GB2159706A

GB2159706A - Photograph or picture frame and backing therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2159706A
Application number: GB08414632A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Victor Ives; Brian James Wilson
Original assignee: CLEARVIEW FLEXIBLE SIGNS LIMIT
Current assignee: CLEARVIEW FLEXIBLE SIGNS LIMIT
Priority date: 1984-06-08
Filing date: 1984-06-08
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: GB8414632D0

Abstract

A photograph or picture frame has a backing 12 including a recessed portion, and means for mounting an electric lamp 16 in the recessed portion such that when the lamp is illuminated, light from the lamp can pass through a photograph or picture mounted in the frame. A sheet of a diffusing material may fit over the front of the recess in order to diffuse the light from the lamp passing through the photograph or picture. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Photograph or picture frame and backing therefore The present invention relates to photograph or picture frames and to a backing for such frames.

More specifically, the invention is particularly concerned with mass produced types offrame which are generally manufactured in a range of standard sizes related to the range of sizes in which photographs are usually reproduced.

As at present constructed, photograph or picture frames generally include a backing of a rigid material for closing the back of the frame and also providing a supportfora photograph or picture disposed in the frame between the backing and a front pane of glass or othertransparent material. Such a backing is general lyflatand is held in place by means of some form of catch or latching arrangement cooperating with or mounted on the frame. The backing frequently also incorporates or has attached thereto some kind of support or strut by means of which the frame may be stood in a display position. Whilst such frames are in very general use and fulfil a satisfactory display function for a photograph or picture in the home or elsewhere, they nevertheless sufferfrom certain disadvantages.Thus, on the one hand, the glass or othertransparentmaterial fitted in the front of the frame to protect a photograph or picture therein tends to act to some degree as a mirror which reflects an image of its surroundings and thus partially degrades or obscures the photograph or picture as displayed to a viewer situated some distance away, for example across a room, from where the frame is situated. Also, on the other hand, in conditions of poor light or when a room is artifically lit, a photograph or picture displayed in the frame may be in shadow and not readily visible.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a photograph orpictureframe incorporating a novel type of backing which seeks to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and which improves the aesthetic quality and attractiveness of a photograph orpicturedisplayed in the frame.

From one aspect the invention provides a photograph or picture frame having a backing which includes a region for accommodating an electric lamp which is disposed in said region such that when it is lit, light from the lamp can pass through a photograph or picture located within the frame.

From another aspect, the invention provides a photograph or picture frame having a backing including a recessed portion, and means for mounting an electric lamp in the recessed portion such that when said lamp is illuminated, lightfrom the lamp can pass through a photograph or picture mounted in the frame.

The invention also provides a backing four a photograph or picture frame including a peripheral region which can be held to the frame and a region forming a recess or housing provided with means for accommodating an electric lamp.

The electric lamp employed may be of any known type, thus it may be a filament lamp of the bulb orstrip type or alternatively it may be a fluorescent or other gas filled lamp. Clearly more than one lamp may be provided if desired.

The frame backing may also carry a switch means for controlling the electrical supply to the lamp, although alternatively such a switch means could be incorporated as a line switch in a flex or lead by means ofwhich a mains electrical supply may be connected to the lamp.

Alternatively, the lamp may be battery powered in which casethe recess or housing incorporated in the frame backing may also include means for locating and supporting a battery by means ofwhich the lamp is energised.

In orderto assist in providing an even illumination of a photograph or picture disposed in the frame, a diffuser may be provided between the lamp or lamps and the photograph or picture. Additionally or alternatively, the interior wall surface ofthe recess or housing may be treated to provide a light-reflecting or diffusing surface.

The backing may be fitted with one or more struts for supporting the frame in a desired display position.

Alternatively, the recess or housing accommodating the lamp may be so shaped and dimensioned that it also serves as a support two hold the frame in a display position.

It has been found that when a photograph or picture is displayed in a frame incorporating a backing constructed according to the present invention and the lamp is lit, a very attractive and effective brightening of the photograph or picture is obtained under conditions of both natural and artificial lightwhich serves both to reduce or overcome undesirable reflections from the glass in the frame and also enablesthephotograph orpictureto beclearlyviewed even whentheframe is disposed in shadow.

Ithasfurthermore been found that the advantages of a frame constructed according to the invention can be obtained both with photographic prints obtained from colour negatives as well as with positive photographic transparancies. Attractive visual results are also obtained with pictures in the form of prints provided thatthey are printed on a translucent backing, such as paper or a thin card, and not on a thick card orotheropaque material which prevents light passing therethrough.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of one embodiment of photograph or picture frame backing according to the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional detail view to a larger scale of partof Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, through a photograph orpictureframe incorporating another embodiment of backing according to the invention, and Figure 4 shows a form of strut used with the frame of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a backing fora photograph or picture frame is generally indicated at 1 and is of rectangularform so that its periphery may be dimensioned, as desired, to fit a standard size of frame, for example 8 x 10 inches orlO x 12 inches. The backing comprises a peripheral flange 2 bounding a box-like recess 3. The recess houses an electric lamp 4 mounted in a lampholder5. As shown in Figure 2, the lampholder, which is of the conventional battenmounting type, is secured through an aperture in a wall of the recess 3 and also serves to secure a strut 6 by meansofwhich the backing and its associated frame may be stood in a display position.

Asheetoftranslucent material, such as an opal diffusing sheet, is shown 7 and fits over the front of the recess 3 in orderto diffuse the lightfrom the lamp when it is lit.

As will be apparentfrom the foregoing, the backing and diffusing sheet are located behind a photograph or picture mounted in a frame (not shown) so that the photograph or picture is sandwiched between the glass in the frame and the diffusing sheet. The backing is then secured to the frame by means of chips or catches on the frame which can engage over the peripheral flange 2. The diffusing sheet 7 may of course be omitted.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a further embodiment ofthe invention, comprising a frame 10, having a glass 11 and a backing 12. The backing comprises a peripheral region 13 surrounding a central box-like housing 14 and the backing is secured to the frame 10 by means ofturnable clips 15 attached to theframe and engageable with the rear surface ofthe peripheral region 13. The housing 14 contains a lamp 1 6fitted in a lampholder 17 which is carried byan angle bracket 18 attached to the rear of the housing 14, e.g. by rivets 19. The electric lead 20 from the lampholder 17 passes through an aperture in the wall ofthe housing and may include a line switch (notshown) for controlling illumination ofthe lamp.

Thestrandfortheframe is in theform of a shaped wire strut 21 of generally U-form,as shown in detail in Figure 4. The side limbs 22 ofthe Uare angled to both rest against the housing and form asupporting leg and the free ends 23 are bent so as to locate through a pair of holes 24 in a side wall ofthe wall of the housing 14and hold the strut in position. As shown in Figure 3 the frame is assumed to be standing with a vertical aspect, and a further pair of holes 25 may be provided in an adjacent side wail to locate the strut when it is desired to stand the frame with a horizontal aspect.

The backings according to the invention may be made of any desired material, for example of stout card,fibreboard or a plastics material.

According to a modification, a mask or stencil of an opaque material may be arranged behind a photograph,which mask or stencil is provided with cut-outs related to features ofthe photograph in order to provide a selective illumination ofthe photograph when the lamp is lit. Thus, ifthe photograph is of a building the cut-outs may be such that light shines onlythrough thewindows ofthe building.

Claims

1. A photograph or picture frame having a backing which includes a region for accommodating an electric lamp which is disposed in said region such that when it is lit, lightfrom the lamp can pass through a photograph or picture located within the frame.

2. A photograph or picture frame having a backing including a recessed portion, and means for mounting an electric lamp in the recessed portion such that when said lamp is illuminated, light from the lamp can pass through a photograph or picture mounted in the frame.

3. Abackingfora photograph orpictureframe including a peripheral region which can be held to the frame and a region forming a recess or housing provided with means for accommodating an electric lamp.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1,2 or3,wherein the lamp is battery powered and a recess or housing forthe lamp incorporated in the frame backing also includes means for locating and supporting a battery by means of which the lamp is energised.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or4,wherein the frame backing also carries a switch means for controlling the electrical supplytothe lamp.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a diffuser is provided between the lamp and the photograph or picture.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interiorwall surface ofthe recess or housing is treated to provide a light-reflecting or diffusing surface.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the backing is fitted with one or more struts for supporting the frame in a desired display position.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, including a stand forthe frame in the form of a shaped wire strut of generally U-form, wherein the side limbs ofthe U are angled to both rest against housing forthe lamp and form a supporting leg and the free ends ofthe U are bent so as to locate through a pair of holes in the wall of the housing and hold the strut in position.

10. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the recess or housing accommodating the lamp is so shaped and dimensioned that it also serves asasupportto hold the frame in a display position.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a mask orstencil of an opaque material arranged behind a photograph,which mask or stencil is provided with cut-outs related to features ofthe photograph in order to provide a selective illumination of the photograph when the lamp is lit.

12. A photograph or picture frame substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A backing for a photograph or picture frame substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.