Frame kit

Abstract

A frame kit includes materials sufficient to frame and display at least one piece of artwork, including one or more sets of a frame, a backing or matting piece and a transparent cover sheet. In addition, the backing piece and the cover sheet are packaged in a compact way such that the materials of at least one frame kit fit into a container. The container is suitable for shipment without oversize fee charges or with reduced oversize charges relative to those due for packaged assembled frames. The frame kit may include a poster or other piece of artwork such that, when the frame kit is received by the user, the artwork can be immediately framed and displayed using only the articles contained in the frame kit.

1 . A frame kit, comprising: 
 a container;    at least one set of frame rails, each set of frame rails comprising at least three frame rails forming a frame when assembled together; and    at least one of: 
 at least one transparent cover sheet, each transparent cover being sized to extend between the at least three frame rails of a given set of frame rails when that set of frame rails is assembled to form a frame, and  
 at least one backing piece, each backing piece being sized to extend between the at least three frame rails of a given set of frame rails when that set of frame rails is assembled to form a frame;  
   wherein the at least one set of frame rails and the at least one of a) the at least one transparent cover sheet and b) the at least one backing piece can be suitably packaged into the container.    
   
   
       2 . The frame kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one transparent cover sheet is deformable and is rolled for placing into the container.  
   
   
       3 . The frame kit of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one rolled transparent cover sheet is placed in a protective tube and the protective tube is placed in the container.  
   
   
       4 . The frame kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one backing piece is folded.  
   
   
       5 . The frame kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one folded backing piece has incisions on alternate sides of the backing piece and wherein the incisions cut extend at most partially through that backing piece.  
   
   
       6 . The frame kit of  claim 5 , wherein each of the at least one folded backing piece is folded along the incisions when placed in the container.  
   
   
       7 . The frame kit of  claim 5 , wherein, when unfolded, each of the at least one folded backing piece forms a substantially rigid planar member.  
   
   
       8 . The frame kit of  claim 1 , wherein a first box is provided at a first end of the container and a second box is provided at a second end of the container.  
   
   
       9 . The frame kit of  claim 8 , wherein the protective tube is packed in the container between the first and second boxes, such that the protective tube is positioned between the first and second boxes in the container.  
   
   
       10 . The frame kit of  claim 8 , wherein hardware and/or instructions usable to assemble the at least one set of frame rails, the at least one backing piece and the at least one transparent cover sheet of the frame kit into at least one frame are packaged in the first and/or second box.  
   
   
       11 . The frame kit of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one piece of artwork in the container.  
   
   
       12 . The frame kit of  claim 1 , wherein the container is tubular.  
   
   
       13 . The frame kit of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one transparent cover sheet is rolled and disposed against the inner perimeter of the container for shipment.  
   
   
       14 . The frame kit of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one backing piece is folded.  
   
   
       15 . The frame kit of  claim 14 , wherein each of the at least one folded backing piece has incisions formed on alternate sides of the backing piece and wherein the incisions cut extend at most partially through the backing piece.  
   
   
       16 . The frame kit of  claim 12 , wherein each of the at least one folded backing piece is folded along incisions when placed in the container.  
   
   
       17 . The frame kit of  claim 12 , wherein a first support element is provided at a first end of the container and a second support element is provided at a second end of the container.  
   
   
       18 . The frame kit of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one set of frame rails and the at least one backing piece are packed in the container between the two support elements, such that at least one of the at least one set of frame rails and at least one of the at least one backing piece are positioned between the first and second support elements in the container.  
   
   
       19 . The frame kit of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one piece of artwork in the container.  
   
   
       20 . The frame kit of  claim 1 , wherein a length/girth measurement of the container is less than a length/girth measurement of a package usable to contain a largest one of the at least one set of frame rails when assembled into a frame.  
   
   
       21 . The frame kit of  claim 20 , wherein the length/girth measurement of the container places the container in a less expensive shipping rate class than the shipping rate class defined by the length/girth measurement of the package.  
   
   
       22 . A method of packaging at least one frame kit into a container, comprising, for at least one of the at least one frame kit: 
 obtaining at least three frame rails;    at least one of folding a backing piece and rolling up a cover sheet; and    packing the frame rails and the at least one of the rolled-up cover sheet and the folded backing piece for that frame kit in the container.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein, for each folded backing piece, folding that backing piece comprises folding at least two sections of that backing piece along at least one incision between the at least two sections of that backing piece.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further including, for each folded backing piece, cutting at most partially through that backing piece on alternate sides of that backing piece prior to folding that backing piece.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising, for each rolled cover sheet, placing the rolled cover sheet in a protective tube prior to placing the rolled up cover sheet inside the container.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising placing at least one piece of artwork in the container.  
   
   
       27 . A method of assembling a frame from at least one frame kit contained in a container, the frame components of at least one frame kit contained in the container including: 
 at least three frame rails; and    at least one of a folded backing piece and a rolled cover sheet;    the method comprising:    removing the frame components of one of the at least one frame kit from the container;    assembling at least two of the frame rails to at least partially form the frame;    unfolding the backing piece if included in the frame kit;    unrolling the cover sheet if included in the frame kit;    placing the unrolled cover sheet in the frame if included in the frame kit; and    placing the unfolded backing piece in the frame if included in the frame kit.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising including at least one piece of artwork in the frame kit, the method further comprising: 
 placing one of the at least one piece of artwork in the frame; and    assembling the at least one remaining frame rail with the at least two assembled frame rails to complete the frame.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising assembling the at least one remaining frame rail with the at least two assembled frame rails to complete the frame.