Abstract:
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for hanging an object from a fixed surface. Fixed bolts insert into tapered slots connecting the fixed surface with the object. Gravity and the weight of the object ensure that the connector stays firmly attached to the fixed surface.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/767,341 filed on Mar. 20, 2006 entitled “Gravity Aided Connector”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for hanging objects from a fixed surface.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Systems for suspending objects from a fixed surface are generally complex and difficult to install. There is a need in the art for a simple and yet sturdy suspension system that is easy to install and remove.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for hanging an object from a fixed surface comprising: 
        (a) a connector comprising a body having central longitudinal axis and at least two faces, wherein each face defines a longitudinal slot, each slot having an open end and an enclosed end, and each slot having a transverse profile comprising a retaining lip, whereby the open end of the slot on one face is at an opposite end of the body than the open end of the slot on the other face; and     (b) at least two bolts, each such bolt having an elongate shaft for attachment and a head comprising a shape matching the transverse profile of the slots, such that the head may be inserted into the open end of a slot, moved longitudinally within the slot and is retained within the slot by the lip.        
 
         [0007]     In one embodiment, following installation, the open end of the slot that received the bolt attached to the fixed surface is at the end of the body closest to the ground and wherein the open end of the other longitudinal slot is at the end of the body that is furthest away from the ground.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, each slot is inclined towards the central axis of the connector from the open end to the closed end. In one embodiment, the portion of the head of the bolt immediately adjacent to its attachment point to the shaft is cylindrical in shape having a shoulder facing the shaft, the cylindrical shape extending for a distance away from the shaft and then flaring to a wider diameter equal to or less than the width of the lower edge of the cavity. In an embodiment, the bolt comprises a wedge shaped flange having a central passage for receiving a setscrew.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, the invention comprises an apparatus for hanging an object from a fixed surface comprising: 
        (a) a connector comprising a body having a first end and second end, a central longitudinal axis, and a substantially quadrilateral cross-section, whereby at least two faces define a longitudinal slot, each slot having an open end and an enclosed end, and each slot having a transverse profile comprising a retaining lip, whereby the open end of the longitudinal slot on at least one face is at the second end of the body and the open ends of the longitudinal slots on the other face is at the first end of the body; and     (b) at least two bolts, each bolt having an elongate shaft for attachment and a head comprising a shape matching the transverse profile of the slots, such that the head may be inserted into the open end of a slot, moved longitudinally within the slot and is retained within the slot by the lip; whereby one bolt is attached to the fixed surface and at least one bolt is attached to the object that is being suspended; and 
            whereby the slot on the one face that has an open end at the first end of the body is the slot that receives the bolt attached to the fixed surface.    
               
 
         [0013]     In another aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a method of hanging an object from a fixed surface comprising the steps of: 
        (a) attaching a bolt having a head with an enlarged portion into the fixed surface;     (b) attaching a bolt having a head with an enlarged portion into the object;     (c) connecting the bolt in the fixed surface and the bolt in the object together by means of a connector body having a central longitudinal axis and at least two faces, wherein each face defines a longitudinal slot, each slot having an open end and an enclosed end, and each slot having a transverse profile comprising a lip, whereby the enlarged portion of a bolt head may slide longitudinally within a slot but is retained by the lip and whereby the open end of the longitudinal slot on one face is at an opposite end of the body than the other longitudinal slots on the other faces.        
 
         [0017]     In another aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a method of hanging an object from a fixed surface comprising the steps of: 
        (a) attaching a bolt to the fixed surface;     (b) attaching a bolt to the object to be hung;     (c) orientating the connector vertically so that the second end of the body is closest to the ground;     (d) placing the face of the connector having the slot with the open end at the second end of the body immediately above the bolt attached to the fixed surface, and then moving the connector down towards the ground so that the bolt attached to the fixed surface slides up into said slot; and     (e) placing the bolt attached to the object immediately above any of the other slots and then moving the object down towards the ground so the bolt attached to the object slides down into said slot.       
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The invention will now be described by way of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying simplified, diagrammatic, not-to-scale drawings. In the drawings:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of a connector of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a side view in section of a connector of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side view in section of a bolt of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a bolt of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a connector attached to a bolt in a fixed surface of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a connector attached to bolt in an object of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic depiction of a bolt of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a bolt of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is a side view in section of a bolt of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     When describing the present invention, all terms not defined herein have their common art-recognized meanings. To the extent that the following description is of a specific embodiment or a particular use of the invention, it is intended to be illustrative only, and not limiting of the claimed invention. The following description is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that are included in the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.  
         [0034]     The apparatus ( 10 ) according to the Figures comprises a connector body ( 26 ) and at least two bolts ( 30 ). The connector body ( 26 ) has a first end ( 12 ) and a second end ( 14 ) and a central longitudinal axis (A). The connector body ( 26 ) defines at least two faces ( 15 ) and has at least two longitudinal slots ( 16 ). The slots ( 16 ) are elongated longitudinally and have an open end ( 22 ) at one end of the connector body ( 26 ) and an enclosed end ( 24 ) proximate to the other end of the connector body ( 26 ). As used herein, the term “vertical” shall mean an orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the horizon and shall also mean the direction between the first and second ends of the connector body ( 26 ). The connector apparatus of the invention may be used to hang objects from any vertical or angled surface. The term “horizontal” is of course transverse to the vertical direction.  
         [0035]     The slots ( 16 ) are cavities recessed into the faces ( 15 ) of the connector body ( 26 ). The inside corner ( 20 ) of the cavity ( 28 ) has a width greater than or equal to the diameter of the head of the bolts ( 34 ). The outside edge ( 18 ) of the cavity ( 28 ) has a width less than the diameter of the head of the bolt ( 34 ). Accordingly the cavity ( 28 ) is wedge shaped in the horizontal plane, as depicted in  FIGS. 1, 5  and  6  with the outer edge of the cavity ( 18 ) forming a retaining lip that retains the bolt ( 30 ) when it is inserted into the slot ( 16 ) as depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . A wedge shaped cavity may be created such that it matches the shape of the bolt head ( 34 ) also as shown in  FIGS. 1, 5  and  6 . The cavity ( 28 ) may further comprise a rectangular groove ( 40 ) situated inside the inside corner ( 20 ) of the cavity as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the slots ( 16 ) are tapered such that the inside corner ( 20 ) of the cavity is deeper at the enclosed end of the slot ( 24 ) and the distance between the inside edge ( 20 ) and the outside edge ( 18 ) is greater at the enclosed end ( 24 ). This creates a thicker retaining lip at the enclosed end ( 24 ). This results in the bolt ( 30 ) being drawn towards the center of the connector body ( 26 ) as it moves from the open end ( 22 ) to the closed end ( 24 ). This in turn draws the connector body ( 26 ) closer to the fixed surface ( 32 ), and the object being hung ( 35 ). Preferably, the dimensions of the connector body ( 26 ) and the bolts ( 30 ) are such that a face of the connector ( 15 ) contacts the fixed surface ( 32 ) when the connector body ( 26 ), bolt ( 30 ) and the fixed surface ( 32 ) are assembled together. Relatively tight contact between the connector body ( 26 ) and the fixed surface ( 32 ) contributes to the stability of the assembly. The cavity ( 28 ) may also have a recess ( 23 ) proximate to the open end ( 24 ) for receiving a locking pin (not shown) that can be inserted once the bolt head ( 34 ) has moved in to the slot ( 16 ), thereby preventing the bolt head ( 34 ) from slipping out of the slot ( 16 ).  
         [0037]     The connector bodies ( 26 ) may be used to suspend more than one object if there are more than two faces with slots ( 16 ). The shape of the connector body ( 26 ) and the orientation of the slots ( 16 ) can be varied depending on the desired relative position of the suspended objects and the fixed surface ( 32 ) to each together after they have been connected. If the connector body ( 26 ) is square in cross-section and has four slots ( 16 ) (not shown in the Figures) then obviously it may be used to suspend an object in an orientation that is either parallel to the fixed surface ( 32 ) as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , or in an orientation that is perpendicular to and extends away from the vertical surface ( 32 ).  
         [0038]     The dimensions or shape, or both, of the connector body ( 26 ) may be altered for aesthetic or practical reasons. The connector body may have any number of faces and slots, which dictates how many objects may be suspended there from.  
         [0039]     The object to be suspended may comprise a variety of things including, without limitation, shelving or panels. The connector system described herein may also be used to connect stone furniture panels. The fixed surface ( 32 ) may be a wall, a fixture, or furniture and may comprise any solid material. The nature of the fixed surface ( 32 ) and the object is not limiting of the claimed invention.  
         [0040]     As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the bolt head ( 34 ) may comprise a cylindrical portion ( 34 A) and a wedge portion ( 34 B). The cylindrical portion is cylindrical in shape immediately adjacent to the attachment point to the elongate shaft ( 36 ) and accordingly has a shoulder ( 37 ) which rests against the object upon installation. The length of this cylindrical portion may be varied to match the depth of the slots in the connector body ( 26 ). The wedge portion ( 34 B) has an increasing diameter which fits within and is retained by the slots described above. If the bolt head ( 34 ) is circular when view head-on, which is not necessarily the case, the wedge portion will of course be conical. If the bolt head is square when viewed head-on, the wedge portion will be pyramidal. This shape of the bolt head may be varied to any shape that matches the corresponding slot in the connector body.  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9 , the bolt may comprise of a wedge shaped flange ( 50 ) having central passage ( 52 ) and a setscrew, the setscrew thus acting as the elongate shaft of the bolt when it passes through the central passage ( 52 ). The head of the setscrew can be recessed into a cavity in the bolt head face ( 54 ). When the bolt head ( 34 ) is inserted into a slot ( 16 ) in the connector body ( 26 ), the setscrew is physically prevented from exiting the bolt head ( 34 ) by the connector body ( 26 ). Therefore, this configuration may be preferred for angled attachments or for attachments that will be subject to vibration.  
         [0042]     The connector bodies ( 26 ) and bolts ( 30 ) may be constructed from wood, plastic or metal or such other materials as are suitable and as would be selected by one skilled in the art.  
         [0043]     The use and operation of the apparatus ( 10 ) will now be described with reference to the Figures. A bolt ( 30 ) is inserted into the fixed surface ( 32 ) as shown in  FIG. 3 . The bolt head ( 34 ) shoulder is set against the fixed surface ( 32 ). The connector body ( 26 ) is then orientated vertically so that its first end ( 12 ) is in a position that is furthest from the ground and the second end ( 14 ) is in a position that is closest to the ground. The face ( 15 ) of the connector body ( 26 ) having the slot ( 16 ) with the open end ( 22 ) at the second end of the body ( 14 ) is positioned flush against the fixed surface ( 32 ) above the bolt head ( 34 ) secured in the fixed surface ( 32 ) and the connector body ( 26 ) is then moved downwards towards the ground causing the bolt head ( 34 ) to move up the slot ( 16 ). Because the slot ( 16 ) is tapered inward toward the central axis of the connector body ( 26 ), the fixed surface ( 32 ) and connector body ( 26 ) are drawn together until they contact or until the bolt head ( 34 ) reaches the enclosed end ( 24 ) of the slot ( 16 ). The enclosed end of the slot ( 24 ) prevents the connector body ( 26 ) from sliding off the bolt head ( 34 ) and gravity prevents the connector body ( 26 ) from working itself loose.  FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the connector ( 26 ) attached to the bolt ( 30 ) in the fixed surface ( 32 ).  
         [0044]     A bolt ( 30 ) is then inserted in the object ( 35 ) that requires hanging. The bolt head ( 34 ) protruding from the object ( 35 ) is then positioned above the first end ( 12 ) of the connector body ( 26 ), and in particular over the open end ( 22 ) of one of the slots ( 16 ) in one of the other faces of the connector body ( 26 ). It will be understood that the other slots which have their open ends at the first end of the connector will be facing upwards. The object ( 35 ) is then moved downwards so that the bolt head ( 34 ) descends into the slot ( 16 ). Because the slot ( 16 ) is tapered inward toward the central axis of the connector body, the object and connector body are drawn together until they contact or until the bolt head ( 34 ) reaches the enclosed end of the slot ( 16 ). Gravity will hold the bolt head ( 34 ) in the slot however, to further secure the bolt head protruding from the object, a pin may be inserted into the cavity above the bolt head thereby securing the bolt head in the slot ( 16 ). It will be understood that gravity and the weight of the object will push the connector body ( 26 ) down onto the bolt ( 30 ) attached to the fixed surface ( 32 ) thereby locking it in place.  FIG. 6  shows a top view of the connector body ( 26 ) attached to the bolt head ( 34 ) that is attached to the object ( 35 ).  
         [0045]     The top of the connector body ( 26 ) may have a threaded hole ( 13 ) to facilitate its removal with a threaded rod (not shown).  
         [0046]     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the scope of the invention claimed herein.