US 5,507,399 AGranted

Erectable wire frame for wire sculptures and the like

AssigneeMr. Christmas Incorporated

InventorTerry Hermanson

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Abstract

An erectable wire frame structure for displaying a wire sculpture. The structure includes upper and lower frame assemblies which are pivotally connected by elbow-like hinges which allow the upper frame assembly to be rotated from a folded, closed position to an open, upright position. Retaining pins lock the frame assemblies in the upright position. Attached to the lower frame assembly is a rear frame assembly which is adapted to extend rearwardly at a predetermined angle from the upper portion thereof. The rear frame assembly cooperates with downwardly extending leg sections of the lower frame assembly to provide a support structure which is free-standing. Wire sculptures, such as light sculptures, can be attached to the wire frame, creating a light display which can be anchored in a lawn, hung on a wall or allowed to stand alone using the rear frame assembly for support. Alternatively, the wire sculpture itself may form a portion of the wire frame structure. When not in use, the wire frame structure can be folded back into a closed position for easy handling and storage.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An erectable wire frame display structure comprising:

an upper frame assembly including at least one wire section connected to a transverse wire section, wire sections of the upper frame assembly defining a first portion of a wire sculpture;
a lower frame assembly including at least one wire section connected to a transverse wire section and a pair of leg sections, downwardly depending from the transverse wire section of the lower frame assembly, wire sections of the lower frame assembly defining a second portion of said wire sculpture:
hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower frame assemblies, said hinge means comprising a first plurality of apertures defined by one of said upper and lower frame assemblies and respective hinge members each having a first portion insertable into said apertures and a second portion secured to the other of said frame assemblies, and said upper frame assembly being pivotable about an axis from a first position, in which surfaces of said first and second sculpture portions are substantially parallel to a second position, in which surfaces of said first and second sculpture portions are substantially coplanar;
retaining means for selectively retaining said upper frame assembly in said second position, said retaining means comprising a second plurality of apertures defined by one of said frame assemblies and a respective plurality of pin members insertable into said second plurality of apertures;
and
a rear support assembly hingeably connected to said lower frame assembly, said rear support assembly including a pair of parallel leg sections and means for fixedly positioning the leg sections of the rear support assembly at a predetermined angle relative to the leg sections of said lower frame assembly.

3 more elements

An erectable wire frame display structure comprising:

an upper frame assembly including at least one wire section connected to a transverse wire section, wire sections of the upper frame assembly defining a first portion of a wire sculpture;
a lower frame assembly including at least one wire section connected to a transverse wire section and a pair of leg sections, downwardly depending from the transverse wire section of the lower frame assembly, wire sections of the lower frame assembly defining a second portion of said wire sculpture;
hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said upper and lower frame assemblies, said hinge means comprising a first plurality of apertures defined by one of said upper and lower frame assemblies and respective hinge members each having a first portion insertable into said apertures and a second portion secured to the other of said frame assemblies, and said upper frame assembly being pivotable about an axis from a first position in which surfaces of said first and second sculpture portions are substantially parallel, to a second position, in which surfaces of said first and second sculpture portions are substantially coplanar;
retaining means for selectively retaining said upper frame assembly in said second position, said retaining means comprising a second plurality of apertures defined by one of said frame assemblies and a respective plurality of pin members insertable into said second plurality of apertures;
a rear support assembly hingeably connected to said lower frame assembly said rear support assembly including a pair of parallel leg sections and means for fixedly positioning the leg sections of the rear support assembly at a predetermined angle relative to the leg sections of said lower frame assembly;
and
means for illuminating at least one portion of one of said first sculpture portion and said second sculpture portion.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.