A framing system & method

Abstract

A framing system & method for paintings, photos and other sheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3D materials, wherein the protection corners 3 for the frames are made of transparent including semi-transparent material which will allow the viewer to see through the corners and get the whole picture of the framed object. The hanger 1 is an easy-to-balance hanger with one side or both sides having groove structure 2. The cross-section A-A of the frame 4 is a rectangle including square form 4.1 with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle 4.2. This simplified form means simplified workmanship in production.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a framing system & method for paintings, photos and other sheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3D materials.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] According to the prior arts, the protection corners are made from corrugated paper in white or brown colors. Hangers do not have easy-to-balance feature. The cross-section of the classical frame is in irregular polygon. The white or brown color protection corners will block off a portion of the view of the whole picture. In the case of small framed pictures with only one hanger, it's difficult to find the balance point for the picture where the hanger should be nailed on. The varied classical patterns of the frame are attractive to certain people but which also means potential increase on cost comparing with simplified form.

[0003] A system has been proposed wherein the holding means has a clamping means which is fixedly connected to the hanger and by which the hanging cord is fixedly securable to the hanger by clamping, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,948. However, this mechanism is comparatively more complicated to be applied.

[0004] In another type of frame design, two generally identical elongate members have decorative ornaments on the front, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D487,354. However, this design can not be applied on paper etc fragile articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide protection corners for frames that will not block off a portion of the view of the whole picture.

[0006] It is another object of this invention to provide a frame hanger with easy-to-balance feature.

[0007] It is another object of this invention to provide a simplified form of frame which might look neat to some people and save cost in production.

[0008] It is another object of this invention to provide a method of framing comprising the steps of protection for frame corners with see-through feature, easy-to-balance hanging, simplification for frames.

[0009] The present invention in one embodiment provides the protection corners for frame that are made of transparent including semi-transparent material. As a result, the transparent or semi-transparent protection corners will allow the viewer to see through the corners and get the whole view.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a frame hanger is provided which is an easy-to-balance hanger with one side or both sides having groove structure. As a result, when using only one piece of such easy-to-balance hanger, by shifting the nail among different teeth, it's easy to find the balance point. Furthermore, the groove structure can also make the hanger difficult to be loosened.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section of the frame is a rectangle including square form with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle. Rectangle or square is the simplest form for frames. As a result, such workmanship means possible savings on cost.

[0012] The present invention also includes a method comprising the steps of transparent or semi-transparent protection corners for frames, easy-to-balance hanging, simplified rectangle form for frames. As a result, it allows the viewers to see through and get the whole picture. It's easy to hang the framed picture. The simplified frames look neat and provide possible savings on cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a framing system with an easy-to-balance hanger, a transparent protection corner and frame in simplified form.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one kind of hanger.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hanger.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the hanger.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of yet another embodiment of the hanger.

[0018] FIG. 6 is an A-A cross-sectional view of the frame.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a view of a protection corner when it's in fully spread.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a protection corner when it's wrapped around a frame corner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] This invention will now be described in further details with reference to the drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one kind of embodiments of the present invention with a transparent protection corner, an easy-to-balance hanger and a frame in simplified form. In the case of a framing system for oil painting, the painting will firstly be stretched on stretch-bars. If the main tone of the painting is blue, i.e., a painting in the theme of ocean, we can paint the frame, that its cross-section is a rectangle form with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle as being showed in FIG. 6, into blue color. Although the frame is simplified, it looks neat and will match the tone of the painting. The four frames will form a groove on the back to hold the painting on stretch bars. FIG. 7 shows a view of the protection corners before being applied on frames. The rectangle form of the protection corner 3.1 has been cut off a triangle shape 3.2. The length of the both sides 3.2.a of the triangle shape 3.2 is better equal to the thickness of the frames. Then they'll fit well with the frames when being wrapped around the frame corners. After putting on the four thick transparent protection corners made with PVC, the front elevational view of the protection corner will look like the effect as being illustrated in FIG. 8. The frames will thus be well protected. In the mean time, the transparent corners will not block off the view of neither the painting nor the frames when being displayed for sale. Before hanging, put two pieces of screws or nails through the holes 2.1 to mount the hanger as being showed in FIG. 2 & FIG. 3 on the back of the top frame with the teeth 2 of the hanger downward. Hence, by shifting the hanger among different tooth, it's easy to find the balance point of the whole framed painting toward the nail on wall and the painting will thus be secured.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the hanger. The advantage of this kind of hanger is that it's not needed to distinguish which side should be mounted downward or upward as both of the serration structure is the same. In the case of a framing system for photos or prints or posters, the cross-section of the frame is the same rectangle form with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle as being showed in FIG. 6. The four frames will form a groove on the back to hold the glass or acryl cover, the photo or print or poster, mat plus backup board. FIG. 7 shows a view of the protection corners before being applied on frames. The rectangle form of the protection corner 3.1 has been cut off a triangle shape 3.2. The length of the both sides 3.2.a of the triangle shape 3.2 is equal to the thickness of the frames. After putting on the four thick transparent protection corners on frames, the front elevational view of the protection corner will look like the effect as being illustrated in FIG. 8. The frames will thus be well protected. In the mean time, the transparent corners will allow the viewer to see through it and get the whole framed picture of the photo or print or poster. Before hanging, put two pieces of screws or nails through the holes 2.1 to mount the hanger as being showed in FIG. 4 which has double sided serration structure on the back of the top frame. As a result, by shifting the hanger among different tooth, it's easy to find the balance point of the whole framed picture toward the nail on wall and the picture will thus be secured.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of yet another embodiment of the hanger. The downward grooves are in the same serration structure. The upper side of the hanger is being cut off several continuous trapezoid shapes. This kind of hanger looks beautiful and provides possible savings on materials as the parts being cut off can be recycled. In the case of a framing system for a shadow-box to hold 3D materials, the cross-section of the frame is the same rectangle form with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle as being showed in FIG. 6. The four frames will form a groove on the back to hold the glass or acryl cover, mat, box-like backup board and the 3D material on the backup board. FIG. 7 shows a view of the protection corner when it's in full spread. The rectangle form of the protection corner 3.1 has been cut off a triangle shape 3.2. The length of the both sides 3.2.a of the triangle shape 3.2 is equal to the thickness of the frames. Before hanging, put two pieces of screws or nails through the holes 2.1 to mount the hanger as being showed in FIG. 5 with the serration structure side downward. As a result, by shifting the hanger among different tooth, it's easy to find the balance point of the whole framed 3D object toward the nail on wall and the whole framed object will thus be hanged in balance.

[0025] Another embodiment of the present invention is on mirrors. As the cross-section of the frame is a simple & regular rectangle form with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle as being showed in FIG. 6, the frame for mirrors can be extruded from plastic.

[0026] Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A framing system for paintings, photos and other sheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3D materials, comprising frame, hanger, protection corner, stretch bar, mat, hanging wire, glass or acryl cover sheet, wherein the protection corners 3 for the frames are made of transparent including semi-transparent material. Protection corners with any color will block off or cut off the view of the whole framed object. Transparent or semi-transparent protection corners will allow the viewer to see through the corners and get the whole picture of the framed object.

2. The framing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the hanger 1 is an easy-to-balance hanger with one side or both sides having groove structure 2. When using only one piece of such easy-to-balance hanger, by shifting among different teeth, it's easy to find the balance point for the framed object. Furthermore, the groove structure can also make the hanger difficult to be loosened.

3. The framing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cross-section A-A of the frame 4 is a rectangle including square form 4.1 with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle 4.2. Rectangle or square is the simplest form for frames and such workmanship means simplified workmanship in production.

4. The framing system as defined in claim 2, wherein the groove structure 2 is continuously & horizontally laid on either side or both sides of the hanger 1.

5. The framing system as defined in claim 2 & claim 4, wherein the groove structure 2 is in the shape of serration, or teeth, or waves, or trapezoid, or rectangle, or square, or polygon, or hemicycle, semi-oval, or a flake with the central part protruding outward.

6. The framing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the shape of the protection corners 3 when unwrapping is basically a rectangle or square 3.1 with one side being cut off a piece of material in triangle 3.2. When wrapping on the corners of the frame, the front view of the protection corners is in the shape of a triangle 3.3.

7. The framing system as defined in claim 1 & claim 6, wherein the material of the protection corners 3 is PVC.

8. A framing method for paintings, photos and other sheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3D materials, comprising the steps of frames making, hanger nailing, frame corners protection, stretching the picture on bars, matting, hanging with wire, glass or acryl sheet covering, wherein the protection corners for frame are made of transparent including semi-transparent material.

9. The framing method as defined in claim 8, wherein the hanger is an easy-to-balance hanger with one side or both sides having groove structure.

10. The framing method as defined in claim 8, wherein the cross-section of the frame is a rectangle including square form with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle.