US4377915A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corner frame
Assignee: FRAMELOK Inc
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Filing: 1981-05-19
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Granted: 1983-03-29
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Expires: 2001-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A novel picture frame is provided herein. The picture frame is made up of a plurality of unitary members having identically shaped cross-sections and joined end-to-end to enclose a predetermined area. Each of the members has, in cross-section, a channel having a base, a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of inwardly directed flanges to define an open face and a slot to receive a material to be displayed in the area. The picture frame includes an L-shaped locking bracket within the channel. The locking bracket is of generally rectangular, hollow, cross-section, having an upper roof, a pair of opposed side walls and a split base, the split base having mutually opposed beveled edges. One or more internally threaded holes are provided in the roof with a set screw provided in each one. When the set screw is tightened, it engages the split base and forces selected portions at the opposed side walls of the locking bracket against the corresponding opposed side walls of the channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Efthimios Zossimas
- 👤 Michael Dodis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:30
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G1/00; A47G1/06; A47G1/10; A47G1/101; A47G1/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A picture frame comprising: a plurality of unitary members having identically shaped cross-sections and joined end-to-end to enclose a predetermined area, each of said members having in cross-section, a channel having a base, a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of inwardly directed flanges to define an open face and a slot to receive a material to be displayed in said area; and an L-shaped locking bracket within said channel, said locking bracket being of generally rectangular hollow cross-section, having an upper roof, a pair of opposed side walls and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges, and an internally threaded hole in said roof with a set screw provided therein which, when tightened, engages said split base and forces selected portions at said opposed side walls of said locking bracket against the corresponding opposed side walls of said channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A picture frame comprising: a plurality of unitary members having identically shaped cross-sections and joined end-to-end to enclose a predetermined area, each of said members having in cross-section, a channel having a base, a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of inwardly directed flanges to define an open face and a slot to receive a material to be displayed in said area; and an L-shaped locking bracket within said channel, said locking bracket being of generally rectangular hollow cross-section, having an upper roof, a pair of opposed side walls and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges, and an internally threaded hole in said roof with a set screw provided therein which, when tightened, engages said split base and forces selected portions at said opposed side walls of said locking bracket against the corresponding opposed side walls of said channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The picture frame of claim 1 wherein said split base comprises a longitudinally split wall opposite to said internally threaded hole in said roof, said split defining a pair of cooperating beveled lateral abutting camming edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The picture frame of claim 1 wherein said split base includes an aperture therein, said aperture being aligned with, and opposite to, said internally threaded hole, said aperture having countersunk apertured walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The picture frame of claim 1 wherein said split base includes an aperture therein, said aperture being aligned with, and opposite to, said internally threaded hole, said aperture having raised, beveled conical walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
In combination, a picture frame molding formed from pieces of molding mitered at their free ends and a clamping assembly for interconnecting said pieces, said molding having a front, an inner side, an outer side and a back, said molding having a picture-retaining formation on its inner side, said molding having a generally rectangular channel with side walls adapted to house said clamping assembly, said clamping assembly comprising: a locking bracket of generally L-shape and being of generally rectangular hollow cross-section, and having an upper roof, a pair of opposed side walls and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges, an internally threaded hole in said roof, and bolts extending through said holes and threadedly engaging therein, said bolts when tightened engaging said split base and thereby to tighten and forcingly to clamp selected portions at said opposed side walls of said clamping assembly against corresponding opposed side walls of said generally rectangular channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
In combination, a picture frame molding formed from pieces of molding mitered at their free ends and a clamping assembly for interconnecting said pieces, said molding having a front, an inner side, an outer side and a back, said molding having a picture-retaining formation on its inner side, said molding having a generally rectangular channel with side walls adapted to house said clamping assembly, said clamping assembly comprising: a locking bracket of generally L-shape and being of generally rectangular hollow cross-section, and having an upper roof, a pair of opposed side walls and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges, an internally threaded hole in said roof, and bolts extending through said holes and threadedly engaging therein, said bolts when tightened engaging said split base and thereby to tighten and forcingly to clamp selected portions at said opposed side walls of said clamping assembly against corresponding opposed side walls of said generally rectangular channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The picture frame of claim 5 wherein split base comprises a longitudinally split wall opposite to, said internally threaded hole in said roof said split defining a pair of cooperating beveled lateral abutting camming edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The picture frame of claim 5 wherein said split base includes an aperture therein, said aperture being aligned with, and opposite to, said internally threaded hole, said aperture having countersunk apertured walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The picture frame of claim 5 wherein said split base includes an aperture therein, said aperture being aligned with, and opposite to, said internally threaded hole, said aperture having raised, beveled conical walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a picture frame formed from frame sections, each of said frame sections having a generally rectangular channel, an improved means for securing an adjacent pair of said sections together at a corner junction comprising: (a) an L-shaped, hollow, generally rectangular locking bracket constituted by an upper roof, a pair of opposed side walls and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges and having a pair of legs disposed at an angle substantially identical to the angle made by said frame sections at said corner junction, said legs being adapted to fit within the said channels of adjacent frame sections at said corner junction, said legs being of a width which is sufficient to retain said bracket within said channels; and (b) locking means for uging selected portions at the side walls towards the sides of said channels, said locking means being manually operable for engaging said split base and, thereby to cause movement of selected portions at said opposed side walls of said bracket leg towards the corresponding opposed side walls of said frame section engaged therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a picture frame formed from frame sections, each of said frame sections having a generally rectangular channel, an improved means for securing an adjacent pair of said sections together at a corner junction comprising: (a) an L-shaped, hollow, generally rectangular locking bracket constituted by an upper roof, a pair of opposed side walls and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges and having a pair of legs disposed at an angle substantially identical to the angle made by said frame sections at said corner junction, said legs being adapted to fit within the said channels of adjacent frame sections at said corner junction, said legs being of a width which is sufficient to retain said bracket within said channels; and (b) locking means for uging selected portions at the side walls towards the sides of said channels, said locking means being manually operable for engaging said split base and, thereby to cause movement of selected portions at said opposed side walls of said bracket leg towards the corresponding opposed side walls of said frame section engaged therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The picture frame of claim 9 wherein said split base comprises a longitudinally split wall opposite to, said internally threaded hole in said roof said split defining a pair of cooperating beveled lateral abutting camming edges.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The picture frame of claim 9 wherein said split base includes an aperture therein, said aperture being aligned with, and opposite to, said internally threaded hole, said aperture having countersunk apertured walls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The picture frame of claim 9 wherein said split base includes an aperture therein, said aperture being aligned with, and opposite to, said internally threaded hole, said aperture having raised, beveled conical walls.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The picture frame of claims 2, 6 or 10 wherein said locking bracket includes screw means engaging a portion of the inside face of said longitudinally split wall, thereby to urge selected portions at the side walls of said locking bracket into frictional engagement mainly with adjacent respective side walls of said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The picture frame of 2, 6 or 10 wherein said locking bracket includes screw means engaging overlapped beveled edges of the inside face of said longitudinally split wall, thereby to urge selected portions at the side walls of said locking bracket into frictional engagement mainly with adjacent respective side wall of said channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The picture frame of 2, 6 or 10 wherein said locking bracket includes screw means engaging overlapped beveled edges of the inside face of said longitudinally split wall, thereby to urge selected portions at the side walls of said locking bracket into frictional engagement mainly with adjacent respective side wall of said channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The picture frame of claims 3, 7 or 11 wherein said locking bracket includes screw means engaging the wider open end of the countersunk apertured walls of the aperture which defines a frusto-conical cup on the bottom of said locking bracket, thereby to urge selected portions at the side walls of said locking bracket into frictional engagement mainly with adjacent respective side walls of said channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
The picture frame of claims 4, 8 or 12 wherein said locking bracket includes screw means engaging the wider open end of the raised beveled conical walls of the aperture which defines a countersunk frusto-conical hole in the bottom of said locking bracket, thereby to urge selected portions at the side walls of said locking bracket into frictional engagement mainly with adjacent respective side walls of said channel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of securing picture frame members together at a corner by means of a hollow rectangular cross-section locking corner constituted by an upper roof, having an internally threaded aperture therethrough, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges, which locking corner is inserted within a rectangular cross-section channel in the frame members, which method comprises: threading a screw into said internally threaded aperture in said upper roof of the locking corner to engage means only on the mutually opposed split base, thereby to force selected portions at the side walls into frictional engagement mainly with adjacent respective side walls of said channel.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of securing picture frame members together at a corner by means of a hollow rectangular cross-section locking corner constituted by an upper roof, having an internally threaded aperture therethrough, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and a split base, said split base having mutually opposed beveled edges, which locking corner is inserted within a rectangular cross-section channel in the frame members, which method comprises: threading a screw into said internally threaded aperture in said upper roof of the locking corner to engage means only on the mutually opposed split base, thereby to force selected portions at the side walls into frictional engagement mainly with adjacent respective side walls of said channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-28 | 1986-09-27 | 1987-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-28 | 1990-09-27 | 1991-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-28 | 1994-09-27 | 1995-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |