Composite laminated print and frame and method of fabrication

Abstract

A composite laminated print and frame and method of fabrication is described. A canvas sheet is secured on a flat outer contour surface of a circumferential hollow frame member such that the canvas sheet is accessible from behind the frame. A printed image sheet is bonded on a clear plastic film sheet with an image of the sheet facing the clear plastic film sheet. The plastic film sheet has a marginal extension portion all about the image sheet. The marginal extension portion extends over a circumferential outer side wall of the frame member and is held taunt by fasteners to secure same to the frame member whereby the image sheet, adhered to the plastic film sheet, is held taunt over the canvas sheet with the image facing outwardly. Preferably, the plastic film sheet is an embossed plastic film sheet having a visible pattern embossment thereon whereby the image appears to have been painted on the canvas which is secured to the frame under the image sheet bonded to the outer plastic film sheet and visible and touchable from the rear of the frame.

1 . A composite laminated print and frame comprising a circumferential hollow frame member having a flat outer contour surface, a canvas sheet disposed taunt over said frame and secured about said flat outer contour surface, a printed image sheet is bonded on a clear plastic film sheet with an image of said image sheet facing said clear plastic film sheet, said plastic film sheet having a marginal extension portion all about said image sheet; said marginal extension portion extending over a circumferential outer side wall of said frame member and being held taunt by fastening means to secure same to said frame member whereby said image sheet, adhered to said plastic film sheet, is held taunt over said canvas sheet with said image facing outwardly; said canvas sheet being visible and touchable from a rear of said hollow frame member.  
   
   
       2 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said clear plastic film sheet is an embossed plastic, film sheet having a visible pattern embossed therein.  
   
   
       3 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said pattern embossment is a canvas texture embossment.  
   
   
       4 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said marginal extension portion has a width which is greater than the width of said frame whereby an end portion of said marginal extension portion can be disposed over outer side walls of said frame member and secured to a rear face of said frame member.  
   
   
       5 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said fastening means is constituted by fasteners.  
   
   
       6 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said canvas sheet is secured to said flat outer contour surface by staple fasteners.  
   
   
       7 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said printed image sheet is a paper sheet.  
   
   
       8 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said frame member is a rectangular hollow frame formed by straight frame members of rectangular cross-section, said marginal extension portion having a folded concealed pleat formed at corners of said rectangular frame with said marginal extension portion held taunt over said outer side walls of said rectangular frame to form a side wall covering, said side wall covering being painted to delineate said side wall covering from said printed image.  
   
   
       9 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said image is a rectangular image having a dimension corresponding to said canvas sheet.  
   
   
       10 . A composite laminated print and frame as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said rear face is a flat rear wall of said rectangular frame, said fasteners being staple fasteners, and an adhesive tape disposed over said staple fasteners and at least a section of said end portion of said marginal extension portion.  
   
   
       11 . A method of constructing a composite laminated print and frame comprising the steps of: 
 i) providing a circumferential hollow frame member having a flat outer contour surface,    ii) disposing a canvas sheet taunt over said frame,    iii) securing said canvas sheet to said flat outer contour surface,    iv) laminating a printed image sheet onto a clear plastic film sheet with an image of said image sheet facing said clear plastic film sheet, said plastic film sheet having a marginal extension portion all about said image sheet,    v) disposing said clear plastic film sheet over said frame member with said printed image sheet aligned with said flat outer contour surface and said image facing outwardly,    vi) disposing said marginal extension portion over a circumferential outer side wall of said frame member and pulling same taunt thereover, and    vii) securing an end portion of said marginal extension portion to a rear face of said frame member.    
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said step (iv) comprises (a) disposing said printed image sheet at a predetermined location on an uncured adhesive backing of said clear plastic film sheet with said image of said image sheet facing said adhesive; (b) placing a backing sheet with an adhesive release coating over said uncured adhesive backing of said clear plastic film sheet, and (c) feeding said image sheet held between said clear plastic film sheet and said backing sheet through a heat laminating machine to bond said image sheet to said adhesive backing of said clear plastic film sheet.  
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein prior to step (v) there is provided the step of removing said backing sheet from said clear plastic film sheet having said image sheet bonded thereon.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said step (iii) comprises stapling said canvas sheet to said flat outer contour surface.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said step (vii) comprises stapling said end portion for securing same, and further comprising the step (viii) of securing an adhesive tape over staples and at least a section of said end portion of said marginal extension portion to conceal said staples.  
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said step (i) comprises providing a rectangular frame member, said step (vi) further comprising forming a folded concealed pleat in said marginal extension portion at corners of said rectangular frame, and after step (vii) painting said marginal extension portion held taunt over outer side walls of said rectangular frame member.