US3590510A

US3590510A - Display mount for flat articles

Info

Publication number: US3590510A
Application number: US819235A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore Salz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-25
Filing date: 1969-04-25
Publication date: 1971-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-06

Abstract

A mirror, picture or similar flat article of rectangular outline is positively gripped on at least one pair of opposite sides by two brackets with beveled flanges drawn toward each other by clamps and/or springs.

Description

United States Patent 2,599,259 6/1952 Hooks .1 248/488 2,810,226 10/1957 Horwitt 40/155 FOREIGN PATENTS 211,636 11/1957 Australia 40/1521 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-\Venceslao J. Contreras A!torney Karl F. Ross ABSTRACT: A mirror, picture or similar flat article of rectangular outline is positively gripped on at least one pair of opposite sides by two brackets with beveled flanges drawn toward each other by clamps and/or springs.

PATENTEUJUL 6|97l 3,590,510

SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR. THEODORE SALZ ATTORNEY PATENTED JUL 6197i 3,590 510 A sum 2 or 3 I250 azsb INVENTORI THEODORE SALZ BY (K r CR0 ATTORNEY SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG.9

IN VENTORI THEODORE SALZ ss K r ATTORNEY PATENTEU JUL 6 I9?! FIG.|I

DISPLAY MOUNT FOllt FLAT AIR'II'IIIJIES My present invention relates to a display mount for flat arti cles, such as pictures or mirrors, which have a generally rectangular outline with at least one pair of parallel sides and which are to be hung from a wall or placed on a table in a vertical or inclined position.

In my copending application Ser. No. 750,719, filed Aug. 5, I968, I have disclosed a display mount for such articles wherein a back panel isdivided into two complementary portions which, upon being fitted together, positively engage a rectangular front panel with beveled edges that are overlain by similarly beveled peripheral formations or flanges holding that front panel firmly against the back panel, with possible interposition of a picture or the like between the two panels if the front panel is transparent. The beveled shape of the flanges avoids unsightly and obtrusive encroachments visible from the front and affords a tight'hold on the article without marring its exposed surface.

My present invention relates to a further development of such a mount and has for its main object the provision of a simplified construction of this character which, in addition, is more universally applicable to articles of different sizes. In accordance with the present improvement, I provide at least one pair of spaced-apart brackets which, while performing the task of the aforementioned back panel in my aboveidentified prior application, do not interfit but are drawn toward each other by springs, clamps or similar tensioning means so that their forwardly projecting beveled flanges, overlying two parallel edges of the article to be mounted, positively engage that article.

Owing to the gripping force exerted by the tensioning means, it is no longer necessary to engage the article on all four sides since the friction generated by the two confronting flanges will usually suffice to prevent the article from slipping out laterally. If desired, however, such positive four-sided engagement may be provided with the aid of a second pair of brackets whose beveled flanges converge forwardly on an imaginary line perpendicular to the line of convergence of the flanges of the first pair. In fact, each bracket of the first pair may be rigidly joined with a respective bracket of the second pair to form two angle members adapted to grip diagonally opposite corners of a rectangular board, transparent panel, mirror or the like, this construction being again not limited to rectangles or squares of fixed width and height.

The brackets or their interconnecting tie means may be connected to eyelets, wires or other suspension means for hanging the mounted article from a wall or may have easelforming extensions for placing the article on a horizontal supporting surface.

As shown in my copending application, a front panel (transparent or not) may be provided as a carrier for the article to be displayed if the latter is not self-supporting. This front panel may again be formed with beveled edges along its sides gripped by the converging bracket flanges although such beveling is not essential ifa slight overhang of the panel edges can be tolerated from an esthetic point of view. It is also possible to line the confronting surfaces of the two flanges with a resilient or at least deformable layer capable of adapting itself to the shape of the corresponding front panel edge which may be transversely convex, for example, so as to afford a firm positive grip.

The above and other features of my invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of certain embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a display mount embodying my invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are views similar to FIG. ll, illustrating several modifications;

FIG. 5 is a perspective rear view of a four bracket assembly adapted to be used in a display mount according to my invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. d, showing a modification of that assembly;

FIG. '7 is a cross-sectional view of a display mount similar to that shown in FIG. I; and

FIGS. flll are fragmentary sectional views, similar to FIG. 7, illustrating further modifications.

In FIG. l, I have shown a display mount designed to hold a flat article It) of generally rectangular outline, e.g. a piece of wood or cardboard carrying a picture on its front surface not visible in the drawing. The board lltl is juxtaposed with a front panel ill (see also FIG. 7) having upper and lower beveled edges 111, Ill: engaged by correspondingly beveled flanges lZa, I21; of a pair of brackets llla, 11% which are independently movable behind board ill while resting against the rear surface of the latter. The beveled surfaces of flanges 112a and 12b converge forwardly toward an imaginary line L, FIG. 7, so that a viewer standing in front of the assembly will see only a very narrow portion of these flanges and will not see anything else of the brackets 13a and lilb integral therewith. At the same time, owing to the positive engagement between these flanges and the panel edges Ila and H17, the stack Ill, ll is firmly gripped by the flanges as the two brackets are drawn toward each other as indicated in FIG. l by arrows A and B.

In the embodiment of FIG. I, the means urging the flanges 12a and I2]; into contact with edges llla and Ella are shown as a pair of contractile springs M anchored to a pair of profiles l5a, llfib integrally projecting from brackets ll3a and 13b toward the rear. In the otherwise identical arrangement of FIG. 2, the profiles 15a, 1% are traversed by a pair of bolts 16 which are secured to the lower profile 1512 by nuts not shown and whose heads I? are held spaced from the upper profile I54 by respective compression springs Id.

FIG. 3 shows a further modification wherein the profiles 15a and 1512 are interconnected directly by bolts 16 under tension from nuts l9, without the interposition of springs.

In each of these instances, as will be readily understood, the separation of the two

brackets

13a, 13b is variable Within certain limits so that the corresponding dimension of the front panel Ill and board It) may also vary. The other major dimension of the stack 10, ll can also be freely chosen since their transverse edges need not coincide with the ends of the flanges 12a, llZb as shown in FIGS. l -3.

In FIGS. l and 2, in which the two brackets with their beveled flanges and interconnected profiles extend horizontally, l have shown different means for suspending the assembly from nails or hooks on a wall. In FIG. I the suspension means is in the form of a wire or cord 2t! which freely passes through a pair of holes 231 in the upper profile llSa and through similar holes, not shown, in profile l5b, the projecting ends of the cord being knotted to form abutments which bear upon the underside of lower bracket llfib. Although the cord or wire 20 could be attached directly to the upper profile llSa, the ar rangement shown is preferred especially in the case of heavier units since the weight thereof will then not distend the springs M. Similarly, an eyelet 22 shown in FIG. 2 is articulated to a rod 23 which freely traverses a center hole of upper bracket Mia and is anchored to lower bracket lSb, thereby again avoiding any additional loading of springs I8.

In FIG. 3, where the

brackets

13a and 13!: extend generally vertically rather than horizontally, the profiles 15a and 1512 are secured by their tie bolts to to a strap 24 to which an easel 25 is riveted at 26. The easel may be swung about the rivet through an arc of with simultaneous shifting of strap 24 as shown in dot-dash lines, to let the brackets lie horizontally as in FIG. I.

In FIG. 41, l have shown a mount generally similar to that of FIG. 3 wherein, however, a pair of easel-forming extensions a, l25b of brackets ll3a, I113!) are drawn together by a pair of bolts lilo mating with nuts H9. This. construction is particularly adapted as a holder for relatively small photographs or the like to be placed on a table or desk.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the principles of my invention may be extended by the provision of two pairs of brackets 213a, 21% and 21l3c, llllfld orthogonally related to each other, these brackets being generally similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and being provided with respective

front flanges

213a, 212b, 2120, 212d and

rear profiles

215a, 215b, 215e, 215d. A common tensioning device, including a rectangular central frame 226, serves to draw the brackets of each pair toward each other, this device also including extensible tie means (here simply shown as contractile springs 214) for exerting the necessary clamping pressure which causes the flanges 2I2a 212d to grip respective edges of the rectangular front panel 211.

In FIG. 6, Ishow again two pairs of brackets 1513;, 313b and 313C, 313d, yet in this case the brackets 313a and 3130 as well as the brackets 3l3b and 313d have been combined into respective angle members whose flanges engage diagonally opposite corners of front panel 311. The interconnecting tensioling means, here shown as springs 314, again create stresses drawing the two brackets of each pair toward each other, with enough adjustability to allow for dimensional changes of the engaged front panel.

In the preceding Figures the front panel has been shown with at least one pair of beveled edges conforming to the inclination of the flanges by which they are gripped. It is, however, also possible to use the flanged brackets of my invention with front panels having straight or transversely curved edges or, in fact, to dispense with such front panel and to have the flanges bear directly upon parallel but not necessarily beveled edges of an ordinary glass pane, picture-mounting board or similar article. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a flange 12 of a bracket 13 may slightly overhang the front surface of a straight-edged glass pane 11 so as positively to lock it into position against a backboard l0, e.g. with a photograph, painting or document 27 sandwiched therebetween.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a lining 28 of compressible and preferably resilient material (e.g. foam rubber) is secured to the inner surface of the beveled flange l2, i.e. to the surface confronting the companion flange not shown, this lining being designed to fill the void 29 seen in FIG. 8. According to FIG. 10, the lining may be part of an extended layer 28 of foam rubber or the like enveloping the flange l2 and overlying part of the rear surface of bracket 13.

FIG. 11 illustrates how the lining 28' is deformed on being forced into contact with a convex edge 11' ofa glass pane 11, thereby again positively engaging that pane without a major overhang when the bracket 13 is urged toward its mate by tensioning means here shown as a turnbuckle 30.

Naturally, the various tensioning, suspension and/or supporting means shown in different Figures may be interehangeably used with one another, and with or without deformable linings of the type illustrated in FIGS. 9ll.

The term beveled," as herein used, is intended to refer to acute angles a (FIG. 7) in a range of substantially 30 to included with the front surface of the article to be displayed.

I claim:

I. A display mount for a flat article of generally rectangular outline, comprising at least two spaced-apart brackets disposed at the rear surface of said article, said brackets having rearwardly bent profiles and further having forwardly projecting beveled flanges converging to the front of said article on an imaginary line parallel to a pair of parallel sides of said outline, said flanges respectively overlying said parallel sides, and tie means anchored under tension to said profiles for drawing said brackets toward each other, thereby holding said flanges in positive engagement with said article.

2. A display mount as defined in claim 1 further comprising a transparent panel in front of said article having a pair of opposite edges substantially registering with said parallel sides, said edges being beveled parallel to said flanges and being gripped by the latter.

3. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said brackets are provided with deformable linings on the confronting surfaces of said flanges.

4. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said tie means is adjustable.

5. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said tie means comprises at least one spring and said profiles are arranged horizontally one above the other, further comprising suspension means traversing the upper one of said profiles and secured to the lower one of said profiles.

6. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said profiles are arranged generally vertically and said coupling further includes an easel secured to said tie means.

7. A display mount as defined in claim I wherein said profiles are arranged horizontally one above the other, further comprising an easel secured to the upper one of said profiles.

8. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein the outline of said article has another pair of parallel sides transverse to the first-mentioned pair, further comprising two other spacedapart brackets at said rear surface extending orthogonally to the two first-mentioned brackets and having forwardly projecting beveled flanges overlying said other pair of sides while converging to the front of said article on an imaginary line parallel to said other pair of sides, said tie means engaging said other brackets and drawing same toward each other.

9. A display mount as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said first-mentioned brackets is rigid with a respective one of said other brackets and forms therewith an angle member, said outline having a pair of diagonally opposite corners respectively engaged by the two angle members so formed.

Claims

1. A display mount for a flat article of generally rectangular outline, comprising at least two spaced-apart brackets disposed at the rear surface of said article, said brackets having rearwardly bent profiles and further having forwardly projecting beveled flanges converging to the front of said article on an imaginary line parallel to a pair of parallel sides of said outline, said flanges respectively overlying said parallel sides, and tie means anchored under tension to said profiles for drawing said brackets toward each other, thereby holding said flanges in positive engagement with said article.

4. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said tie means is adjustable.

6. A display mount as defined in claim l wherein said profiles are arranged generally vertically and said coupling further includes an easel secured to said tie means.

7. A display mount as defined in claim l wherein said profiles are arranged horizontally one above the other, further comprising an easel secured to the upper one of said profiles.

8. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein the outline of said article has another pair of parallel sides transverse to the first-mentioned pair, further comprising two other spaced-apart brackets at said rear surface extending orthogonally to the two first-mentioned brackets and having forwardly projecting beveled flanges overlying said other pair of sides while converging to the front of said article on an imaginary line parallel to said other pair of sides, said tie means engaging said other brackets and drawing same toward each other.