Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G1/00—Mirrors; Picture frames or the like, e.g. provided with heating, lighting or ventilating means
  • A47G1/06—Picture frames
  • A47G1/0633—Picture frames made of sheet material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31D—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C
  • B31D1/00—Multiple-step processes for making flat articles ; Making flat articles
  • B31D1/0012—Multiple-step processes for making flat articles ; Making flat articles the articles being mounting corners for photographs or cards
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/14—Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
  • Y10T428/1405—Capsule or particulate matter containing [e.g., sphere, flake, microballoon, etc.]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
  • Y10T428/2419—Fold at edge

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to a three-dimensional supporting frame.
• Inkjet printing and electrophotographic printing are examples of digital printing techniques. These printing techniques have become increasingly popular for printing photographs and/or decorative art items.
• an image may be inkjet printed on canvas and then mounted on a wood frame, or an image may be liquid electro-photographically printed on a high gloss medium and then mounted on a metal plate.
• Fig. 1 A is a front view of an example of a blank used to form an example of a three-dimensional supporting frame
• Fig. 1 B is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 1 B-1 B in Fig. 1A;
• Fig. 2A is a front view of an example of the blank of Fig. 1A having an image receiving medium adhered thereto;
• Fig. 2B is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 2B-2B in Fig. 2A;
• Fig. 3A is a back, perspective view of an example of the blank and image receiving medium of Fig. 2A after the blank has been folded to form an example of an art canvas;
• Fig. 3B is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 3B-3B in Fig. 3A;
• Fig. 4A is a front view of another example of a blank used to form an example of a three-dimensional supporting frame
• Fig. 4B is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B in
• Fig. 4C is a back, perspective view of the example of the three-dimensional supporting frame formed from the blank of Fig. 4A after it has been folded;
• Fig. 5 is a front view of another example of a blank used to form an example of a three-dimensional supporting frame.
• Fig. 6 is a front view of another example of a blank used to form an example of a three-dimensional supporting frame.
• Examples of the three-dimensional supporting frame are formed of a blank that, when in its three-dimensional configuration, is suitable for displaying photographs, art images, graphics, text, and/or the like, and/or combinations thereof.
• the three-dimensional supporting frame includes two different types of adhesives, one of which is unfilled and the other of which is filled.
• the unfilled adhesive is suitable for securing an image receiving medium to the frame with a thin bond line, ranging from about 12 m to about 60 ⁇ .
• the filled adhesive forms a strong and durable adhesion joint between components of the blank with a thicker bond line than the bond line formed using the unfilled adhesive.
• the bond line formed with the filled adhesive ranges from about 35 ⁇ to about 185 ⁇ .
• the filled adhesive is suitable for securing the blank in the three-dimensional configuration.
• Fig. 1A an example of the blank 12 is depicted.
• the blank 12 is pre-cut and scored so that when it is folded, it forms the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 (see Fig. 3A). While the blank 12 shown in Fig. 1A is used to make a rectangular three-dimensional supporting frame 10, it is to be understood that blank 12 may be pre-cut and scored to have any desirable shape. As examples, the blank 12 may be shaped so that when folded, any of the following three-dimensional supporting frames is formed: a square three-dimensional supporting frame, a triangular three-dimensional supporting frame (Fig. 4C), a circular three-dimensional supporting frame, or a polygonal three-dimensional supporting frame having five or more sides.
• Fig. 1A is a front view of the blank 12, which has a center portion 14 that includes at least four sides 14 A , 14B, 14C, 4D which define a perimeter P.
• the center portion 14 may be square, rectangular, or circular.
• the shape of the center portion 14 is a triangle, and when the center portion 14 has more than four sides, the shape of the center portion 14 will depend upon the number of sides (e.g., five sides correspond with a pentagon shaped center portion 14, six sides correspond with a hexagon shaped center portion 14, etc.).
• the blank 12 also has two opposed surfaces, namely an image receiving surface 13 and a back surface 15 (Fig. 1 B) that is opposed to the image receiving surface 13.
• a foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D respectively extends from each side 14 A , 14 B , 14c, 14 D of the center portion 14.
• the foldable extensions 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D may be scored with fold lines 18 that are meant to guide the folding of the foldable extensions 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D toward the back surface 15.
• each foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16C, 6D has no less than four fold lines 18 defining no less than four respective folds.
• each foldable extension 16 A , 16 B , 16c, 16D is foldable four times, once along each scored fold line 18.
• more than four fold lines 18 may be included on any one foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16c, 16D SO that the foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16c, 16D is foldable more than four times.
• the foldable extensions 16 A , 16 B , 16 C , 16 D and the folds 1 , 2, 3, 4 may have any suitable shape that allows the folds 1 , 2, 3, 4 of the respective foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D to be folded toward the back surface 15 to form a three-dimensional frame portion (see 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D in Fig. 3A).
• each of the foldable extensions 16 A , 16 B , 16 c , 16 D is partially angled at opposed edges so that when the folds 1 , 2, 3, 4 are folded (as shown in Fig.
• the resulting frame portion 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D abuts an adjacent frame portion 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30o at the edges (e.g., frame portion 30A abuts both frames portion 30 B and frame portion 30 D ).
• the abutting frame portions 30 A , 30B, 30C, and 30 D form respective corners of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10.
• the blank 12 may be made of any foldable material with suitable stiffness that can be folded over at least 90° with the assistance of scoring without cracking and/or breaking.
• the stiffness of the blank 12 is generally greater than 25 Taber units (gf-cm). In an example, the stiffness of the blank 12 ranges from about 100 Taber units to 3000 Taber units (TAPPI method T489-om). In another example, the stiffness of the blank 12 ranges from about 500 Taber units to 2000 Taber units (TAPPI method T489-om).
• Stiffness, k, of a body is a measure of the resistance offered by an elastic body to deformation. For an elastic body with a single degree of freedom (for example, stretching or compression of a rod), the stiffness, k, is defined as
• the blank 12 examples include pure element materials, such as aluminum foil; compounds of multiple elements, such as copper-zinc alloy foil; synthetic polymers, such as toughened polypropylene; natural products, such as cellulose paper (e.g., cardboard); or composites, such as polyethylene terephthalate/calcium carbonate (PET/CaCOs) coextruded sheets.
• pure element materials such as aluminum foil; compounds of multiple elements, such as copper-zinc alloy foil; synthetic polymers, such as toughened polypropylene; natural products, such as cellulose paper (e.g., cardboard); or composites, such as polyethylene terephthalate/calcium carbonate (PET/CaCOs) coextruded sheets.
• foldable material used to make the blank 12 include carton board (e.g., solid bleached board, solid unbleached board), white lined chipboard, liquid packaging board, folding boxboard, container board (e.g., liner board), wall paper substrates, uncoated cover paper, or the like.
• carton board e.g., solid bleached board, solid unbleached board
• white lined chipboard liquid packaging board
• folding boxboard container board (e.g., liner board), wall paper substrates, uncoated cover paper, or the like.
• the first adhesive 20 is referred to herein as an unfilled adhesive, and is applied anywhere on the surface 13 that it is desirable to adhere an image receiving medium
• the unfilled adhesive 20 may be applied to the center portion 14 alone (as shown in Figs. 1A and 1 B), or to the center portion 14 and each of the folds 1 , or to the center portion 14 and each of the folds 1 and 2.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 may be applied to the center portion 14 and each of the folds 1 or the folds 1 and 2 when it is desirable that the image receiving medium 26 be folded with folds 1 and 2.
• the image receiving medium 26 may have the same shape and size as the center portion 14 and the folds 1 or the folds 1 and 2 of the blank 12.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 is applied to the image receiving surface 13 at the center portion 14 alone.
• the second adhesive 22 is referred to herein as a filled adhesive, and is applied on the image receiving surface 13 at those areas that are to be secured to the back surface 15 when the blank 12 is folded.
• the filled adhesive 22 may be applied to each of the folds 4 that is furthest from the perimeter P (as shown in Figs. 1A and 1 B), or to each of the folds 4 that is furthest from the perimeter P and to areas of the folds 3 that are designated to be tabs when the blank is folded (see Figs. 4A and 4C).
• the adhesives 20 and 22 may be applied to the surface 13 on the desirable areas using an air knife coater, a rod coater, a slot die coater, roll coater, or a film transfer coater.
• the adhesives 20 and 22 are respectively applied directly onto release liners (not shown), and then the glued release liners are respectively laminated onto the desired areas of the surface 13 using a laminator.
• the release liners may protect the adhesives 20 and 22 from contamination and from prematurely adhering. If the release liners were shown in Figs. 1A and 1 B, it is to be understood that the respective adhesives 20 and 22 would be covered by the respective liners.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 may be a solvent-based adhesive or a water-based adhesive.
• Solvents suitable for the solvent-based adhesive include heptanes, toluene, ethyl acetate, pentane-2,4-dione, and alcohols. In some instances, it may be desirable to utilize an aqueous-based water soluble and/or water dispersible adhesive.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 is formed of a synthetic polymer with a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 200,000 to about 800,000 when the structure is linear, or ranging from about 300,000 to about 1 ,500,000 when the structure is branched or cross-linked.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 may also have a pressure sensitive nature.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 may have a glass transition temperature (T g ) ranging from about -70°C to about -40°C, and a peeling strength equal to or greater than 20 Newton/cm 2 (e.g., as measured according to an ASTM (f.k.a. the American Society for Testing and Materials) test method, namely ASTM 3330M using an INSTRON® tester).
• T g glass transition temperature
• ASTM f.k.a. the American Society for Testing and Materials
• Suitable examples of the unfilled adhesive 20 are polyacrylates, polyvinyl ethers, silicone resins, polyacrylic resins, elastic hydrocarbon polymers (e.g., nitrile rubbers, butyl rubbers, polyisobutylenes, polyisoprenes, etc.), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, or styrene block copolymers (e.g., styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene-styrene, styrene-butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene, or styrene-propylene).
• SBS styrene-butadiene-styrene
• SBS styrene-ethylene-styrene
• styrene-butylene-styrene styrene-ethylene
• unfilled adhesive 20 may be polymers of acrylate addition monomers, such as C1 to C12 alkyl acrylates and methacrylates (e.g., methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, sec-butyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, 2- ethylhexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n- propyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, sec-butyl methacrylate, and tert-butyl methacrylate); aromatic monomers (e.g., styrene, phenyl methacrylate, o-tolyl me
• the unfilled adhesive 20 may be a copolymer of at least two of the
• the molecular structure of the formed copolymer has soft segments (T g ranging from about -70°C to about -20°C) and small hard segments (T g ranging from about -10°C to about 100°C).
• copolymer may also include functional monomers, i.e., the chemical groups on the molecular chain can react to form a cross-linked structure.
• functional monomers include methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, glycidyl methacrylate, and hydroxyethyl acrylate.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 includes a compound having a structure of unsaturated rings.
• examples of such compounds include glycerol ester of abietic acid, pentaerythritol ester of abietic acid, and terpene resins derived from alfa-pinene and beta-pinene.
• the unfilled adhesive 20 may be applied to have a coat weight ranging from
• the adhesive layer coat weight is less than 25 gsm, the bond strength will decrease, and adhesion failure may result.
• the filled adhesive 22 includes a polymeric material, a filler, and a surface treatment agent.
• the filled adhesive 22 may be applied to have a coat weight ranging from about 30 gsm to about 150 gsm.
• the polymeric material of the filled adhesive 22 may be any of the polymers described herein for the unfilled adhesive 20.
• the polymer material of the filled adhesive 22 may be the same material that is selected for the unfilled adhesive 20 or may be a different material than that selected for the unfilled adhesive 20.
• the polymeric material of the filled adhesive may be any of the previously listed polyacrylates, elastic hydrocarbon polymers, or silicone resins.
• the filler of the filled adhesive 22 may include inorganic particles, organic particles, or combination thereof.
• the filler has an average particle size ranging from about 0.5 ⁇ to about 3.0 ⁇ , and the size distribution ranges from about 1 .5 to about 4.
• inorganic particles include ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, kaolin clay, silica, silicates, alumina trihydrate, or combinations thereof.
• organic particles include polysytrene and copolymers thereof (e.g., styrene-ethylene, styrene-propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-styrene, styrene- butylene-styrene, and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)), polymethacrylate and copolymers thereof (e.g., copolymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as styrene or divinyl benzene, with methyl methacrylate, t-butylmethacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl
• polysytrene and copolymers thereof e.g., styrene-ethylene, s
• (meth)acrylate benzyl (meth)acrylate, lauryl (meth)acrylate, oleyl (meth)acrylate, palmityl (meth)acrylate, stearyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate and hydroxypropylmethacrylate), polyolefins and copolymers thereof (e.g., copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene).
• the surface treatment agent of the filled adhesive 22 may either be deposited onto the surface of the filler by pre-mixing the surface treatment agent with the fillers before adding the polymeric material, or may be mixed directly into the filled adhesive 22.
• the surface treatment agent may be any component that improves the bonding between the filler, the polymeric material, and the blank 12.
• An example of the surface treatment agent is a compound having the following formula: (RO) 3 SiR'-R"
• R' is chosen from alkyl groups, aromatic groups, and heteroaromatic groups
• R" is a group that can be converted into a functional group.
• R" is a group that contains nitrogen.
• R" include a
• carboxamide group (-CO-NH 2 ), a primary amine group (-NH 2 ), a secondary amine group (-NHR'"), a tertiary amine group (-NR'" 2 ), and a pyridine group (e.g., -C 5 H 4 N) that can be converted into cationic pyridinium (e.g., 4-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, and 2- pyridyl).
• a pyridine group e.g., -C 5 H 4 N
• the filled adhesive 22 have a glass transition temperature
• T g ranging from about -70°C to about -40°C, a peeling strength equal to or greater than 45 Newton/cm 2 (e.g., as measured according to an ASTM (f.k.a. the American Society for Testing and Materials) test method, namely ASTM 3330M using an INSTRON® tester).
• the release liners keeping the adhesives 20 and 22 from prematurely adhering may include a substrate and a release coating deposited on the
• the substrate may be a cellulose paper and/or a polymeric film (which may be transparent), such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• the release coating is made of material(s) that is/are readily able to delaminate from the adhesives 20 and 22, and does not migrate or transfer to the released material (adhesive 20 and 22) to any significant degree. Examples of the release coating of the release liner include polyacrylates, carbamates, polyolefins, fluorocarbons, chromium stearate complexes and silicones.
• the silicone release coating may be desirable, at least in part because it can easily be applied on various substrates and can be cured into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) network, which limits migration into an adhesive matrix. Silicones may also allow substantially lower release forces than other materials.
• PDMS polydimethylsiloxane
• an image receiving medium 26 is shown adhered to the center portion 14 of the blank 12 on the image receiving surface 13 via the adhesive 20.
• the release liner may be removed, and the image receiving medium may be aligned with and pressed on the adhesive 20.
• rubber rollers may be used to apply force to the adhered materials to remove any air bubbles entrapped between the adhered materials.
• the image receiving medium 26 may be a foldable material which has a specific surface that is able to receive a digital image (e.g., image 28 shown in Fig. 2A) with high print quality.
• the specific surface may be made by coating or depositing a digital ink/toner receiving layer onto the outermost surface of a base substrate.
• coating or depositing refers to the application of a specifically formulated chemical composition onto the outermost surface of the base substrate of the image receiving medium 26 by a suitable process which includes any type of coating process.
• the specific surface may also be made by surface treating the base substrate via a physical and/or chemical process (e.g., corona treatment, plasma grafting polymerization and/or acid etching).
• surface treating refers to a method for altering the surface structure or morphology chemically and/or physically without applying any foreign composition to cover the surface of the base substrate.
• the surface treating method modifies the nature of the base substrate surface by changing the surface morphology or changing the surface chemical functional groups.
• the image receiving medium 26 includes a cellulose paper base, and the outermost surface of the cellulose paper base is surface
• the composition of the digital ink/toner receiving layer may include binder(s) (e.g., water-based binders such as polyvinyl alcohol, styrene-butadiene emulsion, acrylonithle-butadiene latex, or combinations thereof) and inorganic pigment particle(s) (e.g., clay, kaolin, calcium carbonate, or combinations thereof).
• binder(s) e.g., water-based binders such as polyvinyl alcohol, styrene-butadiene emulsion, acrylonithle-butadiene latex, or combinations thereof
• inorganic pigment particle(s) e.g., clay, kaolin, calcium carbonate, or combinations thereof.
• the digital ink/toner receiving layer may be subjected to an embossing treatment to create a desirable surface texture which is represented by a lay pattern. "Lay" is a measure of the direction of the
• a lay pattern is a repetitive impression created on the surface of a part.
• the lay patterns created on the image receiving medium 26 include, for example, vertical patterns, horizontal patterns, radial patterns, circular patterns, isotropic patterns and cross hatched patterns.
• the image receiving medium 26 is made of a foldable material based on a polymeric film.
• suitable polymeric films include polyolefin films (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene films), polycarbonate films, polyamide films, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films. These polymeric films can be used alone, or they can be co-extruded with another material, such as cellulose paper, to form a foldable image receiving medium.
• the polymeric film surface is pre-coated with an example of the digital ink/toner receiving layer disclosed herein and/or is surface treated to improve the ink reception and toner adhesion.
• the image receiving medium 26 is made of a foldable ductile metal foil.
• the metal foil may be a pure metal and/or a metal alloy.
• the metal foil surface is pre-coated with an example of the digital ink/toner receiving layer disclosed herein and/or is surface treated to improve the ink reception and toner adhesion.
• any of the digital ink/toner receiving layers disclosed herein may include components that absorb light in the ultraviolet (UV) and violet region (200 nm to 380 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum, and re-emit light in the blue region (400 nm to 490 nm).
• the chemical compounds which are able to absorb and then re- emit include those that have the structure of any of the following: triazine-stilbenes (di-, tetra- or hexa-sulfonated); coumarins; imidazolines; diazoles; triazoles, benzoxazolines; or biphenyl-stilbenes.
• Any of the digital ink/toner receiving layers disclosed herein may also include luminous materials.
• the luminous materials when illuminated by the particular wavelength(s) of light for a particular amount of time, the luminous materials will exhibit a specific light effect (e.g., photoluminescence) after the light is removed.
• the luminous materials include Tritium, LumiNova, and Super LumiNova.
• the image 28 may be created using any suitable digital printing technique. It is believed that the durability of the printed image 28 may be the result of the combination of the medium 26 and the ink or toner that is used.
• a medium including a digital ink/toner receiving layer or having been surface treated may be desirable when digital electrophotographic printing is used with toners that contain a durable colorant and UV, light and ozone fastness resin binders.
• a durable printed image is formed when a pigment inkjet ink is printed, using inkjet technology, onto a micro-porous image receiving medium.
• a pigment or any number of pigment blends may be provided in the inkjet ink formulation to impart color to the ink.
• the pigment may be any number of desired pigments dispersed throughout the resulting inkjet ink. More particularly, the pigment included in the inkjet ink may include self-dispersed (surface modified) pigments, or pigments accompanied by a dispersant.
• Fig. 2A illustrates the front view of the blank 12 having the image receiving medium 26 (with the image 28 printed thereon) adhered thereto. Since the image receiving medium 26 is the same shape and size as the center portion 14, the foldable extensions 16A, 16B, 16C, 16p are visible in this view, as the image receiving medium 26 does not overly any part of the foldable extensions 16A, 16B, 16c, 16D- In other examples, it is to be understood that the image receiving medium 26 may be the same shape and size as the center portion 14 and the folds 1 , or as the center portion 14 and the folds 1 and 2.
• the image receiving medium 26 includes an image receiving portion that is shaped and sized in the same manner as the center portion 14 of the blank 12, and also includes image receiving extensions (including one fold or two folds) that respectively extend from each side of the image receiving portion and correspond with the folds 1 or folds 1 and 2 of the blank 12.
• the extensions of the image receiving medium may be scored with fold lines so that the folds of the image receiving extension may be folded with the fold 1 or folds 1 and 2 of the blank 12.
• the image receiving medium 26 may be seen on the outer wall of the art canvas.
• the image receiving medium 26 may be seen on the outer wall and on the back wall of the art canvas.
• each of the folds 4 of the blank 12 has the adhesive 22 thereon, which may be covered by a release liner.
• the blank 12 having the image receiving medium 26 attached thereto is folded to form the art canvas 100.
• the folded blank 12 forms the three-dimensional supporting frame 10, and when the image receiving medium 26 is attached thereto, the art canvas 100 is formed.
• each frame portion 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D abuts another frame portion 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D to form the three-dimensional supporting frame 10.
• the cross-sectional view shown in Fig. 3B illustrates the walls that are formed when the folds 1 , 2, 3, 4 are folded.
• fold 1 of each of the extensions 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D is folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• the fold 1 of a respective extension 16A, or 16B, or 16c, or 16D forms an outer wall of the respective frame portion 30A, 30B, 30C, or 30D. All together, the folds 1 form the perimeter wall of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 and the art canvas 100. In some instances, the perimeter wall may be covered by a portion of the image receiving medium 26.
• Fold 2 of each of the extensions 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D is folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• the fold 2 of a respective extension 16 A , or 16 B , or 16 C , or 16 D forms a back wall of the respective frame portion 30 A , 30 B , 30 c , or 30 D . All together, the folds 2 form the back wall of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 and the art canvas 100. In some instances, the back wall may be covered by a portion of the image receiving medium 26. Fold 3 of each of the extensions 16A, 16B, 16c, 16D is then folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• fold 3 of a respective extension 16 A , or 16B, or 16c, or 16D forms an inner wall of the respective frame portion 30A, 30B, 30c, or 30D- All together, these folds 3 form the inner perimeter wall of the three- dimensional supporting frame 10 and the art canvas 100.
• fold 4 of each of the extensions 16 A , 16 B , 16 c , 16 D is then folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15). These folds 4 are adhered to the surface 15 of the blank 12 at the center portion 14 via the adhesive 22. When folding the blank 12, any release liner on the adhesives 22 would be removed prior to contacting the adhesive 22 with the surface 15.
• a support material may be inserted into the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 adjacent to the surface 15 at the center portion 14.
• the support material may be the same material as the blank 12, or may be another strengthening material that adds support, but not significant weight, to the art canvas 100.
• the support material may or may not be adhered to the center portion 14.
• Figs. 4A and 4B depict another example of the blank 12 T with the adhesives
• Fig. 4A depicts another example of the three-dimensional supporting frame l O iformed from the folded blank 12 T .
• Fig. 4A depicts a front view of the triangularly shaped blank 12 T . This blank
• a foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16C respectively extends from each side 14 A , 14 B , 14 C of the center portion 14.
• the foldable extensions 16 A , 16 B , 16 C may be scored with fold lines 18 that are meant to guide the folding of the foldable extensions 16A, 16B, 16C toward the back surface 15.
• each foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16C has four fold lines 18 defining four respective folds 1 , 2, 3, 4.
• each foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16C is foldable four times, once along each scored fold line 18.
• more than four fold lines 18 may be included on any one foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16c so that the foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16c is foldable more than four times.
• the outermost fold line 18 defining the fold 4 and part of the fold 3 also includes a tab fold line 18'.
• the tab fold line 18' may be scored so that when the folds 4 are folded, a tab 32 disconnects (either automatically or with application of a small force) along the tab fold line 18'. The tab 32 can then be folded toward and secured to the surface 15 (see Fig. 4C). While not shown in all of the examples, it is to be understood that the tab fold lines 18' and tabs 32 may be used in any of the blanks (e.g., 12, 12 c , 12 H ) and three-dimensional supporting frames (e.g., 10 and those formed from the blanks in Figs. 5 and 6) disclosed herein.
• the adhesive 20 is applied to the center portion 14 and the folds 1 and 2 of each foldable extension 16A, 16B, 16C-
• the application of adhesive 20 in this manner will enable an image receiving medium 26 (not shown in this series of figures) to be adhered to the image receiving surface 13 on the center portion 14 and on each of the folds 1 and 2.
• the image receiving medium 26 will cover the outer perimeter wall (formed of folds 1 ) and the back wall (formed of folds 2) of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 T (which is shown in Fig. 4C).
• the adhesive 22 is applied to the folds 4 and to areas of the folds 3 that are within the tab fold lines 18'.
• the adhesive 22 applied in this manner may be desirable to secure the folds 4 to the back surface 15 and to secure the punched-out tabs 32 to the back surface 15 after the blank 12T has been folded.
• the foldable extensions 16A, 16B, 16c and the folds 1 , 2, 3, 4 of the blank 12T may have any suitable shape that allows the folds 1 , 2, 3, 4 of the respective foldable extension 16 A , 16 B , 16 c to be folded toward the back surface 15 to form a three-dimensional frame portion (see reference numerals 30A, 30B, 30C in Fig. 4C).
• the foldable extensions 16A, 16B, 16C are angled so that when folded, the abutting frame portions 30A, 30B, 30C form corners of the triangular three-dimensional supporting frame 10 T .
• fold 1 of each of the extensions 16A, 16B, 16C is folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• the fold 1 of a respective extension 16A, or 16B, or 16c forms an outer wall of the respective frame portion 30 A , 30 B , 30 c . All together, the folds 1 form the perimeter wall of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 ⁇ .
• Fold 2 of each of the extensions 16A, 16B, 16C is folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• the fold 1 of a respective extension 16A, or 16B, or 16c forms an outer wall of the respective frame portion 30 A , 30 B , 30 c . All together, the folds 1 form the perimeter wall of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 ⁇ .
• extensions 16A, 16B, 16c is folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• the fold 2 of a respective extension 16A, or 16B, or 16c forms a back wall of the respective frame portion 30 A , 30 B , or 30 c . All together, the folds 2 form the back wall of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 ⁇ .
• Fold 3 of each of the extensions 16A, 16B, 16c is then folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• the fold 3 of a respective extension 16A, or 16B, or 16c forms an inner wall of the respective frame portion 30A, 30B, or 30c- All together, these folds 3 form the inner perimeter wall of the three-dimensional supporting frame 10 T .
• fold 4 of each of the extensions 16A, 16B, 16c is then folded inward (i.e., towards the surface 15).
• the tab fold line 18' may be punched out to detach the tab 32 along the tab fold line 18'.
• the folds 4 and the tab 32 are adhered via adhesive 22 to the surface 15 at the center portion 14 of the blank 12 T .
• any release liners that may be present on the adhesive 20 may be removed prior to adhering an image receiving medium to the adhesive 20.
• any release liners that may be present on the adhesive 22 may be removed prior to adhering the folds 4 and tabs 32 to the back surface 15.
• Figs. 5 and 6 depict different blanks 12 c and 12 H that may be used to form different shaped three-dimensional supporting frames.
• Each of these blanks 12 c and 12 H includes a center portion 14, image receiving surface 13 and back surface 15 (which is not visible in these figures because they are front views), and foldable extensions (e.g., 16 A , 16 B , 16 c , 16 D in Fig. 5 and 16 A , 16 B , 16 c , 16 D , 16 E , 16 F in Fig. 6).
• the foldable extensions include fold lines 18 (with or without tab fold lines 18') and four folds 1 , 2, 3, 4.
• the adhesives 20 and 22 are applied to the image receiving surface 13 of the blanks 12 c and 12 H in desirable areas so that i) an image receiving medium 26 may be adhered to the blank 12 c and 12 H (via adhesive 20), and ii) the folds 4, and in some instances tabs 32, may be secured to the back surface 15 (via adhesive 22).
• adhesive 20 is applied to the center portion 14 on surface 13
• adhesive 22 is applied to the fold 4 and the portion of fold 3 within the tab fold lines 18' on surface 13.
• the adhesive 20 is applied to the center portion 14 and the folds 1 on surface 13, and adhesive 22 is applied to the folds 4.
• the speckles are again used to illustrate adhesive 20 and the triangles and squiggly lines are again used to illustrate adhesive 22.
• Fig. 5 depicts a circular shaped blank 12 c that when folded forms a circular shaped three-dimensional supporting frame (not shown).
• Fig. 6 depicts a hexagon shaped blank 12 H that when folded forms a hexagon shaped three-dimensional supporting frame (also not shown). While a hexagon is shown, it is to be
• the blank 12 H may be any desirable polygon.
• the folding of these blanks 12 c , 12 H may be accomplished in the manner previous described herein where each fold 1 , 2, 3, 4 is folded towards the back surface 15 to form frame portions that abut one another.
• four frame portions will be formed that abut one another to create the circular three-dimensional supporting frame.
• six frame portions will be formed that abut one another to create the hexagon shaped three-dimensional supporting frame.
• ranges provided herein include the stated range and any value or sub-range within the stated range.
• a range from about 12 m to about 60 ⁇ should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited limits of about 12 m to about 60 ⁇ , but also to include individual values, such as 15 ⁇ , 45 ⁇ , etc., and sub-ranges, such as from about 15 ⁇ to about 50 ⁇ , from about 20 ⁇ to about 30 ⁇ , etc.
• “about” is utilized to describe a value, this is meant to encompass minor variations (up to +/- 10%) from the stated value.

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• 2012
  • 2012-02-10 US US14/369,927 patent/US20140363592A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-02-10 WO PCT/US2012/024665 patent/WO2013119249A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-02-10 EP EP12867877.8A patent/EP2811866A4/de not_active Withdrawn

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