SEALED SHOWCASE FOR PAINTINGS AND THE LIKE

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealed showcase (1) for accommodating paintings or the like, comprising a substantially parallelepiped framework (2) adapted to accommodate a painting (3), the framework having a front side (5) intended for orientation toward an exhibition room and a backside (6) intended to lie close to a hangwall for the showcase, respectively defined therein; a rear panel (7) peripherally associated with the framework backside; a front panel (10) peripherally associated with the framework front side and including a transparent pane (13); sealing means (9), respectively located between the front panel and the framework front side, and between the rear panel and the framework backside; an abutment in the front panel for receiving a setting frame (16) of the painting. The showcase of the invention is characterized in that the front panel can be opened from the framework.

Description: - 1 - "Sealed showcase for paintings and the like" * * * * * DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a sealed showcase, i.e. a showcase whose interior is fully isolated from the external environment, which is intended for accommodating paintings or the like. For simplicity, throughout this specification and the appended claims, reference will be made to showcases adapted to accommodate paintings, it being understood that similar considerations also apply where other objects of small thickness, such as pieces of tapestry, bas-relief, fabric, etc., are to be so accommodated. Especially in museums and exhibition halls, but also in private place, there is the need to protect certain objects against deterioration by environmental agents. For the purpose, it is necessary to place such objects inside showcases which are provided with sealing means in order to fully isolate the showcase interior from the external environment . Suitable showcases for this purpose have been known in the art. Such showcases comprise basically a framework, usually parallelepiped in shape, having a front side intended to be oriented toward the exhibition room, and a backside intended to be oriented toward the hangwall for the showcase. The front side is fitted with a transparent panel, such as a glass pane, to allow the object to be viewed by the exhibition-going public, whereas the backside is closed by a generally dim panel. The showcase includes sealing gaskets mounted between the framework and the transparent and dim panels, respectively, so as to establish a sealed interior under a controlled medium. Also known are showcases as above which are specially designed for exhibiting paintings, wherein the transparent front panel is formed with an abutment for a painting setting frame. In this instance, the painting is introduced into the showcase without its setting frame, and the setting frame is then secured onto the clear panel at the exterior of the showcase, both to conceal the existence of the showcase and give the observer the impression that he/she is looking at a painting which is not sealed within a showcase . A drawback of the above-described sealed showcases is that the showcase interior can only be accessed by removing the rear panel of the framework, after taking the showcase down from the hangwall. This operation may prove difficult and cumbersome with showcases which contain large size paintings and/or heavy paintings. In these cases, the exertion required for the operator may be considerable if he is to take the showcase down from the hangwall out of any danger for the painting therein. The underlying technical problem of this invention is to provide a sealed showcase of simple construction and low cost, which can overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art . Accordingly, the invention provides a sealed showcase for accommodating paintings or the like, which comprises: a substantially parallelepiped framework adapted to accommodate a painting, the framework having a front side intended for orientation toward an exhibition room and a backside intended to lie close to a hangwall for the showcase, respectively defined therein; a rear panel peripherally associated with the backside of the framework; a front panel peripherally associated with the framework front side and including a transparent pane; sealing means, respectively located between the front panel and the framework front -side, and between the rear panel and the framework backside; an abutment formed on the front panel for receiving a setting frame of the painting; characterized in that the front panel can be opened from the framework. This sealed showcase is, therefore, ideally suitable for displaying paintings or the like, even of large size. This showcase is highly versatile in use, since it comprises, additionally to the classical opening arrangement (useful, for example, especially for positioning the painting) , a further convenient and simple opening arrangement (useful, for example, especially for periodical maintenance work) which enables an operator to reach inside the showcase without taking it down from the hangwall. Advantageously, where the showcase of the invention is used at an exhibition, the showcase can be disguised under the setting frame associated therewith, to give the observer the impression that he/she is looking at a painting which is not sealed within a showcase. Preferably, for opening the front panel, a hinge is mounted between the framework and the front panel. More preferably, the hinge is mounted externally of the sealing means between the framework and the front panel, so as not to interfere with the tight fit and advantageously provide a more effective seal. Preferably, the front panel comprises: - a peripheral structure adapted to fit against the framework; a transparent pane located centrally with respect to the peripheral structure; a spacer mounted fixedly between the peripheral structure and the transparent pane. The specific configuration of the front panel makes the showcase of the invention highly flexible in use, in that it allows the showcase to be adapted to any painting with any setting frame, without the latter having to be altered in any way. - 4 - The structural integrity of the setting frame (which is often an item of historical interest itself) is safeguarded by that it is preferably secured on the peripheral structure of the front panel by releasable adhesive means, such as for example a non-attacking resin and neutral silicone . Preferably, the showcase of this invention includes a plurality of elastic elements for holding the painting which are attached to the rear panel (or, alternatively, to the framework) , to cushion the painting from possible shocks occurring during transportation or while being moved from one place to another. Further features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings . In the drawings : Figure 1 is a schematic view of a showcase according to the invention, shown in its closed condition; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of the showcase shown in Figure 1, in its opened condition. With reference 1 in the - Figures is indicated a sealed showcase according to this invention. The showcase 1 comprises a substantially parallelepiped framework 2 accommodating on its interior a painting 3 provided with a rigid supporting structure 4. The framework 2 is formed of a first pair of beams which are bonded, as by means of corner joint members (not shown) , orthogonally to a second pair of beams (the beams being all indicated with reference 2a) , so as to define a front side 5 intended to be oriented toward the exhibition room and a backside 6 intended to lie close to a hangwall for the showcase 1. - 5 - A rear panel 7, of a generally dim type, is fixed on the perimeter of the backside 6 of the framework 2 in a manner known per se (e.g., by screw fasteners 8). Conventional sealing gaskets 9 are provided between the panel 7 and the backside 6 which extend all around the backside 6 to get the desired fluid-tight seal with the panel 7. At the front side 5 of the framework 2, the showcase 1 is provided with a front panel 10 which can be moved between closed and opened positions of the showcase 1 by a swing- door type of movement. Similar conventional sealing gaskets 9 extend all around the front side 5 to get the desired fluid-tight seal with the panel 10, once the panel 10 is in its closed position. The panel 10 comprises a peripheral structure 12 (e.g., formed by a plurality of metal beams associated orthogonally with one another) which includes a centrally located pane 13 of a transparent material (e.g., coated glass or the like) . A spacer 14 is interposed between an end portion 12a of the structure 12 lying adjacent to the pane 13 and the pane 13 itself, and is secured thereto in a manner known per se . In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer 14 is glued onto the pane 13 and fastened to the structure 12 by means of screws. A seat 15 for receiving a setting frame 16 of the painting 3 is thus defined in the panel 10. The setting frame 16 is secured on the peripheral structure 12 by suitable fasteners or, preferably, by releasable adhesive means, such as non-attacking resins and neutral silicones, to leave the end portion 12a extending out from the setting frame 16. The peripheral structure 12 has an end portion 12b, opposite to the portion 12a, hinged to a flange 17 of an L- shaped plate 18 which is attached to the exterior of the frame 2 at a lateral edge 11 thereof. The flange 17 extends - 6 - out from the frame 2, at the opposite side from the sealing gaskets 9. The showcase 1 also includes a plurality of elastic elements 19 for holding the painting 3. The elements 19 comprise two L- shaped bars 20a, 20b which are respectively associated with the rear panel 7 and the rigid structure 4 of the painting 3, and an intermediate joint 21 which is deformable elastically and screw fastened to the two bars 20a, 20b. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, of the showcase of this invention, the elastic elements 19 are attached to the frame 2 in grooves specially provided therein. Formed inwardly of the frame 2 is a seat 22 for receiving a conventional humidity control panel (e.g., silica gel), and a seat 23 for receiving a conventional means (not shown) for compensating the air volume variations caused by changes in temperature or pressure inside the showcase 1 (e.g., a plenum chamber bag which would deform upon the internal pressure of the showcase changing) . The openable panel 10 is then provided with a conventional closure means, not shown in the drawings.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A sealed showcase for paintings or the like, comprising: a substantially parallelepiped framework adapted to accommodate a painting, the framework having a front side intended for orientation toward an exhibition room and a backside intended to lie close to a hangwall for the showcase, respectively defined therein; a rear panel peripherally associated with the backside of the framework; a front panel peripherally associated with the framework front side and including a transparent pane; sealing means, respectively located between the front panel and the framework front side, and between the rear panel and the framework backside; an abutment formed on the front panel for receiving a setting frame of the painting; characterized in that the front panel can be opened from the framework. 2. A showcase according to Claim 1, comprising a hinge mounted between the framework and the front panel to provide a swing-door opening feature. 3. A showcase according to Claim 1, wherein the front panel comprises : - a peripheral structure adapted to fit against the framework; a transparent pane located centrally with respect to the peripheral structure; a spacer mounted fixedly between the peripheral structure and the transparent pane. 4. A showcase according to Claim 3, wherein the setting frame is secured on the peripheral structure of the front panel by a releasable adhesive means. 5. A showcase according to Claim 4, wherein the releasable adhesive means comprises non-attacking resins or neutral - 8 - silicone . 6. A showcase according to Claim 1, further comprising a plurality of elastic elements for holding the painting. 7. A showcase according to Claim 6, wherein the elastic elements are attached to the rear panel . 8. A showcase according to Claim 6, wherein the elastic elements are attached to the framework. 9. A showcase according to Claim 6, wherein each one of said plurality of elastic elements comprises two L-shaped bars respectively associated with the rear panel and a rigid structure of the painting, and an elastically deformable joint mounted between the two bars. 10. A showcase according to Claim 2, wherein the hinge is located outwardly of the sealing means between the framework and the front panel . 11. A showcase according to Claim 1, further comprising, inwards of the framework, a seat for receiving a humidity control material. 12. A showcase according to Claim 1, further comprising, inwards of the framework, a means of compensating for variations in air volume.

Inventors: GOPPION ALESSANDRO, GOPPION, ALESSANDRO
Applicants: GOPPION ALESSANDRO, GOPPION S R L, GOPPION S.R.L., GOPPION, ALESSANDRO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47F3
IPC codes: A47F3, A47G1