Patent Abstract:
A graphic receiving frame assembly for permitting the display of that frame assembly on a front flat surface with multiple display panels individually received therein. The frame assembly comprises an arrangement of multiple graphic display receiving support rails connected to at least one loading rail. The rails are joined by an “L” shaped connector at the outer corners thereof, wherein at least one internal rail is connected between the support rails so as to define a plurality of rails to peripherally support a plurality of display panels within the frame assembly. The support rails and the internal rail each have extensive support flanges for supportive guided receipt of a graphic display panel.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to elongated frame members and more particularly to a four sided frame structure which includes a central member which permits the structure to be divided into multiple display panes, and is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending application serial number 12/(Rose-39) and of design application Ser. No. 29/349,668, filed 20 th  of April 2010 each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Slide in sign frames generally come in two types. One type may be a double-sided sign or graphic arrangement by which the sign may be displayed on both sides thereof and suspended from a ceiling or held up by a post or other rigid support. The other type of sign would be a one-sided sign which would be placed against a flat surface such as a wall, a fixture, a cabinet or other surface for single sided viewing. Such single sided frame arrangements typically utilize the same frame as two-sided viewing, which usually has a symmetrical shape and is not ideal for permanent mounting. Changing the signs in these frames is difficult because they are designed for changing signs with access to both sides of the frame. Further, multiple graphics may be desired the use of which takes advantage of the ease of display change capabilities. 
         [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame arrangement which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0004]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a frame arrangement which may readily mate against a flat surface while still readily permitting a graphic exchange. 
         [0005]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a frame arrangement which may display multiple graphics within a common outer frame. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention comprises a unique frame assembly for presenting a plurality of graphic display panels therewithin. The frame assembly comprises an elongated outer support rail on at least two sides thereof, and at least one loading rail. In one embodiment, a pair of elongated support rails is connected linearly to one another at a third edge thereof. Each support rail is also connected at their respective other end to its neighboring side rail by an L-shaped bracket inserted therebetween. The fourth side of the frame assembly comprises a pair of linearly connected elongated loading rails. The pair of loading rails are connected at their adjacent ends to the side branches of a T-shaped connector bracket. The opposing outer support rails of the frame assembly are similarly joined at their adjacent ends to the side branches of a similar T-shaped connector bracket. 
         [0007]    The frame assembly is divided into multiple panes by an internal rail, each end of which is connected to the stem of the respective T-shaped brackets which mate the loading rails and the outer support rails together. 
         [0008]    Each elongated outer support rail comprises an elongated front face of generally C shaped configuration in cross section. The front face has a linear front leg. The front face has a rear edge which extends into a generally L-shaped rear leg. A front wall and a rear wall extend inwardly from the front face, and is co-formed with an inside bridge connecting the front wall and the rear wall therewithin. An elongated central connector web extends from a lower side of the inside bridge and is coextruded with an elongated extended flange. The extended flange is generally parallel to the plane of the inside bridge. The elongated central connector web which connects the inside bridge to be extended flange is preferably parallel to the L shaped rear edge of the front face. The extended flange has an elongated first edge which extends distally beyond the front edge or leg of the front face of the support bracket or rail. An elongated central passageway is disposed on the inside edge of the front face and the inside bridge, and the front wall and the rear wall, so as to form a corner bracket receiving channel. 
         [0009]    Each of the loading rails which extend across the uppermost edge of the four sided frame assembly comprises an elongated front face of, for example, generally “C” shape in cross section. A front wall and a rear wall extend inwardly away from the curved front face and are connected to one another by an inside bridge, generally similar to the outer support bracket or rail described herein above. The elongated front face has an elongated front edge and elongated rear edge which define the outer side parameters thereof. The inside bridge and the front wall and the rear wall and the inner side of the front face defines a receiving channel for the side branches of a “T”-shaped connector bracket. 
         [0010]    The four sided frame assembly is divided into multiple panes by the four sided frame assembly having at least one elongated extruded central bracket extending thereacross. The elongated central bracket is comprised of a curvilinear outer face of generally “C” shape in cross-section, having an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge. The front face has a first wall and a second wall which are connected by an inside bridge generally similar to the loading rail or bracket described hereinabove. An elongated central connector is formed with the inside bridge at a mid-point thereof. 
         [0011]    The central connector has a lower edge which is formed with a first extensive flange and a second extensive flange formed therewith. The first extensive flange has a first edge which extends distally beyond the first edge of the front face of the central bracket. The second extensive flange of the central bracket has a second edge which extends distally beyond the second edge of the front face of the central bracket. The first and second walls and the inside bridge arranged on the inner side of the front face of the connector bracket form a connector bracket receiving channel. The connector bracket receiving channel of the elongated central bracket is arranged to receive the inwardly directed stem components of the “T”-shaped connector brackets connecting the upper loading rails or brackets and the elongated lower support rails. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the extended flanges of the side support rails end of the lower edge support rails may have an adhesive coating to their lowermost surfaces, so that the four sided frame assembly may be adhesively joined in a more or less permanent manner, to a wall or display arrangement as needed. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the extended flanges of the side and lower support rails or brackets may have holes for threaded attachment members into a wall or display support, as needed. 
         [0013]    The invention thus comprises in one aspect thereof, a four sided graphic receiving frame assembly for permitting the display of that frame assembly on a front flat surface with multiple display panels individually received therein. The frame assembly comprises a rectilinear arrangement of multiple graphic display receiving support rails connected to a horizontally disposed loading rail arrangement, the rails joined by an “L” shaped connector at corners thereof. 
         [0014]    A central bracket arrangement is connected between the support rails so as to define a plurality of display panels within the frame assembly, the support rails and the central bracket arrangement each having extensive flanges for guided receipt of a graphic display panel. Each support rail has a front face and has a first edge thereon wherein the extensive flanges extended distally beyond the first edge of the front face. 
         [0015]    The invention also comprises a graphic receiving this frame assembly wherein the support rails have a frame enhancing outer edge. The frame enhancing outer edge is of “L” shape in cross shape. The at least one internal rail preferably has a pair of graphic display restraining outer edges. The at least one internal rail has an outer face of, for example, generally “C” shape. The support rails and the at least one internal rail have a connector bracket receiving channel extending longitudinally therethrough. The loading rail comprises a curvilinearly-shaped in cross-section front face and a connector bracket receiving channel defined by an elongated front wall and an elongated rear wall joined by an elongated bridge member. 
         [0016]    A graphic receiving frame assembly for permitting the display of that frame assembly on a front flat surface with multiple display panels individually received therein, the frame assembly comprising: a plurality of graphic display receiving outer support rails connected to at least one loading rail, the rails joined by an “L” shaped connector at outer corners thereof, the outer support rails having an inwardly directed graphic display support flange; at least one internal rail connected between the support rails so as to define a plurality of display panels within the frame assembly, the at least one internal rail having a pair of parallel, oppositely extending graphic display support flanges for supportive guided receipt of at least a pair of graphic display panels received between the outer support rails and the at least one internal rail. 
         [0017]    A graphic display disposed in a particular pane within the frame assembly, is hence supported on its rear or back side by flanges extending beyond the distal outer edge of its respective front face, on three sides of that graphic display, and is open to a wall space on its pane loading side. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the four sided frame assembly constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of an elongated side or lower edge support rail or bracket; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the elongated support rail used for the sides and lower portions of the frame assembly of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the elongated extruded loading rail or bracket; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the elongated central bracket which divides the four sided frame assembly into multiple panes therewithin; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the elongated central bracket displayed in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a corner connector for connecting adjacent rails together in a corner of the frame assembly; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a “T” shaped connector for connecting three rails together; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an “X” shaped connector for connecting at least four rails together at a common point. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the present invention, which comprises a unique frame assembly  10  for presenting a plurality of peripherally supported graphic display panels “G” therewithin. The display panels “G” are represented as being manually displacable/replacable by the arrows “M” shown thereadjacent. The frame assembly  10 , of four sided configuration shown here, comprises at least one elongated outer (side) support rail  12  at opposite parallel sides thereof, and a pair of elongated (lower) outer support rails  14  connected linearly to one another at a third edge thereof, as represented in  FIG. 1 , by a “T” shaped connector bracket  22 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Each bottom support rail  14  is also connected at their respective other end to its neighboring side rail  12  by an “L” shaped bracket  16  connectively inserted therebetween, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The fourth or upper side of the frame assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , is comprised of a pair of linearly connected elongated loading rails  18 , in one aspect of the present invention, arranged along the upper or top edge as represented in the figures. Such loading rails  18 , may in other embodiments, (not shown for clarity of the figures), be arranged as side rails or an inner rail. In one preferred embodiment, the loading rails  18  are connected to their respective outer support rails  12 , by those “L” shaped connector brackets  16 , as well. The linear pair of loading rails  18  are connected at their adjacent ends to the side branches  20  of a “T”-shaped connector bracket  22 . The outer support rails or brackets  14  of the frame assembly  10  are similarly joined at their adjacent ends to the side branches  20  of a similar T-shaped connector bracket  22 . 
         [0029]    The frame assembly  10  is divided into multiple (at least two) panes “A” and “B”, by one or more internal rails  26 , each end of which is connected to the stem  28  of the respective T-shaped brackets  22  which mate the loading rails  18  and the lower support rails  14  together. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the frame assembly  10  may be divided into four or more panes, not shown for clarity, with the rails intersecting being connecting together by an “X” shaped bracket  25 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0030]    Each elongated outer rail  12  and outer rail  14  comprise an extruded elongated “outwardly facing” front face  30  of generally “C” shaped configuration in cross section, as commonly represented in  FIG. 2 . The front face  30  has a linearly extending display restraining front edge  32  as shown best in  FIG. 2A . The front face  30  has a frame enhancing rear edge  34  which extends into a generally L-shaped rear leg  36 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2A . The front face  30  is represented as “C” shaped, but in other aspects of this invention, could be of rectilinear or any other desired configuration, (not shown for clarity of viewing). A front wall  38  and a rear wall  40  extend inwardly from the front face  30 , and is/are co-formed with an inside bridge  42  connecting the front  38  wall and the rear wall  40  therewithin. An elongated central connector web  44  extends from a lower side of the inside bridge  42  and is coextruded with an elongated extended support flange  46 . The extended support flange  46  is generally parallel to the plane of the inside bridge  42 . The elongated central connector web  44  which connects the inside bridge  42  to be extended support flange  46  is preferably parallel to the “L” shaped rear edge  36  of the front face  30 . The extended support flange  46  has an elongated first edge  48  which extends distally beyond the front edge  32  of the front face  30  of the support bracket or rail  12 / 14 . 
         [0031]    An elongated central passageway  50  is disposed between the inside portion of the front face  30  and the inside bridge  42 , and the front wall  38  and the rear wall  40 , so that passageway  50  forms a corner bracket receiving channel for engagingly receiving the legs  16 A of the connector bracket  16  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0032]    The loading rails  18  which extend across the uppermost edge of the four sided frame assembly  10 , comprises an elongated front face  60  of generally “C” shape in cross section, as shown in  FIG. 3 . A front wall  62  and a rear wall  64  extend inwardly away from the curved front face  60  and are connected to one another by an inside bridge  66 , generally similar to the outer support bracket or rail  12 / 14  described hereinabove. The inside bridge  66  is, (when the rails are fully assembled into the frame assembly  10 ), displaced from or spaced apart from the wall “W”, as represented in  FIG. 3 , so as to permit a graphic “G” to be inserted/removed between the bridge  66  of the loading rail  18  and the wall “W”. 
         [0033]    The elongated front face  60  has an elongated front edge  68  and elongated rear edge  70  which define the outer side parameters thereof. The inside bridge  66  and the front wall  62  and the rear wall  64  and the inner side of the front face  60  defines a receiving channel  72  for connectively receiving the linearly aligned side branches  20  of the T-shaped connector bracket  22 , which is shown in  FIG. 7 . The graphic display “G” being inserted/remover between the loading rail  18  and the wall “W”, as represented in  FIG. 3 . The loading rail  18  may be disposed at an upper portion of the assembly  10  as represented in  FIG. 1 , or the loading rail(s)  18  may be at a right or left side of the frame assembly  10 , or alternatively, along an internal portion of the assembly  10 . 
         [0034]    The four sided frame assembly  10  is divided into multiple panes (A&amp;B) by the four sided frame assembly  10  having at least one elongated internal rail  26  extending thereacross, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The elongated internal rail  26 , shown in cross-section in  FIG. 5  and shown in perspective in  FIG. 4 , is comprised of a curvilinear outer front face  80  of generally “C” shape in cross-section, having an elongated graphic-display-restraining first edge  82  and an elongated graphic-display-restraining second edge  84 . The front face  80  has a first wall  86  and a second wall  88  which are connected by an inside bridge  90  generally similar to the loading rail or bracket  18  described hereinabove. An elongated central connector web  92  is formed with the inside bridge  90  at a mid-point thereof. The central connector web  92  has a lower edge  94  which is commonly formed into an inverted “T” shape, as shown in  FIG. 5 , with a first extensive flange  96  and a second extensive flange  98  formed therewith. The first extensive flange  96  has a first edge  100  which extends graphic display supportively distally beyond the first edge  82  of the front face  80  of the central bracket  26  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The second extensive flange  98  of the internal rail  26  has a second edge  102  which extends graphic display supportively distally beyond the second edge  84  of the front face  80  of the internal rail  26 . 
         [0035]    The first and second walls  86  and  88  and the inside bridge  90  arranged on the inner side of the front face  80  of the internal rail  26  form a connector bracket receiving channel  106 . The connector bracket receiving channel  106  of the elongated internal rail  26  is arranged to receive the inwardly directed stem components  28  of the T-shaped connector brackets  22 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , or for receiving a leg  25 A of an X shaped connector brackets, as shown in  FIG. 8  in other configurations, not shown for clarity, connecting the upper loading rails or brackets  18  and the elongated lower support rails  14 . 
         [0036]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the extended flanges of the side support rails end of the lower edge support rails may have an adhesive coating “S” to their lowermost surfaces, as represented in  FIG. 2 , so that the four sided frame assembly may be adhesively joined in a more or less permanent manner, to a wall or display arrangement “W” as needed, and as represented in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, the extended flanges  46  of the side and lower support rails and or brackets  12  and  14  may have holes  110  for threaded attachment members into a wall or display support “W”, as needed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6