Back to results
US 5,090,835 AGranted
Picture frame connecting system
OwnerEugene J. Coxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of frame members adapted to be joined one to another in a picture frame configuration. End portions of the frame members have "T" shaped slots, with adjacent slots comprising a combined "H" shaped recess. There are matching "H" shaped connectors which fit into pairs of adjacent slots to form the picture frame. The relative dimensions of the connector and the recesses are arranged so that limited rotational movement between adjacent end portions of the frame members are permitted so as to accommodate irregularities or skewing in the frame members.
Claims20
A picture frame connecting system, comprising:
- a) a plurality of perimeter frame members adapted to be joined one to another in a picture frame configuration, each frame member having end portions with mitered end surfaces, with the frame members being adapted to be positioned with the end surfaces of adjacent end portions positioned against one another at a related inner location;
- b) said end portions each being formed with a recess comprising:
- i. a leg recess portion which has an inner end that opens to the end surface of the related end portion and an outer end, and also has side leg recess surface portions which extend along a leg axis and define said leg recess portion;
- ii. a cross recess portion which has a lengthwise cross axis which extends generally transversely to the leg axis, said cross recess portion connecting to the outer end of the leg recess portion and extending laterally therefrom, said cross recess portion having a first inwardly positioned recess surface portion which extends laterally from the leg recess portion, a second outwardly position recess surface portion facing said first recess surface portion, and third and fourth oppositely positioned side recess surface portions;
- c) said recess being configured as follows:
- i. the side leg recess surface portions being spaced from one another by a first leg width recess dimension;
- ii. the third and fourth side surface portion being spaced from one another by a second cross recess transverse dimension;
- d) the recesses of adjacent end portions of two frame members being positioned in a manner that with the two frame members in the frame configuration, the leg recess portions of the adjacent end portions are positioned adjacent to one another to form a connecting recess area made up of the leg recess portions of the adjacent end portions;
- e) at least one connecting member adapted to fit into a pair of adjacent recesses, said connecting member comprising a leg member configured to fit in the connecting recess area and two cross members configured to fit into the cross recess portions of the adjacent recesses, each cross member having an inner surface which contacts said first inwardly positioned recess surface portion during insertion;
- f) the distance between said first inwardly positioned recess surface portions when said frame members are joined being substantially equal to the distance between the inner surfaces of the two cross members;
- g) said leg member having side surfaces and a leg width dimension which is equal to a distance between said side surfaces;
- h) each cross member having two side surfaces spaced transversely from one another by a transverse cross member dimension;
- i) said leg width dimension being less than the first leg width recess dimension by a predetermined leg dimension gap, and said second cross recess dimension being greater than said transverse cross member dimension by a predetermined cross dimension gap, said leg dimension gap and said cross dimension gap being sufficiently great so that the connector positioned in the adjacent recesses permits limited rotational movement of one frame member with respect to an adjacent frame member within a plane defined by the adjacent end surface portions of the two end members while said connector firmly holds said end surface portions together, said limited rotational movement relieving any twisting stress generated along the individual frame members during insertion of said connector.
10 more elements
A connector to be used in a picture frame connecting system where the system comprises:
- a) a plurality of perimeter frame members adapted to be joined one to another in a picture frame configuration, each frame member having end portions with mitered end surfaces, with the frame members being adapted to be positioned with the end surfaces of adjacent end portions positioned against one another at a related inner location;
- b) said frame members being characterized in that said end portions have a recess, comprising:
- i. a leg recess portion which has an inner end that opens to the end surface of the related end portion and an outer end, and also has side leg recess surface portions which extend along a leg axis and define said leg recess portion;
- ii. a cross recess portion which has a lengthwise cross axis which extends generally transversely to the leg axis, said cross recess portion connecting to the outer end of the leg recess portion and extending laterally therefrom, said cross recess portion having a first inwardly positioned recess surface portion which extends laterally from the leg recess portion, a second outwardly positioned recess surface portion facing said first recess surface portion, and third and fourth oppositely positioned side recess surface portions;
- c) said recess being configured as follows:
- i. the side leg recess surface portions being spaced from one another by a first leg width recess dimension;
- ii. the third and fourth side surface portions being spaced from one another by a second cross recess transverse dimension;
- d) the recesses of adjacent end portions of two frame members being positioned in a manner that with the two frame members in the frame configuration, the leg recess portions of the adjacent end portions are positioned adjacent to one another to form a connecting recess area made up of the leg recess portions of the adjacent end portions;
- e) at least one connecting member adapted to fit into a pair of adjacent recesses, said connecting member comprising:
- a) a leg member configured to fit in the connecting recess area;
- and
- b) two cross members configured to fit into the cross recess portions of the adjacent recesses, each cross member having an inner surface which contacts said first inwardly positioned recess surface portion during insertion, wherein the distance between said first inwardly positioned recess surface portions when said frame members are joined being substantially equal to the distance between the inner surfaces of the two cross members;
- c) said leg member having side surfaces and a leg width dimension which is equal to a distance between the side surfaces;
- d) each cross member having two side surfaces spaced transversely from one another by a transverse cross member dimension;
- e) said leg width dimension being less than the first leg width recess dimension by a predetermined leg dimension gap, and said second cross recess dimension being greater than said transverse cross member dimension by a predetermined cross dimension gap, said leg dimension gap and said cross dimension gap being sufficiently great so that the connector positioned in the adjacent recesses permits limited rotational movement of one frame member with respect to an adjacent frame member within a plane defined by the adjacent end surface portions of the two end members while said connector firmly holds said end surface portions together, said limited rotational movement relieving any twisting stress generated along the individual frame members during insertion of said connector.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.