MURAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a mural adapted to be selectively displaced between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition. The mural comprises a first sub-frame and plurality of second sub-frames for defining a mural depicting a particular image, the mural being defined by attaching at least one second sub-frame to the first sub-frame, the first sub-frame comprising a frame having a support surface for receiving a particular portion of the image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising first attachments means for attachment of at least one of the second sub-frames having another portion of the image depicted by the mural attached to a support surface of the second sub-frames to define the mural depicting the particular image.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to articles being adapted to be selectively displaced between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition to permit delivery of the articles via mail.

The invention has been devised particularly, although not necessarily solely, in relation to artworks such as murals, paintings and mosaics as well as means for providing information such as wall planners billboards, posters and alike.

BACKGROUND ART

The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

With the advent of e-commerce, different type of articles can currently be purchased online for delivery via mail to the purchaser of the articles. Small and big articles are being purchased via online and mailed to the purchaser.

However, there are some limitations for delivering via mail specific type of articles; the limitation imposed on the articles that can be sold using e-commerce may be due to, for example, the relative large size of the article, its awkward shape as well as the article's fragility.

Examples of articles cumbersome to deliver via mail are particular type of flat artworks such as murals, billboards, posters and wall planners.

Typically, copies of paintings of relative large size are substantially of the same size than the original canvas; thus, mailing a copy of a relative large sized painting can be cumbersome and expensive. This is particularly true for copies of renowned murals and frescos.

Typically, renowned murals or oil paintings on canvas (such as Leonardo's Last Supper, Picasso's Guernica or the Tapestry of the Battle of Hastings) are of a relative large size; thus, delivery via mail of real life copies of these murals and canvas are cumbersome and expensive and, depending on their actual dimensions, it may be impossible to mail them and moved them through doors and windows of building and houses.

It is against this background that the present invention has been developed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a first sub-frame for defining a mural depicting a particular image, the mural being defined by attaching at least one second sub-frame to the first sub-frame, the first sub-frame comprising a frame having a support surface for receiving a particular portion of the image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising first attachments means for attachment of at least one of the second sub-frames having another portion of the image depicted by the mural attached to a support surface of the second sub-frames to define the mural depicting the particular image.

Preferably, the second sub-frame comprises a frame having the support surface for receiving the another portion of the image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising attachments means for attachment of the second sub-frame to the side of the first sub-frame to define the mural depicting the particular image.

Preferably, at least one side of the second sub-frame comprises first attachments means.

Preferably, the first attachment means comprise magnetic material.

Preferably, the first attachment means comprise a plurality of magnets arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other along the side of the first and second sub-frames.

Preferably, the sides of the first and second sub-frames comprises notches for receiving the magnets.

Preferably, the first and second sub-frames comprises a frame structure comprising sides defining a four-sided arrangement with four corners.

Preferably, the first and second sub-frames comprises bracing members that extend diagonally between the corners of the frame structure.

Preferably, the bracing members and the four-sided arrangement define a support frame for receiving the particular portion of the image.

Preferably, the first and second sub-frames comprise second attachment means for attaching the first and second sub-frames defining the mural to the wall.

Preferably, the second attachment means comprise a triangular section located in one corner of the first and second sub-frames.

Preferably, the triangular section comprises an indentation adapted to receive third attachment means such as heads of screws and nails.

In an alternative arrangement, the second attachment means comprise a painting hanger.

Preferably, the painting hanger comprises a notch for receiving third attachment means such as heads of screws and nails.

In another alternative arrangement, the second attachment means comprise a magnet.

In one arrangement, the first and second sub-frames incorporates first attachments means in all of the sides of the frame structure.

In another arrangement, the first and second sub-frames incorporates attachments means in only some particular sides of the sides of the frame structure.

Preferably, the mural further comprises a decorative frame being adapted to be attached to outer sides of the first and second sub-frames defining the outer periphery of the mural for surrounding the mural.

Preferably, the decorative frame comprises attachment means such as magnets for attachment to outer sides of the first and second sub-frames defining the outer periphery of the mural.

Preferably, the frame is adapted to be selectively displaced between an extended and contracted condition.

Preferably, the decorative frame comprises particular portions, such as side portions and corner portions having ends adapted to be attached to each other when assembling the frame, wherein the ends comprise attachment means such as magnets inserted in notches indenting into each end for attachment of the frame portions during assembly of the frame.

In alternative arrangements each first and second sub-frames comprises a solid tile having a front face defining the surface for receiving the details of the image to be depicted by the mural.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a mural adapted to be selectively displaced between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition, the mural comprising a plurality of first and second sub-frames in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a decorative frame adapted to be selectively displaced between an extended and contracted condition comprising side portions and corner portions having ends adapted to be attached to each other when assembling the frame, wherein the ends comprise first attachment means at each end for attachment of the frame portions during assembly of the decorative frame.

Preferably, the side and corner portions comprise first attachment means at faces of the side and corner portions that abut the sides of sub-frames that define the mural.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided an attachment means for attachment of a first and second sub-frames in accordance with the first aspect of the invention to a wall, the attachment means comprising a triangular section located in one corner of the first and second sub-frames, the triangular section comprises an indentation adapted to receive attachment means such as a portion of a head of a fastener attached to the wall.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided an attachment means for attachment of a first and second sub-frames in accordance with the first aspect of the invention to a wall, the attachment means comprise a notch attached to a side of the first and second sub-frames for receiving attachment means such as a portion of a head of a fastener attached to the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1a shows a particular arrangement of a mural in an assembled condition in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b show the mural shown in FIG. 1 during assembly thereof;

FIG. 3 shows a bottom rear perspective view of an upper section of the mural shown in FIG. 1 depicting a particular section of the frame of the mural shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the bottom of a frame of another arrangement of a mural in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the front of a frame of the arrangement of mural shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the front of a frame of the arrangement of mural shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a detail of the plan view of the front of the frame shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8 to 14 show particular arrangements of first and second sub-frames adapted for attachment to each other to define the frame shown in FIGS. 4 to 7;

FIG. 15 show another particular arrangement of first and second sub-frames adapted for attachment to each other to define the frame shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and;

FIG. 16a shows an exploited view of a decorative frame in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16b shows a cross sectional view of a side portion of the decorative frame; and

FIG. 16c shows a front view of a side portion of the decorative frame.

It should be noted that the figures are schematic only and the location and disposition of the components can vary according to the particular arrangements of the embodiments of the present invention as well as of the particular applications of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a particular arrangement of a mural 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The mural 10 comprises a front face 12 (see FIG. 3) depicting a particular painting and a rear face 14 (see FIG. 3) adapted for attachment to a surface such as a wall for displaying of the mural 10—see FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mural 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of sub-frames 16a to 16d. FIG. 2a depicts the mural 10 in a disassembled condition prior assembly thereof and FIG. 2b depicts the mural 10 during assembly thereof. During assembly of the mural 10, the sub-frames 16 are brought together for attachment to each other to define the mural 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 2b, an upper section 18 of the mural 10 is defined by attaching together sub-frames 16a and 16b; subsequently, sub-frame 16c may be brought adjacent the upper section 18 for attachment to the upper section 18 and finally the sub-frame 16d is moved to the upper section 18 and sub-frame 16c for attachment thereto to define the mural 10.

Each of the sub-frames 16 is adapted to be attached to each other to define the mural 10. For this, each sub-frame 16 comprises means 22 that permit attaching a particular sub-frame 16 to the sub-frames 16 that are adjacent the particular sub-frame 16. In the particular arrangements of murals 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention shown in the FIGS. 1 to 7, the attachments means 22 are incorporated in one or more sides 20 of each sub-frame 16—see FIG. 3. In particular, the upper section 18 of the mural 10 shown in FIG. 3, comprises two sub-frames 16a and 16b with one of their sides (20a of sub-frame 16b and 20c of sub-frame 16a) abutting each other for attachment thereof.

In the particular arrangements of murals 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the attachment of sub-frames 16 occurs via attachment means 22 incorporated in sides 20 of the sub-frames 16.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the sub-frames 16a and 16b of the upper section 18 shown in FIG. 3, comprise (1) attachment means 22 in the side 20c of the frame 16a and in the side 20a of the frame 16b (the inner sides) that abut each other and (2) attachment means 22 in the sides 20b of the panels 16a and 16b. The attachment means 22 in the sides 20b permit attachment of the upper section 18 to the sub-frames 16c and 16d to define the mural 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer sides (the side 20a of sub-frame 16a and the side 20c of the sub-frame 16b) do not incorporate attachment means 22 due to defining portions of the outer periphery of the mural 10.

However, in accordance with alternative arrangements of the present embodiment of the inventions, the outer sides of the sub frames 16 defining the outer periphery of the mural 10 may also incorporate attachments 22 for attachment of, for example a decorative frame 33 surrounding the mural 10—see FIG. 16. The attachments 22 may located in the inner walls of the decorative frame that abuts the outer sides 20 of the sub-frames.

The decorative frame may also be adapted to be selectively displaced between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition to permit mailing of the decorative frame with the mural 10 in disassembled condition.

In a particular arrangement, the decorative frame 33 may be assembled by joining together particular portions, such as side portions 36 and corner portions 34 having ends adapted to be attached to each other when assembling the frame. The ends 38 may comprise attachment means 22 such as magnets inserted in notches indenting into each end 38 for attachment of the frame portions 34 and 46 during assembly of the frame. The magnets of the ends of the frame portions to be attached together have opposed polarities to permit attachment of the frame portions 34 and 46.

As will be described with reference to the particular arrangement of mural 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention shown in the FIGS. 4 to 16, particular sub-frames 16 may incorporate attachments means 22 in all of their sides 20a to 20d and other sub-frames 16 may incorporate attachments means 22 in only particular sides 20.

Furthermore, in a particular arrangement, the attachment means 22 may comprise magnetic material. As shown in FIG. 3, the attachment means 20 comprise a plurality of magnets 24 arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other along particular sides 20 of the sub-frame 16. For this, the sides 20 of the sub-frames 16, in order to incorporate magnets 24, comprise notches 23 (see FIG. 8) for receiving the magnets 24. The magnets 24 of the sides to be attached together of sub-frames 16 have opposed polarities to permit attachment of the sub-frames 16.

Moreover, in the particular arrangements of murals 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, each particular sub-frame 16 is defined by a frame structure 26 comprising the sides 20 attached to each other to define a four-sided arrangement for each sub-frame 16—see, for example, FIGS. 4 and 5.

Further, reinforcement members, defining bracing members 29, extend diagonally between the corners of the frame structure 26. The bracing members 29 reinforce the frame structure 26.

Also, the four-sided arrangement and the bracing members 29 provide a support frame for receiving the particular portion (a detail) of the copy of the painting to be mailed to a particular purchaser. The particular detail may be attached to the support frame via adhesive materials prior delivery of the disassembled mural 10 to the purchaser.

As mentioned before, a plurality of sub-frames 16 comprising each a particular portion (the detail) of a copy a painting are adapted to be selectively displaced between a disassembled condition (for packing and mailing purposes) and an assembled condition to define the mural 10 (for mounting of the mural 10 onto a surface such as a wall).

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 7, FIGS. 4 to 7 show another arrangement of a mural in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention. (In FIGS. 4 to 7, the portions of the image mounted each sub-frame 16 have been removed with the intention to show the frame structure of the mural 10).

The particular arrangement of mural 10 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises eighteen sub-frames 16 attached to each other for defining the mural 10.

The mural 10 has a rear face 14 shown in FIG. 4 and a front face 12 shown in FIG. 5. The front face 12 will depict the particular image after assembly of the mural 10 when attaching the sub-frames 16 together.

The rear face 14 is adapted to be attached to the surface (such as a wall) onto which the mural 10 will be mounted. For this, particular sub-frame 16 comprise attachments means 25 for attachment of the particular sub-frames 16 (and therefore the entire mural 10) to the wall. By attaching the particular sub-frames 16 having the attachment means 24, the mural 10 is mounted on, for example, the wall.

FIGS. 8, 9, 13 and 14 show the particular sub-frames 16 that comprise the attachment means 25; as shown, in these figures, the attachment means 25 comprise a triangular section 26 located in one corner of the sub-frame 16. The triangular section 26 comprises an indentation 28 adapted to receive attachment means such as a magnet 32 or a particular type of adhesive material to permit attachment of the sub-frames 16 (and of the particular mural 10 having these particular types sub-frames 16) to the particular surface.

In alternative arrangements, the attachment means 24 may comprise painting hangers of the type to be attached to the rear face of a painting and that are adapted to receive a head of nail or screw, for example. The painting hanger may be part of the sub-frame 16.

As mentioned before, particular sub-frames 16 may incorporate attachments means 22 in all of their sides 20a to 20d and other sub-frames may incorporate attachments means 22 in only some particular sides 20.

In the particular arrangement of mural 10 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there are group of four sub-frames 16e that incorporate attachments means 22 in all of their sides 20a to 20d. FIG. 11 shows a particular arrangement sub-frame 16e.

These sub-frames 16e when assembled together define a core section 28 of the mural 10 and, due to having attachments means 22 in all of their sides 20a to 20d, permit surrounding the core section 28 with an inner section 30 defined by a plurality of sub-frames 16f—see, for example, FIG. 4.

The inner section 30 comprises the sub-frames 16f that incorporate attachments means 22 in only particular sides 20. FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 show these particular arrangements of sub-frames 16f for defining the inner section 30 of the mural 10 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.

As mentioned before, in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, the mural 10 is defined by attaching together the plurality of sub-frames 16 together. Each of the sub-frames 16 define a surface for receiving a particular detail of, for example, a copy of a painting to be mailed to a particular purchaser that wishes to display the copy of the particular painting at, for example, their premises.

In operation, initially a copy of a painting is prepared (such as printed) and cut into portions; subsequently, the portions are attached to the front face of sub-frames 16 in such a manner that, when all sub-frames 26 are attached together, the copy of the painting is properly reproduced.

Once all of portions of the copy of the painting are attached to the sub-frames 16, the sub-frames 16 may be mailed to the corresponding purchaser.

At arrival at the purchaser's premises, the purchaser may assemble the sub-frames 16 so that the copy of the painting is properly reproduced permitting mounting of the mural 10 onto a particular surface for display of the painting.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Further, it should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments disclosed. By way of example, the present embodiment of the invention has been described with referenced to paintings; however, in alternative arrangements the mural 10 may be posters for, for example, advertising purposes or wall planners, among other applications.

In other arrangements, the mural 10 may be depicting photos or images of the purchasers of the mural 10; in this arrangement, the purchasers may provide the photos or images during or at a later stage of purchasing the mural 10.

Furthermore, the present embodiment of the invention has been described with sub-frames 16 comprising an outer four-sided arrangement defining the outer periphery of the sub-frame and having diagonal oriented bracing members; however, in alternative arrangements each sub-frame 16 may be defined by a solid tile comprising a front face defining the surface for receiving the details of the image to be depicted by the mural.

Moreover, the present embodiment of the invention has been described with sub-frames 16 comprising a four-sided arrangement; in accordance with alternative arrangements, the sub-frame may be configured to have any geometrical shape that permit attachment of adjacent sub-frames to each other.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A sub-frame for defining a mural depicting a particular image, the mural being defined by attaching at least one second sub-frame to the first sub-frame, the first sub-frame comprising a frame having a support surface for receiving a particular portion of the image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising first attachments means for attachment of at least one of the second sub-frames having another portion of the image depicted by the mural attached to a support surface of the second sub-frames to define the mural depicting the particular image.

2. A sub-frame according to claim 1 wherein the second sub-frame comprises a frame having the support surface for receiving the another portion of the image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising attachments means for attachment of the second sub-frame to the side of the first sub-frame to define the mural depicting the particular image.

3. A sub-frame according to claim 2 wherein at least one side of the second sub-frame comprises first attachments means.

4. (canceled)

5. A sub-frame according to claim 2 wherein the first attachment means comprise a plurality of magnets arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other along the side of the first and second sub-frames.

6. A sub-frame according to claim 5 wherein the sides of the first and second sub-frames comprises notches for receiving the magnets.

7. A sub-frame according to claim 1 wherein the first and second sub-frames comprises a frame structure comprising sides defining a four-sided arrangement with four corners.

8. A sub-frame according to claim 7 wherein the first and second sub-frames comprises bracing members that extend diagonally between the corners of the frame structure.

9. (canceled)

10. A sub-frame according to claim 1 wherein the first and second sub-frames comprise second attachment means for attaching the first and second sub-frames defining the mural to the wall.

11. A sub-frame according to claim 10 wherein the second attachment means comprise a triangular section located in one corner of the first and second sub-frames.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. A sub-frame according to claim 7 wherein the first and second sub-frames incorporates first attachments means in all of the sides of the frame structure.

17. A sub-frame according to claim 7 wherein, the first and second sub-frames incorporates first attachments means in only some particular sides of the sides of the frame structure.

18. A sub-frame according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second sub-frames comprises a solid tile having a front face defining the support surface for receiving the details of the image to be depicted by the mural.

19. A mural adapted to be selectively displaced between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition, the mural comprising a plurality of first and second sub-frames wherein the first sub-frame comprises a frame having a support surface for receiving a particular portion of an image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising first attachments means for attachment of at least one of the second sub-frames having another portion of the image depicted by the mural attached to a support surface of the second sub-frames to define the mural depicting the particular image, and the second sub-frame comprises a frame having the support surface for receiving the another portion of the image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising attachments means for attachment of the second sub-frame to the side of the first sub-frame to define the mural depicting the particular image.

20. A mural according to claim 19 wherein the mural further comprises a decorative frame being adapted to be attached to outer sides of the first and second sub-frames defining an outer periphery of the mural for surrounding the mural.

21. A mural according to claim 20 wherein the decorative frame comprises first attachment means such as magnets for attachment to outer sides of the first and second sub-frames defining the outer periphery of the mural.

22. A mural according to claim 19 wherein the decorative frame is adapted to be selectively displaced between an extended and contracted condition.

23. A mural according to claim 19 wherein the decorative frame is adapted to be selectively displaced between an extended and contracted condition comprising particular portions, such as side portions and corner portions having ends adapted to be attached to each other when assembling the frame, wherein the ends comprise first attachment means at each end for attachment of the frame portions during assembly of the decorative frame.

24. An attachment means for attachment of a first and second sub-frames, the attachment means comprising a triangular section located in one corner of the first and second sub-frames, the triangular section comprises an indentation adapted to receive (1) attachment means such as a portion of a head of a fastener attached to the wall or (2) a magnet, wherein the first sub-frame comprises a frame having a support surface for receiving a particular portion of an image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising first attachments means for attachment of at least one of the second sub-frames having another portion of the image depicted by the mural attached to a support surface of the second sub-frames to define the mural depicting the particular image, and the second sub-frame comprises a frame having the support surface for receiving the another portion of the image depicted by the mural, and at least one side comprising attachments means for attachment of the second sub-frame to the side of the first sub-frame to define the mural depicting the particular image.

25. A decorative frame adapted to be selectively displaced between an extended and contracted condition comprising side portions and corner portions having ends adapted to be attached to each other when assembling the frame, wherein the ends comprise first attachment means at each end for attachment of the frame portions during assembly of the decorative frame.

26. A decorative frame according to claim 25 wherein the side and corner portions comprise first attachment means at faces of the side and corner portions that abut the sides of sub-frames that define the mural.