Quick assembly photo frame

• US 10,470,595 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2018
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matthew Udermann
• Original Assignee: Matthew Udermann
• Inventors: Udermann, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoge, Gary C
• Application Number:
  US16/162,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20190116995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 40777, 40782, 40785
• 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 1/10 Corner clips or corner-connecting appliances for frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/141 made of sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1666 Devices for connecting a suspension wire to a picture
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/17 using adhesives, suction or magnetism A47G1/168 takes precedence; suction cups for attaching purposes, equivalent means using adhesives F16B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2001/0677 having means for fixing the picture or backing to the frame, e.g. clips, nails or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2001/0694 comprising means allowing the frame to be supported on a horizontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/12 Frames therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a frame which may be easily assembled and includes a plurality of frame members in an unassembled state. Each of the frame members has a back, a first side having a first angle, and a second side having a second angle. The first angle and the second angle are supplementary angles. The frame also includes a plurality of adhesive portions and/or connectors which are attached to the back of the frame members. The opposite surface of the adhesive portions include a re-attachable adhesive enabling individual frame members to be pressed onto a wall surface to form the frame. An item is disposed between the back of the frame members and the wall surface. The frame members may be independently removed from the wall surface for repositioning, or the frame as a whole may be removed for repositioning on the wall surface.

Claims

1. A frame for an item, said frame comprising:

a plurality of frame members, each of said frame members having a first unassembled state, each of said frame members having a front, a back, a first edge, said first edge having a first length dimension, a second edge, said second edge having a second length dimension, said second length dimension being less than said first length dimension, each of said first edges being substantially parallel to said second edges, each of said frame members further having a first side and a second side, said first side having a first angle relative to said first edge and said second edge, said second side having a second angle relative to said first edge and said second edge, wherein said first angle and said second angle are supplementary angles;

wherein said back, said first side and said first angle of one of said frame members is disposed adjacent to and in contact with said back, said second side and said second angle of another of said frame members in a second assembled state forming said frame;

each of said first sides and each of said second sides having a cavity, wherein alignment of said cavities of said first sides to said cavities of said second sides forms a shaped cavity, said shaped cavity defining an outer cavity wall;

a plurality of connectors, one of said connectors being disposed in each of said shaped cavities, each of said connectors comprising an expandable first end having at least one first opening and an expandable second end having at least one second opening, each of said connectors having an exterior surface; and

a plurality of connector inserts, one of said connector inserts being constructed and arranged for insertion into one of said connectors, said connector inserts comprising expansion posts, wherein said expansion posts are constructed and arranged for insertion into said at least one first opening and said at least one second opening expanding said exterior surface into contact with said outer cavity wall.

2. The frame according to claim 1, said backs of each of said frame members having at least one elongate cavity.

3. The frame according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of cavity connectors, wherein one of said cavity connectors is disposed in each of said elongate cavities.

4. The frame according to claim 3, each of said connectors further comprising an expansion cavity proximate to said at least one first opening and said at least one second opening.

5. The frame according to claim 4, each of said connector inserts further comprising at least one extender having a distal end having a tab, said at least one extender and said tab being constructed and arranged to hold an item proximate to said back of said frame members in said second assembled state.

6. The frame according to claim 5, each of cavity connectors comprising a base having at least one aperture and at least one cross tab.

7. The frame according to claim 6, wherein said cross tab engages said item holding said item proximate to said back of said frame members in said second assembled state.

8. The frame according to claim 7, wherein one of said apertures on one of said cavity connectors on one of said frame members and one of said apertures on one of said cavity connectors on one of said frame members opposite to said one of said frame members is constructed and arranged to receive a suspension member, said suspension member being engaged to said wall surface and hanging said frame from said wall surface.

9. The frame according to claim 8, wherein said base of each of said cavity connectors has friction connectors, said friction connectors releasably engaging one of said elongate cavities.

10. The frame according to claim 3, said frame further comprising a plurality of adhesive portions, each of said adhesive portions having a first unengaged state, each of said adhesive portions having a first surface, an opposite surface, an attachment adhesive on said first surface and a first removable film on said attachment adhesive, said opposite surface having a re-attachable adhesive and a second removable film on said re-attachable adhesive.

11. The frame according to claim 10, wherein said first removable film is constructed and arranged for separation from said attachment adhesive of at least one of said adhesive portions and said attachment adhesive is constructed and arranged for secure engagement to said back of each of said frame members.

12. The frame according to claim 11, wherein said second removable film is constructed and arranged for removal from said re-attachable adhesive on each of said frame members, and said re-attachable adhesive is constructed and arranged for pressing onto a wall surface.

13. The frame according to claim 12, wherein an item is disposed between said frame and said wall surface, and each of said frame members is independently removable from said wall surface, or said frame in said second assembled state is removable from said wall surface, and said frame members or said frame are repositionable onto said wall surface.

14. The frame according to claim 13, each of said backs of said frame members comprising at least one marking, said at least one marking being constructed and arranged for alignment of said item relative to said frame.