GB2362570A

GB2362570A - Picture frame

Info

Publication number: GB2362570A
Application number: GB0112102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Charles Ogg
Original assignee: History and Heraldry Ltd
Current assignee: History and Heraldry Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-20
Filing date: 2001-05-18
Publication date: 2001-11-28
Also published as: GB0012116D0; GB0112102D0

Abstract

A picture frame comprises a base 10 and a lens 1, preferably both transparent and formed as plastic mouldings, adapted to locate one or more pictures between them and having one or more interengaging projections 2 and apertures 12 which hold the base and lens together. Square section pins 2 are formed integrally with the lens and there are corresponding square section apertures 12 in the base in which the pins are a friction fit. The base is a frame-like structure with a recess 18 in its back face to receive and locate a picture proper, which can be seen through the base. A plate, which fits in the recess 18 to close the opening of the base, includes a magnetic strip, a hook and a foot, any one of which may be selected for mounting the picture frame on a surface. A further recess 20 in the front face of the base accommodates a mount, which provides a surround for the picture proper, and a frame-like picture is located against the front face of the base, between the base and lens, and has apertures engaged by the pins 2 of the lens.

Description

2362570 1 PICTURE FRAMES This invention relates to picture frames.

Many types of picture frame exist, one of the most popular being the socalled 'clip-frame'. These usually comprise a base and a lens, which are clipped together using metal or plastic clips located on the outside of the frame. By lens it is to be understood a structure which can be associated with the base and through which a picture is at least partially visible. In use, a picture is placed between the base and the lens, and the frame assembled by location of the clips. However, as these are placed on the outside of the frame, they can be difficult to locate and may release unexpectedly, and may obscure part of the picture. In addition, the base, picture, lens arrangement is essentially two dimensional i.e. flat, whereas there are instances when it may be desirable to be able to provide two or more pictures in the frame which are placed over one another and spaced apart from one another.

It is to be understood that the term picture is intended to refer to not only pictorial representations, but also to other inserts such as mounts and frame-like pictures.

According to the present invention there is provided a picture frame comprising a base and a lens adapted to locate one or more pictures therebetween, wherein at least one of the base and lens is provided with one or more projections, the or each projection being located and held in an aperture, or a respective aperture, in the lens or base, as the case may be, such that the base and lens are held together to retain the or each picture therebetween.

2 In use of the picture frame the picture, or at least the picture placed closest to the lens if there are two or more superimposed pictures located between the base and lens, may have substantially the same dimensions as the lens and may extend to the edges of the lens. Preferably, the lens enables the whole or substantially the whole of the picture, or the picture placed closest to the lens, to be visible through the lens. In this way, obscuring of such a picture by clips or a frame is avoided. A picture may be wholly visible through both the lens and the base. A picture may be wholly visible through the lens and partially visible through the base, may be partially visible through the lens and wholly visible through the base, or may be partially visible through both the lens and the base. When two or more pictures are superimposed and located in the frame, the base may enable the picture placed closest to the base to be wholly or partially visible through the base.

The or each projection may be attached to the base or the lens, or may be formed as part of the base or the lens e.g. by moulding, especially injection moulding. The or each projection may comprise a pin, which may have various cross-sectional shapes, e.g. rectangular (square and/or oblong), or round or oval.

In a preferred embodiment, the or each projection is provided on the lens and the base is provided with one or more corresponding apertures in each of which a projection is located and held.

The or each projection may be a frictional fit within its aperture, thus holding the base and lens together. The or each aperture may be of a substantially similar cross-sectional shape, for example rectangular, to the projection located therein. This may provide the frictional fit between the aperture and projection. Additionally or alternatively, the or each 3 projection may be held within its aperture by fixing means e.g. bolts. The or each projection may include in step at an intermediate part of its length which may serve to engage with the or a picture located between the lens and base in use of the picture frame and thereby assist in holding 5 the picture in place.

In one embodiment the or each projection is of square cross-section and has a distal portion cut away to oblong rectangular cross-section to form a step on the projection, and the or each aperture has a complementary square cross-section to that of the or each projection. In a preferred form of that embodiment there are four of the projections and of the apertures at corners of similarly dimensioned notional squares, the projections being similar, the sides of their square cross-sections disposed parallel to the sides of the notional squares and the distal portions of the projections having sides of their rectangular crosssection disposed parallel to the sides of the notional squares.

The picture frame now provided may include at least one picture located between the base and lens. The or each or some of the pictures may be provided with one or more apertures with which the projection or projections, or some of the projections, of the lens, or the base, or the lens and the base, engage.

The lens may comprise a plate-like structure. When this is provided with one or more projections, the projection or projections may be attached to, or be formed as part of, the structure. The plate-like structure and projection or projections may, for example, be formed integrally by moulding, e.g. injection moulding. The lens may be at least partially transparent at a portion thereof such that at least a corresponding part of a picture located between the base and lens is visible therethrough. The 4 lens may be transparent or partially transparent at more than one portion, such that more than one part of a picture is visible. In a preferred embodiment, the lens is completely transparent such that the whole of a picture of comparable size is visible therethrough. The lens may be formed from acrylic, for example by moulding, such as by injection moulding.

The base may be provided with one or more recesses to accommodate one or more pictures to be located between -the base and the lens. The base may be frame-like in structure. The base may be formed from acrylic, for example by moulding, such as by injection moulding.

A plate may be associated with the base which closes an opening in the frame-like structure of the base. The plate may be attached to the base e.g. by locating it in a recess therein. The plate may be formed from polypropylene.

The base and/or the plate may be provided with one or more locating means by which it may be located on a surface, e.g. of a refrigerator or a wall or a table. The locating means may comprise a magnetic strip, which may be attached to the base and/or plate e.g. by glueing. The locating means may additionally or alternatively comprise a hook and/or a foot. These may be attached to, or formed as a part of, the base and/or plate.

The frame may accommodate two or more pictures, e.g. three, each or some of which are placed over one another and spaced apart from one another. Preferably, equal spacing is provided between each of the pictures.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame accommodates three superimposed pictures, e.g. a picture proper, a mount and a frame-like picture, spaced apart, preferably equally, from one another. The base is frame-like in shape. It is provided with a recess in its back face, directed away from the lens, which accommodates the picture, the picture proper facing towards the lens through the frame-like shape of the base. A plate as described above is also located in that recess, behind the picture proper. The base is also provided with a recess in its front face, directed towards the lens, which accommodates the mount. The mount provides a surround for the picture proper seen through the base. The frame-like picture is placed on the front face of the base. Thus the three pictures are placed over one another but spaced apart from one another. The frame-like picture is provided with apertures, positioned to register with apertures in the base. The lens is provided with a corresponding number and arrangement of projections, which locate in the apertures in the frame- like picture and in the base where they are held, holding the components of the frame together. The projections are preferably each provided with a step which locates on the front face of the mount to hold it in place in the recess in the front face of the base. The frame-like picture preferably has substantially the same dimensions as the lens. The lens is preferably completely transparent. In such an arrangement the whole of the framelike picture may be visible through the lens.

The base and lens, and plate when provided, may take any of a number of shapes e.g. square, oblong rectangular, round or oval, forming a corresponding square, rectangular, round or oval frame. They may be manufactured by any of a number of methods. Conveniently they are moulded, e.g. by injection moulding.

6 An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

is Figure 1 is a front view of a lens of a picture frame according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the lens of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a back view of a base of the picture frame; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view along line WAV of the base of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a back view of a plate of the picture frame, and Figure 6 is a side view of an assembled base and plate of the picture frame, showing a foot of the plate in an extended position.

Figures 1 and 2 show a lens. This comprises a clear, square plate 1 having on a back face four integral projections in the form of square cross-section pins 2, one located in each corner portion of the lens. As can be seen from Figure 2, a distal portion of each pin is cut away to oblong rectangular cross-section to form a step 3 on the pin. The lens is formed from acrylic by injection moulding.

Figures 3 and 4 show a base 10, which is also clear and comprises a frame 11 injection moulded from acrylic. The frame is of corresponding square shape and size to the lens. It is provided with four, square apertures 12 of complementary size to the projections, at the corner portions to correspond with the positions of the pins 2 of the lens. The 7 back face of the frame has a ridge 13 moulded thereon, which passes around the apertures 12 as shown in Figure 3. A part of the ridge 13 which extends adjacent and parallel to an edge 16 of the frame 11, which comprises the bottom edge thereof when the base is in use, is provided with a central cut-out portion 14 and with ribs 15 at its end which extend to the edge 16. The ridge surrounds a flange portion 17 of the back face of the frame 11, and the ridge 13 and the flange portion 17 together define a square recess 18 in the back face of the base.

Figure 4 shows a cross section along line WAV of the frame 11 of Figure 3. As can be seen, a portion of the front face of the frame is cut away to form an internal shoulder 19 which extends around the frame and defines the perimeter of a square recess 20 in this face of the frame.

Figure 5 shows a plate 30 which is square in shape, complementary to the square recess 18 in the back face of the base, and is manufactured from polypropylene. A peripheral lug 30' projects centrally from one side of the plate. The plate is formed with an integral hook 31 which comprises a cut-out portion of the plate in the shape of a V. This is attached to the plate 30 by two portions 32 of reduced thickness which form hinges allowing the hook 31 to be pivoted thereabout out of the plane of the plate. The plate 30 is also provided with a magnetic strip 33, which is adhered to the back face of the plate over the hook. The magnetic strip may be removed if it is desired to use the hook. The plate is further formed with an integral foot 34, which comprises a substantially triangular cut-out portion of the plate, attached to the plateby an area 35 of reduced thickness which acts as a hinge allowing the foot to be pivoted thereabout out of the plane of the plate, as shown in Figure 6.

8 The lens, base and plate described above are fitted together to form a composite frame, which accommodates, as inserts, a picture proper, a mount and a frame-like picture all of square shape. The frame-like picture has four, square, corner apertures, one in each corner portion thereof. The three inserts are placed over one another but equally spaced apart from one another. The frame, together with the inserts, is assembled as follows. The picture proper is placed, from the back of the frame 11 of the base 10, in the recess 18 provided in the back face of the frame, such that the picture proper is visible through the frame 11 from the front face thereof. The plate 30 is then placed, also from the back of the frame 11, in the recess 18 over the picture, and is a frictional fit therein so as to hold the picture proper in the recess, the peripheral lug 30' of the plate mating with the cut-out portion 14 of the ridge 13. The mount is then placed in the recess 20 in the front face of the frame 11, from the front of the frame. The pins 2 of the lens are inserted through the corner apertures of the frame-like picture, such that the picture thereon is visible through the plate 1 of the lens. The pins 2 of the lens are then located in the apertures 12 of the base 10, and pressure applied to the lens and the base to bring them together until the innermost face of the plate of the lens touches the front face of the frame of the base. The pins 2 are a frictional fit in the apertures 12, such that the lens and the base are held firmly together. The steps 3 of the pins 2 abut the mount holding it securely within the recess 20. The frame-like picture has the same dimensions as the lens and hence extends to the edges of the lens. The whole of the picture is visible, therefore, through the lens.

The frame as assembled may be secured to a surface using the magnetic strip 34 or the hook 31, or may be balanced on a surface using the foot 35 as shown in Figure 6, the ribs 15 of the frame sitting on the surface in front of the foot 35 so that three-point support for the frame is provided.

9 If it is desired to change the picture, the plate 30 may be removed from the recess 18 in the back face of the frame 11 by pulling on the lug 30'.

Claims

1. A picture frame comprising a base and a lens adapted to locate one or more pictures therebetween, wherein at least one of the base and lens is provided with one or more projections, the or each projection being located and held in an aperture, or a respective aperture, in the lens or base, as the case may be, such that the base and lens are held together to retain the or each picture therebetween.

2. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein the base and the lens are adapted to receive therebetween, adjacent to the lens, a picture of substantially the same dimensions as the lens.

3. A picture frame according to claim 2 wherein the lens enables the whole, or substantially the whole, of said picture to be visible through the lens.

4. A picture frame according to claim 3 wherein the base enables a picture which is received between the lens and base to be at least partially 20 visible through the base.

5. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the or each projection is attached to the base or lens.

6. A picture frame according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the or each projection is formed as part of the base or lens.

7. A picture frame according to any proceeding claim wherein the or each projection comprises a pin.

8. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the or each projection includes a step at an intermediate part of its length which serves to engage with the or a picture located between the lens and base in use of the picture frame and thereby assists in holding the picture in 5 place.

9. A picture fame according to any preceding claim wherein the or each projection and aperture are of complementary cross-section.

10. A picture frame according to claim 9 wherein the or each projection and aperture are of complementary rectangular cross-section.

11. A picture frame according to claim 8 and claim 10 wherein the or each projection is of square cross-section and has a distal portion cut away to oblong rectangular cross-section to form a step on the projection, and the or each aperture has a complementary square cross-section to that of the or each projections.

12. A picture frame according to claim 11 wherein there are four of the projections and of the apertures at the corners of similarly dimensioned notional squares, the projections being similar, the sides of their square cross-sections disposed parallel to the sides of the notional squares, and the distal portions of the projections having sides of their rectangular cross-sections disposed parallel to the sides of the notional squares.

13. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the or each projections is a frictional fit within the, or the respective, aperture, thereby to hold the base and lens together.

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14. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein fixing means is applied to the or each projection to hold the projection in the, or the respective, aperture.

15. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the lens comprises a plate-like structure.

16. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the lens is a plastics moulding.

17. A picture frame according to claim 16 wherein the lens is moulded from acrylic.

18. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the base is provided with one or more recesses to accommodate one or more pictures to be located between the base and the lens.

19. A picture frame according to claim 18 wherein the base is of a framelike structure.

20. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the base is a plastics moulding.

21. A picture frame according to claim 20 wherein the base is moulded from acrylic.

22. A picture frame according to claim 19 or either of claims 20 and 21 as dependent from claim 19 wherein the base has an associated plate which closes an opening in the frame-like structure of the base.

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23. A picture frame according to claim 22 wherein the plate is formed from polypropylene.

24. A picture frame according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the 5 plate locates in a recess.in the base.

25. A picture frame according to claim 24 and either claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the or each recess provided to accommodate a picture is in a front face of the base directed towards the lens and the recess in which the plate is located is in a back face of the base directed away from the lens.

26. A picture frame according to any preceding claim wherein the base and lens are transparent.

27. A picture frame according to any preceding claim including locating means at the base and/or plate for locating the picture frame on a surface.

28. A picture frame according to claim 27 wherein the locating means comprises a magnetic strip attached to the base and/or plate.

29. A picture frame according to claim 27 or claim 28 wherein the locating means comprises a hook at the base or plate.

30. A picture frame according to any of claims 27 to 29 wherein the locating means comprises a foot at the base or plate.

31. A picture frame according to any preceding claim including at least one picture located between the base and the lens.

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32. A picture frame according to claim 31 as dependent from claim 25 wherein there are three superimposed pictures comprising a picture proper, a mount and a frame-like picture, the picture proper being located in the respective recess of the base, the mount also being located in that recess over the picture proper, and the frame-like picture being located against the face of the base and having an aperture or apertures engaged by the projection or projections whereby the frame-like picture is held in position relative to the base and lens.

33. A picture frame substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.