Magnetic picture frame system, kit and method for hanging a magnetic picture frame

Abstract

The present invention relates to a magnetic picture frame system to be hung to a supporting structure, the magnetic picture frame system comprising a frame body defining a picture receiving area and having a front face and a back face; a backing plate having an inner face engageable to the back face of the frame body to cover at least partially the picture receiving area, and an opposed outer face having a ferromagnetic area. The system further comprises a fixing apparatus having a magnetic portion magnetically removably couplable to the ferromagnetic area of the outer face of the backing plate; and a coupling portion couplable with the supporting structure.

1 . A magnetic picture frame system to be hung to a supporting structure, the magnetic picture frame system comprising:
 a frame body defining a picture receiving area and having a front face and a back face;   a backing plate having:
 an inner face engageable to the back face of the frame body to cover at least partially the picture receiving area, and 
 an opposed outer face having a ferromagnetic area; and 
   a fixing apparatus having:
 a magnetic portion magnetically removably couplable to the ferromagnetic area of the outer face of the backing plate; and 
 a coupling portion couplable with the supporting structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic area covers at least about 50% of the outer face of the backing plate. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic portion is magnetically removably couplable to a plurality of locations of the outer face of the backing plate. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is designed to form an interlocking engagement with the supporting structure. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said coupling portion comprises a fixing body; and   said magnetic portion comprises one or more location adjustment arms extending from said fixing body.   
     
     
         6 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 5 , wherein said magnetic portion comprises two opposed location adjustment arms extending from said fixing body. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 5 , wherein said magnetic portion comprises four adjustment arms separated by about 90 degrees around said fixing body. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more magnets mounted to the back face of the frame body;   the inner face of the backing plate being at least partially ferromagnetic to be magnetically removably couplable to said one or more magnets for the backing plate to engage the frame body and cover at least partially the picture receiving area.   
     
     
         9 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more recesses are formed in the back face of the frame body, said one or more magnets being at least partially received in said one or more recesses. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 8 , wherein the back face of the frame body comprises an inner side edge and a first ledge extending from said inner side edge so as to define a first rabbet, the backing plate being received within said first rabbet when coupled to said one or more magnets. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 10 , wherein a height of the first rabbet is greater than or equal to a thickness of the backing plate. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first rabbet comprises a rabbet inner side edge, the frame body further comprising a second ledge extending from said rabbet inner side edge of the first rabbet, so as to define a second rabbet extending at least partially along the first rabbet. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic picture frame system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a translucent panel received within the second rabbet. 
     
     
         14 . A magnetic picture frame kit comprising:
 a frame body defining a picture receiving area and having a front face and a back face;   a backing plate having an inner face engageable to the back face of the frame body to cover at least partially the picture receiving area, and an opposed outer face having a ferromagnetic area; and   a fixing apparatus having a magnetic portion and a coupling portion, the magnetic portion being magnetically removably couplable to the ferromagnetic area of the outer face of the backing plate and the coupling portion being couplable with a supporting structure external to the magnetic picture frame.   
     
     
         15 . A method for hanging a magnetic picture frame system to a supporting structure, the magnetic picture frame system having a backing plate comprising an outer face having a ferromagnetic area, comprising:
 providing a fixing apparatus having a magnetic portion and a coupling portion;   coupling the coupling portion of the fixing apparatus to the supporting structure; and   coupling the ferromagnetic area of the outer face of the backing plate to the magnetic portion of the fixing apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising displacing the backing plate relatively to the magnetic portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 decoupling the backing plate from the magnetic portion of the fixing apparatus;   providing another magnetic picture frame system having a backing plate comprising an outer face having a ferromagnetic area; and   coupling the backing plate of said another magnetic picture frame system to the magnetic portion of the fixing apparatus.