GB2030859A – Improvements in picture frames
– Google Patents
GB2030859A – Improvements in picture frames
– Google Patents
Improvements in picture frames
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Info
Publication number
GB2030859A
GB2030859A
GB7836641A
GB7836641A
GB2030859A
GB 2030859 A
GB2030859 A
GB 2030859A
GB 7836641 A
GB7836641 A
GB 7836641A
GB 7836641 A
GB7836641 A
GB 7836641A
GB 2030859 A
GB2030859 A
GB 2030859A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
picture
backing
slot
frame
slots
Prior art date
1978-09-13
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB7836641A
Other versions
GB2030859B
(en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CHI HO CHEUNG H
Original Assignee
CHI HO CHEUNG H
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
1978-09-13
Filing date
1978-09-13
Publication date
1980-04-16
1978-09-13
Application filed by CHI HO CHEUNG H
filed
Critical
CHI HO CHEUNG H
1978-09-13
Priority to GB7836641A
priority
Critical
patent/GB2030859B/en
1980-04-16
Publication of GB2030859A
publication
Critical
patent/GB2030859A/en
1982-12-22
Application granted
granted
Critical
1982-12-22
Publication of GB2030859B
publication
Critical
patent/GB2030859B/en
Status
Expired
legal-status
Critical
Current
Links
Espacenet
Global Dossier
Discuss
Classifications
A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
A47G1/00—Mirrors; Picture frames or the like, e.g. provided with heating, lighting or ventilating means
A47G1/06—Picture frames
Abstract
A picture frame described herein includes a backing and an outer rim defining with the backing a recess for receiving a picture or the like and a transparent covering therefor. Through the backing is provided at least one slot and preferably at least one group of substantially parallel slots. Each slot has a cross-section whose diameter increases in a direction from the rear face to the front face of the backing. In this way, a locking member can be inserted into the slot from the rear of the frame without disturbing the picture and locked in place by rotation so as to secure a stand, hook, linking member or like to the frame. This enables the fitting to the picture frame of whatever is required to position the frame to suit the user. Preferably, the slots have a cross-section which increases step-wise from the rear to the front face of the backing and the locking member has a T-shaped locking lug which can be inserted through the slot when in one orientation and then twisted to lock the ears of the T within the slot.
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvements in picture frame
This invention relates to picture frames and holders for displaying pictures, photographs and the like.
The picture frame or holder according to the invention comprises a backing and an outer rim defining with the backing a recess for receiving the picture, photograph or the like and a transparent covering therefore, at least one slot being provided in the backing, the or each slot having a crosssection whose diameter increases in a direction from the rear face to the front face of the backing so that a locking member can be inserted into the slot from the rear of the frame in one orientation and locked in place by rotation so as to secure a stand member, hook, linking member or the like to the frame.
Such a picture frame can be very simple and can, for example, be moulded relatively cheaply from synthetic plastics material. The resulting picture frame can be very attractive and can, for example, be assembled together with a number of similar frames into one of a varied number of combined positions by joining adjacent frames with straight or bent linking strips and/or supporting legs.
There are preferably a plurality of slots in the backing so as to increase range of positions to which attachment can be made. When there are a plurality of slots they can be parallel to one another or alternatively there may be two or more groups of slots of which all the slots in each group are parallel to one another.
The rim of the frame can be of any required shape depending upon the picture, photograph orthe like to be displayed. Thus for example, the rim can be rectangular, e.g. square, round, oval or triangular.
Desirably the transparent covering which engages within the rim is very slightly larger than the inside dimensions of the rim so that the covering can be a “snap-fit” within the rim to retain the covering and the picture in place. In this connection it is desirable that the frame and/or the transparent covering be made of plastics material so as to have some degree of resilience. Through the backing there is preferably provided at least one small hole of a size sufficient to insert a thumb or finger so as to engage the rear of the picture, photograph or the like to eject the latter and the transparent covering if desired for replacement of the picture.
Because the transparent covering is sized to fit within the rim, it can be used as a template to cut the picture, photograph or the like to shape and size.
The frame of the invention can be used to display a picture, photograph or any other flat object. The term picture, therefore, as used hereinafter is to be construed accordingly.
The slot or slots in the backing preferably have a cross-section which increases step-wise in a direction from the rear to the front face of the backing.
Thus the slot or slots can have a cross-section which is relatively narrow adjacent the rear face of the backing and which steps to be a wider section at a position intermediate the front and rear faces. A locking member which can be locked in such a slot without disturbing the picture has a knob from which projects a locking lug which is T-shaped when viewed in one direction and I-shaped when viewed at right angles to that direction. Such a lug can be inserted through the narrow part of the slot when the
T-shape is aligned with the length of the slot and then the locking member can be locked in place by twisting the knob through 90 .
The locking member can be used together with bridging or link members to join two or more frames, these bridging or link members being straight or bent, or the locking member can be used to secure a stand or foot to support the frame in an upright position or a hanger by means of which the frame can be hung on a wall.
The picture frame according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of the frame;
Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of
Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one linking member;
Figure 5 is a side view of a locking member; and
Figure 6 is a side view of the locking member taken at right angles to the view of Figure 5.
Picture frame 10 according to the invention shown in Figure 1 includes a backing 12 round the edge of which is provided an upstanding rectangular rim 14.
The whole frame has been moulded integrally from plastics material.
Formed in the backing 12 are a number of slots 16.
These slots are formed in two groups and in each group the slots are parallel to one another. This is not essential and the arrangement of the slots depends upon the overall shape of the frame. For example if the frame had been square or circular only a single group of slots may be necessary which are all parallel to one another.
The upstanding rim 14 defines, as best shown in
Figure 2, a recess 20 in which a picture such as a photograph can be accommodated together with a transparent covering e.g. a thin sheet of transparent plastics material. The latter is made of such a size as to be a precise snap fit within the recess 20 and the slightly resilient nature of the material of the rim 14 secures the covering in place.
Provided through the backing is a hole 22 large enough for the insertion of a finger so that if the picture in the recess 20 needs replacement it can be ejected together with its transparent covering by applying pressure through the hole 20 to the rear of the picture.
As best shown in Figure 3, each slot 16 has a narrower region 16a near the rear face of the backing 12 and a wider region 1 6b nearer the front face of the
backing 12. The two regions are joined by a step or
ledge 17.
In order to join a stand or linking member 30 as shown, for example, in Figure 4 to the rear of the frame 10, the member 30 is placed adjacent the rear of the frame and a locking member 32 is used to secure the member 30 to the frame. The locking member 32 comprises a knob 34 of any suitable shape having a projecting lug 36 from the ends of which project two small ears 38. By comparing Figures 5 and 6, it can be seen that the ears 38 are positioned opposite one another. In this way the ears 38 and the lug 36 of the member 32 can be passed through a slot 31 in the linking member30 provided the ears are parallel to the length of the slot 31.
Equally they will also pass through the narrow region 16a of the slot 16 again provided the ears 38 are parallel to the length of the slot 16. Then the knob 34 of the locking member is twisted through 90 and the ears 38 engage the ledges 17 between the two regions of the slot 16. The locking member 32 then secures the linking member 30 to the frame.
As can be appreciated the linking member 30 can be joined to the frame from the rear of the frame and without disturbing a picture in the frame.
Preferably and as best shown in Figures 5 and 6 the ears 38 are tapered so that as the knob 34 is twisted to lock the member 32 in place the ears engage progressively more firmly.
The linking member 30 shown in Figure 4 can be used to join two frames 10 together and by providing the range of slots 16 as shown in Figure 1 the position of attachment between the two frames can be chosen at will to give the most attractive assembled combination. Of course many more than two frames can be joined in this manner using a number of linking members 30.
The locking member 32 can be used to join not only the linking members 30 to the rear of the frame but also a hook or the like so that the frame can be hung on a wall our a stand to support the frame 10 in an upright position.
Although the linking member30 shown in Figure 4 is bent so as to join two frames together at an angle to one another this is not essential and instead the linking member 30 could be straight and the slot 31 could if desired extend continuously along the linking member. Equally the linking member may have more than two arms so that it can be attached to more than two frames.
As shown in Figure 4, arm 30a of the linking member 30 has a slot 31a which is narrowed at its outer end by two ledges 31b which are less thick than the member 30. Provided the thickness of the ledges 31b are chosen correctly a locking member 32 can be used to join two such linking members 30 together by passing the locking member through the narrowed portion of at least one of the two slots 31a.
As can be appreciated the frame of the invention can be used either on its own or can by the use of suitable linking members and locking members 32, be joined with any number of similar frames to produce an overall arrangement which can be unique to each user and by means of which the user can display a range of pictures.
It is not necessary to provide all of the slots 16 shown in Figure 1. For example, it may be satisfactory to provide only those slots marked 161. However the largerthe number of slots provided, the greater the degree of flexibility in assembling two or more frames together.
Claims (1)
1. A picture holder comprising a backing and outer rim defining with the backing a recess for receiving a picture, photograph or the like and a transparent covering therefor, at least one slot being provided in the backing, the or each slot having a cross-section whose diameter increases in a direction from the rear face to the front face of the backing so that a locking member can be inserted into the slot from the rear of the frame in one orientation and locked in place by rotation so as to secure a stand member, hook, linking member or the like to the frame.
2. A picture holder as claimed in Claim 1 in which there are plurality of slots in the backing at least some of which are parallel to one another.
3. A picture holder as claimed in Claim 2 in which there are two or more groups of slots and the slots in each group are parallel to one another.
4. A picture holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which the transparent covering which engages within the rim is slightly larger than the inside dimensions of the rim so that the covering is a “snap-fit” within the rim.
5. A picture holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which the transparent covering andlorthe frame have been made of plastics material.
6. A picture holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which a hole of sufficient size to insert a thumb or finger is provided through the backing so that the picture, photograph or like and the transparent covering can be ejected by pushing through the hole when a picture is to be replaced.
7. A picture holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which the slot or slots have a cross-section which increases step-wise in the direction from the rear to the front face of the backing.
8. A picture holder as claimed in Claim 7 in which the locking member has a locking lug which is
T-shaped so that the lug can be inserted through the narrow part of the slot when the T-shape is aligned with the length of the slot and the locking member can thereafter be locked in place by twisting it through 90 .
9. A picture holder as claimed in any preceding claim which is joined to one or more other picture frames by means of a bridging or linking member which is joined to an adjacent picture frame by means of a locking member inserted into the or one of the slots.
10. A picture frame substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
New claims or amendments to claims filed on 12 Dec 1979.
Superseded claims: 1
New or amended claims:
1. A picture holder comprising a backing and outer rim defining with the backing a recess for receiving a picture, photograph or the like and a transparent covering therefor, at least one slot being provided in the backing, the or each slot having a cross-section whose diameter increases in a direction from the rear face to the front face of the backing, and a locking member which can be inserted into the slot from the rear of the frame in one orientation and locked in place by rotation so asto secure a stand member, hook, linking member or the like to the frame.
GB7836641A
1978-09-13
1978-09-13
Picture frames
Expired
GB2030859B
(en)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title
GB7836641A
GB2030859B
(en)
1978-09-13
1978-09-13
Picture frames
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title
GB7836641A
GB2030859B
(en)
1978-09-13
1978-09-13
Picture frames
Publications (2)
Publication Number
Publication Date
GB2030859A
true
GB2030859A
(en)
1980-04-16
GB2030859B
GB2030859B
(en)
1982-12-22
Family
ID=10499633
Family Applications (1)
Application Number
Title
Priority Date
Filing Date
GB7836641A
Expired
GB2030859B
(en)
1978-09-13
1978-09-13
Picture frames
Country Status (1)
Country
Link
GB
(1)
GB2030859B
(en)
Cited By (2)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
FR2498912A1
(en)
*
1981-02-03
1982-08-06
Dart Ind Inc
FRAME FOR THE EXPOSURE OF OBJECTS
GB2136292A
(en)
*
1983-03-17
1984-09-19
Helix Ltd
Photograph Filing Cabinet
1978
1978-09-13
GB
GB7836641A
patent/GB2030859B/en
not_active
Expired
Cited By (3)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
FR2498912A1
(en)
*
1981-02-03
1982-08-06
Dart Ind Inc
FRAME FOR THE EXPOSURE OF OBJECTS
NL8104579A
(en)
*
1981-02-03
1982-09-01
Dart Ind Inc
PHOTO FRAME.
GB2136292A
(en)
*
1983-03-17
1984-09-19
Helix Ltd
Photograph Filing Cabinet
Also Published As
Publication number
Publication date
GB2030859B
(en)
1982-12-22
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Legal Events
Date
Code
Title
Description
1987-04-29
PCNP
Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
