Mat structure and method of matting a picture

Claim 1

A mat structure for providing a border around a picture, said mat structure comprising: a first mat having a first opening; a second mat having outer dimensions, said second mat having a second opening, said second opening being substantially equal to or smaller than said first opening, said second opening being aligned with said first opening when said second mat is positioned against a back surface of said first mat; a third mat having a third opening extending through an entire thickness of said third mat, said third opening having dimensions approximately equivalent to said outer dimensions of said second mat, said dimensions of said third opening also being approximately equivalent to outer dimensions of a picture to be matted; and a backing member having a top surface on which said third mat is positioned thereon so that a bottom surface of said third mat directly abuts said top surface of said backing member, said backing member with said third mat being positioned thereon being such that said second mat, when placed within said third opening, directly abuts said top surface of said backing member, said second mat being positioned within said third opening so that said second mat opposes said backing member through said third opening with any picture therebetween, said first mat being positioned over said second mat to align said first and second openings.

Claim 8

A method of matting a picture comprising the steps of: cutting a first opening in a first mat; cutting a second copending in a second mat, said second opening being substantially equal to or smaller than said first opening; cutting a third opening in said second mat extending through an entire thickness of said second mat, said third opening having dimensions approximately equivalent to a picture to be matted, said step of cutting said third opening resulting in a third mat to become separated from said second mat, said third mat having said second opening formed therein; positioning said second mat on a backing member so that a bottom surface of said second mat directly abuts a top surface of said backing member; positioning said picture to be matted within said third opening so as to directly abut against said top surface of said backing member; positioning said third mat within said third opening so that said third mat opposes said picture positioned within said third opening; and positioning a back surface of said first mat against a top surface of said third mat so as to align said second opening with said first opening.

Claim 9

A method of matting a picture comprising the steps of: cutting a first opening in a first mat; cutting a second copending in a second mat, said second opening being substantially equal to or smaller than said first opening; cutting a third opening in said second mat extending through an entire thickness of said second mat, said third opening having dimensions approximately equivalent to a picture to be matted, said step of cutting said third opening resulting in a third mat to become separated from said second mat, said third mat having said second opening formed therein; positioning said second mat on a backing member so that a bottom surface of said second mat directly abuts a top surface of said backing member; positioning said picture to be matted within said third opening so as to directly abut against said top surface of said backing member; positioning said third mat within said third opening so that said third mat opposes said picture positioned within said third opening; and positioning a back surface of said first mat against a top surface of said third mat so as to align said second opening with said first opening.