Patent Publication Number: US-9427098-B2

Title: System and method for rotatably mounting a picture frame

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/969,888 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 25, 2014, the entire disclosure and drawings of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE EFS-WEB 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not applicable. 
     SEQUENCE LISTING 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to devices for securing objects onto supporting surfaces, and more particularly, to a system and method for rotatably mounting a picture frame assembly to a wall surface for displaying decorative or functional objects or content. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A picture frame is a structure that houses viewable content such as artwork or photographs for display purposes and/or to provide protection to the content. Although picture frames are often rectangular, they can come in a broad range of shapes and sizes, as well as materials. Picture frames are often mounted on a supporting surface such as a wall. 
     Typically, viewable content is placed within a picture frame by loading it through the back of the frame. To insert content, the frame backing is first unfastened. The backing is removed and content is inserted within the frame. The backing is then refastened and holds the content in place. 
     Frequent replacement of viewable content can degrade the durability of such picture frames over time. It may be necessary to detach the picture frame from a supporting surface to allow access to the back to change the content. Overtime, fasteners on the picture frame used to hold the backing and content in place can weaken or break. Furthermore, frequent replacement of content within a picture frame can damage the content itself. 
     To facilitate more convenient changing of viewable content, picture frames with front-loading processes have become more common in recent years. Snap-frames (U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,026) are an example of such framing systems, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     There are a number of different ways to mount a picture frame to a supporting surface. For example, one common technique is to attach a bracket to the rear of the picture frame. The bracket is then hung on a supporting surface by using a fastener, such as a nail or hook. Another technique is to string a wire across the rear of the picture frame. The wire is then hung on a fastener that is connected to the supporting surface. 
     Such mounting systems reduce the advantages of front-loading picture frames. A front-loading process may obviate the need to remove the picture frame from the supporting surface to change the content. If the new content is to be viewed from a different orientation than the previous content such as horizontally or vertically, however, then the picture frame must still be removed from the supporting surface and reoriented appropriately. 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mounting system and method for rotatably connecting an object to a supporting structure for decoratively or functionally displaying objects or content. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting system having means for connecting two interengageable parts, including a wall mount and object anchor, which allow for 360° rotation of the object about the wall mount. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting system for displaying art, photography and documents within a frame assembly. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mounting system having a frame assembly capable of being loaded from the front or side for easily interchanging art, photography and documents while mounted to a wall surface. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting system capable of easily adjusting the orientation of the object or frame assembly to any degree desired including, but not limited to, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 360°. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting system capable of providing a quick release for quickly separating the picture frame from the supporting surface. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting system whereby the frame assembly can quickly and easily be rotated between a horizontal and vertical orientation while still being mounted on the wall surface. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system for mounting a surface of an object to a supporting surface is provided. The system includes a mount having a base connected to the supporting surface. The mount has a female conduit having an inner surface and an aperture extending in a longitudinal direction. An anchor is integrally connected to the surface of the object. An anchor has a base integrally connected to the surface of the object. The anchor has a central axis, a male conduit extending outwardly from the base, a pin having a longitudinal axis extending from the male conduit and configured to be inserted into the aperture of the female conduit along the longitudinal direction. The system includes means for mating the conduits in a rotatable relationship. 
     The means for mating the conduits may include a ball bearing assembly disposed on an outer surface of the male conduit and a circumferential groove disposed in the inner surface of the female conduit, such that the ball bearings are adapted for being received within the groove of the female conduit for providing 360° rotation of the object about the central axis. 
     The object may be a side-loaded picture frame, front-loaded picture frame or snap frame. 
     The object may maintain its central axis while rotatable about the mount on the supporting surface. 
     In accordance with an additional embodiment a mounting system for displaying viewable content on a supporting surface is provided having a frame assembly including a backing, a frame, means for securing the viewable content between the backing and the frame, and means for removing and replacing viewable content. The system includes a mount removably connected to the supporting surface. The mount having an outer conduit having an inner surface, an aperture extending in a longitudinal direction, and a circumferential groove disposed within the inner surface of the outer conduit. The system includes an anchor integrally connected to the backing of the frame assembly. The anchor has a central axis. The anchor has an inner conduit and a spring-loaded pin having a longitudinal axis and extending from the inner conduit and configured to be inserted into the aperture of the outer conduit of the mount along the longitudinal direction. The system includes means for connecting the anchor and mount in a rotatable relationship about the central axis, wherein the backing of the frame assembly is proximate to the supporting surface. 
     The means for mating the conduits may include a ball bearing assembly disposed on the outer surface of the inner conduit and a circumferential groove disposed in the inner surface of the outer conduit, such that the ball bearings are adapted for being received within the groove of the outer conduit for providing 360° rotation of the frame assembly about the central axis. 
     The anchor may be adapted to secure the backing of the frame assembly to the mount about the central axis. 
     The spring-loaded pin of the outer conduit may be flush with the backing of the frame assembly when the anchor is connected to the mount. 
     The means for removing and replacing viewable content includes a side-loading frame, front-loading frame, or snap frame. 
     In accordance with an additional embodiment a mounting system is provided comprising a supporting surface, an object having a backing, and means for detachably connecting the backing of the object to the supporting surface. The connecting means comprising first and second interengageable parts, the first part being attached to one of the supporting surface and the backing of the object and comprising an inner male conduit having a spring-loaded pin extending outwardly in a longitudinal direction. The inner conduit comprises a ball bearing assembly. The second part being attached to the other of the surface and the object. The second part comprising an outer female conduit having an aperture and at least one circumferential groove correspondingly shaped with the ball bearing assembly, wherein the pin is adapted to be received within the aperture to connect the object and the surface in close proximity, wherein the interengageable parts connect in a rotatable relationship. 
     The supporting surface may be a wall. The object may be a picture frame. The picture frame may be from the group consisting of side-loading, front-loading and snap fitting. The connecting means may be a swivel joint. 
     In accordance with an additional embodiment a method of displaying viewable content within a frame assembly on a supporting surface is provided. The steps first comprise securing a base of a mount having a female conduit to the supporting surface. Then, providing a frame with a backing having an anchor integrated within the backing, and having a male conduit having a central axis. Next, connecting the anchor to the mount by mating the conduits in a rotatably relationship. Then, loading the viewable content between the backing and the frame, and rotating the frame about the central axis until a desired orientation is obtained. 
     The method may further comprise unloading viewable content from the frame, and reloading new viewable content within the frame while the anchor is secured to the mount. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a system and method for rotatably mounting a picture frame assembly to a wall surface as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front and top of a system for mounting an object to a supporting surface, showing first and second interengageable parts in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front and bottom of the system for mounting an object to a supporting surface, showing first and second interengageable parts in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the mounting system, showing the top of the second engageable part or object anchor; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the mounting system, showing the bottom of the first engageable part or wall mount; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the mounting system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded plan view of the mounting system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded diagrammatic view of the mounting system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded diagrammatic view of the mounting system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the mounting system connected to a backing of a frame assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the mounting system connected to the backing of the frame assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded side view of the mounting system, frame assembly, and wall surface in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting system and frame assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of the frame assembly mounted to the wall surface via the mounting system for displaying content in a landscape orientation; and 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the frame assembly mounted to the wall surface via the mounting system for displaying content in a portrait orientation. 
     
    
    
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system and method for rotatably mounting an object to a supporting surface. In its broadest context, the mounting system  10  includes interengageable parts including a first engageable part  12  for attachment to a supporting surface  14 , and a second engageable part  16  configured for attachment to an object  18 . 
     In the present embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1-16 , the first engageable part  12  is a wall mount and the second engageable part  16  is an object anchor. In alternate embodiments, the interengageable parts are interchangeable, such that first engageable part may be the object anchor attached to the object and the second engageable part may be the wall mount attached to the supporting surface. 
       FIGS. 1-7  illustrate the object anchor  16 , which includes a central axis  20 . The wall mount  12  and object anchor  16  interengageably connect, preferably via a swivel joint, to provide 360° rotation of the object  18  about the central axis  20  while preventing axial movement. In the preferred embodiment, the supporting surface  14  is a wall surface, and the object  18  is a frame assembly for displaying viewable content including art, photography, and documents. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate the wall mount  12 , which includes an integrally connected tubular outer female conduit  60  connected to a base  62 . The base  62  includes a plurality of holes  23  for connecting using a screw, nail, adhesive, other like fastener, the base to the wall surface, or in alternate embodiments the object. The outer conduit  60  includes an aperture  64 , which extends in a longitudinal direction  66 . The outer conduit  60  has an inner surface  68 . A circumferential groove  70  is formed on the inner surface  68  of the outer conduit  60 . The groove  70  is complimentary to the ball bearings  44  formed on the outer surface  26  of the inner conduit  24 . 
     The object anchor  16  includes a base  22  and a tubular inner male conduit  24  extending outwardly from the base  22 . The inner conduit  24  has an outer surface  26  having a plurality of openings  28 . A spring-loaded pin  30  having a longitudinal axis  32  extends from the inner conduit  24 . The inner conduit includes a ball bearing assembly  40  comprising a ring  42  and a plurality of spring-loaded ball bearings  44  adapted to be received through the holes  28  of the inner conduit  24  and held in position about a channel  42 A defined by the ring  42  and inner surface  24 A of the conduit  24 . Preferably, the ball bearings  44  are oppositely or even spaced within the channel  42 A about the inner conduit. 
       FIGS. 10, 11 and 14  illustrate the object anchor  16  integrally coupled to the object  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the object  18  is a frame assembly  50  having a backing  52 . The object anchor  16  is integrally coupled within the backing  52  for providing 360° rotation of the assembly about the central axis  20  of the anchor. In other embodiments, the object anchor  16  may be integrated within the object at various other locations along a variety of alternate positions or axis&#39;s as selectively desired. 
     In the preferred embodiment, shown in  FIG. 13 , the object anchor  16  is integrated within the backing  52  of the assembly in a substantially flush manner, such that the backing of the assembly is substantially adjacent the wall surface when mounted. 
       FIGS. 12-14  illustrate the system  10  in position for assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment, where the object anchor  16  is interengageably connected to the wall mount  12 . First, the frame assembly  50  is positioned with the backing  52  of the frame  56  facing the wall surface  12 . Next, the central axis  20  of the object anchor  16  is aligned with the outer conduit  60  of the wall mount  12 . Then, the pin  30  of the inner conduit  24  is inserted within the aperture of the outer conduit  60 , such that the inner and outer conduits  24 ,  60  begin to come together. The inner conduit  24  slides, snaps or fits partially within the outer conduit  60 , stopped only by the outwardly extending ball bearings  44 . Next, the pin  30  is depressed within the inner conduit  24 , thereby retracting the ball bearings  44  within the holes  28  of the ball bearing assembly  40 , such that the inner conduit  24  can fully slide into the outer conduit  60 . Once the inner and outer conduits  24 ,  60  are completely coupled together, the ball bearings  44  are released to extend from the holes  28  and are received within the circumferential groove  70  of the outer conduit  60 , and a snug and secure connection is obtained. 
     The frame assembly  50 , illustrated in  FIGS. 14-16 , is then used to display viewable content including art, objects, items, photography, and documents. The framing assembly  50  includes a frame  56  that allows content to be loaded and unloaded via the front or side, while the assembly  50  remains mounted to the supporting or wall surface  14 . In particular, the frame assembly  50  can be opened and content can be accessed by flipping open the perimeter of the frame  56 . The orientation of the object or frame assembly  50  may be adjusted about the central axis  20  of the anchor  16 , while the frame assembly  50  is mounted on the wall surface  14 . This allows the frame assembly  50  to be rotated 360° so content may be viewed in varying orientations as desired (for example, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 360°, etc.).  FIG. 15  illustrates the frame assembly  50  in a landscape orientation, while  FIG. 16  illustrates the frame assembly  50  in a portrait orientation. 
     To quickly release the object  18  from the wall surface  14 , and disengage the inner and outer conduits  24 ,  60 , the pin  30  is first depressed to retract the ball bearings  44  within the inner conduit  24 . The outer conduit  60  is then able to disengage and come apart or slide off of the inner conduit  24 . 
     The coupling of the anchor  16  and wall mount  12  in the present mounting system  10  uniquely allows the back of the object  18  to rest adjacent the wall surface without a void or other space, which is an inherent disadvantage with other mounting systems. 
     Various other connecting means are contemplated including means for connecting, attaching or adhering the conduits together. 
     It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention. 
     While only one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations, which fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.