Framing means for framing a picture or other object

Framing means for pictures and like objects includes a frame having a substantially L-shaped cross-section to define a front flange for supporting a picture holding set assembled of a transparent plate, a picture or the like object, resilient insert and a relatively rigid back board; the rear face of the frame is formed with juxtaposed pairs of inwardly directed, V-shaped projections which are spaced at such a distance from each other and from said front flange as to receive and hold in a fixed position said picture holding set while said resilient insert is in compressed state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to framing means for framing a picture or like 
object, and is an improvement in or modification of the invention 
described in my patent application Ser. No. 651,468 entitled "Frame for 
Pictures and Like Objects" filed Jan. 22, 1976, now allowed. 
The frame disclosed in the above application includes a resilient insert of 
a compressible elastic material disposed between the picture, supported on 
a rigid transparent plate, and a relatively rigid back board or rear 
plate. 
The frame assembly of this kind, with the frame parts each engaging over 
the picture and a transparent plate in front thereof and each provided at 
a rear side thereof with a limb extending behind the backboard or rear 
plate, wherein the rear plate and the limbs of the frame parts possess 
interengaging connecting means, has proved successful both in manufacture 
and in use. This applies especially to medium and large picture frame 
sizes. The individual picture frame parts are in that case cut to length, 
with mitring, from extruded profiled members. The assembly and the 
disassembly of these frame parts with a glass plate, a picture, biasing 
insert in the form of an elastically compressible inlay, and the back 
board or rear plate can be accomplished quickly and without difficulty. 
The elastically compressible insert has proved to be a special advantage 
of these frames, as it effects a holding together of the frame by its 
spring action, provides a dustproof seal, increases stability and smoothes 
the inserted picture. In mass production of these frames, however, it has 
turned out to be unsatisfactory in the respect that nearly the same 
production times are required for manufacture of smaller picture frame 
sizes as for larger picture frame sizes. 
Also the handling of these frames is to a large extent simple and 
problem-free, it is nevertheless still desirable to further simplify 
manufacture of smaller picture frame sizes and to provide for the 
possibility of pushing in of a picture frame prop or stand. It has also 
turned out to be a deficiency of these frames that only square and other 
rectangular formats can be produced. 
There are also known picture frames in which a back board or rear plate, 
picture and glass plate are pressed, by means of beads, detent edges or 
detent locks, in this order into the frame from the front side thereof. A 
disadvantage of these frames is that, in handling, the glass plate is 
easily broken. A further disadvantage is that although they are suited for 
providing a frameless effect, they are unsuitable for the provision of 
ornamental surrounds. An advantage of these frames is that the glass plate 
cannot, through pressure on its front side, unintentionally fall 
rearwardly out of the frame with the other inserted items, such as the 
picture and back board. 
In addition, there are known picture frames in which a transparent plate, 
picture and back board are laid in their surround from the rear side 
thereof. As a rule they are latched at the rear side by springs, bars, 
holding plates, studs, and so on. The disadvantage of these frames resides 
in their awkward handling, besides which the holding parts are not 
aesthetic. 
Apart from these frames, there are also known frames in which a glass 
plate, picture and back board are laid into the frame from the rear side. 
With these frames, the back board is simply pressed into the surrounding 
frame and clamped thereby. These frames have inwardly directed clamping 
beads, clamping pins, clamping prongs, or cams as profiled limbs thereof. 
The handling of these frames, which are generally made of synthetic 
material, is usually quite simple as no retaining parts are needed. The 
disadvantage of these frames however is that to change the picture the 
inserted items must, through corresponding pressure on the front side of 
the transparent plate, be pressed rearwardly out of the frame. As a 
result, with these picture frames there is the risk that through any 
pressure, as is for example unavoidable in cleaning of the front plate, 
the inserted items including the plate unintentionally fall out of the 
frame which, apart from the inconvenience, usually result in breakage of 
the plate. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide framing means which 
maintain the advantages of known picture frames and avoid their 
aforementioned disadvantages. 
More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide picture 
framing means which even in the range of smaller frame sizes have a 
reduced manufacturing cost and which are more convenient in use. 
Another object of this invention is to provide framing means which have the 
facility to include a prop or picture stand which can be easily installed 
or removed. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide picture framing means 
which can be easily manufactured both in quadrangular or polygonal shape 
as well as in an oval or circular shape. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide picture framing means 
in which the picture or other object to be displayed, the biasing insert 
together with the backing plate and the transparent plate can be easily 
introduced into the surrounding frame and easily removed therefrom only 
from the rear side of the frame. The inserted picture holding set, such as 
the transparent plate, picture and so on, cannot, through intentional or 
unintentional pressure on the front side of the transparent plate, fall 
backwardly out of the frame and thereby be damaged. 
According to this invention, the above objects are attained by providing 
framing means which include a frame having substantially L-shaped 
cross-section to define an inwardly projecting front flange; a picture 
holding set or assembly including a transparent front plate, a picture or 
object to be displayed, a cushion inlay or insert of a highly elastic 
material, and a back board or rear plate; and a plurality of arresting and 
retaining projections which are integrally formed on the rear edge of the 
frame and which extend inwardly at such a distance from each other and 
from said front flange as to receive and retain in a fixed position the 
picture holding set or assembly while said elastic cushion or insert in 
said picture holding assembly is in a compressed state. 
Preferably, the arresting and retaining projections are arranged in 
juxtaposed pairs and have a V-shaped configuration and comprise a recess 
and an indented edge in this apex portion for enabling insertion of a 
support prop for the frame, the prop being insertable in a folded-out 
position or in a collapsed rest position. 
The advantages of the solution according to this invention reside in the 
fact that while the construction according to the aforementioned U.S. 
patent application Ser. No. 651,468 has proved successful in the domain of 
medium and large size quadrangular frames, with individual production of 
all sizes including the smaller sizes, a framing means manufactured in 
accordance with this invention bring about a substantial reduction in 
working time for mass production of smaller frame sizes, as the frame can 
be manufactured by an injection molding process for example in a single 
short working step irrespective of the particular shape and configuration 
of the frame. Moreover, a cheaper kind of synthetic material may be used. 
A further advantage results from the fact that connecting means for the 
frame are not required on the rear plate. 
The handling of the framing means of this invention is thus simplified 
insofar as the glass plate or the transparent plate, the picture, the 
elastic compressible insert as well as the back board or rear plate are 
pressed into the surrounding frame only from the rear side and can be 
easily removed therefrom. There is no possibility of an accidental falling 
out of the inserted flat items caused through intentional or unintentional 
pressure on the front side of the transparent plate and, therefore, these 
items cannot be accidentally damaged. 
The arresting and retaining projections can be used for various purposes 
and obviate the separate indenting of a recess as a hanging means for the 
frame and additionally they take over holding in the frame of the picture 
holding set or assembly, that is of the transparent plate, the biasing 
insert, the picture or other object to be displayed, and the rear plate. 
The arresting and retaining projections may comprise a recess enabling 
insertion of a support prop for the frame, the prop being adjustable in 
the recess to take a folded working position or a collapsed rest position. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention 
are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, 
however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together 
with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood 
from the following description of specific embodiments when read in 
connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown framing means for framing a 
picture 8, the framing means including a frame 11 having a substantially 
L-shaped cross-section (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3), to define a closed wall which 
in this case is assembled of four profiled limbs 14 defining an inwardly 
directed front flange 13. The picture holding assembly includes a 
transparent plate 7 consisting of glass or synthetic material and arranged 
in the frame adjacent the front flange 13 thereof, with a picture 8 laid 
against the rear side of the plate 7. An elastically compressible insert 9 
bears against the entire rear surface of the picture 8, and a 
substantially stiff rear plate 10 consisting of any suitable material such 
as cardboard, for example, is brought in contact with the resilient insert 
9 and keeps the compressed resilient insert 9 in its place. The picture 
holding set or assembly is surrounded by a frame 11. The frame 11 is 
provided at the inwardly facing side of each of four side limbs 14 thereof 
with a respective multipurpose projection 12, each of the projections 12 
being integrally connected with the respective limb 14. In the case of 
smaller sizes of frame 11, it is sufficient to provide four such 
projections 12, arranged in pairs opposite to each other. In the case of 
the larger size frame, however, it is possible to shape the frame with an 
arbitrary amount of such inwardly directed projections 12. The arresting 
and retaining projections 12 perform three functions and preferably each 
of the projections 12 comprises two wedge members 16 provided with, 
respectively, two ramp surfaces inclined inwardly of the frame, from 
points 15, in direction towards each other. The wedge members 16 which are 
spaced from the front flange 13 at such a distance as to accommodate the 
picture holding set 7, 8, 9, and 10 while the resilient insert 9 is in 
compressed condition, enable the projections 12 to carry out a first 
function, namely the insertion into the frame 11, firm retention therein, 
and subsequent easy release from the frame of the relatively stiff back 
board 10 which is slightly increased in size with respect to the remaining 
items of the picture holding set. 
Another function of the projections 12 is possible by virtue of a toothed 
or indented connection part 17 extending between the wedge members 16 of 
each projection 12. Wall hooks or suspension studs are engageable in the 
indentation or the toothing of the connection part 17 which extends at the 
apex portion of the V-shaped projection 12. In this manner it is possible 
to hang the entire frame means on a wall, to which purpose a recess 18 in 
each limb 14 is provided, the recess being disposed behind each part 17 
and between the members 16. Finally, the recess 18 also makes possible the 
connection of a support prop 19 (FIG. 5), which can be attached to the 
framing means in a protruding operative position or in a folded or 
collapsed rest position; the recess 18 is so dimensioned that a projecting 
portion 20 of the prop 19 can be inserted therein and can be rotated 
during the folding operation. The depth of the recess 18 is such that the 
nose of the projecting portion 20 of the prop 19 can be notched in behind 
the edge portion of the back board 21. The prop 19 is securely held in any 
desired position by means of the spring force generated by the elastically 
compressed insert 9 and acting on the rear plate or back board 10. Through 
lightly pressing against the back board 10 at it edge portion 21 beside 
the prop 19, the prop can be easily removed. 
The assembly of the framing means according to this invention takes place 
as follows: 
The transparent plate 7, the picture 8, and the elastically compressible 
inlet 9, in this order, are first laid against the flange 13 of the frame 
11. The size of each of these three items is slightly smaller than the 
clear or interior dimension of the frame 11, so that they easily slide 
past the protruding wedge member 16 of the multipurpose projections 12. 
Finally, the rear plate or back board 10, the size of which substantially 
corresponds to the interior dimension of the frame 11, is pushed under the 
protruding wedge member 16 at one side of the frame. From this side, the 
back board 10 is then pressed in the direction towards the opposite side 
of the frame and is notched in. In this operation, the back board 10 is 
pressed from the point 15 past the member 16 onto the opposite one of the 
projections 12 and is notched in. At the opposite projection 12, the back 
board 10 slides from above past the member 16 without difficulty, as its 
effective length in the plane of the frame is shortened by its inclination 
during the pushing-in process. In pressing the back board 10 past the 
member 16 of the projections 12, stress arises, which causes the back 
board to be arched. The arching of the back board 10 effects a diminishing 
of its surface area, especially in the final phase of the pressing in, and 
the resilient insert 9 promotes this operation through its elastic 
yielding. The stress arising in the pressing in also causes the members 
16, while the back board 10 is being pressed past them, to lightly stress 
the limb 14 outwards. Through the arching of the back board 10 and the 
yielding of the limb, the notching of the back board 10 under the members 
16 is facilitated without the back board 10 or the frame 11 with its 
multipurpose projecting parts 12 being damaged. After the notching in of 
the back board 10, the limbs 14 and back board return to their normal 
positions. It will be noted that the frame 11 is constructed of a material 
which is relatively stiff but to a certain limited degree, is resiliently 
flexible. 
The back board 10 cannot be pressed rearwardly out of the frame 11 through 
pressure on the front side of the transparent plate 7, since such pressure 
is distributed by the resilient inlet 9 over the entire surface of the 
rear plate or back board 10, whereby the back board 10 remains securely 
notched in under the members 16. 
The removal of the transparent plate 7, picture 8, insert 9 and back board 
10, takes place in the reverse order. First, the back board 10 must be 
removed. For this purpose, a recess 22 is provided in the back board at a 
spacing from the projection 12. Since the elastically compressible insert 
9 is present behind the back board 10, it is possible to insert a finger 
into the recess and thereby draw the back board out of the frame 11, the 
back board being drawn in this operation without difficulty from the 
points 15 over the wedge member 16. The remaining items, that is the 
insert 9, picture 8, and plate 7 can then be taken out of the frame 11. 
It is irrelevant whether the frame is of angular, round or oval shape since 
this invention enables to produce in the same manner any desired 
configuration of the framing means. With these frames, mirrors or 
stiff-backed pictures without transparent plates can also be inserted 
without difficulty. 
While this invention has been described by way of a specific example, it is 
not intended to be limited to the exact details shown, since various 
modifications and structural changes can be made by persons skilled in the 
art without departing from the spirit of this invention.