A picture frame assembly includes a backing plate having a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of parallel grooves in one of the surfaces. The material and thickness of the backing plate are chosen so that the backing plate can be plastically deformed about a bending axis parallel to the grooves. At least one frame element, which can be formed integrally with the backing plate, is for provided for retaining a planar picture element against the front surface of the backing plate. A fastener extends from the rear surface for mounting the assembly to any of various objects, such as a tree, flower stem, a candle, a vase, a basket, a gift wrapping device, a container, a column, and furniture.
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0. 27. A combination of a picture frame assembly and an object having a curved surface comprising:
at least one frame element capable of assuming a first radius of curvature of the curved surface;
a unitary backing plate removably attachable to the frame element for retaining a picture element against the frame element, the backing plate being defined by a front surface and a rear surface;
and a fastening element fixed to one of the frame element and the backing plate for fixedly mounting the picture frame assembly onto the object;
wherein one of the front surface and the rear surface of the backing plate has a second radius of curvature which is substantially the same as the first radius of curvature of the curved surface.
0. 21. A combination of a picture frame assembly and a cylindrical object comprising:
at least one frame element capable of assuming a first radius of curvature of the cylindrical object;
a unitary backing plate removably attachable to the frame element for retaining a picture element against the frame element, the backing plate being defined by a front surface and a rear surface;
and a fastening element fixed to one of the frame element and the backing plate for fixedly mounting the picture frame assembly onto the cylindrical object;
wherein one of the front surface and the rear surface of the backing plate has a second radius of curvature which is substantially the same as the first radius of curvature of the cylindrical object, and the backing plate extends to less than the circumference of the cylindrical object.
1. A picture frame assembly comprising:
at least one frame element capable of assuming a first radius of curvature of a cylindrical object;
a backing plate removably attachable to the frame element for retaining a planar picture element against the frame element, the backing plate being defined by a front surface and a rear surface and having a plurality of parallel ribs formed on one of the front and rear surfaces and defining a plurality of grooves; and
a fastening element fixed to one of the frame element and the backing plate for mounting the picture frame assembly onto the cylindrical object;
wherein the backing plate is made of a material and has a thickness, the material and the thickness being chosen so that the backing plate is plastically deformed to assume a second radius of curvature which is substantially the same as the first radius of curvature of the cylindrical object.
2. The picture frame assembly of
3. The picture frame assembly of
4. The picture frame assembly of
5. The picture frame assembly of
6. The picture frame assembly of
8. The picture frame assembly of
a frame plate having a front surface, a rear surface, and an aperture for exposing a picture element therethrough; and
a surrounding wall upstanding from the rear surface of the frame plate for positioning a picture element and the backing plate, the surrounding wall having an edge remote from the rear surface of frame plate and spaced therefrom for a varying distance.
10. The picture frame assembly of
11. The picture frame assembly of
12. The picture frame assembly of
13. The picture frame assembly of
a frame plate defining an aperture for exposing a picture element therethrough; and
a surrounding wall upstanding from a surface of the frame plate for positioning the picture element and the backing plate, the surrounding wall including a plurality of cutouts spaced from each other along a circumferential direction of the surrounding wall.
14. The picture frame assembly of
15. The picture frame assembly of
wherein the fastening element is separately formed and permanently fixed to one of the frame element and the backing plate.
16. The picture frame assembly of
17. The picture frame assembly of
18. The picture frame assembly of
19. The picture frame assembly of
wherein the surrounding wall having an edge remote from the rear surface of frame plate and spaced therefrom for a varying distance, and
wherein the frame element is insusceptible to deformation during normal use.
20. The picture frame assembly of
0. 22. The combination according to claim 21, wherein the frame element comprises a frame plate defining an aperture for exposing the picture element therethrough.
0. 23. The combination according to claim 22, wherein the aperture comprises a transparent sheet.
0. 24. The combination according to claim 21, wherein the frame element is rigid.
0. 25. The combination according to claim 21, wherein the frame element comprises a frame plate and a surrounding wall that extends rearward from the periphery of the frame plate, wherein the surrounding wall has a radius of curvature that is different from the radius of curvature of the frame plate.
0. 26. The combination according to claim 25, wherein the surrounding wall has a radius of curvature that is smaller than the radius of curvature of the frame plate.
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This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/580,897 filed Sep. 11, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,421,810 which is a U.S. national stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/US04/42503 filed Dec. 17, 2004 claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/531,336 filed Dec. 19, 2003.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a frame assembly. In particular, the invention relates to a picture frame assembly of the type that can be readily mounted onto an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Picture frame assemblies including a backing plate and a frame element for retaining a photograph or other planar picture element against the backing element are well known. Such frame assemblies include means for retaining the backing element in the frame, and can include a sheet of glass or other transparent material over the picture element. Because picture frames come in assorted shapes and sizes and are generally flat, picture frames can be hung flush with a flat surface.
Miniature picture frames are also well known, and are sometimes used as part of a memorabilia display and as elements of memorials. It is sometimes desired to fix the picture frame to an object, such as a tree, flower stem, a candle, a vase, a basket, a gift wrapping, a container, a column, and furniture. Picture frame assemblies which fit flush against a cylindrical object, in particular a picture frame assembly which can be readily adjusted to any desired radius of curvature, are not available.
It is an object of the invention to provide a picture frame assembly which can be readily mounted to an object, such as a tree, flower stem, a candle, a vase, a basket, a gift wrapping device, a container, a column, and furniture.
It is another object of the invention to provide a picture frame assembly having a fastening element configured to be mounted onto an object having either a flat or curved surface, to which the picture frame assembly is attached.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a picture frame assembly which can be configured to conform to a curved surface of an object, to which the picture frame assembly is mounted. For example, the picture frame assembly can have a deformable frame and/or backing plate, which can be plastically deformed to a desired radius of curvature.
As described in the various embodiments below, a picture frame assembly is provided and comprises a frame element and a backing plate for retaining a picture element therebetween. One or more fastening elements can be fixed to one of the frame element and the backing plate for mounting the picture frame assembly to an object, such as a tree, flower stem, a candle, a vase, a basket, a gift wrapping device, a container, a column, and furniture.
The fastening elements can be in any of various forms, such as mounting pins, mounting prongs, mounting ties (e.g., strings, wires, and ribbons, a magnetic element, hook-and-loop type fasteners, or adhesive tapes (e.g., double-sided adhesive tapes). The fastening elements can be formed separately and/or discretely and fixed to the backing plate of the picture frame assembly. For example, the fastening element can be soldered to the backing plate. In another example, the fastening element can be integrally formed with the backing plate of the picture frame assembly.
Additionally or alternatively, the backing plate and/or the frame element can be formed to conform to a surface of the object to which the frame assembly is mounted. In one embodiment, the frame element can be configured to assume a curved shape for mounting onto a curved surface of an object. In a preferred embodiment, frame elements are formed integrally with the backing plate by bending along grooves parallel to lateral edges. In another embodiment, a transparent curved frame plate has lateral edges formed with clips which receive the lateral edges of the backing plate.
The backing plate can have front and rear surfaces. In one embodiment, a plurality of parallel ribs and grooves are formed in one of the surfaces. The material and thickness of the backing plate are chosen so that the backing plate can be plastically deformed about a bending axis parallel to the grooves, while the ribs between the grooves are sufficiently stiff to resist bending about other axes. Such plastically deformed backing plate can conform to a curved surface of the object, to which the picture frame assembly is mounted. In another embodiment, the backing plate can have a pre-fixed curved shape.
According to one embodiment, a frame plate having an apertures formed as one piece with the backing plate and connected to the backing plate by a fold so that a planar picture element and a protective transparent sheet can be sandwiched between the front surface of the backing plate and the rear surface of the frame plate. The frame plate preferably has retaining tabs which can be folded against the rear surface of the backing plate to retain the picture element.
According to another embodiment designed for an object having a known diameter, such as a candle, a frame element can be provided with a curved frame plate having an aperture therein and a surrounding wall having an edge with a radius of curvature which is smaller than that of the frame plate. The edge is provided with retaining tabs which are deformed to bear against the rear surface of the backing plate, which is received within the surrounding wall. The backing plate can be formed to have a curvature similar to or be deformable to conform to the curvature of the frame plate. Thereby the backing plate can assure that a picture element will be held flush against the rear surface of the frame plate, together with an optional transparent sheet, giving a neat appearance.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. In the drawings:
FIG. 3D is a photo of the third embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3C mounted on various cylindrical objects;
The picture frame assembly includes one or more fastening elements 20 fixed to one of the backing plate 10 and the frame element 30. The fastening elements 20 allow the picture frame assembly to be readily mounted onto an object, such as a tree, flower stem, a candle, a vase, a basket, a gift wrapping device, a container, a column, and furniture.
The fastening elements 20 can be in various forms. In the example of
In the example shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the backing plate 10 can be similarly configured to be adapted to the profiled surrounding wall 30a of the frame element 30. For example, the thickness of the backing plate 10 can reduce from the two opposite sides toward the top and bottom portions of the backing plate 10, as is shown in
The backing plate 10 is received within the surrounding wall 56 and held against the frame plate 52 by plastically deformable retaining tabs 58 extending from the edge 57. As is discussed below, the retaining tabs 58 can also be separately formed and attached to the frame plate 52 by conventional fasteners such as nail elements. Additionally or alternatively, the retaining tabs 58 can be formed in various shapes such as a loop shape.
In one example, the frame element 50 is not intended to be deformed by a user, the radius of curvature of the rear edge 57 is preferably chosen to correspond to the diameter of a particular object to be decorated, in particular a candle. This makes it possible to create a stylish memorial utilizing a photograph of a loved one. In another example as best shown in
The backing plate 10 is shown with mounting pins 24, 26, which can be soldered or brazed to the rear surface 13 of the backing plate 10. Other fastening elements 20, such as those shown in
In another example as will be explained below, the frame plate 30 can be formed to have a flat shape but bent to a desired radius of curvature prior to use. For example, the frame plate 30 can be made of a flexible material and deformed to assume a curved shape conforming to a curved surface of an object that the frame assembly is to be mounted onto. In one example, the frame plate 30 can be plastically deformed to maintain a curved shape during the normal use of the picture frame assembly.
The frame plate 30 can be formed in various ways. In one example, the frame plate 30 can be made of metal (e.g., aluminum or brass) or other rigid or deformable materials. In another example, the frame plate 30 can be formed of a flexible or elastic material (e.g., rubber, plastic, or paper) allowing the frame plate 30 to conform to various curved surfaces. In a further example, the frame plate 30 can be formed of a transparent material, such as a transparent plastic material (e.g., PMMA) and serves as a protective cover for the photograph held in the frame assembly. In the following embodiments, the frame plate 30 can be formed with parallel grooves (
The frame plate 30 can be formed to have various connecting structures to facilitate the assembling with the backing plate 10. For example, the frame plate 30 can have a pair of lateral edges 32 formed with U-shaped clips 33 for receiving the lateral edges 16 of the backing plate 10. In another example, the frame plate 30 can be attached to connecting clips that are separately formed from the frame plate 30. Additional connecting structures are provided in the various embodiments and examples described below.
The grooves 14 and ribs 15 can be formed to have various patterns. Although the example of
The material chosen for the backing plate 10, as well as its thickness and the depth of the grooves 14, are chosen to facilitate plastic deformation from the flat configuration of
In a preferred embodiment, the backing plate 10 can be provided with a back cover 11 covering the rear surface 13 of the backing plate 10, as is illustrated in
Optionally, the backing plate 10 can be provided with elliptic lines 17, as are shown in phantom in
In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
As
In the example of
Additionally or alternatively, the projections 82 can add to the rigidity of the frame element 80 and allow the same to bend at the same time. In one example, the projections 82 are evenly spaced from each other. When the frame element 80 is formed to have circular shape, the frame element 80 can assume a curved profile along any radial direction of the frame element 80. Accordingly, the circular frame element 80 need not be aligned with either the picture element P or the backing plate 10 when assembling the frame assembly.
The deformable bezel 92 shown in
If desired, the frame elements 90, 90′ can include various design elements 99, 99′ to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the frame assembly.
If desired, the various cutouts 102 can be patterned to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the frame element 100. The frame element 100 can also include additional design elements 104 to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the frame assembly.
The invention is not limited by the embodiments described above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appended patent claims. In addition, the picture frame assembly can be used for various purposes including indoor or outdoor decoration or memorial. For example, the various picture frame assemblies can be readily fixed to any of various objects, such as a tree, flower stem, a candle, a vase, a basket, a gift wrapping device, a container, a column, and furniture, having either a flat or curved surface.
Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention can be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
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