Abstract:
A picture frame turn button has a base plate with at least one fastener for attaching the base plate securely to a picture frame back. Pivotably mounted to the base plate is a latch plate with an arm and a tongue portion opposite of each other. The latch plate may be pivoted about base plate between an engaged state, where the picture frame back is locked closed, and a disengaged state, where the picture frame back may be removed to replace a picture sandwiched between the picture frame and picture frame back.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/571,115, filed on May 14, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to picture frame hardware and methods of manufacturing the same and more particularly to the present invention relates to turn button hardware. In the picture frame industry, there are various types of picture frame hardware, which includes easel hinges for hingedly attaching a strut to a picture frame back, and a turn buttons for maintaining a picture frame back inside a frame with a photo or artwork sandwiched therebetween. There is a need for a structure to maintain this construction together.  
         [0003]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , prior art turn buttons, shown generally at  10 ,  20 , and  30 , are typically tab-like structures that are attached to a picture frame back  12 ,  22 ,  32 . The tabs  14 ,  24 ,  34 , are pivotally attached to the back  12 ,  22 ,  32  so that they may pivot in place. The free ends  16 ,  26 ,  36  of the turn button tabs  14 ,  24 ,  34 , when in a locked position, reside within a groove in the picture frame (not shown) to secure it in place. When pivoted to an open position, the tabs  14 ,  24 ,  34  are no longer engaged with the frame so the picture frame back  12 ,  22 ,  32  can be freely removed to gain access to the back of the picture frame itself to insert or remove a picture therefrom. Also, a turn button  10 ,  20 ,  30  can be attached to the picture frame itself and pivoted or bent to communicate with the picture frame back  12 ,  22 ,  32 .  
         [0004]     In general, prior art turn buttons are typically attached to the picture frame back by a rivet  18  (see  FIG. 1 ) or simply punched therethrough (see  FIGS. 2 through 5 ). This attachment dictates the pivoting tension of the turn button itself. For example, a very secure rivet connection will result in a very tight turn button making it very difficult to turn for the user of the frame. In this prior art turn button, it is pivotally connected directly to the cardboard itself of the picture frame back. Over time, this tight connection will eventually degrade rendering the turn button unusable.  
         [0005]     Also, a loose attachment makes it easier to manipulate the turn button but the connection will also be loose making a poor locking connection and/or making it possible for the turn button to fall off of the picture frame back completely. Moreover, over time the turn button will tend to loosen as it is used, thus increase the chances that the turn button may malfunction as described previously.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art turn buttons for picture frames and methods of manufacturing and installing the same. In addition, the improved turn button of the present invention provides new advantages not found in currently known devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available devices.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a picture frame turn button having a base plate with fasteners for attaching the base plate securely to a picture frame back. Pivotably mounted to the base plate is a latch plate with an arm and a tongue portion opposite of each other. The latch plate may be pivoted about base plate between an engaged state, where the picture frame back is locked closed, and a disengaged state, where the picture frame back may be removed to replace a picture sandwiched between the picture frame and the picture frame back.  
         [0008]     Additionally, the base plate may include a convex detent stop and the latch plate a complimentary concave detent seat, which when pivoted to the engaged state, locks the latch plate into the base plate.  
         [0009]     The picture frame turn button of the present invention is unique because the latch plate can easily pivot on the base plate due to the quality smooth rotation at the pivot. Thus, the user can easily pivot the latch plate thereabout because a metal to metal pivot is maintained. A freely turning turn button, as in the prior art, is not desired because the device can easily open when not intended to do so and vice versa. However, the present invention uniquely includes the aforesaid detent stop engagement the concave detent seat of the latch plate to snap the latch plate into a locking engagement. Therefore, the present invention enables a turn button to be both easy to turn and to securely lock into place.  
         [0010]     Further, the present invention is directed to a picture frame turn button in coil-fed form so that it may be automatically mounted to a picture frame back via an automatic mounting machine. The coil-fed turn button has a plurality of base plates connected together by a cutaway tab. Pivotably mounted on the plurality of base plates are a complimentary plurality of latch plates. Similar to the turn button described above, the latch plate may be operated between an engaged state and a disengaged state.  
         [0011]     The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a base plate that may be securely mounted to the picture frame back so that it will not loosen over time as the latch plate is operated.  
         [0012]     Additionally, the force that is required to manipulate the latch plate between the engaged and disengaged states may be selected, through machine tooling, at a level that is comfortable for most consumers but avoids an overly loose turn button, which is viewed as undesirable. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a prior art turn button;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is exploded view of another prior art turn button;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a prior art turn button through line;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the prior art turn button of  FIGS. 2-3  through the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view through the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  of a prior art turn button in the engaged state;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted and in the disengaged state;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6B  is a top perspective view of the turn button of  FIG. 6A  of the present invention mounted and in the engaged state;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a bottom perspective view of the turn button of the present invention in the disengaged state;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7B  is a bottom perspective view of the turn button of the present invention in the engaged state;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8A  is a rear elevational view of the turn button of the present invention in the engaged state;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8B  is a rear elevational view the turn button of the present invention in the disengaged state;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view an embodiment of the base plate of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view an embodiment of the base plate of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view an embodiment of the base plate of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view an embodiment of the latch plate of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view an embodiment of the latch plate of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the present invention in strip-form in the process of being formed;  
         [0031]      FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in the disengaged state; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in the engaged state. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A through 8B , an embodiment of the turn button of the present invention is shown generally at  100  mounted on a picture frame  102  with a picture frame back  104  installed therein. The turn button  100  comprises a base plate  106  and a latch plate  108  pivotably mounted thereon  106  so it  108  may be operated between an engaged state (see  FIGS. 6B, 7B ,  8 B) and a disengaged state (see  FIGS. 6A, 7A ,  8 A).  
         [0034]     In  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the turn button  100 , is shown installed on the frame  102  to prevent the picture frame back  104  from hingedly opening and exposing the picture therein. In particular,  FIGS. 6A through 8B  show how the detent stop  124  of the base plate  106  fits into the detent seat  138  on the latch plate  108  when the latch plate  108  is rotated about the pivot wall  120 . A consumer pivots the latch plate  108  by using the thumb and forefinger to push in a twisting motion the two raised shoulders  132 ,  134 . As the latch plate  108  pivots, the detent stop  124  meets resistance to the rotation because as the latch plate  108  rides up and over the detent stop  124  a perpendicular twisting force is applied to the pivot wall  120 , upper lip  122 , and the base plate  106 . This resistive force also keeps the latch plate  108  from moving off of the detent stop  124  of the base plate  106  once engaged. This same resistive force must be overcome by the consumer when they attempt to pivot the latch plate  108  to the disengaged state.  
         [0035]     Some picture frame backs  104  have an outer peripheral area (not shown) that is secured to the frame with a central hingedly connected portion of the picture frame back  104 . In this case the turn button  100  may be installed onto the outer peripheral area to prevent the inner central portion from hingedly opening. Such turn button environments are well known in the art and can all be accommodated by the turn button of the present invention.  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 through 11 , an embodiment the base plate  106  of the turn button  100  of the present invention is shown without the latch plate  108  illustrated for ease of discussion. The base plate  106  is generally shaped as an elongated piece of metal, although other materials could be used, having a first end  110 , a second end  112 , and a centrally raised platform  114 . The base plate  106  also has a leading and trailing edges  116 ,  118  and top and bottom surfaces  117 ,  119 . Extending from the platform  114  is an annular pivot wall  120  having an upper lip  122 . The upper lip  122  of the pivot wall  120  is turned or flared slightly outwardly during manufacturing to permanently attach the latch plate  108  to the base plate  106 . Also extending from the platform  114  and near the trailing edge  118  of the base plate  106  is a detent stop  124 . Depending from the first and second ends  110 ,  112  of the base plate  108  are fastening structures  126 . The fastening structures  126  shown are rosettes formed through punching a metal punch through the base plate  106  material, but could be other structures such as rivets, staples, downwardly turned claw feet, or a flared cylinder. The fastening structures  126  driven into the picture frame back  104  (or picture frame  102  as the case may be) to permanently attach the turn button  100 . Securing rosettes to cardboard an other fasteners to other materials need not be discussed herein as they are well known in the art.  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , an embodiment of the latch plate  108  of the turn button  100  of the present invention is shown without the base plate  104  illustrated for ease of discussion. The latch plate  108  has a top and bottom surface  127 ,  129 , an arm portion  128  and a tongue portion  130  extending therefrom  128 . There are two raised shoulders  132 ,  134 , one extending from the arm portion  128  and the other from the tongue portion  130  of the top surface  127  of the latch plate  108 . The raised shoulders  132 ,  134  provide a gripping surface to ease operation, namely rotation, of the turn button  100  between the engaged and disengaged states. Between the two raised shoulders  132 ,  134  is an annular pivot edge  136  forming a hole wherein the pivot wall  120  of the base plate  106  is pivotably received. Once the latch plate  108  is mounted to the base plate  106 , the upper lip  122  of the pivot wall  120  is flared outwardly to permanently attach the latch plate  108  to the base plate  106 .  
         [0038]     On the bottom surface  127  of the latch plate  108  is a detent seat  138 . The detent seat  138  is designed to be a generally complimentary fit to the detent stop  124  on the base plate  106 . When the latch plate  108  is manipulated to the engaged state the bottom surface  127  of the latch plate  108  rides up and over the detent stop  124 . The detent stop  124  snaps into the detent seat  127  and prevents the latch plate  108  from pivoting out of the engaged state without some external lateral force being applied to the latch plate  108 .  
         [0039]     Referring back to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the turn button  100  is positioned on a picture frame back  104  and oriented so that the leading edge  116  of the base plate  106  is closest to an edge of the picture frame back  104  such that when the latch plate  108  is manipulated to the engaged state the tongue portion  130  of the latch plate  108  extends over the edge of the picture frame back  104  to lock the picture frame back  104  in place. Alternatively, the turn button  100  could be mounted directly to the picture frame back  104  with the tongue portion  130  of the latch plate  108  extending into a slot (not shown) in the frame  102 .  
         [0040]     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , a process of installing of the turn button of the present invention is shown where a coil array of turn buttons are fed through an automated mounting machine (not shown) such as the COBRA manufactured by Craft, Inc., is shown generally at  200 . The coil-fed turn button  200  consists of a plurality base plates  206  with a plurality of complimentary latch plates  208  pivotably mounted thereon and operable between an engaged state and a disengaged state. The base plates  206  are held together in strip-form by cut-away tabs  207 . This configuration enables the coil-fed turn button  200  of the present invention to be coiled on a spool and fed through a mounting machine, which cuts away the tab  207  and mounts the turn button  200  to a picture frame back (not shown) or a picture frame (not shown) as described above previously using the appropriate anvils and other installation equipment.  
         [0041]     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example,  FIGS. 15A and 15B  depict an alternative embodiment in which the detent stop  322  is located near the leading edge  316  of the base plate  306  and the complimentary detent seat (not shown) is on the tongue portion  330  of the bottom surface (not shown) of the latch plate  308 .  
         [0042]     Therefore, the present invention provides a new and improved turn button assembly that can be installed on a picture frame back or picture frame itself to prevent the picture frame back from hingedly opening. The turn button has a smooth operation while being maintainable in a locked condition. As a result, the turn button of the present invention is a significant improvement over prior art turn buttons.  
         [0043]     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.