DISPLAY FRAME WITH INSERTS
A display frame according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a plurality of frame sections forming a rectangular perimeter around a backing member. Each of the plurality of frame sections includes a base member, a rotatable cover member hinged to the base member, a channel attached to the cover member, and a spring mechanism interposed between the base member and the cover member to bias the cover member in an open position and a closed position. In various embodiments, the display frame further includes an insert that is slidably received in one of the channels. In one embodiment, the insert at least partially forms the front face of one the frame sections and displays at least one of text and graphics. In another embodiment, the insert includes a mounting feature for mounting an object to the display frame.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/613645, filed on Mar. 21, 2012, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/625330, filed on Apr. 17, 2012. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a spring-biased display frame, and more particularly, to a display frame with inserts disposed in frame sections forming the periphery of the display frame.
BACKGROUNDThis section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Known picture and poster frames include a plurality of frame sections, each frame section having a base member and a rotatable cover member attached to each base member. Spring biasing mechanisms are used to bias the cover member to the base member in its open and closed positions. Typically, each frame section is mitered at 45 degrees in the corner and arranged in a generally rectangular configuration. Such frames may be made of an extruded metal such as aluminum or alternately of an extruded plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Once assembled, such frames are configured to provide a single display area suitable for securely positioning and displaying a single display medium such as an advertisement. In this regard, each of the frame sections is rotated into an open position and the display medium is inserted within the display frame. The frame sections are rotated into a closed position such that the display medium is secured within the frame. Poster frames of this type work very well and have secured substantial success in the marketplace.
However, in some applications, it is desirable to provide a frame which may be readily adapted to display a plurality of display media. For example, a frame capable of mounting display media around its periphery would be advantageous to provide added versatility to the frame over those currently known in the art and added appeal to the medium displayed therein.
SUMMARYThis section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
A display frame according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a plurality of frame sections forming a rectangular perimeter around a backing member. Each of the plurality of frame sections includes a base member, a rotatable cover member hinged to the base member, a channel attached to the cover member, and a spring mechanism interposed between the base member and the cover member to bias the cover member in an open position and a closed position.
In various embodiments, the display frame further includes an insert or an insert assembly. The insert is slidably received in one of the channels. In one embodiment, the insert at least partially forms the front face of one the frame sections and displays at least one of text and graphics. In another embodiment, the insert includes a mounting feature for mounting an object to the display frame. The insert assembly includes a standoff slidably received in one of the channels and a container defining a slot slidably engaging the standoff to mount the container to the display frame.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONExample embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Referring now to
Each of the frame sections 12 includes a base member 16 and a cover member 18 pivotally coupled to each other. As shown in
As presently shown, frame 10 is configured in a square or rectangular shape, although it is also possible for the frame to have other various shapes with one or more (e.g., five) frame sections 12 having opposite ends cut at appropriate angles. For example, frame sections 12 may be disposed on three sides of frame 10 and a fourth side of frame 10 may be open-ended to allow insertion of the display medium 13 without opening one of the cover members 18. In another example, frame section 12 may be disposed on only one side of frame 10, in which case frame 10 may only consist of one of the frame sections 12. Each of the base members 16 and cover members 18 may be fabricated utilizing a suitable material and process such as metal or plastic extruding processes. As presently shown, the backing member 14 includes a hollow-core board having a pair of planar surfaces interconnected with internal webs, although the backing member 14 may be formed from other suitable materials.
Adjacent frame sections 12 of frame 10 may be held and fastened together by the corner sections 19, as shown in
The inserts 15 may be equal in length to the frame sections 12 and, as shown in
Referring now to
One or more spring members 30 are positioned in each of the frame sections 12 extending between the base member 16 and the cover member 18. The spring members 30 bias the two members 16, 18 relative to one another. The spring members 30 act to maintain a snug mating pivotal engagement, biasing the cover member 18 against the display medium 13 when the frame sections 12 are in the closed position (as shown in
A channel 32 is attached to the front face of each of the cover members 18, and the inserts 15 are captured in the channels 32. The inserts 15 may be paper or plastic and may be thin strips with a rectangular cross section as shown. The channels 32 may be metal or plastic and may have a C-shaped cross section as shown. The channels 32 include tabs 34 that extend partially over the front faces of the inserts 15 to retain the inserts 15 in the frame sections 12. The channels 32 may be attached to the cover members 18 using adhesive 36. Additionally or alternatively, the channels 32 may be attached to the cover members 18 using a weld, a solder, or a fastener. Moreover, as shown in
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To install or remove the standoffs 78, the standoffs 78 may be slid into the channels 32 when the cover members 18 are in the open position. Alternatively, the standoffs 78 may be installed or removed by rotating the standoffs 78 between the position shown in
As shown in
In the example embodiments described above, the frame 10 includes one or more frame sections 12 with an insert captured in one or more of the frame sections 12. The insert captured in the frame sections 12 may include the insert 15 (
In various implementations, one or more of the frame sections 12 may not capture an insert or an insert assembly. In other words, the frame 10 may be provided without any inserts or insert assemblies, or the frame 10 may be provided with an insert or an insert assembly captured in less than all of the frame sections 12.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A display frame comprising:
- a plurality of frame sections forming a rectangular perimeter around a backing member to define a display area, each of the plurality of frame sections including a base member, a rotatable cover member hinged to the base member, a channel attached to the cover member, and a spring mechanism interposed between the base member and the cover member to bias the cover member in an open position and a closed position; and
- an insert slidably received in one of the channels, the insert at least partially forming the front face of one of the frame sections and displaying at least one of text and graphics.
2. The display frame of claim 1, wherein the channel has a C-shaped cross section and includes tabs that extend partially over a front face of the insert.
3. The display frame of claim 2, wherein the insert bows outward from the channel and the tabs have edges that are beveled.
4. The display frame of claim 1, wherein the channel is attached to the cover member using at least one of adhesive, a weld, a solder, and a fastener.
5. The display frame of claim 1, wherein the insert is formed from a substantially rigid material so that the insert is only insertable in the one of the channels when the cover member is in the open position.
6. The display frame of claim 1, wherein the insert has a first length that is less than a second length of the one of the frame sections.
7. The display frame of claim 6, wherein the insert includes a plurality of inserts that are slidably received in the one of the channels.
8. The display frame of claim 1, wherein the insert includes a base portion insertable into the one of the channels, a display portion, and a stem extending between the base portion and the display portion.
9. The display frame of claim 8, wherein the display portion includes a plate and a plurality of tabs that extend outward from the plate.
10. A display frame comprising:
- a plurality of frame sections forming a rectangular perimeter around a backing member to define a display area, each of the plurality of frame sections including a base member, a rotatable cover member hinged to the base member, a channel attached to the cover member, and a spring mechanism interposed between the base member and the cover member to bias the cover member in an open position and a closed position; and
- an insert slidably received in one of the channels, the insert including a mounting feature for mounting an object to the display frame.
11. The display frame of claim 10, wherein the channel includes tabs that extend partially over a front face of the insert.
12. The display frame of claim 11, wherein the insert includes flanges, supports extending outward from the flanges, and a bridge extending between and connecting the supports, the tabs of the channel extending over the flanges to retain the insert in the channel.
13. The display frame of claim 12, wherein the bridge defines an aperture for receiving a fastener to mount the object to the display frame.
14. The display frame of claim 10, wherein the insert includes a base portion insertable into the one of the channels, a display portion, and a stem extending between the base portion and the display portion.
15. The display frame of claim 14, wherein the display portion includes a plate and a plurality of tabs that extend outward from the plate.
16. The display frame of claim 10, further comprising the object, wherein the insert includes a standoff and the object defines a slot configured to slidably engage the standoff to mount the object to the display frame.
17. A display frame comprising:
- a plurality of frame sections forming a rectangular perimeter around a backing member to define a display area, each of the plurality of frame sections including a base member;
- a rotatable cover member hinged to the base member with a channel attached to the cover member; and
- a spring mechanism interposed between the base member and the cover member to bias the cover member in an open position and a closed position.
18. The display frame of claim 17, further comprising an insert slidably received in the channel.
19. The display frame of claim 17, wherein the channel has a C-shaped cross section.
20. The display frame of claim 17, wherein the channel is attached to the cover member using at least one of adhesive, a weld, a solder, and a fastener.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 21, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 26, 2013
Inventors: Stefan N. TOLNA (Westland, MI), Michael J. Hurley (Berkley, MI)
Application Number: 13/848,260
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101);