PICTURE FRAME APPARATUS

Abstract

A picture frame apparatus for decoratively displaying a picture includes a translucent layer with a first face and a second face. A mirror layer is coupled to the second face of the translucent layer and has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is reflective and abuts the second face of the translucent layer. The mirror layer has an aperture extending therethrough.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to picture frames and more particularly pertains to a new picture frame for decoratively displaying a picture.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art includes examples of picture frames which display a picture in proximity to a mirror, including using mirrors positioned to surround the picture being displayed. However, these picture frames rely on additional structure between the mirror or mirrors and the picture being displayed. The prior art does not disclose a device which uses a translucent layer and a mirror layer with an aperture for positioning a picture such that both the mirror and the picture are covered by the same translucent layer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a translucent layer with a first face and a second face. A mirror layer is coupled to the second face of the translucent layer and has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is reflective and abuts the second face of the translucent layer. The mirror layer has an aperture extending therethrough.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a picture frame apparatus according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a back view of a first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of a first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the disclosure taken from Arrows 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of a second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective top view of a sixth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a seventh embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new picture frame embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the picture frame apparatus 10 generally comprises a translucent layer 12 with a first face 14 and a second face 16. The term “translucent” in the specification and claims describes a property of allowing light to pass through the material that is translucent such that objects are viewable through the material. The transparent layer 12 may comprise glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, or the like. A mirror layer 18 is coupled to the second face 16 of the translucent layer 12 and has a first surface 20 and a second surface 22. The mirror layer 18 comprises conventional materials for achieving reflectivity such as silver, tin, nickel, aluminum, or the like. The first surface 20 of the mirror layer 18 is reflective and abuts the second face 16 of the translucent layer 12. The mirror layer 18 has an aperture 18 extending therethrough, a perimeter edge 26 of which is shaped to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge 30 of a picture 28. A peripheral edge 32 of the mirror layer 18 is coextensive with an exterior edge 34 of the translucent layer 12.

In a first embodiment 36 illustrated by FIGS. 1-3, the translucent layer 12 has a first end 38 and a second end 40. The translucent layer 12 also has a first side 42 and a second side 44 which each extend between the first end 38 and the second end 40 and between the first face 14 and the second face 16. The first side 42 is concavely arcuate adjacent to the first end 38 and convexly arcuate adjacent to the second end 40. The second side 44 is convexly arcuate adjacent to the first end 38 and concavely arcuate adjacent to the second end 40.

In a second embodiment 46 illustrated by FIG. 4, the picture frame apparatus 12 further includes a tabletop frame 48. The translucent layer 12 and the mirror layer 18 are mounted to a front face 50 of the tabletop frame 48 such that the first face 14 of the translucent layer 12 faces forwardly with respect to the tabletop frame 48. The tabletop frame 48 has a boundary edge 52 which is coextensive with the peripheral edge 32 of the mirror layer 18. A kick stand 54 is mounted to the tabletop frame 48 opposite the mirror layer 18. The kick stand 54 extends away from the tabletop frame 48 and is angled toward the boundary edge 52 of the frame.

In a third embodiment 56 illustrated by FIG. 5, the picture frame apparatus 12 further includes a flowerpot 58 that defines a cavity 60 for containing a plant 62. The translucent layer 12 and the mirror layer 18 surround a perimeter wall 64 of the flowerpot 58 such that the first face 14 of the translucent layer 12 faces outwardly away from the flowerpot 58.

In a fourth embodiment 66 illustrated by FIG. 6, a chain 68 is coupled to and extends away from the exterior edge 34 of the translucent layer 12, and a ring 70 is coupled to a distal end 72 of the chain 68 with respect to the translucent layer 12.

In a fifth embodiment 74 illustrated by FIG. 7, a necklace 76 is coupled to the exterior edge 34 of the translucent layer 12. The necklace 76 has a pair of segments 78 each extending away from the translucent layer 12.

In a sixth embodiment 80 illustrated by FIG. 8, the picture frame apparatus 12 further includes a table 82. The translucent layer 12 and the mirror layer 18 are mounted on a top surface 84 of the table 82 such that the first face 14 of the translucent layer 12 faces upwardly with respect to the table 82. The aperture 18 of the mirror layer 18 is one of a plurality of apertures 18 extending through the mirror layer 18, and a perimeter edge 26 of each aperture 18 of the plurality of apertures 18 is shaped to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge 30 of one of a plurality of pictures 28.

In a seventh embodiment 86 illustrated by FIG. 9, the picture frame apparatus 12 further includes a frame structure 88 to which the translucent layer 12 and the mirror layer 18 are mounted. The frame structure 88 has an outer wall 90 which is coextensive with the exterior edge 34 of the translucent layer 12. The frame structure 88 has a plurality of openings 92 extending therethrough, and the translucent layer 12 is positioned such that the first face 14 of the translucent layer 12 is viewable through each opening 92 of the plurality of openings 92 of the frame structure 88. The aperture 18 of the mirror layer 18 is one of a plurality of apertures 18 extending through the mirror layer 18, a perimeter edge 26 of each aperture 18 of the plurality of apertures 18 is shaped such that each perimeter edge 26 is configured to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge 30 of one of a plurality of pictures 28. Each aperture 18 of the plurality of apertures 18 is positioned such that each aperture 18 is viewable through one of the openings 92 of the frame.

In use, one or more pictures 28, depending on the embodiment, are mounted to the picture frame apparatus 12 for display. Each picture 28 used may be mounted to the picture frame apparatus 12 by any conventional means. For example, each picture 28 used may be adhered to a panel, and the panel may be adhered to the picture frame apparatus 12 such that the picture 28 is viewable through the aperture 24, or one of the apertures 24 in embodiments with a plurality of apertures 24. In another example, the panel may be releasably secured to the picture frame apparatus 12 such that the panel retains each picture 28 used to the picture frame apparatus 12. Other attachment means may be used.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A picture frame apparatus comprising:

a translucent layer having a first face and a second face; and

a mirror layer being coupled to the second face of the translucent layer, the mirror layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being reflective, the first surface abutting the second face of the translucent layer, the mirror layer having an aperture extending therethrough.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a perimeter edge of the aperture is shaped such that the perimeter edge is configured to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge of a picture.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a peripheral edge of the mirror layer is coextensive with an exterior edge of the translucent layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translucent layer has a first end and a second end, the translucent layer having a first side and a second side each extending between the first end and the second end and between the first face and the second face, the first side being concavely arcuate adjacent to the first end and convexly arcuate adjacent to the second end, the second side being convexly arcuate adjacent to the first end and concavely arcuate adjacent to the second end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a tabletop frame, the translucent layer and the mirror layer being mounted to a front face of the tabletop frame such that the first face of the translucent layer faces forwardly with respect to the tabletop frame; and

a kick stand being mounted to the tabletop frame opposite the mirror layer, the kick stand extending away from the tabletop frame and being angled toward the boundary edge of the frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tabletop frame has a boundary edge being coextensive with the peripheral edge of the mirror layer and the exterior edge of the translucent layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flowerpot, the translucent layer and the mirror layer surrounding a perimeter wall of the flowerpot such that the first face of the translucent layer faces outwardly away from the flowerpot, the flowerpot defining a cavity for containing a plant.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a chain being coupled to and extending away from the exterior edge of the translucent layer; and

a ring being coupled to a distal end of the chain with respect to the translucent layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a necklace being coupled to the exterior edge of the translucent layer, the necklace having a pair of segments each extending away from the translucent layer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a table, the translucent layer and the mirror layer being mounted on a top surface of the table such that the first face of the translucent layer faces upwardly with respect to the table.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the aperture of the mirror layer is one of a plurality of apertures extending through the mirror layer, a perimeter edge of each aperture of the plurality of apertures being shaped such that each perimeter edge is configured to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge of one of a plurality of pictures.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frame structure, the translucent layer and the mirror layer being mounted to the frame structure, the frame structure having an outer wall being coextensive with the exterior edge of the translucent layer, the frame structure having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, the translucent layer being positioned such that the first face of the translucent layer is viewable through each opening of the plurality of openings of the frame structure, the aperture of the mirror layer being one of a plurality of apertures extending through the mirror layer, a perimeter edge of each aperture of the plurality of apertures being shaped such that each perimeter edge is configured to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge of one of a plurality of pictures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures being positioned such that each aperture is viewable through one of the openings of the frame.

13. A picture frame apparatus comprising:

a translucent layer having a first face and a second face; and

a mirror layer being coupled to the second face of the translucent layer, the mirror layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being reflective, the first surface abutting the second face of the translucent layer, the mirror layer having an aperture extending therethrough, a perimeter edge of the aperture being shaped such that the perimeter edge is configured to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge of a picture, a peripheral edge of the mirror layer being coextensive with an exterior edge of the translucent layer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the translucent layer has a first end and a second end, the translucent layer having a first side and a second side each extending between the first end and the second end and between the first face and the second face, the first side being concavely arcuate adjacent to the first end and convexly arcuate adjacent to the second end, the second side being convexly arcuate adjacent to the first end and concavely arcuate adjacent to the second end.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a tabletop frame, the translucent layer and the mirror layer being mounted to a front face of the tabletop frame such that the first face of the translucent layer faces forwardly with respect to the tabletop frame, the tabletop frame having a boundary edge being coextensive with the peripheral edge of the mirror layer; and

a kick stand being mounted to the tabletop frame opposite the mirror layer, the kick stand extending away from the tabletop frame and being angled toward the boundary edge of the frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a flowerpot, the translucent layer and the mirror layer surrounding a perimeter wall of the flowerpot such that the first face of the translucent layer faces outwardly away from the flowerpot, the flowerpot defining a cavity for containing a plant.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a chain being coupled to and extending away from the exterior edge of the translucent layer; and

a ring being coupled to a distal end of the chain with respect to the translucent layer.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a necklace being coupled to the exterior edge of the translucent layer, the necklace having a pair of segments each extending away from the translucent layer.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a table, the translucent layer and the mirror layer being mounted on a top surface of the table such that the first face of the translucent layer faces upwardly with respect to the table, the aperture of the mirror layer being one of a plurality of apertures extending through the mirror layer, a perimeter edge of each aperture of the plurality of apertures being shaped such that each perimeter edge is configured to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge of one of a plurality of pictures.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a frame structure, the translucent layer and the mirror layer being mounted to the frame structure, the frame structure having an outer wall being coextensive with the exterior edge of the translucent layer, the frame structure having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, the translucent layer being positioned such that the first face of the translucent layer is viewable through each opening of the plurality of openings of the frame structure, the aperture of the mirror layer being one of a plurality of apertures extending through the mirror layer, a perimeter edge of each aperture of the plurality of apertures being shaped such that each perimeter edge is configured to be equivalent in size and shape to an outer edge of one of a plurality of pictures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures being positioned such that each aperture is viewable through one of the openings of the frame.