U.S. patent number 3,694,947 [Application Number 05/043,404] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-03 for picture frame.
Invention is credited to Kazue Mukai, Hisao Odahara.
United States Patent |
3,694,947 |
Mukai , et al. |
October 3, 1972 |
PICTURE FRAME
Abstract
This invention relates to a picture frame having an at least
partially transparent face plate, with bent edges which resiliently
engage a back plate so that a picture to be enjoyed may be held
between said face plate and said back plate.
Inventors: |
Mukai; Kazue (Chuo-ku, Tokyo,
JA), Odahara; Hisao (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo,
JA) |
Family
ID: |
13400411 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/043,404 |
Filed: |
June 4, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 23, 1969 [JA] |
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44/69364 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/771; 40/781;
D11/139; 428/14; 40/745 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
1/142 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
1/14 (20060101); A47G 1/00 (20060101); G09f
001/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/152,152.1,154,156,10 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A picture frame comprising, an at least partially transparent
plastic face plate having only two opposed edges bent backward at
an acute angle to form substantially straight flanges, a plastic
back plate dimensioned to fit against the rear of said face plate,
said back plate likewise having two opposed notched edges bent
backward to form flanges fitting between the flanges of said face
plate, in which the angle .theta. between the flanges on said face
plate and a principal surface of said face plate is slightly
smaller than the angle .theta.' between the flanges on said back
plate and a principal surface of said back plate whereby the
flanges of said face plate compress inwardly the flanges of said
back plate, and an object to be exhibited which is positioned
between said face plate and said back plate is gripped therebetween
due to the pressure exerted by the flanges of said face plate on
the flanges of said back plate.
2. A picture frame as claimed in claim 1, in which the face plate
is wholly transparent.
3. A picture frame as claimed in claim 1, in which both the face
plate and the back plate are transparent.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a picture frame.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a picture frame
having a face plate which is at least partially transparent and has
bent edges, whose elasticity makes it possible to hold a picture or
the like to be enjoyed between said face plate and a back
plate.
Another object of this invention is to provide a picture frame
characterized by provision of two plates to hold a picture or the
like which are engaged by bending back the edges of both
plates.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a picture
frame having a face plate, both edges of which are bent inward so
that the plate, though actually thin, may appear thick, and which
permits the whole object fitted in the frame to be viewed.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the
following description of several representative embodiments.
FIG. 1 is an oblique view of one embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown
disassembled;
FIG. 4 is an end view of another embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a back view of yet another embodiment; and
FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively are partial end views of still further
embodiments, showing only the edges of the face plate.
In FIGS. 1-3, the face plate 1, is made of plastic material, with
one part 1a transparent and the other part 1b semi-transparent. Its
front and rear surfaces are roughened. Of course the face plate 1
as a whole can be made either transparent or semi-transparent. Both
edges 2, 2 of the face plate 1 are bent backward to give the
appearance of thickness. The back plate 3 is made of transparent or
colored opaque plastic material; and both edges 4, 4 of the back
plate 3 are also bent backward. Both edges 2, 2 of the face plate 1
are bent at an angle .theta. slightly smaller than the angle
.theta.', at which both edges 4, 4 of the back plate 3 are bent.
The outside width of the flat area of the back plate 3 is equal to
the inside width of the face plate 1. To the back side of the back
plate 3 are attached by an adhesive agent flanges 6, 6 which have
holes or slits to receive a string 5, (FIG. 1) or to fit support
means 9 (FIG. 5).
A picture or other object to be enjoyed 7 is mounted on the back
side of the face plate 1. The flanges formed by the two edges 2, 2
of the face plate 1 are pushed apart and the back plate 3 is
applied to the back side of the face plate 1. Then the elasticity
of the flanges formed by the edges 2, 2 of the face plate 1
compresses the flanges formed by the edges of the back plate 3, and
the object of enjoyment 7 is gripped between the face plate 1 and
the back plate 2. The roughened rear surface of the back plate
improves the grip on the object 7.
In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the structure of the
face plate 1 remains the same, but the back plate 3' is a flat
plate with both edges beveled. In this embodiment the back plate 3'
can be made not only of plastic, but also of wood or
paper-board.
In still another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the structures
of the face plate 1 and the back plate 3 are the same as that in
FIG. 1, but one edge of the back plate 3 is notched 8, 8 to provide
a finger-hold on the bent part of the face plate when separating
the assembly of face plate and back plate. Instead of a string 5, a
support member 9 is attached to the flange 6.
Using a string 5, you can hang the frame on the wall; and using a
support member 9, you can stand the frame on the desk.
When the back plate 3 is a flat plate, both edges 2' of the face
plate 1 are, as indicated in FIG. 6, bent inwardly at right angles
to create a space 10 between the back side and the edges 2' of the
face plate 1.
The back plate 3 is slightly thicker than the width of this space
10 and can be held in this space 10 by virtue of the elasticity of
the edges 2'.
Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7, both edges 2" of the face
plate may be bent at acute angles so that the back plate 3 can be
held by the elastic edges 2" of the face plate.
In FIG. 1, one frame is shown holding one picture, but it goes
without saying that several pictures may be arranged in one
frame.
When both the face plate and the back plate are transparent, a
several number of pictures can be held at a time in the frame and
moreover those pictures are seen in a distance away from the wall
or the like, even seen from the front. Furthermore both bent edges
are also seen and give cubic appearance.
By utilizing my invention a picture or the like can be elastically
gripped without slipping between the edges of the face plate and
the back plate and the entire picture can be enjoyed, unlike the
conventional frame which hides partially the picture. Moreover, in
spite of the frame being composed of thin plates, the frame looks
thick because of the bent edges of the face plate, thereby
producing a noble effect and simplifying the manufacture and use of
the frame.
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