HANGER DEVICE

Abstract: A hanger device comprising a base portion from a surface of which extend a plurality of closely spaced hooks or the like such as pins or needles, wherein the base portion is provided in strip form and coated on a different surface to said hooks with an adhesive or similar fastening means to permit the device to be attached, in use, to a display support such as a picture frame or the like.

Description: Hanger device The present invention relates to a hanger device, particularly although not exclusively for picture frames and the Conventionally, a picture frame and other decorative item has been suspended from a picture hook, picture pm or other fixing such as a picture rail, the fixing being secured to a wall. Most commonly, the rear of the picture frame carries a length of wire that is placed over the fixing. In some cases the wire or cord is dispensed with m favour of metallic or plastics material fitting which is engaged over the fixing. All such methods of hanging a picture frame do have the disadvantage that a fixing can be difficult to put m place both accurately and securely. Furthermore, should the frame subsequently be removed, the fixing may be difficult to remove without damaging the fabric or appearance of the wall. Although a picture rail does provide flexibility m the positioning of a picture frame, not all rooms are suited to such a fixing and its cost may prove prohibitive m many cases. Consequently, there is a need for a hanger device which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and which is also simple to use permitting unlimited repositioning of the frame with minimal damage to the wall including any wallcovering . Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a hanger device, comprising a base portion from a surface of which extend a plurality of closely spaced hooks or the like such as pins or needles. The hooks may be formed integrally with the base portion, in which a plastics material of suitable dimensional stability may be utilised. Alternatively, the hooks may be formed separately and embedded, moulded or otherwise secured to the base portion. The base portion may be provided in strip form and coated on a different surface to said hooks with an adhesive or similar fastening means to permit the device to be attached, in use, to a display support such as a picture frame or the like. Once more alternatively, the base portion may instead form an integral part of a display support. Although it is envisaged that the base portion may be formed of a relatively rigid material, it could equally be formed of a material which is sufficiently flexible to permit the device to be supplied in a rolled form, provided, of course that the hooks are themselves of suitable strength and rigidity. In order to aid in understanding the invention an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a hanger device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of the hanger device of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the hanger device on the line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a rear elevation view of a picture frame including a the hanger device of Figure 1 attached thereto; Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the frame of Figure 4 shown secured to a wall; Figure 6 is an isometric view of a variant of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a rear elevation of a picture frame including a pair of the variant hanger device of Figure 6 attached thereto. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a hanger device 1 comprising a plurality of closely spaced metallic hooks 2 arranged in three rows on a front surface 3 of a plastics material strip 4. The strip 4 encompasses a base portion 5 of each hook 2 such that they all lie parallel to one another and perpendicular to the front surface 3 of the strip 4. A rear surface 6 of the strip 4 carries a length of double-sided adhesive tape 7 whose exposed surface 8 is protected by a release film 9. With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, a hanger 1 is shown secured to a picture support 10 made up of a mount panel 11, a picture 12 and a glass cover 13 all received within a wooden frame 14. In order to fix the hanger 1 to the support 10, the release film 9 is first removed and then the exposed surface 8 of the adhesive tape 7 is pressed firmly into contact with the mount panel 11. The support may then be hung on a wall 15 simply by bringing the device 1 into contact therewith. Once brought into contact with the wall 15, the hooks 2 embed themselves into the wall 15 to a very limited extent of the order of several millimetres or perhaps less. Because of the low level of pressure applied to the wall 15 by each hook 2, the support 10 may be repositioned as necessary on the wall 15 without causing structural or aesthetic damage to the wall 15. Once positioned on the wall 15, the support 10 will adopt the usual attitude in which the frame 14 contacts the wall 15 along its lowermost edge 16. It has been found that the device is capable of attaching securely to plaster and also textile or paper covered surfaces. In which regard it has been determined that effective results can be obtained on a paper/textile covered wall with a loading of about 20g or less per hook whilst harder surfaces, such as plaster, require a lower loading figure. Thus, a range of devices 1 may be provided with differing number and also arrangement of hooks to suit supports of various weights and sizes. It has been determined that the optimum included angle between the hook and the strip surface lies below approximately 60° (shown on Figure 3 as θ) . It is envisaged that this angle θ will be fixed. However, provision could be made in the device 1, for adjusting the angle θ to suit a particular surface. It will be appreciated that the device need not be provided as a separate element for securing to a picture support but may be formed as an integral part thereof. Furthermore, rather than utilise metallic hooks, the entire device may be formed from a suitable plastics or metallic material of the required hardness and dimensional stability. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognise that the number and arrangement of hooks or the like, such as the substantially straight pins 2 shown in Figure 6, may vary. It should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used in Figure 6 and Figure 7 as used previously to refer to similar parts of the device 1. Thus the hooks or pins 2 could be provided in a greater or lesser number of parallel or, indeed, non-parallel rows. In addition, more than one device 1 could be attached to a picture support 10, particularly if the support 10 is heavy. The device 1 could also be made suitable for securing in the manner shown in Figure 7.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A hanger device comprising a base portion from a surface of which extend a plurality of closely spaced hooks or the like such as pins or needles. 2. A hanger device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the hooks are formed integrally with the base portion, in which a plastics material of suitable dimensional stability is utilised. 3. A hanger device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the hooks are formed separately and embedded, moulded or otherwise secured to the base portion. 4. A hanger device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion is provided in strip form and coated on a different surface to said hooks with an adhesive or similar fastening means to permit the device to be attached, in use, to a display support such as a picture frame or the like. 5. A hanger device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the base portion forms an integral part of a display support. 6. A hanger device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion is formed of a material which is sufficiently flexible to permit the device to be supplied in a rolled form. 7. A hanger device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: SNELL STUART JOHN, SNELL, STUART, JOHN
Applicants: SNELL STUART JOHN, SNELL, STUART, JOHN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47G1
IPC codes: A47G1