GB2162785A

GB2162785A - Picture frame clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2162785A
Application number: GB08519610A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Norman Belsham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-08-03
Filing date: 1985-08-05
Publication date: 1986-02-12
Also published as: AU578486B2; AU4575285A; GB8519610D0; GB2162785B

Abstract

The clamp comprises a plurality of clamping members 15 one corresponding to each external corner of the frame. Each clamping member 15 has a pair of clamping surfaces 17 defining a jaw to receive the respective external corner of the frame. The clamping members are connected to each other by means of threaded rods 25, and are movable towards and away from each other and selectively locked against movement away from each other by nuts 27. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Picture frame clamp This invention relates to a clamp for releasably clamping together elements which are assembled to form a frame. The invention is particularly, although not solely, applicable to the construction of picture frames.

Picture frames are constructed from frame elements which are usually mitred at their ends and bonded together using an adhesive bonding agent and fixing means such as pins or nails. It is usual for the frame elements to be clamped together to facilitate insertion of the fixing means and to permit the adhesive bonding agent to set. For those who are not skilled in the art of picture framing, the clamping together of the frame elements presents difficulty.

It-is an object of this invention to provide a relatively simple clamp for releasably clamping the frame elements together.

In one form the invention resides in a clamp for releasably clamping together frame elements which are assembled to form a frame, comprising a plurality of clamping members one corresponding to each external corner of the frame, each clamping member having a pair of clamping surfaces defining a jaw to receive the respective external corner of the frame, the clamping members being movable towards and away from each other, and locking means for selectively locking the clamping members against movement away from each other.

Preferably, each jaw is provided with a support means for laterally supporting the respective end portions of the frame elements when received in the jaw. The support means may comprise a cross member extending between the clamping surfaces of the jaw.

Preferably, each clamping member is mounted on two shafts each one of which extends between that clamping member and a respective one of the two adjacent clamping members, at least one clamping member on each shaft being movable axially along the shaft to permit said movement of the clamping members towards and away from each other.

Preferably, the clamping members are adapted to slide along the respective shaft and the locking means comprises a respective stop for limiting movement of the or each clamping member on each shaft, the stop being adjustable in position axially along the shaft. Each stop may comprise a nut in engagement with an external thread formation on the shaft.

The invention will be better understood by reference to one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamp according to the embodiment; and Figure 2 is a plan view showing the clamp of Fig.

1 clamping together the elements of a picture frame.

The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to a clamp 11 for clamping together frame elements which are assembled to form a rectangular picture frame. Each frame element 13 is in the form of a length of moulding which is mitred at its ends. The frame sections 13 are assembled together in the clamp with the mitred ends in engagement.

The clamp 11 comprises a plurality of clamping members 15, one corresponding to each external corner of the frame to be assembled from the frame elements 13. Each clamping member 13 has an angular body 15 having sides 16 which provide a pair of clamping surfaces 17. The clamping surfaces 17 define a jaw to receive a respective external corner of the frame and are disposed with respect to each other at an angle corresponding to the angle of the external corner of the frame (which in this embodiment is a right angle).

Each jaw is provided with a support means 21 for laterally supporting the respective end portions of the frame elements when received within the jaw. The support means is in the form of a cross member which extends between the clamping surfaces 17 of the angular body 15.

Each clamping member 15 is slidably mounted on two shafts 23 each of which extends between that clamping member and a respective one of the two adjacent clamping members, as is shown in the drawings. In this connection there is provided on the outer face of each side 16 of each angular member 15 a sleeve 25 which is slidably located on one of the respective shafts 23. The clamping members 15 may be moved towards and away from each other to accommodate various frame sizes by sliding movement along the respective shafts.

A thread formation is provided along the length of each shaft 23. In engagement with the thread formation on each shaft there are two nuts 27 which are so positioned that the corner members which are mounted on the shaft are located between the nuts. In this way, the nuts provide stops for limiting the extent of movement of the corner members on the shaft away from each other. One of the nuts is in the form of a wing nut to facilitate rotation thereof so that its position along the shaft may be adjusted manually.

To construct a picture frame, the clamping members 15 are positioned so as to correspond to the approximate size of the frame. The frame elements 13 are positioned within the clamp with one frame element extending between each two adjacent clamping members 15, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The end portions of the frame elements 13 are supported on the cross members 21. After an adhesive bonding agent has been inserted between the abutting ends of the frame elements, each wing nut 27 is rotated so as to bring it into engagement with the sleeve of the adjacent clamp ing member. Continued rotation of the wing nuts causes the clamping members to be drawn together and so apply clamping pressure to the frame elements. The frame is maintained in the clamp condition until the adhesive bonding agent has set. While the frame is within the clamp, fixing means such as nails or pins may be inserted into the frame to assist in securing the frame elements together. In order to remove the frame from the clamp, the wing nuts are rotated in the opposite direction so as to move them away from the adjacent clamping members. This allows the clamping members to be moved away from each other thereby to release the frame.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment described. For instance, rather than having the two clamping members on each shaft slidable therealong, one clamping member may be permanently secured to the shaft. With this arrangement only one nut would be required on each shaft.

Claims

1. A clamp for releasably clamping together frame elements which are assembled to form a frame, comprising a-pluraliW of clamping members one corresponding to each external corner of the frame, each clamping member having a pair of clamping surfaces defining a jaw to receive the respective external corner of the frame, the clamping members being movable towards and away from each other and locking means for selectively locking the clamping members against movement -away from each other.

2. A clamp according to claim 1 wherein each jaw is provided with a support means for laterally supporting the respective end portions of the frame elements when received within the jaw.

3. A clamp according to claim 2 wherein each support means comprises a cross member extending between the clamping surfaces.

4. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each clamping member is mounted on two shafts each one of which extends between that clamping member and a respective one of the two adjacent clamping members, at least one clamping member on each shaft being movable axially along-the shaft to permit said movement of the clamping members towards and away from each other.

5. A clamp according to claim 4 wherein the clamping members are adapted to slide along the respective shafts and wherein the locking means comprises a respective stop for limiting movement of the or each clamping member on each shaft, the stop being adjustable in position axially along the shaft.

6. A clamp according to claim 5 wherein each stop comprises a nut in engagement with an external thread formation on the shaft.

7. A clamp according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the or each clamping member which is slidably movable along each shaft is provided with a sleeve for slidably engaging the shaft.

8. A- clamp substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.