Improvements in and connected with Holders for Picture Frames or analogous Articles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1895--Accepted, 17th Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Holders for Picture Frames or
analogous Articles.
I, SAMUEL MCMICHAEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 1218
South Eighth Street, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia
and State of Pennsylvania, Printer, 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 :-
My invention has relation to devices for holding or supporting picture frames,
mirror stands or analogous articles; and in such connection it relates more
particularly to the general construction and arrangement of the same for such
purposes.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a simple, durable and
effective device in pivotal connection with the back strip or plate of a picture
frame or the like for supporting the same at an angle to the general plane or
position thereof; second, to provide a holder for a picture-frame, standing mirror
or analogous article having a locking device connected therewith and engaging the
frame or body of the article so as to permit of the ready detachment of the picture
or mirror from its casing or frame; third, to provide a holder for a picture frame
or mirror stand composed of two pivotal members adapted to assume a compact
form when not in use and connected with a back or supporting strip or board of the
frame or stand and to assume a position so as to hold the frame or stand in an
inclined position and to be locked so as to prevent overturning of the same; fourth,
to provide a holder for a standing picture or mirror frame cousisting of two pivotal
engaging and locking members adapted to assume a compact form against the back
of the stand or frame when not in use, and a reliable or secure position in use to
hold the frame or stand in a slanting position; fifth, to provide a holder composed
of two pivotal wire members adapted to be so manipulated as to permit of the
ready release of the back of a frame or stand; sixth, to provide a holder for a
standing picture frame or case having pivotal engaging members locking with each
other in operative position and folding onto each other in inoperative position;
seventh, to provide a holder for picture or other standing frames, consisting of two
pivotal members, whereof one is in sliding engagement with the other and is
adapted to lock therewith and provided with bars for releasing the back from its
frame or stand; eighth, to provide a holder having a cross-bar adapted to be
manipulated so as to engage and hold a frame or stand in connection with its
detachable back, supporting plate or strip; ninth, to provide a holder for a picture
frame or mirror case composed of two engaging wire members provided with cross-
bars adapted to engage and hold a frame or stand to its supporting back or strip
and one of said members in normal position locking with the other member to
prevent overturning of said stand or frame; tenth, to provide a holder for a
frame or stand having a pivotal extensible member and a pivotal member in sliding
engagement therewith and adapted to be locked thereto iu operative position and
in inoperative to be folded onto said extensible member so as to assume a compact
form in contact with the back or supporting strip of the frame or stand; and
eleventh, to provide a picture frame or stand with a holder having two pivotal
locking members in sliding engagement with each other, and one adapted to lock
with the other in a certain position of the frame or stand.
:

page_text: My invention stated in general terms, consists of the improvements in holders
for picture frames or analogous articles constructed and arranged in substantially
the manner hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings forming part hereof; and in which
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a holder embodying features of my invention
in application to the back supporting strip, board or plate of a standing picture or
mirror frame, showing the holder in an operative position.
Fig. 2, is a rear elevational view, showing the holder in position with the
members thereof folded onto each other.
Fig. 3, is a perspective view of one of the staples or clips adapted to pivotally
engage the cross-rods of the holder forming the locking device to secure the back
to its frame or stand.
Fig. 4, is a similar view of a clip of the picture frame or mirror stand with its
eye for engaging one of the cross-rods of the locking device of the holder of my
invention.
Fig. 5, is a similar view of a modified form of the lower member of the holder
with its latch and locking bars detached from the back piece or strip of a frame or
stand.
Fig. 6, is a similar view of a still further modified form of the device of Fig. 5,
showing the locking bars arranged so as to engage and disengage the back from its
frame or stand by the manipulation of the arms of the device towards and from
each other.
Fig. 7, is a rear elevational view of the upper member of the holder detached
from the back of a frame or stand for a picture, mirror or the like and adapted for
use in connection with the other member of the type fully illustrated in Figs. 5
and 6.
Fig. 8, is a similar view of a modified form of one of the members of the device
adapted for employment with the member shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
Fig. 9, is a similar view of a still further modified form of the member of Figs. 7
and 8, for use with the member of Figs. 5 and 6.
Fig. 10, is a similar view of a still further modified form of one member of the
holder, in this instance made in two parts and extensible in a vertical direction and
for use with the member of Figs. 5 and 6.
Fig. 11, is a side elevational view in broken section of a modified form of one of
the extensible looped arms of the upper member of Fig. 10; and
Fig. 12, is a transverse section on the line a-x, of Fig. 10.
Referring to the drawings A, is a picture or mirror frame provided with a
detachable back A'. At or about the upper and lower portions and connected
with the inner edges of the frame A, are secured clips a, provided with eyes a¹, in
one end of each of them and with a depending lip a², as shown in Fig. 4, in the
other end thereof, and each of said clips adapted to be bent onto the frame so as
to assume the position as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, for a purpose to be
presently fully explained. band ', are bearing pieces inserted through the
back A, at the top and bottom thereof and secured against the rear face thereof
by being bent onto the same. The construction of each of the bearing pieces is of
substantially the form shown in Fig. 3, and each is adapted to assume in connection
with the back A, the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawings. The
holder of my invention comprises two members C and C. The member C,
consists of a single piece of wire bent into an oblong loop c, and twisted at the
upper portion into a coil c', and the ends and c³, bent outwardly in opposite
directions to form a locking device C. The two ends e² and e³, engaging through
the bearing pieces b and b, so as to form a pivotal connection with the back A',
and the extremities of said locking device are adapted to engage through the
eyes a', of the clips a, of the frame A. The lower end of the oblong loop c, of
the member C, is formed into a coil e, and terminates in a triangular-shape foot

page_text: or standard, for supporting the frame or stand in an inclined position, when
the member C, is caused to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The
other member C', comprises an oblong loop e, bent outwardly so as to assume
a triangular form and to constitute a back stop and thence inwardly, upwardly
and downwardly at c³, and terminates in an inverted T-shape end forming a
catch or locking device e, for engaging the member C, through the loop c,
thereof. The opposite end of said member C', is formed into a coil and terminates
in two oppositely extended arms or rods co and c", constituting the lower locking
device C³, of the member C', of the holder. The locking device C³, engages
through bearing pieces b and b, located at the lower portion of the back A¹, of
the frame or stand A, is adapted to be extended through the eyes a', of the clips a,
as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
The construction of the member C¹, of Fig. 1, is slightly modified in Figs. 5
and 6, by dispensing with the coil formed by the twisting of one wire with the
other at one end thereof, and the two parts of the wire constituting the member C¹,
extend in a straight line parallel to each other and are bent at the end so as to
form arms c and c¹¹, reversely arranged with respect to each other and extend
through the bearing pieces b and 1, of the back A', so as to permit of the release
of the lower end of the back A', from its stand or frame A, by the manipulation
of the two parts of the member C¹, towards each other as clearly shown in Fig. 6.
It may be here remarked that the member C¹, is made of spring metal wire, so as
to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 6, and to permit by a hand manipulation
of the wires of said member C³, towards each other of the release of the locking
device thereof from the frame or stand A, through its release from the eyes a', of
the clips a, thereof. In Fig. 5, the member C, adjacent to the arms elo and el,
thereof have the two parts twisted together in the same manner as in Fig. 1, but
the coil e³, at the other end is dispensed with adjacent to the back-stop formed and
the wires bent upward and downward to present in cross section a hump as clearly
shown in Fig. 5, of the drawings.
The member C, of Fig. 7, is the same in structure as that of Fig. 1, and is
applied to the back strip or piece A', of the frame A, in the manner clearly shown
therein and is adapted to be employed with the member C¹, as shown either in
Fig. 1, or in Figs. 5 and 6.
In Fig. 8, is shown a slightly modified form of the member C, of the holder, in
which the upper end thereof is formed into a triangular-shape figure c¹³, adapted
to engage by means of bearing pieces b and b¹, such as shown in Fig. 3, with the
hinged back A2, of the frame A. The lower end of said back being provided
with a member C, adapted by means of bearing pieces band, to encircle the
locking device C2, and engage the back A2, with its frame A, and in such manner
as to permit of the disengagement of the frame or stand A, therefrom to release a
picture, mirror or the like.
In Fig. 9, is illustrated a still further modification of my invention, in which the
upper end of the member C, is provided with cross-bars c² and c³, having back-
stops c¹ and c, and said bars by means of bearing pieces band b', are in pivotal
connection with the back A'. With the oblong loop c, of the member C, the
catch c³, of the member C, as shown in either Figs. 1, 2, 5 or 6, is caused to
engage so as to slide therewith as well as lock with the lower portion thereof so
that the holder may assume an operative position to furnish a substantial support
for the stand or frame A, against displacement or overturning thereof.
In Fig. 10, a still further modification of my invention is shown. In this
instance the member C, is made in two parts C° and Co⁰ and has a series of loops
or eyes ¹ and c¹7, on both sides about midway in the length of the same and
formed with the upper part C° and with outwardly extending catches or
projections c¹ and c", forming engaging means for said loops or eyes formed with
the lower part C00. The lower ends of the part Co, are formed into eyes or
loops and c, through which are inserted the wires of the lower part C00 and
arranged so as to permit by pressure exerted against said wires of the lower

page_text: part C, of the release of the catches or projections c¹8 and 1, of said lower part
from the eyes or loops cl and c", of the upper part whereby is afforded means for
ensuring in a vertical direction of the extension of said member C, to adapt the
holder to frames of different sizes or kinds. The lower member C, of the holder
of the form shown in either Figs. 5 or 6, is adapted to be employed in connection
with the extensible member C, of Fig. 10, in substantially the same manner as it
is employed in connection with the member C, of Figs. 1 and 2.
It will be observed by reference to the drawings that in Fig. 1, the upper and
lower members of the holder by back and forth movements thereof, will cause
the transverse locking bars C2 and C³, of the members of the holder to be dis-
engaged from the eyes a', of the clips a, of the frame or stand A, to permit of the
release of the back A'. The catch e, in the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when in
engagement with the lower end of the loop c, of the member C, of the holder of
the type illustrated in Fig. 1, will securely hold the member C, by means of the
triangular-shaped backstop arranged opposite the catch c, of the member C', and
thus prevent overturning of the stand or frame A, in its operative position.
When it is desired to close the frame face down or in an opposite position, the
device as so arranged with the members thereof in sliding engagement with each
other will assume the position substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2, in a compact
form which is desirable for the shipment of such articles, as herein before described.
Moreover, a picture or mirror may be applied to a frame or stand A, having the
said holder applied thereto with great facility, due to the simplicity of the
arrangement of the members of the said device.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a picture-frame or the like and a back-strip or plate, of
a holder consisting of two members in sliding engagement with each other and
arranged to form T-shaped parts, the arms of which are pivoted in bearings of
said back-strip or plate and the outer ends of said arms extending through eyes of
said frame to hold said frame and back together, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. The combination with a frame having eyes, and a back having bearings, of a
holder consisting of two members, whereof the upper member is provided with a loop
and with cross-arms in pivotal connection with the bearings of said back and
adapted to engage the eyes of said frame, and whereof the lower member is in
pivotal connection with the bearings of said back and is adapted to engage eyes of
said frame, said lower member provided with a locking device engaging the upper
member so as to prevent in the operative position of said two members overturning
of said frame, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a picture-frame and a back-strip or plate, of a holder
consisting of two members in detachable sliding engagement with each other, the
arins of said members pivoted in bearings on said back-strip and detachably
engaging eyes of said frame and one of said members provided with a catch for
supporting said holder in its operative position against overturning of said frame,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a picture-frame and a back-strip or plate, of a holder
consisting of two members provided with cross-arms in pivotal connection with said
back-strip or plate, said members in sliding engagement with each other and one
of said members provided with a catch for securing the other of said members
against displacement, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a picture-frame and a back-strip, of a holder consisting
of two members in sliding engagement with each other, one member provided
with a foot formed into a loop and having cross-arms in pivotal connection with
bearings on said back, the outer ends of said arms engaging eyes of said frame.
and the other member in pivotal connection with said back, and provided with

page_text: cross-arms engaging said back and frame and said holder adapted to be manipulated
so as to release said back from said frame, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
6. The combination with a picture-frame and a back-strip, of a holder consisting
of two members in sliding engagement with each other and provided with
cross-arms pivoted to said back-strip or plate and the outer ends thereof adapted
to engage eyes of said frame one of said members provided with a catch and
a back-stop and the other of said members extensible, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
7. The combination with a picture-frame and a back-strip or piece, of a holder
consisting of two members having T-shaped parts, the arms of which are pivoted
in bearings on said back-strip and the outer ends extending into eyes on said
frame to bold said back and frame together and said members in sliding engagement
with each other adapted to be manipulated so as to release said back-strip from
said frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. The combination with a picture-frame and a back-strip, of a holder consisting
of two wire members having T-shaped parts and in sliding engagement with each
other, the arms of said members pivoted in bearings on said back-strip and the
outer ends thereof adapted to extend through eyes of said frame, one of said
members provided with a catch in sliding engagement with a loop of the other
member and adapted to lock the same in operative position, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
9. The combination with a picture-frame and a back-strip, of a holder consisting
of two members detachably connected with each other and provided with cross-arms
pivoted to said back-strip and the outer ends thereof adapted to engage and hold
said back-strip to its frame, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with a picture-frame having eyes, of a back having a wire
holder in pivotal connection therewith, a wire device provided with a catch, a
back-stop and cross-arms in pivotal connection with said back and adapted to engage.
the eyes of said frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated at Philadelphia, Pa., this 22nd day of March A.D. 1895.
SAMUEL MCMICHAEL,
Per J. G. Lorrain, M. Inst. E.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.