System for converting a craft hoop to a display frame
A display frame assembly for converting a craft hoop to a display frame for displaying photographs or artwork, such as paintings, embroidery or cross-stitching, includes legs for tilting the display frame upward, and a bezel that attaches to the craft hoop to hold the displayed item in place and provide a decorative frame.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to display frames, such as picture frames, and more particularly to a system for converting a craft hoop assembly to a display frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
Craft hoop assemblies generally include two concentric hoops or rings (an inner hoop and an outer hoop) for holding material such as fabric in a taut position over a center opening so that craft work, such as stitching with needle and thread, may readily be performed. Typically, the inner hoop has a fixed diameter and the outer hoop has an adjustable diameter. Material upon which work is to be performed is placed across the inner hoop. The outer hoop is then placed over the material and around the inner hoop. The diameter of the outer hoop is then reduced, typically by tightening a clamping mechanism associated with the outer hoop, such that the outer hoop fits snugly against the material and inner hoop so as to hold the material between the two hoops.
Further features found in the prior art include legs for supporting the hoops in a raised position. Craft hoops are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,158,153; 5,722,191; 5,555,653; 5,330,143 and 5,287,640, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe purpose of this invention is to provide a means of readily converting a craft hoop assembly to a display frame for displaying a relatively flat item, such as a photograph or illustration. The display frame may include an inner hoop, outer hoop with clamp, and two legs to support the hoops in a raised, angled position. The legs are secured within holes in bosses that extend inwardly from the inner hoop. To assemble a display, a backing board is placed within the inner hoop and against the bosses. Then an item to be displayed is placed on top of the backing board followed by a mat, if desired. Next, a circular, transparent pane of glass or plastic also sets into the inner hoop and against the display item or mat. Alternatively, a piece of fabric (such as one bearing a cross-stitched design) may be stretched over the backing board and clamped between the outer and inner hoops. The pane is then set over the fabric. A bezel is attached over the pane and onto the display frame assembly to hold the pane, mat, display item and backing board in place. The bezel may also serve to hide the craft hoops, particularly the outer hoop clamp, from view.
Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In the drawings, similar numerical references indicate corresponding parts.
Referring now to
The hoop structures described thus far are well known in the prior art as craft hoops and are used to stretch and hold fabric in position across a central opening or interior space 17 by clamping peripheral portions of the fabric between the inner hoop 5 and outer hoop 10.
Because the display frame assembly 1, and portions thereof, are illustrated in generally upright positions in
Legs 20a and 20b extend downward from bosses 25a and 25b, respectively. The bosses 25a and 25b project axially inward from the inner margin of the inner hoop 5. The bosses 25a and 25b include holes 30a and 30b that engage upper portions of the legs 20a and 20b, respectively. A third boss 25c is also provided to help support a display article within the display frame assembly 1 as described below. The upper portions of the legs 20a and 20b are sized to fit within the holes 30a and 30b and to terminate prior to emerging beyond the upper surfaces of the bosses 25a and 25b. Collars 23 may be provided to extend radially from the legs 20a and 20b to limit the depth to which a leg fits into an associated hole 30. If collars 23 are provided at both ends of a leg, as shown in the illustrations, the legs 20a and 20b may thereby function as supports by inserting either end into a cooperating boss 25a or 25b. As indicated in
The bosses 25a, 25b and 25c (see
As shown in
The embodiments illustrated in
As may be ascertained from
The bezel 55 illustrated in
As opposed to
Although the ends of the legs 20 and the cooperating bores 210 may take various shapes such as square or rectangular or triangular, which would limit rotation of the leg 20 within the bore 210, if the ends of the legs 20 and bores are cylindrical in shape, the legs 20 may turn within the bores 210. If, as shown in the drawings, the end of a leg 20 is at a slight angle to the main shaft of the leg 20, turning the leg 20 within its cooperating bore (see arrow 212) will cause the angle of the leg 20 to the bezel 202 to change thereby concomitantly changing the angle of the bezel 202 relative to the support surface, raising or lowering the incline of the display frame assembly 200, as shown by arrow 214.
It should be appreciated that frames may be constructed using circular hoops, as illustrated, or hoops of other shapes such as, but not limited to, oval, oblong, rectangular, square, and triangular. It should be appreciated that the bezel may be decoratively shaped in a variety of ways including provision of top surface shapes incorporating scallops or ridges and troughs typically concentric or parallel to the margins of the central opening. It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:
Claims
1. A display frame assembly comprising:
- a hoop surrounding a first central opening, said hoop defining a first plane,
- a bezel surrounding a second central opening, said bezel defining a second plane, and
- means for removably attaching said bezel to said hoop so that said first plane and said second plane are generally offset and parallel to one another and said first central opening and said second central opening are generally aligned axially.
2. The display frame as in claim 1, wherein said bezel further comprises a flange projecting radially inward to retain an article to be displayed within said hoop, a rearward surface of said flange defining said second plane.
3. The display frame as in claim 2 and further including a transparent pane received within said hoop, said pane having a front surface in abutment against said rearward surface of said flange.
4. The display frame as in claim 1, further comprising a boss extending rearwardly from the rearward surface of said bezel, said boss having a bore sized and shaped to engage and hold a leg.
5. The display frame as in claim 1, further comprising at least one boss extending inwardly from said hoop, each said boss having a respective front face, said front faces collectively defining said first plane.
6. The display frame as in claim 5, further comprising a backing received within said hoop, said backing having a rearward surface in abutment against said front faces of said bosses.
7. The display frame as in claim 5, further comprising at least one leg connected to a respective one of said bosses and positioned to support said hoop on a surface in a generally upright position.
8. The display frame as in claim 7, wherein said leg may be turned within said boss to alter the angle of said display frame relative to a support surface.
9. The display frame as in claim 1, further comprising means for supporting said hoop in an upright position.
10. The display frame as in claim 9, wherein said means for supporting comprises at least one leg projecting generally rearwardly and downwardly from said hoop.
11. The display frame as in claim 1 wherein said hoop is a first hoop and further including a second hoop concentric with said first hoop and clampingly engaged therearound.
12. The display frame as in claim 1 wherein said means for removably attaching comprises a lip extending rearwardly from said bezel to engage a hoop.
13. The display frame as in claim 12 wherein said means for removably attaching further comprises a ridge extending radially outwardly from said lip to engage a rearward edge of said hoop.
14. The display frame as in claim 12, further comprising two or more lips.
15. The display frame as in claim 11 wherein said second hoop includes a clamping structure extending radially outwardly therefrom and wherein said bezel extends radially outwardly a sufficient distance to cover said clamping structure.
16. A display frame assembly comprising:
- a craft hoop supported in a generally upright position by one or more legs attached to said craft hoop, said craft hoop including an outer periphery and a craft hoop central opening,
- a bezel including a bezel central opening,
- means for attaching said bezel to said craft hoop so that said craft hoop central opening and bezel central opening are axially aligned, said bezel having a top surface of sufficient width to obscure said craft hoop from view when thereby attached.
17. The display frame as in claim 16, wherein said bezel includes a flange projecting radially inward to retain a display article within said craft hoop.
18. The display frame as in claim 16, further comprising bosses projecting radially inward from said craft hoop, said bosses recessed from a top surface of said craft hoop to accommodate a display article within said craft hoop.
19. A display frame assembly comprising:
- a craft hoop including an inner hoop and an outer hoop concentric with said inner hoop and clampingly engaged therearound, said inner hoop defining a central opening, and
- a bezel connectable to said craft hoop and including a flange projecting radially inward to partially cover said central opening to retain a display article within said central opening.
20. The display frame as in claim 19, wherein said bezel includes at least one lip extending downwardly therefrom to engage said inner hoop.
21. The display frame as in claim 20, wherein said bezel further includes a ridge extending radially outward from said lip to engage a rearward edge of said inner hoop.
22. The display frame as in claim 19, wherein said bezel includes at least one lip extending rearwardly therefrom to engage said outer hoop.
23. The display frame as in claim 22, wherein said bezel further includes a ridge extending radially inward from said at least one lip to engage a rearward edge of said outer hoop.
24. The display frame as in claim 22, wherein said outer hoop includes a clamping structure extending radially outwardly therefrom and said bezel extends radially outward a sufficient distance to cover said clamping structure.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 22, 2007
Inventor: Robert Morgan (Hillsboro, MO)
Application Number: 11/418,524
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101);