Abstract:
A picture frame for displaying a picture and shadowbox articles includes a preformed mat system having a frontal two-ply photomat with two bordered openings. One opening is covered with a desired picture and the other opening is aligned with a backing assembly carrying a shadowbox for displaying an associated solid object. The components may be packaged in kit form for use by individuals without special tools or prior framing experience.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to matted picture frames and, in particular, to a mat system for picture frames for displaying planar and solid renderings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Matted picture frames for displaying pictures on two dimensional lamina such as photographs, paintings and other scenes are widely available in differing frame materials and mat finishes. The completed frames may be fashioned by professions or assembled without undue effort by individuals. The picture frame mounting of three dimensional objects poses a greater difficulty and generally requires a custom made shadowbox providing a projecting or recessed container that is specially adapted for mounting on a selected picture frame. Previous attempts at mixed media presentations of pictures and solid objects has required professional assistance to properly integrate the desired display content into a picture frame of choice. Such an approach is limitedly available, time consuming, and costly. 
     To provide greater choices to consumers, various systems have been proposed for using preformed materials for planar and solid objects. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,579 to Krueger, a preformed matting and picture frame is disclosed for displaying pictures. The construction is based on plastic laminates and framing elements, thereby excluding traditional frames and matting components preferred by consumers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,223 to Visagie discloses a one-piece plastic molded shadowbox for incorporation into a selected mounting frame. The shadowbox does not accommodate conventional matting aprroaches or cojoint presentation of pictures. 
     A further preformed shadowbox is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,400 to MacPherson et al. discloses plural molded components that may be interfitted to capture an article for display in a prescribed format. 
     Accordingly, a need persists for a flexible framing and matting system allowing conventional selections of frames and mats to be utilized for the joint display of pictures and associated articles in a system that may be readily accomplished by professionals and lay personnel without the need for extensive dedicated, costly and aesthetically limiting components, and without requiring special skills or equipment for assembly. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a matting system for use with conventional picture frames for cojointly displaying selected pictures and associated objects using widely accepted materials and designs. The invention may be provided in kit form for direct use by individuals without prior knowledge of mat cutting, picture framing or shadowbox making. The matting system comprises a two-piece mat assembly of conventional photomat materials having preformed openings to establish a picture field and a shadowbox field. A desired picture such as a photograph or painting may be attached to the mat assembly for presentation in the picture field. The mat system includes a backing assembly carrying a shadow box, either as an integrated component or a separate piece, that is aligned with the shadowbox field and may be used for displaying memorabilia associated with the picture. The resulting assembled lamina may be mounted in the existing rear rabbet on the picture frame and connected with appropriate fasteners. The system may be used in conjunction with a transparent front panel for displaying the artistic association using consumer selected materials and frames associated with quality picture framing. The mat system can be incorporated in kit form, allowing individuals without prior framing and matting experience to design a custom presentation without professional assistance. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mat system for picture frames for cojointly presenting pictures and solid articles. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a kit for use by non-professional having components of conventional material enabling assembly of a picture and shadow box display without prior experience. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a mat system for conventional picture frames having a conventional matted display of pictures and three dimensional objects. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a picture frame assembly including a mat system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the frame molding; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a kit for the mat system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment and not for limiting same, FIG. 1 illustrates a picture frame assembly  10  including a mat system  12  for displaying in an upper picture field  14  a two dimensional picture  16  and for displaying in a lower shadowbox field  18  a three dimensional solid object  20 . The picture frame assembly  10  is provided with a rear mounting assembly, not shown for mounting on a vertical surface. 
     The picture frame assembly  10  comprises a peripheral frame  30  having moldings  31  conventionally interconnected at miter joints  32 . The moldings  31  have outer surfaces  34  defining a rectangular outer profile and inner surfaces  36  defining a rectangular frontal opening for frontally displaying the mat system  12 . The picture frame assembly  10  may be selected from existing frames or conventionally constructed from framing elements widely commercially available in a wide variety of materials, cross sectional details and decorative finishes. Each molding  31 , as shown additionally in FIG. 2 is defined in cross section by a body  40  defined by the outer surface  34 , the inner surface  36 , a decoratively profiled front surface  42  and a rear surface  44  including a recessed rabbet  46  for reception, mounting and securing of the mat system  12 . The rabbet  46  is defined by an outer surface  50  spaced outwardly of the inner surface  34  and normal to the rear surface  44  and having a depth “D”, and a mounting surface  52  parallel to the rear surface  44  and having a width “W”. In conventional fashion, the rabbet  46  has sufficient depth for retaining the overall thickness of the mat system, a width sufficient for nesting and vertically and horizontally aligning the mat system, and sufficient access for allowing capture of the mat system  12  by conventional fasteners, not shown. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the mat system  12  comprises a front mat assembly  60  and a rear backing assembly  62  carrying a shadowbox  64 . The frontal mat assembly  60  includes a frontal transparent pane  70 , a front mat  72 , and a secondary mat  74 . Depending on consumer preference, the pane  70  and the secondary mat  74  are optionally provided. The mats  72 ,  74  are formed of conventional commercially available photomat materials generally having a decorative front finish and a cross section that may be cut, bevelled or otherwise shaped to define the outer peripheral configuration and the opening for the fields  14  and  18 . Referring additionally to FIG. 4, the front mat  72  has a portrait opening  78  defined by inner surface  80  and registering with the portrait field  14 , and a shadowbox opening  90  defined by beveled surface  91  registering with the shadowbox field  18 . The secondary mat  74  has an portrait opening  84  defined by an inner surface  86  registering with the portrait field  14  and proportionately smaller and concentric with the inner surface of the front mat  72  to define a decorative three dimensional border  87  around the picture field  14 . The secondary mat  74  has a shadowbox opening  94  defined by an beveled inner surface  96  registering with the shadowbox field  18  and proportionately smaller and concentric with the inner surface of the front mat  72  to define a decorative three dimensional border  98  around the shadowbox field. In assembly as shown in FIG. 5, the mat assembly  30  will have an overall thickness less than the depth of the rabbet  46  to enable, in combination with the thickness of the rear backing assembly  62 , secure mounting in the frame  30 . 
     The shadowbox  64  comprises a frontally opening rectangular receptacle  100  frontally terminating with an outwardly turned peripheral flange  102 . The shadowbox  64  may be fabricated as a single piece or in multiple components from suitable rigid or semi-rigid materials. A one-piece plastic molding if preferred. The flange  102  is relatively thin to permit positioning between the front assembly and the backing assembly without noticeable contouring therearound. A thickness of around 0.100 inch or less is preferred. The receptacle  100  has a rear wall  104  spaced from the flange  102  by about the thickness of the rear backing assembly  62  so as not to project beyond the rear surface in mounted position. However, as explained in greater detail below, the receptacle may be incorporated into the front layer of the backing assembly or project beyond the rear surface to accommodate mounting in various framing materials. The receptacle  100  includes peripheral side walls  106  outwardly defining a generally rectangular cross section for receipt in the backing assembly as described below. The inwardly facing surfaces of the rear wall and side walls define a mounting cavity for reception and display of three dimensional objects  20  in the shadowbox field  18 . The side walls are complementary in shape to the openings in the front mat  72  and secondary mat  74  whereby the flange  102  is masked by or limitedly visible. 
     The rear backing assembly  62  comprises a front spacer  110  and a rear spacer  112  and backing plate  114 , each having a outer rectangular shape for telescopic nesting in the rabbet. The front spacer  110  preferably constitutes a minor portion of the thickness of the backing assembly. The front spacer  110  is provided with a rectangular opening  116  for slidingly accommodating the receptacle and registering with the openings in the front mat  72  and secondary mat  74 . The front spacer may be formed of cardboard or similar material. The rear spacer  112  has a rectangular opening  118  for slidingly accommodating the receptacle  100  and registering with the openings  90  and  108 . The rear spacer  112  constitutes the major thickness of the backing assembly  62 . The rear spacer  112  may be formed of a light weight material such a expanded polystyrene. In final assembly, the rear spacer is covered by the backing plate  114 . 
     In assembly, the planar rendering in the form of a photograph, painting, commemoration or like visual content presentation is carried on a thin planar carrier sheet appropriate therefor. The planar rendering may have a varying size larger than the openings in the mat assembly for proper visual and artistic presentation. The planar rendering may be sandwiched between the mat assembly  60  and the backing assembly  62 . Preferably, the planar rendering is adhesively tacked to the rear surface of the secondary mat  74 . 
     The solid rendering housed in the shadowbox  64  may be any solid object  20  receivable in the cavity and is preferably an article have an artistic, symbolic or other memorabilia association with the planar rendering. Examples might include an infant picture and a baby spoon, a wedding photograph and a bridal garter, a graduation picture and a tassel or any other association the purchaser desires to establish. Such objects may also be supplemented with other decorative material. The contents in the cavity of the shadowbox may be mechanically or adhesively supported in position or loosely received therewithin. 
     For assembly, after having selected the desired materials for the frame and mat system, the mat system is assembled by taping the planar rendering  16  to the rear surface of the secondary mat  74  in desired alignment within the opening. The object  20  is glued in desired location in the cavity  108  of the shadowbox  64 . The various laminae of the mat system are then serially assembled beginning with the backing plate  114  and concluding with the front mat  72 . The frame  30  is positioned with the rear surface facing upwardly and the rabbet  46  exposed. If a glass or translucent front pane  70  is desired, the same is positioned in the rabbet as the frontal lamina. The mat system  12  is then inverted and telescoped within the rabbet  46 , the components mechanically secured by conventional push-in fasteners, and an optional dust cover installed along with any required suspension systems. In presentation, the frame assembly will be substantially flush with the mounting surface with the portrait field and the shadowbox field displaying their associated rendering in the desired context. 
     The system described above is particularly suited for frames having a rabbet with a depth or around 1 inch or greater. This accommodates twin layers of conventional photomat, 0.125 or less layer for the front spacer and backing and a 0.625 for the rear spacer. In frames where a lesser rabbet depth is available, the backing plate  114  may be deleted and the rear spacer  112  removed after subassembly. Accordingly, the base wall of the shadowbox may project beyond the rear surface of the frame and engage the mounting surface. Such orientation and loading generally will not impose any undue constraints on the presentation, contents or mounting. The shadowbox  64  may also be integrated with the front spacer to form a single unit. 
     From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the prospective purchaser, starting with readily available materials in kit form, may personally or with third party services, select mat surfaces, framing materials, viewing field shapes and orientations, and renderings personalize a framed presentation. As shown in FIG. 6, the components including a the front mat  72 , the secondary mat  74 , the shadowbox  64 , the front spacer  110 , the rear spacer  112  and the backing plate  114  may be packaged in unitized form in a container  130 , such as a packing carton or shrink wrapping. Accessory components such as fasteners, picture wire, and hooks may be included along with enabling instructions. Preferably, the kits would be available in popular framing sizes with circular, rectangular, oval, and similar openings for the desired integration of the two-dimensional and three dimensional fields. 
     Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.