Concealed compartment in picture frame

• US 5,247,744 A
• Filed: 02/26/1993
• Issued: 09/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James G. Steenson
• Original Assignee: Lynne Ferris, Michael L. Ferris
• Inventors: Ferris, Michael L., Ferris, Lynne
• Primary Examiner(s): SILBERMANN, JOANNE
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonifanti, J.
• Application Number:
  US08/023,009
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• Field of Search: 40/152, 40/152.1, 40/655, 312/204, 312/245
• US Class Current: 40/722
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0616 Ornamental frames, e.g. with illumination, speakers or decorative features
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/12 Frames therefor

Abstract

A picture frame that includes a concealed compartment includes three frame members connected at their ends to form a U-shaped structure and a fourth frame member that is unconnected to the three frame members and to which a picture-bearing panel is affixed, so that when the fourth frame member is removed, it carries with it the picture-bearing panel to reveal the compartment which previously had been concealed behind the picture-bearing panel. Inwardly facing grooves on opposite sides of the picture frame serve as guides for the edges of the picture-bearing panel as it is drawn away from the remainder of the picture frame.

Claims

1. A picture frame comprising:

a bottom frame member extending horizontally and having a left end and a right end;

a right frame member;

a left frame member;

said left frame member and said right frame member affixed to and extending upward from the left end and the right end, respectively, of said bottom frame member;

said bottom frame member, said right frame member and said left frame member all lying on a first imaginary plane;

portions of said left frame member and of said right frame member defining parallel inwardly-facing grooves extending vertically in said left frame member and said right frame member, said parallel grooves lying in a second imaginary plane parallel to but spaced forward from the first imaginary plane sufficiently to accommodate objects that are to be concealed;

a top frame member of sufficient length to extend from the free end of said left frame member to the free end of said right frame member but not connected to either; and

,

a stiff planar rectangular panel having an upper edge that is affixed to said top frame member, and having left and right edges that extend in a loose sliding fit within the parallel inwardly-facing grooves of said right frame member and of said left frame member;

said stiff planar rectangular panel and said top frame member being unconnected to and freely removable from its closed position between, said right frame member and said left frame member;

the space behind said stiff planar rectangular panel between said right frame member and said left frame member and between said bottom frame member and said top frame member constituting the concealed compartment when said top frame member is resting on the free ends of the left and right frame members;

said concealed compartment opening into and directly accessible from a space directly in front of the picture frame when said stiff planar rectangular panel is removed from said parallel grooves.