Desk top picture frame storage box

Abstract

A taper-shaped keepsakes storage box having an integrated picture frame cover therein a picture can be inserted and presented at a slightly inclined viewing angle. According to a first embodiment, the picture frame cover peripheral edge interfit over a flanged peripheral edge at the access opening of the storage compartment and the two edges are held together with sets of corresponding magnets embedded in these edges. In other embodiments, seams can be eliminated from the side walls of the picture frame storage box assembly by insetting the picture frame in the front surface of the case body or by giving the picture frame peripheral side edge an acute angle allowing it to mate with the correspondingly angled interior side peripheral edge of the storage compartment.

1 . A picture frame assembly with a storage compartment comprising: 
 (a) a picture frame, said picture frame includes a front surface, a rear peripheral frame with surface and an opening in said front surface defining a display area, said display area configured to receive and retain a picture therein;    (b) a storage compartment having a rear wall and side walls extending upwardly from said rear wall, said rear wall and said side walls cooperating to define an interior cavity;    (c) means for securing said rear peripheral frame surface of said picture frame to said storage compartment such that the peripheral edges of said picture frame and the peripheral edges of said opening of said storage compartment are aligned when said case body is in a closed position forming a case body; and    (d) means to provide a predetermined inclined angle to the front of said picture frame by changes of the dimensions of the of the exterior side walls, making the side walls wider at the picture frame end and narrower at the rear wall of the storage compartment,    whereby said picture frame storage box can store keepsakes and display a picture at a proper viewing angle when placed on said side wall on a horizontal surface.    
   
   
       2 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 1 , said storage compartment further comprising: 
 (a) a storage compartment having a rear wall and side walls extending upwardly from said rear wall, said rear wall and said side walls cooperating to define an interior cavity;    (b) an opening formed by said side walls and opposite to said rear wall of the storage compartment allowing access to said interior cavity to permit a user to place objects therein; and    (c) a rigid transparent sheet in the opening of said front surface of said picture frame assembly defining the display area, whereby offering protection to said picture;    (d) a closure means, selected from a group consisting of magnet, magnetic catch, tension ball catch, friction, friction catch and hinge, to securely mate the rear peripheral picture frame surface with the peripheral edge of the opening of said storage compartment forming a case body; and    (e) means to provide a predetermined inclined angle to the front of said picture frame by changes of the dimensions of the of the exterior side walls, making the side walls wider at the picture frame end and narrower at the rear wall of the storage compartment,    whereby said picture frame storage box can store keepsakes and display picture at a proper viewing angle when placed on said side wall on a horizontal surface.    
   
   
       3 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said picture frame assembly is insetted into an opening with an interior peripheral ledge in the front of said case body; therein allowing each of the exterior side walls of said storage compartment extending in one continuous surface from the storage compartment rear wall to the front surface of the case body.  
   
   
       4 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said picture frame cover assembly with an acute angled side peripheral edge is nestled into the opening of the storage compartment allowing both the outer edge corners of the picture frame side peripheral edge and the storage compartment interior side peripheral edge to meet; 
 therein allowing each of the exterior side walls of said storage compartment extending in one continuous surface from the storage compartment rear wall to the front surface of the case body.    
   
   
       5 . A storage box picture frame assembly comprising: 
 (a) a picture frame, said picture frame include a front surface, a rear peripheral frame surface and an opening in said front surface that defines a display area, said display area configured to receive and retain a picture therein;    (b) a storage compartment having an interior cavity defined by a rear wall and side walls extending upwardly from said rear wall ending in an opening to allow access to said interior cavity;    (c) means for securing said rear peripheral frame surface of said picture frame to said storage compartment such that the peripheral edges of said picture frame and the peripheral edges of said opening of said storage compartment are aligned when said case body is in a closed position, forming a case body; and    (d) means to provide a predetermined inclined angle to the front of said picture frame by changes of the dimensions of the of the exterior side walls, making the side walls wider at the picture frame end and narrower at the rear wall of the storage compartment,    whereby said picture frame storage box can store keepsakes and display a picture at a proper viewing angle when placed on said side wall on a horizontal surface.    
   
   
       6 . The storage box picture frame assembly of  claim 5 , said storage box further comprising: 
 (a) a storage compartment having a rear wall and side walls extending upwardly from said rear wall, said rear wall and said side walls cooperating to define an interior cavity;    (b) an opening formed by said side walls and opposite to said rear wall of the storage compartment allowing access to said interior cavity to permit a user to place objects therein;    (c) a rigid transparent sheet in the opening of said front surface of said picture frame assembly defining the display area, whereby offering protection to said picture;    (d) a closure means, selected from a group consisting of magnet, magnetic catch, tension ball catch, friction, friction catch and hinge, to securely mate the rear peripheral picture frame surface with the peripheral edge of the opening of said storage compartment forming a case body; and    (e) means to provide a predetermined inclined angle to the front of said picture frame by changes of the dimensions of the of the exterior side walls, making the side walls wider at the picture frame end and narrower at the rear wall of the storage compartment,    whereby said storage box picture frame can store keepsakes and display a picture at a proper viewing angle when placed on said side wall on a horizontal surface.    
   
   
       7 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said picture frame assembly is insetted into an opening with an interior peripheral ledge in the front of said case body; therein allowing each of the exterior side walls of said storage compartment extending in one continuous surface from the storage compartment rear wall to the front surface of the case body.  
   
   
       8 . The storage box picture frame assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said picture frame cover assembly with an acute angled side peripheral edge is nestled into the opening of the storage compartment allowing both the outer edge corners of the picture frame side peripheral edge and the storage compartment interior side peripheral edge to meet; therein allowing each of the exterior side walls of said storage compartment extending in one continuous surface from the storage compartment rear wall to the front surface of the case body.  
   
   
       9 . A method to store keepsakes and display a picture at a proper viewing angle, comprising: 
 (a) providing a taper-sided storage box with a picture frame cover; with the taper sides wider at the front of the picture frame and narrower towards the rear wall of the storage compartment;    (b) a picture is placed through the back of said picture frame cover and held in place by use of a backing board and means of applying continuous pressure to said backing board and picture;    (c) small keepsakes are put into said taper-sided storage box; the picture frame cover is then gently placed over the opening of the storage box, securing the picture frame cover and the storage box by a closure means, selected from a group consisting of magnet, magnetic catch, tension ball catch, friction, friction catch and hinge, whereby sealing said storage box and forming a case body;    (d) said case body is placed on a horizontal surface resting on one its inclined exterior side walls, thereby tilting the picture to a predetermined angle for proper viewing.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said picture frame cover is insetted into an opening with an interior peripheral ledge of the front of said storage box.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said picture frame cover with an acute angled peripheral edge is nestled into the an acute angled side walls of the opening of said storage box, enabling the corner of the picture frame side peripheral edge and the corner of the storage compartment interior side peripheral edge to meet, forming a combined corner at the front periphery of said storage box