Poster Frame

Various forms of frames heretofore have been provided for pictures, posters and the like. However, most of these previously known forms of frames use a suitable backing member for the picture or poster to be supported from the frame and the frame must thus be tailored for a particular size of picture or poster.

Accordingly, a need exists for a picture or poster frame requiring only the use of marginal frame members to thereby eliminate the need for a backing member and to enable the size of the frame to be more readily varied merely by changing the length of the side frame members.

Examples of various forms of frames including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 236,953, 416,925, 473,706, 700,548, 1,603,796 and 2,540,907. However, these previously known forms of frames are not readily adaptable for use in conjunction with relatively flimsy picture or posters without the use of a backing member for the picture or poster.

The frame of the instant invention comprises only a pair of upper and lower horizontal frame bars and a pair of upstanding opposite side frame bars disposed and extending between corresponding ends of the upper and lower frame bars. The frame bars each include inner and outer sides and the inner sides of the frame bars include longitudinal central grooves formed therein and extending longitudinally therealong for seatingly receiving the corresponding upper, lower and opposite side marginal edges of the associated picture or poster. The opposite end portions of the upper and lower frame bars project endwise outwardly beyond the outer sides of the corresponding side bars and include vertical bores formed therein immediately adjacent the outer surfaces of the opposite side bars. An elongated flexible tension member has its opposite end portions threaded downwardly through the bores formed in the opposite ends of the upper frame bar and thereafter downwardly through the bores formed in the opposite ends of the lower frame bar. The free ends of the tension member are then knotted to prevent their withdrawal upward through the bores formed in the opposite ends of the lower frame bar and the midportion of the tension member may be displaced upwardly from the outer surface of the upper frame bar and engaged with a suitable suspension member. With the upper, lower and opposite side marginal edges of the associated picture or poster keyed in the grooves formed on the inner surfaces of the upper, lower and opposite side frame bars, the bars are keyed together each against lateral displacement relative to the plane of the associated picture or poster relative to the other frame bars.

The main object of this invention is to provide a picture or poster hanging from which may be utilized to attractively frame and support a picture or poster.

Another object of this invention is to provide a frame in accordance with the preceding object and which may be readily manufactured and marketed in different sizes for use with different size pictures and posters.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a frame whose component parts may be only loosely assembled and which therefore allow the frame to be readily disassembled for storage or transport when not in use.

A final object of this invention to be specially enumerated herein is to provide a poster frame in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the frame in operative associated with a poster and with the frame suspended from a suitable support member;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame in disassembled condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 usually designates the frame of the instant invention. The frame 10 includes upper and lower horizontal frame bars 12 and 14 and a pair of upstanding opposite side frame bars 16 and 18. The frame bars 12, 14, 16 and 18 include inner and outer sides and the inner sides of the bars include elongated, central and longitudinally extending inwardly outing grooves 20 formed therein. The upper and lower bars 12 and 14 and the upstanding opposite side bars 16 and 18 may be arranged at the upper, lower and opposite side marginal portions of a poster 22 with the marginal edges of the poster seatingly received in the corresponding grooves 20.

Of course, the length of the upstanding opposite side frame bars 16 and 18 is equivalent to the longitudinal extent of the opposite side upstanding marginal edges of the poster 22, minus the combined depth of the grooves 20 formed in the upper and lower horizontal frame bars 12 and 14, and it may be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings that the opposite ends of the upper and lower horizontal frame bars 12 and 14 include downwardly and upwardly opening notches 24 and 26 formed therein with the notches 24 and 26 also opening endwise outwardly of the corresponding ends of the frame bars 12 and 14.

The length of the upper and lower frame bars 12 and 14 is such that the outer surfaces of the side frame bars 16 and 18 are flush with the inner extremities 28 of the notches 24 and 26 remote from the free ends of the upper and lower horizontal frame bars 12 and 14. In addition, the notched and portions of the upper and lower frame bars 12 and 14 include upstanding bores 30 and 32 formed therein immediately adjacent the inner extremities 28 of the notches 24 and 26.

With the frame bars 12, 14, 16 and 18 arranged relative to the poster 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the engagement of the marginal portions of the poster 22 with the frame bars 12, 14, 16 and 18 keys the frame bars 12, 14, 16 and 18 together in a frame defining association against individual lateral displacement of any one of the frame bars relative to the other frame bars.

In order to support the frame 10, the latter includes an elongated flexible tension member 34 including opposite end portions 36 and 38. The end portions 36 and 38 are threaded downwardly through the bores 30 and 32 on the corresponding sides of the frame 10 and the free ends of the tension member 36 are knotted as at 40 while the longitudinal midportion of the tension member 42 may be upwardly displaced relative to the upper frame member 12 and engaged with a suitable suspension hook 44, see FIG. 1.

The diameter of the tension member 34 is greater than the width of the grooves 20 whereby the opposite ends of the grooves 20 formed in the upper and lower frame bars 12 and 14 are hidden by the adjacent sections of the tension member 34. Inasmuch as the opposite end portions 36 and 38 of the tension member 34 are disposed immediately outwardly of the outer surfaces of the opposite side frame bars 16 and 18, the side frame bars 16 and 18 are restrained against movement outwardly of the corresponding marginal edges of the poster 22.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.