Picture Frame/Shelf Combination

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for personalizing a picture. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a picture display apparatus including a body, a shelf extending from the body, and a plurality of pre-selected accessories. Preferably, a peel-off adhesive removably adheres the accessories to the shelf. Also, the body may define a border around a picture display area. Further, the body and the shelf may be portions of a unitary member. The invention also provides a picture display apparatus that includes an L-shaped body, a display area, a shelf, an accessory, and an adhesive. The display area is on the front of the vertical member of the L-shaped body whereas the horizontal member of the body defines an accessory shelf. In another preferred embodiment, a picture display apparatus for displaying a cross-stitched picture held on a stretcher frame is provided.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A picture frame that can be personalized by a user, comprising:
 an L-shaped frame body defining a substantially vertical member and a substantially horizontal member;   wherein the vertical member defines a frame border, the frame border defining an aperture display area for a front side of the frame body through which a picture can be displayed; and   wherein the horizontal member defines a shelf extending outwardly from the front side of the frame body upon which an accessory object can be placed for display thereon in conjunction with the picture.   
   
   
       22 . The frame of  claim 21  further comprising the accessory, wherein the accessory comprises an integral adhesive for removably adhering the accessory to the shelf. 
   
   
       23 . The frame of  claim 22  further comprising a cover covering the adhesive and adapted to be peeled off of the adhesive prior to the accessory being removably adhered to the shelf. 
   
   
       24 . The frame of  claim 21 , wherein the frame body and the shelf are a single, unitary member. 
   
   
       25 . The frame of  claim 21  further comprising an adhesive that is integral to the shelf and located on an upward-facing portion of the shelf such that an accessory can be removably adhered to the shelf for display thereon via the adhesive. 
   
   
       26 . The frame of  claim 25  further comprising a cover covering the adhesive and adapted to be peeled off of the adhesive prior to the accessory being removably adhered to the shelf. 
   
   
       27 . The frame of  claim 21  wherein the frame border is adapted with a step portion on a rear side thereof, thereby defining a first interior aperture area and a second interior aperture area, the first interior aperture area comprising the aperture display area and the second interior aperture area comprising an aperture area that is larger than the aperture display area such that the frame border is thereby adapted to accept a stretcher frame for engagement against the step portion. 
   
   
       28 . A method of providing a personalizable picture frame, comprising:
 providing a picture display frame that includes an L-shaped frame body defining a substantially vertical member and a substantially horizontal member, wherein the vertical member defines a frame border, the frame border defining an aperture display area for a front side of the frame body through which a picture can be displayed, and wherein the horizontal member defines a shelf extending outwardly from the front side of the frame body; and   providing a plurality of accessories for removable attachment to the shelf via an adhesive that is built into one of the accessory or the shelf.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the accessories providing step comprises providing a plurality of pre-selected accessories for removable attachment to the shelf via an adhesive that is built into one of the accessory or the shelf. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the accessories providing step comprises providing a plurality of accessories for removable attachment to the shelf via an adhesive that is built into the shelf. 
   
   
       31 . A method of personalizing a picture frame, comprising:
 inserting a picture into a picture display frame that includes an L-shaped frame body defining a substantially vertical member and a substantially horizontal member, wherein the vertical member defines a frame border, the frame border defining an aperture display area for a front side of the frame body through which the inserted picture is displayed, and wherein the horizontal member defines a shelf extending outwardly from the front side of the frame body;   selecting an accessory from a plurality of pre-selected accessories; and   placing the selected accessory on the shelf for display thereon in coordination with the inserted picture.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the placing step comprises removably adhering the selected accessory to the shelf via an adhesive that is built into the shelf, wherein the adhesive comprises a peel-off cover, and wherein the placing step further comprises removing the peel-off cover from the adhesive prior to removably adhering the selected accessory to the shelf via the adhesive. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the picture depicts an object, and wherein the selected accessory comprises a miniature replica of the object depicted in the picture. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 removing the inserted picture from the picture display frame;   inserting a new picture into the picture display frame;   removing the selected accessory from the shelf;   selecting a different accessory from the plurality of pre-selected accessories; and   placing the selected different accessory on the shelf for display thereon in coordination with the inserted new picture.   
   
   
       35 . A picture display apparatus for displaying a picture, comprising
 a frame body including a border and an aperture display area that is defined by the border, the border having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side, wherein the border includes a step on the rear side, wherein the step defines an interior aperture for the border such that the interior aperture comprises the aperture display area and a second aperture area that is larger than the aperture display area, wherein the frame body is so dimensioned as to receive a stretcher frame within the second aperture area for engagement against the step such that a cross-stitched picture held in a taut condition by the stretcher frame can be displayed through the aperture display area; and   a shelf extending perpendicularly outward from the front border side at a lower portion of the front border side below the aperture display area, the shelf being so dimensioned as to support an accessory object for display thereon in conjunction with a cross-stitched picture held in a taut condition by the stretcher frame.   
   
   
       36 . The picture display apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the shelf comprises an adhesive portion integral thereto such, the adhesive portion being located on a shelf face such that an adhesive layer of the adhesive portion is upward facing and perpendicular to the front border side. 
   
   
       37 . The picture display apparatus of  claim 36  further comprising a peel-off cover attached to the upward facing adhesive layer. 
   
   
       38 . The picture display apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the frame body and the shelf comprise a one-piece unit. 
   
   
       39 . A picture display apparatus for displaying a picture, comprising:
 a frame body including a border and an aperture display area that is defined by the border, the border having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side, wherein the border includes a step on the rear side, wherein the step defines an interior aperture for the border such that the interior aperture comprises the aperture display area and a second aperture area that is larger than the aperture display area, wherein the frame body is so dimensioned as to receive a stretcher frame within the second aperture area for engagement against the step such that a cross-stitched picture held in a taut condition by the stretcher frame can be displayed through the aperture display area; and   the stretcher frame, wherein the stretcher frame is engaged against the step such that a cross-stitched picture held in a taut condition by the stretcher frame can be displayed through the aperture display area, and wherein the stretcher frame is configured to hold a cross-stitched picture in a taut condition independently of whether the stretcher frame has been received by the frame body.   
   
   
       40 . The picture display apparatus of  claim 39  further comprising:
 a shelf extending perpendicularly outward from the front border side at a lower portion of the front border side below the aperture display area, the shelf being so dimensioned as to support an accessory object for display thereon in conjunction with a cross-stitched picture held in a taut condition by the stretcher frame.