Frame

Abstract

A frame (2) for framing a picture/an artwork (4) having a periphery (8) is disclosed. The frame (2) comprises a contact surface (10) provided at the inside (12) of the frame, which frame (2) comprises an opening (14), through which the picture/artwork (4) is mountable. At least one flexible member (6, 6, 6, 6) extends along at least a portion of the contact surface (10). The at least one flexible member (6, 6, 6, 6) is provided in such a manner that the flexible member (6, 6, 6, 6) is configured to securely maintain the picture/artwork (4) within the frame (2) by means of a compression force (F.sub.1) and/or a friction force (F.sub.2) between the at least one flexible member (6, 6, 6, 6) and the periphery (8). The flexible member (6, 6, 6, 6) is compressible. The flexible member (6, 6, 6, 6) is attached to the frame (2) in such a manner that the flexible member (6, 6, 6, 6) is restricted from being moved along the width (axis X) of the contact face (10).

Claims

1. A stand-alone frame having an outer periphery and an inner periphery for framing a singular picture/artwork that is separate from the stand-alone frame before mounting within the stand-alone frame, the singular picture/artwork having a periphery, the stand-alone frame comprising at least one frame member having a contact surface provided on at least part of the inner periphery of the stand-alone frame, the inner periphery of the stand-alone frame presenting an opening larger than the singular picture/artwork in which the singular picture/artwork is mountable, and where at least one flexible member has a bottom surface that is attached to at least a portion of the contact surface on the inner periphery of the at least one frame member and has a top surface that provides both a compression force and a friction force between the at least one flexible member and the periphery of the singular picture/artwork when the singular picture/artwork is loaded into the stand-alone frame and fixed in place on the top surface of the at least one flexible member for presentation, wherein the contact surface along an entire width of the at least one frame member has a level lower than the top surface of the at least one flexible member above the contact surface in an unloaded and a loaded condition, where the top surface of the flexible member above the contact surface in the unloaded and the loaded condition will be nearest to the center of the frame than any other part of the frame, thereby the singular picture/artwork is mountable through the opening approached from either a front side of the stand-alone frame or a rear side of the stand-alone frame with the opening unobstructed when approached from either the front side or the rear side, wherein the at least one flexible member is only compressible in a direction away from the periphery of the singular picture/artwork, wherein the stand-alone frame is for mounting the singular picture/artwork within the stand-alone frame as a stand-alone framed singular picture/artwork suitable for stand-alone display without any obstruction from either a front side view or a rear side view of the stand-alone framed singular picture/artwork when fixed in place on the at least one flexible member for presentation.

2. The frame according to claim 1, wherein a groove is provided in at least a portion of the contact surface on the inner periphery of the at least one frame member, wherein a protrusion is provided in at least a portion of the at least one flexible member, the protrusion is inserted into the groove to attach the at least one flexible member to the inner periphery of the at least one frame member.

3. The frame according to claim 2, wherein a protrusion is provided in a portion of the contact surface of the inner periphery of the at least one frame member and a groove is provided in a portion of the at least one flexible member, and the at least one flexible member is attached to the inner periphery of the at least one frame member by insertion of the protrusion into the groove.

4. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of frame members, and the at least one flexible member is attached to one or more of the frame members by means of at least one of a groove provided in a portion of the contact surface of the one or more of the frame members and a protrusion provided in a portion of the at least one flexible member.

5. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface is plane, and the top surface of the at least one flexible member is flat in the unloaded condition and remains flat when compressed in the loaded condition.

6. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible member extends along an entire width of the contact surface on the inner periphery of the at least one frame member.

7. The frame according to claim 1, wherein two parallel, flexible members extend along the contact surface on the inner periphery of the at least one frame member.

8. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible member has a thickness that is compressible in the loaded condition so that the top surface of the at least one flexible member is flattened in the loaded condition.

9. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible member extends along an entire length of one or more of the at least one frame member.

10. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible member is a solid, one-piece body.

11. The frame according to claim 10, wherein the at least one flexible member is rectangular in cross-section.

12. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible member is an elastic band.

13. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible member has a uniform rectangular cross-section along an entire length of the at least one flexible member.

14. The frame according to claim 1, the at least one flexible member is at least partly attached to the frame by means of a press fit.

15. The frame according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided in at least a portion of the contact surface of the inner periphery of the at least one frame member and wherein the at least one flexible member is attached to the protrusion by insertion of the protrusion in a groove of the at least one flexible member.

16. The frame according to claim 1, wherein a semicircular depression is provided in at least a portion of the contact surface of the inner periphery of the at least one frame member and wherein the at least one flexible member is attached to the depression by a semicircular protrusion provided on the at least one flexible member.

17. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the singular picture/artwork fits inside the opening with a space between the contact surface of the inner periphery of the at least one frame member and the periphery of the picture/artwork that is smaller than a space between the contact surface of the inner periphery of the at least one frame member and an unloaded thickness of the at least one flexible member above the contact surface of the inner periphery of the at least one frame member, wherein the singular picture/artwork is securely maintained in the frame by the compression force, by the friction force, or by both the compression force and the friction force, wherein the friction force allows the picture/artwork to be moved across the top surface of the at least one flexible member.

18. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible member is rectangular in cross-section and has a rectangular cross-sectional cavity in a hollow part thereof.

19. A frame for framing a picture/an artwork that is separate from the frame, the picture/artwork having a periphery, which frame comprises a plurality of frame members each with a frame member contact surface having an inside length and inside width provided at an inside of the frame to form an outer frame opening larger than the picture/artwork in which the picture/artwork is mountable when approached from either a front side of the frame or a rear side of the frame, and where an outer surface of at least one flexible member is attached to at least a portion of the inside width and to at least a portion of the inside length of the frame member contact surface of at least two opposing frame members to form an inner frame opening delineated by an inner surface of the at least one flexible member that in an unloaded condition of the frame is smaller than the picture/artwork so that when mounting the picture/artwork into the inner frame opening a friction fit is made between the periphery of the picture/artwork and at least part of the inner surface of the at least one flexible member that is flatten by compression resulting in a loaded condition of the frame with the picture/artwork mounted inside the frame, wherein there are respective loaded and unloaded nonzero gaps in the loaded and unloaded conditions between the frame member contact surface of each of the at least two opposing frame members and the at least part of the inner surface of the at least one flexible member, and wherein the loaded nonzero gap is smaller than the unloaded nonzero gap, wherein the inner surface of the at least one flexible member is entirely within the loaded nonzero gap in the loaded condition, and wherein the picture/artwork is securely maintained in the frame by a compression force, by a friction force, or by both the compression force and the friction force, wherein the friction force permits positioning of the picture/artwork by movement of the picture/artwork across the inner surface of the at least one flexible member.

20. A frame for framing a picture/an artwork that is separate from the frame, the picture/artwork having a periphery, which frame comprises at least one frame member having a frame member contact surface provided at an inside of the frame to form an outer frame opening larger than the picture/artwork in which the picture/artwork is mountable, and where at least one flexible member is attached to at least a portion of an entire width of the frame member contact surface on an inner periphery of the at least one frame member to form an inner frame opening that in an unloaded condition is smaller than the picture/artwork so that when mounting the picture/artwork into the inner frame opening a friction fit is made between the periphery of the picture/artwork and the at least one flexible member that is flatten by compression and thereby the picture/artwork is in a loaded condition inside the frame, wherein there are respective loaded and unloaded gaps in the loaded and unloaded conditions between the frame member contact surface along at least the portion of the entire width on the inside of the frame and thereby the picture/artwork is mountable through the outer frame opening approached from either a front side of the frame or a rear side of the frame and wherein a top surface of the at least one flexible member is within the loaded gap and entirely outside the periphery of the picture/artwork in the loaded condition, and wherein the picture/artwork is securely maintained in the frame by a compression force, by a friction force, or by both the compression force and the friction force, wherein the friction force permits positioning of the picture/artwork by movement of the picture/artwork across the top surface of the at least one flexible member.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematic views of a frame according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows different views of a frame member provided with a groove;

(4) FIG. 3 shows different frame members according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a frame member provided with a barbed protrusion;

(6) FIG. 5 shows different embodiments of a frame according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a frame in which the flexible member does not extend along the total length of the frame members:

(8) FIG. 7 shows two frame members with flexible members during loaded and unloaded conditions

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a number of different frame members according to the invention and

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates two additional frame members according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In the following, identical or corresponding elements will have the same reference numbers.

(12) FIG. 1 A illustrates a square frame 2 comprising four frame members 18, 18, 18, 18. One flexible member 6, 6, 6, 6 is attached to each of the frame members 18, 18, 18, 18. The flexible members 6, 6, 6, 6 extend along the entire length of the frame member 18, 18, 18, 18 to which they are attached.

(13) A picture/an artwork 4 is mounted in the frame 2. The four flexible member 6, 6, 6, 6 are compressed by the picture/artwork 4. Hereby, a force F.sub.1 is exerted towards the picture/artwork 4. The force F.sub.1 is capable of maintaining the picture/artwork 4 within the frame 2.

(14) FIG. 1B illustrates how to insert a flexible member 6 to the contact surface of the inside 12 of the frame 2. When the flexible member 6 has been attached to the contact surface of the inside 12 of the frame 2, the flexible member 6 extends along the entire length of the inside 12 of the frame member 18.

(15) FIG. 1 C illustrates how a flexible member 6 can exert a force F.sub.1 radially and/or a friction force F.sub.2 axially to the periphery 8 of the picture/artwork 4, respectively, when the picture/artwork has been mounted within the frame 2 through its opening 14.

(16) The force F.sub.1 secures that the picture/artwork 4 is kept in the central area within the frame 2. Thus, the force F.sub.1 secures the position of the picture/artwork 4 along the length of the frame members of the frame 2. The force F.sub.2 secures that the picture/artwork 4 is kept in place and thus is not displaced out of the frame 2. The thickness T of flexible member 6 is indicated in FIG. 1 C.

(17) FIG. 2 A illustrates an embodiment of a frame member 18 according to the invention. The frame member 18 comprises a flexible member 6 which does not cover the entire contact surface 10 (along the axis X). The flexible member 6 is attached to the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 is shaped with an arched profile 24. The arched profile 24 extends along the contact surface 10 and is configured to receive and abut the periphery of the picture/artwork to be framed by means of a frame comprising the frame member 18. The contact surface 22 between the flexible member 6 and the frame member 18 is plane and smooth.

(18) FIG. 2 B, FIG. 2 C and FIG. 2 D illustrate a cross-sectional view of a frame member 18 joint with a flexible member 6 by means of a groove 16 provided in the frame member 18 (see FIG. 2 D).

(19) The flexible member 6 is provided with a protrusion 20 (see FIG. 2 C) fit and shaped to be received by the groove 16. It may be an advantage to provide a protrusion 20 that is slightly larger (e.g. 0.1-5 mm) than the groove 16 in order to secure the most optimal fit between the protrusion 20 and the groove 16.

(20) FIG. 3 A illustrates a frame member 18 provided with two parallel flexible member 6, 6 attached to the frame member 18 by means of two parallel grooves 16, 16.

(21) FIG. 3 B illustrates a frame 18 provided with a flexible member 6 having an arched upper surface. The flexible member 6 extends along the entire axis X (width) of the frame member 18. Accordingly, the flexible member 6 covers the entire contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 is provided with a protrusion that is received by a corresponding groove provided in the frame member 18.

(22) FIG. 3 C illustrates a frame member 18 comprising a flexible member 6 with a rectangular shape. The flexible member 6 extends along the entire width (along the axis X) of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 is provided with a protrusion that is received by a corresponding groove provided in the frame member 18.

(23) FIG. 4 A and FIG. 4 B illustrate a frame member 18 provided with a barbed protrusion 26. The protrusion 26 is provided with barbs 30, 30 and is arranged centrally at the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 is attached to the barbed protrusion 26. The barbs 30, 30 improve the fixation of the flexible member 6 and the protrusion 26. The flexible member may be provided with another geometry fit to be received by the protrusion 26.

(24) FIG. 5 A, FIG. 5 B and FIG. 5 C illustrate differently shaped frames 2. All three embodiments comprise at least one frame member 18 and at least one flexible member 6. FIG. 5 A illustrates a circular frame 2, FIG. 5 B illustrates a hexagonal frame 2, while FIG. 5 C illustrates an oval frame 2.

(25) FIG. 6 illustrates a frame 2 according to the invention. The frame 2 comprises four flexible members 6, 6, 6, 6. Three of the flexible members 6, 6, 6 do not extend along the entire length of the frame members 18, 18, 18 to which they are attached. Even though these flexible members 6, 6, 6 do not extend along the entire length of the frame members 18, 18, 18, they are capable of maintaining the picture/artwork 4 firmly within the frame 2.

(26) FIG. 7 A illustrates a first frame member 18 of a frame according to the invention. The first frame member 18 has a rectangular cross-sectional area; A groove is provided in the central portion of the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18.

(27) A flexible member 6 (e.g. a rubber band) is attached to the groove of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 extends to the first edge 32 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 does not extend to the second edge 34 of the frame member 18. FIG. 7 A shows that the flexible member 6 does not extend along the entire width 36 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 is unloaded (no force is applied to it) and the thickness of the part of the flexible member provided above the contact surface 10 is T.sub.2.

(28) FIG. 7 B illustrates the frame member 18 shown in FIG. 7 A. The flexible member 6 of the frame member 18 is shown in a loaded condition (a force is applied to it). Accordingly, the thickness of the part of the flexible member 6 that is provided above the contact surface 10 is T.sub.1. The part of the flexible member 6 provided above the contact surface 10 is compressed to such an extent that its thickness T.sub.1 is reduced significantly (with approximately 50%) compared with the thickness T.sub.2 during unloaded conditions (see FIG. 7 A).

(29) The scenario illustrated in FIG. 7 B will occur when a picture/artwork is arranged in a frame provided with the illustrated frame members 18.

(30) The periphery of the picture/artwork will compress the flexible member 6 and thus reduce the thickness T.sub.1 of the flexible member 6.

(31) FIG. 7 C illustrates a frame member 18 corresponding to the one illustrated in FIG. A and FIG. 7 B. The frame member 18 is provided with a groove into which groove a flexible member 6 is attached. The flexible member is unloaded (no forces is applied to it). The thickness of the part of the flexible member provided above the contact surface 10 is T.sub.4.

(32) The frame member 18 has a rectangular, cross-sectional area. A groove is provided in the central portion of the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18.

(33) The flexible member 6 extends to the first edge 32 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 does not extend to the second edge 34 of the frame member 18. FIG. 7 C shows that the flexible member 6 does not extend along the entire width 36 of the frame member 18.

(34) FIG. 7 D illustrates the frame member 18 shown in FIG. 7 C. The flexible member 6 of the frame member 18 is shown in a loaded condition (a force is applied to it). Accordingly, the thickness of the part of the flexible member 6 provided above the contact surface 10 is T.sub.3.

(35) The part of the flexible member 6 provided above the contact surface 10 is compressed to such an extent that its thickness T.sub.3 is reduced significantly (with approximately 50%) compared with the thickness T.sub.4 during unloaded conditions (see FIG. 7 C).

(36) The scenario illustrated in FIG. 7 D will occur when a picture/artwork is arranged in a frame provided with the illustrated frame members 18.

(37) The periphery of the picture/artwork will compress the flexible member 6 and thus reduce the thickness T.sub.3 of the flexible member 6.

(38) FIG. 8 illustrates a number of different frame members 18 according to the invention.

(39) FIG. 8 A illustrates a frame member 18 having a square cross section. A flexible member 6 having a basically rectangular cross section is attached to the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 extends along the entire width 36 of the frame member 18.

(40) FIG. 8 B illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. A flexible member 6 having a rectangular cross section is attached to the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 extends along the main portion (approximately 85%) of the width 36 of the frame member 18.

(41) FIG. 8 C illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. A flexible member 6 having an arced profile is attached to the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 extends along the main portion (approximately 80%) of the width 36 of the frame member 18.

(42) FIG. 8 D illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. A flexible member 6 having an arced profile is attached to the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 extends along the entire width 36 of the frame member 18.

(43) FIG. 8 E illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. A hollow flexible member 6 having a rectangular cross section is provided with a cavity 40 is attached to the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 extends along the main portion (approximately 80%) of the width 36 of the frame member 18.

(44) FIG. 8 F illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. A flexible member 6 having a rectangular cross section is attached to the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18 by means of two portions of glue 38, 38. The flexible member 6 extends along the main portion (approximately 80%) of the width 36 of the frame member 18.

(45) FIG. 8 G illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. A flexible member 6 having a rectangular cross section is attached to the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18 by means of one large portion of glue 38. The flexible member 6 extends along the main portion (approximately 80%) of the width 36 of the frame member 18.

(46) FIG. 9 A illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. The frame member 18 is provided with a groove 16 having a semi-circular cross section. A flexible member 6 having a circular cross section is provided above the groove 16 and above the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The flexible member 6 is shaped to be received by the groove 16 provided within the frame member 18. Glue may be used to attach the flexible member 6 to the frame member 18.

(47) FIG. 9 B illustrates a frame member 18 having a rectangular cross section. The frame member 18 is provided with a groove 16 having a semi-circular cross section. A flexible member 6 having a rectangular cross section is provided with a protrusion 20 having a semi-circular cross section. The flexible member 6 is provided above the groove 16 and above the contact surface 10 of the frame member 18. The protrusion 20 of the flexible member 6 is shaped to be received by the groove 16 provided within the frame member 18. Glue may be used to attach the flexible member 6 to the frame member 18.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(48) 2 Frame 4 Picture/artwork 6, 6, 6, 6 Flexible member 8 Periphery 10, 10 Contact surface 12 Inside (of the frame) 14 Opening 16 Groove 18, 18, 18, 18 Frame member 20 Protrusion 22 Contact surface 24 Arced profile 26 Protrusion 28 Groove 30, 30 Barb 32, 34 Edge 36 Width 38, 38 Glue/adhesive 40 Cavity B Width b Width F.sub.1 Force F.sub.2 Friction force T, T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.3, T.sub.4 Thickness X Axis Y Axis