Picture frame assembly
A picture frame assembly incorporates at least one angled slotted shim tab and preferably a plurality of angled slotted shim tabs each movably mounted on a backing member of the picture frame assembly and with each shim tab cooperating with a shim tab receiving groove circumscribed, formed, or cast in a back picture opening rabbet return of an outer frame of the frame assembly to secure an artwork within the outer frame. In use, the angled slotted shim tab is pressured into close engagement with the shim tab receiving groove by an angled slot in the shim tab acting against outer portions of a threaded insert mounted transversely in the backing member near its outer edge and a capscrew that is threaded through the angled slot and tightened to secure the shim tab to the backing member.
Not applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn modern society, a planar artwork such as a picture, photograph, document, or painting is often displayed in a picture frame assembly having an outer frame. Typically, the artwork is placed in the outer frame from the back side of the outer frame and into a back picture opening rabbet return of the outer frame and is viewed from the front side of the outer frame through a front picture sight opening.
The present invention employs a novel retaining device—an angled slotted shim tab that is used in the picture frame assembly to retain a picture frame backing member behind an artwork in a fixed relationship to a shim tab receiving groove that circumscribes the inside perimeter of the back picture opening rabbet return of the outer frame.
Previously, retaining devices such as nails, screws, glazer's points, or wire staples often were used to retain the artwork in the back picture opening rabbet return of the outer frame with the nails, screws, glazer's points, or staples being hammered, driven, or pressed into portions of the outer frame that define the back picture opening rabbet return and with the retaining devices positioned immediately behind the artwork. Use of these prior art retaining devices often has caused damage to the back picture opening rabbet return and such retaining devices often have been difficult to remove or replace.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame assembly incorporating at least one angled slotted shim tab having an angled shim tab slot and preferably incorporating a plurality of angled slotted shim tabs with each shim tab movably mounted on a backing member of the picture frame assembly by a respective threaded insert and a respective capscrew and with each shim tab having a groove engaging edge adjustably extending into a shim tab receiving groove circumscribed, formed, or cast in a back picture opening rabbet return of an outer frame of the frame assembly, thereby eliminating the damage caused to the back picture opening rabbet return by use of previously known retaining devices such as nails, screws, glazer's points, or wire staples. In use, the angled slotted shim tab is pressured into close engagement with the shim tab receiving groove by the angled shim tab slot in the shim tab acting as a wedge against outer portions of the threaded insert that is mounted transversely in the backing member near its outer edge and together with the capscrew that is threaded through the slot to retain the shim tab and later tightened to secure the shim tab in a selected position relative to the backing member.
A further object of the invention is to provide a picture frame assembly that can be more conveniently used to secure an artwork in the outer frame and that can be easily opened to allow removal and replacement of the artwork being displayed as determined by a user.
Another object of the invention is to provide a picture frame assembly that is aesthetically attractive when used with transparent outer frames made in one piece from transparent materials such as clear cast acrylic plastic sheeting.
Preferably, the back picture opening rabbet return has a plurality of shim tab receiving grooves spaced from one another from the back side of the outer frame and towards the front side of the outer frame for selection and use with at least one angled slotted shim tab to secure a backing member in a fixed physical relationship to the selected shim tab receiving groove.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a person with a picture frame assembly that incorporates angled slotted shim tabs as retaining devices that are convenient to use and that are aesthetically pleasing when used in an outer frame that is made of transparent materials. The invention is a novel picture frame assembly that effectively lessens the visibility of an artwork retaining device in this case an angled slotted shim tab that retains an artwork within a transparent picture frame. The invention is particularly useful with outer frames made of hard materials such as cast acrylic sheeting that are not particularly amenable to the use of prior art retaining devices that rely upon penetration into the outer frame by a portion of the retaining device such as a nail, glazer's point, or staple.
Preferably and optimally, a plurality of angled slotted shim tabs are mounted to a rigid backing member and laterally movable and fixable into close positional cooperation with a shim tab receiving groove. Use of a plurality of shim tabs increases the level of securement of the backing member behind an artwork mounted within the picture frame assembly.
The picture frame assembly may be sized in a range of sizes and may be shaped in a variety of shapes to accommodate artwork of various sizes and dimensions that a user desires to mount within the picture frame assembly.
Preferably, the angled slotted shim tab is made of high density polyethylene, nylon, metal, composite, wood, or other suitable material.
Additional and various other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more apparent as the specification is read and the accompanying figures are reviewed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Referring to
Referring to
Preferably, a picture support flange 18 extends inwardly at the front outer frame surface 17 to define the front picture sight opening 16 and to provide a stop against which a transparent glazing panel 28 may be placed within the picture frame assembly 10 as best shown in
The back picture opening rabbet return 14 has at least a first shim tab receiving groove 20 circumscribed around the inner perimeter of the back picture opening rabbet return and spaced from the back outer frame surface 13.
A second shim tab receiving groove 22, a third shim tab receiving groove 24, and a fourth shim tab receiving groove 26, as seen in
A generally planar backing member 32 is sized to be received within the back picture opening rabbet return 14 and to lie against an artwork 30 placed previously within the rabbet return. See
As seen in
Preferably, each threaded insert 44 is pressed from the backing member front surface 34 into a close fitting bore 40 in the backing member 32 with a press that slightly dimples the backing member and positions and fixes the insert flush with the backing member front surface.
As seen in
A fifth embodiment of the angled slotted shim tab with a curved double beveled edge is not shown in the figures, but it would be generally semicircular in shape and have a curved groove engaging edge along its generally curved edge that is a double beveled edge.
The angled shim tab slot 54 incorporated in each embodiment of the angled slotted shim tab 50, 70, 80, and 100 has the slot inclined at an angle to the groove engaging edge or edges of the respective shim tab embodiments.
In each embodiment of the picture frame assembly 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, and 510, a capscrew 56 is threaded through each angled shim tab slot 54 and engages an associated threaded insert 44 or 144 to movably secure each angled slotted shim tab 50, 70, 80, or 100 to the backing member back surface 36, 136, 236, 336, or 436.
Preferably, in each angled slotted shim tab in each embodiment of the picture frame assembly, the surface of the angled shim tab slot closer to its groove engaging edge that is to extend beyond the respective outer edge of the respective backing member to engage a respective shim tab receiving groove functions as an inclined plane that can be used with mechanical advantage to push its groove engaging edge into closer and tighter engagement with the respective shim tab receiving groove as the shim tab is moved laterally and either parallel to the straight outer edge or tangential to the curved outer edge of the respective backing member.
As shown in
In
The angled slotted shim tabs 50, 70, 80, and 100 may be made from any suitable sturdy durable material such as thermoplastic, polyethylene, nylon, metal, composite, wood, or any other material that is strong enough to function as a securement device.
Each threaded insert 44 or 144 in each backing member 32, 132, 232, 332, or 432 cooperates with an associated capscrew 56 threaded through the angled shim tab slot 54 of an angled slotted shim tab 50, 70, 80, or 100 to adjustably retain the shim tab against the backing member back surface 36, 136, 236, 336, or 446.
Referring to
As further shown in
Preferably, the outward movement of the angled slotted shim tab 50 beyond the outer edge of the alternative backing member 132 causes the groove engaging edge 52 and the single beveled edge 150 to each bottom out in the shim tab receiving groove 20 and with the backing member positioned in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the front outer frame surface 17.
The preceding description and exposition of the invention is presented for purposes of illustration and enabling disclosure. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations in the invention in light of the above teachings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted to the breath to which they fairly, legitimately and equitably are entitled.
Claims
1. A picture frame assembly for the display of an artwork comprising
- a backing member, said backing member having at least one insert receiving bore located near its outer edge; each said insert receiving bore receiving and retaining therein a threaded insert;
- an angled slotted shim tab associated with each said threaded insert, each said angled slotted shim tab having an angled shim tab slot and a groove engaging edge;
- a capscrew associated with each said threaded insert and each said capscrew threaded through each said angled slotted shim tab and received within each said threaded insert,
- an outer frame, having a back picture opening rabbet return; said rabbet return having at least one shim tab receiving groove circumscribing the perimeter of said rabbet return; and each said shim tab receiving groove sized to receive and cooperate with each said groove engaging edge of each said angled slotted shim tab.
2. A picture frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said groove engaging edge is single beveled.
3. A picture frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said groove engaging edge is double beveled.
4. A picture frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said groove engaging edge is a straightedge.
5. A picture frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said groove engaging edge is a curved edge.
6. A picture frame assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a picture support flange extending inwardly in said picture sight opening.
7. A picture frame assembly for the display of artwork comprising
- an outer frame, having a back outer frame surface and a front outer frame surface,
- a back picture opening rabbet return in said back outer frame surface communicating transversely through said outer frame and joining with a front picture sight opening in said front outer frame surface, said back picture opening rabbet return extending towards said front outer frame surface, said back picture opening rabbet return having a shim tab receiving groove circumscribed around the inner perimeter of said back picture opening rabbet return and said groove spaced from said back outer frame surface,
- a backing member sized to be received within said back picture opening rabbet return, said backing member having a backing member front surface, a backing member back surface, and a backing member outer edge,
- an insert receiving bore transverse through said backing member and located near said backing member outer edge,
- a threaded insert inserted and retained within said insert receiving bore from said backing member front surface,
- an angled slotted shim tab having a groove engaging edge and an angled slotted shim tab slot, and
- a capscrew threaded through said shim tab slot and engaging said threaded insert.
8. A picture frame assembly according to claim 7 wherein each said groove engaging edge is single beveled.
9. A picture frame assembly according to claim 7 wherein each said groove engaging edge is double beveled.
10. A picture frame assembly according to claim 7 wherein each said groove engaging edge is a straightedge.
11. A picture frame assembly according to claim 7 wherein each said groove engaging edge is a curved edge.
12. A picture frame assembly according to claim 7 further comprising a picture support flange extending inwardly in said picture sight opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 5, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 5, 2006
Inventor: Terry Vineyard (Boise, ID)
Application Number: 11/099,784
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101);