An open rectangular frame for stretching a fabric for a needlecraft project during preparation and for displaying the project after it is completed. The frame has a border member of a shape and size adapted to receive the fabric. The border member has a rearwardly-extending perimeter skirt and an inwardly spaced, rearwardly-extending rib that is parallel to the skirt. Generally U-shaped retainers are adapted to overly edges of the fabric and to be pressed onto the ribs, retaining the fabric in the frame. Rearwardly open pockets are provided at the corners of the frame for the selective insertion of the ends of two or four removable legs to support the frame during the fabrication of the project at an angle on, or spaced above, a table and for the reception of angular brackets for holding the frame with the finished projected mounted therein in an upright easel-like position for displaying the finished project.

A rug hooking frame for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric is supported at its four corners in a raised position on upper extremities of tubular members, in turn, secured at opposite ends of an underlying flat base. The frame comprises four fabric retaining bars occurring at right angles to one another and having respective card clothing holders and card clothing strips detachably secured in the holders at upper outer sides thereof for engaging with a rug fabric. Two of the bars are fixed in the frame. The remaining two bars are mounted on separate shafts formed with handle portions for turning the shafts independently of one another and in a clockwise direction. Torsion springs are combined with the shafts and their handle portions in positions to lock the shafts against counterclockwise movement. A vertically adjustable stand is provided with inwardly projecting clamp means engageable with the base to locate the frame in desired positions of vertical and horizontal adjustment with respect to a seated operator.

A display device including a display means which is in the form of one or more display faces made from a substantially flexible polymer and which is mounted on a frame about its peripheral portions such that sufficient or a predetermined amount of tension is placed on the face so as to at least somewhat resemble a rigid plate or face. Tensioning means may be attached to the face in opposed relation to one another and these tensioning means may be in the form of connecting means serving to interconnect the face to the frame while at the same time placing the desired amount of tension thereon. The display device may be interiorly lighted by providing a lighting assembly on the interior of the frame adjacent to the flexible face so as to transmit light thereto and clearly display any indicia formed on the face. The connecting means may comprise connector assemblies at least some of which are rotationally mounted relative to the frame and to the display face such that the amount of tension placed on the face may be regulated by the engagement of this connector assembly with the peripheral portion of the face.

A frame is disclosed for stretching a printing screen quickly and with uniform application of tension to the screen. The frame includes a base portion that defines a stretching plane in which the workpiece is stretched. A swingable portion of the frame pivots relative to the base and moves from a relaxed position in which the swingable portion defines a plane that intersects the stretching plane, to a stretching position in which the swingable portion is fixed in the stretching plane. A retainer secures the edges of the screen to the frame such that the screen mesh is uniformly stretched as the swingable portion is pushed into the stretching plane. A tension cable extends through the frame over a series of pulleys spaced several locations through each leg of the frame. Increased tension on the cable pulls the swingable portion of the frame into the stretching plane and holds the frame in that position to maintain tension on the screen. The screen itself has arcuate edges that curve to reduce the width and length of the screen toward the center of the screen. The peripheral margins of the screen are adhered to the retainers such that each arcuate edge conforms to the longitudinal axis of the retainer on which it is mounted. This linear adhesion of the arcuate edges helps ensure that the greatest amount of stretching occurs at the center region of the screen, which might otherwise tend to sag.

A frame is disclosed for stretching a printing screen quickly and with uniform application of tension to the screen. The frame includes a base portion that defines a stretching plane in which the workpiece is stretched. A swingable portion of the frame pivots relative to the base and moves from a relaxed position in which the swingable portion defines a plane that intersects the stretching plane, to a stretching position in which the swingable portion is fixed in the stretching plane. A retainer secures the edges of the screen to the frame such that the screen mesh is uniformly stretched as the swingable portion is pushed into the stretching plane. A tension cable extends through the frame over a series of pulleys spaced several locations through each leg of the frame. Increased tension on the cable pulls the swingable portion of the frame into the stretching plane and holds the frame in that position to maintain tension on the screen. The screen itself has arcuate edges that curve to reduce the width and length of the screen toward the center of the screen. The peripheral margins of the screen are adhered to the retainers such that each arcuate edge conforms to the longitudinal axis of the retainer on which it is mounted. This linear adhesion of the arcuate edges helps ensure that the greatest amount of stretching occurs at the center region of the screen, which might otherwise tend to sag.