Abstract:
A picture frame system comprises a base, a flexible gooseneck extending from the base, a mount and a trim panel disposed at an end of the gooseneck away from the base. The gooseneck is a jointed, articulated tube with a resiliency sufficient to support a load defined by the mount, trim panel, and a picture. Optionally, a plurality of flexible goosenecks can extend from the base and each can have a different axial length. Also optionally, the mount and trim plate can be configured so that the trim panel is magnetically seatable on the mount for retaining the picture between the mount and the trim panel.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to picture frame systems and, more particularly, picture frames that are arbitrarily and sculpturally positionable relative to a supporting base.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A variety of decorative picture frames are known in the art yet there remains room for improvements.  
           [0003]    One embodiment of a prior art picture frame comprises a base and at least one stem supported by the base. The stem is typically formed from a solid rod of soft material such as brass or nickel. A spring clamp similar to a paper clip is disposed at the end of the stem opposite from the base. To display a picture, the user inserts the picture into the clamp. This action has at least three deleterious effects. First, the picture develops a curvature due to the clamp exerting pressure on the picture. Second, after extended periods the clamp causes depressions in the picture&#39;s surface; these depressions remain after removal from the picture frame and forever mar the picture. Thirdly, the clamp necessarily blocks a portion of the picture, thereby detracting from the viewing pleasure of the user.  
           [0004]    Should a user of this prior art picture frame desire to reposition a picture they may bend the stem to a new location. The stem may subsequently be bent to a new position or returned to a position approximating its original position. However, a problem in the prior art is that the stem inherently has a degree of plasticity and is not capable of being repositioned without retaining a degree of deformity. Therefore, after multiple repositioning, the appearance of the stem degrades. Additionally, the deformed areas weaken the stem and can lead to failure—i.e., snapping of the stem.  
           [0005]    In particular, there is a need for an aesthetic picture frame that can retain pictures without marring them and that can be freely positioned by a user, without kinking or otherwise deforming, to suit the user&#39;s aesthetic desires. The present invention satisfies this and other needs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a picture frame system comprises a base providing support for a flexible gooseneck extending from the base. The flexible gooseneck is a resilient, jointed, articulated tube. At an end of the flexible gooseneck away from the base is disposed a mount and a trim panel. The trim panel is positionable relative to the mount and capable of retaining a picture between the panel and mount. The flexible gooseneck has a resiliency sufficient to support a load defined by the mount, trim panel, and picture at a plurality of positions.  
           [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a picture frame system comprises a base providing support for a plurality of flexible goosenecks. Each one of the goosenecks comprises a resilient, jointed, articulated tube. At an end of each gooseneck away from the base is disposed a mount and a trim panel. The trim panel is positionable relative to the mount and is configured to retain a picture between the panel and mount. The flexible gooseneck has a resiliency sufficient to support a load defined by the mount, trim panel, and picture at a plurality of positions.  
           [0008]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a picture frame system comprises a base providing support for a plurality of flexible goosenecks, each gooseneck each being comprised of a resilient, jointed, articulated tube, as described above. Further, each flexible gooseneck has an axial length, as measured between the base and the mount, which may be different from at least one of the other flexible goosenecks.  
           [0009]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a picture frame system comprises a base providing support for at least one flexible gooseneck. At an end of the flexible gooseneck away from the base is disposed a mount and a trim panel. According to this aspect of the invention, the mount is made of either a magnetic or a ferromagnetic material. The trim panel is magnetically seatable on the mount for retaining the picture between the mount and the trim panel. These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention can be understood further with regard to the Drawings and Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a picture frame system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a picture frame system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 a  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention taken at detail  3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 b  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the invention taken at detail  3  of FIG. 1; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a enlarged exploded perspective view of a flexible gooseneck of a picture frame system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    By way of overview and introduction, a picture frame system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The picture frame system comprises a base  20 , a flexible gooseneck  30 , a mount  40  and a trim panel  50 . These components cooperate to support a picture  60  in a plurality of positions relative to the base  20 .  
         [0016]    The base  20  preferably has a mass which is sufficient to overcome any turning moments created when the picture  60  is cantilevered out beyond an edge E of the base  20 , as illustrated in FIG. 1, and thus prevent the base  20  from tipping. Optionally, a pad  21  is affixed to an underside of the base  20  to protect a surface upon which the base  20  may be seated. For example, the pad  21  can be a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, cork, rubber, a polymer, or non-abrasive material.  
         [0017]    In the illustrated embodiment, the base  20  further includes a stem  22 , that extends from the base and which is sized to receive a portion of the gooseneck  30 . FIG. 1 illustrates a second stem  122  that supports a second gooseneck  130 ; however, the invention is not so limited. Rather, a single gooseneck  30  or multiple goosenecks  30 ,  130 , etc. can be provided within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0018]    The flexible gooseneck  30  permits users to position their pictures  60  anywhere over a wide range of positions relative to the base  20 . Thus, users may express their individual artistic ability by presenting their picture in a position which is aesthetically pleasing to themselves, as well as other viewers. Embodiments comprised of multiple flexible goosenecks  30 ,  130  offer the user even more self-artistic expression by enabling the user to create a three dimensional montage of their pictures. This embodiment permits users to juxtapose their pictures to create an artistic composition which presents the images in a manner most pleasing to the user.  
         [0019]    Instead of a stem  22 , the base  20  can be provided with an aperture  24  (e.g., in an upper surface thereof), with the aperture  24  sized to receive the gooseneck  30 .  
         [0020]    The flexible gooseneck  30  comprises a jointed, articulatable tube that extends along an axial length between first and second ends. An exemplary gooseneck, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is formed from two coaxially positioned, loosely-wound springs. Each spring having a pitch defining a spacing between consecutive windings. Outer spring  32  has a rectangular cross section and its pitch approximates or equals the cross section of inner spring  34 . The inner spring has a circular cross section and its pitch approximates or equals the cross section of the outer spring. The inner diameter of outer spring  32  and the outer diameter of inner spring  34  are sized such that inner spring  34  fits snugly within, and pressably against, outer spring  32 . The two springs are positioned together in a manner which allows inner spring  34  to be viewed through the pitch of outer spring  34 . the inner spring is typically, and preferably, stiffer than the outer spring. Other cross sections or constructions of goosenecks are possible.  
         [0021]    One end portion of the gooseneck is connected to the base  20 , e.g., by seating in a stem  22 , FIG. 3 a,  or an aperture  24 , FIG. 3 b.  Other known bonding methods (e.g., rivets, welding, soldering, adhesives, etc.) can be used to connect the gooseneck to the base. With reference to FIG. 1, a second end portion of the gooseneck, opposite the first portion, is connected to a mount  40 . The picture  60  is seated on the mount  40 . The articulatable tube of the flexible gooseneck  30  has a resiliency which is sufficient to support a load imposed by the mount  40 , the trim panel  50 , and the picture  60 . In particular, the flexible gooseneck  30  demonstrates its resiliency by having the characteristic capability of recovering its shape after deformation. With this resiliency, a user can freely position a mounted picture  60  relative to the base  20 . More particularly, a load defined by the mount  40 , trim panel  50 , and picture  60  together is insufficient to cause the flexible gooseneck  30  to sag or otherwise change its position from that selected by the user.  
         [0022]    With further reference to FIG. 1, a series of arrows have been drawn to illustrate a few of the arbitrary bends that can be imparted to the gooseneck  30 . Some of the bends, such as indicated by arrows A, B, and C can be imparted directly to the gooseneck  30  by the user grasping the gooseneck and bending it in his or her hand. Other ways of bending the gooseneck and positioning the picture include grasping the mount  40  and rotating the mount as indicated by arrows D and F, which causes bending of the gooseneck due to the coupling between the mount and gooseneck in the preferred embodiment.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a preferred mount for the picture  60  comprises a planer surface  42  (upon which the picture  60  is seated) and a planer trim panel  50  which has a surface  52  that is brought into contact or proximity with the mount  40 . The mount further comprises a countersunk hole in planar surface  42  and a screw with a countersunk head for joining the planar surface with the second end portion of the gooseneck. Conventional adhesives or other known bonding methods (e.g., rivets, welding, soldering, etc.) can be used to connect the planar surface to the second end portion of the gooseneck.  
         [0024]    Preferably, the mount is made of a material that is either magnetic or ferromagnetic, that is, a material that is attracted to a magnetic material. More preferably, the mount is made of a ferromagnetic material and the trim panel  50  includes a magnet  54  that engages the mount  40  when the trim panel is seated on the mount. Multiple magnets  54  can be provided around the periphery of the trim panel,  50  or the entire trim panel  50  can include a magnetic portion or be made of a magnetic material. When the trim panel  50  is engaged to the mount  40 , the picture  60  is retained therebetween.  
         [0025]    While the preferred embodiment has been described in connection with a magnetic seat, other mechanisms for seating the picture  60  on the mount  40  are within the scope of the present invention, including conventional mechanical engagements of the trim panel  50  and the mount  40 .  
         [0026]    With further reference to FIG. 2, the mount  40  further includes a stem  44  that is sized to receive the second end portion of the gooseneck  30 . As described above in connection with the base  20 , the gooseneck  30  can be secured at its second end portion via the stem  44 , an aperture in the mount  40  (not shown), or by other mechanical means such as a clip.  
         [0027]    As noted above, plural goosenecks  30 ,  130 , etc. can be provided and supported from a common base  20 . When plural goosenecks are provided, each gooseneck can have a different axial length than another. The variations in axial lengths can add to the aesthetic appeal of the picture frame system  10 .  
         [0028]    While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments thereof it is not limited to such embodiments but rather is defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.