Art glass display decorative supportive connector element

Abstract

An art glass display connecting element having a central portion, with the central portion having a top, a bottom, and a sidewall, with the top and the bottom having apertures formed therein. The central portion has a channel formed therethrough, with the channel having a first end directly adjacent the top aperture and with the channel having a second end directly adjacent the bottom aperture. The connecting element also has a plurality of arm members extending outwardly from the central portion sidewall, with the arm members having a top portion and a bottom portion. The connecting element also has at least one spacer element, with the spacer element secured to the central portion. The connecting element is part of a decorative art glass display having a framework in cooperative interconnection with cames. Decorative art glass is secured within the framework, and at least one protective sheet of a translucent material is in a plane parallel to the framework, such that a spacer element is located between the protective sheet and the central portion.

1 . An art glass display connecting element comprising 
 a central portion, said central portion having a top, a bottom, and a sidewall, said top and said bottom having apertures formed therein, said central portion having a channel formed therethrough, said channel having a first end directly adjacent said top aperture and said channel having a second end directly adjacent said bottom aperture,    a plurality of arm members extending outwardly from said central portion, said arm members having a top portion, and a bottom portion, and    at least one spacer element, said spacer element secured to said central portion.    
   
   
       2 . The connecting element according to  claim 1  wherein said arm members extend perpendicularly from said central portion.  
   
   
       3 . The connecting element according to  claim 1  wherein said spacer element is secured to said central portion by adhesive.  
   
   
       4 . The connecting element according to  claim 1  wherein said spacer element is dome-shaped.  
   
   
       5 . The connecting element according to  claim 1  wherein said spacer element has an upper surface that has a plurality of planar surfaces.  
   
   
       6 . The connecting element according to  claim 1  wherein said central portion has a spacer element secured to said central portion's top.  
   
   
       7 . The connecting element according to  claim 1  wherein said central portion has a spacer element secured to said central portion's top and a spacer element secured to said central portion's bottom.  
   
   
       8 . The connecting element according to  claim 1  wherein said spacer element has a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion enclosed within said channel.  
   
   
       9 . The connecting element according to  claim 8  wherein said first end and said second end are of different dimensions.  
   
   
       10 . An art glass display comprising 
 a framework, said framework being comprised of a plurality of cames and connecting elements in interconnected relationship, said connecting elements having a central portion, said central portion having a top, a bottom, and a sidewall, said top and said bottom having apertures formed therein, said central portion having a channel formed therethrough, said channel having a first end directly adjacent said top aperture and said channel having a second end directly adjacent said bottom aperture, said connecting elements having a plurality of arm members extending outwardly from said central portion sidewall, said arm members having a top portion, and a bottom portion, and said connecting elements having at least one spacer element, said spacer element secured said central portion,    at least one piece of decorative art glass retained within said framework,    at least one protective sheet of a translucent material in a plane parallel to said framework, said spacer element located between said protective sheet and said central portion.    
   
   
       11 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  which includes a first protective sheet of a translucent material and a second protective sheet of a translucent material, said framework located in a plane parallel to said first and second protective sheets, and with a portion of said spacer element located between said first protective sheet and said central portion, and a portion of said spacer element located between said second protective sheet and said central portion.  
   
   
       12 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said spacer element is secured to said central portion by adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said arm members extend perpendicularly from said central portion sidewall.  
   
   
       14 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said spacer element is dome-shaped.  
   
   
       15 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said spacer element has an upper surface that has a plurality of planar surfaces.  
   
   
       16 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said central portion has a spacer element secured to said central portion's top.  
   
   
       17 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said central portion has a spacer element secured to said central portion's top and a spacer element secured to said central portion's bottom.  
   
   
       18 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said spacer element has a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion enclosed within said channel.  
   
   
       19 . The art glass display according to  claim 10  wherein said first end and said second end are of different dimensions.