Abstract:
A door for displaying an object to be framed therein includes a door body having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second opposing side edges. A plurality of frames are defined within the door body. The frames include a glazing substantially covering the front of the frame and a backing substantially covering the back of the frame. The glazing and backing retain the object to be framed within the frame.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/557,564, filed Nov. 9, 2011 and entitled “Door With Integrated Image Frame,” and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to doors, and more particularly to doors having integrated picture frames therein. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Doors are available in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes. Some doors, such as closet doors, vary widely in each of these aspects, and also differ with respect to functionality. Doors are also manufactured from a wide variety of materials, including wood, stamped steel, polymer, and mixtures of plastic and wood fiber. 
         [0006]    Regardless of the shape or functionality of a given door, and despite the fact that doors are common to the interior of households, doors are not often decorated with photographs or other images. The materials from which doors are constructed make it difficult or undesirable to hang a photograph or other image from the door using a nail, screw, or other fastener. The damage done to the door may not be as readily fixed or covered as damage done by a nail or screw to a wall. Thus, apart from paint, most doors in a household lack decorative elements. 
         [0007]    Many individuals, particularly teens, use tape or other adhesives to affix photographs, drawings, and other images to the surface of a door. This contributes to a generally messy appearance of the door and the associated room. Further, tape and other adhesives may leave residue on the door or damage the paint or other surface of the door. This is especially problematic when individuals change photographs or images on a regular basis, removing one image to replace it with another and in the process removing the tape or adhesive used to affix the first image, thereby potentially marring or damaging the surface of the door. Many teens, for example, find it desirable to change such images frequently, representing changing tastes, trends, or interests of the teen. 
         [0008]    What is needed, therefore, is a door having structures associated therewith to allow for the easy display of photographs or other decorative images on the door, and to allow the photographs or other images to be changed as often as desired without damaging the surface of the door. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a door for displaying an object to be framed therein. The door includes a door body having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second opposing side edges. A plurality of frames are defined within the door body. The frames include a glazing substantially covering the front of the frame and a backing substantially covering the back of the frame. The glazing and backing retain the object to be framed within the frame. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the invention provides that the door body has a front surface and a rear surface. An opening between the front surface of the door body and the glazing allows insertion of an object to be framed into the frame. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the invention provides an opening between the backing and the rear surface of the door body for insertion of an object to be framed into the frame. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the invention provides that the backing is also a glazing. 
         [0013]    Another aspect of the invention provides that the door includes a fastener for attaching the door to a structure. 
         [0014]    Another aspect of the invention provides that the door body includes a message board attached to the front surface of the door body. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the invention, the message board is a whiteboad, a corkboard, a chalkboard, or a combination of these. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the invention, the door includes a second door body having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second opposing side edges. A plurality of frames are defined within the second door body. The second door body is hingedly attached to the first door body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a bifold door of the present invention having staggered image frames associated therewith. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a bifold door of the present invention having an orderly series of linear image frames associated therewith. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a standard door having a plurality of image frames according to the present invention associated therewith. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a standard door having a plurality of image frames according to the present invention associated therewith, the image frames provided in groups of two. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a standard door having a plurality of image frames of the present invention associated at or near a perimeter thereof and having a memo-board associated therewith. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a standard door having a plurality of image frames according to the present invention associated therewith, the Figures showing an exploded view of a frame assembly of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7   a  is a side view of a portion of a door of the present invention, the view showing a frame opening, stepped glazing, and backing of a frame assembly. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   b  is a side view of a portion of a door of the present invention, the view showing a frame opening, flat recessed glazing, and backing of a frame assembly. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7   c  is a side view of a portion of a door of the present invention, the view showing a frame opening, flat recessed glazing, and thin backing of a frame assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of a door  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Door  10  is a bifold door having a plurality of image frames  12  associated therewith. Image frames  12  are presented in a staggered format. Image frames  12  preferably include a cover or “glazing” substantially flush with the front surface of door  10  that allows the images in the image frames  12  to be viewed while at the same time protecting the images from damage. In some embodiments of the invention, a slot or other opening may be associated with the glazing along the front side of the door, allowing images to be quickly removed and replaced without opening the door itself. In other embodiments of the invention, the images  12  may be open at a rear surface of the door, allowing easy placement of an image in the frame, or a slot or other opening may be provided to allow access to the image frame  12  from the rear side of the door. The rear of image frames  12  may be left open, with clips or other fasteners used to retain the images within the image frames, or image frames  12  may be provided with a backing to create an enclosed space for the images. In some embodiments of the invention, the backing may be removable to allow access to the images, while in other embodiments the backing may be a part of the door itself and image insertion and removal achieved via a slot or other opening as discussed above. Although the frames are described herein predominantly as image frames, it is understood that the frames may hold any object desired to be framed. 
         [0027]    The glazing of each frame may be constructed of any suitable transparent material, such as plexiglass, glass, synthetic polymers, and the like. In some instances, such as with photographs, for example, it is undesirable for the image in image frame  12  to be in contact with the glazing. In such cases, each image frame  12  may be provided with a matboard or spacer to prevent the surface of the photograph or image from contacting and sticking to the glazing. The matboard or spacer may be provided as part of image frame  12 , or may be inserted optionally in those of image frames  12  for which it is necessary or desirable due to the properties of the image or photograph being displayed therein. It is understood that the term ‘glazing’ is employed herein to include any transparent structure through which an object to be framed can be viewed. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a bifold door according to the present invention. The door of  FIG. 2  is similar to that of  FIG. 1 , except that image frames  12  in the door of  FIG. 2  are presented in a linear fashion rather than in a staggered distribution. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a standard door, such as a closet door, with a plurality of image frames  12  associated therewith. Image frames  12  are presented in ordered rows, alternating between two and three image frames per row. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a standard door, such as a closet door, with image frames  12  grouped together in groups of two. The border  14  of each group of two image frames  12  may itself be a decorative element to add further aesthetic qualities to the door. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a standard door, such as a closet door, with a plurality of image frames  12  at or near a perimeter of the door and a memo-board  16  located in the middle of the door. Memo-board  16  is preferably substantially flush with the front surface of the door and may be a corkboard, chalkboard, whiteboard, or other surface for writing on, or for attaching images or messages via tape, thumbtacks, and the like. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is one embodiment of a door of the present invention having a plurality of image frames  12  associated therewith in alternating rows of two and three image frames. The door in  FIG. 6  may be any type of door, for example one of two sliding closet doors. It is contemplated that in such an arrangement one or both closet doors may incorporate image frames  12  of the present invention, and that each door may be identical to the other, or different doors having different patterns of image frame  12  may be employed. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  also shows a frame assembly  20  suitable for use with the present invention. Frame assembly  20  includes a stepped glazing  22 , an image  24  to be framed, and a backing  26 . Frame assembly  20  is inserted into opening  30  of the door. A fastener  28  secures frame assembly  20  within opening  30 . It is understood, however, that instead of a removable frame assembly  20 , a fixed glazing and backing may be used, or a fixed backing with removable glazing, or any other suitable way of producing a door with frames that are easily accessible for insertion of objects within the frame and removal of the objects therefrom. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7   a  is a side view of a portion of the door of  FIG. 6 , the side view showing the placement of stepped glazing  22 , image  24 , and backing  26 . Fasteners  28  are shown holding the frame assembly  20  in place. A lip formed in the front surface of the door prevents frame assembly  20  from passing through the door and out the front of opening  30 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 7   b  is a side view of a portion of a door similar to that of  FIG. 6 , however the glazing  22   a  is flat rather than stepped and is recessed within opening  30 , creating a small ledge or shelf effect within the door. The image  24  being framed and backing  26  are as described with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7   c  is a side view of a portion of a door similar to that of  FIG. 6 , however in addition to a flat glazing, backing  26   a  is thin. This allows the overall assembly to be recessed further into opening  30 , creating a larger shelf or ledge within the door. 
         [0037]    The present invention may be implanted using any desired door size or shape. Interior doors in homes are often 1⅜ inches thick, and commonly have a height of 80 inches. Door width varies according to the type of door (standard versus bifold and the like), with exemplary widths being 15, 24, 28, 30, and 36 inches. The present invention is not limited to any given dimensions of door. Likewise, image frames  12  may be provided in any desired shape or size. Common image frame sizes (in inches) are 3×5, 4×6, 5×7, 6×8, 8×10, and 11×14. Such frames are generally rectangular in shape. Any desired size of frame may be used, however, and a single door may have a variety of image frame associated therewith rather than a plurality of image frames all having the same dimensions. Further, it is contemplated that image frames  12  may be of geometric shapes other than rectangular, including square, round, oval, triangular, octagonal, star-shaped, or any other desired geometric or artistic shape. Likewise, the glazing of each frame may be tinted with color to achieve a desired effect, with a single door having one or more colors of glazing associated therewith. 
         [0038]    Image frames  12  are preferably included in a door during manufacture of the door itself. Methods of cutting suitable openings in the door, as well as inserting the glazing are known in the art and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. For purposes of the present invention, the precise method of manufacturing a door with the associated image frames is not limited, as any suitable method may be used. Likewise, any suitable image frames may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. It is further contemplated that various modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, and that such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.