Abstract:
Devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods related to hanging articles (such as picture frames, framed mirrors and other articles) on a surface (such as a wall). Specifically, the disclosed devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods relate to hangers having an elastomeric coating thereon to protect the surface on which the frame (or other article) is to be hung, as well as to prevent the frame fastener from sliding in the hanger.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/212,643, entitled “ELASTOMERIC COATED PICTURE HANGER,” filed on Apr. 14, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the field of frame hangers, it has been found that most hanging article hangers fail to provide protection for walls and tend to scuff and/or scrape walls over time. Further, frames being supported by the same tend to lean or become crooked over time. This problem has been addressed, jr.) part, by some patents including, but not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,095,465 and 6,206,334 by utilizing adhesive-backed foam. However, such a solution, while protecting the walls may be useful, does not protect the walls from portions of the hanger that are not covered by the adhesive backed foam (such as the hook) during installation of the hook. Further, the adhesive is only generally effective for a one time application and may pull off paint when removed from the wall. Finally, the adhesive-backed foam does nothing to help retain the frame wires in a single position in the hanger. 
         [0003]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a frame hanger that is relatively simple and easy to use, that may be useable multiple times, that may be cheaply and easily manufactured, that protects substrates (such as walls) to which it is attached, and that helps retain the frame wire without letting it slide out of place. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    This disclosure is drawn to devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods related to hanging articles (such as picture frames, framed mirrors and other articles) on a surface (such as a wall). Specifically, the disclosed devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods relate to hangers having an elastomeric coating thereon to protect the surface on which the frame (or other article) is to be hung, as well as to prevent the frame fastener from sliding in the hanger. While the present disclosure describes frame hangers as example embodiments, any hanging article may be hung by the disclosed hangers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings. 
           [0006]    In the drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagram depicting an example embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting another example embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram depicting yet another example embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting a further example embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a diagram depicting even yet another example embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a diagram depicting another example embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, a frame hanger for hanging framed pictures, mirrors, and the like on walls or similar surfaces is provided. An exemplary frame hanger may be manufactured cheaply and may be reused multiple times. An exemplary frame hanger may protect walls from being damaged from indentations, scratches and the like. Further, an exemplary frame hanger may substantially maintain a frame fastener (such as frame wire) in a single position by utilizing friction between the frame hanger and the frame fastener. 
         [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment, a frame hanger may be dipped and/or coated in an elastomeric material. Elastomeric materials may include rubbers, plastics and/or polymers (e.g., polyvinyl chloride, NEO-T, any type of vinyl), among others. In some embodiments, a frame hanger may be a metal (e.g., carbon or stainless steel, aluminum, brass) frame hanger that has been dipped and/or coated in a rubber and/or rubber-like material. Some frame hangers may include a hole or opening for receiving a screw, nail or other fastener so that the frame hanger may be fixed to the wall. Some embodiments may include multiple holes for fixing the frame hanger to a wall using fasteners. 
         [0016]    The elastomeric coating may be applied by dipping and/or coating at least a portion, if not the entire, hanger. In some examples, the hanger may be twice dipped into a bath of desired elastomeric coating in 2 directions. Some embodiments may leave an area for nails or other fasteners open and not coated. 
         [0017]    An exemplary embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , may include a hanging member  10  having a bracing segment  12  and a hook segment  14 . The bracing segment  12  may engage a substrate (e.g., a wall made of wood, plastic, plaster, drywall, concrete and/or brick) and/or brace the hanging member  10  against the substrate. The hook segment  14  may receive a frame fastener (e.g., a frame wire) and/or support the frame fastener. The hanging member  10  (or at least a portion thereof) may be covered by an elastomeric coating  16 .  FIGS. 3-6  depict additional views of some embodiments. 
         [0018]    Some embodiments may further include a substrate fastener  20  (e.g., nail, screw, pin) for attaching, permanently or temporarily, the hanging member to the substrate. In some embodiments, the hanging member may include one or more holes  18  therethrough to receive a substrate fastener  20 . For example, the hanging member  10  may have two holes  18  for attaching the hanging member  10  to a wall. Each of the two holes  18  may receive a nail  20  for attaching the hanging member to the wall. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the entire hanger may be covered and/or coated by the elastomeric coating  16  (see  FIG. 2 , for example). Other embodiments may provide that less than the entire hanger (i.e., only a portion) of the hanger is covered by the elastomeric coating  16  (see  FIG. 1 , for example). Some embodiments may include an elastomeric coating  16  covering at least a portion of the bracing segment  12 . Some embodiments may include an elastomeric coating  16  covering at least a portion of the hook segment  14 . The thickness of the elastomeric coating  16  may vary depending on application, hanging member  10  size, bracing segment  12  size, hook segment  14  size, bend of the hanging member  10  and/or other variables. 
         [0020]    The hanging member  10  may include several faces (or surfaces). In some examples, the bracing segment  12  may include two faces, a substrate-engaging surface  30  and bracing segment frame-facing surface  32 . The elastomeric coating  16  may cover a portion of the substrate-engaging surface  30  and/or bracing segment frame-facing surface  32 . In some examples, the hook segment  14  may include two faces, a frame fastener-receiving surface  34  and hook segment frame-facing surface  36 . The elastomeric coating  16  may cover a portion of the frame fastener-receiving surface  34  and hook segment frame-facing surface  36 . 
         [0021]    The hanger may be stamped and/or bent into the desired shape, as is known in the art. However, other manufacturing methods may be implemented. In an exemplary embodiment, the hanging member  10  includes a metal member, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , for example, bent and/or stamped to distinguish the bracing segment  12  from the hook segment  14 . Some examples may include a first metal member (bracing segment)  12  and a second metal member (hook segment)  14  coupled together to form the hanger. In some examples, the hanger may be comprised of metals, plastics, rubbers and/or polymers. 
         [0022]    In an exemplary embodiment, the elastomeric coating  16  may be notched, grooved, cut or otherwise removed to reduce lateral movement of the frame fastener within the hanger. By restricting and/or reducing lateral movement, the frame hanger may keep the frame “level” to an observer. This may occur due to friction between the frame fastener and the elastomeric coating  16 . In some examples, testing has shown that a 30% greater force may be required to laterally slide picture frame wires hung using elastomeric coated hangers in accordance with exemplary embodiments described herein. For example, a “V-shaped” cut  22  near the junction of the bracing segment  12  and the hook segment  14  may increase friction between the frame fastener and the elastomeric coating  16  at the cut point  22 . Such a notch  22  may also substantially restrict and/or prevent the frame fastener from damaging the elastomeric coating  16  by cutting too deeply into the elastomeric coating  16 . 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the frame hanger may include a metal member angled about a bend  26 . The metal member may include a first segment  12  on one side of the bend and a second segment  14  on another side of the bend  26 . The first segment may engage a substrate and the second segment may receive and/or support the frame fastener. An elastomeric coating  16  may cover at least a portion of the metal member. Some examples provide that a portion of the first segment  12  may be covered by the elastomeric coating  16 . Some examples provide that a portion of the second segment  14  may be covered by the elastomeric coating  16 . 
         [0024]    In another exemplary embodiment, a frame hanger for preventing and/or producing lateral movement of a frame hung on a wall is provided. The frame hanger may include a hanging member  10  having a wall segment  12  and a hook segment  14 . The wall segment  12  may have an interior wall face  32  and an exterior wall face  30  for engaging a wall. The hook segment  14  may have an interior hook face  34  and an exterior hook face  36  adapted to face the frame. The frame&#39;s fastener may be received and/or supported by at the interior wall face  32  and/or the interior hook face  34 . An elastomeric coating  16  may cover at least a portion (if not all) of the hanging member  10 . The hanging member  10  may also include coupling device(s)  20  (such as a nail, a screw, a tack, a pin, an adhesive, glue, tape and the like) for coupling and/or affixing the hanging member  10  to the wall. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, one or more centerline holes  28  may be added at or near the bend of the hook and/or on the bracing segment. In some examples, such centerline hole  28  may be located on the centerline of the hanger. In some embodiments, this centerline hole  28  may have a diameter in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm. The centerline hole  28  may collect any excess elastomeric coating  16  material from the bend area  26  created during the hook dipping/coating process. The centerline hole  28  may improve the elastomeric coating near the bend. The centerline hole  28  may be completely covered by elastomeric coating material  16  to form a smooth surface or be left as an indented surface. Reducing excess elastomeric coating material  16  may prevent the wire or fastener from the . object being hung from cutting into the elastomeric coating material  16 . 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, and as known in the art, the shape of the hanger may be created to handle loads from very small (e.g., smaller than 5 lbs) or very large (e.g., up to or over 100 lbs). More specifically, hangers may be created to handle loads of 5-30 lbs, up to 50 lbs and up to (and over) 100 lbs, for example. Hangers for light and medium loads may include two nail holes  18  to eliminate rotation associated with traditional one nail designs which may undesirably loosen during use over time. Similarly, as is known in the art, hangers for up to 100 lbs load may have three or more holes  18 . It may be advantageous (and in accordance with at least some embodiments) to add texture (such as pebbling, ribs and the like) to the elastomeric coating  16  to improve performance and/or aesthetics of the hanger. 
         [0027]    Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the inventions contained herein are not limited to the above precise embodiment and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of the invention, since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.