Picture hanger locating device

A picture hanger locating device for use with a picture having a hanging cord positioned on the rear thereof intended to be disposed over a hook or like member to be secured to a wall behind the desired location of the picture. A cord tensioning member is adapted to be removably positioned at a first end thereof over the upper peripheral edge of the picture and at a second end spaced from said first end in communication with the cord to move the same to the tensioned position the cord will assume when the cord is disposed over the hook member. A wall marking device is secured to the second end facing away from the rear of the picture and toward the wall to mark the wall at the location along the length of the cord where the hook member should be placed to engage the cord when the picture is hung on the wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to picture hanger locating devices, and 
more particularly, to such devices for marking a wall at the location 
behind a picture where a hook is to be positioned to hang the picture at 
its desired location. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Devices for marking the location on a wall where a picture hanging hook is 
to be positioned are known. Such devices are required because pictures 
usually are hung by positioning a rear-mounted cord over a wall-inserted 
hook or the like which is located behind the picture itself. When 
positioning the picture to be hung, the picture usually is held against 
the wall at the desired hanging location and then a mark is made on the 
wall behind the picture to indicate the location for placement of the hook 
over which the cord is to be positioned. 
Without the use of appropriate location marking devices, the picture 
hanging process usually requires a frustrating trial and error procedure 
of estimating the location for placement of the hook and then positioning 
the cord over the located hook and seeing if the location is where 
desired. Since the cord mounted to the rear of the picture usually is 
stretched to a tensioned location when in position on the hook by reason 
of the weight of the picture, it is not uncommon for errors in placement 
of the hook to occur and the resultant picture hanging location being 
different than that which was desired. Thus, the hook-locating procedure 
must be repeated to adjust the hook placement on the wall and correct the 
error which resulted because of the difficulty in correctly estimating the 
desired location of the picture after it is hung. It is not uncommon for 
several hook-placement actions to be needed before the desired 
picture-hanging location is achieved. In addition to the frustration of 
such repeated procedure, the erroneous placement of hooks leaves 
unnecessary holes in the wall. 
One reason for difficulty in accurately locating a picture hanging hook 
behind a picture having a rear-mounted hanging cord is that until the 
picture is hung in place on the wall-mounted hook, the cord is not 
stretched to the tensioned position it will assume when so hung. 
Therefore, in order accurately to position the wall-mounted hook at its 
desired location, the cord must first be stretched to its tensioned 
position and means provided to mark the wall at the location where the 
hook will engage the tensioned cord at the wall mounted position of the 
picture. 
Prior art devices are not known to enable the desired accurate marking of a 
wall at the location thereof where a hook should be positioned to engage a 
tensioned cord on the rear of a picture so as accurately to place the 
picture at its desired hanging location. It therefore is desirable to 
provide such a picture hanger locating device which conveniently stretches 
a rear-mounted picture hanging cord to the location it will assume when 
the picture is mounted to a hook on a wall with the cord engaged over the 
hook, and then to mark the wall at said location to indicate where the 
hook should be inserted in the wall to hang the picture at the desired 
location. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is characterized by a cord tensioning member adapted to be 
removably positioned between the top peripheral edge of a picture or the 
like and in engagement with a hanging cord affixed to the rear of the 
picture. The tensioning member moves the cord to the tensioned location it 
will assume when the picture is hung on a wall by engagement of the cord 
over a hook to be positioned on the wall. A marker facing away from the 
rear of the picture is secured to the tensioning member at the location 
where it engages the cord. Placement of the picture against a wall to 
which it is to be mounted causes the marker to mark the wall at the 
location where a picture-hanging hook is to be located for desired hanging 
of the picture on the wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a picture hanger locating device 10 is shown in 
conjunction with the rear side 13 of a picture 12 which may, but need not 
necessarily include a frame 14. Picture frame 14 includes a hanging cord 
16 secured at opposite vertical side posts 18,20 in conventional manner, 
such as by screw eyes 22,24. Cord 16 also is conventional and may 
typically be formed of wire, rope, plastic or the like. 
Cord 16 is shown in FIG. 1 in its tensioned position in which the proximate 
central location 26 is disposed in a plane elevated from the plane in 
which screw eyes 22,24 are located. The illustrated tensioned position of 
cord 16 is the same generally as that which it would assume when it is 
positioned over a picture hanging hook (not shown) affixed to a wall 15 
(FIG. 2) on which picture 12 is intended to be displayed. When not so 
positioned on a picture hanging hook or protrusion, cord 16 will be in 
relaxed, non-tensioned position (not shown) at a disposition other than 
that shown in FIG. 1. 
The tensioned and relaxed positions of cord 16, as well as its orientation 
when positioned over a hook placed in a wall, are well-known conventional 
features of such cords, as are picture hanging hooks which can take the 
form of return-bent members, nails, screws or the like for securement in a 
wall. The specific characteristics of such cords and hooks do not form a 
part of the present invention which is adapted to function with any 
variation thereof. 
Picture hanger locating device 10 includes a generally C-shaped frame 
engagement member 28 adapted to be removably positioned over the upper 
peripheral edge 30 of frame 14. Member 28 includes a first leg 32 intended 
to be disposed proximate the front side of the picture 12 opposite the 
rear side 13 thereof, as seen in FIG. 1. A second leg 34 of member 28 is 
disposed generally parallel to the first leg 32 and is disposed proximate 
the rear side 13. Second leg 34 is formed as an extension of housing 36 of 
member 28, which includes a slot 38 in which first leg 32 is adjustably 
movable towards and away from second leg 34 to change the dimension of 
distance 40 between legs 32 and 34. In this manner, member 28 may 
adjustably be positioned upon a variety of frames 14 having a range of 
cross-sectional sizes and configurations by moving leg 32 closer to or 
further away from leg 34 to fit over the frame 14. Friction engagement of 
leg 32 in slot 38 prevents the leg from unintentionally slipping out of 
engagement with frame 14. 
Housing 36 retains in a compartment 42 thereof one end 43 of a spring, 
illustrated for example as leaf spring 44, wound upon a spool 46 rotatably 
secured upon pin 48 passing through oppositely oriented sides 50, 52 of 
the housing. The specific configuration of leaf spring 44 is for purposes 
of illustration only; any of a wide variety of springs may be useable with 
the invention. The opposite end 54 of spring 44 is secured to return-bent 
hook part 56 by fastener 58. A wall marking device, such as pin 60, is 
retained in housing 62 affixed to hook part 56, and is arranged to face 
away from the rear side 13 of picture 12. Alternate marking device 64 is a 
pencil or pen point which can be secured in housing 62 in friction-fit or 
other conventional manner. 
In use, frame engagement member 28 is positioned over upper peripheral edge 
30 of frame 14 by sliding legs 32, 34 together. Spring 44 is unreeled from 
spool 46 along the rear side 13 of picture 12 to a length permitting hook 
part 56 to be engaged upon cord 16 at the proximate central location 26 
thereof where the cord is intended to be engaged upon a hook (not shown) 
for hanging the picture to a wall. Spring 44 next is reeled back upon 
spool 46 by turning spring-adjustment knob 65 which is connected to pin 48 
external of housing 36. Spring 44 is reeled back a sufficient distance to 
move cord 16 to its tensioned position shown in FIG. 1 with proximate 
central location 26 disposed in a plane elevated from that of screw eyes 
22,24. This tensioned position is approximately the same as that which 
cord 16 will assume when it is placed over a wall hook for intended 
display of picture 12. 
The tensioned position of spring 44 is maintained by locking adjustment 
knob 65 to prevent further rotation. This is accomplished by reason of the 
square-shaped cross-sectional configuration of knob 65 best seen in FIG. 
4. In order to move knob 65, overlaying portion 68 is moved axially with 
respect to pin 48, thus freeing it from matingly engagable extension part 
70 of housing 36 (shown in dotted line in FIG. 3). Portion 68 is locked in 
position when spring 44 is moved to its cord tensioning position by moving 
said portion back into engagement with part 70, as shown in solid line in 
FIG. 3. 
After locating device 10 is positioned on frame 14 with hook part 56 
engaged on cord 16 and moved to its tensioned position shown in FIG. 1, 
the picture 12 is placed adjacent wall 15 at its intended display 
location. Rear side 13 then can be pressed against the wall, thus causing 
pin 60 or pencil point 64 to mark the wall at the location where a hook 
should be positioned in order to hang the picture at its desired location. 
Locating device 10 then is removed from frame 14 by releasing spring 44 by 
movement of adjustment knob 65, and hook part 56 is released from cord 16. 
Leg 32 next is moved out of engagement with frame 14 to free the locating 
device from the frame. Picture 12 then can be hung on the hook to be 
inserted in the wall at the marked location by engagement of cord 16 over 
the located hook. 
In instances where heavy pictures are desired to be hung on a wall by 
placement of two or more hooks, more than one locating device 10 can be 
used in similar manner by following the above procedure at more than one 
location along the length of cord 16 between screw eyes 22, 24. 
An alternatively constructed picture hanging device 10' is shown in FIG. 5. 
Device 10' includes generally C-shaped frame engagement member 28' formed 
of a pair of hollow tubular L-shaped legs 80,82. One portion 84 of leg 80 
is slidably retained within a portion 86 of leg 82 so that the legs 80, 82 
are movable toward or away from each other to adjust the dimension of 
distance 40' between portions 84, 86. 
An elastic cord 88 is passed through the interstices of legs 80, 82 and one 
end 90 thereof is prevented from removal from the legs by knot 92 tied 
thereon. The second end 94 of cord 88 is extended a distance beyond the 
legs 80, 82 and terminates in a passageway provided in housing 96, with a 
knot 98 tied in cord 88 below housing 96 to prevent end 94 from removal 
from the housing. Housing 96 has a slot 100 formed on one surface 102 
thereof, and wall marking device such as pin 104 is retained on another 
surface 106 thereof. 
The general configuration of housing 96 shown in FIG. 5 is for purposes of 
illustration only. Alternatively, the hook part 56 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 
could be adapted for use with the embodiment of FIG. 5 by substitution 
thereof with housing 96. In such case, cord 88 would be affixed to hook 
part 56 by a fastener, such as fastener 58. 
In use of device 10', legs 80, 82 are positioned over edge 30 of frame 14 
are adjusted one with respect to the other to set the dimension of 
distance 40' so that the legs engage the frame. Elastic cord 88 then is 
stretched to a position in which slot 100 engages cord 16 proximate 
central location 26 thereof, with pin 104 facing away from rear side 13 of 
picture 12. Cord 88 is then permitted to move toward its relaxed position 
with picture hanging cord 16 moved to its tensioned position while 
retained in slot 100. Picture 12 then is placed adjacent wall 15 at its 
intended display location. Rear side 13 is pressed against the wall to 
mark same at the location where a wall hanging hook should be placed to 
hang the picture at its desired location. 
Removal of device 10' from picture 12 is accomplished by again stretching 
cord 88 to release picture hanging cord 16 from slot 10 in housing 96, and 
sliding legs 80, 82 away from each other to release member 28' from the 
frame. 
A further alternatively constructed picture hanging device 10" is shown in 
FIGS. 6-8. Device 10" includes a generally C-shaped frame engagement 
portion 28", preferably formed of resilient material so that portion 28" 
can be engaged over frame 14 in clamp-like fashion. By reason of the 
resiliency of portion 28", the dimension of distance 40" is variable to 
enable the device 10" to be used with frames of variant sizes. 
Device 10" includes an extension leg 110 which depends from frame 
engagement portion 28". Extension leg 110 has an upper bearing surface 112 
affixed to frame engagement portion 28" and a lower bearing surface 114 
spaced from upper bearing surface 112. A plurality of slots 116 are spaced 
at intervals along the length of extension leg 110 and open to edge 118, 
but terminate within the leg 110 along the elongate length thereof. The 
slots 116 are arranged at an angle to normal so that the open ends along 
edge 118 are disposed in planes which are higher than the respective 
termination ends within leg 110. 
A slider 120 is movably positioned along rail 122 which is retained between 
bearing surfaces 112,114. Centering springs 124,126 are positioned at 
opposite ends 128,130 of rail 122 and engage between respective bearing 
surfaces 112, 114 and the ends 128,130. By reason of the action between 
springs 124,126 and bearing surfaces 112,114, rail 122 is rotatable along 
its axial length to move surface 132 of slider 120 towards or away from 
leg 110. 
An extension finger 134 is formed on surface 132 of slider 120 and is 
adapted for engagement with any selected slot 116 along the length of leg 
110 by movement of slider along the length of rail 122 and rotating rail 
122 against the force of springs 124,126 (as seen in dotted line in FIG. 
8), then releasing same to permit the rail to assume the position shown in 
solid line in FIG. 8, and also in FIGS. 6 and 7, with finger 134 engaged 
in a selected slot 116. 
A wall marking device, such as pin 138, is formed on the free end 140 of 
finger 134. Pin 138 faces away from rear surface 13 of picture 12 when 
device 10" is positioned on frame 14. 
In use of device 10", frame engagement portion 28" is engaged over upper 
edge 30 of frame 14. Picture hanging cord 16 is engaged over finger 134 
adjacent the outwardly-facing surface 141 of leg 110. Rail 122 is rotated 
to move finger 134 carried on slider 120 out of engagement with a slot 
116. Slider 120 is then moved along rail 122 to a location at which cord 
16 is stretched to its tensioned location. Slider 120 then is pivoted back 
to the location illustrated in FIG. 1 and finger 134 is positioned within 
the closest slot 116 where finger 134 is retained until wall marking is 
completed. Picture 12 is then placed against wall 15 at its intended 
display location. Rear side 13 is passed against the wall to mark the same 
by pin 138 pressed thereagainst. 
Removal of device 10" from picture 12 is accomplished by pivoting rail 122 
to move finger 134 out of slot 116 and thereby releasing the tension on 
cord 16. Upon disengagement of the cord 16 from finger 134, frame 
engagement portion 28" may be removed from frame 14. 
Modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light 
of the above teachings. It is to be understood that within the scope of 
the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as 
specifically described.