Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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- ~ 7 MA~CH 1994
FR~ME FOR SUPPORTING CaNVAS
This invention relates to a kit of parts for making
a frame for supporting a canvas, a frame assemblad from
said parts and an artist's canvas aomprising a canvas
5 mounted on said f rame . ~ ' ~
Conventionally, artist's canvas are prepared by
securing a canvas on a frame which is then expanded to
tension the canvas. Traditionally, the frame is made
from a kit of parts comprising four mouldings the ends
of which are ~ach provided with ~ tenon which engages in
a mor tice in the adjacent moulding when the frame is
assembled. Thus each end of each length of moulding is
provided with a mortice and a tenon. In addition, the
faces of each end of each moulding are mitred. In use,
the mouldings are assembled to form a frame. A canvas is
then secured to the frame and is tensioned by inserting
wedges between the tenons ancl mortices as required.
Whilst this arrangemerlt has been used for many
years it has the dis~dvantage that highly specialized
equipment ls resluired for cuttirlg and shaping the ~nds
of each moulding. As a result, rames are relatively
expenslv~ and, more importantly, are only availabla in a
limited number of sizes de~ermined by the manufac~urer.
Altholigh fxames can be obtained to a required size they
are very expensive and usually involve a delay of sev-
eral weeks to obtain.
U5-A 3 651 854 dis~ loses as frame which is made
from a kit of parts comprising four mouldings the ends
of which are simply mitred at 45. Instead of using
mortice and tanon j oints the mouldings are ; oined by
f
"L"-shapQ metal plates which are accommodated in "T"-
shape slots opening in the front face of the frame.
P-fter a can~as has ~:seen secured to the frame it is
stretched by inser ting wedyes between the mitres .
US- A-3 830 278 discloses a frame which i5 made from
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212551 017~ ~flaRCH 1994
a kit of parts comprising four mouldings the ends of
which are also mitred at 45. Instead of using "L"-shape
metal plates the mouldings are joined by triangular
cornar pieces. Each corner piece has two edges which are
mutuall.y perpendiculax and are recei,~d in shallow
channels in the mouldings. The corner pieces are secured
to the mouldin~s by bolts which pass through holes in
the mouldings and slots in the corner pieces.
The present invention, as least in its preferred
embodiments, aims to provide a kit of parts which can be
readily adapted or making a frame of desired size.
According to the present invention there is provi-
ded a kit of parts for making a frame for supporting a
canvas, which kit comprises at least one moulding having
a tapered groove extending therealong and at least one
plate insertable in said groove.
Preerably, said plate has two edges which are
provided with teeth.
In one embodiment, sai.d plate is of substantially
trianyular shapeO
In ano~her embodiment, sa~d plate is of substanti-
ally truncated triangular shape.
Preferably, said plate is tapered.
Advantageously, said kit includes four plates.
Preferably, said tapered groo~e is defined betwean
a ~irst portion and a second portion ~nd said second
portion extends beyond said first portion~
If desired said kit may include four lengths of
moulding which may be mitred so that the frame may be
constructed to a standard size if required.
Prèferably, the kit includes at least one packing
piece which may comprise, for example a wedge. However,
the packing piece may be form~d from one or more pieces
which are not tapered.
Advantageously, said kit includes at least four
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21235~8 ~T1~9 2/ 024~6
0 7 MARC~l l994
packlng pieces.
Preferably, said kit includes at least one fastener
comprislng a first surface, a second surface extending
substantially perpendicular to said first surface, and
at leas-t one spike extending from said f~r-st surface.
In a d~fferent ~mbodim~nt said kit includas a
single plate which will gen~rally be rectangular.
~ he kit may also comprise glue and/or canvas and/or
means to secure a canvas to said moulding.
The kit may also include a brace.
Advan~ageously, said brace comprises a moulding of
genarally 'H' shape cross-section having oppositely
extending grooves, and a pair of end piace~., each end
piece comprising a tongue portion and a pair of legs
which can be slid into respective ones of said groo~es
in said moulding to provide said moulding with tongues
at each end thereof.
The present invention also provides a frame when
made from a kit in accordance with the invention.
Th2 present invention further provides an artist's
canvas comprlsing canvas mounted on a frame in accor-
dance with the invention.
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For a better understanding of th~ invention refer-
ence will now be made, by way of example, to the accom-
panying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodi-
ment of a moulding; ,-- `
Figure 2 is a plan view of a plate which can be
used in tha construction of a frame in accordance with
the present invention;
Figure 3 is a fragmantary view showing a corner of
1~ a frame made using the moulding shown in Fiyure 1 and
the plate shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective end view of a second
embodiment of a moulding;
Figure S is a perspective view of a plate which can
be used in the construction of a fr~me in accordance
with the invention;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing a corner of
a frame using the mouldiny shown in Figure 4 and tha
plate shown in Figure 5;
20Figure 7 is a perspective end view of a third
embodimant of a mould~ng,
Figure 8 is a perspectlve view,-to a much reduced
scale, of a plate which can b~ used in the construction
a frame in accordance with the invention;
25Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing a corner of
a frame using the moulding shown in Figure 7 and the
:~ plate shown in Figure 8;
Flgure 10 is a perspective end view of a fourth
embodiment of a mouldin~ used in the construction of one
embodiment of a frame in accordance with *he present
.
inv~ntion;
Figure 11 is a perspective view o~ a plate which
oan be used in the construction of a frame in accordance
with the invention;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a fastener;
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Fi~ure 13 ~s a side elevation of the fastener shown
in Figure 12,
Figure 14 is a fragmentary view showing a corner of
a frame in accordance with the invention using the
moulding shown in Figure 10, the ~ e shown in
Figure 11 and two fasteners as sh~wn in Figures 12 and
13;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of one end of a
moulding for forming part of a brace;
Figure 16 is a perspective view of an end piece for
use with the moulding shown in Figure 15; and
Figure 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of one
side of a frame provided with the moulding shown in
~igure 15 and the end piece shown in Figure 16.
Referring to Figure 1 o~ the drawings, thexe is
shown a ~oulding which is generally identified by the
reference ~umeral 11. The moulding ll, which is made of
wood, has an upper portion 13A and a lower portion 13B
which define a groove 12 therebetween. The upper surface
of the upper portion 13A slopes towards the ~pening of
the groove 12 as shown.
Figure 2 shows a plate 14 which is of generally
truncated triangular shap~ in plan. The edges 15 and 16
of the plate are generally perpendicular to one another
and are each provided with a multiplicity of teeth 17.
In us~, the moulding 11 is first cut to ~he re-
quired lengths to suit the size of frame required. The
lengths are then mitred and arranged in the orm of a
~rame 18. Four plates 1~ are then lightly inserted into
the grooves 12 at the corners of the frame 18 as shown
in Figure 3.
The whole rame 18 is then laid on a canvas which
is secured to the moulding 11, for example by staples
and/or pins. The plates 14 are then gently tapped in the
direction of arrow A in Figure 3 with a hammer. As the
STi~lJTE S~ET
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2129518 07 MARCH 1994
plate 14 moves into the corner ~he sides of the frame 18
separate thereby tensioning the canvas. The teeth 17 on
the plate inhibit the plate re~urning to its original
position~
If desired glue may be used to sec~ the plate 14
to the moulding 11 ln its final position.
Various modifications to the embodiment described
are envisaged, for example the teeth 17 could be omitted
and the plate 14 simply made a tight fit in the groove
12. If desired, ~ the plate 14 could
~be tapered. In such embodiments the use of glue and/or
pins to secure the plate 14 to the moulding ll would be
most desirable to pravent shrinkage of the plate 14
(which is conveniently mada of wood) releasing the
tension.
* * *
Referring now to Figure 4~ the moulding 21 is
generally similar to the moulding 11 in that it has a
groove 22. However, the upper portion 23A of the mould-
ing 21 is not sloped.
The plate 24 shown in Fi.gure 5 is generally similar
to ~he plate shown in ~igure 2 except that it is comple-
tely triangular in plan and the edges 25 and 26 are not
provided with any teeth.
In us~, the moulding 21 ~s cut and mitred to the
required lengths whiCh are then laid out to form a frame
28 (Figure 6). Four plate~ 24 are then inserted in
respectiv~ corners of the frame 28 which is then laid
onto a canvas which is secured to the ~rame 28. Packing
30 :in the form of wedges 29 are then inserted between the
mitres of the sides of the fram~ 28 as shown to tension
the canva~. Onca in position, the wedges 29 are ideally
secured to the plates 24, for example by glue.
If desired non-tapered packing pieces could be used
-in place of the wedges 29.
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Whilst the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6 will
work it has some disadvantag~s, particularly in the
environment of a commercial framing establishment.
In particular, in such environments guillotines are
usually used for cutting mouldings. I~lly the upper
portion 23A and lowar portion 23B of the moulding 21
should be as wlde as possible and the groove 22 as deep
as possible to give maximum rigidity to the frame 28.
However, such mouldings can collapse when cut by a
10 guillotine.
This problem can be substantially overcome by using
the moulding 31 as shown in Figure 7. It will be seen
~hat the upper portion 33A of the moulding 31 is shorter
than the lower portion 33B. This mouldi~g 31 can be
readily cut by a guillotine with little or no risk of
collapse. At the same time the overall rigidity of tha
final frame is significantly enhanced.
Once cut and mitred to th2 required size the
lengths of moulding are arranged in a rectangle around
the periphery of a single rectangular plate 34. The
frame 38 thus fo~med is then place~ on a canvas with the
lower portion 33B of the moulding 31 in contact with the
canvas. The canvas is than secured to the frame 38 by
staple~ and~or tacks and~or glue and a wedge 39 is
pushed home on top o the plate between adjacent upper
portions 33A of the frame 38. The wedges 39 are then
glued in posltion.
This later arrangement has significan~ advantages.
In particular, conventional artist's canvases, and those
purchased as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6
have the disadvantage that they are often picked u~ by
inserting the fingers between the frame and the canvas.
this produces a stretched area which spoils the canvas.
By having a solid back the artist's canvas cannot be
picked up with the fingers between the frame and the
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212 ~ u 7 MAR~H 19~'
canvas. In addition the artist's canvas can ~e stacked
and kept more safely.
In the embodlment shown in Figures 10 to 14 the
moulding 41 is similar to the moulding 31 shown in
Figure 7 except that the groove 42 is ta~I2d.
Once cut and mitred to the required size the
lengths of moulding 41 are arranged in the orm of a
frame 48. Four plates 44 are then lightly inserted into
the ~rooves 42 a~ the corners of the frame 48 as shown
in Figure 14.
The whole frame is then laid on a canvass which is
secured to the moulding 41 by staples and/or tacks
and/or glue.
The plat~3s 44 are then tapped in to the corners to
stretch the canvas. Whil~t the taper on the grooves 42
should be sufficient to hold the frame 48 in the d~sired
position there is always a risk that the plates 44
(which may themselves be tapered) will work looseO For
this reason it is desirable to secure ~he plates 44 by,
for e~ample staples and/or tacks and/or glue.
A particularly useful fasten~r is shown in Figure
12~ In particular, the fastener, which is generally
identified by reference numeral 20, comprises a bent
piece of m~tal having a first surface 21 and a ~econd
25 surface 22 extending generally at right-angles to said
first sur ace 21. A plurality of spikes 23 are pressed
out of the first surface 21 as shown. In the embodiment
shown, one spike Z3A points forwardly, whilst the spikes
23B to either side are ~ngled at about 45 with respect
to the spike 23A~
In uS~ the leadlng edge 24 of a fastener 20 is
inserted between the plate 44 and lower portion 43B of
each moulding and then tapped into place by hammering
against second surface 220 The spikes 23 retain the
plate 44 in position.
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0 7 MARC~I 1994
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With larger rames it is necessary to provide one
or more braces which extend acro~s the frame. Conven-
tionally each end of such braces is provided with a
tenon which slots intv mortices cut in the frame.
Figure 15 shown a moulding 101. The moulding is of
~enerally 'H' shape cross-section having grooves 102A
and 102B disposed on opposite edges thereof.
Figure 16 shows an end piece 103 which includes a
tongue portion 104 from which extend ~wo legs 105 and
106.
In order t~ brace, for example the frame 18 shown
in Figure 6 the moulding 101 is first cut to the re-
quired length. The legs 105 and 106 of end piece 103 are
then slid into grooves 102A and 103B to provide the
mculding 101 with a tongue 104 at one end thereof. A
similar end piece is then mounte~ on the other end (not
shown) of the moulding 101 t:o form a brace.
During construction the tongue 104 is simply slid
into the groove 12 of the ~oulding 11 and secured in
place by, for example packing in the form of a wedge 107
(Figure 17). Again, pins and/or glue may be used to
secure the brace in position.
It is also possible to insert bxaces into a comple-
ted unbraced frame. In~ertion may require a temporary
s~all distortion of the frame. Alternatively the brace
may be cut a fraction short and wider wedges used.
Finally, although it is normally desirable to be
able to stretch the canvas certain types o canvas have
a natural elasticity which enables them to be stretched
as they are mounted on the frame. Similarly, it is
someti~es possible for a skilled craftsman to mount a
canvas on a frame sufficlently taut for stretching to be
unnecessary. It is thus not essential to use a wedge in
all cases.
The term "canvas" as used herein includes canvasses
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~` 212951~ 07 MARGH 19
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