GB2520760A

GB2520760A - Quick change picture frame

Info

Publication number: GB2520760A
Application number: GB1321165.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Kevin Luff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-01
Filing date: 2013-12-01
Publication date: 2015-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-01
Also published as: GB201321165D0; GB2520760B

Abstract

A device for displaying a picture comprises a frame with a substantially planar rear face that surrounds an aperture and a spring clip 3 arranged so to hold a picture to be displayed against the planar rear face of the frame. The spring clip may be adapted 11 so that picture frame may be hung or mounted from a surface or wall. The spring clip may be mounted in a recess within the frame. The frame may be provided with at least two spring clips so as to allow more than one picture to be mounted within the frame at the same time. The or each spring clip may be movable or repositionable, or an additional clip may be provided, so that the frame may be rotated between portrait and landscape formats. In use, the device allows for pictures and other items of art to be rapidly hung for display without the use of a mount or backboard.

Description

QUICK CHANGE PICTURE FRAME

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to picture frames.

BACKGROUND

A picture frame essentially comprises a frame with a means for holding artwork, and one or more display apertures in the front of the frame through which the artwork can be viewed.

In conventional picture frames artwork is mounted in a rebate in the back of the frame, and is held between a sheet of clear material such as glass or clear plastic, and a backing board.

Typically four or more rotating clips hold the backing board, and hence the artwork and clear material, within the frame. One or more hooks are typically mounted on the back of the backing board or surrounding frame so that the frame can be hung on a pin or hook protruding from a wall.

In order to remove a piece of artwork from the frame and replace it with another one, the four or more clips securing the backing board must be undone, and the backing board removed from the frame. Although this process is straightforward, in some applications of picture frames, such as for children's art or for sketches, it is desirable that artwork can be replaced more quickly and easily.

Us 2009/0071052 Al discloses a one piece picture frame with an open slot in one side to receive artwork.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of picture frame which is of simple construction whilst allowing quicker and easier mounting of artwork.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a picture frame having an aperture through which artwork can be viewed and a clip mounted on the back of the frame above the aperture for clamping paper or card based artwork directly to the frame so that it hangs down and can be viewed through the aperture.

Preferably the clip incorporates a hole or opening which can be used to hang the frame on a pin or hook protruding from a wall.

Preferably the clip is partly or fully recessed into the back of the frame, or is of low profile relative to the thickness of the frame, so that when the frame is hung on a wall the back surface of the frame is close to the wall so that the artwork is held substantially flat between the back surface of the frame and the wall.

The clip may be moveable to an adjacent side of the frame, or an additional clip provided, so that the frame may be rotated in order to display artwork in either portrait and landscape format.

The frame may have multiple apertures, with a clip mounted on the rear of the frame above each aperture, to allow the mounting and display of multiple pieces of artwork.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a picture frame in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the picture frame; Figure 3 is a detailed rear view of the top rail of the picture frame; Figure 4 is a detailed vertical section through the top rail of the picture frame; FigureS is a rear view of another modified form of the picture frame; Figure 6 is a detailed vertical section through the top rail of the picture frame of Fig. 5; Figure 7 shows a rear view of yet another modified form of the picture frame; Figure 8 shows a rear view of a picture frame with multiple viewing apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Figs.1 and 2, the picture frame has a frame 1 with a display aperture 2 within it through which artwork is viewed. On the rear of the frame, above the display aperture, is mounted a clip 3 for quickly securing paper or card based artwork to the back of the frame. Figs 3 and 4 show the top rail 4 of the frame and clip 3 in more detail. In this particular case a recess 5 is provided in the rear of the frame to house the clip 3,so that the clip protrudes by only a small amount from the rear surface of the frame, meaning that the rear surface of the frame can hang substantially flush to a wall. The clip 3 pivots about a pin 6 which is held by L-shaped brackets 7 which are secured to the frame. A spring 8 acts to clamp the bottom edge 9 of the clip 3 against the frame 4. Paper or card based artwork is secured to the frame by pressing on the top portion 10 of the clip 3 against the action of the spring 8, and inserting the top edge of the paper or card between the bottom edge 9 of the clip 3 and the frame.

The frame can be hung on a pin or other type of fixing protruding from a wall using the hole 11 in the clip 3. The frame is intended to display artwork which is the same shape as, and slightly larger than, the display aperture, so that the perimeter of the artwork is held substantially flat between the rear surface of the frame and the wall. Once the frame is hanging on the wall, the clip 3 is not normally visible to the user.

The absence of glass or other material in the display aperture means that the frame can be used to display 3D as well as 2D artwork. However, the frame could be constructed with glass or another clear sheet material within the aperture. If this was positioned flush with the back of the frame, it would further serve to hold 2D artwork substantially flat against the wall.

Fig. S shows the rear view of a frame which can be used for artwork that is in either landscape or portrait format. A recess 12 is provided in the top rail of the frame in order to house a bulldog clip 13. An additional recess 14 is provided in a side rail of the frame. In order to change between portrait and landscape formats, the clip 13 is simply removed from one recess and put in the other recess, and the frame rotated about 90 degrees so the clip is at the top. The detail of the recess 12 and clip 13 can be seen in Fig. 6. In this particular case the clip is of a type commonly available, meaning that this frame can be produced with low tooling costs. The clip 13 consists of a pressed steel spring 15 and two wire handles 16 and 17. An undercut 18 is provided in the recesses 12 and 14 so that the clip is secured in the frame by the closing action of the spring 15 and the shoulders of the recess 19 and 20. When the user wants to change the frame from portrait to landscape format, or vice versa, the clip 13 can be removed from the recess 12 or 13 by initially pulling the clip rearwards. This rotates it approximately about the point 21. The handles 16 and 17 can then be squeezed together to open the spring 15 and remove the clip.

Artwork is secured to the frame by pressing on the handle 16 to open the clip against the action of the spring 15, and inserting the top edge of the artwork between the frame and the spring. The loop at the top of the handle 16 means that it can be used to hang the frame on a pin orotherfixing protruding from a wall.

An alternative sort of clip to secure artwork to the frame is shown in Fig. 7. In this case the clip is of a type commonly used on clipboards, and is mounted on the back surface of the frame, rather than in a recess as in the previous examples. The clip has a mounting plate 22, the top of which is formed into a tube 23, protruding from either end of which is a shaped bar 24. The tube 23 also houses a spring which acts to push the bottom of the bar against the mounting plate 22. A slight U-shape 25 in the bar allows the bottom of the bar to be pulled away from the plate, against the action of the spring, so that the top edge of paper or card based artwork can be inserted between the bar and the plate. A bracket with a hole 26 for hanging on a wall-mounted fixing can be integral with the clip as shown, or provided separately.

The above examples all allow paper or card based artwork to be framed quickly and easily with the action of one sprung clip. When the frame is hung on a wall, the artwork is sandwiched between the back of the frame and the wall, thus keeping it substantially flat.

This type of frame is ideal for children's artworks, or sketches, but is not limited to these uses.

The examples thus far have been of frames with single display apertures, but similar clip arrangements allowing quick changing of artworks can also be incorporated in frames with multiple apertures for displaying more than one artwork. The example shown in Fig. 8 has three portrait format apertures 26 side by side, each with a corresponding recess 27 and clip 28 above it of the types detailed in Figs. 5 and 6. In this particular case, three additional recesses 29 are provided so that the clips can be moved to these recesses 29 and the frame rotated by 90 degrees, in order to display three artworks in landscape format, one above the other. Obviously, many other configurations of multiple apertures are possible.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A picture frame surrounding a display window for displaying a picture secured at a rear of the frame, in which the rear of the frame has a rearmost face which is substantially planar and section of the frame which is disposed at the top in use is provided with a spring clip which is arranged to hold a picture against said rear face suspended from the spring clip.
2. A picture frame according to Claim 1 in which the spring clip includes a gripping portion for holding the picture against the rearmost face and the spring clip has a pivot axis about which the gripping portion can rotate for inserting and releasing the picture.
3. A picture frame according to Claim 2 in which the gripping portion is substantially planar and, in its gripping position, lies substantially parallel to the rearmost face.
4. A picture frame according to Claim 2 or 3 in which the spring clip includes a pushing portion which extends on the opposite side of the pivot axis from the gripping portion such that applying manual pressure to the pushing portion causes the spring clip to rotate about the pivot axis.
S. A picture frame according to Claim 4 in which the pushing portion and the gripping portion are substantially co-planar.
6. A picture frame according to Claim 4 or 5 in which the rearmost face of the frame is provided with a recess for receiving the pushing portion upon application of manual pressure thereto.
7. A picture frame according to Claim 6 in which the recess contains spring means which acts to press the gripping portion against the rearmost face of the frame.
8. A picture frame according to any preceding claim in which at least two different sections of the frame, any one of which may be disposed at the top in use, are provided with respective spring clips.
9. A picture frame according to any of Claims 1 to 7 in which at least two different sections of the frame, any one of which may be disposed at the top in use, are provided with alternative mounting locations for a single spring clip.
10. A picture frame substantially as described with reference to the drawings.