Patent Application
20160296044
The mounting and display of printed images is typically accomplished by stretching a canvas or other material containing an image over a wooden or metal stretcher frame. The images are generally secured to the backside of the frame with staples or adhesive. These systems are typically expensive, have multiple parts, or do not provide for an image that is professional in appearance. They also leave unintended folds of material or canvas, which appear as wrinkles at the edges, disturbing the integrity of the image.
There is a need for new support structures and image substrates that address such disadvantages and provide for a technically efficient image display providing a professional, artistic appearance, and where the integrity of the image is not compromised.
In one embodiment, the image display assembly is configured as a planar wood base with a unique v-grooved arrangement dispersed along a non-image surface of the wood base, resulting in one or more foldable base segments. In one embodiment, the applied v-grooves form points at which the wood base can be folded along the groove (a point of introversion, or hinge point), so that the folded segments form a corner.
In one embodiment, the orientation and arrangement of the v-grooves along the non-image side of the wood base create foldable segments, that when folded inward along the v-grooves permit the wood base to be folded into various shapes, such as into a box-like (cube) shape with near-perfect 90° corners.
A wooden image display according to one embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a planar wood base configured with a plurality of v-grooves on a non-image face that provide means of assembling the base into a support structure with a plurality of corners; one or more of an image display face whereon an image is printed.
In one embodiment, an image display assembly comprises: a wood base configured with a front face comprising an image printed thereon, and a non-image face, the non-image face comprising a plurality of linear v-grooves, wherein the plurality of linear v-grooves segment the wood base into one or more foldable segments that upon folding of the segments assemble the base into a support structure comprising a plurality of corners, thereby forming an assembled base comprising at least one image display face formed from at least a portion of the front face.
Another embodiment provides an image display assembly, comprising: a base comprised of a generally-planar wooden material with peripheral edges that are angled at approximately 45° and an image face and a non-image face; a laminate layer on the image face; and a linear v-groove arrangement on the non-image face, wherein the linear v-grooves comprise an angle in a range of 85° to 95° degrees and traverses the non-image face at a depth that is essentially equal to the width of the base and approaching the laminate layer on the image face of the base, and wherein the linear v-groove arrangement sub-divides the base into one or more foldable segments, that upon folding of the segments create support means comprising a plurality of corners, and wherein the support means comprise one or more of an image display face formed from at least a portion of the front face, a side wall, and a back wall.
Another embodiment provides a method of creating an image display, comprising: providing a wooden base comprising an image face and a non-image face configured with foldable segments, the segments formed by applying a plurality of linear v-grooves along the non-image face at a sufficient depth to permit inward folding to create a 90 degree corner from the foldable segments; printing at least one image to at least a portion of the image face; and folding the segments to assemble the base into a support structure comprising a plurality of corners, thereby forming an assembled display comprising at least one image display face formed from at least a portion of the front face.
In one embodiment, a process for applying an image to an wood base, comprises the steps of: applying by way of printing to an image side of a planar wood base in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the image to be applied, wherein the wood base is configured with a non-image side comprising a v-groove arrangement, the v-groove arrangement generating foldable base segments, that when folded inward along the v-groove generate folded base segments comprising a 90 degree corner; and (optionally) applying a lamination layer to the image side of the wood base, wherein application comprises rolling of a laminate material to the wood via a machine process, an automated process, or by manual process; folding the foldable segments of the wood base in order to assemble the base into an image support structure comprising a front image face and one or more of a side wall.
Described herein is an image display assembly comprising a wood base having a front (image) face for printing an image thereto, and a back (non-image) face, the back face comprising a plurality of linear v-grooves; an optional laminate layer applied to the front face of the base layer; and wherein the plurality of v-grooves segment the base into foldable base segments that upon inward folding along the v-grooves assemble the base into a support structure with a plurality of corners to form an assembled base comprising at least one image display face formed from at least a portion of the front face.
In another embodiment, the front segment comprises at least one display face, optionally wherein at least one side segment comprises a display face, further optionally wherein each side segment comprises a display face.
In one embodiment, the base is configured such that, when assembled, the assembled base forms a prism optionally with an end face removed, wherein the side faces of the prism are rectangles, or wherein the prism is a triangular prism or rectangular prism, or wherein the prism is a cube.
In one embodiment, the base is comprised of a wooden material, such as treated or untreated wood, reclaimed wood, and recycled wood. The wooden base may be formed from particle board, or other wood-based materials, including veneers, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and including any necessary natural or synthetic resins or other suitable binders in order to impart rigidity and strength to the base. In one embodiment, the wood base may have a thickness ranging from approximately 1/16 inch to ½ inch, at least 0.0625 inches and up to 0.5 inches, although other base dimensions are contemplated.
In one embodiment, the overall dimensions of the image display provide for an assembled image display of dimensions corresponding to one of a 3×5 inch image; a 5×7 inch images; an 8×10 inch image; a 11×14 inch image; 16×20 inch image; 20×30 inch image; 22×32 inch image, or any other suitable image size or equivalent thereof, such as the other standard-image sizes, or metric measurements. In yet another embodiment, the overall dimensions may be customized.
The periphery of the base comprises distal edges that are angled at about 45° (e.g. at 43-47° or at)45°, along all or a portion of the periphery, thereby providing for alignment of edges, if two edges of the planar wood base are brought together in alignment upon folding of the v-grooves (shown in more detail in the Figures).
In one embodiment, the wood base is configured with an arrangement of linear v-grooves. The v-grooves are arranged on the non-image side of the wood base and divide the base into foldable segments along either side of the v-groove. The resulting foldable segments are folded inward along the v-groove, with the folded segments forming a corner segment. With this arrangement, various overall shapes of the image display assembly are envisioned and may be assembled based on the arrangement and positioning of the v-grooves along the wood base.
In one embodiment, the v-grooves are created by a mitre bit on a computerized numerical control (CNC) router, with a bit size in a range of 90-93 degrees. The depth of the v-groove is of a depth that permits inward folding of the segments of the wood base in order to create a 90° angled corner, but the v-groove does not fully traverse the wood base. In one embodiment, the v-groove depth is in a depth ranging from approximately 0.05 to 0.02 inches away from the image side of the wood base (ie, leaving a base thickness in a thickness range of 0.05 to 0.02 inches), alternatively, less than 0.004 inches away from the image side of the wood base; thus leaving a base thickness of less than 0.004 inches remaining at the end of the v-groove. In another embodiment the v-groove depth is at a depth ranging from approximately less than or up to 0.004 inches away from the image side of the wood base, leaving a base thickness of essentially less than 0.004. It is understood that overall depth will vary depending on the thickness of the base, and the type of materials used as the base.
In an embodiment, the v-grooves have a depth of varying thickness, such as at least 50% of the thickness of the base, or a lower percentage, optionally wherein the grooves have a depth at least, or greater than, 60% of the thickness of the base, further optionally wherein the grooves have a depth of at least, or greater than, 70% of the thickness of the base, still further optionally wherein the grooves have a depth of at least, or greater than, 80% of the thickness of the base, or a depth of a higher percentage.
In one embodiment, the v-grooves have an angle in a range of 85 to 95° (e.g. 87 to 93°, optionally, wherein the v-grooves have an angle of about 90°, and preferably an angle of about 91°. For example the v-grooves may have an angle in the range of 89 to 92°.
The v-grooves subdivide the base into segments. The segments may be folded along the v-groove to form one or more support members, such as a side wall and back wall, for an image display. In one embodiment, segments may be of varying widths and lengths, thereby permitting multiple display assembly configurations. In one embodiment, v-groove placement may result in a plurality of segments of various widths and lengths, which result in an overall assembly conforming to specific dimensions. In one embodiment, a depth of a side wall formed upon folding of segments of the base is in a range of 0.25 inches to 2.0 inches, although other depths are envisioned. In one embodiment, based on the overall dimensions (length and width) of the base and the arraignment of v-grooves, the resulting segments created on the base may be assembled to form an image display with—for example: an 11×14 inch image display face, a 1.5 inch side wall, and a 1.0 inch back wall. It is to be understood that these are dimensions are meant to be illustrative and not exhaustive.
In one embodiment, a laminate layer is a layer of laminate material and may cover all, or a portion of, the image face of the wood base. Laminate (generally translucent; although may be colored or tinted) comprises plastic, vinyl, and/or other materials, such as dyes, colors, fibers. In one embodiment, the laminate layer is applied by rolling of a layer of laminate material using a laminating machine, such as rolling laminate machines known in the art. In another embodiment, laminate layer may be manually applied, whether as a sheet of laminate material or other adhesive material, such as liquid laminates applied manually by brush, spraying, or sponge. In yet another embodiment, a laminate is applied by a process involving one of heat, pressure, welding, or adhesives.
In one embodiment, laminate layer comprises sheets of vinyl impregnated with ferro-magnetic material, thereby allowing a bond to magnets, such as for a custom arrangement of display assemblies or other unique visual presentation. In another embodiment, the laminate layer comprises specially surfaced plastic sheets applied to the printed image to allow them to be safely written upon, such as with dry erase markers or chalk. In yet another embodiment, multiple translucent printed images may be laminated in layers to achieve certain visual effects or to hold holographic images. Various laminate films are envisioned, including: standard thermal laminating films; low-temperature thermal laminating films; heat set (or heat-assisted) laminating films; pressure-sensitive films; and liquid laminate.
In one embodiment, the image is printed directly onto the image face of the wooden base using an ultraviolet (UV) print method. Ultraviolet printing comprises a process of using UV inks instead of traditional inks to apply an image to the image face of the wood base. While traditional inks are solvent-based and dry by allowing chemicals to evaporate over time, UV inks are dried (cured) with UV light. In another embodiment, printing comprises applying traditional inks to print the image to the image face of the wood base.
In one embodiment, the wood base is generally planar and comprises distal ends that based on their configuration (length, width, angles generated) define the overall shape of the planar wood base. In another embodiment, the distal ends comprise corner-forming edges that are clipped at a 45 degree angle across the width of the wood base, to minimize interference of the distal ends upon assembly of the image display into its assembled form (See angled edges 226 in
In one embodiment, an image display may be assembled by folding the base segments inwardly along the plurality of linear v-grooves. As the base segments are folded inward along the v-grooves one or more of a corner of the display assembly are formed. In one embodiment, the corner segments are secured in-place by the rigidity of the materials of the base, requiring no additional closure features or means of securing the corners in alignment. Although, optionally, closure means, such as staples, glue, Velcro, magnets, or any other suitable means may be used at corners.
In one embodiment, a back panel or covering is provided and may be attached to the non-image side of the assembled image display assembly. In order to cover the back side of the back panel may be of a size suitable to cover all or a portion of the non-display (back) side of the display assembly. The panel may be comprised of various materials, such as cardboard, fiberboard, plastic, fabric, natural materials, synthetic materials, or any combination thereof. The panel may be secured to the image display by any suitable securement means, such as staples, pins, nails, glue, stitching, Velcro, or any other means for holding the panel on the non-image face of the image display. The back panel provides a clean and finished look to the image display assembly but—significantly—is not required for structural integrity of the assembled image display.
Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing an image display assembly (which may be an image display assembly of the invention), wherein in one embodiment, linear v-grooves are applied to the base layer on a side opposite the image face using a v-groove router bit in a pattern for a desired shape or structure upon assembly of the base.
In one embodiment, the planar base (representing the unassembled display) can be configured—based on the dimensions of the base, and the arrangement of the v-grooves, for assembly into a pre-determined shape (when the unassembled base is assembled into a display support structure), such as a rectangular shape, triangular shape, or a cube.
In one exemplary embodiment meant to be illustrative and not exhaustive, an unassembled image display base is of a thickness of approximately 0.125 inches, with a v-groove depth of approximately 0.115 inches inward from the non-image side, the v-grooves at an angle of 91 degrees and a width of approximately 0.2301 inches.
Turning now to the figures, in which are shown various embodiments of an image display assembly, in both unassembled and assembled forms.
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In one embodiment, shown in
In yet another embodiment, the 6-sided cube-shaped assembly 400 with printed image 418 printed thereon is configured with hanging means 460, or other decorative means, shown as a ribbon in
The planar base materials can be configured by shaping, cutting and modifying the materials comprising the planar base layer in a way that upon the addition of the v-grooves, permits assembly of the planar base materials into various support structure shapes, by inward folding of extensions or segments created by the v-grooves, which when folded inwardly along the v-groove, provide a substantially rigid support assembly on which an image can be affixed for display.
An image display assembly, comprises a base comprised of a generally-planar and semi-rigid material configured with peripheral edges that are angled at approximately 45°, a front (image) face and a back (non-image) face; a printed image printed directly onto the front face; and a linear v-groove arrangement applied on the non-image face, wherein the linear v-grooves comprise an angle in a range of 85° to 95° degrees, and wherein the linear v-groove arrangement sub-divides the base into a number of foldable base segments, that upon folding of the segments create an image display face formed from at least a portion of the front face, and at least one or more corners of one or more support means of an assembled image display assembly, wherein the support means comprise one or more of a side wall comprised of at least two side wall segments, a back wall comprised of at least two back wall segments, an outer wall comprised of at least two outer wall segments, an inner support comprised of at least two inner support segments.
An image display assembly comprises: a base having a front face and a back face; a printed image printed to at least one front face of the base layer; and wherein the back face comprising a plurality of grooves configured such that the plurality of grooves foldable segments that may be folded to assemble the base into a support structure with a plurality of corners to form an assembled base comprising at least one image display face formed from at least a portion of the front face. In another embodiment, the segments of the base comprise distal ends and said distal ends comprise clipped corners and/or notches to minimize interference of the segment ends with each other, when the plurality of grooves are folded to form the assembled base, and further wherein segments of the base comprise distal ends and said distal ends are shaped to allow overlap of a distal end of a segment with the distal end of a neighboring segment when the plurality of grooves are folded to form the assembled base.
In another embodiment, a method of creating an image display, comprises presenting a wood base with an image side and a non-image side, wherein the non-image side is configured with a plurality of linear v-grooves, the v-grooves forming an angle ranging from 85° to 95° on the non-image side resulting in a plurality of foldable base segments; printing an image directly onto a portion of the image face of the wood base, wherein printing comprises applying an image by a ultraviolet or traditional printing process; folding the foldable base segments along the v-grooves thereby forming a plurality of corners that provide a support structure, wherein the support structure comprises one or more image display faces, and depending on the arrangement of the linear v-grooves, one or more of a supporting wall comprising a side wall, and a back wall. In another embodiment, the process further comprises applying a laminate layer to the image side of the wood base. The laminate layer may be applied prior to the application of the linear v-groove arrangement to the wood base; or prior to the printing of the image to the image side of the wood base; or prior to folding of the foldable base segments but after printing of the image to the image side of the wood base.
It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that features disclosed in relation to any of the embodiments disclosed above can be applicable interchangeably between the different embodiments. The embodiments disclosed above are examples to illustrate various features of the invention.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
This application claims priority to earlier-filed U.S. provisional patent application No(s). 62/146,628 filed Apr. 13, 2015, and 62/160,370 filed May 12, 2015, the contents each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62146628 | Apr 2015 | US | |
| 62160370 | May 2015 | US |
