Picture frame profile

Abstract

 A profile for a picture frame, of the extruding type, having a C-shaped portion intended to form the back portion of the frame and another L-shaped portion intended to receive the displayed elements which are to be contained within the frame, the L-shaped portion being joined by the free end of one of its sides to one of the ends of the long side of the said C, characterised in that it has a fin extending parallel to the said long side of the C from the end which is not joined to the long side of the C of the short side furthest from the junction area between the L-shaped portion and the C-shaped portion.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for the framing of pictures and the like, as well as a profile for frames included in that device, which have many original features that are advantageous in comparison with what is currently known.

[0002] Document ES 1 042 929 U discloses an extruded profile for picture frames which has a C-shaped portion designed to constitute the back of the frame and another L-shaped portion designed to receive the displayed elements which are to be contained within the frame, the said L-shaped portion being joined via the free end of one of its sides to one of the ends of the long side of the said C-shaped portion. Likewise, the said document discloses a device for the framing of pictures incorporating the said profile, the said profile constituting the sides of the frame and the L-shaped portion receiving the elements which are to be contained by the frame, while the said C-shaped portion encloses the components for attachment to the wall. The devices obtained using the said profile are characterised in that they can be anchored to a wall or the like at one, two or more anchorage points and by their ease of centering.

[0003] This invention relates to a new improved profile and a device constructed using that profile which improves the capacity of the above-mentioned devices as regards their dimensional capacity and versatility.

[0004] In particular, this invention comprises a profile for a picture frame of the extruded type which has a C-shaped portion designed to constitute the back of the frame and another L-shaped portion designed to receive the displayed elements which are to be contained within the frame, the L-shaped portion being joined through the free end of one of its sides to one of the ends of the long side of the said C.

[0005] In particular, the profile to which this invention relates is provided with a fin extending parallel to the said long side of the C from the end which is not joined to the long side of the C of the short side furthest from the junction area between the L-shaped portion and the C-shaped portion.

[0006] This profile is intended to be used to form devices for the framing of pictures in such a way that the profile constitutes the sides of the frame. This invention therefore also comprises a device for framing pictures of the type which comprises a profile forming the sides of the frame, the profile being extruded and having a C-shaped portion at the rear side; the profile likewise has an L-shaped portion receiving the displayed elements which are to be contained within the frame, the L-shaped portion being joined by the free end of one of its sides to one of the ends of the long side of the said C, characterised in that the profile has a fin extending parallel to the said long side of the C from the end not joined to the long side of the C of the short side furthest from the junction area between the L-shaped portion and the C-shaped portion, thus forming a working space between the displayed elements and the said fin.

[0007] A double synergistic result is brought about through the fin of the profile to which this invention relates. In the first place the resistance of the profile to flexion is increased such that lighter profiles can be used to produce or manufacture larger and/or heavier frames. Secondly the fin forms a space which is useful for various purposes, such as for example fitting and supporting resilient members whose purpose is to compress and secure the displayed elements contained within the said L-shape of the profile, or also to conveniently locate components regulating the humidity of the displayed elements, all without the need to increase the depth of the profile.

[0008] Preferably the said fin is thickened at its free end, and this can be used to prevent the components supported by the fin from projecting from the space intended for their support.

[0009] Likewise, and for the same purpose, the fin may preferably be fitted with a groove on the side closest to the L-shaped portion of the profile.

[0010] This invention also comprises a device for framing pictures which comprises the profile to which this invention relates as a component of the sides of the frame, and in which the L-shaped portion of the profile receives the displayed elements which are to be contained within the frame. In the said device the said fin of the profile forms a working space between the displayed elements and the said fin. Preferably a resilient member may be located between the side closest to the L-shaped portion of the fin and the displayed elements contained within the said L-shaped portion. Likewise the device may comprise a tie-rod attached to the said fin on opposite sides of the frame.

[0011] Drawings of a preferred embodiment of this invention are appended for a better understanding thereof, by way of an explanatory but non-limited example.

[0012] Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a frame with a device according to this invention.

[0013] Figure 2 is a rear frontal elevation view of the frame in Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the frame in Figures 1 and 2.

[0015] Figure 4 is a perspective view in partial cross-profile of a detail in Figure 3.

[0016] Figure 5 is a lateral elevation view in cross-profile of the frame in the preceding figures.

[0017] Figure 6 shows the profile used in the device to frame pictures in the previous figures.

[0018] Figure 7 is a perspective view in partial cross-profile of the profile in Figure 6.

[0019] Figures 8 and 9 are lateral elevation showing in detail cross-profiles from which various uses of the profile constituting the device for framing pictures to which this invention relates can be seen.

[0020] As shown in the figures, the device to which the invention relates is intended to form frames for holding pictures and the like. The said frame comprises, among other components, a profile having improved characteristics. The sides of the frame are constructed from an extruded profile comprising simultaneously a rear C-shaped portion -21- and a frontal portion -22-substantially in the shape of an inverted L. As will be seen in the figures, the inverted L is supplemented by a longitudinal flange. In this way the back portion -21- can be used for suspension devices and portion -22- defined by the L-shaped profile to receive the picture or other similar graphic element for which the device is intended comprises a set -3- of elements comprising for example an outer glass -221-, an inner spongy receiving member -222-, a poster, photograph or other graphic element -223-, a separating element between the glass -221- and graphic element -223-, such as for example a profile -225-, and, for example, a border -224- protecting graphic element - 223- against contact with separator -225-. Other details of C-shaped portions -21- and L-shaped portions -22- are known from document ES 1042929 U, to which explicit reference is made in this document.

[0021] In addition, profile -2- has a fin -231-extending parallel to the long side of the C, from the end which is not joined to the long side of the C of the short side furthest from the junction between the L-shaped portion and the C-shaped portion, as will be seen in Figure 6. This fin -231- has a dual purpose: on the one hand it increases the resistance of the sides of the frame formed by the profile to bending through the use of a minimum amount of material, and on the other hand it forms a space -24- in which it is possible to fit for example resilient members -5- for attachment of the displayed elements -221-, -222-, -223-, -224-, -225- located in frame 1. The fin also makes it possible to fit other components such as for example humidity regulators -7-, as will be seen in Figure 9. To assist attachment and fitting of humidity regulating components -7- and resilient members -5- or components of any other type the fin has a groove -2312- on the side of the fin -231- closest to the L-shape portion -22-. Likewise, for similar purposes, said fin -231- has a thickening -2311- at its free end.

[0022] Fin -231- does not impede the fitting of joining components -6- between the sides and other components of the C-shaped portion, as is specified in document ES 1042929.

[0023] In addition to this, fin -231- makes it possible to fit frame suspension devices -4-, such as for example the device which is disclosed in document ES 2234388. In this case said device -4- furthermore performs the function of a tie rod and reinforcement for frame -1-.

[0024] Although the invention has been described in relation to preferred embodiments, these should not be considered as restricting the invention, which is defined by the broadest interpretation of the following claims.

Claims

1. A profile for a picture frame, of the extruded type, having a C-shaped portion intended to form the back portion of the frame and another L-shaped portion intended to receive the displayed elements which are to be contained within the frame, the L-shaped portion being joined through the free end of one of its sides to one of the ends of the long side of the said C, characterised in that it has a fin extending parallel to the long side of the C from the end which is not joined to the long side of the C of the short side furthest from the junction area between the L-shaped portion and the C-shaped portion.

2. A profile according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said fin has a thickening at its free end.

3. A profile according to Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the said fin has a groove on the side closest to the L-shaped portion.

4. A device for framing pictures of the type which comprises a profile comprising the sides of the frame, the profile being extruded and having a C-shaped portion on its rear side, and the profile likewise having an L-shaped portion which receives the displayed elements which are to be contained within the frame, the L-shaped portion being joined through the free end of one of its sides to one of the ends of the long side of the said C, characterised in that the profile has a fin which extends parallel to the said long side of the C from the end which is not joined to the long side of the C of the short side furthest from the junction zone between the L-shaped portion and the C-shaped portion, thus forming a working space between the displayed elements and the said fin.

5. A device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the fin has a thickening at its free end.

6. A device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the fin has a groove on the side closest to the L-shaped portion to assist the supporting of components on the said side of the flange.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that a resilient member is located between the side closest to the L-shaped portion of the fin and the displayed elements present within the said L-shaped portion.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a tie rod attached to the said fin on two opposite sides of the frame.

Drawing