Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to extruded components for the manufacture of picture frame assemblies and poster support assemblies, and is a continuation-in-part of my commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/820,069, filed March 28, 2001, which is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    Poster gripping assemblies have been known in the field, for a number of years. One such instance is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,152 to Seely et. al. which shows a tamper proof poster display arrangement. This display arrangement has an outer cover portion with certain defined angles which make it difficult to open the cover from its base. An “opener tool” is required for that. The cover and the base portions are independently extruded and have a hinge relationship which requires a difficult “slide together” assembly.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,959 to Palmer et. al. discloses a gripper extrusion arrangement wherein a front cover portion and a rear panel portion are separately extruded and mated together in another complicated hinge assembly. Inadvertent sliding between the front cover portion and the rear panel portion is prevented by a rather complicated discontinuity formed in the front panel which mates with a slot or the like in the rear panel. This requires further operations and unnecessary manufacturing costs.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,575 to Ivansson et. al. shows a frame comer assembly wherein adjacent sides of a frame are held together with a rather complicated bracket arrangement. The cover portions and rear panel portions are individually extruded and are snapped together. Alignment of the ends of these multiple component arrangements lead to inaccurate end mis-aligned comer sections.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,496 to Tanaka shows a sign frame with comer arrangements for attaching sides of that frame together. Mitered alignment of the comers is avoided by a comer insert which is somewhat more expensive to manufacture and adds a further step in that procedure.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,512,094; 4,512,095 and 4,523,400, all to Seely, disclose a hinged, plastic biased poster frame arrangement. None of these references however teach the use of replaceable covers for providing indicia which may be thus changed by the manufacturer to provide a different appearing product, and which cover also physically applies a biasing force to facilitate and supplement the pinching of a poster in that frame arrangement.  
           [0009]    It is an object of the present invention, to provide a poster gripping assembly which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a poster gripping assembly which may be utilized in a poster-holding configuration by itself or in a frame construction of rectilinear configuration.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a poster gripping assembly which simplifies the manufacturing operation over the prior art.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a poster gripping apparatus without a biasing spring arrangement required to permit adjustment of its bias.  
           [0013]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a two part frame assembly which is easily extruded and assembled.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly with a cover portion which permits a simple change in bias pressure against a display panel, decor, color or attention gathering characteristics.  
           [0015]    It is yet still a further object of the present invention to provide a poster gripping assembly which may be assembled into a rectilinear frame construction with accuracy and simplicity while minimizing the likelihood of defects as may be associated with the prior art.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    The present invention relates to a snap frame arrangement for the biased capture and support of a display panel within that snap frame arrangement. The snap frame arrangement may be arranged so as to show the display panel around its entire periphery, preferably in a quadrilateral configuration.  
           [0017]    The snap frame arrangement of the present invention comprises an elongated extrusion which consists in cross-section, of a back frame plate unitarily co-extruded with a front frame plate. The back frame plate is attached and parallel to the front frame plate by a connecting bridge portion co-extruded therewith. The bridge portion is preferably perpendicular to one edge of the back frame plate and also to one edge of the front frame plate.  
           [0018]    The back frame plate has an inner distal edge defining an inner side thereof. The back frame plate has a slight curve thereto, directed towards the front frame plate. The front frame plate has an innermost edge with an inner “J” portion extruded therewith. An inner flange is disposed on the inner side of the bridge portion between the back frame plate and the front frame plate. The inner flange is arranged in an opposed relationship with respect to the edge of the inner “J” portion. The inner flange and the inner J portion define a generally T-shaped slot with respect to the front framed plate and the back framed plate, and is utilized to receive a corner bracket.  
           [0019]    An outer flange extends perpendicularly with respect to the front frame plate and runs longitudinally therealong. The outer flange is spaced from the bridge portion between the back frame plate and the front frame plate by about one third of its height. The outer flange has a distal portion on which a first side arm is arranged from one side thereof. The first side arm has an angled extension forming an acute angle with respect to the first side arm. A curved outer gripping lip is arranged on the distalmost end of the angle extension. The curved outer gripping lip is arranged for support of a cover plate described hereinbelow. The distal end of the outer flange adjacent the first side arm, has a living hinge co-extruded therewith, and attached to a curved snap plate. The curved snap plate defines, in an edge view, a curvilinear member having a distalmost edge. A second side arm is arranged at an acute angle with respect to the curved snap plate and extruded adjacent the distalmost edge. An angled outer gripping lip is disposed on the distalmost edge of the second side arm. The angled outer gripping lip is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the second side arm. The juncture of the curved snap plate and the second side arm defines a locus of contact between the frame assembly and the display panel being supported thereon. A plurality of gripping teeth are disposed adjacent/on the locus of contact of the curved snap plate to provide a gripping mechanism of the curved snap plate with respect to the planar display panel when the snap frame arrangement is in its closed configuration.  
           [0020]    The snap frame arrangement comprises a second component which is slidably attachable with respect to the back frame component thereof. The front panel and biasing cover plate comprises a generally J-shaped extrusion, in cross section, the color plate having a curvilinear portion which connects to a rear arm of the cover plate. The rear arm extends generally rearwardly of the front panel. The rear arm has a distal portion to which a curved gripping finger is arranged and attached thereto. The curved gripping finger has an arcuate curve of about two hundred degrees relative to the rear arm to define a pivotable gripping means. The curved gripping finger with its two hundred degree curve with respect to the rear arm defines a first channel therewithin. A locking guide point is co-extruded on the rear arm on the side towards the distal edge of the curved gripping finger. The locking guide point provides a locking mechanism for the first channel when the front panel or cover plate is attached to the frame portion of the snap frame arrangement. The front panel or cover plate has a second edge defined by an end flange arranged at an acute angle with respect to the backside of the front panel or cover plate.  
           [0021]    An opposing flange is also co-extruded with the end flange and is in an opposing relationship with the distalmost edge of that end flange. The opposed flange and the end flange define a second channel between them. The opposing flange also is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the cover plate.  
           [0022]    In the snap frame assembly arrangement, the elongated front panel or cover plate extrusion is slid onto the elongated back frame component with the first channel slideably receiving the curved outer gripping lip on the distalmost end of the angle extrusion on the first side arm. The second channel slideably receives the angled outer gripping lip disposed on the second side arm at the distalmost edge of the curved snap plate. The angled outer gripping the lip has a planar face and a heel which are pivotably movable with respect to the opposed flange defining one portion of the second channel. When the curved snap plate is biased inwardly against the back frame plate and any panel display disposed thereadjacent, the front cover panel pushes against the angled outer gripping lip and arcuately moves the curved snap plate towards that back frame plate and the display panel, which may include a backer board. Once the location of the angled outer gripping lip is closer towards the back frame plate that is the line between the curved outer gripping lip and the living hinge, the locus of contact and the gripping teeth are biased against that display panel and backer board. The heel of the angled outer gripping lip and the planar face thereof also at that locus will mate with the inner surface of the second channel for full pressure biased thereagainst.  
           [0023]    The invention thus comprises an extruded snap frame panel arrangement assembly for the biased pinching of a display panel therewithin. The assembly comprises an elongated back frame plate, a front frame plate and a curved snap plate integrally co-extruded with the back plate and front plate, for biasedly pinching the display panel therebetween. An elongatted cover plate is slidably attached to the curved snap plate for providing a bias to the pinching of the display panel. The snap plate and the cover plate between them defining three elongated pivot locations, wherein a bias is provided to enable pinching of the display panel against the back frame when the cover plate is moved towards the back frame plate and the three elongated pivot locations are beyond co-planar alignment.  
           [0024]    The back frame plate has a curve therein to bias against a display panel pinched by the assembly. The back frame plate and the front frame plate are integrally connected by a bridge member extending transversely therebetween. The curved snap plate is attached to the front frame plate by an elongated living hinge co-extruded therewith. A curved gripping lip is arranged to extend off of a side portion of the front frame plate, and an angled outer gripping lip is arranged on a distalmost edge of the snap plate. The angled outer gripping lip is arranged to move arcuately with respect to the curved outer gripping lip by pivoting about the elongated living hinge. The cover plate has a first edge with an elongated first channel thereon, and the cover plate has a second edge with an elongated second channel thereon. The first channel of the cover plate slides onto the curved gripping lip and the second channel of the cover plate slides onto the angled outer gripping lip. The angled outer gripping lip has a planar face which pivots within the second channel. The angled outer gripping lip has a heel which engages an opposed flange of the second channel to maintain the cover plate and the movable attachment of the cover plate to the snap plate. The first channel has an elongated guide point to maintain the curved outer gripping lip within the first channel on the cover plate. The planar face on the angled outer gripping lip lies flat against the second channel when the snap frame arrangement is in a closed configuration. The elongated curved gripping lip and the elongated angled gripping lip define a first plane, and the elongated living hinge lies outside of the first plane when the snap frame arrangement in a closed configuration.  
           [0025]    The invention also includes a method of supporting a display panel in a biased flat orientation. The method includes the steps of providing an elongated forwardly-curved back frame plate and a curved snap plate in an integrally connected configuration; sliding an elongated cover plate onto the curved snap plate; inserting an elongated display panel (includes the backer board) onto a front face of the back frame plate; and pivoting the curved snap plate towards the forwardly-curved back plate about an elongated living hinge arranged therebetween to bias the display panel between the back frame plate and the snap plate. The method also may include biasing the curved back frame plate against the display panel to provide a pinching therebetween and maintain the display panel in a flat condition, rotating a first channel and a second channel of the cover plate about a curved outer gripping lip and an angled gripping lip respectively as the snap plate is pivoted about the living hinge, and biasing the snap plate into a closed pinching configuration against a display panel by biasing the cover plate against the snap plate.  
           [0026]    The invention also includes an extruded snap frame panel arrangement assembly for the biased pinching of a display panel therewithin, comprising: an elongated back frame plate, and a curved snap plate integrally co-extruded with the back plate, having a primary hinge of softer material co-extruded therebetween. The primary hinge and the back plate each comprise a different durometer material to permit biased pinching of the display panel between the back frame plate and the snap plate. The extruded snap frame panel arrangement may include an elongated cover plate slidably attached to the curved snap plate for providing a bias to the pinching of the display panel between the frame plate and the snap plate. The back frame plate may have a curve therein to bias against a backside of the display panel pinched by the assembly. An elongated gripping member may be arranged on a distal edge of the curved snap plate. The primary hinge is preferably comprised of a softer, lower durometer material than the material of the back frame plate. The elongated gripping member may comprise co-extruded gripping teeth, co-extruded with the primary hinge and the back frame plate. The gripping teeth may be comprised of the lower durometer material. The primary hinge preferably has an elongated pinch point thereon to provide a locus about which the snap frame may pivot.  
           [0027]    The invention may also include a method of manufacturing a snap frame arrangement for securely enclosing the periphery of a display panel, comprising the steps of. extruding an elongated back frame plate of a first durometer material; co-extruding a snap plate of a first durometer material together with the back frame plate also along with an elongated primary hinge co-extruded therebetween, wherein the primary hinge is comprised of a second durometer material which is softer than the first durometer material, the snap plate being biasable towards the back frame plate to bias the display panel therebetween; co-extruding an elongated gripping tooth arrangement on a distal edge of the snap plate, the gripping tooth arrangement is comprised of the second durometer material.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]    The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which:  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is an end view of a back frame arrangement for the snap frame assembly of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the back frame component assembly shown in a perspective orientation;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is an end view of the front panel or cover plate of the snap frame arrangement constructed according to the snap frame assemblt of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the front panel or cover plate shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 is an end view of the back frame component and the front panel or cover plate assembled theretogether;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the back frame component and the front panel or cover plate shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the back frame component and the front panel or cover plate in a closing configuration, showing the flexible dual durometer extrusion and the curve conformity of the hinge material during a portion of the closing motion;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is an end view of the snap frame arrangement shown in FIG. 3 with the components biased against a display panel thereadjacent;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 is an end view of a further embodiment of the present invention similar to that view shown in FIG. 4; and  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 6 is an end view of a further preferred embodiment of the cover plate shown in FIG. 2.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an extruded back part  12  of the present invention which comprises a snap frame arrangement  10  (shown assembled in FIG. 3) for the biased capture and support of a backer board and display panel  14  (shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and  4 ) within that snap frame arrangement  10 . The snap frame arrangement  10  may be arranged so as to show the display panel  14  around its entire periphery, preferably in a quadrilateral configuration.  
         [0040]    The snap frame arrangement  10  of the present invention includes a elongated extrusion which consists in cross-section, of a back frame plate  16  unitarily co-extruded with a front frame plate  18 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A. The back frame plate  16  is attached and parallel to the front frame plate  18  by a connecting bridge portion  20  co-extruded therewith. The bridge portion  20  is preferably perpendicular to one edge of the back frame plate  16  and also to one edge of the front frame plate  18 .  
         [0041]    The back frame plate  16  has an inner distal edge  22  defining an inner side  24  thereof. The back frame plate  16  has a slight curve thereto, directed towards the front frame plate  18 , as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 to provide a gripping and pressure bias against a display panel  14  and the front component described hereinbelow. The front frame plate  18  has an innermost edge  26  with an inner “J” portion  28  extruded therewith.  
         [0042]    An inner flange  30  is disposed on the inner side of the bridge portion  20  between the back frame plate  16  and the front frame plate  18 . The inner flange  30  is arranged in an opposed relationship with respect to the distalmost edge  32  of the inner “J” portion  28 . The inner flange  30  and the inner “J” portion  28  define a generally “T” shaped slot  34  with respect to the front frame plate  18  and the back frame plate  16 , and is utilized to receive a comer bracket (not shown for clarity).  
         [0043]    An outer flange  40  extends perpendicularly with respect to the front frame plate  18  and runs longitudinally therealong, as may be seen FIGS. 1, 1A,  3  and  3 A. The outer flange  40  is spaced from the bridge portion  20  between the back frame plate  16  and the front frame plate  18  by about one third of the width of the “T” shaped section  34 . The outer flange  40  has a distal portion  42  on which a first side arm  44  is arranged from one side thereof. The first side arm  44  has an angled extension  46  forming an acute angle  48  with respect to the first side arm  44 .  
         [0044]    A curved outer gripping lip  50  is arranged on the distalmost end of the angled extension  46 . The curved outer gripping lip  50 , which defines a pivot point, is arranged for support of a cover plate  68  described hereinbelow. The distal end  42  of the outer flange  40  adjacent the first side arm  44 , has a primary “living hinge”  52  co-extruded therewith, and is co-extrudedly attached to and between the distal end  42  of the outer flange  40  and a curved snap plate  54 . The “living hinge”  52 , shown in cross section in FIG. 3B, is also co-extruded with both the back frame  12  and the snap plate  54 . The primary hinge  52  has an elongated pinch point  53 , shown in FIG. 3B, which functions as the locus of flexure or second pivot point/joint, about which the snap plate  54  pivots. The primary hinge  52 , the back frame  12  and the snap plate  54  are all co-extruded simultaneously for minimization of costs and simplicity in subsequent component assembly. The plastic material comprising the primary hinge  52  is a softer plastic of a lower durometer (its softness and/or hardness typically expressed as a number on the “Rockwell” 0  Scale). The primary hinge  52  is able to “bow” or bend somewhat, as indicated in the arcuate section shown by the numeral  55  in FIG. 3B, to accommodate the dimensional compression that the rigid cover plate  68 , described herein-below, effects as the components (especially snap plate  54  and hinge  52 ) swing through their respective arcs, upon closure or opening of the snap frame arrangement  10 . This construction also eliminates the need for a spring within the assembly, as is common in the prior art, and permits mitered cuts at comers without concern for springs common in the prior art.  
         [0045]    The curved snap plate  54  defines, in an edge view of FIGS. 1 and 3, a curvilinear member having a distalmost edge portion  56 . A second side arm  58  is arranged at an acute angle  60  with respect to the curved snap plate  54  and extruded adjacent the distalmost edge portion  56 . An angled outer gripping lip  62  is disposed on the distalmost edge of the second side arm  58 . The angled outer gripping lip  62  is disposed at an acute angle  64  with respect to the second side arm  58 , as shown in FIG. 1. The distal end  71  of the lip  62 , receivably engaged in a distal corner  69  of the cover plate  68 , comprises a third pivot point for the snap frame arrangement  10 . Once the three pivot points/joints are in planar alignment, the primary hinge  52  is at maximum bowing or compression. Once out of planar alignment, the snap plate  54  is either biased toward or away from the frame plate  16 , depending upon whether the third pivot point  71  is out and away from planar alignment or “between” planar alignment and in gripping contact with a display panel  14 .  
         [0046]    The juncture (distalmost edge portion  56 ) of the curved snap plate  54  and the second side arm  58  defines a locus of contact between the frame assembly  10  and the display panel  14  being supported thereon. A plurality of commonly co-extruded, lower durometer, elongated gripping teeth  66  are disposed adjacent/on the “locus of ‘panel-contact’ line” of the curved snap plate  54  to provide a gripping mechanism of the curved snap plate  54  with respect to the planar display panel  14  when the snap frame arrangement  10  is in its closed configuration, shown in FIG. 4. The gripping teeth  66  are comprised of a lower durometer material than the material comprising the back frame  12  and the snap plate  54 . These “softer” co-extruded, elongated gripping teeth  66  are thus provided with a superior, non-slip grip when they engage a display panel  14 , as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0047]    The snap frame arrangement  10  comprises a second component which is an elongated, rigid front panel/biasing cover plate  68  (i.e. metal or plastic) that is slidably attachable  0 nto the back frame  12  component thereof. The front panel and elongated biasing cover plate  68  comprises a generally J-shaped extrusion as shown in cross section in FIG. 2, the cover plate having a curvilinear edge portion  70  which connects to a rear arm  72  of the cover plate  68 . The rear arm  72  extends in a generally rearwardly direction from the front panel  68 . The rear arm  72  has a distal portion to which a curved gripping finger  74  is co-extrusively arranged and attached thereto. The curved gripping finger  74  has an arcuate curve of about two hundred degrees relative to the rear arm  72 . The curved gripping finger  74  with its two hundred degree curve with respect to the rear arm  72  defines a first channel  76 . A locking guide point  78  is co-extruded on the rear arm  72  on the side towards the distal edge of the curved gripping finger  74 . The locking guide point  78  provides a locking mechanism for the first channel  76  when the front panel or cover plate  68  is attached to the frame portion  16  of the snap frame arrangement  10 . The front panel or cover plate  68  has a second edge  90 , parallel to the gripping finger  74 , and is defined by a short end flange  92  arranged at an acute angle  94  with respect to the backside  96  of the front panel or cover plate  68 .  
         [0048]    An opposing flange  98  is also co-extruded with the end flange  92  and is in an opposing relationship with the distalmost edge  100  of that short end flange  92 . The opposing flange  98  and the end flange  92  define a second channel  102  between them with an inner planar surface  106 . The opposing flange  98  also is disposed at an acute angle  104  with respect to the cover plate  68 .  
         [0049]    In the snap frame assembly arrangement  10 , the elongated, rigid front panel or cover plate  68  extrusion is slid onto the elongated back frame component  16  with the first channel  76  slideably receiving the curved outer gripping lip  50  on the distalmost end of the angled extrusion  46  on the first side arm  44 . The second channel  102  on the distal edge  90  of the cover plate  68  slideably receives the angled outer gripping lip  62  disposed on the second side arm  58  at the distalmost edge  60  of the curved snap plate  54 . The angled outer gripping lip  62  has a planar face  65  and a heel  67  which are pivotably movable with respect to the opposed flange  98  defining one portion of the second channel  102 . When the curved snap plate  54  is biased inwardly against the back frame plate  16  and any panel display  14  disposed thereadjacent, the front cover panel  68  moves in a closing direction as indicated by arrow “C” in FIGS. 3 and 3B, and pushes against the angled outer gripping lip  62  and arcuately moves the curved snap plate  54  towards that back frame plate  16  and the display panel  14  (including a backer board), as shown in the closed configuration in FIG. 4.  
         [0050]    Once the location of the angled outer gripping lip  62  is closer towards the back frame plate  16 , that is the line between the curved outer gripping lip  50  and the living hinge  52 , the locus of contact and the gripping teeth  66  are biased against that display panel  14 , as shown in FIG. 4. The heel  67  of the angled outer gripping lip  62  and the planar face  65  thereof also at that locus will mate with the inner surface  106  of the second channel  102  for full pressure biased thereagainst. The snap frame arrangement  10  will have moved about the three elongated hinge points, which are the primary hinge  52  pinch point  53 , the outer gripping lip  50  and the distal end  71  of the outer gripping lip  62 .  
         [0051]    A further preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 with a snap frame arrangement  110 , having a back frame plate  116  which is co-extruded with a front frame plate  118 . The back frame plate  116  is attached to the front frame plate  118  by a connecting bridge  120 . In this embodiment, a cover plate  168  pivots in a manner similar to the cover plate  68  in the earlier embodiment, having a first channel  176  on a “C” shaped gripping finger  174 . A first side arm  144  is unitary with a juncture of the connecting bridge portion  120  and the front frame plate as shown in FIG. 5. A snap plate  154  is attached to the front frame plate  118  by a living hinge  152  which is unitarily extruded with an outer flange  140 . The snap plate  154  has a flanged gripping lip  162  which has a planar face  175  which is captured in and pivots in the second channel  112 , when the snap plate  154  moves relative to the cover plate  168 . An elongated pressure flange  163  extends parallel to the gripping lip  162 . A soft strip of co-extruded plastic  165  is disposed on the distalmost edge of the pressure flange  163  for biased engagement with the display panel  114 . An elongated “U” shaped end flange  192  is arranged on the distalmost end of the second edge  190  of the cover plate  168 , as shown in the end view of FIG. 5. The second channel  112  is created by the “U” shaped end flange  192  and the second edge  190  adjacent the distal edge of the cover plate  168 . The end flange  192  on the cover plate  168  lifts the gripping lip  162  away from the backing board/poster  114  when the cover plate  168  is pivoted away therefrom, to permit a change of poster or the like.  
         [0052]    Pivoting motion of the cover plate  168  about its first channel  176  in the “C” shaped gripping finger  174  and about the curved outer gripping lip  150 , (clockwise as shown in FIG. 5) will effect a biasing of the soft plastic strip  165  on the pressure flange  163  against the backing board/poster  114  once the three pivot points, that is, the first channel  176 , the living hinge  152  and the gripping lip  162  in the second channel  112  are out of planar alignment and are pressed towards the back frame  116 . A locking point  178  is arranged on the curved outer gripping lip  150  to secure the gripping finger portion  174  to the curved gripping lip  150 .  
         [0053]    A further embodiment of the cover plate  68  initially shown in FIG. 2 is now shown in a “flatter” cover plate  268 , as shown in FIG. 6. This flatter cover plate  268  has a curved gripping finger  274  and a first channel  276 . The cover plate  268  has a less angled curvilinear edge portion  270  and a rear arm  272 . An inner first flange  271  extends generally parallel to the front panel  273  of the cover plate  268 . A second edge  290 , parallel to the gripping finger  274 , is defined by a short end flange  292  and an inner second flange  275  extending from a generally mid point line of the short end flange  292 . A distal end  297  of the short end flange  292  defines a second channel  202 . An opposing flange  298  is disposed inwardly from the front panel  273 .  
         [0054]    The second channel  202  is arranged to receive the distalmost edge of the curved snap plate  54 , as represented in the aforementioned embodiments. The cover plate  268  represents a flatter plate for any particular desired presentation of coloration, labeling or appearance desired.  
         [0055]    Thus in either embodiment of the present invention, a co-extruded frame comprised of plastic material of different hardnesses permits a cover attachment to facilitate a biasing of that frame onto a poster upon three elongated pivot points of that elongated extruded assembly passing from one non-planar alignment orientation, through a planar alignment into a further, opposite, non-planar alignment to permit such biasing thereby.

Technology Category: 3