Frame hanger

Abstract

Picture frame assembly comprising a frame element having inwardly facing, opposed, generally U-shaped grooves in its opposite sides and a similar groove in one end, and a rigid back plate slidably receivable within the grooves, and an integral hanging clip having a U-shaped retaining portion slideably positioned between one of the grooves and one of the edges of the back plate, a spacing portion and a hanging portion extending inwardly from the frame element, offset from the exterior of the back plate, for receiving an external hanging device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A picture frame assembly comprising: a frame element having inwardly facing, opposed, recesses in opposite sides thereof in a common plane;   a rigid back plate having front and rear faces with its side edges and one edge receivable within said recesses; and   an integral hanging clip having:   a U-shaped retaining portion positioned between one of said recesses and one of said edges and retained thereby for sliding movement therealong; .[.and.].   an offset hanging portion extending inwardly from said frame element and being outwardly spaced from the exterior face of said back plate for receiving an external hanging device between said clip and said back plate to support said frame assembly from a wall or the like.Iadd.; and,   a spacing portion intermediate and connected to said retaining portion and said offset hanging portion and extending generally transversely of said clip. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. A picture frame assembly comprising: a frame element having inwardly facing, opposed, generally U-shaped grooves in opposite sides thereof and a similar groove in one end thereof, all in a common plane, the other end of said frame element being open in said plane;   a rigid back plate having front and rear faces with its side edges and one end edge slideably receivable within said grooves through the open end of said frame element; and   an integral hanging clip having:   a U-shaped retaining portion positioned between one of said grooves and one of said edges and retained thereby for sliding movement therealong; .[.and.].   an offset hanging portion extending inwardly from said frame element and being outwardly spaced from the exterior face of said back plate for receiving an external hanging device between said clip and said back plate to support said frame assembly from a wall or the like.Iadd.; and   a spacing portion intermediate and connected to said retaining portion and said offset hanging portion and extending generally transversely of said clip. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said hanging portion of said clip has a notch on its lower edge for receiving a hanging device to support said assembly from a wall or the like. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said retaining portion of said clip has gripping means for engaging said back plate. 
     
     
       5. A picture frame assembly comprising: a frame element having inwardly facing, opposed, generally U-shaped grooves in opposite sides thereof and a similar groove in one end thereof, all in a common plane, the other end of said frame element being open in said plane;   a rigid back plate having front and rear faces with its side edges and one end edge slideably receivable within said grooves through the open end of said frame element, said back plate being frictionally held when received by said element, and   an integral hanging clip having   a U-shaped retaining portion positioned between one of said grooves and one of said edges and retained thereby for sliding movement therealong; .[.and.].   an offset hanging portion extending inwardly from said frame element and being outwardly spaced from the exterior face of said back plate and having a notch on its lower edge for receiving an external hanging device between said clip and said back plate to support said frame assembly from a wall or the like, said retaining portion of said clip having gripping means for supporting said back plate.Iadd., and   a spacing portion intermediate and connected to said retaining portion and said offset hanging portion and extending generally transversely of said clip. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said frame element is made of resilient material and the width of said U-shaped grooves at their inner edges is slightly less than the thickness of said back plate, whereby, said back plate is pinched and frictionally held when received by said element. 
     
     
       7. For use with a picture frame assembly having: a frame element having inwardly facing, opposed, generally U-shaped grooves in opposite sides thereof and a similar groove in one end thereof, all in a common plane the other end of said frame element being open in said plane; and   a rigid back plate having front and rear faces with its side edges and one end edge slideably receivable within said grooves through the open end of said frame element,   an integral hanging clip comprising   a U-shaped retaining portion having an outer leg and a spaced parallel inner leg adapted to be positioned between one of said grooves and one of said edges and retained thereby for sliding movement therealong;   a spacing portion at the terminal end of said outer leg extending away from said inner leg and   a hanging portion extending from said spacing portion in the same direction as said inner leg and parallel thereto, offset from said retaining portion and adapted to extend inwardly from said frame element to be outwardly spaced from the exterior face of said back plate, said hanging portion having hanging means in its edge remote from said spacing portion for receiving an external hanging device between said clip and said back plate to support said frame assembly from a wall or the like. .Iadd.8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped retaining portion has an outer leg and a spaced parallel inner leg, and said spacing portion is connected to the end of said outer leg and extends generally away from said inner leg. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said inner and outer legs of said U-shaped retaining portion are connected by a spacing portion extending transversely of said clip generally parallel to said spacing portion intermediate said outer leg and second hanging portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said hanging portion extends from said spacing portion in the same direction as inner leg and generally parallel thereto. .Iaddend.