CONFIGURABLE FRAME SYSTEM

A configurable display frame includes at least one cavity that has a depth that corresponds to the thickness of a hook and loop fastening material. The configurable display frame may have one or a plurality of cavities. In embodiments that have a plurality of cavities, the frame may include a first cavity positioned along a top surface of the configurable display frame, a second cavity positioned along a left surface of the configurable display frame, a third cavity positioned along a right surface of the configurable display frame, and a fourth cavity positioned along a bottom surface of the configurable display frame. The cavity or cavities may permit hook and loop material or a similar fastener to be inset within the body of the frame so that the frame can easily be mounted flush with a wall or similar mounting surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of frames for displaying pictures and works of art.

BACKGROUND

Pictures, art, and similar decorations are frequently hung to the wall of a building using a frame. Conventionally, frames are mounted using wall-mounted fasteners such as nails, screws or brackets that engage frame-mounted complementary features (usually brackets or hooks). Such mounting devices, however, generally require permanent deformation or at least temporary damage to the mounting surface. Further, these conventional mounting devices may cause the decoration to protrude unevenly from the mounting surface.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first illustrative embodiment, a configurable display frame comprises at least one embossed or depressed area that has a depth that corresponds to the thickness of a hook and loop fastening material. The cavity may include a first cavity positioned along a top surface of the configurable display frame, a second cavity positioned along a left surface of the configurable display frame, a third cavity positioned along a right surface of the configurable display frame, and a fourth cavity positioned along a bottom surface of the configurable display frame.

DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a configurable frame. The frame allows users to display a frame tabletop (using a fin easel), to hang on a wall using traditional nails or hooks, or to use an associated hook & loop material strip to stick the frame to a wall or other surface.

Many frames can be hung on the wall using commonly-available hook and loop (e.g., Velcro) strips, but the after-market versions force the frame to hang at an angle facing the floor. This can result in extra torque on the hook and loop joint an in turn more fallen and potentially damaged frames.

Among other features, the frame disclosed herein is embossed or otherwise fabricated to provide a cavity that houses the hook and loop fastening materials, which thereby enables the hook and loop fastening materials to sit parallel to the wall. This arrangement decreases the torque on the hook and loop fastening materials and provides a more secure mounting interface.

The frame embodiments disclosed herein differ from conventional frames, which are not designed to receive hook and loop fastening strips. Moreover, many finishes used in frame production are not suitable to work with adhesive strips and fail after a short period of time. The embossing feature of the instant frame is designed to adhere to the adhesive that is applied to the backing of the hook and loop material (or hook or loop material, as the case may be) which results in a stronger bond between the frame and the hook and loop material.

In a first embodiment, the configurable frame is a picture frame. In a second embodiment, the configurable frame is a poster frame. The poster frame may be implemented as a frame having corner embossing or as a frame having in-line channel embossing. In some embodiments, the hook portion of the hook and loop fastener may be formed integral to the frame or applied during manufacturing. In another embodiment, a custom-designed film may be applied to the embossed or depressed portion of the frame to better adhere to the backing of the hook and loop fastening material. A variety of embodiments are shown in the accompanying images.

FIGS. 1 and 2show a rear view of a wireframe drawing and picture (respectively) of an embodiment of a frame100. The frame100includes a top side102, left side104, right side106, and bottom side108. Correspondingly, the frame100includes a first embossed area or first cavity110proximate to the top side102, a second embossed area or second cavity112proximate to the left side104, a third embossed area or third cavity114proximate to the right side106, and a fourth embossed area or fourth cavity116proximate to the bottom side116. Each cavity includes a planar surface that is parallel to but inset from the back of the frame, and sized and configured to receive a strip of hook and loop fastening material such that the depth (or amount of inset) of the cavity is approximately the same as the thickness of the hook and loop fastening material. In some embodiments, one or all of the cavities may be considered as being optional, and omitted from the frame100.

Holes120,122,124,126are centered within each of the respective embossed areas (i.e., cavities), and slots are arranged next to each of the embossed areas. Each of the holes120,122,124,126may be used as a mounting hole to receive a nail160(as shown inFIG. 4), screw, or similar fastener to affix the frame100to a wall.

Further, a first top slot140and second top slot142are arranged (respectively) on the left and right of the first cavity110, a first left slot146and second left144are arranged (respectively) above and below the second cavity112, a first right slot148and second right slot150are arranged (respectively) above and below the third cavity114, and a first bottom slot152and second bottom slot154are arranged (respectively) on the left and right of the fourth cavity116.

The frame100further includes a snap-off easel support130having a first tab132and second tab134, which are sized and configured to engage each of the sets of slots (140and142,144and146,148and150, and152and154) to support the frame100in an easel configuration, as shown inFIG. 3. The easel support130is formed integrally to the frame and attached to support138by frangible joints136,137.

A front view of the frame100is shown inFIG. 5, and demonstrates that the frame100includes a cavity for holding a picture, matt, and glass or plastic cover, or some combination of the foregoing.

FIG. 6shows a rear view of a second embodiment of a frame200that is analogous in most respects to the frame100ofFIG. 1. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, however, the first cavity210, second cavity212, third cavity214, and fourth cavity216are formed with the hook portion of the hook and loop fastening material already adhered within the respective cavities.

FIGS. 7 and 8show embodiments in which the respective frames300,400are configured to receive a poster for display and include L-shaped embossed areas310and410for receiving a hook and loop fastening material. While only one embossed area is shown with respect to each embodiment, it is noted that each corner of the respective frames300,400may be similarly configured. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, the first embossed area310may include a surface coating that is selected to bond to an adhesive backing of a hook and loop fastening material. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, the embossed area410is formed with the hook portion of the hook and loop fastening material already adhered within the L-shaped embossed area410.

FIGS. 9 and 10also show embodiments in which the respective frames500,600are configured to receive a poster for display. Instead of including L-shaped embossed areas, however, the embodiments ofFIGS. 9 and 10include embossed areas510and610, respectively, that are continuous channels that are inset from the perimeter of the frames500and600. In the embodiment ofFIG. 9, the embossed area510may include a surface coating that is selected to bond to an adhesive backing of a hook and loop fastening material. In the embodiment ofFIG. 10, the embossed area610is formed with the hook portion of the hook and loop fastening material already adhered within the channel that forms the embossed area610.

The foregoing embodiments describe a versatile frame that can be configured in a number of display configurations, many of which alleviate the need to form a hole in the mounting surface that supports the frame. The frame may be formed or supplied with hook and loop fastening material that is sized to reside within a recessed, or embossed area that corresponds to the thickness of the fastening material, thereby allowing the frame to be mounted to a wall (with a hook portion of the fastening material adhered to the frame and a loop portion of the fastening material adhered to the wall, or vise versa) such that the back surface of the frame is parallel to and in relatively continuous contact with the mounting surface so that torque is minimized at the fastening joint(s). In some embodiments, the frame may further include a snap-off easel support that may be broken apart from the body of the frame, whereupon tabs of the easel support may engage slots formed within the frame to facilitate displaying the frame on a table or other horizontal surface.

In some embodiments the frame is made using injection molded plastic. In other embodiments, the frame may be fabricated using an alternative material and machining processes, including metal or wood. For example, in some embodiments the embossed areas112may instead be formed by machining or molding, and the frame material may be a wood, natural fiber, ceramic, pottery, polyresin, cement, magnesium or other frame material. Further, in some embodiments, the embossed areas112(and complementary hook and look strips) may have a shape other than a rectangle (e.g., an L-shape, a circle, a triangle, or a diamond). In addition, the embossed areas may be formed to include additional features to enhance adherence, such as a tongue and groove interface wherein the embossed areas are formed with grooves that engage complementary “tongue” features on the backing of an adhesive (or even a backing strip that does not include a glue-like adhesive).

While detailed illustrative embodiments are disclosed herein, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and the systems and methods described below can be embodied in various forms. Unless otherwise stated, the features of each embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the concepts.

The present disclosure is being presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.