Picture frame wall bracket

Abstract

A picture frame wall bracket includes a first component for secure attachment to a rear face of a picture frame. The first component has a pair of side walls that define an open slot formed therebetween. The bracket also includes a second component for secure attachment to a support surface. The second component has a first section for placement against the support surface and a second section that extends outwardly from the first section. The second component includes a retaining element joined to the second section. The retaining element is configured to be received within the open slot formed in the first component and be securely captured within the first component by seating against the side walls and thereby mount the picture frame to the second component and space the picture frame from the support surface.

1 . A picture frame wall bracket comprising:
 a first component for secure attachment to a rear face of a picture frame, the first component having a pair of side walls that define an open slot formed therebetween; and   a second component for secure attachment to a support surface, the second component having a first section for placement against the support surface and a second section that extends outwardly from the first section, wherein the second component includes a retaining element that is joined to the second section, the retaining element being configured to be received within the open slot formed in the first component and be securely captured within the first component by seating against the side walls and thereby mount the picture frame to the second component and space the picture frame from the support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises a C-shaped plate. 
     
     
         3 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the C-shaped plate has a vertical wall and the side walls are spaced from one another and protrude outwardly from the vertical wall, each free end of the side wall having an inwardly directed lip, the slot being defined between the vertical wall, side walls and the inwardly directed lips. 
     
     
         4 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the slot is open at both ends of the C-shaped plate and a distance of the slot as measured between the inwardly directed lips is sufficient to permit at least a portion of the retaining element to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the retaining element comprises a top edge of the retaining element. 
     
     
         6 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element comprises a retaining plate that has a first face that faces the first section and the support surface and an opposite second face, wherein when the first and second components are securely mated together, the first face of the retaining plate seats against one side wall and the second face seats against the other side wall. 
     
     
         7 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 6 , wherein each side wall has an inwardly directed lip at a free end with the first face of the retaining plate seating against the inwardly directed lip of one side wall and the second face of the retaining plate seating against the inwardly directed lip of the other side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 7 , wherein the retaining plate has a bent shape defined by an intermediate bent portion between a top section and a bottom section, the top and bottom sections being at least substantially parallel to one another, wherein an upper edge of the top section is received within the slot and seats against an interior surface of the inwardly directed lip of the one side wall and an exterior surface of the other inwardly directed lip seats against the second face of the bottom section. 
     
     
         9 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the bent portion is formed at a right angle relative to the top section and the bottom section. 
     
     
         10 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the second section of the second component includes an intermediate section that is formed at a right angle relative to the first section and a bent end section that is formed at right angled relative to the intermediate section and is coupled to the retaining plate, the bent end section and the first section being contained within substantially parallel planes. 
     
     
         11 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the second component comprises a single integral piece of material that is bent in two locations to form the first section and the second section. 
     
     
         12 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining element is joined to the second section at a fold line with the retaining element being folded back into adjacent contact with at least a portion of the second section. 
     
     
         13 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first component is attached to the rear face of the picture frame by fasteners and the second component is attached to the support surface by fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the second section has a length so as to space the picture frame from the support surface a sufficient distance to allow the picture frame to overlap other frames mounted directly to the same support surface so as to create a layered effect. 
     
     
         15 . The picture frame wall bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first component is constructed for placement below an upper edge of the picture frame along the rear face. 
     
     
         16 . A picture frame assembly comprising:
 a picture frame having a rear face:   a first bracket component in the form of a first plate being securely mounted to the rear face, the first plate having a pair of side walls that define an open slot formed therebetween; and   a second bracket component for secure attachment to a support surface, the second component having a first section for placement against the support surface and a second section that extends outwardly from the first section, wherein the second bracket component includes a retaining plate joined to the second section, the retaining plate being configured to be received within the open slot formed in the first plate and be securely captured within the first plate by seating against the side walls and thereby mount the picture frame to the second bracket component and space the picture frame from the support surface.   
     
     
         17 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first plate is C-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the C-shaped plate has a vertical wall and a pair of spaced side walls that protrude outwardly from the vertical wall, each free end of the side wall having one inwardly directed lip, the slot being defined between the vertical wall, side walls and the inwardly directed lips. 
     
     
         19 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the retaining plate has a first face that faces the first section and the support surface and an opposite second face, wherein when the first and second components are securely mated together, the first face of the retaining plate seats against one side wall and the second face seats against the other side wall. 
     
     
         20 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 19 , wherein each side wall has an inwardly directed lip at a free end with the first face of the retaining plate seating against the inwardly directed lip of one side wall and the second face of the retaining plate seating against the inwardly directed lip of the other side wall. 
     
     
         21 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the retaining plate has a bent shape defined by an intermediate bent portion between a top section and a bottom section, the top and bottom sections being at least substantially parallel to one another, wherein an upper edge of the top section is received within the slot and seats against an interior surface of the inwardly directed lip of the one side wall and an exterior surface of the other inwardly directed lip seats against the second face of the bottom section. 
     
     
         22 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the bent portion is formed at a right angle relative to the top section and the bottom section. 
     
     
         23 . The picture frame assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second section has a length so as to space the picture frame from the support surface a sufficient distance to allow the picture frame to overlap other frames mounted directly to the same support surface so as to create a layered effect. 
     
     
         24 . A picture frame wall bracket for use with a picture frame having a rear C-shaped perimeter channel comprising:
 an arm component for secure attachment to a vertical support surface, the arm component having a first section for placement against the support surface and a second section that extends outwardly from the first section, wherein the arm component includes a retaining element that is joined to the second section, the retaining element being configured to be received within the rear C-shaped perimeter channel and be securely captured within the rear C-shaped perimeter channel by seating against side walls of the rear C-shaped perimeter channel and thereby mount the picture frame to the arm component and space the picture frame from the support surface.