Picture frame assemblies

Claim 2

A frame assembly comprising a plurality of border members arranged end to end to form a frame, each border member having a front, side and rear wall including a channel defined at least in part by said rear wall, said rear wall having a slot extending substantially the length thereof and opening into said channel, a plurality of corner brackets securing a different pair of adjacent border members together, and at least one hanger bracket for attaching the frame to a wall or the like, each of said corner brackets and hanger brackets comprising a flat base member having a pair of spaced ribs extending parallel to each other outwardly from one surface, each of said ribs having a flange at the end thereof, the flange of one rib extending in a direction opposite to that of the other rib, said ribs being flexible relative to said base members so as to be insertable within said slot having said flanges engage the inner surface of said rear wall.

Claim 3

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said ribs are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the span of said slot.

Claim 4

The assembly according to claim 2 wherein said flanges have barbed edges.

Claim 5

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said brackets are made of plastic.

Claim 6

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said brackets are made of aluminum.

Claim 7

The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the base of said corner bracket is formed of a pair of arms set at an angle to each other conforming to the angle at which the corresponding pair of adjacent border members are arranged, each of said arms being provided with a pair of spaced ribs.

Claim 8

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said corner brackets are provided with an aperture therein located between said ribs, and is provided with a wedge insertable within said aperture to distend said ribs.

Claim 9

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bottom edge of the base of said hanger bracket is provided with at least one notch.

Claim 10

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the base of said hanger bracket is provided with at least one screw or nail hole.

Claim 11

A bracket for a frame having a plurality of border members, at least one of which has a front, side and rear wall including a channel defined at least in part by said rear wall, said rear wall having a longitudinal slot opening into said channel, said bracket comprising a substantial flat base having a pair of spaced ribs extending substantial parallel to each other outwardly from one surface, each of said ribs having a flange at the end thereof, the flange of one rib extending in a direction opposite to that of the other rib, said ribs being substantially rigid but flexibly movable relative to said base and insertable through said slot into said channel so that said flanges resiliently engage the inner surface of said rear wall.

Claim 12

A bracket for a frame having a plurality of border members, at least one of which has a front, side and rear wall including a channel defined at least in part by said rear wall, said rear wall having a longitudinal slot opening into said channel, said bracket comprising a substantial flat base having a pair of spaced ribs extending substantial parallel to each other outwardly from one surface, each of said ribs having a flange at the end thereof, the flange of one rib extending in a direction opposite to that of the other rib, said ribs being substantially rigid but flexibly movable relative to said base and insertable through said slot into said channel so that said flanges resiliently engage the inner surface of said rear wall.

Claim 13

The bracket according to claim 10 wherein said ribs are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the span of slot.

Claim 14

A frame assembly formed of a plurality of peripheral members arranged end to end to form an enclosed frame, each peripheral member having a front, side and rear wall including a channel defined at least in part by said rear wall, said rear wall having a slot extending substantially the length thereof and opening into said channel, a plurality of angular connectors respectively securing a different pair of adjacent border members together, said angular connectors comprising a pair of substantial flat base members each having a pair of spaced ribs extending parallel to each other outwardly from one surface, each of said ribs having a flange at the end thereof, the flange of one rib extending in a direction opposite to that of the other rib, said ribs being substantially rigid but flexibly movable relative to said base and insertable through said slot into said channel so that said flanges resiliently engage the inner surface of said rear wall.

Claim 15

A frame assembly formed of a plurality of peripheral members arranged end to end to form an enclosed frame, each peripheral member having a front, side and rear wall including a channel defined at least in part by said rear wall, said rear wall having a slot extending substantially the length thereof and opening into said channel, a plurality of angular connectors respectively securing a different pair of adjacent border members together, said angular connectors comprising a pair of substantial flat base members each having a pair of spaced ribs extending parallel to each other outwardly from one surface, each of said ribs having a flange at the end thereof, the flange of one rib extending in a direction opposite to that of the other rib, said ribs being substantially rigid but flexibly movable relative to said base and insertable through said slot into said channel so that said flanges resiliently engage the inner surface of said rear wall.

Claim 16

The assembly according to claim 12 wherein said ribs are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the span of said slot.

Claim 17

The assembly according to claim 12 wherein said flanges have barbed edges.

Claim 18

The assembly according to claim 12 wherein the base of said angular connector is formed of a pair of arms set at an angle to each other conforming to the angle at which the corresponding pair of adjacent border members are arranged, each of said arms being provided with a pair of spaced ribs, the ribs of one arm extending to meet the ribs of the other arm in a mitred joint.

Claim 19

The assembly according to claim 12 wherein said angular connectors are provided with an aperture therein located between said ribs, and is provided with a wedge insertable within said aperture to distend said ribs.

Claim 20

A hanger for a frame assembly formed of a plurality of border members, at least one of which has a front side and rear wall including a channel defined at least in part by said rear wall, said rear wall having a longitudinal slot opening into said channels, said hanger comprising a base member having a pair of spaced ribs extending substantially parallel to each other outwardly from one surface, each of said ribs having a flange at the end thereof, the flange of one rib extending in a direction opposite to that of the other rib, said ribs being substantially rigid but flexibly movable relative to said base and insertable through said slot into said channel so that said flanges resilient engage the inner surface of said rear wall.

Claim 21

A hanger for a frame assembly formed of a plurality of border members, at least one of which has a front side and rear wall including a channel defined at least in part by said rear wall, said rear wall having a longitudinal slot opening into said channels, said hanger comprising a base member having a pair of spaced ribs extending substantially parallel to each other outwardly from one surface, each of said ribs having a flange at the end thereof, the flange of one rib extending in a direction opposite to that of the other rib, said ribs being substantially rigid but flexibly movable relative to said base and insertable through said slot into said channel so that said flanges resilient engage the inner surface of said rear wall.

Claim 22

The hanger according to claim 17 wherein said ribs are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the span of said slot.

Claim 23

The hanger according to claim 17 wherein said flanges have barbed edges.

Claim 24

The hanger according to claim 17 wherein said bracket is provided with an aperture therein located between said ribs, and is provided with a wedge insertable within said aperture to distend said ribs.

Claim 25

The hanger according to claim 17 wherein the bottom edge of said base is provided with at least one notch.

Claim 26

The hanger according to claim 17 wherein said base is provided with at least one screw or nail hole.