Framing system

A framing system provides an angle joining piece having a pair of leg portions in mutually inclined relation for use with suitably grooved framing members wherein the leg portions are initially entered within the respective grooves and then forced home to engage respective tooth portions in locking engagement with an internal surface of the groove, to substantially preclude withdrawal of the leg portion from its groove. The selected angle is normally 90.degree., for four sided frames, the legs each having a fulcrum portion and a buttress portion spaced from the tooth portion, to exert load against the tooth portion in securing relation therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to a frame system and in particular to a 
sectional frame and locking joining angle portions. 
The use of extruded frame sections with preformed angle pieces is well 
known, being used for purposes such as picture frames. Typical of such 
prior art are the following Canadian Pat. Nos. 
881,000 Sept. 14th, 1971 Herbert; 
980,116 Dec. 23rd, 1975 Cournoyer; 
1,041,762 Nov. 7th, 1978 Kapstad; 
1,066,505 Nov. 20th, 1979 Schwartz. 
Certain of the angle pieces include the provision of locking means. 
However, the prior art joiners, while providing a certain degree of 
retentive capability, do not afford a permanent lock of the components 
inherent with the insertion of the joiner. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a frame system 
incorporating a permanent locking capability of the corner angle 
coincident with the assembly of the components. 
The disclosed embodiment of the frame portion comprises a simple extruded 
section having an inner, assembly groove, together with a shallow outer 
lip to receive the picture and picture backing components in retained 
relation. 
The presently disclosed angle locking piece comprises a pair of leg 
portions in mutually inclined relation at a predetermined angle for use in 
joining a pair of frame section members in secured angular relation with 
each other by insertion of the leg portions within grooved portions of the 
sections, each leg portion having a fulcrum portion for contacting a 
surface of the grooved portion, a tooth portion projecting from the leg 
portion and spaced longitudinally from the fulcrum portion, and leg 
locating means spaced longitudinally from the fulcrum portion and the 
tooth portion for making contact with the section groove upon forced 
insertion therein to apply a resilient bending moment against the tooth 
portion, to force it into engaging relation with the section. 
The leg locating means is positioned adjacent the juncture of the leg 
portions, on the outer surfaces thereof, and comprises a raised pad 
portion extending along an edge portion on opposite sides of each leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2 the angle joining piece 10 comprises a pair of 
legs 12 stamped from stiff sheet metal, and inclined at substantially 
90.degree. to each other. Each of the legs 12 has a raised nose portion 14 
constituting a fulcrum means. A pair of tooth portions 16 inclined 
rearwardly of the nose portion 14 extend into the angle formed by the legs 
12. A pair of raised pad portions 18 formed by upsetting edge portions of 
the leg 12 constitute leg spacing means. An aperture 19 extends through 
each leg 12. 
Referring to a typical frame 30 as illustrated in FIG. 3, there are four 
side pieces 32,34, having the bevelled corners joined by joining pieces 
10. 
The side pieces are provided with rib portions 36, 38 in opposed relation 
forming with the back portion 40 a slot within which a leg 12 may be 
inserted. In operation the portions of the leg 10 are so dimensioned in 
relation to the size of the slot section as to be readily insertable 
therein, having the raised nose portion 14 in contacting relation with the 
bottom surface 40 of the slot and the tooth portions 16 in contacting 
relation with the undersurfaces of rib portions 36,38. Upon forcing the 
leg 12 fully home within the section, the spacing pad means 18 cause 
transverse displacement of the leg 12, pivotting about the nose portion 14 
so as to force the edges of tooth portions 16 into biting engagement with 
the rib portions 36,38. Removal of the leg 12 from the section may now be 
effected at this juncture by use of force. 
Upon assembly of four lengths of frame 32,34 the rib portions 42 form a 
front aperture, while the rib portions 38 form a larger, rear aperture. 
Insertion of a sheet of glass or plastic dimensioned to enter the rear 
aperture and to be contained by the front aperture is followed by the 
insertion of the picture being framed and a backing sheet, such as 
cardboard. The assembly is completed by spring clips 44 spanning two or 
more of the frame corners and pressing against the rear outer surface of 
the backing sheet, the curved ends 46 of the clips 44 being engaged with 
the ribs 38 of the frame.