Corner connector for a picture frame

Claim 2

A corner connector for a picture frame formed from members each of similar cross-section that are connected together at corners of the frame and each defining a channel that in the completed frame extends along the rear side of the frame, comprising a connector body having two arms extending in the same general plane at an angle to one another, each arm being provided with a rotatable tool-receiving member supported on a rear side of the arm that is exposed when the arm is inserted into the end of the channel of a frame member to be connected together with another frame member at the corner, said member being adapted to be rotated by a hand tool to cause lateral side portions that are connected to the arm to be displaced from a normal position, in which the arm is freely insertable into the channel, laterally outwardly to a clamping position in which the lateral side portions grip firmly on inner surfaces of portions of the channel sides of the frame member that are adjacent to said lateral side portions when the arm is inserted in the frame member channel, whereby the arm can be secured firmly in the frame member channel.

Claim 3

A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which the arms extend at right angles to one another.

Claim 4

A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which the tool-receiving member has a slotted head adapted to be turned by a screwdriver.

Claim 5

A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which each arm is of channel section, with the tool-receiving member supported on the outer side of the bottom of the channel of the arm.

Claim 6

A connector as claimed in claim 4 in which the channel section of the arm is relatively wide in comparison to its depth.

Claim 7

A kit for forming a picture frame comprising a plurality of corner connectors as claimed in claim 1 in combination with frame members to be connected together, the frame members having channels on their rear sides, and the arms of the connectors in the normal position being snugly receivable in the frame member channels.

Claim 8

A corner connector for a picture frame formed from members each of similar cross-section that are connected together at their ends at corners of the frame and each defining a channel that, in the completed frame, extends along the rear side of the frame, comprising a connector body having two arms extending in the same general plane at right angles to one another, each arm being of channel section and being provided on the outer side of the bottom of its channel with a rotatable screwdriver receiving member with a slotted upper side and which is exposed when the arm is inserted into the end of a frame member channel, and is rotatable by a screwdriver to cause lateral side portions that are connected on the arm to be displaced from a normal position in which the arm is freely insertable into the frame member channel, laterally outwardly to a clamping position in which the lateral side portions grip firmly on the inner surfaces of portions of the channel sides of the frame member that are adjacent the lateral side portions when the arm is inserted in the frame member channel, whereby the arm can be secured firmly in the frame member channel.

Claim 9

A corner connector for a picture frame formed from members each of similar cross-section that are connected together at their ends at corners of the frame and each defining a channel that, in the completed frame, extends along the rear side of the frame, comprising a connector body having two arms extending in the same general plane at right angles to one another, each arm being of channel section and being provided on the outer side of the bottom of its channel with a rotatable screwdriver receiving member with a slotted upper side and which is exposed when the arm is inserted into the end of a frame member channel, and is rotatable by a screwdriver to cause lateral side portions that are connected on the arm to be displaced from a normal position in which the arm is freely insertable into the frame member channel, laterally outwardly to a clamping position in which the lateral side portions grip firmly on the inner surfaces of portions of the channel sides of the frame member that are adjacent the lateral side portions when the arm is inserted in the frame member channel, whereby the arm can be secured firmly in the frame member channel.

Claim 10

A kit for forming a picture frame comprising a plurality of corner connectors as claimed in claim 7 in combination with frame members to be connected together, the frame members having channels on their rear sides and the arms of the connectors in the normal position being snugly receivable in the frame member channels.

Claim 11

A kit as claimed in claim 6 or 8 in which each channel side wall of each frame member has a re-entrant lip at its rear edge.

Claim 12

A kit as claimed in claim 6 or 8 in which each frame member comprises a wall portion extending forwardly from and co-planar with the outer side wall of the channel, and with an inwardly extending lip at its front edge.

Claim 13

A kit as claimed in claim 6 or 8 in which each channel side wall of each frame member has a re-entrant lip at its rear edge and each frame member comprises a wall portion extending forwardly from and co-planar with the outer side wall of the channel, and with an inwardly extending lip at its front edge.

Claim 14

A corner connector as claimed in claim 1 or 7 wherein the tool-receiving member is a screw that is threaded in an aperture in the rear face of the arm and the lateral side portions comprise tab members arranged one on each side of the axis of the screw and having edges adapted to be engaged by the tip of the screw and to be spread laterally apart when the screw is tightened into the arm, thereby urging portions formed integrally with the tab members laterally outwardly into engagement with the adjacent portions of the frame member channel sides.

Claim 15

A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which each arm is of generally rectangular cross-section, with the tool-receiving member supported on a generally planar portion of the rear side of the arm.

Claim 16

A connector as claimed in claim 13 in which the cross-section of the arm is relatively wide in comparison to its depth.

Claim 17

A kit for forming a picture frame comprising a plurality of corner connectors as claimed in claim 13 in combination with frame members to be connected together, the frame members having channels on their rear sides, and the arms of the connectors in the normal position being snugly receivable in the frame member channels.

Claim 18

A corner connector for a picture frame formed from members each of similar cross-section that are connected together at their ends at corners of the frame and each defining a channel that, in the completed frame, extends along the rear side of the frame, comprising a connector body having two arms extending in the same general plane at right angles to one another, each arm being of generally rectangular section and being provided on a generally planar outer side portion with a rotable screwdriver receiving member with a slotted upper side and which is exposed when the arm is inserted into the end of a frame member channel, and is rotatable by a screwdriver to cause lateral side portions that are connected on the arm to be displaced from a normal position in which the arm is freely insertable into the frame member channel, laterally outwardly to a clamping position in which the lateral side portions grip firmly on the inner surfaces of portions of the channel sides of the frame member that are adjacent the lateral side portions when the arm is inserted in the frame member channel, whereby the arm can be secured firmly in the frame member channel.

Claim 19

A corner connector for a picture frame formed from members each of similar cross-section that are connected together at their ends at corners of the frame and each defining a channel that, in the completed frame, extends along the rear side of the frame, comprising a connector body having two arms extending in the same general plane at right angles to one another, each arm being of generally rectangular section and being provided on a generally planar outer side portion with a rotable screwdriver receiving member with a slotted upper side and which is exposed when the arm is inserted into the end of a frame member channel, and is rotatable by a screwdriver to cause lateral side portions that are connected on the arm to be displaced from a normal position in which the arm is freely insertable into the frame member channel, laterally outwardly to a clamping position in which the lateral side portions grip firmly on the inner surfaces of portions of the channel sides of the frame member that are adjacent the lateral side portions when the arm is inserted in the frame member channel, whereby the arm can be secured firmly in the frame member channel.

Claim 20

A kit for forming a picture frame comprising a plurality of corner connectors as claimed in claim 16 in combination with frame members to be connected together, the frame members having channels on their rear sides and the arms of the connectors in the normal position being snugly receivable in the frame member channels.

Claim 21

A kit as claimed in claim 15 or 17 in which each channel side wall of each frame member has a re-entrant lip at its rear edge.

Claim 22

A kit as claimed in claim 15 or 17 in which each frame member comprises a wall portion extending forwardly from and co-planar with the outer side wall of the channel, and with an inwardly extending lip at its front edge.

Claim 23

A kit as claimed in claim 15 or 17 in which each channel side wall of each frame member has a re-entrant lip at its rear edge and each frame member comprises a wall portion extending forwardly from and co-planar with the outer side wall of the channel, and with an inwardly extending lip at its front edge.