Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a glass-looking picture frame used particularly for framing pictures decoratively and to the production method of the inventive glass-looking picture frame. The frame obtained as a result of the production steps may be transparent or semitransparent based on user preference. The inventive glass-looking picture frame which may be positioned on a table or hung on a wall ensures that pictures inserted therein appear in a more visual manner, and the inventive frame may also be alternatively produced in a manner befitting to the picture inserted therein.

State of the Art

Nowadays picture frames are widely used by being positioned on desks or on walls for decorating homes, restaurants, and offices.

In the state of the art, the most commonly used materials for picture frames are MDF, wood, Plexi, plastic derivatives and metal derivatives. Picture frames made of MDF, Plexi and of other plastic derivative materials are not only cost-efficient in terms of manufacturing but also accessible for consumers. However, picture frames made of materials such as MDF, Plexi and other plastic derivatives do not offer high usage performance. Picture frames manufactured from materials of this type become deformed quite easily, thereby losing their visual quality. This is an undesired result for users. Glass and metal derivatives which are among other materials commonly used for picture frames in the state of the art offer higher visual quality along with durability. However, picture frames made of these materials have low accessibility as they are quite costly. Additionally, as glass and metal derivative materials used as manufacturing materials in picture frames are heavy, they are not suitable for being mounted on walls. The fact that picture frames made of metal derivative materials become oxidized in time, and that they pose potential health hazards, accordingly, is yet another disadvantage of picture frame made of metal derivative materials .

Disadvantages, as well as inadequacies existing in the state of the art, necessitated conducting research and development works on the materials used in the manufacturing of picture frames. The inventive glass-looking picture frame not only is a durable structure with high visual quality but also designed so as to eliminate all disadvantages of applications existing in the state of the art.

Objects of the Invention

Epoxy materials are chemical resins with adhesive essence, which are resistant to water, acids, and alkali and do not lose their resistive characteristics over time. These epoxy materials have anti-bacterial characteristics as well as featuring an aesthetic and unibody appearance. Additionally, they feature high chemical resistance and mechanical strength. They resist perfectly to aggressive chemical materials on a broad spectrum. Thanks to this particular characteristic, they do not bear negative results such as oxidation. In addition to its chemical resistance properties, this material features high mechanical strength as well as high impact and abrasion resistance thanks to high toughness, durability and flexibility characteristics. It offers long term use by means of these characteristics.

Being a transparent material in case no further substance is added thereto, the epoxy resin may also be obtained in various colors and in semitransparent form by means of adding further substances such as coloring agents. Epoxy which is included in the thermoset resin group of plastics becomes hardened through thermal processing and the shape obtained accordingly may be used for extended periods. Because of the fact that it is a plastic varietal, it is a much lighter material when compared to glass and metal derivative materials .

Epoxy material which is selected as the base material of the inventive glass-looking picture frame is a type of material that features high visual quality and offers long term use. The object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame that has high visual quality, that is light in weight, that features high chemical resistance and mechanical strength and that is cost- efficient in terms of manufacturing when compared to equivalents thereof by means of using the epoxy material in the inventive picture frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a glass looking picture frame that allows transparent or semitransparent usage based on user preference. It may be produced in various colors by means of adding materials with different color pigmentations thereto and may be used as in semitransparent form. Another object of the present invention is to provide a glass looking picture frame of which glass-looking characteristic is improved in terms of visual quality and that is provided with lighting. It is hereby aimed to manufacture picture frames that may be shaped based on individual likings and preferences.

The production method of the epoxy picture frame is as important as the frame itself. One of the important objects of the present invention is to lower the manufacturing costs of the picture frame not only by the variety of material but also with the production method. It is hereby aimed to ensure that the manufacturing of picture frames is simple and cost-efficient.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Reference numerals are provided in order to ensure a better understanding of the inventive glass-looking picture frame, respective components hereinafter will be indicated with said reference numerals. Wherein;

1. Basin

2. Frame Edge

3. Separator

4. Silicon

5. Silicone Mold

6. Epoxy Resin

7. Coloring Agent

8. LED

The basin (1) composes the first step in the production of the inventive glass-looking picture frame. The basin (1) is suitably selected based on the dimensions of frame edges (2) to be produced. The shape and sizes of the basin (1) may vary. Initially, separator (3) is smeared all over the frame edge (2) . Applying separator (3) facilitates separating the silicon (4) which will be used in the next step, from the frame edge (2) . Said frame edge (2) is placed into the basin (1) after the separator (3) is applied all over the frame edge (2) . Subsequently, said basin (1) is filled with silicon (4) .

After the silicon (4) is set, it is removed from the basin (1) . Thus, a frame mold made of silicon (4) is obtained. Subsequently, silicon mold (5) is filled with epoxy resin (6) . Duration of hardening may vary depending on the type of the epoxy resin (6) . Subsequent to the hardening of the epoxy resin (6), it is removed from the silicone mold (5) . Once the desired frame edges are acquired, they are assembled and thus, the inventive glass-looking picture frame is obtained.

The inventive picture frame which is made to look like glass by means of the epoxy resin (6) utilized, may be rendered semitransparent when desired. A semitransparent appearance may be achieved by means of adding coloring agents (7) to the epoxy resin (6) . The inventive picture frame may be rendered semitransparent by using coloring agents (7) based on user preference or on the color palette of the picture to be attached to the frame. Coloring agents (7) mixed to the epoxy resin (6) may have neon characteristics based on preference. Thus, it becomes possible to obtain a picture frame having an appearance that glows in the dark based on user preference.

In the step of filling the silicone mold (5) with epoxy resin (6), artificial or even real flowers may be added together with epoxy resin (6) to the inventive glass-looking picture frame which allows customized uses. Thus, the visual quality of flowers may be preserved within the epoxy resin (6) which is the base material of the inventive glass-looking picture frame.

In addition to the aforementioned forms of utilization, LEDs (8) may also be added while the silicon mold (5) is being filled with epoxy resin (6) . Said LEDs (8), which are set within the epoxy resin (6), improve the visuality of the inventive glass-looking picture frame even further by providing illumination during the use of the frame.