Picture frame system

A picture frame system is provided. The picture frame system includes a housing in a rectangular configuration having an upper edge, a lower edge and parallel side edges therebetween. The housing has a front face and a rear face. A rectangular opening is formed in an upper extent of the front face thereof with a slit formed in one of the side edges adjacent to the front face and in alignment with the rectangular opening. A viewing screen is formed in the front face of the housing adjacent to the upper edge of the housing. Further provided is a photograph having a thin rectangular configuration and an area slightly larger than that of the rectangular opening. The photograph adapted to be removably situated within the slit such that the photograph resides between the rectangular opening and the viewing screen. A receptacle for receiving, storing, moving and playing an information storage media is provided. The receptacle is coupled with respect to the front face of the housing adjacent to the lower edge of the housing. Control means are provided to read the information storage media when in the receptacle and activated and to generate a picture on the screen.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A new and improved picture frame system with motion and sound capabilities, comprising, in combination:

a video cassette;

a housing in a rectangular configuration having an upper edge, a lower edge and parallel side edges therebetween, the housing having a front face and a rear face, the housing having a rectangular opening formed in an upper extent of the front face thereof and a slit formed in one of the side edges adjacent the front face and in alignment with the rectangular opening;

a viewing screen formed in the front face of the housing adjacent to the upper edge of the housing such that the screen may be viewed through the rectangular opening;

a photograph having a thin rectangular configuration and an area slightly larger than that of the rectangular opening, the photograph adapted to be removably situated within the slit such that the photograph resides between the rectangular opening and the viewing screen;

a photograph detection switch included within the housing adjacent the slit, the photograph detection switch adapted to emit an activation signal upon the removal of the photograph;

a receptacle for receiving, storing, moving and playing the video cassette, the receptacle coupled with respect to the front face of the housing adjacent to the lower edge of the housing;

a speaker formed in the front face of the housing laterally offset to a first side edge of the housing with a plurality of controls with buttons extending from the front face of the housing adjacent to a second side edge of the housing remote from the speaker, the controls including a play, a rewind and a stop button, the play button adapted to transmit an activation signal upon the depression thereof;

a pivotable support secured to the rear face of the housing adapted to move between a retract position whereat the housing may be mounted on a wall and an extended position with a low end of the support remote from the housing wherein the housing may be retained in a generally vertical orientation on a support surface; and

control means to read the video cassette when in the receptacle and activated upon the receipt of the activation signal, whereby upon being activated the control means effects both a sound through the speaker and a picture on the screen.

2. A picture frame system comprising:

an information storage media;

a housing in a rectangular configuration having an upper edge, a lower edge and parallel side edges therebetween, the housing having a front face and a rear face, the housing having a rectangular opening formed in an upper extent of the front face thereof and a slit formed in one of the side edges adjacent the front face and in alignment with the rectangular opening;

a viewing screen formed in the front face of the housing adjacent to the upper edge of the housing;

a photograph having a thin rectangular configuration and an area slightly larger than that of the rectangular opening, the photograph adapted to be removably situated within the slit such that the photograph resides between the rectangular opening and the viewing screen;

a receptacle for receiving, storing, moving and playing the information storage media, the receptacle coupled with respect to the front face of the housing; and

control means to read the information storage media when in the receptacle and activated and to generate a picture on the screen.

3. The picture frame system as set forth in claim 2 and further including:

a speaker formed in the front face of the housing laterally offset to a first side edge of the housing with a plurality of controls with buttons extending from the front face of the housing adjacent to a second side edge of the housing remote from the speaker, the controls including a play, a rewind and a stop button.

4. The picture frame system as set forth in claim 2 and further including:

a pivotable support secured to the rear face of the housing adapted to move between a retract position whereat the housing may be mounted on a wall and an extended position with a low end of the support remote from the housing wherein the housing may be retained in a generally vertical orientation on a support surface.

5. The picture frame system as set forth in claim 2 and further including:

a photograph detection switch included within the housing adjacent the slit, the photograph detection switch adapted to emit an activation signal upon the removal of the photograph, whereby upon the receipt of the activation signal, the control means effects both a sound through the speaker and a picture on the screen.