Poster Frame Extrusion Cutting Guides

Abstract

An E-shaped cross-section guide for cutting art frames and similar materials is presented. The guide comprises 3 parallel ridges coupled to a base and spaced so that the 2 parallel planar protions of a poster frame slidably but snugly fit over the center ridge. One end of the tool is cut off at a 90.degree. angle for cutting straight-cut extrusions. The other end is cut off at a 45.degree. angle for cutting extrusions at a 45.degree. angle. Near the 90.degree. end, slots are cut into the three ridges permitting the guide to be used for mitering poster frames. In operation, the poster frame is slide onto the guide and the end of the poster frame is aligned with the selected part of the guide. The guide then supports the extrusion and the blade cutting the poster frame. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to guides used to support art frames during cutting. 2. OF THE Prior Art Pictures and placards have long been mounted on walls. In recent years, the frames for such pictures have in some cases as a matter of artistic choice been replaced by generally U-shaped cross-section art frames which are used not only to hold posters but also to hold glass and relatively thin artwork so that the picture or placard appears to be floating in a glass background. One of the chief advantages of the art or poster frame system is the speed and lack of expense as compared to the problems involved in making plaques and normal picture frames. In order to give the appearance of a picture frame, the poster frame material is cut at a 45.degree. angle to its length so that the poster frames along perpendicular edges fit closely to form an attractive corner. This has previously been done by hand and it is a very exacting job requiring precise control of dimensions and very precise control of the cutting sequence. The prior art discloses no tools to aid the artist in this task, or to permit the unskilled person to make custom frames by cutting art frame material. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A poster or art frame extrusion cutting guide is presented. A first example comprises a small aluminum dye cast E-shaped cross-section guide, having a center, longitudinal ridge capable of fitting closely around the two parallel portions of a poster or art frame cross section. The base to which the center ridge is coupled also has two side ridges parallel to and disposed relatively close to the center ridge. One end of the guide is terminated at 90.degree. to its length while the other end is cut off at a 45.degree. angle from the top of the ridges which are the points of the E. The 90.degree. end is used for the cutting of frames wherein only 2 art frame members are to be used on a poster or similar material. The 45.degree. end is used for the cutting of frames wherein 4 art frame members with mitered corners can be fitted together to form a corner and two adjacent sides of an attractive finished poster frame. The guides permit the easy fabrication of custom frames from plastic extrusions. Two parallel slots are defined by the parallel center ridge and two parallel side ridges or sides all coupled to the base. The center ridge may include serrations to increase the friction with a frame inserted in the guide and may include grooves along most of its length to ease the insertion therein of the art frame extrusion material. The sides and the center ridge extend the entire length of the tool and are each cut by vertical slots near the 90.degree. end. The 90.degree. end of the center ridge forms a small vertical base separated from the rest of the center support by the vertical generally X-cross-sectioned slots perpendicular to each other and at an angle of 45.degree. and 135.degree. to the center ridge. In order to cut a poster frame at a 90 degree angle to its length, the frame material is inserted in the tool upside down so that the bottom of the frame is near the top of the tool and the sides of the frame fit relatively tightly around the center ridge and substantially fill the 2 parallel slots. The poster frame material is selectively aligned with the 90.degree. end and a blade such as a razor blade cuts off the frame along the end of the guide. The frame material is then reversed, if necessary and cut to the desired length by repeating the process. In order to cut the end of a frame at a 45.degree. angle, the poster frame is measured to a point where the poster frame is to be cut. That is aligned with a 45.degree. end alignment mark near the 45.degree. end and a blade cuts the poster frame along the 45.degree. end. The frame material is then longitudinally reversed, aligned and cut again along the 45.degree. end. The two parallel side ridges or members may be shorter than the height of the center member along the central portion of their length and taller than the height of the center member near each end. The center member should have a generally uniform height along its length so that it fits well with the poster frame extrusion materials, also known as frames or frame members or frame materials inserted in the guide for cutting. This combination makes it easier for the thumb to grasp and help hold the guide during cutting. Various other examples may be fabricated within the general scope of the invention described herein. DRAWING SUMMARY Reference should be made at this time to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following drawings: FIG. 1 is a three quarter view of an example of a cutting guide for art frames according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the cutting guide of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the cutting guide of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a cut-away side view of the guide of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a front view of the cutting guide of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a top view of the cutting guide of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a cut-away view from the front along the line 7--7 of FIG. 2; FIG. 8 illustrates the insertion of a poster frame segment into the cutting guide of FIG. 2. FIG. 9 illustrates the side view of the alignment for cutting of an art frame in the guide of FIG. 1 and illustrates a cross section of an art frame; FIG. 10 illustrates a bottom view of an art frame being aligned for mitering in a different fashion from that illustrated in FIG. 9 by the guide of FIG. 1; and FIG. 11 illustrates the portion of the guide including additional vertical slots disposed at a 45.degree. angle to the length of the guide and used for mitering an art frame as shown in FIG. 14; FIG. 12 which illustrates a corner of an art frame, cut along the 45.degree. end of the guide; FIG. 13 which illustrates an edge of an art frame cut along the 90.degree. end of the guide; and FIG. 14 which illustrates a corner of a frame fabricated by cutting along the slots near the 90.degree. end, which slots are best illustrated in FIG. 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference should be made at this time to FIGS. 1-11 which illustrate selected views of a cutting guide for poster frames 32, art frames, photograph frames or similar frames hereafter referred to as art frames, frames, members, or materials. The example described in the present detailed description and illustrated in the drawings may be modified within the scope of the present invention, particularly by removing certain elements thereof.

The guide 10 comprises a base or bottom 22 coupled to and parallel to a center ridge 18 and coupled and parallel to side ridges 19, 20. At one end 12, the guide 10 is fabricated so that it is cut off at a 90 degree angle to its length from the top of the ridges 18-20 to the bottom of the base 22. At the other end 14, the guide 10 is fabricated so that it is cut back at a 45.degree. angle from the top of the ridges 18-20 to the bottom of the base 22. The adjacent surfaces of the center ridge 18, the bottom or base 22 and the side ridges 19, 20 form two parallel slots 16.

The center ridge 18 may have its top two corners rounded off by grooves 24 to ease the placement of frames 32 thereon. The center ridge 18 may also have serrations 26 to increase the friction of frames 32 and prevent them from sliding in a longitudinal direction. The 45 degree end 14 may include a support 28 between the tops of the ends of the side ridges 19, 20. The frame 32 extrusion or material has spring clamp properties which allow it to clamp the material being framed. When placed in the guide 10 the extrusion slightly grips the center ridge 18 allowing the guide to remain aligned once it is properly positioned for cutting. The term "frame" 32 is used to define segments of material used to form art frames.

FIG. 8 illustrates the insertion of frame material 32 into the guide 10. It is most easy to insert the frame 32 at an angle as illustrated in FIG. 8, since the opening at the 45 degree end 14 is aligned at a 45.degree. angle. The frame 32 fits easily in the opposite end 12, since there is no support 28 at the end 12. After insertion, the frame 32 is aligned in parallel to the guide 10 as illustrated in FIG. 9. The frame sides 34, 36 are pushed down as far towards the bottom 22 of the guide 10 as possible, so that the bottom 38 of the frame 32 fits as closely as possible to the serrations 26 of the center ridge 18. The guide 10 may be used with art frames 32 which are symmetrical (U-shaped cross section) or unsymmetrical as illustrated in FIG. 9. Unsymmetrical art frames similar to that illustrated in FIG. 9 can be used for more purposes than symmetrical art frames.

After insertion, the frame 32 is aligned for cutting along one of the ends 12, 14 of the guide 10. If the cut is to be at a 90.degree. angle, the point at which the frame 32 is to be cut is aligned at the 90.degree. end 12 of the guide 10. A razor of other similar blade then cuts the art frame 32 along the guide end 12, and the person making the cut uses the guide end 12 to brace and guide the blade during the cutting.

If the cut is to be made at a 45.degree. angle, the distance is measured off and the place where the cut is to begin is marked on the bottom 38 of the frame 32. In cases of 45.degree. cuts, the bottom 38 of the frame is always the longer portion, so that two adjacent frame segments can be laid together to form a right angle with their bottoms forming the outside surface of the joined frame segments. The mark is then aligned with a 45.degree. alignment mark 30 near the 45.degree. end 14 of the guide 10. The alignment mark 30 is offset a short distance which is a function of the thickness of the material used for the frame 32 in order to compensate for the thickness of the frame 32. For most types of frame material, the alignment mark should be placed between one thirty-second and one-sixteenth of an inch from the end 14 of the guide 10. Offsetting the alignment mark makes the portion of the frame 32 which is cut approximately one-sixteenth to one thirty-second of an inch longer than it would be otherwise to insure a tight, good-looking fit when the adjacent segments of frame are placed together to form a finished rectangular frame. The person who uses the guide 10 can compensate for different types of frame material by aligning the mark on the bottom of the frame 32 directly over or slightly to either side of the 45.degree. end alignment mark 30.

After aligning the poster frame for cutting, the cutter then cuts off the frame along the 45.degree. end, using the 45.degree. end 14 as a guide and a support for the blade. The 45.degree. end support 28 furnishes additional support for the blade during cutting at 45.degree. angles.

A current fashion for hanging pictures and other thin materials comprises the setting of the picture or other material behind glass or between glass, so that the picture appears to float in a glass case on the wall surface. The glass or the back of the picture is actually affixed to the wall. The appearance is enhanced, according to many artists, by running poster frame material completely around the picture in a rectangle. This can be done by cutting straight segments of poster frame 32 at a 45.degree. angle at each end by the use of the guide 10. The four segments of frame 32 are then placed on the four edges of glass to form a completed rectangle around the picture. If the poster frame 32 is unsymmetrical, the user has a choice as to which side he will have facing the viewer. Dowels may be used to insure tight fit where the material to be framed is thin.

Other artists disagree and state that material looks best when it is floating in glass when there is only a frame at the top and a frame at the bottom with the sides left open. If this effect is sought, the art frame 32 is cut off at a 90.degree. angle and only two portions are used, one at the top and one at the bottom of the picture to be framed, rather than to use four segments, one at each of the four sides of the picture to be framed.

Artists, being as they are, other artists strongly disagree with both of the techniques previously described and state that the most attractive way to hang art work framed by frame material 32 is to turn the poster frame 32 on edge so that the bottom 38 of the frame 32, rather than any side of the frame 32 faces the viewer. They claim that this permits the giving of a three dimensional effect whereby the art work appears to be and is recessed within the poster frame as shown by FIG. 14.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the use of the guide 10 to cut poster frame segments 32 as desired by these artists.

In order to form a rectangle in which the art work may be recessed, the poster frame is cut at a 45.degree. angle so that one side (which is to be the outside of the frame) is longer than the opposite side. The poster frame 32 is inserted in the guide 10 after placing a mark on the side which is to be the longest side at the point which would give it the required length. The mark on the frame 32 is then aligned with the mitering alignment mark 46. This alignment mark has been adjusted in a manner similar to the adjustment for the 45.degree. alignment mark 30 to give a little bit of extra length after the frame member 32 is cut. The frame 32 is then cut along either one of the slots 42, 50. The surface of the slot farthest from the 90.degree. end base forms the guide and support for the blade during cutting. The frame 32 is cut only once so that the entire frame is cut off at a 45.degree. angle. The guide 10 includes two slots 42, 43 for greater flexibility in cutting frame members 32. In the cutting of any one frame member, each slot is used to cut one end of the frame 32. One side is first cut using the surface farthest from the 90.degree. end 12 of either slot 42 or 50. The frame member 32 is then removed from the guide 10 and inserted in the opposite direction and once again cut using the surface farthest from the 90.degree. end 12 of the slot 42 or 50 which was not used for the first cutting. The second cutting is guided so that the same side is longest which was longest when the frame 32 was cut the first time. This is done because when four frame segments 32 are put together to form a rectangular frame, the side forming the outer surface must be longer than the side forming the inner surface when the segments are put together to form a rectangle into which the picture or other art work is to be placed. The four corners are held together by small plastic or metal L-shaped clips. The shorter side 34 of the art frame 32 becomes the inner surface of the rectangle so formed and the taller side 36 becomes the outer surface. The surface 38 of the poster frame 32 faces a viewer who stands in front of the completed frame. The art work to be framed is placed in the rectangle with the surface to be viewed touching the top of the side 34 and facing the same way the bottom 38 of the poster frame material 32 faces. The coupling apparatus used at the corners of the completed frame to hold the four frame segments 32 together may include tabs which fold over the back of the art work to hold it in place. Alternative means to hold the art work in place include but are not limited to art tabs.

The two parallel side ridges 20 or members 20 may be shorter than the height of the center member 18 along the central portion of their length and taller than the height of the center member near each end 12, 14. The center member 18 should have a generally uniform height along its length so that it fits well with the poster frame extrusion materials, also known as frames or frame members or frame materials inserted as in the guide 10 for cutting. This combination makes it easier for the thumb or fingers to grasp and help hold the guide 10 during cutting. various other examples may be fabricated within the general scope of the invention described herein. The scope of the invention is limited only by the following claims :

Claims

I claim:

1. A cutting guide for art frames comprising an elongated base having a center ridge coupled to and parallel to the base and also having a side ridge coupled to and extending parallel to extending said base on each side of the center ridge;

the surface of the base between the center ridge and each side ridge together with the adjacent surfaces of the center ridge and the side ridge defining a slot; and

said guide is terminated at a first end at a 90.degree. angle to its length from the top of the ridges to the bottom of the base and at a 45.degree. angle from the top of the ridges to the bottom of the base at the opposite end.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said guide is longitudinally symmetrical, the side surfaces of the center ridge define parallel planes with one axis parallel to the length of said guide and the opposite axis parallel to the height of said guide; the side ridges are taller than the center ridge; and at the 45.degree. end, the tops of the side ridges are joined by an end support.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of the ridges near the 90.degree. end define two vertical slots perpendicular to each other, each of the slots at a 45.degree. angle to the side surface of the center ridge, each slot extending from the 90.degree. end very near the side surface of the guide to the opposite side of the guide at a point approximately the width of the guide from the 90.degree. end.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein at least a part of the top surface of the center ridge defines serrations capable of increasing the friction thereof and at least a part of the top surface of the center ridge defines grooves along the edges adjacent to the planar sides.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the interior surface of each side ridge defines a mark near each end of the guide.

6. A cutting tool guide comprising an elongated base coupled to three parallel members extending out from and parallel to the base and having a generally E-shaped cross-section, and one end surface of the guide said guide tapering from the points of the E to the base at a 45.degree. angle to the length and at the opposite end surface being at a 90.degree. angle to the length.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein at the 45.degree. end the top of the sides of the E are joined by a rectangular support, and the surfaces of the guide near the 90.degree. end define two additional perpendicular slots having a generally X-shaped cross-section, said slots each being oriented at a 45.degree. angle to the length of the members which define the E-shaped cross-section.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the surface of the center member farthest from the base defines serrations along part of its length and grooves along the sides of a part of the length of the surface.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein the central portion of each of the two side members is shorter than the height of the center one of the three parallel members and the height of each side member near each end is taller than the height of the center member, wherein the center member has a generally uniform height along its length.