Retainer member for a picture frame

Abstract

A picture frame assembly includes a body having a recess for receiving an item for display and backing member to be positioned behind the item to retain the item within the recess. The retainer includes a head portion having one or more engagement members projecting from a surface thereof and a tail portion extending from the head portion that is pliable with respect to the head portion and able to be moved between a first position and a second position with respect to the head portion. The engagement members of the head portion engage with a surface of the body of the picture frame assembly, so that when the tail portion is in the first position, the tail portion does not substantially extend into the recess of the picture frame assembly to enable placement of the backing member within the recess. When the tail portion is in the second position, the tail portion extends at least partially across the recess to engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess.

1 . A retainer for a picture frame assembly, the picture frame assembly having a body with a recess for receiving an item for display and a backing member configured to be positioned behind said item to retain the item within the recess, the retainer comprising:
 a head portion having one or more engagement members projecting from a surface thereof; and   a tail portion extending from the head portion and configured to be pliable with respect to the head portion so as to be movable from a first position that is substantially coplanar with the head portion to a second position that is outside of the plane of the head portion;   wherein the head portion is mounted to the body adjacent the recess by the one or more engagement members with the tail portion in the first position to facilitate placement of the item and backing member within the recess the tail portion is then movable to the second position to at least partially extend across the recess and engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess.   
     
     
         2 . A retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more engagement members are teeth formed on an underside of the head portion and are configured to penetrate into the body upon application of a force to the head portion. 
     
     
         3 . A retainer according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more teeth have a length of approximately 2 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the head portion is mounted to extend substantially perpendicular to a rebate formed in the body. 
     
     
         5 . A retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein a weakened region is formed in the tail portion adjacent the head portion to facilitate bending movement of the tail portion from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . A retainer according to  claim 5 , wherein the weakened region is formed by forming an elongate slot through the elongate tail portion adjacent a junction between the head portion and the tail portion. 
     
     
         7 . A method for using a retainer for a picture frame assembly, the picture frame assembly having a body with a recess having a rebate formed around a periphery thereof, for receiving an item for display and a backing member configured to be positioned behind said item to retain the item within the recess, the retainer for the picture frame assembly including:
 a head portion having one or more engagement members projecting from a surface thereof; and,   a tail portion extending from the head portion and configured to be pliable with respect to the head portion so as to be movable from a first position that is substantially coplanar with the head portion to a second position that is outside of the plane of the head portion;   wherein the head portion is mounted to the body adjacent the recess by the one or more engagement members with the tail portion in the first position to facilitate placement of the item and backing member within the recess the tail portion is then movable to the second position to at least partially extend across the recess and engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess,   
       said method for using said retainer for the picture frame assembly comprising the steps of:
 mounting the head portion of the retainer to the surface of the body; 
 placing the item for display and the backing member within the recess so that the item for display is able to be viewed within the picture frame assembly; and, 
 moving the tail portion of the retainer member to a second position to at least partially extend across the recess and engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of mounting the head portion of the retainer to the surface of the body comprises mounting the head portion of the retainer to a wall of the recess, such that the head portion and the tail portion of the retainer extend substantially perpendicular to the rebate. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of mounting the head portion of the retainer to the surface of the body comprises pressing the head portion against the surface of the body such that the engagement members penetrate the surface of the body to securely retain the retainer in position. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of moving the tail portion of the retainer member to the second position comprises bending the tail portion through an arc of substantially 90° with respect to the head portion. 
     
     
         11 . A picture frame comprising:
 a body having a recess formed therein for receiving an item for display, the recess having a rebate formed around a periphery thereof;   a backing member configured to be received within said rebate so as to be positioned behind the item for display; and   a plurality of retaining members mountable to a wall of the body located within the rebate, each retaining member having a head portion configured to engage with the wall of the body and a tail portion pliably connected to the head portion, the tail portion being movable with respect to the head portion from a first position that is substantially coplanar with the head portion to at least a second position that is outside of the plane of the head portion,   wherein, retaining member is mounted to the wall of the body and the tail portion is in the first position, the item for display and the backing member are able to be received within the recess, and when the tail portion is moved to the at least second position, the tail portion extends at least partially across the recess to engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess.