US3858335A

US3858335A - Picture frame simulating strip

Info

Publication number: US3858335A
Application number: US361483A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Shore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-18
Filing date: 1973-05-18
Publication date: 1975-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-07

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a picture frame simulator of right-angle shape representative of the corner of a picture frame, there being a series of consecutive right-angle strips arranged in parallel with oneanother with the apex of one strip aligned with the apex of the next consecutive strips of the right-angle strips and being separate from other strips with a flexible backing strip along one leg of the back of the consecutive strips consecutively, such that the consecutive strips of the series are foldable backwardly one relative to the other such that an upper right-angle strip may be used with the lower ones folded out of the way such that the upper right-angle strip may be utilized for its simulative picture-framing function relative to a particular square cornered picture to be framed, the respective ones of the series of simulator right-angle strips differing in color and/or design of their upper surfaces as representative of different available picture frame structures, and in a further preferred embodiment the respective strips being detachable from the backing strip and when detached being mountable on top of a lower strip or of another strip being adjacent to another strip in order to get the full subjective impression of a particular double bordered picture frame where the colors of the consecutive strips as mounted on the backing strips are different than that is desired to be compared for a particular picture.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Shore [451 Jan. 7, 1975 PICTURE FRAME SIMULATING STRIP [76] Inventor: Frank Shore, 305 W. 28th St., New York, NY. 10001 [22 Filed: May 18, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 361,483

Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist [57] ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a picture frame simulator of right-angle shape representative of the corner of a picture frame, there being a series of consecutive right-angle strips arranged in parallel with one-another with the apex of one strip aligned with the apex of the next consecutive strips of the right-angle strips and being separate from other strips with a flexible backing strip along one leg of the back of the consecutive strips consecutively, such that the consecutive strips of the series are foldable backwardly one relative to the other such that an upper right-angle strip may be used with the lower ones folded out of the way such that the upper rightangle strip may be utilized for its simulative pictureframing function relative to a particular square cornered picture to be framed, the respective ones of the series of simulator right-angle strips differing in color and/or design of their upper surfaces as representative of different available picture frame structures, and in a further preferred embodiment the respective strips being detachable from the backi ng strip and when detached being mountable on top of a lower strip or of another strip being adjacent to another strip in order to get the full subjective impression of a particular double bordered picture frame whe rgthe colors of the EhsecuTi/e strips as mounted on the backing strips are different than that is desired to be compared for a particular picture.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing [Figures PICTURE FRAME SIMULATING STRIP This invention relates to a picture frame simulator for the demonstrating to consumers the appearance of different types of picture frame designs and combinations thereof for particular pictures to be framed.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention,there have been different types of picture-frame simulating devices, the most common of which is merely an angle-iron-like strip of right-angle shape simulative of a corner of a picture frame, there being a collection of such right-angle strips on different pages of a book or all separate in a pile, available to the salesman to seek and find the particularone or more needed to simulate for a particular picture to be framed the appearance of a particular single border or alternatively by aligning two rightangle elements in a side-by-side relation with coincident corners the appearance of a double border picture frame. Disadvantages of such devices are apparent to those who work in the trade, namely for example the difficulty in speedily locating a particular one or more simulator-corners, and additionally the disorderly and inconvenient portability of the distinct plurality of separate simulative corner devices. There is no convenient method for a salesman to carry on hisperson more than one or two at a time, as well as it not being practical to provide more than one set to serve for use by all salesmen simultaneously. ln the loose state, it is also likely that the one or more of the right-angle devices will become lost or dropped to the floor and soiled or broken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects of the present invention accordingly include the overcoming of one or more of the disadvantages, difficulties, and problems, or the avoiding thereof.

Another object is to obtain a multiple-strip simulator.

Another object is to obtain a foldable strip colorscheme simulator of picture frames.

Another object is to obtain one or more of 'the preceding objects together with the individual stripsimulating structures being variable in possible combinations of combined multi-border representation.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the present invention are obtained by the invention as defined herein.

Broadly the invention includes a series of substantially rigid strips aligned in about parallel alignment with one-another with each of the strips preferably having opposite parallel edges extending axially along the strips length, with upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface being the decorated surface representative of a particular substrate such as a picture frame or as a wall or the like, and the lower surface being preferably substantially flat and mounted on a backing strip interconnecting the series of adjacent consecutive strips with one leg of the consecutive strips being uniformly mounted in series on an upper face of the backing strip, and preferably the backing strip upper face and the lower and upper faces of the consecutive simulator strips are adapted such that each strip is detachable from the backing strip and subsequently replaceable in its original position and when detached is mountable on top of any of the other remaining mounted strips upper surface or face, in order to vary the order of different adjacent surfaces so that for any particular picture frame there may be compared or visualized the appearance of a particular predetermined border. In a further preferred embodiment, the attaching mechanism for the attaching of the back of each respective strip to the upper face of the backing strip isa material such as VELCRO material employed and similarly with the upper surfaces of the respective simulator strips having a surface such as VELCRO material such that any strip may be detached from the upper face of the backing strip and detachable mounted on the upper face of any one of the remaining other mounted strips and thereafter removed and replaced to its original or other position. In greater particularity, in such a preferred embodiment, for example, the upper surface of the backing strip may for example be VELCRO hooks and similarly the upper surface of the respective simulator strips may be of VELCRO hooks, while the lower face of the respective simulator strips are the VELCRO loop material, or vice-versa.

It is to be understood that in the broadest aspect of the present invention, there may be merely a series of parallel strips of one linear leg per strip such as could easily be used as and fora paint chart to get the comparison of combinations of different colors one beside the other while achieving the other objects of easy portability, the foldable nature of the series for each of carrying and for folding under the undesired portions of the chart during any particular comaprison, together with the switchable nature of the individual strips from one to the other positions of the series on top of other strips, and the like. The backing strip running along the series of one-legged strips transversely thereof makes possible the folding under of any one or more strips of the series at any time.

In a preferred embodiment of the combination, the simulator strips each includes a second leg at a right angle to the first leg but in a same plane as the respective upper surface of the leg from which it extends in order to form representatively the corner of a picture frame and therefore in a typical situation the extension defining acorner of about although other angles aretpossible for unique picture frames having corner angles of more than or less than 90.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates in elevation plan view a preferred embodiment of the present invention in partial cutaway.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the embodiment of FIG. I as taken along lines 22 in cross-section.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention in a view analagous to that of FIG. 1, but this embodiment including additional simulator means as an extension of the unsecured legs thereof.

FIG. 4 illustrates still another variation similar in its view to that of FIGS. 1 and 3, also in elevation plan view, analagous to the extension of FIG. 3 embodiment but with the additional extension being at a different angle thereto.

FIG. 5 illustrates a still further alternate and simplified embodiment of the present invention, but more adaptable as a paint chart since it does not define a corner angle needed for effective picture frame simulation preferably, this embodiment being also illustrated in elevation plan view, and in partial cut-away to disclose the backing strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In greater detail, with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there is disclosed in phantom a representative corner of a picture corner 12 to be framed and for which it is desirable to simulate the appearance of a particular color of single or double bordered frame. Accordingly, the corner of the picture here fits into the angle 7 right angle defined between opposing legs of the strip 1111. Accordingly there is disclosed a multiple strip simulator device 6 of serially consecutively arranged strips such as

strips

8a, 8b, 8c, and the like, pivotable therebetween at

points

9a, 9b, 9c, and the like respectively, connected by a hinge-means such as transversely running backing strip 10a of which when some of the strips are turned-under pivotably on the flexible tape there is viewable the back of the tape tape back side 10b, and a strip back-side 11. The upper faces of the consecutive strips are of differing colors 11a through 11h respectively.

In the FIG. 2 embodiment, there is visible in crosssection the three

separate strip portions

8b, 8c, and a third strip, with upper surface colors 11b, 11c, and 1 1d, and illustrating the strip surface 11 and backing upper surface 10, and the strips lower VELCRO surface 11, typically the surfaces 11 and It) being VELCRO-loop surfaces and the surface 11 being a VELCRO hook surface for each strip respectively.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate analagous embodiments to that of FIG. 1, except having extensions of the unsecured (unhinged) strip legs, to form additional pictureframe simulator corner members as disclosed, the corresponding numbers being the same as previously identified.

FIG. 5 in like manner compares to the embodiment of FIG. 1, but is minus the second leg per strip, and accordingly is otherwise basically similar, but being devoid of the second leg is more adaptable to a utility as a paint-chart having the many above-noted advantages the same as for a picture simulator frame device. Accordingly there is disclosed consecutive strips with opposite parallel sides as in the FIG. 1 embodiment, such as strips 14 through 19, mounted on a backing strip of rubber or plastic or paper or other flexible material such a fabric.

The composition of the strips themselves are not materially important, except that preferably they each are substantially rigid in order to-facilitate the handling thereof. With the FIG. 5 embodiment, it might be noted that there is the additional advantage of being able to roll-up the serially arranged single legs for convenient placing into a pocket or other small storage or carrying space.

It is within the scope and spirit of the present invention to make such variations and modifications and substitution of equivalents as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill, as within the contemplation of the above illustrated and described invention which is intended to merely facilitate a proper understanding of the heart of the invention.

I claim:

1. A picture frame-simulating device comprising in combination: a plurality of serially arranged strips each having at least two opposite substantially parallel edges, the parallel edges of the plurality being substantially parallel to one-another of other strips of the plurality, and hinge means connecting adjacent parallel edges of serially consecutive ones of the serially arranged strips, and the series of strips differing in appearance from one-another on their respective upper faces in color schemes, the parallel edges extending substantially lineally, the hinge means comprising a flexible backing strip onto which the lower surface of the respective ones of the serially arranged strips each is mounted, eac'h next consecutive strip in series adjacent a preceeding strip being foldable hackwardly. and under to beneath the preceding strip by bending and folding backwardly the backing strip. each of the plurality of strips including a second strip portion continuous with and extending from a terminal end of and in a common plane with the one of the plurality of which the second strip portion is a continuation thereof and the second strip portion being extending in a direction at a right angle to the one of the plurality of which the second strip portion is a continuation thereof thereby forming a right-angle corner section simulative of a corner of a picture frame corner, the backing strip extending angularly to the parallel edges in a direction pointed by the vertex of the right-angle corner section such that when any mounted strip is folded under the next serially adjacent strip the second strip portion of the folded-under strip extends laterally sidewardly.

2. A simulating device of claim 1, in which the second strip portion at an opposite end thereof includes an additional third strip portion having its upper surface also in about the same plane as the upper surface of the second strip portion, and the third strip portion extending at about a right angle to the second strip portion in a direction diametrically opposite to that of the hingeconnected serially arranged strip respectively for the plurality.

3. A simulating device of claim 2, in which the securing means comprises an upper surface of the backing strip and an upper surface of substantially each of the plurality including one of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks and the lower surface of each of the plurality including the other of the detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks such that upon detaching any of the plurality, the strip detached may be mounted on an upper face of a remaining one of the attached plurality, in each instance the strip being mounted on the backing strip and on the upper faceof another remaining attached strip being by a locking of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks respectively.

4. A simulating device of claim I, in which the respective serially arranged strips are detachably mounted on said backing strip.

5. A simulating device of claim'4, in which there is included securing means for each strip by which a lower surface of each strip is detachably mountable onto the backing strip and when detached, by which the detachable strips lower face is detachably mountable on another strips upper face.

6. A simulating device of claim 5, in which the securing means comprises an upper face of the backing strip and an upper surface of substantially each of the plurality including one of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks and the lower surface of each of the plurality including the other of the detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks such that upon detaching any of the plurality, the strip detached may be mounted on an upper face of a remaining one of the attached plurality, in each instance the strip being mounted on the backing strip and on the upper face of another remaining attached strip being by a locking of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks respectfully.

Claims

1. A picture frame-simulating device comprising in combination: a plurality of serially arranged strips each having at least two opposite substantially parallel edges, thE parallel edges of the plurality being substantially parallel to one-another of other strips of the plurality, and hinge means connecting adjacent parallel edges of serially consecutive ones of the serially arranged strips, and the series of strips differing in appearance from one-another on their respective upper faces in color schemes, the parallel edges extending substantially lineally, the hinge means comprising a flexible backing strip onto which the lower surface of the respective ones of the serially arranged strips each is mounted, each next consecutive strip in series adjacent a preceeding strip being foldable backwardly, and under to beneath the preceding strip by bending and folding backwardly the backing strip, each of the plurality of strips including a second strip portion continuous with and extending from a terminal end of and in a common plane with the one of the plurality of which the second strip portion is a continuation thereof and the second strip portion being extending in a direction at a right angle to the one of the plurality of which the second strip portion is a continuation thereof thereby forming a right-angle corner section simulative of a corner of a picture frame corner, the backing strip extending angularly to the parallel edges in a direction pointed by the vertex of the right-angle corner section such that when any mounted strip is folded under the next serially adjacent strip the second strip portion of the folded-under strip extends laterally sidewardly.

2. A simulating device of claim 1, in which the second strip portion at an opposite end thereof includes an additional third strip portion having its upper surface also in about the same plane as the upper surface of the second strip portion, and the third strip portion extending at about a right angle to the second strip portion in a direction diametrically opposite to that of the hinge-connected serially arranged strip respectively for the plurality.

3. A simulating device of claim 2, in which the securing means comprises an upper surface of the backing strip and an upper surface of substantially each of the plurality including one of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks and the lower surface of each of the plurality including the other of the detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks such that upon detaching any of the plurality, the strip detached may be mounted on an upper face of a remaining one of the attached plurality, in each instance the strip being mounted on the backing strip and on the upper face of another remaining attached strip being by a locking of detachably mateable loops and detachably mateable hooks respectively.

4. A simulating device of claim 1, in which the respective serially arranged strips are detachably mounted on said backing strip.

5. A simulating device of claim 4, in which there is included securing means for each strip by which a lower surface of each strip is detachably mountable onto the backing strip and when detached, by which the detachable strip''s lower face is detachably mountable on another strip''s upper face.