Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
HINGED PICTURE FRAME MEMBER
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of picture and poster displays. In
particular, the
invention relates to picture frames in which the decorative peripheral flange
opens
to the front to permit replacement of the picture from the front of the frame.
The
invention also relates to banner or poster hangers, which use a single member
of
a frame element to hold only the upper edge of a poster. The invention also
relates to picture frames and frame elements which may be easily fabricated
from
extruded materials such as plastics. The invention further relates to hinges
for
other uses.
Background of the Invention
For many applications such as commercial displays, it is desirable to provide
a
picture frame which permits the user to easily replace the picture or poster.
This
may be accomplished by providing a frame in which a front panel or flange may
be
flipped or snapped open to permit replacement of the picture, and then flipped
shut
to firmly grip the picture within the frame. In a similar application, a
banner hanger
comprises a single elongate member having a similar flip-open panel, which
grips
only the upper edge of a poster. Typically, a banner hanger comprises a pair
of
opposed gripping members having a slot or channel therebetween within which
the
poster is retained when the opposed members are shut. A similar elongate
gripping strip may be provided to grip the lower edge of a poster, for a
gravity-
assisted hanging poster display. This arrangement differs from a conventional
frame only in that the frame elements do not extend fully around the periphery
of
the picture, but only on one or possibly two edges.
Picture frame elements and banner hangers of this general type of snap-open
operation have been proposed, and several of these have achieved commercial
success in the market. In particular, regard may be had to the present
applicant's
previous U.S. patent no. 5,396,722. This disclosures a picture frame, composed
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
_7_
of discrete extruded frame elements joined by mitred corners. The elements
each
comprise a generally channel-shaped member, one leg of which forms a flat base
for supporting the underside of a poster, and the opposed leg of which forms a
front panel covering a peripheral portion of the front of the poster. The two
legs
serve as opposed gripping members. The front panel is articulated, and is
formed
from a first, peripheral portion and an inner portion hinged to the peripheral
portion
by a living hinge extending the length of the panel. The inner portion is
biassed
against the base, and is provided with a pair of downwardly-depending legs to
grip
a picture or poster against the base.
In a similar fashion, U.S. patent no. 4,512,095 (Seely) discloses a poster
frame
member, comprised of an elongate flat base and an opposed gripping member
hinged to the base, to form an openable channel. The front gripping member is
biassed towards the base for gripping a poster. The front gripping member is
essentially box-like in section, having an outer exposed panel which is
relatively
rigid, and an inner panel which is relatively flexible and which when flexed
serves
to bias the flange against the base. Dual spaced apart "living hinges" fasten
the
front gripping member to the base. The dual, parallel hinges act to flex the
inner
panel as the front piece is swung open or shut, thereby biassing the gripping
member towards the base. In order to achieve a gripping action, it is required
that
the inner panel be substantially more flexible than the other frame elements.
Indeed, Seely states that the inner panel is formed from a different material
from
the other frame elements. This complexity may increase manufacturing costs and
potentially shorten the life of the resulting product. As well, the gripping
force that
is applied via this arrangement may not be sufficiently powerful to permit use
of a
single frame member to serve as a suitable banner hanger.
,0 Hoffman et al. discloses an extruded poster gripping member, in U.S. patent
no.
5,718,402, which comprises a channel-shaped frame element which operates
according to essentially the same principle as the earlier Ostrovsky patent. A
similar principle of operation is also disclosed in U. K. published
application no. GB
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
-,
_ _) _
2 222 523 A (Davis).
Increased assembly complexity and costs are a drawback inherent in frame
elements of the type which operate according to an over-center principle
achieved
through the use of a hinged front piece having two downwardly-facing legs
which
separately contact the base, of the type shown in Hoffman and Davis. When a
frame member having this arrangement is cut at a 45 degree angle, to fabricate
a
mitre-cornered frame, the inner leg must be trimmed manually to prevent
contact
with a neighbouring frame element when the hinged front piece is flipped open.
This adds to the manufacturing complexity and resulting cost of the frame.
It is desirable to provide a picture frame which is relatively simple to
manufacture
and assemble, easy to use and provides a low failure rate in operation. It is
also
desirable for aesthetic reasons to provide a picture frame in which the
decorative
exposed front portion may be composed of a single panel. This is not achieved
in
the prior Ostrovsky frame and other similar arrangements, in which the hinged
panel forms a separate and visibly discrete element from the peripheral
portion of
the exposed flange.
It has been further recognized that an elongate extruded component of the
general
type described above may also be suitable for use as a hinge for the uses. For
this purpose, the component may be modified to permit a substrate to be joined
to
each of the first and second hinge components. For example, a cabinet base and
cabinet door may be thus joined. For this purpose, the hinge may be arranged
to
provide an over-center mode of operation to stably urge the hinge components
into
either of a fully open or fully closed position. Alternatively, an over-center
mode
of operation may not be necessary, in which case the hinge is arranged only to
consistently urge the components into only one of a fully closed or fully open
position.
The terms "picture" and "poster" are used interchangeably to refer to any flat
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
weblike element such as a poster, painting, banner, paper, fabric or plastic
sheet
or the like.
It will be further noted ~ that directional references throughout this
specification, including the detailed description and claims, are for
convenience
presented by references to the hinge or frame element being in a horizontal
position with the second hinge component or frame cover part facing upwardly
such that a poster mounted therein lies horizontally and faces upwardly.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved picture frame
element or banner hanger formed from extruded material such as plastic, and
which may be formed in a single extrusion process. It is a further object to
provide
a frame element which is relatively simple to assemble into a complete picture
frame or a banner-hanger, and which firmly grips a poster or picture in a
reliable
and trouble-free manner. It is a further object to provide a picture frame
member
and picture frame assembled therefrom, which is visually attractive.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a hinge formed from a
single
extrusion, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and permits for
either
of an over-center mode of operation, or a non-over-center mode in which a
biassing force is exerted toward the closed position of the hinge.
According to one aspect, the invention is an elongate extruded hinged member
comprising first and second hinge components joined by a first living hinge, a
fin
extending from the first hinge component parallel to and displaced from the
first
living hinge; a rigid strip-like panel joining the fin and second hinge
component
__>0 thereby forming an interior space defined by the first and second hinge
components and the fin. The strip-like member is joined along its lateral side
edges to the fin and second hinge components by second and third living hinges
respectively. The first and second hinge components and the panel are arranged
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
_5_
to co-operate to create a biassing force exerted primarily by the resiliency
and
elasticity of the living hinges and the flex of the second hinge component.
Preferably, the components are arranged to provide an over-center mode of
operation, wherein the first and second hinge components are urged towards
either
of a fully open or fully closed position. For this purpose, the fin and strip-
like panel
are arranged to rotate through a common plane, with the respective fully open
and
closed positions lying on either side of the common plane. The first and
second
hinge components conveniently include means to fasten external components or
substrates thereto.
In a further aspect, the invention comprises a picture frame member. In this
aspect, one of the hinged components consists of a base, and the second hinge
component consists of a decorative cover, with the closed position of the
member
being for gripping a picture or poster between the components.
In this second aspect, the first hinge component is a flat base for supportive
engagement against a picture, and the second component is an openable cover
member rotatably mounted to the base for gripping a picture between said base
and cover member. The strip-like panel is disposed within an interior space
between said base and said cover member. The fin comprises a wall member
extending upwardly from said base into the interior space and serves as a
picture
guide member to properly position a picture within the frame member.
A powerful gripping force between the hinge components is achieved by virtue
of
the compressive force of the panel being absorbed substantially entirely by
compression and flex of one or both of the reasonably rigid hinge members and
elasticity of the living hinges rather than by flex of the panel. Since the
panel is not
0 itself required to flex to absorb compression, it can comprise a relatively
rigid
member and thus assist in exerting a particularly powerful gripping action
between
the hinge components.
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
Preferably, the second hinge component includes a supporting leg, having a
generally cross-sectional dogleg profile, which joins with the panel and forms
an
acute angle therewith when the hinge is closed. The angle thus formed between
these elements converts compressive forces exerted by the rotation of the
panel
into a force acting to urge the two hinge components together.
Preferably, the hinge member is formed from a one piece extrusion wherein the
living hinge members are co-extruded with the other hinge components.
In a preferred aspect, the second hinge member is a picture frame cover with a
hollow generally channel-shaped configuration when seen in section, defined by
spaced apart legs With a panel or web portion therebetween, the interior of
said
channel opening towards the first hinge component which forms a picture-
supporting base. The two legs contact the base when the frame is closed. The
third living hinge means in this version joins a first of said legs to said
base and
said second living hinge means joins a second of said legs to said biassing
means,
a lower edge of said second leg comprising a contact surface between the base
and cover member. The contact surface conveniently comprises a soft, resilient
bead.
In a different embodiment, an additional channel member is disposed on the
lower
face of the base to receive a rigid picture backing board. One wall of the
channel
may comprise the lower face of the base.
In a still further embodiment of a picture-gripping member, two independently
openable cover members as characterized above are provided on the upper and
lower faces of the base. A separate biassing means as described above is
,0 enclosed within the interior space of each opposed cover member. This
arrangement permits two posters to be separately gripped, to provide a double-
sided display structure.
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
_7_
In a further aspect, any of the above picture-gripping members may be provided
with one or more apertures for suspending the member from a hang hook or a
track
for suspending the frame from a mating hook or other member.
In a still further aspect, the invention is a picture frame formed by a
plurality of
frame members which all have the characteristics of a selected one of the
embodiments described above. In another aspect, a single frame member as
characterized herein comprises a banner hanger.
Brief Description of the Drawin~c s
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a picture frame member according to the
present
invention, in the closed position;
Figure 2 is a further sectional view showing the frame member in a fully open
position;
Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a second embodiment
of a
frame member;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the second embodiment in the closed position;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment, in a partly open
position;
Figure 6 is a further sectional view, showing the fully open position;
Figure 7 illustrates a complete picture frame, assembled from frame members of
the first embodiment herein;
s0
Figure 8 is a sectional view of a third embodiment;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
-s-
Figure 10 is a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the invention,
comprising an
extruded hinge member, shown in the closed position; and
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment, shown in the open
position.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated at Figures 1 and 2. In this
version,
a picture frame element is composed of a generally elongate plastic extrusion
10,
having a recess 5 to receive a poster, picture or the like. The frame element
has
an elongate, strip-like flat base 12, which when the frame is placed
horizontally,
supports the underside of a poster or picture (not shown). A poster cover
member
14 having a general shape, in cross-section, of an inverted U, is hinged to
the base
along the peripheral edge of the frame element, via a first hinge 13. The
cover
member 14, when closed, covers an edge region of a poster (not shown) and
grips
the poster tightly between the cover and the base. The hinge 13 comprises a
flexible bead or co-extrusion which extends the length of the frame member.
The
front cover of the frame element is comprised of an exposed panel 15, which is
generally parallel to the base and spaced apart therefrom by a bridging
portion 16
which forms the peripheral edge of the frame. The cover and base thus define a
hollow interior space when these elements are closed together. The bridging
portion itself has the configuration of a channel or track which opens
outwardly to
the periphery of the frame. The bridging portion 16 is formed from a channel
floor
18 which spans the base 12 and panel 14, with the elongate sides of the floor
18
bordered by opposed channels 21 facing towards each other. Together, the
channels 21 and floor 18 form a track which permits the frame element to slide
onto and attach to an external support such as an appropriately-shaped hang
hook
(not shown). This permits the picture frame element to be conveniently
suspended
_~0 or otherwise supported in a readily removable fashion. Alternatively, if
the picture
frame element is used individually a banner hanger, it may be suspended from
an
overhead cable or the like. An alternative suspension is to suspend the
element
from hooks inverted into apertures 23 within the member (see Fig. 3).
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
_()_
The panel 15 is spaced apart from the base 12 along the inner edge of the
panel
(i.e. the edge opposed to the bridge 16) by an elongate strip-like leg 20
extending
the length of the frame element. The leg 20 is disposed at an angle relative
to the
base, when the cover is closed, such that the leg angles upwardly and inwardly
towards the interior of the assembled frame. The leg thus has a dogleg cross-
sectional profile.
l0 The lower edge of the leg 20 has a soft bead 22 along its lower edge, to
provide
a soft and resilient contact member to engage a poster between the leg 20 and
base 12. The panel 15 overhangs the leg 20 along the inner edge of the panel
15
to provide a convenient gripping surface to permit a user to open the cover
14.
The cover member 14 may be selectively maintained in either of an opened and
closed position by means of an over-center principle of operation which will
be
described below. When in the closed position (Figure 1 ), the cover member is
biassed firmly against the base 12 in order to grip a poster or picture
between the
base 12 and cover member 14. The gripping force of the cover member 14 is
20 generated in part by flexing of the various components as the cover is
rotated, the
flexure being created by the rotation of a rigid panel-shaped biassing member
24,
the structure and principle of operation of which will now be described. The
biassing member 24 comprises an elongate strip-like panel which is disposed
within the interior of the space between the base 12 and cover member 14. The
biassing member 24 is hinged to an upstanding fin or wall 28 which extends
upwardly from the base 12, at a position which is generally adjacent to and
spaced
apart from the bridge 16. The member 24 is joined to the wall 28 by means of a
second flexible hinge 30 along a first elongate edge 32 of the member 24. The
second opposed edge 34 of the member 24 is hinged via a third flexible hinge
36,
0 to the interior face of the leg 20. The biassing member 24 thus links the
wall 28
to the leg 20. It will thus be seen that the biassing member 24 is fully
enclosed
within the interior of the structure 10 at all times. Thus, it is not visible
to the user
except when the frame is opened to replace a picture. The second and third
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
flexible hinges are soft, elastic and resilient to absorb compressive forces
exerted
by the member 24 between the wall 28 and leg 20, as will be described more
fully
below.
The wall 28 also serves as a picture guide member to permit proper positioning
of
a picture within the frame member. This is particularly important when the
frame
member is used as a single strip-like member to serve as a banner hanger,
i.e.,
only a single edge of a picture is gripped.
When seen in section, the edge region of the biassing member 24 which faces
the
third hinge 36 curves downwardly. Thus, the upper portion of the leg 20 and
the
biassing member 24 meet at an acute angle when the cover is closed against the
base. The biassing member 24 is rigid and resists flex along its transverse
axis.
Operation of the frame member will now be described by reference to Figures 4 -
6, commencing in the open position as seen in Figure 6. Figures 3 - 6
illustrate a
slight variation, wherein no peripheral hang track is provided. The remaining
elements are the same as in Figures 1 and 2. The open position is maintained
by
the compressive force exerted by the biassing member 24, between the wall 28
and leg 20. When the biassing member is in an over-center position relative to
the
wall 28, as seen in Figure 6, the compressive force exerted by the biassing
member 24 will tend to maintain the cover in a fully open position. As the
cover
member 14 is rotated towards the closed position, the biassing member
initially
resists rotation as it approaches coplanarity with the wall member as a result
of the
compressive forces exerted between the wall 28 and leg 20. Initially, this has
the
effect of forcing the cover member and base apart, thereby tending to bias the
cover member towards the fully opened position. Continued rotation of the
cover
member 14 past the over-center position reverses this effect and urges the
cover
member and base together. This effect is again achieved at least in part by
the
resiliency of the second and third hinges, in cooperation with the
increasingly acute
angle formed between the leg 20 and biassing member 24. As the cover member
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
is closed, the third hinge 36 flexes and stretches, absorbing at least some of
the
compressive force of the biassing member 24. Further, as the cover member 14
rotates towards the closed position, the increasingly acute angle between leg
20
and the biassing member, results in the compressive forces tending to drive
the
cover member and plate together. Since the biassing member 24 is relatively
rigid,
i.e. it resists flex along its transverse axis, the compressive force exerted
thereby
increases as the cover member closes. This compressive force is absorbed in
large measure by a stretching of the third hinge 36. Thus, the resiliency of
the
hinge 36 may be selected to achieve a suitable degree of gripping between the
cover member and the base. The second hinge 30 also contributed to the
biassing
action by appropriate compression as the cover is closed.
The compressive force is exerted by the biassing member 24 is also absorbed to
some extent by a limited flex of the cover member and wall.
Conveniently, the frame member 10 is formed in a single extrusion. The hinges
13,
30 and 36 may be co-extruded with the rigid frame elements. Preferably, the
extrusion is formed from a relatively rigid plastic material.
Figure 7 illustrates a rectangular picture frame, formed from four frame
elements
10 of the type generally characterized above. The frame has mitred corners
which
are formed by cutting or slicing the frame members at 45 degree angles, and
fastening the elements together by glueing or other convenient means.
Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment particularly adapted for holding a
rigid
backing board independently of a poster or picture. This version comprises a
flat,
elongate base 50, and an operable cover member 52, of the type characterized
in respect of the first or second embodiments described above. A poster
backing
board-receiving channel 54 is disposed on the underside of the base 50. The
base
itself forms the upper wall of the channel 54, with the lower wall of the
channel 54
comprising an elongate platelike member 56 spaced apart from the base. A
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
-12-
bridging portion 58 connects the upper and lower walls. The channel opens to
one
side of the frame member. In operation, a backing board (not shown) is slipped
into the channel, and is retained therein by the resiliency of the channel
members,
which grip the backing board. The backing board must have a suitable thickness
to be gripped within the channel 54, i.e. the back board must be thicker than
the
width of the channel when the channel is in a relaxed position as shown in
Figure
8.
Figure 9 illustrates a fourth embodiment which is intended to provide a banner
hanger or frame member 68 which is double sided for holding two posters
viewable
from either side. In this version, two base members 70(a) and 70(b) are
provided,
each being generally strip like as characterized above. Two cover members
72(a)
and 72(b) as described above are each hinged to a corresponding base member,
such that the two cover members are opposed to each other, with one facing
upwardly and one facing downwardly when the bases are disposed horizontally.
The two bases are spaced apart from each other by a bridging member 74 along
the outer edge of the bases. The space defined between the two bases forms a
channel 76 opening towards the interior of the frame member 68. The channel 76
grippingly retains a backing board in the manner described above in respect of
the
third embodiment. The cover members 72(a) and 70(b) are mirror images of each
other, and may comprise either type of the first or second embodiments
described
above, or any variant thereof. In operation, a backing board is provided which
has
a thickness which is preferably greater than the channel width when the
channel
is in a relaxed position, thereby permitting the channel to grip the backing
board
as a result of the resiliency of the bridging member. A poster may be placed
against each side of the backing board, with each poster being independently
gripped by a corresponding cover member.
,0
A further embodiment of the invention is shown at Figures 10 and 11. In this
aspect, the invention comprises a hinge member, for joining two components
such
as a cabinet base and cabinet door. In this aspect, the invention comprises
first
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
and second hinge components 100 and 102, joined by a first living hinge 104.
An
upstanding fin 106 extends from the first hinge component 100, parallel to and
displaced from the first living hinge 104. The second hinge component has a
generally C-shaped sectional configuration. A substantially rigid strip-like
panel
108, having two parallel elongate edges 110 is disposed between the upper,
free
edge of the fin 106, and the free edge of the second hinge component 102. The
panel 108 is joined along its side edges 110 to the hinge 106 and second hinge
component 102 by way of second and third living hinges 112 and 114. An
interior
space 116 is thus defined by the three components, namely the first and second
hinge components and the panel 108. Conveniently, the entire hinge structure
comprising components 100, 102, 108 and the three living hinges 104, 112 and
114 are all formed from a single co-extrusion.
Extending from the first and second hinge components 100 and 102, and formed
from the same extrusion therewith, are anchoring members 120 and 122. The
anchoring members permit the hinge to be fastened to first and second
substrates
such as a cabinet base and door. The anchoring members may comprise any
~0 convenient mode of fastening the hinge to a substrate such as an elongate
strip
having holes for receiving screws, or alternatively each anchor comprising a
component shaped to fit into a specifically adapted slot.
Operation of the hinge is substantially the same as the frame member of
Figures
1 through 9. In the open position shown in Figure 10, the hinge is maintained
in
this position and resists closure by the compressive forces which would act on
the
strip-like member 108 if the hinge were to be rotated towards a closed
position.
However, continued rotation of the hinge towards the closed position rotates
the
member 108 through a common plane formed with the fin 106 and past an over-
~0 center position, to the closed position shown in Figure 11. Once past the
over-
center position, the hinge is biassed towards the closed position and resists
opening. As with previous embodiments described above, rotation is permitted
by
a combination of a small amount of flexure of the first and second hinge
CA 02348196 2001-05-18
-14-
components 100 and 102, in particular the second component 102, in combination
with resiliency and stretching of the three living hinges 104, 110 and 112. It
will be
further seen that the terms "open" and "closed" when used in connection with
the
hinge, are in essence a reversal of these terms when used to describe the
frame
member.
It will be seen that in the above arrangement, the hinge is arranged to swing
the
anchors 120 and 122 through a 90 degree angle. It will be further seen that
the
above arrangement is designed to provide an over-center mode of operation for
maintaining the two hinge components in either of a fully open or fully closed
position. However, it will be further seen that the various components may be
re-
arranged, such that they operate in a non-over-center mode. For this purpose,
the
fin 100 and panel 108 would not be arranged to rotate past an over-center
point,
such that the hinge components 100 and 102 are consistently urged at all times
towards the fully closed position.
The present invention has been described by way of detailed descriptions of
various preferred embodiments of the invention. However, it is clear that
variations
and/or alterations may be made to the hinged member of the present invention
without going beyond the range of protection provided for the invention itself
by the
claims of this patent specification.
