Frame and frame system

Abstract

A frame may have a plurality of perimeter walls. The perimeter walls may at least partially bound at least one window. The perimeter walls may have an inner perimeter surface with at least one inner groove. The perimeter walls may also have an outer perimeter surface with a plurality of outer slots. A frame system may have the frame with at least one connector selectively adapted to fit within at least one of the outer slots. The connector may be used to connect one or more frames together or to function as a hanger for the frame or the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frame, comprising:
 a plurality of perimeter walls, wherein said perimeter walls at least partially bound at least one window, said perimeter walls, comprising:   an inner perimeter surface comprising at least one inner groove; and   an outer perimeter surface comprising a plurality of outer slots.   
     
     
         2 . The frame of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of perimeter walls comprises of an upper wall, a lower wall, and first and second side walls. 
     
     
         3 . The frame of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of perimeter walls bounds a plurality of windows, said plurality of windows defined by said plurality of perimeter walls and a first inner wall extending between said upper wall and said lower wall and a second inner wall extending between said first and second side walls. 
     
     
         4 . The frame of  claim 3 , wherein said first inner wall extends along a first axis, wherein said plurality of perimeter walls is symmetrical about said first axis, and wherein said second inner wall extends along a second axis, wherein said plurality of perimeter walls is symmetrical about said second axis. 
     
     
         5 . The frame of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one inner groove comprises a first side wall groove that extends parallel said first axis, and a second side wall groove that extends parallel said second axis. 
     
     
         6 . The frame of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second side wall grooves extend into said first and second side walls, respectively, a fixed distance along the length of the side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The frame of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second inner walls intersect with one another at a center portion of said plurality of perimeter walls, wherein said first and second inner walls each have an upper surface that is coplanar with an upper surface of said plurality of perimeter walls. 
     
     
         8 . The frame of  claim 1 , wherein said outer slots are spaced apart from one another and each extends into the outer perimeter surface a fixed length. 
     
     
         9 . The frame of  claim 2 , wherein said outer slots in said first and second side walls extend toward said grooves in said side walls, wherein pairs of outer slots in said first and second side walls, respectively, are aligned with one another. 
     
     
         10 . The frame of  claim 9 , wherein said outer slots are cubic with an opening on the outer perimeter surface. 
     
     
         11 . The frame of  claim 2 , wherein said outer slots in said upper wall, said lower wall, and said first and second side walls have channels extending to a back surface of said upper wall, said lower wall and said first and second side walls, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . A frame system, comprising:
 the frame of  claim 1 , and   at least one connector selectively adapted to fit within at least one of said outer slots, wherein said at least one connector has a body portion and at least one tab portion, wherein said at least one tab portion is cantilevered from said body portion.   
     
     
         13 . The frame system of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one tab portion extends only a portion of a length and a height of the body portions. 
     
     
         14 . The frame system of  claim 12 , wherein an upper surface of said at least one tab portion has a centrally located upstanding peak. 
     
     
         15 . The frame system of  claim 14 , wherein a blind hole is coaxial with said upstanding peak in said at least one tab portion. 
     
     
         16 . The frame system of  claim 12 , wherein two tab portions extend from opposite sides of said body portion. 
     
     
         17 . The frame system of  claim 12 , wherein said body portion has a centrally located channel extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of said body portion. 
     
     
         18 . A frame system, comprising:
 a first frame, comprising:
 a plurality of perimeter walls, wherein said perimeter walls at least partially bound at least one window, said perimeter walls, comprising: 
 an inner perimeter surface comprising at least one inner groove adapted to receive a first flexible substrate therein; and 
 an outer perimeter surface comprising a plurality of outer slots; 
   a second frame, comprising:
 a plurality of perimeter walls, wherein said perimeter walls at least partially bound at least one window, said perimeter walls, comprising: 
 an inner perimeter surface comprising at least one inner groove adapted to receive a second flexible substrate therein; and 
 an outer perimeter surface comprising a plurality of outer slots; 
   at least one connector having a first tab adapted to fit in one of said plurality of outer slots of said first frame and having a second tab adapted to fit in one of said plurality of outer slots of said first frame to selectively connect said first frame and second frame together.   
     
     
         19 . The frame system of  claim 18 , wherein a body portion of said connector abuts each of said outer perimeter surfaces when said connector is located in one of said plurality of outer slots of each of said first frame and said second frame. 
     
     
         20 . The frame system of  claim 18 , wherein each of said tabs has an upper surface and each upper surface has a centrally located upstanding peak. 
     
     
         21 . The frame system of  claim 20 , wherein at least two of said plurality of outer slots in both said first and said second frame have recesses extending toward an upper surface of said perimeter walls, said recesses adapted to selectively receive said upstanding peak therein. 
     
     
         22 . The frame system of  claim 18 ,
 wherein in a first initial condition said first and second flexible substrates are part of a master flexible substrate,   wherein score lines in said master flexible substrate define said first and second flexible substrates,   wherein in a second condition, said first and second flexible substrates are separated from one another along said score lines.   
     
     
         23 . The frame system of  claim 18 , wherein said first flexible substrate has a first length and width dimension and said second flexible substrate has a second length and width dimension different from said first length and width dimension.