Picture mounting and display system

Abstract

A picture mounting and display system wherein a picture, particularly a photograph, is glued to a Masonite backing board and sprayed with a protective spray coat, and the composite sandwich placed into a heating table under pressure, causing the picture to be bonded to the backing board. After setting, the main subject(s) of the picture are cut out with a special double-edged band saw, the back edges beveled in a forward direction, the reference feature lines on the back outlined by grinding, the edges coated with artist oil or black paint, and the back coated. The picture article so manufactured and highlighted has a particularly attractive and creative and even life-like appearance, forming a life-like figure, and is appropriately mounted as desired for display.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method, and the resulting structure, for producing a silhouetted picture article for display purposes which includes inter alia the steps of bonding the picture to a backing board, silhouetting it and highlighting in a special way the back and edges of the article.

Heretofore, many techniques and methods have been developed for mounting and displaying pictures such as photographs, including the broad technique of silhouetting the picture, typical examples of the latter being disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,414,656 to Diaz (issued May 2, 1922) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,377,308 to Brown (issued June 5, 1945).

However, none of these prior art techniques or methods have attained the high degree of realism, attractiveness and permanency achieved by the present invention. The present invention accomplishes these highly desirable and valuable characteristics by means of a certain series of steps and certain highlighting techniques which have produced in their combined totality, it is believed, far greater effects than would have ordinarily been forseen or expected when the steps and techniques are considered individually.

The present invention achieves these results by inter alia gluing the picture to an appropriate backing board, causing the picture to be bonded to the backing board by means of heat and pressure, silhouetting the desired subject(s) of the picture, partially beveling the edges and highlighting certain areas of the back with special techniques. These and other particular highlighting techniques, described more fully below, produce the highly desirable attributes of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:

FIGS. 1 through 7 are perspective views of various stages illustrating certain steps used in the method of the present invention, as outlined below:

FIG. Step ______________________________________ 1 gluing; 2 bonding; 3 silhouetting; 4 partial beveling; 5 highlighting by grinding; 6 base making; and 7 final mounting for display. ______________________________________

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the back side of the mounted silhouetted picture article of the present invention in a typical mounting structure.

FIG. 9 is a partial, side, cross-sectional view of the layered pictured article of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a close-up, partial, side view of the special, double edged, band saw blade used in the method of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although of course nearly unlimited applications of the present invention are possible, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described as applied to a simple, base mounted, single subject photograph for illustrative purposes only.

As shown in FIG. 1, a photograph 1, which of course can be black and white or color, with a glossy or matte or other finish, is glued to a backing board 2 by means of adhesive 3.

The choice of adhesives is important, and one which has been found to be particularly effective is a spray adhesive sold under the trade name "Kingco" (15-106) manufactured by King Chemical Co. Inc., 5231 Northrup Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63110. Alternately the white glue, which dries to a clear substance, sold under the trade mark "Craftsman 80614" by Sears Roebuck & Co., Chicago, Illinois 60607, could be used. In any event the glue 3 should be one that withstands the pressure and heat which occurs in the bonding step described more fully below.

The nature and characteristics of the backing board 2 is also very important, and a tempered, pressed hardboard material, such as that sold under the trade mark "Masonite" by the Masonite Corporation, has been found to be most effective. Indeed the use of Masonite type material is necessary to get the full effects of the present invention, although a less desirable and enhanced picture display can be achieved with other less desirable materials such as certain woods, for example hardboard or ordinary fir plywood. A typical thickness of the backing board would be 11/2inches.

After gluing the picture 1 to the backing board 2, the front of the picture is sprayed with a protective spray coat, such as for example the matte lacquer spray sold under the trade mark "Pro-Tecta-Cote" by McDonald Photo Products Inc., 2522 Butler, Dallas, Texas 75325. This spray contains alcohol butyl acetate, amylacetate, ketones, toulene, xylene, and petroleum distalates.

The third step, as generally illustrated in FIG. 2, is a bonding step whereby the sandwich element 1-3 is placed in a heat and pressure table 4, described in the trade as a commercial mounting press. The sandwich element is heated to a temperature of approximately 250.degree. Farenheit for approximately 3 minutes under approximately a 150 pounds of pressure, causing the picture 1 to become actually bonded to the backing board 2. This result is particularly important and insures the permanency of the final product, preventing fading, peeling, bucking, cracking or separation of the picture 1 from the backing board 2. The bonding step is quick but must be done carefully and cautiously, further enhancing the appearance of the final product.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the main, desired subject of the picture is cut-out and silhouetted by means of a band saw 5 having a special band saw blade 6. The band saw blade 6 is double edged, having cutting edges 7, 7' on both the upstroke and down-stroke sides, as best shown in FIG. 10. The special saw blade 6 gives a perfect cut without causing the silhouetted picture 1 to tear. With standard blades and techniques the cut would be rough and uneven, causing tearing of the picture.

Preferably, not only is the exterior periphery of the main subject of the picture 1 silhouetted, but also the interior areas, such as the areas between the arms and body 8 and, for further example, between the legs (not included in picture 1). A heavy duty jig saw is preferably used for silhouetting the interior areas 8, with the blade of the jig saw being doubled edged analogous to that for the band saw blade 6 illustrated in FIG. 10.

Upon the complete silhouetting of the picture 1, all of the silhouetted edges 9 are ground down to produce the limited bevel sections 10 (note FIG. 9) by means of an electric grinder 11, as generally illustrated in FIG. 4. The grinder 11 is passed all around the picture article 1' to bring the back of the backing board 2 up closer to the picture 1, giving a special dimension-like effect to the silhouetted picture article 1'. It should be noted, with particular reference to FIG. 9, that the bevel sections 10 are from the back of the backing board forward toward the picture 1 and do not extend across the full edge 9 but rather leave a flat plateau area 12. It is important that the bevel sections 10 do not extend all the way to the edges of the glue or picture sections 1, 3, respectively. The beveled edges 9 are then coated with artist oil or black paint.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a second electric grinder 13 with a router head 14 is used on the back of the picture article 1' to produce a groove 15 (note FIG. 9) to outline on the back the main features of the picture article as depicted in the front, as for example the shoulder line 15' and the terminal line 15" of the sleeve of the dress, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 8.

The backside is then coated with a finishing spray, for example, an acrylic spray coating such as that sold under the trade mark "Krylon" (No. 1303) by Borden Inc., Dept. C, New York 10017, for a finished appearance and feel. The picture article 1' is then complete and finished and ready for mounting in any desirable manner.

For illustrative purposes only, the present invention will be described with respect to a typical mounting scheme, although a nearly unlimited number of mounting and display techniques are possible.

As shown in FIG. 5, a long section of wood 16, for example mohogany having a suitable stain, is cut by a saw 18 to produce a mounting base section 17 of an appropriate width to match the width of the picture article 1'. The wood 16 includes a groove 19 for insertion of the picture article.

Adhesive 20 can be added to the lower edges of the picture article 1', if so desired, for relatively permanent placement of the article 1' into the groove 19 of the base mount 17. For utilitarian and decorative purposes, auxiliary items such as an engraved plaque 21, a pen set 22 and felt pad 23 can be added to the base mount 17, as desired.

The picture articles and mount can of course be made in all different types and sizes with various arrangements. For example, rather than a pen set 22, baby shoes could be used with a baby picture, or an eagle figure or flag used with a soldier's picture, or a sports trophy with a picture of a sportsman. Moreover rather than merely mounting the picture article on a display base, it could be mounted in association with the base of a table lamp or as part of a book end.

A particularly dramatic effect can be obtained by mounting the picture article between two pieces of glass or transparent plastic and framing the three layered sandwich, the combination greatly enhancing the dimensionality of the picture article of the present invention.

A further dramatic effect can be obtained by making a negative of a picture and printing a black and white copy of it, but "burning" the print until it is black, a technique well known in the photographic arts. The overly blackened image (a true silhouette) is then mounted on a piece of white wood such as birch, and the gluing, bonding, silhouetting and highlighting techniques described above applied. The resulting, silhouetted, black on white structure makes a particularly attractive wall hanging.

Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed as invention is:

1. A picture mounting and display article comprising:

a backing board;

a picture mounted on the front of said backing board, the main subject matter on said picture being silhouetted through and around said backing board producing a peripheral side edge having a surface generally perpendicular to the main surfaces of said backing board;

reference feature grooves on the back side of said backing board outlining on said back side the main feature lines of the picture mounted on the front side of said backing board; and

means associated with said backing board for mounting said backing board with the picture mounted thereon for display purposes at least substantially all of the back of said backing board being visible when mounted and displayed; whereby the article displays the picture with a particularly attractive and life-like appearance.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said peripheral edge is painted black.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the back of said backing board has a surface finishing coat thereon.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said backing board is a board of tempered, pressed hardboard material.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the peripheral side edge is beveled in a forward direction at the back edge substantially removed from the picture.