US20040177543A1

US20040177543A1 - Picture-holding system

Info

Publication number: US20040177543A1
Application number: US09/979,626
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans Zeisel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-21
Filing date: 2001-08-21
Publication date: 2004-09-16

Abstract

The present invention concerns a picture-holding system (1) with a frame (2), and a flat backing piece (3). It is provided according to the invention that the flat backing piece is a bearing plate (3) onto which frame (2) is fixed, so that it surrounds an opening (4) and that at least one picture is provided in the form of a flexible sheet (5), whose outer contour corresponds at least partially to the contour of opening (4) and whose length and/or width is greater than the length or width of opening (4). The present invention also concerns a frame system (1′) for such a picture-holding system (1).

Description

The present invention concerns a picture-holding system with a frame and a flat backing piece.

Picture-holding systems are known in and of themselves. They are generally comprised of a frame, a flat backing piece and a cover glass. The picture is clamped between the flat backing piece and the cover glass, optionally with an intermediate passepartout [mounting] and fixed with the frame. The problem here is that it is very troublesome to change the picture. There are also holding systems, which, instead of the frame, have holding clips, which can be released for changing the picture. Of course, the picture must still be taken down in order to do this.

The object of the present invention consists of making available a picture-holding system of the above-named type, which makes possible a very simple changing of the picture.

The solution consists of a picture-holding system with the features of claim 1. It is provided according to the invention that the flat backing piece is a bearing plate, onto which the frame is fixed, so that it surrounds an opening and that at least one picture is provided in the form of a flexible sheet, whose outer contour corresponds at least partially to the contour of the opening and its length and/or width is greater than the length or width of the opening. In this way, flexible sheets can be held in the frame by their intrinsic tension and are rapidly inserted or exchanged without the necessity of taking down the picture-holding system.

It is understood in and of itself that any contour shapes are conceivable for the sheets or the opening, which make it possible that the flexible sheets are held by their intrinsic tension, for example, square, rectangular, round, oval and many other contours.

Advantageous further enhancements are given in the subclaims.

The bearing plate is comprised of a solid material, preferably of wood, metal or plastic. It may have a hanging device, for example, in the form of a punched-out opening or a loop attached to the back side of the bearing plate.

The frame may be comprised of any material that makes it possible that flat sheets are held by their intrinsic tension. Preferably, these materials are foam, hard plastic, wood or metal. Again, the at-least one flexible sheet may also be comprised of any material that makes it possible for the sheet to be placed under tension in the frame. Preferably, it is paper, cardboard, plastic or metal.

The frame system for the picture-holding system according to the invention, comprising a bearing plate and frame, is also the subject of this invention.

The at-least one flexible sheet is preferably flat, but also may be configured three-dimensionally, for example, in the form of an engraving or a collage. If the picture-holding system according to the invention can take up at least 12 flexible sheets, it can serve as a calendar with changeable calendar sheets.

An example of embodiment of the present invention based on the attached drawings is described in more detail below. Here: [0011]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective representation (not to scale) of a frame system for a picture-holding system according to the invention; [0012]
FIG. 2 shows a section along line II-II in FIG. 1; [0013]
FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective representation (not to scale) of a flexbile sheet for a picture-holding system according to the invention; [0014]
FIGS. 4[0015] a, 4 b show a schematic representation of inserting or exchanging a flexible sheet in the frame system.
The composition of the picture-holding system [0016] 1 according to the invention can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3. A frame system 1′ is comprised of a rigid bearing plate 3, for example, of wood, metal or plastic, and a frame 2, for example, of foam, hard plastic, wood or metal. Bearing plate 3 may have a hanging device, for example, a stamped-out hanging opening 6 or a hanging loop or the like attached to the back side of bearing plate 3 (see FIG. 2). Frame 2 is attached onto bearing plate 3 and thus surrounds an opening 4. Opening 4 has a specific length a1 and a specific width b1. Frame 2 has a specific thickness d, which is greater, the more flexible the sheet that it will take up. The contours of frame 2 and opening 4 are both square in the example of embodiment. The contours of frame 2 and opening 4, however, can also be different from one another and have any shape, for example, rectangular, round, oval and many other contours.
The at-least one flexible sheet [0017] 5 is comprised, for example, of paper, cardboard, plastic or metal. Its length a2 and/or its width b2 are greater than length a1 or width b1 of opening 4. Its contour corresponds at least partially to the contour of opening 4, and in fact to the extent that sufficient contact points between frame 2 and flexible sheet 5 are present, based on its longer length a2 and/or greater width b2 in comparison to length a1 or width b1 of opening 4, so that flexible sheet 5 is held by its intrinsic tension by frame 2. It is preferred that the contour of flexible sheet 5 corresponds overall to the contour of opening 4.
FIGS. 4[0018] a and 4 b show how flexible sheet 5 is inserted into frame system 1′. Flexible sheet 5 is slightly bent along its vertical and/or horizontal edges and inserted into opening 4 surrounded by frame 2. When let go, sheet 5 is released. Since it is longer and/or wider than opening 4, its edges press against inner sides 2′ of frame 2 and sheet 5 cannot be completely released. Sheet 5 is held in opening 4 by its intrinsic tension in this way. Likewise, sheet 5 is removed by slightly bending it along its vertical and/or horizontal edges, so that the pressure against inner sides 2′ of frame 2 slackens and sheet 5 can be removed from opening 4.
Sheets [0019] 5, which have a calendar page on the front side and a decoration page with a picture, for example, a graphic image or a print on the back side, are particularly preferred. Frame system 1′ should then be able to take up at least 12 or preferably 13 sheets 5. In this way, picture-holding system 1 according to the invention is used for a calendar with 12 monthly sheets and a cover sheet, whereby the calendar-sheet side or the decoration side can be shown as desired. Of course, weekly calendars (with a frame 2 of appropriate thickness d) are also conceivable. The calendar pages can be changed each year without having to remove frame system 1′ from the wall.

Claims

1. Picture-holding system (1) with a frame (2), and a flat backing piece (3), which is characterized in that the flat backing piece is a bearing plate (3) onto which frame (2) is fixed, so that it encloses an opening (4) and that at least one picture in the form of a flexible sheet (5) is provided, whose outer contour corresponds at least partially to the contour of opening (4) and whose length and/or width is greater than the length or width of opening (4).

2. Picture-holding system according to claim 1, further characterized in that bearing plate (3) is comprised of wood, metal or plastic.

3. Picture-holding system according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that bearing plate (3) has a hanging device (6).

4. Picture-holding system according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the frame is comprised of foam, hard plastic, wood or metal.

5. Picture-holding system according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the at-least one flexible sheet (5) is comprised of paper, cardboard, plastic or metal.

6. Picture-holding system according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that at least 12 flexible sheets (5) are taken up.

7. Frame system (1′) for a picture-holding system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that the frame system has a bearing plate (3) onto which a frame (2) is fixed, so that it surrounds an opening (4).

8. Frame system according to claim 7, further characterized in that bearing plate (3) is comprised of wood, metal or plastic.

9. Frame system according to one of claims 7 or 8, further characterized in that bearing plate (3) has a hanging device (6).

10. Frame system according to one of claims 7 to 9, further characterized in that the frame is comprised of foam, hard plastic, wood or metal.

11. Use of a picture-holding system according to one of claims 1 to 6, as a calendar with calendar pages in the form of flexible sheets (5).