Float frame assembly

Abstract

A float frame assembly that gives the appearance that the item retained within the frame appears to be floating therein. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises: a frame comprising a rabbet and an inner edge defining a display opening; a channel formed in a rear surface of the main body; a stack nesting in the rabbet comprising: a front glazing; a rear glazing positioned adjacent the front glazing; and a perimetric spacer positioned adjacent the rear glazing; a plurality of spring clips that retain the stack within the rabbet, each of the plurality of spring clips comprising a first portion disposed in the channel and a second portion that is in surface contact with the perimetric spacer, each of the plurality of spring clips biased so that the second portion applies a compression force against the perimetric spacer and the first portion is retained in the channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A float frame assembly comprising:
 a frame comprising a body portion and a flange portion extending from the body portion to form a rabbet, the flange portion comprising an inner edge defining a display opening, the flange portion comprising a floor surface of the rabbet and the body portion comprising a wall surface of the rabbet;   a channel formed in a rear surface of the body portion;   a stack nesting in the rabbet, the stack comprising:
 a front glazing; 
 a rear glazing positioned adjacent the front glazing such that an item can be supported between the front glazing and the rear glazing in the display opening; and 
 a perimetric spacer positioned adjacent the rear glazing; and 
   a plurality of spring clips that retain the stack within the rabbet, each of the plurality of spring clips comprising a first portion disposed in the channel and a second portion that is in surface contact with the perimetric spacer, each of the plurality of spring clips biased so that the second portion applies a compression force against the perimetric spacer and the first portion is retained in the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the first and rear glazings are substantially transparent. 
     
     
         3 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein an inner edge of the perimetric spacer does not extend beyond the inner edge of the flange portion of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the inner edge of the perimetric spacer is offset from the inner edge of the flange portion of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the perimetric spacer has a width and a height, the width being greater than the height. 
     
     
         6 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the stack comprises a see-through portion surrounding the item, the see-through portion located within the display opening. 
     
     
         7 . The float frame assembly according to  claims 1  wherein the frame further comprises a rim protruding from the rear surface of the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the rim surrounds the channel and has an outer surface that is substantially flush with an outer surface of the body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, for each of the plurality of spring clips, the first portion comprises a contact element and a fulcrum element, and wherein the bias presses the contact element of the first portion into surface contact with an inner wall of the channel by generating torque about the fulcrum element, the fulcrum element in surface contact with an outer wall of the channel. 
     
     
         10 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the contact element of the first portion contacts the inner wall of the channel at a height below a height of a rear surface of the perimetric spacer. 
     
     
         11 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, for each of the plurality of spring clips, the second portion comprises a contact element that is located in the rabbet. 
     
     
         12 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of spring clips comprises a middle portion between the first portion and the second portion, the middle portion extending above and spaced from the rear surface of the body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the middle portion contacts an inner top edge of the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the middle portion comprises a first section that extends into the channel and a second section that extends substantially parallel to the rear surface, the first section oblique to the second section. 
     
     
         15 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the middle portion comprises a through-hole. 
     
     
         16 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the rear surface of the body portion and the floor surface of the rabbet are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         17 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of spring clips do not extend beyond the inner edge of the flange portion of the frame. 
     
     
         18 . A float frame assembly comprising:
 a frame comprising a rabbet and an inner edge defining a display opening;   a channel formed in a rear surface of the frame;   a stack nesting in the rabbet, the stack comprising:
 a front glazing; 
 a rear glazing positioned adjacent the front glazing such that an item can be supported between the front glazing and the rear glazing in the display opening; and 
 a spacer positioned adjacent the rear glazing; 
   a plurality of spring clips that retain the stack within the rabbet, each of the plurality of spring clips comprising:
 a first portion disposed in the channel, the first portion comprising a contact element and a fulcrum element; and 
 a second portion comprising a contact element; and 
   wherein each of the plurality of spring clips is biased so that the contact element of the first portion is pressed into surface contact with an inner wall of the channel due to a torque being generated about the fulcrum element as a result of the contact element of the second portion pressing against the spacer, the fulcrum element in surface contact with an outer wall of the channel.   
     
     
         19 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 18  wherein an inner edge of the spacer does not extend beyond the inner edge of frame. 
     
     
         20 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the spacer has a width and a height, the width being greater than the height. 
     
     
         21 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the frame further comprises a rim protruding from the rear surface of the frame, the rim surrounding the channel and having an outer surface that is substantially flush with an outer surface of the frame. 
     
     
         22 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the contact element of the first portion contacts the inner wall of the channel at a height below a height of a rear surface of the spacer. 
     
     
         23 . The float frame assembly according to  claim 18  wherein, for each of the plurality of spring clips, the second portion comprises a contact element that is located in the rabbet; and wherein each of the plurality of spring clips comprises a middle portion between the first portion and the second portion, the middle portion extending above and spaced from the rear surface of the frame. 
     
     
         24 . A float frame assembly comprising:
 a frame comprising a rabbet and an inner edge defining a display opening;   a channel formed in a rear surface of the frame;   a stack nesting in the rabbet, the stack comprising:
 a front glazing; 
 a rear glazing positioned adjacent the front glazing such that an item can be supported between the front glazing and the rear glazing in the display opening; and 
 a perimetric spacer positioned adjacent the rear glazing; and 
   a plurality of spring clips that retain the stack within the rabbet, each of the plurality of spring clips comprising a first portion disposed in the channel and a second portion that is in surface contact with the perimetric spacer, each of the plurality of spring clips biased so that the second portion applies a compression force against the perimetric spacer and the first portion is retained in the channel.