Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mounting dock for the display frame of a document or picture, able to be affixed to a support wherein said mounting dock comprises one or several magnetic means intended to hold the frame pressed to said dock in the horizontal position, said magnetic means being engaged in at least one housing made in the dock and retention means intended to support the frame in the vertical position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The technical scope of the present invention is that of systems to arrange display faces such as canvasses on which a painting may be made. 
       2. Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    Patents JP-2004305723 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,799 are known in which a U-shaped magnetic circuit is embedded into a supporting wall and cooperates with a metallic plate affixed to the rear side of a picture. The picture may thus be hung on the wall. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,476 is also known in which a picture may be hung by a hook affixed to a supporting wall by means of a metallic wire affixed to the rear of the picture and guided by a guiding element incorporating a magnet. This guiding element is mounted able to pivot at the end of the hook. 
         [0004]    One technical drawback, however, lies in the fact that these systems for hanging pictures are relatively difficult to implement and above all do not allow for the easy exchange of the display faces. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The aim of the present invention is thus to overcome these drawbacks of prior art by supplying a simplified structure for fixing a display face that is, for example, in the form of a painted canvas, a display panel, a printed photograph or a mirror. 
         [0006]    The invention thus relates to a dock to receive a display frame for a document or picture, able to be affixed to a support, wherein it comprises one or several magnetic means intended to hold the frame pressed to said dock in the horizontal position, and retention means intended to support the frame in the vertical position, said magnetic means being engaged in at least one housing made in the dock. 
         [0007]    According to one characteristic of the invention, the retention means are constituted by two lugs protruding with respect to the dock, arranged substantially in the vicinity of the magnetic means and at a distance from one another. 
         [0008]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the dock incorporates two housings intended to each house magnetic means. 
         [0009]    According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the dock incorporates a housing in its central part intended to house magnetic means. 
         [0010]    According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the dock is constituted by a solid body in which housings are made to accommodate the magnetic means, and a plate to mount it on the support, the retention means protruding with respect to the body, the body and the dock being clipped and/or screwed together. 
         [0011]    According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the body comprises two through slots, the mounting plate comprising two arms intended to cooperate with the though slots. 
         [0012]    Advantageously, the arms end in body hooking claws. 
         [0013]    According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the body is in the form of a U-shaped extrusion delimiting a cage acting as a single housing for the magnetic means and of which the free end of each branch is extended by feet parallel to the base of the U thereby defining an open space, each of the branches being provided with a longitudinal groove opening towards the exterior of the U. 
         [0014]    According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the magnetic means are arranged in the U and held in position by the feet. 
         [0015]    Advantageously, the magnetic means are constituted by two magnets kept at a distance from one another by a spacer. 
         [0016]    Advantageously again, each magnet is wedged against the spacer by means of a cap. 
         [0017]    According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the retention means are constituted by two lugs protruding with respect to one of the branches. 
         [0018]    According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the dock comprises: 
         [0019]    lighting means comprising an arm extended at its free end by a lighting device and incorporating at its other end a male part intended to engage in the groove in one of the branches, and 
         [0020]    an electrical energy supply equipped with a male part intended to cooperate with the groove in the other branch, 
         [0021]    electrical connection means being provided to link the lighting to the supply. 
         [0022]    Advantageously, the connection means are in the form of a conductive wafer. 
         [0023]    Advantageously again, the body is provided with a blind hole containing a spirit level to check the horizontal positioning of the dock. 
         [0024]    A first advantage of the present invention lies in the fast and simple hooking and unhooking of the frame affixed to the dock. 
         [0025]    Another advantage of the present invention lies in the easily reversible horizontal and vertical positioning of a display frame. 
         [0026]    Another advantage of the present invention lies in the attachment of the dock, by any user, without the need for complex tooling and manipulation. 
         [0027]    Yet another advantage of the present invention lies in the capacity for the frame to be held in position and centered with respect to the dock. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    Other characteristics, particulars and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the additional description given hereafter with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the dock according to the invention with its different components, 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the body of the dock according to the invention without the magnetic means, 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section view of the body of the dock via a retention means, 
           [0032]      FIGS. 4 a -4 c    respectively show a view of the front face, the top and the rear face of the mounting plate according to the invention, 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the dock assembly according to the invention, 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a section view of the dock according to the invention via a cap, 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of the dock according to the invention provided with a frame, 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of the dock according to the invention provided with a spirit level, 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  shows a cross section view via the bar of a lighting means assembled with the body according to the invention, 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of lighting means partially assembled with the body according to the invention, 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the energy supply partially assembled with the body according to the invention, 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  shows a front view of the energy supply according to the invention, 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of the energy supply according to the invention, and 
           [0042]      FIG. 14  shows a rear perspective view with visible edges of the body assembled with the plate and partially shown lighting means according to the invention, 
           [0043]      FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the dock body, 
           [0044]      FIG. 16  shows a front view of the embodiment of the dock body shown in  FIG. 15 , 
           [0045]      FIG. 17  shows a cross section along AA of  FIG. 16 , 
           [0046]      FIG. 18  shows a view of the rear face of the dock body shown in  FIG. 15 , 
           [0047]      FIG. 19  shows a top view of the dock body shown in  FIG. 15 , 
           [0048]      FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the dock, 
           [0049]      FIG. 21  shows a front view of the dock shown in  FIG. 20 , 
           [0050]      FIG. 22  show a cross section along CC in  FIG. 21 , 
           [0051]      FIG. 23  shows a view of the rear face of the dock shown in  FIG. 20 , and 
           [0052]      FIG. 24  shows a top view of the dock shown in  FIG. 20 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0053]    As explained previously, the dock according to the invention is able to receive a picture frame and affix it to a support, a wall for example, without the need for any specific intervention. 
         [0054]    The dock itself may be made of any type of material, wood, metal, alloy, plastic, composite or any other material. For a plastic material, the dock is made, for example, by molding or rotomoulding. According to the invention, one or several magnetic means are provided whose function is to hold the frame in a horizontal position and retention means are provided to prevent any downward vertical displacement of the frame. These two means combined ensure that the frame is perfectly positioned on the dock. One or several magnetic means thus form part of the dock and the frame has one or several complementary magnetic or ferromagnetic means cooperating with those of the dock. 
         [0055]    According to the invention, using retention means provides for either one magnetic retention means or two magnetic retention means to be used. Indeed, the magnetic means on their own are not able to ensure that the frame is held in position. This is why the applicant has planned to combine the frame&#39;s being held in position and its physical retention by retention means. This combination offers the advantage of being very simple to enact whilst enabling frames of substantial mass to be accommodated. This structure enables the use of over-powerful magnets, whose magnetic field may be disruptive for the immediate environment, to be avoided. 
         [0056]    Naturally, the dock is attached to the support, for example by bonding using double-sided tape or by using fastening screws. 
         [0057]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a reception dock  1  formed mainly of a solid body  2  and a mounting plate  3  to affix it to the wall. The body  2  is substantially parallelepipedic in shape, and incorporates different machined elements as well as a U-shaped cage  8 . 
         [0058]    The cage  8  houses and holds in position the magnets  4  and  5 , between which a spacer  6  has been inserted. This enables two magnetic zones to be created thereby facilitating the horizontal affixment of the frame  50  as will be explained hereafter. The free end of each branch  9 ,  10  of the U-shape is extended respectively by feet  11  and  12  parallel to the base of the U which is itself parallel to the bottom  13  of the body  2 , thereby defining an open space, each of the branches  9 ,  10  being respectively provided with longitudinal groves  14 ,  15  opening outwards. 
         [0059]    In the affixment position, groove  14  is oriented downwards and groove  15  upwards. It goes without saying that the bottom  13  of the U-shape is parallel with the rear face of the body  2  and that the branches  9  and  10  of the U, as well as the grooves  14  and  15 , are parallel to one another. 
         [0060]    During assembly, two retention caps  7   a  and  7   b  respectively for magnets  4  and  5  enable the cage  8  to be closed by wedging the magnets  4  and  5  against the spacer  6 . Each cap  7   a  or  7   b  comprises a side  71  provided with a protrusion  72  intended to engage in the U-shape in the body  1 . 
         [0061]    The retention means are formed here by magnets  4  and  5 . Each magnet  4 ,  5 , as can be seen, is machined by milling at the intersection of two of these sides to delimit, at each end, two baseplates  41  and  42  intended to engage in the U in the body  2  and to be held in position by feet  11  and  12 . These two magnets  4  and  5  are separated by the U-shaped spacer  6  intended to engage in the U in the body  2  and to be held in place by feet  11  and  12 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the body  2  alone. The body  2  is provided with through slots  16  and  17 , drill holes  18 ,  19  and  20  and a blind hole  21 . The use of these elements will be explained later. The body  2  is provided with two lugs  22  and  23  at a distance from one another and protruding with respect to the branch  9  of the U-shape, on which the frame  50  will press as will be explained later. These two lugs  22  and  23  may be joined together to form a continuous support. 
         [0063]    The body  2  is also provided with grooves  48  and  49  arranged perpendicularly to groove  15 , and whose role will be explained later. Similar grooves (not shown here) are arranged in the opposing groove  14 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 3  shows a side section view via the retention means of the body  2  alone, highlighting the U-shape of the extrusion aforementioned with the bottom  13  and branches  9  and  10 , the position of feet  11  and  12 , and that of lug  23 . 
         [0065]      FIGS. 4 a -4 c    show the manufacture of the mounting plate  3 . 
         [0066]    As can be seen in  FIG. 4 a    which shows a front view of the plate  3 , this plate  3  is substantially parallelepipedic and comprises two arms  31  and  32  intended to cooperate with through slots  16  and  17  of the body  2 . Plate  3  is also provided with drill holes  35  and  36  respectively positioned so as to match with drill holes  18  and  19  when the plate  3  is linked to the body  2 , namely allowing screws to be passed through to fasten it to the support. 
         [0067]    The plate  3  is also provided with two indentations  37   a  and  37   b  in its upper part and two indentations  37   c  and  37   d  in its lower part and whose role will be explained later. Lastly, a through hole  9  can be seen in the centre of the plate  3 , this hole  59  namely allowing a screw to be passed through so as to make the plate  3  truly integral with the body  2  thanks to the drill hole  20  whose position matches that of the through hole  59 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 4 b    is a top view of the mounting plate  3 , highlighting the arms  31  and  32  and the claws  34  and  33 . These two arms  31  and  32  end in claws  33  and  34  intended to hook onto the body  2  and penetrate slots  16  and  17 . The plate  3  also incorporates two longitudinal ribs  44  and  45  whose role will be explained later. This plate can also be seen to be provided with an overmoulding  3   a  intended to perfect the positioning of the plate  3  on the body  2 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 4 c    is a rear view of the mounting plate  3  highlighting the two ribs  4  and  45  which extend respectively from indentation  37   a  to indentation  37   c  and from indentation  37   b  to indentation  37   d.    
         [0070]      FIG. 5  shows the dock  1  equipped with its components. The spacer  6  is firstly introduced into the cage  8 , then the magnets  4  and  5  on either side of the spacer, and lastly each cap  7   a,    7   b.  The magnets  4  and  5  are wedged inside the U by means of the caps  7   a  and  7   b  and separated by the spacer  6 . As can be seen, the claws  33  and  34  respectively on the ends of arms  31  and  32  of the plate  3  passing through slots  16  and  17  of the body clip the body  2  and plate  3  together. 
         [0071]      FIG. 6  shows a section view of the dock  1  via one of the caps, for example cap  7   b.  The overmoulding  3   a  of the plate  3  can be seen to press in the body  2  preventing any relative displacement of this plate with respect to the body. 
         [0072]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of the dock  1  fitted with the horizontal bar of a frame  50 . Magnetic means  52  and  53  shown in dotted lines are provided in this frame. The frame  50  is thus held in place vertically by the lugs  22  and  23  onto which it presses and horizontally by the magnets  4  and  5 . The frame  50  may be easily unhooked, for example, by raising one of its ends slightly upwards, thereby disconnecting the magnets  4 ,  5  from the matching magnets  52  and  53  in the frame  50 , then by pulling the frame  50  upwards to remove it from the lugs  22  and  23  of the dock  1 . The force of the magnets  4  and  5  may easily be adapted to the frame  50  that is to be affixed to the dock  1  depending on the mass of said frame. 
         [0073]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of the dock  1  equipped with a spirit level  51  located in the blind hole  21 . The spirit level  51  allows the horizontal positioning of the dock  1  to be checked during its installation on its support. The position of the dock  6 , magnets  4  and  5  and caps  7   a  and  7   b  can be seen. Claws  31  and  32  of arms  31  and  32  applied onto the body  2  can also be seen. 
         [0074]      FIG. 9  shows a section view illustrating lighting means  38  for the frame affixed to the body  2 . These means  38  comprise an arm  39   a  extended at its free end by a lighting device  39   b  and incorporating a male part  46  at its other end. As can be seen in the Figure, the lighting means  38  are engaged via the male part  46  in the groove  15  in the body  2  making a dovetail connection. 
         [0075]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the lighting means  38  partially assembled with the body  2 . The male part  46  is partially engaged in the groove  15  and merely has to be fully engaged in order to fully integrate the lighting means and the dock. 
         [0076]      FIG. 11  shows an electrical energy supply  47  partially assembled with the body  2  and intended to supply the lighting means  38 . This energy supply  47  is provided with a male part  43  intended to cooperate with the groove  14  in the body  2 .  FIG. 12  shows a front view of an energy supply  47  and  FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of the energy supply  47 . 
         [0077]    It goes without saying that the two grooves  14  and  15  may be identical and thus that the positions of the energy supply  47  and the lighting means  38  may be swapped. 
         [0078]      FIG. 14  shows a rear perspective view of the body  2  equipped with the lighting means  38  partly shown. To ensure the energy supply for the lighting means, there are two connectors  54  and  55  in the form of boards arranged respectively in ribs  44  and  45  of the body  2 . These connectors  54  and  55  also respectively pass by grooves  48  and  49  (arranged perpendicularly to groove  15 ), as well as by the respective grooves not shown (arranged perpendicularly to groove  1 ). 
         [0079]    The connectors arranged in the grooves  48  and  49  and in the grooves not shown respectively are arranged to correspond respectively with contact pads (located on the male part  46 ) of the lighting means  38  and contact pads (located on the male part  43 ) of the energy supply  47 . These connectors  54  and  55  thus perform the electrical connection between the energy supply  47  and the lighting means  38 . The energy supply  47 , whose male part  43  is inserted into the groove  14 , supplies the lighting means whose male part is inserted into the groove  15 , via connectors  54  and  55 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of a variant embodiment of the body  2 . In this embodiment, two separate housings  80   a  and  80   b  are provided at a distance from one another, each intended to receive magnetic means, namely a magnet, which will be affixed to the body  2  by means of glue or clips. The grooves  15  and  14  are respectively located in the upper part and the lower part of the body  2 . 
         [0081]    The other machined elements do not differ from those in the embodiment of the body  2  shown in the previous Figures, namely the blind hole  21 , the drill holes  18  and  19 , the through slots  16  and  17 , the lugs  22  and  23 . Here the housings  80   a  and  80   b  can be seen to be in the prolongation of drill holes  18  and  19 , which operationally enables the magnets to be bonded to the fore of the attachment screws via drill holes  18  and  19 . The grooves  48   a  and  49   a  arranged perpendicularly to groove  15  are identical to grooves  48  and  49  in the body  2 , shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 16  is a front view of the body  2  of the dock  1  according to  FIG. 15 . The drill holes  18  and  19  can be seen to partially occupy the bottoms of housings  80   a  and  80   b.  Housings  80   a  and  80   b  are parallelepipedic in shape and the drill holes are cylindrical. Lastly, four raised surfaces  100   a  to  100   h  can be observed inside each of the housings  80   a  and  80   b.  The shape of the magnets (not shown here) is adapted to that of the housings  80   a  and  80   b  and thus incorporate grooves to match these raised surfaces  100   a  to  100   h  whose purpose is to guide the magnets into the housings  80   a  and  80   b  and hold them in place. 
         [0083]      FIG. 17  is a section view, via the raised surfaces  100   a  and  100   b  of housing  80   a,  of the body  2  shown in  FIG. 16 . The lugs  22  and  23  cannot be seen in this view because of the angle of the section. 
         [0084]      FIG. 18  shows a view of the rear face of the body  2  of the dock  1  shown in  FIG. 15 . The drill holes  18 ,  19  and  20  can be seen as can the slots  16  and  17 . The grooves  48   a  and  49   a  can be seen as can the grooves  48   a  and  49   b  arranged perpendicularly to the groove  14 , for example 6 mm wide, enabling the electrical connectors to be positioned in them as seen in the first embodiment. 
         [0085]      FIG. 19  shows a top view of the body  2  of the dock  1  shown in  FIG. 15 , highlighting the lugs  22  and  23  protruding from the body and located at the base of the housings  80   a  and  80   b.  The lugs  22  and  23  here are separate and at a distance from one another. 
         [0086]      FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the dock  1 . This is generally substantially parallelepipedic in shape and is provided with three housings  90   a,    90   b  and  91 , the lateral housings  90   a  and  90   b  being close to each end and the housing  91  being located between the two housings  90   a  and  90   b.    
         [0087]    This embodiment may be used in two different ways. For example, a magnet may be placed, bonded or tightly fitted, into each of the lateral housings  90   a,    90   b  and the frame  50  (not shown) affixed horizontally thanks to these two magnetic means. A magnet may also be bonded or tightly fitted into the central housing  91  and the frame  50  can thus be affixed by means of a single magnetic means. In both cases, the lugs  22  and  23 , in the vicinity of the housings  90   a  and  90   b  act as vertical supports for the frame held in place by the magnetic means. The dock  1  here is of a single piece and is affixed to the support namely by means of a permanent, or possible reusable, adhesive. This makes the dock  1  extremely easy to use. 
         [0088]      FIG. 21  shows a front view of the dock  1  shown in  FIG. 20  and showing the housings and the lugs. The lateral housings  90   a  and  90   b  and central housing  91  also each incorporate four raised surfaces  100   a - 100   l  identical to those in the previous embodiment. Here there is no blind hole  21  but a drill hole  101  passing through the dock  1  and holding a spirit level. 
         [0089]      FIG. 22  shows a section view along CC in  FIG. 21  via the lug  22 . The raised surfaces  100   a  and  100   b  can be seen in the housing  90   a.    
         [0090]      FIG. 23  shows a view of the rear face of the body of the dock  1  shown in  FIG. 20 . The indentation  101  across the dock  1  can also be seen. This rear face is intended to be affixed directly to the support, namely by bonding, by the surface  101  shown in dotted lines. 
         [0091]      FIG. 24  shows a top view of the body of the dock shown in  FIG. 20 . This view highlights the lugs  22  and  23  protruding from the dock  1 . The upper face of the dock can be seen to have no grooves. The same is true of its lower face. 
         [0092]    It goes without saying that the force of the magnet or magnets is adapted to the characteristics of the picture.