Abstract:
The hanger of present invention comprises of an integral hook and anchor sections in the upper and lower parts of hanger respectively. The hook section forms an U-hook for suspending and retaining the hanging wire of a picture frame. The anchor section guides a fastener such as a nail to drive through the anchor section and into the wall in inclined position. The hanger of present invention allows the hanging wire of the picture frame to directly engage into the U-hook without interference when a person holds the picture frame against the wall, and slides the picture frame downward to approach the hanger from the top of hanger.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to wall-mounted hangers for hanging a picture frame that is provided with a hanging wire at the back of picture frame. 
   More specifically, this invention relates to picture frame hangers that can be fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip, and can be attached to walls, such as dry walls by driving a nail through the hanger and into the wall in inclined position. 
   Many picture frames have a hanging wire attached to the back of the picture frame. A variety of wall-mounted hangers in prior art have been proposed for suspending the hanging wire of the picture frame onto the wall. The hangers in prior art mainly consist of an anchor section in the upper part of the hanger, and a hook section in the lower part of the hanger. The anchor section allows a fastener such as a nail to drive through the hanger, and mount the hanger onto the wall. The hook section forms an U-hook for suspending and retaining the hanging wire of the picture frame. In prior art, a lateral projectile is commonly provided in the anchor section, which guides the nail driving through the hanger and entering into the wall in inclined position. The inclined position of the nail offers the advantages of enhancing the loading capacity of the hanger, preventing the hanger from swiveling or pivoting about the nail, and preventing the nail from sliding out of the wall. The anchor section of the hanger is located directly above the hook section of the hanger. The hangers are commonly fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip. The above described hangers in prior art can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,675,281, 3,226,065, 2,137,837, 2,454,813, 2,940,712, and 5,267,719, . . . etc.  FIG. 1  illustrates the hanger in prior art that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,675,281. 
   There is a significant drawback of the above hangers in prior art because the anchor section of the hanger is located directly above the hook section of the hanger. When hanging a picture frame onto the hanger, a person can hardly see the hanger behind the picture frame when he or she is holding the picture frame against the wall and the hanger. Therefore, it is a common practice for a person to hold the picture frame against the wall and above the hanger, and then slide the picture frame downward against the wall in an effort to approach the hanger from the top of the hanger. Unfortunately, the lateral projectile in the anchor section becomes an obstacle that blocks the entrance to U-hook in the hook section of the hanger. As a result, it requires a person to take time and effort to engage the hanging wire into the U-hook of the hanger. Frequently, the hanging wire can be mistakenly hung onto the top of lateral projectile of the anchor section rather than the U-hook of the hook section. The picture frame is therefore unstably hung onto the hanger, and can easily slip out of the hanger. 
   Therefore, there is a need to provide a picture frame hanger capable of being fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip, capable of being attached to wall by driving a nail through the hanger and into the wall in inclined position, and capable of engaging the hanging wire of the picture frame into the hook section of the hanger without interference from the anchor section of the hanger. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the invention is to provide a hanger having an anchor section in the lower part of the hanger for driving a nail through the hanger and into the wall in inclined position, and having a hook section in the upper part of the hanger for suspending and retaining the picture frame hanging wire. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide such a hanger, in which the hanging wire of the picture frame directly engages into the hook section of the hanger without interference while sliding the picture frame downward against the wall and approaching the hanger from the top of hanger. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide such a hanger capable of being fabricated by continuously bending of a metal strip. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide such a hanger that does not pivot or swivel about the anchoring nail. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a picture frame hanger of prior art. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the alternative form of the first preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of the alternative form of the first preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 4B  is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 5B  is a sectional view of the third preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 6B  is a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 7B  is a sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the sixth preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 8B  is a sectional view of the sixth preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the seventh preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 9B  is a sectional view of the seventh preferred embodiments of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows a picture frame hanger of prior art. The hanger has a lateral projectile at the top of hanger that forms an anchor section of the hanger. The lateral projectile guides nail driving through the anchor section of the hanger and into the wall in inclined position. Such lateral projectile blocks the entrance to the U-hook below when the hanging wire of a picture frame approaches the hanger from the top of hanger. 
     FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  show the first preferred embodiments of the picture frame hanger of the invention. The hanger  1  of the invention comprises of a first vertical leg  2 , a first bend  3 , a second inclined leg  4 , a second bend  5 , a third inclined leg  6 , a third bend  7  and a fourth vertical leg  8 . The first vertical leg  2  has a frontward vertical surface  9  and a rearward vertical surface  10 . The fourth vertical leg  8  has a frontward vertical surface  11  and a rearward vertical surface  12 . Both rearward surfaces  10  and  12  are flushed to the vertical surface of a wall when hanger  1  is attached to the wall 
   The first bend  3  is about a ¾ circular, frontward and upward bend that connects the lower end of first leg  2  and the lower end of second leg  4  in inclined position. The first leg  2 , first bend  3  and second leg  4  form an U-hook that becomes a hook section of the hanger  1 . 
   The second bend  5  is about a ½ circular, downward and rearward bend that connects the upper end of second leg  4  and the upper end of the third leg  6  in inclined position. The third bend  7  is a metric bend that connects the lower end of third leg  6  and the upper end of the fourth leg  8  in vertical position. A first and second through holes  13  and  14  are provided in the bending areas of second and third bends  5  and  7  respectively. The first hole  13  is about a circular hole with a diameter slightly greater than a nail  15 . The second hole  14  is a slot hole extending in the longitudinal direction from the lower end of third leg  6  to the upper end of fourth leg  8 . The nail  15  penetrates hanger  1  though first and second holes  13  and  14 , and enters into the wall in inclined position. The second bend  5 , third leg  6 , third bend  7  and fourth leg  8  form an anchor section of hanger  1  that anchors nail  15  into the wall. Alternatively, redundant first and second through holes  13  and  14  can be provided in the bending areas of second and third bends  5  and  7  respectively. (Not shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ) This allows redundant nail to drive through hanger  1  in parallel to nail  15  so that the loading capacity of hanger  1  can be increased. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , there is a small gap between the lower end of second leg  4  and the lower end of third leg  6 . This gap is smaller than the diameter of nail  15  so that nail  15  can only penetrate the gap area through the second hole  14 . Alternatively, such a gap can be eliminated to allow the lower end of second leg  4  in the area of first bend  3  making contact with the lower end of third leg  6  in the area of third bend  7 . 
   According to the first preferred embodiments of present invention, the anchor section of hanger  1  including nail  15  is positioned below the hook section of hanger  1 . This allows a hanging wire to immediately engage into the hook section of hanger  1  without interference when the hanging wire approaches to hanger  1  from the top of hanger  1 . Preferably, the nail  15  drives through hanger  1  and into the wall at an angle between 45 degree and 60 degree departing from a horizontal plan. This not only maximizes the loading capacity of hanger  1 , but also prevents hanger  1  from swiveling or pivoting, and prevents nail  15  from slipping out of the wall. The hook and anchor sections of hanger  1  are integrated in such way that hanger  1  can be fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip. 
     FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  show an alternative form of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  respectively. Such an alternative form incorporates a change that relocates the second hole  14  from the area of third bend  7  to the area of first bend  3 . 
     FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  show the second preferred embodiments of the picture frame hanger of the invention. The hanger  16  comprises of a first vertical leg  17 , a first bend  18 , a second inclined leg  19 , a second bend  20 , a third leg  21 , a third bend  22 , a fourth leg  23 , a fourth bend  24 , a fifth leg  25 , a fifth bend  26  and a sixth vertical leg  27 . The first vertical leg  17  has a frontward vertical surface  28  and a rearward vertical surface  29 . The sixth vertical leg  27  has a frontward vertical surface  30  and a rearward vertical surface  31 . The rearward vertical surfaces  29  and  31  are flushed to the vertical surface of the wall when hanger  16  is attached to the wall. 
   The first bend  18  is about a ¾ circular, frontward and upward bend that connects the lower end of first leg  17  and the lower end of second leg  19  in inclined position. The first leg  17 , first bend  18  and second leg  19  form an U-hook that becomes a hook section of the hanger  16 . 
   The second bend  20  is about a 90 degree metric and frontward bend that connects the upper end of second leg  19  and the rearward end of the third leg  21 . The third bend  22  is about a 90 degree metric and downward bend that connects the frontward end of third leg  21  and the upper end of the fourth leg  23  in inclined position. The fourth bend  24  is an upward bend that connects the lower end of fourth leg  23  and the frontward end of the fifth leg  25 . The fifth bend  26  is a downward bend that connects the rearward end of fifth leg  25  and the upper end of sixth leg  27  in vertical position. 
   A first circular hole  32  is provided in mid section of third leg  21 . A second slot hole  33  is provided in the area of fifth bend  26  that extends in the longitudinal direction from the rearward end of fifth leg  25  and the upper end of sixth leg  27 . A nail  34  drives through first and second holes  32  and  33  before entering into the wall. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth legs and bends  21  through  27  form an anchor section of the hanger  16 . Alternatively, redundant first and second through holes  32  and  33  can be provided in the third leg  21  and the bending area of fifth bend  26  respectively. (Not shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B ) This allows redundant nail to drive through hanger  16  in parallel to nail  34  so that the loading capacity of hanger  16  can be increased. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , the lower end of second leg  19  makes contact with the rearward end of fifth leg  25  in the areas of first and fifth bends  18  and  26 . Alternatively, the lower end of second leg  19  does not make contact with the rearward end of fifth leg  25  in the areas of first and fifth bends  18  and  26 . This provides a small gap between the lower end of second leg  19  and the rearward end of fifth leg  25  in the areas of first and fifth bends  18  and  26 . Such a gap must be smaller than the diameter of nail  34  so that nail  34  can only penetrate the gap area through the second hole  33 . 
   According to the second preferred embodiments of present invention, the anchor section of hanger  16  including nail  34  is positioned below the hook section of hanger  16 . This allows a hanging wire to immediately engage into the hook section of hanger  16  without interference when the hanging wire approaches to hanger  16  from the top of hanger  16 . Preferably, the nail  34  drives through hanger  16  and into the wall at an angle between 45 degree and 60 degree departing from a horizontal plan. This not only mazes the loading capacity of hanger  16 , but also prevents hanger  16  from swiveling or pivoting, and prevents nail  34  from slipping out of the wall The hook and anchor sections of hanger  16  are integrated in such way that hanger  16  can be fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip. 
     FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  show the third preferred embodiments of the picture frame hanger of the invention. The hanger  35  comprises of a first vertical leg  36 , a first bend  37 , a second inclined leg  38 , a second bend  39 , a third leg  40 , a third bend  41 , a fourth leg  42 , a fourth bend  43  and a fifth vertical leg  44 . The first vertical leg  36  has a frontward vertical surface  45  and a rearward vertical surface  46 . The fifth vertical leg  44  has a frontward vertical surface  47  and a rearward vertical surface  48 . The rearward vertical surfaces  46  and  48  are flushed to the vertical surface of the wall when hanger  35  is attached to the wall. 
   The first bend  37  is about a ¾ circular, frontward and upward bend that connects the lower end of first leg  36  and the lower end of second leg  38  in inclined position. The first leg  36 , first bend  37  and second leg  38  form an U-hook that becomes a hook section of the hanger  35 . 
   The second bend  39  is about a 90 degree metric and frontward bend that connects the upper end of second leg  38  and the rearward end of the third leg  40 . The third bend  41  is about a 90 degree metric and downward bend that connects the frontward end of third leg  40  and the upper end of the fourth leg  42  in inclined position. The fourth bend  43  is a downward bend that connects the lower end of fourth leg  42  and the upper end of the fifth leg  44 . 
   A first circular hole  49  is provided in mid section of third leg  40 . A second slot hole  50  is provided in the area of first bend  37  that extends in the longitudinal direction from the lower end of second leg  38  to the lower end of first leg  36 . A nail  51  drives through first and second holes  49  and  50  before entering into the wall The second, third, fourth, and fifth legs and bends  39  through  44  form an anchor section of the hanger  35 . Alternatively, redundant first and second through holes  49  and  50  can be provided in the third leg  40  and the bending area of first bend  37  respectively. (Not shown in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B ) This allows redundant nail to drive through hanger  35  in parallel to nail  51  so that the loading capacity of hanger  35  can be increased. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the lower end of second leg  38  makes contact with the lower end of fourth leg  42  in the areas of first and fourth bends  37  and  43 . Alternatively, the lower end of second leg  38  does not make contact with the lower end of fourth leg  42  in the areas of first and fourth bends  37  and  43 . This provides a small gap between the lower end of second leg  38  and the lower end of fourth leg  42  in the areas of first and fourth bends  37  and  43 . Such a gap must be smaller than the diameter of nail  51  so that nail  51  can only penetrate the gap area through the second hole  50 . 
   According to the third preferred embodiments of present invention, the anchor section of hanger  35  including nail  51  is positioned below the hook section of hanger  35 . This allows a hanging wire to immediately engage into the hook section of hanger  35  without interference when the hanging wire approaches to hanger  35  from the top of hanger  35 . Preferably, the nail  51  drives through hanger  35  and into the wall at an angle between 45 degree and 60 degree departing from a horizontal plan. This not only mazes the loading capacity of hanger  35 , but also prevents hanger  35  from swiveling or pivoting, and prevents nail  51  from slipping out of the wall. The hook and anchor sections of hanger  35  are integrated in such way that hanger  35  can be fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip. 
     FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  show the fourth preferred embodiments of the picture frame hanger of the invention. The hanger  52  comprises of a first vertical leg  53 , a first bend  54 , a second inclined leg  55 , a second bend  56 , a third leg  57 , a third bend  58 , a fourth leg  59 , a fourth bend  60  and a fifth vertical leg  61 . The first vertical leg  53  has a frontward vertical surface  62  and a rearward vertical surface  63 . The fifth vertical leg  61  has a frontward vertical surface  64  and a rearward vertical surface  65 . The rearward vertical surfaces  63  and  65  are flushed to the vertical surface of the wall when hanger  52  is attached to the wall. 
   The first bend  54  is about ¾ circular, frontward and upward bend that connects the lower end of first leg  53  and the lower end of second leg  55  in inclined position. The first leg  53 , first bend  54  and second leg  55  form an U-hook that becomes a hook section of the hanger  52 . 
   The second bend  56  is about a 90 degree metric and downward bend that connects the upper end of second leg  55  and the rearward end of the third leg  57 . The third bend  58  is about a 90 degree metric and downward bend that connects the frontward end of third leg  57  and the upper end of the fourth leg  59  in inclined position. The fourth bend  60  is an upward bend that connects the lower end of fourth leg  59  and the lower end of the fifth leg  61 . The upper end of fifth leg  61  is provided with a projectile  66  in frontward direction that makes contact with the bottom of the first bend  54 . 
   A first circular hole  67  is provided in mid section of third leg  57 . A second circular hole  68  is provided in mid section of fifth leg  61 . A nail  69  drives through first and second holes  67  and  68  before entering into the wall. The second, third, fourth and fifth legs and bends  56  through  61  form an anchor section of the hanger  52 . Alternatively, redundant first and second through holes  67  and  68  can be provided in the third leg  57  and the fifth leg  61  respectively. (Not shown in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B ) This allows redundant nail to drive through hanger  52  in parallel to nail  69  so that the loading capacity of hanger  52  can be increased. 
   According to the fourth preferred embodiments of present invention, the anchor section of hanger  52  including nail  69  is positioned below the hook section of hanger  52 . This allows a hanging wire to immediately engage into the hook section of hanger  52  without interference when the hanging wire approaches to hanger  52  from the top of hanger  52 . Preferably, the nail  69  drives through hanger  52  and into the wall at an angle between 45 degree and 60 degree departing from a horizontal plan. This not only maximizes the loading capacity of hanger  52 , but also prevents hanger  52  from swiveling or pivoting, and prevents nail  69  from slipping out of the wall. The hook and anchor sections of hanger  52  are integrated in such way that hanger  52  can be fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip. 
     FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  show the fifth preferred embodiments of the picture frame hanger of the invention. The fifth preferred embodiments are the alternative form of the second preferred embodiments shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . The fifth preferred embodiments are identical to the second preferred embodiments with one exception. In  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , the first circular hole  32  is provided in mid section of the third leg  21 , and the second slot hole  33  is provided in the area of fifth bend  26 . However, in  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , the first circular hole  70  is provided in mid section of third leg  71 , the second and third circular holes  72  and  73  are provided in mid section of fifth and sixth legs  74  and  75  respectively. Nail  76  drives through first, second and third circular holes  70 ,  72  and  73  before entering into the wall. 
     FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  show the sixth preferred embodiments of the picture frame hanger of the invention. The hanger  77  comprises of a first vertical leg  78 , a first bend  79 , a second inclined leg  80 , a second bend  81 , a third leg  82 , a third bend  83 , a fourth leg  84 , a fourth bend  85  and a fifth leg  86 . The first vertical leg  78  has a frontward vertical surface  87  and a rearward vertical surface  88 . The rearward vertical surface  88  is flushed to the vertical surface of the wall when hanger  77  is attached to the wall 
   The first bend  79  is a frontward and upward bend that connects the lower end of first leg  78  and the lower end of second leg  80  in inclined position. The second bend  81  is about a 90 degree rearward bend that connects the upper end of second leg  80  and the frontward end of the third leg  82 . The third bend  83  is about a 90 degree downward bend that connects the rearward end of third leg  82  and the upper end of the fourth leg  84 . The fourth bend  85  is about a 90 degree downward bend that connects lower end of fourth leg  84  and the upper end of the fifth leg  86 . The fourth bend  85  makes contact with the frontward vertical surface  87  of first leg  78  in mid section of first leg  78 . The fourth bend  85  also positions fifth leg  86  in perpendicular to second leg  80 . The lower end of the fifth leg  86  makes contact with second leg  80 . This arrangement keeps fourth bend  85  in close contact with the frontward vertical surface  87  of the first leg  78  when the fourth bend  85  is subject to weight. This is necessary because the upper part of first leg  78 , fourth bend  85  and fourth leg  84  form an U-hook, and become the hook section of hanger  77 . 
   A first, second and third circular holes  89 ,  90  and  91  are provided in mid sections of third, fifth and first legs  82 ,  86  and  78  respectively. A nail  92  drives through first, second and third holes  89 ,  90  and  91  before entering into the wall. Alternatively, redundant first, second and third through holes  89 ,  90  and  91  can be provided in the third, fifth and first legs  82 ,  86  and  78  respectively. (Not shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B ) This allows redundant nail to drive through hanger  77  in parallel to nail  92  so that the loading capacity of hanger  77  can be increased. 
   According to the sixth preferred embodiments of present invention, the anchor section of hanger  77  including nail  92  is positioned below the hook section of hanger  77 . This allows a hanging wire to immediately engage into the hook section of hanger  77  without interference when the hanging wire approaches to hanger  77  from the top of hanger  77 . Preferably, the nail  92  drives through hanger  77  and into the wall at an angle between 45 degree and 60 degree departing from a horizontal plan This not only maximizes the loading capacity of hanger  77 , but also prevents hanger  77  from swiveling or pivoting, and prevents nail  92  from slipping out of the wall. The hook and anchor sections of hanger  77  are integrated in such way that hanger  77  can be fabricated from continuously bending of a metal strip. 
     FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  show the seventh preferred embodiments of the picture frame hanger of the invention. The seventh preferred embodiments are the alternative form of the sixth preferred embodiments shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B . The seventh preferred embodiments are identical to the sixth preferred embodiments with one exception. In  FIG. 8A and 8B , the fourth bend  85  is about a 90 degree bend that positions fifth leg  86  in perpendicular to second leg  80 . In  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B , the fourth bend  93  is greater than 90 degree that positions the fifth leg  94  in parallel to and in contact with the lower part of first leg  95 . The lower end of fifth leg  94  makes contact with first bend  96 . This arrangement keeps fourth bend  93  in close contact with first leg  95  when fourth bend  93  is subject to weight. 
   It is understood that innumerable variations, modifications, applications, and extensions of the principles hereinbefore set forth can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.