Abstract:
A hinge assembly for adjustably connecting a picture frame strut to a picture frame back includes a mounting plate having length and a width. A first fastener, such as rosettes, are provided on the mounting plate for affixing it to the picture frame back. A hinge member includes a first plate that is slidably connected to the mounting plate. A second plate is rotatably connected to the first plate. A second fastener, such as rosettes, are provided on the second plate to affix a picture frame strut thereto.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Ser. No. 60/307,988 filed Jul. 26, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hardware use for picture frames. More specifically, the present invention relates to the hardware used to attach a strut to a picture frame. In addition, the present invention relates to a hinge assembly that is used to adjustably connect a picture frame strut to a picture frame back. 
     In the industry, a typically picture frame assembly includes a back member, which is typically made of cardboard, which fits into a rear seat in a frame molding which can be made of wood, plastic, metal, or the like. A number of turn buttons are commonly attached to the rear side of the molding and pivot into place over the periphery of the back member to secure it in place. A piece of glass, clear plastic, or the like is positioned between the back member and the molding. A picture, to be displayed, is positioned between the back member and glass. 
     A picture frame may be mounted for display in several different ways. For example, a hanger or wire may be affixed to the rear side of the frame molding for hanging the frame on a wall for display. Also, a strut is typically employed when the picture frame is to be displayed on a surface, such as a desk or shelf. This strut is hingedly connected to the picture frame back. The strut is commonly shipped in with its strut member in a collapsed condition where it rests flush against the rear side of the picture frame back and frame molding. For the display of a picture frame, the strut member is opened via the hinge and the picture frame is then set on the surface with the bottom of the frame molding and free end of the strut, which is typically flat, in contact with the support surface. Thus, the picture frame is displayed in and easel-like fashion for viewing. 
     It is well known in the picture frame industry that struts must be positioned correctly on the picture frame back so that they operate as intended. Specifically, the strut must be of a length that enables the proper angle to be created between the picture frame itself and the support surface on which the picture frame sits. The proper length of the strut is determined not from the size of the cardboard picture frame back but the overall size of the picture frame which includes the outer molding of the frame. 
     Therefore, in the prior art, the strut must be positioned specifically for each overall frame size even if the actual size of the cardboard picture frame back are the same. As a result, customized permanent positioning of the strut is required in prior art picture frame assemblies. The strut must extend to the outer periphery of the molding of the frame so when it is extended it achieves the proper angle with the support surface. A further drawback of the use of a fixed strut member is that when the strut is in a collapsed state, it rests against the back of the molding thus making the overall frame much thicker and particularly cumbersome during packaging and transit. Also, the angle of the picture frame assembly relative to the support surface cannot be customized by the user. 
     There have been many attempts in the prior art to address the foregoing concerns of a fixed strut member. For example, prior art picture frame assemblies have included struts that are adjustably connected to the picture frame back member. This has been carried out by providing the pivot member that connects the strut to the picture frame back member with flanges that slidably reside within channels in the cardboard picture frame back. However, such a construction is difficult to operate because the metal strut hinge or pivot member and its flanges does not smoothly ride within the channels cut in the picture frame back member. Further, in this prior art construction, there is no provision to securely maintain the location of the strut hinge on the back member. Over time, the friction fit of the strut hinge in the channels of back member loosens thus enabling the hinge to migrate from its desired location which had previously been selected by the user. Numerous adjustments of such a strut hinge over time will accelerate the degradation of the quality of the adjustable strut hinge connection. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a demand for an adjustable strut hinge assembly for a picture frame is easy to operate and set but yet is durable and will not degrade with use. There is a further need for an adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly that can be manufactured in mass quantities using progressive tooling and automated equipment. There is also a demand for an adjustable picture frame strut assembly that can facilitate the compact shipping of picture frames that are equipped with a strut member. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art picture frame hinges and related hardware. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available hinges and hardware and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available devices and assemblies. 
     The invention is generally directed to the novel and unique strut hinge for picture frames that is capable of hingedly connecting a picture frame strut to a picture frame back. 
     The hinge assembly of the present invention adjustably connects a picture frame strut to a picture frame back and includes a mounting plate having length and a width. A first fastener, such as rosettes, are provided on the mounting plate for affixing it to the picture frame back. A pivot member includes a first plate that is slidably connected to the mounting plate. A second plate is rotatably connected to the first plate. A second fastener, such as rosettes, are provided on the second plate to affix a picture frame strut thereto. As a result, a supporting strut can be custom adjusted relative to the picture frame back to accommodate different sized picture frames and associated moldings. 
     The adjustable strut hinge assembly of the present invention has many advantages over prior art strut hinges in that it is easily adjustable to a wide range of positions on the picture frame back. The hinge employs a mounting plate that receives the rotating hinge member which enables easy and fast adjustment of the hinge member. An indexing system is also provided to facilitate the adjustment of the hinge assembly and to maintain the assembly in the desired adjusted position. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly that can easily be adjusted so that the picture frame strut is optimally positioned relative to the picture frame back. 
     A further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly that is easy to manufacture and install. 
     It is an object to the present invention to provide an adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly that can be manufactured quickly and in large quantities using progressive tooling. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly that, over time, the attachment of the hinge assembly to the picture frame back does not degrade. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly where the adjusted position of the strut on the picture frame back is maintained over time. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye when installed on a picture frame back. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention&#39;s preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of FIG. 1 in assembled form; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mounting plate employed in the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge member employed in the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the hinge member employed in the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the hinge member employed in the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of FIG. 1 in assembled form and in a first adjusted location; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of FIG. 1 in assembled form and in a second adjusted location; 
     FIG. 9 is an front elevational view of the of the adjustable picture frame strut hinge assembly of FIG. 1 in assembled form; 
     FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a picture frame, employed the hinge assembly of the present invention, on a support surface; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the picture frame of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a rear view of a picture frame employing the hinge assembly of the present invention with the strut in a retracted storage position; and 
     FIG. 13 is a rear view of a picture frame employing the hinge assembly of the present invention with the strut in an extended in-use position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the picture frame strut hinge assembly  10  is shown. The strut hinge assembly  10  includes a mounting plate  12  and a pivot member  14  slidably residing the in the mounting plate  12 . Specifically, the mounting plate  12  includes a number of fastening members  16  which are employed to secure the mounting plate  12  to a picture frame back member  18 , as shown in FIG.  10 . Two fasteners  16  are preferred but one or more than two may be used. The details of such attachment will be discussed in detail below. Preferably, rosette fasteners  16  are used as the method of attaching the mounting plate  12  to a picture frame back member  18 . While rosette fasteners  16  are preferred, other fasteners, such as rivets and staples, may be employed and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
     The mounting plate  12  includes a pair of channels  20  running along the length of the mounting plate  12  and on opposing side thereof. The channels  20  are each provided by an upstanding wall  22  and inwardly turned flanges  24 . As a result, a sliding channel  20  is formed on opposing sides of the mounting plate  12  defined between the inwardly turned flanges  24  and the top surface  12   a  of mounting plate  12  as well as the inner surface  22   a  of the upstanding walls  22 . 
     The opposing channels  20  are preferably formed as above to facilitate high speed large scale manufacturing using progressive tooling. Moreover, it is preferred that a there be an array of inwardly turned flanges  24  to enable a sharp corner to be provided to form a channel  20  that is square to facilitate smooth sliding of the pivot member  14  therein, as will be described below. However, a single inwardly turned flange  24  for each channel  20  may be employed instead. The mounting plate  12  further includes an upwardly turned stops  26 , preferably in the form of a tab, to prevent removal of the pivot member  14  from within the channels  20  once it has been slidably installed therein. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4-6, details of the construction of the pivot member  14  is shown. The pivot member  14  is, essentially, in the form of a hinge with a bottom plate  28  with a top plate  30  that is hingedly connected thereto. For example, the hinge portion  32  is preferably of the pinless type, as shown, but may be of any construction as long as the top plate  30  is hingedly connected to the bottom plate  28 . Preferably, the hinge portion  32  of the pivot member  14  has positive stops  34  to prevent the hinge from opening too far. Such at stop structure  34  may be incorporated directly into the structure of the pivot member  14  or external structures may be employed, such as chain or ribbon (not shown) attached to the back of the picture frame back member  18  to limit and control the movement hinge  32 . A pair of fasteners  44 , such as rosettes, are provided on the top surface of the top plate  30 . 
     The bottom plate  28  of the pivot member  14  includes a pair of ears  34  extending from opposing sides thereof and, preferably, a pair of protrusions  36  extending downwardly from the lower surface thereof. As a result, the bottom plate  28  is attached to the mounting plate  12  by the ears  34  of the bottom plate  28  being slidably residing within the opposing channels  20  of the mounting plate  12 . The sliding installation of the bottom plate  28  also installs the top plate  30  because it is hingedly connected thereto. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the ears  34  of the bottom plate  28  extend beyond the lateral boundary of the top plate  30  to enable the top plate  30  to fit between the free ends of the inwardly turned flanges  24  of the mounting plate  12  for smooth unimpeded operation. 
     Also, the mounting plate  12  is provided with a stops  26  for preventing the pivot member from sliding out from the channels  20 . The stops  26   a  and  26   b  are preferably in the form of a pair of tabs positioned at opposing ends of the mounting plate  12 . FIG. 1 illustrates the installation of the pivot member  14  into the channels of the mounting plate  12 . At this point at least the tab  26   a  on the side where the pivot member  14  slidably enters the channels  20  is in a downward flat position to permit clearance of the bottom plate  28  into the channels  20 . The right tab  26   b  may be already upstanding providing a right stop  26   b . Once the pivot member  14  is installed, the left tab  26   a  is bent upward to a position as shown in FIG.  2 . As a result, the pivot member  14  is secured within the mounting plate  12  via the channels  20 . Alternatively, the tabs  26   a  and  26   b  may be bend upward simultaneously depending on the installation process employed. FIG. 9 further illustrates an end elevational view of the installation of the pivot member  14  into the mounting plate  12  in accordance with the present invention. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the strut hinge assembly  10  is also provided with an indexing system to control the sliding movement of the pivot member  14 , namely the bottom plate  28  within the channels  20  of the mounting plate  12 . Specifically, as in FIG. 6, the bottom plate  28  preferably includes a pair of spaced apart protrusions  36  that extend downwardly toward the top surface  12   a  of the mounting plate  12 . A pair of protrusions  36  are preferred but less or more that two protrusions  36  may be employed. When the bottom plate  28  is installed between the channels  20 , namely between the inwardly facing flanges  24  and the top surface  12   a  of the mounting plate  12 , there is a close tolerance fit but sliding of the bottom plate  28  and protrusions  36  thereon is permitted. 
     An array of apertures  38 ,  40  are provided through the mounting plate  12  to receive the protrusions  36  on the bottom surface of the bottom plate  28 . Detents may be employed instead of a through-aperture. The array of apertures  38 ,  40  are used to index the sliding movement of the bottom plate and entire pivot member  14  through the mounting plate  12  and also to “park” the pivot member  14  during installation of the entire assembly  10  to a picture frame back member  18 . 
     As the bottom plate  28  of the pivot member  14  is slidably moved, the protrusions  36  ride from adjustment hole  38  to adjustment hole  38  to enable precision adjustment of the length of a strut  42  relative to the picture frame back  18 . Preferably, the adjustment holes  38  are 0.087 inch in diameter. The adjustment holes  38  are preferably arranged in two columns with the adjustment holes  38  in a column being {fraction (3/16)} of an inch apart from one another. The columns are offset from one another so that the vertical travel distance of the pivot member  14  between an adjustment hole  38  in one column is {fraction (3/32)} of an inch to the next adjust hole  38  in the other column. As a result, only one of the pair of protrusions  36  in the bottom plate  28  engage with an adjustment hole  38  at a time. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the left protrusion  36   a  is engaged while the right protrusion  36   b  resides between the holes  38  in the right column. This allows for precision adjustment of the pivot member  14  relative to the mounting plate  12  to {fraction (3/32)} of an inch. Also, since only one protrusion  36  is engaged at a time, the force required to eject a protrusion  36  from its corresponding hole  38  is lessened thus making the strut  42  easier to adjust. Of course, while not preferred, it is possible to position the holes  38  across from one another in a non-offset array where each indexing steps positions both protrusions  36  in a corresponding hole  38 . 
     Also, at least one pair of resting holes  40  are provided proximal to the ends of the mounting plate  12  and are even with each other across the width of the mounting plate  12 . These resting holes  12  are preferably 0.100 of an inch in diameter and receive the protrusions  36  of the pivot member  14  during installation of the hinge assembly  10  to a strut  42  and corresponding back  18 . For proper fastening, the rosettes  16 ,  44  (or other fastener such as a rivet) must receive direct contact of pressure from an anvil or the like to achieve proper force to fully engage the fastener  16 ,  44 . Therefore, the rosettes  16  on the mounting plate and the rosettes  44  on the top plate  30  must be directly exposed to an anvil, for example. For installation, the pivot member  14  is “parked” over the rest area  46  where the rosettes fasteners  16  are not present on the mounting plate  12 , as shown in FIG.  7 . The protrusions  36  are positioned in both of the end holes  40  which are not offset. With both protrusions  36  residing in a corresponding hole  40 , the pivot member  40  is better secured during installation. In this condition, the strut hinge assembly  10  is be placed in an appropriate installation apparatus for affixation to a strut  42  and picture frame back  18 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, the use of the strut hinge assembly  10  on an actual picture frame  48  is shown in use. The strut hinge assembly  10  of the present invention is secured to the picture frame back  18  in the desired location and orientation. Typically, the strut member  42  itself is secured to the rosettes  44  on the top plate  30  simultaneously with securing the back member  18  to the rosettes  16  on the mounting plate  12  for the purposes described above. However, the strut  42  and the back member  18  may be affixed to the strut hinge assembly  10  of the present invention in separate steps. The picture frame back member  18  is then secured to the back of the frame molding  48  by turn buttons  50 , for example. Metals tabs and other structures may be employed for this purpose. As indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 10 and 11, the strut  42  is easily slidably adjusted on the rear side of the picture frame back  18  member as desired. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 further illustrate the use of the adjustment ability of the present invention to facilitate packaging and transport of a picture frame  48 . In FIG. 12, the strut member  42  is adjusted to be positioned as far inward as possible. In this condition, the strut  42  desirably fits within the area of the picture frame back member  18  which is commonly recessed relative to the frame molding  48 . Thus, the strut  42  can be safely nested inside the boundary of the back member  18  to reduce the overall size of the entire picture frame assembly  48  for shrink-wrapping and later shipping in a compact and space efficient manner. 
     Actual use of the picture frame  48  with the strut member  42  in the position shown in FIG. 12 is not desired because the optimal angle of the frame  48  relative to the support surface  52  cannot be achieved. Thus, once the picture frame assembly  10  is ready to use, the user re-adjusts the strut member  42  by sliding it in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 13 so that the lower edge  42   a  of the strut member  42  substantially matches with the lower edge  48   a  of the frame molding  48 . The condition of the strut member  42  in FIG. 13 renders the picture frame assembly  48  ready for normal use. If desired, for example if the frame  48  needs to be moved, the strut  42  can be slidably adjusted back to the condition in FIG. 12 for compact transport. 
     The adjustable strut hinge assembly  10  of the present invention is preferably made of stamped metal using progressive tooling for ease and speed of assembly. However, other materials, such as plastic, may be employed and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
     In view of the foregoing, a sturdy and easy to install and use adjustable strut hinge assembly  10  is provided for picture frames  48  to greatly facilitate the shipping and customization of a picture frame  48 . 
     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.