Picture hanging bracket and method of installation

A hanging bracket for hanging a picture frame having at least two right angled corners on a supporting structure. The bracket is a one-piece member formed of plastic having a planar base terminating with a beveled edge formed by two straight sections and an intervening arcuate section. A V-shaped column is spaced from the beveled edge by a V-shaped planar portion of the base and extends perpendicularly from the base terminating in a V-shaped top edge with two straight legs joined at a rounded corner. A pin is embedded in the rounded corner and extends outwardly beyond the straight legs of the column. The base is inserted between the back of a canvas picture and the two adjacent frame members at each corner of the picture frame with the projecting pins being pressed into the support structure to suspend the picture frame therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The invention relates to a bracket for hanging pictures onto a supporting wall or structure. More particularly, the invention relates to a picture hanging bracket and method of use for hanging canvas art wherein the hanger is slidably inserted between the canvas and frame and has a protruding pin for insertion into the supporting structure.

Background Information

Canvas art typically comes without an external frame in contrast to most pictures and art work which come in a frame. The canvas is stretched and stapled to an internal frame made of wood. The size of the canvas can vary greatly but the height of the frame (i.e. the distance from the wall to the attached canvas) has several standard sizes.

There is currently a limited number of options available to hang canvas art attached to these internal frames. One is to hang the wooden frame on one or more nails secured in the wall. The problem with this is that it doesn't secure the canvas and frame to the wall so it can fall off if bumped. Another option requires the installation of additional hardware on the frame. The hardware could be picture wire, D-ring hangers, a sawtooth hanger, etc. This hardware requires tools and prevents the frame from being flush against the wall.

Therefore the need exists for a bracket which can securely attach framed canvas art in a flush manner to a support structure without securing additional hardware to the frame as heretofore required.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention may provide a hanging bracket comprising: a planar base having top and bottom surfaces terminating in a beveled edge; a V-shaped column extending generally perpendicularly from the top surface of the base having first and second legs forming a right angle therebetween and terminating in peripheral edges joined at a corner, said column being spaced from the beveled edge by a portion of the planar base; and a pin embedded in and extending from the corner of the column beyond the peripheral edges of the legs.

In another aspect, the invention may provide a rectangular picture frame and a pair of hanging brackets for hanging said picture frame on a support structure; said picture frame comprising a plurality of frame members forming at least two right angled corners, said frame members having front surfaces, rear surfaces and opposed side surfaces; and a sheet of material extending across the front surfaces of the frame members; each of said hanging brackets comprising: a planar base having top and bottom surfaces terminating in a beveled edge; a V-shaped column having first and second legs joined at a corner, said column extending generally perpendicularly from the top surface of the base and terminating in an outer peripheral edge, said column being spaced from the beveled edge; and a pin extending from the corner beyond the peripheral edge of the column; said beveled edge of each hanging bracket inserted between the front surfaces of two frame members and the sheet of material, said two frame members forming one of the right angled corners, with the legs of the V-shaped columns abutting against the side surfaces of said frame members.

In another aspect, the invention may provide a method of installing a hanging bracket on a canvas art having a rectangular frame and a canvas attached to and stretched across a front of the frame, including the step of: providing a bracket having a planar base terminating in a beveled edge, and having a V-shaped column with two leg members terminating in a corner extending upwardly from the base and spaced from the beveled edge, and having a pin extending from the corner; and inserting the beveled edge and planar base of a pair of the brackets between the canvas and back of the frame at two upper corners of the rectangular frame until the column abuts the frame members forming said corners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The picture hanging bracket of the present invention is indicated generally at1, and is shown inFIG. 1. Bracket1preferably is formed of a one-piece molded plastic material and includes a main base indicated generally at3, and an upwardly extending column indicated generally at5. Base3has a planar top surface7and a parallel planar bottom surface8(FIG. 3) with straight side edges10and11which merge with a beveled edge indicated generally at13. Beveled edge13includes a pair of straight beveled sections15and16which merge into an arcuate corner section18which has an arcuate length of approximately 45 degrees.

Column5includes a pair of legs20and21which terminate in a rounded corner indicated at23. Rounded corner23has a generally circular shape and is formed with a cylindrical hole25extending at least partially into the rounded corner (FIG. 4). Legs20and21are preferably similar in size and configuration and terminate in top edges27and28respectively, which form a right angle therebetween and merge at rounded corner23. Column5is spaced from beveled edge13providing a generally V-shaped configuration to planar top surface7of base3.

An attachment pin indicated generally at31, includes a knurled cylindrical base33(FIG. 4) which is embedded within hole25until an annular stop flange or cap35is substantially flush with the circular top planar surface37surrounding hole25. Flange35preferably will be seated in a counterbore hole36formed about the upper portion of hole25so that it has a common plane with top edges27and28of column5. The other end of pin31is formed with a short cylindrical section41terminating in pointed tip43. Base3and column5preferably is a one-piece member molded of a plastic material and pin31preferably is made of metal such as a zinc-plated steel.

A usual canvas picture frame is indicated generally at45, and is shown inFIGS. 5-8. Frame45will usually have a rectangular shape with top and bottom frame members47and48and a pair of opposed parallel side frame members49joined together at right angled corners to form the rectangular frame. When used for mounting canvas art or a painting40thereon, the canvas is stretched over the front surfaces of the frame members and around the edges thereof where it is then secured by a plurality of staples52to the frame members. The frames for most types of canvas paintings will have only several thicknesses or depths as indicated at D inFIG. 7. These frame members generally have a rectangular cross-section with the four sides being generally planar. Occasionally, a smaller rectangular frame (not shown) will be formed on the inside of the main frame to provide a step configuration thereto. However, bracket1will work equally well with such a step frame or with plain rectangular frame members as shown in the drawings.

Bracket1preferably will be made in several sizes, and in particular with the height of column5being the critical adjustable size. The size and configuration of planar top surface7of base3as well as the thickness T thereof can be the same with only the height (H) of column5being adjustable to match the common sizes or thicknesses (D) of the canvas frame members.

The method of installing bracket1on the canvas frame without requiring any tools or additional fasteners and attaching it to a supporting structure is shown inFIGS. 5-8. Beveled edge13is slidably inserted between the inside surface of canvas painting40and the adjacent surfaces of the corner frame members at the right angle junction thereof. Bracket1is pressed inwardly as shown by Arrows A,FIG. 5until the right angle corner23formed by the surfaces20A and21A of legs20and21abut the exposed surfaces47A and49A of top and adjacent side frame members47and49as shown inFIG. 6.

One of the principal features is that the height (H) of column legs20and21is approximately equal to the thickness or depth D of the frame members so that when installed thereon as shown inFIG. 6, top edges27and28of column legs20and21will be parallel and lie in the same plane as the back surfaces47B and49B of frame members47and49with only pointed end43of pin31extending beyond the back surfaces of the frame members. After a pair of brackets1is installed in the top corners of frame45, the frame is placed against a wall53or similar mounting surface as shown inFIG. 7and pressed firmly thereagainst in the direction of Arrow B. This presses pointed ends43of pins31into the wall as shown inFIG. 8. Pins31will support frame45on and flush against the wall surface with no visible mounting hangers or hanging hardware as heretofore required.

Thus, a canvas painting40is easily mounted on a wall requiring only two small puncture holes caused by pointed ends43and cylindrical sections41of pins31, which pins are easily installed on the back of the canvas painting without requiring additional fasteners or other components. Furthermore, a pair of brackets1is easily installed as discussed above by slidably inserting beveled edges13between the back of the canvas painting and the adjacent frame members until the V-shape of column5nests within the right angled corner formed by the frame members.

Bracket1for most canvas frames will have column5with a height H in the range of 10 mm to 60 mm which is the range of depth D of many canvas art frames. Planar base3will have a thickness T of approximately 1.5 mm with the length L of side edges10and11(FIG. 1) being approximately 24 mm. These dimensions can vary without affecting the concept of the invention.

It is also readily understood that bracket1can be used with other type paintings and art work or even other objects in which the planar base7can be slid between a front facing and two adjacent frame members forming right corners.

Moreover, the description and illustration set out herein are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.