Abstract:
The subject matter of the invention under consideration is directed to picture frames that can be quickly and safely assembled, installed, and disassembled to display artwork. The picture frame has a frame member and backing that are adapted for safe, easy and removable assembly using removable attachment means, and are designed for safe use by children, elderly, and disabled adults without the need for adult assistance or supervision.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/414,111, filed Sep. 27, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter of the invention under consideration is directed to picture frame, and particularly to picture frames that can be easily assembled and installed to securely and removably retain planar artwork such as photographs, drawings, posters, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A wide variety of picture frames exist. The essential elements of most known picture frames include a frame, a transparent member, and a backing mounted to the frame to retain the artwork under the transparent member and to facilitate upright display of the framed artwork. The backing is typically a heavy cardboard, and typically includes a hinged leg for upright display of the framed artwork, such as on a tabletop. The backing or frame also commonly includes wall mounting means such as a paper tab, hole, bracket, or wire for mounting over a nail driven into a wall. Such wall mounting means do not provide secure mounting because the attachment supports the frame at only a single point (i.e. at the nail location), allowing the picture to sway, or worse to become dislodged and fall to the floor. 
     Moreover, known picture frames are not designed for easy disassembly, such as to change the artwork. The backing is commonly held in place by flat metal tabs driven into the frame. The tabs vary in quality of materials and installation, and are often contain sharp edges that can cut the user, the backing, or the artwork during assembly, disassembly or re-assembly of the framed artwork. The tabs are designed only to survive a few picture changes, and frequently break off or split the frame material, rendering the assembly useless. Moreover, the glass in known picture frames presents a laceration hazard during assembly and use. Additionally, the need to carefully and precisely insert layers of material under the transparent member (such as matting and the artwork) further complicates assembly of known picture frames. Even if a user successfully navigates these hazards once, the hazards are present on every subsequent change of artwork. Known picture frames are simply not designed for easy and frequent change of the displayed artwork. 
     For all these reasons, known picture frames are not suitable for use by children, elderly, or handicapped persons. A continuing need exists for a picture frame that can be securely mounted to a vertical (or horizontal) surface, that can be safely and repeatedly assembled and disassembled by children, adults, elderly, and handicapped persons to easily and quickly alter the displayed artwork. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a picture frame assembly that is easy to assemble, easy to use, and that can be securely mounted to vertical or horizontal surfaces. 
     A significant advantage of the invention is that, once mounted on a surface, it is secure and can be easily used by children to display and change artwork without the need for adult assistance. 
     Another advantage is that the use of plexiglass rather than glass for the transparent member also improves safety over existing frames, and makes the frame suitable for use by physically challenged persons, including handicapped and elderly persons. 
     Yet another advantage is the incorporation of matting into the frame, which creates professional-looking results despite the child-simple assembly and versatility of the picture frame apparatus and method. 
     Still another advantage is that the invention provides a picture frame assembly having a frame member having a front surface and a rear surface separated by a perimeter edge, the frame member adapted to receive and retain a transparent member. The frame member is adapted for removable attachment to a backing member having a display surface and a rear surface separated by a side edge, the rear surface having mounting means for mounting on a mounting surface. A variety of attachment means, and combinations thereof, are disclosed herein for removably attaching the front member and the backing member. 
     The invention also provides a method of displaying artwork, the method comprised of the steps of providing a mounting surface, providing artwork, providing a picture frame assembly comprised of: a frame member having a front surface and a rear surface divided by a perimeter edge, the frame member adapted to receive and retain a transparent member; a backing member having a display surface and a rear surface separated by a side edge, the rear surface having mounting means for mounting on a mounting surface; and attachment means for removably attaching the front member and the backing member. The method further comprises the steps of mounting the backing member to a mounting surface, attaching the artwork to the display surface, and attaching the frame member to the backing member to yield a framed, mounted picture frame assembly 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view of the frame member of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the back member of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the assembled frame assembly of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the attachment means of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the attachment means of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate alternative embodiments of the attachment means of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This application incorporates U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/414,111 herein by reference. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1–7 , the picture frame assembly  10  is comprised of a frame member  20  and a backing member  30 . The frame member  20  has a front surface  22  and a rear surface  24  separated by a perimeter edge  26 , and is adapted to securely receive and retain a transparent member  40  using means known to those skilled in the art of framing. By way of non-limiting example, exemplary transparent member receiving and retaining means include grooves, slots, tabs, adhesives, and frictional fitting. The transparent member may be any transparent rigid or semi-rigid material, but is preferably glass, plexiglass, plastic, vinyl, acrylics, polymers, or safety glass. 
     As further described herein, the frame member  20  further includes attachment means  50  for removably engaging the backing member  30 . The attachment means are of the type that provide for secure yet removable attachment of the frame member  20  to the backing member  40 . Preferably selected from the group consisting of protruding edges, spring retainers, clips, spring loaded ball devices, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and combinations thereof. 
     Preferably, the picture frame assembly  10  further includes matting  42 . The matting  42  may be adhered to the transparent member  40 , such as by transparent adhesive or electrostatic force, may be painted or stenciled onto the transparent member  40 . Alternatively, the matting  42  may be a separate planar sheet that can simply be removably positioned under the transparent member  40  and over the displayed artwork  44 . 
     The backing member  30  includes a display surface  32  for the artwork, side edges  34  for engaging the frame member  20 , and a rear surface  36  that includes mounting means  38  for attachment to a surface. The mounting means  38  can be any known removable picture mounting means, such as but not limited to sawtooth hangers, braided wire, mounting holes for receiving screws or nails, picture hangers and the like. Preferably, the mounting means is provided as a plurality of mounting holes which protrude through the rear surface  36  to the display surface  32 , and are adapted to receive screws or bolts for secure semi-permanent attachment to the mounting surface. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in this preferred embodiment, the mounting holes include an enlarged recessed portion that enables the user to more easily locate the desired hole location on the mounting surface. The recessed area also ensures a smooth display surface  32  by preventing the screws or picture mounting means from protruding above the display surface  32 . Once securely mounted in this manner, the backing member  30  provides a secure and sturdy receiving apparatus for the displayed artwork and for the frame member  20 . This mounting assembly avoids unintended displacement from the wall, making it particularly suitable for use by children, elderly adults, and disabled persons. This embodiment of the invention has been found particularly useful for display of school-related artwork and report cards by children, since it allows frequent changing of the artwork without the need for adult assistance. 
     The picture frame assembly  10  of the present invention is provided in several embodiments. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1–3 , the picture frame  10  is rectangular and includes a frame member  20  adapted to receive and retain a transparent member, such as by frictional fit, slots, grooves, or other framing means and methods known in the art. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1–3 , the frame member  20  has a rear surface  24  with protruding edges  52  provided as attachment means  50  on at least two adjacent sides of the frame member  20 . Preferably, the protruding edges  52  are included on the top side of the frame member and on one adjacent side. In this embodiment, the corresponding backing member  30  includes means for spacing the rear surface  36  from the wall or other desired mounting surface. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1–3 , the means for spacing is shown as a planar mounting block  60  that also contains the mounting means  38 . However, any spacing means can be used in combination with any mounting means  38  known in the art, so long as the side edges  34  of the back member  30  remain sufficiently spaced away from the mounting surface and unobstructed upon mounting of the back member  30  to the wall or other mounting surface. This arrangement allows the frame member  20  to be mounted onto the back member  30  by sliding the protruding edges  52  of the frame member  20  over the side edges  34  or the backing member. This is preferably accomplished by first sliding the protruding edge  52  at the top of the frame member  20  over the top side edge  34  of the backing member  30 , then sliding the frame member along the backing member  30  horizontally (i.e in a direction parallel with the top side edge  34 ) until the adjacent protruding edge  52  engages the side edge  34  of the backing member  30 . 
     The protruding edge attachment means  52  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  can be provided in a number of ways. The protruding edge  52  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  may be formed as an integral feature of the frame, such as during extrusion of an aluminum frame, or may be affixed after forming the frame member  20 , such as by affixing a thin longitudinal strip of rigid material to the rear surface  24  by glue, staples, nails, screws, or other attachment means in a manner that leaves a protruding edge  52 . 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the attachment means  50  are comprised of at least one spring retainer clip  56  that is preferably affixed to the frame member  20  and disposed so as to engage the side edge  34  or rear surface  36  of the backing member  30 . Alternatively, as further shown in  FIG. 6 , the attachment means  50  may be provided as a spring loaded ball retainer  54  disposed so as to engage the side edge  34  or rear surface  36  of the backing member  30 . In yet another embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the attachment means  50  is comprised of opposite pole magnets  58  opposably mounted on the frame member  20  and backing member  30  and adapted so as to removeably engage the frame member  20  and backing member  30 . Alternatively, the attachment means may be a combination of at least one magnet  58  located on the frame member  20  and at least one corresponding steel surface provided on the backing member  30 . In any embodiment, any combination of different attachment means  50  may be provided to removably engage the frame member  20  and backing member  30  to form a complete frame assembly  10 . Additionally, the mounting means  38  used in these alternative embodiments can be selected so as to allow the minimum necessary spacing away from the mounting surface to allow engagement of the frame member  20  and backing member  30 . 
     Another feature of the present invention is a novel artwork retaining means that holds the artwork in place while assembling the frame assembly  10  and during use of the frame assembly  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the artwork retaining means is comprised of at least one elastic member  72 . Preferably, the artwork retaining means is comprised of two elastic members  72  in parallel orientation with each other. Preferably, the elastic members  72  are attached to the backing member  30 , and are stretched across the artwork display surface  32  of the backing member  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the display surface  32  further includes a groove  74  in the surface  32  that runs under each elastic member  72 . The groove  74  acts to retain the elastic members in the desired orientation across the display surface  32 . The groove  74  may further include a raised portion  75 , preferably in the longitudinal center of the groove  74 , which allows a user to easily grasp and lift the elastic member  72  from the surface  32 , rather than having to pick the elastic member  72  from within the groove  74 . Preferably, the elastic members  72  and grooves  74  are spaced sufficiently far apart so as to be hidden from view by matting  42  or by the frame member  20  when the frame assembly  10  is fully assembled. Other artwork retaining means include, but are not limited to tack sheets, tack spray, release tape, and other non-permanent adhesive means. 
     The present invention further includes methods for displaying artwork. The methods comprise the steps of: determining the desired position of the picture frame on the mounting surface, contacting the back member  30  against the surface in a level position, marking the location of mounting means  38  on the surface through pre-drilled holes in the back member  30 , placing a cupped washer or other retainer onto at least one screw, inserting each screw through a pre-drilled hole  38  in the back member  30  and into the surface, and tightening the screws until the backing member  30  or mounting means such as a mounting block  60  is secured against the mounting surface. The method further includes inserting artwork under the elastic bands  72  on the back member  30 , and removeably engaging the frame  20  member to the backing member  30  to securely sandwich the artwork into the assembled frame. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.