DE102023128816A1 - Demountable picture frame and sales unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a picture frame for framing a picture, in particular a puzzle, and a sales unit therefor, wherein the picture frame (1) comprises a plurality of individual parts that can be assembled, wherein each individual part is smaller in its maximum dimension than the maximum dimension of the assembled picture frame and wherein the individual parts comprise a plurality of frame strips (3) that enclose the picture (2) to be framed and at least one back wall (5) that supports the picture to be framed, wherein in the assembled picture frame (1) the frame strips (3) are connected to one another and the back wall (5) extends parallel to the picture (2) to be framed between at least two frame strips (3), and wherein the back wall (5) has at least one solid joint (6, 7) so that at least two segments (8) of the back wall (5) can be folded or hinged towards one another.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a picture frame for framing a picture, in particular a puzzle, wherein the picture frame comprises a plurality of composable individual parts, wherein each individual part has a maximum dimension smaller than the maximum dimension of the assembled picture frame and wherein the individual parts comprise a plurality of frame strips enclosing the picture to be framed and at least one back wall supporting the picture to be framed, wherein in the assembled picture frame the frame strips are connected to one another and the back wall extends parallel to the picture to be framed between at least two frame strips. The invention also relates to a sales unit for a composable picture frame with corresponding individual parts.

STATE OF THE ART

Mail order, or so-called online retail, is becoming increasingly popular because customers can easily order goods online and have them delivered directly to their door. However, with large-volume products, such as picture frames, there's the problem that shipping costs can rise significantly due to the large volume of the product, making the products too expensive for online retail.

Puzzles are interesting products for mail order or online retailers because they not only guarantee fun when assembled, but also create a complete picture that can be hung as a decorative item in rooms, and can easily be shipped disassembled. Puzzles can also be created with personalized pictures and illustrations, giving the buyer a personalized product.

To use puzzles as a decorative piece, it's advantageous to use a picture frame that securely holds the puzzle and easily mounts it on a wall. However, the problem with this approach is that such picture frames are unsuitable for mail order and online sales, especially for larger puzzles, due to their bulky packaging. The same applies if the picture frame is intended as a gift.

Another challenge with puzzles is that putting the puzzle together requires space and time, meaning the space used is occupied for an extended period of time. For example, you can simply use a table for puzzling, with the puzzle pieces laid out accordingly. However, this is impractical if you want to use the table for something else in the meantime. Rollable puzzle mats or fixed puzzle tables are available to solve this problem. These sometimes have an edge so that the puzzle can rest against it and does not slide across the surface. Alternatively, you can just use a piece of cardboard or wood as a temporary base for the puzzle. There are also puzzle mats that consist of small boards that you can put together.

The disadvantage of conventional puzzle mats is that they don't provide a stable base, which can lead to problems with placing the puzzle pieces while puzzling, and the already placed puzzle pieces aren't securely stored, while boards and tables take up a lot of space. They are bulky products that are difficult to transport and store. Puzzle mats have become popular precisely because they are foldable and rollable. The roller around which the puzzle mat, with the partially or fully completed puzzle, can be rolled is either inflatable or made up of smaller rollers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a picture frame that can be stored and/or shipped with a small pack size and is particularly suitable for accommodating assembled puzzles. As an additional function, the picture frame can also be used as a base when assembling the puzzle. The corresponding picture frame, which, in addition to framing puzzles, is also suitable for framing other pictures, such as art prints or the like, or mirrors, should also have an appealing aesthetic appearance and be easy to manufacture and assemble.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

This object is achieved by a picture frame having the features of claim 1 and a sales unit for a picture frame having the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

To solve the problem, a picture frame for framing a picture, in particular a puzzle, is proposed, which can be easily assembled from several individual parts and, in particular, can also be disassembled again. The maximum dimension of each individual part is smaller than the maximum dimension of the assembled picture frame, so that a small pack size can be achieved. The individual parts comprise several frame strips enclosing the picture to be framed and at least one back wall supporting the picture to be framed, which back wall is arranged between the frame strips in the assembled picture frame and extends parallel to the picture to be framed. In the assembled picture frame, the frame strips are connected to one another and surround the picture to be framed. The frame strips can be made of any suitable material, such as wood, pressed wood, plastic or metal. In order to achieve a small pack size, the back wall has at least one rigid joint, so that at least two segments of the back wall can be folded or hinged towards one another around the rigid joint.

In particular, the rear wall can have at least two intersecting, preferably three or more, rigid hinges, particularly extending perpendicular to one another, so that the rear wall can be folded to a quarter of its overall size, particularly by folding twice with folding axes arranged perpendicular to one another. A different number of folds with a corresponding reduction in the largest dimension of the rear wall are also conceivable.

The at least one solid joint may be formed by a fold or a groove or a joint or an indentation or a film hinge.

The back panel can be made of any suitable material, such as cardboard, paperboard, plastic, or metal sheets. The solid hinges or film hinges can be formed by embossing or material reductions, such as grooves or the like. Corresponding solid hinges can also be created by partially punching the material. In this case, the material in the form of a plate, such as cardboard, is not punched through its entire thickness, but only to a certain depth, leaving a coherent residual material that acts as a hinge.

In order to achieve suitable folding, at least partial segments of the back wall can also be separated from each other by cuts.

In the area of the solid-state joint, at least one stabilizing connection, in particular a form-fitting connection, preferably a dovetail connection, can be arranged between the rear wall segments hingedly connected by the solid-state joint, in particular the solid-state joint, wherein one segment of the rear wall can have a dovetail-shaped projection projecting beyond the solid-state joint, and the hingedly connected segment of the rear wall can have a complementary recess. The same applies to separate but adjacent segments.

The backing or each segment of the backing may have at least one adhesive portion for bonding to the picture to be framed, wherein the adhesive portion may have a removable cover prior to framing with the picture. The adhesive portion may be applied by brushing, spraying, or other suitable application of adhesive, or preferably may be formed by one or more double-sided adhesive strips.

Adjacent frame strips can be connected to each other by means of a form-fitting connection, in particular by means of a tongue and groove connection or a dovetail connection.

The adjacent frame strips can also be connected to each other by additional connecting elements, in particular by an inserted dovetail.

The groove or recess for a dovetail can be arranged on the back of the picture frame on the frame strips and, in particular, does not represent a through opening, so that the groove or recess or the connection of the frame strip is not visible on the front of the picture frame and an attractive appearance is provided.

The frame strips may have a support shoulder through which a rectangular or square recess is defined in the cross-section of the frame strips, which can serve to accommodate the rear wall.

The back panel can be fixed to the frame strips using retaining elements, particularly adhesive strips.

The invention further relates to a sales unit for a composable picture frame, in particular for a picture frame as described above. The sales unit comprises a container and at least one foldable or hinged back panel and several frames. strips accommodated in the container, the maximum dimension of the container being smaller than the maximum dimension of the assembled picture frame.

The sales unit may further comprise at least one component from the group comprising connecting elements, tongue and groove elements, dovetails, retaining elements, adhesive strips and puzzle glue

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

• 1 eine Draufsicht auf einen zusammengesetzten, erfindungsgemäßen Bilderrahmen mit einem darin aufgenommenen Bild,
• 2 eine Rückansicht des Bilderrahmens aus 1,
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf zwei teilweise dargestellte Rahmenleisten vor der gegenseitigen Verbindung mit einem Schwalbenschwanzelement,
• 4 die teilweise dargestellten Rahmenleisten aus 3 nach der Verbindung mit dem Schwalbenschwanzelement,
• 5 eine Draufsicht auf die zusammengefaltete Rückwand eines erfindungsgemäßen Bilderrahmens,
• 6 eine Draufsicht auf die teilweise aufgefaltete Rückwand eines erfindungsgemäßen Bilderrahmens,
• 7 eine Draufsicht auf die komplett aufgefaltete Rückwand eines erfindungsgemäßen Bilderrahmens,
• 8 eine teilweise Schnittansicht durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Bilderrahmen mit aufgenommenem Bild und in
• 9 eine Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Verkaufseinheit.

The attached drawings show in a purely schematic manner in

• 1 a plan view of an assembled picture frame according to the invention with a picture held therein,
• 2 a back view of the picture frame 1 ,
• 3 a plan view of two partially shown frame strips before being connected to each other with a dovetail element,
• 4 the partially shown frame strips from 3 after connection with the dovetail element,
• 5 a plan view of the folded back panel of a picture frame according to the invention,
• 6 a plan view of the partially unfolded back wall of a picture frame according to the invention,
• 7 a plan view of the fully unfolded back panel of a picture frame according to the invention,
• 8 a partial sectional view through a picture frame according to the invention with a recorded picture and in
• 9 a representation of a sales unit according to the invention.

EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTATION

Further advantages, characteristics, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments. However, the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

The 1 shows a plan view of a picture frame 1 according to the invention, in which a picture 2, such as a puzzle, is mounted. The puzzle framed with the picture frame 1 can, for example, be coated with puzzle glue on the front of the puzzle, i.e., the side on which an image is visible, in order to create a thin layer of glue that penetrates particularly into the joints between the puzzle pieces, thereby connecting the individual pieces of the puzzle to one another and strengthening their cohesion.

The picture frame 1 comprises a plurality of frame strips 3 that are interconnected to form a rectangular frame. The frame strips 3 can be made of any suitable material, such as wood, pressed wood, plastic, or metal.

The 2 shows the picture 2 framed with the picture frame 1 from the back, whereby it can be seen that a back wall 5 is arranged between the assembled frame strips 3, i.e. in the space surrounded by the frame strips 3. The back wall 5 is fixed to the assembled frame strips 3 via several holding elements in the form of adhesive tapes 4 provided with adhesive on one side.

The rear wall 5 comprises four segments 8, which are formed by three solid joints in the form of folds 6 and 7. The folds 6, 7 represent a type of film hinge, wherein the material thickness in the area of the folds or fold lines 6 and 7 is reduced, for example, by embossing or partial, depth-limited punching, in order to enable pivoting of the segments 8 around the folds 6 and 7 as pivot axes and to create the possibility of folding or folding the rear wall together to a smaller pack size. The two in 2 The lower segments 8 are completely separated from each other by a cut 19 to allow folding if the material thickness of the rear wall 5 is appropriate. The rear wall 5 can be made of any suitable material, such as cardboard, paperboard, plastic, or metal sheets. Instead of embossed portions, the solid-state joints or film hinges 6, 7 can also be formed by material reductions such as grooves or flutes or the like.

To stabilize the fully unfolded rear wall 5, dovetail joints 9 are formed on the solid joints in the form of the folds 7 and on the segments 8 separated by a cut 19, wherein one of the adjacent segments 8 has a dovetail projection 12 and the adjacent segment 8 has a dovetail opening 13 into which the dovetail projection 12 can engage.

The 3 shows a connection of two adjacent frame strips 3, whereby the frame strips 3 are only partially shown. In the 3 It can be seen that on the back of the frame strip ten 3, which correspond to the back of the picture frame 1, dovetail-shaped recesses 10 are formed at the ends of the frame strips 3, which do not run through the entire thickness of the frame strips 3, which extends perpendicular to the image plane, so that nothing of the dovetail-shaped recesses 10 can be seen on the front of the frame strips 3. A correspondingly shaped dovetail element 11 is inserted into the dovetail-shaped recesses 10 in order to form a positive connection of the adjacent frame strips 3, as shown in the 4 Instead of an additional dovetail element 11, the connecting elements for the dovetail connection 9 can also be formed directly on the frame strips 3.

The 5 to 7 show the unfolding of a back panel 5 folded for transport or storage. In the 5 In the top view of the folded rear wall 5, an upper segment 8 of the rear wall 5 can be seen, whereby only a part of the underlying segments 8, which are folded over folds 6, 7, can be seen through the dovetail opening 13 and the dovetail projections 12. When the uppermost segment 8 is folded with the underlying segment 8 around the first fold 6 according to the arrow shown, the dovetail projection 12 of the lowermost segment 8 engages in the dovetail opening 13 of the uppermost segment 8.

In the presentation of the 5 Two double-sided adhesive strips 14 can also be seen, which are glued to the segment 8, whereby the second adhesive side, which faces outwards, is still covered with a removable cover (not shown in detail), which is only removed when an adhesive connection is made with the second adhesive side, i.e. when the back wall 5 is glued to the picture 2 or puzzle.

The 6 shows a top view of the partially unfolded rear wall 5 after the first unfolding around the first fold 6. Two segments 8 can now be seen on the top side, which are hingedly connected to the underlying segments 8 via the two folds 7. The segments 8, which are hingedly connected to one another via the folds 7, in turn have dovetail joints with dovetail projections 12 and corresponding dovetail openings 13, which, after further unfolding according to the 6 The arrows shown in the figure also interlock. 6 Two double-sided adhesive strips 14 are glued to each of the segments 8 arranged on the upper side, the second, outwardly facing adhesive layer of which is protected by a removable cover. Corresponding adhesive strips are also arranged on the segments 8 below.

After further unfolding according to the arrow of the 6 around the folds 7, is the 7 illustrated back wall 5 is fully unfolded and the double-sided adhesive strips 14 of each segment 8 are arranged on the underside of the back wall 5, which represents the front side according to the orientation of the picture frame 1, in order to be glued to the picture or puzzle that is to be accommodated in the assembled picture frame 1.

The 8 shows a partial sectional view through the picture frame 1 with a recorded image 2, wherein it can be seen that the frame strips 3 have a support shoulder 15 in cross section, which defines a square or rectangular recess 16, so that the back wall 5 with the image 2 in the recess 16 comes to rest on the support shoulder 15.

The 9 shows a sales unit 17 according to the invention with a container 18 in which the individual parts of a picture frame 1 according to the invention and additional accessories, such as puzzle glue, are accommodated. Accordingly, the container 18 shown contains frame strips 3, a folded back panel 5, on which double-sided adhesive strips 14 are already arranged, as well as single-sided adhesive tapes 4 for fixing the back panel 5 to the frame strips 3 and dovetail elements 11 for connecting the frame strips 3.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, but rather that modifications are possible in such a way that individual features can be omitted or other combinations of features can be implemented without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the present disclosure includes all combinations of the individual features shown in the various exemplary embodiments, so that individual features that are only described in connection with one exemplary embodiment can also be used in other exemplary embodiments or in combinations of individual features not explicitly shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1

picture frames

2

Picture

3

frame strip

4

single-sided adhesive tape

5

back wall

6

first fold

7

second fold

8

segment

9

Dovetail joint

10

dovetail-shaped recess

11

Dovetail element

12

Dovetail projection

13

Dovetail opening

14

double-sided adhesive tape

15

support shoulder

16

recess

17

Sales unit

18

container

19

cut

Claims (12)

Picture frame for framing a picture, in particular a puzzle, wherein the picture frame (1) comprises a plurality of individual parts which can be assembled, the maximum dimension of each individual part being smaller than the maximum dimension of the assembled picture frame, and wherein the individual parts comprise a plurality of frame strips (3) which enclose the picture (2) to be framed, and at least one back wall (5) which supports the picture to be framed, wherein in the assembled picture frame (1) the frame strips (3) are connected to one another and the back wall (5) extends parallel to the picture (2) to be framed between at least two frame strips (3), characterized in that the back wall (5) has at least one solid joint (6, 7) so that at least two segments (8) of the back wall (5) can be folded or hinged towards one another. Picture frames according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the rear wall (5) has at least two intersecting, preferably three or more, in particular perpendicular to one another, solid body joints (6, 7) and / or cuts (19) which delimit the segments (8), wherein the rear wall (5) can be folded down to a quarter of the overall size, in particular by folding twice with folding axes arranged perpendicular to one another. Picture frames according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one solid body joint (6,7) is formed by a fold or a groove or joint or an embossing or a film hinge, in particular by partial punching. Picture frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the solid-state joint (6, 7), in particular overlapping the solid-state joint (6, 7), a stabilizing connection (9), in particular a form-fitting connection, preferably a dovetail connection, is arranged between the segments (8) of the rear wall (5) which are foldably connected by the solid-state joint and/or between two segments separated by a cut (19), wherein in particular one segment (8) of the rear wall (5) has a dovetail-shaped projection (12) projecting beyond the solid-state joint (6, 7) or the cut (19), and the foldably connected or adjacent segment (8) of the rear wall (5) has a complementary recess (13). Picture frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the back wall (5) or each segment (8) has at least one adhesive section (14) for gluing to the picture (2) to be framed, wherein the adhesive section (14) has a removable cover before framing with the picture, and wherein the adhesive section (14) is preferably formed by one or more double-sided adhesive strips. Picture frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacent frame strips (3) are connected to one another by a form-fitting connection (9), in particular by a tongue and groove connection or a dovetail connection. Picture frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacent frame strips (3) are connected to one another by additional connecting elements (11), in particular by an inserted dovetail. Picture frames according to Claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the groove or recess (10) for the dovetail (11) is arranged on the back of the picture frame on the frame strips (3) and in particular does not represent a through opening. Picture frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame strips (3) have a support shoulder (15) through which a rectangular or square recess (16) is defined on the frame strips (3) in cross section, which serves to receive the back wall (5) and / or the picture (2). Picture frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the back wall (5) is fixed to the frame strips (3) by means of holding elements (4), in particular adhesive strips Sales unit for a composable picture frame, in particular for a picture frame (1) according to one of the preceding claims, with a container (18) and at least one foldable or hinged back wall (5) and a plurality of frame strips (3) which are accommodated in the container (18), wherein the maximum dimension of the container (18) is smaller than the maximum dimension of the assembled picture frame (1). Sales unit according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the sales unit (17) further comprises at least one component from the group comprising connecting elements, tongue elements of tongue and groove connections, dovetails (11), holding elements (4), adhesive strips and puzzle glue.

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