The present invention relates to an illuminable frame, and more particularly but not necessarily exclusively to an illuminable picture frame for displaying an image, such as but not necessarily limited to a painting, print or photograph. The invention furthermore relates to an image display system using a plurality of such illuminable frames, a method of improving a display of an image using such a frame, and to a method of displaying multiple pieces of artwork using said image display system.

Pieces of art are frequently bought, often for considerable sums of money, but purchasers will then struggle with how to adequately display the art in flattering and innovative ways. It is known that casting light across artwork, particularly when in the form of a painting, will alter the displayed or visible characteristics of some or all of the work, often bringing out or to the fore initially more subtle aspects and consequently thereby changing the impression of the piece when viewed and studied.

To date, separate independent electrical lighting devices have been utilised, typically positioned spaced above the piece of framed artwork. However, this is not only unsightly, but light is incident with the artwork at an acute angle, impacting the relief to a critical eye. Furthermore, light is typically only cast in a single direction, again impacting the relief and/or produced effect.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a solution to these problems. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an illuminable frame for mounting a display image, the frame comprising a rigid border defining front and rear openings, a light-guide baffle which extends inwardly from the rigid border and defining a front baffle opening, a plurality of light emitting elements arranged to emit light from or adjacent to the rigid border at or adjacent to a rear surface of the light-guide baffle, an electronic controller for controlling the light emitting elements, the controller having a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving an illumination control signal from a peripheral control device, an image location portion at or adjacent to the light emitting elements, and a closure element which closes the rear opening of the border. Preferably, the illuminable frame may further comprise a front light-transmissible element which closes or occludes the front opening of the border.

Advantageously, the illuminable frame may further comprise a rear light-guide baffle which is spaced rearwardly of the front light-guide baffle, the rear light-guide baffle defining a rear baffle opening and the plurality of light emitting elements being at least in part interposed therebetween. The front light-guide baffle may overlap the rear light- guide baffle.

Beneficially, a planar mat element to a rear of which an image to be displayed may be mountable, the mat element having a further opening through which the said image may be viewable. The mat element may be at or adj acent to a rear of the rear light-guide baffle.

A rear surface of the front light-guide baffle may be reflective.

In a preferable arrangement, the plurality of light emitting elements is at least in part mounted on or adjacent to an interior edge of the border, so as to be fully setback from an edge of the front baffle opening by at least a majority of a lateral extent of the light- guide baffle.

Preferably, the plurality of light emitting elements extends around or substantially around an interior perimeter of the frame.

Preferably, the illuminable frame further comprises a compartment interposed between the light-transmissible element and the closure element in which the controller is eatable.

The illuminable frame may further comprise at least one vent which extends through the rear light-guide baffle. The or each vent may advantageously extend through the closure element.

In a preferable arrangement, the or each of the border, light-guide baffle and closure element are planar.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an illuminable frame for mounting a display image, the frame comprising a rigid border defining front and rear openings, a light-guide baffle which extends inwardly from the rigid border and defining a front baffle opening, a plurality of light emitting elements arranged to emit light from or adjacent to the rigid border at or adjacent to a rear surface of the light-guide baffle, an image location portion at or adjacent to the light emitting elements, and a closure element which closes the rear opening of the border.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an image display system comprising a plurality of illuminable frames, preferably in accordance with the first or second aspects of the invention and at least one peripheral control device having a wireless transmitter communicable with the or a wireless receiver of the or a controller forming part of each illuminable frame.

Preferably, each controller includes an identifier for electronically wirelessly identifying each said illuminable frame to the said peripheral control device.

The image display system may further comprise a computer-implemented lighting routine on the peripheral control device, the computer-implemented lighting routine via the wireless transmitter controlling the illumination of the respective plurality of light emitting elements of one or more of the plurality of illuminable frames in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

Advantageously, the computer-implemented lighting routine may be a distributed- computer network downloadable application program for a mobile computing device.

The mobile computing device may be at least one of a smartphone or tablet computer.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of improving a display of an image using an illuminable frame, preferably in accordance with the first or second aspects of the invention, the method comprising the step of setting at least part of a plurality of light emitting elements laterally back from an image to be displayed within the illuminable frame and utilising a faux mat element spaced forwardly from the image as a light-guide baffle to direct emitted light parallel or substantially parallel to a plane of the image. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of displaying multiple pieces of artwork using an image display system, preferably in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of, within each illuminable frame, utilising a faux mat element to cast baffled light from a plurality of laterally setback light emitting elements parallel or substantially parallel to a plane of the mounted image, and controlling the light emitting elements of each illuminable frame using a peripheral control device in accordance with a predetermined lighting sequence.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front side of one embodiment of an illuminable frame, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a back side view of the illuminable frame, shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partially exploded view from one side of the illuminable frame, shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows the illuminable frame of Figure 1, partially disassembled;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the illuminable frame, showing a border, light-transmissible element, faux mat element forming a light-guide baffle, and plurality of light emitting elements; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of an image display system, in accordance with the third aspect of the invention and utilising a plurality of said illuminable frames.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of an illuminable frame 10, in this instance being a picture frame in which is mountable to be encased a painting. However, although a painting is suggested for display, the image to be displayed may be any other suitable image, including but not necessarily limited to a printed image and/or photograph. It is also envisaged that by providing a deeper frame, other kinds of artwork may be displayable in such an illuminable frame 10, such as brasswork or metalwork, embossed pieces and/or sculpture.

In one aspect, the illuminable frame 10 comprises a border 12, preferably a light- transmissible element 14, a light-guide baffle 16, a plurality of light emitting elements 18, and a closure element 20. The border 12 is frame-like and preferably rigid or stiff, typically being formed of metal, plastics or wood. The border 12 may beneficially be ornate in form, providing a bevelled, chamfered, stepped or otherwise aesthetic exterior surface to complement an image to be displayed by the illuminable frame 10 along with its intended display location.

The border 12 may be produced in any known manner, and in the present embodiment, the border 12 is preferably wooden with elongate rectilinear top and bottom edges 22, 24 interconnected using mitred joints, fasteners and/or adhesive by elongate rectilinear side edges 26 extending therebetween.

The frame-like border 12 defines a border opening 28, and an interior perimeter face 30 may be stepped to allow the recessed seating of the light-transmissible element 14, thereby closing or at least occluding the border opening 28. The light-transmissible element 14 in this case is preferably glass, which may be treated so as to have anti-glare and/or ultraviolet light protective characteristics.

Although preferably transparent, the light-transmissible element may be translucent or diffuse in some cases, as required. The light-transmissible element 14 is also preferably rigid and planar. Glass is utilised in the present embodiment, but it will be appreciated that any other suitable light-transmissible material may be utilised, such as plastics.

Seated at or adjacent to a first rear surface 32 of the light-transmissible element 14 is the light-guide baffle 16. In this case, the light-guide baffle 16 advantageously replicates or gives the impression of a mat board, also known as matting. However, as it is spaced from the image to be displayed, as will be better understood hereinafter, the light-guide baffle 16 is thus a faux mat element 34.

The light-guide baffle 16 is a, preferably rigid, surround which may be formed of cardboard, wood, metal or plastics and which defines a first baffle opening 36 having dimensions which are less than those of the border opening 28. Preferably, a matt coloured finish is provided on a front facing surface 38 of the light-guide baffle 16, and a reflective or mirrored surface 40 may beneficially be provided on a rear facing surface of the light-guide baffle 16. The light-guide baffle 16 preferably forms one wall 42 of an interior compartment 44 for housing electronic components, further detailed hereinafter. The interior compartment 44 includes a contiguous side wall 46 upstanding or extending perpendicularly from the light-guide baffle 16. The contiguous upstanding side wall 46 may be independent of the border 12, or may utilise portions of the interior perimeter surface 30 of the border 12, due to the interior compartment 44 in this case being at or adjacent to the bottom edge 24 of the border 12.

The plurality of light emitting elements 18 is mounted, preferably as a continuous flexible strip, to the interior surface of the border 12, at or adjacent to the reflective or mirrored rear facing surface 40 of the light-guide baffle 16. The light emitting elements 18 are thus preferably fully set back from an edge 48 of the first baffle opening 36 by at least a majority of a lateral extent of the front light-guide baffle 16.

In this case, the light emitting elements 18 are conveniently light emitting diodes or LEDs having emitters adapted to emit at least one colour, such as white light, but more preferably two or more colours, such as red, green and blue, are provided to enable a full spectrum of light to be produced.

An electronic controller 52 is preferably provided internally, and thus located in the interior compartment 44, to energise and control the light emitting elements 18. The electronic controller 52 may be battery powered or mains powered. Inductive charging may conveniently be utilised to charge one or more rechargeable batteries forming the power source.

The electronic controller 52 preferably includes a control circuit 54, a wireless receiver 56 using any suitable wireless data transmission protocol, such as Bluetooth RTM, and a mains power supply 58 for driving or energising the light emitting elements 18 in accordance with commands from the control circuit 54. It may also be beneficial for the electronic controller 52 to include a wireless transmitter 60 for two way communication with a peripheral control device 62, described further hereinafter.

Preferably, a rear light-guide baffle 64 is provided to form a housing in which the light emitting elements 18 are recessed. The rear light-guide baffle 64 in this embodiment is setback slightly from the first baffle opening 36 defined by the front light-guide baffle 16, and is seated on a further step or shoulder defined by the interior perimeter surface 30 of the border 12.

A second baffle opening 66 defined by the rear light-guide baffle 64 therefore has greater dimensions than those of the first baffle opening 36. The front light-guide baffle 16 thereby overlaps or overhangs the rear light-guide baffle 64 in spaced relationship, so that the light emitting elements 18 are interposed therebetween.

Similarly to the front light-guide baffle 16, the rear light-guide baffle 64 may beneficially be formed of, preferably rigid or stiff, cardboard, wood, metal or plastics. The rear light- guide baffle 64 is, also similarly to the front light-guide baffle 16, preferably planar, although in every case described above it is feasible that non-planar or curved arrangements can be envisaged dependent on how the image is to be displayed. Again similarly to the front light-guide baffle 16, the rear light-guide baffle 64 preferably forms another major wall 68 of the interior compartment 44 for housing the electronic components. The rear light-guide baffle 64 includes a, preferably matt coloured, front surface 70 opposing the reflective or mirrored rear facing surface 40 of the front light-guide baffle 16.

A second rear facing surface 72 of the rear light-guide baffle 64 provides a mounting surface for a mat element 74, which in this case is matting or mat board. Alternatively, the mat element 74 may be spaced slightly from the second rear facing surface 72 of the rear light-guide baffle 64.

The mat element 74 is again a preferably rigid or stiff cardboard, wood, plastics or metal sheet with an image opening 76 defined therein. The image opening 76 typically has dimensions which are less than those of the first and second baffle openings 36, 66, whereby the image opening 76 extends inwardly of the perimeter edge 48 defined by the first baffle opening 36.

An image location portion 78 is then provided at or adjacent to the second rear facing surface 72 of the rear light-guide baffle 64. An image 80 to be displayed, typically being a piece of artwork, is then mounted at the image location portion 78 so as to be viewable through the image opening 76 and the first and second baffle openings 36, 66, along with being protected by the light-transmissible element 14.

The closure element 20, preferably being a rigid or stiff board, typically formed from cardboard, wood, metal or plastics, is then seated on a further step or shoulder 82 formed into a rear face 84 of the border 12 to close a rear opening 85 of the border 12. The closure element 20 may be a mounting board for the artwork or image 80 to be displayed, and as such may be suitably treated to reduce its acidity, and/or may be or at least in part be adhesive to retain the image 80 in place once located thereon. If the rear light-guide baffle 64 is omitted, then the mat element 74 or the closure element 20 preferably forms the other major wall of the interior compartment 44 for housing the electronic components.

By utilising a seat or ledge along an interior perimeter edge 86 of the border 12 allows the closure element 20 to be recessed or positioned flush or substantially flush with the rearmost surface 84 of the border 12, as required.

Optionally, a perimeter gap between the closure element 20 and the border 12 may be sealed to prevent or inhibit dust and particulate matter ingress, along with protection against sudden changes in humidity. A protective adhesive tape 88 is preferable, as can be seen in Figure 2. Due to the in use light emitting elements 18 producing some heat, along with the electronic controller 52, the rear light-guide baffle 64 preferably includes one or more vents 90. In this case, two vents 90a are provided at or adjacent to a top edge 92 of the rear light-guide baffle 64, and two further vents 90b are provided at or adjacent to a bottom edge 94 of the rear light-guide baffle 64, in this case coincident with the interior compartment 44. These vents 90 may extend through the mat element 74, if the mat element 74 extends sufficiently over the rear facing surface 72 of the rear light-guide baffle 64, and also extend through the closure element 20. In this case, the portions of the vents 90 at the closure element 20 are preferably grilled or meshed to prevent or inhibit ingress of particulate matter.

If very light weight or porous materials are utilised for the rear light-guide baffle 64, mat element 74 and closure element 20, then the vents 90 may be omitted if sufficient heat dissipation is apparent. Although the electronic controller 52 may have a local user-interface mounted on or adjacent to the border 12 of the illuminable frame 10, and thus the wireless components, such as the receiver and the transmitter, may be dispensed with if the local user-interface is hard wired in, it is preferable that, additionally or alternatively, the wireless peripheral control device 62 having a wireless transmitter 96 to interface with the wireless receiver 56 of the electronic controller 52 is provided.

To this end, a computer-implemented lighting routine may conveniently be provided on the wireless peripheral control device 62. With the peripheral control device 62 typically being a mobile computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, the computer- implemented lighting routine may thus be a distributed-computer network downloadable application program, also known as an 'app'. In this way, the computer-implemented lighting routine via the wireless transmitter 96 allows a user to control the illumination of the plurality of light emitting elements 18, potentially in accordance with a predetermined lighting or display sequence.

In the event that more than one illuminable frame 10 is provided to display various pieces of artwork or other images 80 or items, then an image display system 100 can be formed with a lighting sequence which may be programmed and controlled via the local controller or, more typically, via the wireless peripheral control device 62 and the on-board computer-implemented lighting routine. In this case, each electronic controller 52 of a respective illuminable frame 10 forming part of the image display system 100 may include a unique identifier for electronically wirelessly identifying each said illuminable frame 10 to the peripheral control device 62. With each illuminable frame 10 designated within the computer-implemented lighting routine, the mobile computing device 62 can thus control which illuminable frame or frames 10 are lit at a given time, a period of illumination, and/or with which colour light.

By having the plurality of light emitting elements 18 significantly setback from an interior perimeter edge of the front light-guide baffle 16, the emitted light can be directed to a much greater extent in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to a plane of the artwork or other image 80 to be displayed. The front light-transmissible element could feasibly be dispensed with in certain circumstances.

Although the light emitting element is suggested as being a strip of light emitting diodes, other light emitting means may be considered and/or utilised. For example, one or more of the light emitting elements may comprise a light source which is positioned behind or offset from the border, such as behind the displayed image. A light guide may also conveniently be included, such as one or more reflectors, which redirects the emitted light to or adjacent to a plane of the border, for example, around a perimeter edge of the displayed image, whereby the said reflector and front baffle thereby enables direction across a front face of the display image. The front light-guide baffle 16 by also having the reflective rear facing surface 40 also promotes a greater degree of light in the emitted colour to reach a surface of the mounted image 80, thereby being less affected by colour absorption or reflection if a coloured surface were to be present prior to reaching the surface of the image 80. Additionally, the front light-guide baffle 16 is substantially disguised by being formed as a faux mat element 34.

The rear light-guide baffle 64 may be optional, but is beneficial in again directing or channelling a greater degree of emitted light parallel or substantially parallel to the surface of the image 80. It is therefore possible to improve a display of an image by utilising baffled integrated lighting within a frame or picture frame to thereby cast directed light across a mounted image and primarily in parallel with a front surface of the image. It is also possible to display multiple pieces of artwork using an image display system encompassing a plurality of the illuminable frames and a peripheral control device.

The words 'comprises/comprising' and the words 'having/including' when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.