Extruded picture frame members

This invention comprises a plurality of extruded members, of metal or plastic, to form the frame for a picture. The back of each extruded member has a formed, flexible groove. This groove is adapted to receive securing means either in the form of special securing members, or a cord or wire, or both such types of securing means, which will hold a number of the members together to form a frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to picture frames, and more particularly, to a novel 
type of extruded picture frame member, which may be used to form a novel 
picture frame. 
In the picture frame art, many types of frames are known. One of the known 
types are those ready made frames that come in various sizes for specific 
picture sizes. Other types of frames are known where certain pieces of 
wood or metal are purchased, either separately, or as a kit, and a desired 
frame is assembled from such pieces. Other types are known, where metal or 
plastic pieces are provided, which fit over portions of a picture and its 
backing, and are pulled snug with a string or the like, which also serves 
as a hanger. 
It is considered desirable by those skilled in the picture frame art to 
provide a picture frame that is composed of a plurality of members that 
may be readily secured about a picture, which can be easily removed to use 
with another picture, and which is provided with easy means to secure the 
frame, and hang the picture. It has recently been discovered that a novel 
extruded member of either metal or plastic may be provided to form such a 
desired picture frame. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly, in one form, this invention comprises a plurality of extruded 
members, of metal or plastic, to form the frame for a picture. The back of 
each extruded member has a formed, flexible groove, designed to receive 
securing means either in the form of special securing members, or a cord 
or wire, or both such types of securing means, which will hold a number of 
the members together to form a frame. 
The invention which is sought to be protected will be particularly pointed 
out and distinctly claimed in the claims appended hereto. However, it is 
believed that this invention, and the manner in which its various objects 
and advantages are obtained, as well as other objects and advantages 
thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description 
of the preferred embodiments thereof, especially when considered in the 
light of the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As earlier noted, this invention relates to a novel type of picture frame 
comprising a plurality of extruded members, which may be placed about the 
picture, and its backing and glass cover, if used. The drawings depict 
various types of preferred forms of extruded members, as well as various 
types of securing members which may be used with the extruded members. 
While the description will proceed with respect to such drawings, it will 
be readily understood by those skilled in the picture frame art, that such 
descriptions and drawings are used to explain the novel features of this 
invention, rather than in a limiting sense. As is understood, the scope of 
the invention is set forth in the appended claims. 
Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, a preferred 
embodiment of this invention will be described. As is shown in those 
FIGURES, a picture frame 10 is formed of a plurality of extruded frame 
members 12, 14, 16 and 18. Each of frame members 12, 14, 16 and 18 is 
formed in an extruded, substantially or generally Z-shape, with a groove 
20 formed in the back of each frame member, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As 
will be understood, each of the frame members 12, 14, 16 and 18, is 
extruded from either a plastic or metal material, to form a flexible, 
Z-shaped frame member, as shown. As is apparent, the frame members will 
slide over a picture, as well as the backing and the glass cover, if used, 
as is best shown in FIG. 4. As there shown, the picture 22, the backing 24 
and the glass cover 26 are firmly held by the frame member 12. The frame 
members 12, 14, 16 and 18 may be provided in a special kit for a given 
size picture, or they may be sold separately and cut to the desired 
length, for example on a forty-five degree angle, as shown at 28 in FIG. 
5. In either event, securing members will be provided to hold the frame 
members together about the picture and provide a means of hanging the 
picture. 
Various types of securing means may be used according to this invention. 
Some preferred types, according to the preferred embodiment of this 
invention, are shown in FIGS. 1 through 9. In FIGS. 1 and 7 one form of 
securing means is shown in the form of right-angled securing member 30 
(and members 32 and 34) which fit in the grooves 20, as shown. As is clear 
from FIG. 1, the securing members 30, 32, and 34 are pressed into the 
flexible groove 20 between the members 12, 14, 16 and 18. As will be 
apparent, this forms the means to secure the frame members into the 
desired picture frame. 
In the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the securing members 30, 32 and 34 are 
provided with an opening 38, substantially at the apex of the right-angled 
member. A cord or wire member 40 is fastened between securing member 30 
and an anchor 36, while cord or wire 42 is fastened between securing 
members 32, 34. As is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the edge of groove 20 is 
cut back slightly, as at 21 (FIG. 5) to form slots 23, for cord or wire 
40, 42. In the preferred form shown, a hanger member 44 is provided, 
attached to cord or wires 40, 42, in the manner shown particularly in FIG. 
1. As is shown in FIG. 1, as well as in FIGS. 8 and 9, one of the securing 
members may be in the form of an anchor clip 36. As shown in FIG. 1, 
anchor clip 36 fits into groove 20, between extruded members 14 and 16, 
with portion 46, having opening 48, on the outside of groove 20. Anchoring 
tabs 50, 52 fit into the groove 20, on adjacent extruded members, as best 
shown in FIG. 9. When an anchor clip 36 is used, a single cord or wire may 
be used. One end is secured to opening 48 of anchor clip 36, as shown in 
FIG. 1, and extends to securing member 30, through opening 38 and back to 
clip 36. The cord or wire is then extended up groove 20 in member 14, and 
through opening 38 in securing means 32. The cord or wire then extends 
across to securing member 34, through opening 38 and back to member 32. 
Any remaining cord or wire can then be wrapped into the grooves 20 of the 
various extended members, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 9. Of course, it 
will be understood that four securing members like 30 of FIG. 7, can be 
used, if desired. 
An alternate form of securing means is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. As there 
shown, the securing means 60 is in the form of a flexible wire member bent 
at substantially a right angle and having a loop or bight 62 formed at the 
apex of member 60. As will be understood, bight 62 receives the cord or 
wire 41, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Securing member 60 is pulled into the 
full right-angled shape, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6 when the cord 
or wire 41 is tightened about the various securing means 60 used in frame 
10. As will be apparent, the flexible securing members 60 will aid in 
holding the cord or wire 41 taut, keeping the frame 10 secure. 
Referring now to FIGS. 10 through 13, another form of frame 10a is shown. 
In this form of the invention, the frame members 70, 72, 74 and 76 are 
extruded plastic or metal, provided with groove 78, as earlier described. 
However, the flexible groove 78 is provided with a plurality of slots 80, 
which may be punched or cut at a set distance along the groove 78, such as 
for example, one inch. As can be seen, particularly in FIGS. 10 and 11, a 
wire or cord 82 is first fastened through the corner slots 80, of the 
adjacent portions of the frame members 70, 76. The wire or cord 82 is then 
extended across the frame, diagonally to the slots 80 at the adjacent 
corners of the frame members 72, 74. As can be seen, especially in FIG. 
12, cord or wire 82 extends through the end slot 80 of member 72, around 
groove 78 to member 74, through end slot 80 in member 74 and then back 
across to the end slot 80 in member 72. From this point it again extends 
through groove 78 to the end slot 80 of member 76 as shown in FIG. 10. 
After wrapping around the corner of members 76, 74 the cord 82 is then 
extended diagonally across the frame to the adjacent corner slots 80 of 
the frame members 70, 72. Cord or wire 82 may be wrapped in a similar 
manner about the corner of members 70 and 72. If desired, wire 82 may be 
extended across the frame between a slot 80 in member 72 and a slot 80 in 
member 76 to form a hanger wire as indicated at 84 in FIG. 10. Any 
remaining cord 82 may be wrapped around the grooves 78, as necessary or 
desired. FIG. 13 shows a partial, perspective view of frame member 70 in 
use with a picture 22a and the backing 24a and the glass cover 26a. 
FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 show a further modification of the extruded frame 
members of this invention. As is shown in these FIGURES, frame members 90, 
92, 94 and 96 are Z-shaped, as in other forms of the invention. In this 
modification, the grooves 98 are punched or cut with a plurality of slots 
or notches 100, which are formed at a set distance along the groove 98. As 
can be seen the notches 100 are in the form of a W, such that the center 
104 of the W may be used to receive a loop of a cord or wire 102, as is 
shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16. Of course, it will be obvious to those 
skilled in the art, that the cord or wire 102 may be fastened to the 
notches 100 in a manner similar to that previously described with 
reference to FIGS. 10 through 13. Due to the use of the W-shaped notch 
100, it is possible to loop the cord or wire 102 about the center portion 
104 of notch 100 in the manner specially shown in FIG. 15, without the 
need to wrap about the corners as earlier described. Obviously, the excess 
cord or wire 102 can be wrapped between the frame members 92, 96, as shown 
in FIG. 14, after the members 90, 92, 94 and 96 have been secured, either 
in the manner shown in FIG. 15, or by wrapping about grooves 98, as shown 
in dotted lines in FIG. 14. By means of the frame members disclosed in 
FIGS. 10 through 16, there is no need for the securing members disclosed 
in the earlier FIGURES. These types of frame members would be more useful 
for single units, which would be cut to the desired size by the customer. 
The foregoing has set forth a novel type of Z-shaped frame members which 
may be used for picture frames. As will be apparent from the description, 
the frame members may be made in either single pieces or sold as a kit for 
a given picture size. In either case it will also be clear that the frame 
may be easily removed from one picture and placed on another picture of 
the same size, whenever desired. While there has been shown and described 
the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to 
those skilled in this art that various modifications may be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, particularly as it 
is defined in the appended claims.