Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Display card – Having a curved display panel
Patent
1992-06-04
1994-09-06
Dorner, Kenneth J.
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Display card
Having a curved display panel
40156, A47G 110, A47G 106
Patent
active
053436431
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a collapsible border assembly for providing a frame-like border around a picture, mirror, glass pane or the like.
A well-known and popular way of mounting pictures, prints, photographs etc is to use a so-called "frameless frame" or "clip-frame" assembly. Such an assembly consists of a supporting back panel and a glass front plate. The picture or other item to be displayed is sandwiched between the back panel and the front plate, and the whole assembly is held together by a number of small metal clips. These assemblies are considerably less expensive than traditional bespoke picture frames, but are usually sold without a surrounding frame or border.
A known method of forming a surrounding frame for a picture so mounted is to use prefabricated channel-shaped plastic elements, which clip around the edges of the glass. Whilst these prefabricated frames are again less expensive than traditional ones, they do not always fit very well, with unsightly gaps sometimes appearing between the glass plate and the plastic frame. Also, an inherent disadvantage with frames of this type is that any single frame may only be used to fit one particular size of picture.
Thus, from one aspect, the invention provides a collapsible border assembly for a picture, clip-frame, mirror, glass pane or other like object, comprising a plurality of corner pieces adapted for detachable engagement with respective corners of the object, adjacent ones of the corner pieces being interconnected by elastic elements arranged, in use, to extend under tension between the corner pieces and along the peripheral edges of the object, the elastic elements and corner pieces together providing a border for the object of frame-like appearance.
The invention in a second aspect extends to a method of providing a border around a picture, mirror, glass pane or other like object comprising engaging thereon an assembly as described above.
In this way, a clip-frame assembly may be provided with an aesthetically pleasing border which resembles a traditional picture frame but is much less expensive, with the elastic elements under tension bearing a surprising resemblance to a rigid frame.
Further, there is no need to manufacture a number of differently sized frames since the elastic elements may accommodate, within limits, a range of different sizes of clip-frame assembly. Therefore, should the owner of a picture replace it by another of differing size, the surrounding border assembly may simply be removed from the old one and fitted to the new one, doing away with the need to buy a second frame.
Moreover, the invention is not, of course, limited to use with clip-frame assemblies or pictures, but may be used in place of a standard frame on a wide variety of objects, such as, for example, mirrors and advertising displays.
Because the elastic elements are held in tension between the corner pieces, they are positively urged to run in a straight line and to lie flat against the edges of the object. Therefore, when they are positioned on, for example, a clip-frame assembly, the elastic elements may lie flat against the front plate and side edges of the assembly without leaving any unsightly gaps.
The present invention provides a border assembly which is quick and easy to fit or remove, is inexpensive to produce, is well-fitting, is versatile and may be used on a variety of differently sized and shaped objects. Further, the invention has the advantage that it may be packed into a small space for ease of storage and may be packaged into a small gift box for presentation and marketing purposes.
Preferably, the elastic elements are arranged so that when under tension in use, they provide a pair of front and side surfaces substantially at right-angles to one another between each pair of adjacent corner pieces. Such an arrangement allows for the front surface to lie flat against the periphery of, for example, the glass plate of a clip-frame assembly whilst the side surface engages a side edge of the assembly. A conventional rectangular frame-li
REFERENCES:
patent: 373384 (1887-11-01), Works
patent: 2442967 (1948-06-01), Barasch et al.
Davis C.
Dorner Kenneth J.
LandOfFree
Collapsible border assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Collapsible border assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Collapsible border assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1321263