Picture frame

Abstract

A frame has channel members extending along each edge of the frame material with each channel member abutting another member at the corner of the framed material. A locking member is slidable between the frame material and the pairs of abutting channel members at each corner of the frame material to hold the channel members together against the frame material. The channel members may have slots therein and the locking members may have protrusions to extend into the slots when the locking member is inserted between the frame material and the channel members. The frame material includes a transparent sheet for displaying an object therethrough and a rigid backing sheet on the other side of the object, and the channel members have a channel width substantially the same as the combined thickness of the transparent sheet, the object, the rigid backing sheet and the locking member. The locking member may also include a spring or other biasing means to create a force between the channel members and the rigid backing sheet to hold the locking member to the channel member. The locking members are L-shaped with outside edges which are inserted between the rigid backing member and the channel members. Along each inside edge of the locking member is an upright member perpendicular to the locking member. The upright member is positioned against the channel members when the locking member is inserted between the frame material and the channel members to prevent relative movement between two adjacent channel members and to provide a grip for removing the locking members. In one embodiment, the slots are tapered, and inserting the protrusion into the slot wedges the channel members together as the protrusions move along the tapered slots.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.