Abstract:
A display frame assembly for converting a craft hoop to a display frame for displaying photographs or artwork, such as paintings, embroidery or cross-stitching, includes legs for tilting the display frame upward, and a bezel that attaches to the craft hoop to hold the displayed item in place and provide a decorative frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates generally to display frames, such as picture frames, and more particularly to a system for converting a craft hoop assembly to a display frame.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Craft hoop assemblies generally include two concentric hoops or rings (an inner hoop and an outer hoop) for holding material such as fabric in a taut position over a center opening so that craft work, such as stitching with needle and thread, may readily be performed. Typically, the inner hoop has a fixed diameter and the outer hoop has an adjustable diameter. Material upon which work is to be performed is placed across the inner hoop. The outer hoop is then placed over the material and around the inner hoop. The diameter of the outer hoop is then reduced, typically by tightening a clamping mechanism associated with the outer hoop, such that the outer hoop fits snugly against the material and inner hoop so as to hold the material between the two hoops.  
         [0005]     Further features found in the prior art include legs for supporting the hoops in a raised position. Craft hoops are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,158,153; 5,722,191; 5,555,653; 5,330,143 and 5,287,640, which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The purpose of this invention is to provide a means of readily converting a craft hoop assembly to a display frame for displaying a relatively flat item, such as a photograph or illustration. The display frame may include an inner hoop, outer hoop with clamp, and two legs to support the hoops in a raised, angled position. The legs are secured within holes in bosses that extend inwardly from the inner hoop. To assemble a display, a backing board is placed within the inner hoop and against the bosses. Then an item to be displayed is placed on top of the backing board followed by a mat, if desired. Next, a circular, transparent pane of glass or plastic also sets into the inner hoop and against the display item or mat. Alternatively, a piece of fabric (such as one bearing a cross-stitched design) may be stretched over the backing board and clamped between the outer and inner hoops. The pane is then set over the fabric. A bezel is attached over the pane and onto the display frame assembly to hold the pane, mat, display item and backing board in place. The bezel may also serve to hide the craft hoops, particularly the outer hoop clamp, from view.  
         [0007]     Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a display frame assembly according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view of a display frame assembly, with the bezel omitted, positioned in an angled upward position and showing the legs engaged with holes in the bosses.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a display frame assembly with a bezel installed and showing the inner and outer hoops in phantom lines.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross section taken generally along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3  and showing an embodiment of a display frame assembly wherein the bezel attaches to an outside margin of the outer hoop and is sized to extend radially outward to partially enclose the clamp.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  and showing an embodiment of a display frame assembly wherein the bezel is sized to attach to the outer margin of the inner hoop.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  and showing an embodiment of a display frame assembly wherein the lip attaches to the inside margin of the inner hoop.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  and showing an embodiment of a display frame assembly wherein the bezel attaches to an outside margin of the inner hoop and extends radially outward therefrom.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a display frame assembly with an alternative embodiment of a bezel installed upon a single hoop, shown in phantom lines, with bosses and lips, also shown in phantom lines, projecting from the rearward surface of the bezel to engage the outer periphery of the hoop.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is side elevational view of a display frame assembly showing a leg projected rearwardly and downwardly from a bezel.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a magnified view of a portion of  FIG. 9 , identified by circular phantom line  10 - 10  therein, and showing the end of a leg engaged with a bezel boss.  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the display frame assembly of  FIG. 9  illustrating the tilt of the bezel further reclined through turning the leg relative to the bezel.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In the drawings, similar numerical references indicate corresponding parts.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , and in particular to  FIG. 1 , the display frame assembly  1  includes a generally circular inner hoop  5  surrounded at the outer margin by a generally circular outer hoop  10 . The outer hoop  10  is split and includes a clamp  15  for tightening the outer hoop  10  around the inner hoop  5 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the clamp  15  includes a first block  18  and an opposed second block  19 , each mounted or projecting from an end of the split outer hoop  10 . The clamp  15  also includes a bolt  21  extending through coaxial apertures in each block  18 ,  19  that is secured by a nut  22 . Since the outer hoop  10  is positioned in encircling or circumscribing alignment with the inner hoop  5 , tightening the nut  22  onto the bolt  21  urges the blocks  18 ,  19  and the ends of the outer hoop  10  together so as to reduce the diameter of the outer hoop  10  and constrict the outer hoop  10  around the inner hoop  5 .  
         [0021]     The hoop structures described thus far are well known in the prior art as craft hoops and are used to stretch and hold fabric in position across a central opening or interior space  17  by clamping peripheral portions of the fabric between the inner hoop  5  and outer hoop  10 .  
         [0022]     Because the display frame assembly  1 , and portions thereof, are illustrated in generally upright positions in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  9  and  11 , and in generally reclining positions in  FIGS. 4 through 8  (as if lying upon a support surface such as a counter or table with the major plane of the assembly  1  parallel to the major plane of the surface), the terms downward, rearward, back, bottom and lower are used synonymously to convey a direction or orientation away from or further from the viewer, and the terms forward, frontward, front, top and upper are used to convey a direction or orientation nearer to or towards the viewer. The viewer is assumed to view the assembly  1  as if viewing a framed painting or photograph, with the line of sight relatively perpendicular to the plane of the forward or top surface of the assembly  1 .  
         [0023]     Legs  20   a  and  20   b  extend downward from bosses  25   a  and  25   b , respectively. The bosses  25   a  and  25   b  project axially inward from the inner margin of the inner hoop  5 . The bosses  25   a  and  25   b  include holes  30   a  and  30   b  that engage upper portions of the legs  20   a  and  20   b , respectively. A third boss  25   c  is also provided to help support a display article within the display frame assembly  1  as described below. The upper portions of the legs  20   a  and  20   b  are sized to fit within the holes  30   a  and  30   b  and to terminate prior to emerging beyond the upper surfaces of the bosses  25   a  and  25   b . Collars  23  may be provided to extend radially from the legs  20   a  and  20   b  to limit the depth to which a leg fits into an associated hole  30 . If collars  23  are provided at both ends of a leg, as shown in the illustrations, the legs  20   a  and  20   b  may thereby function as supports by inserting either end into a cooperating boss  25   a  or  25   b . As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the legs  20   a  and  20   b  cooperate to hold the inner and outer hoops  5  and  10  in an angled, upstanding or raised position.  
         [0024]     The bosses  25   a ,  25   b  and  25   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) include respective top surfaces  24  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), which collectively define a first plane. The top surfaces  24  are recessed or offset from the top or forward facing surface of the inner hoop  5  to allow various display assembly components to be received within the inner hoop  5 . The components may include a circular backing board  35 , having a diameter slightly less than that at the inner margin of the inner hoop  5 , that is placed within interior space  17  to rest upon the top surfaces  24  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the bosses  25   a ,  25   b  and  25   c ; a display article  40 , such as a photograph, painting, cross-stitched or embroidered fabric or any other relatively flat article to be displayed, that is placed upon the backing board  35 ; a mat  45  having a central opening or aperture  47  to allow observation of the display article  40 ; and, a transparent pane  50  of glass or plastic. Alternatively, a piece of fabric (such as one bearing a cross-stitched design or illustration) may be stretched over the backing board  35  and clamped between the outer  10  and inner hoops  5 . The mat  45  and pane  50  may then be set over the fabric. The backing board  35 , display article  40 , mat  45 , and pane  50  form a subassembly  2  that rests within the inner hoop  5 , preferably without projecting significantly beyond the top or forward facing surface of the inner hoop  5 . The subassembly  2  is secured in place by a bezel  55  that attaches to the hoops  5  and/or  10  and frames the display article  40 . The hoops  5  and  10 , legs  20   a  and  20   b , subassembly  2 , and bezel  55  form the display frame assembly  1 .  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bezel  55  forms a ring-shaped frame that surrounds and encloses a central opening  57 . The bezel  55  clips or otherwise attaches to either the inner  5  and/or outer  10  hoop, depending on the bezel  55  configuration. Various embodiments of the bezel  55  are illustrated herein. In each embodiment, the bezel  55  includes an inwardly extending annular flange  97 , or equivalent structure, which acts to retain the subassembly  2  in position. A lower surface of the flange  97  defines a second plane which is offset from the first plane.  
         [0026]     The embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  include four lips or attachment elements  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c  and  60   d  (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 3  and referred to herein collectively by the numeral  60 ) that project from the bottom of the bezel  55  to engage the outer hoop  10 . Any of four spaces between the attachment elements  60  may accommodate the clamp  10 . It should be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of lips  60  may be used, with 2 to 4 typically preferred. In this embodiment of the bezel  55 , the top surface  65  of the bezel  55  extends radially outward to cover and conceal the clamp  15  from view as a viewer observes the displayed item  40  from a position forward of the display frame assembly  1 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 5 and 7  illustrate a bezel attached a display frame assembly  1 , wherein the outer hoop  10  has been omitted, as may often be the case where articles that do not require securement between the inner hoop  5  and outer hoop  10  are displayed.  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a bezel attached to a display frame assembly  1  including an outer hoop  10 .  
         [0028]     As may be ascertained from  FIGS. 4 and 6 , in particular, the inner hoop  5  includes an outer surface at the outer margin and the outer hoop  10  includes an inner surface at the inner margin. A groove  70  is formed in the outer surface of the inner hoop  5  circumferentially therearound and preferably centrally thereof. A projection, ridge or bead  75  is integrally formed on the inner surface of the outer hoop  10  and extends circumferentially therearound, preferably centrally thereof. The bead  75  is sized, shaped and positioned such that the bead  75  extends at least partially within the groove  70  in the inner hoop  5  when the outer hoop  10  is positioned in circumscribing alignment therewith.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a bezel  80  having an outer, downwardly depending lip  85 , the lip  85  including an inwardly projecting ridge  90  for engaging the outer surface of the perimeter of the inner hoop  5 , in particular the groove  70 . The groove  70  of the inner hoop  5  receives the ridge  90 . The lip  85 , ridge  90  and groove  70 , thereby cooperate to provide means for the bezel  80  to snap onto the hoop  5 . The top surface  95  of the bezel  80  extends inward to form a flange  97  for holding the pane  50 , mat  45 , article to be displayed  40 , and backing board  35  in a secured position within the hoop  5  and against the top surfaces  24  of the bosses  25 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a bezel  100  similar to that shown in  FIG. 4  except that the top surface  105  of the bezel  100  has been extended outward and curved downward to form a more decorative structure that also hides the lip  110 , ridge  115  and outer peripheral portion of the hoop  5 . Regarding bezels  80  and  100 , it should be appreciated that if intended for use with a hoop not having a groove  70 , the bezel may be provided with a lip, such as lip  60  in  FIG. 4 , that extends further downward to engage the lower edge of the hoop.  
         [0031]     The bezel  55  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is constructed so that the lip segments  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d  are positioned outward of the outer hoop  10  so that flexion of the lip  60  presses the ridge  61  around a portion of the lower edge of the outer hoop  10 . The lip  60  is provided with at least one gap (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to receive the clamp  15 . Preferably, the lip  60  is segmented, as described above, to provide several gaps for the convenience of the user when attaching the bezel  55  to the display frame assembly  1 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bezel  120  in which the extended top surface  125  is dimensioned to cover and partially enclose an outer hoop  10  and associated clamp  15 . The lip  130  in this embodiment is positioned inward of the inner hoop  5 . When the bezel  120  is pressed against the hoops  10  and  5 , the lip  130  snaps onto the inward surface of the inner hoop  5  and the ridge  135  projects outward from the lip  130  to engage the lower surface of the inner hoop  5 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  illustrates in plain view portions of an alternative embodiment of a display frame assembly  200 , included a bezel  202  attached to a single craft hoop  204 . As illustrated, lips  206   a ,  206   b , and  206   c  and bosses  208   a ,  208   b , and  208   c  project downwardly from the lower surface of the bezel  202  to engage the periphery of the hoop  204 . The lips  206  may take the structure and perform the function of lips  60  described in prior paragraphs. Generally, lips  206  are provided to attach the bezel  202  to the hoop  204  if the bosses  208  are constructed or disposed about the bezel  202  such that they do not engage the hoop  204  or provide a satisfactory attachment means. If, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the bosses  208  are structured and located to engage the periphery of the hoop  204  so as to grip portions of the outer margin of the hoop  204 , the lips  206  may be omitted. The illustrated bosses  208  are generally cylindrical with a bore  210  for accepting the upper portions of the legs  20 . The bosses  208  may be further described as relatively short tubes projecting from the bottom or rearward surface of the bezel  202 .  
         [0034]     As opposed to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the bosses  208  are shown in  FIG. 8  such that upon inclining the display frame assembly  200  in a viewing position upon a support surface  220  (see  FIGS. 9 and 11 ), two of the bosses  208   b  and  208   c  are near the support surface  220  to accept legs  20  in this lower position.  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is side elevational view of a display frame assembly  200  positioned upon a support surface, for viewing. A leg  20  is shown projecting rearward and downward from the back side of the bezel  202  where the leg  20  is engaged with a boss  208   b , hidden from view by the bezel  202  but shown in phantom lines in the magnified view  10 - 10  provided in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the upper end of the leg  20  is engaged with the bezel  202  by insertion into the boss  208   b . Travel of the leg  20  may be limited by a collar  23  or, if the collar is omitted, by the terminus of the bore  210  which is typically co-planer with the rearward or bottom surface of the bezel  202 .  
         [0036]     Although the ends of the legs  20  and the cooperating bores  210  may take various shapes such as square or rectangular or triangular, which would limit rotation of the leg  20  within the bore  210 , if the ends of the legs  20  and bores are cylindrical in shape, the legs  20  may turn within the bores  210 . If, as shown in the drawings, the end of a leg  20  is at a slight angle to the main shaft of the leg  20 , turning the leg  20  within its cooperating bore (see arrow  212 ) will cause the angle of the leg  20  to the bezel  202  to change thereby concomitantly changing the angle of the bezel  202  relative to the support surface, raising or lowering the incline of the display frame assembly  200 , as shown by arrow  214 .  
         [0037]     It should be appreciated that frames may be constructed using circular hoops, as illustrated, or hoops of other shapes such as, but not limited to, oval, oblong, rectangular, square, and triangular. It should be appreciated that the bezel may be decoratively shaped in a variety of ways including provision of top surface shapes incorporating scallops or ridges and troughs typically concentric or parallel to the margins of the central opening. It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.  
         [0038]     Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: