Invented by Häring; Rima

The world is always looking for better ways to show off art, photos, and designs. This patent application introduces a brand new way to display images using light, clear materials, and clever engineering. Below, we’ll explore why this invention matters, how it fits into the market, its science and background, and what makes it truly special.

Background and Market Context

Displaying images, whether for art, advertising, or personal enjoyment, is something people have cared about for hundreds of years. From basic frames to glowing billboards, the options have grown a lot. Still, there are big problems, especially when you want a bright, clear, and easy-to-change way to show images in places like homes, museums, hotels, and public spaces.

Most people are familiar with framed pictures on a wall. These are simple, but they don’t stand out much, and changing the picture can be a hassle. In stores and public places, large columns or billboards show ads and art, but these are often bulky and hard to update. They also don’t always protect the artwork from dust, touching, or weather.

There’s a growing need for something better. People want to show off beautiful images, change them quickly, and keep them safe. Businesses need displays that look good, light up well, and can be changed easily to match new themes or promotions. At home, people want stylish lamps or columns that highlight favorite photos or art, but they also want to swap out the images without needing special tools or skills.

The current products mostly fall short. Regular light columns are usually not designed for showing real art or custom prints. They often use glued or stuck-on images, which can get damaged when you try to replace them. Some have uneven lighting, making the picture look odd or washed out. Others simply don’t let you update the display at all.

This invention steps in to meet all these needs. It offers a way to display images that glow from within, look great from every angle, and can be changed by hand in just a few minutes. The system keeps the images safe from dirt, bumps, and even little hands in busy spaces. By using common materials like acrylic, glass, and plastic, and clever features like grooves and lids, it creates a new kind of display that can work in homes, offices, stores, or museums.

The market for such displays is big and growing. Hotels want eye-catching lights in lobbies. Cafes look for unique décor. Museums need safe, bright ways to show rare art. Businesses want displays that can be updated for new products or events. Even in homes, people want lamps or columns that show off family photos or kids’ art. As spaces get more creative, the demand for flexible, glowing displays is only getting stronger.

This invention answers the call for a display that is stylish, easy to use, well-lit, and safe for any space. It blends the best ideas from art frames, lamps, and modern engineering into one simple but powerful product.

Scientific Rationale and Prior Art

To truly understand why this invention is special, it helps to see what came before and how the science of light and materials plays a role.

Classic advertising columns have been around for a long time. These are the big cylinders seen on city streets, often covered in posters or ads. They’re great for catching attention but are not meant for fine art or easy updates. The images are usually pasted on, so changing them means scraping, gluing, and often damaging the material. Plus, because of their size, the light inside isn’t always even, and the pictures can have shadows or bright spots.

In the home and office, smaller light columns and lamps are popular. Some let you put in a picture, but most use printed shades or glued-on images. Replacing the image can be hard, and over time, the printed parts can fade or peel. These products also don’t always spread the light evenly. The light source, like a bulb or LED, can show through as a bright spot, making the picture look uneven.

For true art protection, people use glass frames or shadow boxes. These keep the art safe from dust and touching, but they don’t glow. The art can only be seen well in a well-lit room. And to change the picture, you often need to take the frame apart, which can be tricky and risky for the art.

The science behind this invention builds on a few key ideas:

First is the use of translucent and transparent materials. Translucent materials let light through but scatter it, so you don’t see the light source directly. This is important for even lighting. Glass, acrylic, and special plastic films can all be made translucent by sandblasting or using special coatings. This way, the light inside the frame glows softly, lighting up the image but hiding any bulbs or LEDs.

Second is the concept of a “Lambertian radiator.” This is a fancy way to say that the surface shines with the same brightness from every angle. In art displays, this means no matter where you stand, the image looks just as bright and beautiful. The invention uses special inner cylinders and films to help achieve this effect, making the light soft and even.

Third, there’s the idea of modular construction. By using grooves, lids, and gaps, the invention lets you slide in new images or materials without tools or glue. This is a big step forward from old systems, where changing the art meant taking everything apart or damaging the picture.

Finally, the use of LEDs is key. LEDs are small, bright, and cool to the touch. They can be arranged in tubes or strips, or even hidden along the edges of the frame. By choosing the right LEDs and placing them carefully, the invention lights up the whole image without creating hot spots or shadows.

Compared to older products, this new frame stands out for a few reasons. It protects the art, lights it up evenly, and lets you change the display quickly and safely. Previous inventions failed to solve all these problems at once. They might have had good lighting but were hard to update. Or they were easy to change but didn’t protect the art or light it well. This patent brings all these solutions together with a simple, clever design.

Invention Description and Key Innovations

At its core, this invention is an illuminated frame made of two hollow bodies—think of two clear tubes, one inside the other. The space between them holds your image or art, and the inside glows with light, making the picture shine from every angle.

Let’s break down how it works and what makes it so special.

First, there is an outer hollow body. This is a clear or slightly frosted cylinder, oval, or prism shape. It forms the main shell and is strong enough to protect the art inside from bumps, dust, or curious fingers. It also keeps out humidity, helping your picture or art stay flat and looking good.

Inside this shell is the inner hollow body. This part is usually made of a special glass or plastic that spreads light softly. It is placed in the center and held steady by clever grooves or folds in the top (lid) and bottom (base plate or pedestal). The thickness and shape can be changed to fit different uses, but it always helps the light shine evenly.

The gap between the two cylinders is where the image goes. This gap is just wide enough for a piece of photo paper, fabric, or film. You can slide in your favorite photo, a printed ad, or even a canvas painting. The art stands straight and flat, protected on both sides by the cylinders. The grooves and folds in the lid or base keep everything in place, so the picture never sags or warps, even after weeks or months.

Changing the image is simple. You just take off the lid—sometimes it unscrews, sometimes it lifts off, and sometimes there’s a special locking clip. Because there’s no glue, tape, or tricky clips, you can swap out the art in seconds. This is great for stores that want to update ads, or for people at home who want to change their décor with the seasons.

The light source is another key part. Inside the frame, there are one or more LED tubes or strips. Sometimes these run straight up the center, other times they are hidden along the edges or even lined along the inside surface. The LEDs can be dimmed, changed for different colors, and even controlled by a remote or an app. The light is spread out by the inner cylinder, so the whole image glows with no bright spots or shadows.

For power, the frame can use a normal wall plug, batteries, fuel cells, or even supercapacitors. In some versions, all the power and electronics are hidden in the base or lid, making the frame look clean and modern. Some versions can even rotate, either by hand or automatically, so your image can be seen from every side. This is great for museums or trade shows, where you want to catch everyone’s eye.

The materials used for the image are also special. You can use paper, clear plastic, fabric, or even thin metal sheets. The system is designed to keep everything flat and safe, no matter what material you use. The inner cylinder helps stop the image from bending or waving, which is a big problem with old-style displays.

The sizes can vary a lot, from small table lamps to big floor columns over two meters high. You can choose thicker or thinner walls, wider or narrower gaps, and different shapes to match your space or style. The frame can be set up on feet, wheels, or a turntable, and in some cases, can even be hung from the ceiling.

Some advanced versions include extra features. There can be sensors for air quality, smoke, or movement. There can be built-in air filters, making the frame double as a purifier. Some versions have special coatings or seals so they can be used outside in the rain. The design can also allow for special event use, like holding candles or being decorated for holidays.

In summary, the key innovations are:

– A double-cylinder design that protects and lights up the image evenly.
– Easy, tool-free image changes using grooves and a removable lid.
– Flexible lighting options using LEDs—central, edge, or surface-mounted.
– Multiple power choices, from wall plug to battery or even fuel cell.
– Strong, safe materials that keep art flat and damage-free.
– Modularity for different sizes, shapes, and extra features like rotation or air filtering.

These features come together to make a frame that is not just a display, but a flexible, beautiful, and useful product for homes, businesses, and public spaces.

Conclusion

This illuminated interchangeable frame is a true step forward for displaying art, ads, or photos. By combining clever engineering with the best modern materials and lighting, it solves old problems and opens up new ways to show off beautiful images. Whether you’re a museum needing safe, glowing displays, a business wanting easy-to-update ads, or a homeowner looking for a fresh way to light up a room, this invention has you covered. It’s simple to use, easy to update, and looks great in any setting—the perfect blend of style, safety, and function for today’s world.

Click here https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/ and search 20250336317.