GB2396296A

GB2396296A - Picture frame stand

Info

Publication number: GB2396296A
Application number: GB0329278A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-19
Filing date: 2003-12-18
Publication date: 2004-06-23
Also published as: GB0329278D0; GB0229499D0

Abstract

A picture frame stand comprises a bracket 2 adapted to be mounted at the back of a picture frame 3 and a support member 1 pivotally coupled to the bracket by means of a bar received in a channel, the channel and bar being shaped to engage with each other to define a plurality of discrete angular positions of the member relative to the bracket. The channel may be provided by two raised hollow cylindrical members 7,14 containing radially inwardly protruding resilient strips which partially interlock with outwardly protruding strips on the bar. In other embodiments, the bar is moved axially to engage and disengage the interlocks.

Description

DESCRIPTION

PICTURE FRAME STAND

The present invention relates to stands for picture frames.

There is a long standing need for picture frames which can stand upright on a desk, shelf etc. and which can be economically manufactured for a mass market. Frames of this general type exist.

One such mass produced picture frame has a perimeter frame, a transparent front panel of plastics or glass, and a rear opaque panel typically of fibre board or plastics. The picture - be it a painting, photograph, print etc. - is sandwiched between the front and rear panels, which are themselves received in a recess formed in the rear of the perimeter frame and held in position typically by flexible metal tabs driven into the perimeter frame, which are bent into position against the rear panel. To enable the frame to stand upright, the rear panel has cuts or perforations pre-formed in it to define a leg which can be bent backwardly out of the plane of the panel. 'l'he cuts do not form a closed loop, so that the leg and the panel remain connected through a region of material which, being flexible, acts as a hinge. The frame can thus be rested on a horizontal surface, being upright but inclined somewhat backwardly with the leg serving to prevent it from falling backward. While commercially successful, such frames are not without shortcomings.

Their appearance is not appropriate in some contexts; the leg can sometimes fold inward allowing the frame to topple backwards, and extended use can cause the material forming the hinge to fail.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is a picture frame stand comprising a bracket adapted for mounting at the rear of a picture frame and a support member pivotally mounted by the bracket by means of a bar received in a channel, the channel and bar being shaped to engage with each other to define a plurality of discrete angular positions of the support member relative to the bracket. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a picture frame stand comprising a holding member for holding a picture frame or a part thereof and a supporting member pivotally mounted on the holding member, the supporting member and the holding member having means for effecting such pivotal mounting comprising a channel receiving a bar, cooperating lugs and recesses thereon restricting pivotal movement of the supporting member with respect to the holding member.

The bracket may comprise a front portion, a back portion and a bottom portion defining a U-shaped channel for receiving a picture frame, or a part thereof. In this case, the width of the channel may be selected to accommodate as a tight fit a particular frame or frame back thickness. Alternatively, the front portion may be omitted and the picture frame may simply rest on the bottom portion and the back portion in use of the frame stand.

The support member is preferably elongate with a ground engaging end and an opposite end which is provided with the pivotal mounting means.

Preferably the channel and the bar are generally cylindrical to facilitate

pivotal rotation therebetween. The pivotal mounting means may be provided as a generally cylindrical channel on the bracket and a generally cylindrical bar on the support member. Conversely, the pivotal mounting means may be provided as a generally cylindrical channel on the support member and a generally cylindrical bar on the bracket.

In one embodiment of the invention the cooperating lugs and recesses are sized to restrict, but not prevent entirely, pivotal motion of the support member. in this case, the cooperating lugs and recesses engage to an extent sufficient to support the weight of a picture frame received in the holding member when the supporting member is pivoted with respect to the holding member at an angle effective for displaying the picture frame on a surface. However, the cooperating lugs and recesses may be sized to allow pivotal movement of the support member when a force in excess of that provided by the weight of a picture frame is applied.

Thus, the supporting member may be deliberately pivoted when desired (to change the angle of picture display or flat pack for storage purposes, for example) but unintentional pivoting (by the weight of the picture frame in use of the stand) is avoided.

In an alternative embodiment the cooperating lugs and recesses are sized to prevent (barring the use of excessive force which may damage the stand) pivotal motion while engaged. In this case the lugs and recesses are disengageable to allow pivotal movement when desired. For example the lugs and recesses may be provided at one end of the cooperating bar and channel, and the

bar may be moveable transversely within the channel to effect disengagement of the cooperating lugs and recesses when desired and allow pivotal motion of the bar within the channel. The cooperating lugs and recesses may then be re-engaged to prevent further pivotal motion when a desired change in the relative pivotal orientation of the supporting member and the holding member has been effected. The lugs may be provided on the bar and the recesses on the channel, or vice versa.

The bracket portion may be fitted to the picture frame by inserting a section of the bracket portion between an opaque panel of the picture frame and a picture in the picture frame Specific embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described by way of example. with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a picture frame with a stand embodying the present invention attached, wherein a leg portion of the stand is shown in three different positions; Fig. 2a is a perspective illustration of the stand shown in fig. 1 with the leg portion in a "hanging" position; Fig. 2b is a perspective illustration of a picture frame with the stand shown in figs. I and 2a attached, wherein the leg portion of the stand is in a "standing" position; Fig. 3a is a perspective illustration of another stand embodying the present

invention with the leg portion of the stand in the "hanging" position; Fig. 3b is a perspective illustration of the stand shown in Fig. 3a with the leg portion between the "hanging" position and the "standing" position; Fig. 3c is a perspective illustration of the stand shown in Figs. 3a and 3b with the leg portion of the stand in the "standing" position; and Figs. 4a-c are views of the rear of a picture frame ith a furthe stand embodying the present invention mounted upon it.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2a and 2b, the stand comprises a bracket 2 and a leg 1.

The bracket 2 comprises three substantially rectangular walls l 0, 1 1, 12. Two of the walls l 0, 12 are parallel to one another and connected via the third wall 1 1.

Respective, opposed edges of the connecting wall 11 are joined at right angles to edges of the two parallel walls 10,12. Hence the bracket 2 has a substantially "U" shaped cross-section. One of the parallel walls 10 is thin relative to the other parallel wall 12.

As described earlier a common mass produced picture frame has a perimeter frame 9, a transparent front panel 4 and a rear opaque panel 3. The picture 5 is sandwiched between the front and rear panels, which are themselves received in a recess formed around the rear of the perimeter frame 9 and held in position typically by flexible metal tabs 13 driven into the perimeter frame, which are bent into position against the rear panel 3.

The bracket portion 2 is attached to the picture frame by placing the relatively thin parallel wall 10 between the picture 5 and the rear opaque panel 3,

r and orientating the bracket portion 2 such that the connecting wall 11 is adjacent to an edge of the rear opaque panel 3. The picture 5 is then placed on top of the thin parallel wall 10 and partially sandwiched, between the transparent front panel 4 and the thin parallel wall l O. This assembly is then placed into the perimeter frame 9 and fixed in position by the flexible metal tags 13 such that the relatively thick parallel wall 12 is exposed on the rear of the opaque panel 3.

The exposed relatively thick parallel wall 12 of the bracket portion 2 possesses an opening 8, and two raised hollow cylindrical members 7, 14, the axial direction of the cylindrical members 7, 14 being parallel to the edge of the opaque panel 3. The opening 8 is substantially rectangular and allows the picture frame to be hung from a hook or any other suitably sized protruding member.

The cylindrical members 7, 14 are disposed in line with one another and possess one open end and one closed end each. The open ends of each cylindrical member 7,14 face one another. Between the two cylindrical members 7, 14 there is a gap. Inside each cylindrical member 7, 14 there is a plurality of radially inwardly protruding resilient strips, running axially and parallel to one another the length of the cylindrical members. The strips are regularly spaced around the inside of the hollow cylindrical members 7, 14 and are such that the strips in one cylindrical member 7,14 are aligned with strips in the second cylindrical member 7,14. The leg 1 comprises a horizontal bar 6, which is received in the two cylindrical members 714 and a support bar attached to the horizontal bar, such

t that it extends therefrom through the gap between the two cylindrical members 7, 14. Thus the leg I is substantially a "T" shape.

The horizontal bar 6 of the leg I is substantially cylindrical and has a plurality of regularly spaced, radially outwardly protruding strips 15 which run parallel and axially the length of the horizontal bar. The outwardly protruding strips of the horizontal bar 6 are spaced apart such that they partially interlock with the inwardly protruding strips of the two cylindrical members 7, 14.

However, upon application of a sufficient force to the leg portion 1, the inwardly and outwardly protruding strips can ride over each other, allowing the leg portion to rotate. The leg portion 1 is hence able to be located in any number of positions. Two such positions are displayed in Figs. 2a and 2b.

In Fig. 2a the leg portion 1 is in a "hanging" position in which it lies against, and parallel to, the opaque rear panel 3 of the picture frame.

In Fig. 2b the leg portion is in a "standing" position wherein the leg portion l forms an acute angle with the exposed parallel wall 12 of the bracket portion 2 and hence functions as a stand for the picture frame.

A second embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c.

The bracket 2 is generally similar to the bracket of the previous embodiment and corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals. As compared with the previous embodiment, the gap between the two cylindrical members 7, 14 has been enlarged, whilst the length of the horizontal bar 6 has

been chosen to allow said bar to slide axially within the two cylindrical members 7,14. One end portion of the horizontal bar 6 has a plurality of outwardly radially protruding strips 20, which interlock with inwardly protruding strips of the cylindrical member 7. The other end of the bar 6 is plain.

The position of the leg l may be altered by sliding the bar axially to disengage the strips of the bar and the cylindrical member, rotating the horizontal bar appropriately and finally re-engaging the two sets of strips once the leg portion l is in a desired position, by sliding the horizontal bar 6 back to its original axial position. The two sets of strips are fully re-engaged with a 'positive click'. In Fig. 3a the leg I is seen located in its "hanging" position. In Fig. 3b the bar 6 has been slid to the right, disengaging the two sets of locating strips, and in Fig.3c the bar has been slid back to the left-most end of its travel to locate the leg in its "standing" position.

Figs. 4a-c illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention which again comprises a bracket 2 and a leg 1. The bracket 2 is once more formed such as to slip onto and embrace an edge region of an opaque rear panel 3 of the picture frame. The leg I comprises a pivot bar 30 and, extending perpendicularly from it, a shaped strut 32. On either side of the strut the pivot bar carries shaped locating collars 34, 36. The bar 30 is received in aligned, through going, shaped openings in upstanding walls 38, 40 of the bracket 2 and has freedom to move axially.

Moving the bar 30 to the left-most end of its travel causes the left hand

r collar 34 to be introduced into the shaped opening in left hand wall 38. The collar 34 and its corresponding opening are shaped to engage with each other such as to locate the left in a first "standing" position, seen in Fig. 4a.

Moving the bar to the centre of its travel disengages both collars and allows the leg to rotate freely.

Moving the bar 30 to the right-most end of its travel causes the right hand collar 36 to be introduced into the shaped opening in right hand wall 40. The collar 36 and its opening are shaped to engage with each other to locate the leg in either (i) its "hanging" position, seen in Fig. 4b or (ii) a second "standing" position, Fig. 4c.

The angle of the strut 32 to the picture frame is different in the two standing positions and in this way the stand is adapted to be used upon frames with narrow frame sections 42, (as in Fig. 4a) and wide frame sections 44 (as in Fig. 4c).

Thus the invention provides a stand suitable for use on frames with a variety of frame (moulding) widths and in portrait or landscape modes. The leg of the stand is tamper proof, in the sense that it cannot fall out while the bracket is mounted in the picture frame. Any of the above described embodiments may be economically manufactured by injection moulding.

Claims

l. A picture frame stand comprising a bracket adapted for mounting at the rear of a picture frame and a support member pivotally mounted by the bracket by means of a bar received in a channel, the channel and bar being shaped to engage with each other to define a plurality of discrete angular positions of the support member relative to the bracket.
2. A picture frame stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bracket comprises front, back and bottom portions defining a "U" shape and so is adapted to receive a back panel of the picture frame.
3. A picture frame stand as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the channel and bar are generally cylindrical.
4. A picture frame stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the channel and bar have lugs and recesses which cooperate to define the abovementioned angular positions of the support member.
5. A picture frame stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support member pivots about an axis which is horizontal in use.
6. A picture frame stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, in use, the support member lies adjacent the rear of the picture frame in one of its angular positions and projects rearwardly from the picture frame to support it in a standing orientation in another of the support member's angular position.
7. A picture frame stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein cooperating lugs and recesses of the bar and channel define the angular positions

of the support member and flexure of the bar and/or the channel allows the lugs and recesses to ride over each other upon application of sufficient force, whereby the support member is movable from one angular position to another.
8. A picture frame stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bar is movable along the channel whereby shaped engagement features of the bar and channel defining the discrete angular positions of the support member can be engaged, to locate the support member in one of its positions, and disengaged, to allow the support member to be moved from one position to another.
9. A picture frame stand as claimed in claim 8 wherein the shaped engagement features are formed by end portions of the bar and channel.
10. A picture frame stand as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the shaped engagement features comprise cooperating lugs and recesses.
11.A picture frame stand substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, accompanying Figures 1, 2a, 2b or in accompanying Figures 3a-3c.