EP1150596B1

EP1150596B1 - Picture frame and stand therefor

Info

Publication number: EP1150596B1
Application number: EP00901768A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kennth Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-04
Filing date: 2000-02-03
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-03
Also published as: WO2000045682A1; DE60011048D1; ATE267543T1; AU2306800A; EP1150596A1

Abstract

A stand for a picture frame, and a picture frame as such, are disclosed in which a leg is provided which can support the frame in a generally upright position. The stand comprises a bracket coupled to the rear of the frame and the leg is receivable by the bracket in either of a first orientation, in which the leg lies against or adjacent the rear of the frame to minimise the bulk of the stand, and a second orientation in which the leg projects backward from the frame to support it. Engagement of the leg and bracket is by means of a projection, which is preferably formed on the leg, and a slot, which is preferably defined by the bracket, the projection being insertable in the slot. The bracket may also be adapted to receive means such as a hook for hanging the frame, e.g. by inclusion of an appropriate cut-away.

Description

The present invention is concerned with stands for picture frames, and with picture frames as such.

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 general type exist.

One such mass produced picture frame has a perimeter frame, e.g. of wood with mitred corner joints or alternatively of plastics, a transparent front panel of plastics or glass, and a rear opaque 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 around the rear of the perimeter frame and held in position typically by 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-fomned 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.

An alternative construction uses a leg formed separately from the frame's rear panel but coupled thereto through a hinge.

While commercially successful, such frames are not without shortcomings. Their appearance is not appropriate in some contexts; the leg can sometimes fold inward allowing the frame to topple backward, and abuse can cause the material forming the hinge for the leg to fail.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved stand for a picture frame and an improved free standing picture frame. It is particularly desired to provide a frame with a stand which can support the frame but whose bulk can be minimised for storage, and to ensure that when supporting the frame the stand is adequately located to prevent motion of the stand which would allow toppling of the frame.

Netherlands patent application NL-A-92504 (Johannes Ernens) contains drawings of a picture frame stand in which a right angled, square section leg is insertable upwardly into a complementary shaped bracket. The construction is not considered suitable for frames of the above described type, wherein the leg would upon insertion into the bracket be fouled by an upstanding portion of the perimetral frame.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stand for a picture frame comprising a bracket for coupling to the rear of the frame and a leg, the bracket defining at least one slot into which a projection provided by the leg is insertable to thereby mount the leg upon the frame, the leg and the slot (or slots) being shaped such that in use the leg can thereby be mounted upon the frame in either of a first orientation relative to the frame, in which the leg lies generally parallel to the rear of the frame to minimise bulk, and a second orientation relative to the frame, in which the leg projects backwardly from the frame and can thus support the frame in a standing position, characterised in that the projection provided by the leg is insertable, in use, along a downward direction into the bracket, the leg when mounted extending upwardly from the bracket and providing a surface which contacts the rear of the frame, when the leg is in its second orientation, and so resists movement of the leg relative to the frame in use.

Registration of the leg's projection with the slot can provide an adequately positive means of maintaining the leg in either of its positions, while the facility to dispose the leg against or adjacent the rear surface of the frame allows the space taken up by the frame to be minimised for packing, storage, transport etc. The stand according to the present invention can if desired be economically manufactured from plastics and/or pressed metal sheet and/or shaped metal wire.

The leg and the bracket can be separately formed. They are preferably not fixedly coupled together.

To achieve a simple structure, the leg may be formed as a single component of sheet material. It may be stamped from sheet metal.

The leg preferably has a support portion which meets the projection in an elbow, the support portion extending backwardly from the frame when the leg is in its second orientation to rest on the supporting surface and so support the frame in its generally upright position.

The projection and the slot are preferably shaped to register in a manner such that following insertion of the projection into the slot the leg cannot be moved from its first to its second orientation without first being withdrawn from the slot.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slot in the bracket is generally "L" shaped in cross section, the projection being generally rectangular in cross section and so receivable by the slot in at least two different orientations, one substantially perpendicular to the other. A "T" shaped cross section can also be used for the slot, although this form of the invention is not currently preferred.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the slot has a square cross section. The leg projection may have a square cross section. Such an embodiment may comprise a leg comprising shaped square section wire.

In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bracket defines two differently orientated slots such that the leg lies in the first orientation when received in one slot and in the second orientation when received in the other. A preferred construction of this embodiment comprises a bracket part formed of metal sheet, the two slots being parallel and separated by an intermediate portion of the sheet.

Since the projection is insertable into the slot in a generally downward direction, it might be imagined that subsequent upward pressure exerted on the support portion due to the weight of the frame would tend to displace the leg upwardly, but in fact the inventor has found that instead the force on the leg causes its projection to bind in its slot and thus to be maintained in position,

The bracket part is preferably formed of shaped sheet metal. For economical mass production, the bracket can be formed by stamping. It may be coupled to the rear of the frame by integrally formed dogs pressed out of the plane of the sheet metal and driven into a board forming the rear of the frame.

It is especially preferred that the bracket is adapted to receive a pin, hook or other means for hanging the frame.

It is commonly required that a frame should be capable not only of free standing on a surface but also of being hung from a wall. This has conventionally required two separate devices on the rear of the frame - a stand and a loop, wire or similar means for engagement with a hook, pin etc. The present invention allows both functions to be achieved by one unit with a resultant cost saving which can be highly important in the mass market for low cost frames.

To receive the hanging means, the slot may be flared at one or both of its ends. Additionally or alternatively the bracket may have a cut-away, e.g.. a "V" notch or hole for receiving the hanging means

Coupling of the bracket to the rear of the frame according to the invention may be achieved by securing the bracket to an exposed rear face of a rear panel of the frame. Alternatively, this coupling may be achieved in accordance with the invention by providing the bracket with a resilient clip to engage with an edge portion of the frame's rear panel. Still another arrangement according to the present invention achieves coupling of the bracket to the rear of the frame by providing the frames rear panel with an opening into which a slot defining portion of the bracket is inserted from the panel's front face, the bracket having surfaces which lie against the panel's front face to stabilise the bracket.

The present invention further provides a picture frame provided with a stand as hereinbefore described.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of a bracket forming part of a first embodiment of the present invention and adapted to be coupled to the rear of a picture frame;

Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of a leg also forming part of the first embodiment;

Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective a bracket forming part of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates in perspective a bracket forming part of a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a leg used in the third embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a perspective illustration of the third embodiment in use on a picture frame;

Fig. 7 is a perspective illustration of the stand and picture frame of fig. 6 but shows the stand configured for storage;

Fig. 8 is a perspective illustration of a bracket forming part of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a perspective illustration of a bracket forming part of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective illustration of a bracket forming part of an sixth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a perspective illustration of a bracket forming part of a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 12 illustrates in plan a further leg for use in embodiments of the present invention.

The bracket illustrated in Fig. 1 is stamped from sheet metal and provided with a suitable surface coating for preservation and / or decoration. It is rectangular in plan and is to be coupled to the rear panel of a picture frame through a pair of conventional dog tooth fittings 2 pressed out of the sheet metal itself and driven into the rear panel.

A shaped slot 4 is formed in the sheet metal of the bracket by the stamping process and has an "L" shaped internal cross section. When the bracket is mounted on the picture frame, the slot extends in the direction from the bottom of the frame to the top, the bracket being positioned near to the bottom of the frame. Some rectangular frames can be used in two different orientations, either a long edge or a short edge being lowermost and resting on the supporting surface. For such frames, two brackets of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 may be provided, one adjacent a short edge of the frame and one adjacent a long edge.

The leg illustrated in Fig. 2 is formed, like the bracket, from sheet metal with a surface coating. The leg has a main portion 6 with a foot 8 formed thereon for resting on the supporting surface, and is elbowed to also form a projection 10 of rectangular cross section for receipt in the slot 4. The edge 12 of the leg remote from the foot is straight, to rest against the rear of the picture frame when the leg is supporting the frame.

To couple the leg to the bracket, and hence to the picture frame itself, projection 10 is inserted downwardly into the slot 4. Because of the "L" shape of the slot, the projection can be received either such that the leg lies generally perpendicular to the bracket and the picture frame, the projection lying largely within a perpendicular portion 14 of the slot, or such that the leg lies generally parallel to and against the bracket and the picture frame, the projection lying largely within a parallel portion 16 of the slot.

In the first case the leg projects backward from the picture frame and enables it to stand generally upright on a horizontal surface - the frame inclines slightly backward and is prevented from toppling by resting of the foot 8 on the surface.

In the second case, the leg, being against and parallel to the rear of the frame, is conveniently retained for storage without risk of being lost.

Both the leg's projection and the slot are formed with a slight taper along their lengths, so that the former can be snugly received in the latter.

Another suitable construction of the bracket part of the stand is illustrated in Fig. 3. This bracket 70 is usable with a leg of the type illustrated in Fig. 2. As compared with the bracket illustrated in Fig. 1, the bracket 70 is considered to give more positive location for the leg. It defines a pair of

parallel slots

72, 74 one adjacent, but separated from, the other. One slot 72 receives the rectangular leg projection when the leg is in its "in use" position, projecting from the rear of the frame. The other slot 74 has the same cross section as the one slot 72 but is oriented at 90 degrees thereto and so receives the projection when the leg is in its "storage" position adjacent the rear of the frame.

Both slots being too narrow (along most of their lengths) to receive a hook or nail head, the slot 72 has been flared at one of its ends 76 - the lowermost end in use - and nicked at 78 to adapt it to serve as means for hanging the frame when the leg is not in use.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a particularly constructionally convenient embodiment of the present invention in which the bracket 80 defines a slot 84 of square cross section and the corresponding leg 82 is likewise square, being formed in this version from square wire appropriately shaped. One end of the slot 84 is closed by a downwardly turned flap 86 which can be formed during the stamping process used to manufacture the bracket and which serves to prevent the lower end of the portion of the leg inserted into the slot from emerging.

Viewed in its in-use orientation, the leg comprises a first straight portion 92 heading via a downwardly turned elbow 94 to an inclined portion 96 which in turn leads to an upwardly turned foot 98 and then to a second straight portion 100.

In Fig. 6, this embodiment of the invention is seen in use in conjunction with a picture frame 90, the bracket being secured to the rear panel of the frame by its dog teeth with the open end of the slot 84 facing away from the adjacent portion of the perimeter frame to receive the first straight portion 92 of the leg 82. The leg itself projects perpendicularly backward from the frame's rear panel, its foot 98 resting on a supporting surface to stably support the frame.

In Fig. 7, the same embodiment is seen with the leg in its storage position. Here, the straight portion 100 (rather than the opposite end portion 92) has been inserted in the bracket 80 and the leg lies adjacent and parallel to the rear panel of the frame.

The arrangement of Figs. 6 and 7 includes a pair of brackets 80 mutually perpendicularly aligned, one adjacent a short edge of the frame (the frame being rectangular) and one adjacent a long edge of the frame. Thus by inserting the leg in one or other of the brackets the frame can be supported either with a long edge horizontal on the supporting surface as illustrated (often referred to as "landscape mode") or with its short edge on the supporting surface ("portrait mode").

In Fig. 7, the frame is oriented in portrait mode but with the one bracket toward the top of the frame. A "V" cut-away 102 is consequently downwardly open and can receive means for hanging the frame - a nail, pin, hook etc.

The bracket illustrated in Fig. 8 is a one piece plastics moulding and comprises a back plate 110 on one face of which is formed a generally square sectioned portion 112 defining a slot for receiving the leg. Along two side walls 114 of the slot defining portion are respective externally projecting tongues 116 which extend parallel to the back plate 110 but are separated therefrom. The rear panel of the picture frame is indicated by phantom lines 118, from which it can be appreciated that the bracket's back plate 110 is placed against the front face of the rear panel and so is sandwiched within the assembled picture frame and thereby concealed. The slot defining portion 112 is, during assembly of the picture frame, pushed through a complementarily shaped rectangular opening in the rear panel of the picture frame such as to be exposed at the rear of the picture frame. Optional locating pegs 120 project out of the back plate and into corresponding openings in the rear panel. In some embodiments, the bracket may be adequately secured in position by reason of its being sandwiched against the frame's rear panel, the tongues 116 being dispensed with. However in Fig. 12 additional security is provided by the tongues 116 which, once pushed through the rear panel (involving some temporary deformation of the panel) lie against the panel's rear face and so resist subsequent movement of the bracket.

The bracket illustrated in Fig. 9 can be manufactured particularly straightforwardly from sheet metal and comprises a square sectional tubular member 122 with two sets of dog teeth 124 for mounting the bracket on the rear panel of a picture frame. This, arrangement offers a narrower face (labeled 126) for abutment against the frame's rear panel than the previously described embodiments and consequently its coupling to the rear panel is less rigid but is adequate for certain applications.

The bracket illustrated in Fig. 10 is somewhat similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8 is that it has a slot defining portion, in this case a "U" section 128, which is pushed through an opening in the frame's rear panel.

Adjacent wing portions 130 lie in a common plane and serve a similar. function to the back plate of the Fig.12 embodiment, lying against the rear panel's front face in the assembled frame. Backwardly directed dogs 132 formed from the wing portions 130 project rearwardly and so can be driven into the frame's rear panel to secure the bracket thereto. Tabs 134 are formed from cut outs in the wing portions and are folded back to lie over part of the mouth of the "U" sectioned slot to locate the projection of the leg in use.

The bracket illustrated in Fig. 11 can be particularly straightforwardly, fitted to a picture frame and is for example suitable for fitting to existing frames by a purchaser. It is formed by folding metal sheet and comprises a square sectioned tubular portion 136 for receiving the projection of the leg with an integrally formed clip portion 138 formed by a metal tab which projects from the lower edge of the tubular portion 136 and is bent to form a "U" in which an edge of the picture frame's rear panel can be inserted and resiliently gripped. The base portion 140 of the clip is typically disposed, in the assembled frame, between the rear panel's edge and an adjacent, perimetral shoulder of the frame itself, ensuring that the bracket remains in position on the frame.

The leg illustrated in Fig. 12 may be formed of moulded plastics. For improved rigidity it has an integral cross brace 142. The projection 144 of the leg for receipt by the bracket has pre+formed lines of weakening 146 at which the projection can be snapped off to thereby reduce the projection's length. In this way the vertical positioning of the leg's foot 148 relative to the bracket can be altered, to change the angle at which the stand supports its associated picture frame and/or to allow the stand to be positioned at an increased distance from the edge of the frame.

Claims

A stand for a picture frame (90) comprising a bracket (70, 80) for coupling to the rear of the frame and a leg (82, 144) the bracket defining at least one slot (4, 24, 48) into which a projection (10, 92, 100, 146) provided by the leg is insertable to thereby mount the leg upon the frame, the leg and the slot (or slots) being shaped such that in use the leg can thereby be mounted upon the frame in either of a first orientation relative to the frame, in which the leg lies generally parallel to the rear of the frame to minimise bulk, and a second orientation relative to the frame, in which the leg projects backwardly from the frame and can thus support the frame in a standing position, characterised in that the projection provided by the leg is insertable, in use, along a downward direction into the bracket, the leg when mounted extending upwardly from the bracket and providing a surface which contacts the rear of the frame, when the leg is in its second orientation, and so resists movement of the leg relative to the frame in use.
A stand according to claim 1, wherein the leg is formed as a single component of shaped wire.
A stand according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the leg has a support portion (6,96) which meets the projection (10, 92,100,146) in an elbow, the support portion extending backwardly from the item when the leg is in its second orientation to rest on the supporting surface and so support the item in its generally upright position.
A stand according to any preceding claim, wherein the slot has a square cross section and the projection has a complementary square cross section.
A stand according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the slot is substantially "L" or "T" shaped in cross section, the projection being generally rectangular in cross section and so receivable by the slot in at least two different orientations, one substantially perpendicular to the other.
A stand according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the bracket defines two differently orientated slots such that the leg lies in the first orientation when received in one slot and in the second orientation when received in the other.
A stand according to any preceding claim wherein the bracket is adapted to receive means for hanging the item and so to enable hanging of the item therefrom.
A stand according to claim 7 wherein the bracket comprises a cut away region (78, 84) for receipt of means such as a wall mounted hook for hanging the item.
A stand according to claim 8 wherein the cut away region is formed in a part of the bracket defining the slot.
A stand according to any preceding claim wherein the leg has two ends (100, 92) both of which form respective projections for receipt by the bracket, the shape of the leg and of the bracket being such that one of the projections can be received by the bracket to mount the leg in its first orientation and the other of the projections can be received by the bracket to mount the leg in its second orientation.
A picture frame provided with a stand according to any preceding claim.
A picture frame according to claim 11 comprising two differently orientated brackets for engaging the leg in either of two different orientations and so enabling the picture frame to be supported on either of two of its edges.