EP0433246B1 - A hook means for locking a picture back protection panel to the body of a picture frame - Google Patents
A hook means for locking a picture back protection panel to the body of a picture frame Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0433246B1 EP0433246B1 EP90830522A EP90830522A EP0433246B1 EP 0433246 B1 EP0433246 B1 EP 0433246B1 EP 90830522 A EP90830522 A EP 90830522A EP 90830522 A EP90830522 A EP 90830522A EP 0433246 B1 EP0433246 B1 EP 0433246B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- arm
- hook means
- picture
- picture frame
- back panel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G1/00—Mirrors; Picture frames or the like, e.g. provided with heating, lighting or ventilating means
- A47G1/06—Picture frames
- A47G1/0605—Picture frames made from extruded or moulded profiles, e.g. of plastic or metal
Definitions
- This invention concerns a hook means suitable to provide a locking connection between a back protection panel for a picture, like for instance a photograph or the like, and a picture frame body.
- Hook means of the above type are known and in general they comprise a resiliently deformable metal plate provided, in general at the ends thereof, with suitable extensions adapted to become engaged into corresponding seats of said back protection panel and of the picture frame body. They get slightly deformed while being set in place and the hook means resiliency, which tends to bring it back to the undeformed condition, is such that it provides forces which, owing to the hook means shape and to the way said hook means is connected to the panel and to the picture frame, cause mutual locking of these two members together.
- hook means which, although they fulfill at a sufficient extent the function they are designed for, have a remarkable drawback in that their action is limited only to the lockingly connecting function while, as it is well known, the above mentioned lockingly connecting forces alone are not satisfactory for obtaining valuable results in providing stability to the assembly comprising the picture frame, the back panel, the front panel and the contents thereof.
- the hook means subjects to a stress action the assembly comprised of the back panel, the picture and the front transparent panel in order to keep said members in mutual contact and pressed against the picture frame body.
- a first approach was to provide the hook means with an additional member, as for instance a tab or the like, with the purpose of keeping said members pressed against the picture frame body.
- this type of hook means have drawbacks mainly in that manufacturing thereof is complicated and furthermore said additional member looses its effectiveness in time since its resilient pressure action on the back panel gradually vanishes.
- a second type of approach was to provide two different kinds of hook means the first of which lockingly connects the back panel to the picture frame body, while the second keeps the panels and the picture mutually contacting, and the assembly thereof in contact with the picture frame.
- a third type of approach is known from DE-U-8525427 which discloses a hook means for connecting with a single piece the back panel to the body of the picture frame. Also this type of approach has serious drawbacks because it requires relatively large holes through the back panel and because a portion thereof directly contacts the framed picture with consequent deformation or even laceration of the picture.
- the main object of the present invention is to provide a hook means of the above-mentioned third type, but free from the said drawbacks. This object is achieved with a hook means having the features defined in claim 1.
- the hook means of the present invention offer the further advantage that they do not require a strict positioning during the assembling operation and even allow easy adjustments of their position for balancing the frame assembly after the assembling operation.
- the hook means of this invention has an essentially U-shaped substantially central portion, shown in general at 10, comprised between ends 18 and 34.
- a substantially triangular cutout 14 providing a means for hanging the picture frame on a wall.
- Said tab 22 is used to make the removal of the hook means easier, concerning in particular end portion 18 moving out of its seat in panel 20.
- FIG. 2 the picture, for instance a photograph or the like, is shown at 24, while at 26 there is shown the front transparent panel, made for instance of glass.
- the second arm 28 of the central portion 10 ends in 34 and extends thereafter into a substantially U-shaped second end portion, shown in general at 30, comprising an inclined arm 32 and an end arm 36.
- the inclined arm 32 blends through the curved end 34 into arm 28 of the U-shaped portion 10.
- said curved end 34 is to abut against the back panel 20 with its convex side.
- the end arm 36 is substantially parallel to arm 28 and engages into a recess 38 of an inner cavity 40 of the frame body 42. As it is apparent in particular on Figure 2, end arm 36 engages against a protruding lip 44 of the cavity 40. In addition, the side edges of transparent panel 26 engage into a part 46 of the frame body 42 adapted to locate said panel 26, picture 24 and back panel 20 which are pushed against it by the hook means of this invention.
- FIG 2 still shows in particular that the inclined arm 32 lies at an acute angle towards back panel 20, whereby it supports and enhances the hook means pressure action against panel 20, as it is pointed out in the following.
- the hook means performs a triple action relative to the picture frame and to the members held therein. In fact, it lockingly connects the frame body 42 to the back panel 20, subjects to a stress action the assembly comprising the two panels 20, 26 with interposed picture 24 and urges the frame body 42 against said assembly. That triple action is performed without any contact of the hook means with the most sensitive parts of the said assembly, i.e. the picture 24 and the transparent panel 26 which are subject to be damaged when assembling or disassembling the frame.
Landscapes
- Mirrors, Picture Frames, Photograph Stands, And Related Fastening Devices (AREA)
- Display Devices Of Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
- Bending Of Plates, Rods, And Pipes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention concerns a hook means suitable to provide a locking connection between a back protection panel for a picture, like for instance a photograph or the like, and a picture frame body.
- Hook means of the above type are known and in general they comprise a resiliently deformable metal plate provided, in general at the ends thereof, with suitable extensions adapted to become engaged into corresponding seats of said back protection panel and of the picture frame body. They get slightly deformed while being set in place and the hook means resiliency, which tends to bring it back to the undeformed condition, is such that it provides forces which, owing to the hook means shape and to the way said hook means is connected to the panel and to the picture frame, cause mutual locking of these two members together.
- Several types of hook means have been provided which, although they fulfill at a sufficient extent the function they are designed for, have a remarkable drawback in that their action is limited only to the lockingly connecting function while, as it is well known, the above mentioned lockingly connecting forces alone are not satisfactory for obtaining valuable results in providing stability to the assembly comprising the picture frame, the back panel, the front panel and the contents thereof. For instance, it is necessary that the hook means subjects to a stress action the assembly comprised of the back panel, the picture and the front transparent panel in order to keep said members in mutual contact and pressed against the picture frame body.
- In order to meet the above requirement, various approaches have been taken which may be substantially grouped into two main classes, as it is pointed out in the following.
- A first approach was to provide the hook means with an additional member, as for instance a tab or the like, with the purpose of keeping said members pressed against the picture frame body.
- However, this type of hook means have drawbacks mainly in that manufacturing thereof is complicated and furthermore said additional member looses its effectiveness in time since its resilient pressure action on the back panel gradually vanishes.
- A second type of approach was to provide two different kinds of hook means the first of which lockingly connects the back panel to the picture frame body, while the second keeps the panels and the picture mutually contacting, and the assembly thereof in contact with the picture frame.
- However, this type of approach has serious drawbacks both because of the large number of pieces to be used which eventually make the picture frame particularly expensive, and because setting said pieces into position or removing the same becomes especially time consuming and uncomfortable for the user.
- A third type of approach is known from DE-U-8525427 which discloses a hook means for connecting with a single piece the back panel to the body of the picture frame. Also this type of approach has serious drawbacks because it requires relatively large holes through the back panel and because a portion thereof directly contacts the framed picture with consequent deformation or even laceration of the picture.
- The main object of the present invention is to provide a hook means of the above-mentioned third type, but free from the said drawbacks. This object is achieved with a hook means having the features defined in claim 1.
- The hook means of the present invention offer the further advantage that they do not require a strict positioning during the assembling operation and even allow easy adjustments of their position for balancing the frame assembly after the assembling operation.
- These as well as other advantages of the inventive hook means will become apparent from the following detailed description of a non limiting embodiment thereof, which refers to the attached figures, wherein:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the hook means according to this invention;
- Figure 2 is a cross-section showing the hook means set in place on a picture frame.
- Referring now to the above Figures, the hook means of this invention has an essentially U-shaped substantially central portion, shown in general at 10, comprised between
ends - On the
longer side 12 of the saidportion 10 there is a substantiallytriangular cutout 14 providing a means for hanging the picture frame on a wall. - One of the two arms of the U-shaped
portion 10, shown at 16, extends into a bent-overfirst end portion 18 which provides an extension suitable to be inserted into a suitable seat carved on theback protection panel 20. Saidfirst end portion 18 extends further into atab 22 which remains slightly raised aboveback panel 20 when the hook means has been set into place. - Said
tab 22 is used to make the removal of the hook means easier, concerning inparticular end portion 18 moving out of its seat inpanel 20. - In Figure 2 the picture, for instance a photograph or the like, is shown at 24, while at 26 there is shown the front transparent panel, made for instance of glass. The
second arm 28 of thecentral portion 10 ends in 34 and extends thereafter into a substantially U-shaped second end portion, shown in general at 30, comprising aninclined arm 32 and anend arm 36. - According to a first feature of said
second end portion 30, theinclined arm 32 blends through thecurved end 34 intoarm 28 of the U-shapedportion 10. In particular saidcurved end 34 is to abut against theback panel 20 with its convex side. - The
end arm 36 is substantially parallel toarm 28 and engages into arecess 38 of aninner cavity 40 of theframe body 42. As it is apparent in particular on Figure 2,end arm 36 engages against a protrudinglip 44 of thecavity 40. In addition, the side edges oftransparent panel 26 engage into apart 46 of theframe body 42 adapted to locate saidpanel 26,picture 24 andback panel 20 which are pushed against it by the hook means of this invention. - Figure 2 still shows in particular that the
inclined arm 32 lies at an acute angle towardsback panel 20, whereby it supports and enhances the hook means pressure action againstpanel 20, as it is pointed out in the following. - When the hook means is set into position, the U-shaped
central portion 10 thereof is slightly spread out whereby two forces, shown by the arrows F and G, are generated, the second being the force which cooperates to raise said hook means pressure action againstpanel 20. In fact, said force, usingend arm 36 engaged withinrecess 38 as a fulcrum, subjects the hook means to a pushing action towardspanel 20, which pushing action is transmitted to said panel bycurved end portion 34 in contact therewith. As it was stated above, said action is supported by the unique inclination of theinclined arm 32. - From the above description it is apparent that the hook means performs a triple action relative to the picture frame and to the members held therein. In fact, it lockingly connects the
frame body 42 to theback panel 20, subjects to a stress action the assembly comprising the twopanels picture 24 and urges theframe body 42 against said assembly. That triple action is performed without any contact of the hook means with the most sensitive parts of the said assembly, i.e. thepicture 24 and thetransparent panel 26 which are subject to be damaged when assembling or disassembling the frame.
Claims (2)
- Hook means for lockingly connecting the back panel (20) to the frame body (42) of a picture frame, having a first end portion (18) suitable to catch into a suitable seat carved on said back panel (20) and a second end portion (30) comprising an end arm (36) suitable to be inserted in an inner cavity (40) of the frame body (42), characterized in that between the first and second end portions (18, 30) it comprises a substantially U-shaped portion (10) having one end coinciding with said first end portion (18), the end arm (36) being substantially parallel to the arm (28) of the U-shaped portion (10) which comprises the other end, the arm (28) and the end arm (36) being joined by an inclined arm (32) extending from said other end to the back panel facing end of said end arm (36) and meeting with an acute angle the said arm (28) through a convex curved portion (34) and with an obtuse angle the said end arm (36), the convex curved portion (34) being suitable to abut against the back panel (20) when the end arm (36) is inserted into a recess (38) of the inner cavity (40) and the first end portion (18) is catched into the seat.
- The hook means of claim 1, characterized in that the first end portion (18) outwardly extends into a tab (22) for moving the first end portion (18) out of the seat carved on the back panel (20).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT2209189U | 1989-11-13 | ||
IT22091U IT218837Z2 (en) | 1989-11-13 | 1989-11-13 | HOOK FOR LOCKING THE REAR PROTECTION PANEL OF AN IMAGE TO THE FRAME OF A FRAME |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0433246A1 EP0433246A1 (en) | 1991-06-19 |
EP0433246B1 true EP0433246B1 (en) | 1994-09-28 |
Family
ID=11191371
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP90830522A Expired - Lifetime EP0433246B1 (en) | 1989-11-13 | 1990-11-13 | A hook means for locking a picture back protection panel to the body of a picture frame |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0433246B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE112148T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69012965T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2061001T3 (en) |
IT (1) | IT218837Z2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AT4818U1 (en) | 2000-09-18 | 2001-12-27 | Bauer Gerhard | PICTURE FRAME |
ITPD20110184A1 (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2012-12-07 | Far S P A | FRAME |
CN103027505B (en) * | 2013-01-15 | 2015-09-30 | 澳柯玛股份有限公司 | The screens assembling overhead structure of wine cabinet separation plate |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE8525427U1 (en) * | 1985-09-06 | 1985-11-14 | Strelow, Ingo, 4840 Rheda-Wiedenbrück | Interchangeable picture holder |
EP0262282A1 (en) * | 1986-10-02 | 1988-04-06 | PICO-GLASS S.p.A. | Clamp suitable to secure two panels together to form a picture holder and apt to have a frame applied to it |
-
1989
- 1989-11-13 IT IT22091U patent/IT218837Z2/en active IP Right Grant
-
1990
- 1990-11-13 AT AT90830522T patent/ATE112148T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-11-13 ES ES90830522T patent/ES2061001T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-11-13 EP EP90830522A patent/EP0433246B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-11-13 DE DE69012965T patent/DE69012965T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT8922091U1 (en) | 1991-05-13 |
DE69012965T2 (en) | 1995-02-02 |
ATE112148T1 (en) | 1994-10-15 |
IT218837Z2 (en) | 1992-11-05 |
EP0433246A1 (en) | 1991-06-19 |
IT8922091V0 (en) | 1989-11-13 |
ES2061001T3 (en) | 1994-12-01 |
DE69012965D1 (en) | 1994-11-03 |
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