Shadow Box

This application claims the benefit of the following applications:

All of the applications referenced above are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present disclosure relates generally to shadow boxes, and more specifically to shadow boxes having internal structural supports.

A shadow box is a frame intended to hold three-dimensional (3D) objects. Typically, a shadow box has a deeper frame than a frame intended to hold pictures or other flat objects. Shadow frames can be used to display 3D objects on a wall like one would a picture or painting.

Solutions which allow for producing shadow boxes using more inexpensive materials while maintaining a suitable degree of rigidity would be desirable. Additionally, new shadow boxes which can be more readily customized would also be desirable.

A summary of several example embodiments of the disclosure follows. This summary is provided for the convenience of the reader to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments and does not wholly define the breadth of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. For convenience, the term “some embodiments” or “certain embodiments” may be used herein to refer to a single embodiment or multiple embodiments of the disclosure.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box. The shadow box comprises: a frame having a plurality of sides, wherein the plurality of sides collectively define a window, wherein the plurality of sides includes at least one hollow side, each hollow side defining a cavity, wherein the plurality of sides further includes at least one tab; and at least one frame support insert disposed in the frame, each of the at least one frame support insert having a respective size and a respective shape, wherein each of the at least one frame support insert is disposed in the cavity of a corresponding hollow side of the at least one hollow side, wherein the cavity of each hollow side is defined based on the size and the shape of the corresponding frame support insert such that each frame support insert fits snugly in the corresponding hollow side.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein also include a manufacturing blank. The shadow box comprises: a blank defining a plurality of fold lines, wherein the plurality of fold lines defines a frame such that, when the manufacturing blank is folded along the plurality of fold lines, the manufacturing blank is assembled into the frame, wherein the frame has a plurality of sides defining a window, wherein the plurality of sides includes at least one hollow side, wherein each of the at least one hollow side is sized and shaped based on a size and a shape of a respective frame support insert of at least one frame support insert to be disposed in the frame such that the at least one frame support insert fits snugly in the at least one hollow side when the at least one frame support insert is disposed in the at least one hollow side, wherein the plurality of sides further includes at least one tab.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the plurality of sides defines at least one slot, further comprising: at least one shelving support insert, wherein at least one first portion of each shelving support insert is disposed in at least one of the at least one slot, wherein a second portion of each shelving support insert is disposed in the window.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, further comprising: a shelving member, wherein the shelving member is at least partially disposed in the window, wherein the shelving member is affixed to one of the plurality of sides.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, further comprising: a metal member disposed in the cavity of a first hollow side of the at least one hollow side; and a magnet disposed in the window, wherein the magnet is affixed to the first hollow side via magnetic attraction to the metal member disposed in the cavity of the first hollow side.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, further comprising: an attachment member, wherein the attachment member is affixed to the magnet.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the attachment member has a light.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the attachment member includes a wire, further comprising: a hook affixed to the wire.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the attachment member includes an arm having a joint.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the joint is a ball joint.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the attachment member includes a pole.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein each of the plurality of sides has a back portion, further comprising: a rear panel, wherein the rear panel is affixed to the back portion of each of the plurality of sides.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the rear panel includes a plurality of hooks, wherein the back portion of each of the plurality of sides defines a hole, wherein each of hook of the rear panel is disposed in a hole of the back portion of a corresponding side of the plurality of sides.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the plurality of sides includes a front side, further comprising: a transparent front panel, wherein the transparent front panel is affixed to the front side of the frame, wherein a first side of the plurality of sides defines a through hole, wherein the through hole in the first side goes through the first side and opens into the window.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the at least one hollow side is at least one first side of the plurality of sides, wherein the frame further comprises a second side of the plurality of sides, wherein the second side defines at least one hole, further comprising: at least one clip, wherein a first portion of each clip is disposed in a corresponding hole of the at least one hole, wherein a second portion of each clip is disposed in the window.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, further comprising: at least one button, wherein each button is affixed to a respective side of the plurality of sides of the frame, wherein each button is disposed in the window.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the at least one button is a plurality of buttons, further comprising: a shelving member, wherein the shelving member is disposed between the plurality of buttons and a first side of the plurality of sides such that the shelving member is held in place by the plurality of buttons and the first side.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein the shelving member is acrylic.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, further comprising: a transparent member disposed in the frame; and a light stand disposed in the frame, wherein the transparent member is affixed to the light stand, wherein the light stand includes a light bulb and defines an aperture, wherein the light bulb is disposed in the light stand such that light from the light bulb shines through the aperture and onto the transparent member.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a shadow box or manufacturing blank as noted above or below, wherein a first hollow side of the at least one hollow side has a back portion defining a through hole, wherein the through hole of the first hollow side opens into the cavity of the first hollow side.

The various disclosed embodiments include shadow boxes having frame support inserts or other support structures as well as accessories for shadow boxes. The shadow boxes described herein are frames which may be made of materials such as, but not limited to, cardboard. For example, various disclosed embodiments may be realized using cardboard which can be produced as manufacturing blanks and assembled into the shadow boxes by folding the manufacturing blanks and inserting any frame support inserts, shelving support inserts, or both. The inserts may likewise be constructed of materials such as cardboard and realized via manufacturing blanks which may be folded into shapes of the supporting structures (for example, substantially rectangular prism shapes).

The frame support inserts discussed herein may be disposed, for example, in one or more hollow sides of a frame of a shadow box in order to reinforce the frame. This reinforcement may allow, for example, maintaining rigidity of the frame even when relatively heavy items (for example, items which weigh about as much or more than the frame itself), multiple items (as a non-limiting example, one or more toys and a comic book), or both, are placed within the frame. As a non-limiting example, plastic action figures or other toys may be placed in a cardboard frame which is reinforced with a pair of cardboard frame support inserts in order to allow the frame to support the weight of the toys. Accordingly, the shadow boxes as described herein may be used to hold and display items such as, but not limited to, figures or other toys, game pieces, books (for example, comic books), ornaments, combinations thereof, portions thereof, and the like.

At least some disclosed embodiments may include a set of tabs in the frame. For example, the frame may have a front side and a back side, and frame may have tabs which are disposed along or otherwise on the back side. The tabs may be utilized to hold items inserted into the frame in place. As a non-limiting example, the tabs may be utilized to hold a comic book within a window of the frame so as to allow for holding the comic book in that window.

The disclosed embodiments may utilize various sets of slots and tabs in order to, for example, lock inserts (which may or may not be decorative) into cavities within a shadow box and optionally hide the inserts from view at certain angles (for example, hiding an insert behind decorative panels when the frame is viewed from the front). This allows the inserts to be manufactured without prints or other decorative materials without taking away from the decorative nature of the frame or other components of the shadow box.

At least some disclosed embodiments may further allow for using one or more shelving support inserts in order to customize the frame with shelving. To this end, the frame may have shelving holes sized and shaped to allow for insertion of portions of shelving support inserts. The shelving support inserts may be, but are not necessarily, made of the same material (for example, cardboard) as the frame, the frame support inserts, or both. When the frame is assembled, the shelving support inserts may be assembled inserted into the shelving holes of the frame in order to set the shelving support inserts as shelves, for example, within the window of the frame. The shelves may be used to further customize display and allow for placing different items at different heights.

The shadow boxes discussed herein may be further enhanced in order to hold items using attachment components such as, but not limited to, buttons, clips, hooks, strings, wires, arm members, combinations thereof, and the like. Such attachment components may be utilized to provide additional flexibility and customization in the manner of display of items, for example by allowing items to be displayed in a more dynamic manner where the items appear to be popping out of the frame. To support such attachment components, in some embodiments, the frame of a shadow box may define one or more apertures. As a non-limiting example, a first portion of a clip may be disposed in such an aperture, and a second portion of the clip may be disposed within a window of the frame and used to hold an item in place.

For example, a button having an adhesive side (for example, a side having an adhesive material disposed thereon which may be allow the adhesive side to stick to objects and hold the button in place) and a convex side (i.e., a side which curves outward, such as outwardly away from the adhesive side) may be affixed to the frame via the adhesive side, and the convex side of the button may hold an item such as, but not limited to, a comic book in place, for example by using a combination of buttons disposed on different portions of the frame to collectively hold the item in a certain position within the frame. Items held in this manner may include, but are not limited to, books or other documents (for example, comic books) portions of shelving (for example, a portion of acrylic shelving held in place via buttons such that another portion of the acrylic shelving may extend from the frame), figures (for example, miniatures game pieces which have substantially flat bases), combinations thereof, and the like.

Various shadow boxes described herein may include or otherwise utilize magnetized elements. For example, according to an embodiment, one or more metal members (for example, members made of steel or another metal which are magnetically attracted to a given magnet) may be disposed in or on the frame of a shadow box, thereby allowing for affixing items to the frame using magnetic force. That is, a metal member may be disposed in or on the shadow box, and the item may include or have affixed thereto a magnet (for example, a rare earth metal magnet) which is magnetically attracted to the metal member. This allows for further customizing the display of items via the disclosed shadow boxes, for example, by including magnetic stands or platforms which may allow items to “pop out” of the frame while still being held in place via the frame. The reinforcement may allow for these magnets, metal members, and held items to be supported via a shadow box whose structural components (i.e., components which define the shape of the frame) are made of cardboard or other lighter weight materials.

Various disclosed embodiments may also be utilized with other accessories such as, but not limited to, lights (for example, light emitting diodes [LEDs]), translucent members, front panels, back panels, combinations thereof, and the like.

The shadow boxes described herein may be flexibly designed and utilized for various purposes such as, but not limited to, displaying figures or other toys, displaying books or portions thereof (for example displaying covers of comic books), storing items (for example, storing wine corks when the shadow box further includes front and back panels which effectively seal the shadow box to prevent the wine corks disposed inside a middle window of the frame from falling forward or otherwise falling out), combinations thereof, and the like.

Additionally, because the shadow boxes discussed herein can be made of cardboard or other materials which are readily imprinted on while still providing sufficient rigidity and the ability to hold relatively heavier items, various disclosed shadow boxes may be customized with unique prints, patterns, logos, quick response (QR) codes or other scannable markers such as barcodes, combinations thereof, and the like. Further, the shadow boxes may be printed as flat sheets of cardboard or other material, which may utilize excess space in order to print instructions (for example, by printing instructions on portions of a rectangular piece of cardboard which are intended to be removed and discarded from the frame during assembly).

Various disclosed embodiments may be realized at least partially using manufacturing blanks. In an embodiment, a manufacturing blank is a piece of material which may be punched out of a mold or otherwise formed from a certain material. In accordance with various disclosed embodiments, the manufacturing blanks may include perforations defining fold lines, empty spaces (for example, holes, apertures, slots, etc.), both, and the like. In at least some embodiments manufacturing blanks may be made of cardboard.

is an illustration of a manufacturing blankof a shadow box according to a first embodiment. The manufacturing blankof the shadow box according to the first embodiment is designed for insertion of a pair of frame support inserts (for example the frame support inserts-and-,) as well as a pair of shelving support inserts (for example, the shelving support inserts-and-,).

As depicted in, the manufacturing blankincludes multiple sectionsthrough, with each sectionthroughcorresponding to a respective portion of a frame of a shadow box to be assembled at least by folding the manufacturing blank.

The first sectionmay be utilized to realize, for example, a back display panel or other back panel of the frame of the shadow box. In the embodiment shown in, the first sectionincludes a set of subsections-and-which may be utilized to realize frame support panels which at least partially define hollow sides of a frame of the shadow box formed by the manufacturing blank. That is, the subsections-and-may be folded in order to define respective cavities in which frame support inserts (for example, the frame support inserts-and-,) may be inserted.

Each subsection-and-(referred to individually as a subsectionfor simplicity) is now discussed with respect to perforations defined therein. In the embodiment shown in, each subsectionincludes a first set of perforationsthroughand a second set of perforationsthrough. The first set of perforationsthroughmay collectively define a fold line over which the respective subsectionis to be folded, for example, to be folded for insertion into one of the sides of the frame in order to lock the subsection into that side. The second set of perforationsthroughdefine slots which are sized and shaped to accept insertion of respective portions of shelving support inserts (for example, the shelving support inserts-and-,). In the example implementation shown in, each subsection has a first pair of slotsandwhich are used to collectively hold one shelving support insert, and a second pair of slotsandwhich are used to collectively hold another shelving support insert.

In an embodiment, the first sectionincludes a pair of perforation lines-and-. Each of the perforation lines-and-defines a respective tab which may be utilized to lock the back panel realized using the first sectioninto the front panel realized using the second section.

The second sectionmay be utilized to realize, for example, a front display panel or other front panel of the frame of the shadow box. In the embodiment shown in, the second sectionincludes perforations-,-,-,-, and-. The perforations-through-divide the second sectionat respective locations in order to define shelving panels which may be removed from the manufacturing blankand utilized to cover shelving support inserts (for example but not limited to, the shelving support inserts,) in order to form shelves as discussed herein.

That is, the perforationsmay define locations at which the manufacturing blank may be folded in order to remove at least some of the second sectionwhen assembling the shadow box. Further, at least some of the material of the second sectionwhich are above the perforation-and below the perforation-(as defined with respect to an orientation in which the perforationsare oriented vertically with perforation-at the top and perforation-at the bottom) may remain after removing the shelving panels, and those remaining material components may be folded into slots of the frame or otherwise folded in order to realize parts of the top and bottom sides of the frame when the frame is oriented vertically in that manner.

To this end, in the embodiment shown in, each of the perforationsfurther has corresponding portions,, and, defining respective tabs. That is, the portions,, andmay be folded within their respective perforationsin order to create tabs (not shown in). These tabs, in turn, may be inserted into respective slots of shelving support inserts, support inserts, or both in order to lock the second sectioninto each of the shelving support inserts.

More specifically, in an embodiment, the tabs defined by perforation portions-and-may be inserted into corresponding slots of a first support insert (for example, the slots-and-of the frame support insert-,) in order to lock the first support insert into a top hollow side of the frame, and the tabs defined by the perforation portion-may be inserted into a corresponding slot of a second support insert (for example, the slot-of the frame support insert-,) in order to lock the second support insert into a bottom hollow side of the frame.

Similarly, the tabs defined by the perforation portions-and-may be inserted into corresponding slots of a first shelving support insert (for example, slots-and-of the shelving support insert-,) and the tab defined by the perforated portion-may be inserted into a corresponding slot of the first shelving support insert (for example, a slot-of the shelving support insert-). Likewise, the tabs defined by the perforation portions-and-may be inserted into corresponding slots of a second shelving support insert (for example, slots-and-of the shelving support insert-,) and the tab defined by the perforated portion-may be inserted into a corresponding slot of the second shelving support insert (for example, a slot-of the shelving support insert-).

The second sectionmay be covered in a decorative material or other pattern which is consistent throughout the second section(for example, the same material or pattern throughout, including sections to be removed via the perforations) such that the resulting shelving panels removed from the second sectionmay optionally have a consistent visual appearance with the front panel of the frame of the shadow box.

In the embodiment shown in, the perforations-and-are sized and shaped to accept insertion to the tabs-and-. That is, the perforations-and-may be opened in order to create respective openings which are sized and shaped to accept insertion of the tabs-and-, thereby locking the back and front panels formed by the first and second sectionsand, respectively, together.