Field of invention

The present invention relates to an adhesive frame, such as a wall frame, for displaying an item, such as a photograph, postcard, picture, signage, or an office item such as a calendar or planner. The invention also relates to a method of making the same. Embodiments of the present invention provide re-usable frames which can be reliably mounted and re-mounted to a non-smooth surface without any additional components and without damaging the surface or the frame.

Background

A normal photographic frame is a manufactured product that frames a photograph or other picture in order to enhance its appearance. Photographic frames generally provide a border which is raised above and around the picture. Such frames were originally designed to be permanently attached to a vertical surface, such as a wall, or to be stood on a horizontal surface, such as a shelf or table. Typically, existing frames have a rear attachment which allows a frame to be hung from a nail or pin in a wall, or allows for the attachment of a device on the rear of the frame that enables the frame to stand at an angle on a flat horizontal surface. In these arrangements, the a non-smooth vertical surface was not a particular problem, since because it is hanging from a pin or nail, a frame typically sits slightly away from a wall, and is not affected by any bumps, ridges or hollows which may be present.

Accordingly, prior art arrangements are known in which a photograph can be displayed on a vertical surface using a nail or other damaging object to be inserted into the vertical surface from which the photo frame can be hung.

It is also known to provide wall frames which have to be attached directly to a wall, or other surface, without the use of a nail or pin. Several different systems are known. A permanent adhesive may be employed, but this can only be removed by causing damage to the surface to which the frame is attached (for example by ripping wallpaper, or pulling off paint on a painted surface). Self-adhesive foam pads which are external to the frame have also been employed, but these still cause damage, and are not therefore re-usable. A known alternative which is re-useable is a frame which is magnetic. However, the use of this frame is restricted to metal surfaces. One-time only attachment and removal has been made possible using stickers, such as 3M command stickers, but these are not suitable for multiple re-use.

In more recent times, frames have been developed which use more advanced materials, such as hydrocarbon-based gels and resins. These materials are more suitable for cheaper mass production of frames. For example, published patent application KJR. 2004-002332 A discloses a picture frame comprising a base plate pre-formed with a desired pattern on the top surface; an adhesive layer formed by applying transparent and gel-type adhesive on the base plate. The gel-type adhesive layer includes an epoxy-resin type adhesive material. The base plate has a copper plate attached at the bottom side. Published patent US 8,104,208 discloses a frame assembly, which in some embodiments is deformable and adapted to fit around a picture, or other item to be framed. In these embodiments, the frame may comprise a deformable material, such as an epoxy resin/gel. Published patent application US 2008/083148 discloses a picture frame formed typically from a hydrocarbon gel material, which is elastic and may be stretched to enclose a picture.

In these more recent frames, gel-type materials have been employed, either as adhesives or to form the frame as a whole. However, these frames are either not re-useable, or are not designed to (and are not capable of) adhering to a non-smooth surface. For example, although the frame in US 2008/083148 is designed to have sufficient 'adhesive property' (in this case a suction or capillary effect) to 'cling' to an ideal flat surface such as glass, it is not formed from an adhesive and is not capable of adhesion to a non-smooth surface, such as a wall. US 2006/032100 discloses a similar system utilizing an expanded polyvinylchloride (PVC) foam having cohesive and high static-friction properties, which is capable of adhering to a smooth surface without the use of adhesive, although the use of standard adhesive in some circumstances is not excluded.

The present applicant has found that none of the aforementioned arrangements are suitable for providing a re-usable frame which can be reliably mounted and re-mounted to a non- smooth surface without any additional components and without damaging the surface or the frame.

In response to this, the applicant previously developed an adhesive frame which employs felt to enable removable adhesion to a surface that is non-smooth. This frame is disclosed in published patent application WO 2008/090335. However, since the frame is formed from a felt support portion permanently adhered to a front decorative frame, such a frame requires several different materials and its manufacture is more complex and expensive than may be desirable for removable frames. Moreover, although the felt is flexible, the adhesive is not pliant (and so is not malleable) and cannot cope with some non-smooth surfaces, especially those that are particularly rough, such as textured surfaces and some wall-papered surfaces. Accordingly, less expensive frames that are simpler to manufacture and to use, but have improved removable adhesion to uneven surfaces, are still required.

Having regard to the above, it is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to solve the problems associated with known frames. In particular it is an aim of the present invention to provide a re-usable frame, which has fewer components and which is cheaper and/or simpler to manufacture than existing frames, and which is capable of being mounted on a non-smooth vertical surface, such as a wall, and especially to rough and/or uneven surfaces. It is a further aim of the invention to provide such a frame which is additionally capable of displaying both the front and reverse sides of an item simultaneously.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an adhesive frame for displaying an item, the frame comprising:

a holding element for holding the item in place;

a layer of a removable adhesive on one side of the holding element for removably adhering the adhesive frame to a surface; and

optionally a strengthening element for strengthening the holding element;

wherein the adhesive is comprised of a material which is pliant, enabling the adhesive frame to be removably attached to a non-smooth surface. Thus, the present inventors have determined that employing a pliant (or malleable) adhesive rather than a flexible frame provides significant advantages in re-usable adhesion to non- smooth surfaces. With this system, it is possible to adhere to even rougher surfaces, whilst additionally enabling use of a stronger (stiffer, less flexible) frame or holding element which does not necessarily require strengthening.

The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing an adhesive frame as defined above, the method comprising coating the holding element with a pliant removable adhesive on at least one side.

The present invention still further provides an adhesive frame kit for displaying an item, the kit comprising:

a holding element capable of holding the item in place;

a removable adhesive element capable of removably adhering the adhesive frame to a surface; and

optionally a strengthening element for strengthening the holding element;

wherein the removable adhesive element it adapted to be attached to one side of the holding element and wherein the adhesive is comprised of a material which is pliant, enabling the adhesive frame to be removably attached to a non-smooth surface.

In the present context removable adhesive does not mean that the adhesive can necessarily be removed from the holding element. Rather it is meant that the adhesive provides a removable bond with a surface to which it is adhered such that the adhesive frame can be adhered to a surface, removed, and then re-adhered. For this reason, typically the adhesive is more strongly attached to the holding element than the surface.

In the present context, a non-smooth surface may mean a surface that is uneven, chipped, cracked, has holes or is damaged in some way. It may further mean a surface that is not ideal, is not flat or is contoured. In these cases the surface may be such that a normal flat support frame will not contact all parts of the surface without bending, cracking, creasing or otherwise deforming, or such that adhesion to the surface is impaired, which interferes with good display of the item. Such surfaces are typically walls and may include, for example, walls with textured surfaces, wallpaper, or other deformities typical in the home environment. Alternatively, such a surface may be in an office environment, especially where the item to be displayed is a calendar, office planner or the like.

Further in the present context, pliant typically means that the material may be both compressed and stretched in the manner of an elastic substance, a rubber substance, a modelling clay, a putty, or the like. Thus, it is typically yielding, flexible, malleable and/or deformabie. In more detail, typically pliant means that the material is sufficiently malleable to be capable of following the contours of a non-smooth surface to promote contact with substantially all parts of the surface, whilst absorbing uneven surface contours so that the displayed item is itself not bent, creased or otherwise deformed. This significantly improves the quality of display. It is for this reason that it is the removable adhesive that is pliant. This improves adhesion and allows the holding material to be formed from stiffer material, since the adhesive absorbs the uneven contours, contacts all parts of the wall, and provides a flat surface for the holding element. Because the holding element may therefore be formed from stiffer material, the frame typically does not require a strengthening element to help support the displayed item. In other embodiments, the holding element itself may also be pliant. In these embodiments, the holding element also follows the uneven contours of the wall, in order to complement the effects of the adhesive. Typically, but not exclusively, these embodiments employ a strengthening element, since the pliant holding element may not be stiff enough for some display items.

The item is not especially limited, and may be any item for display. This may include large or small items, and items either in the home environment, or in a shop, business or office environment. Thus, typically the item may be a photograph, a postcard, or a picture, or may be signage, such as in a shop or station, may be an office item such as a calendar or planner. Thus, the item may be a CD or game cover display, or may even be an artwork.

Thus, one advantageous feature of the present application lies in the finding that if the removable adhesive is made from pliant material, it ideal for mounting an item, such as a photograph, postcard, or picture, onto a non-smooth or textured surface such that they can be removed, replaced or rearranged several times without damaging or altering the surface of the wall and at the same time not damaging the adhesive or the holding element. Accordingly, the adhesive frame of the present invention is reliably adhered to the wall even after several cycles of removing and replacing.

It should be noted that the adhesive properties required for mounting a display item or object to a wall are highly dependent on the nature of the object. For removable adhesion, the mounting materials must be strong enough to support the object to be mounted while being weak enough that the object can be removed and then remounted several times. As such, for any particular type of object, there is a narrow range of adhesive strength. A mounting arrangement must be found which falls within this narrow range for mounting a particular object. In the present case, the applicant has found that a holding element coated with a pliant removable adhesive is ideal for mounting a photograph, postcard, or picture frame or mount onto a wall such that they can be removed, replaced or rearranged several times without damaging or altering the surface of the wall, even when the wall has an uneven or non-smooth surface. The particular application of integrating a holding element with a pliant removable adhesive into a picture frame is far from trivial, since adhesive strength, pliancy and also re-usability are typically competing characteristics mutually exclusive to one another. There are a very large number of ways of adhering various objects in various different fields of art and the provision of a particular adhesive arrangement for a particular use is not a straightforward matter.

In the following, the invention will be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures.

Figure 1 shows a plan for production of a simple folded holding element.

Figure 2 shows a tile spacer which may be employed to ensure even picture placement.

Figure 3 shows a frame of the present invention, in which the holding element is in transparent plastic and is folded in two to create an enclosure for the item to be displayed. Such an element is advantageously used with pliant transparent gel adhesive. Detailed description

As has been mentioned, the present invention provides an adhesive frame for displaying an item, the frame comprising:

a holding element for holding the item in place;

a layer of a removable adhesive on one side of the holding element for removably adhering the adhesive frame to a surface; and

optionally a strengthening element for strengthening the holding element;

wherein the adhesive is comprised of a material which is pliant, enabling the adhesive frame to be removably attached to a non-smooth surface.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be referred to as Smart Frame Anywhere™. As has been explained, Smart Frame Anywhere™ allows for photographs or other display items or objects, to be displayed on most vertical surfaces without the necessity of piercing the vertical surface or causing any damage to it whatsoever. Smart Frame Anywhere™ provides an adhesive frame for a photo, or other item, that is backed by a layer of a pliant adhesive coating. Smart Frame Anywhere™ both holds and provides a frame or mounting for the item or photograph, and attaches by adhesion to most surfaces thereby holding the photograph in place against a vertical wall or other surface. The unique pliant adhesive arrangement allows the object or picture to be readily stuck to a wall or another surface such as a door, a refrigerator, a mirror or cupboard without damaging or altering that surface, even if the surface is damaged or uneven. The pressure sensitive adhesive property of the adhesive arrangement permits this to take place several times without leaving a residue on the surface such that the adhesive frame can be removed, replaced or re-arranged as required. Furthermore, the adhesive has sufficient yielding effect to absorb any irregularities on the surface to which the frame is attached to allow the frame to be stuck to a wide variety of surfaces without falling off.

The holding element is designed to be very simply and cheaply manufactured, and yet provide good support for an item to be displayed. The present applicant has found that a simple folded structure allows very simple manufacture and yet also provides good support for the item. Moreover, the folded structure adds to the yielding effect, by allowing the back portion of the folded element to bend to the contours or uneven parts of the vertical surface, whilst the front portion remains flat and better for display. Therefore, in some embodiments, the holding element comprises at least one fold adapted to hold the item in place relative to the holding element. In further embodiments, the holding element comprises at least one transparent layer which enables the item to be seen through the holding element layer. Alternatively or additionally, the holding element may comprise an aperture through which the item may be viewed.

As mentioned above, in some preferred embodiments, the holding element has at least one fold. Folding lightweight elements that are also pliant have never been used to make reusable frames, and this is a unique introduction permitting economy and speed of manufacture. An example of s simple layout for producing such a folded structure is shown in Figure 1. Typically the at least one fold comprises a single fold at one edge of the holding element such that at least a portion of the holding element comprises two adjacent layers capable of holding the picture or item in place. Thus, the folds may form an enclosure for holding the item. In typical embodiments o this type, the holding element is folded in two, so that the fold is adapted to hold (or enclose) the whole of the item in place between the two layers of the holding element. An example of such a structure is depicted in Figure 3. Alternatively, the holding element may have a fold at each edge such that at least a portion of the holding element at each edge comprises two adjacent layers capable of holding the edges of the item in place between them. In this configuration is preferred that the holding element folds are on its reverse side to keep the front side neat and tidy for better display. As a further alternative, the holding element may comprise holes or slits, or may be formed with 'corners', the holes slits or corners being designed to hold the item in place, instead of using folds. These are particularly suited to items such as smaller picture, photos and classic postcards. This configuration is cheaper to produce, as the holes slits or corners may be formed with the holding element, or may be punched in the holding element, without the need for a further folding step. As still further, more high-end, version may employ walls at the edge of the holding element, the edge-walls being adapted to hold the item in place. Although this arrangement is more expensive to produce, it is capable of holding larger items in place. A similar high-end product may employ slip-on sleeves instead of edge-walls. Typically, but not exclusively, the depth of the edge-walls in such high-end versions is 2,5% or more of the larger dimension of the frame. For example, a frame of dimensions 200 mm x 150 mm may have edge-walls of 5 mm or more. In other embodiments, the edge-walls may have depth of 10 mm or more. A typical example of such a high-end product is a frame of dimensions 180 mm x 130 mm having edge-walls of 10 mm.

The thickness of the holding element is not especially limited, and may be selected depending upon the strength of frame required, and depending upon the degree of pliancy required in the holding element. However, in some embodiments, the holding element is typically thin, allowing it to be flexible and bend a little with the contours of the surface to which it is attached. This aids in the pliancy of the holding element referred to above. This in turn improves adhesion to uneven surfaces by allowing some yielding. In some embodiments, the holding element is formed from a layer of material having a thickness of 2 mm or less, preferably 1.5 mm or less, 1 mm or less, 0.5 mm or less, and 0.25 mm or less. In some instances, a thickness of approximately 240 μηι may be employed.

In some embodiments, the holding element is made of a polymeric material, preferably a plastic or an elastomer. Typically, the holding element is made of plastic, especially transparent plastic. In preferred embodiments, the plastic is APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate) or PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) since such polymers are suitable transparent and may be readily heat folded, making performance and manufacture excellent and simple. Recycled APET (RPET) may also be employed, as may other clear plastics, such as polyethylene-, polypropylene-, polyacetate- and acrylic-based polymers. Still other polymers or plastics may be employed if desired, depending on the size and strength (and use) of the frame required. In cases where the holding element need not be transparent, and/or when it need not be pliant (since the adhesive provides pliancy) it may be formed from non- plastic materials.

The nature of the adhesive is not especially limited, providing that it is pliant and is removable such that the frame is re-useable. Typically the removable adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive. In some embodiments, the removable adhesive is made of a polymeric material, preferably a gel or an elastomer. More preferably, the removable adhesive is a gel adhesive. In some embodiments, the adhesive may be removable without leaving a residue. Gel adhesives are preferred, since such adhesives typically posses the required pliancy described above, and in addition are typically robust, allowing more cycles of adhesion and removal. The thickness of the adhesive coating is not especially limited, and may be selected depending upon the strength of adhesion required, and depending upon the degree of pliancy required. Typically, the thicker the coating of adhesive, the more strength and more pliancy it will have. The coating is typically a layer across the majority of the rear surface of the holding element, but may also be at a plurality of locations on the rear surface, such as on each comer of the rear surface. In some embodiments, the adhesive can be removed washed (e.g. with light soapy water) to restore adhesive.

In some embodiments, the adhesive is transparent. This has a particular advantage when both sides of the fold in the holding element are also transparent because it allows the item to be viewed from both sides of the holding element. Thus, if the item is to be displayed in a window, it may be viewed from inside or outside, simply by removing the item and turning it around. Alternatively two copies of the item may be inserted into the holding element, one for each viewing direction. This has particular advantage in a shop or office environment, where point-of-sale, advertising, planner and notice information may need to be displayed.

The strengthening element is optionally present, depending upon the nature of the frame and the item being displayed. The material of the strengthening element is not especially limited, provided that it imparts extra strength to the frame (holding element) and/or the item being displayed. Typically, but not exclusively, the strengthening element is transparent, allowing the item to be viewed through it. However, if it is to be placed behind the item, transparency may not be necessary. Typically material for the strengthening element is card, plastic, glass, felt, or other material. In some embodiments, the material may be the same material as the holding element. The thickness of the strengthening element is not especially limited, and may be chosen by a skilled person, depending upon the amount of strengthening desired, and on the material to be employed. In some embodiments, he strengthening insert can consist of a two pieces or one folded piece whereby the front can be decorative and the back punched with holes to hold a smaller photo or postcard. As has been mentioned, frames may be provided for mounting any type of item, and so the size is not especially limited. For example, in addition to photos, postcards and pictures, the frames may be used for artwork, posters, office items such as planners and calendars, and other items to be displayed on a wall. Standard sizes of photographs are envisaged, e.g. to mount photographs of sizes 4 x 6 inch (10.2 x 15.24 cm), 5x7 inch (12.7 x 17.78 cm), 6x8 inch (15.24 x 20.32 cm), etc., although it will be understood that standard sizes of photograph may vary according to photographic equipment and geographical location. Other sizes may also be used, such as the standard postcard size 150 mm x 105.5 mm, or larger sizes such as 180 mm x 130 mm.

In accordance with certain embodiments the frame (holding element) may be made of a material and thickness such that it is flexible. For example, according to embodiments the frame can be bent to an angle of 20°, 40° 60° or even 90° or more without breaking. In some such embodiments, it has been found that flexible frames, in combination with the pliant adhesive mounting, are ideal for adhering, removing, and re-adhering the frame to a surface. The flexibility aids in mounting the frame to a wall using a roll-on, peel-off action. However, as has been mentioned, in other embodiments the holding elements are rigid.

In addition to the above elements, further supporting and/or decorative elements may be included, as desired. In some embodiments, particularly where the use of edge-walls allows space for further elements, a foam interior may be provided (standard upholstery foam may be employed). This gives the framed item more body creating a better visual appearance. Alternatively, or in addition, a decorative border may be provided so that items such as photos and postcards can be attractively set-off. The borders are not especially limited, but suitable borders may be created in a number of ways, for example: a) using an aperture punched from a high quality graphic material such as silver holographic, or wood veneer, with an additional punched backing card to centre the item;

b) using a folded printed card or plastic material (such as acetate) such as colour polypropylene with punched corners for centring; c) using a suitable card (or transparent plastic material such as acetate) that is compatible with a standard ink jet printer to allow the user to produce their own border. Such a card or transparent material may be punched using microdots to enable the aperture to be readily and cleanly removed. Punched holes may be included for centring.

Further elements may include anti-glare material for reducing reflection when looking at the displayed item, and spacers (such as crosses) supplied within packaged products to allow even spacing between pictures when placed on a wall or other surface (see Figure 2).

As has been referred to above, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the re-useable frames of the invention. The method comprises manufacturing an adhesive frame as defined above by a method comprising:

- manufacturing the holding element, optionally by injection moulding; and

- coating the holding element with the pliant removable adhesive on at least one side.

Typically the method further comprises creating at least one fold in the holding element. The folding step typically creates a double layer within which the item to be displayed can be held, in the manner of a sandwich. Typically, the fold is created by heat-folding.

In typical embodiments, the adhesive frame is manufactured using an injection moulding step to form the holding element. This step is particularly preferred when the holding element is a plastic element, such as an APET or PETG element. In such embodiments, the holding element is typically formed by injection moulding in clear plastic with two parts that fit into each other. An advantage of this method is that of simplicity of manufacture with one shot injection, as well as the product having good strength.

As has been mentioned above, the present invention also provides an adhesive frame kit for displaying an item, the kit comprising:

a holding element capable of holding the item in place;

a removable adhesive element capable of removably adhering the adhesive frame to a surface; and

optionally a strengthening element for strengthening the holding element; wherein the removable adhesive element it adapted to be attached to one side of the holding element and wherein the adhesive is comprised of a material which is pliant, enabling the adhesive frame to be removably attached to a non-smooth surface.

Thus, in some embodiments, the frame is provided in kit form, such that the adhesive element should be attached to the holding element by the user, before mounting an item. In this way, the manufacturing cost of the system may be reduced. Typically, but not exclusively, the removable adhesive element is in the form of a pliant adhesive pad. This is particularly suitable for gel adhesives, which are readily provided in this form.

In the kits of the invention, the holding element and/or the pliant removable adhesive are typically as defined above in respect of the non-kit frames.

The adhesive frame kit as defined above may be manufactured similarly to the non-kit frames, except the step of coating the holding element with the pliant removable adhesive is not required. Thus, the method comprises:

- manufacturing the holding element, optionally by injection moulding; and

- providing a pliant removable adhesive element.

In preferred embodiments, the method further comprises creating at least one fold in the holding element. The removable adhesive element is typically provided in the form of an adhesive pad.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.