Abstract:
An alignment device or jig that includes a level and a rule which is used for hanging wall supported items. The device includes locator blocks with locator pins for supporting the item and stud finder sensors for locating wall studs. The locator pins extend to protrude from the back side of the jig to allow a mark to be made into the hanging surface when the jig is pressed against the hanging surface. In the event that the item requires a stronger surface to hang onto due to excessive weight, a stud finder system can be utilized. In operation, one or more of picture frames to be mounted to a wall are hung on the device on one or more hangers. The hangers are slidingly spaced along the device scale for desired picture spacing. The device with the frames is placed against the wall and pressed to the wall, wherein the marking points mark the wall at the exact desired points where permanent hangers will be driven into the wall to support the one or more picture frames.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/366,854 filed Jul. 22, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates in general to devices for use in hanging wall supported items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Attachment means such as nails, hooks, hangers and the like are generally used to hang wall supported items such as picture, mirrors, paintings, curtain rods, and other decorative items. Often, two or more attachment means are used to hang an item. To hang an item properly, it is necessary to ensure that attachment means are correctly aligned with respect to each other so the item will not be crooked. However, it is difficult to ensure that each attachment means is fixed to the wall at a proper location to ensure that the wall supported item will be hung evenly. 
         [0004]    When hanging up more than one wall supported item next to each other, such as when hanging multiple pictures in position relative to each other, the task often becomes even more difficult, as more staging and aligning is required. 
         [0005]    Usually, a location on the hanging surface where the item is desired to be placed is identified. Attachment means are then fixed to the wall to create the desired placement of item. When using more than one attachment means, the attachment means need to be level with each other to ensure that the item will be displayed evenly. This usually requires a person to use a level, or to measure distances from the ground or ceiling to where the attachment means is to be affixed to the hanging surface, which require the involvement of more than one person. 
         [0006]    The present inventor has recognized the need for a device which is easy to use, and provides the user with the ability to preview staging of the items before the attachment means are affixed to the hanging surface. 
         [0007]    The present inventor has recognized the need for a device which facilitates the hanging of items at desired locations on a hanging surface by providing markings to indicate where attachment mechanisms should be affixed to the hanging surface. 
         [0008]    The present inventor has recognized the need for a device which can be adapted for use with various types of curtain rod hangers which span different distances to accommodate curtain rods of different lengths. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An alignment device or jig that can include a level, a rule, a stud finder, and slideable locator blocks is used for hanging wall supported items. The locator blocks are slideable along portions of the jig. The locator blocks comprise locator pins on first side of the device from which the item is hanged. The locator pins extend toward the wall from a second side of the device opposite the first side. The locater pins can be a marker, a simple nail, locking adjustable screws with a piercing point, or the like. These can be used alone or with a more complex hanger, such as a picture hanger. When pressed against the hanging surface, the locator pins make a mark, an indentation or hole on the hanging surface to indicate where an attachment mechanism for the wall supported item. 
         [0010]    In operation, one or more of a wall mounted item such as picture frames to be mounted to a wall are hung onto the locator pins, which are affixed on moveable locator blocks. The locator blocks are slidingly spaced along the rule until the desired picture spacing is achieved. Locator blocks are then secured in place to prevent further movement from their selected location. The device with hanging items is placed against the wall and pressed to the wall, wherein the locator pins mark the wall at the exact desired points where permanent hangers will be driven into the wall to support the one or more picture frames. The device is moved away from the wall and permanent hanging means such as nails are installed at the marked locations on the wall. 
         [0011]    The device can also incorporate a stud finder system that can be wireless and include a CPU and a multiplicity of sensors. The CPU can be directly mounted on the device or remotely as required by the user. The sensors can be incorporated within each sensor block. 
         [0012]    Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front of a device as an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  illustrates one type of hanger that can be used with the device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates common orientations in which the device can be used with the aid of the incorporated level. Other orientations can be achieved without the aid of the level. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3 to 4B  illustrate some of the movable parts of the device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4C  is a front view of the device. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A to 5B  illustrate the device marking the hanging surface. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6 to 9  illustrate some ways the device can be used to hang pictures, paintings, etc. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 10 to 12  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the device for curtain rod attachments. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 13 to 14D  illustrate the device for use with various curtain rod types. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 15 to 16  illustrate types of curtain rod hangers that can be used with the device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the curtain rod end fixtures with slideable blocks to accommodate various types of hangers. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 18 to 24  illustrates various curtain rod hangers engaging with the curtain rod end fixtures. 
           [0025]      FIG. 25  is an elevation view of the apparatus in a first stage of hanging an oblong picture with misaligned devices. 
           [0026]      FIG. 25A  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 25 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 26  is a view that illustrates the oblong picture in the proper orientation from  FIG. 25  in a second stage. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 27 and 28  are first and second stage picture hanging views of hanging a rectangular picture similar to  FIGS. 25 to 26 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 29  is an elevation view of the apparatus in a first stage of hanging a rectangular picture using an adapter for compensating the use of a picture hanging J-shaped hanger. 
           [0030]      FIG. 30  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 29 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 31  is an enlarged elevation view of a portion of  FIG. 30 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 32  is a side view of the portion shown in  FIG. 31 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 33  is a side view of a prior art J-shaped hanger for hanging pictures. 
           [0034]      FIG. 34  is an elevation view of an alternate device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the hanging device. The hanging device or jig  10  comprises a frame  9 , movable handles  20 , a plurality of locator blocks  40  with locator pins  45 , and a level  30 . The frame  9  includes an upper portion  15  that incorporates a rule  50 , a lower portion  16 , and two end blocks  60 .  FIG. 2  illustrates that the jig can be used to hang items in various orientations. Other angles can also be achieved. 
         [0037]    The handles  20  are moveable along the length of the frame  9  to allow the user to position the handle to suit the user&#39;s needs. The ends  21  of the handles are disposed within T-shaped slots  25  along the front side  11  of the frame  9  to allow the handles to slide within the slots so that the user may position the handle around the wall supported items ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 A- 5 B,  7 - 9 ). 
         [0038]    The level  30  is disposed on the top side  12  of the frame  9 . The level  30  comprises two tightening fasteners  31  with feet  32  shaped and sized to fit within the T-shaped slot  35  along the top side  12  of the frame  9 . The T shaped slot extends for the entire length of the frame  9 . The level  30  slides along the T-shaped slot  35  to allow the user to adjust the position of the level  30  for user visibility depending on the orientation of the items being hung up, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 9 . The level  30  is secured into place by fastening the tightening fasteners  31  such that the level  30  presses against the top side  12  of the frame  9  to prevent the level  30  from further sliding along the T-shaped slot  35  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0039]    A plurality of locator blocks  40  are disposed between upper straight slot  46   a  and lower straight slot  46   b , both of which run along the entire length of the frame  9 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates that the locator block  40  has an upper lip  47   a  and a lower lip  47   b  which are fitted into the upper straight slot  46   a , and lower straight slot  46   b  respectively, to allow the locator blocks to slideably move along the upper and lower straight slots  46   a ,  46   b . The locator block  40  further comprises a locator pin  45  and locking nut  45   h  disposed substantially in the center of the locator block  40 . The wall support item, such as a picture frame  100  ( FIGS. 5A to 9 ), or a mirror, is hung from the locator pin or screw  45 . The locator blocks  40  are adjustable along each side of the frame  9 , due to the sliding of the locator block  40  along the upper and lower straight slots  46   a ,  46   b  respectively. A central locator block  40   a  is located in the middle of the frame  9 , and preferably is stationary and not adjustable. 
         [0040]    Adjustment of the locator block  40  allows the attached wall supported item, for example a picture frame, to be staged in the desired position and allows the user to preview the final arrangement of the picture frame(s) prior to marking the hanging surface. As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the locator pin  45  passes through the locator block  40  through a bore  48 , and extends from the backside of the locator block  40 . The locator pin  45 , in its extended position, is able to make a mark on the hanging surface when the locator pin  45  is pressed against the hanging surface ( FIGS. 5A-5B ). For locator blocks  40  that are not being used to mark the hanging surface, the locator pins  45  can be retracted such that they retreat and do not extend into the backside of the locator block  40  to prevent unwanted marks on the hanging surface when the locator block  40  is pressed against the hanging surface to mark the hanging surface. They can also be removed completely if they interfere with hanging a larger picture, etc. 
         [0041]    Locator blocks  40  are secured in the desired position by the use of a flexslot  41  and machine screw  42  as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . The flexslot  41  is a horizontal slot near a top edge of the locator block  40 . The flexslot  41  comprises a plain bore  43  (shown in hidden lines) to receive the screw  42 , straddling the flexslot. A nut  51  is fit within a square recess portion in the back of the bore  43  (shown in hidden lines) to threadingly receive the screw. The square recess prevents the nut from turning as the machine screw is turned. 
         [0042]    The bore  43  has a recessed portion  44  also straddling the flexslot. As the screw  42  is increasingly driven into the flexslot  41 , the tapered underside of the head of the screw presses into the recessed portion  44  and the bore  43  and by wedge action opens the flexslot and forces the portion of the locator block  40  above the flexslot  41  to move in a direction “A” as indicated by an arrow, and the portion of the locator block below the flexslot  41  to move in a direction “B” to secure the locator block  40  in place by pressing the upper and lower lip  47   a ,  47   b  respectively, into the upper and lower straight slots  46   a ,  46   b . The portion of the locator block  40  above the flexslot  41  moves in a direction “A” and the portion of the locator block below the flexslot  41  moves in a direction “B” about the hinge end  41   a  of the flexslot  41 . 
         [0043]    The bore  43  has a recessed portion  44  such that the head of the screw  42  is substantially flush against, or recessed below, the surface  44   a  of the locator block  40  when the screw  42  is in its fully embedded position as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0044]    The flexslot  41  allows the locater blocks  40  to be secured in the desired position by the user so the user can use the locator pin  45  in the locator block  40  to mark the hanging surface. Once a user adjusts the locator blocks  40  and secures the locator blocks in place, the user is ready to mark the hanging surface  120 . The bottom portion  16  of the frame  9  has an angled surface  17 , which is used to form a pivot edge  18 . With the item to be hung  100 , such as a picture, hanging on the locator pin  45 , the user rests the frame  9  against the hanging surface  120  on the angled surface  17 , ensures by using the level that frame  9  is level, and pivots the frame  9  towards the hanging surface  120 , as indicated by the arrow in a direction marked “C” such that the locator pins  45  are pressed against the hanging surface  120  to leave marks on the hanging surface  120 . The marks are then used by the user to identify where the screw or pin for the attachment mechanism for the item being hung  100 , should be located to get the desired effect simulated by the jig. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6A  shows that a picture  100  can be hung from the locator pin  45  on the block  40  using a picture wire  101   a  that is attached to the picture frame at attachments  101   b ,  101   c.    
         [0046]    Where more complex hangers, such as hangers  100   a  where the location from where the picture frame is hung is different from the location of the screw used to affix the hanger to the hanging surface ( FIG. 1A ) is used as an attachment mechanism, the complex hanger can be mounted onto the locator block using the locator pin  45  such that the use of the actual attachment mechanism is simulated. 
         [0047]    End blocks  60  are located on each end of the frame  9 . The end blocks  60  are removable. Like the locator blocks  40 , the end blocks  60  has an upper lip  67   a  and lower lip  67   b  which fit into upper straight slot  46   a , and lower straight slot  46   b  respectively. The end blocks  60  are secured in position on either end of the jig  10  through the use of a fastening mechanism, such as machine screws  61 . The screws  61  are fitted though plain bores  62   a ,  62   b  in the upper and lower straight slots which are aligned with bores  63   a ,  63   b  in the upper lip  67   a  and lower lip  67   b . The bore  62   a ,  62   b  has a recessed portion  64  such that the head of the screw  61  is flush against the surface  64   a  when the screw  61  is in its fully embedded position as illustrated in  FIG. 4A . Nuts  63  are arranged captured in square recesses and are used to engage the machine screws. The recesses prevent the nuts from turning as the machine screws are turned. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment, the jig  10  can be used for the attachment of curtain rods through the use of a curtain rod end fixtures  150  ( FIGS. 10-12 ). The curtain rod end fixture  150  is attached to the jig at both ends of the frame  9  beyond the end blocks  60 . The curtain rod end fixtures  150  are attached to the frame  9  through the use of extension rods  160 . In one embodiment, the extension rods  160  are H-shaped railings that fit through T-shaped slots  25  on the jig  10 , as well as T-shaped slots  165  on the curtain rod end fixtures  150 . The extension rods  160 , and accordingly the curtain rod end fixtures  150  attached to the extension rods  160 , are adjustable such that the curtain rod end fixtures  150  can be moved closer or farther away from the center  200  of the frame  9  to accommodate the various lengths of curtain rods. Fasteners  161  are used to secure the extension rods  160  into position once the curtain rod end fixtures  150  are spaced apart at the desired distance. The fasteners  161  may be fitted though a bore (not shown) in the extension rod so that the fastener  161  such as a screw, may tighten to secure the extension rod  160  to the frame  9 .  FIG. 14A  is a front view of the jig with the curtain rod end fixtures  150  attached to the frame  9  using extension rods  160 . FIGS.  13  and  14 B- 14 D illustrate the device in use with various types of curtain rods  162   a ,  162   b ,  162   c ,  162   d.    
         [0049]    The curtain rod end fixtures  150  comprise a slide block  170  ( FIG. 17 ) which is used to position and hold the curtain rod hangers. Various types of curtain rod hangers are illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . The slide block  170  is vertically adjustable similar to the locator block, wherein lips  172  are engaged within straight slots  173  to allow adjustment of the slide block along the straight slots  173 . The slide block  170  is vertically moveable within a slide block opening  174  in the curtain rod end fixture  160 . The slide block  170  comprises a bore  171  for a fastening mechanism to be passed through. The curtain rod end fixtures  160  further comprise bores  175  near the top and bottom edges of the slide block opening  174  through which a fastening mechanism, such as a screw, can be passed through. To position the curtain rod hangers, the bore  171  on the slide block and one of the bores  175  on the curtain rod end fixture  160  are aligned with the openings for a fastening mechanism  176  ( FIGS. 15-16 ) on the curtain rod hangers. Fastening mechanisms  176 , such as screws, are passed through the aligned bores  175 ,  171 , such that the fastening mechanism  176  extend sufficiently onto the opposite side of the frame  9  to allow a mark to be made on the hanging surface when the jig is pressed against the hanging surface as described above. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 18 to 22  illustrate the various positions of the slide block  170  used to accommodate various sizes of curtain rod hangers.  FIG. 21  illustrates that the slide block is moved upwards closer to the top of the opening to accommodate curtain rod hangers with fastening mechanisms  176  closer together, while  FIG. 20  illustrates that the slide block  170  can be moved downward to accommodate curtain rod hangers with more space between its fastening mechanisms.  FIG. 22  illustrates that for hangers with a larger distance between the fastening mechanisms  176 , the slide block  170  can be moved to its upper most position in the opening  174 , to allow the fastening mechanisms  176  on the curtain rod hanger to engage with the slide block bore  171  and the bottom bore  175 . Fasteners are fitted through the bores as illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , for use to mark the wall in the same manner as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
         [0051]    In one embodiment, the jig  10  has a rule on the front surface, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The rule is marked in increments of distance from the center  200  of the ruler to allow for placement of items relative to the center of the frame  9 . 
         [0052]    The jig may be made of plastic, wood, metal, or any suitable material, or a combination thereof. The flexslot  41  is preferably made of material suitable for withstanding repeated stress, and may be reinforced throughout or at the hinge end of the flexslot. 
         [0053]      FIG. 25  illustrates an oblong picture or mirror  200  having left and right hangers  201 ,  202  that are located on the back of the picture  200 . The hangers  201 ,  202  are hung on the locator pins  45  on two blocks  40  (see  FIG. 25A ). The hangers  201 ,  202  are mounted on the back of the picture  200  at different elevations due to a manufacturing deviation or flaw. Accordingly, the picture is held at a tilted axis T when compared with a vertical axis V. When the level indicates that the frame  9  is horizontal. As shown in  FIG. 26 , the frame  9  is tilted to position the picture true vertically, adjusted by eye, and the jig then tilted and pressed to mark the wall at the locator pin  45  locations. The picture  200  can then be removed from the jig and hung on hangers located at the marks. 
         [0054]      FIG. 27  illustrates a rectangular item  300  having hangers  201 ,  202  as previously described, attached onto the back of the item  300  at misaligned elevations. Differing from the previously described embodiment, because the item has a flat top, the level can be relocated, as shown in  FIG. 28  to allow the user to more precisely tilt the frame  9  to align the item vertically before pressing the frame  9  to mark the wall at the locator pins  45 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 29  illustrates another embodiment of the invention adapted to properly and precisely align the mark of the locator phi  45  when a J-shaped hanger  402  or the like ( FIG. 33 ) is used. These hangers are typically available in three sizes, small medium and large. An adapter  406  is used which has three slots S, M, and L corresponding to small, medium and large J-shaped hangers. The item  100  which is hung by a wire  410  is hung on the adapter  406  which hangs on the locator pin  45  on the block  40 . The adapter  406  is hung on the pin  45  using the slot S, M or L depending on the size of the J-shaped hanger to be used by the user to hang the item on the wall. For a small J-shaped hanger the lowest slot S is used. For a medium size J-shaped hanger, the M slot is used (as shown). For a large J-shaped hanger, the L slot would be used. The adapter  406  is sized and shaped such that the location marked by the locator pin  45  when the wall is marked, will be the proper height for the associated nail or other fastener used with the J-shaped hanger  402  ( FIG. 33 ), such that the item  100  will hang at the same elevation on the wall using the J-shaped hanger  402  as the elevation that it hung from the frame  9  on the adapter  406 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 34  illustrates an alternate embodiment device  512 . This device  512  is substantially identical to the jig  10  shown in  FIG. 1  except that it can incorporate a stud finder system  520 . The stud finder system can include a stud finder  522  that can be similar to commercially available stud finders. The stud finder can be wireless and include a CPU  524  and a multiplicity of sensors  526 . The CPU can be directly mounted on the device or remotely as required by the user. The sensors  526  can be incorporated within each block  40 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 34A  illustrates the screw  45  recessed from a back of the block  40  by being unscrewed from the lock nut  45   h . This would be appropriate for the process of stud finding wherein the device  512  would be laterally slid along the wall, to prevent the screw  45  from scratching the wall. 
         [0058]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.