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(11) | EP 1 627 585 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Spacer for an object mounted on a surface |
| (57) A spacer (2;9;12;18) for holding an object (1) offset from a surface. The spacer
comprises a flexible element (4;13) and bending means (3,5;10,11;14,15,16;19), where
the bending means hold the ends (6) of the flexible element at a distance from each
other which is less than the length of the flexible element. In this way the flexible
element is kept in a bent form. The ratio between the distance at which the ends of
the flexible element are held and the length of the flexible element is changeable,
thereby allowing the offset provided by the spacer to be easily changed.
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Field of Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a spacer for holding an object offset from a surface. The spacer comprises a flexible element and bending means, the bending means being arranged to hold the ends of the flexible element at a distance from each other, the distance being less than the length of the flexible element. In this way, the flexible element is kept in a bent form. The current invention also relates to a method for holding an object offset from a surface.
Background of the Invention
[0002] It is often desired to hold an object, which is mounted on a surface, for example a picture mounted on a wall, at a distance from the surface. In the above example of the picture, a number of positive results are obtained by mounting the picture at a distance from the wall. One result, especially admired by people who are interested in art, is that the offset gives the picture more focus.
[0003] In addition, by mounting the picture at a distance from the wall, air can circulate behind the picture thereby preventing damp spots behind the picture and visible lines on the wall when the picture is removed. The offset between the picture and the wall also results in a sound insulation effect.
[0004] However, the current invention is not limited to pictures mounted on walls, but could also be used for other purposes. One example is to hold an object at a distance above a table surface.
Description of the Prior Art
[0005] US 3,384,987 provides a spacer to hold a picture frame away from a wall. The spacer comprises a small cylinder mounted perpendicularly to the picture frame. One spacer is mounted at each corner of the picture frame. The cylinders can be cut to the desired length in order to adjust the offset between the wall and the picture frame. One disadvantage of this spacer is that the cylinders do not provide a very stable support. The cylinders can easily be broken off when a load is applied to the picture frame.
[0006] US 4,309,017 provides another spacer, which allows a picture frame to be mounted at a distance from a wall. A collapsible element is attached to the back of the picture frame. In a first position, the element is folded and locked in place, thereby holding the picture frame at a distance from the wall. In a second position, the element is collapsed and the picture frame is thereby held flat against the wall. A disadvantage of this invention is that the distance between the picture frame and the wall cannot be adjusted by the user. If a different offset is desired, the user must purchase a different sapcer.
[0007] US 4,840,342 also provides a spacer. This spacer is designed for picture frames, which comprise a C channel opening at the back of the picture frame. The spacer is formed from a piece of extruded rubber which is clamped into the opening of the C channel. As above, this spacer does not permit adjustment of the offset. Different offsets require different spacer elements. In addition, the spacer according to US 4,840,342 requires the use of a special picture frame and therefore does not work with the majority of picture frames in use today.
[0008] Furthermore, the above inventions all suffer from the disadvantage that they are very visible. When the frame is seen from the side, the spacers are very visible which deducts from the visual experience of the viewer.
Summary of the Present Invention
[0009] A first aspect of the present invention is to provide a spacer as mentioned in the opening paragraph which allows a user to easily adjust the offset between the object and the surface.
[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is to provide a spacer as mentioned in the opening paragraph which gives a stable support.
[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is to provide a spacer as mentioned in the opening paragraph which is inexpensive to manufacture.
[0012] A fourth aspect of the present invention is to provide a spacer as mentioned in the opening paragraph which is not easily visible.
[0013] The new and unique way in which the present invention fulfils the above mentioned aspects is by presenting a spacer according to the opening paragraph where the ratio between the distance at which the ends of said flexible element are held and the length of said flexible element, is changeable. In this way, a spacer is provided which allows the user to easily change the offset between the object and the surface. In addition, the spacer gives a very stable support due to the flexible element which is held in a bent form.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the bending means can comprise an elongated strip with a tab at each end, said tabs forming an angle to the elongated strip, and that said flexible element can be a flexible strip, the ends of which can be detachably engaged with the tabs at the ends of the elongated strip. In this way a very simple and inexpensive spacer is provided whereby the offset can be changed, by cutting the flexible strip to length.
[0015] In another embodiment, the bending means can comprise an elongated strip with a number of slots, and the flexible element can be a flexible strip where the ends of said flexible strip can be engaged with any two slots. In this way, the offset can be changed, by mounting the flexible strip in different slots.
[0016] The bending means and the flexible element do not have to be separate elements and can instead be formed as a single unit. This could, for example, be a spacer which is injection moulded as a single unit. The different elements of the spacer can be made with different stiffness. For example, the bending means could be made quite thick and therefore stiff and the flexible element could be made quite thin and therefore flexible. This reduces manufacturing and material costs.
[0017] In a certain embodiment, a first end of said flexible element can be permanently connected to a first end of the bending means via a hinge, and the other end of said flexible element can be detachably connected to the other end of said bending means. This gives a simple and low cost spacer.
[0018] For manufactures of objects, which could be mounted at a distance from a surface, the bending means can be integrated directly into the object. This means that it is not necessary for a user to first attach bending means to the object.
[0019] In a particularly beneficial embodiment, the flexible element can be transparent. This makes the spacer more difficult to see and therefore does not cause the spacer to take attention away from the object.
[0020] In order to make the spacer easier to adjust, the flexible element can be made from a material which is easy to cut with scissors.
Brief Description of the Figures
[0021] The invention will be explained in greater detail below where further advantageous properties and example embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation, seen from the back, of a picture frame with a first embodiment of a spacer according to the present invention mounted at each corner,
Fig. 2-4 show close-up views of how the same spacer is assembled,
Fig. 5 shows the same spacer providing a large offset,
Fig. 6 shows the same spacer providing a smaller offset,
Fig. 7 shows a template for cutting the flexible strip to the correct length,
Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of a spacer according to the present invention,
Fig. 9 shows the same in a second position,
Fig. 10 shows a third embodiment of a spacer according to the present invention in an open position,
Fig. 11 shows the same in a closed position, and
Fig. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of a spacer according to the present invention.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention
[0022] Fig. 1 shows the back of a picture frame 1 with a first embodiment of a spacer 2 mounted at each corner of the frame. Each spacer 2 comprises bending means 3,5 and a flexible strip 4. The bending means in this case comprises an elongated strip 3, the ends of which are bent upwards so as to form tabs 5 which can hold the ends 6 of the flexible strip. Since the distance between the tabs is less than the length of the flexible strip, the flexible strip is kept bent into an arc. When the frame is mounted on a wall, the top point of the arc rests on the wall, thereby holding the frame offset from the wall.
[0023] In fig. 1, four spacers are shown, however, in some cases less than four spacers might be used. The choice is up to the user. In addition, the spacers shown in fig. 1 all provide the same offset, however, in some cases, the user might wish to give the different spacers different offsets. This could be used to ensure that the frame hangs straight on a crooked wall. Or it could be used to give the frame a different angle with respect to a wall.
[0024] The elongated strips 3 are attached to the frame with two-sided tape 7. Fig. 2 shows a closer view of one elongated strip before it is attached to the frame. As can be seen from the figure, the user peels a backing off the two sided tape 7 which then allows the user to stick the elongated strip 3 securely to the back of the frame 1. The elongated strip 3 can also be attached to the frame via other means, for example screws or nails (not shown).
[0025] Fig. 3 and 4 show how the ends 6 of the flexible strip 4 are engaged with the tabs 5 on the ends of the elongated strip 3.
[0026] In this embodiment, the elongated strip 3 is made from polished stainless steel, however many other forms of materials could be used instead. Since in this case the material is metal, it is easy to bend the ends upwards into tabs 5, which can engage with the ends 6 of the flexible strip 4. However, if the elongated strip 3 were made from, for example plastic, the element could be injection moulded or produced in one of many different ways.
[0027] If it is desired to decrease the offset between the frame and the wall, the flexible strip 4 can be cut with a pair of scissors to make it shorter. In this way the arc is not as sharp, and the offset is therefore smaller. Fig. 5 shows a spacer as used in fig. 1-4 with a long flexible strip 4. Fig. 6 shows the same spacer, but where the flexible strip 4 has been cut shorter. This results in a smaller arc and therefore a smaller offset.
[0028] In the case of the present embodiment of the spacer, a template 8, as shown in figure 7, can be used to make it easier for a user to cut the flexible strip such that it gives the desired offset. The template could, for example, be printed on the packaging in which the spacer is sold.
[0029] In the present example, if the distance between the tabs of the elongated strip is 80mm, then an offset of 5cm from the wall is achieved if the flexible element is 131mm long, an offset of 4cm is achieved if the flexible element is 114mm long, an offset of 3cm is achieved if the flexible element is 97cm long, and an offset of 2cm is achieved if the flexible element is 85mm long.
[0030] The flexible strip 4, in this example, is made from a piece of transparent plastic. The plastic is easy to cut with scissors which makes it very simple for a user to adjust the offset produced by the spacer. In addition, since the flexible strip is transparent, it is not very visible when the frame is seen from the side. This gives the appearance that the frame is floating on the wall. In addition, the spacers in this case do not detract the viewer's attention from the picture.
[0031] If the user at any point wishes to mount the frame with no offset from the wall, the flexible strips can be removed. If at a later time the user again wishes the offset, the flexible strips can be mounted again.
[0032] Fig. 8-9 show a second embodiment 9 of a spacer according to the invention. In this case, instead of modifying the length of the flexible element, the distance between the ends of the flexible element can be changed. The bending means 10,11 in this embodiment comprises an elongated strip 10 with a number of slots 11. By mounting the ends 6 of the flexible strip 4 in different slots, the amount that the flexible strip is bent is changed. By choosing two slots close together as shown in Fig. 8, the flexible element is bent into a sharp arc which provides a larger offset. By choosing two slots which are farther apart, the flexible element is bent into a lesser arc, which thereby provides a smaller offset.
[0033] Fig. 10-11 show a third embodiment 12 of a spacer according to the current invention. This spacer also comprises a flexible element 13 and bending means 14,16. The flexible element comprises a flexible strip 13 and the bending means comprises an elongated strip 14. However in this embodiment, the two strips are permanently joined together. In this case, the spacer can be injection moulded as a single element. The elongated strip 14 is made rather thick is therefore rather stiff and the flexible strip 13 is thinner and is therefore more flexible. The joint 15 between the two strips, in this case is formed as a foil hinge, thereby allowing the flexible strip to pivot about the joint. The free end of the elongated strip is bent upwards into a tab 16. Fig. 10 shows the spacer in an open position, and fig. 11 shows the spacer in a closed position, with the free end 17 of the flexible strip engaged with the tab 16 on the elongated strip.
[0034] The offset provided by this spacer is easily changed by cutting the free end 17 of the flexible element 13. A template such as the one shown in fig. 7 can also be used in this case. As was the case with the first embodiment of a spacer 2, by making the flexible element 13 shorter, smaller offsets are provided.
[0035] Fig. 12 shows a fourth embodiment 18 of a spacer according to the invention. In this case the bending means are slots 19 cut into the actual frame 1 of the picture. The offset produced by the spacer can be changed either by cutting the flexible strip 4 to the desired length or by mounting the ends 6 of the flexible strip 4 in different slots 19.
[0036] It should be noted that in the embodiments presented above the flexible element has only two ends. It could however be imagined that the flexible element has more than two ends. For example the flexible element could be in the shape of a three-pointed star. The bending means could in this case also be formed as a triangle and have three tabs instead of only two. This results in an element which is more stable. By cutting the ends of the three points of the flexible element, the offset can be adjusted.
[0037] It should also be noted that in the examples presented above, the flexible element is a single element which bends in a smooth shape. It could be imagined that the flexible element is composed of multiple elements such that it bends into a non-smooth shape. For example, the flexible element might comprise a stiff non-slip or non-scuff pad with a flexible strip on either side.
1. A spacer (2;9;12;18) for holding an object (1) offset from a surface, said spacer
comprising a flexible element (4;13) and bending means (3,5;10,11;14,15,16;19), said
bending means holding the ends (6) of said flexible element at a distance from each
other, said distance being less than the length of said flexible element such that
said flexible element is kept in a bent form, characterized in that the ratio between the distance at which the ends of said flexible element are held
and the length of said flexible element is changeable.
2. A spacer (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bending means (3,5) comprises an elongated strip (3) with a tab (5) at each
end, said tabs forming an angle to said elongated strip, and that said flexible element
(4) is a flexible strip (4), the ends (6) of which can be detachably engaged with
the tabs at the ends of the elongated strip.
3. A spacer (9) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bending means (10,11) comprises an elongated strip (10) with a number of slots
(11), and where said flexible element (4) is a flexible strip (4) where the ends (6)
of said flexible strip can be engaged with any two slots.
4. A spacer (12) according to claim 1 characterized in that the bending means (14,15,16) and the flexible element (4) are formed as a single
unit.
5. A spacer (12) according to claim 1 or 4 characterized in that a first end (15) of said flexible element (4) is permanently connected to a first
end (15) of the bending means (14) via a hinge (15), and the other end (17) of said
flexible element is detachably connected to the other end (16) of said bending means.
6. A spacer (18) according to claim 1 characterized in that the bending means (19) are integrated into the object (1).
7. A spacer (2;9;12;18) according to any one of claims 1-6 characterized in that said flexible element (4;13) is transparent.
8. A spacer (2;9;12;18) according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that said flexible element (4;13) is made from a material which is easy to cut with scissors.
9. A method of holding an object offset from a surface, comprising the steps of:
- attaching bending means (3,5) to said object (1),
- cutting a flexible element (4) to the desired length,
- connecting the ends (6) of said flexible element to said bending means, said bending means holding the ends of said flexible element such that the distance between the ends is less than the length of said flexible element, thereby holding the flexible element in a bent form.
10. An object (1) to be mounted at an offset from a surface, said object comprising at
least one spacer (2;9;12;18) according to any of claims 1-8.