Picture frame retaining clip

• US 4,216,597 A
• Filed: 04/03/1979
• Issued: 08/12/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: R. D. Werner Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R.D. Werner Co., Inc. (New Werner Holding Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roche, John N., Kocina, Lawrence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitrelli, John F.
• Application Number:
  US06/026,656
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 40/156, 40/152.1, 40/152, 40/155, 40/154, 40/617, 248/496, 248/497, 248/498, 248/544, 403/401, 403/402, 52/544
• US Class Current: 40/792
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0605 made from extruded or moulded profiles, e.g. of plastic or metal
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/162 Picture members for connection to a conventional wall hook or nail
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1666 Devices for connecting a suspension wire to a picture
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2001/0677 having means for fixing the picture or backing to the frame, e.g. clips, nails or the like

Abstract

A picture retaining clip for use at the corners and along the sides of a back-loading picture frame, which clip also may serve as a means for hanging the frame. The clip is a strip of resilient material with a central web and bent ends. When the clip is mounted at the corners of the frame, a tab at each end of the clip abuts a forwardly raised ridge at the rear of the frame. When the clip is mounted along the side of the frame, a flange formed along the central web of the clip abuts either a forwardly raised ridge at the rear of the frame or a rearwardly raised ridge along the front of the frame. A hole and serrations in the central web of the clip receive hooks, nails, wire, and the like for hanging the frame.

Claims

1. A clip for retaining pictures in back-loading picture frames, comprising:

a resilient strip including a central web intermediate opposite ends, both said ends being deflected in the same direction from the plane of said central web, said central web having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; and

a flange along said first lateral edge extending from said central web in a direction generally opposite the deflection of said ends, wherein said strip may be positioned with said flange engaging the rear of the back-loading picture frame and the picture being retained between the front of the back-loading picture frame and said ends.

3. A picture frame retaining clip as claimed in claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

means for receiving a hanger device.

4. A picture frame retaining clip as claimed in claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

a hole in said central web for reception of a hanger device.

5. A picture frame retaining clip as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said second lateral edge is serrated for reception of a hanger device.

6. A picture frame retaining clip as claimed in claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

a hole in said central web for reception of a hanger device; and

said second lateral edge is serrated for reception of a hanger device.

2. A clip for retaining pictures in back-loading picture frames, comprising:

a resilient strip including a central web intermediate opposite ends, both said ends being deflected in the same direction from the plane of said central web, said central web having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge;

a flange along said first lateral edge extending from said central web in a direction generally opposite the deflection of said ends; and

at least one tab formed on each said end, wherein said strip may be selectively positioned either with said tabs engaging the rear of the picture frame and the picture being retained between the front of the frame and said central web, or with said flange engaging the rear of the picture frame and the picture being retained between the front of the frame and said ends.

7. A picture retaining clip for use with a back-loading picture frame which has along its rear a forwardly raised ridge, comprising:

a resilient strip including a central web intermediate opposite ends, both said ends being deflected in the same direction from the plane of said central web, said central web having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; and

a flange along said first lateral edge for engaging the ridge along the rear of the frame, said flange extending from said central web in a direction generally opposite the deflection of said ends, wherein said strip may be positioned to retain the picture between the front of the frame and said ends.

8. A picture retaining clip for use with a back-loading picture frame which has along its rear portion a forwardly raised ridge and along its front portion a rearwardly raised ridge, said clip comprising:

a resilient strip including a central web intermediate opposite ends, both said ends being deflected in the same direction the plane of said central web, said central web having a lateral edge;

at least one tab formed on each said end for engaging the forwardly raised ridge on the frame; and

a flange along said lateral edge for engaging the rearwardly raised ridge on the frame, wherein said strip may be positioned to retain the picture between the front of the frame and said central web.

9. A picture retaining clip for use with a back-loading picture frame which has along its rear a forwardly raised ridge and along its front a rearwardly raised ridge, comprising:

a resilient strip including a central web intermediate opposite ends, both said ends being deflected in the same direction from the plane of said central web, said central web having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge;

at least one tab formed on each said end, said tabs being adapted to alternately engage the forwardly raised ridge on the frame and the rearwardly raised ridge on the frame; and

a flange along said first lateral edge adapted to engage the forwardly raised ridge on the frame when said tabs engage the rearwardly raised ridge, wherein said strip may be selectively positioned either to retain the picture between the front of the frame and said central web when said tabs engage the forwardly raised ridge or to retain the picture between the front of the frame and said ends when said flange engages the forwardly raised ridge.

10. The picture retaining clip of claim 9, wherein said flange is adapted to engage the rearwardly raised ridge on the frame when said tabs engage the forwardly raised ridge on the frame.

11. A picture frame retaining clip, as claimed in claims 7, 9, or 10 further comprising:

a means for receiving a hanger device.

12. A picture frame retaining clip, as claimed in claims 7, 9, or 10 further comprising:

a hole in said central web for reception of a hanger device.

13. A picture frame retaining clip, as claimed in claims 7, 9, or 10 wherein said second lateral edge is serrated for reception of a hanger device.

14. A picture frame retaining clip, as claimed in claims 7, 9, or 10 further comprising:

a hole in said central web for reception of a hanger device, and wherein said second lateral edge is serrated for reception of a hanger device.