GB2104378A

GB2104378A - Picture frames

Info

Publication number: GB2104378A
Application number: GB08126092A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Ivor Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-08-26
Filing date: 1981-08-26
Publication date: 1983-03-09

Abstract

A picture, photograph etc. frame is made of one or more members of sheet material, which may be folded, so as to simulate the external surfaces of a profile member or members. The material may be paper or paperboard, and the surface may be printed or coated with other material to simulate the surface finish of a conventional frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Frame or mount for pictures etc This invention relates to frames for pictures and the like. Picture frames are conventionally made of members of wood, metal etc. of suitable profile and such material is somewhat expensive.

According to the invention a picture frame is made of one or more members of sheet material folded, or arranged to be folded, so as to simulate the external surfaces of a profile member or members. The sheet material may, for example, be paper or paperboard, and the surface may be printed or coated with, for example, a wood grain in order to simulate a wood profile material.

Alternatively, a glossy finish may be applied to the sheet material so as to simulate a lacquer finish. Metal foil or other finishes may be used and the surfaces may be embossed to simulate carving.

Although the frame may be made from a number of discreate simulated profile elements to form the frame by being secured together, another form of the invention involves the use of an integral sheet within the frame, either to form a mount for a pioture or having a picture printed on it, so that the mount and frame or the picture and frame can be produced from a single sheet of material.

In the case of a mount, the picture can be mounted over the front surface of the sheet material, or it may be provided with a cut-out and the picture mounted behind it.

The simulation of the profile material can be carried out by folding the edges a suitable number of times according to the nature of the profile it is desired to simulate, the desired surface finish being applied to the surface when the material is in the flat, so as to become visible when folded forward.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for producing a rectanguiar picture frame by folding, Figure 2 is a similar view but with two of the edges already folded, Figure 3 is a section on the line 111-111 of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale, Figure 4 a, b, c, d and e are similar sections showing aiternative profiles and Figure 5 is a plan view of one corner of a frame, before assembly and folding, produced from stock strip.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a paper or paperboard blank 1 has an area 2 either printed with a picture or intended to have mounted thereon a picture or photograph or other material to be displayed. The four margins of the blank 1 are all similarly shaped and are printed or decorated on the reverse face with a finish to simulate the finish of a picture frame moulding material, and are provided with creases to facilitate folding. The left hand and upper margin will be described in detail.

The shape and crease lines of the margins are designed to produce when folded a triangular section, and the innermost portion 3 of the left-hand margin lying between crease lines 4 and 5 is in the form of an elongated rectangle. This is folded upwards to form the outside face of the frame. The adjacent portion 6 of trapezoidal shape lying between the crease lines 5 and 7 is further folded in the same direction so as to lie sloping inwards to form the inside face of the frame. Finally, an outer portion 8 is further bent in the same direction and is secured e.g. by adhesive to the face of the blank 1. The width of the portion 8 is preferably such that when its free edge is placed in contact with the first fold along the line 4 the portions 3 and 6 will lie at appropriate angles to form the desired profile of the frame, as shown in the section in Fig. 3.

An end tab 9 is folded over at right angles and then, after repeating the above operations on the portions of the opposite margin, the same folds are carried out with the portions 10, 11 and 12 of the upper margin. This is followed by the same folds on the lower margin. The end tabs are then tucked in and the four folded-up edges secured to the face of the blank 1 by adhesive. The angles of the ends of the trapeziodal portions 6, 11 etc. are so chosen that each mates closely with the adjacent one when folded to the angle chosen for the inside face of the frame. In this way the appearance of a correctly mitred frame joint is created.

The adhesive used may, if desired, be preapplied, or in some cases other fastening means may be employed, for example stapling. The production of a frame or a framed picture by the use of this invention will be seen to be very largely a printing machine process and is thus very inexpensive. The creasing and cutting out of the blans or of complete pictures may be carried out on a standard creasing machine by the design of a suitable set of combined creasing and cutting rolls.

The profile of the frame may be varied considerably and typical examples are shown in Fig. 4 a to e. If desired, provision may be made for accommodating a sheet of glass and this is shown in Fig. 4a. Naturally, straight line profiles are the easiest to achieve, but it is quite possible to have curved profiles, provided a suitable material is chosen that will retain a curved shape after it is imparted to it by suitable rolls.

A further form of the invention is shown in Fig. 5. In this case, to produce a frame having a profile such as that in Fig. 3, a continuous strip stock is made which comprises a base portion 20 having a margin on one side divided into foldable portions 21, 22 and 23 separated by creases 24 and 25 in a similar manner to that of the margins shown in Figs 1 and 2. In this case however one pair of sides is cut off square, as shown on the right, and the other is cut off to provide a closing tab 28 and a sloping edge 29 to form the simulated mitred joint. The base portion 20 is cut at right angles.

In order to construct a frame, a pair of sides as shown on the right is joined to a pair of sides as shown at the top by overlaying the areas 30 and fastening them together as by adhesive or staples. The square cut sides are then folded inwards as before to form the profile, and then the other two sides are similarly folded, with the tab 28 tucked in and the edge 29 lying at the appropriate angle down the inside face of the adjacent strip to simulate a mitred joint.

The cutting of the ends of the upper and lower sides may be achieved by means of a specially shaped guillotine. This and a stock of strip printed to a simulate natural or polished wood etc. can be supplied to a retail frame maker who can then make up frames to customers' requirements in any desired size.

Since the frames produced by the invention are intrinsically light in weight, the invention also contemplates the inclusion of some loading material into the hollow space in the frame profile. This can be in the form of simple strips of inexpensive material, such as particle board, which can be secured by adhesive or staples.

In addition to its use for domestic purposes, the invention also finds application in commercial outlets. For example, a range of chocolates or other sweets may be marketed under some name associated with pictures, such as "Masterpiece", and a framed picture made according to the invention may form the top or the bottom of the box in which the articles are sold or may constitute an intermediate layer-separating tray.

The invention also finds application in connection with floral displays and a frame constructed in accordance with the invention may be provided, on a support surface either more or less flush with the frame or recessed behind it or arranged forwardly of it, with a half model of a receptacle in which flowers, dried artificial or cut, may be arranged. The half model may be made of fictile material such as by slip casting, and may be held in place by an adhesive. It may contain a soft material into which the flowers may be pushed so that their stems are supported in a suitable position. By way of example, the half model may be in the form of a boat or other container such as a classical vase.

Claims

1. A picture or other display frame made of one or more members of sheet material folded, or parts of which are folded, so as to simulate the external surfaces of a profile member or members.

2. A frame according to claim 1, wherein the parts to be folded are pre-creased to define the lines about which the folds are to take place.

3. A frame according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame includes a plane central area printed as a picture or as a mount for a picture.

4. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is made up of a series of marginal components each formed to a profile by folding.

5. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ends of the foldable portions are shaped so as to adopt a final position after folding which corresponds to a mitred joint.

6. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material is a paper product.

7. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable portions have applied to them a surface finish different from that of the sheet material.

8. A frame according to claim 7, wherein the surface finish is applied by a printing process, or by spraying.

9. A blank material when supplied in the flat and adapted to be formed into a frame of the kind claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

1 0. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a plane central portion is arranged to support a half model of a hollow vessel.

11. A frame according to claim 10, wherein the hollow vessel contains a soft material in which the stems of flowers may be arranged and supported.