Abstract:
A frame hanging tool has an elongated body member formed with a plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of openings has an opening edge and a recessed border formed at least partly around the opening edge. The inserts have an overhanging edge that has a shape corresponding with the recessed border for removably fastening the inserts to the body member within the openings. The recessed border can have a protrusion and the overhanging edge can have a recess, or vice-versa, the recess aligned with and corresponding to the protrusion. The protrusion and the recess can be curved or linear in shape. A shape of the recessed border can correspond with or be slightly smaller than a shape of the overhanging edge. The overhanging edge can have a tapered corner for easier insertability. The inserts are each configured to receive and guide fasteners such as nails and screws. One insert includes a removable or fixed level positioned at any angle with respect to the frame hanging tool for indicating whether the fasteners received in the inserts are aligned level with respect to each other. The body member also can have a removable or fixed level. As such, a person is assured that the object being hung will be level with respect to the Earth. Another insert can have a gripping hole for releasably holding a fastener.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/192,748, filed Nov. 16, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/970,598, filed 11/14/97, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,675, issued Jul. 27, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/795,251, filed Feb. 10, 1997, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates, generally, to a tool that assists in hanging an object on a structure, and more specifically, it relates to determining the placement of fasteners, such as nails, screws, pegs, mollies, hooks, and bull hooks, for hanging pictures, frames, carpets, sculptures, and the like, on a given plane and horizontal, vertical, or at a given angle with respect to one another. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Various devices are known that assist in hanging pictures and like objects so that the object will hang level. However, there remains a need for an improved method for hanging objects, including framed works and similar items, that will hang securely in a level position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,952,431 to Pedley teaches a cross bar which attaches to the back of a frame of an item to be hung on a wall. At the bottom of the frame there is secured an end piece into which the cross bar is held. The cross bar can be maneuvered within the confines of the end piece such that the frame can be leveled out should the frame initially be off center. The Pedley device requires time, effort and expense to secure the cross bar and the end piece to the frame. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,895 to Hart teaches an apparatus that is attached to a frame before the frame is mounted to a surface such as a wall. The Hart apparatus has a built in level for assisting in the proper placement of the apparatus on the frame. The apparatus contains areas in which fasteners may be inserted to attach the frame and the apparatus to the wall. The Hart device also requires time, effort and expense to secure the apparatus to the frame. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a tool for hanging any object, including frames, that overcomes the herein-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type, that assists in hanging an object perfectly level on a surface, and that is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     The invention is a tool that sets the proper placement of fasteners such as nails, screws, pegs, mollies, hooks, bull hooks, and the like for hanging objects such as pictures, frames, sculptures, and other items on the fasteners or devices attached to the fasteners. The invention may also be advantageously used to hang multiple objects on the same plane at an even or desired spacing, whether level with respect to ground or at a particular angle with respect to one another. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a frame hanging tool including an elongated body member having a plurality of openings formed therein, each of the plurality of openings having an opening edge and a recessed border formed at least partly around the opening edge, and at least one insert for receiving and guiding a fastener to be secured to a structure, the at least one insert having an overhanging edge and being inserted in one of the plurality of openings, the recessed border self-securing to the overhanging edge for removably fastening the at least one insert to the body member. 
     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the recessed border is formed with at least one protrusion and the overhanging edge is formed with at least one recess aligned with and corresponding to the at least one protrusion for removably fastening the at least one insert to the body member. 
     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the overhanging edge has the at least one protrusion and the recessed border has the at least one recess aligned with and corresponding to the at least one protrusion for removably fastening the at least one insert to the body member. 
     In accordance with another feature of the invention, the recessed border has a depth and the at least one protrusion has a thickness corresponding to the depth of the recessed border. 
     In accordance with a further added feature of the invention, at least one protrusion and the at least one recess are curved. 
     In accordance with a further additional feature of the invention, the at least one protrusion has a length, the recessed border has a depth, and the length corresponds to the depth. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the recessed border has a border shape, the overhanging edge has an edge shape, and the border shape substantially corresponds to the edge shape. 
     In accordance with yet another added feature of the invention, the recessed border has a border shape, the overhanging edge has an edge shape, and the edge shape is larger than the border shape. 
     In accordance with yet another additional feature of the invention, the overhanging edge has a tapered corner. 
     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the at least one insert has a front side and a back side and the body member has a front side and a back side and the front and back sides of the at least one insert respectively lie flush with the front and back sides of the body member when the at least one insert is placed into the plurality of openings. 
     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the at least one insert is one of a plurality of inserts including a leveling insert having a level for determining if a plurality of fasteners are aligned level with respect to each other and a fastener guiding insert for receiving and aligning one of the plurality of fasteners. 
     In accordance with another feature of the invention, the leveling insert has a removable level. 
     In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the leveling insert has recess for receiving the level oriented at an angle. 
     In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the elongated body member has at least one cavity and includes at least one level removably disposed in the at least one cavity. 
     In accordance with still a further feature of the invention, the fastener guiding insert has a fastener guide path and a semicircular hole formed therein for receiving and guiding the fastener and the semicircular hole releasably grips the fastener. 
     In accordance with still an added feature of the invention, the body member has at least one end with an end opening formed therein and including an end connector received in the end opening of each of two adjacent body members for joining the adjacent body members at a given angle with respect to one another. 
     In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the body member has a front side and a back side and the recessed border is formed at least partly around the opening edge on both the front side and the back side of the body member. 
     Other characteristic features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a tool for hanging a frame, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
     The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, front elevational view of a frame hanging tool in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of a first end portion of the frame hanging tool of FIG. 1 with inserts; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, front elevational view of a plurality of inserts to be attached to the frame hanging tool of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a diagrammatic, side, cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of insert  13  of FIG. 3 along the line III—III; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, rear elevational view of some of the plurality of inserts of FIG.  3  and additional inserts to be attached to the frame hanging tool of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of a second end portion of the frame hanging tool of FIG. 1 without inserts; 
     FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, front elevational view of a set of two interconnected frame hanging tools of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of two interconnected frame hanging tools of FIG. 1 connected at a 90° angle; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic, front elevational view of the frame hanging tool of FIG. 1 used in conjunction with fasteners; and 
     FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic, enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the first end portion of a second embodiment of the frame hanging tool. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a frame hanging tool  1  having an elongated body member  2  with a rectangular shape. The body member  2  has a first end  3 , a second end  4 , a length L, a width W and a non-illustrated thickness. The length L of the body member  2  is arbitrary (i.e., 6 inches to 10 feet), but is preferably a length of 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet, 3 feet, and 1 meter. The width W of the body member  2  is arbitrary, but is preferably in the range of 1 to 8 inches. The thickness of the body member  2  is arbitrary, but is preferably in the range of ⅛ inch to 1 inch. 
     The body member  2  is ideally made out of a lightweight, pliable material that can traverse irregular surfaces. The body member  2  can be made out of various materials including plastic, metal, wood, and composite materials. Although, the frame hanging tool  1  is preferably in a rectangular shape, other shapes such as squares, triangles, circles, irregular rectangles, and the like are possible. 
     The body member  2  is formed with a plurality of openings  5  that are defined by recessed borders (steps)  6 . The openings can be formed of any shape, but are illustrated as rectangular shapes, for example, that can have dimensions of 1 ¼ inches wide by 1½ inches high. Preferably, the openings  5  are square. Also, the openings can be centered with respect to the length L and spaced apart at given intervals. Preferably, for a three foot length, the openings  5  are squares having a side length of less than two inches, the center opening  5  is centered at 18 inches, and the remaining openings are centered at two inch intervals radiating away from the center of the body member  2 . 
     The recessed borders  6  are preferably stepped on one side of the body member  2 . Alternatively, the recessed borders  6  can be on both sides of the body member  2  such that the borders take the form of a central flange on the sides within the opening and extending towards the center of each opening. 
     The body member  2  is also formed with a pair of end openings  7 . The end openings  7  can be formed of any shape, but are illustrated in the preferable embodiment of a trapezoid. 
     FIG. 2 shows a plurality of exemplary removable inserts  8  disposed in the openings  5  and held by the recessed borders  6  of the body member  2 . Each of the inserts  8  preferably has overhanging edges  14  (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for engaging the recessed borders  6  of the body member  2 . The overhanging edges  14  define a corresponding recess on one side and along the entire perimeter of the inserts  8 . The recessed borders  6  in the openings  5  and the corresponding recesses around the inserts  8  are formed such that when the inserts  8  are placed into the openings  5  the front and back surfaces of the inserts  8  preferably lie flush with the front and back surfaces of the body member  2 . 
     Alternatively, the recess can be formed on less than the entire perimeter of the inserts  8 . Also, the inserts  8  can have a recess on both sides such that each insert  8  has a perimeter with a central flange thereon extending away from the center of the insert  8 . 
     The inserts  8  can be individually removed and placed in any of the openings  5 . The inserts  8  can be configured for insertion into the openings  5  from either the left side of the opening or the right side of the opening. 
     FIG. 3 shows the front side of a plurality of example inserts  8 , including two examples of a level insert  9 , an L-shaped insert  10 , a screw or nail insert  11 , a stepped insert  12  and a general fastener insert  13 . All of the inserts  9  to  13  are shown with overhanging edges  14  for engaging the recessed borders  6  of the body member  2  with the inside corner of the defined recesses shown with dashed lines. 
     The level insert  9  has a recess  15  for receiving and securing a level  16 . The level  16  can be removable. The recess  15  can be oriented to receive the level  16  in any angular direction or in a plurality of directions. Preferably, the level is oriented in a horizontal direction, in a vertical direction, or on a 45-degree angle. 
     The L-shaped insert  10  is configured to guide and receive a fastener such as a bull hook. The distance between the step  26  and the corresponding facing interior side of the opening  5  can define the maximum size of the fastener. The L-shaped insert  10  can also take the mirror-image form of the configuration shown in FIG.  3 . Forming the L-shaped insert  10  in a mirror image allows customized easier use for a right-handed or left-handed user. 
     The stepped insert  12  is formed with an arbitrarily positioned step  26  that is also used to receive and guide fasteners such as bull hooks. Because the step  26  can be at any distance between the top and bottom sides of the stepped insert  12 , the stepped insert  12  can accommodate various sized fasteners. Alternatively, the insert  12  can be formed without any step such that, for example, a bull hook having a size corresponding to the inside diameter of an opening  5  can be simply placed against the side of the insert  12  (see also insert  32  in FIG.  4 ). Likewise, the edges of the openings  5  can be used, for example, to install a bull hook having a size corresponding to the inside diameter of an opening  5 . 
     The screw and nail insert  11  is configured with a fastener guide path  25  and an opening  17  for receiving and centering a nail, screw and similar type fasteners. The screw and nail insert  11  can have a keyhole opening as shown in FIG. 3, or can have a semicircular opening as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The general fastener insert  13  is provided with a U-shaped opening  18  that receives and centers similar and other types of fasteners including pegs, hooks and mollies. It is noted that the openings  17  and  18  can be of various sizes and shapes to fit various types of fasteners and are not limited to those shown in the drawings. 
     Shown in FIG. 3 are openings  17 ,  18  in the inserts  8  having a depth that is perpendicular to the plane of the inserts  8 ,  11 ,  13 . Alternatively, the openings  17 ,  18  in the inserts  8  can be at any angle transverse to the plane of the inserts  8  as shown FIG. 3 a , which is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III—III of the general fastener insert  13  in FIG.  3 . 
     The various inserts  8  permit the frame hanging tool  1  to be adapted to handle any kind of fasteners, including, but not limited to, nails, screws, mollies, hooks, bull hooks, pegs, and the like. For example: insert  31  is configured to receive a fastener, typically referred to as a hardwall picture hanger, that has a shape corresponding to the interior shape of the insert; insert  32  is configured in two parts to receive a bull hook fastener, the most common type of picture hanger; and insert  33  is configured to receive a fastener, typically referred to as a “sturdy hanger” or a “tremor hanger”, that has a shape corresponding to the interior shape of the insert. FIG. 4 shows a rear view of these three inserts  31 ,  32 ,  33 . 
     FIG. 4 also shows a rear view of some inserts  8  included in FIG.  3 . All of the inserts of FIG. 4 have the overhanging edges  14  for engaging the recessed borders  6  of the body member  2 . The overhanging edges  14  and the recessed borders  6  are dimensioned such that the overhanging edges  14  of the inserts  8  frictionally self-secure to the recessed borders  6  in the openings  5 . The perimeter of the overhanging edges can be formed to be slightly oversized with respect to the size of the openings  5 . Also, the overhanging edges  14  facing the recessed borders  6  of the openings  5  can be tapered towards the center of the inserts  8  to permit easier self-securing into the openings  5 . The taper  27  is shown, for example, on the level insert  9  of FIG.  4 . 
     The inserts  8  are removed from the openings  5  by applying a force to the inserts  8  in a direction away from the recessed borders  6  to overcome the frictional forces of the slightly oversized overhang edges  14 . It is noted that other fastening techniques such as pin and socket devices could be employed for securing the inserts  8  to the body member  2 . 
     FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment for the recessed borders  6  of the openings. Preferably, the recessed borders  6  have protrusions  28  that have a thickness corresponding to the depth of the recessed border  6 . Alternatively, the thickness of the protrusions  28  can be less or more than the depth of the recessed border  6 . The protrusions  28  are illustrated as being curved. The protrusions  28  can take any shape, including, but not limited to, a triangular or rectangular shape. The protrusions  28  are illustrated as extending from the outer edge all the way to the inner edge of the recessed borders  6 . The protrusions  28  can extend alternatively to any distance along the edge of the recessed borders  6 . Recesses  29  in the inserts  8  for receiving the protrusions  28  are shown, for example, in FIG. 3 on one of the level inserts  9  and the L-shaped insert  10 , and in FIG. 4 on inserts  31 ,  32 ,  33 . Alternatively, the inserts  8  can have the protrusions  28  and the recessed borders  6  can have the recesses for receiving the protrusions  28 . 
     FIG. 5 also shows the frame hanging tool  1  having measuring units  19  embedded into the body member  2 . The measuring units assist in measuring the length between two inserts  8  or two fasteners to be inserted into a structure. As shown in FIG. 5, the measuring units  19  start at one end of the body member  2  and form a ruler that runs the entire length L of the body member  2 . In addition to being formed directly in the body member  2  as shown in FIG. 2, the measuring unit  19  can be formed on a structural support clip  20  as shown in FIG.  5 . The structural support clip  20  can run up to the full length L of the body member  2  and provides support to the body member  2 . For example, if the body member  2  is made of plastic, the structural support clip  20  can be formed of a harder plastic, a metal, a metal alloy, aluminum, or other suitable material, and helps prevent the body member  2  from warping or bending. 
     FIG. 8 shows the frame hanging tool  1  having an additional and/or alternative measuring unit  34  embedded into the body member  2 . The measuring unit  34  assists in measuring the length between two inserts  8  or two fasteners to be inserted into a structure. Specifically, the measuring unit  34  enables a user to easily determine a distance between two insert openings, and, therefore, two fasteners to be installed. As shown in FIG. 8, the measuring unit  34  is centered on the body member  2  and forms a ruler that runs the entire length L of the body member  2 , the ruler measurements increasing from the center outward. Preferably, the center unit is “0” and the other units are even integers. 
     In addition to being formed directly in the body member  2  as shown in FIG. 8, the measuring unit  34  can be formed on a structural support clip  20  as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     An end connector  21  is also shown in FIG.  5 . The end connector  21  is used to attach adjacent frame hanging tools  1  together as shown in FIG. 6, for example. FIG. 7 shows adjacent frame hanging tools  1  connected at right angles to each other with a right-angled end connector  22 . It is further noted that the end connectors  21 ,  22  can be formed with a hinging means to connect adjacent frame hanging tools  1  at any angle (i.e., 0° to 360°) with respect to one another. In this manner, the frame hanging tool  1  can be used for working in any corner, regardless of the corner angle. 
     The frame hanging tool  1  is easy to use. First, the type of fastener to be used is determined. For the following example, the fastener will be a nail and two nails will be fastened into a wall level with respect to ground. Then, the appropriate inserts for the type of fastener used (the screw and nail insert  11 ) are selected and placed into the appropriate positions in the selected openings  5  of the body member  2 . One or more leveling inserts  9  can also be placed in the body member  2 . In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG.  5 . one or more levels  16  can be placed directly in one or more cavities  30  on the body member  2 . 
     Next, a height at which the frame is to be set is determined. A first nail  23 , upon which the frame will rest, is secured (nailed) into the structure. One end of the frame hanging tool  1  is set over the first nail  23  (FIG. 8) in the area of the opening  5  not covered by the insert  11 . The frame hanging tool  1  is then moved over in the direction of arrow A such that the first nail  23  is now in the opening  17  of the insert  11  in the position shown by reference number  23 ′. 
     The frame hanging tool  1  is then pivoted about the first nail  23 ′ until the level  16  in the level insert  9  or in the frame hanging tool  1  indicates that the frame hanging tool  1  is true or level with respect to ground. At this point, the second nail  24  is then placed into the opening  17  of a second insert  11  and secured to the structure. If the nails are to be inserted at an angle with respect to the structure, the screw and nail insert  11  having an inclined opening  18  as shown in FIG. 3 a  can be used. Alternatively, the opening  17  in the insert  11  can be formed to grip the second nail  24  such that the second nail  24  is held within the opening  17  while the frame hanging tool  1  is pivoted and leveled. The gripping means can include, for example, a grommet with an opening, the grommet being made from a gripping substance such as rubber or soft plastic. 
     The frame hanging tool  1  is then moved in a direction opposite arrow A such that the first nail is in the position shown by reference numeral  23  and the second nail is in the position shown by reference number  24 ′. The frame hanging tool  1  is lifted away from the structure leaving two nails in the structure level with respect to ground. 
     Of course, many different variations for using the frame hanging tool  1  are possible, and this example is only illustrative for understanding the invention. 
     A third, fourth, or fifth fastener can be aligned from any of the previously inserted fasteners for inserting multiple fasteners for a single item to be hung or for inserting multiple fasteners for a plurality of items to be hung. In addition, it is noted that the frame hanging tool  1  can be placed on a pre-existing fastener already set in the wall. 
     FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the frame hanging tool  1 . The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that fastener openings  40  are provided in the body member  2 . The fastener openings  40  allow the frame hanging tool  1  to be moved in the vertical direction over the fasteners  23  already fastened to a structure. In contrast to the recessed borders of FIGS. 1 to  8 , the recessed borders  41  of FIG. 9 only partially surround the openings  5 . The fastener openings  40  and the recessed borders  41  could be placed on the opposite side of the openings  5  shown in FIG.  9 .