section.




The completed unit can now be placed in an oven. For Acrylic sheets a temperature set at 200 degree Fahrenheit for 2 hours is adequate but shorter duration is still possible.




As the glass sheets


1392


and backing plate


1394


are heated they become soften and pressed down by the compression springs


1386


. Any previously existed gap will now be closed off. Any stress existed in the glass sheets


1392


and backing plates


1394


will now be relieved. At this point, all the glass sheet


1392


and backing plates


1394


will conform to the curvature of the concave mold


1374


.




After oven heating the heat forming unit


1370


is removed from the oven. Once cooled off the unit


1370


can be disassembled and the glass sheets


1392


and backing plates


1394


are now permanently curved and ready for use.




Although the preferred embodiments of the frame systems of the present invention have been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes can be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and the construction thereof, which generally stated, consist in a frame system within the scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A picture frame for displaying a first sheet and a second sheet, comprising:(A) a frame body having a frame window, (B) a pre-curved transparent plate, having a concave side and a convex side, removably mounted behind said frame window with said concave side facing said frame window, (C) mounting means (a) for urging said first sheet against said pre-curved transparent plate and conforming the curvature of said first sheet to that of said pre-curved transparent plate, and (b) for displaying said first sheet through said pre-curved transparent plate and said frame window, and (D) a second transparent plate removably mounted in said frame body, below and at a right angle with respect to said pre-curved transparent plate, for holding said second sheet below said second transparent plate and displaying said second sheet through said second transparent plate and said frame window.
  • 2. The picture frame of claim 1 also comprising a third transparent plate removably mounted in said frame body and positioned above and at a right angle with respect to said pre-curved transparent plate.
  • 3. A picture frame for displaying a photograph which is trimmed to yield a first sheet and a second sheet, comprising:(A) a frame body having a frame window, (B) a pre-curved transparent plate, having a concave side and a convex side, removably mounted behind said frame window with said concave side facing said frame window, (C) mounting means (a) for urging said first sheet against said pre-curved transparent plate and conforming the curvature of said first sheet to that of said pre-curved transparent plate, and (b) for displaying said first sheet through said pre-curved transparent plate and said frame window, and (D) a second transparent plate removably mounted in said frame body, below and at a right angle with respect to said pre-curved transparent plate, for holding said second sheet below said second transparent plate and displaying said second sheet through said second transparent plate and said frame window, whereby a wrap-around effect is achieved for said first sheet.
  • 4. A picture frame for displaying a picture, comprising:(A) a frame body having a frame window, (B) a pre-curved transparent plate, having a concave side and a convex side, removably mounted behind said frame window with said concave side facing said frame window, (C) a first mat sheet with a mat opening, (D) mounting means (a) for urging said first mat sheet and said picture against said pre-curved transparent plate, (b) for conforming the curvatures of said picture and said first mat sheet to that of said pre-curved transparent plate, and (c) for displaying said picture through said mat opening and said frame window, and (E) a second mat sheet removably mounted in said frame body, below and at a right angle with respect to said first mat sheet.
  • 5. The picture frame of claim 4 also comprising a third mat sheet removably mounted in said frame body, above and at a right angle with respect to said first mat sheet.
  • 6. A picture frame for displaying a picture, comprising:(A) a frame body having a frame window, (B) a concavo-convex shaped transparent plate having an all-concave side and an all-convex side, removably mounted in said frame body, with said all-concave side facing said frame window, and (C) mounting means (a) for mounting said picture behind said transparent plate, and (b) for urging said picture against said transparent plate and conforming the curvature of said picture to that of said transparent plate for adding a three dimensional effect and an eye movement effect to an entire image of said picture.
  • 7. The picture frame of claim 6 in which said mounting means includes a concavo-convex shaped backing plate for urging said picture against said transparent plate.
  • 8. The picture frame of claim 6 in which said mounting means includes a door.
  • 9. The picture frame of claim 6 in which said transparent plate has a width (W) and a curvature radius (R), said width (W) being related to said radius (R) by the following equation for achieving satisfactory three-dimensional effect:0.91 W<R<1.69 W.
  • 10. The picture frame of claim 6 in which said transparent plate has a width (W) and a curvature radius (R), said width (W) being related to said radius (R) by the following equation for achieving satisfactory eye movement effect:1.14 W<R<2.11 W.
  • 11. The picture frame of claim 6 also comprising holding means for holding a three-dimensional article between said frame window and said transparent plate, and for displaying said three-dimensional article through said frame window.
  • 12. The picture frame of claim 11 in which said holding means includes a magnetic element.
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/962,095, filed Oct. 31, 1997 now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/929,193, filed Sep. 8, 1997 now abandoned which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/270,008, filed Jul. 1, 1994 now abandoned. Claim priority: Provisional Application Ser. 60/094,126, filed Jul. 24, 1998.

US Referenced Citations (9)
Number Name Date Kind
3041762 Knox Jul 1962
3333358 Green et al. Aug 1967
3596391 Knight, Jr. Aug 1971
3949506 Benkowski Apr 1976
5265357 Yu Nov 1993
5461810 Goserud Oct 1995
5617663 Miki et al. Apr 1997
5619816 Ellison Apr 1997
5666712 Cvetkov Sep 1997
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/094126 Jul 1998 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/270008 Jul 1994 US
Child 08/929193 US
Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/962095 Oct 1997 US
Child 09/360386 US
Parent 08/929193 Sep 1997 US
Child 08/962095 US