Patent Publication Number: US-5251391-A

Title: Illuminant photo frame

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to photo frame, and particularly to an illuminant one that at night automatically provides photo an illumination for convenience of people&#39;s appreciation and if preferred may be also used as a night light. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally used photo or picture frame, whether elegant or general, is totally unable to give photo or picture viewers any benefit of illumination to help them see it clearly at night. Such inconvenience exists particularly when a photo or picture is decoratively mounted high in the dimness of lights. To solve the problem, an illuminant photo frame is greatly needed. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In order for a photo frame&#39;s illumination, the present invention provides a structurally new kind of photo frame which has the following features: 
     1. It can sense extent of the outside lights&#39; darkness or brightness to start and cease the electricity supply. 
     2. All light bulbs are hidden in the cross-section area without affecting any of its exterior beauty. 
     3. The back side of the transparent frame, where a plurality of integrantly created 45° prisms collectively form a certain pattern, will reflect light emitted from the small light bulbs in the cross section of the frame to project out of the front side of the frame, and thereby, provide a crystal illumination of the pattern presentation. 
     4. It may also serve as a small light bulb at night in the living room or bedroom. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An illuminant photo frame comprises a transparent frame body formed by upper and lower frame staves and side stays. The back sides of both the frame staves and side stays include a plurality of integrantly created 45° prisms in more than one flight of stages to collectively form a certain pattern. A recess is formed at the back side of joints formed at the connection of the frame staves to the side stays; in which is installed a small light bulb respectively, and a PC board connected to the back side of the frame body is photoresistance on the PC board which installed has connection with the small light bulbs via a power lead. At night, the pattern of the frame will be crystally presented from reflected light emitted automatically at night when the small light bulbs are energized. The electricity supply will automatically cease when daytime comes when interrupted by the photoresistance device on the PC board. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 a front perspective view of the inventive photo frame but with local cutaway view; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the A--A line in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the B--B line in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged action view of the C part in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an examplery photo clamper of the invention but includes a local cutaway view thereof. 
    
    
     SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show, the inventive photo frame is combined by a frame body 1 and a PC board 2. The frame body 1 which is made from a transparent material is constituted by elongated frame staves 3 and side stays 4, and the back sides of which respectively include a plurality of integrantly created 45° prisms in more than one flight of stages to collectively form a decorative pattern 5. At the back side of the joint between elongated frame staves 3 and side stays 4, a recess 6 with two sides opposite each other between which is respectively installed a small bulb 8. Small bulbs 8 are connected with the circuit of PC board 2 through a power lead 7. In this way, upon energizing small bulbs 8, the light emitted travels through the two sides of each recess 6 forward alongside elongated frame staves 3 and side stays 4. At each 45° slant 9 of the 45° prism the emitted light is reflected so as to project out of the front side of frame body 1 (as FIG. 4 shows), thereby providing a crystal illumination of decorative pattern 5. On PC board 2 there is installed a photoresistance circuit (CDS) which turns the power source on at night and off at daytime automatically. 
     As FIG. 5 shows, the invention&#39;s application can also go to a photo clamper 10 which is transparent and put on desk for end of decoration use. In it, a plurality of integrant 45° prisms collectively forming a certain pattern 5 are created on the back side of it except for the area of photo mounting. Small bulbs 8 of PC board 2 may be installed at any suitable position inside the cross section thereof. In this way the same illumination effects are achieved. 
     The power source PC board 2 uses may come from a battery or by use of an assembly converting alternating-current power supply into direct-current source. 
     It is understandably noted that frame body 1 is not limited to any specific square, circular or other shape.