Table And Tabletop For Use With Interchangeable Art Elements

Abstract

A table and tabletop configured for easy exchange of art elements is disclosed. The table has tabletop that includes a frame system with an outer frame movably connected with an inner frame. The outer frame supports a protective element, and the inner frame supports an art element. When the outer frame is moved away from the inner frame, the art element supported in the inner frame can readily be exchanged with another.

1 . A table, comprising:
 a. a leg supporting, directly or indirectly, a tabletop;   b. the tabletop including a frame system, the frame system comprising an outer frame movably connected with an inner frame;   c. the outer frame comprising a border with a top facing surface that is in a first reference plane when the tabletop is in an open position, a second reference plane when the tabletop is in a closed position, wherein the first reference plane and the second reference plane are parallel, and the border comprises an inward facing surface adapted to support a protective element, the inward facing surface being perpendicular to the first and the second reference planes; and   d. the inner frame comprising a receptacle adapted to removably receive an art element, wherein the outer frame is liftable from the inner frame to open the tabletop for exchanging one art element for another.   
     
     
         2 . The table of  claim 1  wherein the top facing surface of the outer frame is coextensive with the tabletop. 
     
     
         3 . The table of  claim 1  wherein the inward facing surface of the outer frame includes a channel about its perimeter sized and shaped to receive outer edges of the protective element. 
     
     
         4 . The table of  claim 3  wherein the protective element comprises a transparent or translucent material. 
     
     
         5 . The table of  claim 4  wherein the transparent or translucent material comprises one or more of glass or plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The table of  claim 1  wherein the outer frame is connected with the inner frame by at least one hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The table of  claim 6  further including a locking mechanism to secure the outer frame is in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The table of  claim 1  wherein the inner frame is sized and shaped to receive standard wall art. 
     
     
         9 . The table of  claim 8  wherein the inner frame further includes filler to secure wall art of a nonstandard size in the inner frame. 
     
     
         10 . The table of  claim 1  wherein the leg directly supports the tabletop. 
     
     
         11 . The table of  claim 1  wherein the leg indirectly supports the tabletop through connection with an intermediate furniture base piece. 
     
     
         12 . A tabletop including a frame system, the frame system comprising an outer frame movably connected with an inner frame to move between an open position and a closed position;
 a. the outer frame comprising a border with a top facing surface that is in a first reference plane in the open position, a second reference plane in the closed position, wherein the first reference plane and the second reference plane are parallel, and an inward facing surface adapted to support a protective element, the inward facing surface being perpendicular to the first and the second reference planes; and   b. the inner frame comprising a receptacle adapted to removably receive an art element, wherein the outer frame is manually and reversibly movable away from the inner frame for ease of exchanging art elements while remaining attached with the inner frame.   
     
     
         13 . The tabletop of  claim 12  wherein the top facing surface of the border comprises one or more of glass, metal, wood, or plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The tabletop of  claim 12  wherein the protective element is a sheet of plastic or glass adhered within a channel in the inner surface of the border. 
     
     
         15 . The tabletop of  claim 12  wherein the protective element is a sheet of plastic or glass removably mechanically secured within a channel in the inner surface of the border. 
     
     
         16 . The tabletop of  claim 12  wherein the protective element and the art element combine to create a third visual impression not identical to either the protective element or art element individually. 
     
     
         17 . The tabletop of  claim 12  wherein the art element is wall art comprising of a standard size. 
     
     
         18 . A table comprising the tabletop of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         19 . A horizontal art display apparatus, comprising:
 a. a frame system mounted horizontally, the frame system comprising an outer frame movably connected with an inner frame to move between an open position and a closed position;   b. the outer frame comprising a border with a top facing surface that is in a first reference plane in the open position, a second reference plane in the closed position, wherein the first reference plane and the second reference plane are parallel, and the border having an inward facing surface supporting a protective translucent or transparent element, the inward facing surface being perpendicular to the first and the second reference planes; and   c. the inner frame comprising a receptacle adapted to removably receive an art element, wherein the outer frame is reversibly movable away from the inner frame for exchanging art elements.