Magnetic picture frame system

Abstract

A picture frame system includes a frame having an inner surface with a channel, a panel having a peripheral edge which is received in the channel and defines an area A which remains exposed within the perimeter member, and at least one magnetic member attached to the panel member within area A and a substrate having an aesthetic aspect and at least one metallic magnetically attracted member on a back of the substrate oriented in a complementary manner to be magnetically held in place.

Claims

1. A picture frame system, comprising: at least one frame including at least one perimeter member of a thickness T and having an inner surface defining a channel; a removable panel member having a peripheral edge received in said channel, said removable panel member defining an exposed area within said perimeter member: at least one magnetic member attached to said panel member and located at least partially behind said exposed area; and a substrate having an aesthetic aspect on a front and at least one metallic magnetically attracted member on a back, said metallic magnetically attracted member positioned to align in complementary registry with said at least one magnetic member on said removable panel member such that said substrate is removably and magnetically held in place within said exposed area, wherein said removable panel member is further characterized such that said at least one magnet member includes a plurality of peripherally disposed magnets placed within a plurality of open surfaces, each said open surface defined within a surface of said removable panel member of a size to friction fit and retain one of each said magnets.

2. The picture frame system of claim 1, wherein said substrate is configured to substantially span within said exposed area to render a gapless appearance within said picture frame system.

3. The picture frame system of claim 1, wherein substrate includes a pictorial print on one of a semi rigid and rigid substrate.

4. The picture frame system of claim 1, wherein the magnets are positioned adjacent to and along a peripheral boundary of said removable panel member.

5. The picture frame system of claim 1, wherein said magnets are arranged in a peripheral pattern on a rear surface of said removable panel member.

6. The picture frame system of claim 1, which includes a wall mounting structure on a back of said perimeter member.

7. A picture frame system, comprising: at least one frame including at least one perimeter member of a thickness T and having an inner surface defining a channel; a removable panel member having a peripheral edge received in said channel, said removable panel member defining an exposed area within said perimeter member: at least one magnetic member attached to said panel member and located at least partially behind said exposed area; and a substrate having an aesthetic aspect on a front and at least one metallic magnetically attracted member on a back, said metallic magnetically attracted member positioned to align in complementary registry with said at least one magnetic member on said removable panel member such that said substrate is removably and magnetically held in place within said exposed area further comprising a 3-dimensional removal tool having a magnet at one end having a greater magnetic force than said magnetic member on said removable panel member, such that said removal tool can engage said metallic member on said substrate to remove said substrate from said removable panel member without detaching said frame from a mounting surface.

8. The picture frame system of claim 7, wherein said substrate is configured to substantially span within said exposed area to render a gapless appearance within said picture frame system.

9. The picture frame system of claim 7, wherein substrate includes a pictorial print on one of a semi rigid and rigid substrate.

10. The picture frame system of claim 7, which includes a wall mounting structure on a back of said perimeter member.

11. The picture frame system of claim 7, wherein said removable panel member is further characterized such that said at least one magnet member includes a plurality of peripherally disposed magnets placed within a plurality of open surfaces, each said open surface defined within a surface of said removable panel member of a size to friction fit and retain one of each said magnets.

12. The picture frame system of claim 11, wherein the magnets are positioned adjacent to and along a peripheral boundary of said removable panel member.

13. The picture frame system of claim 11, wherein said magnets are arranged in a peripheral pattern on a rear surface of said removable panel member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of the picture frame system of the instant invention.

(2) FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of a component of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 depicts a back perspective of a components of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts a front perspective of a components of the invention.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts another front exploded of a components of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is directed to a novel picture frame system 10. In the preferred embodiment, the system 10 includes one or more frames 12, wherein each frame 12 has a one or more perimeter member(s) 14 of a given thickness T and each having an inner surface 16 with a channel 18 for receiving a having its peripheral edge 19 of panel 20 (or otherwise referred to herein as panel member) to be received in the channel 18.

(7) The panel 20 can preferably be made of relatively rigid or semi-rigid material such as Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) for example. The panel 20 can preferably be formed with open surfaces 22 defined within a back surface 24 of the panel 20 which are of a size to include a magnet 26. In this embodiment, there are shown a plurality of peripherally disposed magnets 26 in each corner placed within open surfaces 22 of back surface 24 of the panel and each are of a size to preferably friction fit and glued in to retain the magnet 26. Once the panel 20 is fixed in the channel 18, the perimeter member 14 can be equipped with conventional wall securing mechanisms 28 as is known in the art, i.e., hangers. A front 30 of the panel 20 includes an area A which remains exposed within the perimeter member(s) 14 and wherein the magnets 26 are at least partially, preferably entirely, disposed behind the area A.

(8) An aesthetic substrate 32, which can be a pictorial print, e.g., photograph, printed on a foam core or plastic for example, has one or more metallic magnetically attracted member 34 on a back 36 of the substrate 32 oriented in a complementary manner to be magnetically held in place by the magnets 26 of the panel 20. Preferably, the aesthetic substrate can be configured substantially to the area A to render a gapless appearance within the picture frame system. It is noted that the number of magnets 26, and or size, is preferably configured to maintain the substrate 32 in a secure and relatively flat manner against the panel 20. It is contemplated that the metallic magnetically attracted member 34 can be oriented as seen in FIG. 1 or 5, or optionally extend throughout the back surface 36 of the substrate 32. The picture frame system 10 envisions a peripheral member(s) 14 having various geometric configurations, such as rectangular, annular, or polygonal shaped body wherein the substrate 32 is configured to span within area A in a manner to span the entire area A of panel 20 providing a gap free visual effect.

(9) Thus, the picture frame system 10 has interchangeable panel members 32 magnetically held within a defined inner panel area A enabling quick removal and replacement and for displaying two and/or three dimensional artwork, pictorial print and photography. In the case of 3-dimensional art, it is envisioned that an object which could be a figurine, for example, having a base configured with magnetic member to connect to substrate 32.

(10) A 3-dimensional substrate removal tool 40 is available which could be in the form of the figurine or simply a handle. The removal tool 40 includes a handle member 42 having one end 44 equipped with a magnet 46, preferably having a greater magnetic force than the magnetic force of that in the panel 20, and upon contact with a part of the substrate 32 having the metallic magnetically attracted member 34 therebehind, the substrate 32 can be quickly removed without the need of removing the frame 12 from the wall to which it is fixed.

(11) The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.