Technical Field

[0001] Some embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to improved frames and methods of making and using the improved frames. In some embodiments, the present disclosure generally relates to a unique picture/photo frame construction that allows the user to easily access and change pictures or photos from the front without having to remove the entire frame construction from the wall.

Background

[0002] Hanging pictures or other items on a wall often requires precise measurements to ensure that the picture is level, or that two pictures are aligned. Hanging a picture usually involves attachment means

(e.g. , nails, screws hangers, or hooks) that secure the picture to a wall. Numerous attachment mechanisms exist. Conventional picture hangers often include a hook that is fastened to the wall. Such hooks typically curve upwards and are configured for receiving a support bracket of a picture frame or piece of art.

[0003] However, there are problems with the traditional method of hanging pictures. Many attachment mechanisms require expensive or cumbersome tools for insertion. Others are able to hold only a prescribed weight such that if you wish to hang initially a light item, and then later replace it with a heavier item, you must then remove the existing picture hanger and replace it with a different one that can accommodate the heavier weight. Some attachment mechanisms come out of the wall too easily, or fall out if not applied properly or if used to hang a heavy item. And, depending upon what type of backing hardware is on the back of the picture or item to be hung, a user might need to choose a different wall hanger to accommodate the hardware on the item to be hung.

[0004] Another problem is that when the user wants to place a picture in a precise position on a wall, it may be difficult because the hook(s) on the picture frame do not line up directly with where the nail or screw is located. Additional problems exist when trying to align two different pictures, because hooks on different picture frames are not in the same location on the frame with respect to the top of the picture frame. This presents a problem because merely aligning nails on a wall does not guarantee that the pictures themselves will be aligned with each other. Figuring out where to put a nail or screw into a wall is therefor often time-consuming and tedious.

[0005] Additional problems with hanging pictures in the standard way are related to how large pictures are hung on walls. Large pictures often have multiple hooks on the frame to distribute the weight of the picture. Consequently, a user must use multiple nails or hooks, creating numerous damaged locations to the wall. Further, the user has to get the multiple nails or hooks exactly level in order for the item to be hung to be level when hung, which can be a challenging and frustrating task. [0006] Currently, the standard way to reposition a picture that is not level or at a proper height, is to take the picture off of the wall, then remove the nail or screw from the wall, then place that nail in a different location, re-hang the picture, and determine whether the picture is at the desired height. If the picture is not at the desired height, you must repeat the process all over again. This process of aligning and leveling pictures through trial error is time consuming and produces unnecessary permanent holes in a user's wall.

[0007] Another way to reposition a picture that is not level is to use 3M COMMAND™ Picture Hanging Strips. These permit the user to remove the picture from the wall and reposition it on the wall without causing damage to the wall.

[0008] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0121 193 describes a front-loading picture frame including a base frame that has a front surface and a back surface. A metal sheet made of a magnetically attracting metal is attached to the base frame. The magnetically attracting metal sheet will draw a first magnet toward the metal. A clear lens is attached to the front surface of the base frame. The lens has an interior surface that faces the base frame. A first magnet is attached to the clear lens. The first magnet is attracted to the metal sheet by a magnetic force. The magnetic force holds the clear lens tightly in position on the front surface of the base frame.

Summary

[0009] The improved picture frame construction described herein addresses may of the above needs. Additionally, the improved picture frame of the present disclosure permits a user to update the picture or photo in the frame without requiring the user to re-hang the frame. The embodiments described and claimed herein greatly simplify the process of changing pictures in a framed construction.

[0010] The present disclosure generally relates to a unique picture/photo frame construction that allows the user to easily access and change pictures or photos from the front without having to remove the entire frame construction from the wall. In some embodiments, the proposed frame construction utilizes two separate sets of couplable fasteners. The first set of couplable fasteners secures the base of the frame to the wall. The second set of couplable fasteners secures the outer/decorative frame/glass assembly to the base of the frame. The second set of couplable fasteners preferably has a release force that is lower than the release force of the first set of couplable fasteners in order to keep the base attached to the wall and permit separation of the frame/glass from the frame base. Some exemplary first or second couplable fasteners include any of the following (including any combination of the following): magnets, reclosable fasteners (e.g. , hook & loop or loop-engaging fastener materials (e.g., 3M's Dual-Lock™ products)), or repositionable adhesive products (e.g. , 3M Command™ strip products).

[0011] In some embodiments, the picture or photo is held in position within the frame by a releaseable adhesive that is permanently attached to the base.

[0012] Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a picture or photo frame, comprising: a base portion; a frame portion including a frame; a first set of couplable fasteners capable of holding the base portion adjacent to a vertical surface; and a second set of couplable fasteners capable of holding the base portion and frame portion adjacent to one another. In some embodiments, the first and second couplable fasteners are the same. In some embodiments, the first and second couplable fasteners are not the same. In some embodiments, the picture or photo frame further includes a transparent or clear portion or device between the frame portion and the base portion. In some embodiments, the second set of couplable fasteners has a release force that is less than a release force of the first set of couplable fasteners. In some embodiments, the first and second couplable fasteners are at least one of magnetic portions, reclosable fasteners, hook and loop reclosable fasteners, loop-engaging reclosable fasteners, and/or repositionable adhesive products. In some embodiments, the picture or photo frame further includes an adhesive portion on the frame body, the adhesive portion having one major surface that is a permanent adhesive and a second major surface that is a releaseable adhesive. In some embodiments, the picture or photo frame further includes a mechanical portion on the frame body.

Brief Description of Drawings [0013] Fig. 1 is an exploded schematic of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the teachings herein.

[0014] Fig. 2 is an exploded schematic of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the teachings herein.

[0015] Fig. 3 is an exploded schematic of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the teachings herein.

[0016] Fig. 4 is a top view cross section of the wood frame assembly shown in Fig. 1.

[0017] Fig. 5 is a top section view of the wood frame construction with the frame removed from the wall to access and position the picture on the base.

[0018] Fig. 6 is an exploded schematic of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the teachings herein.

[0019] The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Detailed Description

[0020] The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. The scope of this disclosure, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth or shown herein. [0021] Various embodiments and implementations will be described in detail. These embodiments and implementations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present application in any manner, and changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions described herein. For example, many of the embodiments, implementations, and examples are discussed with specific reference to photo or picture frames, but these should not be construed to limit the application scope to this one exemplary implementation. Further, only some end uses have been discussed herein, but end uses not specifically described herein are included within the scope of the present application. As such, the scope of the present application should be determined by the claims.

[0022] The present disclosure generally relates to a unique mounting device. In some embodiments, the proposed construction utilizes two separate sets of couplable fasteners. The first set of couplable fasteners secures the base to the wall. The second set of couplable fasteners secures the outer assembly to the base. In some embodiments, the second set of couplable fasteners preferably has a release force that is lower than the release force of the first set of couplable fasteners in order to keep the base attached to the wall and permit separation of the outer assembly from the base. Exemplary couplable fasteners that can be used as either or both of the first and second sets of couplable fasteners include any of the following: magnetic strip or shapes, magnetic strips and steel, a ferrous material, reclosable fasteners (e.g. , hook & loop or loop-engaging fastener materials (e.g., 3M's Dual-Lock™ products)), or repositionable adhesive products (e.g. , 3M Command™ strip products).

[0023] In some embodiments, the present disclosure generally relates to a unique picture/photo frame construction that allows the user to easily access and change pictures or photos from the front without having to remove the entire frame construction from the wall. In some embodiments, the proposed frame construction utilizes two separate sets of couplable fasteners. The first set of couplable fasteners secures the base of the frame to the wall. The second set of couplable fasteners secures the outer

assembly/decorative frame/glass assembly to the base of the frame. In some embodiments, the second set of couplable fasteners preferably has a release force that is lower than the release force of the first set of couplable fasteners in order to keep the base attached to the wall and permit separation of the frame/glass from the frame base. Exemplary couplable fasteners that can be used as either or both of the first and second sets of couplable fasteners include any of the following: magnetic strip or shapes, magnetic strips and steel, a ferrous material, reclosable fasteners (e.g. , hook & loop or loop-engaging fastener materials (e.g., 3M's Dual-Lock™ products)), or repositionable adhesive products (e.g., 3M Command™ strip products).

[0024] In some embodiments, the picture or photo is held in position within the frame by a releasable adhesive that is permanently attached to the base. [0025] Fig. 1 illustrates one exemplary frame construction 100 in which the frame base 1 10 is secured to a wall (not shown) using any known means (not shown) as the first couplable fastener set and loop- engaging reclosable fastener materials (e.g., 3M's Dual-Lock™ products) as the second couplable fastener set 120.

[0026] An area of frame base 1 10 has an adhesive 130 on it that permits a picture or photo 140 to attach or adhere to frame base 1 10. Adhesive 130 holds picture or photo 140 in place. In some embodiments, adhesive 130 has a releasable major surface 134 that adheres to picture or photo 140 and an opposite permanent adhesive major surface (not shown) that adheres to frame base 1 10.

[0027] Frame construction 100 further includes a frame portion 150 that adheres or attaches to frame base 1 10. Frame portion 150 is held adjacent to frame base 1 10 by second couplable fastener set 120. As such, frame base 150 may include a couplable fastener set. For example, in the specific embodiment shown in Fig. 1, frame portion 150 would include on its back surface loop-engaging fastener materials that would mate with the loop-engaging fastener materials that form second couplable fastener set 120 on base frame 1 10. Frame portion 150 may also include a clear or transparent portion 160 through which picture or photo 140 can be seen but which protects picture or photo 140 from damage. Exemplary materials for clear or transparent portion 160 include, for example, plastic or glass. Frame portion 150 assists in holding picture or photo 140 in place.

[0028] Generally, hook elements with loop-engaging heads have a head shape that is different from the shape of the stem. As used herein, the term "loop-engaging" relates to the ability of a hook element to be mechanically attached to a loop material. For example, the hook element may be in the shape of a mushroom (e.g., with a circular or oval head enlarged with respect to the stem), a hook, a palm-tree, a nail, a T, or a J. The loop-engageability of hook elements may be determined and defined by using standard woven, nonwoven, or knit materials. One exemplary commercially available loop-engaging material is 3M™ Dual-Lock™ fastener.

[0029] Any loop-engaging material, apparatus, device, method of making, or method of use described in any of the following references (all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety) can be used in any of the embodiments described herein: US Patent Nos. 8,777,919; 4,699,622; 4,894,060; 5,077,870;

5,312,387; 5,344,691 ; 5,399,219; 5,487,809; 5,537,722; 5,554, 146; 5,705,013; 5,759,317; 5,851,205;

5,957,908; 5,985,081 ; 6,030,373; 6,051,094; 6,075, 179; 6, 190,758; 6,406,468; 6,544,245; 6,575,953;

7,032,278; 7, 125,400; 7,361,246; 7,371,302; 7,517,572; 7,578,812; 7,658,813; 3,471,903; 4, 120,718;

4,223,067; 4,216,257; 4,391,687; 4,322,875; 4,415,615; 4,454, 183; 4,563,388; 3,353,663; 3,408,705; 4,977,003; 4,679,851 ; 4,819,309; 4,776,636; 5,308,428; 5, 135,598; 4,910,062; 4,887,339; 4,985,488;

5,679,302; 4,894,060; 5, 145,929; 5,908,695; 5,024,880; 5,852,855; 5,040,275; 5, 149,573; 4,290,832;

5,453,319; 5,614,232; 5,691,027; 5,713, 1 1 1 ; 5,671,512; 5,625,929; 5,671,51 1 ; 5,851,663; 5,654,487;

5,602,221 ; 5,598,610; 5,691,021 ; 7,879,441 ; 8,277,922; 6,470,540; 6,076,238; 6,592,800; 6,630,239;

6,588,074; 7,217,455; 7,703, 179, 6,874,777; 7, 140,774; and US Patent Publication No. 2004/0010217.

[0030] All of the embodiments described herein can be used 3M™ COMMAND™ Adhesive or Picture

Hanging Strips. In some embodiments, the adhesive strips are picture hanging strips such as, for example, those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,692,807 and 6,572,945, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. In general, picture hanging strips, as used herein, refer to an adhesive tape construction that is removable from one or more objects to which it is adhered and which is reusably separable within its construction so that an object can be separated from another and subsequently reconnected with one another. The adhesive tape construction can be used to bond the other opposed surfaces of objects, including rigid objects such as a picture frame to a wall, where no portion of the adhesive tape construction projects from between the objects, and which subsequently affords easy separation of the objects without damage to either of them. More specifically, the adhesive tape construction includes a stretch release adhesive tape structure combined with a reusable connector surface. Exemplary commercially available picture hanging strips include 3M™ COMMAND™ Picture Hanging Strips.

[0031] Fig. 2 illustrates another exemplary frame construction 200 in which the frame base 210 is secured to a wall (not shown) using picture hanging strips (e.g., 3M's Command™ picture hanging strips) as the first couplable fastener set 205 and an elongate, narrow magnetic strip as the second couplable fastener set 220.

[0032] An area of frame base 210 has an adhesive 230 on it that permits a picture or photo (not shown) to attach or adhere to frame base 210. Adhesive 230 holds picture or photo (not shown) in place. In some embodiments, adhesive 230 has a releasable major surface 234 that adheres to the picture or photo and an opposite permanent adhesive major surface (not shown) that adheres to frame base 210.

[0033] Frame construction 200 further includes a frame portion 250 that adheres or attaches to frame base 210. Frame portion 250 is held adjacent to frame base 210 by second couplable fastener set 220, which in this specific example, is frame portion 250 itself (which is made of a magnetic and/or ferrous material that attaches to base portion 210). The magnetic nature of frame portion 250 in this example causes it to adhere to base portion 210. Frame portion 250 may also include a clear or transparent portion 260 through which picture or photo 240 (not shown) can be seen but which protects picture or photo 240 from damage. Exemplary materials for clear or transparent portion 260 include, for example, plastic or glass. Frame portion 250 assists in holding picture or photo 240 in place.

[0034] In an alternative example not shown, frame portion 250 could include on its back surface a magnetic portion that would engage with the magnetic materials that form second couplable fastener set 220 on base frame 210. This would permit frame portion 250 to be made of any material (including, for example, non-magnetic materials).

[0035] Fig. 3 illustrates another exemplary frame construction 300 in which the frame base 310 is secured to a wall (not shown) using picture hanging strips (e.g., 3M's Command™ picture hanging strips) as the first couplable fastener set 305 and a pair of mating reclosable fasteners as the second couplable fastener set 320. [0036] An area of frame base 310 has an adhesive 330 on it that permits a picture or photo 340 to attach or adhere to frame base 310. Adhesive 330 holds picture or photo (not shown) in place. In some embodiments, adhesive 330 has a releasable major surface 334 that adheres to the picture or photo (not shown) and an opposite permanent adhesive major surface (not shown) that adheres to frame base 310.

[0037] Frame construction 300 further includes a frame portion 350 that adheres or attaches to frame base 310. Frame portion 350 is held adjacent to frame base 310 by second couplable fastener set 320. In this embodiment, frame portion 350 includes on its back surface a portion of second couplable fastener portion 320 that engages with the portion of second couplable fastener set 320 on base frame 310. This would permit frame portion 350 to be made of any material (including, for example, non-magnetic materials). Frame portion 350 may also include a clear or transparent portion 360 through which picture or photo 340 can be seen but which protects picture or photo 340 from damage. Exemplary materials for clear or transparent portion 360 include, for example, plastic or glass. Frame portion 350 assists in holding picture or photo 340 in place. [0038] Fig. 4 is a top view cross section of the wood frame assembly shown in Fig. 1. In this example, the reclosable fasteners could be the same fastener used in the picture hanging strips, but total surface area is reduce to obtain a lower disengagement force.

[0039] Fig. 5 is a top section view of the wood frame construction with the frame removed from the wall to access and position the picture on the base.

[0040] Fig. 6 illustrates another exemplary frame construction 600 in which the frame base 610 is secured to a wall (not shown) using any known method, and multiple, small round magnets form the second couplable fastener set 620.

[0041] At least one area of frame base 610 has an adhesive 630 on it that permits a picture or photo (not shown) to attach or adhere to frame base 610. Adhesive 630 holds picture or photo (not shown) in place. In some embodiments, adhesive 630 has a releasable major surface 634 that adheres to the picture or photo and an opposite permanent adhesive major surface (not shown) that adheres to frame base 610.

[0042] Frame construction 600 further includes a frame portion 650 that adheres or attaches to frame base 610. Frame portion 650 is held adjacent to frame base 610 by second couplable fastener set 620, which in this specific example, is frame portion 650 itself. The magnetic nature of frame portion 650 in this example causes it to adhere to base portion 610. Frame portion 650 may also include a clear or transparent portion 660 through which picture or photo 640 (not shown) can be seen but which protects picture or photo 640 from damage. Exemplary materials for clear or transparent portion 660 include, for example, plastic or glass. Frame portion 650 assists in holding picture or photo 640 in place.

[0043] Any of the embodiments shown in can be modified to meet the needs of any desired use. For example, the size, thickness, and shape of any portion of the picture frame can be as desired for the specific intended use or application. The frame base and frame portion can be any desired size or thickness and can be made of any desired material (e.g., plastic, wood, metal, etc). The frame portion can have any desired aesthetic including, for example, beveling, corner design, color, etc.

[0044] The adhesive applied to the frame base to adhere the picture or photo to it can be any adhesive. In some embodiments, the adhesive may permit the user to reposition the picture or photo or to remove and attach a different picture or photo. In some embodiments, the kit comes with adhesive strips that the user can apply to the base him or herself. In some embodiments, stand-alone adhesive strips can be purchased separately and the user can apply them to the frame base.

[0045] In some embodiments, the frame base and picture or photo are mechanically coupled by any known mechanical means including those described herein. In some embodiments, the mechanical attachment system is one or more tabs.

[0046] What is referred to herein as the photo or picture can be any relatively thin, relatively planar material. Some non-limiting exemplary materials include, for example, photographs, artwork, cardboard, drawings, paintings, sketches, newspaper, magazine, glossy materials, wallpaper, fabric, etc.

[0047] First and second sets of couplable fasteners can be the same or different. Further, some embodiments may include more than two sets of couplable fasteners. The term "set" as used herein with respect to couplable fasteners refers to one or more fasteners. As used herein, the term "couplable fastener" refers to fasteners that are one or more pieces that adhere, attach, or hold adjacent to a vertical surface. To be clear, couplable fasteners of the type described herein do not require two separate pieces to be couplable. For example, the first couplable fastener can be a 3M Command™ strip, which is a single piece couplable fastener that couples the frame body to the vertical surface or wall. In some embodiments, the couplable fastener has two or more pieces. In some embodiments, one of the two pieces of the couplable fastener is on the frame body and the other is on the frame portion. [0048] Those having skill in the art will appreciate that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments and implementations without departing from the underlying principles thereof. Further, various modifications and alterations of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.