Technical Field The present invention relates to a structure for supporting a medium layer, and more particularly, although not exclusively, to a structure for supporting an artistic medium layer. Background

Visual artists may use many different types of media to carry their artwork. One medium which is used by visual artists is a paper or canvas sheet which is laid flat to provide a suitable drawing or printing surface to receive the artist's artwork.

To assist the artist, it may be preferable to have the canvas, paper or other medium layer stretched over a predefined area so that the medium layer may be taut and flat. This is preferable for artists as a flat and taut medium layer would allow a more consistent surface finish for their artworks. One possible way to stretch a medium layer is to dispose the medium layer on a frame and stretching the layer over the frame before fastening the layer tightly to the frame. Once these procedures are complete, the medium layer is thus tautly disposed on the frame and disposes a working surface.

Whilst these methods are able to provide a taut working surface for the artist, the frame itself may cause defects on the working surface. This is because the frame will have a predefined thickness and since the medium layer is stretched onto the frame, any unevenness on the surface of the frame will itself be transmitted onto the medium layer. This will result in a non flat and generally uneven working surface.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure for supporting a medium layer comprising:

a frame member arranged to receive the medium layer; the frame member including at least one supporting arrangement arranged to support the medium layer tautly on the frame member such that the medium layer defines at least one facet;

wherein the supporting arrangement is also arranged to minimise the surface area of the at least one facet in contact with the frame member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the medium layer is arranged tautly on the frame member, the at least one facet is non parallel with a surface on which the frame member rests.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the at least one supporting arrangement of the frame member comprises at least one bevelled face and at least one external edge arranged to abut the medium layer to enable the medium layer to be stretched over the frame member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the at least one bevelled face and at least one external edge are defined on the frame member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the frame member is defined by a plurality of members arranged to join together to define the frame member.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, each of the plurality of members includes at least one bevelled face. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the frame member is rectangular in shape.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of members includes:

a first member arranged to be taller than a second member disposed opposite to the first member; and

a third and fourth members arranged to extend between and connect the first and second members;

wherein the third and fourth members are, in side profile, trapezoidal in shape.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the medium layer includes a canvas sheet, a paper sheet, a plastic sheet, a metal sheet, or any one or more thereof.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the medium layer is attached to the frame by one or more fasteners.

In an embodiment the members are removably attached to each other. In an embodiment each member comprises a joint that is arranged to be a removable joint such that the frame members can be removably attached to another frame member.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an artists' substrate

comprising :

a three dimensional rigid support providing a box-like shape and adapted to receive an artistic medium such as canvas to be stretched over the box-like shape and attached thereto to provide an exposed major facet for receiving artwork and adjacent side facets;

the rigid support having at least one rear facet adapted to lie adjacent a flat surface, with the exposed major facet being non-parallel to the surface; and

wherein the rigid support further includes at least one bevelled face arranged to minimise the area of contact between the rigid support and artistic medium defining the major facet.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the rigid support is provided by a multiplicity of struts adapted to be interconnected to form a framework.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the rigid support provides six facets including a major facet, a rear facet and four side facets.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the struts are wooden.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising a

multiplicity of struts adapted to be assembled to form a substrate of the second aspect, and an artist's canvas dimensioned to be stretched over the frame and attached at a rear location.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a structure for supporting a medium in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is another front perspective view of the structure of Figure 1 drawn in line form;

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 1 with a medium layer; and

Figure 6C is a detailed diagram illustrating the interaction between the structure and the medium layer in Figure 6.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, there is

illustrated an embodiment of a structure for supporting a medium comprising a frame member arranged to receive a medium layer, the frame member including at least one supporting arrangement arranged to support a medium layer tautly on the frame to define at least one facet, wherein the supporting arrangement is also arranged to minimise contact between the at least one facet and at least one surface of the frame member.

In this embodiment, the structure for supporting a medium 100 is arranged to receive and secure a medium layer 602, such as a layer of canvas, paper or plastic to define at least one working surface arranged to receive a user's artwork. These working surfaces may be used by an artist to paint, draw, print or imprint images or designs thereon .

To use the structure 100, in one example as

illustrated in Figure 6, a medium layer 602 may be first disposed onto the structure 100 by a user and then stretched over the structure 100 so that the layer 602 is tautly covering at least one portion of the structure 100. Once the layer 602 is tautly covering the structure, the layer 602 may then be secured in position on the structure 100 so as to define the one or more work surfaces on the structure 100. Although it is expected, that this process can also be undertaken by a manufacture of the structure 100. These work surfaces may then be used by a user to dispose their artworks thereon. These artworks may generally include, but not be limited to:

- prints;

paintings;

writings;

graffiti;

drawings or illustrations;

- impressions;

indentations;

digital printouts;

marks;

indicators;

- sculptures; and

literary works.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the structure 100 is in the form of a frame 100 comprising four members 102, 104, 106 and 108 which are each arranged to be joined together to define a rectangular frame 100. The frame 100 can in turn be used to secure the medium layer 602 tautly thereon so as to create a substrate for an artist to dispose their artworks. Preferably, these four members 102, 104, 106 and 108, are arranged to include at least one bevelled face 102A, 104A, 106A and 108A so that when joined together to form the frame 100, the bevelled faces 102A, 104A, 106A and 108A may together form a declination towards the centre of the frame 100.

By including these bevelled faces (102A, 104A, 106A and 108A) , an external edge 102B, 104B, 106B and 108B is formed adjacent to each of the bevelled faces 102A, 104A, 106A and 108A. These external edges (102B, 104B, 106B and 108B) are each arranged to abut against a medium layer 602 when the medium layer 602 is disposed and stretched onto the frame 100. Once the layer 602 is in a stretched position over the frame, the medium layer 602 is abutted by at least one of the external edges and when the medium layer 602 is stretched to the opposite sides of the frame 100, the opposite external edge also abuts the medium layer 602 and thus creates a stretching action on the layer. This in turn causes the layer 602 to be tautly disposed on the frame 100.

Once the medium layer is in this stretched and taut position on the frame 100, the medium layer 602 then forms at least one working surface or substrate for an artist to dispose their artistic works. In some examples, the medium layer may be of a sufficient size so that it is arranged to be stretched onto the frame 100 to define six

individual working surfaces . These working surfaces may include a major facet 502, which is the largest facet disposed on the frame 100 and may operate as the primary facet for an artist to dispose their artwork. There may also be up to four edge facets 504A, 504B, 504C and 504D which may also provide a working surface for the artist and finally, a back facet 506 may be defined opposite to the major facet 502. However, there may be other examples where the medium layer 602 is of a predefined size so that only a portion of these working surfaces are defined.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, each of the members (102 to 108) may be joined together to form a trapezoidal shaped frame 100. In this example, the frame may comprise a first member 102, which is deeper or taller than the opposing member 108 whilst members 104 and 106 are trapezoidal in shape. In this way, the frame 100 is defined to be in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side. A major facet 502 defined by a tautly secured medium layer 602 between members 102 and 108 will also not be parallel to the rear facet 506 or a resting floor or wall in which the frame 100 may be resting against. In so doing, artworks which are disposed on the major facet 502 may then be projected at an angle from the wall or floor of which the frame 100 is resting on to create a specific and unique effect for the artist.

These embodiments are advantageous in that the medium layer may be stretched onto the frame 100 whilst

minimising the contact between the medium layer and the frame 100. This is because the external edges (102B, 104B, 106B and 108B) of each member abuts and stretches the medium layer 100 whilst the surface of the member, due to its bevelled faces, will avoid contacting the stretched medium layer. In turn, the user of the structure 100 can be provided with a working surface which will not be in any way affected by the external surfaces of the frame 100.

With reference to Figure 6, there is illustrated a structure 100 disposed and secured with a medium layer 602. In this embodiment, a user (or manufacturer) may place a medium layer 602, such as a sheet of canvas above the structure 100. When the layer 602 is in position, the user can stretch the layer 602 over the structure 100 such that the layer 602 can cover the desired portions of the structure 100. The user may then apply a gentle

stretching pressure on the layer 602 so as to stretch it over the structure 100. Once the layer 602 is tautly disposed into the desired position, the user can then secure the layer 602 onto the structure 100. As shown in Figure 6, fasteners, such as staples 604 may be used to secure the layer 602 to each of the members 102, 104, 106 and 108 so that the layer 602 remains m position.

Alternatively, adhesives may also be used.

Once in position, as illustrated in Figure 6C, the layer 602 will not contact the bevelled face 108A. This in turn allows the layer 602 to form an even working surface without contacting the frame 100.

In an alternative embodiment, the structure 100 may be made as a singular unit. In these embodiments, the structure may be made by plastic injecting molding or by use of other suitable materials.

In another alternative embodiment, the structure 100 may be made from a plurality of individual members each having a tongue and/or groove arrangement arranged to engaged to each other member so as to define the structure 100. These individual members may be made from plastic, timber, metal, ceramics or any other suitable materials and may be formed by molding or by other methods .

In an alternative embodiment each of the members 102, 104, 106 and 108 may be removably attached to each other, via a suitable joint such as a bridle joint, a dovetail joint, or groove joint. In another example the members may be joined using dowels. The removable joints between the members allow a person (e.g. an artist) to dismantle the frame. The removable joints also allow a person to remove one or more members and substitute the removed member or members with a new member or members of a different dimension. This allows a person to change the dimensions of the frame 100. For example a person can replace members 104 and 106 with new members that are shorter to provide a frame that is more sguare in shape. The removable joints on the frame members is advantageous because a user can change the size of the frame to receive medium members of different sizes . It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the

invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.