Patent ID: 8453362
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: B44D

Abstract:
1. A stretcher bar frame and fastening system for mounting, re-stretching, remounting, and removing artist canvas comprising: a plurality of snap fitting, interlocking, interchangeable, variable lengths side bar segments, fixed length right angle corner segments, and connecting segments, featuring a locking mechanism utilizing a male plug member and a female socket member, that interconnects to form an array of various size square or rectangular frames; a female socket member side bar segment end surface, having an open middle cavity at a center width-wise axis thereof, having in connecting internal top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of opposing side walls, which is open at both longitudinal end surfaces; a female socket member corner segment end surface, having an open middle cavity at a center width-wise axis thereof, having a connecting internal top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of opposing side walls, which is open at both perpendicular longitudinal end surfaces; a male plug member, connecting segment end, having two pair of opposing flexible flat head latching arm members extending in opposite directions from the central horizontal axis of the connecting segment base side surfaces, for insertion through the open end of said middle cavity of said female socket member, each said flexible arm member running distal and parallel along opposite sides of the plug member base, wherein each said flexible arm member having a pivotal flexible arm member stem, a flat tooth outer side surface, a flat tooth latching surface, an arm member top surface, an arm member bottom surface, a sloping surface adjacent to the flat tooth perimeter, a proximate flat tooth latching surface, and an arm member back side surface; a female socket member having aperture engagement surfaces extending and directing from the inner to an outer surface near each side swills of said socket member, each engagement shoulder being disposed on a midway line between said top wall and said bottom wail of said cavity, each aperture engagement surface being adapted to mate with a corresponding flat tooth latching surface on each said flexible flat headed latching arm member, when each said flexible flat headed latching arm member is fully inserted into the open end of said middle cavity, to engage and interlock the said plug member to said socket member; a aperture engagement surface adjacent to said flat tooth outside side latching surface on each said flexible flat headed latching arm, said latching, surface and said aperture engagement surface defines an engaging interlocking coupling surface, said engaging interlocking coupling surface being positioned to latch to a corresponding position in the socket member open middle cavity; a means for disengaging said flat tooth latching surface on said flexible flat headed latching arm member of said plug, member, from said aperture engagement surface of said socket member, to permit decoupling of said plug member from said socket member; an insertable internal guide bar running distal and parallel between two said flexible flat headed arm members on said plug member, between the mating guide bar projections extending downward from the top cavity wall surface and upward from the bottom cavity wall surface of said open middle cavity of said socket member, running through a circular opening in the connecting segment base, running parallel from said open side corner segment cavity to said opposing open side corner segment cavity, and through an inserted adjacent in-line side bar segments: a joining lip around the outer perimeter edge of said socket member end surface that mates with a connecting segment plug base to further align and secure said adjacent plug member between said side bar segments, corner segments, or between a side bar and a corner segment; a fastening channel with a self-healing block on the back side surface of each side bar and corner segment to attach and secure canvas to said stretcher bar frame with staples, tacks, or other gripping fasteners; and a stretcher bar front side outer surface, on all side bar and corner segments, having an extended outside front corner, over which a canvas is stretched, adjacent to an angular front-side surface, that sloping downward towards the front side surface.