Picture frame fastening means

A wall attached base includes locking members rotatable into overlying relationship with the flanges of a tubular metal frame to confine same adjacent the wall surface. Appendages on the base receive a tool for imparting rotation to the base for moving of the locking members into and out of frame locking positions. Portions of the base frictionally engage the frame to prevent undesired rotation of the base. The frictional portions of the base are yieldable ears formed on the locking members or, in the modified form of the invention, surfaces on the appendages of the base adapted for frictional engagement with the frame. Wall marking pins are provided for temporary installation within each base to precisely mark the wall for installation of screw means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pertains generally to concealed fastening means for 
removably securing a picture frame or its like to a wall surface in a 
theftproof manner. 
Important features of a frame mounting system is that it be concealed from 
view and that, in commercial uses, discourages theft. Toward these ends 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,744 discloses a frame hanging system utilizing both 
Z-shaped clips and a companion latching device including an arm which 
swings into position behind a picture frame flange to prevent frame 
movement away from an adjacent wall. A cam surface on the arm permits the 
arm to move in response to the frame during frame movement toward a wall. 
A tool for frame release from a wall is necessary and with the tool having 
a right angular end member which requires that the wall attached frame 
must always be outwardly positionable from the wall surface a distance to 
permit tool end member insertion. A gap between frame and wall is 
undesirable from an aesthetic and from a vibration standpoint. 
Additionally the foregoing system provides no means for marking a wall for 
precisely locating fasteners during installation. 
Other frame installing devices include fasteners with T-shaped heads which 
are rotated 90 degrees after insertion into a tubular frame channel to 
prevent frame movement away from a wall. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present fastening means is embodied within a frame locking device which 
additionally permits the precise marking of a wall for fastener insertion 
to preclude installation mistakes. 
A base of the present device is shaped so as to admit frame installation 
thereon and, upon partial rotation, the device occupies the frame channel 
to prevent frame movement. Appendages of the device permit rotation of the 
device by a flat tool to reduce unsightly clearance between the frame and 
a wall. The base is provided with surfaces which sweep into frictional 
engagement with frame surfaces and require intentionally unlocking effort 
by a person having an appropriate tool. The base has locking members which 
occupy internal areas of the frame in one position while rotation of the 
base permits frame movement past the locking members for frame removal. 
Unlocking requires an appropriate tool which feature prevents theft of the 
frame as well as permits minimal spacing between the frame and wall. A 
modified form of fastening means may be formed from sheet stock with 
appendages disposed for frictional engagement with the frame flanges to 
prevent undesired rotation of the base subsequent to mounting of a frame 
on the wall. 
The present fastening means includes an apertured base which temporarily 
receives a marking pin for indenting of the wall to mark sites for 
fastener installation. The pins are temporarily carried within a frame to 
permit marking of the wall by exerted manual pressure on the frame 
whereafter the pins are removed, the wall drilled and the fasteners 
installed. The fasteners attach the present frame fastening means to a 
wall for subsequent reception of the picture frame. 
Important objectives include the provision of concealed frame fastening 
means which permits securement of a picture frame or the like to a wall 
surface in a theft discouraging manner with the frame and wall surface 
having minimal spacing therebetween; the provision of frame fastening 
means wherein the base of the present means additionally serves to 
temporarily receive pointed pins for marking of a wall to locate sites for 
fastener installation; the provision of frame fastening means which 
obviate mistakes made in locating frame fasteners on a wall to avoid wall 
repair efforts; the provision of frame fastening means produced by high 
volume-low cost production methods to render fastening means of low cost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With continuing attention to the drawings wherein applied reference 
numerals indicate components similarly hereinafter identified, a picture 
frame is indicated generally at 1 which is of the type having a channel 
partially closed by opposed flanges 2 and 3 to define an open area for the 
reception of frame mounting means for wall attachment. 
The rearward portion of the frame includes the edgewise opposed flanges 2 
and 3 for disposition adjacent a wall surface W. The picture frame 
additionally includes display confining members at 5, 6 and 7 which, for 
example, hold in place a glass cover 8 and an illustration 9. 
The present installation and retention means includes a base 11 which 
defines a central aperture or bore 12 with a counterbore 13. Locking 
members 14 on base 11 are adapted for partial rotational positioning or 
pivoting after insertion into the frame so as to overlie frame flanges 2 
and 3 to prevent frame travel away from wall W. Friction means is embodied 
in projections 14A spaced from axis A of the base and which may flex 
somewhat to yieldably wipe inner frame surfaces as at 6A to prevent base 
rotation against all but intentional rotation as later described. Base 11 
additionally includes wing-like appendages 15 and 16 which are concealed 
rearwardly of the picture frame when locking members 14 are disposed in a 
frame locking position i.e., overlying flanges 2 and 3 per FIG. 1. 
A first dimension Y of the base is of lesser magnitude than the distance 
between edgewise opposed frame flanges 2 and 3 to permit passage of the 
frame edges past the base. A second dimension at X of the base is of 
greater magnitude than the first dimension to prevent passage of opposed 
frame flanges 2 and 3 past the base to lock the frame in place. Rotation 
of the base, as later described, through approximately a 70 degree arc 
accomplishes locking and unlocking of the frame. 
A base appendage 15 has a tool receiving edge 15A for rotation of the frame 
retention means to the broken line position of FIG. 2. An appendage 16 has 
an edge 16A which may receive a fingertip for imparting clockwise movement 
to same to the full line position of FIG. 2 with perhaps the last few 
degrees of travel being accomplished with a tool. While the term tool is 
used, it is to be understood in the broad concept as including any flat or 
planar body of metal or synthetic material of requisite stiffness to 
enable imparting forces to edge 15A and optionally to 16A if needed for 
terminal movement of appendage for concealment rearward of the picture 
frame. A single appendage on base 11 may suffice but renders base rotation 
more difficult. 
A headed pin P is temporarily housed within counterbored base 11 for the 
purpose of marking the wall by indentation as later described. The wall is 
then drilled and a fastener component such as, for example, the insertable 
portion of an expandable fastener assembly inserted. A screw B of the 
expandable assembly is then used, after pin removal, to occupy a base 
aperture 12 to rotatably secure in pivoted fashion the base of the 
installation and retention means in place on the wall. 
With attention to the modified form of the frame retention and installation 
means shown in FIG. 6 through FIG. 9 wherein prime reference numerals 
indicate parts earlier identified by like base reference numerals, a 
picture frame is indicated generally at 1'. Edgewise opposed frame flanges 
at 2' and 3' define a width therebetween permitting reception of a base 
11' in one position and, upon base repositioning, prevention of frame 
movement away from the wall as locking members at 14' will then overlie 
frame flanges 2' and 3'. A base aperture 12' received pin P' pointed at 
one end for the purpose of wall marking by indentation and subsequently is 
replaced by a screw (or other fastener) for base attachment to a wall. 
Appendages at 15'-16' are shown as being of triangular configuration and 
inclined, as viewed in FIG. 9, toward the rearward surfaces of flanges 2' 
and 3' to frictionally engage same when the appendages are rotated to a 
concealed locking position behind said flanges per the full line position 
of FIG. 6. The flange engaging surfaces 20-21 of the appendages 15'-16' 
constitute friction means for frictional engagement with said flanges 
preventing all but intentional arcuate movement of the appendages. During 
passage past flanges 2'-3', the appendages will flex to the FIG. 9 broken 
line position and thereafter resume the dihedral shown in full lines in 
FIG. 6. 
In use, the frame 1 is provided with a plurality of retention and 
installation means within each of which is temporarily carried a pin P-P' 
as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8. Manual force applied to the frame causes 
the pin points to indent the wall at each pin location. The installation 
and retention means are then removed from the frame. A fastener, such as 
of the expandable type, is installed with the bolt B thereof rotatably 
securing in pivoted fashion the retention and installation means in place. 
With the installation and retention means rotated to the broken line 
position of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 in the modified form, the frame is installed in 
place so as to encompass said means with subsequent rotation concealing 
the appendages rearward of the picture frame. 
While I have shown but a few embodiments of the invention, it will be 
apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied 
still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. 
Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by a 
Letters Patent is: