GB2296866A - Snap fastening picture frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A picture frame has a body 10, to which side flaps 11 are attached along folding lines 12. The flaps are held in position by means of snap fasteners 14.

Description

SNAPSHUT FOLDING PHOTOFRAME This invention relates to a frames for photos and the like having folding sides, held in place by snap fasteners.

Photo frames conventionally comprise of a frame of one piece, usually made of metal, wood, cardboard, or plastic, or the knockdown variety made of suitable metal or wood sections, connected to each other by means of corner fasteners. Whichever the type the glass is normally placed inside the inner ridge provided for this purpose. The photograph and the backing piece are then placed behind the glass using a variety of means to achieve firm placement. In some cases, especially the table top variety, the glass and the backing may be introduced inside the frame by a side slide if provided.

All types of frames currently in use however are manufactured using relatively elaborate, expensive methods, moreover they are often quite complicated to set up, the fasteners and other means of hardware employed in the structure are susceptable to wear due to repeated or prolonged use.

According to the present invention there is provided a one piece photo frame comprising a main body in the form of angular shape in a rectangular case having eight male snap parts placed in each corner, attached along the edges to four flap sides of desired width, cut st 45 degree angles at each end and having 2 female snaps at exact positions to lock with the male parts when folded.

The frame in its simplest form can be produced most economically by means of a single die cut, using suitable materials such as paperboard, corrugated or plain plastic sheet. The snap fasteners, having the same height as the thickness of the glass, preferably 2mm, will then be secured on the punched holes. These are positioned on the die to match the dimensions of the glass intended for use. Means of supporting the frame to stand either on a table top or to hang on the wall can be attached accordingly. The frame can quickly be put to use by simply placing the picture/glsss and the like in position inside the male parts of the snap fasteners, then folding the side flaps along the edges, pressing the snap fasteners to secure the glass in position.

The main concept of the invention may be employed to achieve better results by covering the frame in the material of desired choice, such as leather or cloth, in which case the snap fasteners will conveniently be concealed.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG 1 - is the plan view of the invention to produce a rectangular frame FIG 2 - is the plan view of the frame with the glass placed on it FIG 3 - is the plan view with four side flaps folded FIG 4 - is the seotion of the line I-I showing closed snap fasteners securing the glass in place.

Referring first to FIG 1 , 10 is the main body of the frame. The four side flaps, 11, are to fold alongside lines, 12, leaving a clear gap of preferably 2u but definitely equal to that of the snap fasteners when pressed. 13 and 14 are male and female snaps respectively, placed on the main body and side flaps. In order to use the frame, the glass, 15, having the correct dimensions to fit inside the four corner position snap fasteners, 13, and the right thickness to match the gap of fold lines, 12, and thickness of the snap fasteners, 13, is placed on the frame as shown in FIG 2, with any pictures, photos or alike to be displayed, sandwiched between the glass and the main body. The flap sides, 11, are then folded along lines, 12, and pressed to lock the snap fasteners, 13 & 14, securing glass, 15, in position as shown in FIG 3 and Section II of FIG 4.

The method of production of the invention may be varied according to aesthetic results and desired effects. The choice more often is likely to be to cover the frame in materials such as leather, plastic, PVC, cloth or laminated paper in which case the main body, 10, and side flaps, 11, should be produced separately using three dies. The pieces are then placed in position on the covering material using proper adhesive, alongside the fold lines 12 the width of which may have to be altered slightly according to type of cover chosen.

Conventional photo frames and the like bearing moulded types are produced almost invariably in square or rectangular shapes, but should other forms such as triangular or, for example, pentagonal shapes, be desired the main principle of the invention may easily be applied.

Claims (10)

1 A picture or other display frame made of a single sheet of material, folded on the sides and held in place by snap fasteners.

2 A frame as described in claim 1 having angular geometrical shape with side flaps along the edges.

3 A blank material when supplied in the flat and adapted to be formed into frames as described in preceding claims.

4 The frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet material is a paper or corrugated plastic sheet product where production means are singular stage, die cut folding press.

5 A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the production is carried out by means of single die cut press and hot stamping along the foldable lines, using synthetic sheet material or natural hide.

6 A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover material used is entirely natural hide or a combination of natural and synthetic sheet material and production is carried out using multiple dies.

7 A frame according to any one of the claims 1 to 6 wherein the surface finish is by printing process or by spraying.

8 A frame according to any one of the claims 1 to 7 wherein the frame is manufactured in separate pieces, covered in sheet material and assembled by means of using adhesive or sewing machine or combination of the two.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A front-loading picture or other display frame, having angular geometric shapes, such as triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal etc. and having folding flaps along the edges, held in place by use of fasteners, be it conventional snaps, magnetic type, or non-metallic touch-and-close fasteners.

2. A blank material, when supplied in the flat, and adapted to be formed into a frame as described in the preceding claim.

3. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet material is a paper or corrugated plastic, where production means are singular stage, diecut folding press.

4. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main body or the side flaps are made of sheet metal magnetically charged.

5. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the production is carried out by means of single die-cut press and hot-stamping along the folding lines, using synthetic sheet material or natural hide.

6. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover material used is entirely natural hide or a combination of natural and synthetic materials, and production is carried out using multiple dies.

7. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the surface finish is by printing process or by spraying.

8. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame is manufactured in separate pieces, covered in sheet material, and assembled by means of using adhesive or sewing machine, or a combination of the two.

9. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims 1-8 wherein the glass is replaced by synthetic material.

10. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims 1-9 wherein the frame is used for displaying any other object, eg a mirror.