Abstract:
The present invention provides, among other things, an adjustable hanging device for securing an object to a wall including a frame defining a number of substantially parallel slots and being securable to a wall, and a hook for supporting an object and being selectively moveable along each of the plurality of slots in a sliding direction to adjust an orientation of the object relative to the wall. Each of the slots can have a closed end to prevent the hook from disengaging the frame while moving in the sliding direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This applications claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/062,722, filed on Jan. 29, 2008, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for hanging an object, such as a picture frame, from a support surface, such as a wall such that the object is adjustable relative to the support surface. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In some embodiments, the present invention provides an adjustable hanging device for securing an object to a wall including a frame defining a number of substantially parallel slots and being securable to a wall, and a hook for supporting an object and being selectively moveable along each of the slots in a sliding direction to adjust an orientation of the object relative to the wall. Each of the slots can have a closed end to prevent the hook from disengaging the frame while moving in the sliding direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable hanging device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a grid member of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hook member of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a set of engineering drawings, including section views, of the grid member shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an adjustable hanging device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an angled view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an adjustable hanging device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a left side view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a right side view of the adjustable hanging device of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate an adjustable hanging device  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The adjustable hanging device  10  can be used to enable adjustments to a picture frame, group of picture frames, or other object(s) being hung on a support surface. The object to be hung is carried on a hook member  14  that is attachable to a grid member or “cleat”  18 . The grid member  18  can be mounted to a support surface, such as a wall, using fasteners  22  (e.g., nails, screws, etc.) that pass through holes  26  provided in the upper corners of the grid member  18 . 
         [0020]    Once the grid member  18  is mounted to the support surface, the hook member  14  carrying the object may be adjustably positioned on the grid member  18 . The hook member  14  is positioned on one of several vertically-spaced tracks  30  of the grid member  18 . The hook member  14  hangs on the given track  30  and is additionally braced by the next lower track  30 . Once positioned on one of the tracks  30 , the hook member  14  is also horizontally adjustable along the track  30  between two opposite ends  34 ,  38  of the given track  30 . Once in a desired position, both vertically and horizontally on the grid member  18 , the hook member  14  (and the picture frame or other object) can easily be reoriented with respect to the support structure without removing or replacing the grid member  18 . This process can be repeated with additional hook members  14  and objects on the same grid member  18  or an additional grid member  18  to create a vertically and horizontally adjustable array of objects, which can be re-aligned, interchanged, or adjusted horizontally and vertically in any desirable way without remounting the grid member(s)  18  on the support surface, without modifying any part of the object, the hook member  14 , or the grid member  18 , and without adding any additional components to the object or the hanging device  10 . 
         [0021]    In order to mount a picture frame or other object in a specific location on a support surface (e.g., wall), no precise measurements are needed. As long as the grid member  18  is mounted such that it encompasses the specific location on the support surface, the hook member  14  and the object to be hung can be adjusted to the specific location. The grid member  18  and hook member  14  provide numerous adjustment possibilities, resulting in precise alignment. 
         [0022]    No changes or additions of hardware need to be made to the object to be hung. Instead, the object simply hangs by the hook member  14 , which is mobile between different tracks  30  and along each of the tracks  30  of the grid member  18 . 
         [0023]    The hook member  14  and the entire hanging device  10 , is compatible with standard wire, saw-tooth, and cardboard notch systems commonly found on picture frames. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 5-9  illustrate an adjustable hanging device  110  according to another embodiment of the invention. The adjustable hanging device  110  shown in  FIGS. 5-9  is similar in many ways to the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  described above. Accordingly, with the exception of mutually inconsistent features and elements between the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  and the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-9 , reference is hereby made to the description above accompanying the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  for a more complete description of the features and elements (and the alternatives to the features and elements) of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . Features and elements in the embodiments of  FIGS. 5-9  corresponding to features and elements in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2  are numbered in the 100 series. 
         [0025]    The object to be hung is carried on a hook member  114  that is attachable to a grid member or “cleat”  118 . The grid member  118  can be mounted to a support surface, such as a wall, using fasteners  122  (e.g., nails, screws, etc.) that pass through holes  126  provided in the upper corners of the grid member  118 . The hook member  114  includes a hooked portion  140 , a first vertical portion  144  and a second vertical portion  148 . The first vertical portion  144  and the second vertical portion  148  define a slot  152  therebetween. The slot  152  is adapted to receive a track member  130  for mounting the hook member  114  to the grid member  118 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the second vertical portion  148  can have sufficient length to engage the track member  130  that is received in the slot  152  as well as the lower adjacent track member  130 . The hook member  114  hangs on the given track  130  and is additionally braced by the next lower track  130 . 
         [0026]    As also shown in  FIGS. 5-9 , the holes  126  for receiving the fasteners  122  can be vertically elongated. The shape of the hole  126  is therefore adapted for receiving the fastener  122  at an acute angle to the support surface while permitting the grid member  118  to be mounted flush to the support surface. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 10-15  illustrate an alternate embodiment of an adjustable heat exchanger  210  according to the present invention. The heat exchanger  210  shown in  FIGS. 10-15  is similar in many ways to the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9  described above. Accordingly, with the exception of mutually inconsistent features and elements between the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-15  and the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9 , reference is hereby made to the description above accompanying the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9  for a more complete description of the features and elements (and the alternatives to the features and elements) of the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-15 . Features and elements in the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-15  corresponding to features and elements in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9  are numbered in the 200 series. 
         [0028]    The adjustable hanging device  210  includes a number of differently sized hook members  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D, each of which is supportable on the grid member  218  and is moveable along each of the tracks  230 . Each of the hook members  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D can include two or more contoured portions  286  for engaging and supporting a picture. The contoured portions  286  can be positioned at different relative locations along each of the hook members  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D. Alternatively or in addition, two of the contoured portions  286  of one of the hook members (e.g., hook member  214 A) can be spaced a first distance apart from an adjacent contoured portion  286 , while the contoured portions  286  of another hook member (e.g.,  214 B) can be spaced apart a second, different distance. The inclusion of the a number of different hooks  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D and also the inclusion of additional contoured portions  286  on each of the hooks  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D provides a number of different mounting orientations for a picture without requiring an installer to reposition the grid member  218  or to create additional holes in the wall to which the hanging device  210  is mounted. 
         [0029]    Once the grid member  18  is mounted to the support surface, the hook member  14  carrying the object may be adjustably positioned on the grid member  18 . The hook member  14  is positioned on one of several vertically-spaced tracks  30  of the grid member  18 . The hook member  14  hangs on the given track  30  and is additionally braced by the next lower track  30 . Once positioned on one of the tracks  30 , the hook member  14  is also horizontally adjustable along the track  30  between two opposite ends  34 ,  38  of the given track  30 . Once in a desired position, both vertically and horizontally on the grid member  18 , the hook member  14  (and the picture frame or other object) can easily be reoriented with respect to the support structure without removing or replacing the grid member  18 . This process can be repeated with additional hook members  14  and objects on the same grid member  18  or an additional grid member  18  to create a vertically and horizontally adjustable array of objects, which can be re-aligned, interchanged, or adjusted horizontally and vertically in any desirable way without remounting the grid member(s)  18  on the support surface, without modifying any part of the object, the hook member  14 , or the grid member  18 , and without adding any additional components to the object or the hanging device  10 . 
         [0030]    Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a device and method for hanging an object on a support surface, the device allowing simple positional adjustment of the object relative to the support surface without modification to the object or remounting any portion of the device on the support surface.