FLOAT FRAME WITH MULTI-DIRECTIONAL HANGING MECHANISM AND MAGNETIC INSERT

Abstract

A float frame consists of a frame and an article. The frame has a first size, a back panel, a hanging system formed on the back panel, and magnets embedded on the back panel. The article, which can be a canvas, has a second size smaller than the first size of the frame, creating a visual illusion that the article floats within the frame. The canvas has magnets embedded into its stretcher bars, the magnets positioned corresponding to positions of the magnets embedded on the back panel of the frame. The hanging system has an opening with a wave patterned border with sine-wave curves in a repeating pattern for hanging the frame in any desired orientation. The back panel of the frame can have thumb hole(s) for facilitating separation of the frame and the article, as well as pin holes for affixing canvases without embedded magnets to the frame.

Claims

1. A float frame consisting of: a frame having a first size, a back panel, a hanging system formed on the back panel, and magnets embedded on the back panel, the hanging system having an opening with a wave patterned border for hanging the frame in any of a plurality of directions; and an article having a second size smaller than the first size of the frame to thereby create a visual illusion that the article floats within the frame.

2. The float frame of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a canvas, the canvas having stretcher bars and magnets embedded into the stretcher bars, the magnets positioned corresponding to positions of the magnets embedded on the back panel of the frame.

3. The float frame of claim 1, wherein the wave patterned border has sine-wave curves in a repeating pattern.

4. The float frame of claim 3, wherein the sine-wave curves are spaced 9 mm apart from peak to peak.

5. The float frame of claim 1, wherein the back panel of the frame has one or more thumb holes for facilitating separation of the frame and the article.

6. The float frame of claim 1, wherein the back panel of the frame has pin holes for attaching a canvas to the frame.

7. The float frame of claim 1, wherein the first size of the frame is defined by a first length, a first width, and a first depth, wherein the second size of the article is defined by a second length, a second width, and a second depth, wherein the first length of the frame is longer than the second length of the article, and wherein the first width of the frame is wider than the second width of the article.

8. The float frame of claim 7, wherein the first depth of the frame is same as the second depth of the article.

9. The float frame of claim 7, wherein the first depth of the frame does not equal to the second depth of the article.

10. The float frame of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a canvas.

11. A method of making the float frame of claim 1, comprising: embedding the magnets on the back panel of the frame.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: cutting the opening on the back panel of the frame to create the hanging system, the cutting comprising creating the wave patterned border.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the wave patterned border has sine-wave curves in a repeating pattern.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the sine-wave curves are spaced 9 mm apart from peak to peak.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: embedding the magnets into stretcher bars of the article at locations on the stretcher bars corresponding to locations of the magnets embedded on the back panel of the frame.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: creating one or more thumb holes on the back panel of the frame for facilitating separation of the frame and the article.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: drilling pin holes on the back panel of the frame for affixing a canvas to the frame.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first size of the frame is defined by a first length, a first width, and a first depth, wherein the second size of the article is defined by a second length, a second width, and a second depth, wherein the first length of the frame is longer than the second length of the article, and wherein the first width of the frame is wider than the second width of the article.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first depth of the frame is same as the second depth of the article.

20. The method according to claim 11, herein the first depth of the frame does not equal to the second depth of the article.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the invention. A clearer impression of the invention, and of the components and operation of systems provided with the invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings, wherein identical reference numerals designate the same components. Note that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0020] FIG. 1 provides a front view of an example of a float frame having a frame and a canvas, according to some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0021] FIG. 2 provides a back view of the float frame shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 provides a perspective front view of the canvas shown in FIG. 1

[0023] FIG. 4 provides a perspective back view of the canvas shown in FIG. 1, with magnets embedded into stretcher bars of the canvas, according to some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0024] FIG. 5 provides a perspective back view of the frame shown in FIG. 1, with magnets embedded into a back panel of the frame 101, according to some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0025] FIGS. 6-10 each provides a back view of an example of a float frame with a multi-directional hanging mechanism, according to some embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components, and equipment are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating some embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0027] Traditionally,when a float frame style is desired around a canvas, an L shaped moulding is utilized. This moulding comes in strips which are then cut down to size and joined at the corners.

[0028] Then, several traditional hanging methods may be utilized such as French cleats, D-rings, or a picture wire. An artist first creates an artwork on stretched canvas, and then must find a ready-made float frame that has a size that fits the canvas perfectly. Alternatively, a float frame is custom made to the correct size.

[0029] The orientation of the art piece dictates where the hanging hardware is installed. This orientation cannot be changed without manually uninstalling and reinstalling the hardware, which could leave undesirable holes in the art and/or frame.

[0030] Typically, then, an attaching method of screwing the frame into the canvas is used to achieve a desired spacing. This attaching method can be cumbersome and, if it is not done correctly, there will be multiple holes in the art. It can be very difficult to achieve even spacing between the canvas and the frame. Further complicating the matter is that the spacing between the canvas and the frame is usually very small (e.g., less than 10 mm, less than 5 mm, etc.). Consequently, fitting the canvas within a conventional float frame usually requires the assistance of a professional picture framer who uses, for example, 1/8 spacers to carefully and tediously create the desired even spacing between the canvas and the frame.

[0031] In view of the challenges in making and installing floating picture frames, embodiments disclosed herein provide a new solution to address these challenges.

[0032] First, the new solution solved the sizing and spacing problem of needing a very specifically sized frame and careful positioning by including an article (e.g., a canvas) with embedded magnets which align with embedded magnetic attachment points in the frame. This magnetic self-alignment between the article and the frame allows for fast, efficient, and precision placement and/or non-permanent, removable installation of the article within the frame, while also achieving perfect spacing between the article and the frame along the inner borders of the frame and the outer edges of the article.

[0033] Further, articles can easily be swapped in and out of the framing border without using any tools and/or without possibly damaging the articles. Although a canvas is used in this disclosure as an example of an article that can be removably placed within a float frame, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the type of articles that can be used with a float frame disclosed herein may vary from implementation to implementation and that other types of articles can also be used with embodiments of a float frame disclosed herein.

[0034] Moreover, the new solution solved the orientation issue with a unique and versatile hanging system (which is also referred to herein as a multi-directional hanging mechanism). The hanging system is built into the frame and allows a framed art to be hung in any orientation, for instance, vertically, horizontally, or even at an angle, if desired.

[0035] FIG. 1 provides a front view of an example of a float frame 100 having a frame 101 and a canvas 105. As illustrated in FIG. 1, there is an even spacing between the four edges of the frame 101 and the four edges of the canvas 105, creating a desired gap between the two components of the float frame 100 and allowing the canvas 105 to appear floating within, and without touching, the frame 101.

[0036] FIG. 2 provides a back view of the float frame 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the frame 101 is embedded with magnets 210 and has a hanging system 220. The hanging system 220 is further described below.

[0037] FIG. 3 provides a perspective front view of the canvas 105 and FIG. 4 provides a perspective back view of the canvas 105, showing a backside 405 of the canvas 105. In the example of FIG. 4, magnets 410 are embedded into stretcher bars 440 of the canvas 105. In the example of FIG. 4, two magnets 410 are embedded in each of four stretcher bars 440, generally spaced out evenly along a length of each respective stretcher bar 440.

[0038] FIG. 5 provides a perspective back view of the frame 101. In the example of FIG. 5, the frame 101 has a back panel 550 and magnets 510 are embedded into the sides of the back panel 550, near the edges of the frame 101. More specifically, in the example of FIG. 5, two magnets 510 are embedded in each of the four sides of the back panel 550, generally spaced out evenly along a length of each edge of the back panel 550. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the hanging system 220 creates an opening 540 in the back panel 550 of the frame 101. This feature is further described below with reference to FIGS.6-10.

[0039] As alluded to above, the even spacing of the canvas 105 within the frame 101 is achieved with the precise positioning and self-alignment of magnets. As FIGS. 4-5 together illustrate, the positions of the magnets 410 embedded into the stretcher bars 440 of the canvas 105 correspond to the positions of the magnets 210 embedded into the back panel 550 of the frame 101. The pairing of these sets of magnets 210 and 410 allows for a quick alignment of the canvas 105 within the frame 101, while also creating a desired gap between the two components of the float frame 100, without needing to use a measuring tool or perform multiple tries in alignment.

[0040] The number and/or size of magnets used in the example described above can be determined empirically and may vary from implementation to implementation. Generally, the larger the canvas gets, the heavier it is. Therefore, more magnets could be required to hold it securely in place.

[0041] In some embodiments, grade N35 neodymium magnets having a 10 mm diameter and a 3 mm depth are used. In other embodiments, various sizes of magnets may be used to achieve a desired strength of connection for proper alignment of a wide range of canvas plus frame combinations. In the example described above, magnets were tested for optimal strength so the canvas 105 stays securely in place within the frame 101, but can also be removed without a user struggling to do so. Testing results found that grade N35 magnets provided the strength required to achieve a desired balance between removability and in-place security.

[0042] Understandably, this balance can be affected by the quantity and/or quality of magnets used. That is, too few magnets or weak magnets will allow the canvas to slip out of place, while too many magnets or too strong magnets can make it too difficult to remove the canvas from the frame. Thus, to achieve the optimal strength in which the canvas 105 stays in place, but can also be removed by a user without struggling, the quantity of magnets used may vary from the smallest frame to the largest frame, depending upon the magnetic strength and/or size of the magnets used.

[0043] In some embodiments, an additional hole or holes, referred to herein as thumb hole(s), can be created and strategically positioned at various places in the back panel of the frame so that the canvas can be pushed from behind the float frame for easier removal.

[0044] As discussed further below, the hanging system disclosed herein is structured to allow the float frame to be hung in any direction. As illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, the structure and size of the hanging system (620, 720, 820, 920, 1020) may vary from implementation to implementation.

[0045] In the examples disclosed herein, the hanging system is formed with an opening (640, 740, 840, 940, 1040) in the back panel of the frame. The opening has a border with a sine-wave shape or pattern. In some embodiments, the sine-wave shaped border of the opening can be achieved by laser cutting or CNC routing to remove materials from the back panel of the frame and form the opening in the middle of the back panel.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 4-5, the depth of the canvas 105 allows the hanging system 220 (and the opening 540 in the back panel 550 of the frame 101) to be distanced from the back side 405 of the canvas 105 (or any art substrate) so that any typical hanging hardware can catch the float frame 100 and hook on.

[0047] As further illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, the size of the hanging system (i.e., the centralized opening with a patterned border created in the back panel of the frame) can vary from implementation to implementation, for instance, in view of the dimensions of the float frame. As described below, the sine-wave pattern of the hanging system 220 can accommodate common hanging hardware, including screws, nails, hooks and cleats. No special tools and/or additional hardware would be needed to install the float frame, for instance, on a wall.

[0048] As illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, pin holes (630, 730, 830, 930, 1030) can be formed (e.g., drilled) on the back panel of the frame (601, 701, 801, 901, 1001) in proximity of magnets embedded in the back panel of the frame, close to the edges of the frame. These pin holes allow articles without embedded magnets to be used with a float frame that has a hanging system disclosed herein. For instance, a canvas that does not have magnets embedded into the stretcher bars of the canvas can be attached to the frame 101 by applying fasteners such as screws, pins, nails, etc. to the article through the pin holes. Where appropriate, these pin holes can also further facilitate separation of the frame and the canvas.

[0049] In some embodiments, pin holes (630) can be placed in between magnets (610), as shown in FIG. 6, or each pin hole (730) can be placed near a magnet (710), as shown in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, pin holes can be placed on either side of each corner of the frame (FIG. 8), spaced out along the edges of the frame (FIG. 9), or alternately positioned with magnets (FIG. 10).

[0050] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 6-10, thumb hole(s) (660, 760, 860, 960, 1060), generally larger than the pin holes described above, can additionally be formed on the back panel of the frame, to further facilitate separation of the frame and the canvas. A thumb hole can be dimensioned to allow a finger or fingertip to pass through and push the back of the canvas (e.g., the back side 405 of the canvas 105 shown in FIG. 4), allowing a quick release of the canvas from the float frame.

[0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, the hanging system consists of a sine-wave shaped or S-curved shaped border with rounded curves. These rounded curves are stronger than zig-zag style points. The structural integrity of the curve shape results in less risk of breaking or chipping than a sharp zig-zag style point.

[0052] In some embodiments, the sine-wave shaped or S-curved shaped border of the hanging system has a repeating pattern spaced 9 mm between curves. Variations of the sine-wave border opening are possible. For example, the wave pattern can repeat with up to 15 mm spacing between the curves before it becomes too wide to appropriately catch hanging hardware while still stabilizing the frame. Further, the pattern can repeat as little as 4 mm before it becomes too narrow to appropriately catch hanging hardware.

[0053] In some embodiments, the wave pattern is carefully positioned so that the center mark hits a peak in the curve on all four sides. Continued pattern allows for multiple-points of hanging, which ensures the float frame will not tilt on wall, or just one central hanging point can be used for faster hanging.

[0054] In some embodiments, the float frame can be made of various materials, including, but are not limited to,acrylic, wood, or metal.Inner art substrate or any suitable article is not limited to a fabric or wooden canvas, as long as the depth allows the back of the article to be hollow. The hollowness of the article allows room for the hanging hardware to catch / hook onto the sine-wave patterned hanging system.

[0055] The new solution described above provides an incredible degree of freedom and flexibility to an artist. They can create art that may be displayed in any orientation. Further, if desired, an end user can change their mind on the orientation of the art without any further modifications to the hanging system. The artist, framer, or end user can easily remove or swap the canvas art without damage or requiring the use of tools. The ability to achieve the spacing gap between the canvas and the frame without tools or exact measurements or additional shims or accessories, or the intervention of a professional framer, provides many advantages, including versatility and efficiency, as well as saving time and cost.

[0056] The detailed description and the specific examples disclosed herein, while indicating some embodiments, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Furthermore, descriptions of known materials and manufacturing techniques may be omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the disclosure in detail. Various substitutions, modifications, additions and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure and the accompanying drawings.

[0057] As used herein, the terms comprises, comprising, "includes," "including," "has," "having," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, product, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, process, article, or apparatus.

[0058] Furthermore, the term "or" as used herein is generally intended to mean "and/or" unless otherwise indicated. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). As used herein, including the accompanying appendices, a term preceded by "a" or "an" (and "the" when antecedent basis is "a" or "an") includes both singular and plural of such term, unless clearly indicated otherwise (i.e., that the reference "a" or "an" clearly indicates only the singular or only the plural). Also, as used in the description herein and in the accompanying appendices, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0059] It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.