Abstract:
An interconnecting frame assembly including a picture frame body supported by a hanging rail. A protrusion on the frame body slideably engages a recessed area on the hanging rail so that the rail supports the frame body. Each frame body contains a male protrusion and a female recessed area to permit a second frame body to slideably engage the first picture frame body This configuration allows multiple picture frame bodies to be attached together while being supported by the rail.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a picture frame assembly in which multiple picture frames can be interlocked in various configurations and suspended from a hanging rail for display on a wall.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Many picture frames are made to display photographs on walls. However, it is often time consuming and difficult to individually mount a collection of pictures in a desired array. As used herein, a picture frame assembly is defined as a collection of two or more framed pictures joined together in a composite group either for mounting purposes or for aesthetic appearance.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,863 to Harvey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,397 to Hesener, U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,393 to Parrilia, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,938 to Belmuth each show modular frames that may be connected to other frames. A separate connection piece is required to bridge the gap between the individual modular frames. Harvey and Hesener both teach using a tongue that snaps into a corresponding groove to connect the frames. Parrilla teaches using an interconnecting strip to attach to a groove that extends along the edge of each modular frame. Belmuth uses a clip that attaches to the lip on the back of each frame. If this connection piece becomes lost or misplaced, adding another picture frame to the assemblage becomes impossible. Additionally, these additional components add to the overall cost of the frame and assembly becomes more complex.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,240 to Zilliox teaches a frame assembly resembling jigsaw puzzle pieces. These frames can be connected without using a third piece; however, smooth sides on the frame edge cannot be achieved. The lack of smooth edges can detract from the overall appearance of the frame assembly making the frame assembly less desirable.  
           [0005]    Frame assemblies that snap together are also known in the art. Harvey teaches a modular frame unit wherein the top portion snaps on to the bottom portion with a transparent piece sandwiched between the two. However, the Harvey frame assembly requires three pieces making assembly more cumbersome. Furthermore, manufacturing costs are significantly higher.  
           [0006]    The present invention is designed to overcome these disadvantages by providing an interlocking frame assembly with minimal parts to allow the user to display pictures in various configurations.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention relates to a picture frame assembly where one or more picture frames can be interlocked and suspended from a hanging rail. Each picture frame contains a frame body that includes a front wall, a bottom wall, a top wall, and a pair of sidewalls. The bottom wall contains a recessed area extending along its length and the top wall contains a protrusion extending along its length. When connecting multiple frame bodies together, the first frame top wall protrusion slideably engages the bottom wall recessed area on the second frame so as to interlock the frames together. When interlocked together, the recessed area conceals the protrusion of the second frame so as to display smooth and straight faceplate edges on the picture frame assembly.  
           [0008]    Each frame body contains a removable and clear faceplate to protect the pictures while the faceplate is installed on the frame body. The faceplate contains a top surface and two spaced apart and parallel sidewalls to overlay and cover the frame body. Each sidewall on the cover contains a ridge to engage a sidewall slot located on each frame body sidewall. Thus, when the cover is placed over the frame body the cover remains stationary to hold the picture on the frame body.  
           [0009]    A hanging rail is attached to a vertical surface such as a wall and is used to support one or more of the picture frames. The hanging rail includes a base portion having openings so that a screw or nail can be used to attach the rail to the wall. The rail further includes a lip having a recessed area to receive the rear wall protrusion of the frame body so as to support the frames on the wall.  
           [0010]    The present configuration allows the user to connect multiple picture frames with ease while allowing the user to change both the position and the number of pictures in the assemblage. This assemblage can display any manner of pictures, such as photographs, paintings, prints and the like. When the frames are attached and suspended from the support member, each frame has a clean straight edge to add to the aesthetic appearance. Each frame is connected in such a way that the connection points are not visible from the front or the rear of the assemblage.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a picture frame in sliding engagement with the support rail.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the picture frame illustrating the faceplate, frame body, mat and picture.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a section view of the picture frame taken along the line  3 - 3  in FIG. 2 illustrating the connection of the faceplate to the frame body.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame body.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a side view of the hanging rail of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 illustrates multiple picture frames supported by the hanging rail.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a picture frame  10  and a hanging rail  12  can be seen. Picture frame  10  comprises a frame body  14  and a faceplate  16  that interlock together in order to secure a mat  17  and a picture  19 , such as a photograph, painting, print or the like.  
         [0019]    Frame body  14  comprises a front wall  18  and a top wall  20 , bottom wall  22 , and sidewalls  24  and  26  projecting rearward from the periphery of front wall  18 . Top wall  20  contains a protrusion  28  extending lengthwise along top wall  20  and bottom wall  22  contains a recess  30  extending lengthwise along bottom wall  22 . Recess  30  is sized to receive protrusion  28  from a second and similarly configured frame body (not shown). Protrusion  28  and recess  30  are configured such that the two are slideably engageable along one axis and supported on a second axis normal to the slideably engageable axis. Once protrusion  28  is fitted inside recess  30 , protrusion  28  is concealed and out of view. Furthermore, when protrusion  28  is connected and mounted inside recess  30 , a smooth and straight connection surface  31  results (FIG. 6). Protrusion  28  may alternatively include a series of shorter segments positioned along top wall  20  (not shown). Sidewalls  22  and  24  contain a groove  32  to secure faceplate  16  to frame body  14  (discussed in further detail below). Frame body  14  is constructed using a rigid material such as a metal or a moldable thermoplastic material.  
         [0020]    Faceplate  16  contains a top wall  34  and two sidewalls  36  and  38  projecting rearward on opposite ends of top wall  34 . As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, sidewall  36  and  38  contain a ridge  40  to engage grooves  32  on frame body  14  (FIG. 3). This configuration interlocks frame body  14  and faceplate  16  together to prevent the plate and frame body from separating. Sidewalls  36  and  38  terminate at sidewall ends  36 ′ and  38 ′ such that when faceplate  16  interlocks with frame body  14 , recess  30  remains open ended to allow the protrusion of an additional frame body (not shown) to be connected if desired. Sidewalls  36  and  38  further contain semi-circular apertures  42  for easy removal of faceplate  16 . Other mechanisms to assist in removal of faceplate  16  may include ribs or handles (not shown) for example. Faceplate  16  is preferably fabricated from a rigid and transparent polymeric material, such as a clear acrylic.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, hanging rail  12  contains a female recess  44  sized to accept protrusion  28  in sliding engagement. Protrusion  28  and recess  44  provide unidirectional support required to hang the frames from rail  12  when the rail is mounted to a vertical surface (not shown). Lip  46  extends lengthwise along rail  12  to enclose recess  44  such that as protrusion  28  is placed into rail  12  the protrusion is concealed so that the picture frame has an aesthetically appealing connection area.  
         [0022]    To attach rail  12  to the vertical surface, rail  12  contains a plate  48  extending downward along the backside of recess  44 . Plate  48  contains openings  50  (FIG. 1) such that rail  12  can be attached to the vertical surface with nails or screws. Other methods of attachment to the wall may include using tape, pressure sensitive adhesive, VELCRO® fastener strips or the like. Rail  12  is made of a substantially rigid material such as metal or a moldable thermoplastic.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 illustrates picture frames  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d  and  10 e interconnected and hanging from rail  12 . When properly mounted, rail  12  is affixed to the vertical surface and frames  10   a  and  10   b  are attached to and suspended from the rail. As seen in FIG. 6, additional frames  10   c  and  10   d  are attached to frames  10   a  and  10   b  by slidably engaging protrusions  28  on frames  10   c  and  10   d  with recesses  30  on frames  10   a  and  10   b . Frame  10   e  is also attached in an identical fashion. While FIG. 6 illustrates five frames hanging from rail  12 , a fewer or greater number of frames can be mounted to rail  12  or to the other frames.  
         [0024]    In the embodiment illustrated, the length of the rail  12  is twice the length of each individual frame body  10   a - 10   e . When the frames are interlocked together, smooth and straight connection areas  31  can be seen with protrusion  28  on each frame body concealed.  
         [0025]    In alternate embodiments not herein shown, rail  12  may contain a protrusion extending lengthwise to replace recess  44 . Frame body  14  interlocks with rail  12  when the protrusion slidably engages recess  30  on frame body  14 . This embodiment requires an additional mounting piece having a corresponding female recess to cover the exposed male protrusion of frame body  14 . This ensures a clean and smooth bottom on the assemblage. Hanging rail  12  can optionally contain a light fixture attached thereto in order to direct light onto the frame(s). Alternatively, a nameplate can also be attached to hanging rail  12 .  
         [0026]    Other alterations and modifications of the structure and elements disclosed herein will likewise fall within the scope of the appended claims.