Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention -
The present invention relates generally to display
devices, and more particularly, to quick-change display devices
-for displaying photographs and other artistic works.
Discussion of the Prior Art -
The prior art is replete with quick-change picture
mounts or frames of various designs. Typically, these prior
art devices comprise a rear wall, or supporting surface, a
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l transparent pane of glass of the same general shape and size
as the rear wall, and some type of resilient frame or clip
arrangement adapted to hold the glass pane in engagement with
the rear wall.
In one group of prior art devices, the frame itself
removably holds the pane of glass against the supporting
surface. In such devices, the frame is typically constructed
of a yieldable resilient material and is configured so that
it may be deformed in a manner to permit separation of the
glass pane from the rear wall, thus enabling changing of the
artwork being displayed.
Another group or class of prior art quick-change
picture mounts embodies clips or wire spring devices adapted
. to be pushed over the glass pane and rear wall to hold the
parts together and clamp the artwork therebetween.
All of these prior art devices have various draw-
backs. In the picture mounts having clips or hooks, it is
often difficult for an unskilled person to effectively
- manipulate the locking clips. Further, with this type of
frame, the glass panes can be easily damaged by the clips
unless they are carefully bent away from the glass panes.
In the class of picture mounts using yieldable frames to
position the glass pane against the rear supporting wall,
removal of the pane to change the artwork is often quite
cumbersome. Additionally, since the glass can easily be
broken, its removal from the deformable frame can be
dangerous for the unskilled person. A further disadvantage
of both the frame and clip-type quick-change picture mounts
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1 is the rather unpleasant appearance of thc devices owing to
the necessary structural con~igur~tion o~ the clips or
yieldable frames.
The various drawbacks o~ the quick-change picture
S mounts have been totally eliminated in the device of the
present invention. No clips or perimeter frame is involved.
Rather, the display device uniquely comprises two sheets of
glass interconnected in a highly novel rnanner by an almost
invisible hinge mechanism formed o a tough but resilient
bonding material. This arrangement provides, in effect, a
borderless mount which is not only attractive, but highly
functional, permitting the safe and expeditious qulck change
of artwork without the necessity of manipulatiny any kind of
clip, frame, or the like.
The ollowing U.S. prior art patents, which represent
the most pertinent art known to applicant, clearly demonstrate
the novelty of the present invention:
Ward 3,798,815 Billet, et al. 2,749,634
Lumley 2,184,893 Lieberman 3,069,795
Smith7 et al. 2,281,054 Conrad 3,711,978
Sury 3,349,443 Rochelt 3,654,719
Bruck, Jr. 3,541,714 Rochelt 3,727,335
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to pxovide
a ~lovel display device for displaying artwork such as photo- -
graphs, drawings, and the like, which utilizes no clips,
- mechanical fasteners, or perimeter frame, and which permits
the expeditious change of artwork hy unskilled persons without
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the use of tools and without the necessity of cumbersome
manipulation of the frame.
More particularly, it is an object of the ïnvention
to provide a display device of the aforementioned character
in whi`ch the artwork is removably clamped between two sheets
of glass which are hingeably interconnected in a unique manner
thereby enabling ready removal and exchange of the artwork
~` being displayed. The resilient hinge mechanism of the device
is virtually invisible to the viewer, is virtually fatigue-free,
will not fail even after repeated flexing, and will not deter-
~ iorate when exposed to normal room atmospheres.
5; Accordingly in one aspect the invention comprehends
hingeably interconnected display device for displaying decorative
~ indicia and the like includes first and second sheets of glass
} 15 each having respectively opposing front and back parallel faces
and at least one substantially straight side disposed within a
plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the faces, at
least one of the faces having indicia imprinted thereon. Hinge
means are provided for hingeably interconnecting the first and
20 second sheets of glass along the respectively straight sides
thereof, the hinge means comprising a rubber bonding material
bonded to the straight sides of the first and second sheets of
glass whereby the sheets of glass are swingably movable relative
to each other about the hinge means from a closed position
25 wherein the back face of the first sheet is in engagement with
the front face of the second sheet into an open position wherein
the faces of the sheets are substantially coplanar.
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Another object of the invention is to provide a unique
method of making the display device of the invention which
requires a minimum of tooling and can be readily performed
with unskilled labor.
More particularly, another aspect of the invention
comprehends a method of hingeably interconnecting planar
members, each characterized by having opposing front and back
faces and at least one substantially straight side interconnect-
ing the faces. The method comprises the steps of cleaning
lQ the planar members to remove surface contaminants therefrom,
securely clamping the planar members together with the faces
thereof in engagement and the straight sides thereof aligned
and disposed in a coplanar relationship, and uniformly depositing
,~ an integral bead of resilient bonding material along substan-
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'-~ 15 ially the entire length of the straight side portions of the
- planar members so that the bead overlaps the juncture between
the planar members.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the display
device of the invention showing the appearance of the device
in a closed position.
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I Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one form of the
display device showing the appearance of the device in a
partially open position.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken
along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the frame as it would
appear when hung on a wall.
Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view
illustrating the configuration of the hinge mechanism of the
invention as it appears when the display device is in a
closed position.
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing
the appearance of the hinge mechanism when the display device
is in a partially open position.
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing
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the appearance of the hinge mechanism when the display device
is fully open with the first and second planar members thereof
in a substantially coplanar relationship.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another form of
the display device of the invention which is adapted to rest
upon a flat surface.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of still another form
of the invention wherein an artistic design is imprinted
upon the display surfaces of the device.
Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing
the appearance of the display device of this form of the
invention as it appears in a freestanding upright display
position.
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1 Description of the Preferred Ernbodiments
Referring to the drawings, and more particularly
to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, one form of the display device of the
invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention,
the display device consists of a quick-change borderless
` frame for displaying photographs and other forms of artwork
adapted to be hung on a wall, or the like. As best seen in
Fig. 3, this frame includes a first planar member, shown
here as a sheet of glass 12, having opposing front and back
parallel faces 14 and 16 respectively. I'he frame of this
r form of the invention is shown as being generally rectangular
in shape with the first sheet of glass having substantially
straight sides 18 disposed within planes generally perpen-
dicular to the plane of faces 14 and 16. The frame could,
of course, be constructed from various transparent materials
in a variety of shapes, such as triangular, hexagonal,
.-~ octagonal, or the like. A second planar member, shown here
as a sheet of glass 20, is provided to form a backing or
support member for the artwork. Sheet 20 also has front
and back parallel faces 22 and 24 respectively, and substan-
tially straight sides 26 disposed within planes generally
perpendicular to the plane of faces 22 and 24.
Hinge means generally designated in the drawings
by the numeral 28 is provided for hingeably interconnecting
the first and second sheets of glass 12 and 20. In the
embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-6, hinge means
28 comprises a bead of room temperature vulcanizing bonding
material which is bonded to the upper side or top portions 18a
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1 and 26a of sheets of glass 12 and 20 respectiyely. Although
various types of resilient bonding ma-terials can be used to
form the hinge means, room temperature vulcanizing silicone
rubber bonding material has proven highly satisfactory. More
particularly, a silicone rubber bonding material manufactured
by SWS Silicones, Division of Stauffer Chemical Company, and
designated SWS-951, has been found to be very well-suited
for forming the hinge means of the invention.
As best seen by referring to Fig. 4, the hinge
means 28 of the invention is generally semicircular in cross-
section when the frame is in its closed position, wherein the
backface 16 of the first member 12 is in engagement with the front
face 22 of second member 20. As best seen by referring to
Figs. 2-8 of the drawings, the novel hinge means of the
invention permits the first and second members to be swingably
moved relative to each other from the closed position of
Figs. 3 and 4 to the partially open position of Figs. 2 and
5, and finally, to the fully open position shown in Figs. 6
and 8. In this fully open position, the faces of the members
are substantially coplanar. It is this highly novel feature
of the invention which contributes to the great versatility
of use of the frame.
Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it is
apparent that the frame of this form of the invention can be
hung on a wall by placing upper support bracket 30, which is
affixed as by bonding to the back of member 20, over a nail
or other suitable member protruding outwardly from the wall.
Bracket 30 is shown as generally U-shaped in cross-section to
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1 facilitate hanging the frame. Similarly shaped brackets 32
are affixed to the hack of member 20 nearer the bottom edge
thereof. These brackets are adapted to contact the wall so
as to uniformly space the frame therefrom, thereby enabling
; 5 the frame to be disposed in a generally parallel relationship
with respect to the wall.
In Fig. 7 there is shown another form of the frame
of the invention which is adapted to rest upon a flat surface
such as a desk top or the like. In this embodiment, a support
member 34 is swingably connected to the back of member 20 and
functions to support the frame in a generally upright position.
Member 34 can be hingeably connected to member 20 by using
the previously identified silicone rubber material, thereby
enabling it to be folded flat against member 20 for shipment
without damaging the hinge connection.
, In Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown yet another embodi-
ment of the invention. In this form, decorative indicia 36,
such as artwork of various kinds, is imprinted directly onto
the flat surfaces of the first and second members 12 and 20.
This indicia can be imprinted on the surfaces by many tech-
niques, including silk screening. The novel hinge means, as
previously discribed, enables the frame to be positioned in
various flat or freestanding configurations as depicted in
Figs. 8 and 9 so as to best display the artform. Also, if
desired the durability and flexibility of the hinge means
enables the art form to be imprinted onto the frame members
after they are joined together. In this way, the juncture
of the frame members can be effectively used to create novel
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1 and unusual visual effects in the over-all appearance of the
art form.
It is to be appreciated that although only two
interconnected members or shee-ts of glass are shown in the
drawings, several members can be joined together in various
ways using the novel hinge means of the invention. This
feature enables the creation of many types of highly attrac-
tive displays. For example, when several sheets are used,
the device can be arranged for display in the form of a star
or other geometric design, and yet still be packaged or stored
in a generally flat configuration.
The method of the present invention involves hinge-
ably interconnecting two or more planar members, each of which
is characterized by having opposing front and back faces and
at least one substantially straight edge interconnecting the
face. More particularly, the method of the present invention
comprises the following steps.
(a~ Cleaning the planar members to remove surface
contaminants therefrom. The cleaning step of the invention
is of significant importance to achieve proper formation and
bonding of the hinge means of the invention, which means
interconnects the planar members. Various cleaning solvents
can be used, depending upon the nature of the material from
which the planar members are formed. When the planar members
are glass, cleaning may be accomplished by washing the members
with a soap and water solution, followed by a thorough rinsing
of all surfaces of the members with deionized water.
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1 (b) Securely clamping the planar members t~gether
with the faces thereof in intimate enyagement and the straight
edges thereof aligned and disposed in a coplanar relation-
ship. The orientation of the planar members for this step
of the method is as illustrated in Figs. 3 and ~ of the
drawings. The planar members may be clamped together by any
suitable means such as spring clamps or other types of pressure
members. In order that the hinge means of the invention be
properly formed, it is essential that the two planar members
be securely clamped in an intimate relationship. Otherwise,
the bead of silicone rubber which forms the hinge means will
not properly form and will not properly bridge the juncture
between the two members where the edges or the straight sides
meet.
(c) With the planar members securely clamped
together, the last step of the method of the invention
comprises uniformly depositing an integral bead of resilient
bonding material, such as room temperature vulcanizing
silicone rubber, along substantially the entire length of
the straight side portions of the planar members so that the
bead overlaps the juncture between the members in the manner
shown in Fig. ~ of the drawings. As previously pointed out,
various types of bonding material can be used, but a silicone
rubber bonding material manufactured by SWS Silicones,
Division of Stauffer Chemical Company, and designated SWS-951,
has been found to be very well suited for forming the hinge
means. For certain applications, the straight sides of the
planar members may be ground or beveled. For best results,
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1 however, the straight sides of the planar members are dis-
posed within planes substantially perpendicular to the faces
of the members. With members of this configuration, during
the step of forming the hinge means the planar members are
clamped together so that the straight sides thereof are in a
coplanar relationship as illustrated in Fig. 4. The bonding
material or silicone rubber can be applied to the stràight
sides of the planar members by any suitable means. In
practice, however, it has been determined that best results
are obtained if the ma~erial is deposited onto the edges of
the planar members using a syringe adapted to apply a uniform
and controllable amount of bonding material along substan-
tially the entire length of the straight edges of the members.
When the material is thus applied to the edges of the planar
~ 15 members, it will form into a bead general7y semicir^ular
i in cross-section as illustrated in Fig. 4. This configuxa-
s tion has been found to provide maximum strength and durability
in use. As illustrated in ~igs. 5 and 6 of the drawings,
during the opening and closing of the frame, the configura-
tion of the hinge means changes drastically. Using the
silicone rubber previously identified and depositing the
bonding material in the aforementioned manner, it has been
found that the hinge means will satisfactorily withstand a
very large number of flexings from the closed position shown
in Fig. 4 to the fully opened position shown in Fig. 6.
Having now described the invention in detail in
accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes,
those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making
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1 changes and modifications in the individual parts or their
relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements
or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention,
as set forth in the followiny claims.
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