US3613279A - Picture frame construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A PICTURE FRAME INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATE SECTIONS EACH OF CONSTANT CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN-ENDED THROUGH PASSAGEWAY FOR FRICTIONALLY RECEIVING A CONNECTOR KEY, AND BACKING MEANS FOR BACKING A PICTURE OR THE LIKE WITHIN THE FRAME.

Description

OC. 19, 1971 M. D. BELFOR PICTURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION United States Patent O 3,613,279 PICTURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION Myer D. Belfor, Cooper River Plaza, Pennsauken, NJ. 08110 Filed May 14, 1970, Ser. No. 37,245 Int. Cl. G09f 1/12 U.S. Cl. 40-152 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A picture frame including a plurality of elongate sections each of constant cross-sectional conliguration and provided with an open-ended through passageway for frictionally receiving a connector key, and backing means for backing a picture or the like within the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known to those versed in the art, picture frames are now frequently fabricated of metal, such as aluminum extrusions or the like, which extrusions are usually sold in a knocked down or kit formation, together with corner connectors, whereby the frame sections may be placed about a picture and connected together at the corners or adjacent ends of the frame sections.

Frame constructions of this general type, while having many advantages over earlier frame constructions have been subject to certain difficulties. For example, extruded metal picture frames have been inadequate in not accepting pictures of different thicknesses, and have further proved unsatisfactory in requiring minute and difficult to handle screw fastenings to secure the corner connectors in position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of the present inventon to provide a uniquely improved frame construction of the type adapted to be fabricated of extruded metal frame sections, which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, being adapted to receive canvas paintings and other pictures of different thicknesses, and wherein the frame sections may be very quickly and easily assembled together by unskilled persons, and without the use of tools.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a frame construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is greatly simplified in structure, achieves substantial savings in assembly time, and which is staunch, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, all without sacrificing the natural advantages of a metal frame construction.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational View showing a frame construction of the present invention in an operative, assembled condition of use.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. l, enlarged for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional View similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a framed canvas of thicker dimension.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a corner connector or key constructed in accordance with the teach- 3,613,279. Patented Oct. 19, 1971 iig@ DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a frame is there generally designated 10, being of polygonal or rectangular configuration and surrounding a picture 11. The frame 10 is composed of a plurality of elongate frame sections arranged in end-to-end angulate relation with respect to each other. In particular, the frame 10 includes an upper frame section 12, a pair of side frame sections 13 and 14 each depending from a respective end of upper frame section 12, and a lower frame section 15 extending between the lower ends of side frame sections 13 and 14. The frame sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 may all be of a constant and identical cross-sectional configuration, say as being advantageously fabricated of aluminum by extrusion. The frame section 12 is illustrated in enlarged crosssectional detail in FIG. 2, there being shown as formed with an elongate, generally at, outer peripheral wall 17 having a forward longitudinal edge portion 18 and a rearward longitudinal edge portion 19. That is, the peripheral wall 17 has its lateral or transverse dimension extending forwardly (leftward in FIG. 2) and rearward (rightward) of the picture frame 10.

Extending longitudinally along the outer peripheral wall 17, and particularly along the forward longitudinal portion 18 of the peripheral wall, and projecting inwardly therefrom, is a masking wall 20. If desired, as in the illustrated embodiment, the masking wall 20 may extend obliquely inwardly and rearwardly.

At a location spaced inwardly from the peripheral wall 17, there is provided on the rearward side of the masking wall 12, a longitudinally extending rib or lip 21. That is, the rib or lip 21 extends longitudinally along the rear side of the masking wall, being spaced inwardly from the peripheral wall 17, so that the peripheral wall, masking wall and lip all combine to define a forwardly located groove 22 extending longitudinally along and between the peripheral and masking walls, and facing generally rearwardly. Viewed otherwise, the groove 22` is located along the inner side of the longitudinal forward portion 18 of peripheral wall 17, extending longitudinally therealong, and facing rearwardly generally toward the rearward longitudinal peripheral wall portion 19.

An additional wall or web 2S extends longitudinally along the inner side of the peripheral wall 17 being spaced rearwardly of the masking wall 20, and located in spaced relation between the front and rear longitudinal peripheral wall portions 18 and 19. In addition, a retaining wall 26 is provided extending longitudinally along the web 25, projecting forwardly from the inner edge of the web generally coplanar with and terminating short of the lip 21. The longitudinally extending, forwardly projecting retaining wall 26, is thus also located in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer peripheral wall 17 and combines with the latter and web 2S to define a groove 27. The groove 27 is located rearwardly of the groove 22, extending longitudinally along the inner side of the peripheral wall 17, and faces forwardly toward the forward groove 22. By this construction, the facing forward and rearward grooves 22 and 27 combine to define an open-ended through passageway 29, for a purpose appearing presently.

The cross-sectional configuration of each frame section 12-15, as shown in detail in FIG. 2 in connection with frame section 12, further includes a backing member or flange extending longitudinally along the forward edge of retaining wall 26 and projecting inwardly therefrom, so as to be in generally rearwardly spaced facing relation with respect to the masking wall 20.

In addition, located rearward of the web 25, intermediate the latter and the rearward edge of the peripheral wall 17, there is provided a backing wall 31 extending longitudinally along the inner side of the peripheral wall and projecting inwardly therefrom beyond the ange 30, so as to also be in rearwardly spaced facing relation with respect to the masking wall 20. The backing wall 31 is located slightly forwardly of the rear edge of peripheral wall 17, and has its inner marginal edge portion 32 bent to extend obliquely rearwardly and inwardly, terminating substantially coplanar with the rear edge of the peripheral wall.

A plurality of connector keys or corner pieces are employed in conjunction with the several frame sections 12- 15, one connector key being located at each juncture or corner of the frame 10, the structure of a corner key being best seen in FIG. 4, and there generally designated 35. More specifically, each corner key 35 includes a pair of elongate extensions or legs 36 arranged in end-to-end angulate relation, having their adjacent ends joined together at a juncture 37, and the legs 36 extending angulately therefrom to terminate in free ends 38. Further, it will be appreciated that the legs 36 are each of an outwardly tapering configuration, that is tapering in the direction from the juncture 37 to the free ends 38. As best seen in FIG. 4 each leg 36 is of rectangular cross-sectional coniguration and located in intersecting planes, which planes intersect at the juncture 37. Further, the legs 36 each taper or are of reducing dimension outwardly in the direction parallel to the meeting edge or juncture 37. This is best seen in FIG. 6, wherein it appears that the overall outline conguration of each leg 36 is generally that of a tapering wedge or trapezoid, one longitudinal edge 39 being generally normal to the line of juncture 37 and the other longitudinal edge 40 converging outwardly toward the longitudinal edge 39. Further, it is there seen that the declining or oblique longitudinal edge 40 is provided, on each leg 36, with a longitudinally disposed row or series of outwardly projecting teeth 41. Specifictlly, the teeth 41 each extend laterally entirely across the leg edge 40. The row of teeth 41 may extend to the free end edge 38, and may terminate short of the juncture 37 if desired.

In assembly of the connector keys 35 together with the frame sections 12-15, a key 35 is arranged with its legs 36 inserted into respective adjacent passageways 29 of adjacent frame sections, as seen in FIG. 5. This insertion of connector key legs 36 into passageways 29 is best illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein it will be seen that the teeth 41 are resiliently deflected and serve to insure a snug effective frictional retention of legs in there receiving passageways. However, the connector key legs 36 may be removed from the receiving passageways 29, if desired, by the exertion of sufficient force, which would ordinarily not be applied in use. Further, the connector keys 35 may be reused after removal from the passageways 29 by mere repeated reinsertion, in the manner described hereinbefore.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the picture or canvas 11 is of a thickness in its forward and rearward dimension so as to have its forward side or face, as at 43, in engagement with the rear or back side of the masking wall 20, while its rear or back side 44 engages the front side of backing fiange 30. In this manner, the relatively thin picture of canvas 11 is effectively and positively retained in position within the frame 10.

In FIG. 3 the frame 10l is shown in operative condition receiving a picture or canvas 11a, which is of greater thickness than that of picture 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the front side or face 43a of canvas 11a is in engagement with the rear side of masking wall 20, as in the first described embodiment. However, the rear side 44a of relatively thick canvas or picture 11a engages the front surface of backing wall 31, and is thereby positively retained in position within the frame 10. Thus, it will be appreciated that pictures or canvases 11 and 11a of very different thicknesses may be held with equal effectiveness in proper position with the frame 10i. In present practice, there are conventionally only two thicknesses of canvas stretchers, so that the construction of frame 10 is entirely adequate. Should it be desired to accommodate canvas stretchers of different thicknesses than illustrated, this may be achieved by utilization of the teachings herein, that is, by the provision of additional backing walls of increasing inward projection for increasing thickness.

Further, the rearmost backing wall 31, by means of its obliquely downwardly and rearwardly extending inner marginal edge 32, serve to provide a very convenient means for suspending an assembled frame from a screw or nail impaled into a building wall. That is, the nail or screw head is merely engaged beneath the wall portion 32 and the picture is properly centered on the supporting fastener for positive suspension thereby.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a frame construction for pictures and the like which may very quickly and easily be assembled in association with a received picture, without the need for tools or mechanical skill. The connector keys 35 are advantageously integrally fabricated of suitable plastic, such as nylon, or the like, to achieve the desired resilience or fiexibility described hereinbefore.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame construction for pictures and the like comprising a plurality of elongate frame sections arranged in end-to-end angulate relation and combining to define a polygon; each of said frame sections being of constant cross-sectional configuration and comprising an outer peripheral wall having front and rear longitudinal portions, a masking wall extending along the front longitudinal portion of said outer peripheral wall and projecting inwardly therefrom, a lip extending longitudinally along the rear side of said masking wall spaced inwardly from said peripheral wall and combining therewith to define a forward groove facing rearwardly, a web extending longitudinally along the inner side of said peripheral wall spaced rearwardly from said masking wall, a retaining wall extending longitudinally along said web projecting forwardly therefrom and combining with said web and peripheral wall to define a rearward groove facing forwardly toward said forward groove, said facing grooves combining to define an open-ended through passageway, and backing means carried by said peripheral wall projecting inwardly therefrom in rearwardly spaced relation with said masking wall; and a plurality of connector keys each comprising a pair of elongate legs secured together in end-to-end angulate relation and extending in snug frictional releasably retaining engagement into the adjacent end of a respective one of said passageways, to releasably retain said frame sections together, said masking wall and backing means combining to receive therebetween the marginal edges of a picture within said frame.

2. A frame construction according to claim 1, said frame sections each being integrally fabricated of metal for rigidity, and said connector keys each being integrally fabricated of plastic for resilient yieldability in said frictional engagement.

3. A frame construction according to claim 1, said connector \key legs each tapering toward its free end for wedging action in the receiving passageway.

4. A frame construction according to claim 1, in combination with a series of resiliently deectable teeth on each of said legs to achieve said snug frictional engagement.

5. A frame construction according to claim 1, said backing means comprising a backing Wall extending along the rear longitudinal portion of said peripheral wall and projecting inwardly therefrom beyond said retaining wall into rearwardly spaced facing relation with said masking wall.

6. A frame construction according to claim 5, said backing means having a marginal edge portion extending obliquely inwardly and rearwardly for engagement over the head of a headed fastener projecting from a building wall.

7. A frame construction according to claim 1, said backing means comprising a ange extending longitudinally along said retaining wall projecting inwardly therefrom References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,294,429 12/1966 Halip 40-152 X 3,317,227 5/1967 Nijhuis 40-152 X 2,581,843 1/1952 Edwards 40-155 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner

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