P/00/0 12 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "FRAME AND FRAME WITH STAND" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 TITLE FRAME AND FRAME WITH STAND FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to a frame and frame with stand for displaying material such as a photo, a mirror and/or other artwork or object. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a frame with a channel for insertion of a stand. 10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Often frames are used to display material such as photos and other artwork such as, paintings. Framing such material and the choice of frame is an important aspect of display and can add a great deal to the presentation and a viewer's experience when viewing the artwork. Various types of frames 15 are used. One type of frame has a flap-type stand fixed to the frame back which folds out to form a stand to support the frame. These flap-type stands are cumbersome, often fold back inwardly when not intended to do so and may become disconnected from the frame. 20 Another type of frame has a thin wire S-shaped stand that fits into a small hole in a fitting secured to the back of the frame. This stand is difficult to fit to the fitting and may easily be lost. One other type of frame has a C-shaped stand which fits around the back of the frame and clamps to the top and bottom of the frame.
2 A simple frame and stand combination is to drill a hole in the bottom of the frame and to insert a piece of dowel into the hole to form the stand. The hole in the frame is unsightly. An alternative to these frame and stand combinations is to have the 5 frame and stand made in an integral unit having an "L-shape" where the foot of the "L" forms the stand. There remains a need for other frame types. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 10 It is an object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. Further objects will be evident from the following description. 15 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventor has discovered a novel and innovative frame for displaying material. In one form, although it need not be the only, or indeed the broadest form, the invention resides in a frame for displaying artwork and/or a mirror, 20 the frame comprising one or more channels into which a stand may be inserted for supporting the frame in a position for displaying the artwork. The frame may also comprise a frame outer for receiving a mount, the mount comprising the one or more channels. In another form the invention resides in a method of constructing a 3 frame for displaying artwork, the method including the step of providing one or more channels in the frame such that a stand may be inserted into one of the one or more channels to support the frame in a position for displaying the artwork. 5 The channel may be inserted in a mount and the mount may be inserted into a frame outer. In yet another form the invention resides in a kit comprising a frame for displaying artwork, the frame comprising one or more channels into which a stand may be inserted for supporting the frame in a position for displaying 10 the artwork and a stand. The kit may also comprise a box. The stand may be L-shaped. The channel may extend only a part of the frame's length. The mount may have a fabric backing. 15 The frame may have a lace, painted lace and/or gilded border. Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the invention into practical effect preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts and wherein: 4 FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a frame and stand according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame stored in a box; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the frame of 5 the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The inventor has provided a novel and innovative frame for displaying a mirror, artwork such as, a photo or a painting, or other object. The frame of 10 the invention comprises one or more channels into which a stand may be removably inserted. The stand is easy to fit and supports the frame such that it displays the artwork so that it may be viewed in a visually pleasing manner. The invention will be described with reference to displaying a photo, however it is understood that any suitable type of material such as, a mirror, 15 a painting, a collage, a quote or any other artwork or object may be displayed in the frame of the invention. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of frame 100 of the present invention comprising a mount 102 which is inserted into frame outer 104. Mount 102 comprises a channel 106 into which a stand 108 may be inserted. Once 20 stand 108 is inserted into channel 106, stand 108 can support frame 100 at an upright angle suitable for display of a photo that may be placed inside frame 100. Mount 102 comprises a single channel 106 comprising an opening 110 at the middle of one of the sides of mount 102. Channel 106 traverses 5 part of the length of mount 102. In other embodiments mount 102 has two channels 106. Both channels 106 may be located on the same side of mount 102 or they may be located on different sides of mount 102. 5 When both of the two channels 106 are located on the same side of mount 102, frame 100 is suitable for displaying large or long photos. When the two channels 106 are located on different sides of mount 102, frame 100 may display a photo in portrait or landscape by insertion of stand 108 into the appropriate channel 106. The different sides may be 10 adjacent sides. In other embodiments there may be one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten channels. Preferably there are one or two channels. Mount 102 comprises a tag 116 protruding from channel 106 to aid removal of mount 102 from frame outer 104 and also serves as a guide to 15 indicate the location of opening 110. Mount 102 may be decorated with one or more decoration. The decoration may be a fabric, a paper, paint or another suitable coating. Preferably, the decoration is a fabric. Frame outer 104 has a rebate for receiving mount 102. Each side of 20 frame outer 104 is constructed from 450 mitre cuts assembled together with glue. In other embodiments the sides of frame outer 104 are assembled together with other types of joiners such as, screws, nails or clamps. Frame 104 also includes a transparent screen 114 which is received in rebate 112 for protecting the photo displayed. Screen 114 is held in place 6 with a fixative such as, a glue. Screen 114 is glass, however in other embodiments screen 114 is a transparent acrylic or a mirror. Frame rebate 112 has dimensions of approximately 15 cm x 10 cm. A person of skill in the art may choose other dimensions suitable for displaying 5 a desired artwork. Mount 102 is made of mountboard card. In other embodiments mount 102 is made of a suitable material such as, a plastic, a metal or a ceramic. Frame outer 104 is made of wood. In other embodiments frame outer 104 is made of another suitable material such as, a plastic, a metal or a 10 ceramic. Stand 108 may be inserted and removed from channel 106. Stand 108 is "L-shaped" with an angle of about 70* between the top of the "L" and the base of the "L". An angle of 70* allows an attractive viewing angle. In other embodiments the angle is between 90* and 300. Preferably 15 the angle is between 80* and 600. The top of the "L" has length of 4 cm and the base of the "L" has a length of 5 cm. Both parts have a width of 1 cm. A person of skill in the art may choose alternative lengths and widths. The top of the "L" is inserted into channel 106. 20 Stand 108 is made of one integral unit. In other embodiments stand 108 is made of flat inter-fitting pieces which fit into an angled joint to form an "L-shape". Stand 108 is made of aluminium. In other embodiments stand 108 is made of another suitable material such as, a plastic, a ceramic or another 7 suitable metal or alloy. Frame 100, mount 102 and frame outer 104 are rectangular. In other embodiments frame 100, mount 102 and frame outer 104 are other shapes such as, square, oval and round. Preferably frame 100, mount 102 and 5 frame outer 104 are quadrilateral such as rectangular or square. Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 2, frame 100 may be flat packed into a box 120 comprising a lid 122 and a base 124. The lid 122 may be covered in a decoration which matches the one or more decoration on mount 102. The base 124 may be black which complements the decorated lid 122. 10 Box 120 allows frame 100 to be displayed in an attractive manner either on top of the lid 122 or a plurality of boxes 120 with frames 100 inside may be stacked in columns or displayed in a display case. Box 110 is also of significant appeal because it is attractive in its own right and may be re-used for storage of other things after frame 100 is 15 removed. The size of box 120 may be chosen so that frame 100 is not damaged during shipping and/or storage. Frame outer 104 may be decorated with one or more decorations. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of frame 100 in which the frame outer 104 is 20 decorated with painted lace 126. The painted lace 126 creates a pleasing effect on frame 100 and adds to the display of the artwork. In another embodiment instead of being painted the lace is gilded. Other decorations which may be used with frame outer 104 including sculptures, beads, crystals, paint, wax or a stain.
8 In another form the invention resides in a method of making a frame 100 for displaying artwork including the step of inserting a channel 106 in a mount 102 such that a stand 108 may be inserted into the channel 106 to support the frame 100 in a position for displaying the artwork. 5 In yet another form the invention resides in a kit comprising a frame 100 and a stand 108. The frame of the invention is particularly visually attractive. When the mount is decorated both the front and the back of the frame are visually attractive which means that even when the frame is viewed from behind it is 10 visually pleasing. The provision of a decorative backing in the present invention is of significant aesthetic appeal and advantage over conventional frames. Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific 15 collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit 20 and scope of the invention.