Patent Publication Number: US-2023134321-A1

Title: Picture frame with selective source illumination

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     When artwork is being shown, the intent is to show the artwork with the best light possible to enhance the viewing experience. Most artwork is illuminated from light that is present in the room (e.g., ambient light). Ambient light can come from a variety of sources, such as overhead fluorescent or incandescent lights. Often this type of lighting does not provide lighting that is consistent over time or that evenly illuminates the artwork without interference caused by, for example, shadows. Many galleries, displaying artwork for the consumers’ evaluation have dark walls and no windows to preclude daylight from diminishing the artistic presentation. 
     Paintings are often hung along with specific lighting fixtures intended to illuminate the painting so as to draw attention to the painting and ensure that the painting is displayed in proper lighting. Spot lighting is typically used to enhance the artwork, but often requires attaching a light near or on one a side of the frame. Dimmer controls are often provided to suit viewers’ preference. 
     However, the use of supplemental light sources is often cumbersome, bulky, and can distract from the artwork. For example, the appearance of the artwork can vary with frequencies of light to which it is exposed, which can be significantly different from those under which it was created or intended to be viewed by the artist. The artist is typically limited to the appearance of the artwork by external lighting over which there is little or no control by the artist. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a source that is convenient and reliable, while providing illumination that is sufficient and of the appropriate wavelength to properly light the artwork as it was intended to be viewed by the artist, particularly in a variety of color and behavioral schemes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to framing for artwork and, more particularly, to an illuminated frame backlit that includes a light source (e.g., LEDs (light-emitting diodes)) to enhance the appearance of the artwork. 
     In one embodiment, an illuminated frame to display an image includes a translucent surface having at least one edge, wherein the edge defines an enclosed area, and the translucent surface is visible to an observer of the enclosed area, wherein the entirety of the translucent surface and the enclosed area are within a line of sight of the observer that is normal to the enclosed area. Additionally, the illuminated surface includes a light source (e.g., a light source that includes a plurality of component color wavelengths), wherein the translucent surface partitions the light source from the enclosed area, and whereby the enclosed area is illuminated by light that passes from the light source through the translucent surface. 
     This invention has many advantages. For example, artwork can be illuminated under the strict control of the artist who can, by virtue of the invention, complement the artwork with a light source that can be a component of the work such as by varying in component color wavelengths, thereby also enhancing the appearance of the work. For example, lights of different colors at various parts of the illuminated frame can show patterns and/or cast different colors onto the artwork. The illuminated frame can also include flashing lights and changes in color that can change the appearance of the artwork within the frame. In other embodiments, the illuminated frame of the invention can be tuned in a manner that adheres most closely to the original artistic intention or by complementing the artwork with an appearance of the frame that enhances the overall visual appeal. The illuminated frame can, alternatively, enhance and/or restore the appearance of artwork to that originally intended compared to external lighting (e.g., overhead lighting), and can be used to display artwork in ambient environment that is poorly lit or lacks lighting altogether (e.g., outdoors, at night). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments. 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of one embodiment of an illuminated frame configured to display an image showing a power source and a translucent surface having at least one edge, wherein the edge defines an enclosed area and the translucent surface is visible to an observer of the enclosed area, and wherein dotted and dashed lines represent different colors on two dimensional surface bordered by the edge. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the embodiment of an illuminated frame of the invention of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-section, shown in perspective, of the illuminated frame of  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
         FIG.  4 A  is a cross-sectional view of the illuminated frame of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  4 B  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view, in perspective of a back portion of the illuminated frame of  FIG.  1   -4B. 
         FIG.  6 A  is a front view of another embodiment of an illuminated frame of the invention, wherein the frame is in the shape of an octagon, and displaying an artwork bordered by a translucent surface having at least one edge, wherein the edge defines an enclosed area and the translucent surface is visible to an observer of the enclosed area. 
         FIG.  6 B  is a front view of the embodiment of the illuminated frame of  FIG.  6 A ,, wherein the appearance of the artwork is modified by limiting the wavelength of light from the translucent surface to only one of the component wavelengths of emitted from the translucent surface to create the image that appears in  FIG.  6 A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The features and other details of the invention, either as steps of the invention or as combinations of parts of an invention, will now be more particularly described and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as to limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. It will also be understood that the same number appearing in different drawings represents the same item. 
     The invention generally is directed to an illuminated frame to display an image comprising translucent surface (e.g., conical translucent surface, glass translucent surface, plastic translucent surface) and light source. The illuminated frame is useful in enhancing presentation of artwork and providing artwork lighting without attaching external lighting. 
     A description of example embodiments follows. 
     One embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG.  1   . As shown therein, a front view of an illuminated frame  10  to display an image  12  includes translucent surface  14  having at least one edge  16 , wherein edge  16  defines enclosed area  18 , and wherein image  12  and translucent surface  14  are visible to an observer of enclosed area  18 , and image  12  is within a line of sight of the observer that is normal to the plane of enclosed area  18 . Image  12  can be two dimensional and coplanar with or parallel to a plane defined by edge  16 . In other embodiments, image  12  is not two-dimensional. Image  12  can include a plurality of colors, as represented in FIG. by dashed lines, indicating blue, and solid lines, indicating red. Edge  16  of the translucent surface  14  defines the shape of enclosed area  18 . In the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , enclosed area is a square. It is to be understood, however, that enclosed area  18  can have other shapes, such as any polygon having at least three edges or sides, wherein translucent surface includes at least three planar components, or can be a circle, an oval, or any other shape. In one embodiment, illuminated frame  10  includes power source  20  that provides power to illuminate translucent surface  14  and, therefore, image  12 . Alternatively, power necessary to illuminate translucent surface  14  and image  12  can be provided from an external source, not shown. Power source  20  can be, for example, a battery, a storage capacitor, or a solar cell). In one embodiment, solar cells can be employed to charge internal batteries when there is sufficient ambient lighting and supplemental frame lighting is not required. 
       FIG.  2    is a perspective view of illuminated frame  10  of  FIG.  1   , showing that illuminated frame  10  has a beveled appearance, wherein translucent surface  14  is at a positive angle relative to a plane defined by enclosed area  18 . In various embodiments, the positive angle can be in a range of between about  30  and about 90 degrees. Also, while, as shown in  FIG.  2   , translucent surface  14  includes component planar surfaces  22  that meet at corners to thereby define enclosed area  18  at edges  16 , it is to be understood that translucent surface  14   need not be planar, such as when enclosed area  18  has a curved perimeter. The positive angle of translucent surface  14  to enclosed area  18  ensures that image  12  is illuminated by light transmitted to translucent surface  14 , and that translucent surface  14  is visible to an observer viewing image  12  at angle normal to the planed defined by edges  16 . As a consequence of the angle of translucent surface14 to the plane defined by enclosed area  18 , illuminated frame has a depth D at perimeter  24 . The depth D of illuminated frame  10  at perimeter  24  can be, for example, in a range of between about 2 and about 5. 
       FIG.  3    is cross-section, shown in perspective, of illuminated frame  10  of  FIGS.  1  and  2   . As shown in  FIG.  3   , illuminated frame  10  includes translucent surface  14  defined, at least in part, by translucent border panels  26 . Translucent border panels  26  are formed of a suitable material, such as glass, plastic, or acrylite. While translucent surface  14  is generally angled relative to a plane defined by edge  16 , in one embodiment, translucent surface  14 , includes translucent border piece  28 , such as is shown in  FIG.  3   , which defines edge  16 , wherein border piece  28  is not angled relative to the plane defined edge  16 . In either case, the angle of translucent border panels  26  to the plane defined by edge  16  is represented in  FIG.  3    by a. Border piece  28  can, optionally, be translucent, transparent, or opaque. Translucent border panels  26  and border pieces together constitute border panel assembly  29 . Border piece  28  can, but need not be, of the same material of construction as that of translucent border panels  26 . 
     Translucent border pieces  28  are supported by back panel  30  and side panels  32 , as shown in  FIG.  3   . Back panel  30  is parallel to or coplanar with the plane defined by enclosed area  18 . Back panel  30  and side panels are joined, by means known to those skilled in the art, such as glue and screws. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3   , back panel  30  and side panels  32  are joined at a right angle, although they can be joined at other angles. Materials of construction of back panel and side panel  32  are such as are known to be suitable to those skilled in the art and can include, for example, metal, such as steel, or wood. 
     Light source  34  is secured to at least one of back panel  30  and side panel  32  by means known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, light source  34  is secured to back panel  30  at the juncture of back panel  30  and side panels  32 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3   , light source is a strip of light that extends along at least a portion of the length of each side panel  32 . Optionally, the strip of light can extend about a periphery of enclosed area  18 . Light source  34  can either be filtered by appropriate means, not shown, to cause light emitted to be limited to specific color frequencies or, alternatively, light source  34  can be a composite of a plurality of colors that are selectively amplified or muted to change the apparent color emitted by light source  34 . In a particular embodiment, shown in  FIG.  3   , light source  34  is an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)  36  (e.g., an array of red, green, and blue LED diodes). Other forms of suitable light source  34  include, for example, florescent, incandescent, or other light generating sources. In still other embodiments, light source  34  can include fiber optics, or light pipes. 
     Translucent surface  14  partitions light source  34  from enclosed area  18 , whereby image  12  at enclosed area  18  is illuminated by light that passes from light source  34  through translucent surface  14 . Light source  34  can be controlled by means known to those skilled in the art to cause selective distribution and temporal display of brightness and frequency of light from light source  34  to illuminate image  12 . Illuminated frame  10  of the invention can also include a controller (not shown) (e.g., a microcontroller, remote controller, controlled by motion detection, controlled by a software program). 
     In one embodiment, not shown, illuminated frame  10  can include mirrors around the inside perimeter of side panels  32  of illuminated frame  10  to thereby cause light from light source  34  to be reflected back toward transparent border panels  26  for transmission to image  12 . Light source  34  can be controlled by suitable means know in the art to thereby emit different color frequencies in a spatial or temporal distribution, or both, to thereby changed the appearance of image  12 , depending on the colors making up image  12 . Further, light source  34  can be linked to a microphone or sound sensor (not shown), to thereby control at least one of the distribution, timing, and frequency of light emitted. In one alternative embodiment, image  12  does not lie in a plane that is coplanar or parallel to a plane defined by edge  15 . This may be the case if either edge  16  defined by translucent surface is not planar, or if image is three-dimensional. If image  12  is three-dimensional, light source  34  can be controlled to selectively cast shadows on image  12 . 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are cross-sectional, and partially exploded cross-sectional view, respectively, of illuminated frame  10  of  FIGS.  1  through  3   . As can be seen in  FIG.  4 A , light source  34  includes LEDs  36  arrayed along two surfaces of support. It is to be understood that different arrangements of LEDs can be employed in alternative embodiments of the invention. As can be seen in  FIG.  4 B , in one embodiment, border pieces  28  of border panel assembly  29  and back panel  30  can be separated as first unit  40  from translucent border panel  26 , side panels  32 , support  38 , and LEDs  36 , as second unit  42 . Pins  44  link first unit  40  to second unit  42  at support  38 . 
       FIG.  5    is an exploded view, in perspective, of a back portion of illuminated frame  10  of the invention, shown, in  FIG.  1    through 4B. As can be seen in  FIG.  5   , back panel  30  is secured to side panels  32  by a suitable attachment mechanism, such as is known in the art. In the case of the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , the attachment mechanism are screws  46 . Exemplary alternative attachment mechanisms include use of nuts and bolts, rivets, sewing or chemical fastening (e.g. adhesives). 
       FIG.  6 A  is an example of another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, illuminated frame  50  includes image  52 , translucent surfaces  54  having edge  56  defining enclosed area  58 , all as described above, except that illuminated frame is shaped as an octagon. As shown therein, image  52  includes a plurality of colors, the different colors being indicated by the presence of dashed lines, representing one color, and solid lines, representing a different color. Under white light all of the colors can be seen.  FIG.  6 B  is a representation of illuminated frame  50 , wherein only select colors are transmitted through translucent surfaces  54 , whereby only a portion of the colors of image  52  are visible. 
     Equivalents 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.