Patent Publication Number: US-9402488-B2

Title: Picture display and mounting

Description:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the display of an image recorded on some hard copy medium. 
     Hard copy images or ‘pictures’ are typically displayed hanging from a wall or other fixture, or standing upright upon items of furniture. Displaying pictures in this way usually requires the picture to have a degree of structural rigidity. Pictures comprising flexible webs, such as canvas or paper carrying an image therefore usually have to be mounted upon a suitable structure or ‘mounting’ to enable them to be displayed in that manner. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is known to create inexpensive and relatively easily constructed picture mountings, typically from cardboard. Typically, such a mounting will comprise a flat, usually square or rectangular display panel and a frame at its rear. Adhesive, usually self-adhesive, is located on the front face of the display panel and a picture such as a photograph or drawing can be stuck to the display panel by removing the release paper from the self-adhesive and placing the picture in the correct position then pressing to cause it to adhere to the exposed adhesive. One feature of this design is that precise alignment of the picture and display panel are required; the nature of the self-adhesive being such that removal and re-alignment is difficult at best and, more usually will result in damage to the picture, mounting or both. 
     WO2011010085 discloses a display mount for artwork with a central rectangular area which is coincident with the image to be displayed and which is coated with adhesive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide alternatives which enable easy alignment and adhesion of a picture to a mounting. Preferred embodiments provide a mounting which enables self-tensioning of a picture on the mounting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view, from a first side, of a mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view from the opposite side shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 to 7  are perspective views of various stages of assembly of a mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 8 to 11  are perspective views of various stages of assembly of a mount according to an embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with the mounting of a flexible web displaying a picture; 
         FIGS. 12 to 14  are perspective views of a modified mounting and mounting method according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a frontal perspective view of a mounted picture. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a mounting will typically be used to retain a picture for display. Typically, the picture, that is to say an image such as a drawing, painting or photograph recorded on a hard copy medium such as paper, canvas or photographic paper, will lack or have only minimal rigidity; and will therefore be poorly adapted, structurally speaking, to display whatever image it records. Accordingly, a mounting serves, for example, to provide both structural integrity and permit the fixing of the picture to—say—a wall. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the picture mounting  10  is, in the present example, fashioned from a web of material which typically (though not essentially, since the mounting may serve only to provide the capacity to mount the picture to a wall, for example) has greater rigidity than that of the picture which it is to display. Thus, for example, in one embodiment, the material of the web used to create the mounting is cardboard, or a material having similar characteristics. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mounting  10  includes a central display panel  12 , which in the present embodiment is rectangular, though other geometries such as triangular, square, pentagonal are possible. In use, a picture will be retained against the front-facing, ‘display surface’ of the display panel, this being the side of the display panel visible in  FIG. 1 . In a modification, a part of the display surface of the display panel is cut out so that, in the absence of a picture mounted over it, it has the appearance of a frame, the display surface thereby only being peripheral in nature. The perimeter of the display panel is defined by a frame formed of a plurality of spars, formed from leaves extending outwardly from it. In the present embodiment, each spar is created from the same material as the display panel  12 , though the attachment of distinct material to create spars is envisaged. Four fold lines  16 A-D at the perimeter of the display panel  12  are the starting point, from which four leaves that form the spars,  20 A-D, B extend. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , each of the leaves includes three further fold lines  22 A-D,  24 A-D,  26 A-D. Thus, the fold lines  16 A-D and  22 A-D define first sub-leaves; the fold lines  22 A-D define second sub-leaves located on the distal side of the display panel from the first sub-leaves; and the fold lines  124 A-D and  126 A-D define third sub-leaves, located on the distal side of the display panel from the second sub-leaves. Strengthening spars having, in the present example, a rectangular cross-section (the geometry of the cross section being determined by the number of sub-leaves), are created by folding the leaves  20 A to D rearwardly i.e. in a direction towards the rear surface of the display panel (this being the side of the display panel  12  visible in  FIG. 2 ) along each of the three fold lines. Referring additionally to  FIG. 3 , the spars  40 C, D which extend along the long side of the rectangular display panel  12  can be seen. In one preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the spars  40 C, D shown in  FIG. 3  are created by the adhesion of the distal elements  42 C, D of the leaves  20 C, D respectively to the rear surface of the display panel. This enables the spars  40 C, D to be folded flat once adhered in this way. Thus, the mounting when constructed in this manner, prior to shipping to customers, may still be shipped flat but with spars  40 C, D already folded rearwardly and adhered to the rear face of the display panel, providing quicker and more precise assembly. The spars  40 C, D are then able to adopt a proper rectangular cross section by folding them upwards along the arcs of the lines L 1  and L 2  in  FIG. 3  (in the drawing of  FIG. 3 , the spars  40 C, D are partly unfolded along the lines L 1  and L 2  and therefore have a cross-section akin to a parallelogram). Full unfolding results in the spars  40 C, D attaining the preferred rectangular cross section, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIGS. 4 to 7  show the stages of creation of the spars  40 A, B from the leaves  20 A, B. Thus, in  FIG. 5 , the leaves  20 A, B are folded rearwardly (i.e. towards the rear surface of the display panel  12  visible in  FIG. 5 , though this is also vertical in  FIG. 5 ) along the line  16 A, B defining the perimeter of the display panel  12  and the distal sub-leaves  42 A, B are folded outwardly. In  FIG. 6  the leaves  20 A, B are then folded rearwardly along the lines  22 A, B. In  FIG. 7 , the leaves  20 A, B are then folded inwardly along the lines  24 A, B. 
     A number of detent mechanisms come into mutual engagement to cause the spars  40 A, B created from the leaves  20 A, B to interlock with the spars  40 C, D. First, flaps  60  which project from the sub-leaves  124 A, B enter correspondingly shaped slots  62  in the spars  40 C, D. Secondly, lugs  70 , which project outwardly from the sub-leaves  126 A, B engage with correspondingly shaped slots  72  in the spars  40 C, D. In connection with this engagement, flaps  74  (created by suitable cuts in the spars  40 C, D) provide a leaf bias springs. These flaps bend inwards under the force of the lug  70  moving towards the slot  72 , thereby to permit the lugs  70  move into the slots  72  without damage to the lugs  70 . And, once the lugs  70  have engaged in the slots  72 , the flaps  74  spring outwardly to retain the lugs  70  securely in the slots  72 . Further, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , for example, the cuts  76  in the sub-leaves  126 C, D ,which serve to create the flaps  74 , have slightly curved upper surfaces. That curvature is oriented such that, when the spars  40 C,D are formed, as the surfaces  76  extend outwardly, towards the spars  40 A, B, their curvature increases so that they increasingly approach the rear face of the display panel  12 . This curved configuration serves to operate upon the upper surfaces of the lugs  70  in the manner of a cam, with the result that, as the lugs  70  are folded towards the slots  72 , they (and therefore also the sub leaves  12 A, B) are drawn downwardly, towards the rear face of the display panel  12 . This serves to provide additional tension and therefore rigidity into the spars  40 A, B when they are located in position. Finally, outwardly projecting tapered tips  50  are located on the distal sub-leaves  42 A, B and engage with correspondingly-shaped notches  52  formed in the distal leaves  42 C, D. 
     The assembled mount is shown in  FIG. 7 , with the spars  40 A, B fully interlocked with the spars  40 C, D thereby to define the display panel  12 , the rear surface of which is seen in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1  and, additionally to  FIGS. 8 to 11 , a picture is retained on the mounting by means of attachment of the periphery of the picture with attachment regions on the leaves  20 A to D. In the present embodiment, that attachment is by means of strips  200 A, D of adhesive (typically, though not necessarily, self-adhesive), located on the leaves  20 A, D respectively; in the present embodiment, the second sub-leaves. These strips adhere to the periphery of the picture, though other attachment mechanisms are possible, one of which will be disclosed subsequently in connection with an alternative embodiment. The process will now be described by reference to  FIGS. 8 to 11 . The picture  400  is laid on a flat surface, face down. The mounting, unassembled is then placed on top of the picture  400 . The picture  400  and mounting are then brought into mutual alignment. This is done using alignment surfaces on one or more of the leaves  20 A to D which enable the picture to be suitably located and aligned prior to attachment, which in the present embodiment is by adhesion. 
     In the present embodiment, there are four such alignment surfaces provided by the tips  300 C, D which project outwardly from leaves  20 C, D, and the notches  310 A, B in the leaves  20 A, B. Alignment is therefore achieved by bringing the tips  300 C, D into coincidence with the corresponding edges  400 C, D (i.e. of the long side) of the picture  400 , the notches  310 A, B in the leaves  20 A, B are aligned with the corresponding, short-sided edges of the picture  400 . If desired, at this point, cuts may be made in the corners of the picture  400  along the lines indicated by the dashed lines in  FIG. 8 . 
     The release paper is then removed from the strips  200 C, D of adhesive and the picture  400  is folded into contact with the adhesive strips  200 C, D. The release paper is then removed from strips of adhesive  200 A, B to cause the corresponding edges of the rear surface of the picture  400  to adhere to the leaves  20 A, B. Referring now to  FIG. 9 , thereafter, with all four sides of the picture now fully adhered to the corresponding leaves (in this embodiment, the second sub-leaves, though the first sub-leaves, or more distal sub-leaves such as the third sub-leaves may also be used), the leaves are then folded upwardly (upwardly in the picture, yet rearwardly with respect to the display panel  12 ) to create the spars  40 C, D (in the manner described above). This process has the effect of tensioning the web from which the picture is formed between the spars  40 C, D. Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , with the picture adhered to them, the leaves  20 A, B are then folded rearwardly to create the spars  40 A, B which then interlock with the spars  40 C, D in the manner described above. This then causes the flexible web of hard copy material from which the picture is formed to be tensioned between the spars  40 A, B. 
     In the present embodiment, the attachment regions are located on the second sub-leaves. This has the advantage that these regions, once the spars are formed and interlocked, will be located behind the display panel and so will not be visible. However, attachment regions on the first sub-leaves, or more distal sub sub-leaves such as the third sub-leaves, is also possible. 
     It can be seen that the aforementioned embodiment provides both a picture mounting and a method of picture mounting enabling easy location and adhesion of the picture and, in addition, provides a self-tensioning mounting to ensure that the picture is retained flat and taught against the display surface. Typically, therefore, the picture will be formed of a web of hard copy material that is flexible, often more flexible than the web of material forming the mounting. However, this is not essential and the picture can be formed of a less flexible web provided that, once the picture is attached to the attachment regions of the leaves on the mounting, the leaves of the mounting are structurally capable of being folded rearwards and interlocked to create the spars which then retain their shape and function as a frame. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the image is recorded directly onto the display surface of the display panel on the mounting, thus obviating the need for a picture distinct from the mounting. Preferably, in such an embodiment, the mounting does not include the adhesive strips  200 A, B, C, D and associated release paper, since there is no picture to fasten to the mounting. 
     In yet a further embodiment, a picture is fastened to the mounting in an alternative manner which does not require adhesive. Referring now to  FIGS. 12 to 14 , a cardboard web which provides a mounting has a very similar construction to those illustrated in the embodiments illustrated and described in connection with  FIGS. 1 to 11 . The mounting is shown in  FIG. 11  with the display surface of the display panel  12  facing downwards. A picture  400  is located beneath the unassembled mounting, the edges  400 A-D of the picture  400  being visible as dashed lines in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The picture  400  is located precisely relative to the mounting by means of alignment surfaces, provided in the present example by four corner guides  500  (though, depending upon the relative sizes of the display panel and picture and the surfaces, a minimum of one such corner guide providing two alignment surfaces would suffice to ensure proper alignment). Each corner guide  500  is detachable from the remainder of the web from which the mounting is formed by the use of only moderate force as a consequence of the part cutting operation which defines the guides  500 . 
     Once the picture  400  is located by reference to the guides, it is then attached to the mounting. In one preferred manner of attachment according to the present embodiment, the picture and mounting are attached using staples  600  along a perimeter close to the picture edges  400 A, D, the staples. Once the picture  400  has been stapled, the corner guides  500 , having served their locating function, are then removed. Typically this simply done manually by pulling them and causing the part cut boundary defining them to give way. 
     Next, the release paper is removed from the strips  700 C, D of adhesive, located on the rearward-facing edges (pictured facing upwardly in  FIGS. 12 to 14 ) of the distal leaves  42 C, D of the leaves  20 C, D. The leaves  20 C, D are then folded rearwardly about the fold lines  22 C, D and pressed into adhesive contact with the rear face of the display panel  16  to enable the creation of a box-sectioned spars  40 C, D as described previously. The remainder of the mounting, including the mutual interlocking of the spars, is then undertaken as previously described. The attachment of the picture to the mounting by means of staples  600  provides the same or substantially the same effect as the adhesive strips of the earlier embodiment. Thus, the assembly of the mounting with the picture attached, involving rearward folding of the various leaves of the web forming the mounting to create the spars, causes a ‘self-tensioning’ effect upon the picture which ensures that the picture is held taught across the display panel. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15  a mounted picture is shown. It can be seen that where the attachment of the picture is to the second, or more distal sub-leaves, even where the attachment is by means which would ordinarily be visually identifiable, such as staples, it is located to the rear of the picture and therefore is invisible, whilst simultaneously providing the self-tensioning benefits. Attachment by means of self-adhesive strips is, of course, invisible even if located on the first sub-leaves, though as mentioned previously, these are only preferred embodiments and all forms of attachment to any sub-leaf is possible, including a mixture of sub-leaves (thus one side may be attached to the second sub-leaf and another to the first or third, or any combination thereof as desired and advantageously employed in the circumstances).