Abstract:
A wall hanging device that allows multiple arrangements of displayed items with a single mounting structure reduces damage to the wall while allowing great versatility in the display. The device includes a mounting base that is fixably mounted to a wall or other supportive surface. The mounting base includes a plurality of substantially parallel support pins. At least one hanger cord with one end that is used to attach to a display item, such as a photograph, and the other end received by a support pin. The display item can hang directly under the end that is received by a support pin or be supported by one or more support pills with the end of the hanger cord being received by an adjacent support pin. The combination of multiple horizontal placement of the cord provides a wide variation of horizontal positioning. Supporting the cord on a support pin and securing the end of the cord to another pin provides vertical displacement of the display item depending upon the distance between the end of the cord relative to the vertical “hang” of the cord. Display items can be easily moved and changed without incurring additional physical damage to the wall.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to arts and crafts. More specifically, the present invention relates to hanging wall displays such as pictures and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wall art has been a part of our history for thousands of years. From cave art dated to over a million years ago, to modern day, mankind has told stories and beautified their dwellings and work places by placing art on the wall. In modern day, where wall finishes can also be an expensive work of art, driving a series of nail holes in the wall to support a single picture is undesirable. This is especially true in the case of a changing wall display, such as a type of displayed scrap-booking. Instead of creating attractive and sentimental images that are closed in a book, the images are displayed on a wall for all to see. Periodically these images can be removed and placed in a book for storage and a new display is created and displayed. This can be a vacation, graduation, birth, anniversary or birthday celebration or any other event that can be graphically displayed. In addition, traditional art can also be periodically rotated as furniture changes or the occupant simply desires a change. With traditional framing and mounting, this process would be very costly, and unless the same placement of photos was always used, the wall would be quickly destroyed by nail hole after nail hole. Adhesive wall mount tapes are not always reliable or can remove the wall finish with the tape when moved. A single rigid structure with multiple mounting capacity is preferred. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention comprises a display system including a mounting base with a plurality of support pins and at least one hanger cord. The hanger cord includes a pliable tensile member with an attachment ring on a first end. The ring is capable of being received by a support pin and at least one picture mount on a second end of the hanger cord. The tensile member is preferably a string, rope, cable, line or a cord. The plurality of support pins, preferably cylindrical in shape, extend away from a wall side of the mounting base and are substantially parallel to each other and includes a base cover to enclose the base, covering the support pins from view. The base cover includes a receiver channel to lock the cover in place and a finger ledge to assist the user in removing the cover from the base. 
     The system may also include a plurality of support pins that are cylindrical in shape and grouped in adjacent pairs with enough space there between to receive the tensile member. The plurality of support pins may include a center channel to receive the tensile member, or the center channel may include an hourglass shape with rounded upper and lower corners. 
     The second end of the hanger cord may include a pair of picture mounts located on the distal ends of a “Y” support. The hanger cord may have more than one “Y” support, one located distally to another. The picture mounts may be comprised of an adhesive backed bracket that is attached to the tensile member. The tensile member includes a mounting ring on a distal end of the second end thereof and the adhesive backed bracket includes a hook capable of receiving the mounting ring. 
     The indicator is preferably comprised of at least one mounting board this is attached to the picture mount. The mounting board can be a picture or photograph or a backing to attach a picture or photograph. 
     In another aspect, the invention includes a method of creating a wall mounted display system including the steps of providing a device as previously disclosed, mounting the base to a wall. The horizontal position of a picture mount is adjusted by supporting a hanger cord on at least one of a choice of the plurality of support pins. The vertical positioning is adjusted by moving the first end of the hanger cord and mounting the attachment ring on one of various a support pins. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings, described: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric front view of one version of an adjustable wall display, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric back view of one version of an adjustable wall display, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric front view of an adjustable wall display with the front cover removed, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of one version of an adjustable wall display with the front cover removed, the device produced in accordance with the present invention FIG. 5 is a front view of an adjustable wall display with a single hanging display, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric front view of one version of an adjustable wall display showing the section  7 — 7 , the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectioned side view of an adjustable wall display, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the backside of the display portions of an adjustable wall display, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 a  and FIG. 9 b  are isometric views of a single and double hanger of an adjustaable wall display respectively, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a picture mount hook used in an adjustable wall display, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric front view of three versions of mounting pins of an adjustable wall display, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 a  and FIG. 12 b  are front views of another version of a second end of a hanger cord shown in a relaxed position and a loaded position respectively, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of a back support of a base showing a variety of pins, the device produced in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     For the most part, and as will be apparent when referring to the figures, when an item is used unchanged in more than one figure, it is identified by the same alphanumeric reference indicator in all figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is used as an adjustable wall display  12  for artistic displays or information placards. Where it is desirable to alter the basic layout and/or the display items, the method of supporting the display items becomes very important. Where even the size of the photograph is changed or moved, in order to maintain an attractive and aesthetically pleasing display on the wall, the picture hangers would many times be moved. This means exposing an existing hole in the wall and creating a new hole. The display system  12  of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. A mounting base  14  is mounted directly to the wall or other supportive surface. Hanger cords  16  are supported by the mounting base  14  to provide for a supportive medium for the display items  18 . The display items  18  may be included as a component of the invention, but may also be a self provided item of the user. As such, the display items  18  are shown as a part of the invention  12  but it is understood that they are not considered integral to the novelty of the invention. The display items  18  as shown are used as illustrative purposes in that they can be photographs, paintings or any other art form or information placard. The display item can also be a structural element, such as foam board, cardboard, wood, metal or any other suitable material, which is capable of supporting a separate form of art or information to be displayed. In this case the display item  18  would include a flat planar surface to which an article for display can be mounted or attached. Though this can be in a permanent form, it is determined by the inventor that the articles be releaseably secured to the display item  18  by tape or some is form of mechanical fastener. This allows the articles of art or information to be changed without changing the display item  18 . 
     The display system  12  is shown from the rear in FIG. 2, as if the viewer is looking through the wall to which the invention  12  is mounted. Here the base  14  is shown to include mounting holes  20 . These are one way of securing the invention  12  to the wall. Any number of fastening means common to the art such as threaded fasteners and nails can be used with these holes  20  to mount to the wall. These holes  20  are not considered critical and other forms of fasteners such as adhesive tape can also be used as a method of securing the base  14  to the wall. 
     The hanger cords  16  are shown here in two different forms and in three positions. The hanger cords  16  include a pliable tensile member  22  with a first end (not shown here) supported by the mounting base  14  and a second end  24  secured to the display items  18 . This can be accomplished by several methods. What is shown here is the preferred embodiment, in that two picture mounts  26 , comprised of an adhesive backed bracket  28 , which includes a hook  30 . The hook  30  receives a mounting ring  32  that is attached to the distal end of the second end of the tensile member  22 . The releasable feature of the mounting ring  32  to the hook  30  allows for display items  18  to be easily and quickly mounted and removed. This adds to the versatility of the invention  12 , though a simpler version of the invention  12  would remove the hook  30  and ring  32  and have the adhesive backed bracket  28  in a simplified form that is permanently attached to the distal end of the second end  24  of the hanger cord  16 . 
     The hanger cords  16  are shown to include a “Y” support as part of the second end  24 . This, though not necessary to the basic function of the invention  12 , has been found to be useful in maintaining level support for the display items  18 . It can be imagined that a single picture mount  26  could be used in the center of the display items  18 , but if the single picture mount  26  was off from the center of mass of the item  18 , it would tilt slightly. This may not be desirable to the user. As such, the “Y” support, which branches the tensile member into two equal legs  34 , is used to provide much greater stability to the item  18 . 
     A front view of the invention  12  is shown in FIG. 3 with the base cover removed to show the internal structure of the mounting base  14 . Extending from the back support  38  is a plurality of support pins  40 . These pins  40  can be arranged in a variety of ways. The applicant has determined the preferred embodiment as being a series of rows being offset from the other, thereby creating a multitude of columns, some columns with exactly one pin  40 . The purpose of the offset pin arrangement is to allow a multitude of horizontal positioning of each hanger cord  16  while minimizing the number of pins  40 . The reduction in the number of pins  40  not only reduces the cost of production of the device  12 , but allows greater room for the user&#39;s fingers to access and adjust the positions of the first end mounting ring  42  of the hanger cords  16 . The variation in placement of the first end mounting ring  42  relative to the primary supporting pin  40  that the hanger cord  16  first contacts determines the vertical height of the display item  18 . The back support  38  may also include ends  44  as shown here. The ends  44  serve as added structural support as well as close off the mounting base  14  to increase the attractive nature of the device  12 . 
     The device  12  is shown looking straight on in FIG.  4 . The display items  18  are supported by the hanger cords  16 . The hanger cords  16  are supported by at least one pin  40 . In most cases, as illustrated here, the hanger cords  16  hang over a first pin  40  with the first end mounting ring  42  received by another pin  40  in that or another row. As previously noted, this displacement determines the vertical height of the display item  18 . This is illustrated on the right side of FIG.  4 . Here the upper display item  46  and upper hanger cords  48  are identical to the lower display item  50  and lower hanger cord  52 . Both hanger cords ( 48  &amp;  52 ) are first supported by a support pin  54 . The difference is the lower first end mounting ring  56  is secured to a pin  58  adjacent to the support pin  54 . The upper first end mounting ring  60  is secured to a pin  62  several inches away from the support pin  54 . The horizontal positioning of the display items  18  is provided by the abundance of pins, each capable of being used as a support pin, thus the display item  18  will hang directly underneath whatever pin is selected. 
     A simplified version on the invention  12  is shown in FIG. 5 showing a single display item  18 . A section line  7 — 7  shows the section of the base  14 . This is also illustrated in FIG. 6 where an isometric exploded view is used with a plane  64  showing the section  7 — 7 . Here only one display item  18  is used, but it can be easily seen that a multitude could be used. The section is made to show the features of the base cover and back support  38 . The base cover is an enclosure structure of the mounting base  14 . The base cover  36  is used primarily for aesthetic purposes, to cover the first end mounting rings  60 , ends of the hanger cords  16  and pins  40 . A secondary feature is that the bottom portion of the cover  36  is used as a support for the tensile member  22  of the hanger cord  16  as, when assembled, it is pinched between the bottom edge of the cover  36  and the back support  38 . This helps stabilize the display items  18 . 
     More detail of the cover  36  and back support  38  are illustrated in the section shown in FIG.  7 . The cover  36  includes a receiver channel  66  that is received by a frame lip  68  on the back support  38 . The receiver channel  66  is preferably a concave type structure, such as the shortened “U” as shown here in cross-section. Using such a from that is slightly narrower than the frame lip  68  an interference is provided that will flex the free end  70  of the channel  66  when it is fitted over the lip  68 . This “locks” the cover  36  on the back support  38  to hold it in place and push the bottom edge  72  of the cover  36  against the back plate  74  back plate  73  of the back support  38 , pinching the tensile member  22  of the hanger cord  16  there between. The cover  36  must be removed every time the user needs to change the orientation of the display. To assist with the removal process the lower portion of the cover  36  includes a finger ledge  74 . This is a turned up lip that allows the user to grab the ledge  74  with the tips of the user&#39;s fingers. The user can then pull the cover  36  off the back support  38 , overcoming the tension provided by the interference of the channel  66  and lip  68 . 
     Another item that is illustrated is the angle of incidence of the pins  40 . Though not considered mandatory, it is many times desirable to tilt the pins  40  up slightly. This angle with respect to the normal, or angle of incidence is represented by the angle θ. It has been determined by the inventor that the optimal angle is 10°. A variation of plus 20° or minus 10° is acceptable and may be considered advantageous depending upon the material of the pins, weight of the hanging items and type of cord used. 
     The adjustment of the height of the display items  18  and the variation in the hanger cords is shown in FIG.  8 . As was shown in FIG. 4, the upper display item  46  and upper hanger cord  48  is the lower display item  50  and lower hanger cord  52  in a second or raised position. The lower first end mounting ring  56  is visibly displaced from the upper first end mounting ring  60  as illustrated by the arrow  76 . This displacement is the change in vertical orientation of the lower display item  50  to the position of the upper display item  46  as depicted by the vertical arrows  78 . Another form of hanger is the double “Y” hanger cord  80 , which has an upper pair of picture mounts  26  connected to an upper “Y” branch  82  and a lower pair of picture mounts  26  connected to a lower branch  84 . This variation can include three or more “Y” branches all connected as part of one hanger cord. The advantage to such a component is that display items  18  can be mounted without requiring individual vertical adjustment. The single  79  and double “Y” hanging cords are shown alone in FIG. 9 a  and FIG. 9 b  respectively. 
     A picture mount  26  is shown in greater detail in FIG.  10 . The picture mount  26  is comprised of an adhesive backed bracket  28 , which includes a hook  30 . The hook  30  receives the mounting ring  32  that is attached to the distal end of the second end of the tensile member  22 , as shown in FIG.  9 . The adhesive back  86  may be a single piece of tape that is mechanically fastened to the bracket  28  or the adhesive tape may cross the bracket  28 , adhering thereto as well, while leaving free ends of the tape to adhere to the back of a display item  18 . 
     Another variation to the invention is shown in FIG.  11 . The pins  40  can be a single cylindrical rod, as disclosed thus far, or modified to provide support in either a left or a right direction. This allows the tensile member  22  to pass through or between the sides of the pin to provide consistent vertical alignment of the tensile member  22  regardless as to the direction of wrap of the tensile member  22  or if the tensile member  22  is secured directly to the pin. Examples of variations of this pin include adjacent sub-pins  88 . With a space between the closest points of these sub-pins  88  being slightly greater than the width of the tensile member  22 , the duel pin  90  maintains a consistent horizontal positioning of the tensile member  22  regardless of the direction the tensile member is located above the pin  90 . Two variations of hourglass cutouts of pins are shown. A narrow base cutout pin  92  and a wide base cutout pin  94  are similar in that both have rounded edges on the top edges  96 . This provides less stress in the tensile member  22  that passes over those edges. The wide base cutout pin  94  has flat lower edges  98  on the bottom portion, in that any cord that contacts the pin  94  does not bend on the bottom edge. This creates a modified hourglass cutout with a rounded top and straight from the center down. A second duel pin  100  is shown with an elongated first end mounting ring  102  received there on. This ring  102  is shown to illustrate that any form of pin can be met with an appropriate ring  102  to fit that shape. 
     An alternate form of the second end  24  of the hanger cord  16  is shown in FIG. 12 a  and FIG. 12 b . In this, two positions of the second end  24  are shown. In this form the second end  24  is a loop  104  that is made by taking the free end  106  of the tensile member  22  and securing it to a higher point on the tensile member  22  by use of a clip  108 . This is illustrated in FIG. 12 a  where the loop  104  created is in a relaxed state. If so desired, a second loop made from a second tensile member could be suspended from the same clip  108 , thus making two or more loops  104  that lie in series with one another. This process could be done any number of times to create a long string of loops  104 . In function, this is similar to items  80  and  84  in FIG. 9 a  and FIG. 9 b.    
     The second end  24  of FIG. 12 a  is shown in a loaded position in FIG. 12 b . Brackets  110  are fastened to the display item as previously disclosed. In this view the brackets  110  include a hook  112 , which is comprised of a bent cylindrical wire. This wire  112  is preferably bent to form a receiver for the tensile member  22 . The bent portion  114  can be in the same plane as the base portion  116  or bent to form an acute angle relative to the base portion  116 , as shown here. The angled bent portion  114  provides a simple substantially vertical “hook” portion while the resultant load vector on the device is approximately through the long axis of the base portion  116 . This gives an even stress on the mounting  118 . The base portion  116  includes some form of mounting  118  so that it can be attached to the display item. This can be any form as previously disclosed or as is other wise known in the art. The resultant shape of the second end  24  in a loaded state is substantially a triangle. 
     An alternative to the pins attached to the back support  38  of the base  14  is shown in FIG.  13  and shown in cross-section as in FIG.  7 . It was previously disclosed in FIG. 7 that the pins were tilted up slightly. The angle of incidence (θ) helps keep the tensile member on the pin and toward the back support  38 , thus nearer the wall when mounted thereon. Other forms of retaining the tensile members on the pins are shown here. The upper pin  120  includes a shaft  122  and a ring  124  on the distal end. The middle pin  126  also has a shaft  122 , but a spherical cap  128  is placed on the distal end. On the bottom pin  130 , a truncated sphere  132  caps the shaft  122 . In each case the oversized end reduces inadvertent disengagement of the tensile member  22  from the shaft  122  of the pin.