Combination display frame

Abstract

A combination display frame for mounting at least one piece of art which includes a matte and a backing and a light source to provide back lighting. The matte has openings through which the art is displayed. One of the displayed pieces of art is at least partially transparent and the light source is imbedded within the frame for lighting the at least partially transparent piece of art from its backside. Preferably, a switch on the frame's outer periphery is provided for turning the light source on and off and the light source is a light panel about the same size and dimension as the art piece. Finally, the preferred embodiment includes an access panel which secures and provides access to the light panel.

1 . A combination display frame for mounting at least two pieces of art, said frame comprising: 
 (a) an outside periphery sufficient in size to surround said at least two pieces of art;    (b) a matte having openings that generally conform to the sizes of said at least two pieces of art and being received within said outside periphery;    (c) backing means juxtaposed with said matte for mounting said at least two pieces of art in such position that each is aligned with one of said openings in said matte;    (d) said at least two pieces of art comprising at least one at leat partially transparent piece; and    (e) light means associated with said backing means to provide back lighting only for said at least one at least partially transparent piece.    
   
   
       2 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said frame further includes means for alternatively actuating said light means to either one of an on-condition or an off-condition.  
   
   
       3 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said means for alternatively actuating said light means comprises a toggle switch and is associated with said outside periphery and a circuit means is provided to electrically associate said light means with said toggle switch.  
   
   
       4 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said light means is formed of a battery powered light box.  
   
   
       5 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said light box comprises a slim light panel with a fluorescent light source.  
   
   
       6 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said backing means is in surface-to-surface contact with said matte.  
   
   
       7 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said at least partially transparent piece comprises an outside piece of transparent acrylic and an inside piece of transparent acrylic for protecting said at least partially transparent piece.  
   
   
       8 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least partially transparent piece depicts a subject matter and said at least two pieces of art further comprises a print of said subject matter, and said size of said print is at least four times larger than said size of said semi-transparent piece.  
   
   
       9 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said at least partially transparent piece is positioned generally adjacent to an outer perimeter of said print.  
   
   
       10 . A combination display frame as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said frame further includes a transparent protective means positioned in front of said print and said semi-transparent piece, said transparent protective means being associated with said outside periphery and said backing means to form a generally sealed assembly for said print and said semi-transparent piece.  
   
   
       11 . A combination display frame for mounting at least two pieces of art comprising: 
 (a) a matte;    (b) backing means;    (c) an outer periphery;    (d) said at least two pieces of art comprising at least partially transparent piece and at least one generally opaque piece;    (e) a first opening in said matte corresponding to the shape of said at least partially transparent piece and a second opening in said matte corresponding to the shape of said at least one generally opaque piece.    (f) a third opening in said backing means corresponding to the shape of and aligned with said first opening in said matte;    (g) means for securing said backing means, said at least one at least partially transparent piece, said at least one generally opaque piece, and said matte in stationary relationship with one another; and    (h) light means for providing back lighting for said at least one at least partially transparent piece positioned in said third opening behind said at least one at least partially transparent piece.    
   
   
       12 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said light means is positioned within said third opening and behind said at least one at least partially transparent piece.  
   
   
       13 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said light means is secured in position with a removable access panel equipped with latching means.  
   
   
       14 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said means for securing said backing means, said at least one at least partially transparent piece, said at teat one generally opaque piece, and said matte comprise an adhesive material and a plurality of clamping devices positioned generally adjacent to said outside periphery.  
   
   
       15 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said at least partially transparent piece is a photographic negative and said at least one generally opaque piece is a print of said photographic negative.  
   
   
       16 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said light means comprises a light panel of generally same shape as said at least one at least partially transparent piece.  
   
   
       17 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one generally opaque piece is three-dimensional in nature.  
   
   
       18 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising two short frame elements and two long frame elements adjacent to said outer periphery and a transparent cover placed between said matte and said two short and said two long frame elements to provide protection for said at least partially transparent piece and said at least one generally opaque piece.  
   
   
       19 . A combination display frame for mounting at least two pieces of art comprising: 
 (a) a matte, backing means, an outer periphery, a semi-transparent art piece, a generally opaque art piece, and light means to provide back lighting for said semi-transparent art piece;    (b) said matte comprising a first opening of generally same shape and size of said at least one at least partially transparent art piece and a second opening of generally same shape and size of said at least one generally opaque art piece;    (c) said backing means comprising a third opening of generally same shape and size of said at least one at least partially transparent piece;    (d) said light means comprising a light panel of generally same shape and size of said third opening;    (e) means for securing in position relative to each other said matte, said at least one at least partially transparent piece, said at least one generally opaque art piece, and said backing means and comprising a plurality of mechanical clamps; and    (f) an access panel aligned within said third opening in said backing means with a latching handle wherein said light panel is placed in said opening and said access panel then removably secures said light panel    
   
   
       20 . A combination display frame as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said at least one at least partially transparent piece is a painting on glass and said at least one generally opaque art piece is three-dimensional and said at least two pieces of art further comprise a print and each of said pieces of art is aesthetically related to the others.