GB2490576A

GB2490576A - Picture frame formed from blank

Info

Publication number: GB2490576A
Application number: GB1206602.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Selwyn-Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-15
Filing date: 2012-04-13
Publication date: 2012-11-07
Also published as: GB201106477D0; GB201206602D0

Abstract

A picture frame formed from a foldable blank of sheet material, characterized in that it comprises tabs or flaps or the like that form wing formations positioned laterally beyond a pair of inner wall defining flaps. These flaps are connected to opposing sides of a rectangular base, which in use engage with inner wall defining flaps disposed on the remaining sides of the rectangular base in order to secure the frame in the assembled position.

Description

Frames The present invention relates to frames and in particular frames formed from sheet material from a one piece blank.

According to one aspect of the present invention a frame is formed from a one piece blank of sheet material, said blank having; a central rectangular base portion; a first pair of outer wall defining flaps, each connected to an opposite side edge 1 0 of the base portion along a fold line; a second pair of outer wall defining flaps, each connected to a remaining side edge of the base portion along a fold line; an upper face defining flap being connected to each of the outer wall defining flaps along a fold line which is parallel to the fold line between the associated outer wall 1 5 defining flap and base portion; an inner wall defining flap being connected to each of the upper face defining flaps along a fold line which is parallel to the fold line between the associated upper face defining flap and the associated wall defining flap; the fold lines between the outer wall defining flaps and the base portion extending the flaIl length of the corresponding side edge of the base portion and the fold lines between the outer wall defining flaps and the upper face defining flaps extending the frill length of the outer wall defining flaps; the fold lines between the upper face defining flaps and inner wall defining flaps connected to the first pair of outer wall defining flaps, tenninating short of each end of the upper face defining flap by a distance equal to the width between the fold line * * between the upper face defining flap and the outer wall defining flap and the fold line * * between the upper wall defining flap and the inner wall defining flap, the upper face defining flaps extending at either end laterally beyond the shortened fold line to provide ***.

*..: wing formations; a tab formation being connected to each end of the first pair of outer wall * ** defining flaps, along a fold line; and the upper face defining flaps connected to the second pair of outer wall defining ****s* * flaps being trapezoidal, the length of the flap decreasing from the fold line between the upper face defining flap and the outer side wall defining flap to the fold line between the upper face defining flap and the inner wall defining flap.

To form a frame from the blank described above, the outer side wall defining flaps are folded upwardly from the base portions. The tab formations at the ends of the side wall defining tabs are folded inwardly and engage the base portion along their lower edges.

The tab formations engaging the inner surfaces of the second pair of outer wall defining flaps. The upper face defining portions of associated with said first pair of outer wall defining flaps are folded inwardly and the inner wall defining flaps folded downwardly, 1 0 so that when the upper face defining portions are disposed parallel to the base portion, the inner wall portions engage the base portion. The upper face defining flaps associated with the second pair of outer wall defining flaps are then folded inwardly to overlie the wing formations of said upper face defining flaps associated with the first pair of outer wall defining flaps and the associated inner wall defining flaps are folded downwardly to 1 5 engage the base portion.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the inner wall defining flaps engage the base portion at or adjacent the fold line between the base portion and the outer wall flap.

According to an alternative embodiment, the inner wall defining flaps may comprise two portions, an inner portion connected to the upper face defining flap along a first fold line and the second portion connected to the first portion along a second fold line, the first and second fold lines being parallel to one another. With this embodiment, the second portion may be folded with respect to the first portion, so that the second portion lies flat against the base portion, when the frame is formed.

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* The frame of the present invention may be formed of any suitable sheet material, for C. :* example card or plastics material. The frame may be made of transparent sheet material and may be used to frame pictures, photographs or other two or three dimensional items.

* ,* When transparent sheet material is used pictures, photographs or other two dimensional items may be mounted in the frame, with a backing card, for viewing from either side of S.....

the frame. With frames made of non-transparent sheet material pictures, photographs or other items may be mounted in the frame. Alternatively pictures, photographs and other two dimensional items may be mounted on the back of the frame and covered by a transparent cover which wraps around the frame. When used for mounting three dimensional items, an insert may the mounted in the frame to which the item may be attached in suitable manner. The insert may be perforated to facilitate attachment of the item.

Locking tabs may be provided to hold the flaps in their folded positions, particularly when the sheet material is a resilient plastics material, for example PVC or Polyester.

1 0 The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows a blank for a frame in accordance with the present invention; 1 5 Figures 2 to 6 show the sequence of folds required to form the frame from the blank shown in figure 1; Figure 7 shows a blank for an alternative frame in accordance with the present invention; Figures 8 shows the frame formed from the blank shown in figure 7; Figure 9 shows the blank for a transparent cover for the frame shown in figure 8; Figure 10 shows a modification to the blank shown in figure 7.

Figure 11 shows an insert by which three dimensional items may be mounted in for the frame produced from the blank shown in figure 10. * 0*. * * S...

: As illustrated in figure 1 the blank 12 for a frame 10 is made of transparent plastics material. The blank 12 has a rectangular base portion 14. Outer side wall defining flaps * ** 16,18,20,22 are connected to each edge of the base portion 14 along a fold line 24. An upper face defining flap 26,28,30,32 is connected to each of the outer wall defining flaps *..*..

* S 16,18,20,22 respectively, along a fold lines 34,3 6 which are parallel to the fold lines 24 between the associated outer wall defining flap 16,18,20,22 and base portion 14. An inner wall defining flap 38,40,42,44 is connected to each of the upper face defining flaps 26,28,30,32 respectively, along fold lines 46,48 which are parallel to the fold lines 34,3 6 between the associated upper face defining flap 26,28,30,32 and the associated wall defining flap 16,18,20,22.

The fold lines 24 extend the full length of the corresponding edge of the base portion 14.

The fold lines 34,36 extend the full length of the upper face defining flaps 26,28,30,32.

The fold lines 46 between one pair of upper face defining flaps 26,30 and inner wall defining flaps 16,20 on opposite sides of the base portion 14, terminate short of each end 1 0 of the upper face defining flap 26,30 by a distance equal to the width between the fold line 46 and the fold line, the upper face defining flaps 26,3 0 extending at either end laterally beyond the shortened fold line 46 to provide wing formations 50.

A tab formation 52 extends to at each end of each outer wall defining flaps 16,20 the tab 1 5 formations being connected to the side wall defining flaps 16,20 along fold lines 54. The fold lines 54 are inclined at an angle f3, for example 10 degrees to the normal to the fold line 24 between the associated outer wall defining flap 16,20 and base 14, the tab formations being inclined at an angle 2f3 outwardly from the fold line 24 between the associated outer wall defining flap 16,20 and base 14. The other outer wall defining flaps 18,22 are trapezoidal, the end edges being inclined inwardly from fold line 24 to fold line 36, at an angle f3.

The upper face defining flaps 28,32 are trapezoidal the end edges of the flaps being inclined inwardly at 45° from the fold line 36 to fold line 48. The fold lines 48 between the upper face defining flaps 28,32 and the inner wall defining flaps 40,44 extend the full *:*. length of the inner wall defining flaps 28,32.

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* Tab formations 56 are provided on the wing formations 50 intermediate of the *0S extremities of the end edges thereof Corresponding slots 58 are cut in the fold lines 36 between flaps 18,22 and flaps 28,32. * ..

As illustrated in figures 2 to 6, to form frame 10 from the blank 12, a picture 60 with * .. .0S * backing card 60 is located against base portion 14. The flaps 16,20 are then folded along fold line 24 to the side of the base 14 against which the picture 60 and backing card 62 are located, to form upstanding outer side walls. The flaps 26,30 are then folded inwardly along fold line 34 so that they are parallel to the base 14 and flaps 3 8,42 are folded inwardly along fold lines 46. The flaps 38,42 have a width corresponding to the diagonal between the inner edge of flaps 26,30 and the junction between flaps 16,20 and the base, so that when flap 26,30 is parallel to the base 14, the free edge of flaps 38,42 will engage the fold line 34. The tab forrriations 52 are then folded inwardly along fold lines 54 until the lower edge of the tab formation engages the base portion 14 along fold line 22 and the upper edge is engaged by the edge of the wing formations 50, the outer walls being inclined inwardly at a compound angle corresponding the angle The flaps I 8,22 are then folded along fold lines 22 until they abut the outer surfaces of tab formations 52 and tab formations 56 on the wing formations 50 engage through the slots 58. The flaps 28,32 are then folded inwardly about fold lines 36 until the are parallel to the base portion 14 and lie against the wing formations 50. Flaps 40,44 are 1 5 finally folded inwardly about fold lines 48 until the free edge engages the base portion 14 along fold line 24.

If the sheet material is transparent, the picture 60 and backing card 62 may be arranged in the frame 10, so that the picture 60 may be viewed from either the front or back of the frame 10. If however the frame 10 is formed from a non-transparent material, the picture and backing card 62 will be arranged in the frame 10 for viewing from the front of the frame 10. A transparent cover may be mounted in the frame to overlay the picture.

When assembled the flaps 3 8,40,42,42 will resiliently engage the edges of the picture 60 backing card 62 and transparent cover, if present, to locate the picture 60 in the frame 10.

*: * In the alternative embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8, the same reference numerals are used for elements similar to those of the embodiment shown in figure 1. *.*.o * *

However the blank 12' of the embodiment shown in figures 7 and 8 differs from that shown in figure 1 in that; * S* the flaps 38,40,42,44 are divided into two flaps 38',38";40',40";42',42";44',44" I.....

* 1 along fold lines 46',48'; the tab formations 52 are rectilinear with the outer wall defining flaps 16,20, fold lines 54 being perpendicular to fold lines 24; the flaps 18,22 are rectangular, forming extensions of fold lines 24; tab fonriations 66 are also provided at each end of the flaps 40',44', the tab formations 66 being connected to the flaps 40',44' along fold lines 68 perpendicular to fold lines 48 and 48', the tab formations 66 being formed as quadrants, the straight edge forming an extension of fold line 48; and the tab formations 56 and corresponding slots of the previous embodiment are omitted.

In similar manner to that described with reference to figures 1 to 6 flaps 16,20 and 26,30 1 5 are folded to form the outer side walls and upper side faces of the frame 10' and the tab formations 52 are folded inwardly. However as the fold lines 54 are perpendicular to fold lines 24, the flaps 16,20 defining the outer side walls extend perpendicular to the base portion 14. The flaps 38',42' are folded at right angles to flaps 26,30 respectively along fold lines 46, to form inner side walls which are perpendicular to the base portion 14 and the flaps 38"42" and flaps 38",42" are folded at right angles to flaps 38',42' respectively along fold lines 46', so that they abut the base potion 14 beneath the upper face defining flaps 26,30.

Flaps 18,22 are now folded along fold line 24 perpendicular to the base portion 14 to engage the tab formations 52 and flaps 28,32 are folded perpendicular to flaps 18,22 *: * respectively, along fold lines 36, to engage the wing formations 50. The tab formations 66 are then folded at right angles to flaps 40',44' and flaps 40',44' folded perpendicular to flaps 28,32 to form perpendicular inner end walls, while the flaps 40",44" are folded S...

perpendicular to flaps 40',44' to engage the base portion 14.

: * In this manner, the blank 12' is folded into a frame 10' with a frame of rectangular section.

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As with the frame 10 described with reference to figures I to 6, the frame 10' may be made of transparent material for viewing from either side, or from non-transparent material in which a picture, photograph are other item would be mounted in the frame for viewing from the front.

Alternatively the frame 10' may be used as a mounting block for a two dimensional item, for example picture, photograph or other document. In this format, the picture etc. is mounted on the back of the base portion 14 and is secured there by a transparent cover as illustrated in figure 9.

The transparent cover 80 is formed from a blank 82 made of, for example, plastics sheet material such as PVC or Polyester.

The blank 82 has a central rectangular portion 84 which corresponds to the base portion 1 5 14 of the frame 10'. Flaps 86 corresponding to the outer side walls of the frame 10', defined by flaps 16,18,20,22, extend laterally from each edge of the central portion 84 of blank 82 along fold lines 88. Flaps 90 corresponding to the upper faces of frame 10', defined by flaps 26,28,30,32, extend laterally from each of the flaps 86 along fold lines 92, the ends of flaps 90 being inclined inwardly at 45° from the fold line 92. Flaps 94 corresponding to the inner walls of frame 10', defined by flaps 38',40',42',44' extend laterally from flaps 90 along fold lines 96. Flaps 98 corresponding to the flaps 38",40",42",44" extend laterally from the flaps 94 along fold line 100.

The central portion 84 and flaps 86,90,94,98 are dimensioned larger than the corresponding base portion and flaps of the frame 10' to accommodate the thickness of the transparent sheet material, so that the flaps 86,90,94 may be wrapped around the outer side walls, upper faces and inner side walls of the frame 10' and the flaps 98 S.....

tucked in between the flaps 38",40",42",44" and base portion 14 of frame 10', to retain the cover 80.

* U-shaped cuts 102 are made in the flaps 94, the legs of the U-shaped cuts extending from the fold line 92, so that when flap 90 is folded about fold line 94, inwardly extending S..'..

* £ tabs 104 will be formed which may be utilised to pull the flaps 96 from between the flaps 38",40",42",44" and base portion 14 of frame 10' to remove the cover 80.

A series of corresponding apertures 106 may also be provided in the upper face defining flaps 26,28,30,32 of the frame 10' and flaps 90 of the cover 80, to provide means for hanging the frame 10'. The apertures 106 may only be partially formed, for example S partially punched through, so that selected apertures 106 may be readily removed for hanging.

In the modification to the frame 10', illustrated in figure 10, U-shaped slots 110 are formed in flaps 38",40",42",44", the U-shaped cuts 110 extending from the fold lines 1 0 46".48" respectively, so that when flap 38",40",42",44" is folded at 90° along fold line 46",48", the U-shaped slot 110 will form a tab 112 which extends perpendicular to flap 38",40",42",44". Corresponding slots 114 are provided in the base portion 14 through which the tabsll2 engage when the blank 12 is folded to form frame 10'. The tabs 112 may then be folded flat against the reverse side of the base portion to secure the frame 1 5 10' together. Holes 116 may be provided in the tabs 112 by which the frame may be hung.

In addition to framing two dimensional items, the frames 10,10' described above may be used the frame three dimensional items, for example rosettes. When used in this manner an insert 120 as illustrated in figure 11 may be located in the frame 10,10' to which the three dimensional item may be mounted in suitable manner. As illustrated in figure 11, the insert 120 is made of sheet material having a central portion 121 with perforations 122 by which a three dimensional item may be secured in suitable manner, for example by ties or clips. The insert 120 also has slots 124 formed in the central portion 121 corresponding to the slots 114 of the frame member 10'. * S * S.

* . A spine defining flap 126 extends laterally along one edge of the central portion 121, the 01S5S * flap being connected to the central portion 121 along a fold line 128. Flap 130 extends laterally from the free longitudinal edge of flap 126, along fold line 132 and flap 134 extends laterally from the free longitudinal edge of flap 130, along fold line 136. A pair * * of part diamond shaped cuts 138 are formed in the central portion 121, fold lines 142 being provided at the base if the cuts 138 whereby the sheet material bounder by the cuts *** *sS * 138 may be folded out of the plane of the central portion 121, to form tabs 140. The flid lines 142 are aligned with the outer edge of the slot 124 formed adjacent the corresponding edge of the central portion 121. Cuts 144 corresponding to the tabs 140 are provided in the flap 134, the cuts 144 extending from the fold line 136, To assemble the insert in frame 10'. The spine defining flap 126 is folded perpendicular to the central portion 121 and flaps 130 and 134 are folded over to define a spine formation of triangular section, the flap 134 engaging the central portion 121. The tabs are then engaged in the slots formed by cuts 144 to secure the spine formation.

The insert 120 is then laid over the central portion 14 of the blank 12 and the blank is 1 0 folded to form frame 10', the spine formation being trapped in one side wall of the frame 10' and the tabs 112 passing through slots 124 and 112, thereby locating the insert 120 in the frame 10'.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example 1 5 while in the embodiments illustrated in figure 10 and 11, tabs 112 serve to secure the frame 10' together, the frame 10' may be secured by other means, for example pre-glued strips may be provided on the under side of flaps 38",40",42",44" by which they may be secured to the base portion 14 when the frame is assembled. Alternatively engagement of the flaps 66 with the base portion 14 may be sufficient to secure the frame 10, together. Similarly in the embodiment illustrated in figures 7 to 9, the frame 10' may be secured together by locking tabs similar to tabs 112 of figure 10, adhesives applied to flaps 66 and/or flaps 98, or by engagement of the flaps 66 with the base portion 14 or flaps 98. ii. S Si * Si

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Claims

Claims 1. A frame formed from a one piece blank of sheet material, said blank having; a central rectangular base portion; a first pair of outer wall defining flaps, each connected to an opposite side edge of the base portion along a fold line; a second pair of outer wall defining flaps, each connected to a remaining side edge of the base portion along a fold line; 1 0 an upper face defining flap being connected to each of the outer wall defining flaps along a fold line which is parallel to the fold line between the associated outer wall defining flap and base portion; an inner wall defining flap being connected to each of the upper face defining flaps along a fold line which is parallel to the fold line between the associated upper face 1 5 defining flap and the associated wall defining flap; the fold lines between the outer wall defining flaps and the base portion extending the full length of the corresponding side edge of the base portion and the fold lines between the outer wall defining flaps and the upper face defining flaps extending the full length of the outer wall defining flaps; the fold lines between the upper face defining flaps and inner wall defining flaps connected to the first pair of outer wall defining flaps, terminating short of each end of the upper face defining flap by a distance equal to the width between the fold line between the upper face defining flap and the outer wall defining flap and the fold line between the upper wall defining flap and the inner wall defining flap, the upper face defining flaps extending at either end laterally beyond the shortened fold line to provide wing formations; . .: a tab formation being connected to each end of the first pair of outer wall defining flaps, along a fold line; and the upper face defining flaps connected to the second pair of outer wall defining **t.flaps being trapezoidal, the length of the flap decreasing from the fold line between the upper face defining flap and the outer side wall defining flap to the fold line between the upper face defining flap and the inner wall defining flap.S.....S
2. A frame according to claim 1 in which, when the blank is folded to form a frame, each of the inner side wall defining flaps are adapted to engage the base portion at or adjacent the fold line between the base portion and the outer wall defining flap to which they are connected.S
3. A frame according to claim I in which each inner wall defining flap has two portions, an inner portion connected to the upper face defining flap along the fold line therewith and a second portion connected to the first portion along a second fold line, the second fold line being parallel to the fold line between the inner wall defining flap and 1 0 the upper face defining flap.
4. A frame according to claim 3 in which tab formations are provided on the free edges of the first portion of the inner side wall defining flaps associated with the second pair of outer wall defining flaps.
5. A frame according to claim 3 or 4 in which tab formations are provided on the fold line between the first and second portions of the inner wall defining flaps, the tab formations being adapted to engage corresponding slots formed in the base portion, when the blank is folded to form a frame.
6. A frame according to anyone of the preceding claims in.which the blank is formed from transparent sheet material.
7. A frame according to anyone of claims I to 5 in which the frame is formed from a non-transparent sheet material.
8. A frame according to claim 7 in which a transparent cover is provided for the * frame. *
9. A frame according to claim 8 in which the cover is formed from a blank having; a central rectangular portion corresponding to the base portion of the frame; flaps corresponding to the outer wall defining flaps of the frame, extending laterally, along fold lines, from each edge of the central portion; flaps corresponding to the upper face defining flaps of the frame, extending laterally, along fold lines, from each of the flaps corresponding to the outer wall defining flaps of the frame; and flaps corresponding to the inner wall defining flaps of the frame, extending laterally, along from each of the flaps corresponding to the upper face defining flaps of the frame.
10. A frame according to claim 9 in which the tabs corresponding to the upper face defining flaps of the frame are trapezoidal, the length of the flaps decreasing from the 1 0 fold line with the flaps corresponding to the outer wall defining flaps of the frame.
11. A frame substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in, figures 1 to 6, figures 7 to 9 or figure 10, of the accompanying drawings. 0 0 * 0* * *0*00000 * I S.,. * * *0 * I * I...S S.... S *