Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a scented picture frame having removable scent boards attached in spaced relation to provide an aromatic ambiance with the display of an item such as a picture. The present invention features a holder on the back of the frame, capable of holding one or more scent boards in parallel adjacent the back of the frame, whereby an aroma is dissipated from a scented oil on the scent board to enhance the experience of viewing the item. Scents are impregnated into the scent board and retained by individually wrapping the scent boards for future use. One or more scents may be used with the present invention by hanging multiple scent boards on the scented picture frame. The scent boards may be removed and replaced when the scent is dissipated or to change the aroma. A picture pouch is used to protect the item in the scented picture frame from absorbing an aroma of the scent board.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a scented picture frame for use in a car, at home or in any room. The present invention is not funded by Federally Sponsored Research and does not relate back to any prior application. 
       RELATED PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Picture frames are well known in the art for providing device for displaying pictures, certificates and other mementoes. Picture frames are designed to hold one or more pictures in a viewable position to allow observation without touching the picture. In addition, scented cutouts are used to hold and disperse a scent into cars and rooms to deodorize and freshen the air and provide aromatic ambience by dispersing a scent into the air. 
         [0003]    Prior art disclosures a variety of devices for combining an air freshener with a photo frame. U.S. Pat. No. DES. 269,902 for COMBINED AIR FRESHENER AND PHOTO FRAME OR SIMILAR ARTICLE issued Jul. 26, 1983 discloses an air freshener chamber with a recessed pocket on one or both sides to hold a picture. It is unclear how the &#39;902 patent dispenses a fragrance into the air. 
         [0004]    Alternatively, an AUTOMOBILE AIR FRESHENER UNIT, U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,212 to Daniel Spector, discloses a picture holder for sticking on a car window. The picture frame has a porous frame impregnated with a volatile fragrance. The frame has a transparent window for holding and protecting a picture between the window and the car window and held in place with the frame. Patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,522 for an AIR FRESHENER PICTURE FRAME, and a COMBINATION PICTURE FRAME AND AIR FRESHENER RECEPTACLE, U.S. Pat. No. DES 366,107 to Kevin Shaffer discloses a picture frame with an enclosure on the backside for retaining an air freshener material and a window on the front for displaying a picture. 
         [0005]    The prior art does not disclose a convenient, inexpensive and compact picture frame having removable attachable fragrance sheets. The prior art also does not disclose a lightweight frame safe for use in a car or vehicle having alternate fragrance sheets attachable to the frame for covering odors, or creating an ambiance in the vicinity of the frame. 
         [0006]    Smell is known to be a strong link to memory in human beings. The scent and fragrance technology allows manufacturers to synthetically create smells and aromas to create an atmosphere for mood setting. Aromatherapy has created oils and aromatic scents for keeping people alert, reducing stress, and other mood altering scenarios. In some cases different aromas are used together to create a desired effect. 
         [0007]    In addition, the user of this device may want to change the smell or scent or aroma to correspond to a desired or present situation. The prior art does not disclose an easy to change scented picture frame for use in a car of home environment. The prior art discloses devices requiring liquid or other messy additions to add a scent or odor to a frame. Furthermore, the prior art does not provide an inexpensive, easy and clean way to change or remove the scent source. 
         [0008]    The present invention solves this problem by integrating a frame having a tab on projecting from the back of the frame for removeably engaging one or more separate scent boards. The present invention is shipped as a kit having separate, individually wrapped scent boards for removable attachment to the frame. The separate scented board could be attached to or removed from the frame for changing the aroma in the surrounding area. The present invention is adapted to be hung in a car as an air freshener or mood enhancer or to be placed in a room such as in a home by standing the frame on a table or other surface having the scented board hidden from view. The scented board is replaceable with a similar scented board or a scented sheet having a different scent. 
         [0009]    The present invention is designed to remedy this deficiency in the prior art by a frame having a separate, removable scented board. The frame may be placed in a viewing position by hanging from a support or in an alternate embodiment, standing the frame on a table or surface. The scent board is easily removed or replaced with out disassembly or destruction of the frame. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame having a removable scent board fur use as a room deodorizer. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame having a scent board mounted outside the body of the frame to prevent scent impregnation into the frame for removal or changing scents. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a scented picture frame having removable, outboard scent boards. 
         [0013]    Another object of the invention is to provide a picture frame having a tab on the frame wherein a plurality of scent boards may be removably attached to create an ambient aroma of mixed scents for aromatic enhancement of the surrounding air. 
         [0014]    The present invention is directed to a scented picture frame having removable scent boards attached in spaced relation to provide an aromatic ambiance with the display of an item such as a picture. The present invention features a holder on the back of the frame, and out of sight of a viewer looking at the item, capable of holding one or more scent boards in parallel adjacent the back of the frame, whereby an aroma is dissipated from a scented oil on the scent board to enhance the experience of viewing the item. Scents are impregnated into the scent board and retained by individually wrapping the scent boards for future use. One or more scents may be used with the present invention by hanging multiple scent boards on the scented picture frame. The scent boards may be removed and replaced when the scent is dissipated or to change the aroma. A picture pouch is used to protect the item in the scented picture frame from absorbing an aroma of the scent board. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front exploded elevation of the present invention showing the scent board separate from the frame body. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the present invention having the scent board mounted thereon. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the present invention having the scent board separate from the frame. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side section view of the present invention taken at approximately  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front exploded elevation of the present invention in a second embodiment having the scent board separated from the frame. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention having the scent board mounted thereon. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention having the scent board mounted thereon and a second scent board partially engaging the foot. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the scented picture frame  10  having a body  12 , the body comprising a front  14 , a back  16  ( FIGS. 2 ,  4 ), a first side  18 , a second side  20 , a top  22 , and a bottom  24 . A picture window  42  is formed in the front  14 . A prop  44  may be a stub  46  having an aperture  48  formed therein. The frame  10  may be hung from a fixture in a viewable position. A scent sheet holder comprising a tab  50  is shown in outline on the back of the frame  10 . The tab  50  has a loose end  52  and a base  54 . The base  54  is attached to the back  16  of the frame. The loose end  52  extends upward toward the top  22  from the base  54 . Tab  50  may be attached to the body  12  or may be die cut from the back-most layer  29  having the base  54  integral with the back  16 . 
         [0023]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1 , the scent board  28  comprises a scent impregnated sheet having a top  30 , a bottom  32 , an inside  34  ( FIG. 2 ) and an outside  36 . A slot  38  is formed through the scent board  28  from the inside  34  to the outside  36 . The slot  38  is adapted to slidingly receive the loose end  52  of the tab  50  into the slot  38 . The slot  38  may be any shape for adapting to the scent sheet holder on the back  16  of the body  12 . Spacer knobs  39  may be formed on or attached to scent board  28 . The knobs  39  allow multiple scent boards  28  to be positioned on a tab  50  by holding the scent boards  28  in spaced relation creating an air space  55  adjacent the scent board  28 . The knobs  39  may also be used to identify the scented side of the scent board  28  for facing away from the back  16 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the frame  10  is shown as a laminated assembly having a face sheet  25  on the front  14 , a spacer  27  behind the face sheet  25  and a support sheet  29  on the back  16 . The top  22  has a picture slot  40  formed in the spacer  27  adjacent the top  22 . The picture slot  40  is in communications with a picture cavity  53 . The picture slot  42  and picture cavity  53  are formed by material removed from the spacer  27  in an area behind the picture window  42 . A picture pouch  31  is shown in the picture slot  42  to hold and protect a picture (not shown) in the picture cavity  53 . The picture pouch  31  is a preferably a square pocket of two flat, clear plastic sheets, sealed on three sides having a clear window adjacent the picture window  42  and an open side for inserting the picture (not shown). The picture pouch  31  protects the picture (not shown) from the aroma oils in the scent board  28 . The frame  10  may be made of cardboard and the aroma oils or carrier on the scent board  28  may leach onto the support  29  and penetrate the body  10 . To protect the picture (not shown) the picture is inserted through the fourth, open side of the picture pouch  31  and the pouch  31  is placed into the picture slot  42  with a viewable side facing the picture window  42  through the clear picture pouch  31 . 
         [0025]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 2 , the frame  10  has tab  50  on the back  16 . The tab  50  may be a separate piece attached by glue or other means to the support  29  at the back  16  or alternatively, die-cut from the support sheet  29 . The tab  50  may extend at an angle to the back  16  to engage the scent board  28  and extend through slot  38  to hold scent board  28  in close proximity and approximately parallel relation to the back  16 . The scent board  28  is removably attached to the body  12  by the loose end  52  extending through the slot  38 . Gravity urges the scent board  28  to slide down along tab to a position between the loose end  52  and the base  54  and adjacent to the back  16 . The knobs  39  hold the scent board  28  in spaced relation to create air space  55  for air circulation and scent dissipation. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a rear view of the frame  10  illustrates the tab  50  die cut in support  29 . In this embodiment, the base is integral with the back  16  and the tab  50  can be pushed out of the die cut  57  creating fold  59  to allow the tab to extend from the back  16  at an angle. The tab  50  is generally centered between the sides  18 ,  20 . Prop  44  is centered to hold the frame  10  in a viewable position  51  having the picture window  42  vertically oriented. A fixture  61  such as a hook or automobile mirror may support the scented frame  10  by a string  63 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the laminated layers, face sheet  25 , spacer  27  and support  29  are attached parallel to each other. The scent board  28  hangs on tab  50  extended through slot  38  having a first scent. The scent is applied using a carrying agent such as oil to hold the aroma on the scent board  28  and release the scent over a predetermined time period. The scented oil may leach to the body  12 . Pouch  31  ( FIG. 2 ) provides protection to the item in the picture window  42 . Scent board  28  may be coated or impregnated with a first aroma agent on the out side  36  and an unscented on the inside  34 . The second scent board  28   a  may have a second, different scent. Knobs  39  are positioned on the scent board  28 ,  28   a  to create an air space  55 . The knobs  38  extend from the outside  36  or inside  34  to engage the back  16  or the second scent board  28   a  to create air space  55 . Second scent board  28   a  is likewise slidingly mounted on tab  50  extended through slot  38   a.    
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , frame  110  is shown in an alternate embodiment. Frame  110  has a body  112 , the body  112  comprising a front  114 , a back  116  ( FIG. 6 ), a first side  118 , a second side  120 , a top  122 , and a bottom  124 . A picture window  142  is formed in the front  114 . A prop  144  is formed in the support sheet  129  as seen through the picture window  142 . The prop  144  of the second embodiment is formed from cutouts in the support sheet  129 . The prop  144  comprises a foot  147  and a lock  148 . The lock  148  has a slide portion  149  for guiding the foot  147  into a standing position engaging the lock  148 . Removing the cutout piece  151  exposes the edge  153  forming the slide portion  149 . Foot  147  is engaged by lock  148  and held in position as is well known in the art of die cut, pop-out standing picture frames. 
         [0029]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 5 , the scent board  128  has a top  130  and a bottom  132 . A dimple  139  is formed extending from the outside  156  to identify the scented side and space an adjacent scent board from the scent board  128 . First slot  138  is formed generally horizontally in the scent board  128  to matingly receive the lock  149 . Second slot  137  is formed in scent board  128  at an angle to first slot  138  and positioned to mateingly receive the foot  147 . Scent board  128  has a size and profile adapted to be eclipsed by the size and profile of frame  110  when the scent board  128  is mounted on frame  110  so the scent board  128  is generally not readily visible from the front  114 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , frame  110  is shown with the prop  144  comprising the foot  147  and lock  148  assembled in the stand up position  155 . Foot  147  is integrally formed by a cut out of support sheet  129 . Foot  147  further comprises a hinge side  154  on the frame  110 . The lock  148  is bent to extend out from the back  116  for receiving the foot  147  as it is folded out from the back  116 . The lock  148  and foot  147  engage to hold the foot extended from the back for supporting the frame  110  in a standing position  155 . Lock  148  and foot  147  intersect and engage in the locked position at approximately a right angle. The foot  147  and lock  148  extending from the back  116  form the sheet holder. The scented board  128  has slots  137  and  138  adapted to slidingly receive the foot  147  and lock respectively to hold scent board  128  on frame  110 . As should be understood, additional scent boards may be removably attached to frame  110  in a similar manner and held separated by knobs  139  ( FIG. 6 ) on the outside  136 . 
         [0031]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 6 , the scented picture frame  110  has a body  112  formed of laminated layers similar to the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . The picture slot  140  is in the top  122  intermediate the front  114  and the back  116 . The picture slot  140  is adjacent to the picture window  142  in the front  114 . The scented picture frame  110  stands on a table or surface having the bottom  124  resting thereon and the foot  147  supporting the frame  110  in a viewable position  155 . The scented board  128  structurally supports the foot  147  and lock  149  engagement. A second scent board  128   a  may be hung on the tab to add an alternative aroma to the ambient air. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a rear perspective of the scented picture frame shows the foot  147  engaged to the lock  149 . The scent board  128  has vertical slot  137  adapted to receive foot  147 . Scent board  128  further comprises horizontal slot  138  adapted to receive lock  149 . Scent board  128  is sized to be smaller than the body  112  to minimize visibility of the scent board from a viewing position adjacent the front sheet  125 . The spacer layer  127  holds the front sheet in spaced relation to the support  129  on the back  116 . The scent sheet  128  is sized to provide a stand off  117  between the scent board bottom  132  and the table or support under the standing scented picture frame to protect against the scent on the scent board leaching onto the table. The standoff  117  is a space between the bottom of the body  124  and the bottom  132  of the scent board  128 . 
         [0033]    In use, the picture frame  10  is shipped with one or more scent boards  28 ,  128  for removably attaching to the frame  10  to form a scented picture frame  10 . The picture frame is preferably made of a fiber material such as paper, cardboard, fiber board, or other lightweight easy to cut material, however the components of the body  12 ,  112  may alternatively be made from plastic, ceramic, glass or metal. The scent boards  28 ,  128  are made of a porous or absorbable material such as paper or cardboard. Either or both of the frame body  12  or the scent board  28  may be made of an absorbent plastic material such as foam or the like. The sheet holder on the back comprising a tab  50  or foot  147  may be a separate device attached to the back by glue or staple or the like and folded out from the back for engaging the slot in the scent board. Alternatively, the sheet holder may be integrally formed in the back of the body by die cutting the shape in the support layer and folding the holder outward from the body to support the scent board. 
         [0034]    The scent boards  28 ,  28   a ,  128 ,  128   a  may be impregnated with a variety of scents and aromatherapy solutions. The scent boards are individually sealed for holding in the scent until use. The scent board may be scented on only one side to prevent mixing scents when used in combination with a different scented scent board. The scent board is usually impregnated with a scent carried in an oil or other liquid for application. The scent board may be impregnated with scents selected from oil and aroma ingredients to simulate a smell selected from the list of: a variety of perfumes, food and flower smells, new car or evergreen or other commercial fragrances, berries, animals and smoke scents. Alternatively, the scent board may be impregnated with aromatherapy mixtures such as Lavendar, Ylang Ylang, Mandarin, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Patchouli, Lemon, and Peppermint and the like or combinations thereof. 
         [0035]    Although the invention has been described above in connection with particular embodiments and examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not necessarily so limited, and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications and departures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. The entire disclosure of each patent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference, as if each such patent or publication were individually incorporated by reference herein.