U.S. patent application number 11/732925 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for electronic image frame system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Atico International, USA. Invention is credited to Daniel W. Forbes, Tom Lane, Eric Pozin.
Application Number | 20080244949 11/732925 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39825697 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080244949 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Forbes; Daniel W. ; et
al. |
October 9, 2008 |
Electronic image frame system
Abstract
This invention relates to electronic image frames, and in
particular to electronic image frames having an electronics housing
portion and a detachable frame portion that is secured in place by
a tab and slot mechanism.
Inventors: |
Forbes; Daniel W.; (Jupiter,
FL) ; Pozin; Eric; (Davie, FL) ; Lane;
Tom; (Boca Raton, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Casimir Jones, S.C.
440 Science Drive, Suite 203
Madison
WI
53711
US
|
Assignee: |
Atico International, USA
Fort Lauderdale
FL
Atico International, Inc,
|
Family ID: |
39825697 |
Appl. No.: |
11/732925 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/700 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1607 20130101;
H05K 5/0217 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
40/700 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/06 20060101
A47G001/06 |
Claims
1. An electronic image system comprising: a. an electronics housing
configured to display an electronic image, said housing having a
side portion comprising a single tab, where said tab has a length
that is at least 50 percent of the length of the side portion of
the housing on which it resides, and b. a frame portion configured
for detachable assembly to said electronics housing, said frame
portion comprising a slot configured to engage said tab so as to
fix said frame portion to said housing.
2. (canceled)
3. An electronic image system comprising: a. a frame portion
configured for detachable assembly to an electronics housing, said
frame portion having a side portion comprising a single tab, where
said tab has a length that is at least 50 percent of the length of
the side portion of the frame on which it resides, and b. an
electronics housing configured to display an electronic image, said
housing comprising a slot configured to engage said tab so as to
fix said frame portion to said housing.
4. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to electronic image frames, and in
particular to electronic image frames having an electronics housing
portion and a detachable frame portion that is secured in place by
a tab and slot mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Electronic image frames, also known as digital photo frames,
are known in the art. Such devices typically consist of an
electronic image display (e.g., a liquid crystal display) and its
associated electronics, a power supply, a means for operating the
functions of the device (e.g., buttons), a means for acquiring and
storing image content (e.g., memory card ports, data ports, etc.),
and a decorative housing containing the aforementioned components.
Some electronic image frames have a detachable decorative frame
that surrounds the display, allowing the attachment of different
frames to match a particular style or decor. Such a device is
disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20070011929 to Cheng,
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. A disadvantage of
the electronic image frames of the prior art is that they feature
multiple tab and slot mechanisms for attaching the frame to the
housing. Such a configuration necessarily limits the size and
stability of each tab, increases the difficulty and dexterity
needed to attach and remove the frame, and increases the overall
complexity of the design of both the housing and the frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to electronic image frame
systems having an electronics housing portion and a detachable
frame portion that is secured in place by a single tab and slot
mechanism. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the
electronic image frame system includes a power cord. In other
embodiments, the electronic image frame system includes a data
cable (e.g., Universal Serial Bus "USB" cable, IEEE 1394 "FireWire"
cable, RJ-45 "Ethernet" cable, etc.) for communication and data
transfer with a computing device. In yet other embodiments, the
electronic image frame system includes wireless data transmission
capabilities. In some embodiments, the electronic image frame
system includes a wired or wireless remote control to facilitate
operation of the device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0004] FIG. 1A depicts an electronic image frame system in an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0005] FIG. 1B depicts an electronic image frame system in an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The electronic image frame systems of the present invention
feature an electronics housing portion and a detachable frame
portion that is secured in place by a single tab and slot
mechanism. In some embodiments of the present invention, the tab is
attached to a surface of the housing, and is received in place by a
slot in the frame. In preferred embodiments, the width of the tab
comprises a substantial portion of the width of the surface of the
housing to which it is attached. In particularly preferred
embodiments, the width of the tab is at least 50 percent of the
width of the surface of the housing to which it is attached. In
other embodiments, the width of the tab is between 50 percent and
75 percent of the width of the surface of the housing to which it
is attached. In yet other embodiments, the width of the tab is
between 75 percent and 100 percent of the width of the surface of
the housing to which it is attached. In some embodiments, the tab
extends to more than one surface of the housing. In other
embodiments, the tab is configured as a unitary ridge protruding
from two sides of the housing. In yet other embodiments, the tab is
configured as a unitary ridge protruding from three sides of the
housing. In some embodiments, the tab is configured as a unitary
ridge extending around four sides of the housing. The receiving
slot in the frame may be size-matched to the tab. In other
embodiments, the slot occupies substantially all of a side of the
frame. In yet other embodiments, a single slot spans all four sides
of the frame.
[0007] In some embodiments of the present invention, the tab and
slot mechanism is configured such that the tab is attached to a
surface of the frame, and is received in place by a slot in the
housing. In preferred embodiments, the width of the tab comprises a
substantial portion of the width of the surface of the frame to
which it is attached. In particularly preferred embodiments, the
width of the tab is at least 50 percent of the width of the surface
of the frame to which it is attached. In other embodiments, the
width of the tab is between 50 percent and 75 percent of the width
of the surface of the frame to which it is attached. In yet other
embodiments, the width of the tab is between 75 percent and 100
percent of the width of the surface of the frame to which it is
attached. In some embodiments, the tab extends to more than one
surface of the frame. In other embodiments, the tab is configured
as a unitary ridge protruding from two sides of the frame. In yet
other embodiments, the tab is configured as a unitary ridge
protruding from three sides of the frame. In some embodiments, the
tab is configured as a unitary ridge extending around four sides of
the frame. The receiving slot in the housing may be size-matched to
the tab. In other embodiments, the slot occupies substantially all
of a side of the housing. In yet other embodiments, a single slot
spans all four sides of the housing. Other variations are also
contemplated.
[0008] FIGS. 1A & 1B depict an electronic image frame system in
an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic image frame
system 100 comprises an electronics housing 110 and a detachable
frame 120. The housing 110 features a tab 130 protruding from, and
attached to, a side surface. The frame 130 features a slot 140 that
is configured to receive the tab 130. When the tab 130 is fitted
into the slot 140 of the frame 120, the frame is thereby securely
attached to the housing 110. The tab 130 is configured to have a
large surface area, which aids in the secure attachment of the
frame 120 to the housing 110. The housing may further comprise
components for additional attachment points to one or more other
sides of the frame (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Publication No.
20070011929). It should be understood that the principles
highlighted herein may be applied to (via modification of) a wide
variety of commercially available electronic image devices that
utilize detachable frames.
[0009] All publications and patents mentioned in the above
specification are herein incorporated by reference. Various
modifications and variations of the described system of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the
invention has been described in connection with specific preferred
embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed
should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed,
various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the
invention which are obvious to those skilled in the relevant fields
are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
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