GB2259010A - Picture frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A picture frame 11 has a removable back panel 16 made of a smaller flat hardboard sheet 18 glued face to face with a larger shoot 17, forming a relatively raised and forwardly projecting central portion with square cut edges surrounded by a rebate 21. The frame just fits into the rebate while the central portion of the panel projects forwardly into the frame. A leaf spring 30 is held in position on one edge of the sheet 18 by a clamp 32 which is located over the spring and hold in position by a rivet 34 before the sheet is glued to the larger sheet 17, so that no fixing means is visible when the frame is closed by the panel, which is dimensioned overall to conform to the outline of the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

PICTURE FRAMES AND THE LIKE This invention relates to picture frames and the like, and especially smaller picture frames such as are used domestically for photographs, in particular.

Picture frames of this kind need to have some provision made for opening and closing the frame1 so that pictures can be inserted into, and removed from, the frame. Usually the back of the frame is in some way removable. Catches, clips and other means have been proposed over the years in many alternative designs for achieving this same object. Each design has its own benefits and drawbacks, relating to construction, durability, expense, ease of use, appearance, and so on.

It is an object of this invention to provide a picture frame with a removable back panel which combines an attractive appearance with ease of use and economy of manufacture.

In one aspect, the invention is concerned with a frame for pictures and the like (such as photographs, paintings, mirrors and embroidery, as well as showcases, lightboxes, display cases and so forth) having a removable back to permit the insertion of a picture into the frame, optionally behind a front glass and a mount, as is well known. The back is a panel provided with a rebate around its forward edge, leaving a relatively raised and forwardly projecting central portion of the panel in the area bounded by the rebate.

The frame just fits into the rebate while the central portion of the panel projects forwardly into the frame. Spring means acting between the frame and the edge of the central portion of the panel urge the central portion against the frame with sufficient force to retain the panel on the frame.

The rebate may be cut so that the edge of the central portion of the panel is square or undercut, and the inner edge of the frame into which this portion of the panel fits may correspond. It is preferred that the rebate be cut so that the edge of the central portion is square, that is to say perpendicular to the plane of the panel, as this makes manufacture more economical, and has been found capable of giving a satisfactory performance.

The material of the back panel and of the frame is not critical, but it is preferred that at least one is of a fibrous material, preferably hardboard for the back panel and wood for the frame.

The back panel may be made from two separate flat sheets glued face to face, one being smaller than the other to produce the rebate around the edge of the smaller piece, which becomes the raised central portion of the panel.

The spring means may comprise a compression spring, especially a leaf spring, located between the frame and the central portion of the panel. The spring may be fastened to the central portion of the panel, and if the panel is made of two sheets it is particularly convenient to fasten the spring to the smaller sheet before it is glued to the larger sheet, so that neither the spring nor the fixing means for the spring is visible when the frame is closed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the back panel is dimensioned overall to conform to the outline of the frame. This gives a particularly neat appearance to the closed frame, with a potentially smooth rear panel, and only a flush hairline joint visible around the edge of the frame to show where the front and back separate. The surface area contact between the rebate in the back panel and the rear of the frame gives a good dust seal, terminating in a step at the inner edge of the rebate.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an open picture frame1 showing the back of the frame and the front of the rear panel; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the frame showing the back panel about to be placed in position in the frame; and Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through the centre of the frame and back panel, with exaggerated separation of the parts.

In the drawings, the rectangular frame 11 consists of four straight wooden sides 12 mitred together at the frame corners, where wedges 14 are driven into the wood to hold the corners closed.

The back panel 16 which is adapted to fit the rear of the frame 11 is made up from two sheets of SBS (smooth both sides) hardboard, each 3.2mm thick, glued together face to face. The rearmost sheet 17 is the larger, corresponding in shape and size to the overall profile of the frame 11, while the smaller sheet 18, which is also rectangular, is glued centrally to the larger sheet so as to form a forwardly projecting portion surrounded by a rebate 19 of uniform width all around the front edge of the back panel.

As is conventional in picture frames of this kind, and as shown in Figure 3, the inner edges of the sides 12 of the frame 11 are provided with their own rebate 21 in which is received successively, from the rear of the open backed frame, a glass 24, a mount 26, and a picture 28. When the back panel is put into position, the central portion 18 also enters the rebate 21 of the frame, while the rear faces of the frame sides 12 enter the rebate 19 on the back panel, and seal against the front face of the larger hardboard sheet 17.

In order to secure the assembly together, a plated steel leaf spring 30, 3.2mm wide, is located on one edge of the sheet 18 which forms the central portion of the back panel 16. Spring 30 bears against the inside of the frame and urges the sheet 18 against the opposite side of the frame, with sufficient force to ensure that the whole assembly remains together.

It should be noted that the rebate 21 in the frame, and the edges of the hardboard sheets, are square cut, and the combination of the thickness of the sheet 18, the square edges, the fibrous nature of the edges of the hardboard and of the wood from which these parts are made and which contributes to their frictional properties, and the strength of spring 30, combine to give the surprising result that the assembled picture frame can be safely handled and used without needing to rely on any positive mechanical latching between the back and the front, or any adhesives.

The fit of the central portion 18 of the back panel 16 in the rebates 21 in the frame 11 is chosen to be as exact as possible, allowing for the compressed thickness of the leaf spring 30. This is held in position on the edge of the sheet 18 by a clamp 32 which is located over the spring and held in position by a rivet 34 before the sheet 18 is glued to the larger sheet 17. In this way the spring and its fixings are entirely invisible when the frame is closed. The general method of closing the back of the frame is shown best in Figure 2, from which it can be seen that the back is closed by sliding the central portion of the back panel 18 into the rebate 21 against spring 30, until the whole back snaps closed.

A standard hinged strut back 36 is attached to the rear of the back panel by conventional means, allowing the picture frame to be stood up. Alternative means may be provided on the back panel for hanging the frame on a wall.

When the back panel is fully closed, only a hairline joint on the sides 12 of the frame remains visible. The sides and rear can be spray painted to match the front of the frame, contributing to a generally neat and attractive appearance. The wedges 14 on the rear of the frame are entirely hidden from view.

It can be seen that the specific embodiment described combines ease and economy of manufacture, with very few operations requiring to be carried out, with great simplicity of use. Provided there is an adequate rebate made in the back panel to accept the frame, and using suitable materials, the method of fixing the back to the frame has been found satisfactory for frames up to about 30 x 24cm in size. Further, the invention is not confined to rectangular frames, but may be used with frames of round, oval or other shapes as well.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific elements and combinations of elements, it is envisaged that each element may be combined with any other or any combination of other elements. It is not intended to limit the invention to the particular combinations of elements suggested. Furthermore, the foregoing description is not intended to suggest that any element mentioned is indispensable to the invention, or that alternatives may not be employed. What is defined as the invention should not be construed as limiting the extent of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims (12)

1 A frame for pictures and the like in combination with a removable back panel provided with a rebate around its forward edge leaving a relatively raised and forwardly projecting central portion in the area bounded by the rebate, such that the frame just fits into the rebate while the central portion of the panel projects forwardly into the frame, in which the back panel is made from two separate flat sheets glued face to face, one being smaller than the other to produce the rebate around the edge of the smaller piece which thereby becomes the raised central portion of the panel, and in which spring means acting between the frame and the edge of the central portion of the panel urge the central portion against the frame with sufficient force to retain the panel on the frame.

2 A frame and back panel according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the back panel and the frame is of a fibrous material.

3 A frame and back panel according to claim 2 wherein the material of the back panel is hardboard and the material of the frame is wood.

4 A frame and back panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the edge of the smaller sheet forming the central portion of the panel is cut square.

5 A frame and back panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spring means comprise a compression spring located between the frame and the central portion of the panel. -

6 A frame and back panel according to claim 5 wherein the compression spring is a leaf spring.

7 A frame and back panel according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the spring is fastened to the smaller sheet before it is glued to the larger sheet, so that neither the spring nor fixing means for the spring is visible when the frame is closed by the panel.

8 A frame and back panel according to claim 7 wherein the spring is held in position on the edge of the sheet by a clamp which is located over the spring and held in position by a rivet before the sheet is glued to the larger sheet.

9 A frame and back panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the smaller sheet forming the raised central portion of the back panel is rectangular.

10 A frame and back panel according to claim 9 wherein the compression spring is located at the centre of one edge of the smaller sheet

11 A frame and back panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the back panel is dimensioned overall to conform to the outline of the frame, with a dust seal formed by surface contact in the rebate between the front face of the larger of the flat sheets making up the back panel and the rear of the frame.

12 A picture frame and back panel substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.