Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention relates to a corner connector for a
picture frame.
One widely employed form of picture frame is formed from side
members that are each of similar cross-section. The side
members can conveniently be manufactured on a large scale by
extrusion. Each member defines a channel that in the
completed frame extends along the rear of the frame. At the
corners, the side members are connected together by a
connector that has arms extending into the ends of the
channels of the frame members adjacent to the corner. Known
connectors have set screws or the like on the rear face of
each arm. When the set screws are tightened up, the screw
reacts with the bottom of the channel and urges the arm
rearwardly so -that its rear edges engage on re-entrant lips
provided on the rear edges of the channel sides of the frame
member, so that the arm is secured firmly in the channel.
Thus, in the known connector, the connector arm is urged
rearwardly relative to the frame to engage with a portion of
the channel.
The present invention provides a corner connector for a
picture frame formed from members each of similar cross-
section that are connected together at corners of the frame
and each defining a channel that in the completed frame
extends along the rear side of the frame, comprising a connec-
tor body having two arms extending in the same general plane
at an angle to one another, each arm being provided with a
rotatable tool-receiving member supported on a rear side of
the arm that is exposed when the arm is inserted into the end
; 30 of the channel of a frame member to be connected together with
another frame member at the corner, said member being adapted
to be rotated by a hand tool to cause lateral side portions
that are connected to the arm to be displaced from a normal
position, in which the arm is freely insertable into the channel,
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laterally outwardly to a clamping position in which the
lateral side portions grip firmly on the inner surfaces of
portions of the channel sides of the frame member that are
adjacent to said lateral side portions when the arm is
inserted in the frame member channel~ whereby the arm can ~e
secured firmly in the frame member channel.
With this arrangement, the securing of the arm in the channel
is effected by portions that are urged laterally toward the
channel sides, and the invention thus provides an arran~ement
that is at least a useful alternative to or is auxiliary to
the above-noted known arrangement.
Connectors embodying the present invention are illustrated, by
way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view from the rear of a frame
corner and of one form of connector therefor:
Fig. 2 shows the connector of Fig. 1 in inverted position;
Fig. 3 shows a section through the arm of the connector when
secured in the frame, taken on the line III - III in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a second form of connector;
Fig. ~ shows a section of the connector installed in the frame
taken on the line V - V in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a further form of
connector;
Fig. 7 shows a section through the connector of Fig. 6 when
installed in a frame;
Fig. 8 shows a section taken on the line VIII - VIII in Fig.
7;
Fig. 9 shows a section through a further form of connector
when installed in a frame; and
Fig. 10 shows a section on the line X - X in Fig. 9.
Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals
indicate like parts, in Figs. 1 to 3 a connector 10 is shown
employed for connecting together frame members 11 and 12. The
members are of the same cross-section and can conveniently be
extrusions sawn off to the desired lengths along mitred edges
13 and 14. In the preferred form, as shown, each member has
an outer side wall 16 with an in-turned lip 17 at its front
edge. The lip l7 defines in the completed frame a recess for
receiving and locating the picture and other framing elements,
such as the glass or other transparent cover, a mat or mats,
and a backing sheet.
The extrusion includes a transverse wall 18 from which extends
an inner rearwardly-directed wall 19. This defines with a rear
portion 21 co-planar with the wall 16 a rearwardly-opening
channel 22. This is bordered by re-entrant lips 23 and 24 on
the wall 19 and on the portion 21.
The particular form of connector member 10 that is shown is,
as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art,
well adapted to be formed by stamping, lancing and bending
operations conducted on a metal blank struck from sheet
metal. It has an L-shaped body with mutually right angled
arms 26 and 27 extending in the same general plane. These may
be formed with an embossment 28 and with an indentation 29 for
increased stiffness.
Each arm 26 and 27 is generally o~ channel section, with the
main plate-like portion of each arm 26 and 27 forming a
channel bottom, and having opposite channel sides 31 and 32.
The free edge of each channel side 31 and 32 is formed with a
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notch 33. An end wall 34 extends transversely across the end
of each arm 26 and 27. This is formed integrally with two tab
portions 36 and 37 bent underneath and parallel to the ends of
the arms 26 and 27. In the region of the tab portions 36 and
37 a circular opening 38 is formed through the main plate-like
portion of the arms 26 and 270 On the side of the arm 26 or
27 adjacent the tab portions, the opening 38 is bordered by a
circular boss 39 struck from and integral with the metal of
the arms. A screw 41 with a slotted head is threaded into the
opening 38. Preferably, this is a self-tapping screw so that
in use it cuts its own thread on the inner surface of the boss
39.
The tab portions 36 and 37 are arranged one on each side of
the axis of the screw 41 and are disposed so that their inner
edges 42 coincide with the lower end of the screw when
threaded into the opening 38. The upper edges of the tabs 36
and 37 that contact the screw 41 are bevelled, so that the
tabs tend to be spread apart by contact with the lower end of
the screw. In a normal position, the outer edges 43 o~ the
tabs 36 and 37 are disposed in the notches 33 slightly
inwardly of the outer surfaces of channel sides 31 and 32 or
at least they do not protrude beyond these surfaces.
.
In use, the connectors 10 are employed for securing together
the ends Qf frame members, such as the frame members 11 and
12, having mitred ends, in order to build up a rectangular
frame. In the completed frame, the mitred ends are abutted
together tightly to form a neat right-angled corner and are
secured together by the connector 10. In the normal position
of the tabs 36 and 37, the arms 26 and 27 of the connector 10
are freely insertable into the ends of the channels 22 in the
frame members 11 and 12 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.
Desirably, the frame ~embers 11 and 12 and the connector 10
are formed so that the arms 26 or 27 fit snugly in the
channels 22, with only small clearances between the side
surfaces of the connector 10 and the inner sides of the
channel 22 and of the lips 23 and 24 permitting the arms to be
freely insertable into the channels. The connector 10 is
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inserted as shown in Fig. 1 so that its channel sides 31 and
32 extend forwardly relative to the frame to be formed. The
sides of the arms 26 and 27 having the openings 38 therein
face rearwardly, and these openings 38, usually having the
screws 41 pre-inserted in them, are exposed between the lips
23 and 24. In the preferred form, the channel 22 in the frame
member and the channel section of the arms of the connector
each define a relatively shallow channel, which is relatively
wide in comparison to its depth. Once the arm 26 or 27 of the
connector is properly positioned in the channel 22, the screw
41 is tightened up using a screwdriver engaging the slotted
head of the screw.
As the lower end of the screw 41 engages the inner edges of
the tabs 36 and 37, these are urged laterally outwardly, as
shown by the arrows in Fig. 3, toward the inner surfaces of
the walls 19 and 21 to a clamping position in which the edges
43 of the tabs 36 and 37 grip firmly on and between these
surfaces, so that the arm is held securely in the channel 22.
As the screw is tightened up, the tabs 36 and 37 tend to be
deflected forwardly to react with the transverse wall 18 of
the frame member thus urging the arm 26 or 27 rearwardly into
engagement with the inner surfaces of the lips 23 and 24. The
lateral securement or clamping effected between the tabs 36
and 37 and the channel 22 may therefore in this case be
auxiliary to a clamping effected by rearward displacement of
the arm 26 or 27 within the channel. If desired, pressure may
be applied on the arm 26 or 27 to maintain a clearance between
it and the lips 23 and 24 while the screw 41 is being
tightened up. In such case it would be possible to employ a
frame member having a channel 22 of completely open section,
without the re-entrant lips 23 and 24. It is, however,
normally more convenient to employ a frame member of the
cross-section shown in the drawings, having the re-entrant lip
23 and 24, and extrusions of this cross-section are widely
available. It is therefore preferred to use these frame
members together with the connectors of the invention.
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Figures 4 and 5 show a further embodiment employing a
connector member 50 with arms 51 and 52 each bisected by a
longitudinally-extending slot 53. At a point intermediate the
ends of each slot, the arm is formed with a bore 54 extending
from one face of the arm part way toward the opposite face.
In use, the arms of the connector 50 are freely insertable
into the ends of channels 22 in frame members 11 and 12
similar to those described above, with the face having the
openings of the bores 54 therein directed rearwards and with
these openings exposed on the rear side of the member 11 or
12.
To secure the connector to the frame member, a screw 56,
preferably a self-tapping screw with a slotted head to be
engaged by a screwdriver, is threaded into each bore 54 and is
tightened up. The connector 50 is formed of a material, e.g.
a steel, having a certain amount of resilience. The threaded
shank of the screw 56 tends to deflect the portions of the arm
51 or 52 on each side of the slot 53 resiliently laterally
outwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5. At the point
at which the lower end of the threaded shank of the screw
reaches the end of the bore 54 it commences pressing more
forcefully laterally outwardly on the inner sides of the slot
53. The lateral side surfaces of the arm portions on each
side of the slot 53 are thus urged laterally outwardly to a
clamping position gripping firmly between the inner surfaces
of the channel walls 19 and 21. In the preferred form, when
fully tightened up, the screw 56 maintains a clearance with
and does not react with the transverse wall 18 forming the
bottom of the channel.
In figures 6 and 7, a connector body 60 has channel section
arms each having a channel bottom 61 and channel sides 62. On
each arm, a shaft having a circular section upper part 62
passes rotatably through an aperture in the channel bottom
61. A lower part 64 of the shaft is of square section and is
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keyed within a corresponding opening in an elliptical cam 66.
The shaft part ~4 has a lower riveted end 67 and an
intermediate integral collar portion 68 between which the cam
66 is retained~ The upper end of the shaft is formed with an
integral slotted head 69. Normally, the cam 66 is positioned
with its minor axis extending transversely between the channel
walls. In this configuration, the arms 61 and 62 are freely
insertable into the ends of the channels in the frame members
11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 7~ When the cam is turned by
engaging the slotted head 69 with a screwdriver and rotating
the shaft, the channel walls 62 are engaged by the cam 66 as
the major axis of the cam 66 is turned toward a transverse
orientation, as shown in Fig. 8. The material of the channel
walls 62, e.g. sheet metal, is resiliently deflectable so that
portions of the walls 62 engaged by the cam are spread
outwardly and their laterally outer sides engage on the inner
surfaces of the the walls 19 and 21 of the frame member 11.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a further embodiment having a cam 66 keyed
on a shaft 64 having a slotted head 69, and a channel section
connector body generally similar to that of Figs. 6 to 8, with
a channel bottom 61 and sides 62. The end of each arm of the
connector is formed integrally with a pair of tongues 71.
These are formed at their ends with integral tab portions 72
somewhat similar to the tab portions 36 and 37 shown in Figs.
1 to 3. The tongues 71 are bent rearwardly beneath and are
parallel to the channel bottoms 61 constituting the upper
sides of the connector arms. In the normal configuration, the
cam 66 has its minor axis extending transversely between the
tab portions 72, and the tab portions 72 are disposed in
notches 73 in the lower edges of the channel sides 62. In the
normal configuration, the tab portions 72 are disposed
slightly inwardly of the outer surfaces of the channel sides
62 or at least do not protrude beyond these surfaces. In this
configuration, each connector arm is freely insertable into an
end of the channel in the frame member. Once the connector
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arm is inserted into the channel, the slotted head 69 can be
turned with a screwdriver to orient the cam 66 so that its
major axis approaches a position extending transversely
between the tabs 72, as shown in Fig. 10. The connector body,
having the integral tongues 71 and tabs 72 is made of a
resiliently deflectable material e.g. sheet metal. The tabs 72
are pressed outwardly by the cam 66 so that their outer sides
engage on the adjacent portions of the inner surfaces of the
channel walls 19 and 21, thus securing the connector arm
within the frame member 11.
Although the accompanying drawings show connectors 10, 50 and
60 that have arms extending at right angles to one another,
for forming rectangular or square frames, it will be
appreciated that the arms may extend at an angle other than a
right angle, for use in forming polygonal frames.
It is especially convenient to form the screws 41 and 56 or
the rotatable shafts 64 with a slotted head to receive and be
rotated by a conventional flat-bladed screwdriver. It will be
appreciated that these members may, however, be adapted to
receive other hand tool drivers e.g. hexagonal, cruciform or
square head drivers.
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