Shadow box having multiple display surfaces and shadow box kit

Abstract

A shadow box is disclosed having a background display surface positioned in overlying spaced relation to a foreground display surface, the foreground display surface having a viewing aperture through which a portion of the background display surface may be viewed. The viewing surfaces are mounted on a frame assembly which keeps them in overlying spaced relation. The frame assembly has a background frame, one side of which engages the perimeter of the background display surface, the opposite side engaging the perimeter of the foreground display surface. A foreground frame engages the foreground display surface, the foreground display surface being sandwiched between the foreground and background frames. The shadow box may be pre-assembled or provided in kit form for later assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shadow box, comprising: 
 a first display surface having a first perimeter;    a second display surface having a second perimeter, a viewing aperture extending through said second display surface and defined by an aperture perimeter, said second display surface being positioned substantially overlying and in spaced relation to said first display surface, a portion of said first display surface being visible through said viewing aperture; and    a frame assembly surrounding said first and second display surfaces and engaging said first and second perimeters, at least a portion of said aperture perimeter being inwardly disposed in spaced relation relative to said frame assembly, said frame assembly maintaining said display surfaces in said overlying spaced relation.    
     
     
         2 . A shadow box according to  claim 1 , wherein said entire aperture perimeter is inwardly disposed in spaced relation away from said frame assembly.  
     
     
         3 . A shadow box according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame assembly comprises a first frame positioned between said first and said second display surfaces, and a second frame positioned overlying said first frame, said second display surface being sandwiched between said first and second frames.  
     
     
         4 . A shadow box according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second display surfaces are substantially the same size and shape and are positioned in a substantially aligned overlying relationship to one another.  
     
     
         5 . A shadow box according to  claim 4 , wherein said first and second frames are substantially the same size and shape and are positioned in a substantially aligned overlying relation to one another.  
     
     
         6 . A shadow box according to  claim 1 , wherein said viewing aperture comprises an area of at least 50% of said second display surface.  
     
     
         7 . A shadow box according to  claim 1 , wherein said second display surface comprises a plurality of viewing apertures.  
     
     
         8 . A shadow box according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said display surfaces comprises paperboard.  
     
     
         9 . A kit for constructing a shadow box, said kit comprising: 
 a first display surface having a first perimeter;    a second display surface having a second perimeter, a viewing aperture extending through said second display surface and defined by an aperture perimeter; and    a frame assembly engageable with said first and second perimeters of said first and second display surfaces, said first and second display surfaces being positionable in overlying spaced relationship with one another with said first and second perimeters engaging said frame assembly, said second display surface being positionable with at least a portion of said aperture perimeter inwardly disposed in spaced relation relatively to said frame assembly.    
     
     
         10 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 9 , wherein said frame assembly comprises a first frame positionable between said first and said second display surfaces, and a second frame positionable overlying said first frame, said second display surface being positionable between said first and second frames.  
     
     
         11 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 9 , wherein said first and second display surfaces are substantially the same size and shape and are positionable in a substantially aligned overlying relationship to one another.  
     
     
         12 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second frames are substantially the same size and shape and are positionable in a substantially aligned overlying relation to one another.  
     
     
         13 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 9 , wherein said viewing aperture comprises an area of at least 50% of said second display surface.  
     
     
         14 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 9 , wherein said second display surface comprises a plurality of viewing apertures.  
     
     
         15 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 9 , wherein one of said display surfaces comprises paperboard.  
     
     
         16 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 10 , wherein one of said frames comprises a plurality of elongated members attachable to one another end to end in a shape corresponding to said perimeter of one of said display surfaces.  
     
     
         17 . A shadow box, comprising: 
 a first display surface having a first perimeter;    a second display surface having a second perimeter, a viewing aperture extending through said second display surface and defined by an aperture perimeter, said second display surface being positioned substantially overlying and in spaced relation to said first display surface, a portion of said first display surface being visible through said viewing aperture;    a first frame positioned between said first and said second display surfaces and engagaing said first and second perimeters; and    a second frame positioned overlying said first frame and engaging said second perimeter, said second display surface being sandwiched between said first and second frames, at least a portion of said aperture perimeter being inwardly disposed in spaced relation relative to said first and second frames, said first and second frames maintaining said display surfaces in said overlying spaced relation.    
     
     
         18 . A shadow box according to  claim 17 , wherein said entire aperture perimeter is inwardly disposed in spaced relation away from said frames.  
     
     
         19 . A shadow box according to  claim 17 , wherein said first and second display surfaces are substantially the same size and shape and are positioned in a substantially aligned overlying relationship to one another.  
     
     
         20 . A shadow box according to  claim 19 , wherein said first and second frames are substantially the same size and shape and are positioned in a substantially aligned overlying relation to one another.  
     
     
         21 . A shadow box according to  claim 17 , wherein said viewing aperture comprises an area of at least 50% of said second display surface.  
     
     
         22 . A shadow box according to  claim 17 , wherein one of said display surfaces comprises paperboard.  
     
     
         23 . A kit for constructing a shadow box, said kit comprising: 
 a first display surface having a first perimeter;    a second display surface having a second perimeter, a viewing aperture extending through said second display surface and defined by an aperture perimeter;    a first frame engagable with said first perimeter; and    a second frame engagable with said second perimeter, said second frame being positionable overlying said first frame, said first display surface being positionable with said first perimeter engaging said first frame, said second display surface being positionable between said first and second frames with said second perimeter engaging said first and said second frames, said second display surface being positionable with at least a portion of said aperture perimeter inwardly disposed in spaced relation relatively to said first and second frames.    
     
     
         24 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 23 , wherein said first and second display surfaces are substantially the same size and shape and are positionable in a substantially aligned overlying relationship to one another.  
     
     
         25 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 24 , wherein said first and second frames are substantially the same size and shape and are positionable in a substantially aligned overlying relation to one another.  
     
     
         26 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 23 , wherein said viewing aperture comprises an area of at least 50% of said second display surface.  
     
     
         27 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 23 , wherein said second display surface comprises a plurality of viewing apertures.  
     
     
         28 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 23 , wherein one of said display surfaces comprises paperboard.  
     
     
         29 . A kit for constructing a shadow box according to  claim 23 , wherein one of said frames comprises a plurality of elongated members attachable to one another end to end in a shape corresponding to said perimeter of one of said display surfaces.  
     
     
         30 . A shadow box for enhancing three dimensional effects of decorative images displayed within the box, said shadow box comprising: 
 superimposed display surfaces including a base surface and at least one surface spaced away from said base surface and having a viewing aperture for viewing of said base surface; and    a frame surrounding said display surfaces, said display surfaces being fixedly attached to said frame.    
     
     
         31 . A shadow box according to  claim 30 , wherein the at least one display surface is displaced inwardly from said frame.  
     
     
         32 . A shadow box according to  claim 31 , wherein said frame includes multiple superimposed frame portions wherein said at least one surface is sandwiched between a pair of said superimposed frame portions.  
     
     
         33 . A shadow box according to  claim 30 , wherein said frame further comprises an outwardly facing surface surrounding said display surfaces, said outwardly facing surface providing an additional surface for mounting said decorative images.