Corner piece for a frame

Abstract

The present invention relates to corner pieces which are incorporated in a frame for securing and displaying a work of art. The corner piece is adapted to be disposed between adjacent frame members thereby allowing a frame builder to adjust the dimensional allowance of the frame opening once the frame members are cut. The corner piece includes a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and a lip portion. The upper surface of the corner piece substantially corresponds to the configuration of the adjacently disposed frame members. The lip portion of the corner piece is adapted to overlay a portion of the work of art disposed within the confines of the frame. The corner piece may be provided with one or more slots disposed in the lower surface of the body member adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between the adjacently disposed frame members of the frame.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/624,584, filed Jul. 22, 2003; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/011,703, filed Dec. 4, 2001, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/450,039, filed Nov. 29, 1999, now abandoned, the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a frame and, more particularly, to corner pieces of a frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Frames which are adapted to secure and display artwork, such as paintings, photographs, prints or other similar items, are well known in the art. Frames are generally constructed of three or more frame members which, when attached, form an opening for the installation and display of artwork. Frame assembly is typically accomplished by joining the mitered ends of the frame members, where relatively smooth and continuous miter joints are formed.

[0004] In the area of the frame opening, where artwork is to be received, a slight allowance of additional space is provided to accommodate for installation of the artwork. To create such an allowance of additional space in the frame opening, frame members are typically cut slightly longer than the respective sides of the artwork to be bordered. This process requires the step of factoring an allowance when frame members are being cut.

[0005] There are numerous problems encountered in the field of framing that relate to the slight dimensional disparities between the frame opening and the size of the artwork to be framed. Frame members are often cut too short for an assembled frame to provide an opening having sufficient clearance for proper fitting of the artwork. Such situations are frequently related to measuring and/or cutting mistakes. Additionally, the mitered ends of the frame members are often misaligned, causing an improper fit of the artwork in the opening of the frame.

[0006] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for corner pieces for a frame that permits a frame builder to adjust the dimensional allowance of the frame opening once the frame members are cut. To facilitate the framing process, it is also desirable to incorporate dimensional allowances via corner pieces. The corner pieces incorporated into the frame would eliminate the procedural step of adding allowances to the frame members and thereby reduce the potential for measuring or cutting mistakes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a corner portion of a frame having one embodiment of a corner piece constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottom side of the corner portion of the frame having the corner piece of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the corner portion of the frame having the corner piece of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the corner piece of FIGS. 1-3.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a corner portion of a frame having another embodiment of a corner piece constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bottom side of the corner portion of the frame having the corner piece of FIG. 5.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the corner portion of the frame having the corner piece of FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a first member of the corner piece of FIGS. 5-7.

[0015] FIG. 8A is a bottom plan view of the first member of the corner piece of FIG. 8.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a second member of the corner piece of FIGS. 5-7.

[0017] FIG. 9A is a bottom plan view of the second member of the corner piece of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, shown therein and designated by the general reference numeral 10 is a corner portion of a frame 12. The corner portion 10 of the frame 12 includes a corner piece 14 disposed between a first frame member 16 and a second frame member 18.

[0019] The corner portion 10 of the frame 12 is shown as having a 90 degree angle between the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18. Thus, the frame 12 will have a substantially square-shape or rectangular configuration. It will be understood, however, that the corner portion 10 of the frame 12 may form an acute angle or an obtuse angle so long as the frame 12 is capable of securing a frameable object, such as a photograph, work of art, or the like, within the confines of the frame 12. Thus, the shape of the frame 12 is not limited to a rectangle or square, and the shape of the frame 12 may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation, triangular, hexagonal or any polygonal shape corresponding to the shape of the frameable object.

[0020] The first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 are substantially identical in cross-sectional configuration, construction and function, with the exception that the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 may vary in length depending upon the configuration of the frame 12. The first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 may be constructed of any suitable material that provides sufficient rigidity to the frame 12 to secure the frameable object within the confines of the frame 12. For example, the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 may be constructed of wood, metal, plastic, laminate, or combinations thereof.

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the first frame member 16 has a decorative moulding or upper surface 20, a bottom surface 22, a first end portion 24, and a second end portion (not shown). The decorative moulding surface 20 of the first frame member 16 extends lengthwise along the first frame member 16 from the first end portion 24 to the second end portion (not shown). The decorative moulding surface 20 of the first frame member 16 is shown as having a rounded surface; however, the decorative moulding surface 20 of the first frame member 16 may have any configuration including a flattened shape or a variety of ridges for decorative effect.

[0022] The first frame member 16 is provided with a lip portion 26 extending along an inwardly disposed side 28 of the first frame member 16 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The lip portion 26 of the first frame member 16 may be fabricated by milling or any comparable forming technique. The lip portion 26 includes a lower surface 27 and may be of any configuration, provided that the lip portion 26 is adapted to extend over a portion of the outer edge of the frameable object.

[0023] The second frame member 18 also has a decorative moulding or upper surface 32, a bottom surface 34, a first end portion (not shown), and a second end portion 36. The decorative moulding surface 32 of the second frame member 18 extends lengthwise along the second frame member 18 from the first end portion (not shown) to the second end portion 36. The decorative moulding surface 32 of the second frame member 18 is shown as having a rounded configuration; however, the decorative moulding surface 32 of the second frame member 18 may have any configuration including a flattened shape or a variety of ridges for decorative effect.

[0024] The second frame member 18 is provided with a lip portion 38 extending along an inwardly disposed side 40 of the second frame member 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The lip portion 38 of the second frame member 18 may be fabricated by milling or any comparable forming technique. The lip portion 38 includes a lower surface 39 and may be of any configuration, provided that the lip portion 38 is adapted to extend over a portion of the outer edge of the frameable object disposed within the confines of the frame 12.

[0025] The first end portion 24 and the second end portion (not shown) of the first frame member 16, as well as the first end portion (not shown) and the second end portion 36 of the second frame member 18, are preferably miter cut and then joined such that the corner piece 14 is disposed between the adjacent first and second end portions 24 and 36 of the first and second frame members 16 and 18. The miter cut can be formed by a power miter saw, a table saw, a miter box, or any cutting device that is angularly adjustable with respect to the first and second frame member 16 and 18. It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that equipment and devices for forming a miter cut are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, further discussion of the construction of frame members, for example the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 as described herein, is not deemed necessary.

[0026] Referring more specifically to FIG. 4, the corner piece 14 which is disposed between the first end portion 24 of the first frame member 16 and the second end portion 36 of the second frame member 18, includes a body member 44 having an upper surface 46, a lower surface 48, a first end 50, a second end 52, and a lip portion 54. The upper surface 46 and the lower surface 48 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 are preferably shaped to substantially correspond to the configuration of both the first end portion 24 of the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 and the second end portion 36 of the adjacently disposed second frame member 18. However, the shape of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 may be distinctly modified for decorative and/or functional effect.

[0027] The corner piece 14 may be constructed of any suitable material that is compatible, both decoratively and functionally, with the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 18. For example, the corner piece 14 may be constructed of wood, metal, plastic, laminate, or combinations thereof.

[0028] The body member 44 of the corner piece 14 is shown as having a first slot 56 and a second slot 58 formed along the lower surface 48 thereof. The first slot 56 and the second slot 58 extend inwardly a predetermined distance into the body member 44 to receive a connector 60. While the body member 44 has been shown to have two slots, it should be understood that the body member may include one slot or more than two slots which function to receive the connector 60. The connector 60 may be a substantially v-shape connector, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, or may be a staple, or any other type of connector capable of being disposed in the first and second slot 56 and 58 so long as the connector 60 tethers the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 to the adjacently disposed second frame member 18 thereby stabilizing the corner piece 14 without splitting the corner piece 14 when the corner piece 14 is fabricated of a material susceptible to splitting, such as wood. That is, the corner piece 14 may be constructed without the first and second slot 56 and 58 when the corner piece 14 is fabricated from a material which is not susceptible to splitting or fracturing when a frictionally engaged connector is installed. For example, the corner piece 14 may be produced from a compressible polymeric material, such as polystyrene, which accepts stress induced by the connector 60 without splitting; therefore, no slots would be necessary. Furthermore, while it is shown that the lower surface 48 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 is shaped to correspond to the bottom surface 22 and 34 of the adjacently disposed first and second frame member 16 and 18, it should be understood that the lower surface 48 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 may have a configuration different from that of the bottom surface 22 and 34 of the adjacently disposed first and second frame member 16 and 18.

[0029] The upper surface 46 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 cooperates with the first end 50 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 to define the lip portion 54. The lip portion 54 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 includes a lower surface 62 which overlays a portion of the corner of the frameable object disposed within the confines of frame 12. The lip portion 54 extends inwardly toward the second end 52 of the body member 44 a predetermined distance to permit the lip portion 54 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 to overlay a portion of the corner of the frameable object disposed within the confines of the frame 12. In an assembled condition the lower surface 62 of the lip portion 54 of the corner piece 14 is preferably aligned with the lower surface 27 of the lip portion 26 of the first frame member 16 and the lower surface 39 of the lip portion 38 of the second frame member 18.

[0030] The body member 44 of the corner piece 14 further includes a first side 64 and a second side 66. The first side 64 of the body member 44 abuts the first end portion 24 of the first frame member 16 and the second side 66 of the body member 44 abuts the second end portion 36 of the second frame member 18. The first side 64 and the second side 66 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 are preferably planar; however, the first side 64 and the second side 66 may be non-planar or may have splines, so long as the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 can be tethered to the adjacently disposed second frame member 18 via the connector 60 thereby stabilizing the corner piece 14. An adhesive may be applied to at least a portion of the first side 64 and the second side 66 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 prior to positioning the corner piece 14 adjacent the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 and tethering same via the connector 60.

[0031] The length between the first end 50 and the second end 52 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 is preferably greater than the cross-sectional width of the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 18 by a factor of about the square root of two. Thus, the length between the first end 50 and the second end 52 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 substantially corresponds with the width of the first end portion 24 of the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 at the forty-five degree miter cut angle and the width of the second end portion 36 of the adjacently disposed second frame member 18 at the forty-five degree miter cut angle. It should be understood, however, that the length between the first end 50 and the second end 52 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 may be greater than or less than the width of the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 18 by any factor to correspond with a variety of miter cut angles of the first end portion 24 of the first frame member 16 and the second end portion 36 of the second frame member 18.

[0032] Furthermore, the distance between the first side 64 and the second side 66 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 may vary to accommodate different dimensional spacing between the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 18. The first side 64 and the second side 66 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 preferably remain substantially parallel with one another regardless of the change in distance between same. However, the distance between the first side 64 and the second side 66 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 may vary from the first end 50 to the second end 52 of the body member 44. This change in distance between the first side 64 and the second side 66 of the body member 44 permits a variety of angles to be formed between the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 when adjoined to form the frame 12.

[0033] The method for assembling the frame 12 utilizing the corner piece 14 includes providing the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 and disposing the corner piece 14 between the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 such that the first end portion 24 of the first frame member 16 is disposed adjacent the first side 64 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14 and the second end portion 36 of the second frame member 18 is disposed adjacent the second side 66 of the body member 44 of the corner piece 14. The above steps may be repeated for a plurality of frame members and a plurality of corner pieces depending on the configuration of the frame 12. The corner piece 14 is stabilized between the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 18 by inserting a connector 60, such as the substantially v-shape connector, in the first slot 56 and the second slot 58 of each corner piece 14. It should be understood that the corner piece 14 may also be adhesively connected to the adjacently disposed first frame member 16 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 18 prior to tethering the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18 to one another via the connector 60. The method further includes the steps of installing the frameable object in the frame 12 wherein the lip portion 54 of the body member 44 of each corner piece 14 overlays the corresponding portion of the corner of the frameable object.

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, shown therein and designated by the general reference numeral 70 is another embodiment of a corner portion of a frame 72, which is substantially similar in function to the corner portion 10 of the frame 12 of FIGS. 1-3. The corner portion 70 of the frame 72 has a corner piece 74 formed of a first member 76 and a second member 77.

[0035] The corner portion 70 of the frame 72 further includes a first frame member 78 and a second frame member 79. The first frame member 78 has a decorative moulding or upper surface 124, a bottom surface 126, a first end portion 128, and a second end portion (not shown). The first frame member 78 is further provided with a lip portion 130 extending along an inwardly disposed side 132 of the first frame member 78. The lip portion 130 of the first frame member 78 includes a lower surface 134 adapted to extend over a portion of the outer edge of the frameable object disposed within the confines of the frame 72. The second frame member 79 also has a decorative moulding or upper surface 136, a bottom surface 138, a first end portion (not shown), and a second end portion 140. The second frame member 79 is further provided with a lip portion 142 extending along an inwardly disposed side 144 of the second frame member 79. The lip portion 142 of the second frame member 79 includes a lower surface 146 adapted to extend over a portion of the outer edge of the frameable object disposed within the confines of the frame 72. The first frame member 78 and the second frame member 79 are substantially identical in cross-sectional configuration, construction and function to the first frame member 16 and the second frame member 18, respectively, hereinbefore described.

[0036] The corner piece 74 may be constructed of any suitable material that is compatible, both decoratively and functionally, with the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 79. For example, the corner piece 74 may be constructed of wood, metal, plastic, laminate, or combinations thereof.

[0037] To increase the dimensional allowance of a proposed frame once the frame members are cut, the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 is adjacently disposed between the first end portion 128 of the first frame member 78 and the second member 77 of the corner piece 74, and the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 is adjacently disposed between the second end portion 140 of the second frame member 79 and the first member 76 of the corner piece 74.

[0038] Referring more particularly to FIG. 8 and FIG. 8A, the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 includes a body member 80 having an upper surface 82, a lower surface 84, a first end 86, a second end 88, and a lip portion 90.

[0039] The upper surface 82 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 is shown to have a rounded configuration so that the upper surface 82 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 substantially corresponds to the configuration of the decorative moulding surface 124 of the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 and the configuration of the decorative moulding surface 136 of the second frame member 79.

[0040] The body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 includes a slot 92 extending inwardly a predetermined distance from the lower surface 84. The slot 92 is shown to be angularly disposed in the body member 80 of the first member 76 for reasons which will be described in detail hereinafter. The lower surface 84 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 is preferably shaped to correspond to the bottom surface 126 of the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 and the bottom surface 138 of the second frame member 79.

[0041] The upper surface 82 cooperates with the first end 86 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 to define the lip portion 90. The lip portion 90 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 includes a lower surface 94 adapted to extend over a portion of the corner of the frameable object disposed within the confines of the frame 72. The lip portion 90 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 extends inwardly towards the second end 88 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 a distance to permit the lip portion 90 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 to overlay a portion of the corner of the frameable object disposed within the confines of the frame 72.

[0042] The length between the first end 86 and the second end 88 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 is preferably greater than the cross-sectional width of the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 by a factor of about the square root of two. Thus, the length between the first end 86 and the second end 88 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 substantially corresponds with the width of the first end portion 128 of the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 at about the forty-five degree miter cut angle.

[0043] Referring more particularly to FIG. 9 and FIG. 9A, the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 includes a body member 98 having an upper surface 100, a lower surface 102, a first end 104, a second end 106, and a lip portion 108.

[0044] The upper surface 100 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 is shown to have a rounded configuration so that the upper surface 100 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 substantially corresponds to the configuration of the decorative moulding surface 136 of the adjacently disposed second frame member 79 and the configuration of the decorative moulding surface 124 of the first frame member 78.

[0045] The body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 includes a slot 110 extending inwardly a predetermined distance from the lower surface 102. The slot 110 is shown to be angularly disposed in the body member 98 of the second member 77. In an assembled condition, the angularly disposed slot 110 of the second member 77 and the angularly disposed slot 92 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 function to receive the connector 60 thereby tethering the second frame member 79 to the first frame member 78 without splitting the first member 76 and the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 when the corner piece 74 is fabricated of a material susceptible to splitting, such as wood. That is, the first member 76 and the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 may be constructed without the angularly disposed slot 92 and the angularly disposed slot 110 when the first and second member 76 and 77 of the corner piece 14 are fabricated from a material which is not susceptible to splitting or fracturing when a frictionally engaged connector is installed. For example, the first member 76 and the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 may be produced from a compressible polymeric material, such as polystyrene, which accepts stress induced by the connector 60 without splitting; therefore, no slots would be necessary. The angularly disposed slot 110 of the second member 77 preferably cooperates with the angularly disposed slot 92 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 to provide a substantially v-shape configuration which substantially corresponds with the connector 60. However, it should be understood that the configuration of the slot 110 of the second member 77 and the slot 92 of the first member 76 may cooperate to provide any configuration such that the connector 60 is capable of stabilizing the corner piece 74 relative to the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 79. Furthermore, the lower surface 102 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 is preferably shaped to correspond to the bottom surface 138 of the adjacently disposed second frame member 79 and the bottom surface 126 of the first frame member 78.

[0046] The upper surface 100 cooperates with the first end 104 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 to define the lip portion 108. The lip portion 108 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 includes a lower surface 112 adapted to extend over a portion of the corner of the frameable object within the confines of the frame 72. The lip portion 108 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 extends inwardly a distance to permit the lip portion 108 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 to overlay a portion of the corner of the frameable object disposed within the confines of the frame 72. The lip portion 108 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 is sized and shaped to correspond with the lip portion 90 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 such that a portion of the corner of the frameable object can be overlayed by the corner piece 74. In an assembled condition the lower surface 94 of the lip portion 90 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 is preferably aligned with the lower surface 112 of the lip portion 108 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74, which is also preferably aligned with the lower surface 134 of the lip portion 130 of the first frame member 78 and the lower surface 146 of the lip portion 142 of the second frame member 79.

[0047] The length between the first end 104 and the second end 106 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 is preferably greater than the cross-sectional width of the adjacently disposed second frame member 79 by a factor of about the square root of two. Thus, the length between the first end 104 and the second end 106 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 substantially corresponds with the width of the second end portion 140 of the adjacently disposed second frame member 79 at about the forty-five degree miter cut angle.

[0048] The body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 further includes a first side 116 and a second side 118. Similarly, the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 includes a first side 120 and a second side 122. The first side 116 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 abuts the first end portion 128 of the first frame member 78 and the second side 118 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 abuts the first side 120 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74. The second side 122 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 abuts the second end portion 140 of the second frame member 79. An adhesive may be applied to at least a portion of the first side 116 and the second side 118 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74, as well as a portion of the first side 120 and the second side 122 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 prior to positioning the corner piece 74 adjacent the first frame member 78 and the second frame member 79 and tethering same via the connector 60.

[0049] The method for constructing the frame 72 includes providing the first frame member 78 and the second frame member 79, as described herein, and adjacently disposing the corner piece 74, as described herein, between the first frame member 78 and the second frame member 79 such that the first end portion 128 of the first frame member 78 is disposed adjacent the first side 116 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74, the second side 118 of the body member 80 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 is disposed adjacent the first side 120 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74, and the second end portion 140 of the second frame member 79 is disposed adjacent the second side 122 of the body member 98 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74. The above steps may be repeated for a plurality of frame members and a plurality of corner pieces depending on the configuration of the frame 72. The corner piece 74 is stabilized between the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 79 by inserting a connector 60, such as the substantially v-shape connector, in the slot 92 of the first member 76 of the corner piece 74 and in the slot 110 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74. It should be understood that the corner piece 74 may be glued to the adjacently disposed first frame member 78 and the adjacently disposed second frame member 79 prior to tethering the first frame member 78 to the second frame member 79 to one another via the connector 60. The method further includes the steps of installing the frameable object in the frame 72 wherein the lip portion 90 of the first member 76 and the lip portion 108 of the second member 77 of the corner piece 74 overlays the corresponding corner of the frameable object and assists in retaining the frameable object within the confines of the frame 72.

[0050] Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the various components, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A corner piece for a frame, the corner piece comprising:

a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and a lip portion, wherein

the upper surface of the body member extending between the first end and the second end and substantially corresponding to the configuration of a decorative moulding surface of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, and

the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member to overlay a portion of the corner of a frameable object.

2. The corner piece for the frame of claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the body member is provided with at least one slot disposed therein, the at least one slot adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame.

3. The corner piece for the frame of claim 1, wherein the body member of the corner piece is further characterized as having a first side and a second side and wherein the frame is provided with a plurality of adjacently disposed frame members, a first frame member having a first end portion adapted to abut the first side of the body member of the corner piece, and a second frame member having a second end portion adapted to abut the second side of the body member of the corner piece such that the body member of the corner piece is disposed between the first frame member and the second frame member.

4. The corner piece for the frame of claim 1, wherein the length between the first end and the second end of the body member is greater than the cross-sectional width of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame by a factor of about the square root of two.

5. A corner piece for a frame, wherein the frame includes a plurality of frame members, each frame member having a first end portion and a second end portion, and wherein the corner piece comprises:

a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a lip portion, wherein the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member to overlay a portion of the corner of a frameable object, and wherein the first side and the second side of the body member are adapted to abut the first end portion and the second end portion of adjacently disposed frame members such that the body member of the corner piece is adjacently disposed between the frame members.

6. The corner piece for the frame of claim 5, wherein the lower surface of the body member is provided with at least one slot disposed therein, the at least one slot adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame.

7. The corner piece for the frame of claim 5, wherein the length between the first end and the second end of the body member is greater than the cross-sectional width of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame by a factor of about the square root of two.

8. The corner piece for the frame of claim 5, wherein the first side and the second side of the body member are substantially parallel to one another.

9. The corner piece for the frame of claim 5, wherein the first side and the second side of the body member are substantially planar.

10. The corner piece for the frame of claim 5, wherein the corner piece is provided with a decorative finish different from a decorative finish of the adjacently disposed frame members.

11. A corner piece for a frame, the corner piece comprising:

a first member and a second member, wherein

the first member includes a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and a lip portion, and wherein the upper surface of the body member of the first member substantially corresponds to the configuration of a decorative moulding surface of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, the lower surface of the body member of the first member is provided with at least one angularly disposed slot disposed therein, the at least one angularly disposed slot being adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, and

the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member of the first member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member of the first member to overlay a portion of the corner of a frameable object,

the second member includes a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and a lip portion, and wherein the upper surface of the body member of the second member substantially corresponds to the configuration of the decorative moulding surface of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, the lower surface of the body member of the second member is provided with at least one angularly disposed slot disposed therein, the at least one angularly disposed slot being adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, and

the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member of the second member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member of the second member to overlay a portion of the corner of the frameable object.

12. The corner piece for the frame of claim 11, wherein the length between the first end and the second end of the body member of the first member and the length between the first end and the second end of the body member of the second member is greater than the cross-sectional width of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame by a factor of about the square root of two.

13. A corner piece for a frame, wherein the frame includes a plurality of frame members, each frame member having a first end portion and a second end portion, and wherein the corner piece comprises:

a first member and a second member, wherein

the first member includes a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a lip portion, wherein the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member of the first member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member of the first member to overlay a portion of the corner of a frameable object,

the second member includes a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a lip portion, wherein the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member of the second member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member of the second member to overlay a portion of the corner of the frameable object, and

the first side of the body member of the first member being adapted to abut the first end portion of adjacently disposed frame member and the second side of the body member of the first member being adapted to abut the first side of the body member of the second member, and

the second side of the body member of the second member being adapted to abut the second end portion of adjacently disposed frame member and the first side of the body member of the second member being adapted to abut the second side of the body member of the first member.

14. The corner piece for the frame of claim 13, wherein the lower surface of the body member of the first member is provided with at least one angularly disposed slot disposed therein, the at least one angularly disposed slot being adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, and wherein the lower surface of the body member of the second member is provided with at least one angularly disposed slot disposed therein, the at least one angularly disposed slot being adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame.

15. The corner piece for the frame of claim 13, wherein the length between the first end and the second end of the body member of the first member and the length between the first end and the second end of the body member of the second member is greater than the cross-sectional width of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame by a factor of about the square root of two.

16. The corner piece for the frame of claim 13, wherein the first side and the second side of the body member of the first member are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the first side and the second side of the body member of the second member are substantially parallel to one another.

17. The corner piece for the frame of claim 13, wherein the corner piece is provided with a decorative finish different from a decorative finish of the adjacently disposed frame members.

18. A frame for securing a frameable object, the frame comprising:

a plurality of adjacently disposed frame members, each frame member having a decorative moulding surface, a bottom surface, a first end portion, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion,

a corner piece disposed between adjacently disposed frame members, each corner piece comprising:

a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a lip portion, a first side, and a second side, wherein the upper surface of the body member corresponding to the configuration of the decorative moulding surface of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, the lower surface of the body member having at least one slot disposed therein, the at least one slot being adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame,

the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member to overlay a portion of the corner of the frameable object, and wherein

the body member of the corner piece being disposed adjacent the first end portion of an adjacently disposed first frame member and the second end portion of an adjacently disposed second frame member,

the connector disposed within the at least one slot of the body member of the corner piece so as to extend inwardly into the adjacently disposed first frame member and the adjacently disposed second frame member.

19. The frame of claim 7 wherein the corner piece is further characterized as having a length between the first end and the second end of the body member greater than the cross-sectional width of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame by a factor of about the square root of two.

20. A method for assembling a frame utilizing a corner piece, the frame securing a frameable object within the confines thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of frame members, each frame member having a decorative moulding surface, a bottom surface, a first end portion, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion,

providing a plurality of corner pieces, wherein one of the corner pieces is disposable between adjacently disposed frame members, each corner piece comprising:

a body member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a lip portion, and wherein the upper surface of the body member corresponding to the configuration of the decorative moulding surface of adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, the lower surface of the body member having at least one slot disposed therein, the at least one slot being adapted to receive a connector for stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members of the frame, the lip portion is formed in the first end of the body member so as to extend inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the lip portion of the body member to overlay a portion of the corner of the frameable object,

disposing the first end portion of one of the frame members adjacent the first side of the body member of the corner piece,

disposing the second end portion of one of the frame members adjacent the second side of the body member of the corner piece,

stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members by inserting a connector in at least one slot of the body member of the corner piece,

positioning the frameable object within the frame such that the lip portion of the body member of the corner piece overlays a portion of the corner of the frameable object,

securing the frameable object within the confines of the frame.

21. The method for assembling the frame of claim 20, wherein the step of stabilizing the corner piece between adjacently disposed frame members further includes providing an adhesive on at least one of the first side and the second side of the body member of the corner piece.