Frame apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021169240-A1
Application number	US-202117178558-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 18, 2021
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Jun 10, 2021
Grant date	—

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 also includes a hanging element for hanging the support structure from a support surface such as a wall. The hanging element is 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 support structure comprising a rear surface; a plurality of slots located on the rear surface of the support structure, the plurality of slots comprising:
a first slot that is elongated along a first axis;
a second slot that is elongated along the first axis, the second slot being spaced apart from the first slot by a gap so that the second slot is not continuous with the first slot; and
a third slot that is elongated along a second axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis, at least a portion of the third slot being aligned with the gap between the first and second slots; and
at least one hanging element slidably coupled to the support structure within one of the plurality of slots, the at least one hanging element comprising a mounting portion for hanging the support structure from a support surface.

2 . The frame apparatus according to claim 1 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 support structure, and wherein the hanging element is prevented from sliding between the first and second slots without first being detached from the support structure.

3 . The frame apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
the support structure comprising a top edge and a bottom edge opposite the top edge;
wherein the first and second slots are located adjacent to the top edge of the support structure and the first axis is parallel to the top edge of the support structure; and
wherein the third slot is located adjacent to the bottom edge of the support structure and the second axis is parallel to the bottom edge of the support structure.

4 . The frame apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the third slot is aligned with each of the first and second slots and with the gap between the first and second slots so that a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes intersects the third slot and the first slot, a fourth axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes intersects the third slot and the second slot, and a fifth axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes intersects the third slot and the gap.

5 . The frame apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a frame comprising a rabbet and a backer panel located within the rabbet of the frame, the backer panel being held in the rabbet with a retaining mechanism.

6 . The frame apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the backer panel comprises a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface, the rear surface of the backer panel forming at least a portion of the rear surface of the support structure, and wherein each of the plurality of slots is an aperture formed through the backer panel.

7 . The frame apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a stack located within the rabbet of the frame, the stack comprising the backer panel and a glazing, and wherein at least a portion of the hanging element is positioned between the front surface of the backer panel and the glazing.

8 . The frame apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a frame and a backer panel, and wherein each of the plurality of slots is an aperture formed through the backer panel.

9 . The frame apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of slots comprises:
a fourth slot that is elongated along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes;
a fifth slot that is elongated along the third axis, the fifth slot being spaced apart from the fourth slot by a gap so that the fifth slot is not continuous with the fourth slot; and
a sixth slot that is elongated along a fourth axis that is parallel to the third axis, at least a portion of the sixth slot being aligned with the gap between the fourth and fifth slots.

10 . The frame apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first, second, and third slots do not intersect any of the fourth, fifth, or sixth slots.

11 . The frame apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the support structure comprises a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge, the first and second slots being adjacent to the top edge, the third slot being adjacent to the bottom edge, the fourth and fifth slots being adjacent to the first lateral edge, and the sixth slot being adjacent to the second lateral edge, and wherein the support structure comprises a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the second axis and equidistant to the first and second lateral edges and a transverse axis that is parallel to the first axis and is equidistant to the top and bottom edges, wherein the first and second slots are located on a first side of the transverse axis and the third slot is located on a second side of the transverse axis, and wherein the fourth and fifth slots are located on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the sixth slot is located on a second side of the longitudinal axis.

12 . The frame apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the first, second, and third slots comprises an upper edge having a plurality of spaced apart receiving notches, each of the receiving notches being configured to receive a portion of a fastener that is coupled to a support surface to hang the support structure from the support surface.

13 . A frame apparatus for displaying an article, the frame apparatus comprising:
a support structure comprising a rear surface; a plurality of slots formed into the rear surface of the support structure, 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, wherein the at least one slot that is elongated along the second axis does not intersect the at least one slot that is elongated along the first axis; and
at least one hanging element slidably coupled to the support structure within one of the plurality of slots, the at least one hanging element comprising a mounting portion for hanging the support structure from a support surface.

14 . The frame apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the support structure comprises a frame and a backer panel, and wherein each of the plurality of slots is an aperture formed through the backer panel.

15 . The frame apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the at least one slot that is elongated along the first axis comprises a first slot and a second slot that are spaced apart by a first gap so that the at least one hanging element cannot slide from the first slot to the second slot without being detached from the support surface.

16 . The frame apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the at least one slot that is elongated along the second axis comprises a fourth slot and a fifth slot that are spaced apart by a second gap so that the at least one hanging element cannot slide from the fourth slot to the fifth slot without being detached from the support surface.

17 . The frame apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the support structure comprises a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the second axis and a transverse axis that is parallel to the first axis, wherein the longitudinal axis intersects the first gap and the transverse axis intersects the second gap.

18 . The frame apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the support structure comprises a transverse axis that is parallel to the f

Assignees

• Mcs Industries Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A47G1/0605 Primary

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

• A47G1/202

  adjustable · CPC title

• A47G1/08 Primary

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

• A47G1/16

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

• A47G1/1626

  and being adjustable · CPC title