A device for displaying artwork

Abstract

 A backing board (1) is surrounded by a frame (2), at least one side (7) of which is removable to allow a sheet of artwork to be inserted. The removable side (7) is releasably connected to the backing board (1) by releasable means independent of the remainder of the frame (2). e.g. by ball catches (12).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for displaying a sheet of artwork such as a print, poster, advertising material, photograph, or any other material which may be inserted in a picture frame.

[0002] In our UK patent application GB-A-2 160 347 we have described such a device, comprising a backing board surrounded by a frame, at least one side of the frame being removable to allow a sheet of artwork to be inserted in a direction parallel to the backing board.

[0003] The removable side of the frame is held in place solely by fingers which are provided adjacent its ends and which are a sliding fit in channels provided in the adjacent sides of the frame. This requires the sides of the frame to be of complicated cross-sectional shape. Also, problems of fitting or removing the removable side may arise through misalignment of the fingers and grooves. It is also difficult to reconcile the need for accurate location of the removable side with the need for easy fitting and removal.

[0004] The present invention provides a device in which the removable side of the frame is fixed to the corresponding edge portion of the backing board by releasable means independent of the remainder of the frame.

[0005] Preferably the releasable means comprises one or more snap fitting connectors on the removable frame side and the corresponding edge portion of the backing board. Such connectors may, for example, be of the ball-catch type or ball-and-socket type.

[0006] The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a device for displaying a sheet of artwork;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the device, with the sheet of artwork in place;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one corner of the device; and

Figure 4 shows an alternative frame cross-section.

[0007] The device illustrated comprises a rigid backing board 1 (with a thickness of about 9mm) surrounded by a frame 2 which is fixed to the backing board and supported by it in use, when the backing board 1 is secured to a wall or other site location by means of screws passing through countersunk holes 3. The shorter sides 4 and the lower side 6 of the frame 2 are permanently or semi-permanently fixed to the backing board 1 (and to each other), e.g. by glueing and/or pinning. The upper side 7 of the frame is removable and its mitred ends 8 simply bear against corresponding mitred ends 9 of the side 4.

[0008] Two (or more) snap fitting connections in the form of ball catch connectors are spaced along the side 7 and the corresponding upper edge of the backing board 1. A single snap fitting connection may be sufficient instead. Each connector comprises a downwardly widening element 11 fixed on the side 7 and a double ball catch 12 fixed in a recess 13 in the upper edge of the backing board 1. The action of the balls 14 on the element 11 urges the side 7 downwards, thereby pressing its ends 8 against the corresponding ends 9 of the sides 4, these ends co-operating to locate the side 7 accurately in conjunction with the connectors 11/12. At the same time the side 7 may abut against the upper edge of the backing board 1, but there will normally be a slight gap between them.

[0009] The frame section has a front flange 16 from which the backing board 1 is spaced rearwardly to define a peripheral internal frame channel 17 for receiving and locating a transparent sheet 18 (e.g. glass or plastic) and a sheet 19 of artwork. To facilitate removal and insertion of the artwork, the transparent sheet 18 is removable vertically when the upper frame side 7 is removed. (Alternatively, the sheet 18 may be fixed in the frame.) For the same reason, the upper edge of th backing board 1 has a recess 21 which is overlapped by the artwork sheet 19. pads 22 on the rear of the frame 2 space the frame from the site location, in order to prevent mutual damage to the frame side 7 and the site location during removal and fitting of the side 7.

[0010] Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, Figure 4 shows a modified frame section having a rear flange 23 which abuts the rear of the backing board 1, thereby providing a more robust construction and improved location of the removable upper frame side 7.

[0011] If required the ends of the side 7 may be provided with downwardly projecting elements received in corresponding guides in the sides 4.

[0012] The elements 11 may be fixed on the backing board and the ball catches 12 on the side 7.

[0013] The side 7 may be releasably connected to the backing board by other means than those described above. For instance a sliding connection such as a dovetail joint or tongue and groove joint may be provided so that the frame side is removable by sliding it along the edge of the backing board; in this case at least one end of the removable side would be so arranged as to be unimpeded by the adjacent frame side.

[0014] If desired, more than one of the sides of the frame may be made removable, since the basis of the support for the artwork is the rigid backing board, which is fixed to the site location. One or more of the non-removable frame sides (if any) may themselves be fixed on the site location.

[0015] Instead of screws passing through countersunk holes, the device may be fixed to the site location by other convenient means. e.g. eyelets screwed into the backing board and suspended from the site location.

[0016] The backing board may be fixed in the frame so as to be removable. The upper edge of the backing board may have a single elongate recess replacing the recesses 13 and 21, or it may be cut down to the level of the recesses l3 along the whole of its length, so that the sheet of artwork extends beyond the entire upper edge of the backing board.

Claims

1. A device for displaying artwork, comprising a backing board (1) surrounded by a frame (2), at least one side (7) of the frame (2) being removable to allow a sheet of artwork to be inserted in a direction parallel to the backing board (1), characterised in that the removable side (7) is fixed to the corresponding edge portion of the backing board (1) by releasable means independent of the remainder of the frame (2).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the removable side (7) has mitred ends (8) which bear against corresponding mitred ends (9 of the adjacent sides (4) of the frame (2).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the releasable means urges the removable side (7) towards the opposite side (6) of the frame (7).

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the releasable means comprises at least one snap fitting connector (11,12) on the removable side (7) and the corresponding edge portion of the backing board (1).

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the releasable means comprises a sliding connection.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the edge of the backing board (1) adjacent the removable side (7) has a recess (21) to facilitate removal of a sheet of artwork.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the frame (2) has an internal peripheral flange (23) which abuts the rear of the backing board (1).

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the releasable means lies substantially within the thickness of the backing board.

Drawing