Picture frame and hanger combination featuring a recessed cord reel
OwnerDeborah L. Folkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A picture frame and hanger combination features a reel for winding and unwinding of the cord, a locking mechanism to lock the cord in any of a number of partially unwound states of different length, and a frame bordering a picture opening for receiving a picture in a position facing outward from the picture opening to a front side of the frame. The frame has a hollow cavity positioned and sized to accommodate the reel and locking mechanism, which may be combined into a single unit, in positions at least partially recessed in the frame and concealed from the front side thereof. The recessing of the reel into the frame avoids bulky installation on the rear of the frame that may otherwise prevent the frame from lying closely against the wall or other upright surface behind the picture frame.
Claims19
A picture frame and hanger combination comprising:
- a reel having a cord secured thereto and being rotatable in opposing directions acting to wind and unwind said cord around said reel;
- a locking mechanism operable to lock the cord in any of a number of partially unwound states each corresponding to a different length of said cord being deployed from around said reel;
- and
- a frame bordering a picture opening in which a picture is mountable in a position facing outward from the picture opening to a front side of the frame, the frame having a hollow cavity positioned and sized to accommodate the reel in a position that is concealed from the front side of the frame behind a front face thereof and is located at least partially between said front face of the frame and an opposing rear face thereof.
A method of producing a picture frame and hanger combination comprising:
- providing a hollow cavity between opposing front and rear faces of a frame that borders a picture opening in which a picture is mountable in a position facing outward from the picture opening to a front side of the frame;
- and
- mounting a reel at least partially within the hollow cavity of the frame, the reel having a cord secured thereto, being rotatable in opposing directions acting to wind and unwind said cord around said reel, and being provided in combination with a locking mechanism operable to lock the cord in any of a number of partially unwound states each corresponding to a different length of said cord being deployed from around said reel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.