Picture frame

Abstract

An improved picture frame having an open display pocket mounted behind a viewing aperture for quickly and easily changing the picture displayed within the frame. A storage compartment extends from the rear of the display pocket for conveniently storing a plurality of pictures while they are not being displayed, and a peripheral easel is mounted to the rear of the frame for supporting the frame in either a portrait or landscape orientation without interfering or traversing the display pocket or the storage compartment.

1 . An improved picture frame having a border element with at least one primary viewing aperture, the improvement comprising:
 a. at least one display pocket mounted to a rear of the border element, said at least one display pocket configured to hold a single picture adjacent a rear of said at least one primary viewing aperture and having an opening for accepting the picture; and   b. at least one storage compartment configured to hold a plurality of pictures, said at least one storage compartment mounted to a rear of said at least one display pocket and having an opening for accepting the pictures.   
   
   
       2 . The improved picture frame of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one backing mat having at least one secondary viewing aperture, said at least one backing mat mounted between said at least one display pocket and said at least one primary viewing aperture, said at least one display pocket mounted to a rear of said at least one backing mat for holding the single picture adjacent said at least one secondary viewing aperture. 
   
   
       3 . The improved picture frame of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one transparent viewing pane mounted adjacent said at least one primary viewing aperture and defining a front wall of said at least one display pocket. 
   
   
       4 . The improved picture frame of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one backing mat having at least one secondary viewing aperture, said at least one backing mat mounted between said at least one display pocket and said at least one viewing pane, said at least one display pocket mounted to a rear of said at least one backing mat. 
   
   
       5 . The improved picture frame of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one finger-push aperture formed in a rear wall of said at least one storage compartment for manually shifting a picture within said at least one storage compartment. 
   
   
       6 . The improved picture frame of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one memory label mounted to a rear of said at least one storage compartment for recording the contents of said at least one storage compartment. 
   
   
       7 . The improved picture frame of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one retention member extending from a rear wall of said at least one display pocket partially into an interior of said at least one display pocket for holding the picture against said at least one viewing pane. 
   
   
       8 . The improved picture frame of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one retention member comprises a protrusion. 
   
   
       9 . The improved picture frame of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one retention member comprises an angled tab. 
   
   
       10 . The improved picture frame of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one retention member comprises a spring-loaded finger. 
   
   
       11 . An easel for a picture frame having a border element with at least one viewing aperture, the easel comprising at least one elongated bracket having a first end pivotably mounted to the border element by at least one hinge, and a second end pivotably mounted to the border element by at least one hinge wherein an axis of said at least one hinge of the first end and an axis of said at least one hinge of the second end extends substantially along a single line. 
   
   
       12 . The easel of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bracket is L-shaped and is mounted to adjacent sides of the border element. 
   
   
       13 . The easel of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bracket is U-shaped and is mounted to opposing sides of the border element. 
   
   
       14 . An improved picture frame having a border element with at least one primary viewing aperture, the improvement comprising:
 a. at least one display pocket mounted to a rear of the border element, said at least one display pocket configured to hold a single picture adjacent a rear of said at least one primary viewing aperture and having an opening for accepting the picture;   b. at least one storage compartment configured to hold a plurality of pictures, said at least one storage compartment mounted to a rear of said at least one display pocket and having an opening for accepting the pictures; and   c. an easel comprising at least one elongated bracket having a first end pivotably mounted to the border element by at least one hinge, a second end pivotably mounted to the border element by at least one hinge, and wherein an axis of said at least one hinge of the first end and an axis of said at least one hinge of the second end extends substantially along a single line.   
   
   
       15 . The improved picture frame of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one backing mat having at least one secondary viewing aperture, said at least one backing mat mounted between said at least one display pocket and said at least one primary viewing aperture, said at least one display pocket mounted to a rear of said at least one backing mat for holding the single picture adjacent said at least one secondary viewing aperture. 
   
   
       16 . The improved picture frame of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one transparent viewing pane mounted adjacent said at least one primary viewing aperture and defining a front wall of said at least one display pocket. 
   
   
       17 . The improved picture frame of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one backing mat having at least one secondary viewing aperture, said at least one backing mat mounted between said at least one display pocket and said at least one viewing pane, said at least one display pocket mounted to a rear of said at least one backing mat for holding a single picture adjacent to a rear of said at least one secondary viewing aperture. 
   
   
       18 . The improved picture frame of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one finger-push aperture formed in a rear wall of said at least one storage compartment for manually shifting a picture within said at least one storage compartment. 
   
   
       19 . The improved picture frame of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one memory label mounted to a rear of said at least one storage compartment for recording the contents of said at least one storage compartment. 
   
   
       20 . The improved picture frame of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one retention member extending from a rear wall of said at least one display pocket partially into an interior of said at least one display pocket for holding the picture against said at least one viewing pane. 
   
   
       21 . The improved picture frame of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one retention member comprises a protrusion. 
   
   
       22 . The improved picture frame of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one retention member comprises an angled tab. 
   
   
       23 . The improved picture frame of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one retention member comprises a spring-loaded finger. 
   
   
       24 . The improved picture frame of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one bracket is L-shaped and is mounted to adjacent sides of the border element. 
   
   
       25 . The improved picture frame of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one bracket is U-shaped and is mounted to opposing sides of the border element. 
   
   
       26 . An improved picture frame having a border element with at least one primary viewing aperture, the improvement comprising:
 a. at least one backer board pivotably mounted to a rear of the border element;   b. at least one storage compartment mounted to a front surface of said at least one backer board configured to hold a plurality of pictures and having an opening for accepting the pictures; and   c. a display gap between said at least one storage compartment and the border element configured to hold a single picture adjacent a rear of said at least one primary viewing aperture.   
   
   
       27 . The improved picture frame of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one transparent viewing pane mounted adjacent said at least one primary viewing aperture and defining a front wall of said at least one display gap. 
   
   
       28 . The improved picture frame of  claim 26 , further comprising a latch mounted to said at least one backer board having a movable locking tab for engaging a slot in the border element for releasably securing said at least one backer board against movement relative to the border element. 
   
   
       29 . The improved picture frame of  claim 28 , wherein the backer board is pivotably mounted to the border element by a hinge affixed to a first edge of the backer board and the latch is mounted to a second edge of the backer board that is opposite the first edge. 
   
   
       30 . The improved picture frame of  claim 26 , further comprising a necktie-shaped easel pivotably mounted to a rear of said at least one backer board. 
   
   
       31 . The improved picture frame of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one memory label mounted to a rear of said at least one backer board for recording the contents of said at least one storage compartment.