Canvas stretcher retaining clip for picture frames

A clip means retaining a canvas stretcher frame having a polygonical outer peripheral configuration with a rabbet groove formed about a central opening of a decorative picture frame, said stretcher frame comprising a plurality of wooden bars having a first rearwardly extending edge forming the outer periphery of said stretcher frame and a second rearwardly extending edge spaced from said first edge and defining a front and rear face therebetween, said rabbet groove having the same polygonical configuration as the canvas stretcher and being defined by a rearwardly facing ledge for abutting a peripheral portion of the front face of the stretcher frame and an inwardly facing surface extending rearwardly from said ledge and facing the outer periphery of the stretcher frame, said outer periphery of the stretcher frame being spaced from said inwardly facing surface of said rabbet groove to define a clearance space therebetween, said clip comprising a resilient metallic wire rod having a circular cross sectional configuration of a diameter no greater than said clearance space, said rod having an elongated central body portion of a length greater than the distance between said first and second edges, said body having first and second ends, a first leg extending from said first end away from said body portion, a second leg extending from said second end, said first and second legs being disposed on the same side of a plane passing through said first and second ends of said body portion, said first and second legs being angularly inclined toward each other inwardly relative to said body portion, said first leg terminating at a pointed protuberance directed oppositely to said body portion and away from said second end for piercing said inwardly facing surface of said rabbet groove when said body portion has been positioned in overlaying relationship with said rear face of a bar, said second leg terminating in a retaining portion extending toward said first leg for forcibly abutting the second rearwardly extending edge of said bar, said protuberance and a portion of said first leg being adapted to be inserted into said clearance space with said central body portion disposed in overlaying relationship with said clearance space and thereafter rotated so that said body portion overlies said rear face, thereby to permit said body portion to be movable toward said rear face to forcibly abut said retaining portion with said second rearwardly extending edge to secure said bar within said rabbet.