Abstract:
A wall-mountable frame for holding and displaying pictures or other information, comprises: a first panel of transparent plastic material; a second panel of transparent plastic material, a lower end portion of the second panel foldably connected with a lower end portion of the first panel such that the first and second panels can be opened or closed relative to each other about the lower end portions of the first and second panels; a sheet of paper, vinyl coated paper, or plastic material to be received between the first and second panels when the panels are at least partially opened for attaching the picture or display material to the sheet of paper, vinyl coated paper, or plastic material; and, an opening respectively formed on an upper end portion of the first and second panels at a corresponding location such that the frame is vertically mountable on a wall or other vertical structure with a fastening element engaged with the opening.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a frame for holding pictures and/or prints therein, and more particularly, to a frame formed of at least two transparent plastic panels for receiving and holding pictures, photos, article scraps, printed articles, or the like between the transparent plastic panels.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A wall-mounting picture frame or photo frame known in the art typically has a rectangular frame formed of wood or steel and defining a window opening in the frame, a glass pane installed to the window opening of the frame to show a picture or print placed in the frame through the glass pane, a base plate for backing and supporting the frame, and a hanging element, such as a wire string, attached to the back surface of the base plate for mounting the picture frame to the vertical wall. Such conventional frames are typically for displaying one picture or photo through the front glass pane, and the rear side of the frame is not to be used for displaying due to its design limit and also because of its opaque base plate. Moreover, the assembled frame should carefully be disassembled and a new picture is attached at an exact location of the base plate to replace an old picture with a new one. This procedure is generally cumbersome and requires caution and labors. In addition, the glass pane of the conventional frame is not safe and the frame can be easily damaged or broken when it is accidentally fallen to the ground or when it is handled without caution or by accidents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention is directed to a new and useful design of wall-mountable frames adapted for holding and displaying pictures, prints, articles, or other information or artistic media therein, and also to a method of displaying such display media with the wall-mountable frame of the invention.  
         [0004]     According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a wall-mountable frame for holding and displaying pictures or other information, comprises: a first panel of transparent plastic material; a second panel of transparent plastic material, a lower end portion of the second panel foldably connected with a lower end portion of the first panel such that the first and second panels can be opened or closed relative to each other about the lower end portions of the first and second panels, wherein a picture or other display material can be received between the first and second panels when the panels are at least partially opened; and, an opening respectively formed on an upper end portion of the first and second panels at a corresponding location such that the frame is mountable on a wall or other vertical structure with a fastening element engaged with the opening. The frame may further comprises an adhesive material capable of multiple use disposed on an inner surface of at least one of the first and second panels and for repeatedly and detachably attaching the picture or display material thereto.  
         [0005]     The transparent panels of the frame are preferably formed into a rectangular shape with thickness between about 0.2 mm and about 5 mm, and of a material selected from a group consisting of polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic material, and other transparent monomer or polymer material.  
         [0006]     According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a wall-mountable frame for holding and displaying pictures or other information, comprises: a first panel of transparent plastic material; a second panel of transparent plastic material, a lower end portion of the second panel foldably connected with a lower end portion of the first panel such that the first and second panels can be opened or closed relative to each other about the lower end portions of the first and second panels; a sheet of paper, vinyl coated paper, or plastic material to be received between the first and second panels when the panels are at least partially opened for attaching the picture or display material to the sheet of paper, vinyl coated paper, or plastic material; and, an opening respectively formed on an upper end portion of the first and second panels at a corresponding location such that the frame is vertically mountable on a wall or other vertical structure with a fastening element engaged with the opening.  
         [0007]     According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a wall-mountable frame for holding and displaying pictures or other information, comprises: a first panel of transparent plastic material; a second panel of transparent plastic material, a lower end portion of the second panel foldably connected with a lower end portion of the first panel such that the first and second panels can be opened or closed relative to each other about the lower end portions of the first and second panels; a sheet of paper, vinyl coated paper, or plastic material to be received between the first and second panels when the panels are at least partially opened for attaching the picture or display material to the sheet of paper, vinyl coated paper, or plastic material; and, at least one magnet attached on a rear surface of the second panel for enabling mounting of the frame to a magnetisable vertical structure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a frame for holding pictures or prints, shown in assembly state, and constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the frame of  FIG. 1  with the panels opened or unfolded before receiving a picture of print between the panels.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a frame for holding pictures or prints, which is similarly configured as that of  FIG. 2 , however, further having a sheet receivable between the panels for attaching pictures or prints thereto.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a frame for holding pictures or prints shown in assembly, which is constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a frame for holding pictures or prints, which is similarly configured as that of  FIG. 2 , however, the frame formed of three or more transparent panels for receiving multiple display materials between the panels. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a frame for holding pictures or prints, constructed according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and shown in an assembled state while hung on a wall with a conventional fastening element such as a nail  10 . Frame  100  includes a first transparent panel  110  and a second transparent panel  120  oppositely disposed back to back. The transparent panels  110  and  120  are formed preferably of plastic or polymeric materials into a substantially uniform thickness, each panel having the same or substantially similar size and configuration, such as rectangular shape as shown. Suitable materials for the panels  110  and  120  include, without limiting thereto, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic material, or other transparent monomer or polymer material. The thickness of the panels may be varied depending on the desired size of the picture frame. When utilizing conventional transparent polymeric material such as polycarbonate or acrylic material, the thickness of the panels is preferably between about 0.2 mm and about 5 mm. The size of the frame may be varied, and can be as small as about 3″×5″ and as large as 50″× 70 ″.  
         [0015]     The panels  110  and  120  are connected to each other with one end (such as a side or lower end) of the panels attached to each other. According to one preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the respective lower end  130  of the panels  110  and  120  are connected together, however, in a manner that can be opened (unfolded) and closed (folded) about the attached end  130 . For one example, two planar panels  110  and  120  are formed uniformly into an extended rectangular shape, and a notch or groove  140  is formed between the panels  110  and  120  to define a boundary line of the two panels, and the panels can be folded or unfolded about the boundary notch  140 . For another example, two separate planar panels  110  and  120  are formed of suitable transparent material, each into a rectangular shape, and the two panels are connected together with an adhesive tape  150  attached around the lower end  130  of the panels, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The tape  150  is preferably formed of plastic or polymer material with desired strength and flexibility to endure repeated bending, and can be either transparent or non-transparent. In this example, the panels  110  and  120  can be folded or unfolded about the adhesive tape  140 .  
         [0016]     A picture, photo, or print “P” of the user choice is received between the first and second transparent panels  110  and  120 , and the panels are folded to hold the picture or print P therein while abutting to each other. When the lower ends  130  of the two panels are affixed together as shown, the print  150  can be held between the panels without accidentally releasing from the frame  100  as it is vertically mounted on a wall. For facilitating mounting the frame  100  to the wall with fastening element (such as nail  10 ), an opening  160  of suitable size and shape, preferably of circular opening  160 , is formed at the upper end (as shown when it is assembled) of each panel  110  and  120 .  
         [0017]     As utilizing transparent panels  110  and  120 , the frame of the invention can be mounted on the wall with either face up while placing one or more pictures or prints “P” between the transparent panels  110  and  120 . Thus, when mounting the frame  100  with the upper face down, the picture or information exposed on the back side of the frame can be seen by the observer. This enhances utility of the frame to the user because he or she can place multiple prints in the frame and display a selected one by flipping back and forth when desired.  
         [0018]     In order to more securely hold one or more prints “P” of desired size in a desired place of the frame  100 , adhesive materials  170  of repeated applicable type are optionally disposed on suitable inner surfaces of the panel  110  and/or  120 . The multiple-use adhesives  170  are preferably transparent to avoid blocking of any image shown through the transparent frame  100 , and can be disposed on multiple discrete spots as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternately, the adhesives can be formed into parallel stripes  170   a  as shown in  FIG. 3  to be discussed later in details. Using the adhesives distributed on the panels, one or more pictures or prints can be attached at desired location in the frame  100 .  
         [0019]     In addition, the frames of the invention may further include a connection element, such as clear adhesive tapes  180  or other known connection members, disposed adjacent to the upper end of the frame for securely but detachably connecting the panels together upon assembly of the frame. As specified above, it may be preferable that the frame of the invention comprises mounting holes  160  for mounting the frame on the vertical structure or wall, instead of providing or in addition to the mounting holes, the frame can be provided with one or more magnets  190  of suitable specification, that can be attached on the rear surface of the lower panel (such as panel  120  in  FIG. 2 ) for enabling such mounting, particularly, to a refrigerator or other magnetisable structure.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the frame of the invention is described herein. In this description, the same or similar components or parts already described above in connection with  FIGS. 1 and 2  are indicated with the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are not repeated herein for simplicity purposes. Frame  200  for holding pictures or other media or information paper therein is basically similar to the frame  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , however, frame  200  further includes an additional sheet  210  to be placed between the transparent panels  110  and  120 . The sheet  210  is formed preferably of durable paper, vinyl coated paper, or thin plastic material into a size same or a little smaller than that of the panels  110  and  120 . The sheet  210  can be opaque, transparent, or translucent, or it may be of colored material with one or more color can be selected by the user. Background images or various designs (not shown) can be pre-printed on the surface of the sheet  210 . One or more prints or desired information “P” are attached to the sheet  210  on either side, or preferably on both sides, of the sheets  210  by known methods, for example, using conventional adhesive tapes, instead of directly attaching the prints “P” on the plastic panels  110  or  120  as described and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0021]     The sheet  210  may optionally include suitably distributed adhesives  170  or  170   a  (discussed above) of multiple-use type for repeatedly attaching and detaching the prints P thereon. The adhesives  170  or  170   a  may be provided on one side or both sides of the sheet  210 . In addition, one or more peelable vinyl seals  220  of suitable size and configuration may be pre-attached to cover the adhesives  170  or  170   a , which can be removed when the user actually posts prints P on the sheet  210 . Utilizing the additional posting sheet  210 , the transparent panels  110  and  120  can be maintained in clean condition even if the sheet  210  (preferably both sides thereof) is subject to repeated attaching and detaching of various prints or photos of user choice, and the sheets  210  can be replaced conveniently with new ones having the design and color chosen by the user, whenever desired. Moreover, when using the sheet  210  formed of vinyl-coated paper and/or plastic material, the sheet can also be maintained in clean condition even if it is subject to repeated attaching and detaching of prints or photos on both sides of the sheet.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the frame of the invention. Frame  300  is formed with plural transparent panels  310  and  320  in a manner and configuration basically similar to the frame  100  or  200  of  FIGS. 1-3 . However, frame  300  is designed for hanging to the wall in horizontal orientation (i.e., with its wide side oriented horizontally) as shown, and includes two or more hanging openings  160  for mounting with fastening elements such as nails.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates a further embodiment of the frame of the invention. Frame  400  is formed with plural transparent panels in a manner and configuration basically similar to the frame  100  or  200  of  FIGS. 1-3 . However, frame  400  comprises three or more panels  410 - 430  of transparent material described above. A plurality of pictures or other desired information materials are placed between the transparent panels  410 - 430 , or they may be attached thereto as described in connection with  FIGS. 1-2 . Otherwise, the pictures or information materials can be attached to additional sheets  210  to be inserted between the transparent panels  410 - 430 . Each panel  410 - 430  can be turned and folded, and thus, a desired one can be located by the user at the front side to be seen from the front observers when the frame  400  is hung to the wall or other vertical structure. As described above, the frame  400  can also be turned back side up and the picture placed at the rear side of the frame can be seen by the observers through the rear transparent panel.  
         [0024]     As described above, the frames of the present invention has a simple structure and configuration that can be made in a low cost. Moreover, the user can easily place and select desired display materials to be seen through the frame. Furthermore, forming the panels from polymeric or plastic materials, the frame is safe without having the danger of breaking when it is accidentally fallen to the ground as the conventional frames with glass panes.  
         [0025]     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. For example, the panels and the inserting sheet of the frame can have shapes other than rectangular, for example, such as circular, semicircular, oval, triangular, or polygonal, or other known shapes for the user&#39;s pleasure.