WO2002102210A1

WO2002102210A1 - Picture frame assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2002102210A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001130
Authority: WO
Inventors: Youn-Sik Chun; Suk-Hee Han
Original assignee: Youn-Sik Chun; Suk-Hee Han
Priority date: 2001-06-15
Filing date: 2002-06-15
Publication date: 2002-12-27
Also published as: KR20010070878A; KR200288398Y1; KR20020096929A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a picture frame coated with an adhesive material which is coated on the surface of the backboard of the picture frame so that the surface of a picture or photograph cannot swell up due to air bubbles even in the case that the picture or photograph is attached or detached over and over again. The present invention has a characteristic that the surface of the picture or photograph cannot swell up due to the air bubbles, thereby tightly attaching the surface of the picture of photograph uniformly on the backboard.

Description

PICTURE FRAME ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field ofthe Invention The present invention relates to a picture frame which is formed with an adhesive layer repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the surface of a backboard in contact with a picture or photograph and prevents the generation of air bubbles or air bubble layers caused by air on the outer surface ofthe photograph when attaching the photograph.

Description of Related Art

The present invention is an application based on "Picture frame assembly and method of manufacturing the same" disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2001-0034019.

Generally, a picture frame is used for storing a photograph or a picture or the like. The picture frame includes a frame, a sheet of transparent glass, a backboard and a supporting leg. A photograph or a picture is inserted into the picture frame by fitting the sheet of transparent glass into the frame, then putting the photograph onto the back surface of the sheet of transparent glass and then applying the backboard at the back ofthe photograph.

Such a picture frame is placed on a wall or a decoration table so that it can be seen at any time. A photograph or a picture can be seen through the sheet of transparent glass. Recently, due to a large weight of transparent glass, it is difficult to deal with it and due to the risk of injury in case ofthe breakage ofthe glass, it has become easier to prevent the contamination and denaturation of a photograph or a picture, make the photograph or the picture lightweight and deal with it without using a sheet of transparent glass by coating a resin film directly on the surface of the photograph or the picture. Also, the texture ofthe photograph or the picture can be improved.

However, by not using any transparent glass, the frame can be lightweight, but there occurs a phenomenon in that the photograph or the picture is not uniformly and firmly secured onto the backboard but comes off the backboard. In other words, when looking at the photograph or the like from sides, the surface thereof appears to be curved and thus the photograph or the picture is not exhibited clearly. To solve this problem, the photograph or the picture is uniformly and firmly secured onto the surface of the backboard by coating an sticking agent between the backboard disposed at the back surface of the frame and the photograph or the picture and adhering the photograph or the picture on the surface ofthe sticking agent.

However, when attaching the photograph or the picture on the backboard using the sticking agent, if the photograph is not attached at the right position (if the margin of the photograph or the picture is not balanced or is protruded to the outside), the photograph or the picture has to be discarded because it is impossible to detach and then re-attach the photograph or the picture.

In this case, the photograph or the picture may not be detached well or may be torn because it firmly adheres to the sticking agent, or the photograph or the picture may be crumpled and damaged, thus requiring a careful handling.

Further, in case of a relatively large-sized picture or photograph, air comes into between the backboard and the photograph to form a swelled air bubble layer. At times, this makes the photograph or the picture shown to be refracted. Moreover, in most cases, since the photograph or the picture is placed on a wall or decoration table for a long period of time, the attached photograph becomes discolored as the sticking agent becomes consolidated with the passage of time and then the photograph is detached from the backboard. The consolidation of the sticking agent is due to the reaction ofthe sticking agent with air absorbed via the backboard. As an effort for overcoming this problem, Korean Utility Model Application Laid- open No. 98-61626 was proposed. In this application, a photograph is attached on both sides by coating an adhesive paste on the surface of the backboard and attaching a protective paper.

However, in the conventional art, a backboard for a picture frame is disclosed, which is configured to use in with both faces and not to be deformed because the backboard is pulled by the same tensile force from both faces even if the sticking agent was dried and contracted. However, since this backboard is only an improvement for use in with both faces, it is impossible to reproduce a photograph or a picture in its natural state and, if a user is bored with the picture or photograph or the picture frame, the picture frame itself has to be replaced by another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a picture frame assembly which can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the surface of a backboard an adhesive is coated on the surface of the backboard of the picture frame and which is formed with the adhesive for exhausting air to prevent the formation of an air bubble layer caused by air on the surface of a photograph or a picture.

To achieve the above object, there is provided a picture frame assembly in accordance with the present invention, characterized in that: an adhesive is coated on the surface of a backboard, the adhesive being arranged in series at a predetermined interval in dots or in lines vertically and bilaterally to open to the outside of the backboard so that air can be exhausted through the gap between the adhesives when attaching a photograph or a picture; and a plurality of mat boards printed with a variety of colors and patterns are stacked by means of an sticking agent and then are detached one by one in case of need, thereby achieving a new finishing and decorative effect. The adhesive layer coated with the adhesive is covered with a release paper such that impurities are not stick thereto when no photograph or picture is attached, and, in case of use, the release paper is removed and then a photograph or a picture is attached.

In accordance with the present invention, in attaching a photograph or a picture to the adhesive layer by removing the release paper, the spaces at a predetermined interval, which are not coated with the adhesive layer, have the function of a passage through which air is passed, for thereby preventing the formation of an air bubble layer between the backboard and the photograph or the picture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a picture frame in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a surface view illustrating the surface of a backboard in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofthe surface ofthe backboard in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view exemplifying a connection state of a supporting ' let to a picture frame in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIION OF THE EMBODIMENTS A backboard for a picture frame for firmly securing a picture or photograph in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a picture frame assembly in accordance with the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a picture frame, 11 denotes a transparent film protecting photographs as a substitute for a sheet of glass and being installed on the back surface of the picture frame and, 12 denotes a mat board with many layers which is printed with a variety of patterns or colors, consists of many layers and has a cut-away portion at the center, 13 denotes a picture or a photograph, 14 denotes a backboard for covering the transparent film 11, mart board 12 and picture or photograph

13 so that they can be intervened between the frame 10 and the backboard 14, and 20 denotes a supporting leg for supporting the frame 10. The frame 10 is made of a variety of materials, such as wood, synthetic resin, steel or the like.

The mat board 12 is printed with a variety of colors or patterns on the surface thereof, consists of many layers to be peeled off and is transparent or open at the center portion.

The mat board 12 is a relatively stiff paper. By cutting the center portion ofthe mat board 12 and making the photograph appear that it is put in a cut-out space, the outline of a photograph or a picture can be finished neatly.

As shown in Fig. 2, the surface ofthe backboard 14 is coated with an adhesive 14a. As shown in (a) of Fig. 2, the adhesive 14a is coated on the entire front surface of the backboard, or as shown in (b) of Fig. 2, it is coated thereon at a predetermined interval in lines in the transverse direction or longitudinal direction, or, as shown in (c) of Fig. 2, it can be coated in dots at a predetermined interval vertically and bilaterally.

Preferably, the adhesive 14a includes one which is capable of maintaining its properties even if it was attached or detached over and over again. In the present invention, the adhesive 14a means that it is functionally attachable and detachable over and over again. In the present invention, as the adhesive 14a in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the adhesive containing acrylic resin is employed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternatives to the adhesive can be introduced. It is to be understood, however, that such alternatives will fall within the scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims. The portions which are not coated with the adhesive 14a in lines or dots on the backboard 14 serve as an air passage 14b through which air is exhausted to the outside even if air bubble layers are formed between the backboard 14 and the photograph when attaching the photograph or the picture.

Moreover, before coating the adhesive 14a on the backboard 14, the acrylic resin which has a large affinity for the adhesive 14a, preferably, the acrylic resin 14c which allows the adhesive 14a to have a more adhesive force than the backboard 14 is firstly coated, and then an acrylic adhesive layer, to which a photograph is attached, is coated on the resin layer, for thereby preventing the adhesive layer from being peeled off from the backboard 14.

At this time, since a pretreated acrylic resin layer 14c coated on the surface of the backboard 14 has an excellent affinity for the adhesive 14a, it can prevent the adhesive 14a from being transferred to the back surface of the photograph even if the photograph or the picture was detached. Also, it can prevent the quick consolidation of the material of the adhesive layer or the denaturation ofthe photograph or the picture due to the air penetrated through the backboard 14 over a long period of time. Further, the adhesive 14a comprising the adhesive layer is preferably covered with a release paper 15 so that impurities do not stick to the surface ofthe adhesive 14a before the photograph or the picture is attached to the adhesive 14a.

A conventional release paper is made by firstly coating polyethylene resin 15a on a paper and then secondly coating silicon resin thereon. On the other hand, the release paper 15 of the present invention is made by firstly coating polyethylene resin 15a on a paper, secondly performing the corona discharge treatment of the polyethylene resin layer 15a and thirdly coating an acrylic resin layer 15b thereon. The release paper 15 can be used even if the step of coating the acrylic resin layer on the release paper was omitted.

However, in this case, the life span ofthe release paper 15 is short. It can be found that the adhesive layer 14a of Fig. 3 having a photograph or the like attached thereto, the acrylic resin layer 15b coated on the release paper 15 and the acrylic resin layer cladded on the surface ofthe backboard 14 are all made up of acrylic resin. The acrylic resin layer for a transfer preventing use, which is formed on the surface of the backboard 14, and the adhesive layer having the photograph attached thereto are contacted in a melted state to thus be combined with each other. Because the acrylic resin layer on the surface of the release paper 15 is in a cooled and coagulated state, it is no attachable to the adhesive layer to which the photograph is attached and the release paper 15 is easily detached from the acrylic resin layer.

In the case of using the conventional release paper containing silicon, the physical properties of the material of the paper are different from those of the material of the adhesive 14a. Thus, because the release paper is not attachable to the adhesive 14a at all, it does not perform the function ofthe release paper properly.

A supporting leg 20 is detachably connected to the back surface ofthe backboard 14. A hinge 22, to which a magnet 21 is attached, is detachably attached to the surface of one lateral end ofthe supporting leg 20. Generally, the supporting leg 20 of the picture frame has a structure of being connected to the backboard 14 by fitting when manufacturing the backboard 14 using synthetic resin or the like, or it has a structure of being engaged to the hinge 22 by engaging the hinge 22 to the backboard 14 by a screw. Thus, in case of hanging the picture frame on a wall, the picture frame is not firmly secured to the wall. Also, when the picture frame is rotated and then erected, the angle becomes different, which makes it inconvenient to look at the photograph. In the present invention, however, a metallic iron plate 23 is engaged to the back surface ofthe backboard 14 by the adhesive and a press. The supporting leg is attached to the iron plate 23 by a magnetic force. The magnet 21 and the hinge 22 are cladded with rubber, so that the iron plate and the hinge are not slidable.

Thus, since the iron plate is larger than the hinge 22, the picture frame can be erected

Claims

by attaching the hinge to the back surface ofthe backboard by means ofthe magnet while moving the position of the hinge 22 regardless of the rotary direction ofthe picture frame. If the supporting leg 20 is not required, the supporting leg 20 is separated and removed.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYIn the present invention, in attaching the photograph or the picture on the backboard, air is exhausted through an air passage, for thereby preventing the formation of an air bubble layer on the surface ofthe photograph or the picture. Further, the photograph or the picture can be attached and detached repeatedly and thus it can be replaced by a variety of photographs or pictures easily.Moreover, the aesthetic appearance of the picture frame can be changed at any time using a mat board. Also, by preventing the consolidation of an sticking agent, the photograph or the picture is not discolored nor the adhesive layer is consolidated even after a long period of time. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A picture frame assembly, comprising: a frame (10); a mat board (12) being disposed on the back surface of the frame, having a predetermined cut-away portion at the center, and consisting of a plurality of layers stacked by an adhesive; a photograph (13) disposed on the back surface ofthe mat board (12); a backboard (14) having the adhesive coated on the surface thereof, being covered with a release paper (15) on the surface of the adhesive and being disposed on the back surface ofthe photograph; and a supporting leg (20) detachably connected to the back surface ofthe backboard (14).

2. The picture frame assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive coated on the surface ofthe backboard (14) and the material coated between the adhesive and the backboard (14) are ofthe same type with an affinity.

3. The picture frame assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive is an acrylic synthetic resin which maintains their properties even if a photograph or a picture is attached to and detached from the surface over and over again.

4. The picture frame assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive coated on the surface of the release paper (15) is made by re-coating acrylic resin on a polyethylene resin layer.

5. The picture frame assembly of claim 1, characterized in that a hinge (22) with a magnet (21) attached to the end is attached to the supporting leg (20), and an iron plate is engaged to a desired position of the back surface of the backboard (14) and then the magnet (21) is attached to the iron plate (23) for thereby supporting the backboard (14) by means ofthe supporting leg (20) by a magnetic force.

6. The picture frame assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive layer coated on the surface of the backboard (14) is formed at a predetermined interval for thereby forming an air passage (14b) through which air is exhausted when attaching a photograph or a picture.

7. The picture frame assembly of claim 1, characterized in that a transparent film (11) is disposed between the frame (10) and the mat board (12).