Picture frame structure

Claim 1

In a picture frame assembly comprising a pair of vertical and a pair of horizontal members forming said frame and adapted to receive a picture therein, said members being readily separable from each other but normally maintained in angular abutting relationship to each other by corner assembly means, said vertical and horizontal members each being extruded elements having the same cross-sectional profile, said profile including front, side, inner and rear faces, the said front face forming an overhanging lip of which reenters to form a portion of a recessed inner face, the surface of said recessed inner face comprising a plurality of longitudinal serrations, said rear face having a continuous longitudinal slot recessed into and communicating with said rear face and adapted to slidably receive and frictionally engage a corner assemble means, said corner assembly means comprising a two-legged right-angled bracket, one leg of each being adapted to enter and frictionally engage the longitudinal slot provided in each of said vertical and horizontal members and thereby to form a rigid corner, and wedge means in cooperative engagement with the serrated portion of the recessed inner faces and thereby engage the rear surface of the picture being framed and to thus maintain it in fixed position against the rear surface of said overhanging lip.