Changeable frame

Abstract

A changeable frame allows exhibits presented therein to be exchanged in a simplified manner. The frame includes a frame element surrounding a frame opening in which the exhibit is visible from an observer side. A recess in the frame element leads from a lateral outer surface to an opposite inner surface of the frame element and opens into the frame opening for insertion of the exhibit into and removal of the exhibit from the frame opening. A drawer slidably mounted in the recess has a receptacle for positioning the exhibit. The drawer is slidable between an insertion position, in which the exhibit is visible in the frame opening, and a removal position, in which the receptacle of the drawer is outside of the frame element for the removal of the exhibit from the receptacle.

Claims

1. A changeable frame for the presentation of exhibits, the changeable frame comprising: a frame element having a height, a viewer's side, a rear side facing away from said viewer's side, and mutually opposite lateral outer and inner surfaces, said frame element surrounding a frame opening for visibly displaying an exhibit to be presented from said viewer's side during use, said frame element having a recess leading from said lateral outer surface to said inner surface and opening into said frame opening for insertion of the exhibit into said frame opening and for removal of the exhibit from said frame opening, said recess being disposed centrally relative to said height of said frame element and said recess having a height being less than said height of said frame element; and a drawer having a receptacle and being displaceably mounted in said recess for positioning the exhibit, said drawer being displaceable between an insertion position in which the exhibit is visible in said frame opening and a removal position in which said receptacle of said drawer is situated outside said frame element for removal of the exhibit from said receptacle; said frame element having a first transverse side portion on a first side and a second transverse side portion on an opposite side, said first and second transverse side portions being respectively oriented transversely relative to said recess in which said drawer is mounted and said first and second transverse side portions having inner sides associated with said frame opening; said frame element having a square basic shape as seen from said viewer's side and two mutually parallel longitudinal side portions each having one end being interconnected by said first transverse side portion and another end being interconnected by said second transverse side portion of said frame element, said first and second transverse side portions each having grooves with rectangular cross sections being formed in said inner sides of said first and second transverse side portions; a closed rear wall supported by said frame element on said rear side; said receptacle having longitudinal and transverse sides being surrounded by edge strips and having a rear side being closed by a bottom, said edge strips having a height; one of said edge strips having an outer surface associated with said recess and oriented flush with said outer surface of said frame element surrounding said recess when said drawer is in said insertion position; said grooves having a height corresponding to said height of said recess and said edge strips permitting said edge strips to be integrated into said frame element and to jointly produce a flat outer surface with said longitudinal side portions of said frame element; said recess having lateral boundaries with run-on slopes providing said recess with a shape narrowing in a funnel-shaped manner in a direction of said frame opening from said outer surface of said frame element at least over part of a depth of said recess; said one edge strip associated with said recess having ends assigned to lateral ends of said recess, said ends having respective end portions, and oblique surfaces respectively provided on said end portions, said oblique surfaces having an orientation corresponding to said run-on slopes of said recess and said oblique surfaces lying tightly against said run-on slopes in said insertion position of said drawer.

2. The changeable frame according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle of said drawer is configured for depositing an exhibit being an individual sheet or an individual piece of paper on which an artistic illustration, a drawing, an etching, a print or a photo is reproduced.

3. The changeable frame according claim 2, wherein a depth of said receptacle provided in a side portion of said frame element and disposed opposite to said recess is equal to a thickness of said edge strip associated with said receptacle.

4. The changeable frame according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle of said drawer is configured for depositing a stack of two or more exhibits lying on one another and for making an exhibit of said stack lying uppermost relative to said viewer's side visible in said frame opening when said drawer is in said insertion position.

5. The changeable frame according to claim 1, wherein said frame element has an inner side, and a sliding guide for said drawer is provided on said inner side.

6. The changeable frame according to claim 1, which further comprises a sliding guide provided on at least one of said transverse side portions of said drawer, said sliding guide being said groove provided on at least one of said transverse side portions.

7. The changeable frame according to claim 6, wherein an inner side of said edge strip associated with a respective sliding guide and facing said receptacle of said drawer is oriented flush with one of said inner sides of said respectively assigned transverse side portions.

8. The changeable frame according to claim 6, which further comprises a receptacle provided at an inner side of a portion of said frame element and opposite to an aperture of said recess, said drawer having an edge region assigned to said receptacle in said insertion position.

9. The changeable frame according to claim 8, wherein said inner side of said edge strip associated with a respective sliding guide and facing said receptacle of said drawer is oriented flush with an inner side of a respectively assigned longitudinal side portion in said insertion position of said drawer.

10. The changeable frame according to claim 1, which further comprises a transparent pane filling said frame opening and being held on said frame element for shielding an individual sheet being visible to a viewer in said frame opening relative to the viewer during use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing illustrating an exemplary embodiment. In the figures of the drawing, in each case schematically:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a changeable frame with a pulled-out drawer in a top view as seen from the viewer's side;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the changeable frame with the drawer in the insertion position, in a view corresponding to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the changeable frame in a section along the intersecting line X-X shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the changeable frame in a lateral view from the direction A shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the drawer of the changeable frame in a view corresponding to FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a frame element of the changeable frame in a view corresponding to FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 shows the frame element in a section along the intersecting line Y-Y shown in FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows the frame element in a section along the intersecting line Z-Z shown in FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 shows the frame element in a lateral view from the direction B shown in FIG. 6;

(11) FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a drawer of the changeable frame;

(12) FIG. 11 shows the drawer according to FIG. 10 in a section along the intersecting line W-W shown in FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a holder for a calendar in a lateral view;

(14) FIG. 13 shows the holder according to FIG. 12 in a perspective view from the front;

(15) FIG. 14 shows the holder according to FIG. 12 in a perspective view from the rear;

(16) FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of the holder in a lateral view;

(17) FIG. 16 shows the holder according to FIG. 15 in a perspective view from the front.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(18) The changeable frame 1 comprises a frame element 2 which has a rectangular basic shape and surrounds a likewise rectangular frame opening 3. The frame element 2 which is manufactured from wooden bars which are rectangular in cross section has two longitudinal side portions 4, 5 oriented parallel to each other and two transverse side portions 6, 7 oriented at a right angle to the longitudinal side portions 4, 5. The one transverse side portion 6 connects those ends of the longitudinal side portions 4, 5 which are assigned thereto, whereas the other transverse side portion 7 connects the opposite ends of the longitudinal side portions 4, 5 to each other.

(19) A recess 9 shaped in the manner of a slot is formed in the one longitudinal side portion 4 and extends from the outer surface 10 of the longitudinal side portion 4 as far as the inner surface 11 assigned to the frame opening 3. The recess 9 is arranged centrally with respect to the height H2 of the frame element 2. The height H9 of the recess 9 is approximately one third of the height H2 of the frame element 2.

(20) A groove 14, 15 which is rectangular in cross section is in each case formed in the inner sides 12, 13 of the transverse side portions 6, 7, said inner sides being assigned to the frame opening 3. The grooves 14, 15 each extend over the width B3 of the frame opening 3 and lead into the recess 9.

(21) A likewise groove-shaped receptacle 17 which is rectangular in cross section is formed in the inner side 16 of the longitudinal side portion 5 opposite the mouth of the recess 9, the receptacle extending over the length L3 of the frame opening 3 and merging at its ends into the groove 14, 15 of the respectively adjacent transverse side portions 6, 7.

(22) On the viewer's side S facing the viewer during use, a transparent glass pane 18 is inserted into the frame opening 3, said glass pane being held in a groove 19 which encircles the frame opening 3 above the grooves 14, 15 and the receptacle 17 and is provided in the longitudinal side portions 4, 5 and the transverse side portion 6, 7.

(23) On the rear side R facing away from the viewer's side S, the frame element 2 carries a closed rear wall 20 which is formed by a wooden plate.

(24) The side surfaces 21, 22 by means of which the recess 9 is bounded on its narrow sides, from the corners 23, 24 in which the transverse side portions 6, 7 and the longitudinal side portion 4 in each case meet, are oriented at an angle of 45° with respect to the groove 14, 15 assigned in each case to them. The recess 9 thereby narrows from the corners 23, 24 in the direction of the frame opening 3 in the manner of a funnel, and the side surfaces 21, 22 form run-on slopes via which a drawer 25 which is mounted displaceably in the recess 9 is centered in its insertion position (FIG. 2) in the recess 9.

(25) The drawer 25 is displaceable in the grooves 14, 15 in a rectilinear movement V between an insertion position in which it is completely inserted into the frame element 2 (FIG. 2) and a removal position in which a receptacle 26 of the drawer 25 is located laterally next to the longitudinal side portion 4 of the frame element 2 outside the frame opening 3.

(26) In this manner, when the drawer 25 is in the removal position, an individual sheet stack P formed from, for example, twelve individual sheets E can be placed into the receptacle 26. The depth of the receptacle 26 is dimensioned here in such a manner that it can still receive the stack P even if the individual sheets E are separated from one another by separating papers or the like placed therebetween.

(27) As seen from the viewer's side S, the receptacle 26 has a rectangular basic shape and is adapted in its length and width to the dimensions of the individual sheets E in such a manner that the stack P can lie in the receptacle 26 with a play sufficient for avoiding damage to the individual sheets E. The receptacle 26 is bounded here on its longitudinal and transverse sides by edge strips 27, 28, 29, 30 and is closed on its rear side by a base. The edge strips 28, 29 are each assigned to one of the grooves 14, 15, the edge strip 30 to the receptacle 17 and the edge strip 27 to the recess 9.

(28) The distance of the edge strips 28, 29 from each other and the thickness and height thereof are each adapted to the distance, the depth and the height of the grooves 14, 15 in such a manner that the edge strips 28, 29 can be displaced longitudinally with slight play in the grooves 14, 15, but at the same time their longitudinal sides 31, 32 assigned to the receptacle 26 of the drawer 25 are oriented flush with the inner sides 12, 13 of the respectively assigned transverse side portions 6, 7. Similarly, the distance between the edge strips 27 and 30 and the thickness and height of the edge strip 30 are adapted to the position, depth and height of the receptacle 17 in the longitudinal side portion 5 of the frame element 2 in such a manner that, when the insertion position is reached, the edge strip 30 can be inserted with slight play into the receptacle 17 and, when the drawer is completely inserted, is oriented with its inner side 33, which is assigned to the receptacle 26 of the drawer, flush with the inner side 16 of the longitudinal side portion 5.

(29) The edge strip 27 assigned to the recess 9 is configured in respect of its thickness and height in such a manner that the edge strip 27 can be inserted with slight play into the recess 9 and at the same time, in the insertion position, the outer surface 34 of the edge strip 27 is arranged flush with the outer surface 10 of the longitudinal side portion 4 and the inner side 35 of the edge strip 27 is arranged flush with the inner surface 11 of the longitudinal side portion 4. The edge strip 27 at its ends assigned to the edge strips 28, 29 in each case has a laterally protruding end portion on which an oblique surface 36, 37 oriented at an angle of 45° is in each case provided starting from the respective edge strip 28, 29. With the oblique surfaces 36, 37, the drawer 25 in its insertion position lies tightly against the side surfaces 21, 22 of the frame element 2, said side surfaces serving as run-on slopes and laterally bounding the recess 9. The oblique surfaces 36, 37 are oriented and arranged here in such a manner that the free corner edges 38, 39 of the edge strip 27, in which corner edges the oblique surfaces 36, 37 peter out, coincide in the insertion position with the corners 23, 24 in which the longitudinal side portion 4 and the transverse side portions 6, 7 meet each other. When the drawer 25 is in the insertion position, the edge strip 27 is thereby integrated in the frame element 2 in such a manner that a flat outer surface is also produced on the longitudinal side portion 4.

(30) The drawer 25a shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 basically corresponds in its design identically to the previously explained design of the drawer 25. Therefore, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the corresponding components and details of the drawers 25, 25a are denoted by the same reference signs.

(31) Beyond the details explained with regard to the drawer 25, the drawer 25a has two lighting devices 40, 41 which are arranged in the form of commercially available LED light strips on the inner sides of the shorter edge strips 28, 29, the inner sides each being assigned to the receptacle 26, and extend here over the length of the relevant edge strips 28, 29. For this purpose, starting from the free upper side of the edge strips 28, 29, a respective step extending over the length of the edge strips 28, 29 is molded into the edge strips 28, 29. The depth and height of said step is dimensioned in such a manner that the strip-shaped lighting devices 40, 41 are firstly oriented, with their end side which is assigned to the receptacle 26 and via which light is emitted, flush with the inner side 31, 32 and secondly are oriented with their upper side flush with the upper side of the respective edge strip 28, 29.

(32) In order to supply the lighting devices 40, 41 with electrical energy, a compartment 42 in which, for example, a battery is placed as energy supply 43 is molded into the inner side 35 of the front-side edge strip 27, the inner side being assigned to the receptacle 26. The energy supply 43 is connected to the lighting devices 40, 41 via cable connections likewise incorporated into the edge strip 27. The lighting device 40, 41 can be switched on by means of a switch 44. The switch 44 can be designed here, for example, as a contact which closes the connection between the energy supply 43 and the lighting devices 40, 41 when the drawer 25a is inserted completely into the frame element 2, and interrupts said connection as soon as the drawer 25a is pulled out of the frame element 2. Alternatively or additionally, such a switch 44 can also be arranged on the outer side surface 34 of the edge strip 27 of the drawer 25a in order to be able to operate said switch from the outside, or the switch 44 can be designed, for example, as a magnetic switch or the like and embedded invisibly in one of the edge strips 27-30 in such a manner that it can be actuated by means of a suitable trigger, i.e., for example, by means of a magnet in the case of a magnetic switch. By arranging the lighting devices 40, 41 and the energy supply 43 and also the optionally provided switch in or on the drawer 25a, all of the elements which are required for lighting the object presented in the receptacle 26 of the drawer 25a can be maintained and if required repaired in a simple manner.

(33) If the stack P arranged in the changeable frame 1 is intended to be used as a calendar, for example twelve individual sheets E are compiled to form the stack P and are deposited in the receptacle 26 of the drawer 25. In each case at the beginning of a new month, the drawer 25 is then moved into the removal position and the individual sheet E of the stack lying uppermost up to then is moved into the stack P to the rear such that the individual sheet E assigned to the current month lies freely visibly uppermost in the stack P.

(34) In order, in addition to the individual sheet E respectively presented in the frame opening 3 of the changeable frame 1, to present the date, a card holder 50, 60 can be added to the changeable frame 1 which, for example, is hanging on a wall, leaning against a wall or standing on a table or floor.

(35) For this purpose, the card holder 50, 60 which is assembled, for example, from wooden plate elements, has a first plate-like supporting element 51 which is oriented at an inclination toward the direction of gravity and has a flat supporting surface 52 on its free front side for an upright card K in each case, for example, in DIN A6 format. The first supporting element 51 stands here on a cross-sectionally L-shaped foot portion 53, the short limb 54 of which is oriented vertically upward and thus forms a stop against which the card K leaning against the supporting surface 52 is supported during use by its respectively bottom edge. The first supporting element 51 stands here on the long limb 55 of the foot portion 53, said limb being oriented horizontally during use, and is also supported by its lower front edge against the short limb 54 of the foot portion 53.

(36) At a distance from the rear side of the first supporting element 51 and oriented parallel to the latter, a second supporting element 56 is supported on the long limb 55 of the foot portion 53. The width of the slot 57 formed between the supporting elements 51, 56 is dimensioned here in such a manner that, for example, a stack KS of eleven cards K in DIN A6 format has space between the supporting elements 51, 56. The slot 57 is closed on its one narrow side 58 in order to avoid the card stack KS dropping out.

(37) On its side facing away from the first supporting element 51, the second supporting element 56 is supported by a likewise plate-like supporting strut 59 against the underlying surface on which the holder 50 is standing. The supporting strut 59 is supported here with respect to the second supporting element 56 in such a manner that an acute angle is enclosed between the supporting strut 59 and the second supporting element 56.

(38) The height of the supporting elements 51, 56 is in each case dimensioned in such a manner that cards K supported thereon during use are supported over a length sufficient to avoid folding over.

(39) In respect of an optimum appearance, the second supporting element 56 here is in each case so much shorter than the first supporting element 51 that an observer looking frontally toward the supporting surface 52 of the first supporting element 51 does not perceive the supporting element 56 located therebehind.

(40) During use, the card K assigned to the respective month and on which the dates belonging to the relevant month are printed can lean in each case against the supporting surface 52 of the first supporting element 51. The cards K provided for the remaining eleven months of a year are put in the meantime in the slot 57. When the month changes, the card K assigned to the expired month is then put into the slot 57 to the cards K present there and the card K assigned to the beginning month is removed from the slot 57 and lent against the supporting surface 52.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(41) 1 Changeable frame 2 Frame element 3 Frame opening 4, 5 Longitudinal side portions 6, 7 Transverse side portions 9 Slot-shaped recess 10 Outer surface of the longitudinal side portion 4 11 Inner surface of the longitudinal side portion 4 12, 13 Inner sides of the transverse side portions 6, 7 14, 15 Groove (sliding guides) 16 Inner side of the longitudinal side portion 5 17 Receptacle 18 Glass pane 19 Groove 20 Rear wall 21, 22 Side surfaces (run-on slopes) 23, 24 Corners of the frame element 2 25, 25a Drawer 26 Receptacle of the drawer 25 27-30 Edge strips 31, 32 Inner sides of the edge strips 28, 29 33 Inner side of the edge strip 30 34 Outer surface of the edge strip 27 35 Inner side of the edge strip 27 36, 37 Oblique surfaces 38, 39 Corner edges of the edge strip 27 40, 41 Lighting devices 42 Compartment 43 Energy supply device 44 Switch 50, 60 Card holders 51 First plate-like supporting element 52 Flat supporting surface of the supporting element 51 53 Foot portion 54 Short limb of the foot portion 53 55 Long limb of the foot portion 53 56 Second supporting element 57 Slot 58 Narrow side of the slot 57 59 Plate-like supporting strut B3 Width of the frame opening 3 E Individual sheets H2 Height of the frame element 2 H9 Height of the recess 9 K Cards KS Stack of cards L3 Length L3 of frame opening 3 P Stack formed from the individual sheets E R Rear side of the frame element 2 S Viewer's side V Sliding movement of the drawer 2