Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
PICTURE FRAME STAND
The present invention relates to stands for picture frames.
There is a long standing need for picture frames which can stand upright
on a desk, shelf etc. and which can be economically manufactured for a mass
market. Frames of this generai type exist.
One such mass produced picture frame has a perimeter frame_ a
transparent front panel of plastics or glass, and a rear opaquc backing panel
typically of fibre board or plastics. The picture - be it a painting,
photograph, print
etc. - is sandwiched between the front and rear panels, which are themselves
received in a recess formed in the rear of the perimeter frame and held in
position
typically bv flexible metal tabs driven into the perimeter frame, which are
bent
into position against the rear panel. To enable the frame to stand upright,
the rear
panel has cuts or perforations pre-formed in it to define a leg which can be
bent
backwardly out of the plane of the panel. The cuts do not form a closed loop,
so
that the leg and the panel remain connected through a region of material
which,
being flexible, acts as a hinge. The frame can thus be rested on a horizontal
surface, being upright but inclined somewhat backwardly with the leg serving
to
prevent it from falling backward.
While conunercially successful, such frames are not without shortcomings.
Their appearance is not appropriate in some contexts; the leg can sometimes
fold
in-vvard allowing the frame to topple backwards, and extended use can cause
the
material forming the hinge to fail.
In another common version of the aforegoing picture frame, the backing
panel carries a leg member which is usually tie-shaped and is pivotally hinged
about a horizontal axis disposed on the panel so that, in use it can be
angulark
displaced between a first position in which it lies generally flush Nvitli the
rear i-ace
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of the back panel and a second or extended limiting position in which it lies
at an
angle to the rear face, thereby diverging from the plane of the rear face to
provide
a support to the frame. With the leg in its extended position, the frame can
stand
stably on a horizontal surfacc in an upright or slightly leaning back
attitude, being
supported in this state by the leg.
The leg is of metal or plastics material, the hinge being riveted or
otherwise securely and permanently fixed to the backing panel.
Although it works well this structure suffers from several disadvantages
which limit its use. A first disadvantage is that one must know in advance
whether the frame is to be hung on a wall or be placed freely standing on a
supporting surface. A second disadvantage is that a different leg/hinge
arrangement must be assessedlorderedlfitted, in advance, depending on the
frame
size. Furthermore, a further. different component must be provided to enable
the
picture to be hung.
According to our earlier GB-A-2 396 296, we proposed an alternative
picture frame stand comprising a bracket adapted for mounting at the rear of a
picture fiame and a support member pivotally mounted by the bracket by means
of
a bar received in a channel, the channel and bar being shaped to engage with
each
other to define a plurality of discrete angular positions of the support
member
relative to the bracket. "This was achieved by the provision of co-operating
lugs
and recesses on/in the bar and channel such as to restrict pivotal movement of
the
supporting member with respect to the bracket member.
In one embodiment described in GB-A- 2 396 296, the co-operating lugs
and recesses are to be sized to restrict, but not prevent entirely, pivotal
motion of
the support member. In this case, the co-operating lugs and recesses engage to
an
extent sufficient to support the weight of a picture frame received in the
holding
member when the supporting member is pivoted with respcct to the hoidin,
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member at an angle effective for displaying the picture frame on a surface.
The
co-operating lugs and recesses are sized to allow pivotal movement of the
support
inem.ber when a force in excess of that provided by the weight of a picture
frame
is applied. Thus, the supporting member may be deliberately pivoted when
desired (to change the angle of picture display or flat pack for storage
purposes,
for example) but unintentional pivoting (by the weight of the picture frame in
use
of the stand) is avoided.
In another embodiment described in GB-A-2 396 296, the co-operating
lugs and recesses are sized to prevent (barring the use of excessive force
which
may damage the stand) pivotal motion while engaged. In this case the lugs and
recesses are disengageable to allow pivotal movement when desired. For example
the lugs and recesses may be provided at one end of the co-operating bar and
channel, and the bar may be movable transversely within the channel to effect
disengagement of the co-operating lugs and recesses when desired and allow
pivotal motion of the bar within the channel. The co-operating lugs and
recesses
may then be re-engaged to prevent further pivotal motion when a desired change
in the relative pivotal orientation of the supporting member and the holding
member has been effected.
It has been found in practice, however, that the aforegoing proposal
described in our earlier GB-A-2 396 296 has fundamental flaws in practice in
that
it requires the use of co-operating lugs and recesses to allow variation of
the angle
between the support member and the bracket. Because of the length of the
support member and the relatively tiny diameter of the bar, it would be
necessary
for the lugs and recesses to be correspondingly tiny for any useful number of
adjustments positions to be provided. In practice the device is unable to
provide
sufficient adjustment positions of the support member because the angles
dictated
at the free ettd of the rotating support member,nug arising from just a tiny
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adjustment of the rotary axis are angularly wide apart. The result is that
only one
or two discrete angles can be provided with no adjustment in between. The same
limitations in regard to lack of angular flexibility applied to the
embodiments
where the lug rotates and moves laterally to lock into intenial serrations.
The design led to operator confusion when a useful available angle could
not be found.
In order to be made in huge volume/low cost numbers, the device would
have to be made of a plastics material which would be difficult to machine or
mould and the lugs/recesses arrangement would wear down and deteriorate easily
with use.
Finally, the arrangement described would only fit to one board thickness
which limited its value since different versions would be necessary for boards
of
different thickness.
From GB 556 877 there is known a stand for rnirrors, photo-frames and
the like which comprises a spring clip part adapted to be clipped onto the
photo-
frame or the like, and which is rolled over at one end to hingedly engage a co-
operating bar carried by a supporting legs component. It is said in GB 556877
that
the arrangement described can grip the bar part with sufficient friction to
maintain
the leg part in an adjusted position to hold the frame or the like at any
desired
angle to a plane supporting surface. However, in the structure described and
illustrated in GB 556877 it is doubtful that this can in practice be achieved
sufficiently effectively. The structures described and illustrated in GB
556877
have two drawbacks in this connection. Firstly, it would be difficult to
achieve
the necessary tight grip on the bar even initially. Because of its springy
nature the
rolled over end of the clip must be rolled over initially more tightly than
when it is
in its operational state and it can therefore not be formed by simply being
rolled in
situ around the bar itself. To achieve the necessary operational grip, it must
be
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rolled over first and then forceably unrolled somewhat to allow entry of the
bar.
The fully rolled-over structures illustrated do not permit the bar to be
inserted
laterally for this purpose without severe distortion of the rolled-over
section and it
would be very difficult to insert the bar axially uito a rolled up section of
smaller
diameter. Secondly, because the rolled-over section of the clip is. rolled in
a
direction away from the clip section which engages the picture frame, when the
leg part is rotated downwardly in a direction to take up its operational
position, the
friction between the bar and the rolled-over portion tends to cause the rolled-
over
portion to roll up further and therefore increase the grip on the bar.
Conversely,
when the leg part is rotated upwardly, the opposite occurs and the rolled-over
section is opened up slightly to thereby reduce the grip on the bar. When the
frame is supported in its operational position on a flat surface, its weight
seeks to
rotate the supporting leg in this upward direction so that it is when the grip
needs
to be greatest that it will tend to be reduced. Thus, the tendency would be
for the
weight of the frame, particularly with larger frames, to cause upward rotation
of
the support leg and thereby cause the angle of the frame to the vertical to
creep
backwards undesirably.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a picture frame stand
vvhich overcomes the drawbacks of the stands disclosed in GB 556877. of
conventional strut-type backs and of our earlier proposed design, and provides
a
universal support for a wide range of frame sizes. moulding width and back
thickness. It would be useful if it could in itself also provide a hanging
facility.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
picture frame stand comprising:
a bracket made of springy material and having a first portion defining a
generally u-sectioned clip part adapted to be clipped onto a panel at the rear
of a
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picture frame, or to the rear of the picture frame itself, and a second
portion which
is curved to define a channel part of part-circular section, and
an elongate support member pivotally coupled to the bracket by means of a
cylindrical bar section adjacent one end of the support member which is
received
within the channel part of the bracket such that the bar is frictionally
gripped
within the channel sufficiently to normally hold a selected angular position
between the bracket and support member but whose frictional grip on the bar
can
be overcome bv manually applied force to the support member to enable the
relative angular disposition of the bracket and support member to be adjusted
over
a continuous range, the channel part being defined by the bracket with its
mouth
facing towards the clip part such that when the bracket is operationally
mounted to
a rear panel of a picture frame, or to the picture frame itself, the mouth of
the part-
circular channel faces towards said rear panel or picture frame.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the curved portion of
the bracket defining the channel part of part-circular section is oriented
relative to
the clip part of the bracket such that when the support member is pivoted
relative
to the bracket in the rotary direction which causes the vertical angle between
a
picture frame or picture frame panel mounted to the bracket to be increased,
frictional drag between the bar and the channel part causes the curvature of
the
part-circular channel to decrease and reduce the grip on the bar but wlien the
support member is pivoted relative to the bracket in the opposite rotary
direction
to cause the vertical angle between a picture frame or picture frame panel
mounted
to the bracket to be reduced, frictional drag between the bar and the channel
causes an increase in the curvature of the part-circular channei to result ir:
an
increase in its grip on the bar, tliereby providing increased resistance to
relative
pivoting of the bracket and the support in said opposite direction.
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In some embodiments, there are two part-cylindrical channel sections on
the bracket which receive respective opposite end sections of the bar.
In other embodiments there can be a single part-cylindrical section on the
bracket which receives said cylindrical section of the bar.
Preferably, u-shaped clip part of the support member coniprises an
elongate leg having said bar at its one end. Advantageously, the bar is formed
integrally with the leg.
Preferably, u-shaped clip part of the leg is curved adjacent its end opposite
the bar to provide a smoothly curved portion for engaging a support surface.
Preferably, the bracket has a generally u-shaped body comprising a front
panel connected by a coupling portion to one or more rearwardly inclined rear
flaps to form a recess for receiving a back panel of a picture frame or the
picture
frame itself. Advantageously, the front panel contains one or more flaps which
are inclined rearwardly towards the rear flap or flaps, the springy material
of the
bracket causing a back panel of a picture frame, or the picture frame itself,
inserted into the recess to be positively gripped between the opposed front
and
rear flaps.
In some embodiments, the front panel includes a lower straight portion
extending substantially perpendicularly to said coupling portion and an upper,
outwardly curved portion coupled to said part-cylindrical section.
Advantageously, the outwardly curved portion of the bracket contains an
aperture or recess for acting as a hanger receiving location to enable the
picture
franle to be suspended froin a hanger, such as a hook, when the picture frame
stand is mounted to the top of the picture frame.
Preferably, the free ends of the rear flaps are inclined outwardly to form a
lead-in mouth which facilitates slipping the bracket recess over the back
panel of
the frame, or over the frame itself.
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The invention is described further, hereinafter, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above and one side, showing one
embodiment of a picture frame stand in accordance with the present invention
in
its operational position supporting a picture frame;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view from below of a leg part of the picture frame
stand of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of a bracket portion of the stand of Fig. 1
for receiving the leg of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the bracket portion of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the picture frame stand of Figs. 1; 2, 3
and 4 fitted to a. picture frame and disposed in a hanging mode;
Fig. 6 is a side view, to an enlarged scale illustrating the connection
between the leg and the bracket portion;
Figs. 7 and 8 are side views illustrating the same stand in use with two
different perimeter frame widths;
Figs. 9 and 10 are exaggerated diagrammatic views to illustrate the
apparatus of ttie embodiment of Figs. 1 to $;
Fig. 11 illustrates how the present device can accommodate a range of
moulding widths;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view from above and one side, showing a second
embodiment of a picture frame stand in accordance with the present invention
in
its operational position supporting a picture frame;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of Fig. 12 in a
folded, hanging or transit state;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the bracket of the enibodiment of Fig. 12)
from the front and one side;
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Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the bracket of the embodiment of Fig. 12
from the rear and said one side;
Fig. 16 is a sectional side view illustrating the embodiment of Fig. 12 in its
operational state;
Fig. 17 is a partial front view of the support leg of the second embodiment;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the bracket of a third embodiment of a
picture frame stand in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the bracket of Fig. 18; and
Fig. 20 is a partial perspective view showing the third embodiment when
in a picture hanging or transit state.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the first embodiment of the stand
comprises a bracket 10 and a leg 12 which are pivotally coupled together. The
leg
12 comprises a rigid elongate body 14 which carries at its one end an integral
cylindrical bar 16, coupled to the body 14 by way of a narrowed neck portion
18.
As shown in Fig. 2, the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bar 16 extends
perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body portion 14. In
the
presently illustrated embodiment, the elongate body 14 of the leg is curved
upwardly near the end opposite to the bar 16 so as to provide a curved surface
region 20 on its underside for minimizing the possibility of scratching a
surface 22
on which the stand supports a picture fratne in use (see also Figs 7 and 8).
The bracket 10 is made of a springy material, which is preferably a metal
but may also be a suitable plastics material, and comprises a generally
reetangular
front panel 24 connected at its lower end to a pair of upstanding springy rear
flaps
26a, 26b via a coupling portion 28 and connected at its upper end to portions
32a,
32b defining respective part-cylindrical, generally sinooth surfaced bearing-
forming portions which together form an open channel 33. The front panel 24
includes a pair of depending, flap portions 30a, 30b which are inclined out of
the
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plane of the front panel 24 so as to extend towards the rear flaps 26a, 26b.
The
rear flaps 26a, 26b are themselves inclined somewhat forwardly towards the
front
panel 24 as best seen in Fig. 6 but have outwardly directed lead-in regions 25
adjacent their free ends for facilitating the slipping of the bracket onto a
backing
panel as described hereinafter.
As is best seen in Figs I and 6, the part-cylindrical recesses 32a, 32b of the
bracket receive and partially embrace respective substantially smooth end
portions
of the cylindrical bar 16 whereby to pivotally couple together the leg and the
bracket. The relative radial dimensions of the part-cylindrical portions of
the bar 16 and the springiness of the material forming the part-cylindrical
portions
32a. 32b are chosen to be such that the part-cylindrical portions firmly grip
the bar
16 but nevertheless allow their relative angular positions to be adjusted by
overcoming the tight friction coupling therebetween. The surfaces of the part-
cylindrical bearing portions 32a, 32b and the end portions of the cylindrical
bar
received therein are generally smooth, but can nevertheless be roughened to
increase the friction therebetween.
As best seen in Fig. 3, the springy flaps 30a, 30b on the front panel 24 are
disposed so as to face and oppose the rear flaps 26a, 26b whereby when the
bracket is applied to the rear panel 36 of a picture frame by introducing the
rear
panel 36 between these opposed pairs of springy flaps (see Figs. 1 and 5), the
rear
panel 36 is positively gripped between these pairs of flaps to hold the
bracket in
place. It will be appreciated also that this arrangement of the opposed
springy
ilaps will grip virtually any rear panel liaving a ihickness not greater than
the
width of the coupling portion 28. (dimension 'A' in Fig. 6). The bracket is
therefore not restricted to use with any particular rear panel thickness. It
will also
be appreciated that the opposed spruigy flaps of the bracket could grip the
picture
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CA 02555536 2006-08-08
frame itself, although in this case the rear flaps 26 would be disposed at the
front
of the picture frame.
In use, the bracket is normally fitted centrally to the lower edge of the rear
panel 36, corresponding to the lower edge of the picture which is to be
mounted.
As shown in Fig. I and in Figs 7 and 8, in this condition, the leg is pivoted
manually relative to the bracket, by rotating the bar 16 within the part-
cylindrical
bearing-forming portions 32a, 32b so as to achieve a stable attitude for the
picture
trame on a supporting surface 22. It will be appreciated that a wide range of
stable angular positions can be obtained using this arrangement.
The principal advantage of the present stand over that provided by our
earlier Application No. GB-A 2 396 296 is that the bracket and leg are not
limited
to discrete angular relative positions but can assume an infinite number of
relative
angular positions due to the spring-assisted friction coupling therebetween
provided by the bar 16 and the springy part-circular channels 32.
The present structure also provides important practical advantages over
devices of the type described in GB 556877 for the following reasons which are
explained in connection with diagrammatic Figures 9 and 10 and with Figures 3,
4
and 6 to which reference is now directed. lt should be noted that Figs. 9 and
10
are highly diagrammatic and show gaps between components that are highly
exaggerated for the purposes of explanation.
As evident from these Figures, the part-circular, bearing-forming channels
or recesses 32a, 32b are formed by continuations of the first panel 24 of the
bracket 10. these continuations being curved in a direction such that the
mouths of
the part-circular channels 32a, 32h open towards an imaginary plane
containing;
the front wall 24 (see Figure 6). Furthermore, the open mouths of the channels
32a, 32b are wide enough to enable the ends of the bar 16 to be inserted
simply
with a snap-in fit.
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The effect of this structure is that when the bracket 10 and support leg 12
h.ave been applied to a picture frune as in Fig. 1 so that the back panel 36
of the
frame is gripped between the front and rear panels 24, 26 of the bracket, and
the
support leg 12 is rotated downwardly in direction B(Fig. 9), the front panel
24 is
levered away from the back panel 36 somewhat so that the bar 16 leaves
frictional
contact with the back panel 36 and the curvatures of the part-circular
channels
32a, 32b are opened-up somewhat as a result of the rotational frictional drag
from
the rotating bar 16, whereby to cause the relaxation of the frictional grip on
the
rotating bar 16. As a result, the frictional forces resisting rotation of the
leg 12 are
reduced and the leg can be rotated easily to bring it into its operational
position
shown in Figs I and 9.
However, when the rotation of the leg in direction B is discontinued, the
front panel 24 returns to its original position shown in Fig. 10 in which the
bar 16
is urged against the back panel 36 as a result of the inherent springiness of
the
bracket material. In this condition, the weight of the frame provides a force
component F which acts so as to try to pivot the leg in direction C. In this
case,
the frictional drag between the bar and the part-circular channels tends to
distort
the bracket material defining the channels so that they wrap more closelv
around
the bar and thereby increase the friction therebetween.. Furthermore, there is
friction between the bar and the back of the rear panel 36 in contact
therewith.
The combined effect is to increase significantly the frictional forces acting
to
resist rotation of the leg in direction C and thereby to assist retention of
the
selected angle of the leg relative to the frame. The resulting arrangement is
therefore significantly more stable when in its operational position than in
the case
of structures of the type shown in GB 556877.
As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5, the leg can include a.n aperture 40 whereby
when a picture is to be hung from a vertical walI surface rather than be
positioned
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CA 02555536 2006-08-08
on a horizontal surface 22, if the bracket is positioned on the upper edge of
the
rear panel 36 rather than the lower edge and then folded flat against the rear
panel
36, the aperture 40 can be used to hang the picture from a conventional
picture
hook 42 applied to the vertical wall.
The second embodiment of Figs. 12 to 17 is essentially the same in
principle as the embodiment of Figs. I to 11 but is intended to provide a
simpler
and cheaper alternative.
The principal difference is that the support 12' is constructed from a plain
elongate bar of circular section which is bent at one end into a triangular
shape
whereby to provide a pivot portion 16' which extends perpendicularly to a leg
portion 14'. The pivot portion 16' is received with a friction fit within a
channel
33' formed by a part-cylindrical section 32' of the bracket 10' which is
sufficiently
tight to be capable of holding a selected angular orientation of the support
and
bracket but which can be overcome by manual manipulation of these elements to
select a desired angular orientation therebetween.
Advantageously, the bracket is modified compared to that of the first
embodiment so as to have a flat/straight portion 52 connected to the coupling
portion 28' and extending perpendicularly, or generally perpendicular,
thereto, and
an outwardly curved or bowed portion 54 having the part-cylindrical section
32' at
its free (upper) end. This curved section 54 can usefully include an aperture
56 to
which, when the stand is fixed to the top of the picture frame, as compared to
its
usual position at the bottom of the frame, can provide a means by which the
picture frame can be suspended from a hanging fixture such as a wall mounted
hook (not shown).
The bracket 10" of the embodiment of Figs. 18 to 20 is very similar in
principle to the bracket 10' of Figs. 12 to 17 except that the outwardly bowed
portion 54 of the bracket 10' is replaced in the bracket 10" by a flat portion
60 and
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the part-cylindrical section 32' of the bracket 10' is now spaced laterally
from the
main body of the bracket 10" via a straight section 62. The generally
triangular
aperture 56 in the bowed portion 54 of the bracket 10' is replaced by an
aperture
64, located partly in the flat portion 60 and partly in the substantially
perpendicularly extending flat portion 62.
Furthennore., as best seen in Fig. 18, the aperture 64 consists of a
rectangular section 64a in the flat portion 62 and a half-moon section 64b in
the
flat portion 60.
By virtue of these changes, when the picture is to be hung on a wall rather
than supported on a horizontal surface by the support 12', more space is
provided
to enable the tongue 66 of a conventional picture hook 68 to engage through
the
triangular aperture 70 formed by the support bar 12' and enter the half-moon
shaped section 64b of the aperture 64 in the bracket. In this condition, the
part-
evlindrical portion 32" lies within the upwardly facing v-section defined by
the
tongue 66 and main body 72 of the hanger 68 to firmly and positively engage
the
bracket 10" and support the picture in a stable manner.
The above described stands possess a number of further practical
advantages as follows.
(1) Although the present stands comprise two parts in use,
these parts fit together in a semi-permanent manner so as to
effectively constitute a single component to be slipped onto a
picture frame to enable the frame to stand upright in use. This
sa.nie single component also provides a hanging facility as
described hereinabove, The provision of such a-single-
component' slip-on device means the industry needs only to store
flat backs. so reducincy inventory considerabls>.
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(2) The flexibility of the spring bracket enables it to fit all
conventional thicknesses of back panel, making the device a
conunercial product in its own right which can for example, be
sold to DIY/hobby stores and the like, as a stand-alone picture
frame support systeni.
(3) The device can be manufactured in a variety of materials
including metal and plastics, in order to suit all price seetors.
(4) The spring assisted grip allows the leg to rotate and offer
support in an infinite number of positions. It is suitable for all
frame sizes, at least up to and including 10 x 8 inches, which
covers 98% of the current market.
(5) The curved shape of the leg will not damage support
surfaces on which a picture frame is to sit. The innate elegance of
the delicate leg design will give confidence to the user that damage
to the support surface is unlikely.
(6) The simple, single operation of the device will be
understood instantly by the consumer, without the need for
potentially confusing instructions.
By the expressions "substantially smooth" and "generally smooth
surfaced"as used in this specification and the claims attached thereto, we
include
the possibility that the surfaces in question can be roughened, for example as
by
sand-papering or knurling, buc exclude the possibility that the engaging
surfaces
are deliberately provided with surface protuberances and recesses designed to
mate together to define particular angular orientations between the support
member and bracket.
