Method of framing a carrier of visual information, set comprising a piano and a holder, a piano and a holder

The present invention relates to a method for framing a carrier of visual information which has at least one plane side with visual information .

Such a method is generally known, in particular for displaying carriers of visual information such as photos, posters and the like. To this end, the carrier is provided with a frame, wherein a glass plate or plastic plate protects the carrier.

The present invention aims to provide a method of the type as described in the preamble with which a carrier can be protected extensively, and which on the other hand offers minimal diversion of the attention for the carrier. To this end, according to the invention, a method is provided for placing a carrier of visual information having at least one plane side with visual information into a holder, using a blank, wherein i) the blank comprises an optically transparent body having a front plane and a back plane, the dimensions of the carrier of visual information do not exceed those of the back plane of the body, and the carrier is placed with the side depicting the visual information on the back plane of the body; ii) the blank comprises at least two flaps connected via connecting zones to the optically transparent body, wherein the connect- ing zones at least at the side of the optically transparent body are straight and at least two connecting zones are not in line with each other, the material at the connecting zones is made of plastic, and the thickness of the material at the connecting zones is such that the plastic material is bendable at these zones, whereas the thick- ness of the material of the transparent body and the flaps is at least 2 times as large as the thickness of the material at the location of the bendable plastic material; and iv) the flaps are fixed with respect to each other.

Such a method makes it possible to frame carriers of visual in- formation in an inexpensive and simple manner, while the transparent body which comprises a relatively thick plate that is hardly or not at all flexible, protects the carrier, and the minor thickness of the connecting zone (which in addition, will in practice often be trans-

parent) , permits protection of the carrier without diverting the attention for the carrier since no frame parts protrude beyond the front plane of the body. The blank is advantageously a one-piece blank, wherein the blank is formed by means of slotting a plastic plate or by injection molding. In an alternative embodiment, which is more laborious and therefore not preferred, a body plate can be placed onto an optically transparent adhesive film to form the body (which comprises the body plate and the film) , and two flap plate members are placed at some distance of the transparent body onto the film. Thus, flaps are formed which are connected to the body via a connection part (in this embodiment formed by the adhesive film) . Note, that in both embodiments it is fully avoided that members extend beyond the front plane of the body and would thus be visually disturbing. Advantageously, in as much a connecting zone is visible from an axis perpendicular to the centre of the body, at least that part of the connecting zone is optically transparent. The thickness of the material of the transparent body and the flaps is preferably at least 3, and more preferably at least 4 times as large as the thickness of the material of the bendable plastic material that forms the connecting zone. This provides neater edges. Usually, the flap members will be bent over 90°, yet the invention is not limited thereto. In the scope of the present invention bendable means that the plastic material can be bent into the position in which it is fixed with respect to the back panel without fracturing or tearing. The continuous film and/or one-piece blank protect the carrier in an excellent way, for example against water, the atmosphere and light. The invention solves the problem of photographers, photo and poster studios and museums who on the one hand wish to properly protect the carrier and on the other hand do not want the carrier to divert the attention.

WO2005005160 discloses a device which comprises a transparent blank and a back side, wherein the back side is provided with a folding line to form a standard. The blank is bent, yet this publication does not teach a blank having connecting zones with a lower thickness of the material. Therefore, only thin material can be used for this blank which in itself will have so little rigidity of form that it will wrinkle, affecting the appearance of the carrier of visual information. When using somewhat thicker material, no sharp (right) an-

gles are possible at the edges of this blank, which devalues the appearance of the holder as well and at the same time the carrier of visual information it displays.

In order to fix the flaps it is possible to interconnect them, as a result of which the carrier will not be damaged at the back side. However, according to an important embodiment, use is made of a back panel. This permits a rigidity that is not solely determined by the thickness of the body. The back panel can be part of one or more flaps. In an alternative embodiment the blank and the back panel con- stitute a set, and the flaps of the blank are attached to the back panel. They can be attached either to the side of the back panel or to its back.

Thus, a solid construction is provided. The attachment can be realized in various ways such as using tape, double sided tape, glue, velcro, optionally friction locking mortise joints etc. According to a possible embodiment the dimensions of the back panel do not exceed those of the body, and the back panel is placed onto the carrier of visual information. In accordance with another embodiment the flaps of the blank are inserted into the back panel. The present invention also relates to a set comprising a) a blank for a holder for a carrier of visual information and b) a back panel, wherein the blank comprises an optically transparent body having a front plane and a back plane, the back plane is intended to face the carrier of visual information, and the blank comprises at least two flaps which are connected to the body via connecting zones, and at least at the side of the transparent body the connecting zones are straight, and at least two connecting zones are not in line with each other, the material at the connecting zones is plastic and the thickness of the material at the connecting zones is such that the material at that location is bendable while the thickness of the material of the transparent body and the flaps is at least 2 times as large as the thickness of the material at the bendable material, wherein the connecting zones allow for the flaps to be folded against the back panel . Such a set can be suitably used in the method of the invention. Advantageously, in as much a connecting zone is visible from an axis perpendicular to the centre of the body, at least that part of the connecting zone is optically transparent.

An important embodiment is characterized in that the whole of body, flaps and connecting zones of the blank, consists of 1 piece of plastic.

The blank is, for example, manufactured by means of slotting a rectangular plate.

Advantageously, the plastic is polyethylene terephtalate (PET) .

This plastic is very suitable optically and exhibits a suitable flexibility for the connecting zones . In addition, this plastic effectively protects against UV thereby preventing any discoloring of the carrier of visual information.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the body is rectangular and at least two connecting zones are situated at opposite sides of the body.

The present invention offers protection of the carrier against moisture and the like; this is achieved by virtue of the connecting zones which are preferably continuous and which will, hence, not transmit moisture. In order to achieve optimal protection, it is therefore preferred that the connecting zones extend along all sides of the circumference of the body. An important embodiment is characterized in that the back panel is smaller than or as big as the body.

Thus, the use of a frame can entirely be avoided as a result of which it cannot divert the attention for the carrier.

The present invention also makes it possible to present the carrier of visual information in an artistic way. In particular, it is possible that the body is curved, preferably in 1 direction.

The invention also relates to a blank as described above for a set according to the invention.

Finally, the invention relates to a holder which comprises a set according to the invention and a carrier of visual information.

The present invention will now be elucidated based on the description of a few possible embodiments with reference to the drawing in which fig. 1 represents a set comprising a blank composed of parts and a back panel; fig. 2 represents the blank of fig. 1 in a top plan view;

fig. 3 represents a cross section of the set of fig. 1 when assembled, wherein the set is provided with a carrier of visual information; fig. 4 represents a cross section of a set comprising a one- piece blank and a back panel, wherein a carrier of visual information is also shown; fig. 5 shows the top plan view of the set of fig. 4 in a partially assembled state; fig. 6 demonstrates a cross section of the set of fig. 4 in a partially assembled state; fig. 7 shows an assembled set with a curved body; fig. 8 represents a front view of a back panel; fig. 9 represents a cross-section through the back panel of fig. 8 along line IX-IX, fig. 10 represents a cross-section similar to that of fig. 9 through a blank suitable for the back panel of fig. 8; and fig. 11 represents a cross-section through a holder according to the invention.

It is noted that the attached drawings are not to scale. In particular, thicknesses are over exaggerated.

In fig. 1 a set 1 is shown comprising a blank 2 and a back panel 3. In the present case the blank is a composite blank 2, which comprises an optically transparent adhesive film 4. A rectangular optically transparent body 5 is stuck onto the adhesive film 4, which body 5 will have standard sizes for industrially produced sets, such as sizes suitable for photos (for example, 20x30 cm, 18x24 cm etc.) or for posters. Obviously, the size of the body can also be custom made. The thickness of the body may vary and is for example 0,5-10 mm, usually 1-3 mm. At a distance of the body 5, at both sides thereof, two flap members 6, 6' have been placed on the adhesive film 4, which flap members in the present case have been provided with double-sided tape 7 at the side not facing the adhesive film 4. Upon delivery, this double sided tape 7 will be provided with a release liner (not shown) which prevents premature adhesion. In order to demonstrate two ways of fixing, as hereinafter described in more detail when discussing fig. 3, in the present case the distance B is equal to the thickness of the flap member 6, and the distance B' is equal to the thickness

of the body 5, in both cases increased with the thickness of the double sided tape 7.

In fig. 2 the blank 2 is depicted in a top plan view and the back panel 5 and double sided tape 7 have been omitted. In fig. 3 the set disclosed in fig. 1 is formed into a holder with a carrier of visual information A. Although for aesthetic reasons in practice it will not be opted for, this figure shows two different ways in which the adhesive film 4 may constitute a connecting zone between the body 5 and the flap members 6, 6' . At flap member 6 it can be seen that the carrier A is enclosed at that location by flap member 6 having a minimal thickness. This thickness is even lower at flap member 6' , since the thickness at that location is essentially determined by the thickness of adhesive film 4. This demonstrates that by using the procedure and a set according to the inven- tion, a carrier of visual information can be enfolded in a closely enclosed and well protected manner, while at the same time this is hardly visible. Further note that by using the method of the invention, any undesired relief at the viewed side (front side), as is usually present with frames for posters and photos, can be avoided. In the case described above, the adhesive film 4 provides the connecting zones, wherein the location where the actual bending takes place, only forms a minor part of the connecting zone.

The embodiment described above can also be performed using a one-piece plastic blank, wherein the blank comprises at least one body 5, connecting zones and two flap members 6, 6' , in which case the blank is preferably made of polyethylene terephtalate (PET) , having a thickness of, for example, 2 mm and at the connecting zone where bending occurs a thickness of 0, 4 mm. The blank can, for example, be formed by means of slotting. PET also offers a beautifully matt (non-reflecting) surface. As an alternative, polycarbonate or other plastics can be contemplated.

In fig. 4 an alternative embodiment of a set- 1 is shown. In this case the flaps 6, 6' of blank 2 are in fact composite flaps 6, 6' , wherein flap 6 consists of flap members 6a, 6b which are sepa- rated by a connecting zone (and flap 6' of flap members 6' a and 6'b separated by a connecting zone) . A holder formed using this set 1 offers a carrier of visual information A protection on all sides. Sealing the seams may even provide a watertight entity.

The embodiment shown in fig. 4 is realized using PET. Here, at the body 5 the PET had a thickness of 1,5 mm, and a thickness of 0,4 mm at the thinnest part of the connecting zones. The back panel 3 had a thickness of 5 mm. In another embodiment the back panel 3 had a thickness of 18 mm.

In fig. 5 the set is shown in a top plan view in a partially assembled state. In the embodiment shown here, the blank 2 is formed using a single piece of PET and the connecting zones are formed by means of slotting. In the embodiment illustrated here the connecting zones are V-shaped (fig. 5) . The sum of the angles α and β is suitably 90° and in case of a V-shaped connecting zone each of α and β is preferably between 30° and 60°. Preferably, the sum of the angles α and β is 90°-x, wherein x is at least 0,5° and [x] is preferably smaller than 10°. Thus, in accordance with an advantageous embodi- ment, each of the angles α and β is 44°. This helps to prevent small deformations near the connecting zone resulting from inaccuracies. It will be appreciated that these instructions apply to back panels having sides perpendicular to the plane adjacent to the carrier A . If that angle is other than perpendicular, it is advised to make the an- gle of the V-shaped groove somewhat larger, as described above.

Again note that by using the method according to the invention a holder is obtained without a distracting profile at the edges of the holder formed using the set (fig. 6) .

According to the present invention it is also possible to use a curved body 8 in which case the back panel 9 will be curved correspondingly for a complete support of the carrier of visual information (fig. 7) .

The present invention is not restricted to back panels which are equally large or smaller than the optically transparent body. Fig. 8 shows a front view of a back panel 10 which, in the embodiment shown here, is provided with 2 non-continuous grooves 11, 11' and 2 continuous slots 12, 12' . Fig. 9 shows this back panel 10 as a cross section along the line IX-IX of fig. 8. The blank 13 shown in fig. 10 has short flaps 6 and broader flaps 6' . The short flaps 6 are in- serted into the non-continuous grooves 11, 11' whereas the broader flaps 6' are inserted into the continuous slots 12, 12'. The resilient nature of the plastic blank 13 provides a good connection of the blank 13 to the back panel 10, without the need for fasteners. Never-

theless, the flaps can be provided with ribs or the like in order to increase the grip with the grooves/slots. It is possible to adjust the width of at least 1 broad flap 6' such that it extends beyond the back panel 10 at the back side of the back panel 10. In particular, it is possible to provide the protruding part with a hole or a slot

(not shown) which can be gripped by a fastener (such as a support hook on a wall) for hanging the whole of the back panel 10, blank 13 and carrier of visual information.

This embodiment also offers a simple way of extensively isolat- ing the carrier of visual information from the environment. With precise dimensions the problem of air being caught between the back side of the body and the front side of the back panel may occur. In that case means for venting that lumen may be present, for example venting slots 14 and venting holes 15. In fig. 11 an embodiment is shown wherein the tendency of the flaps 16, 16' of the plastic blank 17 to return to a flat state, is used in order to keep the blank 17 pressed against the back panel 18. In other words, the flap members 16, 16' fix and centre themselves in the slots 19, 20, and additional measures such as double sided tape are not required. In order to keep the body 5 of the blank 17 pressed against the carrier A and thus against back panel 18, at least 1 of the slots 19, 20 has to taper outwardly from the viewed side. Advantageously, the side flaps (not shown) are used in order to press the body 5 against the carrier A and thus against back panel 18, and the lower flap member is positioned transversely to the back panel, as a result of which it functions as a support for the carrier A. In the case where the connecting zone between body 5 and flap member 6 is situated at the side of the back panel 18, the likelihood of damages to the carrier A is reduced. The back panel 6, 9, 10 does not have to comply with any particular requirements. For example, it can be made of wood but, advantageously also of a (slightly) expanded plastic, like for example expanded PVC which can be obtained under the trade name Forex (Vink N. V., Didam, The Netherlands). For those skilled in the art it will be clear that the invention can be varied in a variety of ways. Thus, instead of double sided tape click-connections can advantageously be used and these can be formed by means of complementary milling of the back panel and the flaps 6. It is also conceivable that the back

panel is part of a larger entity, wherein the limitations with regard to the back panel mentioned in the application, merely relate to that part of the front side of the back panel that is in contact with, or will be in contact with the carrier A. In order to avoid damage to the carrier A it can be advantageous to provide a recess in the back panel having virtually the thickness of the carrier, and preferably a little less than the thickness of the carrier, which helps the positioning and avoids damage to the carrier during assembly.