Light weight paper frame and method for fabricating same

Abstract

A frame for insertion of a photograph having a folded structural element with a first portion incorporating a backing and a second portion connected to the first portion having two spaced lateral elements folded onto and rising from the backing. The first portion and second portion cooperatively form an aperture perpendicular to the spaced lateral elements for receiving a photograph to be held between the spaced lateral elements. A face structural element overlays the two spaced lateral elements and is spaced from the backing thereby to engage and support the photograph opposite the backing.

1 . A frame for insertion of a photograph comprising: 
 a folded structural element having a first portion incorporating a backing and a second portion connected to the first portion and having two spaced lateral elements folded onto and rising from the backing, the first portion and second portion cooperatively forming an aperture perpendicular to the spaced lateral elements for receiving a photograph to be held between the spaced lateral elements, said folded structural element further having means cooperating with and perpendicular to the spaced lateral elements distal from the aperture to abut the received photograph; and,    a face structural element overlaying the two spaced lateral elements and spaced from the backing thereby to engage and support the photograph opposite the backing.    
   
   
       2 . A frame as defined in  claim 1  wherein the face structural element comprises a third portion of the folded structural element extending from the first portion opposite the two spaced lateral elements of the second portion and folded onto the second portion opposite the backing, a fold line between the first portion and third portion incorporating a slot substantially similar in length to the spacing of the lateral elements to form a portion of the aperture and the third portion having a rectangular opening for viewing the photograph.  
   
   
       3 . A frame as defined in  claim 2  further comprising a rectangular border element attached to the third portion and having an aperture at least as large as the rectangular opening.  
   
   
       4 . A frame as defined in  claim 1  wherein the first portion further includes a rear aperture substantially centrally located in the backing to assist in manipulation of the photograph during insertion.  
   
   
       5 . A frame as defined in  claim 1  wherein the first portion further includes at least one quadrilateral on a first quadrant of the backing scored for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a midline of the backing, the at least one quadrilateral when folded substantially perpendicular to the backing providing an angular support for the frame when placed on a first edge.  
   
   
       6 . A frame as defined in  claim 5  wherein a first quadrilateral is located on a first quadrant of the backing scored for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a first midline of the backing and a second quadrilateral is located on a second quadrant of the backing scored for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a line perpendicular to the first midline of the backing, either the first or second quadrilateral when selectively folded substantially perpendicular to the backing provides an angular support for the frame when placed on the first edge or a second edge.  
   
   
       7 . A frame as defined in  claim 2  wherein the first portion further includes a substantially rectangular extension of the aperture from the fold line between the third and first portions.  
   
   
       8 . A frame as defined in  claim 1  wherein the cooperating means comprises a third portion extending from the first portion and folded along a fold line perpendicular to the spaced lateral elements.  
   
   
       9 . A frame as defined in  claim 1  wherein the cooperating means comprises a tab extending from an end of each of the lateral elements distal the aperture.  
   
   
       10 . A frame for insertion of a photograph comprising: 
 a folded structural element having    a first portion incorporating a backing,    a second portion connected to the first portion and having two spaced lateral elements folded onto and rising from the backing, and    a third portion extending from the first portion opposite the second portion and folded onto the second portion opposite the backing, a fold line between the first portion and third portion incorporating a slot substantially similar in length to the spacing of the lateral elements and a substantially rectangular extension of the slot from the fold line into the backing, the first portion, second portion, slot and rectangular extension cooperatively forming an aperture perpendicular to the spaced lateral elements for receiving a photograph to be held between the spaced lateral elements, the third portion further having a rectangular opening for viewing the photograph; and,    a rectangular border element attached to the third portion and having an aperture at least as large as the rectangular opening.    
   
   
       11 . A method for fabricating a paper frame comprising the steps of: 
 providing an extended rectangular paper sheet having first central backing portion, a second portion extending from a first fold line and a third portion extending from a second fold line;    cutting a first rectangle from the second portion, the first rectangle extending from an edge of the second portion opposing the first fold line proximate the first fold line, the rectangle when removed leaving two laterally spaced rectangular elements;    cutting a slot in the second fold line substantially the length of the lateral spacing of the two laterally spaced rectangular elements;    cutting a second rectangle from the third portion substantially centrally located therein and having a lateral extent less than the lateral spacing of the spaced rectangular elements in the second portion;    folding the two laterally spaced rectangular elements onto the first central backing portion along the first fold line;    folding the third portion over the two laterally spaced rectangular elements onto the first central backing portion along the second fold line.    
   
   
       12 . A method as defined in  claim 11  before the first folding step further comprising the step of placing parallel lines of adhesive along the two laterally spaced rectangular elements and the third portion.  
   
   
       13 . A method as defined in  11  further comprising in combination with the step of cutting a slot in the fold line, cutting a rectangular extension of the slot into the first backing portion.  
   
   
       14 . A method as defined in claim  111  further comprising the step of cutting a central aperture in the first central backing portion.  
   
   
       15 . A method as defined in  claim 11  further comprising the step of scoring at least one quadrilateral on a first quadrant of the first central backing portion for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a midline of the backing, the at least one quadrilateral when folded substantially perpendicular to the backing providing an angular support for the frame when placed on a first edge.  
   
   
       16 . A method as defined in  claim 15  further wherein the step of scoring includes scoring a first quadrilateral located on a first quadrant of the backing for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a first midline of the backing and scoring a second quadrilateral located on a second quadrant of the backing for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a second midline perpendicular to the first midline of the backing, either the first or second quadrilateral when selectively folded substantially perpendicular to the backing provides an angular support for the frame when placed on the first edge or a second edge.  
   
   
       17 . A method as defined in  claim 11  further comprising the step of attaching a rectangular border element to the third portion having an aperture to be positioned over the second rectangle.  
   
   
       18 . A method for fabricating a paper frame comprising the steps of: 
 providing an extended rectangular paper sheet having first central backing portion, a second portion extending from a first fold line and a third portion extending from a second fold line;    cutting a first rectangle from the second portion, the first rectangle extending from an edge of the second portion opposing the first fold line proximate the first fold line, the rectangle when removed leaving two laterally spaced rectangular elements;    cutting a slot in the second fold line substantially the length of the lateral spacing of the two laterally spaced rectangular elements and a rectangular extension of the slot into the first backing portion;    cutting a rectangle from the third portion substantially centrally located therein and having a lateral extent less than the lateral spacing of the spaced rectangular elements in the second portion;    cutting a central aperture in the first central backing portion;    scoring a first quadrilateral located on a first quadrant of the backing for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a first midline of the backing and scoring a second quadrilateral located on a second quadrant of the backing for separation from the backing on three sides and folding from the backing on a forth side substantially along a second midline perpendicular to the first midline of the backing, either the first or second quadrilateral when selectively folded substantially perpendicular to the backing provides an angular support for the frame when placed on the first edge or a second edge;    placing parallel lines of adhesive along the two laterally spaced rectangular elements and the third portion;    folding the two laterally spaced rectangular elements onto the first central backing portion along the first fold line;    folding the third portion over the two laterally spaced rectangular elements onto the first central backing portion along the second fold line.    
   
   
       19 . A method for fabricating a paper frame comprising the steps of: 
 providing an extended rectangular paper sheet having first central backing portion, a first lateral element along a first fold line and a second lateral elements along a second fold line opposite the first fold line;    folding the first lateral element along the first fold line;    folding the second lateral element along the second fold line;    providing a face structural element having a rectangular aperture; and,    bonding the face structural element to the first and second lateral element, the first and second lateral elements holding the face structural element in spaced relation to the central backing portion.    
   
   
       20 . A method as defined in  claim 19  before the first folding step further comprising the step of placing parallel lines of adhesive along the first and second lateral elements.  
   
   
       21 . A method as defined in  claim 19  further including in the step of providing an extended rectangular paper sheet, incorporating a third fold line perpendicular to the first and second fold lines to form a web and further comprising the step of folding the web along the third fold line.  
   
   
       22 . A method as defined in  claim 21  further comprising the step of placing adhesive on the web before folding the web along the third fold line.  
   
   
       23 . A method as defined in  claim 19  further comprising the step of cutting a relief in the backing perpendicular to the first and second fold lines.  
   
   
       24 . A method as defined in  claim 19  wherein each of the first and second lateral elements includes a tab extending from an end thereof to form a partial web perpendicular to the lateral elements upon folding.