US1891421A - Trim frame for panels - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1932. u, JOHANNSEN 1,891,421

- TRIM FRAME FOR PANELS Filed Jan. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 15 Z2 UBO K.JOHAHHSEH INVENTOR avail/LA ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1932. JOHANNSEN I 1,891,421

TRIM FRAME FOR PANELS Filed Jan. 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UBO K. JOHAHNSEH INVENTOR ATTORNEY mf w Patented Dec. 20, 1932 1 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE UDO K. JOHANNSEN, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BREWER-TITGHENEB CORPORATION, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TRIM FRAME FOR PANELS Application filed January 8, 1932. Serial No. 585,585.

This invention relates to the art of a builtup moulding for panels and is more particularly directed to improvements in a decorative, segmental framework intended to enhance the trim of automobile license plates and which self-contained frame comprises but four intersecting sections that can be economically fabricated and rapidly secured together at their intersecting regions without surface defacement by welds, rivets or need of separately formed corner pieces or the like superfluous keeper means.

The primary object of my invention is to provide for a smartly designed trim frame or automobile accessory of the character indicated and one that can be cooperatively applied to the perimeter of a beaded panel. My frame design is such that it can be made, up to any desired dimension by the use of relatively few forming dies and still provide for rounded corner regions. The present segmental structure is preferably struck. up from strip-stock into complementary pairs of dished side and cross bar sections of similar profile having their respective ends overlappingly nested and neatly united by flexible prong-like tongue or equivalent fastening means, the terminals of said bars being offset and so disposed that their respective front faces fall into substantial alignment.

Said moulding-like frame is preferably supported upon its embraced panel and secured thereto by the use of a plurality of spaced prongs depending from the perimeter of the frame assembly, that may be overlappingly inturned against the rear of the mounted panel.

Said improvements further consist in alternative frame securing features, all of which will hereinafter be disclosed in detail. Reference is had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, which are illustrative of specific embodiments of my invention, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an elevational front view of my preferred style of frame assembly as applied around a conventional license plate, while Fig. 2 represents a rear view thereof with the frame prongs crimped inwardly to mount the plate. l

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view of said assembly as, taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

v Fig. tillustrates an enlarged corner detail of Fig. 2 and the relation of the frame prongs prior to theirbeing crimped inwardly.

Figs. 5 and 6 respectively represent a side bar and a cross-bar blank as stamped up from flat strip-stock.

Figs. 7 and 8 are typical perspective views of the respective blank ends after they have been formed up and made ready for assembly into the rectangular Fig. 1 framework.

Fig. 9 shows the manner in which my framework may be sprung to make the license plate rattleproof.

Fig. 10 represents a'modified corner detail in which my segmental bars are united by special bolts instead of tongues, and Figs. 11 and 12 show how these difierently shaped bar ends may be brought into cooperative rela-- tionship. I

Figs. 13 to 15 disclose still another style of my frame cornerregion in which the offset socket element ofv the intersecting bars is reversely formed.

7 Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, they collectively show a built-up framework or endless moulding of channel-like profile adapted to trim the marginal edge of the elongated license plate 10 or any other sim ilar panel. The prevailing state identification plates are commonly provided with an endless marginal head 11 and with an adjacent inner groove such as 12. The corner region of the plate perimeter is generally rounded ofi as represented at 13 by'dotted outline in Fig. 1. The panel 10 is placed behind the fenestration of my open rectangular skeleton frame of which the upstanding pairs of rela tively long corner prongs 14 and 15 are crimped over the-panel edge in the fashion indicatedin Fig. 2. My segmental framework is characterized by the use of side-bars and cross-bars such as 16 and 17 respectively and which bars are kept rectilinear except at the overlapping terminal regions thereof. Short supplemental bar-tenons or tongues such as 18 and 19 respectively, may be used to permanently clinch together the overlapping nested frame-bar ends. This built-up raised at 18 as shown in Fig. 7 to constitute the rectilinear side-bar 16.

The opposite blank ends may be similarly but reversely sheared while still flat to include a relatively short end-tongue 18, a side-tenon or tongue 19, and an intermediate relatively long extension or prong 14 that is parted by an edge indentation 21, all of which elements are kept within the confines of the strip width w. The dotted outline indicates the corresponding die contour and the manner of successively parting said strip in a plurality of such blanks of any desired overall length, depending upon the successive feed-spacing that is given to the strip-stock.

Fig. 6 represents the corresponding flat shape imparted to my relatively shorter blank 22, which may be kept free of any tongues but may be made to terminate in the oppositely disposed prongs 15 and is also provided wlth spaced tongue receiving apertures such as 23. Between such apertures and their respect ve overhanging prongs, the blank perimeter is given'a rounded nose-like contour such as 24: which shape in turn allows of giving my frame cornera rounded perimetric formation having a radius substantially equal to the strip width w. The blank 22 is then struck up by the use of suitable dies into a dished cross-bar 17 of channel shaped'profile having a relatively flat web element 17A and reversely disposed terminals with the prongs '15 thrown downwardly as shown in Fig. 8

where the end region of the innermost web flange 17B is cut away to clear its mated bar. Each terminal of the side-bar 16 may be trans versely offset at 29 to form a bar extension 26 and constitute an interiorly socketed means adapted to overlie and snugly receive the described cross-bar terminal, thereby maintaining the plane of the respective bar webs 16A and 17A in substantial alignment with the plane of the panel 10 when the upstanding web flanges are all faced in one and the same direction.

A distinctive structural feature of mybuiltup framework resides in the novel formation given to the respective corners thereof; the rectilinear bar sections may each be perimetrically rounded toconstitute an overlapping to reach inwardly over andgpress-upon the rear.

imetric edge thereof; -Theclinchabjle, panel retaining prongs 14 and 15 are shown spacedly associated with opposite end regions of the rounded contour of said sect'orshape a; lie

within the projected width confines'of the respectivesheet metal strips of which they form an integral part. In the Fig. 7 disclosure, the exposed exterior face of the socket 26 is kept raised outwardly beyond the offset 29 to provide for a corner trim that protrudes upwardly relative to the intermediate face portion of the frame-bar '16.

. After these complementary ,bar ends are nested together, the entered 'side-ten0n";. or" tongue 19 is clinched into itscontiguous aperture 23 and the depending end-tenon or tongue 18 is permanently crimped over the-underlying edge of its mated bar 'inithe fashion representedin Fig.- 4. It will be observed that" the root of the overhanging tenon 19 issha'rply bent and the free ,end thereof broughtinto substantial alignment with the innermost rail flange 1613, to the end that saidfree end may be unrestrictedly entered into .the aperture 23 Without defacing-the front face when the overlapping rail web apertures, are'superimpose'd as shown in Fig. l. Each of the overlapping frame cornerregions' are similarly treated, which provides the perimeter jof i-i the interconnected framework. with rearwardly upstanding prongs suchas 14 and 15 adapted to receive and be inturned over the rear face of the licenseplate 10. (See'Figs. 2and-4). It is preferred to have more than one prong embrace eachof the marginal edges of the rectangular panel '10 when desired, these prongs can'be repeatedly bent up -to.allow=of panel replacement. The overall framedi-i-t mensions are preferaby chosen-to make the innermost perimeter of my interconnected .bars center .in the plate groove :12, theoverhanging prongsbeing, kept sufficiently long of-such groove-forming wallas shown in Fig. 3. In the present invention, the innermost web flanges are all brought downflush upon thefront face of' the license plate-in an inwardly centered relation to the marginal-. bead thereof and the separate bar fastening means together with the associated depending prongs, are confined to and loeatedwithin their respective intersecting bar regionjss},

'lVhere the-license plate affords'nosucln groove, I provide for additionalanti-shift measures by springing the panel 10- into its frame. As will beunderstood, suchstate license plates have become fa1r,ly -.well standardized as to size and .d 1spos1t1on ,-of-

beads. These platesare usually provided with spaced bracket slots 25A and also with a pair of corner securing holes 2513 thru which large-headed bracket bolts such as 28 respec-.

tively entered through the uppermost plate slots 25A and also the flange 27, the assembled trim frame may be made to tilt outwardly away from the front panel face in the fashion indicated in Fig. 9. The lowermost frame portion may now be manually sprung inwardly into place as shown in dotted outline, whereupon the adjacent upstanding prongs are inturned around the rear of the embraced plate to retain the frame thereon in the desired anti-rattle relationship.

A further important aspect of my frame structure lies in forming up segmental blanks from strip-stock that require no further shearing along the longitudinal edges thereof and in so shaping up the respective overlapping channel-like terminals, that no weld or separate keeper means will be required for corner securement purposes. It is not essen* tial however that each segmental bar be equipt with duplicate prongs since certain of such prongs may readily be eliminated without loss of effective plate securement.

In some instances, it is found expedient to resortto bolts as a substitute for my prong means, and to this end there will now be described an alternative fastening means embodying substantially similar underlying features as far as bar structure is concerned. Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, each end of the side-bar 30 is again offset at 31 andsocketed in a somewhat modified raised fashion having a squared hole stamped therethrough. Each cooperating male end of the cross-bar 32 is likewise provided with an aligning square hole and shaped to nest within the female or socketed side-bar end'. For clamping purposes, a special flat-headed clamping screw 33 may be used having a square-shouldered shank portion 34 adapted to snugly fit into the complementary bar holes as represented in Figs. 10 and 12. There is further provided an apertured retaining or backing plate 35 that extends inwardly over the rear panel face and clamps upon the interposed marginal edge of the panel 10 when the rear nut 36 is applied to the threaded end of the entered clamping screw. Fig. 12 cross-sectionally indicates how the outermost shoulder edges of the shank 34 may by the use of a suitable riveting tool. be burred over its contiguous bar aperture at 34A so as to fixedly. interlock the assembled segmental'framebars while allowing the respective backing plates to be individually released therefrom.

' The exposed head-face of these corner bolts may be jeweled or otherwise given a decorative design, the structural arrangement be ing such that said bolts interlock thebar segments and at the same time removablyfasten the panel behind the framework without need of any prongs or special panel drilling. It will be observed that at each intersecting corner region of this rectangular frame, the web of one overlapping bar is suitably raised to pass its mate and again allow each medial bar portion to fall in a common plane. 7

Figs. 13 to 15 are illustrative of areversely mounted socket in which the, abutting frame bars form a mitered joint. The dished bar 38 is here cut off along the beveled partline 39 from which there extends a depending tenon 40. The complementary bar 41 has its overlapping end reversely offset at 42 to abut with said part-line. The web of the bar 41 may be extended onwardly and depressed into the tongue-like member 43 adapted to underlie the intersecting web portion of the bar 38. Adjacent to the'oifset 42 is located a tenon receiving aperture 44 and the extremity of the tongue 43 may be provided with an overhanging prong 45. In this instance, these cooperating bar terminals may be .assembled in the manner shown by the interior corner view Fig. 15 where said prong 45 may be riveted to its contiguous bar. flange as indicated at 46. In such alternative design, the front face of. my segmental frame has been brought wholly into alignment with the abutting bar ends mounted in flush'relation.

The shape given to my nested bar terminals preferably remains the same irrespective formed up by the use of extensible,sectional dies adapted to fit different bar lengths. My method produces a relatively rigid segmental frame structure and may be applied to unitboidal or triangular contour. The defined novel mode of frame manufacture especially lends itself to rapid quantity fabrication at a sufficiently low production cost to enable? this article to be profitably retailed through chain store agencies; Inthe present invenmay be made alike by forming one end with tenons or tongues as in Fig. 5 while the opposite end thereof is provided with an aperture 23 as in Fig. 6. It, may also be emphasized that in my frame corner structure,the

tenons 18 and 19 a-reprefe'rably associated of the blank length and may readily b6 ing intersecting corner regions where the bars 1110 are to be obliquely disposed to form a rhom- .with different, spaced apart rail edges so as to afford a relatively non-yieldable joint between the intersecting rail regions should the frame be subjectedto unsparing twist or the like weave.

Other advantages inherent in my frame devices are thought apparent to those skilled in this art, also thatthe corner structure the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A segmental sheet-metal framework adapted to trim the perimeter of a panel, said frame comprising a pair of spaced rectilinear side-bars that are channel-like in crossseotional profile and each including a web disposed to overlie one panel face and having a flaiige depending toward said face from the innermost edge of said web, and which frame further comprises a complementary pair of rectilinear cross-bars of like profile and web disposition having their respective ends extended in a bridging overlapping relation to said side-bars, each i such intersecting bar region including a socket-like web offset for oneof the overlapping bars and a male element integrally associated with the web of its other mated banadapted to nest crosswise within the web ofiset of said one bar, and fastening means interconnecting the respectiveweb offsets to. their contiguous male elements to constitute an endless framework of which the component web flanges depend from the innermost frame contour and the respective free flange edges lie-in a common plane.

2. In a segmentalsheet-metal trim frame for'mounting a license plate therehehind and which plate is provided with a marginal bead,

the combination of a pair of spaced rectilinear side-bars of channel-like cross-sectional profile each provided with a web element having an outstanding flange that overlies the plate perimeter and extends inwardly of the marginal bead thereof, complementary cross-bars of like profile and size of which the web elements are respectively disposed in a bridging overlapping relation to those of the first named pair of barswith the respective web flanges of all such bars directed'rearwardly toward said panel, each such intersecting web region including a notch indented in the outstanding flange of one bar thereof serving to transversely receive the contiguous web ele ment of the other bar with their respective medial bar portions kept in substantial alignment, and fastening means for uniting each of the respective intersecting web regions.

3. A segmental trim frame adapted to mount a panel therein, said frame compri ing a pair of rectilinear strip metal side-bar sections of which one bar end region terminates in clinchable prong means which prior to clinching is confined within the strip width dimension and has flexible tongue means associated therewith and which frame further comprises a pair of cross-bar sections each having an aperture adjacent to an end region thereof and which cross-bar apertures are respectively disposed to cooperatively receive and interlock with a contiguous side-bar tongue for the purpose of uniting said sections into a frameworkprovided with a plurality of perimetrically depending prongs which upon being clinched inwardly serve to embrace the edge of the panel.

4. An endless sectional moulding adapted to circumscribe a panel, said moulding comprising a pair of strip metal, rectilinear barsegments of which one is provided with a raised transverse offset located inwardly from a terminal region of said one bar to constitute an extension overhanging the bar offset, and the other of said bansegments having a'terminal region overlappingly superimposed upon and nested in said extension in abutment with said offset, one such segment being provided with a tongue receiving aperture and its mated segment having a cooperating tongue serving to unite the overlapping region of the bar-segments, and clinchable prong means integrally appended to one of the bar-segments in the overlapping region thereof, said means prior to being clinched lying within the strip width confines of said one segment and disposed to be clinched inwardly over a marginal edge of the panel.

5. The combination of a rectangular plate with front and rear faces havinga slot adjacent to one plate edge, a support bracket adjoining the rear plate face and which bracket is provided with an aperture registering with said slot, an endless trim frame including a plurality of bars certain of which are each equipt with a prong and which frame is arranged to ovcrlappingly circumscribe' the marginal edge of the front plate face with one such prong initially crimped over the aforesaid one plate edge, and clamping means entered through the plate slot and the bracket aperture and including enlarged head means disposed to straddle the plate and the bar lying contiguous to said slot, said means when clamped toward the bracket tilting another pronged frame-bar outwardly awa 7 from the plate and the prong of the last named bar being sprung inwardly and inturned over the rear plate face to provide for an anti-rattle mounting of the plate with in said frame.

7 6. An endless sectional framework adapted to be mounted upon a panel having front and rear faces, said framework being disposed ahead of the front panel face and comprising a pair of intersecting. bar-segments, the overlapping terminal region of one such segment being provided with flexible tongue means and the adj oined terminal of the other segment underlying said one segment and having a registering aperture into which the free end of said tongue is clinched in concealed relation between the framework and said panel, and longitudinally disposed prong means appended to the terminal region of one of the intersecting bar-segments, said prong beinginturned over the marginal edge of the rear panel face in a superimposed relation to its contiguous tongue. 7

7. A sectional moulding comprising a pair of adjoining, strip metal bar segments disposed to intersect in oblique relation of which one such segment is provided with an offset extension means and the other segment is overlappingly superimposed upon said extension in nested relation, fastening means interconnecting said superimposed bar elements and which means constitutes the sole securement between said pair of adjoining bars, and prong means integrally carried by and extending outwardly beyond the intersecting region of one such bar and which prong is initially disposed within the projected longitudinal edge confines of the bar strip of which it forms an integral part.

8. A segmental framework comprising a pair of rectilinear, strip-stock bars superimposed to intersect in oblique relation to constitute an overlapping corner region of sector-like shape having a rounded perimeter for each such bar and which bars extend oppositely away from the respective radial marginal edges of said sector shape, integral tongue means carried by one of said bars medially of its rounded perimeter and which tongue is clinched over the rounded perimeter of the other bar, and cooperating tongue means associated with one of the radial edges of said sector shape.

9. A segmental framework comprising a pair of rectilinear, strip-stock bars superimposed to intersect in oblique relation to constitute an overlapping corner region of sector-like shape having a rounded perimetric frame edge and which bars extend oppositely away from the respective radial marginal edges of said sector shape, prong means integrally associated with one such bar at the end region of the rounded perimetric edge thereof, and fastening means securing togetherthe intersecting bars.

10. A segmental framework comprising a pair of rectilinear strip-stock bars superimposed to intersect in oblique relation to constitute an overlapping corner region of sector-like shape having a rounded perimetric frame edge, a pair of tongues of which one is associated with said rounded perimetric edge and the other with a radial marginal allelogram contour adapted to overlie and trim the marginal edge of an inserted panel, said moulding comprising a pair of intersect ing bars that are each rectilinear throughout the respective lengths thereof and having their intersecting regions shaped to form a rounded corner for said moulding, said bars each being given a cross-sectional channel shape including a flange component asso ciated with the innermost edge of said endless moulding, integral bar prongmeans extending from the outermost moulding perimeter, and fastening means interconnecting the aforesaid intersecting pair of adjoining bars,

In testimony whereof, I have herewith set my hand this 7th day of January, 1932.

v UDO K. J OHANNSEN.-

edge of said sector shape, and prong means disposed intermediate said tongues.

11. An endless segmental moulding of par

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