Patent Publication Number: US-6035571-A

Title: Photograph frame

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a photograph frame, and more particularly is a photograph frame in which the photograph can be taken out easily and quickly. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     The photograph frame is used frequently in ordinary living. Nearly everyone likes to put photographs in frames to preserve them. 
     The conventional photograph frame, such as shown in FIG. 1, is composed of a back plate (A), a frame (D) and a plurality of fixing pieces (B) and screws (C). The frame (D) can be made in various configuraitons. The photograph is installed between a transparent face plate and the back plate (A). One end of each fixing piece (B) is fixed on the back plate (A) by means of the fixing screws (C). As the user puts the photograph into the photograph frame, he can rotate the fixing pieces (B) to cover and secure the edge of the back plate (A). If the user would like to take out or replace the photograph, he must rotate the fixing pieces (B) to remove the back plate (A). Most of conventional photograph frames have some deficiencies, such as the following: 
     (I) The conventional photograph frame is made of wood or metal. This is expensive to manufacture. 
     (II) The transparent plate of conventional photograph frame is made of glass. If the photograph frame falls from the shelf to the floor, the transparent plate breaks. The user must spend money to buy a new photograph frame and discard the broken photograph frame. 
     (III) The conventional metal photograph frame is very expensive and heavy. It is very inconvenient for the user to carry such kind of photograph frame. 
     (IV) It is very inconvenient for the user to remove the photograph from the conventional photograph frame that uses fixing pieces and fixing screws to secure the back plate. The user must spend much time and use a lot of force to rotate the fixing pieces to open or close the back plate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a photograph frame which has a plurality of hanging holes for hanging the photograph frame on a wall. Furthermore, the user can use his finger to push on the photograph and the face plate through the hanging holes to remove the face plate from the photograph frame and take out the photograph quickly and easily. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a photograph frame which is very light, but still is durable. Furthermore, its manufacturing cost is lower than that of the conventional photograph frame. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention, and in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views: 
     FIG. 1 is a back plan view of a conventional photograph frame; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a photograph frame of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the photograph frame of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4--4 in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the area labelled &#34;E&#34; in FIG. 4: 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the area labelled &#34;F&#34; in FIG. 6; and 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing a faceplate apart from an intermediate plate of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the present invention is a photograph frame comprised of an intermediate plate 10, a back plate 20 and a face plate 30. The intermediate plate 10 has an inserting face 11. Two sides of the inserting face 11 have first fixing plates 12 extending perpendicularly from the inserting face 11. The upper side and the lower side of the inserting face 11 have second fixing plates 13 extending therefrom, such that the first fixing plates 12 and the second fixing plates 13 form a fixing frame 14 for receiving a photograph. 
     On the inserting face 11 there are a plurality of first hanging holes 15. The inner side of each first fixing plate 12 has a flange 16. At the top end and the bottom end of the inserting face 11 outside the two second fixing plates 13 are formed two inserting parts 17. 
     The back plate 20 can be designed in various patterns to increase its aesthetic value. On the back plate 20 ther is a recess 21. Inside the recess 21 are two inserting flutes 22. The inserting flutes 22 are ositioned such that the intermediate plate 10 can be fixed on the back plate 20 by pushing the inserting parts 17 into the inserting flutes 22 in the recess part 21. The recess part 21 also has a plurality of second hanging holes 23 which align with the first hanging holes 15. 
     The face plate 30 is made of transparent material, such as plastic or acrylic resin. The face plate 30 can be covered and fixed on the intermediate plate 10 by pushing two ends of the face plate 30 into the two flanges 16 formed in the first fixing plates 12. 
     Please refer to FIG. 8, in which the photograph is put in the fixing frame 14 of the intermediate plate 10, then covered by the face plate 30 on the intermediate plate 10 so as to fix the photograph. The photograph frame can be hung on the wall by means of the first and second hanging holes 15, 23. If the user would like to take out the photograph, he can use his finger to push on the photograph and the face plate 30 through the second hanging holes of the back plate 20. 
     The photograph frame is made of plastic or acrylic resin to reduce its manufacturing cost. This kind of photograph frame is very light and is not easily broken. Accordingly, it is very convenient for a user to carry this photograph frame in various suitcases or handbags. 
     It is understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is a preferred embodiment of the disclosed device, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.