GB2345848A

GB2345848A - A magnetic picture

Info

Publication number: GB2345848A
Application number: GB0001076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Judith Helen Luscombe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-01-19
Filing date: 2000-01-19
Publication date: 2000-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-19
Also published as: GB0001076D0; GB2345848B; GB9900991D0

Abstract

A picture 2 comprises a picture frame 4 and a picture mounting sheet 16 mounted within the picture frame 4. The picture mounting sheet 16 is magnetic or capable of attraction to magnetic materials. Preferably, at least one object is located on the mounting sheet 16, wherein the mounting sheet 16 and the object are magnetically attracted for removably securing said object to the mounting sheet. The arrangement allows the creation of various backgrounds on the mounting sheet and various objects on the background.

Description

A PICTURE The present invention relates to a picture and, in particular, a picture of the type having a frame and a picture mounting sheet itself mounted within the frame.

The mounting sheet being suitable for mounting one or more objects thereon which are held by magnetic attraction.

Fridge magnets have been available for a number of years and are sold in various designs including animals, insects, slogans, lettes, numbers and many other designs. They are named fridge magnets because they are commonly purchased to be magnetically affixed to the metal door or shell of a refrigerator but, in fact, they may also be attached to other metal objects in the home and office environment. It has been noted that many children like to play with the fridge magnets on the refrigerator door and one of the objects of the present invention is to enhance and facilitate this desire.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a picture comprising a picture frame and a picture mounting sheet mounted within the picture frame, wherein the picture mounting sheet is magnetic or capable of magnetic attraction to magnetic materials.

Advantageously, the mounting sheet may be used to mount objects thereon which are held to the mounting sheet by magnetic attraction.

Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picture comprising a picture frame, a picture mounting sheet itself mounted within the picture frame and at least one object to be located on the mounting sheet, wherein the mounting sheet and the object are magnetically attracted for removably securing said object to said mounting sheet.

Preferably, the objects comprise a magnetic material, typically, on the rear facing surface thereof. Preferably, the said magnetic material is ferromagnetic. Preferably, the mounting sheet is made from steel, preferably, mild steel. Preferably, the mounting sheet is coated on its upper surface to provide a more attractive appearance to the observer. Preferably, the frame is of conventional construction having an inner peripheral lip defining the outer limits of the visually displayed area of the mounting sheet. The inner peripheral lip forms a recessed ledge in the back of the frame against which the mounting sheet may be located and secured being of a slightly broader construction than the inner peripheral lip to allow overlapping engagement therewith. Preferably, the mounting sheet may have a thin plastic film sheet of roughly similar size laid thereover to protect the mounting sheet coating layer and also to provide the possibility of a photograph or other picture or drawing being sandwiched therebetween.

Thin plastic film is preferable to glass which may distort the magnetic attraction and is not suitable for children.

The mounting sheet may be decorated with a suitable background scene either by painting the mounting sheet or by the use of coloured paper arranged thereover either to provide background colour or colours or to be arranged to create a background scene. The paper may be self-adhesive or may be adhered to the mounting sheet using a suitable adhesive.

As the frame and mounting sheet are mainly designed for use as a creative object, fasteners are preferably used which will have the necessary resilience for multiple replacement of the mounting sheet.

Advantageously, the user may arrange objects of choice on the mounting sheet to create their own picture within the picture frame. The mounting sheet, itself providing the background for the picture, may be itself creatively coated with coloured paper or paint and/or may be replaced to provide a range of backgrounds. Alternatively, a suitable photograph or picture may be located over the mounting sheet.

The backgrounds may provide popular themes from children's stories with the objects providing the characters within the story. Such themes may include; cartoon characters, nursery rhymes, jungle or beach scenes, railways, farmyards and many others.

As examples, the objects may be in the form of story characters, farm animals, wild animals, pets or other types of human or animal characters. Typically, the objects have a magnet fitted to the rear surface thereof which causes the object to be magnetically attracted to the mounting sheet. As such objects are easily moved around on the mounting sheet, the objects may be creatively arranged thereon by the user.

Examples of the objects which may appeal to the older or open age groups include military characters which could be arranged, for example, on a suitable battleground location on the mounting sheet.

Examples of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:figure 1 shows an arrangement of objects against an ocean background in accordance with the present invention; figure 2 shows a single object placed in a frame in accordance with the present invention; figure 3 shows a picture frame and mounting sheet in accordance with the present invention; figure 4 shows a decorated mounting sheet in accordance with the present invention; figures 5a-c each show a simple character for use with the present invention; figure 6a shows the decorated mounting sheet of figure 4 mounted in a picture frame in accordance with the present invention; figure 6b shows the character of figure 5b mounted in the picture of figure 6a; figure 6c shows the character shown in figure 5a located in the picture of figure 6a; figure 6d shows the characters of figure 5a and figure 5b placed in the picture of figure 6a ; figure 7a shows an alternative picture frame and decorated mounting sheet in accordance with the present invention; figure 7b shows the character of figure 5c mounted in the picture of figure 7a; and figure 8 shows a cross section through the picture of figure 3 along line A-A.

Referring to figures 3 and 8, a picture 2 of the present invention comprises a conventional picture frame 4 having a decoratively profiled upper surface 6 and an inner peripheral lip 8 which defines the outer limits of the window of the picture 2 from the point of view of the observer (not shown). As in a conventional picture frame, the lip 8 forms a supporting ledge 10 at the base of the recess 12 formed in the rear of the picture frame 4. The recess 12 and the space defined by the inner peripheral lip 8 have parallel sides and the recess 12 accommodates a rectangular acetate window 14, a rectangular mild steel mounting sheet 16 and a rectangular backing sheet 18 which are each suitably cut to give close fitting engagement with the recess 12. The acetate window 14, the mild steel mounting sheet 16 and the backing sheet 18 are each longer and wider than the display space defined by the lip 8 so that they are urged in use against the back of the lip 8, which forms ledge 10 at the base of the recess, and are secured in such a position by conventional fastening blades 20 which are made from resilient material allowing them to be repeatedly bent rearwards to allow placement of the acetate window, mild steel mounting sheet 16 and backing sheet 18. The fixings 20 may then be bent back against the back of the backing sheet 18 to secure the three layers into position in the picture. Window sheet 14 is made from a suitable transparent acetate so that the upper surface of the mild steel mounting sheet 16 is visible through the acetate window 14 to the observer.

Examples of uses of the invention can be most clearly described with references to figures 1,2,4,5 (a)- (c), 6 (a)- (d) and figure 7 (a)- (b).

Referring to figure 1, a conventional frame 30 of the type described in relation to figures 3 and 8 has a mild steel mounting sheet 32 mounted therein upon which has been painted as background ocean 34. An acetate sheet (not visible) is located over the top of the mild steel mounting sheet 32. A series of aquatic animals and an ark 36 have been mounted on the mounting sheet 32 in an arrangement created by the user. Each aquatic animal has a suitable magnetic disc mounted on the rear thereof, arranged in such a manner that it is not visible from the upper surface of the character, which causes it to be magnetically fixed to the mounting sheet 32 in the position where it is placed thereon by the user. A similar disc is located on the rear of the ark 36.

Referring to figure 2, a picture frame of the type described in relation to figures 3 and 8 has mounted therein a mounting sheet 40 the surface of which has simply been painted in a plain colour. An acetate cover (not visible) is located over the mounting sheet 40. An aquatic scene 42 having a magnetic backing disc (not shown) has been located on the mounting sheet 40 by the user. Figure 4 shows a mounting sheet 46 which has been decorated by the user to show a spotted mushroom or toadstool 48 amidst several clumps of grass 50a-d. Figure 6a shows the mounting sheet 46 mounted in a picture frame 52 prior to the placement thereon of magnetic objects. Figures 5a-c show a selection of magnetic objects which each have a magnetic disc placed on the underside thereof (not shown).

Figure 5a comprises a toad, figure 5b comprises a gnome and figure 5c comprises an angel seated on a flower bed.

Referring to 6b, the gnome is shown located at the base of the toadstool whereas in figure 6c the toad has replaced the gnome at the base of the toadstool and in figure 6d the gnome and the toad are both located beneath the toadstool.

Figure 7a shows a further picture frame 60 having mounted therein an alternative decorative background 62 which comprises clumps of grass, two spaced clumps of flowers 66, a tree 68 and a depiction of the sun 70. Referring to figure 7b, the angel of figure 5c has been located in the clumps of grass 64 between the two spaced clumps of flowers 66.

It will be clear from the figures described, that the invention provides the user with countless creative possibilities by varying the type and number of objects placed on the mounting sheet and also by optionally creating a decorative background on the surface of the mounting sheet. In examples described, the decorative background has been formed by the use of self adhesive coloured paper. However, as an alternative, simple coloured paper and a suitable paper adhesive may be used.

As a further alternative, self adhesive peel off plastic may be used. In all cases, the paper or plastic may have pre-printed designs or may be plain for the user to create their own designs. As a further alternative, a more permanent decorative background may be painted onto the surface of the mounting sheet. It should be recognised that although a magnetic disc is located on the rear of the characters to facilitate the magnetic attraction with the mounting sheet, the characters themselves may not necessarily be made of magnetic material and are most commonly formed from a suitable synthetic material such as resin or plastic. They may also be made of wood. However, it is also envisaged that small objects may be formed totally from magnetic material. It is also envisaged that an embodiment may be produced whereby the mounting sheet is itself formed from magnetic material so that, in such a case, the objects placed on the mounting sheet only need be made from or have placed thereon a material which has attraction to magnetic material.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A picture comprising a picture frame and a picture mounting sheet mounted within the picture frame, wherein the picture mounting sheet is magnetic or capable of magnetic attraction to magnetic materials.
2. A picture comprising a picture frame, a picture mounting sheet itself mounted within the picture frame and at least one object to be located on the mounting sheet, wherein the mounting sheet and the object are magnetically attracted for removably securing said object to said mounting sheet.
3. A picture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the objects comprise a magnetic material.
4. A picture according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic material is on the rear facing surface of the said object.
5. A picture according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the said magnetic material is ferromagnetic.
6. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting sheet is made from steel.
7. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting sheet is coated on its upper surface to provide a more attractive appearance to the observer.
8. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is of conventional construction having an inner peripheral lip defining the outer limits of the visually displayed area of the mounting sheet.
9. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting sheet has a thin plastic film sheet of roughly similar size laid thereover to protect the mounting sheet coating layer and also to provide the possibility of a photograph or other picture or drawing being sandwiched therebetween.
10. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting sheet is decorated with a suitable background scene.
11. A picture according to claim 10, wherein the background scene is decorated by painting.
12. A picture according to claim 10, wherein the background scene is decorated by the use of coloured paper arranged thereover.
13. A picture according to claim 12, wherein the coloured paper either provides background colour or colours or is arranged to create a background scene.
14. A picture according to claims 12 or 13, wherein the paper is self-adhesive or is adhered to the mounting sheet using a suitable adhesive.
15. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein fasteners are used having the necessary resilience for multiple replacement of the mounting sheet.
16. A picture according to any of claims 10-16, wherein the backgrounds provide popular themes from children's stories with the objects providing the characters within the story.
17. A picture according to any of claims 10-16, wherein the background includes; cartoon characters, nursery rhymes, jungle or beach scenes, railways, farmyards and many others.
18. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the objects may be in the form of story characters, farm animals, wild animals, pets or other types of human or animal characters.
19. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the objects have a magnet fitted to the rear surface thereof which causes the object to be magnetically attracted to the mounting sheet.
20. A picture according to any preceding claim, wherein the objects include military characters.