ATBE..DE..ESFRGB..IT....NL........SILTLV..RO....................................RDIM360 (Ver 1.5 21 Nov 2005) - 1100000/00839484EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONA119980506EP96117388.719961030enenen19980506199819199805061998196 6A 47G 1/06 A 6B 42D 3/12 BdeRahmenenFrame assemblyfrCadre1Chu, Ching-Kuo0221488014814EPNo. 20, Alley 95, Lane113, Tunghu RoadNeihu Chiu, TaipeiTWChu, Ching-KuoNo. 20, Alley 95, Lane113, Tunghu RoadNeihu Chiu, TaipeiTWHaft, von Puttkamer, Berngruber, Czybulka00100851Patentanwälte Franziskanerstrasse 3881669 MünchenDEATBEDEESFRGBITNLALLTLVROSI

A frame assembly for holding a picture or the like, including a frame (1) having a center opening and being covered with a decorative fabric (2); a back plate (3) mounted on the frame (1) at the back side and bounded to the decorative fabric (2) by a fusion glue, having a center opening fitting the center opening of the frame (1), and a hinged cover board (4) adapted for closing the center opening of said back plate (3); and a transparent face board (6) mounted between the frame (1) and the back plate (3).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a frame assembly for holding a picture, painting, etc., which comprises a frame decorated with a fabric covering, and a back plate mounted on the back side of the frame and sealed to the fabric covering by a fusion glue.

Regular picture frames or painting frames are commonly comprised of an open frame, a transparent face board for example a glass mounted within the open frame, and a stiff backing detachably fastened to the back side of the open frame and covered over the transparent face board. This structure of frame assembly is monotonous and less attractive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, the frame assembly comprises a frame having a center opening and being covered with a decorative fabric; a back plate mounted on the frame at the back side, having a center opening fitting the center opening of the frame, and a hinged cover board adapted for closing the center opening of said back plate; and a transparent face board mounted between the frame and the back plate. When the hinged cover board is opened, a picture or painting can be installed in the frame assembly and retained between the transparent face board and the back plate. When the picture or painting is installed, the hinged cover board is closed on the back plate and secured in place by swivel pins at the back side of the back plate. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fabric covering of the frame and the back plate are bounded together by a fusion glue, which fills up the gap between the frame and the back plate. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the frame and the back plate may be made from paper, so as to meet the requirement for environmental protection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a frame assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the frame assembly shown in Figure 1;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 2, showing the cover board opened;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of Figure 3, showing the fabric covering and the back plate bounded together;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a part of a frame assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a part of a frame assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a frame assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a frame assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and,
Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a frame assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the annexed drawings, a frame assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a frame 1, a fabric covering 2, and a back plate 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the frame assembly 10 is a picture frame. The frame 1 of the picture frame 10 is made from plastic, having a center opening 11. The fabric covering 2 is covered around the periphery of the frame 1. It can be made from fabric straps or strings of different colors, or a piece of fabric, and decorated with beads or any of a variety of ornamental objects. The back plate 3 is connected to the frame 1 at one side, having a center opening 31 fitting the center opening 11 of the frame 1, and a hinged cover board 4 at the back side adapted for covering the center opening 31 at the back side. A stand 5 is connected to the cover board 4 at the back and adapted for supporting the picture frame 10 on the desk. A transparent face board 6 which may be made from glass or plastic is mounted between the cover board 4 and the frame 1, so that a picture can be retained between the transparent face board 6 and the cover board 4. The width of the transparent face board 6 is broader than that of the center opening 11 so that the transparent face board 6 can be retained between two opposite sides of the frame 1 and covered over the center opening 11.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, during the assembly process of the picture frame 10, the frame 1 is mounted on the back plate 3, then a fusion glue 7 is filled in the gap between the back plate 3 and the fabric covering 2 to bond the back plate 3 and the fabric covering 2 together. When the cover board 4 is opened, a picture can be installed in the picture frame 10 and attached to the back side of the face board 6, and then retained in place by closing the cover board 4. When the cover board 4 is closed, it is retained in the closed position by swivel pins 12, which are made at the back side of the back plate 3.

Figure 5 shows a frame assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an intermediate frame 8 is fixedly secured to the back plate 3 at the front side and bounded to the fabric covering 2, having a flange 81 adapted for holding the transparent face board 6 between the frame 1 and the back plate 3.

Figure 6 shows a frame assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the frame 1' and the back plate 3' are made from paper so that the weight of the frame assembly can be greatly reduced; a layer of foamed plastic 9' is adhered to the frame 1'; the fabric covering 2' is covered around the frame 1' and the layer of foamed plastic 9'. Because of the arrangement of the layer of foamed plastic 9', the frame 1' is bulky and soft to the touch.

Figure 7 shows a frame assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a first frame 1 (which is adapted for keeping a picture) and a second frame 1'' are respectively fastened to the front flap and back flap of a hardback, and a mirror 101 is mounted in the second frame 1''.

Figure 8 shows a frame assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the frame 1 is fastened to the front cover of an album 102.

Figure 9 shows a frame assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the frame 1 holds a clock 103.

As indicated, the frame assembly 10 can be made in any of a variety of forms for different purposes; the frame 1 of the frame assembly 10 is covered with a fabric covering 2 for decoration, and the back plate 3 and the frame 1 are bounded together by a fusion glue 7.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

A frame assembly comprising: a frame having a center opening and a back side, and being covered with fabric means;

a back plate mounted on the back side of said frame and bounded to the fabric means of said frame by a fusion glue, having a center opening fitting the center opening of said frame, and a hinged cover board adapted for closing the center opening of said back plate; and

a transparent face board mounted between said frame and said back plate.

The frame assembly of claim 1 which is adapted for holding a picture.

The frame assembly of claim 1 which is adapted for holding a painting.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said back plate is a hardback having a front flap and a back flap, said front flap is mounted on the back side of said frame, said back flap holding a second frame and a mirror within said second frame.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said back plate is a front cover of an album.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said frame holds a clock on the inside within the center opening thereof.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said fabric means is comprised of a plurality of fabric straps of different colors and sizes.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said fabric means is comprised of a plurality of fabric strings of different colors and sizes.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said fabric means is comprised of pieces of fabric cloth of different colors and sizes.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said transparent face board is a transparent glass covered on said back plate to hold down a picture or the like.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said transparent face board is a transparent plastic board covered on said back plate to hold down a picture or the like.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said frame and said back plate are respectively molded from plastic.

The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said frame and said back plate are respectively made from paper.

The frame assembly of claim 12 wherein said frame further comprises a layer of foamed plastic bonded to one side thereof and covered within said fabric means.

The frame assembly of claim 13 wherein said frame further comprises a layer of foamed plastic bonded to one side thereof and covered within said fabric means.