Picture storage and framing system

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a picture frame including a first pair of frame profiles, second pair of frame profiles, connectable to compliment to a right-angled corner at an assembled position. The second frame profiles have a locking groove extending from a bottom face thereof. The first and second frame profiles each have a stepped section at an inside face thereof, with a picture facing lip disposed above a bottom face. There is a corner coupler having a first arm slidingly displaceable for slidably arresting within an open end of the back board arresting groove of a first frame profile, and a second arm configurable for arresting into locking groove of the second frame profile. A back board having first opposite edges having length corresponding with the first length of the first frame profiles, and second opposite edges having length corresponding with second length of second frame profiles can be included.

1 . A picture frame comprising:
 a first pair of frame profiles, each having a first length and each having a back board arresting groove longitudinally extending between first connecting angled edges of each first frame profile;   a second pair of frame profiles, each having a second length, and having second connecting angled edges corresponding with the first connecting angled edges of the first pair of frame profiles, so as to compliment to a right-angled corner at an assembled position; said second pair of frame profiles having a locking groove disposed at least at respective end portions thereof, said locking groove extending from a bottom face thereof;   said first frame profiles and second frame profiles each have a stepped section at an inside face thereof, with a picture facing lip disposed above a bottom face thereof;   an L-shaped corner coupler having a first arm slidingly displaceable for slidably arresting within an open end of the back board arresting groove of a first frame profile, and a second arm configurable for arresting into a locking groove of the second frame profile, thereby articulating an end of the first profile member and an end of a second profile member flush against one another;   a rectangle back board made of rigid though pliable material, having first opposite edges having a length corresponding with the first length of said first frame profiles, and second opposite edges having a length corresponding with the second length of said second frame profiles, respectively; said first edges being configurable for arresting within said back board arresting groove of the first profiles and locking arresting therein by a portion of the first arm of the L-shaped corner coupler;   and wherein the back board is deployable between a folded position at which it rolled over to encompass the first and second pairs of frame profiles, and a deployed position at which it is tensioned at a back face of the assembled picture frame, such that at the deployed position a picture can be clappingly positioned between a bottom facing inside edge of the respective frame profiles.   
     
     
         2 . A storage and framing system comprising the picture frame of  claim 1 , and further comprising a cylindric container for snug accommodating the picture frame, and a picture, and a transparent film; said container having a minimal length corresponding with a longest of the frame profiles and having an inside diameter similar to, or slightly greater, than the circumradius of the picture frame at the folded position. 
     
     
         3 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the corner coupler is configurable for attaching two neighboring frame profiles to one another at a right angle and flush with one another, said corner coupler having a generally L-like shape wherein a first arm thereof is configurable for sliding arresting into a back board arresting groove of a first frame profile, and the second arm thereof is configured for arresting into locking groove at a second frame profile, wherein the first arm can only be axially displaced along said back board arresting groove and said second arm can only be displaced transversally into said locking groove. 
     
     
         4 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm of the corner coupler are configurable for press-fit into the back board arresting groove and the locking groove, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm of the corner coupler comprises an axial extension configurable for displacing below the picture facing lip of the first frame profile, for engaging a cutout at the first edge of the back board, for setting the back board to the first frame profile by axially arresting the back board within the back board arresting groove and preventing detachment in a transversing sense by blocking an end portion of the back board arresting groove. 
     
     
         6 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein a flexible transparent film is provided for placing over the picture, said transparent film configurable for clamping under the picture facing lip. 
     
     
         7 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom face of the lip of the stepped section extends above a bottom face of the frame profiles, at a spaced apart distance, wherein said distance is greater than the thickness of the back board and the thickness of a picture and a thickness of a transparent film. 
     
     
         8 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein a minimal packing size of the picture frame has a rectangle shape the maximal diagonal thereof extending between opposite edges of a frame element, plus the thickness of the back board, and having a maximal length corresponding with a maximal length of the frame profiles. 
     
     
         9 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein a minimal circumcircle of the picture frame encompasses the picture frame at its folded position, wherein the circumcircle has a circumradius corresponding substantially with a maximum diagonal extending between opposite edges of a frame element, plus the thickness of the back board. 
     
     
         10 . The picture frame of  claim 2 , wherein the cylindric container can be fitted with removable end caps. 
     
     
         11 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the back board comprises live hinge sections, defining fold lines. 
     
     
         12 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the back board is foldable along fold lines comprising symmetrically distributed fold lines parallel with the first frame profiles, said fold lines comprising:
 at least a first set of fold lines along respective first edges corresponding with first frame profiles;   a set of second fold lines inwards of said first fold lines, spaced from the first set of fold lines at a distance D 1  corresponding with the length of the picture facing lip;   a set of third fold lines inwards of said second fold lines, spaced from the second set of fold lines at a distance D 2  corresponding with the width of a frame profile;   a set of fourth fold lines inwards of said third fold lines, spaced from the third set of fold lines at a distance D 3  corresponding with the height of a frame profile;   a set of fifth fold lines inwards of said fourth fold lines, spaced from the fourth set of fold lines at a distance D 4  corresponding with twice the width of a frame profile.   
     
     
         13 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fold lines is a double fold, for rigidifying thereof and improving grip arresting within the back board arresting groove. 
     
     
         14 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the back board is made of cardboard, or plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein at least the second frame profiles further comprise a picture support grove extending at a bottom facing portion of the frame profile, below the picture facing lip. 
     
     
         16 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the back board comprises one or more frame hanging keyholes, disposed so as to facilitate hanging the picture frame on a support wall at different orientations. 
     
     
         17 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the frame profiles comprises at a back face thereof one or more frame hanging keyholes, disposed so as to facilitate hanging the picture frame on a support wall at different orientations. 
     
     
         18 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the back board comprises one or more pedestals for supporting the picture frame on a surface top. 
     
     
         19 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first profiles and the second profiles have a same cross section. 
     
     
         20 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the back board arresting groove has an L-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         21 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the corner coupler is made of polymeric material. 
     
     
         22 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the corner coupler is injection molded, or 3D printed, or machined. 
     
     
         23 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the frame profiles are manufactured by extrusion. 
     
     
         24 . The picture frame of  claim 1 , wherein the frame profiles can be made of polymeric material or metal. 
     
     
         25 . A corner coupler for use in conjunction with a picture frame of  claim 1 , said corner coupler configurable for attaching two neighboring frame profiles to one another at a right angle and flush with one another, said corner coupler having a generally L-like shape wherein a first arm thereof is configurable for sliding arresting into a back board arresting groove of a first frame profile, and a second arm thereof is configured for arresting into locking groove at a second frame profile, wherein the first arm can only be axially displaced along said back board arresting groove and said second arm can only be displaced transversally into said locking groove. 
     
     
         26 . A method of storing and framing a picture, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a picture frame according to  claim 1 ;   (b) Deploying the back board by unfolding it and displacing the first frame profiles away from one another so as to assume a planar shape extending flat between said first frame profiles;   (c) Applying a picture over the deployed back board and clamping its edges under the picture facing lip;   (d) Articulating an end portion of a second frame profile to an end portion of a first frame profile by pressing the corner coupler into a locking groove at the ends of the second frame profile, to obtain a rigid right-angled corner;   Repeating step 4 for each corner, to obtain a rectangle shaped solid frame and with the back board tensioned at a back portion thereof.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein optionally, after step c) a flexible transparent film can be applied over the picture.