Abstract:
A modular picture display system is provided. The picture display system comprises a display frame comprising a back panel, a plurality of spaced apart magnets secured to a front-side of the back panel, a front panel having a central opening and edging surrounding the opening, the front panel configured to fit over the back panel, and a plurality of spaced apart ferrous plates secured to the backside of the front panel, whereby the backside of the front panel is securable to the front-side of the back panel through magnetic cooperation between the ferrous plates and the magnets.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     The present application claims the benefit of commonly-owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/048,978, entitled MODULAR PICTURE DISPLAY SYSTEM, filed on Sep. 11, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the display of pictures. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     While there have been a number of picture frame devices which incorporate a magnet or magnets, they generally suffer from a rigidity of design, making them impractical when one wants to add or remove pictures or move them around. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A modular picture display system is provided, comprising a display frame comprising a back panel, a plurality of spaced apart magnets secured to a front-side of the back panel, a front panel having a central opening and edging surrounding the opening, the front panel configured to fit over the back panel, and a plurality of spaced apart ferrous plates secured to the backside of the front panel, whereby the backside of the front panel is securable to the front-side of the back panel through magnetic cooperation between the ferrous plates and the magnets. The display system further comprises. 
     A method for providing a picture display system is also provided, comprising providing a back panel, securing a plurality of spaced apart magnets to a front-side of the back panel, providing a front panel having a central opening and being configured to fit over the back panel, securing a plurality of spaced apart ferrous plates to a backside of the front panel, securing the backside of the front panel to the front-side of the back panel through magnetic cooperation between the ferrous plates and the magnets to form a display frame, and providing a ferrous strip, mountable on a vertical surface, on which one or more display frames are held in place in magnetic cooperation with the plurality of magnets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one possible arrangement of picture frames with the modular picture display system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a display frame that can be used with the modular picture display system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a back view of the display frame of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a back view of front panel of the display frame of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the back panel of the display frame of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded rear view of the display frame of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the top portion of the display frame of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a back view of an embodiment of the picture display system of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a close-up view of the back of a portion of the picture display system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
     The present invention address the inflexibility of existing picture frames by providing a modular picture display system  1  in which framed pictures may be easily moved around, pictures may be easily added or removed from frames, and frames themselves may be easily changed to provide different colors and styles.  FIG. 1  illustrates one possible arrangement of display frames  100  with the modular picture display system  1  of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a frame  100  that can display pictures or other items as part of the modular picture display system  1  of the present invention while  FIG. 2B  illustrates a back view of the frame  100 . The frame  100  includes a front panel  102  surrounding an opening  104 , a transparent sheet  130  within the opening  104 , and a back panel  120 . In the FIGS., the picture frame  100 , including the opening  104 , are illustrated as being rectangular; however, they may be of any other shape. Edging  106  surrounds the perimeter of the opening  104  of the back of the front panel  102  to help hold a transparent sheet  130 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a back view of the front panel  102 . Metal plates  110  are secured to the back of the front panel  102  in recesses  108 , such as with screws, and, as will be described, hold the back panel  120  to the front panel  102 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the back panel  120 . Magnets  122  may be secured to the back panel  120  in various arrangements, depending on the size and weight of the frame  100 . In the arrangement illustrated, magnets  122  are located in each corner in recesses  124  in the back panel  120 . In another arrangement, more than one magnet may be secured in around each corner. In other arrangements, magnets may also or instead be secured to other locations on the top, bottom, and sides of the back panel  120 . One or more magnet cover plates  126 , which may be made from plastic, may be used to cover the magnets  122  and help hold them in place.  FIG. 4  illustrates two strips used as covers  126 . Other configurations may also be used, including one cover in each of the four corners. An optional hinged leg  128  (shown in  FIG. 2B  but not in  FIG. 4 ) may be secured to the back of the back panel  120  to allow the frame  100  to be used on a table or other horizontal surface. The leg  128  may be secured to the back of the back panel with a hinge pin  128 A though openings  128 B in the panel  120  (see  FIG. 5 ). Preferably, the hinged leg  128  has a thickness so that it does not extend beyond the outside of the magnets  122 , allowing the frame  100  to rest flat against a wall. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , the exploded rear view of the frame  100  illustrates the manner in which the components of the frame  100  are assembled. The magnets  122  are inserted into the recesses  124  in the front of the back panel  120  and the covers  126  secured over the magnets  122 . The metal plates  110  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) are secured to the back of the front panel  102  and the front panel  102  placed over the transparent sheet  130 . The transparent sheet  130 , which may be plastic, glass, or other clear material, is placed onto the back of the front panel  120 . In use, a picture or other sheet to be displayed, is placed between the back panel  120  and the transparent sheet  130 . The front and back panels  102 ,  120  are held together by the magnets  122  and plates  110  to form the display frame  100 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the top portion of the frame  100  with a picture in place. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the front panel  102  may be dimensioned and shaped so as to cover and hide the outer edges of the back panel  120 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a back view of an embodiment of the picture display system  1  of the present invention with three display frames  100  magnetically secured to a ferrous strip  140 , which may be secured to a wall or other surface using adhesive or fasteners, such as hooks, screws, or nails, through spaced apart holes  142 .  FIG. 7  illustrates two abutting ferrous strips  140 ; however, a single strip or more than two strips of appropriate length(s) may be used to hold the any number of frames  100  in place. For additional security, one or more lower strips may be used to hold the bottoms of the frames  100 .  FIG. 8  is a close-up view of the back of a portion of the picture display system  1  of the present invention. An optional horizontal rib  150  on the back of each frame  100  (see also  FIG. 6 ) aids in aligning each frame  100  with the ferrous strip  140 . The ribs  150  rest against the top edge of the strip  140  to also help support the frames  100  on the strip  140  and reduce the risk of a frame  100  slipping downward. 
     It will be appreciated that the display frames  100  may be manufactured with a variety of dimensions to accommodate conventional size pictures and paper, such as 3″×5″, 4″×6″, 5″×7″, 8″×10″, 8½″×11″, or larger to accommodate posters, large prints, wall art, and among others. The frames  100  may also be dimensioned to accommodate matting. In one embodiment, the front panel  102  is 12.15 inches by 10.15 inches and has an opening  104  of 9.75 inches by 7.75 inches to accommodate an 8″×10″ photo or a 5″×7″ matted photo. In one embodiment, the magnets  122  may be neodymium magnets approximately 0.5 inches in diameter and approximately 0.125 inches thick. More than the four magnets  122  may be used for larger or heavier frames  100 . The ferrous strips  140  may also be sold in any length, such as one, two, three, or four feet with an appropriate number of spaced apart holes  142 . It will also be appreciated that any frame  100  may be placed on the ferrous strip  140  in either the horizontal or vertical positions. The frames  100  may be made of any appropriate material, including wood, plastic, metal, and leather- or cloth-covered, may be painted or otherwise colored, and may be manufactured in various styles to appeal to a broad range of consumers. 
     In use, a consumer may separate the front panel  102  of a frame  100  from the back panel  120  and insert photos, cards, children&#39;s drawings, award certificates, or any other items of interest behind the transparent sheet  130 . The front panel  102  may then be placed onto the back panel  120  and held securely by the magnetic cooperation of the magnets  122  with the metal plates  110 . The consumer may mount one or more ferrous strips  140  to a wall, cabinet, or other vertical surface. The frame  100  and other frames on are easily arranged and hung on the ferrous strip(s)  140 , to be held in place by the magnetic cooperation between the magnets  122  and the ferrous strip  140 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , one possible arrangement is illustrated of frames with the modular picture display system  1  of the present invention. By choosing an appropriate color and style of the frames  100 , the consumer can easily fit the modular picture display system  1  of the present invention to the decor of any room. Further, the color and style of a frame  100  can easily be changed by separating the front panel  102  from the back panel  120  and replacing it with a different front panel. Thus, the modular picture display system  1  is adaptable if the consumer&#39;s tastes change, if the consumer wants to move the pictures to a different room, or if the consumer wants to insert a different picture in the frame  100 . The display system  1  may also be used in non-consumer settings, such as to display restaurant menus, employee award certificates, student&#39;s work in classrooms, and real estate open house displays, among others. 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, 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.