Improved Frames or Supports for Photographs, Small Pictures, and the like..
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Frames or Supports for Photographs, Small Pictures,
and the like..
I, SYDNEY HOCKLY, of Oakgates, Barnes, Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improved frames or supports for holding photographs,
or small pictures at a suitable angle upon a table or other level surface.
According to my invention I provide two or more light spring wires suitably
bent or curved to form equal extensions on each side and entwined or looped
together at their centres, the ends of the said wires being turned over or looped
to dip over the upper and lower edges of the photograph or picture to secure the
wires thereto at the back of the same. The upper wire or loop, which is shorter
than the lower one, is formed with two eyes through which the bent ends of a
stiff wire are passed, the said wire being carried downwards and formed as a
loop of sufficient length to serve as a support standing at a suitable angle to the
back of the picture, against which the upper turned over ends of the said wire
bear.
The said eyes act as pivotal bearings to the support by means of which the
latter may lie against the back of the picture when not in use.
In a modified arrangement I provide a wire ring formed with four eyelets or
extensions over which are passed four looped spring wires the outer ends of which
cross each other and are bent over to grip the horizontal and vertical edges of
the picture near each corner of the same. These wires hold the ring in a central
position and they may be easily fixed to or removed from the picture by forcing
their ends apart their resiliency causing them to grip the edges of the said
picture when freed. Through the two upper eyelets of the ring are passed the
bent ends of a stiff wire support of similar construction to that described in the
first arrangement.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 shows the improved support
or frame, according to the first arrangement attached to the back of the photograph
or picture and Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1
of the second or modified arrangement, and Fig. 4 is a separate view of one of
the spring wire loops.
a is the photograph or picture and a the glass plate or front to the same.
b and c are the upper and lower bent spring wires looped together at their
centre as shewn. 61 are the turned over ends of the wire b which grip the upper
edge of the picture a and plate a¹. d, d are the eyes formed on opposite sides
of the bowed wire b. c are the bent over ends of the wire c which grip the
lower edge of the picture. e is the stiff wire looped support whose upper ends el
are turned over and terminate in the bent or cranked ends which are passed
through the eyes d. The upper ends e¹ of the support bears against the back
of the picture, as shewn in Fig. 2, when supporting the picture at the desired
angle.
In fixing the frame or support the ends of the wires b and c are pressed

page_text: towards each other and engaged with the edges of the picture. Their ends b, c
are then forced asunder so as to cause them to grip tightly the edges of the
picture.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4. f is a wire ring formed with the
four eyelets f¹, and g are the spring wires formed into loops which are passed
over the said eyelets f¹, their outer ends crossing each other and being bent
over at gl to grip the two sides of the angles or corners of the picture.
For fixing the said ring and gripping wires to the back of the picture, the ring
is placed in the centre and the looped wires 9 passed over the eyelets f¹. Their
bent over ends are then forced apart and engaged with the edges of-the
picture, their resiliency forcing the said ends towards each other when freed
and gripping the two sides of the angles or corners of the picture between them.
The stiff wire support e is also provided, its bend ends e engaging with the
two upper eyelets f¹ of the ring f, the said support being similar to that
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2....
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
4.
(1) The improved frames or supports for photographs or small pictures com-
prising light spring wires suitably curved and looped together and having their
ends bent over to grip the upper and lower edges of the picture, the upper
wire being formed with two oppositely located eyes serving as pivotal bearings
to the bent or cranked ends of a stiff wire support for holding the picture in
the required position, substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
(2) The modified arrangement of frames or supports for photographs or small
pictures substantially as described and shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing.
Dated this 17th day of November 1899.
J. B. FLEURET,
Agent for the Applicant,
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.