The system invention herein disclosed and claimed is an art work frame that can easily be folded into a smaller area such that shipping container and costs are reduced. Upon arrival at its destination, it can easily be unfolded into frame suitable for art work mounting.

A photo display including a photo substrate and a support structure. The photo substrate has an image printed on a first surface. The support structure can include a rectangular central sheet, four base side strips, four internal side strips, four back strips, and four external side strips for forming a closed support structure. The photo substrate can be secured to an external surface of the front of the central sheet so that the front central sheet forms a rigid backing for the photo substrate.

The system invention herein disclosed and claimed is an art work frame that can easily be folded into a smaller area such that shipping container and costs are reduced. Upon arrival at its destination, it can easily be unfolded into frame suitable for art work mounting.

A system for mounting a covering (e.g., a fabric material) upon a frame is constructed from a plurality of elongated frame parts. Each frame part has two mitered ends and a channel formed therein. The related mounting method includes the steps of: (a) using a jig to hold the fabric material against the frame; (b) inserting a plurality of retaining splines within respective channels so as to capture the fabric material within the channels between one retaining spline and a corresponding floor of the channel, whereby a plurality of corner pleats are formed; and (c) using a tool to invert each corner pleat into a corner joint formed between respective adjacent frame parts so as to form an internal fold at each corner of the frame.

An image display including an image substrate and a support structure. The image substrate has an image printed on a first surface. The support structure can include a front sheet and a plurality of side strips extending from the front sheet. The image substrate can be adhered to an external surface of the front sheet so that the front sheet forms a rigid backing for the image substrate. A variety of image substrates are provided.

A frame for stretching a fabric material, having a plurality of outer frame members; a plurality of interlocking joints and a plurality of connector pieces. The plurality of outer frame members are adapted and configured to receive the fabric material in the plurality of interlocking joints. The plurality of connector pieces are adapted and configured to fit into the plurality of interlocking joints thereby connecting the plurality of interlocking cornered joints to the plurality of outer frame members. The plurality of connector pieces are adapted and configured such that the fabric material is stretched such that the plurality of connector pieces enables the fabric material to be taut across the frame.

Disclosed is a handheld canvas stretching tool used to stretch canvas across a stretcher frame. The tool can include upper and lower jaw plates with slip resistant surfaces configured to firmly grasp a portion of the canvas to be stretched. The tool includes wide locking pliers technology, and a second class lever action. These features give the user the mechanical advantage needed to apply a taut stretch to the canvas, while permitting one hand, and sometimes both hands, of the user to be free to apply staples that secure the canvas to the stretcher frame.

A stretchable carrier that has been provided with four straight stretcher bars that are divided in the corners by surfaces that stretch along the bisecting line of the corner between the center line of the stretcher bars that meet in the corner and at least one key fixed in a corner that is connected with both stretcher bars meeting in the said corner by means of friction effected by being jammed between the stretcher bars, whereby the top angle of the key is aimed at the corner and whereby the angle of the key is larger than the angle enclosed by the center lines of the stretcher bars meeting in the said corner. As this key is connected to the stretcher bars by this jamming and friction, the stretcher bars can be adjusted to any required dimensions without problems when connecting the stretcher bars.

An image display including an image substrate and a support structure. The image substrate has an image printed on a first surface. The support structure can include a front sheet and a plurality of side strips extending from the front sheet. The image substrate can be adhered to an external surface of the front sheet so that the front sheet forms a rigid backing for the image substrate. A variety of image substrates are provided.

A kit and method for assembling a frame supporting a stretched sheet includes a set of four stretcher bars, a set of braces, a stretching lever, and a sheet of material. A first stretcher bar can be initially attached to a first edge of the sheet. Remaining second, third, and fourth stretcher bars can be assembled with the first stretcher bar and corner braces to form a frame that rests upon the sheet. The stretching lever can be used to stretch the sheet between opposing stretcher bars just before the sheet is attached to a stretcher bar. The method of using a stretching lever as opposed to stretching pliers greatly reduces the time and difficulty of uniformly stretching the sheet.