FRAME

Abstract

The present invention falls within the scope of frames, in particular a frame with magnetic and printing technology. It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame on which various types of printing can be performed and which is provided with a magnetic fastening system comprised of at least two rigid parts of different dimensions and thicknesses, these being a base (1) and at least one front panel (2) on which a printing can be made and/or to which decorative elements can be attached, the front panel (2) being fixed to the base (1) by magnetic fastening means (3). The presence of magnetic fastening means (3) in the base (1) and in the front panel (2) enables simple fixing and detachment between both, allowing the front panel (2) to be replaced several times in a quick and easy manner. In addition, the present invention comprises, both at the base (1) and the front panel (2), fixing means (5) to a vertical surface.

Claims

1. A frame characterized in that it comprises: a) a base (1); b) at least one front panel (2) on which a direct printing is performed; the base (1) and the front panel (2) being fixed in direct contact with one another through magnetic fastening means (3) (4) located on the base (1) and on the front panel (2).

2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the printing is relief printing.

3. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the frame has a least one magnetic fastening means (3) on the base (1) and at least one magnetic fastening means (3) on the front panel (2) which attach the front panel (1) to the base (1).

4. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic fastening means (3) are located on the rear surface of the base (1) and on the rear surface of the front panel (2).

5. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic fastening means (3) are magnets.

6. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the magnets (3) are distributed at the ends of the base (1) and at the ends of the front panel (2).

7. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the magnets (3) are distributed at the centre of the base (1) and at the centre of the front panel (2).

8. A frame according to claim 1 wherein on the rear surface of the base (1) and of the front panel (2), it comprises fastening means (4) for fixing the base (1) and the front panel (2) simultaneously to a vertical surface.

9. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the fastening means (4) to a vertical surface in the base (1) are perforations.

10. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the fastening means (4) of the front panel (2) are perforations or recesses (4) that do not exceed the thickness of the front panel (1).

11. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the rear surface of the base (1) and the front panel (2) have perforations with the same dimensions and thicknesses of the magnets (3), these perforations not running through the full thickness of the base (1) and front panel (2).

12. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the magnets (3) are engaged and glued in the said perforations, being superficially exposed on the back surfaces and concealed on the front surfaces of the base (1) and of the front panel (2).

13. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the base (1) and the front panel (2) are concentric in shape, the said base (1) having larger dimensions than the front panel (2).

14. A frame according to claim 1 wherein the base (1) and the front panel (2) are made from wood, PVC, acrylic, laminated panel and ceramics or any other printable material.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] FIG. 1—is a perspective view of the frame parts comprised of the base (1) and the front panel (2) which is fixed directly on the base (1) by magnets (3) embedded in the front panel (2).

[0023] FIG. 2—is an illustration of an embodiment of the frame, in which a front view of the rear surface of the front panel (2) is depicted with a square shape, wherein four magnets (3) are embedded at the ends and which has a perforation (4) for attachment to the wall.

[0024] FIG. 3—shows a front view of the rear surface of the front panel (2) with a square shape, wherein two magnets (3) are centrally embedded and which has a perforation (4) for attachment to the wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The frame, object of the present invention, is comprised of at least two rigid parts of different dimensions and thicknesses between them, these being: [0026] a base (1); and [0027] a front panel (2) on which direct printing is made and/or to which decorative elements are fixed;
the base (1) and the front panel (2) being attached in direct contact with one another by magnetic fastening means located on the base (1) and on the front panel (2).

[0028] In addition, both the base (1) and the front panel (2) have on the rear surface fastening means (4) for fixing the base (1) and the front panel (2) simultaneously to a vertical surface.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening means (4) to a vertical surface in the base (1) are perforations and the fastening means (4) of the front panel (2) are perforations or recesses (4) that do not exceed the thickness of the front panel (1).

[0030] It is now important to detail how the magnetic fastening means (3) are mounted to the base (1) and to the front panel (2), the said means being magnets (3).

[0031] The rear surface of the base (1) and the front panel (2) have perforations with the same dimensions and thicknesses of the magnets (3), these perforations not running through the full thickness of the base (1) and front panel (2). In this way, the magnets (3) are subsequently engaged and glued in the said perforations, being exposed only superficially on the back surfaces and concealed on the front surfaces of the base (1) and front panel (2).

[0032] This perforation for fitting the magnet (3), which is only accessible at the back, provides a specific larger surface for the bonding, ensuring a better fit and fixing of the magnet (3) to the part, preventing them from being visible on the front surface of the base (1) and of the front panel (2). Furthermore, the fact that the magnets (3) are arranged on the surface and not glued over it ensures a longer-lasting solution, avoiding premature detachments due to lack of adhesion to the support or accidental strokes on the magnets (3), thus resulting in a more perfect finishing.

[0033] Therefore, the present invention consists of a frame comprised of a base (1) and at least one front panel (2) on which a printing is directly performed, the front panel (2) being of sufficient thickness to accommodate a magnet (3) which is embedded in its rear surface, and in turn that same front panel (1) is secured to the base (1) by magnetic pull.

[0034] The frame may have at least one magnet (3) in the base (1) and at least one magnet (3) in the front panel (2) which secure the front panel (1) to the base (1).

[0035] The fact that there is no material between the two rigid elements, i.e. the surfaces of the base (1) and the front panel (2) have a direct contact as claimed, promotes a more effective and longer-lasting adhesion between the two parts, enabling the use of a front panel (2) of greater weight and thickness, thus causing this solution to be more versatile. In addition, it is easy to replace one front panel (2) with another, by simply loosening the magnetic fastening means (3) between the parts and replacing the new front panel (2) with the new print to be displayed, without the user being concerned with centering the image.

[0036] On the other hand, this direct printing of an image or communication on the front panel (1), without that same image or message being coated by a transparent material or even a glass, enables relief printing given the thickness of the front panel (2) as well as fastening of decorative elements. In the present invention, since the image is exposed to the user and provides relief printing, Braille language can be printed and the front panel (2) replaced whenever necessary.

[0037] It should also be noted that the base (1) and the front panel (2) are similar in shape and size, and are preferably concentric in order to ensure the framing effect provided by the attachment of the front panel (2) to the base (1), the said base (1) preferably having larger dimensions than the front panel (1).

[0038] On the other hand, both parts i.e. the base (1) and the panel (2) can be printed. Since the dimensions of the base (1) are preferably greater than those of the front panel (2), it can also be printed by providing a frame with various patterns, colours or any other image.

[0039] The present invention, in addition to ensuring a quick and easy replacement of a front panel (2) with another one, enables printing on a plurality of materials such as wood, PVC, acrylic, laminated panel and ceramics among other materials, provided that they are printable.

[0040] The frame, object of the present invention, may be rectangular, square, circular, triangular or of any other shape.

[0041] Depending on the dimensions of the frame, it may have as many magnets (3) as necessary for attaching the front panel (2) to the base (1). The magnets (3) may be distributed at the ends of the base (1) and front panel (2) (FIG. 2) or distributed at the centre (FIG. 3).

[0042] The shape and dimensions of the frame may be variable as long as the dimensions and weight of the front panel (2) do not exceed the dimensions and weight of the base (1) and provided that the magnets (3) placed in both the rigid parts cooperate with each other in order to secure the front panel (2) to the base (1).

[0043] The present invention can either be fixed to the wall, through the fastening means (4) located on the base (1) and on the front panel (2), or placed on a horizontal surface.

[0044] As will be evident to a person skilled in the art, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described herein, and a number of changes are possible which remain within the scope of this invention.

[0045] Of course, the preferred embodiments above described are combinable in the different possible forms, the repetition of all such combinations being herein avoided.