Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FRONT LO~DING ARTWORK FR~ME As~aL~-4
MOULDINGS FOR OBTAINING SAME
sAcKGRouND OF THE INVEMTION
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~a~ Field of the invention~
The present invention relates to a front loading artwork
frame assembly and to new mouldings for obtaining the same.
~b~ Brief Description of the Pri~r Art:
Most of prior art artwork frame assemblies of the type
in which a space is provided between a transparent front
panel and a rear panel on which an artwork such as a picture
is usually mounted, involve the use of either several pieces
where after having remove one side of a framework, panels are
slid into corresponding groove provided in an inner face oE
said framework (see for example U.S.Pat. N 3,811,214), or a
stack o~ several elements comprising a transparent front
panel, spacers positioned near a rear periphery of said
transparent front panel, and a rear panel on which an artwork
such as a picture is usually mounted, is built in a framework
of the type provided with a shoulder receiving the
transparent front panel of said stack, and then said stack is
locked against said shoulder by all appropriate means such as
nails.
U.S.Pat. N4,271,619 relates to a front loading reusable
picture frame that is constructed of two nesting components.
More particularly, this U.S.Patent discloses a rigid
rectangular outer framework having first and second walls
which define a forwardly facing seating and confining
structure; and a rectangular inner framework formed by
discrete side members having a continuously inwardly open
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channel for receiviny a stack of framed elements. It is the
side elements that circumscribes the stack to bind its
components. The inner framework seats within the outer -
framework and is confined therein.
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There exist a strong need for a front loading artwork
Erame assembly where there is a space between the front and
the rear panels. However, the prior art failed up to now to
reveal the existence of such frame assembly and more
particularly, none of aforesaid patents discloses a front
loading artwork frame assembly where it is possible to have `
a space between the front panel and the rear panel. The rear
panel is usually supporting the artwork which may be a
picture. Furthermore none of aforesaid patents disclose an
artwork frame assembly involving the use of few and simple
pieces.
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a front loading artwork
frame assembly where there is a space between the front and
the rear panels. ~-
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25The present invention relates also to a front loading ~ -
artwork frame assembly involving the use of few and simple
pleces.
The present invention further relates to a front loading
artwork frame assembly that i6 very simple to use and
assemble, re-usable, cheap to manufacture and long lasting.
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The present invention further relates to a moulding that
can be used to embody the aforesaid front loading artwork
frame assembly.
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The present invention further relates to a moulding that
can be sold either in length (especially in straight lengths
obtained for example by extrusion of plastic material) ready
to be cut in order to erect a framework allowing to embody
the aforesaid front loading artwork frame assembly, or as a
monolithic framework (especially made of mouldable plastic
material) also allowing to embody the aforesaid frame
assembly.
More particularly, the invention relates to a front
loading artwork frame assembly of the type comprising in
combination:
- a framework comprising at least one moulding having a
front face, a rear face, an inner face, a first notch
provided at once in the front face and the inner face to
define a first shoulder, and a second notch provided at
once in the rear wall and in the inner walI to define a
second shoulder;
- a front panel whose at least a part of its surface is
transparent, said front panel having opposite faces and
a periphery of determined shape to have a portion
thereof near its periphery that is positioned against
the first shoulder; :
- a rear panel having opposite faces and a periphery of
determined shape to have a portion thereof near its :
periphery that is positioned against the second
shoulder; ::: .
- means for removably locking the front panel against
the first shoulder;
means for locking the rear panel against the second
shoulder.
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The invention also relates to a moulding allowing to
erect a front loading artwork frame assembly of the type
defined above, wherein said moulding has a front face, a rear
face, an inner face, a first notch provicled at once in the
front face and the inner face to define a first shoulder, and
a second notch provided at once in the rear face and in the
inner face to define a second shoulder.
BRIEF DESC~IPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be better understood with
reference to the following non-restrictive description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, made in connection with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
- Figure l is a perspective vlew of a front loading
artwork frame assembly according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional exploded view according to
line II-II of the frame assembly of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view according
to line III-III of the frame assembly of Figure l; and
Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of a moulding
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the present invention
relates to a front loading artwork frame assembly 1 of the
type comprising in combination:
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- a framework 3 comprising at least one moulding,
preferably Eour mouldings 5, having a front face 7, a
rear face 9, an inner face ll, a first notch 13 provided
at once in the front Eace 7 and the inner face 11 to
define a first shoulder 15, and a second notch 17
provided at once in the rear face ~ and in the inner
face 11 to define a second shoulder :L9;
- a front panel 21 whose at least a part of its surface
is transparent, said front panel 21 having opposite
faces and a periphery of determined shape to have a
portion thereof near its periphery that is posit:ioned
against the first shoulder 15;
- a rear panel 23 having opposite faces and a periphery
of determined shape to have a portion thereoP near its
periphery that is positioned against the second shoulder
19;
- means 25 for removably locking the front panel 21
against the first shoulder 15;
- means 27 for locking the rear panel 23 against the
second shoulder 19.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention
illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the front loading artwork
frame assembly 1 has a framework 3 comprising four mouldings
5. Each of said mouldings 5 is advantageously substantially
straight and has opposite ends cut at 45 with respect to a
longitudinal axis of said moulding and at 90 to each other.
Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention, said mouldings 5 have the same cross-section and
are orthogonal one with respect to the other to thus form a
rectangular framework 3.
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of course, the framework 3 is not limited to a
rectangular shape as it is illustrated in Figure 1. Indeed,
all shapes of frameworks can be used within the scope of the
invention. Furthermore, the frameworks can be made of a
single piece (in that case only one moulding is used) or two
or several pieces (for example two, three or four pieces
corresponding to two, three or four mouldings)
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According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the
invention, the first notch 13 and the second notch 17 have ~ -
both a "L" shaped cross-section to thus define a pair of -
orthogonal faces, one face of the first notch 13 and one face
of the second notch 17 being parallel to each other to thus
define respectively the first shoulder 15 and the second
shoulder 19. Advantageously, the face of the notch 13 that is
orthogonal with the one defining the first shoulder 15, has
a length corresponding to a thickness of the front panel 21.
When the framework 3 comprises more than one moulding 5,
means are further provided for fastening neighborings ends of
each mouldings. Of course, ends of said mouldings are cut, as
it is well known, at such an angle that the sum of all the
angles will be of 180. Ends of mouldings 5 of the frameworks
3 can be fastened by any appropriate means known in the art
and preferably said means may comprise fastellers such as
nails,-screws or tacks and/or glue.
Above mentioned mouldings 5 for embodying a Eramework 3
having more than one moulding, may be made of wood or wood-
like material, metal or alloy material or plastic material.
They may ~e manufactured by all techniques known in the art
such as shaping with a mill for wood or wood-like material,
extrusion and moulding for metal or alloy material and
plastic material.
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When the framework 3 comprises only one moulding 5, then
said moulding and said framework are the same piece. It may
be manufactured by all techniques known in the art such as
shaping with a mill for wood or wood-like material or
moulding for metal or alloy material and plastic material.
Advantageously, the first panel 21 may be made of all
appropriate material and preEerably it may consist oE a glass
or plastic panel. Preferably, it may be transparent on 100%
of its surface.
As means 25 for removably locking the Eront panel 21
against the Eirst shoulder 15 various type of fastQner may be
used and preferably ~uch a means for removably locking the
front panel 21 against the first shoulder 15 may comprise at
least one clipping means advantageously four and preferably
a plurality of clipping means each comprising:
- a "L" shaped member 29 having opposite ends, one end
thereof being provided with an opening 31 and the other
end being provided with a part 33 bent to conkact the
front panel 21;
- a bore 35 provided in an outer face 37 of the moulding
5; and
- a screw 39 having a head 41;
said screw 39 engaging the opening 31 of the 'IL'' shaped
member 29 and the bore 35 and when the screw 39 is
driven into said bore 35 the head 41 of the screw
engages the "L" shaped member 29 and presses the part 33
against front panel 21 and this latter against the first
shoulder 15. Of course, khe bore 35 is provided at such
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a distance of the outer face 37 that the part 33 will
contact the front panel 21. Of course the screw 39 may
be driven in the bore 35 with a screwdriver.
Advantageously, the rear panel 23 may be made of any
appropriate material such as wood, agglomerate of wood,
cardboard, plastic, etc.
. As means 27 for locking, preferably removably locking,
the rear panel 23 various type of fastener may be used and
preferably such a means 27 for removably locking the rear
panel 23 against the second shoulder 19 may comprise at least
one pegging means each comprising~
- a peg, preferably a nail 43, havlng opposite ends and
a determined length;
- a bore 45 provided in the face of the second notch 17
that is orthogonal with the face defining the second
shoulder 19, said bore having a determined length which
is lower than the one of the peg, preferably the nail
43;
said peg, preferably nail 43, being engaged into the
bore 45 and having a part thereof that is projecting out
from said bore 45 to thereby engage a rear face of the
rear panel 23 and keep it against the second shoulder
19. Of course the peg, and preferably the nail 43, may
be introduced in the bore 45 with any appropriate tool
such as a hammer. Preferably, the bore 45 may be made
when a nail 43 is driven in the moulding 5. Similarly,
said peg, preferably nail 43 may be removed from said
bore with any appropriate tool such as a pair of
plncers.
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As stated previously, the invention also relates to a
moulding 5 allowing to erect a front loading artwork frame
assembly of the type defined above.
The artwork 47 may consist of any artistic works that is
housable within the space existing between the front panel 21
and ths rear panel 23. For example, such an artwork may be a
picture, or an artwork slightly thicker. I'his artwork can be
fastened of the rear panel by any appropriate means such as
10 for example a tape 49 having adhesive properties on its both ~
sides. ~ -
In order to use a front loading artwork frame assembly
according to the invention, one only have to remove screws 39
with a screwdriver, then remove "L" shaped members 29 and
remove the front panel 21 from the shoulder 15. Then, he just
has to put some adhesive tape 49 on the rear panel 23 after
having eventually remove an artwork already positioned on the
rear panel 23, and then to press the back of a new artwork
against the tape 49. Thereafter, he just has to put back the
front panel 21 against the shoulder 15, put back "L" shaped
members 29 and for each "L" shaped member to engage a screw
39 in a corresponding opening 31 and bore 35 to press the
part ~3 against the front panel 21 and this latter against ~
25 the first shoulder 15. --
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Mouldings 5 may be manufactured under various forms. ~ ~-
Preferably, when one moulding 5 defines a whole framework 3
it is made of plastic material and obtained by usual moulding
techniques.
Preferably, when more than one moulding 5 are required
to define a framework 3, then each moulding may
advantageously consist of a straight moulding having
opposite ends cut at 45 with respect to a longitudinal axis
of said moulding and at 90 to each other. ~urthermore,
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according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
mouldings 5 may have the same cross-section and be orthogonal
one with respect to the other to thus form a rectangular
framework 3. To erect such a framework 3 with such mouldings ~ :
5, one only have to fasten ends of said mouldings with an
appropriate fastener such as glue for example. In this latter ~:
case, glue is applied on each ends, and then said ènds are
put into mutual contact until the glue has hardened. : :
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Of course the present invention also relates to all
variations that may be inferred from th~ present description .
by a man skilled in the art.
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