Patent Publication Number: US-2007107289-A1

Title: Picture frame system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention pertains to a picture frame system. More specifically, the invention relates to a picture frame system including an engravable mat.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The wedding photography and memorabilia industry is a multimillion dollar annual industry. Grooms and brides want to remember their special day for the rest of their lives. Often times, keepsakes from the wedding day are on display in the couple&#39;s home for a lifetime. In fact, many special occasions are memorialized with photographs, guest books, and the like.  
      One form of keepsake over the years has been a guest book that is signed by many of the event guests. Alternately, an event photograph is sometimes framed with a mat that can be signed by the event guests. Often times, the mat is constructed from a cardboard material and the signatures signed with a common ink pen. The issue with this type of system arises over time. Specifically, the signatures tend to fade with time, which is exactly the opposite of the desired effect.  
      What is needed is a picture frame system that combines the personal touch of a guest book with a more permanent system for capturing the guests&#39; signatures.  
     SUMMARY  
      The present invention pertains to a picture frame system. More specifically, the invention relates to a picture frame system including an engravable mat.  
      In one aspect, the invention is a picture frame system for displaying a picture. The system comprises a substantially planar mat that comprises an engravable material. The planar mat defines an opening therein. In one aspect, a substantially transparent pane overlies the planar mat and opening.  
      The picture frame system also comprises a picture frame that is sized and shaped to engage and substantially surround the circumferential edge of the planar mat and the transparent pane, thereby maintaining the transparent pane in intimate contact with the planar mat.  
      The system can further comprise an engraving member. The engraving member has a tip portion adapted to score the engravable material of the planar mat by exerting pressure thereon the engravable material. The engraving member enables the user to write on the frame as if it were a regular pen while actually scoring the writing into the surface of the mat to preserve the writing for years to come. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent in the detailed description, in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the picture frame system of the present invention, showing a picture frame, a substantially transparent pane mountable therein the picture frame, a planar engravable mat defining an opening that underlies the transparent pane and is mountable therein the picture frame, and a picture that is mountable therein the picture frame and that underlies a portion of the engravable mat such that at least a portion of the picture is visible in the opening of the engravable mat.  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view on one embodiment of an engraving member for use with the picture frame system of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the engraving member of  FIG. 2 , showing a marking surface on a tip portion of the engraving member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Before the present articles, devices, assemblies and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific articles, devices, assemblies and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.  
      As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The embodiments are described with reference to the figures, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the figures.  
      Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.  
      The invention is a picture frame system  10  for displaying a picture. The system  10  comprises a substantially planar mat  100  that comprises an engravable material. The material may be, for example and without limitation, pewter, silver, aluminum, or any other engravable material known by those skilled in the art. The planar mat  100  defines an opening  110  therein. In a further aspect, the system comprises a substantially transparent pane  200  that is adapted to overlie the planar mat  100  and opening  110 . As one can appreciate, the pane  200  may comprise glass, Plexiglas, plastic or any other substantially rigid material that is transparent enough to substantially reveal a photograph, drawing, or other item  300  placed beneath the pane. Most commonly, the pane material will comprise glass.  
      The frame system  10  also comprises a conventional picture frame  400  that is sized and shaped to engage and substantially surrounding the respective circumferential edges  120  of the planar mat and the transparent pane  200 . As one skilled in art will appreciate, the transparent pane is maintained in intimate contact with the planar mat. In another aspect, it is contemplated that a picture or photograph  300  can be conventionally mounted therein the picture frame  400 . In this aspect, the picture underlies a portion of the engravable mat such that at least a portion of the picture is visible in the opening of the engravable mat  100  and through the overlying pane to an external observer.  
      In one aspect of the invention, the opening  110  is sized to reveal a standard sized photograph substantially underlying the planar mat. In one example and not meant to be limiting, the planar mat  100  defines a rectangular opening with a length of about 7 in and a width of about 5 in. In another example, the planar mat defines an opening with a length of about 8 in and a width of about 10 in. In yet another example, the planar mat defines an opening  110  with a length of about 11 in and a width of about 14 in. In still another example, the planar mat  100  defines an opening with a length of about 16 in and a width of about 20 in. As can be appreciated, it is contemplated that the opening in the planar mat can be of any desired size or shape.  
      In a further aspect, the picture frame system  10  can comprise an engraving member  500 . In one aspect, the engraving member  500  has a tip portion  510  that comprises a marking surface  520  adapted to score the engravable material of the planar mat by exerting pressure thereon the engravable material. The engraving member enables the user to write on the mat as if it were a regular pen. However, the writing is actually scoring the writing into the surface of the mat to preserve the writing for years to come.  
      In one aspect of the invention, the marking surface  520  of the tip portion  510  comprises a substantially conical shape. In another aspect, the tip angle θ is from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees. The tip angle θ, as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , is the angle included within the tip. In another aspect, the tip angle is about 90 degrees.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the distal end or tip of the engraving member may be curved. In one aspect, the tip radius T r  is from about 0.001 in to about 0.01 in. In another aspect, the tip radius is from about 0.003 in to about 0.005 in. However, other tip radii are contemplated.  
      Although several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein above, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described invention, nor the claims which follow.