GB2223874A

GB2223874A - Panel frame

Info

Publication number: GB2223874A
Application number: GB8823419A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Philip Hancock
Original assignee: British Alcan Aluminium Ltd
Current assignee: British Alcan Aluminium Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-05
Filing date: 1988-10-05
Publication date: 1990-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-05
Also published as: GB2223874B; AU4232289A; GB8823419D0

Abstract

A panel frame member comprises a base 2 and a cover 3 each having interconnectable hinge parts 9, 18 which permit the base to be removed from the cover and latching parts 10, 22 between the base and the cover extending generally concentrically of the hinge parts, the relative dimensions of the base and the cover being such that some distortion of the material of one or both is necessary to engage both the hinge parts and the latching means and the latter permitting the cover to be held firmly relative to the base in both a closed and an open position. Three or four such panel frame members may be secured by screws 15 to a backing 14 to hold a poster. The members may be made of aluminium with the latching parts 10, 22 being of varying radius and provided with cooperating teeth 12, 23. A special tool may be required for the separation. <IMAGE>

Description

Panel Frame This invention relates to a panel frame member.

Panel frames usually mounted on a back plate are frequently used in the manner of a picture frame to display posters and other sheet material in public places.

However it is necessary that the displayed material should be replaceable from the front of the frame and it is well known to provide frame members of two or more parts, one of which holds the displayed material against the back plate and is movable to "open" the frame. Usually the movable part in a snap fit or is otherwise firmly held in its closed position and, to prevent vandalism, requires the use of a simple tool to open it.

According to the present invention there is provided a panel frame member comprising a base and a cover each having interconnectable hinge parts which permit the base to be removed from the cover, latching means between the base and the cover extending generally concentrically of the hinge parts, the relative dimensions of the base and the cover being such that some distortion of the material of one or both is necessary to engage both the hinge parts and the latching means and the latter permitting the cover to be held firmly relative to the base in both a closed and an open position. Preferably the latching means comprises interconnecting teeth on substantially part circular racks. The radius of one or both racks at the surface containing their teeth may vary along the length thereof in the sense to tighten engagement of the racks as the cover moves towards its closed position.The base and cover may be extrudedrfrom an aluminium alloy. The cover may have a formation for engagement by a hand held tool to facilitate opening.

The invention also provides a panel frame comprising three or more frame members according to the immediately preceding paragraph having their ends mitred and being joined together either by conventional means or via a backing plate.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which shows two panel frame members, one partly in section with its cover closed, in full line position and open, in chain line position.

Referring to the drawing a panel frame 1 comprises a base 2 and a cover 3 both extruded from a suitable aluminium alloy. The base 2 comprises a bottom plate 4 with a thicker part 5, the outer face 6 of which is extended upwardly as a wall, the outer part of which turns through 900 at 8 and terminates in a bead 9 of part circular cross section. A curved wall 10 having an outer face 11 formed with teeth 12 extends upwardly from the bottom plate 4 and terminates at an end face 13.

The base 2 may conveniently be secured to a backing sheet 14 by screws 15 with the part 5 constituting an edging strip therefor.

The cover 3 has a rear wall 16 the lower end 17 of which is thickened and formed with a part circular recess 18 to engage closely around slightly less than half the circumference of the bead 9 so that the bead and the recess constitute interconnectable hinge parts. The rear wall 16 joins a top wall 19 and a downwardly extending, inclined front wall 20 having a projecting foot 21 at its outer end. Intermediate the length of the top wall 19 a curved limb 22 extends downwardly therefrom and has its inner face formed with teeth 23.

The outer face 11 of the curved wall 10 and the inner face of the curved limb 22 are similarly part circular.

At their ends nearest the bottom plate 4 the centre of these faces is at the centre of the bead 9 whereas towards their ends remote from the bottom plate 4 the faces have a slightly larger radius. This arrangement ensures that as the cover 3 pivots around the bead 9 towards its full line position in the drawing the engagement of the teeth 12 and 23 becomes tighter so that in the full line position some distortion of either or both the base 2 and cover 3 occurs and separation of these parts may require the use of a suitable tool engaged, for example, in an aperture (not shown) in the top wall 19 or front wall 20.

It is expected that three or more frame members are secured around the backing sheet 14 with their ends (not shown) mitred in order to provide a panel frame for display purposes. A poster 24, or other material to be displayed, is covered by a transparent sheet 25 and firmly held around its edges by the feet 21. When the displayed material is to be changed the covers 3 are moved to their open positions, as shown in chain lines in the drawing.

Although continuous rows of teeth 12 and 23. are. shown in an alternative arrangement a few teeth 23 could be provided near the end of the limb 22 and two spaced apart sets of teeth 12 representing closed and open positions could be provided on the wall 10.

It will be understood that in the chain line position of the cover 3 the tip 26 of the end 17 engages with the wall 8 while the limb 22 and wall 10 are still engaged.

Further opening movement of the cover 3 will disengage the hinge connection and the engagement between the limb and the wall. To facilitate initial engagement of these parts the ends of the limb 22 and wall 10 could be chamfered at their mating surfaces to enable the necessary material distortion to take place.

Claims

1. A panel frame member comprising a base and a cover each having interconnectable hinge parts which permit the base to be removed from the cover, latching means between the base and the cover extending generally concentrically of the hinge parts, the relative dimensions of the base and the cover being such that some distortion of the material of one or both is necessary to engage both the hinge parts and the latching means and the latter permitting the cover to be held firmly relative to the base in both a closed and an open position.

2. A panel frame member according to claim 1 in which the latching means comprises interconnecting teeth on substantially part circular racks.

3. A panel frame member according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the radius of one or both racks at the surface containing their teeth may vary along the length thereof in the sense to tighten engagement of the racks as the cover moves towards its closed position.

4. A panel frame member according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base and cover are extruded from an aluminium alloy.

5. A panel frame member according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cover has a formation for engagement by a hand held tool to facilitate opening.

6. A panel frame comprising three or more frame members according to any one of the preceding claims having their ends mitred and-being joined together either by conventional means or via a back-ingplate-.

7. A panel frame member or a panel frame substantially as herein described with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.