GB2079598A

GB2079598A - Picture frame

Info

Publication number: GB2079598A
Application number: GB8110186A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-04
Filing date: 1981-04-01
Publication date: 1982-01-27
Also published as: FR2485904A1; DE3109858A1; JPS5717560U

Abstract

A picture frame which can be assembled easily without using a driver and metal fastenings comprises two boards 1 and 2 at least one of which is transparent, between which a photograph, a picture in watercolours or the like is placed. The boards are gripped firmly at their four side edges by four frame pieces 3 made of synthetic resin due to the inherent resilience of the material. The frame pieces 3 have mitred ends to provide butted corners and longitudinal grooves 3a which receive the sides of the boards. In modification, a picture mounted on a suitably thick board can be framed by the pieces 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Picture frame This invention relates to a picture frame which can be assembled easily.

In assembling a conventional picture frame, four lengths of framing are prepared and assembled together firmly by bonding or other means. When mounting a picture in a conventional picture frame, a picture canvas and a back board are set in the frame and then are fixed to the frame pieces by metal fastenings. Thus, it takes time to assemble the picture frame and to mount a picture in the frame. Also, the picture in the frame cannot be changed very easily.

An object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame which can be assembled easily without using tools such as a driver and metal fastenings, and which affords easy exchange of the picture in the picture frame. According to the present invention, a photograph, a poster, a picture in watercolours or the like is put between two boards, at least one of which is transparent. Then, these boards, together with a picture or the like therebetween, are gripped firmly at theirfourside edges by four frame pieces each having a groove whose width is slightly smaller than the total thickness of said boards, by utilizing the elasticity of the frame pieces made of synthetic resin, and finally the frame pieces are butted to be formed into a picture frame.

The nature and advantages of the present invention will be made clear from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the outward appearance of a picture frame according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the picture frame shown in Fig. 1, disassembled; and Figs. 3 to 3D are cross sectional views showing boards are gripped firmly by alternative frame pieces, Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C showing a frame comprising two boards and Fig. 3D showing an embodiment of frame for one board on which a picture or the like is stuck.

In the drawings, numeral 1 denotes a front board made of glass or synthetic resin having the required thickness and strength. This front board is generally transparent and cut in a size and shape to suit a picture or the like to be set in a frame. If the front board is made of synthetic resin such as acrylic resin and polycarbonate, it can be a lightly stained transparent board so as to enhance the beauty of the photograph or the like to be framed. A back board 2 is made of the same material as the front board, or of a plywood, straw board orthe like and cut to the same size as the front board 1. A picture, a photograph, a poster or the like is put between the back board 2 and the front board 1 and then these are gripped firmly at four sides by frame pieces 3.The frame pieces 3 are preferably made of a synthetic resin which is not affected much by heat, such as an acrylic or polycarbonate resin, so that their gripping force are not substantially affected by changes in ambient temperatures. Frame pieces 3 are of substantially C-shape in cross-section, for example a rounded C-shape as shown in Fig. 3A or an angular C-shape as shown in Fig. 3B, 3C and 3D, and cut to lengths to suit the lengths of the four sides of the front board 1 and are butted at each corner. Both ends of each frame piece 3 are mitred at an angle of 45050 that each butted corner forms a right angle. A groove 3a extends the full length of each frame piece. The width of the groove 3a is made a little smaller than the total thickness of both front and back boards.When the front and back boards with a picture or the like therebetween are inserted forcibly into the groove 3a, both gripping portions 3b, 3b with the groove 3a therebetween open slightly due to the resiliency of the material of the frame piece 3 and once the boards and the picture or the like have been inserted, they are kept gripped firmly by the gripping portions 3b, 3b. When frame pieces are manufactured by means of extrusion, the inner surface of the gripping portion 3b which abuts on the front board is preferably so shaped as to lie flat against the face of the front board and the outer surface may have any desired decoration applied thereto.In order to make the gripping portion 3b which abuts on the back board have more elasticity than the gripping portion 3b which abuts on the front and back boards, one of the gripping pieces 3b, 3b is slightly undercut i.e. slanted toward the inside as shown in Fig. 3D. Insertion of the board edge into the groove 3a can be made easier by making the outer edge of one gripping portion 3b taper as shown in Fig. 3B.

The above embodiment relates to the method of putting a photograph, a picture or the like between front and back boards, but as shown by Fig. 3D a photograph, a picture, a poster or the like 5 which is stuck on a mount, such as a styrene foam board 4 of suitable thickness, can be gripped by the frame pieces 3.

Frame pieces 3 can be made of transparent material and in order to enhance the beauty of a photograph orthe like set in the picture frame, transparent frame pieces can be coloured.

According to the present invention, a photograph, a poster, a picture or the like is held between two boards or is stuck on one board, then these are gripped firmly at their four sides by four frame pieces utilising the resiliency of the material of the frame pieces, and finally the frame pieces are butted at each corner, without using a driver and metal fastenings. Thus, the present invention provides a cheap picture frame which can be assembled easily with a picture or the like set therein.

1. A picture frame comprising two boards, at least one of which is transparent, for holding a picture, a photograph, a poster or the like therebetween, and four frame pieces applied respectively to the four sides of the two boards, each frame piece having a longitudinal groove of a width slightly less than the total thickness of the two boards and receiving a respective side of the two boards so as to resiliently grip the two boards firmly within the frame piece, and each frame piece having mitred ends to form butted corners.

2. A picture frame according to Claim 1, wherein

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Picture frame This invention relates to a picture frame which can be assembled easily. In assembling a conventional picture frame, four lengths of framing are prepared and assembled together firmly by bonding or other means. When mounting a picture in a conventional picture frame, a picture canvas and a back board are set in the frame and then are fixed to the frame pieces by metal fastenings. Thus, it takes time to assemble the picture frame and to mount a picture in the frame. Also, the picture in the frame cannot be changed very easily. An object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame which can be assembled easily without using tools such as a driver and metal fastenings, and which affords easy exchange of the picture in the picture frame. According to the present invention, a photograph, a poster, a picture in watercolours or the like is put between two boards, at least one of which is transparent. Then, these boards, together with a picture or the like therebetween, are gripped firmly at theirfourside edges by four frame pieces each having a groove whose width is slightly smaller than the total thickness of said boards, by utilizing the elasticity of the frame pieces made of synthetic resin, and finally the frame pieces are butted to be formed into a picture frame. The nature and advantages of the present invention will be made clear from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the outward appearance of a picture frame according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the picture frame shown in Fig. 1, disassembled; and Figs. 3 to 3D are cross sectional views showing boards are gripped firmly by alternative frame pieces, Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C showing a frame comprising two boards and Fig. 3D showing an embodiment of frame for one board on which a picture or the like is stuck. In the drawings, numeral 1 denotes a front board made of glass or synthetic resin having the required thickness and strength. This front board is generally transparent and cut in a size and shape to suit a picture or the like to be set in a frame. If the front board is made of synthetic resin such as acrylic resin and polycarbonate, it can be a lightly stained transparent board so as to enhance the beauty of the photograph or the like to be framed. A back board 2 is made of the same material as the front board, or of a plywood, straw board orthe like and cut to the same size as the front board 1. A picture, a photograph, a poster or the like is put between the back board 2 and the front board 1 and then these are gripped firmly at four sides by frame pieces 3.The frame pieces 3 are preferably made of a synthetic resin which is not affected much by heat, such as an acrylic or polycarbonate resin, so that their gripping force are not substantially affected by changes in ambient temperatures. Frame pieces 3 are of substantially C-shape in cross-section, for example a rounded C-shape as shown in Fig. 3A or an angular C-shape as shown in Fig. 3B, 3C and 3D, and cut to lengths to suit the lengths of the four sides of the front board 1 and are butted at each corner. Both ends of each frame piece 3 are mitred at an angle of 45050 that each butted corner forms a right angle. A groove 3a extends the full length of each frame piece. The width of the groove 3a is made a little smaller than the total thickness of both front and back boards.When the front and back boards with a picture or the like therebetween are inserted forcibly into the groove 3a, both gripping portions 3b, 3b with the groove 3a therebetween open slightly due to the resiliency of the material of the frame piece 3 and once the boards and the picture or the like have been inserted, they are kept gripped firmly by the gripping portions 3b, 3b. When frame pieces are manufactured by means of extrusion, the inner surface of the gripping portion 3b which abuts on the front board is preferably so shaped as to lie flat against the face of the front board and the outer surface may have any desired decoration applied thereto.In order to make the gripping portion 3b which abuts on the back board have more elasticity than the gripping portion 3b which abuts on the front and back boards, one of the gripping pieces 3b, 3b is slightly undercut i.e. slanted toward the inside as shown in Fig. 3D. Insertion of the board edge into the groove 3a can be made easier by making the outer edge of one gripping portion 3b taper as shown in Fig. 3B. The above embodiment relates to the method of putting a photograph, a picture or the like between front and back boards, but as shown by Fig. 3D a photograph, a picture, a poster or the like 5 which is stuck on a mount, such as a styrene foam board 4 of suitable thickness, can be gripped by the frame pieces 3. Frame pieces 3 can be made of transparent material and in order to enhance the beauty of a photograph orthe like set in the picture frame, transparent frame pieces can be coloured. According to the present invention, a photograph, a poster, a picture or the like is held between two boards or is stuck on one board, then these are gripped firmly at their four sides by four frame pieces utilising the resiliency of the material of the frame pieces, and finally the frame pieces are butted at each corner, without using a driver and metal fastenings. Thus, the present invention provides a cheap picture frame which can be assembled easily with a picture or the like set therein. CLAIMS

2. A picture frame according to Claim 1, wherein the front board is stained and transparent.

3. A picture frame for a picture, a photograph, a poster or the like which is mounted on board, comprising four frame pieces for gripping the sides of the board firmly, each frame piece having a longitudinal groove of a width slightly less than the thickness of the board and a picture or the like mounted thereon so as to receive and firmly resiliently grip a respective side of the board, and each frame piece having mitred ends to form butted corners.

4. A picture frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame pieces are rounded C-shape in cross section.

5. A picture frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the frame pieces are of angular C-shape in cross section.

6. A picture frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer surfaces of the frame pieces are decorated.

7. A picture frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.