Picture Frame Fixings
A picture frame fixing for use in conjunction with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head, the fixing having therein a keyhole-shaped slot comprising a large diameter portion dimensioned to permit passage therethrough of the head of the associated fastener, a narrower portion dimensioned to receive the shank of the fastener but narrower than the head of the fastener, and, intermediate the enlarged and narrower portions of the slot a narrow neck region the width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the shank of the associated fastener such that during relative movement of the fixing and the fastener resilient deformation permits the shank to pass through the narrow neck to achieve a snap-fit in said narrower portion of said keyhole-shaped slot.
This invention relates to picture frame fixings, to such fixings in combination with a fastener, and to picture frames incorporating such fixings.
The term “picture frame” is used herein in a broad sense to embrace within it framing arrangements for art materials, mirrors, calendars and the like. Moreover, within the term “picture frame” it is intended to embrace arrangements where there is a peripheral frame, for example a rectangular frame, within which art materials, mirror or the like is received, and those arrangements where there is a backing board, with or without a peripheral frame and upon which the art materials, mirror or the like is supported.
The term “picture frame fixings” is also intended to be construed broadly, to include a wide variety of fixings, primarily formed from sheet metal, sheet metal and wire, or moulded or stamped plastics materials, the majority of which are to be attached to a backing board, or a peripheral frame. Such fixings include hangers, spring clips, framing clips, easel backs, V-spring clips and the like. There is a wide variety of known picture frame fixings which are secured to a peripheral frame or the backing board of a picture frame by means of a fastener in the form of a rivet, screw or nail or the like, secured to the backing board or peripheral frame and having a shank of a first diameter protruding from the backing board or frame, the shank terminating in an enlarged head spaced from the backing board or the frame by the protruding part of the shank. The fixings of known form have a keyhole-shaped slot in the material of the fixing which is attached to the backing board or frame by introducing the enlarged head of the fastening through the large portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and then moving the fixing laterally with respect to the fastening so that the shank of the fastening is seated within the narrower portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and the head of the fastening overlies the material of the fixing bordering the narrower portion of the keyhole-shaped slot.
A well understood problem with conventional “key-hole slot” fixings is that they may be attached to their respective fastener at an early stage in the assembly of the picture frame and the partly assembled picture frame may then need to be transported for subsequent operations. Unless extreme care is taken during the transport of the partially assembled picture frame the fixing may slide relative to its fastener and become detached as the head of the fastener passes through the large portion of the keyhole-shaped slot in the fixing. Such disengagement with the attendant risk of loss of one or more fixings is also present when picture frames are subsequently stored and handled in a retail environment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing wherein this disadvantage is minimised or obviated.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a picture frame fixing for use in conjunction with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head, the fixing having therein a keyhole-shaped slot comprising a large diameter portion dimensioned to permit passage therethrough of the head of the associated fastener, a narrower portion dimensioned to receive the shank of the fastener but narrower than the head of the fastener, and, intermediate the enlarged and narrower portions of the slot a narrow neck region the width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the shank of the associated fastener such that during relative movement of the fixing and the fastener resilient deformation permits the shank to pass through the narrow neck to achieve a snap-fit in said narrower portion of said keyhole-shaped slot.
Conveniently said neck region of said slot is bounded by one or more elements integral with the material of the fixing, and moveable relative thereto, by resilient flexure of the element.
Preferably the or each element is in the form of a resilient finger.
The invention further resides in a fixing as defined above in combination with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head.
Conveniently said fastener is a hollow tubular rivet having said head defined by a flange at one end thereof.
Alternatively said fastener is a screw having a threaded shank region, a plain shank region, and a head of larger diameter than the plain shank region.
Conveniently said plain shank region is of larger diameter than said threaded shank region.
Conveniently said plain shank region has a circumferential groove for receiving said fixing.
Alternatively said fastener includes a washer which abuts the end of the plain shank region and defines with said head, a circumferential groove for receiving said fixing.
The invention further resides in a picture frame incorporating the combination of a fixing and a fastener as defined above.
In the accompanying drawings:
Referring first to
In
In
In use the fixing can be attached to a respective fastener projecting from the picture frame by engaging the fixing over the fastener such that the head 19 of the fastener passes through the portion 22 of the slot 21, and then sliding the fixing at right angles to the length of the fastener 17 to cause the shank 18 of the fastener 17 to enter the portion 23 of the slot 21. It will be understood that when the shank 18 of the fastener 17 lies within the portion 23 of the slot 21 then the fixing cannot be lifted from the fastener 17 since the head 19 cannot pass through the portion 23 of the slot 21.
However, in order for the shank 18 to reach the portion 23 of the slot 21 from the portion 22, it is necessary for the shank 18 to pass through the narrow neck region 24. Because the width of the neck region 24 is less than the outer diameter of the shank 18 of the fastener 17 some resilient deformation of the material of the fixing is needed. Thus immediately after the shank 18 passes beyond the region 24 into the portion 23 the deformation of the fixing restores back to its original condition so that the shank 18 enters the portion 23 of the slot 21 as a snap-fit. Thereafter inadvertent disengagement of the fixing from the fastener 17 cannot readily occur. The fixing cannot lift axially from the fastening 17 because it is impeded by the head 19, and lateral movement of the fixing relative to the shank 18 to permit the head 19 to align with the portion 22 of the slot 21 is impeded by the neck region 24. Thus although the fixing can rotate freely about the axis of the fastening 17 if desired, inadvertent detachment of the fixing from the fastener 17 is resisted.
The fixing 14 illustrated in
The fixings 15 are hanging brackets, and have an aperture 25 shaped to provide a number of hanging positions. The easel back 16 is secured in place by two fasteners 17 and is pierced across its width at 26 to allow it to be bent to lie at an angle to the backing board 13 to form a prop as shown in
FIGS. 14 to 23 illustrate hangers in accordance with a second example of the invention, and
Intermediate the portions 52 and 53 of the slot 51, the slot is formed with a narrow neck region 54 the width of which is less than the diameter of the shank of the associated fastener. However, it can be seen that the narrow neck region 54 of the fixing 50 is defined by inwardly curved regions of respective parallel fingers 55 integral with the remainder of the fixing 50, but separated therefrom by elongate slot regions 56 extending from the slot 51. It can be seen that the edges of the fingers 55 which border the slot 51 define part of the wall of the portion 53 of the slot 51 and the fingers have enlarged, part circular, free end regions 57 the inwardly presented surfaces of which define the narrow neck region 54 of the slot 51.
It is to be understood that the slot 51 of the fixing 50 functions in an extremely similar manner to the slot 21 described above. However, whereas distortion of the material of the body of the fixing around the neck region 24 of the slot 21 is required for the slot 21 to function, the slot 51 of the fixing 50 cooperates with its respective fastener to provide the snap-action as the shank of the fastener moves from the portion 52 into the portion 53 of the slot, by flexure of the fingers 55. It is believed that the slot arrangement 51 illustrated in
It is to be recognised that the exact nature of the fixing is not of crucial importance to the present invention, and the slots 21 and 51 can be utilised with a wide variety of different fixings known in the picture framing art. Furthermore, each of the fixings illustrated and described herein can have either a slot 21 or a slot 51 and each can be used with a variety of different fasteners 17, 32.
The material of the fixing can be hardened and/or tempered if desired, for example locally in the area of neck region 24, 54. Whereas a steel fixing having the slot form shown at 21 will usually not be hardened, steel fixings having the slot form 51 may be hardened or otherwise heat treated to enhance the spring qualities of the fingers 55. Alternatively, fixings having the slot form 51 may be formed from an alloy having physical properties such that it does not require hardening or heat treatment to enhance the spring qualities of the fingers 55.
In a modification the fingers 55, joined at one end to the material of the remainder of the fixing may be replaced by bowed elements integral with the remainder of the fixing at both ends, and being defined by pierced slots alongside the slot 51.
While the invention has been described above in relation to the use of rivets or screws as the fastener it is to be understood that the fastener could take other forms such as a nail or the like. Moreover a nail could have a head and parallel integral flange defining between them a circumferential groove as described above with reference to
Claims
1. A picture frame fixing for use in conjunction with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head, the fixing having therein a keyhole-shaped slot comprising a large diameter portion dimensioned to permit passage therethrough of the head of the associated fastener, a narrower portion dimensioned to receive the shank of the fastener but narrower than the head of the fastener, and, intermediate the enlarged and narrower portions of the slot a narrow neck region the width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the shank of the associated fastener such that during relative movement of the fixing and the fastener resilient deformation permits the shank to pass through the narrow neck to achieve a snap-fit in said narrower portion of said keyhole-shaped slot.
2. A picture frame fixing according to claim 1 wherein said neck region of said slot is bounded by one or more elements integral with the material of the fixing, and moveable relative thereto, by resilient flexure of the element.
3. A picture frame fixing according to claim 2 wherein the or each element is in the form of a resilient finger.
4. Apparatus comprising a picture frame fixing according to claim 1 in combination with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fastener is a hollow tubular rivet having said head defined by a flange at one end thereof.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fastener is a screw having a threaded shank region, a plain shank region, and a head of larger diameter than the plain shank region.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said plain shank region is of larger diameter than said threaded shank region.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said plain shank region has a circumferential groove for receiving said fixing.
9. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fastener includes a washer which abuts the end of the plain shank region and defines with said head, a circumferential groove for receiving said fixing.
10. A picture frame including a picture frame fixing according to claim 1.
11. A picture frame including an apparatus according to claim 4.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2007
Inventors: Joseph Eichert (Middlesex, NJ), Wilson Cubides (Somerset, NJ)
Application Number: 11/674,735
International Classification: A47G 1/16 (20060101);