Picture frame drawing pad

Abstract

A picture frame drawing pad including a frame housing having a window that includes a perimeter, and a front surface, the frame housing being operatively arranged to house and display an item in the window, the front surface being arranged substantially around the perimeter of the window, and a drawing pad including a first sheet of substantially planar material having a front surface and a back surface, and a plurality of sheets in the form of a stack, wherein the back surface of the first sheet is secured to the front surface of the frame housing, substantially all of the back surface of the first sheet is arranged flush against the front surface of the frame housing, and the stack of sheets is removably secured to the first sheet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention broadly relates to picture frames and drawing pads. More particularly, this invention relates to a combination of a picture frame and a drawing pad.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Picture frames are well known. Generally, a picture frame comprises a frame housing having a window, the frame housing being operatively arranged to house and display an item, such as a photograph, in the window. The frame housing often includes a decorative front surface, which a user chooses based on his personal preference for its particular aesthetic quality. A drawback to this type of frame housing is that the decorative front surface is immutable, regardless of whether the user's personal preferences change over time. Thus, the user is stuck with his initial choice based on a personal preference she no longer has.

Drawing pads are also well known. Generally a drawing pad comprises a plurality of sheets of material adapted for drawing thereon, such as paper, wherein each sheet is removably secured to the rest of the stack. One generally uses a drawing pad to practice drawing, writing, doodling, and/or sketching images, and the top sheet is removable so that the user can remove it once she is finished creating images thereon. It is often the case that a user creates an image that is aesthetically pleasing and has significant artistic value, but not enough to warrant displaying it in any permanent fashion, such as, in a picture frame. Thus, a drawback of prior drawing pads is that such an image remains unappreciated by others and is relegated to obscurity once the user decides to remove the particular sheet upon which it is fixed.

Thus, there is a longfelt need for a picture frame whose frame housing has a front surface that may be changed according to a user's personal preference.

There is also a longfelt need for a drawing pad whose images affixed thereto may be displayed in a relatively nonpermanent fashion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a picture frame drawing pad comprising a frame housing including a window having a perimeter and a front surface, the frame housing being operatively arranged to house and display an item in the window, the front surface being arranged substantially around the perimeter of the window, and a drawing pad comprising a first sheet of substantially planar material having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the back surface of the first sheet is secured to the front surface of the frame housing, and substantially all of the back surface of the first sheet is arranged flush against the front surface of the frame housing. Preferably, the drawing pad further comprises a window substantially aligned with the window of the frame housing. Additionally, the substantially planar material of the first sheet may be adapted for drawing thereon.

In a preferred embodiment, the drawing pad may further comprise a plurality of sheets of substantially planar material adapted for drawing thereon, the plurality of sheets being arranged in a stack comprising a top sheet and a bottom sheet, wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets is removably secured to the rest of the stack, the bottom sheet is removably secured to the first sheet, and substantially all of the back surface of the bottom sheet is arranged flush against the front surface of the first sheet.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a picture frame whose frame housing has a front surface that may be changed according to a user's personal preference.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a drawing pad whose images affixed thereto may be displayed in a relatively nonpermanent fashion.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention picture frame drawing pad showing a plurality of images drawn thereon and photograph displayed therein;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the picture frame drawing pad;

FIG. 3 is a front, exploded, perspective view of the picture frame drawing pad;

FIG. 4 is a back, exploded, perspective view of the picture frame drawing pad; and,

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the picture frame drawing pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Furthermore, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Hereinafter, the word “drawing” includes writing, sketching, doodling, and any other activity that produces images and/or characters. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

The following description is best understood in view of FIGS. 1-4. FIGS. 1-4 show a first embodiment of picture frame drawing pad 100 broadly comprising frame 200 and drawing pad 300.

Frame 200 comprises frame housing 201, back board 260, and shield 255. Frame housing includes outer perimeter 210, inner perimeter 220, window 250 defined by inner perimeter 220, front surface 230, and back surface 240. Back surface 240 may include recess 242 arranged proximate inner perimeter 220. Recess 242 is preferably arranged to receive shield 255 and back board 260 such that back board 260 is arranged flush with the rest of back surface 240 when frame 200 is assembled. Moreover, frame 200 is arranged to house and display an item, for example, photograph 50, in window 250, preferably between shield 255 and back board 260. Back board 260 may be secured to frame housing by any means known in the art, for example, a plurality of swing tabs 263 secured to back surface 240 and arranged to pivot over back board 260 when back board 260 is arranged in recess 242. Back board 260 may include pivotable stand 262, which is operatively arranged pivot away from the rest of back board 260 and support frame 200 such that window 250 is in a substantially upright and viewable position.

It should be appreciated that outer perimeter 210 and inner perimeter 220 may be configured in any suitable shape. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, outer perimeter 210 and inner perimeter 220 are each generally rectangular in shape. Thus, window 250, which is defined by inner perimeter 200, is generally rectangular in shape. In this embodiment, outer perimeter 210 comprises top surface 212, bottom surface 214, right surface 216, and left surface 218. Inner perimeter 220 comprises top surface 222, bottom surface 224, right surface 226, and left surface 228.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, front surface 230 comprises a substantially planar surface arranged substantially around the perimeter of the window, defined by inner perimeter 220, and is bounded by outer perimeter 210 and inner perimeter 220. However, it should be appreciated that front surface 230 may be arranged in a multitude of other shapes and sizes without departing from the scope of the invention claimed and described herein, provided drawing pad 300 is attachable thereto in the manner described in further detail infra.

Drawing pad 300 comprises first sheet 301 of material adapted for drawing thereon, for example, paper, cardboard, plastic, etc., wherein first sheet 301 includes back surface 305 arranged flush against front surface 230 of frame housing 201. Preferably, substantially all of back surface 305 is arranged flush against front surface 230, so that window 250 is not obscured by first sheet 301, and so that first sheet 301 does not extend past outer perimeter 210. Thus, it is preferable that the surface area of back surface 305 is less than or equal to the surface area of front surface 230 and configured such that it fits between outer perimeter 210 and inner perimeter 220. First sheet 301 may be attached to front surface 230 by any means known in the art, for example, adhesives.

Drawing pad 300 may further comprise a plurality of sheets 331 of material adapted for drawing thereon and arranged in a stack having top sheet 333 and bottom sheet 335, and wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets 331 has a front surface and a back surface. Each sheet of the plurality of sheets 331 is preferably removably secured to the rest of the stack by any means known in the art, for example, a thin layer of rubber cement along top surface 342 of the stack.

Top sheet 333 is defined as the last sheet in the stack whose front surface is viewable when drawing pad picture frame 100 is assembled. As shown in FIG. 1, top sheet 333 is arranged to be drawn thereon, as illustrated by image 45 affixed thereto. Since each sheet of the plurality of sheets 331 is removably secured to the rest of stack, top sheet 333 can be removed. Once removed, the next sheet becomes top sheet 333. This is preferable in the event a user desires an unmarked sheet on which to draw new images.

Bottom sheet 335 is defined as the last sheet of the stack which is secured, preferably removably secured, to first sheet 301. Thus, top sheet 333 and bottom sheet 335 can be the same sheet when there is only one sheet left in the stack of sheets 331. Preferably, substantially all of the back surface of bottom sheet 335 is arranged flush against front surface 303 of first sheet 301, and substantially all of the back surface of each sheet of the rest of the plurality of sheets 331 is arranged flush against the front surface of an adjacent sheet, so that so that window 250 is not obscured by the stack of sheets 331. First sheet 301 is preferably made of rigid material, such as cardboard, so that it may be securely attached to front surface 230 and support the weight of the stack of sheets 331.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, first sheet 301 comprises outer perimeter 310, inner perimeter 320, and window 325 defined by inner perimeter 320. Outer perimeter 310 is rectangular and includes top surface 312, bottom surface 314, right surface 316, and left surface 318. Likewise, inner perimeter 320 is rectangular and includes top surface 322, bottom surface 324, right surface 326, and left surface 328.

Additionally, the stack of sheets 331 preferably comprises outer perimeter 340, inner perimeter 350, and window 250 defined by inner perimeter 350. Outer perimeter 340 is rectangular and includes top surface 342, bottom surface 344, right surface 346, and left surface 348. Likewise, inner perimeter 350 is rectangular and includes top surface 342, bottom surface 344, right surface 346, and left surface 348.

Drawing pad 300 is preferably arranged such that outer perimeters 310 and 340 are substantially aligned with each other, and inner perimeters 320 and 350 are substantially aligned with each other. Moreover, drawing pad picture frame 100 is preferably arranged such that windows 355, 325, and 250 are substantially aligned when assembled, in order for item 50 to be viewable when held and displayed in frame housing 201.

It should be appreciated that However, outer perimeters 210, 310, and 340, inner perimeters 220, 320, and 350, and, therefore, windows 250, 325, and 355 defined thereby, respectively, may configured in any suitable shape without departing from the scope of the invention claimed herein. For example, in the embodiment shown FIG. 5, each of the aforementioned perimeters and windows are substantially ovular in shape.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A picture frame drawing pad comprising:

a frame housing comprising: a window having a perimeter; and, a front surface, the frame housing being operatively arranged to house and display an item in the window, the front surface being arranged substantially around the perimeter of the window; and,

a drawing pad comprising a first sheet of substantially planar material having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the back surface of the first sheet is secured to the front surface of the frame housing, and substantially all of the back surface of the first sheet is arranged flush against the front surface of the frame housing.

2. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the front surface of the frame housing has a surface area, the back surface of the first sheet has a surface area, and the surface area of the back surface of the first sheet is less than or equal to the surface area of the front surface of the frame housing.

3. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the first sheet comprises a window substantially aligned with the window of the frame housing.

4. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the substantially planar material of the first sheet is adapted for drawing thereon.

5. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the first sheet is rigid.

6. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 5, wherein the substantially planar material of the first sheet is cardboard.

7. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the substantially planar material of the first sheet is paper.

8. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the drawing pad further comprises a plurality of sheets of substantially planar material adapted for drawing thereon, and the plurality of sheets is arranged in a stack comprising a top sheet and a bottom sheet, wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets is removably secured to the rest of the stack, the bottom sheet is removably secured to the first sheet, and substantially all of the back surface of the bottom sheet is arranged flush against the front surface of the first sheet.

9. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 8, wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a back surface having a surface area, the front surface of the first sheet has a surface area, and the surface area of the back surface of each sheet of the plurality of sheets is less than or equal to the surface area of the front surface of the first sheet.

10. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the drawing pad further comprises a window substantially aligned with the window of the frame housing.

11. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the item comprises an image affixed to a tangible medium.

12. The picture frame drawing pad recited in claim 1, wherein the item comprises a photograph.