Patent Publication Number: US-2005117330-A1

Title: Light illuminated photo frame

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to light illuminated photo frames, and more particularly to a light illuminated photo frame casting light uniformly on a photo enclosed in the frame.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
      Valuable photos are often disposed in a photo frame for display. Since the framed photos are usually displayed in places people commonly visit, they also serve as a decorating object. The conventional photo frames are decorated with various patterns around the margins thereof. Recently, photo frames with light illuminating device for casting light on the attached photos are available, which significantly improves the beautifying effect of a photo frame.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a conventional light illuminated photo frame comprises a planar main body, a light emitting component, a front cover and a supporting means. The main body is provided a depressed region for holding a photo and a through hole for attaching a light emitting component that casts light on the photo to achieve an illuminating effect. However, since the light emitting component directly casts light on the photo, a distance between the component and the photo is required so that the photo can be uniformly illuminated, which requires a deeper depressed region and thus thicker photo frame. It is then a disadvantage that the photo frame is thick and heavy and not easy to carry about.  
      Accordingly, the present invention mainly provides a light illuminated photo frame in which light is uniformly cast on a selective area in a frame body, so that the photo disposed within the photo frame is illuminated in a more beautiful way.  
      A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a light illuminated photo frame that has a simple structure and therefore a lower production cost. Further, the photo frame is easy to assemble.  
      The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a light illuminated photo frame of the prior art.  
       FIG. 5  is a lateral cross-sectional view of a light illuminated photo frame of the prior art shown in  FIG. 4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      As shown in the attached figures, the present invention as a light illuminated photo frame comprises a frame body  1 , a light emitting device  2 , an ornamental frame  3  and a loop cover  4 . The frame body  1  is basically a planar plate with four edges each provided with a flange  12 , therefore forming a depressed region  13 . The rear side of the frame body  1  is further provided with a foldable supporting leg means  14  for erecting the frame body provided with a plurality of fixing tongues.  
      The light emitting device  2  includes a light reflection board  21  covered with a light scattering film  23  and a fluorescent tube  22 . The light reflection board  21  fits in with the depressed region  13  of the frame body  1 , which is a transparent panel 3-5 mm thick and is made of acrylic or glass. The rear side of the light reflection board  21  is uniformly distributed with a plurality of light reflecting dots  21 A. The fluorescent tube  22  is disposed on a lateral side  21 B of the light reflection board  21  and illuminates throughout the light reflection board. The light scattering film  23  covers a front side of the light reflection board  21 , which is a film with a roughened surface.  
      The ornamental frame  3  has a rectangular central opening  31  and a frame face provided with a selected pattern for decoration. The central opening  31  can be coupled with the frame body  1 . The geometry of the ornamental frame  3  can be shapes other than a rectangle.  
      The loop cover  4  basically forms a rectangular loop, having a plurality of fixing tongues  41  arranged around the loop cover  4  on its rear side. The fixing tongues  41  can be embedded into the inner rim of the flanges  12  around the frame body  1  as the loop cover  4  is attached onto the frame body  1 .  
      To assemble the present invention, the light emitting device  2  is firstly disposed in the depressed region  13  of the frame body  1 . The frame body  1  is then attached onto the central opening  31  of the ornamental frame  3 , by which the fixing tongues  41  are embedded into the inner rim of the flanges  12  around the frame body  1  and the frame body  1 , the ornamental frame  3 , the light emitting device  2 , the photo and the loop cover  4  are connected together. Referring to  FIG. 3 , to mount a photo  9 , The eaves board  42  around the inner rim of the loop cover  4  fixes the four edges of the photo  9 , so that the photo  9  is flatly attached on the front surface of the light emitting device  2 .  
      To use the present invention, the supporting leg means  14  is unfolded so that the frame body  1  can be supported from behind to erect. As the light emitting device  2  is switched on, the fluorescent tube  22  illuminates both the front and the rear sides of the light reflection board  21 . The light reflecting dots  21 A on the rear side of the light reflection board  21  and the light scattering film  23  scatter light to form a softly and uniformly illuminated region behind the attached photo. The photo is thus brightened and forms a beautiful image against the background.  
      Furthermore, the present invention is advantageous in easy assembling and maintaining. Compared with light illuminated photo frames of the prior art, the production cost of the present invention is largely reduced. It is a further advantage that the present invention has a smaller size and is therefore easy to transport.  
      The present invention is thus described, and it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.