GB2297034A

GB2297034A - Decorative photo/picture frame

Info

Publication number: GB2297034A
Application number: GB9501068A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Siu Chuen Kelvin Cheung
Original assignee: BEST SECTOR INVESTMENTS LIMITE
Current assignee: BEST SECTOR INVESTMENTS LIMITE
Priority date: 1995-01-18
Filing date: 1995-01-18
Publication date: 1996-07-24
Also published as: GB9501068D0

Abstract

A photo/picture frame (10) which comprises a body formed by a front frame member (11) having an aperture (13) through which a photograph may be displayed, and by a rear frame member (12) secured against the front frame member (11). The front frame member (11) has four slots (17). A flexible decorative sheet (24) is located inside the body, in a bent condition immediately behind and closing the slots (17) for a convex front side (25) of the sheet (24) to be exposed through the slots (17). The rear frame member (12) has a series of supporting plates (19) bearing against the rear side of the decorative sheet (24) in order to maintain the same in the bent condition.

Description

PHOTO/PICTURE FRAME The present invention relates to a frame for a photograph, picture or the like.

According to the invention, there is provided a frame for holding a photograph, picture or the like, which frame comprises a body formed by a front frame member having an aperture through which a said photograph or the like may be displayed, and by a rear frame member secured against the front frame member, said front frame member having at least one hole adjacent its periphery, inside which body a flexible decorative sheet is located in a bent condition immediately behind and closing said at least one hole for a convex front side of the sheet to be exposed through the hole.

It is preferred that the decorative sheet is trapped in position by the rear frame member.

Preferably, the rear frame member is adapted to maintain the decorative sheet in the bent condition.

More preferably, the rear frame member is provided with supporting means bearing against a rear side of the decorative sheet in order to maintain the decorative sheet in the bent condition.

In a preferred embodiment, the supporting means is adapted to bear at separate places against the rear side of the decorative sheet.

More preferably, the supporting means has an arcuate profile corresponding to and bearing against the rear side of the decorative sheet.

It is preferred that the supporting means is in the form of a plurality of plates.

In a preferred construction, the decorative sheet is in the form of a flat loop co-extensive with the front frame member.

More preferably, the supporting means is provided at intervals in a direction co-extensive with the periphery of the rear frame member.

Specifically, the decorative sheet is made of a foam material and includes a front fabric layer printed with a decorative pattern.

In a preferred embodiment, the body includes a backing plate which is releasably engaged to the body and has a hinged leg for standing the whole frame on a surface.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a photo/picture frame in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 consists of front elevational and perspective views of a rear frame member of the photo/picture frame of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the photo/picture frame of Figure 1, in a generally assembled condition and with a corner thereof cut-away to show the internal construction; and Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the photo/picture frame of Figure 1, in an assembled condition.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a photo/picture frame 10 embodying the invention, which frame 10 comprises a generally flat plastic body formed by a front frame member 11 and a rear frame member 12. Each frame member 11 or 12 is generally in the form of a hollow rectangle, which when assembled together constitute the frame body having a generally rectangular central aperture 13. The front frame member 11 is formed by a concentric pair of generally rectangular inner and outer loops 14 and 15. The loops 14 and 15 are integrally connected together by four front bridges 16 which extend across the respective loop corners, thereby forming four slots 17 extending along the corresponding sides of the frame body.

Each side and corner of the rear frame member 12 has a generally rectangular C-shaped cross-section facing forwards, which together form a ditch 18 co-extensive with the periphery of or extending around the rear frame member 12. Sixteen support plates 19 are integrally provided at intervals around the ditch 18, each extending transversely relative thereto. Each support plate 19 has an arcuate or curved outer profile 20. The inner periphery of the rear frame member 12 has, extending therearound, an integral flange 21 which bears a hole 22 at each corner. As best shown in Figure 3, an integral post 23 is formed on the rear side of each bridge 16 of the front frame member 11, which is aligned with the corresponding hole 22 of the rear frame member 12.

The photo/picture frame 10 includes a hollow-rectangular flexible foam sheet 24 in the form of a flat loop. The foam sheet 24 bears, on its front side, a layer 25 of fabric material which is printed with a decorative pattern.

A hole 26 is formed through each corner of the foam sheet 24, which is aligned with the corresponding post 23 and hole 22 of the frame members 11 and 12.

Assembly of the frame body is performed by aligning and placing the front and rear frame members 11 and 12 against each other. Before this is done, the foam sheet 24 is firstly pressed to bend (in cross-section) completely into gap 17' between the inner and outer loops 14 and 15 of the front frame member 11, with the posts 23 passing relatively through the corresponding holes 26 of the foam sheet 24.

By reason of the material nature of the loops 14 and 15 and the foam sheet 24 as well as the considerable flexibility of the foam sheet 24, the foam sheet 24 may stay in bent condition inside the gap 17' by mere friction. Opposite sides of the gap 17' may have small lateral projections or may be turned slightly inwards so as to positively hold the foam sheet 24 bent inside the gap 17'. The posts 23 may also help to retain the foam sheet 24. Thereafter, the rear frame member 12 is fitted against the front frame member 11, thereby trapping the foam sheet 24 inside the thus formed frame body. The support plates 19 enter into the gap 17' right behind the foam sheet 24 to have their outer profiles 20 bearing against rear side of the foam sheet 24.

The support plates 19 serve to maintain the foam sheet 24 in the bent or curved condition, particularly for the majority of the foam sheet 24 exposed and bulging out through the slots 17 of the front frame member 11, which are prone to deformation through pressing which is inevitable in normal handling of the photo/picture frame 10. If the foam sheet 24 is in itself sufficiently thick or elastic, it may be able to restore its original shape automatically, and in this case the support plates 19 may be dispensed with.

The frame members 11 and 12 are held together by four screws 27 passing through the respective holes 22 of the rear frame member 12 and securing into the corresponding posts 23 of the front frame member 11. A relatively shallow rectangular seat 28 is formed over the central aperture 13 on the back of the rear frame member 12, with the flange 21 defining the seat bottom.

The photo/picture frame 10 further includes a rectangular glass plate 29 and a rectangular plastic backing plate 30 which fit in turn inside the recess 28. The backing plate 30 is held in place by top and bottom pairs of integral lugs 31 and 32 engaging with corresponding side holes 35 provided in the recess 28, as shown in Figure 4. The screws 27 are hidden behind the backing plate 30. A leg 33 is hinged on the rear side of the backing plate 30, which is useful to stand the whole frame 10 on a surface, either upright or horizontally.

As in conventional photo/picture frames, a photograph or picture 34 is to be sandwiched between the glass plate 29 and the backing plate 30 for display.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various (other) modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A frame for holding a photograph, picture or the like, which frame comprises a body formed by a front frame member having an aperture through which a said photograph or the like may be displayed, and by a rear frame member secured against the front frame member, said front frame member having at least one hole adjacent its periphery, inside which body a flexible decorative sheet is located in a bent condition immediately behind and closing said at least one hole for a convex front side of the sheet to be exposed through the hole.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decorative sheet is trapped in position by the rear frame member.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rear frame member is adapted to maintain the decorative sheet in the bent condition.

4. A frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rear frame member is provided with supporting means bearing against a rear side of the decorative sheet in order to maintain the decorative sheet in the bent condition.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein the supporting means is adapted to bear at separate places against the rear side of the decorative sheet.

6. A frame as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the supporting means has an arcuate profile corresponding to and bearing against the rear side of the decorative sheet.

7. A frame as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the supporting means is in the form of a plurality of plates.

8. A frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the decorative sheet is in the form of a flat loop co-extensive with the front frame member.

9. A frame as claimed in claim 8 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein the supporting means is provided at intervals in a direction co-extensive with the periphery of the rear frame member.

10. A frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the decorative sheet is made of a foam material and includes a front fabric layer printed with a decorative pattern.

11. A frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body includes a backing plate which is releasably engaged to the body and has a hinged leg for standing the whole frame on a surface.

12. A frame for holding a photograph, picture or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.