Abstract:
A safety frame designed to go in high security environments (psychiatric wards, prisons, etc.) where framed art is desired for aesthetic reasons, but where there is potential for patients/inmates to hurt themselves or others if they are able to get pull a frame off the wall. The frame includes (a) molding strips joined to form a frame, the molding strips having a back surface and a front surface, with channels provided in front surface of the molding strips, the channels being wide enough to receive screws, and (b) cover strips adapted for being secured to the molding to cover and conceal the channels. Also disclosed is a method for securing a frame to a wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention concerns a safety frame designed to be installed in high security environments (psychiatric wards, prisons, etc.) where framed art is desired for aesthetic reasons, but where there is potential for patients/inmates to hurt themselves or others if they are able to pull a frame off the wall. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    It has long been known that the atmosphere in a room can be positively influenced by displaying pictures or artwork. A nice image can evoke calmness and relaxation. An evocative image can provide a mental mini-vacation. It is thus desirable to display artwork to reduce stress or change the mental attitude and thereby contribute to the well being of patients in hospitals or of persons detained or incarcerated at police stations or prisons. 
         [0005]    However, there is an inherent problem in that a picture frame is rather heavy, tends to have sharp corners, and can be used as a weapon or as a battering tool to break a window or otherwise cause damage. It is thus necessary to render such an item safe. 
         [0006]    The most common current solutions involve drilling screws directly through the frame into a wall, or mounting the frames with normal hardware and then applying tamper-proof caulking to the sides of the frame. These types of solutions provide security, but dramatically take away from the appearance of the artwork. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The object of the invention is to provide a means for displaying art work in high security/high safety facilities, without however providing patients, prisoners, or other possibly hostile persons access to a heavy object that could potentially be used as a weapon that may pose a safety hazard to employees or other patients or prisoners. 
         [0008]    The art work should be framed in a picture frame, and the frame should appear as normal as possible, with no visible appearance of caulking or fastening hardware which would communicate to the viewers a lack of trust. 
         [0009]    The invention was accomplished by developing a frame with a continuous channel routed out and a separate continuous insert piece adapted to cover and conceal the channel. Using this system, the framed art is mounting directly to the wall using heavy-duty screws that are drilled through the channel in the frame. The separate wood insert is then glued into the frame with wood glue or other adhesive creating a secure piece of artwork that retains its aesthetic value because no screws or fastening hardware are visible and tamper resistant caulking is not needed. 
         [0010]    The safety frame according to the invention is preferably produced using a unique frame moulding which can be cut and joined to form a frame in a conventional manner using conventional equipment. The safety frame provides extra security over regular picture frame moulding while at the same time not degrading the aesthetics of the artwork used in the facility. Examples of facilities where a safety frame should be used are psychiatric clinics/hospitals, prisons, police stations and drug and alcohol rehab facilities. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Further details, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation showing the two parts of the safety frame in the unassembled condition; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  show the process of gluing the channel cover to the channel; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows an elevated perspective view of two pieces of frame moulding cut and joined to form one corner of a frame, and two pieces of channel cover cut and joined to form one corner, with the cover not assembled to the moulding; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a less elevated perspective view showing the frame moulding and channel cover of  FIG. 3  in the assembled condition, showing the rounded outer edge of the frame, and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a different perspective of the corner according to  FIG. 4 , showing an exposed cross section of the frame and channel cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The safety frame according to the invention is comprised of two main parts as shown in  FIG. 1 : a frame ( 1 ) with a continuous channel ( 3 ) in the main exposed face of the frame, and an elongate cover piece ( 2 ) which is “T” shaped in cross-section, with a “plug” part ( 4 ) adapted to being received in the channel, and with a cover face ( 5 ) wider than the plug part and channel and adapted to cover over and conceal the channel. 
         [0018]    The back surface ( 6 ) of the frame is flat, to allow flush mounting of the frame directly to the wall, eliminating any gap between the wall and the frame that someone could use to insert a tool to pull the frame off the wall. Preferably, the safety frame has a rounded outer edge further reducing the ability of anyone to pull the frame from the wall and reducing the chances of anyone being able to loop a rope or cord around the top of the frame. 
         [0019]    The channels must be wide enough so that conventional screws can be driven through the channel and into the wall. The channels are at least 3/16″, preferably at least ¼″, more preferably at least 5/16″, and most preferably about ½″. If the channel width is too small, the it may be difficult driving screw heads into screw holes without damaging the adjacent frame. If the channel is too wide, the cover assumes an exaggerated appearance. 
         [0020]    Since the channel extends along the length of the molding, the frame can be mounted with great flexibility. For example, if a wooden stud is located behind a wallboard and the frame is place at a desired location on a wall with a part of the frame placed over the stud, a heavy duty screw can be driven through the frame at any point in the channel ( 3 ) and into the stud located on the wall. Alternatively, anchors can be introduced into the wall, and the screw can be screwed through the frame into the anchors. 
         [0021]    The frame can be provided with a series of pre-drilled screw holes ( 8 ), for example, along the length of the channel, e.g., spaced one inch apart, or holes can be drilled at the time of mounting, or mounting can take place without pre-drilling screw holes. 
         [0022]    After securing the frame to the wall, the channel ( 3 ) is covered by a cover piece, for example a wood strip, and the cover piece is glued in place with heavy duty wood glue ( FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ), concealing the fastening screws. The cover piece preferably assumes the appearance of being a mere decorative part of the frame. This follows from the fact that the frame of the present invention has the appearance of being made by cutting four pieces from a length of continuous molding, as is conventional in the art. Since the cover piece ( 2 ) is continuous and extends along the full length of the frame piece, it naturally appears to be an integral part of the continuous molding, in place prior to cutting the moulding to make the frame, and thus hides the fact that it is added to the frame only after the assembled frame is mounted to a wall. 
         [0023]    If the frame has the appearance of being made of wood, the cover piece preferably also has the appearance of being made of wood. If the patterns match, it would appear that the cover piece is a raised relief ornamental feature machined into the frame. If the patterns do not match, then the cover piece provides a pleasing “inlaid wood” appearance or provides the appearance of a decorative molding piece which improves the aesthetic appearance of the frame. In any case, since the cover piece is continuous, it appears to be part of the original, uncut molding. 
         [0024]    The molding is preferably cut at 45 degree angle so that two frame pieces can join to form a 90 degree angle corner and four frame pieces can form a quadrilateral frame, but other angles are possible, producing e.g. a hexagonal or octagonal frame or even a triangular frame. 
         [0025]    The provision of the channel and cover piece eliminates the need to drive screws through the exterior of the frame, degrading the aesthetic value of the artwork and communicating to the patients or inmates a lack of trust. 
         [0026]    The molding could of course be made of plastic, for example plastic made to simulate wood, or any other material conventional in the framing art. The frame can have the appearance of natural wood or can be colored any color as conventional in the framing art. 
         [0027]    The method of mounting can involve providing locations for anchors, installing anchors, and then mounting the picture frame to the anchors, or can involve locating studs and then screwing heavy duty screws through the picture frame into the studs. 
       Example of Frame Construction 
       [0028]    The following is one specific and non-limiting example of how to make a safety frame according to the present invention. The frame ( 1 ) shown in  FIG. 1  has a total width of 3″, with the channel ( 3 ) being 0.5″ in width and 0.375″ in depth. The back surface ( 6 ) of the frame has a width of 2.5″. The outer edge of the frame is rounded, further reducing the ability of anyone to pull the frame from the wall and reducing the chances of anyone being able to loop a rope or cord around the top of the frame. The inner edge of the frame is defined by a lip ( 9 ) and a rabbet ( 7 ), as conventional in the art framing industry. The frame and cover are of solid wood construction, and finished with a custom finish. The channel cover ( 2 ) has a plug part ( 4 ) cut to exact dimensions of channel in order to provide a secure fit with no gaps. The lips or flanges extending from the sides of the cover rest flush against the frame to conceal the plug and to provide an appearance as though the cover piece was a pre-existing piece of the moulding, cut at the same time as the pieces of frame are cut from a length of moulding, and not as an added on piece. A small gap is provided between the bottom of the channel and the plug part of the cover to allow for excess glue, so that glue is not squeezed out of the channel as the cover is pressed in place. Glue oozing out of the channel may detract form the aesthetic appearance of the frame and may reveal that the cover piece is added on after the fact. Once the channel cover is glued into place and dried it provides a tight seal. 
         [0029]    Pre-drilled holes are provided in the channel at 1″ spacing so that no drilling of holes is required at the time of mounting. Since the pre-drilled holes are at 1″ spacing, there is a very high chance that holes will be present at the appropriate spots to securely fasten frame to wall, e.g., over studs. The frame may be packaged with appropriate hardware such as 1″ screws and molly bolts. 
       Example of Method of Mounting 
       [0030]    The inventive frame can be installed by the following method: 
         [0031]    The finished framed artwork is placed in the location on the wall where it will hang. 
         [0032]    The channel cover is removed to expose the channel, optionally with pre-drilled counter sunk holes in the hardware channel. 
         [0033]    A sharp point tool can be punched through the hole in the channel into the wall to mark the wall for each hole or fastening point before moving the artwork. 
         [0034]    The frame is then removed from the wall and, at the marks on the wall, anchors/molly bolts are installed. 
         [0035]    Next, the frame is placed against the wall, and screws are inserted in a few of the holes in the hardware channel and lined up with their correct anchor/molly bolt on the wall. The screws are tightened enough to hold the artwork in place, but not all the way until all the screws are matched with the corresponding anchor/molly bolt on the wall. 
         [0036]    A level is used to make sure that artwork is level. 
         [0037]    Once all screws are inserted correctly and artwork is level, all the screws are tightened into countersunk holes so that the screw heads are flush or sunk into the frame. 
         [0038]    Then, a final check is made to make sure artwork is level (since there is no way to correct any leveling issues once the channel cover is inserted). 
         [0039]    Next, glue is added to the bottom of the channel cover with a dot or two in a few spots and in the hardware channel of the frame and place the channel cover back in the frame. Care is taken to not use too much glue as it could seep out the sides when adding the channel cover. This danger can be minimized by providing a small gap between the bottom of the channel ( 3 ) and the plug part ( 4 ) of the channel cover. Small strips of painters tape are used to hold the channel cover in place until glue has time to dry. Excess wood glue may be removed with a damp cloth. The painters tape is removed after 4 hours. 
         [0040]    Various modifications and changes may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments of the present invention have been set forth only for the purposes of example, and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined in the following claims.