MEANS FOR SECURING FRAME BACK MEMBERS

Abstract: A device for securing a sheet-like backpiece (2) in a picture frame or like frame (1) fitted with glass (11), where the backpiece is intended to be placed in the frame from the rear thereof and is urged into abutment with the frame glass by means of the inventive device. To this end, the device includes a locking means (7) and a pressure-exerting device (6), which has two angled legs (4, 5). One leg (4) of the pressure-exerting device engages the rear side of the frame (1), whereas the other leg (5) extends along the backpiece (2). The locking means (7) is intended to coact with an opening (3) provided in the backpiece, such as to lock the other angled leg (5) firmly thereto.

Description: T MEANS FOR SECURING FRAME BACK MEMBERS The present invention relates to a device for securing a sheet-like backpiece onto a picture frame or like 5 frame fitted with glass, into which the backpiece is intended to be placed from the rear side of the frame and pressed against the frame glass by means of said device, wherein the device includes a pressure-exerting device comprising two angled legs, and a locking means, 10 and wherein a first angled leg of the pressure-exerting device engages the rear side of the frame and a second angled leg extends along the backpiece. There is an increasing demand for simple, inexpensive 15 and purposeful self-assembly frames which will enable, for instance, pictures and photographs to be framed in the hone. This places particular requirements on the frames themselves and also on the attachment devices associated therewith. In order to reduce the costs of 20 the actual frame itself, the frame should preferably comprise profiled strips of metal or plastic. The backpiece of the frame will therewith preferably con¬ sist of a rigid and inexpensive sheet-like fibre mate¬ rial. In order to ensure that the backpiece is held 25 securely in the frame and also to enable a picture or photograph to be held firmly between the backpiece and the frame glass, fastener devices, or attachment de¬ vices, are required which will connect the backpiece to the frame in a simple and effective manner and which do 30 not need to be particularly precise with regard to measurements. It should also be possible to provide the frame with a reliable frame-hanging means. The object of the present invention is to provide a 35 device for securing a sheet-like backpiece in, for instance, a profiled frame while fulfilling the afore- said requirements, among other things. Accordingly, a device of the kind described in the first paragraph of this specification is, in accordance with the invention, characterized in that the locking means is intended to coact with an opening provided in the backpiece in a manner to lock said second angled leg to said backpiece; in that said second angled leg is provided with an opening to this end; and in that the locking means includes a peg-like part which ex¬ tends through respective openings in said second angled leg and said backpiece and the inner end of which is configured with a locking projection which, when the peg is rotated or twisted, locks the pec in the opening in the backpiece and the other end of which is configured with a part which abuts said second angled leg. A device of this kind is simple to fit and is reliably anchored in the backpiece. A picture wire or like means can be attached to the locking means, so as to enable the frame to be hung without subjecting the actual frame itself to load. A device of this kind can also be used in connection with mirror frames, "blackboard" frames and notice boards, etc., in addition to picture frames, photograph frames and the like. The aforesaid part which abuts the second angled leg will preferbly have the form of a plate which is pro- vided with means for rotating the plate and therewith lock the peg firmly in the opening provided in the backpiece. The angled leg which coactε with the frame is prefer- ably provided with a groove for receiving one long edge of the rear side of the frame. The angled leg will preferably include a plurality of grooves of mutually different depths, in order to enable the device to be used with frames of different dimensions or designs. The remaining characteristic features of the invention will be evident from the following Claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompany drawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates the rear side of a frame provided with a number of devices constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a part-sectional view of the frame and an inventive device fitted thereto. In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 identifies a frame constructed from profiled strips of substantially C- shaped cross-section, see Figure 2. Placed in the frame is a backpiece 2, which preferably has the form of a rigid fibre sheet and which is provided with elongated attachment holes 3 for accommodating the inventive fastener devices. Each such fastener device includes a pressure-exerting device 6 having first and second angled legs 4 and 5, and further includes a locking means 7 which coactε with the pressure-exerting device 6 and also with the elongated hole 3 in the backpiece 2. When fitting the backpiece 2 into the frame l with the aid of the inventive devices, the pressure-exerting device 6 is first placed against the backpiece such that an upper edge part 8 of the frame profile is received in a groove 9 extending along the upper edge of the first angled leg 4. In the case of the illustra¬ ted embodiment, a further groove is provided so that the same angled leg can be used with a frame of another dimension and/or when the upper part 8 is at another angle. The second angled leg 5 of the pressure-exerting device bends slightly in its rest or inactive position and is provided with two projections 10 by means of which the backpiece is urged against the frame glass 11, as near to the frame as possible. The locking means 7 includes a peg-like part 12 which is configured with a latching projection 13 at one end thereof and with an enlarged abutment part 14 at the other end thereof. As illustrated in Figure 1, the inwardly located, latching projection 13 of the peg-like part 12 is inserted through an opening 17 in the angled leg 5 of the pressure-exerting device and also through the elongated opening 3 in the backpiece 2. The locking means is locked to the backpiece with the aid of the latching projection 13, by rotating or twisting the r abutment part 14 and therewith the peg-like part 12, while pressing said part 14 against the angled leg 5. This causes the angled leg 5 to straighten out, there¬ with exerting additional pressure on the backpiece. When using a plurality of inventive devices, according to Figure 1 four such devices, the backpiece 2 will be held very securely in the frame 1 while clamping a picture or photograph between the frame glass 11 and said backpiece. Because the opening 17 in the angled leg 5 is elon¬ gated, it is possible to use one and the same device for frames with mutually different spacings between the edge of the backpiece and respective openings 3. The locking means 7 may have the form of a winged- device and a picture-frame wire 16 may be attached to the winged-parts or lugs of said locking means. The entire weight of the picture-frame assembly will then be supported by the rigid backpiece and no appreciable load will act on the actual frame itself. The invention has been described in the aforegoing with reference to an exemplifying embodiment of the inven- tive device. It will be understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment may be modified with regard to its individual components, without departing from the concept of the invention, namely the use of a pressure- exerting means which coacts with the frame and the backpiece, and the use of a locking means for securing the pressure-exerting device against said backpiece. For instance, the angled leg 4 can be given a different configuration which will enable it to engage frames of other designs. Furthermore, the projections10 can be omitted and the angled leg 5 made completely flat.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 18 March 1991 (18.03.91) original claim 1 amended; other claims unchanged (3 pages)] 1. A device for securing a sheet-like backpiece (2) in a picture frame (1) or like frame, in which the back- piece iε intended to be placed in the frame from the rear thereof and to be pressed against the frame by means of said device, said device comprising a pressure-exerting device (6) having first and second angled legs (4, 5), and a locking means (7), wherein the first angled leg (4) of said pressure-exerting device is intended to engage the rear side of the frame (1), while the second angled leg (5) iε intended to extend along the backpiece (2), c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the locking means (7) is in- tended to coact with an opening (3) in the backpiece in a manner to lock said second angled leg (5) thereto; in that said second angled leg (5) is configured with an opening (17) to this end; and in that the locking means (7) includes a peg-like part (12) which extends through the openings in the second angled leg and the backpiece respectively and which is configured at itε inwardly located end with a latching projection (13), which upon rotation of the peg functions to lock the peg in the opening (3) in said backpiece, and the other end of which is provided with a part (14) which abuts said second angled leg (5). 2. A device according to Claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that said abutment part has the form of a plate (14) which iε provided with means for rotat¬ ing said plate and for locking the peg (12) in the opening (3) in said backpiece. 3. A device according to Claim l or 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that said plate (14) iε provided with picture-wire (16) attachment meanε (15). 4. A device according to any one of Claimε 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said first angled leg (4) of the pressure-exerting device (6) iε provided with at leaεt one groove (9) for coaction with one long edge of the rear side of the frame (1). 5. A device according to Claim 4, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that said first angled leg (4) iε provided with a plurality of mutualy parallel grooves (9) of mutually different depths for use with frames of mutually different configurations. 6. A device according to any one of Claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the end of said second angled leg (5) remote from the frame (1) - curves from the backpiece (2) when said leg is in an inoperative position; and in that the abutment part (14) on the peg (12) functions to preεε εaid curved leg-part down againεt the backpiece when locking said part in the opening provided in said backpiece, there- with to increase the abutment preεεure on said back¬ piece. 7. A device according to Claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the part of said second angled leg (5) located nearest the frame (1) iε provided with at leaεt one projection (10) for the purpose of achiev¬ ing punctiform abutment with the backpiece (2). 8. A device according to any one of Claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the opening (17) in said second angled leg (5) is elongated, so that the device can be adapted to varying distanceε between the frame (1) and the opening (3) in the backpiece (2). 9. A device according to any one of Claimε 1-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the opening (3) in the backpiece iε elongated; and in that the inwardly located latching projection on the peg (12) has the form of a latching bolt (13) whose length is greater than the width of the opening (3) .

Inventors: BRUNNHAGEN BJOERN, SUNDSTROEM KENT, BRUNNHAGEN, BJOERN, SUNDSTROEM, KENT
Applicants: DEKORATIONSLIST AB
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A47G1
IPC codes: A47G1