Picture frame system

• US 20040128894A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tracy Sachs-Lavery
• Original Assignee: Tracy Sachs-Lavery
• Inventors: Sachs-Lavery, Tracy
• Granted Patent: US 6,865,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/741
• 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 1/101 for insertion within frame members
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2001/0672 employing magnets

Abstract

A framing system suitable for framing artwork, drawings, pictures and the like and mounting the framed work on a surface includes at least one frame member that cooperates with a plurality of mounting elements to surround the work with the frame member(s) and mount the resultant framed work to a mounting surface. The frame member(s) include a plurality of frame member portions that will be oriented toward the mounting surface when the framed work is mounted onto the surface. Each mounting element comprises magnetic material and adhesive material. The magnetic material and corresponding frame member portion provides magnetic coupling between the mounting element and the corresponding frame member portion that is used to releasably affix the frame members and the work to the mounting elements. The adhesive material is used to mount the resulting framed work to the surface by an adhesive bond between the mounting elements and the surface. Preferably, this adhesive bond is releasable such that the resulting framed work can be easily and quickly dismounted from the surface in a manner that does not impart scars or other damage to the surface. Preferably, the system includes a plurality of frame members whose positions relative to one another can be adjusted and fixed to form a frame that is adjustable to a user-selected size.

Claims

1. A framing system for mounting a work to a surface, said framing system comprising:

(a) at least one frame member that form a frame structure for surrounding the work, wherein said at least one frame member comprises a plurality of frame member portions that are oriented toward said surface;

b) a plurality of mounting elements corresponding to said frame member portions, each mounting element comprising magnetic material and adhesive material, said magnetic material and corresponding frame member portion providing magnetic coupling between said mounting element and the corresponding frame member portion, and said adhesive material affixing said mounting element to said surface;

wherein said work is removably disposed between said plurality of mounting elements and said at least one frame member by said magnetic coupling of said mounting elements to the corresponding frame member portions, and wherein said at least one frame member and said work is mounted to said surface by said magnetic coupling of said mounting elements to the corresponding frame member portions and said adhesive material affixing said mounting elements to said surface.

2. A framing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said work has a peripheral region that is covered by said frame, and said plurality of mounting elements are disposed between said peripheral region and said surface.

3. A framing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said frame structure includes a plurality of frame members whose positions relative to one another are adjustable to form a frame of a desired size.

4. A framing system according to claim 3, wherein:

said plurality of frame members are slidably mated to one another to form said frame that is adjustable to a desired size.

5. A framing system according to claim 4, wherein:

said plurality of frame members are slidably mated to one another such that height and width of said frame can be changed.

6. A framing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one frame member forms a fixed-size frame.

7. A framing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one frame member is substantially made of plastic, and

said frame member portions comprise metal that is affixed to plastic.

8. A framing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said frame member portions are part of four corner frame members each having an L-shape.

9. A framing system according to claim 8, wherein:

each of said four corner frame members has an L-shaped frame member portion that is oriented toward said surface.

10. A framing system according to claim 9, wherein:

said plurality of mounting elements comprise four corner mounting elements each having an L-shape that corresponds to said L-shaped frame member portions of said four corner frame members.

11. A framing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said adhesive material of said plurality of mounting elements is releasably affixed to said surface to enable removal of said mounting elements without scarring said surface.

12. A method of framing a work comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one frame member that forms a frame structure for surrounding the work, wherein said at least one frame member includes a plurality of frame member portions that are to be oriented toward said surface;

(b) providing a plurality of mounting elements corresponding to said frame member portions, each mounting element comprising magnetic material and adhesive material, said magnetic material and corresponding frame member portion providing magnetic coupling between said mounting element and the corresponding frame member portion, and said adhesive material capable of affixing said mounting element to said surface;

(c) placing said work on said frame, and magnetically coupling said work to said frame by placing said plurality of mounting elements on portions of said work that cover the corresponding frame member portions; and

(d) mounting the resultant frame structure to said surface with said adhesive material that affixes said plurality of mounting elements to said surface.

13. A method of framing a work according to claim 12, wherein:

said work has a peripheral region that is covered by said frame, and said plurality of mounting elements are placed on said peripheral region in step (d).

14. A method of framing a work according to claim 12, wherein:

said frame structure is formed by a plurality of frame members whose positions relative to one another are adjustable to form a frame of a desired size.

15. A method of framing a work according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(e) adjusting said positions to form a frame of a desired size prior to performing step (b).

16. A method of framing a work according to claim 15, wherein:

said plurality of frame members are slidably mated to one another to form said frame in step (e).

17. A method of framing a work according to claim 16, wherein:

step (e) includes the step of sliding said plurality of frame members relative to one another such that height and width of said frame is changed to a user-selected height and width.

18. A method of framing a work according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least one frame member forms a fixed-size frame.

19. A method of framing a work according to claim 12, wherein

said at least one frame member is substantially made of plastic, and

said frame member portions comprise metal that is affixed to plastic.

20. A method of framing a work according to claim 12, wherein:

said frame member portions are provided by four corner frame members each having an L-shape.

21. A method of framing a work according to claim 20, wherein:

each of said four corner frame members has an L-shaped frame member portion that is oriented toward said surface.

22. A method of framing a work according to claim 21, wherein:

said plurality of mounting elements comprise four corner mounting elements each having an L-shape that corresponds to said L-shaped frame member portions of said four corner frame members.

23. A method of framing a work according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

releasing said adhesive material from said surface such that said mounting elements are not affixed to said surface and said surface remains unscarred.

24. A framing system for mounting a work to a surface, said framing system comprising:

a) at least one frame member that is used to form a frame structure for surrounding the work, wherein said at least one frame member includes a plurality of frame member portions that are to be oriented toward said surface; and

b) a plurality of mounting elements corresponding to said frame member portions, each mounting element comprising magnetic material and adhesive material, wherein said magnetic material is used to provide magnetic coupling between said mounting elements and the corresponding frame member portions, and said adhesive material is used to affix said plurality of mounting elements to said wall in order to mount said frame and said work on said surface.

25. A framing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said plurality of mounting elements are sized such that they fit between a peripheral region of said work that is covered by said frame and said surface.

26. A framing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said frame structure is provided by a plurality of frame members are capable of being positioned relative to one another in an adjustable manner to form a frame of a desired size.

27. A framing system according to claim 26, wherein:

said plurality of frame members are capable of being slidably mated to one another to form said frame that is adjustable to a desired size.

28. A framing system according to claim 27, wherein:

said plurality of frame members are capable of being slidably mated to one another such that height and width of said frame can be changed.

29. A framing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said at least one frame member forms a fixed-size frame.

30. A framing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said at least one frame member is substantially made of plastic, and

said frame member portions comprise metal that is affixed to plastic.

31. A framing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said frame member portions are provided by four corner frame members each having an L-shape.

32. A framing system according to claim 31, wherein:

each of said four corner frame members has an L-shaped frame member portion that is oriented toward said surface.

33. A framing system according to claim 32, wherein:

said plurality of mounting elements comprise four corner mounting elements each having an L-shape that corresponds to said L-shaped frame member portions of said four corner frame members.

34. A framing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said adhesive material of said plurality of mounting elements can be releasably affixed to said surface such that said surface remains unscarred.