Abstract:
A frame assembly for displaying artwork. The frame assembly has interconnected top, bottom and side frame members and a bottom member connected to the side members to form a precursor article receiving assembly for slidably receiving the artwork. The top frame member is releasably interconnected with the precursor assembly by a novel, easy-to-use corner joining device which is of a simple construction that can be easily operated without the need for any type of tools.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to frame assemblies. More particularly the invention concerns a multi-sided picture frame for displaying artwork, such as photographs, paintings, drawings and the like which embodies a novel, demountable corner joining device for joining selected sides of the picture frame. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Numerous types of frame constructions have been suggested in the past and various devices for joining the frame members have been proposed. A particularly popular prior art frame construction is known in the industry as a “side-loader”. In this type of frame construction, photographs, paintings, drawings and in the like are inserted into the frame while one side of the frame is detached from the remaining sides that make up the frame. 
     The thrust of the present invention is to provide a “side-loader” type frame construction that embodies a novel corner joining mechanism that simplifies the releasable interconnection of the detachable frame component of the frame from the remaining sides of the frame. 
     Another type of prior art corner joining mechanism sometimes used in picture frame construction comprises an “L” shaped, stamped steel plate having two set screws that are receivable within threaded holes provided in the plate. This type of connector, which is known generically as a “tapped angle” bracket, is inserted into “C” shaped channels provided in the sides of the frame proximate each of the mitered corner of the frame. With the brackets in position within the corners of the frame, the set screws can be tightened to force the bracket against the top and bottom of the channel thereby locking the corners together. The tapped angle bracket, while being an effective joining device, is somewhat cumbersome to use and undesirably requires the use of hand tools to affix the bracket in position. Additionally, aligning the corners of the frame assembly while simultaneously tightening the setscrews of the bracket can be troublesome and can result in unsightly gaps being formed at the mitered corners. 
     Another prior art joining device embodies a small lever mechanism having a cam at one end so that when the lever is in a neutral, upraised position the device can be freely inserted into the channel at the corners of the frame. However, when the lever is depressed, the cam lifts the bracket so as to push it against the top and bottom of the channel, thereby locking the frame members in place. This device eliminates the need for tools, but still has certain limitations. For example, the device of a relatively complex construction must be fabricated from thin gauge sheet metal which renders the corner more flexible thereby also increasing the likelihood of cosmetically undesirable gap at the mitered corners. Additionally, when the lever is depressed, the cam has a tendency to dig into the metal frame. Accordingly, repeated use, the areas at which the cams engage become abraded and the device undesirably loses it gripping ability, thereby permitting the corners to accidentally separate. 
     Still another type of prior art frame assembly uses an injection molded plastic connector that is inserted into the channel of the frame members at each corner of the frame. Once the connector is in position, it is then secured in place by crimping the molding of the aluminum picture frame using a special crimping tool. Unlike the previously mentioned prior art devices, this particular prior art corner securement device permanently joins the frame members together so that if the securement device were to be used on all four corners of a picture frame there would be no way to open the frame to insert the glass, the matting and the artwork as is necessary with a “side loader” type of frame assembly. Therefore, this particular prior art frame assembly was presumably developed exclusively for use in creating corner samples rather than completed frames. For this reason, this particular prior art joining device is believed to be used solely to join together two short lengths of mitered frame so that the assemblage thus formed can be used with a selected piece of artwork to gain an impression of how that particular molding design would look with the selected art sample. 
     Yet another prior art plastic corner connector known in the prior art is a device that embodies a ramped cam that must be manipulated with the special machine in order to move the cam into a locking position to secure together mitered to pieces of frame. Once again, this device is somewhat cumbersome to use and requires special tooling to operate the ramped cam. 
     A primary objective of the frame assembly of the present invention is to provide a demountable corner joining device that if of simple construction, overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art devices, is easy to use and can be inexpensively produced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly for displaying artwork having top, bottom and side frame members in which the bottom member is connected to the side members to form a precursor article receiving assembly for slidably receiving the artwork and in which the top frame member is releasably interconnected with the precursor assembly by a novel, easy-to-use corner joining device. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly of the aforementioned character in which the corner joining device is of a simple construction and is easily operated without the need for any type of tools. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly of the character described in the preceding paragraphs in which the corner joining mechanism, when in a locked position, securely interconnects the top frame member to the precursor article receiving assembly in a manner to prevent accidental separation of the top frame member from the article receiving assembly when the artwork is disposed within the frame assembly. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly of the character described in which the top frame member can be disconnected from the article receiving assembly as many times as may be required without in any way damaging the precursor article receiving assembly. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly as described in the preceding paragraphs in which the corner joining mechanism is easy to use without the need of hand tools and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. 
     In summary, it is an object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly of the character described, in which the corner joining mechanism includes a pair of resiliently deformable legs that are receivable within the “C”-shaped channels of the side frame members and can easily be cammed into engagement therewith by means the of a finger operated, generally wedge shaped lever arm. With the wedge shaped lever in a downward, locked position, the corner joining mechanism is positively secured in position within the side frame members by inwardly extending protuberances forced on the frame member that are received within adjacently disposed latching notches provided in one of the deformable legs. With this novel construction, an attractive, gap-free corner is produced that will withstand substantial forces tending to separate the frame members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a generally perspective, front, exploded view of one embodiment of the picture frame of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1A is an exploded, rear plan view of the picture frame shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 is a front, perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the top portion of the frame mated with the lower, precursor portion of the frame. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, generally perspective view of one of the corners of the top portion of the frame assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, rear plan view of the portion of the frame shown in FIG. 3 that is broken away to show internal construction. 
     FIG. 4A is a greatly enlarged view of the portion of the frame identified in FIG. 4 as  4 A 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, generally perspective rear view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the locking element of the frame moved from the unlocked position shown by the phantom lines to the locked position shown by the solid lines. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, rear plan illustrative view showing the portion of the frame depicted in FIG. 5 mated with the lower, precursor portion of the frame. 
     FIG. 7 is a generally perspective view of one form of a picture mounting assembly that is usable with the frame assembly of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a generally perspective view of the frame assembly showing the picture mounting assembly of FIG. 7 mounted therein within. 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4A, one form of the frame assembly of invention is there shown. This form of the frame assembly comprises first and second spaced apart side members  12  and  14 , each having a generally “C” shaped channel  18  formed therein and a protuberance  20  extending into the channel (FIGS.  4  and  4 A). Also forming a part of the frame assembly is a bottom member  22  also having a generally “C” shaped channel  18  formed therein. As shown in the drawings, bottom member  22  spans the first and second spaced apart side members and is connected thereto in a manner presently to be described to form a top open precursor frame  24  (FIG.  1 ). Completing the frame portion of the frame assembly of the invention, is a top member  26  that also has a generally “C” shaped channel  18  formed therein. Comprising an important feature of the apparatus of the invention is connector means for releasably connecting top member  26  to the first and second spaced apart side members  12  and  14  of the precursor frame  24 . 
     In the present form of the invention this novel connector means comprises first and a second generally right angle connector brackets  28  and  30  respectively. As best seen by referring to FIG. 1A, first connector bracket  28  comprises first and second legs  28   a  and  28   b , while connector bracket  30  comprises first and second legs  30   a  and  30   b . Leg  28   a  of bracket  28  is received within channel  18  of top member  18  and is fixedly connected thereto in a manner presently to be described. Similarly, second leg  28   b  is received within channel  18  of first side member  12  and is releasably connected thereto by the novel joining means of the invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 1A, second leg  28   b  can be seen to comprise a body portion  31  and first and second spaced-apart segments  33  and  35  that define a generally “V” shaped opening  37  therebetween. Importantly, second segment  35  has a latching notch  39  formed therein within which the previously mentioned protuberance  20  is closely received upon operation of the connector means. Also forming a part of the connector means of the invention is wedge means that is pivotally connected to body portion  31  for urging outward separation of first and second spaced apart segments  33  and  35  to lockably position latching notch  39  over protuberance  20 . 
     Leg  30   a  of bracket  30  is also received within said channel  18  of top member  18  and is fixedly connected thereto in a manner presently to be described. Similarly, second leg  30   b  is received within channel  18  of second side member  14  and is releasably connected thereto by the joining means of the invention. As best seen in FIG. 3, second leg  30   b  comprises a body portion  41  and first and second spaced apart segments  43  and  45  that define a generally “V” shaped opening  47  therebetween. Importantly, first segment  43  has a latching notch  49  formed therein within wedge protuberance  20  of side member  14  is closely received upon operation of the connector means. Also forming a part of connector bracket  30  is wedge means, which is pivotally connected to, said body portion  41  for urging outward separation of said first and second spaced a part segments  43  and  45  to position latching notch  49  over protuberance  20 . 
     The frame assembly of the present form of the invention further comprises precursor frame connector means for connecting bottom member  22  to first and second spaced apart side members  12  and  14 . This precursor connector means here comprises first and second crimp connector brackets  50  and  52 . Crimp connector bracket  50  comprises comprising a first leg  50   a  that is receivable with channel  18  of bottom member  22  and a second leg  50   b  that is receivable within channel  18  of side member  12 . Similarly, second crimp connector bracket  52  comprises a first leg  52   a  that is receivable within channel  18  of bottom member  22  and a second leg  52   b  that is receivable within channel  18  of second side member  14 . As best seen in FIG. 1A, each of the legs of each of the crimp connector brackets  50  and  52  is provided with a pair of spaced apart crimp receiving notches  53 . After sliding the legs of the crimp connector brackets into channels  18  of side members  12  and  14  and into channel  18  of base member  22 , a commercially available crimping tool is used to two crimp the side members and the bottom member at locations that are indexably aligned with notches  53 . This crimping step causes small segments of metal to be urged into the notches  53  so as to securely lock brackets  50  and  52  to side members  12  and  14  and to bottom member  22  to thereby form the precursor frame  24  shown in the lower portion of FIG.  1 . Various types of crimping tools to accomplish this crimping operation are commercially available and their construction and operation is well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     Legs  28   a  and  30   a  of brackets  28  and  30  are affixed to top frame member  26  in a manner similar to that described in the preceding paragraph. More particularly, after sliding legs  28   a  and  30   a  of the connector brackets into channel  18  of top member  26 , a commercially available crimping tool is used to crimp the top member at locations that are indexably aligned with the notches  55  formed in legs  28   a  and  30   a . This crimping step causes small segments of metal from the top frame member  26  to be urged into the notches  55  so as to securely interconnect brackets  28  and  30  with top frame member  26  in the manner shown in FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 . 
     Following completion of the assembly of precursor frame  24  (FIG.  1 ), the artwork  60  the matting  62  and the glass  64  shown in FIG. 7 can be slidably inserted into the top open precursor frame  24 . This done, the precursor top frame which comprises member  26  and connector brackets  28  and  30  that have been affixed thereto in the manner previously described, can be interconnected with the top open precursor frame  24  to complete the frame assembly. This assembly step is accomplished by first raising the wedge means, which here comprise wedge shaped members  68  to their upraised position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. With members  58  in this raised position, legs  28   b  and  30   b  of the connector brackets can be easily slidably inserted into channels  18  of side members  12  and  14  respectively. When the leg members  28   b  and  30   b  are fully inserted into the channels formed in side members  12  and  14 , notches  37  well precisely align with protuberances  20  formed in side members  12  and  14  in the manner shown in FIG.  4 A and will be slightly spaced apart therefrom. However, a downward force exerted on wedge shaped members  58  will move them into their downward closed position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Because the wedge members are slightly wider than the V-shaped openings  37  and  47 , as they move into their closed position within the V-shaped openings they will engage the spaced apart segments of legs  28   b  and  30   b  in a manner to force them apart a distance sufficient to cause notches  39  and  49  to be received over and to lockably engage protuberances  20  formed in the side frame members. With the notches in the connector brackets received over protuberances  20 , legs  28   b  and  30   b  of the connector members will be securely locked in position within side members  12  and  14  and cannot be removed therefrom unless and until the wedge shaded members  58  are once again pivoted into their upraised position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. With the top frame member  26  thusly connected to the lower frame precursor assembly  24 , the completed frame illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be produced. Because protuberances  20  of the side frame members are securely captured within notches  39  and  49  of the connector members  28  and  30 , the frame can, if desired, be suspended from top frame member  26  without danger of the top frame precursor assembly accidentally separating from the lower frame precursor assembly  24 . 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.