Frame construction for displaying pictures and the like

[57] ABSTRACT

An improved frame construction enabling front mounting of articles and providing a rear mounting effect. The frame is of plastic composition and has a well and border members. The well includes a smooth front panel and a groove is formed coplanar with the front panel within the frame. The picture overlies the smooth front panel and there is overlying the picture a transparent non-marring and non-discoloring plastic sheet which is completely transparent. A mat having a pressure-sensitive adhesive at the outer periphery seals the transparent sheet cover to the picture and the outer periphery fits within the groove and adhesively secures the picture at its outer periphery to the frame with the outermost edges of the mat being located within the groove. The picture is totally sealed and once the picture is mounted it provides the effect of a rear mounted picture, with mortised grooves located diagonally at each of the corners of the border members, enhancing the effect of a rear mounted picture.

Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

<img file="US3673722A_D0001.tif" />

PATENTED JUL 41972

3.673,722

SHEET 1 OF 3

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Inventor

Richard w. Robertson

By Q o4va OL. II (ΜΛ/ηζρ OMtorney^J °

FIG.2

PAtENTEDJUL 41972

3,673,722

SHEET 2 OF 3

<img file="US3673722A_D0003.tif" />

PATENTED JUL 41972

3,673,722

SHEET 3 OF 3

<img file="US3673722A_D0004.tif" />

FIG.4

Richard W. Robertson

By CL. Tj

3,673,722

FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPLAYING PICTURES AND THE LIKE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The art has provided many picture frames of plastic composition and construction and these plastic construction frames are sometimes finished to give the appearance of wood construction.

Many of these prior art plastic frames are of molded construction, and while they have become popular in some applications, such frames still have not been wholly accepted because of the plastic appearance which is unacceptable to some persons. What is needed, is a plastic composition frame which can accept finishing materials which will give the appearance of being of wood construction, and what is further desired is that the frame have the appearance of a “rear mounted” picture. In a “rear mounted” picture the article to be displayed is positioned from the back of the picture and then a reinforcement or backing is used to stiffen the picture and fill the well which is defined by the border. The backing is then pinned or secured in some suitable manner to the frame and this completes the construction.

Most plastic frames are rear mounted and those which are front mounted, give every appearance of being “front mounted”; that is, having the picture mounted from the front of the frame.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a front mounting plastic material composition frame which gives the appearance of rear-mounting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an expanded polyurethane frame composition which has a cellular interior and a non-cellular exterior of denser construction which can accept such finishing materials as lacquers and the like without deteriorating and will highlight the appearance of a wood construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique mounting construction for a front mounted picture, utilizing a transparent cover and'mat with pressure-adhesive undersurface which secures and seals the picture in place and preserves the picture against discoloration and contamination.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an easily mounted picture which is mounted from the front of the frame in a convenient and efficient manner and which after completion has every appearance of a rear-mounted construction.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a picture and picture frame in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the rear of the frame;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view taken on section line 3—3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the picture frame and mounting means for the picture;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the completed mounted picture of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail view of the frame without attachment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a frame designated generally by reference numeral 10 has sculptured border pieces 12,14,16 and 18 with mortise lines 20 at each of the intersecting comers to give the impression that each of the border pieces are separate and distinct and are mortised together. In actual construction, the frame 12 is one entire integral piece and is constructed of foamed polyurethane and is molded in the manner illustrated in my copending application filed Jan. 19, 1971, entitled “IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PRODUCING MOLDED ARTICLES,” and having application Ser. No. 107,784.

The polyurethane is derived from 50 percent prepolymer which is the reaction product of toluene diisocyanate and polyether gylcol having a slight excess of toluene diisocyanate, and, 50 percent of a resin comprised of polyetherglycol, a surfactant, catalyst and blowing agent, consisting of flurocarbon, or water or a combination of flurocarbon and water. The polyurethane forms a cellular structure at the interior and a “skin” of non-cellular material which can accept a finishing agent such as lacquer, varnish and the like applied over a textured surface of the resin, to give the material a wood-like configuration. It is possible to provide mold pieces with mold faces which impart a wood texture to the molded article and this provision is intended to be included within the teaching of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, which is the finished picture, it appears that the framed picture 26 is mounted within the frame 10 from the rear of the frame within a conventional well, a backing applied and the border pieces mortised together. This is exactly the impression intended to be given, although that is not in fact the true mounting for the picture which will next be described.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the frame 10 has a well 13 of which the borders form an integral part. The well has a front panel 30 and a rear panel 32. The front panel 30 is smooth and flat and is surrounded by a groove 34 which follows each of the border pieces 12, 14, 16 and 18, the. grooves being constructed of a dimension sufficient to receive the edges 38 of mat 40 therein. Mat 40 as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a cutout opening 42 (FIG. 3) and the border 44 extends beyond and overlies a transparent thin gauge plastic cover 48 and picture 26. Surface 33 of edge 35 retain these parts.

As shown in FIG. 3 the picture 26 has an outer layer 48 and the edges 60 of picture 26 extend beyond the outer-most edge 62 of cover 48. Undersurface 64 of the mat contains a pressure-adhesive thereon, effective for sealing the contiguous surface of the cover 48 and the picture 26. Since the outermost edges of the mat extend beyond the picture and engage panel 30, the picture is hermetically sealed and adhesively secured thereto. The notch or groove 34 is proportioned so that the mat can be inserted therein as indicated in FIGS. 3,4.

The back panel 32 which is the side or surface facing the wall, is nailable and is adapted to receive the screw fastener or other mechanical fastening attachments for mounting the picture.

The cover 48 is a thin, hard, non-marring plastic composition such as polyvinyl chloride or the like and it is of non-yellowing construction. Because of its thin gauge, it is relatively flexible and is completely transparent to allow a full noninterfering view of the underlying picture which is held firmly in place by the mat in the manner previously described. The mat is a rough textured paper or cardboard which has the described undersurface of pressure-sensitive adhesive. A protective paper backing (FIG. 4) 68, is removed just prior to mounting the picture.

In order to insert the mat 40, the picture 26, cover 48 and mat 40 are located within the well 13 and the edges of the mat 40 are bent slightly in order to fit the mat edges into the grooves 34. Pressure is then applied against the mat to seal the picture 26 at its proper location; the pressure adhesive layer at the back side of the mat (indicated in FIG. 3 adhesively secures to both the cover 48 and the picture 26 and the outermost edges of the mat are adhesively secured to the panel 30 and are mechanically interlocked within the grooves 34. The result is a picture which is hermetically sealed and completely protected from any outer environment. Since the cover 48 is non-yellowing and non-marring, the picture 26 will retain a fresh and untarnished appearance over an indefinite period. Once the picture 26 is in place, the front panel 30 is completely covered and, owing to the mortise lines 20, and the finish of the border pieces, it appears that the frame is both of wood construction and that the picture 26 is rear mounted in a conventional manner.

Both the picture 26 is inserted, the border pieces 12,14,16, 18 are finished by means of lacquer finishes and the like, and

3,6' the relatively denser “skin” layer of polyurethane is inert to these finishes and therefore the designer has a wide latitude in the type of finish and combination of finishes. Also, in the process of molding, if it is desired, the surface of the mold can be used to impart a wood texture to the polyurethane at the time that the molding operation is performed. This will highlight the impression of a wood picture frame.

Because of the molding technique which I employ, there is substantially no limit to the sculptured configurations which I can provide on the outer border pieces to give the impression of a wood carving. At the same time, I can provide the internal groove or notch 34 to follow the border pieces as needed and without “hangup” of the article within the mold.

The mat 40 has a textured surface of pebbled cardboard and it should be understood that the texture, color, and composition of the mat can be varied as desired. The designer can utilize any outlining configuration for the frame, including rectangular, oval, round, etc;, and all of these shapes are contemplated by the present invention.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a single example embodiment, it will be understood that this is illustrative of the invention and is by no means restrictive thereof. It is reasonably to be expected that those skilled in this art can make numerous revisions and adaptations of the invention and it is intended that such revisions and adaptations will be included within the scope of the following claims as equivalents of the invention.