Apparatus for Decorative Mounting of Planar Articles

1. Field of the Invention

The apparatus of the present invention is directed generally to decorative framing and mounting boards for displaying planar articles such as pictures or cards. More particularly this invention is directed toward apparatus for convenient, temporary mounting of such articles, which allows for easy replacement.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Adhesive attachment of articles to a mounting board under an overlying plastic film has been known (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,746; U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,923; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,252). However, such prior apparatus has not achieved a glass-like appearance nor presented means for facilitating the repeated replacement of the article displayed. Additionally, such prior systems have characteristically provided high adhesion to the overlying plastic film while providing low adhesion to the card or picture being mounted. Consequently, the repeated lifting of the film has had a tendency to delaminate the mounting board and, unless the mounting board is lying flat, the article being mounted has had a tendency to slide out of position or fall off the mounting board, making it difficult to change a display on a wall hung unit.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned difficulties and yields an adhesive mounting apparatus which securely holds planar objects yet does not delaminate the cardboard backing member when the film is lifted. Particularly, a unique adhesive layer is provided on a cardboard backing member, and a thick transparent film overlying the adhesive is secured along one edge thereof. A tab along a free edge of the film assists in the lifting of the film during replacement or rearrangement of the articles mounted thereunder. A film thickness of 0.007 inches or greater provides a glass-like appearance and facilitates the separation of the film from the backing. Additionally, by mixing aluminum chlorohydrate with pressure sensitive mounting adhesive, the adhesion to the mounted cards is increased while the adhesion to the film is decreased sufficiently to prevent delamination of the cardboard backing member.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of the present invention showing the film lifted to expose a mounted picture.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the backing member separated from the frame.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not the intent to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is the intent to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning first to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of an apparatus for decorative mounting of planar articles in accordance with the present invention. A frame 12 supports an adhesive coated mounting board 14 and a flexible, transparent, overlying plastic film 16. Planar articles, such as a picture or card 18, are adhered to the mounting board by means of the adhesive layer and covered by the transparent plastic film. When the card 18 is to be rearranged or replaced, the transparent film is lifted by peeling it from the adhesive mounting board. To facilitate this lifting of the film, a tab or lip 20 is provided along the free edge of the film, while the opposite edge is secured along a portion of the periphery of the mounting board. In the preferred embodiment, the film is sized to clear the frame on three of its four sides to allow front access without removal of the mounting board.

In order to achieve a smooth glass-like appearance with the plastic film covering over the mounted articles, it has been experimentally determined that the film thickness needs to be at least 0.007 inches, and in order to prevent delamination of the cardboard backing member, the adhesive force between the adhesive layer and this thick film should be 2.0 oz. per square inch or less. However, in order to adequately hold articles, such as cards, the adhesive to paper adhesion strength needs to be 1.6 oz. per square inch or greater. These adhesive requirements cannot be met with generally available pressure sensitive adhesives currently on the market; however, by mixing aluminum chlorohydrate with available pressure sensitive mounting adhesives, the requisite adhesive properties result.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that modifications can be made to the apparatus and method for using same without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.