Photograph-holder with rear covering panel snapped onto the frame

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a photograph-holder, whose frame features an internal groove used to fit the edges of the rear covering panel which is made of a flexible material that allows for its elastic deformation with little pressure.

Description

[0001] The present patent application relates to a photograph-holder with rear covering panel snapped onto the frame, provided with special profile.

[0002] The photograph-holder according to the present invention has been devised to facilitate the fixing operation of the rear panel to the frame, after placing the photograph between the front glass plate and the rear panel.

[0003] Traditional photograph-holders comprise a frame made up of four sides fixed at right angles, closed in the back by a panel that supports the photograph and the front protective glass.

[0004] The internal edge of each side of the frame is always provided with a step used to hold the glass plate that is inserted from the back of the frame and positioned in the centre of the frame window.

[0005] Normally, the glass plate is fitted against the step by means of a panel, having the same size as the glass plate. The panel is exactly fitted from the back inside the window that houses the glass in the front, the photograph in the center and the covering panel in the back.

[0006] The covering panel is held in place with ordinary fixing means, suche as nails, hooks, screws, wedges, which are quite difficult to manipulate, both during their application and removal. As a matter of fact, in order to replace the photograph, the fixing means must be temporarily eliminated to extract the frame cover.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to create a new model of photograph-holder, in which the rear covering panel is simply snapped onto the frame, thanks to the elastic flexion of the panel and to a suitable notch located in the internal edge of the frame.

[0008] This means that in the photograph-holder according to the present invention, the assembling or disassembling of the rear covering panel does not require the application or removal of traditional fixing means. As a matter of fact, only a little pressure of the panel is necessary to insert or extract its edges from the housing groove located on the frame.

[0009] More exactly, the frame of the photograph-holder according to the present invention features a groove immediately behind the step used to hold the glass plate. The rear covering panel can be snapped onto the groove, since it is slightly larger than the front glass plate and flexible enough to be elastically deformed with a little pressure.

[0010] For major clarity the description of the photograph-holder according to the present invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, whereby:

• Figure 1 is a schematic axonometric view of the photograph-holder according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is the transversal cross-section of the frame of the photograph-holder according to the present invention.

[0011] With reference to the figures above, the photograph-holder according to the present invention traditionally comprises: a quadrangular frame (1) made up of four sides (1a) at right angles, a front glass plate (2) and a rear covering panel (3).

[0012] The internal edge of each side (1a) features a step (1b) used to hold the glass plate (2) that is fitted to the frame (1) from the back.

[0013] The peculiarity of the photograph-holder according to the present invention is represented by the presence of a narrow groove (1c) a few millimiters behind the step (1b), at a distance whose value (a) is equal or slightly higher than the thickness (s) of the glass plate (2).

[0014] On the other hand, the rear covering panel (3) is slightly larger than the glass plate (2), so that the edges (3a) of the panel can be snapped onto the groove (1c).

[0015] The panel (3) is made with a flexible material that allows for its elastic deformation, such as thin plywood, or plexiglas.

[0016] It is obvious that the thickness (z) of the panel (3) must be lower or at the maximum equal to the width (b) of the groove (1c).

[0017] A inclined section (1d) is located behing the groove (1c) in order to favour the centering and snapping of the panel (3) into the groove (1c) during the assembling.

[0018] In order to facilitate the removal of the panel (3) from its housing, the edges (3a) of the panel (3) feature notches (3b) in which the user can insert a finger or tool to grab and bend the panel in order to release its edges from their housing grooves.

[0019] Attention must be paid to the section (3c) with inward inclination of the notches (3b), used to make the grip easier and more effective.

Claims

1. Photograph-holder provided with a rear covering panel snapped onto the frame, provided with special section, of the type comprising a front glass plate (2), a rear covering panel (3) and a quadrangular frame (1), made up of four sides (1a) at right angles, whose internal edges feature a step (1b) used to hold the glass plate (2), characterized by the fact the the frame (1) features a narrow groove (1c) behind the step (1b) and by the fact that the rear covering panel (3) is slightly larger than the glass plate (2) so that its edges (3a) can be snapped onto the groove (1c) with a little pressure; it being provided that the panel (3) is made with a flexible material that allows for its elastic deformation.

2. Photograph-holder provided with a rear covering panel snapped into the frame, provided with special section, according to the previous claim, characterized by the fact that an inclined section (1d) is located behind the groove (1c).

3. Photograph-holder provided with a rear covering panel snapped into the frame, provided with special section, according to the previous claims, characterized by the presence of notches (3b) with inward inclined section (3c) on the edges (3a) of the panel (3).

Drawing