Patent Publication Number: US-6219950-B1

Title: Photo frame with mini-fan

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a photo frame, and more particularly to a photo frame with mini-fan having a battery case as a support. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A photo frame is used as a means for exhibit photograph(s). Many people like to place a photograph in a frame which is put on a suitable place, for example a table for viewing. Typically, a photo frame is a rectangular or square form having an opening formed therein for receiving photograph(s), and preferably a collapsible stand for supporting frame. Generally, in view of all commercially available photo frames, the only difference between different photo frames is their appearance. In other words, the only purpose of photo frame is, as stated above, for exhibit photograph(s) among various designs. Thus, it is desirable to see a photo frame with functions more than above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provided a photo frame with a mini-fan for providing an additional cooling capability having a battery case serving as a supporting means. The advantages of the present invention are realized by providing a photo frame comprising a frame, a mini-fan pivotably mounted on a side of frame, and a battery case pivotably mounted on a position abutted against an opposite side of frame for providing power to the mini-fan and supporting frame so as to enable to pivotably adjust the mini-fan and battery case in response to a vertically or horizontally standing photo frame. This further eliminates a support component as generally required by a conventional photo frame. 
    
    
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a partial view of FIG. 1 with mini-fan separated; 
     FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of portion enclosed by dashed line of FIG. 2A for clearly illustrating the relative position of mini-fan with frame; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 1 with dashed line showing an electrical connection between mini-fan and battery case; 
     FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of shaded area of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a vertically and horizontally standing photo frame. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 A, and  2 B, there is shown a photo frame constructed according to the invention comprising a frame  10 , a mini-fan  20 , and a battery case  30 . Frame  10  comprises a first frame member  101  and a second frame member  102 . A rectangular or square opening  103  is formed in the space enclosed by first frame member  101  and second frame member  102 . First frame member  101  has an opening  1011 . Photograph(s) (not shown) may be put into opening  103  through opening  1011 . An axis  1013  is provided on, for example a square recess on a corner of first frame member  101 . An arcuated groove  1014  preferably having a semicircular cross section is provided adjacent to axis  1013  on first frame member  101 . Groove  1014  has two further recessed portions  1015  and  1016  formed on two ends. Second frame member  102  has a window  1021  for viewing photograph(s). A cover (not shown) made of a transparent material, such as glass, acrylic may be provided on window  1021  for protecting the photograph(s). A hole  1022  corresponding to axis  1013  is provided on second frame member  102  for permitting axis  1013  to be received therein when first frame member  101  and second frame member  102  are engaged together. 
     Mini-fan  20  comprises a motor  201  and a number of blades  202  (three blades are shown). Motor  201  is a well-known device for driving blades  202  to provide a cooling effect to user. A projection  2011  is downwardly extended from mini-fan  20  in which a hole  2012  is provided on the lower center portion of projection  2011  for receiving axis  1013  when mini-fan  20  is mounted on first frame member  101 . Note that projection  2011  should have a sufficient length for permitting to rotate a limited range about axis  1013  on the corner of frame  10 , i.e., blades  202  can not contact with frame  10  when mini-fan  20  is operating. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a releasable back cover  1012  is provided on opening  1011  for allowing to insert a photograph into frame  10  or to take the photograph up. Battery case  30  is provided on a position abutted against a side opposing to the side where the mini-fan  20  mounted. An axis  303  pivotably secures battery case  30  and frame  10  together on an end of battery case  30  such that the attached battery case  30  can serve as a stand for frame  10  by its own weight when fame  10  is laid on a supporting plane. Battery case  30  has a compartment  301  for receiving one or more batteries (not shown). The driving source of mini-fan  20  is provided by battery case  30  through a cord  50 . Preferably, cord  50  is embedded within first frame member  101  for not detracting from frame&#39;s  10  external appearance. 
     Battery case  30  also has a switch  302  for turning on or off mini-fan  20 . In brief, battery case  30  is both a drive source of mini-fan  20  and a supporting means to frame  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2B,  4 , and  5 , a recess  2013  corresponding to further recessed portions  1015  and  1016  of projection  2011  is formed on top of hole  2012 . A helical spring  2014  is mounted in recess  2013  with one end engaged against bottom of recess  2013 . A locking pin  2015  is inserted into spring  2014  with the head protruded from surface of projection  2011 . Locking pin  2015  is slidably movable along groove  1014 . Mini-fan  20  is firmly secured to frame  10  when head of locking pin  2015  is moved into recessed portion  1015  or  1016  (see FIG.  5 ). Note that it is possible to form more than two further recessed portions equally spaced along groove  1014  in order to allow a multiple relatively positioning of mini-fan  20  to frame  10 . 
     We understand that a photograph can be vertically or horizontally put on photo frame depends on the orientation of photograph. Accordingly, a photo frame may vertically or horizontally stand on a supporting plane. This means that supporting means (i.e., battery case  30 ) and mini-fan  20  have to change their orientations in response to a changed standing position of photo frame. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, two orientations of photo frame are provided respectively in which one is a portrait position (FIG. 1) and the other is a landscape position (FIG.  6 ). As stated above, mini-fan  20  and battery case  30  both are pivotably mounted on frame  10 . In other words, mini-fan  20  can be adjusted to an appropriate position in response to a changed orientation of photo frame as indicated by arrow, while battery case  30  also can be moved from first operating position  304  to second operating position  305  for providing a necessary support to frame  10 . 
     While many advantages of the invention, such as providing a cooling mini-fan as well as eliminating a support component as conventionally required by utilizing battery case as a stand has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.