US1237560A - Support or easel for picture-cards and the like. - Google Patents

Description

.w J. SATTERLEE.

SUPPORT 0R EASEL FOR PICTURE CARDS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED'DEC. 16'. 1.916.

1 ,237; 560. Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS connnc'rrcuyr.

. .sfirromon EASELFQR s eves-seamen IK L w rewo- T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it=known that 1, WILLIAM "J: SATTER- LEE, a citizen of the United at Danbury, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Supports or Easels for Picture- Cards and the like, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates generally to supports in the nature of easels for the display of mounted photographs, picture-cards and post-cards, advertising display-cards, and the like, and has for its object the provision of an exceedingly inexpensive device of this character, yet one which will be amply strong and stable in use.

My invention consists, generally, in a frame, brace and pictureor card engaging and retaining means all formed from a single strand of wire, 'andfurther consists in various details of construction, configuration and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support or easel embodying my invention, show ing the manner in which the card or picture is mounted therein, a part of the latter being broken away, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of the device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that my improved support or easel is constructed in its entirety from a single strand of wire. In the preferred construction, as shown in Fig. 1, the strand of wire is bent into substantially rectangular form, providing the side portions 5 5 and the bottom portion 6, the top portion comprising the two parts 7 and S of the strand which are suitably joined together, at the middle of said top portion, preferably by twisting. the meeting parts of the strand, as at 9, thus leaving projecting ends 10 and 11 of the strand which may be bent downwardly at a proper supporting angle with the plane of the frame and with each other, and made of such length, that a stable prop is provided to support the frame upon any fiat surface in a slightly tilted position.

Specification of Letters iatent.

States, residing.

In forming the frame, what may be termed double loops,'. or pairs of loops .are

provided at the corners thereof. At each end of the bottom portion 6 of the frame the wire is formed into a relatively 12 and again into a contiguous and corresponding loop 13 prior, to being directed upwardly to form the side portion 5, at the top end of which a pair of corresponding loops 1 1 and 15 are formed from which the wire is carried laterally to provide the top portion of the frame, as described. It is to be noted in connection with the pair of loops at each corner of the frame that the cross or connecting portion 16 between the loops passes over or in front of the side and top or bottom portions of the frame, whereby what may be termed a spring clip is formed at each corner thereof, so that a photograph, card,-or the like, 17, of proper size, may be mounted in said frame by merely passing the corners of the former underneath or back of the connecting portion 16 of the loops and the same firmly but removably held, in said frame by the inherent resiliency of the metal of which the wire is formed.

It will be apparent that the relative dimensions of a frame and brace embodying my invention are not important, nor is it essential that the frame be of general rectilineal character. In fact, when employed to display a relatively verythin and flexible card, or one which has been treated in such manner as to produce a tendency to curl or become distorted, it is oft-times highly desirable to provide some form of backing therefor, and this I may provide by in-curving the side and bottom, and possibly the top, portions of the wire of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2. In this construction, it will be seen that the deflection of these portions of the wire toward the center provide back supports for the picture or card which are located intermediate the center and the extreme edges of the former, thereby not only better resisting inherent forces tending to distort or curl the contained sheet, but also better guarding against accidental dislodgment thereof.

Many other modifications of the construction, contour and arrangement of parts of a device embodying my invention will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and

I g p Patented Aug. 2:1, 19.17. App1i cation filed December 16,1916. Serial-No. 137.451. I

small loop I therefore do not limit my invention to the wire being twisted together to preserve the specific details of a device embodying the shape of the body, the twisted portions exsame as herein shown and described. tending diametrically inward and terminat I claim as new and desire to secure by Leting in two divergent supporting legs of 15 ters Patent: I equal length, said body being adapted to A supporting device of the character desupport the back of a picture or the like and scribed comprising a single strand ofwire invisible from the front when said picture presenting a rectangular body having diagis in position. 7 onally disposed pockets at its corners said In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 20 pockets having retaining portions in front of the plane of said body, portions of said WILLIAM J. SATTERLEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). G. s

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