Patent Publication Number: US-2006000135-A1

Title: Decorative assembly for decorating a thin panel display screen

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to decorative assemblies for decorating a thin panel display screen such as an LCD TV screen, a plasma TV screen or a monitor screen. In particular, the present invention relates to a decorative assembly having a decorative frame attached, e.g. adhesively, to a fabric material sleeve, and wherein the fabric member sleeve fits over the corners of the thin panel display screen for connecting the decorative frame over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame, thereby decorating the thin panel display screen frame.  
      2. The Prior Art  
      Decorating a thin panel display screens is known in the prior art. For instance U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2002/0096979 A1 to Johnson relates to decorative adjustable electronic equipment and furniture support. In particular, the Johnson publication describes an adjustable, retractable and expandable plastic or cardboard cover frame made of metallic finish to fit around a computer VCR, TV or other electronic equipment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,878 to Morgan et al. relates to protective and decorative computer covers. The Morgan patent describes a covered casing assembly which includes a fabric member made of an elastic material that is stretched over a casing and has at least one opening surrounding an accessible feature of the casing. The fabric member may be in the form of a tube having two openings, one at each end of the openings at each end of the openings at each end of the tube. An aperture adjustment feature is provided for sizing and shaping an aperture in the fabric member.  
      In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,644 to Stanley relates a decorative cover for a thin panel display screens having a covering material assembly made of flexible covering material configured to conform to the general size and shape of the forward portion of a thin panel display screen. The cover has an opening through which the thin panel display screen may be directly viewed while the cover is place on the monitor. The cover opening is maintained by a preformed support member made of semi-rigid material, which is attached to the covering material. The cover is held in place on the monitor by securing means comprised of elastic banding and/or hook and loop fastening strips. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,214 to Griffin relates to a device for enhances the appeal of a video terminal. The Griffin patent describes a flexible skirt including an annular fabric body stretchable over a video display screen.  
      Notwithstanding the above, the prior art lacks a decorative assembly having a decorative frame attached, e.g. adhesively, to a fabric material sleeve, and wherein the fabric member sleeve fits over the corners of the thin panel display screen for connecting the decorative frame over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame, thereby decorating the thin panel display screen frame.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which provides a decorative effect to a thin panel display screen.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which is one piece, comprised an elastic fabric sleeve attached to a decorative frame and wherein said sleeve fits over corresponding corners of a thin panel display screen to be decorated.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide a decorative assembly, which provides a decorative effect to a thin panel display screen and also does not interfere with the viewing of the operating display of the screen.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which is easily attachable and removable from the thin panel display screen.  
      It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which gives the user a range of possible decorative options for decorating their thin panel display screen.  
      In accordance with the present invention, a decorative assembly for decorating a thin panel display screen having a frame is provided. The decorative assembly comprises a decorative frame having a rear surface. In addition, the decorative assembly further comprises a decorative fabric material sleeve affixed to the rear surface of the frame. The fabric material fits over each corner of the thin panel display screen to secure the decorative frame over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame. Lastly, the decorative frame and the decorative fabric material of the decorative assembly each provide a decorative effect to the thin panel display screen to which the decorative frame and the decorative fabric material sleeve are attached.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a prior art screen;  
       FIG. 2  is a frontal view of a thin panel display screen decorated with the decorative assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 9  is a frontal view of a thin panel display screen decorated with the decorative assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a frontal view of a thin panel display screen decorated with the decorative assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10  along lines  11 - 11 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  represents a standard thin panel display screen in the prior art with no decorative effect or appearance added thereto. The present invention seeks to provide a decorative appearance to a thin panel display screen via decorative assembly.  
      Specifically, the decorative assembly  10  of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 2-8 . The decorative assembly is a single piece which includes a decorative frame  12 , preferably of rigid material and a fabric material sleeve  14  attached to the decorative frame  12 . The decorative frame  12  of the first embodiment of the present invention as depicted in  FIGS. 2-8 , is in the shape of a square. It is noted however that the decorative frame  12  is not limited to a square shape and may be of any shape to fit onto a least a portion of a conventional thin panel display screen  11  to decorate the same. The decorative frame  12  may provide the decorative effect via the color, material of the decorative frame  12 , e.g. wood, plastic or the design placed or painted thereon by means known in the art.  
      The decorative frame  12  is formed by four-frame elements formed integral with one another to form the square shape of the screen  11 . Frame  12  has a front surface  16  and a rear surface  18 . Attached to the rear surface of the frame  12  is fabric material sleeve  14 . The fabric material sleeve  14  is preferably comprised of elastic material, the like, or other material, which will also accomplish the objectives of the present invention. The fabric material sleeve  14  is preferably glued or adhesively attached to the rear surface  18  of the decorative frame  12  substantially around the entire rear surface  18  of the frame  12 . Moreover, fabric material sleeve  14  is shaped according to the dimensions of the decorative frame  12  so that when attached to the decorative frame  12  the fabric material sleeve  14  only attaches around the rear surface  18  of the decorative frame  12  but does not to contain any material in the center so it does not block or interfere with the viewing of the operating display  13  of the thin panel display screen  11 .  
      Further, as best shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , a portion  22  of the attached fabric material sleeve  14  is folded and stitched along substantially the entire length of the fabric material sleeve  14  to create four separate attaching pockets  26 , one pocket  26  protruding from each corner of the rear surface  18  of the frame  12 . Each of these pockets  26  are designed to fit over a corresponding corner of the thin panel display screen  11  in order to attach the decorative frame  12  over at least a portion of the frame of a thin panel display screen  11 .  
      It is also noted that in addition to the decorative frame  12  providing a decorative effect, fabric material sleeve  14  may also provide a decorative effect to the thin panel display screen  11 . In this regard, the fabric material sleeve  14  may be of different colors, have design patterns painted or placed thereon by any means known in the art.  
      Referring specifically to  FIGS. 6-8 , the decorative assembly  10  further includes a support member  28 , preferably a rubber string, which is inserted into the folded stitched portion  22  of the fabric material sleeve  14 . The support member  28  is looped inside the stitched portion  22  along substantially the entire fabric material sleeve  14  to keep the fabric material sleeve  14  secure around the thin panel display screen  11 . By way of illustration, it is noted that the fabric material sleeve  14  is secured over the corners of the thin panel display screen  11  in very analogous manner to placing a sheet cover over the corners of the mattress of a bed.  
      In using the decorative assembly of the first embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2-8 , one would first choose the type of decorative frame  12  and fabric material sleeve  14  combination they desired to place on a particular thin panel display screen  11 . One this decision is made, the user would pull each corner pocket  26  of the fabric material sleeve  14  over each corresponding corner of the thin panel display screen  11  in order to affix the decorative frame  12  over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame.  
       FIG. 9  depicts a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that instead of the decorative frame  112  being a perfect square shape, the decorative frame  112  has ridges thereon. This embodiment shows that other shapes for the decorative frame are within the scope of the present invention. This embodiment would accordingly be used in exactly the same manner as the first embodiment.  
       FIGS. 10-11  illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention, which is virtually identical to the above first two embodiments. The only difference is that in the third embodiment the decorative frame  212  is transparent with a decorative insert  213  placed between the rear surface  215  of the decorative frame  212  and the thin panel display screen  216 . The insert  213  can be for instance a laminate or the like. The insert  213  can be painted, laminated and be any color. Except for the insert  215 , the third embodiment is used in substantially the same way as the first two embodiments of the present invention.  
      The particular embodiment described above is not meant to be exclusive. Many other variations of the present invention would be obvious to those skilled in the art, and are contemplated to be within the scope of the appended claims.