Display frame

Claim 2

A display holder for cards, pictures, posters and the like comprising: a substantially rectangular frame formed by a plurality of frame members connected together at corner joints, said frame having front, back and outer peripheral surfaces, one of said frame members defining a separable frame portion and the other of said frame members defining a holding frame portion, said holding frame portion having a slideway for slidably receiving the edge portions of a flat member and having a slideway entrance normally closed by said frame portion; said separable frame portion being separably connected to said holding frame portion by separable joints at least one of which includes a releasable locking member releasably locking said separable frame portion to said holding frame portion and being movable between locking and released positions, said releasable locking member being located completely beneath said surfaces and normally being biased to said locking position in a direction generally inwardly of said frame relative to said outer peripheral surface; and, a limited access opening in said peripheral surface for providing access to said releasable locking member with a special tool to move same to said released position.

Claim 3

The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable locking member is secured to said holding frame portion and said access opening is in said separable frame portion.

Claim 4

The holder as defined in claim 1 including mounting means on said holding frame portion for mounting same to a wall with said back peripheral surface engaging the wall, and said mounting means normally being covered by a flat member received in said slideway.

Claim 5

The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable locking member is permanently secured to said holding frame portion.

Claim 6

The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding portion has an outwardly opening channel between said slideway and said back surface and said releasable locking member is secured in said channel by deforming a portion of said channel closed thereon.

Claim 7

The holder as defined in claim 5 wherein said releasable locking member comprises an elongated wire having a free end portion extending beyond the end of said holding portion to which it is secured, and said free end portion being bent to define a latch portion.

Claim 8

A holder for a flat member comprising: a frame including separable and holding frame portions, said holding frame portion being generally U-shaped and including opposite legs having spaced-apart leg ends, said holding frame portion including a slideway for receiving edge portion of a flat member and having a slideway entrance between said leg ends normally closed by said separable frame portion; locking members secured to said legs and having latch portions extending outwardly of said leg ends toward one another, at least one of said latch portions normally being resiliently biased toward the other said latch portion to a locking position and being movable away from said other latch portion to a released position; and, said separable frame portion having abutments cooperating with said latch portions for releasably locking said separable frame portion to said leg ends.

Claim 9

A holder for a flat member comprising: a frame including separable and holding frame portions, said holding frame portion being generally U-shaped and including opposite legs having spaced-apart leg ends, said holding frame portion including a slideway for receiving edge portion of a flat member and having a slideway entrance between said leg ends normally closed by said separable frame portion; locking members secured to said legs and having latch portions extending outwardly of said leg ends toward one another, at least one of said latch portions normally being resiliently biased toward the other said latch portion to a locking position and being movable away from said other latch portion to a released position; and, said separable frame portion having abutments cooperating with said latch portions for releasably locking said separable frame portion to said leg ends.

Claim 10

The holder as defined in claim 7 including a limited access opening in said frame for providing access to said latch portion for moving same to said released position.

Claim 11

The holder as defined in claim 8 wherein said opening is in said separable frame portion.

Claim 12

The holder as defined in claim 7 wherein said slideway is on one side of a web and said locking members and abutments are on the opposite side of said web, said holding frame portion having mounting means thereon for mounting same to a planar surface, and said frame having a closed outer periphery blocking access to said locking members when said frame is mounted to a planar surface.

Claim 13

The holder as defined in claim 10 including a limited access opening in said outer periphery of said separable frame portion shaped to provide access therethrough only with a special tool for engaging and moving said one latch portion to said released position.

Claim 14

A generally rectangular frame for display cards or the like, said frame being formed by a plurality of frame members having the same cross-sectional shape including inner and outer channels disposed in spaced relationship on opposite sides of a web and opening toward one another parallel to said web, a flange extending outwardly from said web on the same side thereof as said inner channel and spaced therefrom toward said outer channel, said flange extending outwardly from said web a distance approximately at least as great as the width of said inner channel, said frame members being assembled into said frame with said outer channels located at the front outer periphery of said frame and said inner channels located at the rear of said frame, one of said frame members being a separable frame member separably connected to other of said frame members at corner miter joints, at least one of said miter joints including a releasable locking member having a securing portion positioned in said inner channel of one said other frame member and a portion of said inner channel on said one other frame member being deformed closed on said securing portion, said locking member having a latch portion extending from said one other frame member into said inner channel of said separable frame member, said latch portion being resiliently movable to a released position out of said inner channel, and a limited access opening in said flange of one of said frame members for providing access therethrough with a special tool to move said latch portion to said released position.

Claim 15

A generally rectangular frame for display cards or the like, said frame being formed by a plurality of frame members having the same cross-sectional shape including inner and outer channels disposed in spaced relationship on opposite sides of a web and opening toward one another parallel to said web, a flange extending outwardly from said web on the same side thereof as said inner channel and spaced therefrom toward said outer channel, said flange extending outwardly from said web a distance approximately at least as great as the width of said inner channel, said frame members being assembled into said frame with said outer channels located at the front outer periphery of said frame and said inner channels located at the rear of said frame, one of said frame members being a separable frame member separably connected to other of said frame members at corner miter joints, at least one of said miter joints including a releasable locking member having a securing portion positioned in said inner channel of one said other frame member and a portion of said inner channel on said one other frame member being deformed closed on said securing portion, said locking member having a latch portion extending from said one other frame member into said inner channel of said separable frame member, said latch portion being resiliently movable to a released position out of said inner channel, and a limited access opening in said flange of one of said frame members for providing access therethrough with a special tool to move said latch portion to said released position.

Claim 16

The frame as defined in claim 12 wherein said limited access opening is in said flange on said separable frame member.

Claim 17

A holder for a flat member comprising: a frame including separable and holding frame portions, said holding frame portion being generally U-shaped and including opposite legs having spaced-apart leg ends, said holding frame portion including a slideway for receiving edge portions of a flat member and having a slideway entrance between said leg ends normally closed by said separable frame portion, said holding frame portion including mounting means for mounting same to a planar surface; separable joints releasably connecting said separable frame portion to said holding frame portion, at least one of said joints including a releasable locking member movable between locked and released positions, said locking member in said locked position thereof cooperating with said separable frame portion and one of said legs for preventing separation of said separable frame portion from said holding frame portion, said frame having outer walls and said locking member being inaccessably located between said outer walls and a planar surface on which said frame is mountable; and, a limited access opening in one of said walls for providing access therethrough to said locking member with a special tool for moving said locking member to said released position to separate said separable frame portion from said holding frame portion and allow insertion or removal of a flat member with respect to said slideway while said holding frame portion remains mounted on a planar surface.

Claim 18

A holder for a flat member comprising: a frame including separable and holding frame portions, said holding frame portion being generally U-shaped and including opposite legs having spaced-apart leg ends, said holding frame portion including a slideway for receiving edge portions of a flat member and having a slideway entrance between said leg ends normally closed by said separable frame portion, said holding frame portion including mounting means for mounting same to a planar surface; separable joints releasably connecting said separable frame portion to said holding frame portion, at least one of said joints including a releasable locking member movable between locked and released positions, said locking member in said locked position thereof cooperating with said separable frame portion and one of said legs for preventing separation of said separable frame portion from said holding frame portion, said frame having outer walls and said locking member being inaccessably located between said outer walls and a planar surface on which said frame is mountable; and, a limited access opening in one of said walls for providing access therethrough to said locking member with a special tool for moving said locking member to said released position to separate said separable frame portion from said holding frame portion and allow insertion or removal of a flat member with respect to said slideway while said holding frame portion remains mounted on a planar surface.

Claim 19

The holder as defined in claim 14 wherein said locking member is secured to said holding frame portion and in said locked position thereof cooperates with an integral abutment on said separable frame portion.

Claim 20

The holder as defined in claim 14 wherein said frame is formed of extruded metal frame members all having the same cross-sectional shape including a rear inner channel with which said locking member cooperates to releasably secure said separable frame portion to said holding frame portion.

Claim 21

The holder as defined in claim 16 wherein said rear inner channel on said one leg of said holding frame portion is deformed closed on said locking member to secure same to said one leg, and said locking member having a latch portion extending beyond said one leg end for cooperation with said rear inner channel on said separable frame portion.

Claim 22

The holder as defiend in claim 17 wherein said limited access opening is in said separable frame portion.