US3236368A

US3236368A - Kit for making a three-dimensional picture

Info

Publication number: US3236368A
Application number: US324502A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eisen Melvin
Original assignee: EISEN NOTIONS Inc
Current assignee: EISEN NOTIONS Inc
Priority date: 1963-11-18
Filing date: 1963-11-18
Publication date: 1966-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-22

Description

M. EISEN KIT FOR MAKING A. THREE-DIMENSIONAL PICTURE INVENTOR. /Z l//A/ V555/U Feb. 22, 1966 Filed Nov. 18 1963 Il m .N

Feb. 22, 1966 M. EISEN KIT FOR MAKING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL PICTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1965 United States Patent O 3,236,368 KIT FOR MAKING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL PICTURE Melvin Eisen, Mission, Kans., assigner to Eisen Notions, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 18, 1963', Ser. No. 324,502 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) This invention relates to the manufacture and sale of partly finished goods to persons who wish to add their own labor thereto in order to lower the cost of the iinished goods, and more particularly to a kit for making a three-dimensional picture.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a kit wherein all the necessary components for producing a three-dimensional picture are provided and cooperate to suggest the appearance of the finished item in an attractive manner; to provide such a kit which includes an instruction sheet having a figure outline thereon related to the picture to be finished so as to enable one to readily fabricate a completed three-dimensional lpicture from the kit components; to provide such a kit wherein a finished three-dimensional framed picture may be produced at a cost substantially less than the item could be purchased in the finished state; to provide such a kit with components in such condition that a semiskilled consumer can easily finish the item to appear as a product of a highly skilled workman; 'and to provide such a kit which offers entertainment and creative reward with a minimum of cost.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become yapparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration .and example certain ernbodirnents of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a complete package or kit ready for sale.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the various components in the kit.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale showing a corner portion of a completed three-dimensional picture and particularly illustrating a stuffed figure.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a threedimensional picture kit for display and sale, for example through retail department stores and the like. The kit 1 includes a flexible tnansparent bag 2 preferably of relatively high strength synthetic resin film such as polyethylene and of substantially rectangular configuration. The bag 2 has one edge 3 separated or open for receiving the contents thereinto.

A rectangular picture frame 4 preferably of unfinished wood such as oak -is relatively tightly contained in the bag 2 and is comprised of four molding members 5 secured together by any suitable means forming a framed opening 6. A rectangular sheet of fabric 7 is contained in the bag 2 and is of greater dimensions than the framed opening 6. The fabric 7 has a picture 8 thereon preferably applied by conventional fabric printing methods such as those commonly used in printing multi-colored scenes or designs on drapery material. rThe picture 8 is of a size suitable for framing in the opening 6; that is, the picture frame 4, when suitably placed over the sheet of fabric 7, surrounds a substantially complete and attractive scene. The picture 8 may take a great variety of forms but includes suitable foreground -gures such as, in the illustrated example, dogs 9.

The fabric 7 is positioned in the bag 2 immediately behind the picture frame 4 whereby the picture may be viewed in framed position through one side of the bag 2.

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A printed instruction sheet 10 is located in the bag 2 and is of substantially smaller size than the picture frame opening 6 for reasons noted below. The instruction sheet 10 contains printed information 11 thereon for enabling one to readily fabricate a complete three-dimensional framed picture from the components contained in the bag. The instruction sheet 10 includes thereon an outline 12 of the gures or dogs 9 to indicate intended lines of separation between the flat surface of the picture and the stuffed surface of the picture in the completed item. Staples 13 or other suitable fastening members secure the instruction sheet to the fabric 7 without damage and in a position whereby the instruction sheet appears in the framed opening 6 for prominent viewing. The size of the instruction sheet with respect to the size of the picture does not result in a substantial distraction from the display of the picture.

A sheet of muslin 14 or similar relatively stiff or sized backing fabric has dimensions similar to the fabric 7 and is contained in the bag located rearwardly of the fabric 7. A piece of cotton batting 15 preferably of approximately ls-inch uncompressed thickness is of similar dimensions as the fabric 7 and is also contained in the bag located rearwardly of said fabric '7. The relative positions of the muslin 14 and batting 15 -are not important in the kit, so long as they are both between the fabric 7 and a sheet of cardboard described below.

A sheet of relatively stiff material, in the illustrated example a sheet of cardboard 16, is located in the bag 2 rearwardly of the fabric 7, muslin 14 and cotton batting 15 and is of a size for being received in the framed opening 6 from the rear for backing the picture in the finished item. The fabric 7 and muslin 14 and cotton batting 15 are -urged into relatively stiff and dat condition by the cardboard 16 to provide Ian effective display of the picture in the opening `6 although the fabric 7 is not securely mounted. In accomplishing this, the rear face 17 of the fabric 7 is urged into frictional contact with the cotton batting 15 or muslin 14, depending upon which happens to be adjacent thereto in the package, and this frictional Contact is duplicated through the remaining layer to the cardboard 16 by pressure exerted by the relatively tight bag rendering all layers forwardly of the cardboard 16 relatively flat in conformance thereto. This effectively prevents substantial sagging in the unmounted fabric 7.

A length of thread 18 is contained in the bag and preferably rests on the face of the picture 8 within the framed opening 6 for viewing by a prospective purchaser. The thread 18 preferably has properties which render it relatively strong and translucent so that it will appear substantially invisible in the completed three-dimensional scene. Thread of synthetic resin such as nylon is available with these properties.

A plurality of adhesive tape strips 19 are used to close the opened edge 3 for securing the above-noted contents within the bag. The arrangement of components in the bag gives the suggested appearance of the finished picture. All the necessary components for completing the finished item which would detract from the appearance are included in the kit in a manner for maintaining the picture in proper position with respect to the frame but are substantially hidden from view except for edges extending around the edges of the cardboard 16 at the rear of the package.

In using the kit, the cotton batting 15 is trimmed to lit the outside dimensions of the picture, the trimmed pieces of cotton batting being retained for stuffing as noted below. The muslin 14 is then sewn to the rear face 17 of the fabric 7 around the edges thereof so that the stitch will not be seen through the framed opening 6. The foreground figures or dogs 9 are then outlined in positions illustrated by the outline 12 on the instruction sheet 10 by stitching 20 through the fabric 7 and muslin 14 forming closed pockets 21 therebetween. The muslin 14 is then slit in the center of each foreground figure or dog 9, care being taken not to slice through the fabric 7. The cotton batting which was trimmed from the edges, as above noted, is then stuffed into each outline or subject to the desired fullness and the slits 22 in the muslin are then stitched together by hand at 23. The fabric 7 and muslin 14 forming the stuffed figures are then laid upon the trimmed cotton batting and the edges 24 of the fabric 7 and muslin 14 are stretched tightly over the edges 25 of the cardboard 16 with the cotton batting therebetween. The edges 24 of the fabric 7 and muslin 14 are then sewed to the cardboard 16 near the cardboard edges 2S preferably by using a standard sewing machine, the stitches 26 easily extending through all the layers as indicated in FIG. 3. The assembled combination is then placed in the frame opening 6 from the rear and suitably taped or tacked therein against the frame shoulder 27 in the conventional manner of framing a picture.

The cotton batting lends a plush soft appearance to the picture and the stuffing in the pockets 21 bulges the foreground figures, in the illustrated example the dogs 9, to provide an attractive three-dimensional effect to the picture. If desired, the nished three-dimensional picture may be coated with a glossy material such as shellac and the molding members 5 of the frame may be stained, waxed or painted so as to better display or match the three-dimensional picture.

It is to be understood that while one form of this invention has been illustrated andl described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A three-dimensional picture kit including in combination: a container having at least one side transparent, a picture frame in said container and having molding members forming a framed opening, a sheet of fabric in said container of greater dimensions than said framed opening and having a picture thereon of a size suitable for framing in said framed opening, said picture having foreground figures thereon, said fabric being positioned in said container immediately behind said frame for viewing said picture through said opening and through said transparent side, an instruction sheet in said container and containing information thereon for enabling one to readily fabricate a complete three-dimensional framed picture from the components contained in said container, said instruction sheet including thereon an outline of said figures where three-dimensional effect is desired, and stuffing and backing members in said container behind said fabric and urged against said fabric by said container and thereby preventing excessive sagging of said fabric.

2. The kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container is a exible bag relatively tightly containing said frame and members.

3. The kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said instruction sheet is of substantially smaller size than said opening and including means temporarily securing said instruction sheet to said fabric within said opening for viewing with said picture through said transparent side.

4. The kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stufng and backing members comprise a sheet of muslin similar in size to said fabric and a piece of cotton batting similar in size to said fabric, and a sheet of cardboard of a size to be received in said opening for backing said picture.

5. A three-dimensional picture kit including in combination: a exible bag having at least one side transparent, a picture frame relatively tightly contained in said bag and having molding members forming a framed opening, a sheet of fabric in said bag of greater dimensions than said opening and having a picture thereon of a size suitable for framing in said opening, said picture having foreground gures thereon, said fabric being positioned in said bag immediately behind said frame for viewing said picture through said opening and through said transparent side, an instruction sheet in said bag and containing information thereon for enabling one to readily fabricate a complete three-dimensional framed picture from the components contained in said bag, said instruction sheet including thereon an outline of said gures where threedimensional effect is desired, a sheet of muslin of generally similar dimensions as said sheet of fabric and contained in said bag rearwardly of said fabric, a piece of cotton batting of generally similar dimensions as said fabric and contained in said bag rearwardly of said fabric, a length of thread in said bag, and a sheet of cardboard in said bag positioned rearwardly of said fabric and muslin and cotton batting and of a size for being received in said opening for backing said picture, said fabric and muslin and cotton batting being urged into relatively stiff and flat condition by said cardboard for effective display of said picture in said opening, whereby the appearance of the iinished picture is suggested by viewing the contents of the bag from the exterior of said bag.

6. The kit as set forth in claim 5 wherein said thread is translucent so as to be substantially invisible on said picture.

7. The kit as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bag is rectangular with one edge open for receiving contents thereinto and including adhesive strips for sealing said one edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,798,328 7/1957 Fasino 3526 3,029,936 4/1962 Graber 206-47 3,136,412 6/1964 Karosen 206-47 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.