PICTURE ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A picture assembly (10) comprises upper, middle and lower background sections (12, 14 and 16), which are secured to a wall (18). Picture elements (20) are secured to the background sections (12, 14 and 16) to create a composite picture.

Description: PICTURE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a picture assembly. A previous type of wall picture has taken the form of a hand painted mural. Significant disadvantages arise with this type of picture because it is very difficult or perhaps impossible to remove portions of the mural to change the picture. It may be necessary to completely destroy the picture in order to change it. The problem of providing a means for creating a picture has been addressed in other ways. One example is to place stickers on a flat surface. This approach has its disadvantages however, in that the scene produced frequently appears to be disjointed given that no suitable background is provided. It is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned disadvantages. According to a first aspect of the present invention an assembly comprises a plurality of picture elements which are arranged, in use, to be secured to a surface and together form a scene, in which at least one picture element is a background portion and at least one other picture element is a foreground portion arranged, in use, to be secured to the or each background portion. The background portion may be wallpaper. The surface to which the picture elements are arranged, in use, to be secured may be a wall. Alternatively, the surface may be the outer surface of a bag or a file for papers. The picture elements may comprise matching sets. The picture elements may comprise contrasting sets. The picture elements may depict subject matter suitably displayed together. The or each background portion may be laterally extensive relative to the or each foreground portion. The picture elements, in particular, the or each foreground portion, may be non-repeating picture elements. The picture elements may be discontinuous. The picture elements may be discrete. The or each background portion may be arranged to be secured to the surface in a number of sections. The sections of the background portion, where provided, may be secured, in use, one above the other. The or each background portion may comprise a repeating pattern or scene. The repeating pattern or scene may be continuous across a join between adjacent sections of the or each background portion. The sections of the or each background portion may produce a wallpaper effect on the surface . The assembly may comprise first and second background elements. The first background element may depict a contrasting scene to the second background element. The first and second background elements may depict elements of the scene which represent foreground and background parts of the scene, in a perspective sense. The first and second background elements may depict contrasting parts of a single background scene. The first and second background elements may depict elements of a scene commonly found together, for example a beach and the sky, a sports pitch and a grandstand, or a starscape and a lunar or planet surface. The assembly may comprise a third background element, which may depict a further contrasting part of the scene depicted by the first and second background elements. The third background element may be arranged, in use, to be secured over the first or second background elements. The third background element may be arranged, in use, to be secured over a join between the first and second background elements. The third background element may be in the form of a strip, similar to a wallpaper border, for instance. The third background element may depict a part of a scene commonly forming a strip, for example a section of sea between a beach and the sky or a section of advertising hoarding between a sports pitch and a grandstand. The third background element may depict an element of the scene which represents the middle distance of the scene, in a perspective sense. The or each foreground portion may form a matching pair with the or each background portion. The or each foreground portion may form a contrasting pair with the or each background portion. The or each foreground portion may form a pair with the or each background portion to depict a scene in which the two portions are commonly found together. The or each foreground portion may be pre-printed. The or each background portion may be pre-printed. The or each background portion may have an outer surface adapted to allow easy removal of a specific type of foreground portion secured thereto. Said outer surface may be so adapted by having a plastics material coating thereon. The or each background portion may have an outer surface adapted to hinder the removal of a foreground portion not of the specific type. According to a second aspect of the present invention a shop display comprises a set of articles, which set comprises at least one background portion which is arranged, in use, to be secured to a surface and at least one foreground portion which is arranged, in use, to be secured to the or each background portion and to form a scene with the or each background portion. Preferably the or each background portion is wallpaper. Preferably the set comprises a plurality of background portions. More preferably, the set comprises at least three background'' portions. More preferably still, the set comprises at least five background portions . Preferably the set comprises a plurality of foreground portions. More preferably, the set comprises at least ten foreground portions. More preferably still the set comprises at least fifty foreground portions. The invention extends to a kit selected from the shop display. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of picture elements selected by a customer, the kit comprising at least one background portion, which is arranged, in use, to be secured to a surface and at least one foreground portion which is arranged, in use, to be secured to the or each background portion, in which the foreground and background portions, in use, form a scene. The kit may be a subset of the shop display of the second aspect, which subset may comprise a smaller number of background and foreground portions selected from the shop display. The kit may comprise a plurality of background portions. Preferably, the kit comprises three background portions. The kit may comprise a plurality of foreground portions. The kit may comprise at least five foreground portions . The kit may comprise at least ten foreground portions. The kit may comprise at least fifty foreground portions . The or each background portion may be wallpaper. The kit may have any of the features referred to in relation to the assembly of the first aspect. The kit may not necessarily comprise picture elements which are sold together. The kit may comprise a selection of picture elements from a larger range of picture elements. All of the above aspects may be combined with any of the features referred to herein, in any combination. Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a wall having pieces of a section of a picture assembly secured thereto; Figure 2 is the same view as figure 1, with pieces of two sections of the picture assembly secured to the wall; Figure 3 shows a third section of the assembly secured to the wall; Figure 4 shows a completed background of the picture assembly with elements of a foreground scene; and Figure 5 shows a completed picture assembly secured to a wall . A picture assembly 10 (see figure 4) comprises upper, middle and lower background sections 12, 14, 16 respectively, which are secured to a wall 18 (see figure 1) . Picture elements 20 (see figure 4) are secured to the background sections 12, 14 and 16 to create a composite picture. Figures 1 to 4 show the picture assembly 10 at various stages of completion. In figure 1 three pieces of the upper background section 12 have been secured to the wall 18. Pieces of the upper, middle and lower background sections 12, 14 and 16 may be supplied in a number of ways, suitably in a roll, similar to conventional wallpaper. The upper background section 12 may depict one of a number of different backgrounds. In this example, the upper background section 12 shows a sky background. Figure 2 shows pieces of the lower background section 16 secured to the wall 18. The lower background section 16 may be supplied on a roll, similar to wallpaper, as is the case with the upper background section 12. In this example, the lower background section 16 depict a sandy beach. Figure 3 shows a piece of the middle background section 14 secured on top of the upper and lower background sections 12, 16, over the join between those two pieces. In this example, the middle background section is aligned horizontally across the wall 10 and is supplied on a roll, in the similar way to a roll of a wallpaper border. In this example, the middle background section 14 depicts a seascape. Figure 4 shows examples of the picture elements 20 secured to the upper and middle background sections 12, 14. The picture elements 20 may be chosen to suit the particular scene depicted by the background sections 12, 14 and 16. For instance, in this example a boat is shown in the middle background se'ction 14 depicting a seascape and an air balloon and a sun are shown secured to the upper background section 12, which depicts the sky. Further examples of picture elements 20 which may be secured to the background sections 12, 14 and 16 are shown in figure 5. In this figure, a castle and trees, amongst other things, are shown on the beach and a depiction of Peter Pan is shown in the sky section. It is envisaged that step by step instructions would be provided to help a person create a picture assembly 10. The instructions would offer guidelines on where to place the stickers. For example, advice would be given about using small stickers in the background and larger stickers in the foreground. The picture assembly 10 described herein and also the method of building up the picture assembly in the stages shown provides significant advantages over previous methods of creating a picture scene. In the examples shown the picture assembly is not permanent because the picture elements 20 can be removed from the upper, middle and lower background sections 12, 14 and 16 and either moved or replaced to create a different picture assembly 10. The picture elements 20 and background sections 12, 14 and 16 may have particular combinations of adhesive and surface texture which will result in the picture elements 20 being easily removable from the background sections 12, 14 and 16. This particular combination may not be present when previous types of sticker are used on the background sections and consequently the different types of stickers may not be easily removed from the background sections. Of course different types of picture assembly 10 can be created. For instance, ' the upper, middle and lower background sections 12, 14 and 16 may depict a crowd scene, an advertising hording and a sports pitch respectively. Picture element 20 showing footballers or other sports players could then be secured to the background sections 12, 14 and 16. Alternatively, the background sections may depict a scene in space comprising a starry background and a planet scape. Picture elements depicting astronauts, planets, space ships and the like may then be secured to the background scene. Many combinations in this vane can be envisaged. The upper, middle and lower background sections (or a combination of only two of those sections) may be provided on a single roll of "wallpaper" type material. The background sections may repeat which a frequency sufficient to allow for excess material to be cut from upper and lower parts of the background sections to account for different heights of wall to which the sections are to be secured. The upper, middle and lower background sections 12, 14 and 16 need not be sections similar to wallpaper, but may be scenes of any reasonable size which can provide a background. For instance, background sections may be provided for file covers or for the body and cover section of a satchel . The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An assembly comprises a plurality of picture elements which are arranged, in use, to be secured to a surface and together form a scene, in which at least one picture element is a background portion and at least one other picture element is a foreground portion arranged, in use, to be secured to the or each background portion. 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the background portion is wallpaper. 3. An assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the surface to which the picture elements are arranged, in use, to be secured is a wall. 4. An assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the surface is the outer surface of a bag or a file for papers . 5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the picture elements comprise matching sets. 6. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 , in which the picture elements comprise contrasting sets. 7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each background portion is laterally extensive relative to the or each foreground portion. 8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the picture elements, in particular, the or each foreground portion, are non-repeating picture elements . 9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the picture elements are discontinuous. 10. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the picture elements are discrete. 11. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each background portion is arranged to be secured to the surface in a number of sections. 12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, in which, the sections of the background portion are secured, in use, one above the other. 13. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each background portion comprises a repeating pattern or scene. 14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13, in which the repeating pattern or scene is continuous across a join between adjacent sections of the or each background portion. 15. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises first and second background elements. 16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, in which the first background element depicts a contrasting scene to the second background element . 17. An assembly as claimed in either claim 15 or claim 16, in which the first and second background elements depict elements of the scene which represent foreground and background parts of the scene, in a perspective sense. 18. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, in which the first and second background elements depict contrasting parts of a single background scene. 19. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, which comprises a third background element. 20. An assembly as claimed in claim 19, in which the third background element is arranged, in use, to be secured over the first or second background elements. 21. An assembly as claimed in claim 20, in which the third background element is arranged, in use, to be secured over a join between the first and second background elements. 22. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, in which the third background element depicts a part of a scene commonly forming a strip, for example a section of sea between a beach and the sky or a section of advertising hoarding between a sports pitch and a grandstand. 23. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, in which the third background element depicts an element of the scene which represents the middle distance of the scene, in a perspective sense. 24. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each foreground portion forms a matching pair with the or each background portion. 25. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, in which the or each foreground portion forms a contrasting pair with the or each background portion. 26. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each foreground portion is pre-printed. 27. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each background portion is pre-printed. 28. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each background portion has an outer surface adapted to allow easy removal of a specific type of foreground portion secured thereto. 29. An assembly as claimed in claim 28, in which the or each background portion has an outer surface adapted to hinder the removal of a foreground portion not of the specific type. 30. A shop display comprises a set of articles, which set comprises at least one background portion which is arranged, in use, to be secured to a surface and at least one foreground portion which is arranged, in use, to be secured to the or each background portion and to form a scene with the or each background portion. 31. A shop display according to claim 30 which comprises at least one assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 29. 32. A kit comprises a selection from the shop display claimed in claim 30. 33. A kit of picture elements selected by a customer, comprises at least one background portion, which is arranged, in use, to be secured to a surface and at least one foreground portion, which is arranged, in use, to be secured to the or each background portion, in which the foreground and background portions, in use, form a scene. 34. A kit as claimed in claim 33, which is a subset of the shop display claimed in either claim 30 or claim 31. 35. A kit as claimed in claim 34 in which the subset comprises a smaller number of background and foreground portions selected from the shop display. 36. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35 which has any of the features of the assembly claimed in claims 1 to 29. 37. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 36 which comprises a selection of picture elements from a larger range of picture elements .

Inventors: FORREST MATTHEW HUXLEY, FORREST, MATTHEW, HUXLEY
Applicants: FORREST MATTHEW HUXLEY, FORREST, MATTHEW, HUXLEY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B44C1
IPC codes: B44C1, B44C5, G09F7