Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BA~KGROUND'OF T~E''INVENTION
This invention relates to picture frames which
may be disassembled to permit changing of the print, canvas,
photograph or other image contained therein.
It is common practice to provide reusable rec~
tangular picture frames comprising four extruded side members
cut to a mitre at each end. Each side member is commonly made
of metal, to give it the necessary rigidity. It is also formed ~`
to provide two channels. One channel is designed to receive ~ '
the stack of elements to be framed - commonly a backing plate,
the image-bearin~ sheet, and a glass plate. The other channel
receives right-angle locking elements, each of which form one ~-~
pair of ends of a pair of side members into a right angle '
corner configuration and locks them in that condit~on. Thus ;~
the side members are assembled to form a rigid rectangular
frame. The right angle elements typically comprise a pair
of L-shaped plates. Screws extend through openings in one '~
such'plate and bear against the other plate; thus the plates
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ma~ be forced apart so that they press against the walls of ';" ''~
the channel in which'they are disposed and give a ~riction ~ ';'~ '
loc~.
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A reusable ~rame therefore involves the following '
concepts:
1 Rigidity of the frame is required to give ~ ' '
strength to the structure; ;; '
2. To permit re-user the frame needs to be ''
formed in sections which are mechanically ~'
but releasably locked together to form a
unit - the'locking devices used also force `~
the sections- into a right angle corner
configuration; and
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3. The sections are formed to provide a bounding
channel, to hold the stack of framed elements,
and a locking element channel, in which the
mechanical locking de~ices are positioned.
There are certain disadvantages accruing to the
reusable picture frames as previously described.
For example, the appearance of the unit cannot ~;
easily and cheaply be modified. More particularly, it is
frequently desirable to be a~le to change the thickness of the
frame mouldin~ or ;ts coloration. Since the front wall of the
extruded side member provides the moulding in a conventional ~;
frame, the only way in which a supplier or user of frames can
provide variation in this regard is to maintain a stock of ~ ;
relatively expensive side members having front walls of different
thickness or coloration. It is one object of this invention
to provide a frame in which the` moulding thickness or coloration ;
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can easily and cheaply ~e varied.
Another disadvantage of the conventional system
is its reIatively high cost. The need to make the extruded
metal siae member so it provides two channels and the use of
screws and locking plates contribute to this cost. It is ~ ;
therefore~another object of the invention to provide a simpler
side member and to eliminate screws and tensioned metal spring ~ -
clips to thereb~ reduce the cost of the frame. ~-
~UMM~RY OF ~ INVF.NTION ~ Jo~ d
In actcordance with the present inven~ionl a
picture ~rame comprising two separate frameworks is provided.
The outer framework consists of side members, preferably
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extruded, mitered, metal mem~ers, which are connected at their
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ends to form a rectangular rigid un~t. Preferably t~e side
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members of the outer framewor~form a single first c~annel ~ ~
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which opens inwardly in the main plane of the frame. Right
angle locking elements are disposed in tAis channel at each
corner; these elements may be riveted in place, to thereby
form a permanent unit. The outer framework also preferably
comprises a pair of walls disposed at a right angle, which
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form ~Aseating and confning structure for the inner frame-
work. In the preferred emhodiment, the upper wall o~ the
first channel also serves as the base wall of the seating and ;~
confining structure~
The rectangular inner framework comprises
discrete side members which circumscribe and hold together
the stack of elements to be framed. These inner framework
side members form a single second channel in which the margin
of the stack is received. Preferably the inner framework
side members are formed by extrusion and have mitered ends.
The inner framework is sized to fit snugly in the seating and
confining structure. If desired, releasable safety lockin~
devices to interconnect the two $rameworks may be provided. `~
The inner framework side members may be made of
plastic, metal or wood composite. They can readily be ` ~ -~
changed at relatively lo~ cost. Thus flexibility as to the
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moulding design, color and thickness is available. ~ variety
of inexpensive inner framework side members of differing
thickness or color may be used ~ith a single, relatively
expensive outer framework.
Since the outer framework no longer needs to be
disassembled, one may rivet the corner Iocking elements in
place using a jig, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and
obtaining more uniform and neat corner construction.
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Broadly stated, the invention is a front-loading
reusable picture frame for retaining a stack o~ ramed elements
comprising: rigid rectangular outer framework means- having means
defining a forwardly facing seating and confining structure;
and a rectangular inner framework comprising discrete side
members, said side members orming a continuous inwardly open
channel for receiving the stack of f:ramed elements, whereby the
side members may circumscribe the stack and hold its components
together~ said inner framework being frontally visible and
snugly receivable in the seating and confining structure
whereby the outer framework means is operative to hold together
and retain the inner frame~ork by frictional contact therebetween.
DESCRIPTION OF~ THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective, exploded view showing a
stack of the elements to be framed and the inner framework side
members disposed therearound; ~ .
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Figure 2 is a pers.pective view of the parts
of Figure 1 in an assembled conditibn;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the outer
framework;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inner
f.ramework seated in the outer ~ramework;
Figure 5 is a perspective sectional view of a
corner of the frame of the present invention, taken along the .
line 1 - 1 in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a persp~ctive view of a corner of :
the outer framework sho~ing the right angle locking element in
place;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional ~.iew in perspective
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of the extruded side member used in the outer framework;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view in perspective .
of the extruded mem~er used in the inner framework; ..
Figure 9 is a top view of the right angled locking
element used in the outer framewOrk;
Figure 1~ is a perspective view of a corner of ~:
the inner framework and the contained stack;
. Figure 11 is a partial view o~ the underside of .:~
an assem~led frame showing the backing member bordered by the
inner and outer framework members as well as an option U-shaped
Iocking ~em~er read~ to be locked into position; and ; -.
Figure 12 is a partial view of the underside
of an assembled ~rame showin~ the optional safety U-shaped : .
locking mem~er positioned to bind the inner and outar frame-
works together.
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D~SCR`IPT~CON` 0~ PREFE~:ED El~BQDIMENT
The picture frame A of the present invention
is formed ~y two separate frameworks 1 and 2 which snugly fit
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together as shown in Figure 4. The picture frame is front-
loading ln that the inner framework 2 is loaded ~rom the front
of the outer framework 1, where front infers that portion of
the framework facing a viewer when he looks at a framed picture.
The outer framework 1 provides the structural stability of the
frame; it is manufactured of a rigid material, such as extruded
aluminum, and formed into a unit which cannot be disassembled.
The ïnner framework 2 is comprised of discrete side members 3
and may be disassembled. The side members 3 bind together the
10 glass viewing plate 4, the image member 5 and the backing member
6. The inner framework 2 does not require structural strength ,
sïnce it is seated and confined within the outer framework l.
Therefore plastic, for example, may be used to form the side ~ ~-
members of the inner framework l.
The rectangular outer framework l is illustrated
ïn Fïgure 3 and comprises four discrete, extruded, mitered metal
side members 7 fastened together by locking elements 8. Each
side member 7 comprises spaced lower and upper inwardly pro~
jectïng walls 9, lO which combine with an upstanding wall ll
20 to form a first channel 12 extending longitudinally along the
base of the member. The inwardly projecting upper wall 10
and the upper portion lla of the upstanding wall ll combine to
form a forwardl~-facing right angled seating and confining
structure,that is a right angled seating and confining structure
25 is formed which would face a viewer looking at the front of the
frame~
The rectangular inner framework 2 is illustrated in
Figures 2, 8 and lOo It comprises discrete, extruded, mitered,
s-i`de members 2~. Each side member 20 has lower and upper in-
30 w~rdl~ projecti`ng ~alls Zl, 22 spaced apart ~y an upstandingwall 23. The three walls 21, 22, 23 combine to form a
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second channel 24 which opens inwardly in the main plane
of the frame. The width of the upstandiny wall 23 may cor-
respond with the width of the upper p~rtio~ lla of the outer
framework wall, so that the upper inwardly projecting wall 22 ;
(that is, the visible moulding) is flush with the upper edge - .
of the outer framework~ The lower inwardly projecting wall . .
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21 of the inner framework seats on the upper inwardly pro-
jecting wall 10 of the outer framework. It will be noted that
the second channel 24 snugly receives the margin of the stack of
elements (4, 5, 6) to be framed and functions to hold the
elements together.
The extruded side members 20 are cut so that the
outer dimensions of the inner framework are substantially equal
to the inner dimensions of the seating and con~ining structure
of the outer framework. Thus there is frictional engagement
between the two frameworks so that one does not readily drop
out of the other. If a further measure of locking is desired,
safety U-sha~ped elements 25 may be provided to bind the lower
~all 21 to the inner framework to the upper wall 10. -~
While the present invention has been disclosed
in connection ~ith a preferred embodiment thereof, it should
be understood that there`may be other embodiments which fall ~;
within the spirit and scope of the in~ention as defined by the
following claims. -
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