GB2234434A

GB2234434A - Picture mount

Info

Publication number: GB2234434A
Application number: GB8916888A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stefan Karel Kon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-07-24
Filing date: 1989-07-24
Publication date: 1991-02-06
Also published as: GB8916888D0

Abstract

In order to remove the need to hand-paint decoration on to a cardboard sheet (1) of the picture mount, the decoration is preprinted in the form of coloured lines (8, 9) on a transparent substrate (7) so as to form a decorative tape (5). The decorative tape (5) is then stuck around the edge of an aperture (2) formed in the cardboard sheet (1) within which a picture will subsequently be located. <IMAGE>

Description

Picture Mount and Method of Manufacture Therefor This invention relates to a picture mount and a method of manufacture therefor.

When framing a picture, a picture mount is frequently placed on top of and around the picture being framed in order to provide a visually appealing surround to the picture and in order to space the picture from the beading forming the edge of the picture frame. The picture mount is sandwiched between a backing sheet to which the picture is attached and a glass face plate. Usually, the picture itself is sandwiched between the picture mount and the backing sheet.

A picture mount may, for examples be a piece of coloured cardboard, and it is often desirable that some form of decoration is provided around the aperture in the picture mount in order to enhance the visual appeal of the picture located within the aperture. Such decoration usually comprises a decorative border around the aperture and is traditionally applied to the cardboard by means of a so-called ruling pen containing water colour or ink. If the decoration is to comprise several lines then the lines are applied one at a time around the aperture using the ruling pen. Also, a colour wash may be applied by a brush around the aperture, usually between two already drawn lines defining the edge of the area to which the wash is to be applied.

The traditional method referred to above is time consuming in view of the fact that several lines may have to be applied and considerable skill is required in order to ensure that all of the lines are corrently positioned relative to one another at all points round the aperture. Furthermore, it is easy to make mistakes and therefore require the whole process to be started again on a new piece of cardboard. Typically, it may take an experienced maker of picture mounts from five to fifteen minutes to apply the decoration to the cardboard sheet.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a picture mount comprises a sheet of material having first and second surfaces and an aperture therethrough connecting the first and second surfaces; and a decorative tape stuck on one of the first and second surfaces around at least a part of the aperture.

According to a second apsect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a picture mount comprises the steps of: forming, in a sheet of material having first and second surfaces, an aperture through the sheet connecting the first and second surfaces; and sticking decorative tape on one of the first and second surfaces around at least a part of the aperture.

The decorative tape forms a decorative border around the aperture and it is particularly easy to form the picture mount because even an unskilled operative may soon learn how to stick the tape on the sheet of material in a quick and tidy manner.

The sheet of material will usually be of the traditional type used to form a picture mount, such as a sheet of cardboard.

Preferably, the tape is an adhesive tape in order to dispense with the need to have to apply glue to the sheet before the tape is stuck thereon.

The decorative tape may be 100% decorated, i.e. all of one colour or entirely covered by a coloured pattern. However, in order to simulate as closely as possible the traditional form of hand-drawn borders, the decorative tape preferably includes at least one decorative marking (e.g.

one or more longitudinal lines) and is transparent apart from the at least one decorative marking. In this way, the texture and colour of the underlying sheet of material is still visible except where covered by the decorative markings. For ease of manufacture of such a tape, the tape preferably comprises a transparent substrate with the at least one decorative marking mounted thereon and covering only part of the surface of the substrate.

Usually, the tape will extend all of the way around the aperture.

One edge of the tape may be run along the edge of the aperture in order to locate in position the tape during manufacture of the mount and thereby speed up assembly.

If, as will usually be the case, the aperture has straight edges and corners (e.g. the aperture is square or rectangular), then the tape stuck around the aperture will normally comprise a plurality of individual lengths of tape each running parallel to or along a respective straight edge of the aperture.

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a picture mount in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a section taken along the line II-II of Figure 1.

The picture mount comprises a sheet of cardboard 1 having a square aperture 2 cut therein. The aperture 2 connects together parallel main surfaces 3,4 of the sheet 1.

The picture mount also comprises decorative tape 5 running around the entire edge 6 of the aperture 2. The tape 5 comprises a transparent base portion or substrate 7 and decoration in the form of first and second coloured longitudinal lines 8 and 9 printed on the base portion 7. In Figure 2 the thickness of the various components is exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Because the base portion 7 is transparent, the underlying cardboard sheet 1 is still visible through the tape 5 at those portions at which the lines 8,9 are not located. In this way, when viewed from a distance, the transparent base portion 7 is substantially invisible and the viewer gains the impression of only the coloured lines 8,9 being located around the aperture 2.

Because the coloured lines 8,9 are preprinted on the base portion 7, their relative positioning may be predetermined in an accurate manner in order that the picture mount has a neat appearance with accurately spaced lines 8,9.

Because the aperture 2 has corners, the tape positioned around the aperture actually comprises four individual lengths of tape each positioned along a respective straight edge of the aperture. The tape is provided on a roll and an appropriate length is cut off the roll and then stuck along a respective straight edge of the aperture. The ends of each individual length of tape are cut to make them angled (e.g. at 450) in order to permit the ends of adjacent lengths of tape to butt one another without overlapping (see Figure 1 in which one end of an individual length of tape is shown pealed up from the sheet 1 in order to assist understanding of the invention). Each length of tape 5 is positioned along its respective aperture edge by means of locating on an edge of the tape along the edge 6 of the aperture. Because the tape may thus be accurately positioned relative to the aperture and because the lines 8,9 are accurately preprinted on the tape, even a relatively inexperienced operative may achieve the result of correctly positioned coloured lines 8,9 running all the way round the aperture 2.

The tape 5 is stuck to the card 1 by means of adhesive preapplied to the reverse side of the tape. Preferably, the adhesive is sufficiently tacky as to permit the tape to be lifted up and repositioned during fabrication of the picture mount should such repositioning prove necessary.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A picture mount comprising a sheet of material having first and second surfaces and an aperture therethrough connecting the first and second surfaces; and a decorative tape stuck on one of the first and second surfaces around at least a part of the aperture.

2. A picture mount according to claim 1, wherein the tape is an adhesive tape.

3. A picture mount according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tape includes at least one decorative marking and is transparent apart from the at least one decorative marking.

4. A picture mount according to claim 3, wherein the tape comprises a transparent substrate with the at least one decorative marking mounted thereon and covering only part of the surface of the substrate.

5. A picture mount according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aperture has straight edges and corners and the tape comprises a plurality of individual lengths of tape each running parallel to or along a respective straight edge of the aperture.

6. A picture mount according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tape extends all of the way around the aperture.

7. A picture mount according to claim 6 when dependent on claim 5, wherein the ends of adjacent lengths of tape butt one another without overlapping.

8. A method of manufacturing a picture mount comprising the steps of: forming, in a sheet of material having first and second surfaces, an aperture through the sheet connecting the first and second surfaces; and sticking decorative tape on one of the first and second surfaces around at least a part of the aperture.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the tape is an adhesive tape.

10. A method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the tape includes at least one decorative marking and is transparent apart from the at least one decorative marking.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the tape comprises a transparent substrate with the at least one decorative marking mounted thereon and covering only part of the surface of the substrate.

12. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the aperture has straight edges and corners and the step of sticking decorative tape comprises taking a plurality of individual lengths of tape and sticking each length of tape parallel to or along a respective straight edge of the aperture.

13. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the step of sticking the tape comprises sticking the tape all of the way around the aperture.

14. A method according to claim 13 when dependent on claim 12, wherein the individual lengths of tape are stuck to the sheet of material with the ends of adjacent lengths of tape butting one another without overlapping.

15. A picture mount substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of manufacturing a picture mount substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.