Quick framing system

Abstract

A frame assembly for quickly, easy, and inexpensively framing a work of art without requiring any special tools or skills. The frame assembly includes a transparent protective member and support member. A work of art is positioned between the protective and support members. One or more frame members are then used to secure the protective and support members together. Frame members may be two or three dimensional. Each frame member has a slot defined therein to be slidably displaced over the assembled protective and support members with the work of art disposed therebetween. An internal rib projects outwardly into the slot of the frame member. This rib is received within a corresponding slot defined in at least a portion of the support member. To further ensure that the protective and support members remain secured together, a retaining member, such as a spring clip, leaf clip, or eccentric cam, may be positioned within the slot of the frame member to produce a force against the support member. The assembled frame may be mounted to the wall using a variety of different techniques.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A frame assembly for quickly framing a work of art, comprising: 
 a transparent protective member;    a support member, said support member having a groove defined therein; and    at least one frame member having a slot defined therein sized to accommodate said protective member, the work of art, and said support member when assembled; said frame member having an internal rib projecting into the slot, and said frame member being slidably displaceable over the assembled protective member, work of art, and support member with the rib and groove aligned so as to secure the assembled protective member and support member together.    
     
     
         2 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , further comprising a retaining member disposed in a recess defined in the slot of said frame member, when assembled said retaining member imposes a force against said support member.  
     
     
         3 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 2   , wherein said retaining member is one of a spring clip, a leaf clip, and an eccentric cam.  
     
     
         4 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 2   , wherein said support member has a recess defined therein complementary in size and shape to receive said retaining member.  
     
     
         5 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said protective and support members are sized to completely cover said work of art.  
     
     
         6 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said protective and support members have the same shape.  
     
     
         7 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said protective and support members have different shapes.  
     
     
         8 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said frame member is made of a rigid material.  
     
     
         9 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said assembly includes at least two frame members.  
     
     
         10 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said rib extends in an axial direction at least along a portion of said frame member.  
     
     
         11 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein said rib extends in the axial direction along the entire length of said frame member.  
     
     
         12 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said groove extends at least along a portion of said support member.  
     
     
         13 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein said groove extends in the axial direction along the entire width of said support member.  
     
     
         14 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , said frame member having a mounting device for hanging said assembled frame.  
     
     
         15 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 14   , wherein said mounting device is a notch defined in said frame member.  
     
     
         16 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 15   , wherein the notch is V-shaped.  
     
     
         17 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 14   , wherein said mounting device is an aperture defined in said frame member.  
     
     
         18 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 14   , wherein said mounting device is a positioning device disposed within a recess defined in the slot.  
     
     
         19 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 18   , wherein said positioning device is a non-planar saw toothed member.  
     
     
         20 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said support and protective members are two dimensional.  
     
     
         21 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein at least one of said support and protective members are three dimensional.  
     
     
         22 . A frame assembly for quickly framing a work of art, comprising: 
 a transparent protective member;    a support member, said support member having a rib projecting therefrom; and    at least one frame member having a slot defined therein sized to accommodate said protective member, work of art, and support member when assembled; said frame member having a groove defined in the slot, and said frame member being slidably displaceable over the assembled protective member, work of art, and support member with the rib and groove aligned so as to secure the assembled protective member, work of art and support member together.    
     
     
         23 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 22   , further comprising a retaining member disposed in a recess defined in the slot of said frame member, when assembled said retaining member imposes a force against said support member.  
     
     
         24 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 22   , wherein said support member has a recess defined therein and aligned to receive said retaining member.  
     
     
         25 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said protective and support members are sized to completely cover said work of art.  
     
     
         26 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said protective and support members have the same shape.  
     
     
         27 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said protective and support members have different shapes.  
     
     
         28 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said frame member is made of a rigid material.  
     
     
         29 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said assembly includes at least two frame members.  
     
     
         30 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said rib extends in an axial direction at least along a portion of said frame member.  
     
     
         31 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 30   , wherein said rib extends in the axial direction along the entire length of said frame member.  
     
     
         32 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said groove extends at least along a portion of said support member.  
     
     
         33 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 30   , wherein said rib extends in the axial direction along the entire width of said frame member.  
     
     
         34 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , said frame member having a mounting device for hanging said assembled frame.  
     
     
         35 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 34   , wherein said mounting device is a notch defined in said frame member.  
     
     
         36 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 35   , wherein the notch is V-shaped.  
     
     
         37 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 34   , wherein said mounting device is an aperture defined in said frame member.  
     
     
         38 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 34   , wherein said mounting device is a positioning device disposed within a recess in the slot.  
     
     
         39 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 38   , wherein said positioning device is a non-planar saw toothed member.  
     
     
         40 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said support and protective members are two dimensional.  
     
     
         41 . The frame assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein at least one of said support and protective members are three dimensional.  
     
     
         42 . A method for framing a work of art using a framing assembly including a transparent protective member, a support member having a groove defined therein, and at least one frame member having a slot and a rib projecting into the slot, comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the work of art between the transparent protective member and the support member;    aligning said frame member over said assembled protective member, work of art, and support member so that said rib is received within the groove of the support member; and    slidably displacing said frame member over said assembled protective member, work of art, and support member to a predetermined position.    
     
     
         43 . The method in accordance with    claim 42   , before said aligning step, further comprising the step of inserting a retaining member into a recess defined in said slot.  
     
     
         44 . The method in accordance with    claim 42   , wherein said displacing step comprises moving said frame member to the predetermined position in which said retaining member is aligned with a complementary recess defined in said support member.  
     
     
         45 . The method in accordance with    claim 42   , wherein said retaining member is one of spring clip, a leaf clip, and an eccentric cam.  
     
     
         46 . The method in accordance with    claim 42   , further comprising the step of mounting said assembled frame to a hanging device lodged in a wall.  
     
     
         47 . The method in accordance with    claim 46   , wherein said hanging device is one of a nail, screw, and hook.  
     
     
         48 . The method in accordance with    claim 46   , wherein said mounting step comprises aligning a notch defined in the frame member with said hanging device.  
     
     
         49 . The method in accordance with    claim 46   , wherein said mounting step comprises aligning a aperture defined in said frame member with said hanging device.  
     
     
         50 . The method in accordance with    claim 46   , before said aligning step, further comprising securing a positioning member in a recess defined in the slot of said frame member.  
     
     
         51 . The method in accordance with    claim 50   , wherein said positioning member is a non-planar saw toothed member secured in a recess defined in said slot.  
     
     
         52 . The method in accordance with    claim 42   , further comprising inserting a securing device through the frame member and into a portion of the support member.  
     
     
         53 . The method in accordance with    claim 52   , wherein the securing device is one of a nail and a screw.  
     
     
         54 . A method for framing a work of art using a framing assembly including a transparent protective member, a support member having an outwardly projecting rib, and at least one frame member having a slot and a groove defined in the slot, comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the work of art between the transparent protective member and the support member;    aligning said frame member over said assembled protective member, work of art, and support member so that said rib is received within the groove; and    slidably displacing said frame member over said assembled protective member work of art, and support member to a predetermined position.    
     
     
         55 . The method in accordance with    claim 54   , before said aligning step, further comprising the step of inserting a retaining member into a recess defined in said slot.  
     
     
         56 . The method in accordance with    claim 54   , wherein said displacing step comprises moving said frame member to the predetermined position in which said retaining member is aligned with a complementary recess defined in said support member.  
     
     
         57 . The method in accordance with    claim 54   , wherein said retaining member is one of spring clip, a leaf clip, and an eccentric cam.  
     
     
         58 . The method in accordance with    claim 54   , further comprising the step of mounting said assembled frame to a hanging device lodged in a wall.  
     
     
         59 . The method in accordance with    claim 58   , wherein said hanging device is one of a nail, screw, and hook.  
     
     
         60 . The method in accordance with    claim 58   , wherein said mounting step comprises aligning one of an aperture and a notch defined in the frame member with said hanging device.  
     
     
         61 . The method in accordance with    claim 58   , before said aligning step, further comprising securing a positioning member in a recess defined in the slot of said frame member.  
     
     
         62 . The method in accordance with    claim 61   , wherein said positioning member is a non-planar saw toothed member secured in a recess defined in said slot.  
     
     
         63 . The method in accordance with    claim 54   , further comprising inserting a securing device through the frame member and into a portion of the support member.  
     
     
         64 . The method in accordance with    claim 63   , wherein the securing device is one of a nail and a screw.