Abstract:
A picture frame is comprised of joint pieces and elongated members. The joint pieces constitute the corners of a frame. The elongated members define the sides of a picture frame. Fastening hardware is employed to secure the entire apparatus. The joint pieces are cut or molded from a material similar to, or compatible with, the elongated members with which a rigid connection is made. Different angles of miter cuts may be made to vary the design of the picture frame. Similarly, different sizes and shapes of joint pieces may be made to additionally vary frame size and design. The joint pieces can be used to replace conventional frame corners which have been damaged, to change the size and appearance of used frames, or to provide additional dimension and design alternatives for new frames.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,039, for Corner Pieces For A Picture Frame, filed Nov. 29, 1999. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    a. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to devices used in framing pictures. Specifically, this invention relates to devices used in connecting corners of a picture frame. The invention further relates to decorative corner embellishments for picture frames. Finally, the device relates to devices intended to aid in the framing of pictures, particularly with respect to dimensional aspects of framing.  
           [0004]    b. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Picture frames generally are constructed of more than one elongated members, which are miter cut. The elongated members are attached where mitered ends meet to form relatively smooth and continuous joints. The ends of the cut frame members are attached to form an opening that is slightly larger than the contents to be framed to accommodate for installation and display of artwork. These frames may consist of miter cut wood, extruded aluminum, or a host of other materials of construction.  
           [0006]    A variety of methods have been used to provide an attaching mechanism which fastens or joins frame members. The first group of methods are purely functional. These fastening devices joins the ends of the miter cut frame sections. Once these devices are installed, the joined ends define the visual transition of a miter joint at the corner of a frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,297 to McGinnis discloses a corner fastener which slides into the channels of extruded and mitered frame (usually aluminum) to create a secure joint, but remains hidden behind the picture and frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,063 to Shultz describes a corner attachment which does not require tools, and can be used with varying thickness of artwork. In all of the examples cited above, the mechanisms serve the function of securely attaching the miter cut ends of frames sections and are concealed from view of display.  
           [0007]    An alternative configuration of attaching mechanisms serve aesthetic function by being visually exposed. These devices enhance or accentuate the visual transition of a frame corner, while fastening the frame together. U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,990 to Buchanan discloses a device which can accommodate a plurality of cross sections of elongated members. However, the corner piece disclosed in Buchanan must be custom formed to accommodate each different cross section. Buchanan&#39;s device is not an optional design accessory, it is the means for assembling the frame. Buchanan&#39;s device is not cut from the same frame stock as the elongated members. Rather, Buchanan&#39;s device is fabricated separately. The problem with Buchanan is that the corner devices have aesthetic limitations. Buchanan&#39;s device is not an option aesthetic accessory of frame design. Rather, it is a visually imposed device that is required to assemble the frame. Another example of this type device is disclosed by Johansson in U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,105. In the example cited, the visually exposed mechanism severely limits frame design options. These devices are not an optional accessory of frame design, as they also serve as the required means of frame assembly. These devices must also be separately formed, apart from elongated molding, to accommodate varying cross-sectional shapes of frame members.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,068 to Houssain discloses a corner device which is an optional accessory of frame design. Designed to cover and conceal the miter joints of attached frame members, this decorative embellishment enhances the transitional area of a frame corner. This device, however, is superficially attached to the exterior corner of the frame with a single set screw. Consequently, it is not secured or integrally fastened into the structure of the frame, and is susceptible to becoming dislodged or displaced. A further limitation with Houssain&#39;s device is that the corner piece is adapted to be used only with square or rectangular cross-sectional shapes of framing members. If the frame members, as shown in his drawings, have a cross sectional shape other than rectangular, they will not work with the invention disclosed by Houssain. There is no accommodation made for the fact that the framing members are usually some other shape than rectangular (for example see FIG. 4 of this application). Further, the corner piece itself disclosed by Houssain is exclusively designed for rectangular shaped cross sections of frame members.  
           [0009]    In the field of framing, there are numerous problems encountered that relate to the narrow tolerances required between opening a frame and size of artwork. Often, frame sections are cut slightly too short for an assembled frame to properly fit the contents to be framed. Such situations are due to objects being framed that are out of a square, as well as, misalignments of attached mitered ends. Narrow tolerances can also contribute to measuring and cutting mistakes that produce frame members that are slightly too short and, consequently, do not produce enough of an allowance as to accommodate for a proper fit of the artwork to be framed.  
           [0010]    It is desirable to have a framing technique where the visually transitional area of a frame corner can have a decorative enhancement, which is an optional design accessory. It is also desirable that such a corner device be integrally fastened into the structure of the frame with existing means for attaching the mitered ends of elongated members. It is further desirable to have a decorative corner device to work readily with existing types and cross sectional shapes of elongated molding stock. It is further desirable to have a device which adds extra dimension to an opening of a frame. Finally, it is desirable to have a device which can be readily replaced, since the corners of a frame are the portion most likely to be scratched, dented or otherwise damaged.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in known types of picture framing, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which overcomes the various disadvantages of the prior art.  
           [0012]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an optional decorative enhancement, or embellishment, at the mitered joint areas that comprise the corners of a picture frame. The present invention can consist of one, two, or more pieces which are inserted between, and fastened to, the elongated frame members. The corner prices can and preferably will be of a different color, surface texture, coating, or have other visual variations which set them off from the remainder of the frame. This gives a unique appearance to the frame.  
           [0013]    It is also an object of the invention for the decorative corner devices to be integrally fastened into the structure of the frame with existing attaching mechanism.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of this invention to provide corner inserts which give “dimensional flexibility” to those framing artwork. Dimensional flexibility means that the person framing the artwork may only have to work with the actual dimensions of the object to be framed (rather than dimensions plus allowances for the picture frame). This eliminates a mental step in the process of framing, consequently reducing the potential for mistakes. Typically, when a picture is framed, the person framing the picture must measure the actual dimensions of the artwork to be framed (including any glazing, matting, and backing). Then, the person adds the specified allowance; for example, one-eighth inch is added to each edge in order to provide a frame opening that has clearance for installation, and can accommodate the potential for future thermal expansion of framed contents. By using the present invention, a person can simply work with the actual dimensions of the artwork, then use the corner inserts to create such additional dimension as needed to provide the necessary allowances. This dimensional flexibility also allows a person framing the picture to correct for minor mistakes made in measuring artwork and cutting frame members. This dimensional aspect of the invention can also compensate for items to be framed that are out of square and misalignments of attached mitered ends.  
           [0015]    It is an object of this invention to allow the corner portion of a picture frame to be replaced. Corners are most susceptible to becoming damaged (dented, scratched, etc.). The present invention allows damaged corners to be replaced rather than requiring replacement of the entire frame.  
           [0016]    It is also an object of this invention to allow the frame to be reused when corners are replaced or retrofitted. The present invention allows an existing frame to be updated or given a new look without the need to purchase an entirely new frame. Also, where an existing frame is slightly too small to frame the desired subject, the present invention can be used to enlarge the size of the existing frame by effectively extending the length of the elongated members.  
           [0017]    The present invention has as one of its objects the ability to manufacture corner inserts by a variety of methods. The corner inserts can be cut from length molding of a compatible size and shape as the frame members. They can also be separately molded, die cast, or otherwise created completely separate from elongated members. In come cases, it may be desirable to take an impression of a cross section of an existing frame member to create corner pieces which will have a larger, smaller, or otherwise differently sized dimension than the existing frame members.  
           [0018]    When a new frame is being constructed, it may be desirable to cut corner pieces from the same or compatible molding stock, and then treat them with a different surface treatment so as to give them a different appearance. That way, the corner pieces have different appearance giving the desired aesthetic effect to the visually transitional area of frame corner. Alternatively, a frame shop may maintain a bin system having therein elongated molding stock and a bin system having compatible corner pieces. Then when a picture is to be framed, the desired components can be selected for use as elongated frame members or corner pieces respectively.  
           [0019]    Another object of the invention is to have corner pieces formed out of a variety of materials with many design options. The present invention can be used with frames made of wood, plastics, polymers, resins, metals, and alloys thereof, and other such materials as are commonly used to manufacture picture frames. Where materials other than aluminum are used, it may be desirable to use novel methods of fastening the corner pieces to the elongated members. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,835 to Cox, in wooden frames it may be desirable to router a hidden portion of the elongated members near their ends. This routered portion, when ends of elongated members are in abutment, mates with a corner fastener. Alternative fastening means may be required depending upon the type of materials used for the elongated members, the elongated members overall section, shape, and other various factors.  
           [0020]    The final object of the invention is to provide for corner pieces for use in particular with wood frames. The problem with corner inserts made of wood, not encountered with other materials, is the weakness of wood materials along grain lines. Wood framing members tend to crack or split along the grain lines when some types of fasteners are applied. Thus, particular care must be taken how the members are fastened together to prevent them from cracking. This problem is addressed by providing complimentary dimensional wood stock having a pre-formed groove therein. The groove serves as a pre-formed channel to receive a fastener such as that disclosed by Cox, below.  
           [0021]    It is well known that when a elongated member is cut at a forty-five degree angle to its length, the distance across the forty-five degree cut is the square root of two (approximately 1.414) times the width of the elongated member. The complimentary dimensional wood stock would have substantially the same shape as the elongated member (compare FIG. 11 with FIG. 12), but it would have a width that is 1.414 times the width of the regular wood stock. Thus, when inserted in between two mitered pieces of elongated members, it would provide a transitional piece pursuant to the present invention. The wooden pieces are then fastened together using any number of well known techniques such as the above-noted fastening technique disclosed by Cox in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,835.  
           [0022]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
           [0023]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
           [0024]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    The invention will be better understood and the objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is an exploded front view of two joint pieces and two elongated members.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a back view of the assembled elements shown in FIG. 1 representing a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a front view of a frame corner incorporating the first embodiment.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a cross section view of one embodiment of an elongated member.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a front view of a frame corner with an atypical angle (here, 120°).  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a front view of a frame corner with a first variation of joint pieces.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a front view of a frame corner with a second variation of joint pieces.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a top view of a corner piece adapted to receive the elongated members therein.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the corner piece adapted to receive the elongated member therein.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is a cross section of the corner piece having received an elongated member therein.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is a cross sectional drawing of an elongated member.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 12 is a cross sectional drawing of a complimentary elongated member having an overall width of approximately 1.414 times the overall width of the elongated member shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the complimentary elongated member shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 14 is a bottom view of two sections of the elongated member shown in FIG. 11 joined together with the complimentary elongated member shown in FIG. 12. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]    Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals represent like parts, an apparatus incorporating the principles of the present invention is generally illustrated in the figures. FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of frame elongated members  20   a  and  20   b  from which two mitered joint piece parts  10   a ,  10   b  may be cut. As shown,  10   a ,  10   b  are mirror images of one another. FIGS. 2 and 3 show how these joint piece parts  10   a ,  10   b  fit into a corner assembly. Angles A and B, and length L can be adjusted to provide for different shapes, designs and allowances needed. Possible shapes and designs are demonstrated, but not limited to, those in FIGS. 5, 6, and  7 . Most commonly, where a picture frame in question is square or rectangular, and each angle is 90°, each of the joint piece parts  10   a ,  10   b  will be parallelograms as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 .  
         [0041]    After two joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  are sandwiched between the miter cut ends of two elongated members  20 , the assembly is secured by a corner connector  40 . The corner connector  40 , shown in FIG. 2, fits into a connector channel  22  and is secured by clamping screws  42 . The connecting method shown in FIG. 2 is convenient for extruded members capable of having a connector channel  22  defined therein. The connector channel  22  could also be cut into the back of a wood, plastic, or other material of construction by using a router or other similar device. The router blade would simply cut the pattern of the connector channel  22  to be desired. Alternatively, where the elongated members are formed out material other than a metal or metal alloy, a metal or aluminum alloy channel may be inserted into a slot cut into the back of the wood, plastic, or other construction material for the elongated members. This metal or alloy channel would give additional strength to the corner connector  40  when used with the device. For wood frames, the connecting means may simply be glue and nails driven through the various corner pieces (preferably with pilot holes pre-drilled to minimize splitting and cracking) and elongated members to hold the respective parts in place. Alternatively, a connector of the type disclosed by Cox in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,835 could be used.  
         [0042]    Where the joint piece is a single modular unit, which fits over the elongated members, a pilot hole through the joint piece may allow for set screws to be driven there through. The set screws would frictionally engage the elongated members, holding them in place in the joint piece, which fits over them. Alternatively, the fastening method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,990 to Buchanan could be used. There are a wide variety of means for joining the elongated members of a picture frame. It is intended to incorporate within the scope of the term corner connecting means all of the various methods of joining elongated members which have been used in picture framing and are known to those versed in the art.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 shows an example of a cross section of a possible elongated member. The corner connector  40  is held in the connector channel  22  by an inner channel lip  24  and an outer channel lip  26  which protrude slightly at the top of the connector channel  22 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 8 and 9 show a unitary corner piece  50  adapted to receive the elongated members  20  therein. The unitary corner piece  50  takes the place of multiple joint pieces, for example  10   a ,  10   b , shown in FIG. 1. The larger cross section of the unitary corner piece  50  shown in FIG. 8 and  9  allows it to be used with various sizes of elongated members which are small enough to be received therein. Preferably, the elongated members  20  are then held in place by a screw  42 . Various other means of connecting the corner will be appreciated to those skilled in the art. The unitary corner piece  50  envisioned herein is distinguishable from Buchanan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,990, in that the present invention discloses a unitary corner piece having a back portion. The Buchanan device covers the front portion of the frame. It does not completely envelope the elongated members. The unitary corner piece  50 , as disclosed herein, slidingly receives the elongated members. Additional benefits received by this configuration are additional strength added to the frame. This is particularly useful where are large frame or heavy contents are being used. The back portion  51  of the unitary corner piece  50  provides additional stability and strength to the unitary corner piece  50 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 11 through 14 show an embodiment of the present invention which is intended primarily to be used with wooden frame stock. FIG. 14 shows the primary stock  54  having a width “W.” The picture channel  32   a  is defined therein, and the stock has, as all stock does, a visible frame surface  34 . FIG. 12 shows a complimentary stock  56  having a width of approximately 1.414 times the width “W” of the primary stock  54 . The fact that the width of the complimentary stock  56  is wider than that of the primary stock  54  allows this stock to be used between the two mitered cuts as shown in FIG. 14. The complimentary stock  56  has a picture channel  32   b  which is wider than the picture channel  32   a  of the primary stock  54 . The reason this is required is that, as shown in FIG. l 4 , when placed between the two miter cuts, there must be an additional off set to accommodate the corner of the material to be framed. Also defined in the secondary stock  56  is preferably a connector channel  58 . The complementary stock  56  is shown from a bottom view in FIG. 13. A bottom view of the complementary stock  56  incorporated between mitered ends of elongated pieces of the primary stock  54  is shown in FIG. 14. The pieces are held together by a fastener  60 . The fastener  60 , will preferably be a connector such as disclosed by Cox in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,835. Alternatively, the pieces may be glued and nailed together (again, preferably with pilot holes to prevent splitting or cracking), or any other well known method of fastening wooden pieces together as known in the prior art. Also, a “v-nail” may be used, but the v-nail works better with plastic than wood. The v-nail is simply a flattened piece of steel having a v-shaped cross section to be nailed into and hold together two members of elongated stock.  
       OPERATION OF APPARATUS  
       [0046]    A picture frame is typically built in a square or rectangular shape which requires 45 degree miter cuts at the corners. In this configuration, two joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  are cut from a piece of frame stock  48  so that they are mirror images of each other. Two joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  will usually be used for each frame corner, but the number may be varied for different designs. Additionally, these joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  may be colored or may be cut from different styles of elongated member  20  to vary the appearance of the picture frame, or may be formed of a single piece of molded or die-cast material. The miter cut angles may also be varied to provide for additional shapes of picture frames, as in FIG. 5, or to provide for additional shapes of joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b , as in FIG. 6. Although picture frames are typically formed of squares or rectangles, variations in the corner design allows for many shapes of frame to facilitate various shapes of art. Additionally, joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  need not be parallelograms as in the most typical use, but can be varied as design and taste dictate.  
         [0047]    Once the joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  are cut appropriately, the corner is assembled as in FIGS. 2 and 3. The joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  are put together and then attached to the elongated member  20  so that a continuous structure is formed. The corner connector  40  is placed in the connector channel  22  and is held in place by clamping screws  42 , the inner channel lip  24 , and the outer channel lip  26 .  
         [0048]    Preferably, the framing shop where the present invention is used will keep a plurality of finishes and sizes for each cross sectional type of elongated member it stocks. These pre-cut corner pieces will preferably be kept in a bin system with clear labels to enable a user to conveniently locate the corner piece desired.  
         [0049]    Where a framing shop keeps a plurality of corner pieces in bins, if the joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b , together with the elongated members  20  when formed together as previously noted do not have the appropriate dimensional aspects (for example one side of the frame is too short), joint pieces can be selected to slightly varying lengths to accommodate the changes needed in the dimension. Further, the framing shop may have the option of cutting joint pieces having a variety of lengths “L” as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0050]    The artwork desired for display is held in the picture channel  32  and is secured there by the interior housing  28  and the exterior housing  30  by spring clips (not shown). A visible frame surface  34  then provides the decorative appearance desired by the combination of the joint pieces  10   a ,  10   b  and the elongated member  20 .  
         [0051]    The procedure for retrofitting an existing frame is similar to that described above. The preliminary step, however, in retrofitting an existing frame is to disassemble the frame. Generally, the fasteners in place in the existing frame must be removed, and the mitered joints must be released. In some cases, this may be as simple as loosening a few screws. In other cases, particularly with wood frames, it may require using a saw or other cutting device to cut along the miter joint.  
         [0052]    Once the existing frame is disassembled, the miter cuts at the terminal ends of the elongated members must be cleaned up. This would typically require using a saw to cut off a small length of each terminal end of the elongated member. Then, an appropriate joint piece is selected, and the procedure noted above for new frames is repeated.  
         [0053]    Having thus described the field of the invention, the prior art, the attached drawings, the summary of the invention, and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments,