Connector for frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12426729-B2
Application number	US-202318349463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2023
Priority date	Jul 10, 2023
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A connector for repositionably securing a frame to a support surface includes a body having a first face, an opposite second face, a first side edge and an opposite second side edge. The connector has a non-permanent adhesive layer located along the first face and further includes an angled release tab that extends outwardly from the first side edge. One or more projections extend outwardly from the second face and are configured for being received within a rear of the frame for coupling the connector to the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for repositionably securing a frame to a support surface, the connector comprising:
a body having a first face, an opposite second face, a first side edge and an opposite second side edge,
a non-permanent adhesive layer located along the first face;
an angled release tab that extends outwardly from the first side edge and is angled upward from the first face, wherein the angled release tab is integrally formed with the body; and
one or more projections that extend outwardly from the second face and are configured for being received within a rear of the frame for coupling the connector to the frame;
wherein the one or more projections comprise a pair of T-shaped projections, each T-shaped projection having a first leg, a second leg formed perpendicular to the first leg and a nub that is coaxial to the first leg and protrudes outwardly from the second leg, the nub having an exposed first hook that protrudes outwardly therefrom and the first leg having an exposed second hook that protrudes outwardly therefrom, the first and second hooks being coaxial.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the non-permanent adhesive layer comprises a tape structure that is permanently attached to the first face.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the non-permanent adhesive layer comprises a foam layer that is permanently bonded to the first face with the non-permanent adhesive layer coating on an outer surface of the foam layer that faces away from the first face.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an elongated body with the first and second side edges having lengths greater than lengths of two ends of the body.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the angled release tab is formed at an angle other than 90 degrees relative to both the first face and the second face.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein a length of the release tab is less than a length of the first side edge.

7. The connector of claim 1 , wherein an exposed outer edge of the release tab comprises a rounded edge.

8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the angled release tab is angled toward the second face so as to create a gap behind the angled release tab when the connector is positioned against the support surface.

9. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more projections comprise a pair of projections located at opposite ends of the body.

10. A connector and guide assembly for repositionably securing a frame to a support surface, the connector and guide assembly comprising:
a plurality of connectors, each connector comprising:
a body having a first face, an opposite second face, a first side edge and an opposite second side edge,
a non-permanent adhesive layer located along the first face;
an angled release tab that extends outwardly from the first side edge; and
one or more projections that extend outwardly from the second face and are configured for being received within a rear of the frame for coupling the connector to the frame; and

at least one breakable finger that connects one connector to another connector, the at least one breakable finger being detachably coupled to the second side edges of the one connector and the other connector.

11. The connector and guide assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one breakable finger has an S-shape.

12. The connector and guide assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one breakable finger is connected at a first end to the second side edge of the one connector and is connected at a second end to the second side edge of the other connector, the first end including at least one breakable first bridge that attaches the at least one breakable finger to the second side edge, the second end including at least one breakable second bridge that attaches the at least one breakable finger to the second side edge.

13. The connector and guide assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of connectors and the at least one breakable finger are formed of plastic and the at least one breakable finger is integrally formed and connected to the one connector and the other connector.

14. A frame kit configured for being repositionably secured to a support surface, the frame kit comprising:
a frame having a rear face that includes one or more hanging openings;
a connector comprising:
a body having a first face, an opposite second face, a first side edge and an opposite second side edge,
a non-permanent adhesive layer located along the first face;
an angled release tab that extends outwardly from the first side edge; and
one or more projections that extend outwardly from the second face and are configured for being received within the one or more hanging openings of the frame for detachably coupling the connector to the frame;

wherein each hanging opening comprises a first region at a first end of the hanging opening and a second region at an opposite second end of the hanging opening, the first region being separated from the second region by an interface, the first region having a shape different than a shape of the second region.

15. The frame kit of claim 14 , wherein the first region has a U-shape.

16. The frame kit of claim 14 , wherein the first region has a U-shape and the second region has a parabolic shape.

17. The frame kit of claim 16 , wherein the interface extends from legs of the U-shaped first region to an entrance into the parabolic shaped second region.

18. The frame kit of claim 16 , wherein the interface comprises a planar interface located at an open end of the U-shaped first region and laterally outside of an open end of the parabolic second region.

19. The frame kit of claim 16 , wherein the one or more projections comprise a pair of T-shaped projections, each T-shaped projection having a first leg, a second leg formed perpendicular to the first leg and a nub that is coaxial to the first leg and protrudes outwardly from the second leg, the nub having an exposed first hook that protrudes outwardly therefrom and snap-fittingly engages a first undercut edge formed in the parabolic shaped second region and the first leg having an exposed second hook that protrudes outwardly therefrom and snap-fittingly engages a second undercut edge formed in the U-shaped first region, the first and second hooks being coaxial.

20. The frame kit of claim 14 , wherein the first region is closer to a center of the rear panel and the second region is closer to an outer perimeter edge of the rear panel.

Assignees

• Tracer Imaging Llc

Inventors

• Huffman Jessica
• Kelly Ryan
• Spiro Steven M

Classifications

• A47G1/065

  Interconnected frames; Frame assemblies; Frames for two or more pictures · CPC title

• A47G2001/0661

  having means for holding paintings painted on canvas · CPC title

• A47G1/22

  Pin plates · CPC title

• A47G1/1606

  comprising a wall member cooperating with a corresponding picture member · CPC title

• A47G1/175 Primary

  Stretch releasing adhesives · CPC title