EP1712161B1

EP1712161B1 - Frame, particularly for paintings

Info

Publication number: EP1712161B1
Application number: EP05425215A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alberto Fava
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-13
Filing date: 2005-04-13
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-13
Also published as: EP1712161A1; DE602005002826D1; DE602005002826T2; ATE375105T1; ES2294670T3

Abstract

A frame (1) particularly for a painting of the type on canvas and similar items of substantially flattened shape, which achieves an unusual sturdiness, comprises first strips (2) mutually associated at respective end portions (2a) to form a bearing framework (3) having a closed polygonal perimeter, such end portions (2a) each having at least one hole (4), holes (4) of associated end portions (2a) being juxtaposed to form a housing for a respective fixing means (5).

Description

Field of application

The present invention refers to a frame, particularly for a painting of the type on canvas or on paper, for a poster, a drawing, a photograph, a puzzle, a mirror and similar items of substantially flattened shape, with or without glass.

Prior art

As it is known, a frame generally consists of a structure comprising four or more rod-shaped elements, fixed to one another forming an angle, at their ends.
Such rod-shaped elements, substantially rigid and elongated, constitute the sides of the frame and normally consist of wooden strips having end portions cut at 45°. The fixing between consecutive strips to form a frame is obtained by mutually associating said strips in a substantially head-tail arrangement, for example by gluing the end portions at the respective inclined sides, appropriately abutting each other.
Although they achieve the purpose, such frames are not without drawbacks the main one of which is represented by a rather uncertain "seal" that a fixing of the aforementioned type involves, above all due to the small contact surface between consecutive strips, provided for their mutual gluing.
Moreover, so as not to further limit the aforementioned mutual contact surface, the strips must be made with high precision, above all in the inclined cutting of the respective end portions.
A first solution provided by the prior art to avoid such a drawback and to make the binding between the strips more secure is the use of staples, applied on a same side of the frame, at angular portions of the frame itself, so as to bind together pairs of consecutive strips, as described, for example, in patent GB 1 333 712 .
A second solution foresees frames of the type described, for example, in patent WO 8605668 . Such a type of frame comprises a first plurality of rod-shaped elements, assembled together to form the frame by means of a second plurality of elbow-like connection elements.
Although advantageous, such solutions are also not without drawbacks including a substantial production cost and the need to use precision apparatuses to make the components of the frame. Moreover, next to good manual ability, a non-negligible time consumption is required for the assembly of the frame itself.
Document DE-U-203 05 345 discloses a stickable and screwable fence system, in which the fence elements comprise strips mutually associated at respective end portions to form a bearing framework having a closed polygonal perimeter, whereby said end portions are each equipped with at least one hole, with holes of associated end portions being juxtaposed to form a housing for a respective fixing means.
The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a frame of the type considered having such structural and functional characteristics as to overcome the limitations and drawbacks with reference to the prior art.

Summary of the invention

This purpose is achieved according to the invention by a frame of the aforementioned type as defined in the hereto attached claim 1 .
The characteristics and advantages of a frame according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of indicative and non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures.

Brief description of the drawings

figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a frame in accordance with the present invention;
figure 2 shows an exploded view of the frame of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a plan view of the frame of figure 1;
figure 4 shows a middle section of the frame of figure 1.

Detailed description

With reference to figure 1, a frame of the type used to decorate a painting on canvas or on paper, a poster, a drawing, a photograph, a puzzle, a mirror and similar items of substantially flattened shape is globally indicated with 1.
The frame 1 comprises a first plurality of rigid rod-shaped elements, also identified hereafter in the description as first strips 2, which are angle-like associated with each other, to form a bearing framework 3, having a closed polygonal perimeter, for example rectangular, as illustrated with particular reference to figure 2.
In detail, each first strip 2 is associated at its opposite ends, and in a substantially head-tail arrangement, with contiguous strips of the framework 3.
In accordance with a first characteristic of the invention, each first strip 2 of said framework 3 is equipped, at respective end portions 2a, with through holes 4.
In particular, each hole 4 is formed in each end portion 2a of a strip 2, in such a position that, in the formation of the desired frame, it results superimposable to a hole 4 of a contiguous end portion 2a of a different first strip 2.
It can be noted, with reference to the example of the figures, that each first strip 2 is equipped with one hole 4 only at each end portion 2a, however, in accordance with the invention, first strips 2 can be provided equipped with a greater number of holes 4.
The characteristic is that the holes 4 are formed in the first strips 2 in such positions as to be able to be superposed in the aforementioned way in the formation of the frame, in such superimposition and in accordance with a second characteristic of the invention forming a plurality of housing seats for respective fixing means 5.
In accordance with a further characteristic of the invention, the frame 1 comprises a second plurality of rod-shaped rigid elements, also identified hereafter in the description as second strips 6, each of which is associated in substantial superposition with a respective first strip 2 of the framework 3.
Each of such second strips 6 is of a slightly shorter length than the respective first strip 2 with which it is associated, in such way each second strip 6 is situated between end portions 2a of two first strips 2 not directly associated.
With reference to figure 3 in which the frame according to the invention is rectangular, it can be noted that consecutive second strips 6 are associated with respective first strips 2 on opposite faces of the framework 3.
Moreover, each second strip 6 is offset in the width direction with respect to a relative first strip 2, projecting inwards or outwards of the framework 3 with alternating progression, forming an inner perimetric recess 7 in the frame 1, in order to form a housing for the painting or other, and an outer perimetric step 5.
As far as the aforementioned fixing means are concerned, they are advantageously pins 5, preferably prismatic, housed in the juxtaposed holes 4 of associated end portions 2a, which in accordance with the invention allow the mutual attachment of the first strips 2.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first strips 2 of the framework 3 are, furthermore, fixed together through gluing at the end portions 2a.
In particular, according to the invention, such gluing is carried out between superposed end portions 2a of contiguous first strips 2.
Advantageously, in order to prevent them from coming off, the aforementioned fixing pins 5 can also be further fixed to the first strips 2 through gluing.
As far as the association of the second strips 6 with the first strips 2 is concerned, it should be said that it is preferably of the removable type and it is obtained, for example, by means of nails, screws, staples, glue and similar removable fixing means.
In its use, the frame according to the present invention is mounted firstly by making a bearing framework.
In particular, the first strips are positioned at an angle with superposed end portions, so that holes of contiguous end portions are juxtaposed, making respective housing seats suitable for being engaged by the fixing pins.
Thereafter, such first strips are associated and fixed together to form the bearing framework by means of the same fixing pins, and possibly also by gluing the fixing pins and the superposed end portions. Then the second strips are associated.
The main advantage of the frame according to the present invention is represented by its unusual sturdiness with respect to common frames provided by the prior art.
Such sturdiness is obtained, in accordance with the invention, by the special association carried out between the first strips that form the bearing framework of the frame.
The anchoring between the first strips, in fact, is fixedly ensured by the fixing pins that, in practice, prevent any mutual departing movement between first strips, other than that which could result from a substantially normal stress to the frame, and therefore highly improbable.
In any case, the further fixing by gluing of the end portions of the first strips ensures a secure anchoring of the frame also with respect to a substantially normal stress to it.
It should be said that the aforementioned gluing takes place between first strips having superposed end portions, and not abutting together as it usually happens in the frames provided by the prior art. The superposition substantially increases the contact surface between the strips, i.e. the gluing surface itself, further increasing the sturdiness of the present frame.
Advantageously, it should also be noted that the second strips also act as props or spacers with regard to the first strips of the bearing framework. In this way the sturdiness of the present frame is further ensured, particularly with regard to possible angular displacements of the first strips with relative distortion of the frame.
A further advantage of the frame according to the present invention lies in its structural simplicity that allows it to be produced easily without the need to use particularly complex precision apparatuses.
In particular, it is not necessary to carry out laborious angled cuts of the end portions of the strips, with a consequent beneficial influence on the production cost of the frame.
Yet another further advantage of the frame according to the invention lies in its functional simplicity that allows it to be mounted quickly without any great difficulty.
The presence of the holes and of the fixing pins, in fact, makes the assembly of the bearing framework particularly easy regardless of the manual ability of the user.
In the case of rectangular or square frames the squaring up of the strips it consists of is also made enormously easier.
A man skilled in the art will bring numerous modifications to the frame according to the invention described above in order to meet contingent and specific needs, all of which being however within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Frame (1) particularly for a painting of the type on canvas and similar items of substantially flattened shape, comprising first strips (2) mutually associated at respective end portions (2a) to form a bearing framework (3) having a closed polygonal perimeter, in which said end portions (2a) are each equipped with at least one hole (4), with holes (4) of associated end portions (2a) being juxtaposed to form a housing for a respective fixing means (5), characterized in that said frame also comprises second strips (6) each associated in substantial superimposition with a respective first strip (2) of said framework (3).
Frame according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said second strips (6) is slightly shorter than a respective first strip (2) which it is associated with.
Frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said framework (3) has a parallelogram-shaped perimeter.
Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that consecutive second strips (6) are associated with respective first strips (2) on opposite faces of said bearing framework (3).
Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of said second strips (6) is slightly offset in the direction of the width relative to a first respective strip (2) which it is associated with.
Frame according to claim 5, characterized in that said second strips (6) are offset so as to project inwards and outwards of said bearing framework (3) with alternating progression, determining an inner peripheral recess (7) and an outer peripheral step (8).
Frame according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said fixing means are pins, which are preferably prismatic.
Frame according to claim 7, characterized in that said prismatic pins are further fixed through gluing to said first strips (2).
Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each of said second strips (6) is removably associated with a respective first strip (2).
Frame according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said first strips (2) are further fixed to each other through gluing at said associated end portions (2a), said associated end portions (2a) being superimposed to each other.