GB2276083A

GB2276083A - Picture frame

Info

Publication number: GB2276083A
Application number: GB9305328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Alexander
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-16
Filing date: 1993-03-16
Publication date: 1994-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-16
Also published as: GB2276083B; GB9305328D0

Abstract

A picture frame capable of construction without specialist tools or expert framing techniques comprises an arrangement of four side members 10 joined at their ends to adjacent side members by pre-formed corner pieces 11. Each corner piece 11 has a pair of perpendicularly-disposed sockets (17, Fig. 2) dimensioned to slidably receive the ends of respective side members 10. This arrangement allows adjustment of the frame to compensate for non-identical lengths of the side members 10 by sliding them into or out of the sockets. The sockets may be formed with end walls to delimit penetration of the side members. The end walls may have projections receivable in tubular portions of complementary geometry formed on the side members 10. Preferably, the side members 10 and corner pieces 11 have flange portions 14, 20 (Fig. 4) extending in a plane inwardly of the frame to serve as a seat and seat cover, respectively, for the picture to be mounted. <IMAGE>

Description

A PICTURE FRAME This invention relates to a picture frame.

Picture frames are difficult to construct without the use of specialist tools needed to cut and form mitre joints at the corners of the frame. Various types of picture frame have been proposed which do not require mitre joints and are therefore easier to construct. One such picture frame is disclosed in British patent application No. 2 102 676, which shows side members cut from a length of extruded material. The side members are fixed at their respective ends to adjacent side members by corner pieces which engage into a channel formed in each side member. This type of frame will not be perfectly square or rectangular unless opposite side members are cut to exactly the same length. Furthermore, the cut ends of the side members are exposed and therefore care has to be taken to perform each cut neatly.

I have now devised a picture frame which is easier to assemble than conventional picture frames.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a picture frame comprising four side members joined at their ends to adjacent side members by corner pieces, wherein each corner piece comprises a pair of perpendicular sockets which receive the ends of adjacent side members.

Thus, the cut ends of the side members are hidden from view inside the sockets in the corner pieces.

Preferably the ends of the side members are a sliding fit inside the sockets so that adjustments can be made to the length of each side of the frame by sliding the side members into or out of the sockets.

The side members are preferably cut from a length of extruded material.

Preferably a flange projects from the inner side wall of each side member towards the opposite side of the frame, the flange lying substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the frame, so that a picture can be seated inside the frame.

Preferably each socket is arranged so that the inner side wall and the lower surface of the flange of each side member are exposed at their ends.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of a picture frame in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the underside of a corner piece of the frame of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the upper side of the corner piece of Figure 2; and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view along the lines IV-IV of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a square picture frame comprising four side members 10 joined at their respective ends to adjacent side members by corner pieces 11. Each side member 10 is cut from a length of extruded metal or plastics material. The underside wall of each side member is formed with a longitudinal slot 16 for receiving an element 13 for mounting the picture frame to a wall or the like. The upper side walls of the side members 10 are profiled or patterned for decorative purposes. The side members 10 are hollow in section and three tubular portions 15 extend along the inside of each member. A flange 14 projects outwardly from the upper portion of the inner side wall 21 of each side member 10.Referring to Figure 4, the flange 14 lies substantially parallel to the plane of the picture frame, so that a picture or a mounting board 12 can be seated in the recess formed by the flange 14 and the inner side wall 21 of each side member 10.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the corner pieces 11 comprise an L-shaped element having two arms 22,23 arranged at right angles to each other. The ends of each arm are provided with sockets 17 for receiving the respective ends of two adjacent side members 10. the corner piece 11 if formed with an L-shaped flange 20 which covers the flanges 14 on respective side members 10. The sockets 17 are arranged so that the underside of the flanges 14 on each side member 10 and their respective side walls 21 are exposed towards the picture or mounting board 12. Three projections 18 may extend outwardly from a back wall 19 of each socket 17 into the tubular portions 15 of the side members 10.

It is not essential to cut the side members exactly to length or exactly at right angles because the ends of the side members 10 are located inside sockets 17 in the corner pieces 11, and are therefore out of sight. The side members 10 are preferably securely fixed to the corner pieces 11 once the length of each side of the frame has been set.

Claims

1. A picture frame comprising four side members joined at their ends to adjacent side members by corner pieces, wherein each corner piece has a pair of perpendicular sockets which each receive a respective end of a pair of adjacent side members.

2. A picture frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side members are a sliding fit inside the sockets.

3. A picture frame as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inner side wall of each side member has a flange projecting towards the opposite side of the frame, said flanges lying substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the frame to serve as a seat for a picture or mounting board to be mounted in the frame.

4. A picture frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein each socket is arranged so that the inner side wall and the lower surface of the flange of each side member are exposed at their ends.

5. A picture frame as claimed in claim 4 wherein each corner piece is cut away on the lower surface in the region remote from the mouths of the sockets.

6. A picture frame as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein each corner piece has an L-shaped inwardly-extending flange which overlies the ends of the flanges of adjacent side members.

7. A picture frame as claimed in claim 6 wherein the corner piece flange has a returned lip portion which overlies the inwardly-facing edges of said side member flanges.

8. A picture frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each corner piece socket has an end wall which defines the limit of penetration of a side member into the socket.

9. A picture frame as claimed in claim 8 wherein the end wall of each socket is provided with a plurality of projections receivable in tubular portions of complementary geometry provided in the side members.

10. A picture frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side members are obtained from an extruded material.

11. A picture frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the underside wall of each frame member is formed with a slot for receiving a mounting element.

12. A picture frame substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.