GB2231995A - Framing - Google Patents

Abstract

Framing 10 is disclosed which includes frame members 12, 13 around a board 11, a joint assembly 14 between frame members 12 and 13 being provided by a corner piece 15 adapted to be secured to the frame members and a shroud (28 Figure 2) adapted to conceal the corner piece 15 and end portions of the frame members 12, 13. The corner piece is provided with aperture 20 to enable it to be fixed to a support. <IMAGE>

Description

FRAMING This invention relates to framing including a plurality of frame members surrounding a board. The board can be a display board, a panel, or any other sheet which needs to be framed. The invention has particular application in the construction of notice boards.

Many notice boards need to be secured unobtrusively to walls or comparable surfaces and it is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly which facilitates this.

The invention provides framing including a plurality of frame members and a board, a joint assembly between two of said frame members being provided by a corner piece which has an angled body adapted to be secured to the frame members, fixing means whereby the body can be secured to a support, and a shroud complementary to the body and to the frame members detachably securable to the body to conceal said fixing means.

The frame members can be extrusions.

The frame members can have slots to receive the board.

The corner piece can have a plug portion for engagement with each frame member and means for securing the corner piece to each frame member.

The securing means can comprise an aperture in the body of the corner piece through which a screw can pass to secure the corner piece to a wall or similar structure.

The body of the corner piece can have seating structure extending rearwardly of the frame members.

The cover/shroud can be a snap fit onto the corner piece.

The cover/shroud can be shaped complementarily to the frame member and shaped to simulate a mitre corner.

Instead of the aperture, the corner piece can be provided with a weakened portion through which a fastener can be passed to engage supporting structure.

As a further possibility the means for securing the corner piece can comprise a hook or the like for engaging with a supporting formation on supporting structure.

The frame members can be in the form of extrusions.

The cover/shroud can be a snap fit onto projections outstanding from the corner piece.

The cover/shroud can be a pushfit or a snap fit onto the frame members only.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of framing of the invention showing single joint assembly between frame members; Fig. 2 is a comparable view, but with a shroud attached; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the assembly of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an end view of one of the frame members of Figs. 1 to 3.

A preferred framing 10 of the invention includes a board 11 and a plurality of frame members of which two are shown at 12 and 13. It will be appreciated that in the framing 10 of the invention there will be perhaps four frame members in all which meet at respective joint assemblies of which one is shown at 14. In the case of a rectangular board the frame members 12, 13 will be arranged at right angles and the joint assembly will be constructed accordingly.

In the case of boards of different shapes then the frame members will be disposed at different angles and the joint assembly will be modified accordingly. In the case of curved frame members the joint assembly can simply serve to unite two frame members in a straight line. Joint assembly allowing angles of any convenient value can be used.

The joint assembly 14 includes the two members 12,13 and a corner piece 15. The corner piece has a body 16 angled to provide a limb aligned with each frame member 12,13. Each limb provides an attachment portion 17, which has a rear extension 17for engaging with the frame members 12,13 and provides a seating for a screw 18 which can engage with a socket 19 in the frame member 12,13.

The body 16 has means whereby the assembly can be secured to a wall or the like. Such means is in the form of an aperture 20 passing through the body 16.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the aperture 20 also extends through a boss 21 which with an L-shaped formation provides a seat 22 for engagement with a supporting surface. The seat 22 lifts the body 16 and the frame members 12,13 slightly away from the supporting structure to facilitate mounting on potentially uneven surfaces.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that each frame member 12, 13 is in the form of an extrusion as from aluminium, alloy or plastics material. The extrusion includes a generally part-cylindrical front portion 23, an inwardly open slot 24 for receiving the board 11 and provided with teeth 25 for fixing engagement with the board 11. The extrusion also provides the socket 19 for engagement by the screw 18. On its outer side the extrusion has a decorative recess 26 and on its rear has a recess 27 into which the portions 17a can fit.

The joint assembly 14 further includes a shroud 28 which can be formed from plastics and/or metal and which is shaped to cover the body 16 and the fastenings. As will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the shroud is externally shaped to resemble a continuation of the fame members 12,13 meeting at a smooth mitre joint. Open ends 29 of the shroud 28 are shaped to be complementary to the frame members 12,13 and to closely overlie them. The degree of overlap is sufficient to allow for a certain degree of tolerance in the cutting of members 12,13 to length.

The shroud 28 can simply be a push fit on an appropriately shaped type of member 12,13, but is preferably a snap-fit. In the present case, posts 30 upstand from the portions 17 and provide pegs 31 which are a snap-fit within receptacles 32 on the shroud 28.

In addition, the shroud has lips 33 which are a snap fit on the portions 34 of the body 16.

Of course, the shroud 28 can be of any convenient shape or form compatible with or contrasting with the frame members 12,13. It can be secured in any convenient way, for example by being a push-fit, snap-fit or a sliding-fit onto appropriate mountings.

It will be appreciated that the framing of the invention is particularly suitable for use in notice boards in that it allows pre-formed boards to be installed very easily on site with a minimum of tools and skill and allows the fixings to be easily concealed. Further, when the shroud is a push or snap-fit onto the joint assembly it is very easy to modify and remove the board when desired. Of course, the invention does relate to the framing of all types of panels and not merely display panels. The angle between the two connecting portions of the corner piece can vary from 0 to 1800.

Many other variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (15)

1. Framing including a plurality of frame members and a board, a joint assembly between two of said frame members being provided by a corner piece which has an angled body adapted to be secured to the frame members, fixing means whereby the body can be secured to a support, and a shroud complementary to the body and to the frame members detachably securable to the body to conceal said fixing means.

2. Framing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame members are extrusions.

3. Framing as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the frame members have slots to receive the board.

4. Framing as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the corner piece has a plug portion for engagement with each frame member.

5. Framing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the corner piece has means for securing the corner piece to each frame member.

6. Framing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the securing means comprises an aperture in the body of the corner piece.

7. Framing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the securing means includes a fastener attached to or integral with the body.

8. Framing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body of the corner piece has seating structure extending rearwardly of the frame members.

9. Framing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is a snap-fit onto the joint assembly.

10. Framing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shroud is a push-fit.

11. Framing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is shaped complementarily to the frame member.

12. Framing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said fixing means is provided by the corner piece having a weakened portion through which a fastener can be passed to engage supporting structure.

13. Framing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the fixing means comprises a hook or the like for engagement with a supporting formation on supporting structure.

14. Framing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame members are in the form of extrusions.

15. Framing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.