U.S. patent number 3,908,955 [Application Number 05/490,898] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-30 for convertible frame support.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jeanmarie Gallery, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jean Frechtman.
United States Patent |
3,908,955 |
Frechtman |
September 30, 1975 |
Convertible frame support
Abstract
A dual purpose frame supporting structure permitting different
modes of display is disclosed. The device includes a hanger element
which is affixed to the rear of the frame which is to be displayed.
For hanging the frame on a wall, the hanger element includes a
central cutout to properly position the frame with respect to a
wall fastener; when a picture hanger mounted on the wall is
utilized, a series of raised projections on the outer surface of
the hanger element resists undesirable lateral movement of the
frame. The hanger element is also provided with a pair of opposed
apertures which are in a plane transverse to the frame. A stand
element with a pair of opposed spring arms is adapted to have each
arm enter one of the apertures of the hanger element to define an
easel-type stand for the frame.
Inventors: |
Frechtman; Jean (New York,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Jeanmarie Gallery, Inc. (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
27542878 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/490,898 |
Filed: |
July 22, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/470; 248/126;
248/474 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
1/162 (20130101); A47G 1/143 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
1/00 (20060101); A47G 1/16 (20060101); A47G
1/14 (20060101); A47F 007/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/469,470,471,472,473,474,126,488,489,494,497,498,467
;85/36 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Frazier; Roy D.
Assistant Examiner: Hafer; Robert A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gottlieb, Rackman, Reisman &
Kirsch
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device supporting an article having a frame comprising a stand
element supporting said article in a first display mode, said stand
including a pair of arms formed of resilient material and having a
lower rest portion and an upper attachment portion, and a hanger
element for supporting said article in a second display mode
independently of said stand element and in said first display mode
in conjunction with said stand element attached to said article
and, said hanger element including coupling means for receiving
said attachment portion of said stand element in said first display
mode, wherein said upper attachment portion of said stand includes
a pair of looped ends connected to respective ones of said arms and
formed with opposed leg members, and wherein said coupling means of
said hanger element includes a pair of segments located in planes
transverse to the plane of said article and each transverse segment
having an aperture corresponding to each of said leg members, each
of said apertures receiving one of said leg members in a snug
fitting relationship whereby said stand is pivotable away from said
article until said looped ends contact said article to restrain
further movement of said stand away from said article to thereby
define said first display mode with said lower rest portion of said
stand in contact with a substantially horizontal support
surface.
2. A device in accordance with clain 1 adapted for use in
conjunction with a wall fastener mounted on a substantially
vertical wall, wherein said hanger element includes a central
segment having a centered cutout for receiving said wall fastener
therein to define said second display mode.
3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said central segment
includes at least one raised projection on either side of said
central cutout to resist lateral movement of said hanger element
with respect to said wall fastener.
4. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said central segment
includes a centered notch on the edge of said central segment
opposite that of said centered cutout, said notch and said cutout
cooperating to centrally position said hanger element with respect
to said article.
5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hanger element
includes a pair of side segments each having at least one barb
formed integrally therewith, said barb having a bending axis and a
pointed end to permit said barb to be oriented substantially
transversely to said side segment and to enter said frame.
6. A device in accordance with claim 5 including a pair of end
segments outward of said side segments and having at least one
perforation therein to receive a fastening element therethrough and
into said frame.
7. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arms and said
looped ends of said stand define an obtuse angle therebetween such
that said first display mode provides stable support for said
article.
8. A device supporting an article having a frame comprising a stand
element supporting said article in a first display mode, said stand
including a pair of arms formed of resilient material and having a
lower rest portion and an upper attachment portion, and a hanger
element for supporting said article in a second display mode
independently of said stand element and in said first display mode
in conjunction with such stand element, said hanger element
attached to said article and including coupling means for receiving
said attachment portion of said stand element in said first display
mode, wherein said upper attachment portion of said stand includes
a pair of looped ends connected to respective ones of said arms and
formed with opposed leg members, each of said looped ends being
formed with a corresponding spring clip, and wherein said coupling
means of said hanger element includes a pair of segments located in
planes transverse to the plane of said article for receiving one of
said spring clips therearound, each of said clips being pivotable
with respect to a corresponding one of said transverse segments
until said looped ends contact said article to restrain further
movement of said stand away from said article to thereby define
said first display mode.
Description
This invention relates to support members in general, and to
devices for supporting pictures or other similar framed articles in
a plurality of display modes in particular.
In the field of displaying framed or other encased works of art,
mirrors, academic degrees and the like, numerous types of hangers
have been developed. Most of these devices have been quite
straightforward in nature and have been designed to simply support
a framed picture or the like in one specific mode. For example, one
frequently used device is the so-called "zig-zag" hanger, having a
series of saw teeth on its lower edge for receiving nails therein
for positioning purposes. But this hanger is not readily usable
with all conventional size nails and is not at all convenient to
use with picture hangers whose width is often too great for the
spaces between the saw teeth. In addition, such hangers are only
capable of providing one type of display -- on a vertical wall --
other modes of display may be desired for particular types of
exhibitions and accordingly, prior art hangers have limited
versatility in this respect.
While other hanger elements have also been used in the prior art to
provide other modes of display, such as stand elements, these
elements suffer from the same restriction noted above, namely only
a single mode of display is possible with them. Thus, although an
easel can be utilized, such a display element has no provision for
wall mounting.
It is therefore an object of this invention to obviate one or more
of the aforesaid difficulties.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose
hanger element permitting more than one mode of display to be
achieved with the same basic structure.
It is also an object of this invention to furnish a support member
readily convertible from one display mode to another.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent when a particular illustrative embodiment thereof is
considered, wherein a combined hanger and standing element is
disclosed. The first portion of my invention includes a hanger
element which is affixed to the rear of a frame which encloses a
picture, mirror or other article which is to be displayed. The
hanger element is capable of use both in the hanging mode and in
the standing mode. The hanger element consists of a relatively flat
rectangular piece of metal which has been stamped or otherwise
formed into suitable shape. A central portion of the hanger
includes a lower edge having a cutout and an upper edge having a
small notch. The cutout functions to receive a wall fastener
therein in the hanging mode of display -- thus, either a nail or a
picture hanger can be accommodated within the cutout on the lower
edge of the hanger element. The notch on the upper edge permits the
hanger element to be centrally positioned on the frame.
The cutout and notch are included within a central section of the
hanger element. Also included on this section are a series of
raised projections on either side of the cutout which are adapted
to resist lateral movement of a frame which is hung on a picture
hanger, as will be described in greater detail below. To either
side of the central section of the hanger element is a shorter
sgement designed to be bent tranversely to the central section, and
having central apertures therein. These apertures play no specific
role in the hanging mode, but are adapted to receive the
spring-loaded arms of a stand element in the standing mode to be
described below. The apertures in the segment can either be
complete through-holes, or else they can include inwardly directed
fins adapted to provide gripping surfaces against the stand arms
when the arms are inserted through the apertures.
Still outward of the apertured segments are respective end portions
also designed to have a bending edge with the apertured segment,
and adapted to be bent into a plane which is parallel to the plane
of the central segment but separated therefrom by the width of the
apertured segment. This end segment includes upper and lower barbs
capable of being bent in from the segment towards the frame. These
barbs in effect act as prongs or nails which are physically
inserted into the surrounding frame to thereby affix the hanger
element thereto. The outer elements can also be provided with
respective extensions substantially rectangular in shape and having
a central aperture to permit a nail or other suitable fastener to
be inserted therethrough in the case of particularly heavy framed
articles.
In the hanging mode, the hanger element is initially formed along
the various bend lines to have the apertured segments transverse to
the central segment and directed toward the frame, with the barbed
segment transverse to the apertured segment and in contact with the
frame's rear surface. The barbs of the outer segments, having been
previously bent inwardly (toward the frame) from the hanger
element, are inserted into the rear surface of the frame and form a
relatively permanent attachment thereto. A small central notch in
the upper edge of the central hanger segment facilitates proper
positioning of the hanger with respect to the frame. The cutout is
formed at the center of the lower edge of the central portion of
the hanger element and serves a positioning as well as a hanging
function. Thus, when a nail is used as the hanger element in a
wall, the shaft of the nail is accommodated at the apex of the
cutout. When a picture hanger is used in the wall, the thickness
thereof precludes its being accommodated at the apex of the cutout,
but instead, the cutout is provided with parallel lower walls
depending from the apex, thereby permitting the picture hanger to
be received centrally within the cutout. In either case, the
central location of the cutout only allows the frame to be properly
centered with respect to the wall fastener.
When it is desired to display an article in the standing mode, a
stand, which may be formed of suitable flexible wire such as spring
wire, is utilized. The lower portion of the stand includes two
interconnected U-shaped lower portions adapted to rest on a
relatively flat surface. The side arms of the stand rise and
terminate in respective looped ends creating two opposed transverse
legs which are biased towards each other. In use, the arms are
spread apart against the slight spring action thereof, and the
opposed legs are inserted into the apertures of the apertured
segments of the hanger element. The pressure on the spring arms is
then released, causing the legs to approach each other and more
firmly enter and remain within the apertures. The diameter of the
apertures is, however, slightly larger than the diameter of the
legs therein, thereby permitting pivoting action between the stand
and the hanger element. The U-shaped portions of the stand are then
rotated slightly rearwardly of the frame until the upper portions
of the looped ends of the stand come in contact with the upper
portion of the frame, thereby providing a rest or stop position. In
this mode, the frame assumes the stance of an easel and permits a
standing display of the framed article.
It is therefore a feature of an embodiment of this invention that a
multi-mode display element is defined by a hanger element and a
companion stand element, to permit supporting a frame on a vertical
surface or a horizontal surface.
It is also a feature of an embodiment of this invention that a
hanger element is provided with a central cutout to correctly
position a frame on a wall fastener in one support mode.
It is another feature of an embodiment of this invention that a
hanger element is provided with apertures on transverse segments to
receive therein spring legs of a stand element to create an
easel-type standing display mode.
These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention
will become more readily understood when considered in connection
with a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative,
embodiment of the invention as explained in the following detailed
description and as shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative frame outfitted
with the present invention, with the hanger element affixed to the
frame and the stand element mounted within the hanger element;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear view of the standing element,
illustrating its general mode of attachment to the hanger element
affixed to the frame;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of a portion of the
stand element, illustrating its insertion into the apertures of the
hanger element which has been affixed to the frame, taken along the
perspective of line 3--3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the
arrows;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side sectional view illustrating the stand
within the apertured segment at one side of the hanger element,
taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the
arrows;
FIG. 5 is an overall layout view of the hanger element,
illustrating the various segments thereof;
FIG. 6 is a side view of a frame to which has been affixed the
hanger element, illustrating the hanging mode of the invention with
respect to a vertical wall;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hanger element as
used in connection with a picture hanger;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment
of the invention wherein the stand is provided with clips to grip
the side segments of the hanger element; and
FIG. 9 is a view taken from the rear of the frame showing the stand
element of FIG. 8 gripping the side segment of the hanger element
illustrated in FIG. 8.
In FIG. 1, a frame 10 in which an illustrative article P is
enclosed, is illustrated. The article P can represent a suitable
picture, photograph, mirror or any other item susceptible of
display. The invention which is illustrated in FIG. 1 is generally
designated by the numeral 12 and includes upper hanger element 14
affixed to the upper rear surface of frame 10, and stand element
16. The particular mode of display illustrated in FIG. 1 is the
standing mode, and both hanger element 14 and standing element 16
are utilized in that mode.
A more detailed understanding of the invention can be obtained from
a consideration of FIGS. 2-4, which illustrate the hanger element
14 and its various parts and their use in conjunction with the
corresponding parts of stand 16. Specifically, and also considering
the various component parts of hanger 14 as illustrated in FIG. 5,
the significant portions of hanger element 14 used in the display
mode illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 include a rearward central section
having cutout 14A, transverse side segments 14B which include
respective apertures 18 and end segments 14C from which barbed
members 14D are bent transversely to enter into the body of the
frame. Also shown is central notch 14E. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3, the hanger element is first bent into appropriate shape for
attachment to the frame. Considering the layout view of hanger
element 14 shown in FIG. 5, apertured segments 14B are initially
bent so as to assume a transverse relation to the central segment
of hanger element 14 in which cutout 14A has been made. Similarly,
segments 14C are bent transversely to segments 14B, to assume the
position shown in the top view in FIG. 3. Finally, barbed members
14D are bent inwardly (i.e., toward the frame body) from the layout
outline of hanger element 14, to thereby permit insertion of
corresponding pairs of barbed members 14D into the frame. In almost
all cases, these barbs provide sufficient retentive force for the
hanger element with respect to the frame, regardless of what type
of frame or what article is being displayed. In certain cases,
however, additional support may be required and as illustrated in
FIG. 5, outward extensions 22 of the barbed segments 14C may
accordingly be provided; each of these extensions includes a
substantially central aperture 24 into which auxiliary fasteners
such as nails may be driven to provide additional support for the
hanger elements with respect to frame 10.
To facilitate attaching hanger element 14 to frame 10, notch 14E is
provided on the upper edge of the hanger element. Notch 14E is
positioned equidistant between aperture segments 14B and in fact,
is at the direct center of the upper edge of hanger element 14,
aligned with cutout 14A as well. In order to correctly position
hanger element 14 on frame 10, an operator simply measures the top
edge of the frame and ascertains the midpoint thereof, marking the
same. The central mark is then aligned with cutout 14A and notch
14E during the attachment process, and barbs 14D are driven into
the frame body pursuant to such alignment. Using this technique,
hanger element 14 will automatically be centrally positioned with
respect to frame 10.
After the hanger element 14 has been formed into its appropriate
segments as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the hanger attached to the
frame, spring arms 16A of stand 16 are slightly spread apart
against the spring action inherent in the spring wire forming stand
element 16. This spreading action is illustrated by the outwardly
directed arrows in FIG. 3 and the phantom positions of the
fragmentary portions of stand 16 in that figure. When sufficient
spreading of the stand has taken place, and the opposed legs 16C
which terminate looped portions 16B of the arms are each opposite
the outer surfaces of apertured segments 14B of the hanger element,
the spreading pressure may be relaxed and the legs 16C approach
each other and enter into apertures 18 of segments 14B of hanger
element 14. The arms 16A of stand 16 eventually reach the position
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, namely with the inner surfaces of
looped portions 16B resting against the outer surfaces of apertured
segments 14B, with legs 16C within apertures 18.
The view of FIG. 4 illustrates the initial position of stand 16
with respect to hanger element 14 and frame 10, upon insertion of
legs 16C within aperture 18. As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4,
stand 16 will then rotate slightly towards the rear surface of
frame 10, so that when the looped portion 16B of stand 16 comes
into contact with the rear surface of frame 10, a final resting
position for stand 16 with respect to frame 10 is reached,
resulting in the rest position illustrated in FIG. 1. Legs 16C can
be inserted in apertures 18 which may be straight through holes, or
they may have inwardly directed fins 18A as shown in FIG. 5. This
structure would permit a more snug fit between legs 16C and
apertures 18, without restricting the pivoting motion which is
still required therebetween. It is also noted that the attachment
of a stand can also be effected where the stand omits the looped
portion 16B -- this is possible due to the relatively snug fit
between legs 16C and openings 18.
The view of FIG. 3 is also helpful in indicating the manner in
which the invention is utilized to display frame 10 in the hanging
mode. Specifically, considering FIGS. 3 and 6 together, stand
element 16 plays no role in the hanging mode, and instead hanger
element 14 is utilized together with an appropriate wall fastener,
as is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 (the view of FIG. 3 should
therefore be considered here without any of the elements of stand
16 being present). Thus, hanger element 14 is affixed to frame 10
in the same fashion and is intended to be so affixed to thereby
obtain dual acting operation for hanger element 14. In the hanging
mode, however, cutout 14A which played no specific role in the
standing mode, now comes into play. Initially, an operator first
selects a position on the wall for a suitable wall fastener, such
as nail 26 embedded within wall W in FIG. 6. Frame 10 is then
lowered until hanger element 14 comes in contact with shaft 26A of
nail 26. Specifically, shaft 26A will be accommodated at apex
portion 14A.sub.1 of cutout 14A (see FIG. 5). The head 26B of nail
26 will be positioned within the rectangular cavity defined at the
rear by the central segment of hanger element 14 and on the sides
by apertured segments 14B (see FIG. 3). Although apertures 18 are
visible in the side view of FIG. 6, it is also seen that they do
not play a specific role in the hanging function with respect to
nail 26. The remaining portion of cutout 14A, namely that portion
designated 14A.sub.2 in FIG. 5, is between depending parallel side
walls and is adapted to define a cavity within which a picture
hanger can be accommodated. This arrangement is illustrated in FIG.
7. Thus, such a hanger 27 would have too great width to be received
near the apex of portion 14A.sub.1, and although its top portion
might be accommodated therein, its lower portion 27A would have to
be accommodated within the greater spread defined at area
14A.sub.2. Thus, cutout 14A is adapted to accommodate any type of
suitable wall fastener, regardless of its diameter or width or
nature.
The use of hanger element 14 in connection with bent picture
hangers (such as 27 in FIG. 7) is enhanced by the presence of
embossments or raised projections 20 on the rear surface of the
central segment of hanger element 14. Specifically, a series of
projections 20 is illustrated on either side of cutout 14A in FIG.
5, and these projections are also visible in the view of FIG. 2,
although they do not play any specific physical role in that
illustration. When hanger 14 is formed into the shape indicated in
FIGS. 2 and 3, i.e., when it is bent so as to have its apertured
segments 14B transverse to the main central segment containing
cutout 14A and when segments 14C are also bent so as to bear
against the rear surface of frame 10 with barbs 14D within the body
of frame 10, projections 20 face outwardly from the rear of the
central segment of hanger element 14. When a picture hanger is
utilized for hanging particular types of framed articles (see FIG.
7), the upwardly directed hook portion 27A of such picture hanger
will pass under and around cutout 14A and rest substantially within
the parallel walled portion of cutout 14A designated as 14A.sub.2
in FIG. 5. Should there be any undesirable lateral pressure on
frame 10 when it is being so supported on picture hanger 27,
thereby conceivably causing the picture hanger to be removed from
cavity 14A.sub.2, it will then occupy a position somewhat laterally
of cutout 14A.
At this moment in time, projections 20 come into play. By virtue of
their presence on the rear surface of the segment containing cutout
14A and being adjacent thereto, the upwardly directed hook portion
27A of the picture hanger 27 will bear against successive ones of
projections 20, commencing with the first one immediately adjacent
to cutout 14A on either side (depending upon which direction the
picture hanger moves with respect to the frame). Accordingly,
projections 20 act as lateral stops to resist sideways motion of
frame 10, with hanger element 14 affixed thereto, with respect to
the picture hanger. Thus, any displacement of the frame with
respect to the picture hanger will be relatively small, with
projections 20 accordingly limiting the amount of travel of the
frame with respect to the picture hanger. This will in turn
restrict the movement of the frame to any undesirable and
unattractive off-center position.
In FIGS. 8 and 9, an alternate embodiment of the invention is
disclosed, wherein a portion of a hanger element 14' is shown. This
hanger element is substantially identical to the hanger element 14
discussed heretofore, except that segment 14B' includes no aperture
such as 18 in segment 14B in FIG. 5. Thus, end segment 14C and
barbs 14D thereof are shown, as well as projections 20 as
previously described. The hanger element 14' is intended to be used
in the hanging mode, described above with respect to FIGS. 5-7, in
the same fashion as there described. However, in the standing mode,
described above with respect to FIGS. 1-4, a difference will exist.
This difference relates to the manner of attachment of stand 16
with hanger element 14. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the stand element
is identified as 16', and includes at the end of its legs 16C' a
U-shaped spring clip 28 having an internal cavity adapted to clip
onto the transverse and unapertured segment 14B'. Although the arms
16A of stand 16' will be formed in substantially the same fashion
as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., with spring metal giving a
certain inwardly directed spring bias to the opposed loops 16B, the
manner of attachment of the stand 16' to hanger element 14' is
different in this embodiment.
This manner of attachment is suggested by the exploded view of FIG.
8 and is specifically illustrated by the fragmentary rear view of
FIG. 9. When it is desired to affix stand 16' to hanger element
14', i.e., when it is desired to utilize the standing mode of
display of a framed article, the arms 16A of stand 16' are spread
apart in the same fashion as described above with respect to FIGS.
1-4, and as specifically illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the
spreading apart need not be as great, since the correct orientation
for attachment purposes is to position the cavity of clip 28
directly beneath the bottom surface of segment 14B'. Then stand 16'
is elevated upwards towards hanger element 14', with segment 14B'
entering the U-shaped cavity of spring clip 28, reaching the
position shown in FIG. 9. Clip 28 is urged upward until the right
bottom edge of segment 14B' engages the right inner surface of the
U-shaped cavity of clip 28, as shown in FIG. 9.
This spring clip arrangement will cause a firm gripping
relationship to exist between hanger element 14' and stand 16'. In
addition, the force of gravity which establishes a downward force
component from segment 14B' will also tend to maintain hanger
element 14' within the cavity of spring clip 28. After such
gripping relationship has been established, clip 28 may still move
somewhat rearwardly at its lower inner loop portion, in the manner
indicated in FIG. 4 for the other mode of attachment of stand 16
with hanger element 14. This will permit the upper inner surface of
loop 16B of stand 16' to bear against the rear frame 10, as was
explained in connection with FIG. 4, to establish a firm rest
position for the display mode of this invention.
There has accordingly been described herein a dual acting stand and
display device for use in connection with framed articles. It will
of course be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous
variations can be utilized in connection with this invention to
achieve the same purposes and result. For example, to reinforce the
fit between stand element 16 and hanger element 14, either in the
mode of FIGS. 1-4 or 8-9, either or both of the hanger elements or
the stand can be made of magnetic material, so as to be attracted
one to the other when the legs 16C enter apertures 18 (FIGS. 1-4)
or when clip 28 attaches to unapertured segment 14B' (FIGS. 8-9).
In addition, spring arms 16A can be formed close together, with an
outward spring bias. In this manner, legs 16C of stand 16 can enter
apertures 18 from the inner surfaces of segments 14B, thereby
establishing the standing display mode of the invention.
It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are
merely illustrative of the application of the principles of this
invention. Numerous variations may be devised by those skilled in
the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention.
* * * * *