Frame structure

Frame structure for support and display of a stained glass work of art or the like that includes a metal structural frame assembly; an opaque reflector panel secured to the rear of the structural metal frame assembly; a perimeter assembly secured to the metal frame assembly that defines a sight area for the planar, light-transmitting work of art and a series of compartments that extend about the periphery of the metal frame assembly, together with a work of art support within the sight area, and a diffuser panel secured to the perimeter assembly and extending beneath the sight area between the work of art and the reflector panel. Disposed in the series of compartments and located rearwardly of the diffuser panel are a plurality of light sources. Light from the light sources passes through the metal frame assembly and through the diffuser panel and the work of art. A control for varying the level of radiation from the radiation sources is preferably mounted on the perimeter assembly, and a series of opaque access panels and movable between closed and open positions to provide access to the light sources.

This invention relates to frame structures for mounting works of art and 
more particularly to a frame structure for displaying light transmitting 
works of art in sheet form such as stained glass and the like. 
Sheet form light transmitting works of art such as a stained glass assembly 
are typically displayed in windows, for example, of churches, where 
viewing of the work of art is enhanced by the transmission of light 
through the stained glass assembly. Such works of art typically are 
relatively heavy, massive and fragile, and therefore require a sturdy 
support for display which conventionally is built into the exterior wall 
of the building where the work of art is to be mounted. 
In accordance with the invention, there is provided frame structure for 
support and display of a stained glass work of art or the like that 
includes a metal structural frame assembly; an opaque reflector panel 
secured to the rear of the structural metal frame assembly; a first 
perimeter assembly secured to the forward portion of the metal frame 
assembly that defines a sight area for the planar, light-transmitting work 
of art, together with means for securing the work of art within the sight 
area and a diffuser panel secured to the first perimeter assembly and 
extending beneath the sight area between the work of art and the reflector 
panel; and a second perimeter assembly disposed outwardly and rearwardly 
of the first perimeter assembly such that a series of compartments that 
extend about the periphery of the metal frame assembly are defined between 
the first and second perimeter assemblies. Disposed in the series of 
compartments and located rearwardly of the diffuser panel are a plurality 
of radiation sources such that radiation from the radiation sources passes 
through the metal frame assembly for reflection by the reflector panel and 
through the diffuser panel and the work of art. Control means for varying 
the level of radiation from the radiation sources is preferrably mounted 
on one of the perimeter assemblies, and a series of opaque access panels 
extend between the first and second perimeter assemblies, each panel being 
movable between a closed position and an open position in which access to 
a radiation source is enabled. 
In a particular embodiment, the frame is of rectangular configuration, an 
elongated radiation source compartment extends along each side of the 
rectangular frame, and each access panel is of trapezoidal configuration 
and extends along the length of a side of the rectangular frame. The metal 
structural frame assembly includes a plurality of angle members disposed 
in spaced apart relation to define substantially open compartment walls 
adjacent the space between planar diffuser and reflector panels that are 
spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, each perimeter 
assembly is of wood material with the control means including a plurality 
of electrical switch control elements that are disposed in the second 
perimeter frame assembly and connected to elongated fluorescent lamp 
radiation sources.

DESCRIPTION OF TICULAR EMBODIMENT 
The display frame 10 shown in FIG. 1 supports a stained glass work of art 
12 which typically has a weight of about ten pounds per square foot and 
includes planar, light-transmitting stained glass elements 14 that are 
secured to one another with lead strips 16. 
Further details of the display frame of FIG. 1 may be seen with reference 
to FIGS. 2 and 3. The display frame 10 includes a structural steel 
framework 20 of steel angle members 22 that define an outer perimeter 
frame, a similar inner frame defined by steel angle members 24 and 
connecting steel angle members 26 at the corners of the inner and outer 
perimeter frames. Mounted on framework 20 are a series of fluorescent 
light units 30, there being a single light unit 30A at each end of the 
framework in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a set of two light units 30B, 
30C mounted on the framework along the upper side and a second set of 
light units 30D, 30E along the lower side. A Marlite.TM. reflector panel 
28 is secured to the lower frame by fasteners 28A as indicated in FIG. 2. 
Secured to the steel outer perimeter frame 22 by fasteners 40A is a first 
perimeter assembly 40 of wood that includes a recess 42 in which the 
stained glass art work 12 is secured with insert members 44. A translucent 
diffuser panel 46 is secured at the rear of perimeter assembly 40 and 
extends across the entire sight area between the reflector panel 28 and 
the stained glass work of art 12. 
Secured to the perimeter of diffuser panel 28 by fasteners 50A is a second 
perimeter assembly 50 of wood on which are mounted piano-type hinges 52 to 
which opaque access panels 54 (also of wood) are secured. Each access 
panel 54 is movable between a locked position in which edges of the panel 
54 are seated in a recess 56 in the first perimeter assembly 40 and an 
open position (partially indicated in FIG. 1) which provides access to the 
radiation sources secured housed in the compartments defined between the 
first and second perimeter assemblies. Diagonal corner members 58 extend 
between the first and second perimeter assemblies and include side 
boundary recesses 64 (as indicated in FIG. 4) against which the access 
panels 54 seat in closed position. Controls 62 in the end section of the 
second perimeter assembly permit selection of different light levels by 
selecting groups of fluorescent lamps 30 to be energized. 
This display frame assembly provides a sturdy support and display structure 
that enables light-transmitting works of art to be installed on interior 
walls in a sturdy, protective metal frame structure and aesthetically 
attractive perimeter frames between which a plurality of light sources are 
housed together with controls that enable selection of a range of light 
intensity levels with substantially uniform lighting being transmitted 
through the diffuser panel and the glass or other light-transmitting art 
work. A variety of such works of art such as stained glass, etched glass, 
and hand painted glass may be supported in the protective support and 
mounting frame assembly, and such frame assembly permits mounting and 
display of such works of art in locations heretofore unavailable. 
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and 
described, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art, and therefore it is not intended that the invention be limited to the 
disclosed embodiment, or to details thereof, and departures may be made 
therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention.