Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PICTURE FRAME
The present invention relates to framing and hanging pictures.
It is well known to frame pictures, including prints, posters and photos,
to improve the aesthetics of the picture and to provide means by which
the picture may be hung on a wall. However, many of the frames
currently available are relatively expensive due to the precise work
involved in producing a suitably shaped frame. Further, in order to
provide support for the picture to enable it to be hung on a wall, frames
are generally produced from rigid materials such as wood and metal, and
accordingly storage and transportation of frames is limited by the fixed
shape of the frame. This affects not only the frame itself as originally
produced but also the framed picture if it is later desired to transport the
framed picture.
Accordingly, there is a need for a picture framing and hanging system
which is relatively inexpensive and easy to transport.
According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides an
apparatus for framing and/or hanging pictures which comprises one or
more framing portions, wherein the or each framing portion is made from
a flexible material and is adapted so as to have a first position in which it
can be freely moved from a substantially flat conformation to other
conformations and a second position in which it is secured in the shape of
a three-dimensional shape.
In the first position, the or each framing portion can easily be stored and
transported. As the framing portion is made from flexible material, it can
easily be bent, rolled or folded as required to enable ease of storage or
transportation.
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In the second, secured position, the or each framing portion has a fixed
shape which is three-dimensional. This provides the or each framing
portion with a degree of rigidity and strength that results in the or each
framing portion being able to provide sufficient support for a picture in
order to enable it to be hung on a wall.
Preferably, the apparatus comprises one, two or four framing portions.
When one framing portion is provided, it should be of a size such that in
use it can be placed along the top edge of the picture. Preferably it is of
a size such that in use it runs along all or substantially all of the length
of
the top edge of the picture.
When two framing portions are provided, they should be of a suitable
size, such that in use one can be placed along the top edge of the picture
and the other can be placed along the bottom edge of the picture.
Preferably they are of a size such that in use they run along all or
substantially all of the length of the top and bottom edge of the picture
respectively.
When four framing portions are provided, they should be of a size such
that in use one can be placed along the top edge of the picture, one can be
placed along the bottom edge of the picture, one can be placed along the
left hand edge of the picture and one can be placed along the right hand
edge of the picture. Preferably they are of a size such that in use they
run along all or substantially all of the length of the top, bottom, the left
hand and the right hand edge of the picture respectively. Preferably in
the second position an end portion of each framing portion meets, and is
most preferably secured to, an adjacent end portion of the adjacent
framing portion. This assists in providing the apparatus with suitable
strength and rigidity to support a picture when hung on the wall as well as
increasing the aesthetics of the apparatus.
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It is preferred that one or more of the framing portions is provided with
suitable means such that it may be hung from a wall. For example, one
or more holes or other such recesses may be provided. This allows the
framing portion to be hung from a wall by means of picture hooks, nails,
screws or the like protruding from the wall. Clearly such holes or
recesses should be located along the length of the framing portion such
that when they are used to hang the framing portion from a wall the
framing portion hangs straight. For example, one hole may be provided
at the centre of the length of the framing portion or two holes may be
provided equidistant from the centre of the length of the framing portion.
Any other suitable means as known in the art for hanging frames from
walls may also be used.
Preferably, the framing portion is provided with securing means for
securing the portion in its second, secured position in the shape of a
three-dimensional shape. Preferably, releasable securing means are used.
Releasable securing means as known in the art may suitably be used, for
example the framing portion may be provided with a flap and
corresponding slit system. Any suitably shaped and sized flaps may be
used; the flaps may be, for example, semi circular, triangular or
rectangular. The framing portion could alternatively be suitably provided
with corresponding sets of male and female components such as press
studs that may be releasably secured together. Preferably, the securing
means are spaced regularly along the length of the framing portion.
Preferably, the or each framing portion is of a shape such that when in its
second, secured position it is in the shape of a regular three-dimensional
shape. For example, the or each framing portion may be a triangular
prism, circular prism or rectangular prism shape when in its second,
secured position. When there is more than one framing portion, each
framing portion may be the same or different shape in its second, secured
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position; preferably they are all of the same shape. The or each framing
portion may be provided with score lines to assist the folding of the
portion into the three-dimensional shape.
The or each framing portion may be made of any suitable flexible
material. For example, the or each framing portion may be made of a
flexible plastics material such as a polypropylene or a flexible material
such as cardboard.
In use, the or each framing portion may be attached directly to the picture
which it is framing. Accordingly the apparatus of the first embodiment
may further comprise a picture to which the or each framing portion may
be attached. Alternatively, the or each framing portion may be attached
to a backing portion, with the picture being framed being secured to the
backing portion. Accordingly, the apparatus of the first embodiment may
further comprise a backing portion, for example a piece of cardboard or
paper, to which the or each framing portion may be attached.
The or each framing portion may be attached to the picture or to the
backing portion by any suitable means, for example by means of
adhesive. The or each framing portion of the apparatus of the first
embodiment may therefore be provided with attaching means, for example
a layer of cured or substantially cured adhesive covered with a protective
removable layer which can be removed when adhesion is required.
The or each framing portion is attached to the picture or backing portion
at the part of the framing portion which in the second, secured position,
is the base of the three-dimensional shape. The picture with attached
framing portion(s) or the backing portion with attached framing portion(s)
can easily be stored or transported by placing the or each framing portion
into its first, unsecured position. Due to the flexibility of the material of
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the or each framing portion, the or each framing portion together with
any picture or backing portion can be rolled up so as to fit in, for
example, a tubular packaging for storage or transportation.
5 A packaging means may be provided integrally with the apparatus for
framing and/or hanging a picture. The packaging means may be made
from a flexible material and is adapted to have a first position in which it
can be freely moved from a substantially flat conformation to other
conformations and a second position in which it is formed into a package.
Preferably the flexible material is one of the materials as described in
relation to the framing portions. The packaging means is preferably
secured in the second position by any suitable releasable securing means.
For example a zip (metal or plastic), male and female connectors or a flap
and corresponding slit system.
The package formed is preferably tubular, the flexible material of the
packaging means is preferably releasably or permanently secured to the
framing portions. The flexible material of the packaging means may in
the first position form a backing portion for the framing portion(s), and in
a second position form a tubular package around the framing portions for
storage and transportation.
When the picture with attached framing portion(s), or the backing portion
with attached framing portion (s) which may have a picture secured
thereto, is to be hung on a wall, the or each framing portion is placed into
its second, secured position by folding the flexible material of the framing
portion into the three-dimensional shape and securing it in this position by
means of the securing means provided. If the framing and/or hanging
apparatus is integral with a packaging means then the packaging means is
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placed in the first position before the or each framing portion is placed in
the first position.
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a framed
picture is provided which comprises one or more framing portions as
described above attached to one or more edges of a picture. The framed
picture may suitably comprise one framing portion attached to the top
edge of the picture, or two framing portions attached to the top and
bottom edges of the picture respectively, or four framing portions
attached to the top, bottom, left hand and right hand edges of the picture
respectively.
The or each framing portion of the framed picture is, in use, in its
second, secured position such that the or each edge of the picture having
a framing portion attached is provided with a frame border in the shape of
a three-dimensional shape.
At least one of the framing portions of the framed picture is provided
with means for hanging the picture from a wall as described above.
Preferably, at least the framing portion attached to the top edge of the
picture is provided with such hanging means.
Preferably, the framed picture is provided with four framing portions,
such that each edge of the picture is provided with a framing portion.
If it is desired to store or transport the framed picture of the second
embodiment, the or each framing portion may be placed in its first,
unsecured position by unsecuring the securing means and unfolding the
portion so that it is in a substantially flat configuration. The framed
picture can then be rolled up for easy storage or transportation. Any
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packaging means can be secured in its second position as a package for
the framed picture.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an
apparatus for framing and/or hanging pictures which comprises: one or
more framing portions, wherein each framing portion is made from a
flexible material and is adapted so as to have a first, unsecured, position in
which it can be freely moved from a substantially flat conformation to
other conformations and a second, secured, position in which it is secured
in the shape of a three-dimensional shape; and a backing portion for the or
each framing portion, made from a flexible material, with this flexible
material being secured to the framing portions; wherein each framing
portion is provided with releasable securing means for securing the portion
in its second, secured position in the shape of a three-dimensional shape;
and wherein the backing portion is a combined integral packaging means
and backing portion, which is adapted to have a first position in which it
can be freely moved from a substantially flat conformation to other
conformations and a second position in which it is releasably secured into a
package, with the flexible material forming the backing portion for the or
each framing portion when it is in the first position and with the flexible
material forming a releasably secured tubular package around the or each
framing portion for storage and transportation when it is in the second
position; such that when it is desired to store or transport a picture framed
in the apparatus, each framing portion may be placed in its first, unsecured
position by unsecuring the releasable securing means and unfolding the
framing portion so that it is in a substantially flat configuration, and the
combined packaging means and backing portion may then be releasably
secured in its second position as a tubular package for the framed picture,
and when it is desired to hang a picture framed in the apparatus on a wall,
the combined packaging means and backing portion may be placed into its
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first, unsecured position and then each framing portion may be placed into
its second, secured position by folding the flexible material of each framing
portion into the three-dimensional shape and securing it in this position by
means of the releasable securing means.
The present invention also provides a method of framing a picture, which
method comprises attaching one or more framing portions as described
above to a picture, with the or each framing portion being located at an
edge of the picture.
The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference
to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagram showing a picture framed using an apparatus
according to the present invention, with the framing portions in their first,
unsecured position; and
Figure 2 is a diagram showing the picture of figure 1 with the framing
portions in their second, secured position.
Figures 1 and 2 show a picture 1 framed using a framing apparatus
comprising four framing portions 2. The framing portions 2 are attached
to the edges of the picture 1, with two shorter framing portions 2a being
attached to the top and bottom edges of the picture and two longer framing
portions 2b being attached to the left hand and right hand edges of the
picture. The shorter framing portion 2a attached to the top edge of the
picture is provided with a hole at the centre of its length, on the back, to
allow the picture 1 to be hung from a wall.
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The framing portions 2 are provided with semi-circular shaped flaps 3 and
corresponding slits 4, and with scored lines 5. When the flaps 3 are not
secured in the slits 4, as shown in figure 1, the framing portions 2 are
flexible and may be substantially flat or may be bent or rolled.
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Accordingly, in this first, unsecured, position the framed picture may be
rolled up to allow ease of storage or transportation.
When the framing portions 2 are folded along the scored lines 5 and the
flaps 3 secured in the slits 4, as shown in figure 2, the framing portions
form rectangular prism shaped frame edges around the picture 1.
Accordingly, in this second, secured, position the framed picture is well
supported and aesthetically pleasing, and may be hung from a wall using
the hole provided in the back of the slot framing portion 2a located along
the top edge of the picture 1.
