US2442967A - Adjustable picture frame - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet l E. BARAsc'H ErAL ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Jim@ 8, 194s.

Filed Jan. 8, 1944 2 Z M. A M

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HTTORNY Patented June 8, 1948 ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Erich Barascli and Altina Barasch, New York, N. Y., now by change of name Eric Barrett and Altina Barrett Application January 8, 1944, Serial No. 517,598

2 Claims.

This invention relates to picture frames, and particularly to frames adjustable to different sizes of pictures.

The object of the invention is to provide a frame and picture combination in which the frame automatically nts the picture within a wide range of sizes of the latter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention Fig. 1 is a iront elevation of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Y Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on enlarged scale taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational View of the frame shown in Fig 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same;

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are perspective views on enlarged scale of parts of the frame shown in Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of frame;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the frame in an adjustment to a smaller picture.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l to 8, the frame comprises four rightangled corner pieces II, I2, I3 and I4 carrying slidably between them the connecting pieces I5, I6, I1 and I8.

To aid in adjustment of these corner pieces to fit different sizes of pictures, a rear linkage is provided comprising a rod 20 and rods 2| slidably join-ed by cross heads 24 of the rods 2| and 25 of the rod 20 as shown. The lower ends of the rods 2| are joined by the end block 26 and the upper end of the rod 20 is provided with the end block 21 connected by pivoted links 22 to the studs 22a carried by the corner pieces II and I2, while the lower block 26 is connected by the pivoted links 23 to the corner pins 23a of pieces I3 and I4.

Any relative horizontal adjustment of the corner pieces will be permitted by a corresponding angular adjustment of the links 22, 23 and a sliding movement of the rods 20, 2|, this being also true for any simultaneous vertical relative adjustment of the corner pieces within the permissible range of the movement of these parts. During such adjustment vertical and horizontal symmetry will be maintained by the linkages 20, 2 I, 22 and 23.

To make this simultaneous symmetrical adjustment automatic, the corner pieces are connected by vertical springs 33 and horizontal springs 3| attached to the corner studs I9 provided in each of the corner pieces and always tending to slide these corner pieces together and bring the frame to its minimum size. These vertical and horizontal springs extend from corner piece to corner piece, passing through the connecting pieces and acting to grip the ledges or ridges 36, 31 of the corner pieces on the edges of the picture card to hold the latter in place. The relatively slidable portions of this rear framework may be engaged by the hand of the user to spread the peripheral sections of the frame to desired amount to receive the picture mounting A, B and/or C. Y v

EachA of the corner Vpi-eces carries toward its inner edges a vertical rod piece 36 and a horizontal ridge piece 3l. The innerfaces`38, 39 of each are undercut as shown to engage the corners of the picture A with its back C and transparent face piece B (Fig. 3). It is only necessary for the user to spread the frame parts against the tensions of the springs 30, 3| to suiicient size to receive the picture parts within the undercut surfaces 3S, 39 and then to release the frame to grip the edges of the picture parts at all four corners with the snug resilient pressure, the parts of the frame then automatically and symmetrically assuming their positions corresponding to the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the picture. A large range of picture sizes is thus automatically accommodated, for instance from about 2%; to 3%'inches in Width and from 2% to 4% inches in height in the frame shown in Fig. 1.

The structural features shown in the drawings are typical and may be modified as desired. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the corner pieces are formed of a rear plate I3b and a front semitubular structure f. Vertical slots 33 in the rear plates b and the horizontal slots 34 of these plates receive the pins 35 of the rear plates 48 of the connector members I5, IS, I'I and I8 to limit the expansion of the frame. Each back plate I3b is provided with a rigid bushing 32 receiving the pivot pins 23a carried by the studs I9. The connector members I5, I6, II and I8 have their back plates 48 fastened to the front sections 49 and are provided with notches 5U receiving the studs I9 in contracted position of the parts.

Rear struts or supports to maintain the frame in standing position may be fastened to either the lower or upper corner pieces. For instance, such supports may be attached to the upper portions 5I of the lower corner pieces I3 and I4, or, as shown in the drawings, the rear support may be pivoted from the inner portions of the upper corner pieces II, I2. In this showing the strips 4| pivoted to the upper corner pieces Il, I2 at pivoted brackets 42 slide with tight friction in the sleeves 43, the lower portions of which also frictionally receive the bent strips 44 pivoted at 45 and adjusted to such length that their lower ends 46 provide the desired support. The strips 4I and 44 slide in the sleeves 43 to any desired adjustment depending upon the desired size and inclination of the frame.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the rear framework may be provided by Vertical members 60 connecting the end beam 61 with the cross head 65 and pivoted to the links 62 swiveling on the pins 62a carried by the corner piecesll, l2.V The lower frame is provided by the vertical strips l6IA connecting cross head 64 with the end beam v66 to which are pivoted the links 63 swiveling on the pins 63a carried by the corner pieces I3 and I4, the remainder of the frame being as shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. The cross head 64 slides on ythe members 60 and the cross head 6'5 slides on the strips 6|, the frame taking the extreme positions of adjustment as shown extended in Fig. 9 and retracted in Fig. 10. The rear framework Vof Figs. 9 and 10 has the advantage of being more readily grasped by the hand of the user to adjust the frame parts in fully retracted position. The end blocks 66, 61 are well within the upper and lower edges of the frame proper, whereas in the-retractedposition of the sections of the frame shown-in Figs. 1 to 8, the cross heads 64, 65'p1'o-4 trude to very near extreme end edges of the outer frame.

This self-fitting frame may befused for a large number of different sizes of pictures and will automatically accommodate itself within the range of movement of the parts. The user has merely to slide the sections slightly apart enough to permit removal of the contained picture and press the parts to position open enough to receive the new picture whereupon release of the opening pressure will permit'the sections automatically to move together to grip the new picture parts. No gluing, nailing, latching or unlatching is required, and all of the parts automatically respond together to maintain both vertical and horizontal symmetry of the frame for all adjustments.

We claim:

1. A picture frame structure having at least four corner pieces and intervening side pieces, all -of similar hollow formation in transverse section and of symmetrical configuration vertically and horizontally with free slidable telescopic engagement between said corner pieces and intervening side pieces to permit adjustment of the size of the frame vertically and horizontally while maintaining the vertical and horizontal symmetry Iof the frame pieces in al1 adjustments thereof, the spacing between the corner pieces in any adjustment being a minor proportion of the length of the frame in that adjustment, means forming holding surfaces adjacent the inner pe- A riphery of said frame structure adapted to engage against the peripheral edges of a picture to position the frame pieces thereon, and resilient means running through and enclosed in the hollow corner and side pieces and extending between said corner pieces to resiliently draw them toward each other and maintain pressure between said holding surfaces and the edges of the picture.

2. A picture frame structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the corner pieces are formed to slide over the ends of the intervening side pieces and are proportioned to substantially entirely house said side pieces in the extreme contracted position of the parts.

ERICH BARASCH.

ALTINA BARASCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'offrecord inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES ieri'imrifrs` Date' Jagus Dec; y'1, 1937

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