Patent Publication Number: US-7594350-B2

Title: Picture frame

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to picture or photo frames, and more particularly to a picture frame having visually appealing fluid and spangles circulating around the picture or photo. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Picture or photo frames, whether they are put on a table top or hung on the wall, are common in households as a decoration or for adding some style to the interior of the house. However, conventional frames at most have some static ornamental designs around the window area of the frame, which is quite dull. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, a novel picture frame is provided herein, which contains a base member and a frame member that is pervious to light. The base member has a top opening exposing an internal space inside. A driving motor and at least a light generating element are housed inside the internal space of the base member. The frame member has a channel circling a window area which is filled with a fluid dispersed with spangles or similar glittery elements. The driving motor turns a magnetic element positioned at a top end of the driving motor&#39;s axle, which in turn rotates a magnetically driven element with one or more vanes in the channel. The vanes propel the fluid and the spangles in the fluid to flow and to circle along the channel. The floating and moving spangles around the photo or picture in the window area, together with the light produced by the light generating element therefore produce an appealing visual effect. 
   The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
   Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram showing the various components of a picture frame according an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional diagram showing the picture frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram showing a picture frame according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a picture frame A according to an embodiment of the present invention mainly contains a base member  1 , a driving motor  2 , at least a light generating element  3 , and a frame member  4  that is pervious to light. 
   The base member  1  has a top opening exposing an internal space inside. 
   The driving motor  2  is housed inside the internal space of the base member  1  with its axle extended vertically upward. A magnetic element  21  is positioned at a top end of the driving motor  2 &#39;s axle that is turned along with the axle. 
   Also housed inside the internal space of the base member  1  are a circuit member  31  and the light generating elements  3  are positioned on a top surface of the power member  31  and exposed from the top opening of the base member  1 . 
   The frame member  4  surrounds a window area  41  and, inside the frame member  4 , there is a channel  42  circling the window area  41 . The channel  42  is filled with a fluid dispersed with spangles or similar glittery elements. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame member  4  is plugged into the top opening of the base member  1  and a photo or a picture is embedded in the window area  41  of the frame member  4 . The frame member  4  and its channel  42  are configured such that a section along a bottom edge of the channel  42  above the driving motor  2  is extended downward to form a chamber  43  within which a magnetically driven element  44  with one or more vanes  441  is housed in the chamber  43 . 
   The driving motor  2  is connected to the power member  31  and, when the power member  31  is turned on, the driving motor  2  receives electricity from the power member  31  and its axle as well as the magnetic element  21  is turned. Due to the magnetic force of the magnetic element  21 , the magnetically driven element  44  inside the chamber  43  is turned as well. The vanes  441  of the magnetically driven element  44  propel the fluid and the spangles in the fluid to flow and to circle along the channel  42 . The floating and moving spangles around the photo or picture therefore produce an appealing visual effect. 
   When the power member  31  is turned on, the light generating elements  3 , such as light emitting diodes or light bulbs, are also turned on or flashed. The picture or photo in the window area  41  is thereby illuminated. Additionally, as light is reflected from the spangles, even more appealing visual effect is produced. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the frame member  4  could further have ornamental element  45  at an appropriate location of the frame member  4 . The ornamental element  45  could be an embossed three-dimensional object or a two-dimensional graphical pattern attached to or printed on the frame member  4 . 
   According the foregoing description, the picture frame of the present invention has a number of distinguished features. The fluid with glittery spangles is propelled to circulate around the picture or photo and, together with the illumination by the light generating elements  3 , an appealing visual effect is produced. Most significantly, non-contact magnetic force is applied to propel the fluid so that the frame member  4  could be easily positioned on and removed from the base member  1  for the replacement of a picture or photo. 
   While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the sprint of the present invention.