Frame apparatus

• US 10,143,315 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MCS Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MCS Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Pyle, Michael Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Nkeisha
• Application Number:
  US15/481,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20170290449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 248495, 248496, 248497, 248466, 2484751, 248477, 248488, 248317, 248339, 248468, 248470, 248471, 248473, 248476, 248478, 248480, 40792, 40761, 40759, 40741, 40790, 40791, 40766
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0605 made from extruded or moulded profiles, e.g. of plastic or metal
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0611 the profiles having clamping action; Elongated clips
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/08 adjustable A47G1/0644 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/10 Corner clips or corner-connecting appliances for frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/162 Picture members for connection to a conventional wall hook or nail
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1626 and being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/202 adjustable

Abstract

A frame apparatus for displaying an article. The frame apparatus includes a frame having a rabbet and a channel having a channel axis formed into a wall of the rabbet. A stack is positioned within the rabbet for display. The stack may include a glazing, an article for display, and a backer panel. A clip member is slidably coupled to the frame within the channel such that the clip member can slide within the channel along the channel axis while remaining coupled to the frame. The clip member has a hanging feature. Thus, the clip member serves the dual purpose of securing the stack within the rabbet and also providing the hanging feature for the frame. Furthermore, the clip member functions as a built-in self-leveling feature because it can slide within the channel thus ensuring that the frame is hung in a level manner.

Claims

1. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:

a frame comprising;

an inner surface defining a display opening; and

a rabbet defined by a floor and a wall of the frame, a channel formed into the wall;

a stack comprising a front surface and an opposite rear surface positioned in the rabbet and extending across the display opening;

a spring clip slidably coupled to the frame within the channel and trapping the stack between the spring clip and the floor of the rabbet, the spring clip comprising a hanging feature for hanging the frame;

wherein the spring clip comprises a base portion, a first leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, and a second leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, the distal ends of the first and second legs positioned within the channel to slidably couple the spring clip to the frame; and

wherein the channel is defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and further comprising a protrusion extending from the top surface and into the channel, and wherein when the spring clip is coupled to the frame the protrusion nests within a depression in the first leg of the spring clip and the second leg of the spring clip is in contact with the bottom surface of the channel.

2. The frame apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal ends of the first and second legs are free ends that are spaced apart from one another, and wherein at least one of the first and second legs is pivotable relative to the base portion of the spring clip.

3. The frame apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protrusion comprises a leading edge comprising a chamfer and a trailing edge, and wherein a distal portion of the first leg of the spring clip is located between the sidewall surface of the channel and the trailing edge of the protrusion.

4. The frame apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, and wherein the first leg is located between the second and third legs.

8. The frame apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second leg comprises a bottom surface that is in contact with the rear surface of the stack to retain the stack within the rabbet.

9. The frame apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel comprises a plurality of linear sections, and wherein at least one of the spring clips is positioned in at least two opposing and non-adjacent ones of the linear sections.

5. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:

a frame comprising;

an inner surface defining a display opening; and

a rabbet defined by a floor and a wall of the frame, a channel formed into the wall;

a stack comprising a front surface and an opposite rear surface positioned in the rabbet and extending across the display opening;

a spring clip slidably coupled to the frame within the channel and trapping the stack between the spring clip and the floor of the rabbet, the spring clip comprising a hanging feature for hanging the frame; and

wherein the spring clip comprises a base portion, a first leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, a second leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, and a third leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, the first leg being located between the second and third legs, the distal ends of the first and second legs positioned within the channel to slidably couple the spring clip to the frame; and

wherein the base portion of the spring clip comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the first leg extends from the base portion adjacent the top surface of the base portion and the second and third legs extend from the base portion adjacent the bottom surface of the base portion.

6. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:

a frame comprising;

an inner surface defining a display opening; and

a rabbet defined by a floor and a wall of the frame, a channel formed into the wall;

a stack comprising a front surface and an opposite rear surface positioned in the rabbet and extending across the display opening;

a spring clip slidably coupled to the frame within the channel and trapping the stack between the spring clip and the floor of the rabbet, the spring clip comprising a hanging feature for hanging the frame; and

wherein the spring clip comprises a base portion, a first leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, and a second leg extending from the base portion to a distal end, the distal ends of the first and second legs positioned within the channel to slidably couple the spring clip to the frame; and

wherein the base portion of the spring clip comprises a first section and a second section that are spaced apart from one another, and wherein the hanging feature is formed into an edge of the first leg of the spring clip that extends between the first and second sections of the base portion.

7. The frame apparatus of claim 6 wherein the hanging feature is a sawtooth hanger.

10. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:

a frame having a front surface and an opposite rear surface, the frame comprising;

an inner surface defining a display opening;

a rabbet defined by a floor and a wall of the frame; and

a channel formed into the wall and defined by a bottom surface, a top surface, and a sidewall surface;

a stack positioned in the rabbet and extending across the display opening; and

a clip member slidably coupled to the frame with a first portion of the clip member located within the channel and a second portion of the clip member protruding from the channel, wherein the stack is compressed between the second portion of the clip member and the floor of the rabbet, the second portion of the clip member having a hanging feature for hanging the frame;

wherein the clip member comprises a first leg terminating in a distal end and a second leg terminating in a distal end, each of the first and second legs extending from a common base portion to their respective distal ends, and wherein at least one of the first and second legs is pivotable relative to the common base portion; and

a protrusion extending from the top surface of the channel in a direction of the bottom surface of the channel, the protrusion having a leading edge adjacent the inner surface of the frame and an opposite trailing edge, and wherein the clip member is coupled to the frame via engagement between a distal portion of the first leg of the clip member and the trailing edge of the protrusion when the first portion of the clip member is located within the channel.

11. The frame apparatus of claim 10 wherein the clip member can slide relative to the frame while remaining coupled to the frame.

12. The frame apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first leg comprises a depression within which the protrusion nests when the clip member is slidably coupled to the frame.

13. The frame apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second leg comprises a bottom surface that is in contact with the rear surface of the stack to compress the stack within the rabbet, wherein the common base portion of the spring clip comprises a first section and a second section that are spaced apart from one another, and wherein the hanging feature is formed into an edge of the first leg of the spring clip that extends between the first and second sections of the common base portion.

14. The frame apparatus of claim 10 wherein a portion of the rabbet defined between the floor of the rabbet and the bottom surface of the channel has a depth, and wherein the stack has a thickness that is equal to or greater than the depth of the portion of the rabbet.