Protective structure for artwork

Abstract

The current invention relates to protective structures for artwork and more particularly, to a structure that protects flat artwork when being moved from one display site to another. The device, or “art crib”, comprises a plurality of interconnected piping material that encases the piece of art and protects it from crushing, denting and other damage. Paintings may be slipped into the crib through the open top and secured with pivoting closures if desired. The crib also can serve as easily identified storage for the decorative pieces that must be moved repeatedly from warehouse to site and back to warehouse again, thus reducing exposure to damage from repeated handling. The crib uniquely combines the virtues of strength, light weight, durability, visibility and adaptability that fill the needs of home stagers, interior designers, gallery owners, most of whom are sole practitioners lacking heavy machinery or teams of movers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, named an art crib, for protecting a relatively two-dimensional piece of art, comprising a structure formed of a plurality of interconnected piping material, typically PVC or similar pipe, that encases and protects the piece of art from crushing, denting and other damage during frequent transport. 
     
     
         2 . A primary design of the crib consisting of two rectangles of matching assembled pipes, connected transversely by shorter spacer pipes creating an opening of a plurality of widths. Matching horizontal ladder-like constructions of pipe are fixed centrally to the side pipe members of the rectangles to provide rigidity to the structure as well as physical protection of the contents. They are not connected to each other internally by spacers in order to keep clear the space for insertion of the artwork to be stored. 
     
     
         3 . A method for optionally customizing the size of the crib to accommodate any size artwork. Each addition retains the top opening for inserting or removing the art piece to be protected. A base unit of the art crib has the top of four uncapped pipes drilled through their radius. Matching holes are drilled through the bottom of four uncapped pipes of a plurality of extender configurations, whether two simple top pipes or a more reinforced laddered art crib structure. Clevis pins are passed through the matched holes and secured with cotter pins to complete the extension. Removing the cotter pins and clevis pins releases the extender unit for future use. 
     
     
         4 . A method for quickly opening and closing the top transverse connectors to completely confine the artwork in the crib. The closure consists of a freely turning PVC tee or other pipe connector (not cemented) swiveling on the top-level pipe of the crib, connected by a short pipe to another tee connector cut lengthwise to clip onto the opposing pipe. 
     
     
         5 . A structure which permits of attaching cut sections of pipe insulation tubes along the perimeter for cushioning the contents of the crib. These sections may be of different colors to assist in sorting or categorizing the cribs either by size or by contents. 
     
     
         6 . A structure for assisting the single-handed movement of a large, relatively two-dimensional piece of art from one place to another without heavy machinery or a team of movers. 
     
     
         7 . A structure that allows artwork to be protected, yet visible, so it can be placed correctly before installation in a home, business or gallery. 
     
     
         8 . A structure that allows artwork to be protected, yet visible, so it can be stored, efficiently identified and managed in a warehouse or moving vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . A structure which uniquely combines strength, light weight, durability and adaptability for protecting artwork during moving and storage.