Picture frame assembly

Abstract

Described herein is a quick-change picture frame assembly having interlocked inner and out frame components forming the appearance of a traditional frame configured to quickly and easily replace an image substrate within the frame for public or private display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A picture frame assembly comprising:
 an outer frame forming a display surface, and a rear surface adapted to receive a transparent panel, and wherein the rear surface of the outer frame further includes a tractable channel formed by an outer perimeter wall and an inner perimeter wall;   one or more integral couplers extending inward from the terminal portion of the outer perimeter wall;   a tractable inner frame forming a substrate backing, the rear surface of the inner frame further having an extended perimeter having an inner and outer extended surface; and   wherein the inner frame is positioned against the rear surface of the outer frame with the substrate backing being positioned adjacent to an image substrate, and wherein the one or more integral couplers extending inward from the terminal portion of the outer perimeter wall are positioned over the extended perimeter securing the inner and outer.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer frame is an integral component. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame is an integral component. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer and inner frames are formed by a material selected from: plastic, thermoplastic polymer, or a composite material. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent panel is formed from a material selected from: glass, polystyrene, acrylic, plexiglass, or polycarbonate. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter wall extends rearward from the outer frame further than the inner perimeter wall. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame includes one or more extended coupling surfaces extending from the top portion of the outer extended surface of the extended perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the outer perimeter wall is laterally tractable to allow the extended perimeter securing the inner frame to be positioned below the one or more integral couplers extending inward from the terminal portion of the outer perimeter wall. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one integral coupler is configured to be secured to the top portion of at least one extended coupling surface. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer frame includes at least one integral coupler configured to be secured to the top portion of at least one extended coupling surface at a frame coupler position of the inner frame. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the frame coupler positions of the inner frame further comprises a gripping surface. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the frame coupler positions of the inner frame further comprises a support positioned on the rear surface of the inner frame and reinforcing the extended perimeter of the inner frame. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the image substrate is selected from: a canvas image substrate, a paper image substrate, a photograph image substrate, or a poster image substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide positioned on the outer perimeter wall of the outer frame. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a slot positioned on the outer extended surface of the inner frame and configured to be mated with the guide positioned on the outer perimeter wall of the outer frame. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said guide and said slot are integral with the inner frame and outer frame, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a support surface positioned on the rear surface of the outer frame. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate perimeter surface positioned on the substrate backing of the inner frame. 
     
     
         19 . A method of replacing an image substrate in a frame assembly, the method comprising:
 establishing outer frame forming a display surface, and a rear surface adapted to receive a transparent panel, and wherein the rear surface of the outer frame further includes a tractable channel formed by an outer perimeter wall and an inner perimeter wall;   positioning an image substrate on the rear surface of the outer frame, over a transparent panel, with the perimeter of the panel and image substrate positioned over a support surface;   establishing a tractable inner frame forming a substrate backing adapted to be positioned against the rear surface of an image substrate, the rear surface of the inner frame further having an extended perimeter having an inner and outer extended surface;   inserting the tractable inner frame into the rear surface of the outer frame, wherein the extended perimeter is inserted into the tractable channel formed by an outer perimeter wall, which flexes to allow the insertion; and   engaging one or more integral couplers extending inward from the terminal portion of the outer perimeter wall being positioned over the extended perimeter securing the inner and outer frames in place.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising disengaging the one or more integral couplers thereby disengaging the inner and outer frames. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising separating the outer and inner frames by laterally disengaging the inner frame. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising replacing the image substrate and reengaging the inner frame according to the steps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the outer frame is an integral component. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the inner frame is an integral component. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the outer and inner frames are formed by a material selected from: plastic, thermoplastic polymer, or a composite material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the transparent panel is formed by a material selected from: glass, polystyrene, acrylic, plexiglass, or polycarbonate. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the outer perimeter wall extends rearward from the outer frame further than the inner perimeter wall. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the inner frame includes one or more extended coupling surfaces extending from the top portion of the outer extended surface of the extended perimeter. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the outer perimeter wall is laterally tractable to allow the extended perimeter securing the inner frame to be positioned below the one or more integral couplers extending inward from the terminal portion of the outer perimeter wall. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one integral coupler is configured to be secured to the top portion of at least one extended coupling surface. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the outer frame includes at least one integral coupler configured to be secured to the top portion of at least one extended coupling surface at a frame coupler position of the inner frame. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of disengaging comprises engaging a gripping surface to disengage at least one of the integral couplers. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the image substrate is selected from: a canvas image substrate, a paper image substrate, a photograph image substrate, or a poster image substrate. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of engaging comprises the step of mating a guide positioned on the outer perimeter wall of the outer frame with a slot positioned on the outer extended surface of the inner frame. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said guide and said slot are integral with the inner frame and outer frame, respectively. 
     
     
         37 . A picture frame assembly comprising:
 an outer frame having tractable channel around formed by an outer perimeter wall and an inner perimeter wall;   one or more integral couplers extending inward from the terminal portion of the outer perimeter wall;   tractable inner frame positioned against the rear surface of the outer frame and adjacent to an image substrate, and wherein the one or more integral couplers extending inward from the terminal portion of the outer perimeter wall are positioned over an extended perimeter securing the inner and outer frame in place.