Frame assembly
United States Patent 1191 Lumbard FRAME ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Edward B. Lumbard, Chicago, 111.  
 [73] Assignee: Poster Products, Inc., Chicago, 111. A  
 [22] Filed: May 10, 1973 21 App]. No: 359,291  
 Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnston, Keil, Thompson &amp; Shurtleff 1451 Apr. 15, 1975 [5 7 ABSTRACT A frame assembly for carrying display panels for advertisingand otherpurposes is provided which includes a pair of generally polygonal allochiral frames having means for carrying a display panel between them, an internal groove with an opening therein on the lower inner side of each of said frames and a connecting member having an intermediate portion and opposing ends shaped to fit said internal grooves and insertedin said grooves with the intermediate portion extending through said opening to connect the lower part of said frames so as to permit pivoting of said frames around said connecting member to open and closed positions while retaining said frames in a predetermined relationship with one another and in contact with one another adjacent said connecting member when in said open position. The construction is preferably such that the pivotal movement of said frames is limited to a generally V-shaped open position. An improved type of snap lock clip is also provided to hold the-frames together in the closed position and, if desired, to provide a means for hanging the frame assembly. A new and improved frame structure is also provided.  
 7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures FRAME ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND It is well known in the art to provide frames for holding photographic pictures and the like where two or more frames are connected as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 153,158 366,715, 2,367,071, 2,416,976, 3,132,432 and 3,529,374. These patents disclose various types of structures whereby photographs can be mounted side by side or one above the other where separate frames each capable of holding a photograph are connected together as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 153,158, 366,715, 2,367,071, 3,132,432 and 3,529,374, or two frames can be connected together to hold a single pho&#39; tograph as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,416,976. In the last mentioned patent the frame assembly is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on semi-cylindrical trunions which in turn are mounted on a base permitting the frame assembly to rotate in a circular path.  
 OBJECTS One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a new and improved type of frame assembly for carrying display panels particularly advertising and other promotional material, including threedimensional display panels in which the frame assembly permits the same or different display panels to be viewed from opposite sides of the frame assembly and wherein the structure of the frame assembly and the method of inserting and removing the display panels are relatively simple.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved frame assembly wherein a pair of generally polygonal allochiral frames have means for carrying a display panel between them and the frames are connected on their lower inner sides with a connecting member which permits them to pivot to open and closed positions while retaining them in a predetermined relationship with one another and in contact with one another adjacent said connecting member when in the open position in such a way as to limit the pivotal movement to a partially open position in which display panels can be inserted or withdrawn from said frames.  
  A further object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly of the type described having new and improved locking means for locking the frames together in their closed position.  
  Still a further object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly of the type described which can either be hung or mounted in a base which will normally function to hold the frame members together in their closed position.  
  Still a further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved snap lock clip which can be employed to hold two frames together. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.  
 THE DRAWINGS In which:  
  FIG. I is a perspective view of a frame assembly of the invention in its open position showing in phantom a display panel about to be inserted; l I  
  FIG. 2 is a side view of the frame assembly of&#39; FIG. I in its closed position with a single three-dimensional display panel inserted therein;  
  FIG. 3 is a side view of the frame assembly of FIG. 1 in its closed position with two three-dimensional display panels inserted therein back-to-back;  
  FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a single frame member of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing how it can be used with a special clip to hold a display panel against a wall or other surface;  
  FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the special clip in FIG. 5;  
  FIG. 6 is a front elevational view with parts broken away showing the reenforcement at the corner of one of the frames;  
  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an L-shaped corner reenforcing and connecting member used in the frames of the frame assembly;  
  FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken through the central part of the upper frame assembly in its closed position illustrating means for locking the two frames together and of suspending them;  
  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred type of locking member; and  
  FIG. 10 illustrates a base in which a frame assembly can be mounted.  
 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a frame assembly for carrying display panels for advertising and other purposes which includes a pair of generally polygonal allochiral frames having means for carrying a display panel between them, an internal groove with an opening therein on the inner side of each of said frames and a connecting member having an intermediate portion and opposing ends shaped to fit said internal grooves and inserted in said grooves of two adjacent opposing members with said intermediate portion extending through said openings to connect the said frames so as to permit pivoting of said frames around said connecting member to open and closed positions while retaining said frames in a predetermined relationship with one another and in contact with one another adjacent said connecting member when in said open position. The construction is preferably such that the pivotal movement of said frames is limited to a generally V-shaped open position. An improved type of snap lock clip is also provided to hold the frames together in the closed position and, if desired, to provide a means for hanging the frame assembly. Due to the structure of the individual frame members one of them can be used with a special clip to hold a display panel against a wall or other surface.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1 the frame assembly of the invention comprises a pair of rectangular allochiral frames 1 and 2. Frame 1 has opposing side members 3 and 4, a lower member 5 and an upper member 6. Frame 2 has opposing side members 7 and 8, a lower member 9 and an upper member 10. Each of the frame members 1 and 2 is constructed similarly in that they are mitered at the corners and are held together at each of the corners by an L-shaped corner member 11 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.  
  Each of the frame members 3, 4, 5 and 6 in frame 1 and 7, 8, 9 and 10 in frame 2 is constructed with a channel or recess 12 therein which extends throughout the length of each of said members and is adapted to receive the L-shaped connecting members 11 at the corners. The recesses 12 are undercut at 13 and 14 so that the inwardly projecting frame portions 15 and 16 on either side of the opening 17 are in contact with connecting members 11. Connecting members 11 contain an L-shaped embossment 18 to increase rigidity and a plurality of embossments 19 to further increase rigidity and to contact the inner sides of channel 12 so that the corners of the frames will not wobble and will remain tightly fixed. To facilitate rigidity, the internal groove 12 in each frame member preferably has a width at least half as great as the width of the frame member. Thus, in a frame member of the type shown in the drawings having a width of approximately 1 inch, the width of channel 12 would be at least one-half inch. The overall thickness of each of the frame members 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, 8, 9, 10 having a width of approximately 1 inch, might be, for example three-eighths inch.  
  Each of these frame members 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, 8, 9, 10 also contains a groove 20 running lengthwise on the interior surface having an opening 21 as shown in FIG. 4. All of said frame members also contain an inwardly extending flange 22.  
 A connecting member 23 having an intermediate portion 24 and opposing ends 25 and 26 shaped to fit said internal grooves 20,20 is inserted in said grooves with said intermediate portion extending through said openings 21,21 to connect said lower members and 9 so as to permit pivoting of said frames 1 and 2 around said connecting member to open and closed positions while retaining them in a predetermined relationship with one another and in contact with one another at the lower sides 27 when in the open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. 1 The angle between the frames 1 and 2 in the open position can be varied (usually within the range of to 60) but should be large enough to permit the insertion of a display panel 28 so that when the frames 1 and 2 are closed the display panel will rest on the flanged portions 22,22 and, if it is a three-dimensional panel, will project beyond one of the frames as shown in FIG. 2. If two display panels are placed back-to-back between the frames 1 and 2 while in the open position so that they rest on the flanged areas 22,22 and the frames are then closed, the result will be a frame assembly as shown in FIG. 3, and if both panels are threedimensional, the portions 29 and 30 will project beyond the sides of the frames.  
  One of the features of the invention is the provision of a base as illustrated in FIG. 10 containing a base plate 31 on which is mounted a vertical rod 32 and a channel member 33 comprising an intermediate channel portion 34 containing a recess 35 in which the lower members 5 and 9 of the frame assembly are received and two vertical channel members 36 and 37 containing recesses 38 and 39 in which side members 3,8 and 4,7 of the frame assembly are received. In this manner the frame assembly is held in closed position without locking or otherwise fastening the frames 1 and 2 together.  
  Where it is desired to provide independent means for fastening the frames 1 and 2 together after the display panels have been inserted, one of the features of the invention is the provision of a snap lock clip 40 as illustrated in FIG. 9 which is in the form of an inverted T wherein the opposing ends 41 and 42 of the horizontal portion have a generally circular cross section adapted to be received by grooves 20,20 which also have side openings 43 and 44 and are made of a resilient plastic or other suitable material molded in one piece with the vertical portion 45. The clip 40 can be snapped into the grooves 20,20 due to the resilience of the end portions 41,42. Likewise, by applying pressure, the frame members 1 and 2 can be pulled apart and clip 40 removed.  
  If it is desired to suspend or hang the frame this can be done by providing an opening 46 in clip 40 through which one end of an S hook 47 can be inserted and the other end attached to a supporting member 48 which in turn is attached to a ceiling, a beam or any other type of fixed structure.  
  From the foregoing description it will be seen that a frame assembly of the type described is advantageous for carrying display panels, particularly advertising and other promotional material, including threedimensional display panels, so that the same or different display panels can be viewed from opposite sides of the frame assembly and the structure of the frame assembly and the method of inserting and removing the display panels is relatively simple. The structure of the frame members and the bottom connecting member makes it possible to limit the pivotal movement to a partially open position in which the display panels can be inserted or withdrawn from the frames. The frame members can be made of extruded aluminum or any other suitable material which is relatively rigid. The connecting member 23 can also be made of extruded aluminum or another suitable material, preferably one which is rigid. The connecting member 23 is normally mounted in the lower frame members 5 and 9 before these frame members are assembled with the side frame members 3,4 and 7,8, respectively, by inserting the corner members 11. The corner members 11 are preferably made of metal, or other rigid material. If desired, they can be cemented into place with adhesive applied at 49 and 50 or elsewhere. The embossments 13 and 49 can be omitted and other types of corner members 11 can be used. Hence, once the frames 1 and 2 have been assembled with the rigid corner members 11 a very permanent type of structure is formed which is quite rugged and capable of withstanding hard usage to which it might be subjected when it is employed in advertising and promotional displays, particularly when such displays are changed from time to time. In addition, the invention provides a new and improved means for mounting and/or hanging the frame assembly and a new and improved means for locking the frames together with a new and improved snap lock clip.  
  Due to the special structure of each individual frame member 1 or 2 it is possible to use a single frame member with a special clip to hold a display panel against a wall or other surface. This feature of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 which shows the upper part of frame member 1 which is adapted to be associated with a special clip 51, illustrated in FIG. 5A. The special clip 51 has an elongated portion 61 which is adapted to provide a retaining wall on one side for display panel 52 and on the other side is adapted to be fastened to a wall 53 or other suitable surface by means of adhesive 54, or other suitable means. Flange 55 of frame member 1 serves to restrain the upward movement of display panel 52. The inward movement of display panel 52 is prevented by the portion 56 as well as the inner side of lower part 6 of frame member 1. The recess 57 in the modification shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the recess 12 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. The groove 58 corresponds to groove 20 in FIG. 8. The under portion 59 of clip 51 corresponds to one of the under portions 42 or 43 in clip 40 shown in FIG. 9. The under portion 59 has a slit along one side thereof providing the opening 60. It will be noted that the portion 62 of clip 51 is at an angle to the portion 61 so that the inner side of the portion 62 will rest against the upper inner side of frame member 1 when the clip is inserted with the under portion 59 in groove 58. The clip 51 is preferably made of material such that the sides of under portion 59 are flexible or resilient enough so that the under portion 59 can be snapped into groove 58. When it is desired to remove frame member 1 from clip 51 this can be done merely by pulling outwardly so as to cause the sides of the flexible under portion 59 to yield toward one another and pass through the opening on the inner side of grooves 58.  
  It will be apparent that the invention is susceptible to a number of modifications and variations in the manner in which the frame members are used. As an example the snap lock clip 40 is illustrated in FIG. 8 as it is used for the purpose of suspending the frame assembly with the snap lock clip 40 in the form of an inverted T. However, when it is desired merely to lock the frame members together, the snap lock clip 40 can be used in an upright position, i.e., with the vertical portion 45 extending downwardly between the frame members. When used in this manner the means for holding the frame members together is not readily apparent to the casual observer. When the snap lock clip is used in this manner and it is desired to separate the frame members after they have been locked together a screw driver or similar tool can be used to pry them apart causing the under portions 42 and 44 of clip 49 to be removed from the grooves 20,20. It should also be understood that the snap lock members can be employed on the sides of the frames as well as at the top and that the frame assembly can be used with the sides 4,7 and 3,8 forming either the top or bottom of the assembly and the pivoted sides 5,9 being to one side of the assembly.  
 The invention is hereby claimed as follows:  
  1. A frame assembly for carrying display panels, said assembly including a pair of generally polygonal allochiral frames having means for carrying a display panel between them, said frames each comprising an upper member, opposing side members and a lower member,  
 each of said members containing an inner side and an outer side, said members each containing an internal groove with an opening therein on the inner side of said member, said internal grooves on said inner sides of said members facing one another, and a mechanical connecting member having an intermediate portion and opposing ends shaped to fit said internal grooves and inserted in said grooves of two adjacent opposing members with said intermediate portion extending through said openings to connect said frames so as to permit pivoting of said frames around said connecting member to open and closed positions with respect to one another while retaining them in a predetermined relationship with one another and in contact with one another adjacent said connecting member when in said open position.  
  2. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower members comprise means to limit the pivotal movement of said frames to a generally V-shaped open position.  
  3. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising locking means independent of said connecting member to lock said frames together in a closed position.  
  4. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises an internal groove in each of said upper members with an opening therein on the inner side of said member and a connecting mem her which has the general shape of an inverted T, the opposing ends of the horizontal portions having shaped resilient portions adapted to be received by said openings and to snap into said grooves to hold said frame members together.  
  5. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the vertical portion of said inverted T-shaped locking means projects above said frame assembly.  
  6. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said vertical portion above said frame assembly contains an opening for hanging said frame assembly.  
  7. A frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a base on which said frame assembly is mounted, said base comprising an intermediate channel member containing a recess in which said lower members of said frame assembly are received and a vertical channel member containing a recess in which said side members of said frame assembly are received.  
 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT N0. 3,877,165  
 DATED April 15, 1975 |NV ENTOR(S) I EDWARD B. LUMBARD It is certified that error Appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:  
 In the &#34;References Cited&#34;, &#34;3,.2ll,03l&#34;- should read D2ll,03l-.  
 Signed and Scalcd this twenty-third Day of December 1975 [SEAL] Arrest.-  
 , RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner nj&#39;Parents and Trademarks