Photo frame and the like

Claim 2

A photo frame and the like, comprising: a. a rigid rear frame member having a flat-bottomed recess in its front face defined by an upstanding bezel, b. a rigid front frame member configured to fit loosely in said recess substantially within said bezel with a distinct peripheral clearance, for ready insertion thereinto, and removal therefrom, and having spaced front and rear faces providing a slot for the insertion of a photo therebetween, said front face having a photo aperture, and c. coooperating permanent magnetic, and metallic elements, one secured substantially centrally of the bottom of said recess and the other secured substantially centrally of the rear surface of said front frame member, to hold said front frame member releasably within said recess, one of said elements projecting above the surface to which it is secured, whereby pressure on said front frame member adjacent an edge thereof causes said front frame member to tilt with respect to said recess to raise the opposite edge above said bezel so that it may be grasped for easy removal.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of abutments are provided in said recess, spaced about said element secured in said recess, said abutments being substantially of the same height above the bottom of the recess as the surface of said element.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1, wherein said permaneNt magnetic element is secured in said recess, and said metallic element is secured to the rear surface of said front frame member.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3, wherein a second metallic element is secured behind said magnetic element.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4, wherein said second metallic element is recessed in said rear frame member, and is in contact with said magnetic element.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5, wherein pad members are secured to the rear face of said rear frame member adjacent the edges thereof.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6, in combination with a backing surface, said backing surface having a permanent magnet secured thereto, and cooperating with said second metallic element to secure said structure removably to said backing surface.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1, wherein said front frame member has a bezel surrounding said photo aperture, said last named bezel being a separate piece and secured in said aperture.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1, wherein the said front and rear faces of the rigid front frame member are spaced apart by spacing elements along opposed edges thereof, leaving the remaining opposed edges open for insertion of a photo between said faces.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9, wherein the said rear face is configured along said open edges to provide marking guides for cutting oblong photos to square configuration to fit said front frame member.

Claim 12

A picture frame structure comprising a rigid front frame having front and rear faces, means to maintain said front and rear faces in parallel spaced relationship to releasably receive a photograph between those faces for viewing through an opening in the front face thereof, a rigid, nonflexible rear frame having a floor and an open front face defined by a rim that cooperates to establish a seat for said front frame, the external periphery of the front frame and the rim of the rear frame being sized so that a distinct peripheral gap is established therebetween when the frames are nested together, thereby allowing the front frame to be easily received into and retrieved from the rear frame through the front face of the rear frame because of the peripheral gap established when the frames are nested together, and magnetic means mounted substantially centrally of the rear face of said front frame and substantially centrally of the floor or said rear frame, said magnetic means retaining said frames in operative combination, one of said means projecting above the surface on which it is mounted, whereby pressure on said front frame adjacent an edge thereof causes said front frame to tilt with respect to said seat to raise the opposite edge above said rim so that it may be grasped for easy removal.

Claim 13

A picture frame structure comprising a rigid front frame having front and rear faces, means to maintain said front and rear faces in parallel spaced relationship to releasably receive a photograph between those faces for viewing through an opening in the front face thereof, a rigid, nonflexible rear frame having a floor and an open front face defined by a rim that cooperates to establish a seat for said front frame, the external periphery of the front frame and the rim of the rear frame being sized so that a distinct peripheral gap is established therebetween when the frames are nested together, thereby allowing the front frame to be easily received into and retrieved from the rear frame through the front face of the rear frame because of the peripheral gap established when the frames are nested together, and magnetic means mounted substantially centrally of the rear face of said front frame and substantially centrally of the floor or said rear frame, said magnetic means retaining said frames in operative combination, one of said means projecting above the surface on which it is mounted, whereby pressure on said front frame adjacent an edge thereof causes said front frame to tilt with respect to said seat to raise the opposite edge above said rim so that it may be grasped for easy removal.

Claim 14

A picture frame structure as set forth in claim 11 hwerein said rigid front frame is in the form of a one-piece envelope open along at least one side edge, and wherein said magnetic means includes a magnetic element and a metallic element, one of said elements being secured to the floor of said rear frame and the other of said elements being secured to the rear face of said front frame.

Claim 15

A picture frame structure as set forth in claim 11 wherein the peripheral geometry of the rim of the rear frame is substantially the same as that of the external periphery of the front frame.

Claim 16

A picture frame structure as set forth in claim 13 wherein the depth of the seat defined by the floor of said rear frame and rim is sufficient to prevent said front frame from sliding laterally off said rear frame, and to prevent the photograph in said front frame from falling out of said front frame.

Claim 17

A picture frame structure comprising a front frame, means on said front frame for releasably retaining a photograph, said front frame having a rear face and side edges, a rear frame having an open front face, said rear frame defining a seat having a floor on which said front frame is mounted, said open front face at least partially enclosing said side edges of said front frame when said front frame is mounted on said floor, and means to space at least a portion of the rear face of said front frame from the floor of said rear frame in a manner that allows said front frame to tip relative to said rear frame when said front frame is pressed adjacent one side edge thereof, and magnetic means fixed to the rear face of said front frame and to the floor of said rear frame to retain said frames in operative combination,

Claim 18

A picture frame structure comprising a front frame, means on said front frame for releasably retaining a photograph, said front frame having a rear face and side edges, a rear frame having an open front face, said rear frame defining a seat having a floor on which said front frame is mounted, said open front face at least partially enclosing said side edges of said front frame when said front frame is mounted on said floor, and means to space at least a portion of the rear face of said front frame from the floor of said rear frame in a manner that allows said front frame to tip relative to said rear frame when said front frame is pressed adjacent one side edge thereof, and magnetic means fixed to the rear face of said front frame and to the floor of said rear frame to retain said frames in operative combination,

Claim 19

A picture frame structure as set forth in claim 15, said magnetic means being raised out of the plane of at least one of the rear face of the front frame and the floor of the rear frame to space the back face of the front frame from the floor of the rear frame when said frames are operatively combined.

Claim 20

A picture frame structure as set forth in claim 16 wherein said magnetic means includes a magnetic element and a metallic element, one of said elements being fixed to the floor of said rear frame centrally of said rim and the other of said elements being fixed to the rear face of said front frame centrally of said front frame''s external periphery.

Claim 21

A picture frame structure as set forth in claim 17 wherein the clearance established between the rear face of said front frame and the floor of the rear frame is such that one edge of said front frame is raised above said seat of the rear frame when said front frame is tipped relative to said rear frame by depressing the opposite edge of said front frame.