Interchangeable decorative wall covering

Abstract

An interchangeable decorative panel or backsplash assembly having a frame structure mounted to the wall surrounding a predetermined opening in the wall. The frame structure is constructed in such a manner so as to appear to be a part of or set into a tiled wall. The removable decorative panel is mounted in the frame structure and consists of a substantially rigid base member having a front surface containing an adhesively attached decorative material design thereon. The base member containing the decorative material is readily removable from the frame structure to accommodate remodeling changes in style, designs, or seasonal tastes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interchangeable decorative panel assembly for mounting in an opening of a wall structure having a decorative layer thereon, said interchangeable decorative panel assembly comprising:
 a frame member having:
 a front side; 
 a back side; 
 an opening from said front side to said back side, said opening being smaller than said opening in said wall structure; and 
 a guide slot extending along a lower side of said opening in said frame member; 
   a base member having a front surface having a textured surface for improving the bonding, a back surface opposite to said front surface, and a narrowed edge portion along a peripheral edge thereof;   a decorative layer adhesively attached to said textured front surface of said base member;   at least one bracket member having one end attached to said frame member and an opposite end extending into said opening of said frame member; said at least one bracket further having a predetermined aperture therein;   a latch member mounted in said predetermined aperture of said at least one bracket member; and   a latch keeper member attached to said back surface of said base member, wherein when said narrowed edge portion along said peripheral edge of said base member is mounted in said guide slot along said side of said opening in said frame member and said latch keeper is mounted to said latch member, said base member is securely latched to said frame member such that any decorative layer may be mounted aligned with the opening in the wall.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The interchangeable decorative panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said front side of said frame member further comprises a flange portion having a plurality of holes there through for attaching and anchoring said frame member to said wall structure. 
     
     
         4 . The interchangeable decorative panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said guide slot defines an intermediate surface located between said front side and said back side of said frame member. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The interchangeable decorative panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said decorative layer attached to said front surface of said base member comprises a layer of decorative materials and further wherein said decorative layer of said wall structure is a layer of decorative materials. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making an interchangeable decorative panel assembly for mounting in an opening of a wall structure, said wall structure having a decorative layer thereon, said method comprising the steps of:
 making a predetermined opening in said wall structure;   attaching to said wall structure a frame structure having:
 a front side; 
 a back side; 
 an opening from said front side to said back side, said opening being smaller than said opening in said wall structure; 
 a guide slot extending along a lower side of said opening in said frame member, said guide slot defining an intermediate surface located between said front side and said back side of said frame structure; and 
   a flange portion extending along said front side of said frame structure, said flange portion surrounding said predetermined opening in said wall structure;   obtaining a base member having a front textured surface, a rear surface and a narrowed edge portion along a peripheral edge thereof, said base member being of a comparable size to said opening in said frame structure;   applying a decorative layer to said front textured surface of said base member using a bonding layer there between;   mounting said narrowed edge of said base member into said guide slot in said lower side of said frame member; and   tilting said base member towards said frame member until said base member completely moves into said opening of said frame member.   
     
     
         8 . The interchangeable decorative panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a second bracket member having one end attached to said frame member, an opposite end extending into said opening of said frame member at a spaced apart distance from said opposite end of said at least one bracket member and a predetermined aperture therein, said second bracket and said at least one bracket having a front surface substantially co-planar with said intermediate surface defined by said guide slot;
 a second latch member mounted in said predetermined aperture of said second bracket member; 
 a second keeper member attached to said back surface of said base member; 
 whereby when said narrowed edge portion along said peripheral edge of said base member is mounted in said guide slot along said lower side of said opening in said frame member and said latch keeper of each said at least one bracket member and said second bracket member is mounted to its respective latch member, said base member is securely latched to said frame member.