Abstract:
This invention discloses composite two faced picture, document and/or other artwork frames, each composed of two separate frames with panes permanently installed on elastomeric pads and fitted to allow pane to pane resilient contact with two sets of displayed material and mats clamped back to back between panes for alternate viewing of either side. Each pair of composite frames are opened and closed quickly and easily, by the user, for frequent changes of displayed material. A variety of methods of opening closing, hanging, or setting up for display, all designed for quick and easy operation, by the user without assistance or tools, are presented.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Copending nonprovisional applications: Not applicable  
         [0002]     Provisional application No. 60/615,557 on this invention, filed Oct. 1, 2004 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0003]     Not applicable  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX  
       [0004]     Not applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     This invention relates to frames for pictures, documents, certificates etc. and more particularly to frames which display either side alternately as composites, composed of two frames and panes, fitted and secured together, which allow quick and easy changes of displayed materials in addition to an optional variety of mats to enhance each display as a suitably decorative item. Presently available picture and document frames usually provide for mounting a single picture which may be bordered by a custom (sometimes professionally) cut mat, all bound between a display glass pane on the front and a suitable non displayed protective cover on the back, all permanently secured within a single frame. Changing this combination to show different subject matter, or to change decorating schemes or mats require extensive dismantling and reassembling, sometimes requiring the services of a professional. There is an abundance of prior framing devices; some provide for displaying pictures from both sides. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,704 to Pigg discloses a two sided picture frame with slots for inserting pictures in separate transparent holders and a pivoted base for holding the frame at a proper viewing angle when sitting on a horizontal surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,386 to Wilson discloses a frame with special corner connectors and longitudinal slots for insertion or removal of pictures. Other available frames provide two panes of glass, mounted in the usual permanent fashion, within a single frame for mounting pictures. This allows clear glass surrounding the picture to substitute for the usual mat and shows the wall or other back ground as the mat surrounding the picture.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide two- faced picture frames, constructed in the manner of, and of commonly used materials now used in ordinary picture frames, with the significant addition of resilient mounting of panes, and which can be quickly and easily opened, by the user, like the two sides of a book, (hinged together, or not) and lie flat while displayed materials (photographs, mats, montages, dried flowers, kid&#39;s kindergarten pictures, etc.) are carefully placed, face down for display on one side, and back-to- back, face up, for display on the other. The other fitted side can then be closed, securing the displayed materials in place.  
         [0007]     It is another object to provide identical, or otherwise fitted frames to align perfectly back- to-back, and when connected, to serve as a single composite frame, or as a number of connected composite frames, which may be hung or set up for alternate viewing of either side,  
         [0008]     It is another object to provide individual frames with viewing glass panes, or panes of other transparent material, permanently installed in each frame by bonding on elastomeric pads extending continuously around all edges of each pane. This necessary change from traditional frame construction is to provide resilience on closing said frames together. Said resilient closing secures displayed materials in place and allows differences in expansion of frames and transparent panes.  
         [0009]     Still other objects are to provide alternative means to secure said frames together back-to- back and to either hang them, or to set them up for display on desks, tables etc. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIGS. 1, 2  &amp;  3  are perspective and sectional views of a composite frame composed of two separate frames hinged together to allow each pane resilient contact pane to pane with the other when closed and latched, with each pane permanently secured in it&#39;s corresponding frame by bonding (contact cement or other suitable adhesive ) on elastomeric mounting strips between frames and panes.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of composite frames, lying flat in the open condition.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a composite frame supported and standing for viewing on a horizontal surface with bent wire support which may be inserted in holes in either side of said frame. This support is adaptable for use on any of these alternatives.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a typical frame member, showing an alternative bolting method for securing frames in proper alignment and thereby accommodating varying, larger display material thickness. Also shown is an optional continuous closure panel, used to change the relatively unfinished appearance resulting from said thicker display material.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a frame member with “U” shaped connectors for securing composite frame members together. These connectors may substitute for latches in combination with hinges, as indicated in  FIG. 3 , and for clamping sides of composite frames not secured by other special connectors as indicated in  FIGS. 17-20 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a cord binding arrangement with alignment and closure panel or optional alignment post details for maintaining said frames in proper alignment during and after cord binding.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side (also top and/or bottom) view of binding posts mounted on the outside of frame members with cord binding wrapped on said posts for securing frames together at variable clamping dimensions between panes as required.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a plan sectional view of a portion of a composite frame with wall hanging slots formed, in part, by additional continuous outside frame members which also close the gap created by typical identical frame members  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of said ( FIG. 10 ) frame member at the location of a wall hanging slot in the end of which a latch for securing two halves of a composite frame is installed.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is an additional sectional view of said frame member indicating location and operation of said latch. A sufficient number (minimum of two) of said latches, located at approximately diametrically opposite locations, are required for each composite frame.  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of a pair of not-identical frame members at locations of fully adjustable, and easily disengaged clamps for securing frames together. A sufficient number of these clamps, placed around the periphery of said frames, secure displayed materials together at proper variable displayed material thickness between frames. This clamping arrangement accommodates any reasonable combined thickness of displayed materials together with single or multiple mats.  
         [0022]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of said pair of not-identical frame members showing details of inside and outside frames for said clamping arrangement and bonding of elastomeric cushion mounting of viewing panes.  
         [0023]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of a number of composite frames hinged together for displays of two sides of each. With use of special hinges (shown in  FIGS. 20 &amp;21 ) an infinite variety of angular arrangements for standing alone, straight alignments for wall hanging, and fully folded arrangements are illustrated.  
         [0024]      FIG. 16  is an elevation view of composite frames, hinged together for free standing, in addition to possible horizontal and/or vertical combinations of frames.  
         [0025]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a fixed center post connection detail: an arrangement for connecting  2 ,  3 , Or  4  individual composite frames as stand-alone “portrait” and/or “landscape” orientation of displays in which said center post serves as means of clamping said composite frames together opposite hinged or otherwise connected sides.  
         [0026]      FIG. 18  is a plan sectional view of said center post connection detail indicated in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 19 &amp; 20  are plan and elevation views of a special hinge and clamping details for connecting a number of composite frames to achieve varieties of angular stand-alone and/or wall hanging configurations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     This invention, in all variations, consists of composite picture and document frames composed of two complete halves with glass, or other transparent panes permanently bonded on elastomeric pads in each half, fitted and aligned together to assure resilient contact between said panes, with said two halves hinged or otherwise connected to allow quick and easy opening and closing of said composite frame for alternate display of either side.  
         [0029]     As prior art, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,553,704 and 4,630,386, to Pigg and Wilson and other readily available picture frames indicate, it will be greatly advantageous to provide picture frames which are easily and quickly opened and closed by the user, and which allow two displays to be mounted back to back so that either side may be shown alternately and/or changed quickly, as desired.  
         [0030]     Composite picture and document frames disclosed by this invention may be fabricated of any or all materials now found in picture frame and related industries; i.e. wood, in any combination of species and finish, bent, extruded or fabricated metals, any suitable molded or fabricated plastics and glass, etc. The only change in manufacture which might be encountered in making this invention may be development of suitable means for mounting and bonding panes on resilient border strips on each half of said composite frame. “Contact cement” or other suitable adhesives will bond foamed rubber strips such as is found in weather stripping, or foamed plastic strips such as that found in laminate flooring underlayment around all sides of each pane. Some difficulty and increased cost may arise due to packing and shipping frames with glass panes installed. Said frames, however, present no additional difficulty or expense to well—equipped “Frame” shops where picture frames are assembled and finished to some extent, by hand.  
         [0031]     In considering these drawings, please note that all sectional views, with the exception of  FIG. 18 , are sections of alternative frame members as cut in similar locations to those shown on drawing, sheet  1 ,  FIG. 1 , SECTIONS  2  &amp;  3 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a composite frame composed of top half,  1  and lower half,  2 , with panes,  3 &amp; 4  mounted on resilient pads,  5 , together with elongated through slots , 19 ,for wall hanging,, and through holes,  9  for insertion of stand alone frame.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a sectional perspective view of a typical, hinge- connected composite frame member composed of top half  1 , lower half  2 , and panes  3  &amp;  4 , mounted on resilient pads  5 , in which frame members  1  &amp;  2 , together, make up a single, two faced composite frame connected together in alignment by hinge  6 . Said hinge allows sides of said composite frame to be opened like a book and lie flat, thus allowing changing and positioning of displayed material. Said displayed material is then clamped between panes  3  &amp;  4  when said ‘Book’ is closed. Said hinge arrangement is preferred when clamping thickness of displayed material does not exceed allowable variation in dimension between panes  3  &amp; 4 . Said variation is made possible by limited resilience of elastomeric mounting cushions  5 . Any number of hinges  6  may be used depending on the size of said composite frame. Full length ‘piano’ or hinges of other designs may be used.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a sectional perspective view of said typical composite frame indicated in  FIG. 2  showing a location of optional latch,  7 , opposite hinge, 6 , for clamping two frame members  1  &amp;  2  together. Other latches or connectors, i.e. as illustrated here in FIGS.  7 , 8 , 19 , &amp;  20  may substitute in combination with hinge closures.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an open composite frame, showing panes  3  &amp;  4 , with sides,  1  &amp;  2 , connected by hinges  6  and locations of latches  7 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a composite frame supported, for standing alone, by removable bent wire support  8 , inserted in support holes  9 . Additional said support holes are located on a minimum of two adjacent sides of said composite frame to allow either “Landscape”, horizontal or “Portrait”, vertical displays.  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of two frame members  1  &amp;  2 , with elastomeric cushions  5 , bonded to said frame members and to panes  3 &amp;  4 , secured together, at proper clamping dimension, by bolt, or double ended stud  110 .This arrangement serves for more permanently, less frequently changed displays with suitably decorative bolts or studs with decorative nuts, suitable for hand operation. Said bolts or studs also properly align said frames. Optional continuous closure panels  11 , mounted loosely in separate slots, provide aesthetic cover of open joints between frames  1  &amp;  2  if desired.  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a typical composite frame member with sides  1  &amp;  2 ,panes  3  &amp;  4  and resilient mounting  5 , clamped together by “U” shaped connector  12 . Said connectors may be rod (round) material, or preferably small bars of rectangular cross section fitted in rectangular holes in said composite frames. Said rectangular bar clamping arrangement provides additional torsional resistance to misalignment of frames  1  &amp; 2 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a typical composite frame member, with halves  1 &amp;  2  bound together by decorative and/or elastic cord  16 , wound on suitably spaced binding posts  17 . To maintain proper alignment of frame members  1 &amp; 2  during and after binding , alignment posts  13 , secured in one frame and sliding freely in the other, installed at diametrically opposite frame locations are required. More precise alignment and improved aesthetics may be obtained by modifying frames  1  &amp;  2  with continuous slots  14 , and adding continuous closing and alignment strips  15  secured in one frame and sliding freely in the other, in lieu of said alignment posts  13 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is an outside view of a cord binding arrangement for clamping frames together. Binding posts  17  are located suitably on outside surfaces of frame members  1  &amp;  2 . Decorative and/or elastic binding cords  16  bind and secure said frames at proper clamping dimension to accommodate variable thickness of displayed material.  
         [0041]      FIG. 10  is a plan sectional view of a portion of a composite frame consisting of two sides,  1  &amp;  2 , identical in all respects except that an additional border  20 , a member equal in width to the combined thickness of said two identical sides with resilient pads  5  and panes  3  &amp;  4  in place. Said additional member extends around all sides of said composite frame and is bonded, or otherwise permanently connected to bottom member  2  of said frame. This maintains alignment of said frames while permitting top frame  1  to slide freely out of the confines of said member  20 . this allows changing of displayed material when restraining clamps are removed. This arrangement closes the gap which exists between said frame sides  1  &amp;  2 , and forms the outside of wall hanging slot  19 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a portion of a composite frame composed of typical members  1  &amp;  2 , with mounting pads  5  and panes  3 &amp;  4  at a location of wall hanging slot  19  showing latch members  22  connected by hinge pin  21  to members  2  &amp;  20 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of said portion of a composite frame with adjustable latch  22  in place connecting members  1  &amp;  2 . Latch  22  consists of top and bottom portions connected by adjusting screw  23 . Latch  22  pivots on, and is connected to frame members  2  &amp;  20  by hinge pin  21 . Frame member  1  is disconnected by rotating latch  22 , as indicated. Said top and bottom portions of latch  22  are connected by adjusting screw  23  which allows adjustments for varying thickness of displayed materials. By locating latches within wall hanging slots  19 , this arrangement effectively hides and protects relatively fragile latches which are operated by thumb pressure on the small curved portion extending above the level of member  1 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of a composite frame member consisting of two not-identical frames  24  &amp;  25 , with means for clamping said two sides together. This clamping arrangement, utilizing elements  26  &amp;  27 , provides fully adjustable clamping dimensions between panes  3  &amp;  4 . Frame member  24  is “L” shaped in cross section with elastomeric cushion pad  5 , bonded to both frame member  24 , and to pane  3 . Frame member  25 , is a simple rectangular cross section. The half- frame, formed on all sides by member  25 , as an inside frame, is sized to fit within said frame formed on all sides by member  24 , thereby insuring alignment between two sides of said composite frame. This embodiment facilitates displaying materials of varying thickness between said panes by adjusting threaded connections between clamp elements,  26  &amp;  27 . Clamp element  26  is a hollow, internally threaded tube, inserted rotatably in holes through frame member  24 ,with a bolt head of a type suitable for hand operation, bearing against the surface of said member,  24 . Clamp element  27  is a cylindrical member with external threads mated to said internal threads of member  26  and an unthreaded end, formed at ninety degrees to said threaded end, fitted to bear against frame member  25 . By loosening said clamp and turning said formed end at least ninety degrees, said frame formed by member  25  is easily removed and set aside while display materials are changed.  
         [0045]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of said composite frame member of  FIG. 13 , composed of not-identical frame members  24  &amp;  25 , in a closed, composite condition, as in  FIG. 13 , between locations of said screw operated clamps.  
         [0046]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of a number of composite frames connected with double offset hinges end to end, as detailed in  FIGS. 19 &amp; 20 , angled together for free standing on a horizontal surface, hinged in straight line for wall hanging, or folded for shipping or storage.  
         [0047]      FIG. 16  is an elevation view of a number of composite frames, hinged together as detailed in  FIGS. 19 &amp; 20 , illustrating the possibility of clamping frames in combinations of either horizontal (“Landscape”) or vertical (“Portrait”) orientations.  
         [0048]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a fixed stand-alone arrangement for connecting two, three, or four individual composite frames  26 , in any “Landscape”, or “Portrait” combination by connecting said frames to center post  27 , which is fixed to base  28 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view of a connecting center post  27 , in which “T” slots  29 , mesh by sliding vertically in slots  30  in composite frame members  1  &amp;  2 , thereby clamping said members together. Hinge  6 , opposite said center post, provides clamping for extended ends of composite frames, and ease of maintaining alignment and opening and closing said composite frames. Other combinations of composite frame alignment posts, closing strips and/or clamping devices, as disclosed in  FIGS. 2, 7 ,  8 , 19  &amp;  20 , may be chosen as alternates for said hinge.  
         [0050]      FIG. 19  is a plan view of a double offset hinge for connecting a number of composite frames in any angular, configuration for free standing or wall hanging, as well as completely folded for storage and shipping. Said hinges are composed of “C” shaped clamp element  31 , which is fitted to slide in slots  35 , on outsides of frame members, thereby clamping said composite frames together. Pivot point extensions  32 , at the top and bottom of each “C” clamp, connect offset hinge members  33  to an identical “C” shaped clamp  3   1 which connects, as above, to an adjacent composite frame. Sides of composite frames not clamped by hinge members, as above, may be clamped by “C” clamps  34 , similar in all respects to hinge member  33 , without pivot points. As noted in  FIG. 18 , hinges  6 , or other methods of assuring alignment and clamping of individual frame members may be used.  
         [0051]      FIG. 20  is an elevation view of said double offset hinge for connecting composite frames in any angular configuration. Hinge element  31  slides vertically in slots  35  to clamp composite frame members together in either “landscape” and/or “portrait” displays as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . Offset hinge members  33 , connect said two identical sides  31  at pivot points  32 . Said hinge assembly is stabilized by torsion member  36 , which is permanently joined to offset members  33 . As noted in  FIGS. 18 &amp; 19 , other methods of assuring alignment and clamping of frame members may be substituted for sliding clamp  34 , as shown.  
         [0052]     Having now fully set forth the embodiments and certain modifications of the concepts underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concepts. It is to be understood, therefore, that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.