PICTURE FRAME MEMBER WITH FLIP-UP CLIP TYPE MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR RETAINING PICTURE AND BACKING BOARD

CADRE AVEC MONTAGE A AGRAFE RELEVEE POUR FIXER L'IMAGE ET LE CARTON-DOUBLURE.

English Abstract

A picture frame member for use in assembling a picture
frame incorporates a flip-up type clip for the releasable
independent retention of a picture and backing board. Each
member consists of an elongate flat base, a clip comprising a
generally channel-shaped elongate member having two flanged
edges facing the base, a downwardly-biased clip support
extending along an edge of the base, and a hinge that links
the clip to the clip support. The two flanges of the clip
separately grip a picture and a backing board. There may also
be provided a separate backing board grip member incorporated
into the base. The clip employs an over-centre mount to the
clip support, in order to permit the clip to maintain either
a flipped-open position or a closed position wherein an
increased grip pressure is applied to the backing board in
relation to the picture."

French Abstract

Élément d'assemblage d'un cadre constitué d'une attache rabattable de rétention indépendante amovible d'une image et d'un dos protecteur. Chaque élément est constitué : d'une base plate allongée; d'une attache comprenant un élément généralement allongé en forme de rainure présentant deux bords tombés opposés à la base; d'un support d'attache incliné vers le bas et se prolongeant le long d'un bord de la base; d'une charnière qui relie l'attache au support d'attache. Les deux bords tombés de l'attache retiennent séparément l'image et son dos protecteur. Un élément distinct de retenue du dos protecteur peut aussi être intégré dans la base. La monture du support d'attache est à détente brusque, afin de permettre à l'attache de conserver soit une position ouverte soit une position fermée lorsqu'une pression de prise accrue est exercée sur le dos protecteur en lien avec l'image.

Claims

I CLAIM:
1. A member for assembly into a picture frame, said member
adapted to independently engage a flexible picture and a picture
backing board and comprising:
a) an elongate base defined by a generally flat upper
surface and first and second longitudinal sides, said upper
surface comprising a backing board support structure;
b) a clip support structure comprising an elongate member
extending upwardly from said first longitudinal side of said
base and having biasing means to bias a clip engaged thereto
downwardly towards said base;
c) a clip engaged to said clip support structure and
comprising an elongate generally channel-shaped strip extending
generally the length of said base, the sides of which are
defined by downwardly-facing first and second flanges adapted to
grippingly engage a picture and backing board, respectively,
independently of each other;
d) engagement means hinging said clip to said clip support
structure at an overcenter position relative to the side edges
of said clip, said engagement means having rotation means to
permit said clip to rotate from an open position wherein said
first flange is elevated from said base for the insertion of a
picture and a closed position wherein flanges both press against
said base, said clip being engaged to said clip support
structure adjacent said second flange such that said second
flange is biased towards said base by said clip support
structure by a greater amount than said second flange, said




overcenter engagement location permitting said clip to
alternately maintain either a fully open or a fully closed
position.



2. A picture frame member as in claim 1, wherein said
engagement means comprises a resilient plastic strip extending
the length of and engaged to said clip and clip support.




8(a)


3. A picture frame member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
clip support structure is resilient and comprises said biasing
means.



4. A picture frame member as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is
further provided a backing board grip member, said grip member
comprising a U-shaped channel for the insertion of a backing board
therein, the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the
longitudinal axis of said base, said channel comprising upper and
lower walls, the lower wall being comprised of said base and the
upper wall extending from said clip support structure, at least one
of said walls having a board engagement element facing the interior
of the channel.



5. A picture frame member as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
engagement member comprises a flexible tongue depending downwardly
from said upper wall.

Description

CA 0206~784 1997-08-29




PICTURE FRAME I~t~_~ WITH FLIP-UP TYPE M~u.. l~G
SYSTEM FOR RETAINING PICTURE AND R~C~TNG BOARD
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a picture frame member
for releasably engaging a flexible poster or picture that has
not been mounted to a rigid backing board.
RA ~kground of the Invention
Frames for use with unmounted pictures have typically
applied various means to mount the picture within the frame.
It is often desired as well to provide means to allow the easy
replacement of the picture, for example where the frame is to
be used to hold advertising materials. The term "picture" is
used here to denote a relatively thin, flexible sheet bearing
any kind of image, including a poster, advertising display,
photograph or the like.
Frames for use with small pictures typically integrate a
rigid backing board with the frame, but this solution may be
impractical in larger frames and doesn't provide the
flexibility provided by individual frame members that may be
assembled into a frame. Another solution has been to provide
a spring-loaded clip to clamp both the backing board and the
picture directly to the frame. This type of frame suffers the
drawback that it may be difficult to replace the picture, and
the clip


7 ~ 4
may also tend to wrinkle the picture, since the force
required to grip the backing board is greater than the
force required to grip the picture. As well, this
approach requires the use of a backing board of
essentially the same size as the picture, which restricts
the replaceability of pictures to be mounted within the
frame.



srief Description of the Invention
The present invention is a picture frame element adapted
to engage a picture and a rigid picture backing board
independently of each other. In its broadest aspect, the
invention is a picture frame member comprising: an
elongate base having a generally flat upper face adapted
to support the backing board and having inner and outer
edges facing towards and away from the middle of said
picture, respectively; a clip support extending upwardly
from said upper face above the plane of the frame; and a
picture clip engaged to said clip support. The picture
clip has first and second engagement means spaced apart
from each other and adapted to grip the picture and
backing board, respectively.
In a further aspect of the invention, the clip is
pivotally engaged to the clip support partway between
first and second ends of said clip, and the clip is
provlded with biasing means to bias the clip downwardly


CA 0206~784 1997-08-29




towards the backing board. The first and second ends comprise
the first and second engagement means, respectively, of the
clip and may be adapted to pressingly engage the picture and
backing board, respectively.
In a further aspect of the invention, the clip is
pivotally engaged to the clip support at a point lying partway
between the second end of the clip and the midpoint between
the first and second ends of the clip, in order to provide a
greater downward force towards the second end of the clip than
the first.
The directional references "downwardly" and "upwardly"
as used herein refer to a frame or frame member positioned
generally horizontally, with the picture-receiving surface of
the frame facing upwardly.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a picture frame according to
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device, with a
picture and backing board positioned within the frame member;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the frame member shown
in the open position.
Detailed Description of the Preferred EmboAi - t
Referring to figures 1 and 2, a picture frame member 1
comprises a base 2 having a flat upper surface 3 adapted to
support a picture backing board 4, and inner and outer sides 5
and 6, respectively, facing the inside and outside of the
frame, respectively. A clip support 10 is integral with the

back and extends upwardly therefrom. The clip


2~5~8~ ~
.
support has an arm 11 extending towards the inner side of
the base 2, terminating in a hinge 12. The hinge 12
comprises a strip of flexible plastic glued to or co-
extruded with the clip support. The clip support is
fabricated of a resilient material, and biases the arm 11
downwardly.
The hinge 12 is glued to or co-extruded with a clip
13, and comprises an elongate body having the shape
generally of an inverted "U", the longitudinal axis of
which is parallel to the axis of the base. the clip has
inner and outer sides facing the inside and outside of
the frame, respectively. The outer side of the clip 13
has a heel 35 at the free margin thereof facing the
outside of the frame, the heel 35 facing the outside of
the frame. The clip 13 is provided with first and second
downwardly depending edges 14 and 15, respectively. The
first edge 14 comprises the free edge of the heel 35 and
is adapted to pressingly engage the backing board. The
inner side of the clip 13 terminates in a pliable contact
strip 20 adapted to pressingly engage a picture 21.
The clip 13 is hinged to the clip support 10 at a
point adjacent the first edge 14 of the clip. The clip
accordingly applies a greater downward pressure on the
first edge than the second edge, in order to grip the
backing board 3 more firmly than the picture 21.
A backing board engagement member 22 protrudes
I

2~573'1

inwardly from the clip support 10 and is integral
therewith. The engagement member 22 comprises an
elongate "U" shaped channel, the axis of which is
parallel to the axis of the base. The channel faces
inwardly from the outer edge of the base 2, and has a
lower wall formed by a portion of the base 2 and an upper
wall formed by a plate 23 extending inwardly from the
clip support 10. A flexible, outwardly curved tongue 24
depends downwardly from the free edge of the plate 23,
and is adapted to provide a one way engagement of the
board 3, wherein the board may be inserted into the
channel, but the outward curve of the tongue prevents the
easy removal of the board. In use the backing board may
be more or less permanently inserted into the frame.
The base, clip support and backing board engagement
member may all be formed integrally of a single plastic
extrusion.
An adhesive backing 25 is attached to the underside
of the base 2 for attachment to a wall or other surface.

Referring to figure 3, the clip 13 may be flipped
upwards to replace the picture 21. In the open position
illustrated here, the clip support is flexed upwardly,
and the clip is held open by the pressure of the first
end of the clip exerted against the backing board 3.
When the c1ip has been ~lipped completely open, the heel


~57~
35 maintains it in the open position.
In use, a frame may be assembled by joining together
four frame members at their ends, each of which may be
bevelled at a 45 degree angle to form an attractive joint
between abutting frame members. A picture may be mounted
within the frame by flipping open all of the clips,
removing the existing picture, and placing a new picture
within the frame on top of the existing backing board.
The picture should be smaller than the backing board,
leaving a margin of backing board extending beyond the
edges of the picture. The margin should be sufficient to
allow the picture to be placed in the frame without
being engaged by the first edge 14 of the clip. Once
the picture has been positioned within the frame, the
clips may be snapped back into the closed position. The
downward pressure exerted on the clip by the clip support
causes the first edge 14 of the clip to engage the board
and the second edge 15 to engage the picture. The first
edge, being closer to the hinge 12, applies greater
pressure than does the second edge. Thus the board is
tensioned with sufficient force against the base to hold
it firmly in place, while less pressure is applied
against the picture to avoid wrinkling or tearing. As
well, the relatively long reach between the hinge 12 and
the second edge 15 allows various size pictures to be
mounted within the same frame without adjustment, and


2~78~ 1

provides a wide decorative exposed face.



The present invention has been described by way of
a preferred embodiment thereof. It will be understood by
those skilled in the art that variations may be made
thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Representative Drawing