Picture frame system with gooseneck support

Abstract

A picture frame system comprises a base, a flexible gooseneck extending from the base, a mount and a trim panel disposed at an end of the gooseneck away from the base. The gooseneck is a jointed, articulated tube with a resiliency sufficient to support a load defined by the mount, trim panel, and a picture. Optionally, a plurality of flexible goosenecks can extend from the base and each can have a different axial length. Also optionally, the mount and trim plate can be configured so that the trim panel is magnetically seatable on the mount for retaining the picture between the mount and the trim panel.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A picture frame system, comprising: 
 a base;    a flexible gooseneck comprising a jointed, articulatable tube having a first portion extending from the base;    a mount disposed at a second portion of the flexible gooseneck remote from the first portion; and    a trim panel positionable relative to the mount for retaining a picture between the trim panel and the mount,    wherein the mount, trim panel and picture define a load and wherein the jointed, articulatable tube of the flexible gooseneck has a resiliency sufficient to support the load in a plurality of articulated positions.    
     
     
         2 . The picture frame system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount is made of one of a magnetic and a ferromagnetic material and wherein the trim panel is magnetically seatable on the mount to retain the picture.  
     
     
         3 . The picture frame system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount is made of a ferromagnetic material and wherein the trim panel includes a magnetic portion permitting the trim panel to be magnetically seated on the mount to retain the picture.  
     
     
         4 . The picture frame system of  claim 3 , wherein the magnetic portion of the trim panel comprises at least one magnet affixed to the trim panel.  
     
     
         5 . The picture frame system of  claim 4 , wherein the magnetic portion of the trim panel comprises two or more magnets affixed to the trim panel.  
     
     
         6 . The picture frame system of  claim 1 , further comprising a stem extending from the base and sized to receive the first portion of the flexible gooseneck.  
     
     
         7 . The picture frame system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pad attached to the base for protecting a surface upon which the base may be seated.  
     
     
         8 . The picture frame system of  claim 7 , wherein the pad comprises one of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a cork, a rubber, and a polymer.  
     
     
         9 . A picture frame system, comprising: 
 a base;    a first flexible gooseneck comprising a jointed, articulatable tube having a first portion extending from the base;    a second flexible gooseneck comprising a jointed, articulatable tube having a first portion extending from the base;    a mount disposed at a second portion of each respective flexible gooseneck remote from a respective first portion; and    a trim panel positionable relative to each mount for retaining a picture between the trim panel and the mount,    wherein the mount, trim panel and picture define respective loads for the first and second flexible goosenecks and wherein the jointed, articulatable tube of each gooseneck has a resiliency sufficient to support a respective one of the loads in respective, plurality articulated positions.    
     
     
         10 . The picture frame system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second flexible goosenecks each have a respective axial length as measured between the base and the mount and wherein the axial lengths of the first and second flexible goosenecks differ from one another.  
     
     
         11 . The picture frame system of  claim 9 , wherein each mount is made of one of a magnetic and a ferromagnetic material and wherein each trim panel is magnetically seatable on a respective mount to retain the picture.  
     
     
         12 . The picture frame system of  claim 9 , wherein each mount is made of a ferromagnetic material and wherein each trim panel includes a magnetic portion permitting the trim panel to be magnetically seated on a respective mount to retain the picture.  
     
     
         13 . The picture frame system of  claim 12 , wherein the magnetic portion of each trim panel comprises at least one magnet.  
     
     
         14 . The picture frame system of  claim 12 , wherein the magnetic portion of each trim panel comprises two or more magnets.  
     
     
         15 . The picture frame system of  claim 9 , further comprising first and second stems extending from the base and sized to receive a respective first portion of the first and second flexible goosenecks.  
     
     
         16 . The picture frame system of  claim 9 , further comprising a pad attached to the base for protecting a surface upon which the base may be seated.  
     
     
         17 . The picture frame system of  claim 16 , wherein the pad comprises one of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a cork, a rubber, and a polymer.  
     
     
         18 . A picture frame system, comprising: 
 a base;    a flexible gooseneck having a first portion extending from the base;    a mount disposed at a second portion of the flexible gooseneck remote from the first portion, the mount being made of one of a magnetic and a ferromagnetic material; and    a trim panel magnetically seatable on the mount for retaining a picture between the trim panel and the mount.    
     
     
         19 . The picture frame system of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a second flexible gooseneck having a first portion extending from the base;    a second mount disposed at a second portion of the second flexible gooseneck remote from the first portion thereof, the mount being made of one of a magnetic and a ferromagnetic material; and    a second trim panel magnetically seatable on the second mount for retaining the picture between the second trim panel and the second mount.    
     
     
         20 . The picture frame system of  claim 19 , wherein the flexible gooseneck has a first axial length as measured between the base and the mount and the second flexible gooseneck has a second axial length as measured between the base and the second mount, and wherein the first and second axial lengths differ from one another.