FRAME MEMBER

Abstract: Frame member for framing pictures, posters and similar image carriers, comprising a first flange (1), serving as a support flange for an edge portion of the image carrier (8) and a second flange (2) which encloses a dihedral angle with said first flange (1) to laterally hold said edge portion, said second flange (2) being pivotally connected (at 3) - adjacent its end turned away from said first flange (1) - a press strip (4; 4') which is movable from an inoperative position outside said dihedral angle towards an operative position within the dihedral angle. The second flange (2) is in the form of a rectangular box section, of which the outer upstanding wall is extended - in a direction turned away from said first flange (1) - by a flange portion (2'), that has its free longitudinal edge (at 3) connected to the press strip (4; 4'). The press strip (4; 4') is provided with a snap engagement means (4c; 4'd) that engages - in the operative press position of the press strip (4; 4') - a complementary snap engaging means (5; 5'a) on the inner side of said flange portion (2').

Description: Frame member. The invention relates to a frame member as defined in the first part of claim 1. Such a frame member is disclosed in EP-A-0375237 (see the embodiment of fig. 3 and 4 in particular) . This well-known frame member, with which a strip-shaped press element is connected through a film hinge to the free end of the second flange of the angle section like frame member and is thus formed in one piece with the proper frame member, has the advantage that no separate means, such as clamps, are required to hold the image carrier. In EP-A-0375237 the frame member is shown rather diagrammetic and both the first flange and the second flange are illustrated as solid parts, whereas the press element in fact forms an extension of the second flange that gradually decreases in thickness and is separated from the proper second flange by a longitudinal cut that extends from the outer side through almost the entire thickness of the second flange. It is not disclosed how the required pressing force for holding the image carrier can be obtained with this well-known press element. Moreover it is unclear how a complete frame could be composed from four sections of the illustrated frame element. Now the invention aims at working out this well-known frame element with simple means to provide a practically applicable frame element . According to the invention this aim is achieved by the features which are mentioned in the second part of claim 1. In this connection it is to be remarked that forming the second flange of a frame element as a hollow box section is well-known per se, sothat the hollow space of the second flange may be used to receive a side element of an angle section-shaped connecting member. As distinguished from the well-known frame element above referred to, with which the press element is connected to the second flange by means of a film hinge provided on the inner side, the hinge connection between the press element and the second flange with the frame member of the invention is provided on the outer side, whereas on the inner side of the flange portion (press element) that now is an extension of the outer wall of the box section, a space has been created in which the snap/holding means of the invention may be received without thereby interfering with the placing of an image carrier within a frame composed from the frame member of the present invention. The frame member of the present invention is very user's friendly and of a compact design, so that a picture frame composed of the frame member of the present invention has a high degree of rigidity, with only a slight chance of yielding mitre joints. The frame member of the invention is adapted to be formed of one piece of plastic material, e.g. by extrusion. Further features of the invention will be hereinafter further explained by two examples with reference to the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the frame member of the present invention, in a first embodiment, with the press element in the inoperative position; fig. 2 is a perspective view of a piece of frame member of fig. 1, also with the press element in the outwardly swung, inoperative position; fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, wherein the press element of the frame member of fig. 1-2 locks an image carrier unit to be framed in place relative to the frame member; fig. 4 shows an end view on an enlarged scale of the frame member of the invention in a second embodiment, with the press element in the inoperative position; fig. 5 is a perspective view of a piece of frame member of fig. 4, also with the press element in the outward, inoperative position and fig. 6 is an end view similar to fig. 4, wherein the press element locks an image carrier unit to be framed in place relative to the frame member. With reference to fig. 1-3 the frame member shown therein is formed in one piece of a suitable plastic material. It has a first, hollow flange 1 with a convex outer or front side. Furthermore the frame member has a second flange 2 connected at right angles to the first flange 1 and formed as a rectangular box section, of which the inner upstanding wall 2a and the outer upstanding wall 2b are extended in a direction turned away from the first flange 1 by a projecting longitudinal edge 2" and a flange portion 2' respectively. The free longitudinal edge of the flange portion 2' is connected with a press strip 4 by means of a film hinge 3 or a similar flexible connecting portion. The press strip 4 has a first strip portion 4a, which is connected to the flange portion 2 ' through the film hinge 3 and may function as a finger grip. 4b is a transverse portion that extends from the strip portion 4a at some distance from the hinge 3. The end of the transverse portion 4b turned away from the strip portion 4a bends into a thickened edge 4c which may function as a snap rib. From the transverse portion 4b a second strip portion 4d extends with a gradually decreasing thickness towards its free longitudinal end, said second strip portion 4d taking a diverging position relative to said first strip portion 4a, as seen from the hinge 3. Two lips of leg portions 5 and 6 respectively extend from the inner side of the flange portion 2'. The slightly obliquely oriented lip 5 defines, together with the box section wall 2c and the longitudinal edge 2 ' , a snap space 7 adapted to cooperate with the snap rib 4c. The frame member is preferably extruded with the press strip 4 in its outwardly swung position as shown in fig. 1 and 2. In that position the image carrier unit 8 (= glass plate, image carrier and rear support plate) to be framed may be simply placed in the arrow direction X. Upon the image carrier unit 8 being placed the press strip 4 is swung inwardly according to arrow Y, which brings the second strip portion 4d in a position in which it engages the rear side of the image carrier unit such that the strip portion 4d will apply a uniform pressure along the entire length of the respective picture frame side. Depending on the thickness of the image carrier unit the second strip portion 4d will bend more or less towards the first strip portion 4a. In the final phase of the inwardly swinging motion of the press strip 4 the snap rib 4c will enter into the snap space 7, which locks the press strip 4 in its operative press position. In this position the part of the first strip portion 4a that is located adjacent the hinge 3, is engaging the abutment lip 6, substantially in the plane of the free longitudinal edge of the flange portion 2', parallel to the first flange 1. Conversely the press strip 4 may be simply swung from its operative position outwardly, while the first strip portion 4a is functioning as a finger grip. In the second embodiment according to fig. 4-6 the frame member is also integrally formed of a suitable plastic material. It has a first, hollow flange 1 with a convex outer or front side. Furthermore the frame member has a second flange 2 connected at right angles to the first flange 1 and formed as a rectangular box section, of which the outer upstanding wall 2b is extended, in a direction turned away from the first flange 1, to form a single walled flange portion 2'. The free longitudinal edge of the flange portion 2 ' is connected to a press strip 4 1 through a film hinge 3 or a similar flexible connecting portion. At a slight distance form the hinge 3 the press strip 4' branches into a first strip portion 4 'a, which may serve as a finger grip, and a second strip portion 4'b, which is the proper press strip and has a thickness, that gradually decreases towards its free end, so that its flexibility is gradually increasing. Just short of the branching there is a transverse portion 4'c, that extends from the press strip 4'. At some distance from the strip 4' the transverse portion 4'c bends at right angles and thus parallel to the strip 4' to end into a hook portion 4'd of a isosceles triangle-shaped cross section. Two leg portions 5 'and 6 respectively extend at right angles from the inne side of the flange portion 2'. The leg portion 5 'ends in a right angled triangle-shaped hook portion 5 'a, that cooperates with the hook portion 4'd to lock the press strip 4' in its operative press position. The leg portion 6 may thereby function as an abutment. The frame member is preferably extruded with the press strip 4' in its outwardly swung position as shown in fig. 4 and 5. In that position the image carrier unit 8 (= glass plate, image carrier and rear support plate) to be framed may be simply placed in the arrow direction X. Upon the image carrier unit 8 being placed the press strip 4 ' is swung inwardly according to arrow Y, which brings the second strip portion 4'b in a position in which it engages the rear side of the image carrier unit such that the strip portion 4d will apply a uniform pressure along the entire length of the respective picture frame side. Depending on the thickness of the image carrier unit the tapering end of the press strip portion 4'b will bend more or less towards the first strip portion 4 'a. In the final phase of the swinging movement of the press strip 4* the hook portion 4'd will initially run - while the leg portion 5' and/or the transverse portion 4'c is yielding - onto the oblique end face of the hook portion 5 'a and finally click behind the hook portion 5' a. The strip 4' is thereby firmly locked in its operative press position. The portion of the strip 4', that it immediately adjacent the hinge 3 will thereby engage the abutment leg portion 6 and oriented substantially in the plane of the free longitudinal edge of the flange portion 2', parallel to the first flange 1. It is relatively easy to lock the press strip 4 ' in its operative position, viz. by applying a small (press) force. However, a release of the locked press strip - although possible - is much more difficult. For that purpose the right angled transverse portion 4'c must bend, as seen in fig. 6, to the right in order to allow the triangle-shaped hook portion 4'd to run with its inner oblique face over and off the top of the hook portion 5a. It will be understood, that such a bending movement can not be easily obtained by applying a pulling force (directed away from the flange 1) onto the strip portion 'a; on the contrary a moment would have to be applied about the foot of the transverse portion 4'c. Thus a hardly releasible snap connection is obtained, which ensures a reliable hold of the image carrier unit to be framed. In both of the examples the composition of a picture frame from four mitred sections of the frame member of the invention may be effected in a well-known member, i.e. by making use of right angled corner connecting members, the legs of which are received within the box section spaces of the flanges 2 of each two adjacent frame members .

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A frame member for framing pictures, posters and similar image carriers, comprising a first flange (1), serving as a support flange for an edge portion of the image carrier (8) to be framed and a second flange (2) which encloses a dihedral angle with said first flange (1) and is adapted to laterally hold said edge portion, said second flange (2) being pivotally connected (at 3) - adjacent its end turned away from said first flange (1) - a press strip (4; 4') which is movable from an inoperative position outside said dihedral angle towards an operative position within the dihedral angle, characterized in that said second flange (2) is in the form of a rectangular box section, of which the outer upstanding wall is extended - in a direction turned away from said first flange (1) - by a flange portion (2'), that has its free longitudinal edge (at 3) connected to the press strip (4; 4'), and further characterized in that said press strip (4; 4') is provided with a snap engagement means (4c; 4'd) that engages - in the operative press position of the press strip (4; 4') - a complementary snap engaging means (5; 5'a) on the inner side of said flange portion (2'). 2. A frame member according to claim 1, characterized in that the press strip (4; 4') comprises a first (4a; 4'a) and a second strip portion (4d; 4'b) of which said first strip portion (4a; 4'a) which is adapted to function as a finger grip is pivotally connected with said flange portion (2'), whereas said second strip portion (4d; 4'b) which is located on the inner side of said first strip portion (4a; 4a') and fulfils a press function, is taking - as seen from the hinge connection (at 3) - a diverging position relative to said first strip portion (4a; 4'a). 3. A frame member according to claim 2, characterized in that said second strip portion (4d) extends from a transverse portion (4b) which in turn extends from the inner side of said first strip portion (4a) and bends at its free end in a direction towards said hinge connection (3), said free end being formed as a snap rib (4c). 4. A frame member according to claim 3, characterized in that said longitudinal edge (4c) functioning as a snap rib cooperates with a lip or leg portion (5) extending from the inner side of the flange portion (2'), said lip or leg portion (5) defining, together with the _ 7 - PCTtNLOO/00064 adjacent wall portion (2c, 2") of the respective box section, a snap receiving space (7) for said snap rib (5). 5. A frame member according to claim 2, characterized in that at some distance before the location, where the press strip (4') branches into the first strip portion (4'a) and the second strip portion (4'b) a transverse portion (4'c) is provided, which extends from said press strip (4') and has its free end bent in a direction towards said hinge connection (3) and ended in a hook portion (4'd), that cooperates with a complementary hook portion (5 'a) at the end of a leg portion (5') that extends from the inner side of said flange portion (2' ) . 6. A frame member according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a second leg portion (6; 6') extends from said flange portion (2') which functions as an abutment for the press strip (4; 4') in the operative press position. 7. A frame member according to claims 2-6, characterized in that said second strip portion (4d; 4'b) has a thickness, that decreases towards the free longitudinal edge of said strip portion.

Inventors: DUSINK HENRICUS NIKLAAS JOSEPH, DUSINK, HENRICUS, NIKLAAS, JOSEPHUS
Applicants: DUSINK HENRICUS NIKLAAS JOSEPH, WELTEC B V, DUSINK, HENRICUS, NIKLAAS, JOSEPHUS, WELTEC B.V.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47G1
IPC codes: A47G1, G09F15