Patent Publication Number: US-6668477-B1

Title: Picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a 3-D picture framing and more particularly pertains to a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects for providing three dimensional visual effects to pictures. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of 3-D picture framing is known in the prior art. More specifically, 3-D picture framing heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,357; U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,914; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 378,785; U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,796; U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,839; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,402. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects. The inventive device includes a base stand including a base portion and upright end portions having ends which are disposed parallel to the base portion; and further includes a box member having side walls, a back wall, a front wall having an opening therethrough with the box member being pivotally attached to the base stand; and further includes mirrors being mounted upon the side, bottom and top walls in the box member; and also includes a light-emitting assembly being attached to the box member for illuminating inside the box member; and further includes a window securely disposed in the opening in the front wall; and also includes a picture stand which includes a base member having slots therein and which is securely mounted upon the bottom wall of the box member; and further includes a picture which is removably supported in the slots in the base member and having its front side facing the window and being visible through the window. 
     In these respects, the picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing three dimensional visual effects to pictures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 3-D picture framing now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing three dimensional visual effects to pictures. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which has many of the advantages of the 3-D picture framing mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art 3-D picture framing, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a base stand including a base portion and upright end portions having ends which are disposed parallel to the base portion; and further includes a box member having side walls, a back wall, a front wall having an opening therethrough with the box member being pivotally mounted to the base stand; and further includes mirrors being mounted upon the side, bottom and top walls in the box member; and also includes a light-emitting assembly being attached to the box member for illuminating inside the box member; and further includes a window securely disposed in the opening in the front wall; and also includes a picture stand which includes a base member having slots therein and which is securely mounted upon the bottom wall of the box member; and further includes a picture which is removably supported in the slots in the base member and having its front side facing the window and being visible through the window. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which has many of the advantages of the 3-D picture framing mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art 3-D picture framing, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects for providing three dimensional visual effects to pictures. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects which includes a base stand including a base portion and upright end portions having ends which are disposed parallel to the base portion; and further includes a box member having side walls, a back wall a front wall having an opening therethrough with the box member being pivotally mounted to the base stand; and further includes mirrors being mounted upon the side, bottom and top walls in the box member; and also includes a light-emitting assembly being attached to the box member for illuminating inside the box member; and further includes a window securely disposed in the opening in the front wall; and also includes a picture stand which includes a base member having slots therein and which is securely mounted upon the bottom wall of the box member; and further includes a picture which is removably supported in the slots in the base member and having its front side facing the window and being visible through the window. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects that adds life to one dimensional pictures or postcards. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects that enhances the visual effects of cherished pictures. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed side elevational view of the picture stand of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the picture frame providing three dimensional visual effects  10  generally comprises a support stand  27  having a base portion  28  and a pair of upright end portions  29  extending upwardly from ends of the base portion  28  and having ends  30  which are disposed parallel to the base portion  28 . A box member  11  has side walls  15 , a top wall, a bottom wall  14 , a back wall  12 , and a front wall  13  with the side walls  15  of the box member  11  being pivotally and conventionally mounted to the ends  30  of the upright end portions  29  of the support stand  27 . Each of the front  13  and back  14  walls has an opening  16 , therethrough. The box member  11  has a length of approximately 9 inches and a width of approximately 7 inches and a depth of approximately 4 inches. The box member  11  also includes longitudinal slots  32 , 33  being conventionally disposed in the side walls  15  in the box member  11  with the longitudinal slots  32 , 33  extending from the bottom wall  14  to the top wall. Mirrors  31  are securely and conventionally attached to the side, bottom and top walls  14 , 15  in the box member  11 . A light-emitting assembly is conventionally attached to the box member  11  for illuminating inside the box member  11 . The light-emitting assembly includes a light-emitting member  17  being conventionally disposed upon the top wall in the box member  11 , and also includes an on/off switch  18  being conventionally mounted upon a top of the top wall of the box member  11 , and further includes a power cord  19  being conventionally connected to the light-emitting member  17  and the on/off switch  18 . A window member  20  is securely and conventionally disposed at the opening  16  in the front wall  13 . A picture stand  21  is securely and conventionally mounted upon the bottom wall  14  inside the box member  11 . The picture stand  21  includes a base member  22  having a raised central portion  23 . The central portion  23  includes a pair of slots  24 , 25  spaced apart and disposed therein with the slots  24 , 25  being vertically disposed and extending through a top of the central portion  23 . Each of the slots  24 , 25  is adapted to receive a bottom portion of the picture  26 . The base member  22  is spaced approximately 1½ inches from the window  20  for effecting 3-D visual images. A picture  26  having a depth is removably mounted upon the picture stand  21 . The picture  26  is adapted to be removably mounted in the slots  24 , 25  and to be vertically disposed inside the box member  11  with a front of the picture  26  facing the window  20  and being visible through the window  20 . The picture  26  has a depth of approximately 1½ inches. 
     In use, the user places either a picture  26  or a postcard in the slots  24 , 25  inside the box member  11 . By viewing the picture  26  or postcard through the window  20 , the user will be able to see a three dimensional image of the picture  26  or postcard with the picture  26  being illuminated with the light-emitting member. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.