Abstract:
A novel display surface framing and support apparatus capable of temporarily or permanently securing canvas art and other substrates in a taunt manner without damaging the display surface. Upon assembly, the structural members join in a self-squaring fashion creating a square or rectangular frame. In preferred embodiments, the framing and support apparatus generally comprises four frame members which are substantially three sided in profile, and four corner joiners that are inserted into the ends of each frame member and being secured with a plurality of fastening means. The periphery of the display surface wraps over and around the frame members and is secured into a securement groove that is continuous along each frame member. In some embodiments, a spline element may be used to press the display surface into the securement groove of each frame member to thereby fix the display surface to the apparatus in a taunt fashion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/872,444 filed Aug. 30, 2013, and entitled “NOVEL CANVAS FRAMING APPARATUS” the entire contents of the above-referenced patent application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of support frames used for paintings or photographs and other items for display. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Canvas has been a preferred medium of painters and artists for centuries. Traditionally, mounting a canvas to a frame required a great amount of time and effort. Assembling the frame so that it was squared, and then fastening the stretched canvas over the frame could be considered an art form in and of itself. Most frames are built from wood which has many drawbacks. Wood contracts and expands over time resulting in the continual sagging and retightening of canvas stretched over wooden frames which causes the painting to crack and chip requiring costly restoration. 
         [0004]    In an attempt to overcome these drawbacks, some related frames have been made out of aluminum, plastic, or other manmade materials. U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,524 filed on Mar. 12, 2003, by Eastwood et al, describes an aluminum frame that is welded together. The canvas is applied onto the frame and attached with staples or other similar means. While the aluminum frame prevents expansion and contraction, the method of attaching the canvas to the frame is inadequate and may result in damage to the canvas. 
         [0005]    To prevent damage to the canvas caused by the attachment means listed above, some related frames have employed bracket mechanisms. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/160,356 filed Jun. 21, 2005 by Hsiang-Chuan Liu et al. describes a nail-free interchangeable canvas frame system. The disclosed frame uses complex brackets that expand and press the canvas into the corners of the frame, eliminating damage caused by staples, nails, and similar attachment means. This system requires mastering the complex bracket assembly process and consumes a significant amount of time to construct. 
         [0006]    Some other types of frames have attempted to simplify the canvas mounting process. U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,510 filed May 7, 2002, by Ocampo et al. describes a fabric gripping and stretching system that utilizes a plurality of linear gripping members that are attached to the four sides of the canvas. The gripping members are then inserted into receptive channels on the four sides of the frame, thereby securing the canvas to the device. This system requires careful alignment and attachment of the gripping members to the canvas which ultimately damages the canvas and requires a significant amount of time. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a need exists for novel systems and apparatuses for framing canvas commonly used in the painting and art industry, which are made from a material that will not expand and contract over time. It is a further need for the framing system to be able to secure canvases without causing damage even with repeated mountings and unmountings. It is still a further need for the faming system to be easily and quickly assembled and also for the canvas to be mounted and unmounted to a wall or support structure in an easy and quick manner. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention comprises a novel framing and support apparatus capable of temporarily or permanently securing a display surface such as canvas art or other substrates in a taunt manner and without damaging the canvas. Upon assembly, the structural members join in a self-squaring fashion creating a square or rectangular frame. In preferred embodiments, the framing and support apparatus generally comprises four frame members which are substantially three sided in profile, and four corner joiners that are inserted into the ends of each frame member and being secured with a plurality of fastening means. The periphery of the display surface wraps over and around the frame members and is secured into a grove that is continuous along each frame member. In some embodiments, a spline element may be used to press the canvas into the securement groove of each frame member to thereby fix the canvas or display surface to the frame in a taunt fashion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a sectional elevation view of an example of a framing and support apparatus securing a display surface according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an example of a frame member engaged to a corner joiner according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional elevation view of an example of a framing member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts a sectional elevation view of an example of a framing member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional elevation view of an example of a framing member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional elevation view of an example of a framing member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts a plan view of the front of an example of a framing and support apparatus according to various embodiments described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0018]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0019]    In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims. 
         [0020]    New framing apparatuses are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0021]    The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. 
         [0022]    The present invention will now be described by example and through referencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternative embodiments.  FIG. 1  depicts a sectional, through line  1 - 1  shown in  FIG. 7 , elevation view of an example of a framing and support apparatus (“the apparatus”)  100  ( FIG. 7 ) securing a display surface  200  according to various embodiments described herein. In this example, the front of the display surface  200  is facing out and away from a vertical surface  400  such as a wall or other structure. An upper frame member  11  and lower frame member  11  of the framing apparatus  100  ( FIG. 7 ) are depicted. The display surface  200  is pulled taunt over the upper frame member  11  and lower frame member  11  and may be secured into a securement groove  12  on each frame member  11 . In some embodiments, the display surface  200  may preferably be secured in place by one or more pieces of spline  13 . The spline  13  may be made from rubber, silicon, rope, or any other suitable material. 
         [0023]    In this embodiment, the frame members  11  also comprise an optional brace channel  14  configured to accept and secure one or more optional brace members  300 . The one or more optional brace members  300  may be a solid bar or rod made from a metal such as aluminum, wood, or any other suitable rigid material. In other embodiments, and as shown by subsequent figures, a framing member  11  may not comprise a brace channel  14  and the framing and support apparatus  100  ( FIG. 7 ) may not comprise an optional brace member  300 . 
         [0024]    As shown by  FIG. 1 , the frame members  11  are generally triangular in shape or three sided in a sectional elevation view with a frame base  16  and a first and second angled sides  17  comprising the three sides of the triangular shape. The frame base  16  is joined to two outer support lips  18  with first and second angled sides  17  also joined to each of the outer support lips  18 . A securement groove  12  and an optional brace channel  14  are disposed between the two angled sides  17 . An inner support lip  19  joins each angled side  17  with a securement groove  12  and/or a brace channel  14 . A screwboss  21  may be joined to an angled side  17 , and in some embodiments, the screwboss  21  may also be joined to a corner joiner retainer  22 . 
         [0025]    In preferred embodiments, a display surface  200  such as canvas may be secured to a first frame member  11  by having a portion of the display surface  200  inserted into the securement groove  12  and secured therein with spline  13 . The display surface  200  may wrap around an inner support lip  19 , over and optionally contacting an angled side  17 , and around an outer support lip  18  of the first frame member  11 . Next, the display surface  200  may then pass over the frame base  16 , around another outer support lip  18  of the first frame member  11 , and then to the outer support lip  18  of the second frame member  11 . Finally, the display surface  200  may wrap around an outer support lip  18  of the second frame member  11 , over and optionally contacting an angled side  17  of the second frame member  11 , around an inner support lip  19 , and then into a securement groove  12  of the second frame member  11 . Other types of display surface securing mechanisms in addition to the utilization of spline  13  and securement groove  12  are contemplated herein. By way of example, canvas may be secure to frame member  11  by adhesive, staples, tacks, nails, or other types of fasteners. In some embodiments, a display surface  200  may be made from fabrics, papers, flexible or rigid materials such as but not limited to; aluminum, wood, or Masonite. In the embodiments where a rigid material such as wood or Masonite are employed as a display surface  200 , the securement groove  12  and optionally ridges  27  within the securement groove  12  may hold the display surface  200  securely inside the frame member  11  using frictional forces without spline  13 . 
         [0026]    The apparatus  100  ( FIG. 7 ) may be supported on a vertical surface  400  by a nail, hook, or other wall fastener  500  which may be inserted into the vertical surface  400  and upon which an inner support lip  19 , a hanger slot  25  ( FIGS. 5-7 ), and/or securement groove  12  of a frame member  11  may rest. Of particular interest, a new type of wall fastener  500  is shown which generally comprises a horizontal surface connected at a 90 degree angle to a vertical surface. 
         [0027]    A spline tool (not shown) may be used to install spline  13  into the securement groove  12 . Spline installation tools are known in the art and may comprise a hand tool with a wheel or blunt end configured to put pressure on the spline  13  as it is being worked into the groove  12 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an example of a frame member  11  engaged to a corner joiner  23  according to various embodiments described herein, thereby providing a method of attaching two side frame members  11  of a framing and support apparatus  100  ( FIG. 7 ) together at a generally 90 degree or right angle. In preferred embodiments, two frame members  11  may be attached together forming a generally 90 degree or right angle with one generally L shaped corner joiner  23  and two or more frame fasteners  26  ( FIG. 7 ) such as screws, bolts, or any other suitable fastener. A corner joiner  23  may be inserted into the space within a frame member  11  bounded by the two corner joiner retainers  22  and the frame base  16 . Once the corner joiner  23  is inserted into both frame members  11 , two frame fasteners  26  may be inserted through fastener apertures  24  on the frame base  16  of one frame member  11 , through two fastener apertures  24  on a corner joiner  23 , and into the screwbosses  21  of the second frame member  11  thereby attaching two frame members  11  together in a generally 90 degree or right angle. In this embodiment, the outer support lips  18  and inner support lips  19  comprise a generally angular shape. 
         [0029]    In the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a frame member  11  may comprise two corner joiner retainers  22 , and a corner joiner  23  may be inserted into the space within a frame member  11  bounded by the two corner joiner retainers  22  and the frame base  16 . In other embodiments, such as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 - 6  a frame member  11  may comprise a securement groove  12  and/or a brace channel  14  that extends to the same plane as the corner joiner retainers  22 , and a corner joiner  23  may be inserted into the space within a frame member  11  bounded by the two corner joiner retainers  23 , the frame base  16 , a securement groove  12 , and/or a brace channel  14 . 
         [0030]    In preferred embodiments, a right frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ) and a left frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ) comprise fastener apertures  24  into which the frame fasteners  26  ( FIG. 7 ) are inserted into and mate with the screw bosses  21  of the upper frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ) and lower frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ). In other embodiments, the upper frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ) and the lower frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ) comprise fastener apertures  24  into which the frame fasteners  26  are inserted into and mate with the screw bosses  21  of the right frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ) and left frame member  11  ( FIG. 7 ). In further embodiments, all of the frame members  11  may comprise a fastener aperture  24  capable of receiving a frame fastener  26 . 
         [0031]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a sectional, through line  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 7 , elevation view of an example of a framing member  11  according to various embodiments described herein is shown. In this alternative preferred embodiment and the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 , the frame member  11  also comprises a generally triangular or three sided shape in sectional elevation with a frame base  16 , a first angled side  17 , and a second angled side  17  together forming the three sides of the triangular shaped frame member  11  when viewed in a sectional elevation. In this example, the frame base  16  is joined to two outer support lips  18  with an angled side  17  also joined to each of the two outer support lips  18 . A securement groove  12  is disposed between the two angled sides  17 , and an inner support lip  19  joins each angled side  17  with the securement groove  12 . In embodiments 1 and 3-6, the outer support lips  18  and inner support lips  19  comprise angular generally rounded shape. A screwboss  21  may be joined to an angled side  17 , and a corner joiner retainer  22  may be joined to an outer support lip  18  and/or an angled side  17 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  depicts a sectional, through line  4 - 4  shown in  FIG. 7 , elevation view of an example of a framing member according to various embodiments described herein. In this embodiment, the securement groove  12  comprises a plurality of spline ridges  27  which are preferably angled towards the interior of a securement groove  12  to provide frictional resistance to the removal of spline  13  ( FIG. 1 ) or in some cases a rigid support member  200  from the securement groove  12 . In other embodiments, one or more spline ridges  27  of various sizes, shapes, and textures may be positioned on the interior of a securement groove  12  to prevent a spline  13  and any display surface  200  ( FIG. 1 ) it may be securing to a frame member  11  from slipping out of a securement groove  12 . 
         [0033]    Also depicted in  FIG. 4  and in preferred embodiments, the cross sectional structure of the frame members  11  comprises a substantially three sided triangular shape, in profile, with outer support lips  18  and inner support lips  19  each configured with rounded corners that prevent damage to the mounted display surface  200  ( FIG. 1 ). Also shown by the examples in the figures, at least one angled side  17  of each frame member  11  is angled relative to the frame base  16 . In preferred embodiments, said angle is about 45 degrees between an angled side  17  relative to the frame base  16  of the frame member  11 . In other embodiments, the angle may be between 45 to 85 degrees. 
         [0034]    In further preferred embodiments, the frame members  11  are made of metal such as extruded aluminum or aluminum alloys, or any other suitable extrudable metal alloy. Due to the continuous nature of extruded material designs, the securement groove  12 , brace channel  14 , frame base  16 , angled side  17 , outer support lip  18 , inner support lip  19 , screwboss  21 , corner joiner retainer  22 , hanger slot  25  ( FIGS. 5-7 ), and/or a spline ridge  27  may be continuous along the full length of the frame members  11 . In other embodiments, the frame members  11  may be made from plastic, other metals, or any other suitable material common in the art of frames. 
         [0035]    The elements of a frame member  11  may be joined together with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, by being integrally molded or formed together, or any other suitable joining method capable of substantially permanently securing portions of a securement groove  12 , brace channel  14 , frame base  16 , angled side  17 , outer support lip  18 , inner support lip  19 , screwboss  21 , corner joiner retainer  22 , hanger slot  25  ( FIGS. 5-7 ), and/or a spline ridge  27  together with another element of a frame member  11 . 
         [0036]    As perhaps best shown by  FIG. 5 , which illustrates a sectional, through line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 7 , elevation view of an example of a framing member according to various embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, the frame members  11  may also comprise an optional hanger  28 . The hanger  28  may comprise a hanger slot  25 , fastener aperture  24  ( FIG. 2 ), or any other opening which may be configured to accept one or more wall fasteners  500  ( FIG. 1 ) allowing the framing and support apparatus  100  ( FIG. 7 ) to be mounted to a wall or other vertical surface  400  ( FIG. 1 ). A wall fastener  500  ( FIG. 1 ) may comprise any wall mount or mounting device common in the art of picture hanging and mounting objects to vertical surfaces. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional, through line  6 - 6  shown in  FIG. 7 , elevation view of an example of a framing member  11  according to various embodiments described herein. While frame members  11  comprise a securement groove  12 , in this embodiment, a frame member  11  comprises a second securement groove  12 . In other embodiments, a frame member  11  may comprise any number of securement grooves  12 , spline ridges  27 , screwbosses  21 , brace channels  14  ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 ), and/or hanger slots  25 , each of which may extend continuously or discontinuously along the entire length or a portion of the length of a frame member  11 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  depicts a plan view of the front of an example of a framing and support apparatus  100  according to various embodiments described herein. It should be noted that cross sectional lines  1 - 1 ,  3 - 3 ,  4 - 4 ,  5 - 5 , and  6 - 6  are provided and correspond to cross sectional views shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6  respectively. Although each of these cross sectional views may represent a different design embodiment of the frame member  11 , it is likely that only a single frame member  11  design may be utilized in a single apparatus  100 . Still referring to  FIG. 7 , in this illustration, a set of  4  frame members is used including an upper frame member  11  and lower frame member  11  may be joined at 90 degree angles with the right frame member  11  and the left frame member  11  to form a four sided square or rectangular frame. In other embodiments a set may include two frame members  11 , three frame members  11 , even five or more frame members  11  to form a 3-dimensional frame or artwork. In this example shown by  FIG. 7 , four corner joiners  23  and a plurality (e.g. eight) frame fasteners  26  are also shown. The apparatus  100  comprises frame members  11  each joined together and with a corner joiner  23  by one or more frame fasteners  26 . The display surface  200  ( FIG. 1 ) may be pulled taunt over the upper frame member  11 , lower frame member  11 , right frame member  11 , and the left frame member  11  and may be secured into the securement groove  12  ( FIGS. 1-6 ) of each frame member  11  with spline  13  ( FIG. 1 ). The apparatus  100  may also comprise a frame member  11  which may further comprise a hanger  28 . 
         [0039]    The corner joiners  23  may be made from aluminum, metal alloy, plastic, wood or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the framing apparatus  100  may comprise four or more frame fasteners  26 . In preferred embodiments, the frame fasteners  26  comprise screw type fasteners such as Philips screws, flathead screws, Allen screws, or any other screw type fastener common in the art. In other embodiments, a frame fastener  26  may comprise bolts, nails, or any other fastener common in the art. 
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.