Frame with illuminated picture

Abstract

The invention is directed toward an illuminated picture frame having a base panel and a front panel removably mounted to the base panel through the use of corner magnets. The base panel is formed with a top planar surface defining a rib structure extending from said planar surface for seating a light diffusion member, a photograph and a transparent cover for said photograph to be illuminated. A light source in the form of an LED strip is mounted on the top planar surface adjacent the light diffusion member and is connected by wiring to a battery power source. The base panel has a bottom planar surface with a mating assembly in the form of a plurality of sets of “L” shaped tracks formed on the planar surface for mounting a stand assembly, the stand assembly defining a housing containing at least one battery for powering the light source and defining a back planar surface with complimentary mating members which are slideably mounted on the base panel bottom planar surface tracks.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There is no related application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention is generally directed toward an illuminated picture frame and more particularly to an improved illuminated picture frame for photographs which allows presentation of photographs under uniform lighting in either a vertical or horizontal position.

2. Background of the Invention

The invention relates to photographs enclosed in a frame which can be artificially lighted for viewing of the photograph.

Framed pictures are usually lighted externally or by means of room lighting. This lighting is generally insufficient in that the image is indirectly illuminated light source is present to the viewer's eyes and the lighted picture either reflects the light from the source or is shadowed or dulled due to the position of the exterior lighting source. When the frame is illuminated from internal light sources, the light is unevenly distributed across the picture.

Picture frames have been previously illuminated by the use of elongated light bulbs or florescent tubes placed in a channel formed on one or more sides of the picture frame. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 2,220,262 issued Nov. 5, 1940 discloses a frame provided with a tubular light bulb positioned along one side of the frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,353 issued Apr. 11, 1989 discloses a picture frame with a plurality of lights positioned on each side of the frame which are battery powered and operated by a switch positioned on the outside of the battery housing. The frame is provided with a support leg which is pivotal to the back of the frame and is positioned substantially transverse to the base of the frame. Thus, the frame is only able to be oriented in only one direction.

A lighted picture frame of molded plastic having a plurality of lights mounted behind optical members positioned on opposite sides of the frame is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,357 issued Nov. 30, 1993.

Another lighted picture frame is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,745 issued Sep. 28, 1993, using a plurality of battery powered illumination bulbs mounted in the frame. A ferro magnetic ring is positioned above one of the illumination bulbs to direct a fragrance to enhance the visual impact of the picture. This patent additionally shows prior art illuminated frames such as those previously disclosed.

Various other illuminated picture frames are shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 311,820 issued Nov. 6, 1990, U.S. Design Pat. No. 295,922 issued May 31, 1988, and U.S. Design Pat. No. 254,643 issued Apr. 8, 1980.

In view of the weight, bulkiness and complexity of the existing illuminated picture frames, the present design of the inventive portable frame was initiated and completed. The need exists for an improved display frame having illumination means which does not shadow the picture, does not present a glare over the picture surface and is not intrusive. It is well known that persons love to view pictures of their friends, relatives, loved ones, pets and areas visited or lived in shown in full color and well lighted. Furthermore, the present frame was constructed to allow the frame to be oriented with the frame in a virtual or horizontal position, thereby allowing use with a wide variety of photographs. Thus, the present invention has been constructed to allow maximum usage and meet this demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an illuminated picture frame for holding photographs having a base panel and a front panel removably mounted to the base panel. The base panel is formed with a top planar surface defining a rib structure extending from said planar surface for seating a light diffusion member, a photograph to be illuminated and a transparent cover member over the photographs A light source in the form of an LED strip is mounted on the top planar surface of the base panel adjacent the light diffusion member and is connected by wiring to a power source in the form of at least one battery housed in a stand assembly. The base panel has a bottom planar surface with a plurality of track sets formed on the planar surface for mounting the stand assembly in two separate orientations. The stand assembly has a housing defining a chamber containing at least one battery for powering the light source and is formed with a back planar surface having mating members which are slideably mounted on one set of tracks on the base panel bottom planar surface.

It is an object of the invention to provide a picture frame with a narrow depth profile which can be selectively6 orientated to receive a photograph and present the same in a vertical or horizontal position.

It is another object to provide a picture frame which gives uniform illumination across the face of the photograph without shadows or bright areas;

It is still another object to provide a picture frame which is easy to assemble and disassemble and is producible at a low cost;

It is yet another object to provide a picture frame which is easy to clean and gives ready access to the interior for the purposes of changing photographs in the frame;

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illuminated picture frame which is of a durable and reliable construction;

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved illuminated picture frame which has a low cost of manufacture with regard to materials and labor thereby making the frame economically available to the buying public;

These and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent when considered with the teachings contained in the detailed description along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the frame with an illuminated photograph;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the battery container stand shown mounted to a section of the frame base panel;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the battery container stand of FIG. 3 showing the frame base panel section in cross section;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the battery container stand shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the battery container stand of FIG. 5 with the battery cover removed;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the base panel of the frame;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base panel of the frame with the light defusing sheet and light cover removed;

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the top panel of the frame;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial cross section view taken across a corner of the assembled frame in the area shown by line 10′-10′ of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the base panel of the frame shown in FIG. 8 with a light defusing sheet and photograph seated on the base panel;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the light diffusion member with its flexible protective cover member peeled away;

FIG. 13 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the light strip with the light cover folded back and a partial view of the light diffusion member;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the base panel as shown in FIG. 11 schematically showing diffusion of light from the LED light strip; and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial cross section of the LED strip of FIG. 14 showing diffusion of the light along the light cover and light defusing panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments and best modes of the invention are shown in FIGS. 1 through 15. While the invention is described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended that the present invention be so limited. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The illuminated frame 20 is preferably constructed of a base panel 30, a top panel 90 which is mounted to the base panel 30 and a battery container stand 70 which is mounted to the base panel 30. The frame 20 holds photograph 100 in a fixed elevated position.

The base panel 30 which is best seen FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 11 is preferably formed of molded plastic and has a planar top surface 32 which has a rectangular rib structure 34 extending there from which is designed to seat a rigid transparent plastic or glass light diffusion member 36, a photograph 100 and a transparent cover member 38. The photograph 100 is seated on the plastic light diffusion member 36 to receive light distributed through the light diffusion member and is covered by cover member 38. The base panel also defines four hollow corner bosses 40 containing magnets 41 which engage the adjacent magnets 96 of corner bosses 94 located in the corners of the top panel 90. A light housing member 42 is formed on the top face 32 of the base panel which provides seating for an LED strip 44 which has a plurality of linearly positioned LEDs 46. Nipples formed on the light diffusion member 36 intersect light generated from the LEDs 46 thereby evenly illuminating the entire display surface. The strip 44 and lights 46 are covered by a flexible protective cover 48 which is best shown in FIGS. 11, 13, 14, and 15. Access to the lights 46 and strip 44 is provided by removal of a hinged cover 50 which is screw mounted by screws 52 which are seated in threaded bores formed into the back of the light housing member 42, the opposite side of the cover 50 being mounted to the back planar surface 33 of the base panel 30 by locking tabs 53. A flexible protective cover member 155 is positioned below the light diffusion member 36 and above the planar top surface 32 of the base panel 30.

As seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 the back planar surface 33 of the base panel 30 has two parallel sets of tracks 54 and 56 integrally formed therewith which are positioned transverse to each other allowing the battery stand 70 to be selectively positioned so that the frame is held in either a vertical or horizontal position. While each of the tracks is shown in the shape of an inverted L, to receive a complimentary mating track 88 from the battery housing stand 70, the respective tracks can be any suitable mating shape such as dovetail or tongue and groove which allows mating of the battery housing stand 70 with the rear of the base panel to allow selective positional placement of the frame 20. Electrical metal contact members 55 and 57 are mounted in a seat structure 58 formed adjacent the respective set of tracks 54 and 56 respectively allow transmission of power from the batteries 73 of the battery housing stand 70 to the LED strip 44. The contact members 55 and 57 are preferably made of electrically conductive metal. A switch 58 is mounted in a well formed on the rear of the base panel 30 and is used to connect the electrical circuit connecting the lights 46 to the power source 73 or power supplied from a computer through USB port 51 in an on position and break the circuit in an off position allowing the LED lights 46 to be turned on or off. The LED light strip 44, switch 58 and contact members 55 and 57 are electrically connected by wiring to the battery power source and a circuit disabling switch 60. Likewise LED light strip 44 and switch 58 are electrically connected by wiring to the USB port 51. Turning now to FIG. 8, a back switch access cover plate 62 is mounted by screws 64 to the base panel 30. The circuit disabling switch 60 disables the power to the electrical contact points which are not being engaged by the spring contacts 75 (see FIG. 5) of the battery container stand. As noted USB port 51 is positioned on the back surface of the base panel 30 which serves as an additional power supply when connected by a standard cord to a computer as is well known in the art. The power supplied by the computer (not shown) is sufficient to power the LED lights 46. “U” shaped hangers 164 are formed on two sides of the base panel to allow the frame to be held by hook or screws which have been driven into a support wall.

The battery stand 70 as seen in FIGS. 3-6 has a housing 71 which defines a cavity or chamber 72 which preferably holds a plurality of AA batteries 73 in engagement with electrical contacts so that the positive and negative ends of the batteries 73 are electrically engaged to transmit power. Resilient spring loops 75 mounted in the rear face of housing 71 are electrically connected to the batteries 73 to allow transfer of power to the respective electrical contact members 55 and 57. This engagement is standard and well known in the art. A battery access cover 74 having locking tabs 76 is slideably mounted on the front of the battery housing 71 and covers the batteries 73. The resilient spring loop 75 extend outward from the planar rear wall 86 of the housing 71. A rotatable angular “U” shaped stand arm 80 is mounted to the sides 78 of the battery stand as is seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The rotatable stand arm 80 has angular side arms 82 and an integral bottom cross member 84. The side arms 82 define a curved notch 84 which receive stop 79 integrally formed on the side arms 82. When the stand arm 80 is rotated outward the cross member 84 engages the horizontal surface upon which the stand 70 is seated to keep frame 20 in an upright position. The rear face 86 of the housing 71 is planar and is formed with “L” shaped locking tracks 88 which are formed as a parallel pair and are positioned to fit on the respective pairs of tracks located on the back of the base panel as can be seen in FIG. 4 allowing the stand to be placed so that the frame is in either a vertical or a horizontal position.

The front frame panel 90 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 has a substantially rectangular configuration and defines a central rectangular cutout 92 for display of photograph 100. As seen in FIG. 10, the rectangular cut out preferably has a beveled edge 93 which is angled away from the photograph. The front frame panel also has corner bosses 94 with magnets 96 mounted therein and defines an integral downwardly projecting outer flange 98 which abuts the outer top planar surface 32 of the base panel 30 as is shown in FIG. 10. Thus, it can be seen that the rear frame panel 30 and front frame panel 90 are held together by four corner magnets in a secured manner.

The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims:

Claims

1. An illuminated picture frame comprising:

a base panel and a front panel removably mounted to said base panel, said base panel being formed with a top planar surface defining a seat extending from said planar surface for seating a light diffusion member, a light source mounted to said top planar surface and positioned adjacent said light diffusion member, said light source being electrically connected to a power source, said base panel being formed with a bottom planar surface, a plurality of tracks formed on said bottom planar surface for mounting a stand assembly, said stand assembly comprising a housing which contains at least one battery for powering said light source and a stand moveably mounted to said housing.

2. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base panel has a plurality of electrical contact pads mounted thereto adjacent said plurality of tracks and wire means leading from said electrical contact pads to said light source.

3. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light source is a plurality of electrically connected LEDs.

4. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one battery is a plurality of batteries

5. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of tracks comprises two sets of parallel tracks, one set of tracks being oriented transverse to the other set of tracks.

6. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stand is a rotatable member and said housing has a planar rear surface with track members positioned to be slideably mounted to either set of said parallel tracks.

7. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stand assembly housing has a planar rear surface which defines a plurality of slots, resilient electrically conductive spring loop members electrically connected to said power source extend outward through said slots to engage an electrical connection member of said base panel when said stand assembly housing is mounted to said base panel.

8. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base panel bottom surface defines at least two “U” shaped support hanger members, each of said hanger members being positioned along opposite sides of said base panel.

9. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base panel defines a light source access aperture, with a removable cover member mounted to said base panel covering said light access aperture.

10. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base panel has switch means mounted thereon, said switch means including an on off switch with completes or disrupts an electrical circuit leading from a battery to said light source.

11. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light diffusion panel is a rigid transparent member with a plurality of nipples formed thereon which intersect light generated from said light source to spread said light throughout said rigid transparent member.

12. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base panel and said front panel have magnetic elements mounted in each corner.

13. An illuminated picture frame comprising:

a base panel and a front panel removably mounted to said base panel, said base panel being formed with a top planar surface defining a rib structure extending from said planar surface for seating a light diffusion member and a photograph, an LED light source mounted to said base panel adjacent said light diffusion member, said LED light source comprising a strip member and a plurality of lights mounted to said strip member, said strip member being electrically connected to a power source, said base panel being formed with a bottom planar surface, mating means formed on said base panel bottom planar surface for mounting a stand assembly, said stand assembly defining a housing which defines complimentary mating means and a battery chamber which contains battery for powering said light source and a rotatable stand member mounted to said stand assembly housing.

14. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 13 wherein said base panel has a plurality of electrical contact pads mounted thereto adjacent said plurality of tracks and wire means leading from said electrical contact pads to said light source.

15. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 13 wherein said stand assembly housing has a planar rear surface which defines a plurality of slots and contains resilient electrically conductive spring loop members electrically connected to said power source which extends outward through said slots to engage an electrical connection member of said base panel when said stand assembly housing is mounted to said rear panel.

16. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 13 wherein said light diffusion panel is a rigid transparent member with a plurality of nipples formed thereon which intersect light generated from said light source to spread said light throughout said rigid transparent member.

17. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 13 wherein said base panel and said front panel have magnetic elements mounted thereto.

18. An illuminated picture frame comprising:

a base panel and a front panel removably mounted to said base panel, said base panel being formed with a top planar surface defining a structure extending from said planar surface for seating a light diffusion member, said light diffusion member being formed of glass with a plurality of nipples formed thereon, an LED light source mounted to said planar surface adjacent said light diffusion member, said LED light source being electrically connected to a power source, said base panel being formed with a bottom planar surface defining two mating structures for mounting of a stand assembly allowing the frame to be placed in a horizontal or vertical position, said stand assembly comprising a housing defining a chamber which contains at least one battery and a complimentary mating structure.

19. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of said mating structures comprises two sets of parallel oriented tracks, each set of tracks being oriented transverse to the other set of tracks.

20. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 18 wherein said stand assembly housing has a planar rear surface which defines a plurality of slots and contains resilient electrically conductive spring loop members electrically connected to said power source extending outward through said slots to engage an electrical connection member of said base panel when said stand assembly housing is mounted to said rear panel.

21. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 18 wherein said base panel and said front panel have magnetic elements mounted in bosses formed in the corners of each panel.

22. An illuminated picture frame as claimed in claim 18 wherein said base panel top planar surface seating structure includes a transparent cover member to cover a photograph.