Abstract:
A device for hanging an object on a vertical structure, such as a framed picture or painting on a wall. The device comprises a body having a planar portion that lies in a plane defining a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction. A plurality of openings are present in the planar portion, and the openings are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern so that each opening is offset in the first and second directions from at least a second of the openings. The device further includes a feature for securing the body to the object.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/524,746 filed Nov. 25, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to devices for hanging objects such as framed pictures and paintings on a surface, such as a wall or other support structure. More particularly, this invention relates to a hanging device formed to have a plurality of openings that provide adjustability in essentially any direction in the plane of the surface on which the device is to hang the object.  
         [0003]     A variety of devices are known for hanging objects such as framed pictures and paintings on a wall or other surface. Such devices, which include wires and brackets, are typically attached to the back of the object and adapted for engaging a nail or similar item secured in the wall. To simplify the hanging operation, various hanging devices have been proposed that provide multiple points which a support nail can engage. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 282,525 to Samson et al. depicts a version of the widely-available sawtooth-notched hanger. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,788 to Lorincz, which discloses a hanging device with a single aperture that defines a horizontal row of channels from which an object can be hung from a nail by inserting the nail head into one of the channels. These types of hanging devices are usually individually used to allow the user to adjust the horizontal tilt of the object by inserting the nail into the notch, channel, etc., that is most nearly vertically above the object&#39;s center of gravity, and then pivoting the object about the nail to level the object. However, these devices are not adapted to provide any degree of vertical repositioning of the object, and horizontal repositioning is very limited since hanging the object from a notch/channel that is not vertically above the center of gravity will inevitably result in the object becoming tilted. Consequently, care must be taken when locating the nail on the wall, and any horizontal and vertical repositioning of the object requires moving the nail on the wall or moving the hanging device on the object, neither of which is desirable from the standpoint of ease and minimizing damage to the object and wall. If the object is one of multiple objects that are to be hung together, arranging the objects to provide a desired spacing between objects can require the process to be repeated several times.  
         [0004]     In view of the above, it would be desirable if an improved hanging device were available that provided the capability of both horizontal and vertical adjustment of the object being hung.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a device for hanging an object on a vertical surface, such as a framed picture or painting on a wall. The device comprises a body having a planar portion that lies in a plane defining a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction. A plurality of openings are present in the planar portion, and the openings are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern so that each opening is offset in the first and second directions from at least a second of the openings. The device further includes means for securing the body to the object.  
         [0006]     In view of the above, by securing the body of the device to a frame (or other object), the openings are presented on the frame so that the frame can be hung with a nail (or other spike-like member) protruding from a wall (or other vertical structure) by inserting the head of the nail into any one of the openings. Because the openings are offset from each other in the first and second directions, horizontal and vertical repositioning of the frame on the wall can be achieved by selectively inserting the nail head into a different opening. If a number of closely-packed openings are present on the device to enable small incremental adjustments, the device can be used in combination with a second essentially identical device, with each device secured to the frame and each engaged with a nail in the wall. The exact position of each nail is less critical as a large number of closely-spaced openings allows for vertical and horizontal misalignments between the nails.  
         [0007]     Other objects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a stamping for a hanger in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the hanger of  FIG. 1  following a forming operation.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the hanger of  FIG. 2 , showing the hanger secured with a threaded fastener to a metal frame.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a stamping for a hanger in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the hanger of  FIG. 4  following a forming operation.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the hanger of  FIG. 5 , showing the hanger secured with nails to a frame.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a stamping for a hanger in accordance with a third embodiment of this invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the hanger of  FIG. 7  following a forming operation.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the hanger of  FIG. 8 , showing the hanger secured to a frame with integrally-formed prongs.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the hanger of  FIGS. 5 and 6  secured to a frame and the frame ready for hanging on a wall. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]      FIGS. 1 through 10  depict hangers  10 ,  40 , and  70  in accordance with different embodiments of the invention. Each hanger  10 ,  40 , and  70  is adapted to hang a frame, such as picture frame, painting frame, etc., on a wall or any other desired surface that is generally vertical, as represented in  FIG. 10 . While the invention will be described in terms of hanging a framed object on a wall, it will become evident that hangers within the scope of this invention can be adapted for hanging a variety of objects from essentially any surface.  
         [0019]     The hanger  10  according to a first of the embodiments is represented in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and  FIG. 1  represents a preform  34  from which the hanger  10  can be formed. Suitable materials for the hanger  10  include aluminum or another deformable metal, though it is foreseeable that the hanger  10  could be formed from a molded plastic material (thereby eliminating the requirement for the preform  34 ). The hanger  10  can be seen to have a unitary body  12  with a generally planar base  14  and a flange  16  extending from one edge of the base  14 . The base  14  is depicted as having a generally rectangular peripheral shape, though other shapes could be used. A suitable size for the base  14  is about 25×25 mm up to about 40×40 mm, though one can appreciate that the dimensions of the base  14  as well as the overall dimensions of the hanger  10  could widely vary.  
         [0020]     A number of openings  18  are present in the base  14 . The openings  18  are preferably through-holes having circular shapes, though it is foreseeable that the openings  18  could be formed as deep recesses and/or have noncircular shapes. The openings  18  are shown arranged in a two-dimensional pattern of alternating rows  20  and  22 . According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each row  20  is offset from each row  22 . In other words, the openings  18  of any row  20  is offset from the openings  18  in each immediately adjacent row  22 . Also according to the preferred embodiment, each opening  18  of any row  20  is aligned with an opening  18  in each of the other rows  20 , and each opening  18  of any row  22  is aligned with an opening  18  in each of the other rows  22 . As a result, each opening  18  is offset in two directions from the nearest openings  18  of the two immediately adjacent row(s)  20  or  22 . This pattern is intended to provide numerous openings  18  spaced as closely as possible from which a frame can be hung by a nail or other suitable feature. While it is foreseeable that the openings  18  could be randomly located in the base  14  to achieve the same goal, the regular pattern of openings  18  enables the base  14  to be formed from perforated panels or gratings that are commercially available and massed produced.  
         [0021]     Because numerous closely-packed openings  18  are advantageous to the use of the hanger  10 , the openings  18  are preferably sized not larger than necessary to receive the head of a nail or other hardware commercially available for hanging frames (e.g., the headless nail  90  shown in  FIG. 10 ). For openings  18  having a circular shape as depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , it is believed that the openings  18  can be formed to have diameters of about 2.2 millimeters with center-to-center spacings of about 3.0 millimeters without reducing the strength of the base  12  to the extent that its ability to safely support a picture frame would be compromised.  
         [0022]     The flange  16  is generally parallel but offset from the base  14  through the formation of two ninety-degree bends  24 , as best seen in  FIG. 3  and understood by comparing the hanger  10  in  FIG. 2  with the preform  34  in  FIG. 1 . A single threaded hole  26  is present in the flange  16  by which the hanger  10  can be secured to a picture frame  28  ( FIG. 3 ) or any other suitable object. In  FIG. 3 , the end of the flange  16  is shown positioned within a channel  30  formed in the frame  28 , and a set screw  32  serves to secure the flange  16  against the interior edges of the channel  30 . This type of configuration is conventional for metal frames, and therefore does not require any further discussion. The central position of the flange  16  at one side of the base  14  allows any number of the hangers  10  to be installed anywhere along the length of any channel  30  of the frame  28 , e.g., in the upper left and right hand corners of the frame  28 .  
         [0023]      FIGS. 5 and 6  depict the hanger  40  of a second embodiment, and  FIG. 4  represents a preform  64  from which the hanger  40 . The hanger  40  is depicted as differing from the hanger  10  of the first embodiment primarily in terms of the shape of the openings  48  and the manner in which the hanger  40  is secured to a frame. Therefore, as with the hanger  10  of the first embodiment, the hanger  40  has a unitary body  42  with a generally planar base  44  and openings  48  arranged in a two-dimensional pattern of alternating rows  50  and  52 , essentially as described before. In contrast to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the openings  48  have hexagonal shapes and the single flange  16  of the first embodiment is replaced in the second embodiment with a pair of oppositely-disposed flanges  46 .  
         [0024]     The hexagonal-shaped openings  48  are advantageous for the purpose of increasing the density of the openings  48 , enabling more openings  48  to be available for making finer adjustments than otherwise possible. For example, the hexagonal openings  48  can be sized to have a point-to-point cross-sectional dimension equal to the diameter of the openings  18  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , yet spaced closer than the 3 mm center-to-center spacing noted for the openings  18  of  FIGS. 1 through 3  without compromising the strength of the base  44 . While shown only with the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 through 6 , it can be appreciated that any hanger within the scope of this invention can be formed to have hexagonal-shaped openings, as well as any other shaped openings.  
         [0025]     The flanges  46  of the hanger  40  are generally parallel to each other but in a plane offset from the base  44  by two ninety-degree bends  54  formed in each flange  46  ( FIG. 6 ). Each flange  46  is also formed to have a single through-hole  56  by which the hanger  40  can be secured to a picture frame  58  ( FIG. 3 ) with a pair of nails  62  or any other suitable fastener. The flanges  46  are shown near adjacent corners of the base  14 , enabling the hanger  40  to be secured to the frame  58  so that the base  14  extends downward away from the outer edge of the frame  58 . As with the hanger  10  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , any number of the hangers  40  to be installed anywhere along any side of the frame  58 , e.g., in the upper left and right hand corners of the frame  58 .  
         [0026]     Finally,  FIGS. 8 and 9  represent the hanger  70  of a third embodiment, and  FIG. 7  represents a suitable preform  94  from which the hanger  70  can be formed. Again, the hanger  70  differs from the other hangers  10  and  40  primarily in the manner in which the hanger  70  is secured to a frame. Therefore, the hanger  70  has a unitary body  72  with a planar base  74 , and openings  78  arranged in a two-dimensional pattern of alternating rows  80  and  82 , essentially as described before. As with the second embodiment, a pair of oppositely-disposed, substantially coplanar flanges  76  extend from the base  74 , offset from the base  74  by two ninety-degree bends  84  ( FIG. 9 ). However, instead of the through-holes  56  of the second embodiment, each flange  46  is formed to have an integral prong  86  formed during the stamping operation that produced the preform  94 . By bending each prong  86  to extend at roughly a ninety-degree angle from its flange  76  in a direction away from the base  74 , the prongs  86  can be driven into a picture frame  88  as represented in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  depicts the hanger  40  secured to its frame  58 , with the frame  58  ready for hanging on a nail  90  (or other suitable fastener) driven into a wall  92 . As evident from  FIG. 10 , the hangers of this invention allow a frame to be mounted substantially flush to a wall. Furthermore, with each embodiment of the invention, the numerous, closely-spaced, offset openings  18 ,  48 , and  78  provided on each hanger  10 ,  40 , and  70  enable the user to drive a nail into a wall with less concern for the exact placement of the nail relative to the desired location of the frame, since the user has the choice of inserting the nail into any one of the openings  18 ,  48 , and  78 . By closely-packing the openings  18 ,  48 , and  78  as shown in the Figures, very small incremental adjustments (e.g., about 0.3 mm) can be made to the frame in either or both the vertical and horizontal directions. A closely-packed pattern of openings  18 ,  48 , and  78  also allows multiple hangers  10 ,  40 , and  70  to be used in different combinations, since nails are likely to align with one and often several openings  18 ,  48 , and  78  in their respective hangers  10 ,  40 , and  70 . As such, if two or more nails are used to hang a frame, the nails are likely to align with more than one combination of openings  18 ,  48 , and  78  in the hangers  10 ,  40  and  70 , enabling the frame to be adjusted both horizontally and vertical to achieve the desired orientation for the frame.  
         [0028]     While the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the physical configuration of a hanger could differ from that shown, and materials and processes other than those noted could be use. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.