Self-locking picture frame clip

• US 4,420,138 A
• Filed: 08/06/1981
• Issued: 12/13/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David D. Sobel
• Original Assignee: David D. Sobel
• Inventors: Sobel, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Application Number:
  US06/290,618
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 248/495, 248/496, 248/477, 248/298, 248/295.1, 248/297.2, 40/152.1, 52/709, 52/710, 308/3 R, 312/224, 312/226, 403/104, 403/329
• US Class Current: 248/496
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/162 Picture members for connection to a conventional wall hook or nail

Abstract

A self-locking clip for a picture frame that is formed with a channel. The clip comprises an elongate piece of spring steel whose longitudinal end is bent to define a planar shelf from which depends a leg which defines an edge that is adapted frictionally to engage the inside surface of the channel and when the planar shelf is depressed, the edge is released from the inside surface of the channel to allow the clip to slide relative thereto.

Claims

1. A clip adapted for use in a picture frame that has a channel with a base, the clip comprising an elongate planar shelf whose longitudinal ends are bent to form a pair of opposed angularly depending legs, the distal end of each leg, in plan view, widening along an abrupt discontinuity of cross-section into a foot that is sized to fit into the channel, said discontinuity of cross-section thereby defining an edge to frictionally engage facing, inside surfaces of the channel, the vertical height of each foot being dimensioned with respect to the height of the channel so that when said planar shelf is depressed, said edge of each foot is released from engagement with the facing, inside surfaces of the picture frame channel to allow the clip to slide relative thereto along the base.

2. The clip of claim 1, each said foot being bowed on its underside to displace its respective edge from a normally engaged relation with the channel when said planar shelf is depressed.

3. The clip of claim 2, said planar shelf including a plurality of serrations thereon.

4. The clip of claim 3, said serrations being placed along one of the longitudinally running side edges that define said planar shelf.

5. A clip movable for use in a C-shaped channel of a picture frame in which the C-shaped channel has a base and a slot defined between opposed inturned inner surfaces, said clip comprising a body the opposite ends of which have a leg angularly disposed relative thereto and being of a width to move in and along the length of the slot of the C-shaped channel, each of said legs being adapted for sliding engagement with the base surface of the picture frame channel and one of said legs terminating in a relatively wider foot that has a surface for rocking sliding engagement with the base surface of the C-shaped channel, an edge on said one of said legs for normal wedging engagement with an opposed inturned inner surface of the channel to prevent said clip from moving in the channel and being displaceable therefrom when said planar body is depressed to rock said foot surface to release the wedge of said edge to permit said clip to slide relative to the C-shaped channel.

6. A clip as in claim 5, and the other one of said legs terminating in said relatively wider foot having a surface for rocking sliding engagement with the base of the C-shaped channel and having an edge for normal wedging engagement with an opposed inturned inner surface of the channel to prevent said clip from moving in the channel in the direction of said respective leg.

7. A clip as in claim 6, and grooves on said body to support said clip from a support.

8. A clip for slidable adjustment in a C-shaped channel forming a part of a picture frame in which the channel has a base surface and a slot defined between opposed inturned inner surfaces spaced from the base surface, said clip being formed unitary of a single length of material including a resilient body having means along the side thereof for engagement with a support and having at its opposite ends an angularly disposed leg each leg terminating in a foot wider than the respective leg such that each leg slides in the slot of the C-shaped channel to enable said clip to be adjustably moved relative to the picture frame, and at least one said foot having an edge normally to be engaged between the base and with an opposed inturned inner surface to lock said clip from sliding movement relative to the picture frame and upon depression of said clip body said edge is disengaged from the inturned inner surface to enable said clip to be slid relative to the picture frame.

9. A clip as in claim 8, each said foot having an edge normally to be engaged with an opposed inturned inner surface, and each said foot having a bowed surface to be engaged slidingly with the base surface of the C-shaped channel normally to engage the edge of its respective foot with the opposed inturned surface of the C-shaped channel.

10. A clip as in claim 9, the edge on one of said feet being angularly opposed to the edge on the other of said feet to prevent movement of said clip in the direction of the edge that is engaged with the inturned inner surface.