Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Obtaining plural product pieces from unitary workpiece
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-10
2001-09-18
Young, Lee (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Obtaining plural product pieces from unitary workpiece
C029S428000, C040S700000, C040S743000, C040S768000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289567
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a picture frame for displaying a photograph, and more particularly, to a picture frame that complements the displayed photograph. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method of construction of a personalized picture frame that is an extension of the displayed photograph.
Traditional picture frames are typically used to display a persons photographs. There are wide varieties of frames used to display photographs including flat, carved and sometimes ornate frames. Some of the frames have three dimensional characteristics in the form of beveling or molding or even carved relief images or carved ornamentation. The frames also can vary in shape from square, rectangular, oval, round or a custom shape. While there is this wide selection of frames available, the typical picture frame used to display a persons photographs is of the flat variety. This means that the frame has a flat surface surrounding the photograph and the photograph is usually covered with glass.
Typically, photograph frames are purchased at a store in a pre-manufactured form. In some cases, an individual desires to personalize the photo frame. Items such as beveling or molding are difficult to add to a frame, so the person's selection is limited to the size, color and shape of the frame. Matting sometimes is used between the photograph and the frame for decorative purposes. Ideally, the person desires a frame that does not distract or overwhelm the photograph being displayed, but is also unique.
Accordingly, what is needed is an easy way for a person to personalize a picture frame to enhance the displayed photograph.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention advantageously addresses the needs above as well as other needs by providing an assembly and method of personalizing a picture frame by customizing the frame such that the frame becomes an extension of the displayed photograph.
It is therefore a feature of the invention to provide a personalized photograph frame assembly that provides a frame that is an extension of the displayed photograph and is pleasing to the user. The frame can be custom made or purchased pre-made from the store. In the preferred embodiment, the frame is of the flat type and is covered with a portion of the photograph such that when the frame assembly is viewed in a plan view, the portion of the photograph covering the frame appears to be an extension of the photograph that is displayed in the frame.
The customized picture frame assembly consists of a picture frame having a flat face and a central opening. The frame may be of the pre-made variety with a glass piece (or other transparent medium) covering the opening and a removable backing that can be removed to insert a photograph to be displayed in the opening. The photograph to be displayed has been separated into two portions, a frame portion and the display portion. The frame portion is attached to and covers the front surface of the frame. The display portion is displayed in the opening of the frame. The frame portion and the display portion are separated by the thickness of the frame. When viewing the frame assembly in a plan view, the portions of the photograph appear as one, thus making it hard to distinguish between the frame portion and the display portion of the photograph (i.e., the frame and the photograph look as one since they are made from the same photograph). It is only when the customized picture frame assembly is viewed at an angle, does it become apparent that the display portion and the frame portion of the photograph lie on different planes separated by the thickness of the frame.
It is another feature of the invention to disclose a method of making the personalized photograph frame assembly. Once a frame is selected for the photograph, the backing and the glass (or other transparent medium) are removed. Using the frame as a template, the photograph is trimmed to match the perimeter of the frame and the center of the photograph is trimmed by the central opening in the frame, thereby making a frame portion and a display portion of the photograph. The frame portion is permanently attached to the flat front of the frame using an adhesive. The personalized photograph frame assembly is then assembled with the display portion of the photograph positioned between the glass (or other transparent medium) and the backing. The display portion is aligned in the opening of the frame to correspond with the frame portion such that when the personalized photograph frame assembly is seen in a plan view, a person would be unable to distinguish between the display portion and the frame portion. It is only when the frame is turned does it become evident that both portions of the photograph lie in different planes.
It is a further feature of the invention to use two duplicate photographs, instead of one, for the personalized photograph frame assembly. In this way the trimming of the portions do not have to be as precise and the display portion may be larger than the opening to allow for slight misalignment of the display portion when the personalized photograph frame assembly is assembled together.
It is an additional feature of the invention to use a template, instead of the picture frame to avoid damage to the frame during the photograph trimming operation. The templates are made in standard frame sizes and openings and made out a durable material that can withstand multiple use, such as metal or more preferably, acrylic, plexiglass or plastic.
It is an added feature of the invention to use a computer image of the photograph instead of the original photograph in the personalized photograph frame assembly. The photograph is scanned into a computer and computerized photo enhancement techniques are to restore or enhance the photograph. It is envisioned that the present invention could be used with old precious photographs where there is only one copy and the owner does not want it damaged. Sometimes these old photographs are faded and torn. By scanning the photograph into the computer, the original may be protected and once in the computer, the photographs can be manipulated and restored and are printed on a high quality color printer to be used in the personalized photograph frame assembly.
It is a supplementary feature of the invention to provide a personalized photograph frame kit to assist a person in personalizing a photograph frame. The kit includes a set of instructions on the frame personalizing method, a plurality of templates for trimming the photograph (or duplicate photographs), an adhesive for attaching a frame portion of the photograph to the frame and the display portion of the photograph to the backing or glass (or other transparent medium) such that when the personalized photograph frame assembly is assembled, both portions of the photograph look like one in a plan view.
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Photographs of Anne Geddes Photographic Frame Print, by Anne Geddes, 1997.*
Photographs of Anne Geddes Photographic Frame Print, by Anne Geddes, untitiled, © 1997.
Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery
Tugbang A. Dexter
Young Lee
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