Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Picture frame – Curved picture
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-09-25
Green, Brian K. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Picture frame
Curved picture
C040S743000, C040S711000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293038
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to vertically positionable calendars. Such calendars can either be vertically mountable on a wall or nearly vertically positionable on a table. This invention also relates to frames in general, and more specifically relates to frames for mounting calendars.
Most conventional calendars consist of a stack of calendar sheets in either loose or book forms. Each of these calendar sheets typically contains a calendar date table illustration and a calendar picture illustration. It is often desirable to display the calendar picture illustration in a suitable frame to enhance its aesthetic value. However, framing of a vertically positionable calendar is not generally done because there is no desirable way to frame the calendar picture illustration while exposing the calendar date table illustration for memorandum writing and date checking.
For a typical calendar, the calendar picture to be displayed are limited by the pictures selected by the calendar manufacturer. It is sometimes desirable that the displayed calendar picture be temporarily replaced by a custom picture. There is no calendar system in the prior art that can alternately display a calendar picture and a custom picture in a desirable manner.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,038,666 and 2,179,857 describe a calendar pad attached to a conventional picture frame. In this prior art the calendar pad does not have calendar pictures displayable in the picture frame. The picture frame serves as nothing more than a holder for the calendar pad.
For a large wall-mounted calendar the frame assembly to be chosen for the display of the calendar is unavoidably large and heavy. It is desirable for such frame calendars that the change of the calendar display can be achieved without taking down the frame from the mounting wall. No frame assembly known in the prior art can be adapted for such use without the need of taking down the frame during the calendar display changes.
It is desirable that the appearance of a calendar frame or picture frame be changeable to complement the picture on display. No frame system in the prior art is capable of changing the appearance of its frame in easy and desirable manner.
Display cases are generally known in the prior art for the display of collectable articles such as coins, sea shells, etc. It is often desirable that a background picture or narrative sheet be displayed along with the articles on display. This is difficult for most display cases since they are generally incapable of removably mounting a picture sheet. On the other hand, no picture frame known in the prior art is equipped with desirable support structure for the simultaneous display of the collectable articles and background pictures.
Most conventional picture frames basically allow a picture to be displayed as it is. It would be desirable to provide a picture frame that could add some 3D effect to a mounted picture. This 3D effect is absent if the picture is viewed by itself without the frame.
It would also be desirable to provide a picture frame which, in addition to displaying a main picture, could also display one or more complementary pictures that would create a 3D feeling toward the main picture in the mind of a viewer. Such 3D feeling is absent if the main picture is viewed by itself without the frame, with or without said complementary pictures placed on the side of the main picture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention a frame calendar is disclosed in which the frame is an integral part of the calendar. The calendar also includes a stack of calendar sheets with each one having a calendar picture illustration and a calendar date table illustration. All calendar sheets are mounted on the frame with one calendar picture illustration in view through the window of the frame and one calendar date table illustration exposed outside the frame.
Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to provide a frame calendar which elegantly displays each calendar picture in a frame. It greatly enhances the aesthetic value of the calendar picture on display. In the mean time the calendar date table on display is exposed outside of the frame to facilitate memorandum writing and calendar date checking without disassembling the frame.
In the present frame calendar system a custom picture can be placed in the frame and be displayed in lieu of the calendar picture. One is no longer limited by the pictures selected by the calendar manufacturer. The picture chosen for display can also be changed as frequently as desired. After the end of the calendar year with the removal of the calendar sheets the present system is readily converted to a picture frame/storage device and used indefinitely for storing and displaying custom pictures. The calendar pictures can also be separated from the calendar date tables and stored in the frame for future display if desired.
In the present invention an one-piece molded back member with resilient arms is disclosed. It greatly eases the effort in loading and unloading the calendar sheets and custom pictures. Two insertion tabs and a spring clip on the back member allow each loading or unloading to be achieved in two simple steps. After each loading the resilient arms of the back member are in engagement with the corners of the stack of the calendar sheets/custom pictures. It allows the calendar sheets/custom pictures to be properly stored and displayed regardless of the number of sheets mounted up to the capacity of the frame.
The frame of the present invention can have a frame border which is molded to form some carved art pattern with many openings. A stack of border sheets with different contrasting colors can be loaded behind the frame border. The first border sheet of the stack will be partially visible through the openings. This allows the appearance of the frame to be easily changed. The top border sheet on display can therefore be chosen to complement the calendar picture or custom picture on display.
Alternatively, the frame border of the present invention can also have a border window. A stack of border sheets with different printed graphic patterns can therefore be loaded with the top sheet displayed through the border window. More variation of the appearance of the frame can be achieved in this design. A border mat with an intricate laser-cut pattern coupled with one or more matching border sheets as disclosed in the present invention would make the appearance of the frame and its variation even more interesting.
In addition to a stationary window glass a second window glass is also provided in the frame of the present invention. Unsymmetrical tabs on the sides of this second window glass are engageable with many grooves having different depths on the inner side wall of the frame. This allows the second window glass to be stopped at four different depths while mounted, depending on the orientation of the entry of the second window glass. Consequently, a void space with adjustable depth is created between the stationary window glass and the second window glass.
The newly created space will allow dried flowers, reinforced laser-cut pictures, etc., to be installed and displayed. In the mean time, a complementary calendar sheet or custom picture is also mounted behind the second window glass and displayed. This creates a vivid and interesting three dimensional display. The changing of the calendar sheet/custom picture for display can be achieved without affecting the articles mounted in the front of the second window glass.
Small collectable articles such as coins, sea shells, etc., can also be mounted in the space between the stationary window glass and the second window glass. This is achieved with support members of the present invention. Support building blocks, support building plates and other support members can be assembled into support assemblies with different shapes and complexities for the support and display of small collectable articles. One other novel support member with a magnetic plate is also disclosed. This support member is
LandOfFree
Frame does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Frame, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Frame will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2439424