Frame apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12035823-B2
Application number	US-202318112647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2023
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A frame apparatus for displaying an article. The frame apparatus includes a support structure having a frame and a backer panel. A plurality of slots are formed into the backer panel that include a first slot that is elongated along a first axis that is parallel to top and bottom edges of the support structure and a second slot that is elongated along a second axis that is parallel to lateral edges of the support structure. The frame apparatus may include a hanging element for hanging the support structure from a support surface such as a wall. The hanging element may be configured to be slidably coupled to the support structure such that the hanging element can slide back and forth within one of the slots while remaining coupled to the support structure. This structure enables the frame apparatus to move side-to-side along the support surface while hanging therefrom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:
a frame comprising a rabbet;
a backer panel positioned in the rabbet of the frame;
a plurality of slots formed into the backer panel, the plurality of slots comprising:
at least one slot that is elongated along a first axis; and
at least one slot that is elongated along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and

at least one hanging element configured to be slidably coupled to the backer panel within one of the at least one slots without contacting the frame, the at least one hanging element comprising a mounting portion for hanging the frame apparatus from a support surface.

2. The frame apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the backer panel comprises a front surface and a rear surface, and wherein each of the plurality of slots is an aperture that extends through the backer panel from the front surface of the backer panel to the rear surface of the backer panel.

3. The frame apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hanging element comprises a coupling portion that is configured to extend through the one of the at least one slots when the at least one hanging element is slidably coupled to the backer panel, wherein the mounting portion is coupled to the coupling portion and protrudes from a rear surface of the backer panel.

4. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:
a frame comprising a rabbet;
a backer panel positioned in the rabbet of the frame;
a plurality of slots formed into the backer panel, the plurality of slots comprising:
at least one slot that is elongated along a first axis; and
at least one slot that is elongated along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and

wherein the backer panel comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein the plurality of slots comprises a first set of slots that extend in a direction parallel to the transverse axis and a second set of slots that extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the slots of the first set of slots are all located on a same side of the transverse axis at different distances from the transverse axis, and wherein the slots of the second set of slots are all located on a same side of the longitudinal axis at different distances from the longitudinal axis.

5. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:
a frame comprising a rabbet;
a backer panel positioned in the rabbet of the frame, the backer panel comprising a bottom edge, a top edge, a first lateral edge extending between the top and bottom edges, a second lateral edge extending between the top and bottom edges, and a longitudinal axis that extends between the top and bottom edges;
a plurality of slots formed into the backer panel, the plurality of slots comprising a first set of slots located between the longitudinal axis and the first lateral edge of the backer panel, the first set of slots comprising a first slot and a second slot that are elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the first slot being located a first distance from the first lateral edge of the backer panel and the second slot being located a second distance from the first lateral edge of the backer panel, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

6. The frame apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first set of slots comprises a third slot that is elongated in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the third slot being located a third distance from the first lateral edge of the backer panel, the third distance being greater than the second distance.

7. The frame apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:
the backer panel comprising a transverse axis that extends between the first and second lateral edges; and
wherein the plurality of slots comprises a second set of slots located between the transverse axis and the top edge of the backer panel, the second set of slots comprising a fourth slot and a fifth slot that are elongated in a direction parallel to the transverse axis, the fourth slot being located a fourth distance from the top edge of the backer panel and the fifth slot being located a fifth distance from the top edge of the backer panel, the fifth distance being greater than the fourth distance.

8. The frame apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the second set of slots comprises a sixth slot that is elongated in the direction parallel to the transverse axis, the sixth slot being located a sixth distance from the top edge of the backer panel, the sixth distance being greater than the fifth distance.

9. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:
a frame comprising a rabbet;
a backer panel positioned in the rabbet of the frame, the backer panel comprising a longitudinal axis that extends between top and bottom edges and a transverse axis that extends between first and second lateral edges;
a plurality of slots formed into the backer panel, the plurality of slots comprising:
a first set of slots located between the longitudinal axis and the first lateral edge, the first set of slots being elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the slots of the first set of slots being spaced a different distance from the first lateral edge of the backer panel; and
a second set of slots located between the transverse axis and the top edge, the second set of slots being elongated in a direction parallel to the transverse axis, each of the slots of the second set of slots being spaced a different distance from the top edge of the backer panel.

10. A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:
a frame comprising a rabbet;
a stack located in the rabbet, the stack comprising a backer panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge;
a plurality of slots formed through the backer panel, the plurality of slots comprising:
a first slot that is elongated along a first axis, the first slot being located adjacent to one of the first and second lateral edges of the backer panel;
a second slot that is elongated along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the second slot being located adjacent to one of the top and bottom edges of the backer panel; and

at least one hanging element slidably coupled to the backer panel within one of the plurality of slots, the at least one hanging element comprising a mounting portion for hanging the frame apparatus from a support surface.

11. The frame apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second slots do not intersect.

12. The frame apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first axis does not intersect the second slot and wherein the second axis does not intersect the first slot.

13. The frame apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the hanging element is slidable within the one of the plurality of slots along a respective one of the first and second axes while remaining coupled to the frame apparatus, and wherein the hanging element is prevented from sliding between the first and second slots without first being detached from the frame apparatus.

14. The frame apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the backer panel comprises a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface, and wherein each of the plurality of slots is an aperture formed through the backer panel.

15. The frame apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the stack comprises the backer panel and a glazing, and wherein at least a po

Assignees

• Mcs Industries Inc

Inventors

• Hernandez Luis Jaime
• Fragoso Martin Zamorano
• Pyle Michael Lee
• Coyle Jr Robert Terry
• Kressin Matthew Scott

Classifications

• A47G1/16

  Devices for hanging or supporting pictures, mirrors, or the like · CPC title

• A47G1/0605 Primary

  made from extruded or moulded profiles, e.g. of plastic or metal · CPC title

• A47G1/1626

  and being adjustable · CPC title

• A47G1/202

  adjustable · CPC title

• A47G1/08 Primary

  adjustable {(A47G1/0644 takes precedence)} · CPC title