Patent Publication Number: US-9888791-B2

Title: Platform and double frame display hanging system

Description:
Notice is given that the following patent document contains original material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyrights. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains to wall displays or hangings, and more particularly to wall displays or hangings that include a rigid platform that may be selectively modified by the end user enabling it to be decorative outer and inner frames and a sheet of matting. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Wall displays or hangings used to display objects, such as pictures, photos, portraits, 3D printed canvas, are mounted on a rigid planar structure. Sometimes, the planar structure is surrounded by a square or rectangular outer frame. The display object is placed over the front surface of the planar structure and inside the outer frame. Sometimes a decorative sheet of matting is placed inside the outer frame that includes center opening that surrounds the display object. When used with a sheet of matting, the display object is recessed inside the center opening form in the sheet of matting. A large sheet of glass or transparent material is placed inside the outer frame that covers the sheet of matting and the display object. 
     To further enhance the appearance of the wall display or hanging, an inner frame may be mounted inside the outer frame that surrounds the display object. The inner frame is mounted centrally on the wall display or hanging and evenly spaced inward from the outer frame. 
     What is needed is an inexpensive lightweight platform for a wall display or hanging that can be selectively used with or without an outer or inner frame, and with or without a sheet of matting that can be easily attached or removed from platform. What is also needed is such a system that can be easily painted by the end user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A platform and a double frame display hanging system is shown and described that is relatively inexpensive, and can be easily modified by the end user. 
     The wall hanging system includes a lightweight, square or rectangular platform with a hollow rear cavity and a large front surface upon which a display object is placed. The platform has four perimeter side edges and clips or wires mounted on the rear cavity that allow it to be hung vertically on a wall. 
     The platform may be sold as a kit with a decorative outer frame designed to attach to the platform&#39;s four perimeter side edges. Suitable threaded connectors attach the outer frame to the outer edges of the platform&#39;s side edges. 
     The platform includes a mounting area surrounded by a gutter or curb system. A display object is placed over the mounting area. The platform kit may include an inner frame configured to attach and to cover the gutter or curb. In one embodiment, the gutter is a continuous or intermittent slot formed on four sides of the mounting area. In another embodiment, a single continuous or intermittent wall structure parallel to the gutter is formed on the platform. In still another embodiment, a continuous or intermittent double wall structure is formed on the opposite sides of the gutter. 
     A plurality of holes are formed at the inside corners of the mounting area adjacent to the gutter or the inner wall structures which receives pin connectors to hold a planar display object over the mounting area. The pin connectors may include a post and a perpendicularly aligned outer cap that presses against and holds the corner of the display object against the front surface of the platform. The posts are sufficient in length to extend through the platform and connect to a locking back member on the inside surface of the outer platform. 
     The platform kit may include a smaller, compatible inner frame configured to selectively attach to an inner frame attachment structure formed on the front surface of the platform. In another embodiment, the platform may be sold with only the inner frame and without the outer frame. 
     The inner frame attachment structure is a gutter, a single wall or double wall formed on the front surface of the platform. The inner frame is configured to snap fit into the gutter or around the single or double wall structures allowing it to be easily attached and detached to the platform. The shape and size of the inner frame are configured to surround and fits centrally inside the outer frame. The inner frame may also include an inner edge that extends over and covers the outer cap used to hold the display object on the platform. The inside edge of the inner frame may be recessed to receive the perimeter edge of the transparent panel. A transparent panel may be placed over the photograph or painting and held in position by the inner frame. 
     The above mentions kits may also include different sizes, shapes, and colors of matting with or without a pre-formed center cutout that surrounds the display object. The sheet of matting maybe pre-cut to extend across the entire front surface of platform, or pre-cut to extend only across the front surface of the platform between the inner frame. 
     In the embodiment shown, the outer frame, outer platform, and inner frame are made of ABS plastic or manufactured by a CNC machine which allows them to be painted or bonding. The outer and inner frames may be raised, flat or recessed. 
     Optional wall hanging holes may be formed on the rear surface of the platform that receives suitable connectors used with a hanging wire. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of the molded picture frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear plan view of the molded picture frame shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front plan view of the platform used in the picture frame. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, sectional side elevational view of the platform showing outer frame attached to the side edge of the platform and showing the inner frame being inserted into the inner curb. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional side elevational view showing the inner frame attachment structure as a gutter and showing an inner frame segment with an insert member that snap fits into the gutter. 
         FIGS. 6-7  are sectional views showing the inner frame attachment structure including two parallel outward extending walls separated by a slot and showing three alternative inner frame segments that attaches to the three inner frame attachments structures. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing the inner frame attachment structure including one wall attached to an alternative inner frame segments with a slot formed on its bottom surface. 
         FIG. 9  is shows a platform with the inner frame attachment system being a single gutter formed on the platform with an optional space block inserted into the gutter to form a continuous front surface on the platform over which a sheet of matting, transparent panel or the display object may be placed. 
         FIG. 10  is a front plan view of an alternative platform with an inner raised curb, an outer frame attached to the perimeter edge, an intermediated support panel with a square insert member attached to its bottom surface that attaches to the raised curb, and a sheet of matting, a transparent panel or the display. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded side elevational view of the planar insert member being attached to the platform shown in  FIG. 5  with the planar intermediate member with a downward attached planar insert that fits into the center space formed inside the inner raised curb, with a display object mounted over the front surface of the planar intermediate member. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     There is shown a wall hanging system  10  easy to assembly for hanging a display object, such as a picture, photograph, a portrait, advertising, etc, (indicated by the reference number  110 ). 
     The wall hanging system  10  includes a large square or rectangular platform  20  with four, straight perpendicularly aligned outer edges  23  (see  FIG. 3 ). Attached to the platform&#39;s four outer edges  23  is an optional decorative outer frame  50  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Suitable threaded connectors  52  may be used to attach the outer frame  50  to the outer edges  23 . Formed on the center region of the front surface  22  of the platform  20  is an inner frame attachment structure  60  discussed further below to which an inner frame  70  is selectively attached. 
     The platform  20  includes a front surface  22  and four perimeter edges  23 . Formed on the front surface  22  is a central mounting area  32 . The platform  20  includes four side walls  24  and a recessed rear cavity  26  behind the front surface  22 . The platform  20  may include a continuous or intermitted outer raised, forward extending perimeter lip  28  adjacent to the four perimeter edges  23  Formed and extending through the platform  20  is a plurality of holes  34 . The holes  34  are near the inside corners of the mounting area  32  adjacent to the inner frame attachment structure  60  discussed further below. When attaching a display object  110  to the mounting area  32 , pin connectors  82  are extended into the holes  34  to hold a planar display object  110  over the mounting area  32 . 
     Attached to the outer perimeter edge of the platform  20  is an optional outer frame  50 . In the embodiment in the  FIG. 4 , the outer frame  50  extends around the entire platform  20  and each outer frame segment  52  is sufficiently wide to partially extend over the front surface  22  adjacent to the perimeter edge  24 . Each outer frame segment  52  on the outer frame  50  may also include a L-shaped bottom surface  54  that allow the outer frame segment  52  to partially extend over the side wall  24  of the platform  20 . Suitable connectors  58  may attach the outer frame segment  52  to the side walls  24 . 
     An inner frame attachment structure  60  is formed on the front surface  22  of the platform  20 . The inner frame attachment structure  60  may be a continuous or intermittent gutter  62 , a continuous or intermittent forward extending single wall  64  or two continuous or intermittent parallel double walls  64 ,  66  with or without a gutter  62  formed between them. 
     Attached to the inner frame attachment structure  60  is an optional inner frame  70 . In the preferred embodiment, the inner frame  70  includes four inner frame segments  72  that form a square or rectangular inner frame  70  that fits inside the outer frame  50  and over the front surface  22  of the platform  20 . The widths and lengths of the inner frame segments  72  are configured so the inner frame  70  is evenly spaced apart from the outer frame  50 . 
     The profile shape of the inner frame segment  72  depends on the inner frame attachment structure  60  formed on the platform  20 . If the inner frame attachment structure  60  is a single gutter  62 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , then the inner frame segment  72  includes a downward extending insert member  74  that snap fits into the gutter  62 . If the inner frame attachment structure  60  includes one or two forward extending walls  64 ,  66  separated by a gutter  62 , then the inner frame segment  72  includes two slots  74 ,  76  and a protruding lip  78  which snaps into the gutter  62 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a platform  20  with the inner frame attachment structure  60  being a gutter  62  with a plug base  115  that fits into the gutter  62  to form a flat front surface on the platform  20  upon with a sheet of matting  100 , a display object  110  or a transparent panel  120  may be attached. 
     A plurality of holes  34  are formed at the inside corners of the mounting area  32  adjacent to the inner curb  24  which receive pin connectors  82  to hold a planar photograph  90  over the mounting area  32 . The pin connectors  82  include an outer cap  83  with a perpendicularly aligned post  84 . The posts  84  are sufficient in length to extend through the platform  20  and connect to a locking back member  85  on the rear surface  22  of the platform  20 . 
     A transparent panel  120  may be placed over the display object  110  and held in position by the inner frame  70 . 
       FIG. 10  is a front plan view of an alternative platform  20  with an inner raised curb  62 , an outer frame  50  attached to the perimeter edge, an intermediated support panel  95  with a square insert member  97  attached to its bottom surface that attaches to the raised curb  62 , and a matting  100 , a transparent panel  110  or the display  120 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the platform  20 , the outer frame  50 , and inner frame  70  may be made of ABS plastic that may be painted or bonding. The outer frame  50  and inner frame  78  may be raised, flat or recessed. Optional wall hanging cups or holes may be formed on the rear surface  22  of the platform  20  that receive suitable connectors used with a hanging wire. 
     The platform  20  may also be sold as a kit that includes not only the outer frame  50  but a smaller, compatible inner frame  70  configured to selectively attach to an inner frame attachment structure  60  formed on the front surface  22  of the platform  20 . In another embodiment, the platform  20  may be sold with only the inner frame. 
     The above mentions kits may also include different sizes, shapes, and colors of matting  110  with or without a pre-formed center cutout for the display object  120 . The matting maybe pre-cut to extend across the entire front surface of platform, or pre-cut to extend only across the front surface of the platform between the inner frame. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific on structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.