GB2095990A

GB2095990A - Picture and like frames

Info

Publication number: GB2095990A
Application number: GB8134809A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SKINNER ELIZABETH ANN
Current assignee: SKINNER ELIZABETH ANN
Priority date: 1980-11-20
Filing date: 1981-11-19
Publication date: 1982-10-13

Abstract

A frame comprises a channelled member having an outside wall 2 together with a front flange 3 and a rear flange 4 which is considerably narrower than the front flange 3, the glazing, picture, backing etc 12,13 being retained against the inner surface of the front flange by clips of U shape located with the bight of the U between the edge of the glazing and the base of the channel, and having one arm of the U engaged behind the rear flange on the other arm of the U bent to form a leaf spring urged against the rear face of the glazing/picture/backing. Another construction of retainer/framing member is described (Figures 9 - 18, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Frame assembly for pictures or the like Frames for large pictures and paintings must be particularly strong. Frames constructed of materials such as wood, extruded metals or plastics are very capable of retaining their shape. Hitherto circular and oval frames have been pressed out of thin sheet metal which by its very nature is not suitable to be used on a large form. However merial of the right thickness nd correct section will provide a much stronger frame suitable for taking the weight of larger pictures.

It is found that there are certain advantages to be gained by a construction enabling the picture, the glass (if used), and the backing (if used) to be dropped into place from the back of the frame, and indeed with a closed contour frame this is the only method of inserting the elements. Means heretofore employed for retaining the elements in place in a drop-in type continuous contour frame in either circular or oval form have been either in the form of a pin piercing through the side wall, or fixed retaining tags being bent over the back of the frame, neither methods being strong enough to withstand the resulting weight of larger pictures.It is therefore the main object of this present invention to provide a picture frame of a closed contourform in metal or plastic which is strong enough to frame the larger picture either in the preferred form with a small rear flange using the preferred retaining clips or the alternative form in which there is a thickened outside wall with a rebate into which has been formed evenly spaced holes to take the two alternative retaining devices; the alternative form being especially suitable for the extra large and heavy picture because of the greater stability of the thickened ouside wall.According to this invention, a frame assembly for a picture or the like comprises a frame in a closed contourform e.g. circular or oval, with the preferred outside wall together with a front flange extending inwards from the said outside wall and a rearflangewhich is considerably narrower than the front flange which also extends inwards from the rear of the frame wall; the front flange constitutes a ledge which supports the framing requisites or mirror while the rearfiange being narrower than the front flange permits the framing requisites to pass through from the back to rest on the front flange and the rear flange permits the use of the preferred retaining device which consists of a spring steel strip clip, comprising a rear and a front, the rear having an outwardly and backwardly inclined tongue, leading into the outside clip wall which extends forwards into the 'U' bend known as the front and then continuing to the inside clip wall which extends rearward into the pressure curve and then to the inwardly and forwardly inclined pressure arm.The front 'U' bend is inserted between the outside frame wall and the framed materials, providing lateral stability, and forward pressure is provided on the rear of the framed contents via the pressure arm when the rear tongue of the clip is secured inside the rear frame flange.

The frame assembly is preferably such as to permit fitting of the said retaining clips without the use of tools and to permit detachment of such retaining clips with a removing tool or a small screwdriver.

Aframe assembly for a picture or the like comprises a frame in a continuous contour form e.g. circular or oval, with a front flange which extends inwards from the alternative thickened outside wall in which there is a rebate on the inside edge of the said wall, into which have been created evenly spaced holes which house in turn the two alternative retaining devices both of which secure by a downwards pressure the framing requisites on to the front flange which constitutes a ledge which supports the said requisites.The self tapping screw is inserted and secured with a screwdriver into the hole of the rebate of the thickened wall through a hole in the retaining tag, which consists of a steel strip clip comprising the aforementioned hole in the outward pointing arm which extends through a curve downwards to the tag wall which then continues into the tag pressure curve and inwards and downwards to the tag pressure arm. The detachment of the said retaining tag is by the removal of the aforementioned self tapping screw.

The second alternative method of containing the framing requisites in the frame with the aforementioned thickened wall of a continuous contour frame is by inserting into the holes in the rebate a circumferentially grooved retaining device which comprises a vertical, pointed and circumferentially grooved arm, leading into the pressure curve which extends forwards and downwards into the pressure arm. The grooved vertical arm is inserted into the afore mentioned hole with a downward pressure and the pressure arm holds the framing requisites in position. To remove said framing requisites turn the clip to lie along side the back edge of the rebate as total removal of this retaining device is not feasible.

Examples of picture frame assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure lisa perspective view of the picture frame assembly.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the frame assembly; showing placement of retaining device.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view to a larger scale of the rear of the frame assembly looking towards one preferred retaining clip.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the preferred frame.

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 but also showing the picture, glass and backing in place.

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 5 but also showing a preferred retaining clip in an initial stage of assembly.

Figure 7 is a view like Figure 6 but with the retaining clip in position.

Figure 8 is a view showing a removing tool (Figure 8a) or a small screwdriver (Figure 8b) in position to remove the retaining clip.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the picture assembly; Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the frame assembly showing the holes, rebate, self tapping screw and retaining tag.

Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of the alternative thickened outside wall showing the rebate and hole for the retaining device.

Figure 12 is a view like Figure 11, but also showing the picture, glass and backing in place.

Figure 13 is a view like Figure 12 but also showing the self tapping screw and retaining tag in an initial stage of assembly.

Figure 14 is a view like Figure 13 but with the complete retaining device in position.

Figure 15 is a rear elevation of the rear assembly showing the holes, rebate and inverted 'L' shaped retaining clip.

Figure 16 is a cross sectional elevation showing the inverted 'L' shaped clip in an initial stage assembly.

Figure 17 is a view like Figure 16 but with the complete retaining device in position.

Figure 18 is a view showing the retaining clip in an intermediate position in the course of being moved to release the framing elements.

Turning not to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown a frame assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention. The frame assembly 1 in this example holds a pane of glass 12 and a backing 13. A picture and mount card, (neither shown), if required is inserted between the pane of glass 12 and the backing 13. The frame assembly 1 is of a continuouscontourform.

Turning now to Figure 2 there is shown the rear elevation of the frame 1 where the backing 13 is being contained by the pressure arm 11 of the preferred retaining device 5.

Turning now to Figure 3, details of the frame assembly 1 will be described. From the front of the outside wall 2 there extends inwardly therefrom a front flange 3 which is substantially perpendicular therefrom. This aforementioned front flange 3 defines a ledge 14 that supports the framing requisites.

A rear flange 4which is considerably narrower than the front flange 3, extends inwardly from the rear of the frame wall 2 and is substantially perpendicular therefrom.

The frame assembly also comprises a set of individual retaining clips 5, the number of which are required being determined by the size of the frame 1 in use. Each of these clips 5 consists of a spring steel strip clip comprising a rear and a front, the rear having an outwardly and backwardly inclined tongue 6, leading into the outside clip wall 7 which extends fowards into the 'U' bend known as the front 8 and then continuing to the inside clip wall 9 which extends rearwards into the pressure curve 10 and then into an inwardly and forwardly inclined pressure arm 11.As can be seen in the particular embodiment shown the front 'U' bend 8 has been inserted between the outside frame wall 2 and the framed materials providing the lateral stability required; the distance between the rear tongue 6 and the front 'U' bend 8 is less than that between the inside of the frame's rear flange 4 and the inside of the front flange 3, and the distance between the front 'U' bend 8 and the pressure curve 10 along the inside clip wall 9 is not so great as the distance between the front 'U' bend 8 and the rear tongue 6 along the outside clip wall 7 but does extend higher than any framing requisites so that the pressure curve 10 and the pressure arm 11 exertforward pressure on the rear of the said framing requisites when the rear tongue 6 is secured inside the rear flange 4.

Turning now to Figures 4 to 7, the frame 1 is constructed of a closed contour metal or plasticform of the desired cross-section Figure 4, and the manner in which the elements of the frame assembly are assembled will be Figure 5 shows a sectional elevation of the frame. The pane of glass 12 is dropped in through the back to rest on the ledge 14; the mount, if required, and the picture (neither shown) is then dropped into position, followed by the backing 13. The pane of glass 12 and the backing 13 have dimensions slightly smaller than the distance between the inside edges of the rear flanges 4.

Turning now to Figure 6 there is shown a retaining clip 5 being placed in position first by inserting the front 'U' bend 8 down between the framing elements and the outside wall 2, the inside clip wall 9 will contact the framing elements and the front 'U' bend 8 will slide down against the inside of the outside wall 2. With thumbs against the reartongue 6 with a downward pressure the rear tongue 6 is inserted underthe rear flange 4thus creating the lateral stability at the inside clip wall 9 and forward pressure at the pressure arm 11 both of which are required to keep the framing elements in position.

This procedure is repeated with the required number of clips 5 spacing them evenly around the frame 1.

Turning now to Figure 8a and Figure 8b, the manner in which the retaining clips 5 are detached will be explained. In Figure 8a there is shown a view of a Removing tool 15 and in Figure 8b a screwdriver which is a simple tool to be used in the removal process. The Tool 15 is inserted between the outside clip wall 7 and the outside wall 2 of the frame and with a motion as indicated by arrow D the rear tongue 6 of the retaining clip 5 is removed from under the rear flange 4, then the retaining clip 5 is removed completely, and simply, by the thumb and forefinger. The afore said removal procedure is repeated with respect to the remaining clips 5. The backing 13 and the pane of glass 12 or either of them can be removed to change the picture or the like.

Turning now to Figure 9 where there is shown a frame assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention. The frame assembly 1 in this example holds a pane of glass 12 and backing 13. A picture and mount card, if required (neither shown) is inserted between the pane of glass 12 and the backing 13. The frame assembly is of a closed contour form.

Turning now to Figure 10 there is shown the rear elevation of the frame 1 where the backing 13 is being contained by the pressure arm 25 of the retaining clip 20.

Turning now to Figures 11 to 14 where one alternative retaining device, which is made up of a self-tapping screw 19 and a retaining tag 20, is described. This form of containing the framing elements requires a thickened outside wall 17 as can be seen in Figure 11. On the rear of the said outside wall 17 there is a rebate 16 on the inside edge of the outside wall 17 into which there has been created evenly spaced holes 18 which receive the retaining screw 19 to secure the clip 20. At the front of the outside wall 17 there extends inward and substantially perpendicular therefrom a front flange 3 which defines a ledge 14that supports the framing elements. The manner in which these framing elements are assembled will be described. Figure 13 shows a sectional elevation of the frame 1 with the elements in position.The pane of glass 12 is dropped in through the back to rest on the ledge 14. The mount if required, and the picture (Neither shown) are then dropped into position, followed by the backing 13.

The framing elements have dimensions slightly smaller than the distance between the inside edges of the outside wall 17 below the rebate 16.

Turning now to Figure 13, the frame assembly also comprises sets of self-tapping screws 19 and retaining tags 20, the number of which are required is determined by the number of prepared holes 18 in the outside wall 17. Each of these retaining devices 19 and 20 comprises a self-tapping screw 19 of suitable dimensions for the prepared holes 18, and a retaining tag 20 which consists of a steel strip clip comprising an outwardly pointing face 21, in which there is a hole of suitable dimensions for selftapping screw 19, which extends through a curve 22 downwards to the tag wall 23, which then continues into the tag pressure curve 24 and inwards and downwards to the tag pressure arm 25.

Turning now to Figure 14 in the frame assembly, the outwardly pointing face 21 of the retaining tag 20 is positioned on the rebate 16 with the holes aligned; the tag wall 23 is in juxtaposition with the inside surface of the outer wall 17. The self-tapping screw 19 is inserted and secured through the retaining tag 20 into the hole 18 of the outside wall 17. As the retaining tag 20 is secured (as shown in Figure 14) a forward pressure is exerted through the tag pressure curve 24 and tag pressure arm 25 on to the back of the framing elements. To remove the afore mentioned retaining device 19 and 20 the insertion procedure is reversed and the framing elements can be removed to change the picture or the like.

Turning now to Figures 15 & 16, it is shown that the frame assembly 1 may also be secured by sets of inverted 'L' shaped toothed screws 26, the number of which are required is determined by the number of prepared holes 18 in the outside wall 17. Each of these retaining devices 26 comprises a vertical pointed circumferentially toothed arm 27 leading into the pressure curve 28 which extends forwardly and downwardly into the pressure arm 29, which is longerthan the vertical arm 27. In the frame assembly 1 the vertical toothed arm 27 is inserted and secured in the hole 18 in the rebate 16 with a downward pressure.The pressure curve 28 lies over the inside corner edge of the rebate 16 and the inside surface of the outside wall 17 and the downward pressure is transferred to the pressure arm 29 and thus to the backing 13, therefore containing the framing elements as shown in Figure 17.

Turning now to Figure 18 the manner in which the retaining device 26 is detached will be explained. As it is not feasible to remove the afore mentioned retaining device 26 entirely, the framing elements can be removed to change the picture or the like by turning the retaining device 26 through an angle approaching 90" either to the right or the left, with the fingers, so the pressure arm 29 is lifted rearwards up on to the rebate 16.

While the frame assembly 1 has been described in the context of use with a pane of glass 12 and backing 13, and a picture and mount card, if required, there between, it is to be understood that the invention is usable in other environments such as to mount a painting orto display an item having some three-dimensional aspects. Furthermore, in some instances, a pane of glass may not be necessary and/or a backing may not be necessary. In other instances, some filler material for one reason or another may be utilised. The retaining devices, 5; 19 and 20; and 26 are designed to correspond to a frame with certain dimensions, that is, one utilising a pane of glass.If it is desired not to use the pane of glass, or to use a pane of glass of substantially different thickness, then some filler material may be used to compensate for this because of the sandwich effect of the retaining devices 5; 19 and 20; and 26 in association with the frame and the glass, the frame assembly 1 has unusual strength and resistance to bending. The frame assembly 1 is therefore well suited to be made in larger sizes to mount large art reproductions for example. Depending on the orientation of the picture in the frame assembly, the frame of the preferred design with the rear flange 4 can be hung from a suitable hanging device at any point of the said rear flange 4. The frame with the alternative thickened ouside wall 17 design will have suitable hanging tags inserted between the required retaining device (19 and 20; and 26) and the rebate 16 from which is placed a hanging cord or the like. On all designs there can be placed in the backing 13 suitable hanging devices e.g. 'D' rings from which is placed a hanging cord or the like.

Claims

1. Aframefora picture or the like, comprising a closed contour form, e.g. a circular or oval form, with an outside wall having a rear and a front. There is a small rear reinforcing and retaining flange extending inwards from said outside wall and a wider front flange extending inwardly to a greater extent than the rear flange from the front of the said outside wall providing a support for the mirror or the picture or the like together with a pane of glass and backing if required, held in by the preferred retaining device which consists of a spring steel strip clip comprising a rear and front, the rear having an outwardly and backwardly inclined tongue, leading into the outside clip wall which extends forwards into the 'U' bend known as the front, and then continuing to the inside clip wall which extends rearward into the pressure curve and then into an inwardly and forwardly inclined pressure arm. The front 'U' bend is inserted between the outside frame wall and the framed materials, providing lateral stability, and forward pressure is provided on the rear of the framed contents via the pressure arm when the rear tongue of the clip is secured inside the rear frame flange.

2. Aframe assembly according to claim 1, wherein said frame is of one-piece construction.

3. Aframe assembly according to claim 1, wherein said frame is constructed of one piece of sheet metal.

4. A frame assembly according to claim 1, wherein said frame is constructed of one piece of plastic moulding.

5. A frame assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said closed contour may be of variable curvature.

6. A frame assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said closed contour may be of uniform curvature.

7. A frame assembly according to any one of preceding claims wherein the front flange is perpendicularto said outside wall.

8. Aframe assembly according to claims 1 to 7 in which the front flange presents a flat face.

9. Aframe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the front flange presents a flat face with one or more bevels.

10. Aframe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the front flange presents a curved face.

11. Aframe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the rear flange extends inwards from and perpendicular to said outside wall.

12. Aframe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the rear flange is inclined inwards and forwards.

13. A frame assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the rearflange curves inwards from said outside wall.

14. Aframe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the rear flange is extended inwards and forwards to lie in juxtaposition with said outside wall.

15. A frame assembly according to any one of preceding claims in which the rear flange is of a non-continuous nature.

16. A frame assembly according to any one of the preceding claims in which an integral fixing device is incorporated.

17. Aframe assembly according to any one of preceding claims wherein the retaining device provides an extension between frame and framing requisites to provide lateral stability with a retaining member or members to hold framing requisites into frame.

18. Aframe assembly according to any one of preceding claims wherein the retaining device is of a wire construction providing a 'U' bend between frame and framing requisites with two pressure arms inclined inwards and forwards.

19. Aframe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 16 where a retaining device bridges two or more points at the rear of the frame.

20. Aframe assembly according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.