GB2137879A - A picture frame assembly and method of using same - Google Patents

Abstract

A picture frame assembly has a number of spacer sheets (20) which are slid between guide surfaces of a frame so that a selected number of the sheets can be slid from the frame and replaced by a selection of pictures. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Picture Frame Assembly and Method of Using Same This invention relates to a picture frame assembly and to a method of using a picture frame assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to enable a picture on display in a picture frame assembly to be easily and conveniently changed.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of mounting a selection of pictures in a frame which contains a plurality of spacer sheets slidably held in the frame, comprising the steps of selecting a number of the plurality of spacer sheets for removal from the frame by determining how many of the spacer sheets correspond in combined thickness to the combined thickness of the pictures, sliding the selected spacer sheets from the frame, and sliding the selected pictures into the frame so that a front one thereof is displayed in the frame.

Preferably, the method comprises a further step whereby, after the selection of pictures have been mounted in the frame, the order of the selected pictures is changed in a manner so that another one of the pictures is displayed in the frame.

The order of the selected pictures can be changed by sliding the front picture from the frame and reinserting this picture at the rear of the group of selected pictures. The pictures may, for example, be photographs of a child taken at intervals in the child's development so that a cycle of pictures may be displayed which show the child growing up.

According to the invention, there is also provided a picture frame assembly which comprises a frame and a plurality of spacer sheets mounted in the frame, wherein the plurality of spacer sheets are of a combined thickness so as to be slidably held between mutually facing surfaces of the frame, whereby, when the picture frame is to be used, a selection of pictures are mounted in the frame by replacing a number of the plurality of spacer sheets with the selected pictures so that a front one of the pictures is displayed in the frame, the combined thickness of the number of spacer sheets corresponding to the combined thickness of the selected pictures.

The picture frame assembly enables a selected number of pictures to be slidably held in the frame.

In a preferred embodiment of picture frame assembly, the frame comprises a front portion and two flange elements which are spaced from the front portion, wherein the front portion and the two flange elements define the respective mutually facing surfaces. Preferably, the front portion comprises top, bottom and side elements for framing a picture and the frame further comprises two web elements which extend rearwardly, respectively, from the top and bottom elements, wherein the two flange elements extend from the respective web elements towards one another so that the front portion, web elements and flange elements together define a generally horizontal slide path for the spacer cards when the assembly is stood for use.

Preferably, the spacer sheets comprise two sheets mounted in the frame, at least one of the sheets being transparent, and a plurality of spacer cards packed between the sheets. The sheets are preferably rigid, relative to the cards.

An example of a picture frame assembly and a method of using the picture frame assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the picture frame assembly.

Figure 1 shows a picture frame assembly 9 which comprises a frame 10 and a plurality of spacer sheets mounted in the frame. The spacer sheets comprise a plurality of spacer cards 20 packed between a pair of rigid transparent sheets 1 9. Figure 2 shows the picture frame assembly after some of the spacer cards have been replaced with pictures.

The frame 10 comprises a front portion 11 for framing a picture, two web elements 1 5 which extend rearwardly from the front portion, and two flange elements 1 6 which extend from the respective web elements. The flange elements are spaced from the front portion and the front portion and flange elements define mutually facing surfaces, respectively 25a and 25b.

The frame 10 is generally plate-like and is formed from a single piece of a material such as metal or plastics. It will be appreciated however that a frame in accordance with the invention can be formed from a plurality of separate elements which are not necessarily plate-like. The frame is preferably formed of a metal which can be plated or otherwise treated to provide an attractive finish.

The front portion 11 comprises a top element 12, a bottom element 13 and two side elements 14. The web elements 1 5 extend respectively from the top and bottom elements, and the flange elements extend from the respective web elements in directions which are generally parallel to the plane of the front portion. The web elements extend generally perpendicularly to the front portion and are of approximately the same depth so that the flange elements extend towards one another and are approximately the same distance from the front portion. The web elements, flange elements and elements of the front portion define a slide path for the transparent sheets 1 9 and spacer cards 20 which is generally horizontal when the picture frame assembly is stood for use on a horizontal surface, as shown in the figures.

The picture frame assembly 9 further comprises a stand 1 8 which is detachably mounted on the frame 1 0. One end portion of the stand is frictionally held between a raised portion 1 7 of one of the flange elements 1 6 and a surface of one of the transparent sheets 19. When the assembly is stood for use, the other end portion rests on a horizontal surface.

It will be appreciated that there are various alternative forms of picture frame assembly in accordance with the invention besides the one shown in the drawing. For example, the frame may comprise three web elements which extend rearwardly from three sides of the front portion, at least two of the web elements having a flange element extending therefrom. In other alternatives, the frame may comprise two web elements, each with a flange element extending therefrom, which extend from the respective side elements of the front portion, or from one side element and one of the top and bottom elements.

When the picture frame assembly is being prepared for use, a plurality of spacer cards 20 are packed between the sheets 1 9 in the frame 10, the spacer cards and sheets being of a combined thickness such that they substantially fill the space between the surfaces 25a and 25b of the front portion 11 and flange elemehts 16 respectively. The spacer cards and sheets are trapped in the frame, being frictionally held between the mutually facing surfaces of the frame. There are at least five and preferably more than nine cards. Typically about fifteen spacer cards are packed between the transparent sheets.

When a selection of pictures 21 are to be mounted in the frame, a number of the spacer cards are selected for removal from the frame.

The number is determined by an estimate as to how many correspond in combined thickness to the combined thickness of the selection of pictures. In the iilustrated example, each spacer card is of a thickness which is approximately the same as that of normal photographic printing paper so that a number of photographs equal to the number of spacer cards can be stored in the frame.

The selected number of spacer cards are slid from the frame in either direction aiong the slide path by means of a finger-tip pressure applied to one of the transparent sheets to overcome the frictional engagement between transparent sheets and the frame. The selected pictures are then slid into the frame so that a front one thereof is framed by the front portion, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows a rear one of the sheets 19 and some of the pictures 21 and spacer cards 20 partially slid out of the frame. The order of the selected pictures in the frame can be changed in a manner so that any one of the pictures is displayed in the frame. Further spacer cards can be substituted by photographs subsequently.

Claims (9)

1. A method of mounting a selection of pictures in a frame which contains a plurality of spacer sheets slidably held in the frame, comprising the steps of selecting a number of the plurality of spacer sheets for removal from the frame by determining how many of the spacer sheets correspond in combined thickness to the combined thickness of the selected pictures, sliding the selected spacer sheets from the frame, and sliding the selected pictures into the frame so that a front one thereof is displayed in the frame.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein, after the selection of pictures has been mounted in the frame, the order of the selected pictures is changed in a manner so that another one of the pictures is displayed in the frame.

3. A picture frame assembly comprising a frame and a plurality of spacer sheets mounted in the frame, wherein the plurality of spacer sheets are of a combined thickness so as to be slidably held between mutually facing surfaces of the frame, whereby, when the picture frame is to be used, a selection of pictures are mounted in the frame by replacing a number of the plurality of spacer sheets with the selected pictures so that a front one of the pictures is displayed in the frame, the combined thickness of the number of spacer cards corresponding to the combined thickness of the selected pictures.

4. An assembly according to Claim 3 wherein the frame comprises a front portion and two flange elements which are spaced from the front portion, the front portion and the two flange elements defining the respective mutually facing surfaces.

5. An assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the front portion comprises top, bottom and side elements for framing a picture and wherein the frame comprises two web elements which extend rearwardly, respectively, from the top and bottom elements, the flange elements extending from the respective web elements towards one another so that the front portion, web elements and flange elements together define a slide path.

6. An assembly according to any one of Claims 3, 4 or 5 wherein the spacer sheets comprise two sheets, at least one of which is transparent, mounted in the frame and a plurality of spacer cards packed between the sheets.

7. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A picture frame assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

9. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawing.