Patent Publication Number: US-2007113455-A1

Title: Automatic swappable image frame with DIY kit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a photo frame, and more particularly to an automatic swappable image frame which is capable of dynamically and sequentially displaying at least two images through a single image film in a sequential manner.  
      2. Description of Related Arts  
      A conventional photo frame typically comprises a supporter, and a frame body supported by the supporter to be erected on a predetermined surface, wherein the frame body has a through displaying opening formed at a central portion of the frame body, and an accessing slot elongated formed on the frame body to communicate with the through displaying opening. Therefore, a user is able to put a photo into the frame body via the elongated accessing slot, wherein the photo is then displayed to viewers through the through displaying opening.  
      There are several disadvantages for this kind of conventional photo frame. First, the above-mentioned displaying opening is only capable of displaying one particular image and if the user wishes to change the image displayed, he or she needs to take out the photo from the photo frame and replace it with another photo on which a different image is formed. As one may easily imagine, this problem is inherent in the conventional photo frame and nothing has been developed to cater for this inconvenience.  
      Second, the photo displayed by the conventional photo frame usually dull, lacks of dynamic feeling and excitement. The reason is that the image contained in the photo is inevitably a stationary image which by its very nature, cannot move to produce any dynamic effect. As a result, the user needs to change photos very frequently in order to keep afresh the feeling brought by the photo as displayed by the conventional photo frame.  
      Third, some conventional photo frames are equipped with locks or clips for retaining the photo within the photo frame in a predetermined position, and when the user needs to change the photo very frequently, there is a great deal of hassles when the user endeavors to unlock and relock the locks or clips on the conventional photo frame. At time goes by, the user may simply be frustrated in dealing with these hassles.  
      As a matter of fact, there exist electrically powered image swapping devices which are capable of swapping two or more images. Those devices however, are expensive, bulky in size and absolutely not suitable for domestic use. As a result, domestic users are left with facing with the above-mentioned problems when using conventional photo frames.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      A main object of the present invention is to provide an automatic swappable image frame which is capable of dynamically and sequentially displaying at least two images through a single image film in a controlled manner.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic swappable image frame comprising a light filter which is driven to swap one of the two images contained in the image film for allowing the swappable image frame to selectively display particular image in a sequential manner.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic swappable image frame which is electrically or manually powered to swap two images displayed by the image frame, so as to maximize the dynamic feeling of the images displayed by the image frame of the present invention.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic swappable image frame which is simple in structure, light in weight, compact in size. In the words, the present invention is specifically designed for use in domestic environment.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic swappable image frame which is accompanied with a tailor-made means for forming image channels on an image film so as to allow user to adopt a wide variety of images to be displayed by the present invention as he or she wishes.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of swapping at least two images through a swappable image frame which comprises a light filter, wherein the swappable method allow a user to produce and display swappable images with the automatic swappable image frame.  
      Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a swappable image frame for an image film having a plurality of image channels and at least two images overlappingly formed on the image film at the image channels in an interval manner, wherein the swappable image frame comprises:  
      a film housing having a receiving compartment for framing the image film, and a window communicating with the receiving compartment for allowing the images of the image film to be seen through the window; and  
      a light filter, which is mounted on the film housing at the window thereof, having a plurality of light transmitting channels and a light blocking channels at intervals of the light transmitting channels, wherein the light filter is adapted for selectively swapping the two images of the image film that when the light transmitting channels are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels of the first image while the light blocking channels are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels of the second image, only the first image of the image film is seen through the light filter, and when the light transmitting channels are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels of the second image while the light blocking channels are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels of the first image, only the second image of the image film is seen through the light filter.  
      These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a swappable image frame according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the swappable image frame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are sectional side views of the swappable image frame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  are schematic views of the swappable image frame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is an alternative mode of the swappable image frame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a method of swapping at least two images through a swappable image frame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  of the drawings, a swappable image frame according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the swappable image frame is for an image film  70  having a plurality of image channels  71  and at least two images overlappingly formed on the image film  70  at the image channels  71  in an interval manner. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the swappable image frame comprises a film housing  10 , and a light filter  20 .  
      The film housing  10  has a receiving compartment  11  for framing the image film  70 , and a window  12  communicating with the receiving compartment  11  for allowing the images of the image film  70  to be seen through the window  12 .  
      The light filter  20 , which is mounted on the film housing  10  at the window  12  thereof, has a plurality of light transmitting channels  21  and a light blocking channels  22  at intervals of the light transmitting channels  21 , wherein the light filter  20  is adapted for selectively swapping the two images of the image film  70  that when the light transmitting channels  21  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the first image while the light blocking channels  22  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the second image, only the first image of the image film  70  is seen through the light filter  20 , and when the light transmitting channels  21  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the second image while the light blocking channels  22  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the first image, only the second image of the image film  70  is seen through the light filter  20 .  
      According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light transmitting channels  21  and the light blocking channels  22  are horizontally formed on a front side of the light filter  20  in an interval manner for adjustably aligning with the image channels  71  horizontally formed on the image film  70 . In other words, the light transmitting channels  21  and the light blocking channels  22  are substantially aligned in a predetermined direction so that the light transmitting channels  21  and the light blocking channels  22  are adapted to be selectively adjusted for attenuating unwanted images while highlighting desired image to be displayed through the window  12  of the film housing  10 .  
      On the other hand, the light filter  20  is preferably made of transparent material with a ripple face, and has a plurality of concave surfaces  23  forming the light blocking channels  22  respectively, and a plurality of convex surfaces  24  forming the transmitting channels  21  respectively, wherein the convex surfaces  24  are adapted for highlighting the corresponding image channels  71  while the concave surfaces  23  are adapted for attenuating the corresponding image channels  71  so as to selectively display one of the images and hide another the image formed on the single image film  70 .  
      In other words, each of the convex surfaces  24  is adapted to magnify light impinging thereto so as to highlight the corresponding image channel  71  aligned therewith, whereas each of the concave surfaces  23  is adapted to diverge the light impinging thereto so as to attenuate the corresponding image channel  71  aligned therewith.  
      It is worth mentioning that the transmitting channels  21  and the light blocking channels  22  are alternatively formed with respect to each other so as to allow convenient swapping of the two images by slightly altering the relative position between the image film  70  and the light filter  20 , which are both supported by the film housing  10 .  
      The swappable image frame further comprises a swapping device  30  for automatically swapping the two images, wherein the swapping device  30  comprises a power source housing  31  supported by the film housing  10  for receiving a power source  32 , a motor  33  which is powered by the power source  32  and has a driving shaft  331  eccentrically extended to the receiving compartment  11  for movably coupling with the image film  70  such that when the motor  33  is activated, the driving shaft  331  is adapted for moving the image film  70  following an eccentric locus of the driving shaft  331  to selectively align the image channels  71  with the light transmitting channels  21  and the light blocking channels  22  so as to automatically swap the two images formed on the image film  70 .  
      It is then worth mentioning that the power source  32  is preferably embodied as a rechargeable battery or at least one disposable battery received in the power source housing  31  so as to provide sufficient power to selectively activate the motor  33 . Alternatively, the power source  32  may be embodied as a transformer which is extended to an external power source for connecting with regular AC power socket.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B ,  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  of the drawings, the image film  70  further has a through power slot  72  formed thereon for the driving shaft  331  of the motor  33  to be extended through the power slot  72  in such a manner that when the driving shaft  331  is driven to rotate eccentrically, the image film  70  is also driven to displace in a vertical direction so as to selectively yet sequentially aligning the image channels  71  with the light transmitting channels  21  for swapping between the images formed on the image film  70 .  
      According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the swapping device  30  further comprises a guiding unit  36  having a guiding slot  361  formed on the image film  70  and comprising an adjusting arm  38  rotatably mounted on the film housing  10  to couple with the guiding slot  361  for adjustably guiding an alignment of the image film  70  with respect to the light filter  20  for swapping between the two images. Consequently, a diameter of the of the adjusting arm  38  is substantially the same as a width of the guiding slot  361  so that the adjusting arm  38  is adapted to be fittedly inserted through the guiding slot  361  for guiding a displacement of the image film  70 .  
      Moreover, the swapping device  30  further comprises a complimentary guider  34  comprising a guiding pin  35  provided on a bottom edge portion of the film housing  10  in the receiving compartment  11  to couple with the corresponding top edge portion of the image film  70  so as to stabilize a swapping displacement thereof. More specifically, the image film  70  has a complementary guider slot  341  formed on the bottom edge portion of the image film  70  for the guiding pin  35  to be movably coupled therewith for guiding a vertical motion of the image film  70 .  
      In order to control the swapping displacement of the image film  70 , the swapping device  30  further comprises a control unit  37  received in the power source housing  31  for controlling an operation of the motor  33  so as to swap the two images in a controlled manner. The control unit  37  comprises a control circuit board  371  mounted in the power source housing  31  to electrically connect with the motor  33  and the power source  32 , and a control actuator  372  provided on the film housing  10  to electrically connect with the power source  32  for selectively switching the power source  32 . In other words, the user is able to selectively turn on or off the swapping operation by switching the control actuator  372 . For example, the control circuit board  371  is adapted to control a rotational speed of the motor  33  so as to control the frequency of the swapping of the images created on the image film  70 .  
      In order to ensure that the swappable image frame of the present invention is imparted with Do-it-yourself (DIY) feature, it further comprises means for forming the plurality of image channels  71  on the image film  70 , wherein the two images are overlappingly formed on the image channels  71  in an interval manner, as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. As such, the user is able to develop his or her own image film  70  by the above-mentioned image forming means.  
      More specifically, the image forming means comprises an image divider  41  adapted for dividing each of the images into a plurality of image rows as the image channels  71  respectively, and an image transformer  42  for transforming the image rows of the two images on the image film  70  in an interval manner so as to overlap the two images on the image film  70  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ).  
      It is worth mentioning that the image forming means may be formed by a specifically designed software for dividing each of the images into a plurality of image rows as the image channels  71  respectively, and transforming the image rows of the two images on the image film  70  in an interval manner so as to overlap the two images on the image film  70 . As a result, a user simply needs to install the software into his or her computer and then produce the image film  70  by himself or herself utilizing his or her own digital photos.  
      It is also worth mentioning that, as a slight alternative, the light transmitting channels  21 , the light blocking channels  22 , and the image channels  71  may be formed vertically with respect to the film housing  10  so that the light filter  20  is adapted to be driven to displace horizontally with respect to the film housing  10  for swapping the two images formed on the image film  70 .  
      Furthermore, the image frame of the present invention may be mounted onto a wall or supported on a flat surface for displaying the images created on the image film  70 . For the latter, the image frame may further comprise a frame supporter mounted at a rear side of the film housing  10  for supporting it standing on the flat surface.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, an alternative mode of the swappable image frame according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the image film  70 ′. According to the alternative mode, the image film  70 ′ comprises a first and a second film elements  73 ′ overlappedly supported within the film housing  10  for creating two images by image channels  71 ′ formed on the respective first and the second film elements  73 ′. As a result, the light filter  20  is adapted to be displaced in the above-mentioned fashion for swapping between the two images formed on the first and the second film elements  73 ′ respectively.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, a method of swapping at least two images through the swappable image frame which comprises the light filter  20  is illustrated. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of:  
      (a) overlapping the two images on the image film  70 , wherein the image film  70  has a plurality of image channels  71  that the two images are formed on the image channels  71  in an interval manner;  
      (b) overlapping the light filter  20  on the image film  70 , wherein the light filter  20  has the plurality of light transmitting channels  21  and a light blocking channels  22  at intervals of the light transmitting channels  21 ;  
      (c) swappably displaying the first image of the image film  70  only when the light transmitting channels  21  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the first image while the light blocking channels  22  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the second image; and  
      (d) swappably displaying the second image of the image film  70  only when the light transmitting channels  21  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the second image while the light blocking channels  22  are alignedly overlapped with respect to the image channels  71  of the first image.  
      Step (a) comprises the steps of:  
      (a.1) dividing each of the images into a plurality of image rows as the image channels  71  respectively; and  
      (a.2) transforming the image rows of the two images on the image film  70  in an interval manner so as to overlap the two images on the image film  70 , wherein the image rows are transformed on a single photo paper as the image film  70 .  
      Alternatively, in step (a.2), the image rows are transformed on at least two transparent films respectively and arranged in such a manner that when the two transparent films are overlapped to form the image film  70 , the image rows on the transparent films are located in an interval manner. In other words, the above-mentioned first and second film elements  73  are preferably embodied as two transparent films.  
      Moreover, the method further comprises a step of automatically swapping the two images for a predetermined time interval. Alternatively, the method comprises a step of manually moving the image film  70  to selectively swap the two images.  
      From the forgoing descriptions, it can be shown that the above objects have been substantially accomplished. The present invention successfully provides an automatic swappable image frame and a method thereof, wherein the swappable image frame is capable of dynamically and sequentially displaying at least two images through a single image film  70  in a controlled manner.  
      One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.  
      It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.