Photo display frame and attachment means therefor

[57] ABSTRACT

A display frame for temporarily exhibiting photographic prints and similar planar display material by magnetic attachment. The frame includes a planar backing member of metallic material, and the display material is affixed thereto by means of spots of planar synthetic resinous material having magnetized metallic particles therein which are magnetically attracted to the backing member, and are temporarily affixed to a rear surface of the print or display material by a coated adhesive substance having relatively limited adhesive properties relative to hard calendered paper, so as to be readily peelable therefrom for reuse with other display material.

Claims, 3 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED JAN 2 21974

3,786,584

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3.786.584

PHOTO DISPLAY FRAME AND ATTACHMENT MEANS THEREFOR

This invention relates generally to the field of display devices for photographic prints and the like, and more particularly to an improved display frame and reusable means for affixing the display material to the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known in the prior art to affix photographic prints and similar material to a backing board for display using adhesive tape, mounting comers, clips, pins, tacks and the like. It is also known to employ a plurality of small bar magnets to hold the material to be displayed against a magnetically attractive surface, to permit ready removability. Such bar magnets are, however, exposed to view, and tend to degrade an otherwise attractive display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention conetemplates the provision of a display frame defining a display opening, and mounting a backing board of planar metallic material. The display material is magnetically affixed to the backing board by providing a series of mounting means comprising small pieces of a planar synthetic resinous material having magnetized particles imbedded therein. One surface of this material is placed in juxtaposed position with respect to the backing board. The other surface is permanently adhered to a correspondingly shaped piece of tape or filament having an adhesive coating on each side thereof, one coating layer having stronger adhesive properties than the other, and being permanently adhered to one surface of the synthetic resinous material. The other adhesive surface having lesser adhesive properties is selectively adhered to the rear surface of the photographic print which is normally of hard calendered paper, so as to be readily removable therefrom, without disturbing the adhesive attachment of the tape or filament to the synthetic resinous material. The attaching means may thus be used many times, until the ability of the adhesive to adhere to the rear of a photographic print is lost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts thoughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 2—2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as seen from the plane 3—3 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly a frame element 11 and a plurality of individual attaching means 12 for supporting one or more prints or other display material 13 of well known type.

The frame element 11 may be of any desired construction, as for example, to include a peripheral wood frame 14 having side members 15 and 16, and end members 17 and 18 defining an opening 19 therebe tween. A rear surface 20 defines a continuous rabbet seating a backing member 22 including a metallic plate 23 having an optional fabric or felt covering 24 upon the exposed surfaces thereof.

The attaching means 12 are generally similar, and accordingly, a description of one such means will serve to describe all. Each means includes a body 26 of flexible planar synthetic resinous material, such as polyethylene or the like, in which there have been imbedded par¹⁰ tides capable of retaining a magnetic charge. Materials of this type are known in the art, and are presently commercially available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) of St. Paul, Minn. This material is cut into circular or other suitably shaped ¹⁵ spots or pieces after one planar surface of the same has been suitably adhesively coated. Thus, each means includes an uncoated surface 27 adapted to be placed in juxtaposition to the backing member 22, and a second surface 28 to which adhesive is applied, both surfaces ²⁰ being bounded by a peripheral edge 29.

Since the affinity for most adhesives for hard coated paper normally found as a rearward surface of a photographic print, and the surface of the synthetic resinous ₂₅ material, it is necessary that steps be taken to assure that when an attempt is made to peel the means 12 from the surface of the print, the adhesive will remain attached to the means 12. As seen in FIG. 3, this is most conveniently accomplished by providing a double sided ₃₀ tape or filament 30 having a first adhesive 31 applied to one surface of a base 32, and a second adhesive 33 applied to the opposite surface. The first adhesive is of greater strength per unit area, and is more or less permanently affixed to the surface 28, while the second 35 adhesive 33 is employed to interconnect the rear surface of the print or display material 13. Both of the adhesives 31 and 33 may be well known rubber base types, with the former more thickly applied, that is to say with a lesser degree of evaporable vehicle, so that 40 its bonding strength is inherently greater. The tape 30 is preferably applied to one surface of the body 26 prior to the cutting of the same from a larger web, to simplify manufacturing procedures.

In use, it is necessary only to affix one or more of the 45 means 12 to the rear surface of a desired print 13 and place the print upon the forward surface of the backing member 22 to enable magnetic attraction between the means and the board to occur. The print may be left in position as long as desired, and when replacement with ⁵⁰ another print is made, it is necessary only to remove the print with the attached means 12, and peel the same from the rear surface of the print. Since the adhesive layer 33 has a relatively weak affinity for the rear surface of the print, it peels relatively easily, and until de⁵⁵ tached fibers from the paper stock comprising the print, or other soil become imbedded in the adhesive surface, it may be used many times without difficulty. Since the adhesive layer 31 is considerably stronger, the adhesive will always remain attached to the body 26 ⁰ rather than the print, and only reasonable care need by exercised in the detaching operation.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure ₆₅ shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.