Picture Frame

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled picture frame according to the present invention framing a poster-like picture;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view in detail of an edge support and fastening elements of the picture frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in perspective of an edge support and fastening element secured thereon;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled picture frame having four edge supports with a portion of the framed picture broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the picture frame of FIG. 4 as viewed from the rear thereof;

FIGS. 6 to 9 show additional constructions for the picture frame of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an edge support of the picture frame together with a wall fasteninig device;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wall fastening device of FIG. 10.

Now turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a poster-like picture, designated 10, which is generally formed of relatively thin paper material. For the purpose of maintaining picture 10 flat so that it may be hung from a wall or similar structure without distortion, the upper edge and the lower edge of picture 10 are provided with substantially identical edge supports, designated 12, to which fastening elements 14 are engaged for securing picture 10 to the edge supports. A picture frame hanging wire 16 may also be provided in connection with the upper edge support for the purpose of hanging the picture.

As clearly seen in FIG. 2, edge support 12 includes a flat back plate 18 which extends for the length of the edge support and which has extending upwardly from the plane defined by back plate 18 a substantially C-shaped member 20 having legs 22 and 24. As clearly seen, outer leg 22 is connected to the outer edge terminus of back plate 18 and inner leg 24 extends towards back plate 18 to define a gap 26 between the terminus of leg 24 and back plate 18. Gap 26 is sufficient to permit the insertion therein of the edge of the poster-like picture 10, as clearly seen in phantom in FIG. 3. Fastening element 14 is shown as having a substantially C-shaped configuration which basically conforms to the shape of member 20 of edge support 12 but having an inside diameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of member 20 so that a snap fit results when fastening element 14 is engaged with member 20 because of the increased tension therebetween. The depending legs 28 and 30 of fastening element 14 are provided at their ends with engagement cams 32 and 34, respectively. As clearly seen in FIG. 3, leg 28 of fastening element 14 is slightly longer than leg 30 so that engagement cam 32 engages the corner defined by back plate 18 at its connection to outer leg 22 of C-shaped member 20 while engagement cam 34 engages the terminus 36 of leg 24 of C-shaped member 20. The foot of engagement cam 34, designated 38, extends into gap 26 below terminus 36 of leg 24 to press or pinion the edge of picture 10 against back plate 18 of support 12, thus fastening or securing picture 10 to edge support 12. As clearly seen in FIG. 2, fastening element 14 may be provided at one end thereof with a wall 40 so as to present a closed end therefor. Both ends of fastening element 14 are bevelled at 42 so that when the fastening elements are applied at the ends of edge supports 12, a very neat and aesthetic appearance is presented, as clearly seen in FIG. 1. Preferably, edge support 12 is formed of extruded plastic while fastening element 14 is formed of injection molded plastic.

In order to provide for picture frame hanging wire 16, a cut-out 44 is provided at the extreme outer end of engagement cam 32 of fastening element 14. Picture frame wire 16 is in the form of a continuous loop which passes through the cavity of C-shaped member 20 and out the ends thereof. The respective fastening elements 14 at the ends of support 12 are displaced sufficiently along member 20 to permit wire 16 to exit therefrom and hang relatively straight because of cut-out 44.

As clearly seen in FIG. 4, it is also possible to construct a frame for picture 10 which extends entirely around the picture. Thus, four edge supports 12 are provided, one for each edge of picture 10, with the adjacent ends of adjacent edge supports 12 being interconnected by means of elbow-shaped corner fastening elements 46. Each corner fastening element 46 is constructed and operates in the same manner as fastening elements 14 described above. Thus, in erecting the frame for picture 10, as shown in FIG. 4, each pair of adjacent edge supports 12 is positioned at the respective edges of picture 10 and the corner fastening element 46 is aligned with the ends of the adjacent edge supports and pushed downwardly to engage therewith and fasten the edges of picture 10 to the respective back plates 18. As seen in FIG. 5, the lengths of edge supports 12 are adjusted so that a corner space results at the back side of the picture frame which permits wire 16 to pass therethrough.

In FIGS. 6 to 9, modifications of the picture fastening devices are shown. Thus, in FIG. 6, the outer leg 28 of fastening element 14 is provided with a hook 46 at the end thereof which engages the corner between back plate 18 and leg 22 of member 20. Leg 30 of fastening element 14 resiliently engages with leg 24 of the C-shaped portion 20 to be held thereon and the foot 38' extends into and engages with recess 48 formed in back plate 18 so as to press the edge of picture 10 therebetween. In FIG. 7, a construction similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown except that a hook 50 is provided at the end of leg 28 for engagement with the bottom of back plate 18 rather than the engagement cam 32 of FIG. 3. Also, bottom plate 18 is provided with an upwardly extending ramp 52 at its free edge which allows the poster-type picture 10 to drape thereover away from the wall when it is hung.

In FIG. 8, it is seen that fastening element 14 and member 20 of edge support 12 are engaged with each other by means of engagement ribs and complementary sockets. Thus, leg 28 of fastening element 14 is provided with a longitudinal socket 54 into which rib 56 of leg 22 extends. Leg 30 of fastening element 14 is provided with rib 58 which extends into socket 60 of leg 24 of member 20. In FIG. 9, legs 22 and 24 of member 20 are inwardly curved to form depressions 62 and 64, respectively. Legs 28 and 30 of fastening element 14 are curved at 66 and 68, respectively, to complement depressions 62 and 64 so that fastening element 14 engages with portion 20 of edge support 12 in a snap fit. The foot 70 of leg 30 extends up to back plate 18 so as to press against a picture therebetween.

Another embodiment of the picture frame according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10 to 12. In accordance with this embodiment, the need for a picture frame hanging wire is eliminated. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, an edge support 112 similar to edge support 12 of FIGS. 1 to 9 is provided having a back plate 118 together with a substantially C-shaped member 120 extending upwardly from the plane thereof. C-shaped member 120 has depending outer leg 122 and depending inner leg 124 as well as a connecting flange 125 which is substantially parallel to legs 122 and 124 and which connects edge support 112 to the outer edge terminus of back plate 118. Depending inner leg 124 defines a gap, designated 126, between the terminus thereof and back plate 118 into which the edge of a poster-like picture is insertable and which can then be fastened and secured by means of fastening elements as above described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 9.

A wall fastening device, designated 172, fastens edge support 112 to the wall. Wall fastening device 172 is substantially an inverted T shape wherein bottom flange 174 is fastened to the wall by means of screws or other suitable means such as adhesive. The vertical flange 176 of device 172 is provided with an expanded end 178 which is received within elongated socket 180 of edge support 112. The aperture 182 of socket 180 is formed with a narrowed resilient gap defined by facing inward projections 184 and 186 located at the terminus of outer leg 122 and the terminus of back plate 118, respectively. The end 178 of flange 176 is received through the resilient gap defined between projections 184 and 186 and is thus engaged by socket 180. The strength of outer depending wall 122 of edge support 112 may be enhanced by providing an interconnecting brace, designated 188, between connecting flange 125 and wall 122.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.