US2749636A

US2749636A - Self-locking tubular frame display device

Info

Publication number: US2749636A
Application number: US378077A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael J Viglietta
Original assignee: ROYAL MOUNTERS Inc
Current assignee: ROYAL MOUNTERS Inc
Priority date: 1953-09-02
Filing date: 1953-09-02
Publication date: 1956-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-12

Description

June 12, 1956 M. J. VIGLIETTA 2,749,636

SELF-LOCKING TUBULAR FRAME DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 2, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

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United States Patent SELF-LOCKING TUBULAR FRAME DISPLAY DEVICE Michael J. Viglietta, Elmhurst, N. Y., assignor to Royal lgftlolllinters, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New The present invention relates generally to improvements in display devices of the picture frame type,

wherein a body portion or display panel of the device, adapted to receive and display suitable advertising matter, is surrounded by a tubular shaped border or margin simulating a picture frame.

It has been found that such three-dimensional displays attract the attention of a greater number of people than where merely a flat type of display is used. Furthermore, the use of a three-dimensional display greatly enhances the appearance of a lithograph or the like mounted in the display.

Picture frame types of display devices have heretofore been generally known, but they have not proven as satisfactory or as practical as desired. One of the difliculties has been in obtaining an eflicient and economical means for constructing a non-collapsible frame to hold the display panel which would resist the rigors of shipment and at the same time reflect the desirable threedimensional effect and impart the necessary rigidity to the combination of frame and display panel. These prior types could only utilize one side of the display panel, and were made of folding parts having hooks and slots or parts which were glued or stapled, all of which be- These prior types would also warp after a short period of use and would become unsightly for the product it was displaying. Furthermore, these prior types would have to be assembled by the consumer, resulting in a much less sturdy display than where the manufacturer himself did the assembly.

The present invention provides a single, inexpensive, and thoroughly practical means for securing and retaining a picture frame display device in a rigid display position. The present invention also provides for a completely reversible picture frame display device whereby both sides of the display panel may be utilized. The present invention further provides for a picture frame display device which is both attractive in appearance and can be fully assembled by the manufacturer, thus resulting in a much sturdier and more permanent combination, as well as being completely ready for use by the consumer.

An object of the invention is to provide a picture frame display device which is non-collapsible, simple in construction and which has all its parts locked in position by the manufacturer, resulting in a very sturdy combination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picture frame display device which is reversible and thus capable of utilizing both sides of the display panel for advertising purposes.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of a portion of the present invention, with portions broken away to show the catch flanges positioned on the edge of the display panel member;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the hollow tubular frame member at line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the position of the catch flanges enclosed within the hollow tubular member which has been positioned on the edge of the display panel;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one section of the hollow tubular frame member showing the chambered ends and the longitudinal slit on the surface thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the back of the display frame showing manner by which an easel may be temporarily attached; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the back of the frame showing manner by which a hanger may be temporarily attached.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, the invention shows a display panel 2 upon which advertising matter can be affixed to both plane surfaces by any suitable means. Display panel 2 is surrounded by four sections of hollow tubular frame members, each section, as shown in Fig. 4, having both ends cross-sectionally cut at an angle 4 of forty-five degrees with the axis of the hollow tube and having a longitudinally cut slit ltl. Fig. 1 shows the assembled display device consisting of the display panel 2 and the hollow tubular frame 1 in assembled relation, with the hollow tubular frame members 1 locked one against the other by means of the cross-sectional cuts of forty-five degrees and thus prevented from any longitudinal movement.

Fig. 2 shows the means for locking hollow tubular frame members 1 from transverse movement, said means consisting of catch flanges 3 cut scored or crease scored from the edges of the display panel member 2 and alternately folded toward the plane surfaces of the said display panel 2.

After the catch flanges 3 are scored from the edges of the display panel member 2, the hollow tubular frame member 1 is slipped over one edge of the display panel member 2 by means of slit it), completely enclosing the catch flanges 3 and at the same time alternately folding catch flanges 3 closer toward the plane surfaces of display panel 2, as shown in Fig. 3. The tension of folding causes an upward pressure to be exerted by catch flanges 3 upon the inner surface of the hollow tube 1 and thus locking said tube from transverse movement.

An easel 6 or hanger 8 can be temporarily aflixed to the display device as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Hollow tubular frame 1 is flexible enough to permit tip 5 of easel 6 or tip 7 of hanger 8 to be temporarily inserted between it and the plane surface of display panel member 2 as shown in Figs. Sand 6.

Upon assembly of the picture frame the first three hollow tubular frame members will easily slide into position on the edges of three sides of the display panel. The hollow tubular frame member is flexible enough to allow slit 10 to be temporarily widened to permit that section of hollow tubular frame to be passed over the display panel and over the catch flanges and into position.

Hollow tubular member 1 can be covered with any material designed to simulate wood, leather or any other ornamental figure or design. Easel 6 or hanger 8 can be aflixed temporarily at any position on the display device, and the hollow tubular frame member 1 makes the identical contact on both plane surfaces of the display panel 2 with the result that the invention provides a completely reversible display.

While the present invention has been shown as substantially rectangular in form, it will be understood that other shapes or forms may be utilized without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Also, while the catch flanges have been described as being formed from the edges of the display panel member by scoring, it is to be understood that catch flanges of the same or other suitable material can be affixed to the edges of the display panel member by various means without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Also, while the present invention has been shown with the display panel completely enclosed by sections of hollow tubular frame members, it is to be understood that since this type of frame imparts great rigidity to the display panel, it may be extended partially about the panel, for example on two opposing edges of the display panel to give the necessary rigidity without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an economical display device and that both sides of the display panel may be utilized. The device is simple in construction and has much more rigidity than prior ones, as well as being able to be fully assembled at the factory with no danger of damage while being shipped to the consumer.

As various changes may be made in form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A display device of the picture frame type comprising a display panel, at least one tab having one edge connected to an edge of said display panel, and having another edge reversibly directed toward the body of the panel and forming a shoulder laterally spaced from said body, and a hollow tube having a longitudinal slit therein, said panel and said tab adapted to enter the tube through the slit with the tab enclosed in the hollow tube, and said shoulder engaged with the inner surface 4 of the tube to prevent withdrawal of the panel through said slit.

2. A display device of the picture frame type comprising a display panel, a plurality of tabs having one of their edges resiliently connected to at least one edge of said display panel, and having their other edges reversibly directed toward the body of the panel and forming a shoulder laterally spaced from said body, a member of said tabs being swingable to one side of said display panel and the remaining number of said tabs being swingable to the other side of said display panel, and hollow tubes having longitudinal slits therein fitting over an edge of said display panel and enclosing said tabs in a hingedly folded position toward the sides of said display panel that when the edges and tabs are fully entered in the tubes, the tabs will swing away from the display panel.

3. A display device of the picture frame type comprising a display panel, a plurality of first tabs disposed along the edges of said panel and having one edge resiliently hinged to the panel to swing to one side of the panel, a plurality of second tabs disposed along the edges of said panel and having one edge resiliently hinged to the panel thereto to swing to the other side of the panel, the other edges of said tabs being reversibly directed toward the sides of the panel and forming a shoulder laterally spaced from said body, and a plurality of hollow tubes having longitudinal slits in them adapted to enclose the hingedly connected first and second tabs and a portion of all the edges of said display panel, so that when the edges and tabs are fully entered in the tubes, the tab will swing away from said panel.

4. A display device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the diameter of said hollow tubes is at least equal to the length of said tabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,481,120 Bronbosz Jan. 15, 1924 1,737,375 King Nov. 26, 1929 1,738,273 Anderson Dec. 3, 1929 1,841,225 Tripp Jan. 12, 1932 2,403,491 Bogia July 9, 1946 2,573,413 Duncan Oct. 30, 1951