Wall decoration of a number of sheets provided with an image

Abstract

A wall decoration has a number of sheets 21 provided with a front side 23 provided with an image, a number of frames coupled together on which the sheets 21 are present, and a number of coupling elements via which the frames are coupled together. The coupling elements are provided with hooks 7 which are distributed over the circumference of each frame. The hooks 7 each have a shaft standing at right angles to the sheets 21 as well as a hook part extending perpendicularly thereto and present above the edge of one of the sheets 21. The shaft has a thickness perpendicular to the edge of the sheet 21. The sheets 21, the frames, the coupling elements and the hooks 7 are configured in such a way that the mutual distance between adjacent sheets 21 when the sheets 21 are in contact with the shaft is equal to the thickness of one shaft.

Description

[0001] Wall decoration of a number of sheets provided with an image

[0002] DESCRIPTION:

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a wall decoration comprising: a number of sheets provided with a front side provided with an image and a back side, a number of interconnected frames on which the sheets are present, whereby on each frame one sheet is present with the back side facing the frame, a number of coupling elements via which the frames are interconnected, a number of hooks distributed over the circumference of each frame, which hooks each have a shaft extending at least almost perpendicularly to the sheets, and a hook part extending at least almost perpendicularly thereto and being present above the edge of one of the sheets, which shaft has a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the sheet.

[0005] Large sheets provided with an image, such as posters of for example 30- 100 cm by 45-200 cm, are often difficult to hang on a wall. Such large sheets are also difficult to send and susceptible to damage during transport. Cutting a large sheet into small parts of e.g. 15 by 15 cm makes the wall decoration more manageable and easier to send by post. The consumer can assemble the small parts into a wall decoration, whereby the sheets are assembled into a large image or a collage of different images.

[0006] Sheets can be paper, cardboard, plastic, metal sheets or photos.

[0007] Background of the invention

[0008] A wall decoration according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from GB2465630A. There is a gap between adjacent sheets of such a wall decoration because the hooks of the frames (which form the side edges of the frames) are present between the sheets to hold the sheets. Summary of the invention

[0009] An object of the invention is to provide a wall decoration of the type described above in the “Technical field of the invention” in which it is less noticeable that it is composed of separate sheets. To this end, the wall decoration according to the invention is characterised in that the sheets, the frames, the coupling elements and the hooks are configured such that the mutual distance between adjacent sheets, when these sheets are in contact with the shaft, is equal to or almost equal to the thickness of one shaft. As a result, the gaps between the sheets are very narrow, so that it is hardly noticeable that the wall decoration is composed of separate sheets.

[0010] An embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention is characterised in that the hooks are attached to the coupling elements and two hook parts that extend in opposite directions are attached to each shaft and are each present above the edge of one of the sheets. Instead of two hooks being against each other, where two shafts are present against each other, the hooks can be made double / two- sided by attaching them to the coupling elements, where two hook parts are attached to one shaft. As a result, the distance between the sheets can be halved compared to the situation in which the hooks are present with the shafts against each other. In addition to these coupling elements provided with double hooks, this embodiment also has end elements (half coupling elements) for holding the sheets at the edges of the wall decoration. These end elements are provided with a single hook and shaft.

[0011] A further embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention is characterised in that the hooks are attached to the frames and the hooks on neighbouring frames, seen in a direction parallel to the edges of the sheets, are next to each other and in one line. This also allows the distance between the sheets to be halved compared to the situation in which the hooks are present with the shafts against each other.

[0012] Yet another embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention is characterised in that the hooks are attached to the frames and the hooks on neighbouring frames are directly opposite each other and against each other and the sheets are provided with notches at the location of the shafts of the hooks. The distance between neighbouring sheets depends on the depth of the notches and can even be reduced to zero. In order to be able to connect the frames easily, they are preferably provided with connection holes and the connection elements are provided with protrusions that can be clicked or clamped into the connection holes.

[0013] The free ends of the hook parts preferably run diagonally towards the frames. This makes it easy to attach the sheets behind the hooks. A sheet only needs to be placed on the hooks and then pressed down, whereby the sheet ends up with the edge behind the hook. Preferably, the hook parts and / or the shaft are made of a material that is more elastic than the material of the rest of the frame.

[0014] A further embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention is characterised in that the connection elements are also provided with elongated positioning cams and that the frames are provided with positioning holes, whereby in coupled condition of the frames and coupling elements, the positioning cams fit precisely into the positioning holes. These positioning cams ensure that the frames are precisely aligned with each other and do not sag as a result of elastic deformation of the walls around the coupling holes.

[0015] The sheets can be made longer in one direction than the distance between the opposite hooks of the frames so that the sheets are slightly convex in the frames. The sheets are not enclosed all around but only on two opposite sides in the frames. As a result, there will be openings on the side edges of the convex sheets through which air can flow. As a result, such a wall decoration is less sensitive to gusts of wind when used outdoors (but also indoors in the event of a draught) because the air can flow through more easily.

[0016] At the location of the hooks, openings are preferably present in the base, which openings have a width that is greater than the width of the hooks so that the hooks are connected to the base via preferably thin bridge parts. These bridge parts can twist elastically if the hooks are pushed outwards during the insertion of a sheet so that the sheets can be placed in the frames more easily.

[0017] Preferably, the hooks or frames are made of a transparent plastic so that the hooks or frames are not or hardly visible.

[0018] Brief description of the drawings The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 shows a frame of a first embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention;

[0020] Figure 2 shows a coupling element of the wall decoration for connecting two frames;

[0021] Figure 3 shows a number of frames connected to each other;

[0022] Figure 4 shows the frames shown in figure 3 with sheets provided with images;

[0023] Figure 5 shows a detail of the frames shown in figure 4 with sheets at the location of two hooks;

[0024] Figure 6 shows the detail shown in figure 5 in side view;

[0025] Figure 7 shows a detail of the frame with a coupling element connected to it;

[0026] Figure 8 shows the situation during the insertion of a sheet in a frame;

[0027] Figure 9 shows a frame of a second embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention;

[0028] Figure 10 shows a coupling element of the second embodiment of the wall decoration for connecting two frames;

[0029] Figure 11 shows a detail in side view of two frames of the second embodiment of the wall decoration coupled together at the location of a coupling element;

[0030] Figure 12 shows a detail of two frames coupled together at the location of a coupling element of a third embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention;

[0031] Figure 13 shows a part of the detail shown in figure 12 in side view; and

[0032] Figure 14 shows a detail of a frame in which the hooks are designed differently.

[0033] Detailed description of the drawings

[0034] Figures 1-8 show components and parts of a first embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention. Figure 1 shows the frame 3 of the wall decoration. The frame 3 has a base 5 to which hooks 7 are attached, which are distributed over the circumference. A sheet provided with an image can be arranged between these hooks 7 and the base 5. The base 5 is provided with a number of coupling holes 11 and positioning openings 13 in which a coupling element can be clicked into place.

[0035] At the location of the hooks 7, there are openings 9 in the base 5 so that the frame 3 can be released from an injection mould. The openings 9 are wider than the hooks 7 so that the hooks 7 are connected to the base via bridge parts. During the insertion of the sheets, the hooks 7 are pressed outwards slightly. Because the bridge parts can twist relatively easily, the hooks 7 can be turned outwards more easily, which also makes it easier to insert the sheets into the frames.

[0036] Figure 2 shows the coupling element 15 of the wall decoration. The coupling element 15 is provided with protrusions 17 that can be clicked into the coupling holes 11. The coupling holes 11 are smaller at the bottom than at the top. The projections 17 are thickened at the end, whereby the diameter is larger than that of the bottom of the coupling holes 11, so that they can be clicked into the coupling holes 11 and can achieve a firm coupling. There is a small amount of play between the projections and the holes.

[0037] The coupling element 15 is further provided with rectangular positioning cams 19 that fit without play into the positioning openings 13 present in the frames 3. These positioning cams 19 ensure that the frames 3 that are coupled to each other are precisely aligned with each other and do not sag as a result of the play between the protrusions 17 and the coupling holes 11.

[0038] Figure 3 shows a number of frames 3 connected to each other by coupling elements 15 that form part of the wall decoration. The frames 3 are shown with the back facing upwards and the coupling elements 15 are clicked into the coupling holes 11 and positioning openings 13 on the back of the frames 3.

[0039] Figure 4 shows a part of the wall decoration 1 in which sheets 21 provided with images are hooked behind the hooks 7. The sheets 21 are turned away from the frames with the front side 23 provided with an image. The frames 3 with hooks 7 and the coupling elements 15 are preferably made of a transparent plastic so that they are as invisible as possible.

[0040] Figures 5 and 6 show a detail of two interconnected frames 3 in which sheets 21 are present that are provided with notches 25 in the outer edge 24 at the location of the hooks 7. The hooks 7 are present with the shafts 6 against each other and are partly located in the notches 25. The hook parts 8 of the hooks 7 hook behind the boundary edges 27 of the notches 25. As a result, the space 29 between the sheets 21 is smaller than if the sheets were not provided with the notches 25.

[0041] Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the coupling between a base 5 of the frame and a coupling element 15. The projections 17 of the coupling element 15 are clicked into the coupling holes 11. This figure shows that the coupling holes 11 are smaller at the bottom than at the top. It can also be seen that the projections 17 are thickened at the end, whereby the diameter is larger than that of the bottom of the coupling holes 11. As a result, the projections 17 are clicked into the coupling holes 11 and a firm coupling is obtained. There is a small amount of play between the projections and the holes. The rectangular positioning cam 19 of the coupling element 15 is pressed without play into the positioning opening 13 present in the base 5. As a result, the frames 3 that are coupled to each other are precisely aligned with each other and the frames do not sag as a result of the play between the projections 17 and the coupling holes 11.

[0042] Figure 8 shows the situation during the application of a sheet 21 in a frame 3. The sheet 21 is pressed with the back side 22 against the base 5 of the frame 3. The side 7a of the hooks 7 facing away from the base 5 extends in a direction to the point 7b of the hooks 7, towards the base 5. By pressing in the direction of the arrow on the front side 23 of the sheet 21, the sheet 21 slides with the edge over the slanted side 7a towards the base 5 and thereby displaces to under the hook 7. Through the openings 9 in the frame 3 at the location of the hooks 7, the hooks 7 can be bent away from the sheet towards the rear more easily during the insertion of a sheet, because the hooks 7 are not held all around but only by a part of the frame 3 bordering the hook 7. Because the opening 9 is wider than the width of the hook 7, there are bridge parts on either side of the hook 7 between the hook 7 and the base 5 that can twist, so that the hook 7 can be pushed away towards the rear more easily.

[0043] Figure 9 shows the frame 33 of a second embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention. In this case, the base 35 of the frame 33 is not provided with hooks. In this embodiment, the hooks 37 form part of the coupling elements 39, see figure 10. In figure 11, the coupling between two frames 33 of the second embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention is shown enlarged. In this embodiment, the sheets 51 are not provided with notches and are present with the edges under the hook parts 38 of the hooks 37. Due to dimensional tolerances, the space between the sheets 51 in the neighbouring frames 33 is slightly larger than the thickness of the shaft 36 of the double hook 37 that forms part of the coupling element 39.

[0044] In figure 12, a detail of two neighbouring frames 43 of a third embodiment of the wall decoration according to the invention is shown. In this case, the hooks 47 of neighbouring frames 43 are staggered next to each other so that the shafts 46 of the hooks 47 are in line and the sheets are present at a distance from each other equal to the thickness of the shaft 46. This is visible in figure 13 in which the detail is shown in cross-section with sheets 51 on the shafts 45 of the frames 43. Here too, the sheets 51 are not provided with notches and they are present with the edges under the hook parts 48 of the hooks 47.

[0045] Figure 14 shows an alternative embodiment of the hook 7’ of a frame. Here, a sheet can be more easily placed behind the hook 7’ because the hook 7’ can easily bend away. Here too, an opening 9’ is preferably present in the base to allow the hook to release from an injection mould.

[0046] Although the invention has been explained above with reference to the drawing, it should be noted that the invention is by no means limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the framework defined by the claims. For example, instead of rectangular sheets, triangular or hexagonal sheets can also be used or a combination of quadrangular and octagonal sheets and any other conceivable shapes or combinations of conceivable shapes.

[0047] Furthermore, the dimensions of the sheets in a width or height direction or alternating in width and height direction can be made longer than the corresponding distance between opposite hooks of the frames. As a result, the sheets will be slightly convex in the frames, so that there are openings on the side edges of the convex sheets through which air can flow. As a result, such a wall decoration is less sensitive to gusts of wind when used outdoors, because the air can flow through it more easily.

[0048] The frames are provided with at least one protruding surface on the back. This surface can be provided with double-sided adhesive tape for mounting on a wall. This flat part is also provided with at least one hole to attach it to the wall with a drawing pin or something similar.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Wall decoration comprising: a number of sheets (21; 51) provided with a front side (23) provided with an image and a back side (22), a number of interconnected frames (3; 33; 43) on which the sheets (21; 51) are present, whereby on each frame (3; 33; 43) one sheet (21; 51) is present with the back side (22) facing the frame (3; 33; 43), a number of coupling elements (15; 39; 49) via which the frames (3; 33; 43) are interconnected, a number of hooks (7 ; 37 ; 47) distributed over the circumference of each frame (3 ; 33; 43), which hooks (7; 37; 47) each have a shaft (6; 36; 46) extending at least almost perpendicularly to the sheets (21; 51), and a hook part (8; 38; 48) extending at least almost perpendicularly thereto and being present above the edge (24) of one of the sheets (21; 51), which shaft (6; 36; 46) has a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the edge (24) of the sheet (21; 51), characterized in that the sheets (21; 51), the frames (3; 33; 43), the coupling elements (15; 39; 49) and the hooks (7; 37; 47) are configured such that the mutual distance between adjacent sheets (21; 51), when these sheets (21) are in contact with the shaft (6; 36; 46), is equal to or almost equal to the thickness of one shaft (6; 36; 46).

2. Wall decoration according to claim 1, characterised in that the hooks (37) are attached to the coupling elements (39) and two hook parts (38) are attached to each shaft (36) which hook parts (38) extend in opposite directions and are each present above the edge of one of the sheets (51).

3. Wall decoration according to claim 1, characterised in that the hooks (47) are attached to the frames (43) and the hooks (47) on neighbouring frames (43) are present next to each other and are in one line when viewed in a direction parallel to the edges of the sheets (51).

4. Wall decoration according to claim 1, characterised in that the hooks (7) are attached to the frames (3) and the hooks (7) on neighbouring frames (3) are present directly opposite each other and the sheets (21) are provided with notches (25) at the location of the shafts (6) of the hooks (7).

5. Wall decoration according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frames (3) are provided with coupling holes (11) and the coupling elements(15) are provided with projections (17) that are clicked or clamped into the coupling holes (11).

6. Wall decoration according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free ends of the (8; 38; 48) hook parts slope diagonally towards the base (5) of the frames (3).

7. Wall decoration according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frames (3) are provided with rectangular positioning openings (13) and the coupling elements (15) are provided with rectangular positioning cams (19) that are present in the positioning openings (13) without play.

8. Wall decoration according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sheets (21) are longer in one direction than the distance between the opposite hooks (7) of the frames (3) so that the sheets (21) are present in a convex manner in the frames (3).

9. Wall decoration according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that there are openings (9) in the base (5) at the location of the hooks (7), which openings (9) have a width that is greater than the width of the hooks (7) so that the hooks are connected to the base via bridge parts.

10. Wall decoration according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hooks (7) or the frames are made of a transparent plastic.

Images