GB2081651A - Apparatus for and method of stretching paper - Google Patents

Abstract

For stretching a paper sheet 15 or artist's use, a sheet is moistened and is then fitted to a stretching board having grooves in its side edges. The marginal portions of the sheet 15 are anchored in place by forcing plastics strips 11 into the grooves, whereafter the sheet is allowed to dry or is subjected to gentle heat. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for and method of stretching paper This invention concerns apparatus for and method of stretching paper.

In a painting of watercolours upon paper, it is an essential prerequisite that the paper should be stretched. If this is not done, wrinkling or cockling, due to localised expansion of the paper, occurs upon painting, especially if a preliminary wash is applied all over the painting surface.

Various means have already been proposed for enabling such stretching to be effected. However, such means has generally been complicated in construction or difficult to carry into effect.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction of apparatus which enables this stretching to be effected in a very simple and convenient manner.

With this object in view, the present invention provides apparatus for use in stretching a paper sheet for artist's use, in the form of a stretching board having a peripheral edge in which is a groove, in combination with one or more elongate gripping members insertable into the groove to retain therein the marginal portions of a paper sheet applied over the stretching board.

The stretching board is conveniently rectangular in configuration; it may comprise a substantially rectangular frame providing the peripheral edge in which the groove is provided, with a relatively thin panel secured thereto, e.g. by adhesion.

The or each elongate gripping member may conveniently comprise a length of round-section plastics stripping of diameter slightly narrower than the width of the groove; this plastics stripping may, for instance, be electrical cable.

The invention further provides a method of stretching a paper sheet for artist's use, using the apparatus aforesaid, which comprises moistening the paper sheet, applying it to the stretching board and folding marginal portions of said sheet to overlie the peripheral edge of the stretching board, introducing said marginal portions into the groove and retaining therein by forcing it in with the gripping member or members, and thereafter permitting or causing the paper-to dry.

In carrying the method into effect, any excess moisture present on the paper should preferably be wiped therefrom after the paper has been applied to the stretching board.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, it will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of stretching board forming part of the apparatus of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a set of gripping members which are used with the board of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary part-sectional perspective view of the board of Fig. 1, enabling its construction to be appreciated; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the two component parts of the board of Figs. 1 and 3 separated from one another; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the board of Figs. 1, 2 and 4 having a paper sheet applied thereto as a step in the method of stretching of the sheet;; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating an excess moisture-removing step of the said method; Fig. 7 is a view comparable with Figs. 5 and 6, but showing a subsequent step in the application of the paper sheet to the board; and Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating the gripping members being forced into place as another step in the method.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention for use in stretching paper, such as artist's paper intended for use in connection with watercolour painting comprises a stretching board which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. This stretching boaid 10 (which is intended to be used in conjunction with four gripping members 11 shown in Fig. 2, as will later be described) comprises a rectangularframe 12 (see particularly Fig. 4) superimposed by a panel 13 (e.g. of a relatively-hard wood which does not readily absorb water), the frame 12 and panel 13 being united for example by glueing.

As will be evident from the drawings, the peripheral edge of the frame 12 (and therefore of the stretching board 10) is formed with a continuous groove 14 therein. The width and depth of this groove 14 is such that any one of the gripping members 11 will be a snug fit therein, There are four of the gripping members 11.

These are each in the form of a length of relatively tough but pliable plastics stripping of circular crosssection and may, for convenience be lengths of plastics-encased electrical flex, since the presence of electrical wires as a central core therein is of no consequence in relation to their use as gripping members. As shown in Fig. 2, there are two such gripping member 11 of length slightly shorter than the two short sides of the board 10 and two such gripping members 11 of length slightly shorter than the two long sides of the board 10.

In making use of the described apparatus, one proceeds as has been illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 5 to 9 of the drawings. Firstly, a paper sheet 1 5 required to be stretched is moistened with cold water, for example by running under a tap and then letting excess water drain off. This sheet 1 5 is then placed onto the stretching board 10 so as to overlie the panel 13 and with its four outer marginal portions overhanging the board 10 approximately equally as shown in Fig. 5.

Thereupon, any excess moisture is wiped away from the exposed surface of the paper sheet. This step is illustrated in Fig. 6 which shows a waterabsorbent tissue or paper towel 1 6 being drawn across the surface of the paper sheet which is no visible in this figure.

This having been done, the marginal portions, indicated at 17 in Figs. 7 to 9 of the drawings, of the sheet 15 are folded along the sides of the panel 13 and frame 12 to overlie the edges of the board 10 as can be seen in Fig. 7, corner pieces 18 of the paper sheet being squeezed together as shown. The board 10, with the paper sheet 15 in position thereon, is not stood up on edge as shown in Fig. 8 and one of the gripping members 11 is placed in position along the uppermost marginal portion 17 of the sheet 15, in register with the groove 14 (not visible in this figure) therebelow. The gripping member 11 is then forced into its groove, taking a part of the respective marginal portion 17 with it, by gentle tapping using a light hammer 19.This anchors the respective marginal portion 17 to the side of the board 10, and the fitting of the gripping members 11 into the respective grooves 14 to anchor the remaining three marginal portions 17 is effected in a similar way, Fig. 9 of the drawing showing the next adjacent such marginal portion 17 in the process of being anchored in place. It will readily be understood that since the anchoring is effected with the board 10 standing on edge, the weight of the board 10 will hold in place that marginal portion of the paper sheet 15 which is below the board 10, whilst the opposite upper marginal portion 17 is being fixed with its respective gripping member.

The paper sheet 15 having been firmly held to the board 10 by its marginal portions 17, it is now either allowed to dry naturally or is exposed to warm air (e.g. from a space-heating convector or an electrical hair dryer) to drive the moisture therefrom. When dry, the sheet if perfectly stretched and is ready for use by the artist.

Practical experience shows that the apparatus enables even the most non-mechanically-minded artist to effect stretching of his paper in a quick, simple, convenient and efficient manner, the resultant stretched paper being perfectly prepared for water colour painting.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto if desired. Thus, instead of flexible strips, the gripping members could be in the form of rods, in which case the groove 14 should preferably be shaped so that entry thereto is slightly narrower than the maxmimum width, and the rod is thereby retained.

Other modifications are possible.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for use in stretching paper, in the form of a stretching board having a peripheral edge in which is a groove, in combination with one or more elongate gripping members insertable into the groove to retain therein the marginal portions of a paper sheet applied over the stretching board.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, ifl which the stretching board is rectangular.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the stretching board comprises a substantially rectangular frame providing the peripheral edge in which the groove is provided, with a relatively thin panel secured thereto.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the or each elongate gripping member comprises a length of round-section plastics stripping of diameter slightly narrower than the width of the groove.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, in which the plastics stripping is electrical cable.

6. Apparatus for use in stretching a paper sheet for artist's use, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of stretching paper for artist's use, using the apparatus aforesaid, which comprises moistening the paper sheet, applying it to the stretching board and folding marginal portions of said sheet to overlie the peripheral edge of the stretching board, introducing said marginal portions into the groove and retaining therein by forcing it in with the gripping member or members, and thereafter permitting or causing the paper to dry.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 7, in which excess moisture is wiped from the paper after it has been applied to the stretching board.

9. A method of stretching a paper sheet for artist's use, substantiaily as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.