Patent Publication Number: US-6659418-B2

Title: Positioning &amp; locking hanging system

Description:
This application is a division of Ser. No. 09/339,661 filed on Jun. 24, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,257. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a customized picture frame base. and devices that are attached onto a wall or other surface to securely support the frame flush against the wall, thereby providing a measure of security against theft. The frame base can be an integral part of the picture frame or be a separate unit that has the picture frame attached to it. The devices that support the frame are anchored into the wall and provide a number of mechanical or electromechanical means for securely engaging the frame. Some wall mounting brackets also incorporate a measure of adjustability on the position of the picture on the wall. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Known security picture hangers in commercial production used for hanging pictures onto walls are not able to hold a picture so that it is flush against the wall. They require a gap for the insertion of a special locking tool. They also lack any significant capability for changing the position of the picture after the picture is attached to them. It is useful to be able to have a picture frame, or picture frame base that is attached to a picture, that can be securely hung flush against a wall. This makes it difficult for a thief to pry the picture off the wall. The incorporation of adjustability allows the picture to be leveled and the center of the picture to be moved to a desired position, sometimes without having to remove the picture from the wall. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention couples frame configurations with the hardware used to support the picture on the wall. The picture frame has a recessed, and sometimes inwardly wedged, back area. This area provides space for the inward frame wedge and for the connections to the supporting hardware affixed to the wall. This allows the picture sides to be held flush against the wall. 
     Simple screws with threaded T-bars and hooks, electrical devices, and spring latches are some of the means that can be employed for holding the picture in place on the wall. With each of these means comes varying degrees of adjustability for the picture. 
     One or more screws can be placed in the top, bottom, or sides of the picture frame so that a threaded T-bar or hook on that screw engages a bracket anchored into the wall. By turning the screw the T-bar or hook moves the picture so that an inward wedge of the picture frame becomes locked into that bracket, or locked onto a second bracket anchored into the wall. A top and bottom screw system, with two wall brackets, enables the picture to be positioned vertically and horizontally. For this configuration the horizontal positioning is accomplished by sliding the picture sideways when the hooks are loose on the brackets. Loosening and tightening opposing screws makes vertical adjustments. When the screws are tightened the picture is locked into position. 
     A three-screw system can be used for leveling the picture as well as providing vertical and horizontal adjustability. For this configuration there are two top screws and one bottom screw. Again the hooks slide horizontally along the wall brackets and vertically by loosening the top hooks and tightening the bottom hook. Leveling of the picture is accomplished by adjusting the top screws. 
     Additionally, an electromechanical system can be used for holding the pictures securely flush against a wall. This configuration uses a motor or solenoid to drive the securing bracket into the frame connection. These devices would have external power supplies for their operation. The power is supplied through exterior connections on the frame. 
     A single aperture system can be composed of a frame with a single hole that can be lined up with the locking screw in the wall bracket. A screwdriver is inserted through the hole to move the locking bracket into the frame. After securing the picture a plug is inserted into the hole to prevent others from having access to the locking screw. 
     Latching means that employ springs can also be used with these frames. This configuration has the frame and wall brackets working together to support and lock the picture flush onto the wall. A top spring-loaded bracket pulls the picture in an upward direction while a bottom fixed bracket is interfacing with the bottom of the picture frame. When installing this configuration the top springs are worked until the bottom of the frame latches into the bottom bracket. 
     The various configurations for this invention have frame backs that have space for the supporting hardware and may also have specific frame configurations for attachment to the wall brackets. The purpose of these configurations is to hold the pictures flush against the wall and to resist most methods for unauthorized removal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a back elevational view looking away from the wall with the frame T-bar engaged in the top wall bracket. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a side elevational section of the device of FIG. 1 a    
     FIG. 2 a  is a back elevational view looking away from the wall with the hooks locked onto the wall bracket. 
     FIG. 2 b  is a side elevational section of the device of FIG. 2 a    
     FIG. 3 is a back elevational view looking away from the wall with the hooks locked onto the wall bracket. 
     FIG. 4 a  is a back elevational view looking away from the wall with the frame locked onto a bottom set of wall brackets. 
     FIG. 4 b  is a side elevational section of the device of FIG. 4 a    
     FIG. 5 is a back elevational view looking away from the wall with the frame locked onto the top wall wedge and the bottom motorized wedge. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational section of a frame supported by a fixed bottom bracket and a raising top bracket beneath a single hole in the top of the frame. 
     FIG. 7 a  is a back elevational view looking away from the wall with the frame locked into the top spring loaded wedge and the bottom adjustable wedge. 
     FIG. 7 b  is a side elevational section of the device of FIG. 8 a    
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A picture frame and picture frame holder with interfacing wall hardware provide a means for hanging pictures so they are held flush against the wall. In addition to holding the picture flush many of the configurations also have adjustability features for leveling, and horizontal and vertical positioning. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 a  &amp;  1   b , in which like numerals represent like parts, FIGS. 1 a  &amp;  1   b  show device  10  in position for use onto wall surface  16 . Device  10  comprises a frame base  1 , which is screwed into frame  5  with eight screws  2 . In the top center of  1  is an aperture  3  with support screw  4  through it. Support screw  4  is locked in place with lock nut  6  on the inner edge of the frame base. The threaded T-bar  7  is also on screw  4  and lies against top wall bracket  8  which has a ledge and is anchored into wall  16  by screws  9   a  &amp;  9   b . The bottom wall bracket  11  is in the shape of a wedge and has teeth along the outer bottom edge  13 , and is anchored to the wall with screws  12   a  &amp;  12   b . The top and bottom wall brackets are separated by a first distance, and the T-bar and beveled recess are separated by a second distance, The bottom wall bracket fits into the frame base bottom beveled recess  14 . In order to mount the picture frame flush against the wall, the second distance is made larger than the first distance via the screw, and the screw is placed through the space so that the T-bar rests on the ledge. When support screw  4  is turned T-bar  7  pushes down on top wall bracket  8  and lock-nut  6  pushes the frame in an upward direction until the bottom wall bracket  11  is finally into the bottom beveled recess  14 . At that point the frame base  1  is locked onto the wall and the sides are flush against the wall. Prior to locking the frame in place space  15  and the length of the T-bar provide some side adjustability. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 a  &amp;  2   b  in which like numerals represent like parts, FIGS. 2 a  &amp;  2   b  are showing device  20  in position for use, attached to wall surface  26 . This picture frame  22  has top and bottom apertures  31  &amp;  30  with top and bottom screws  21   a  &amp;  21   b  through them. The screws  21   a  &amp;  21   b  have threaded hooks  25  &amp;  27  threadably engaged on them that are separated by a first distance and slidingly engaged onto the outer lip of wall brackets  24  &amp;  28  that are separated by a second distance. Wall bracket  24  is anchored to wall  26  with screws  23   a  &amp;  23   b  while wall bracket  28  is anchored with screws  29   a  &amp;  29   b . In order to mount the picture frame flush against the wall, the first distance is made smaller than the second distance via the screws, the bottom screw hook is placed over the lower lip, and the first distance is made substantially equal to the second distance via the screws so as to respectively lock the top and bottom screw hooks on the upper and lower lips. When the bottom screw  21   b  is loosened the picture frame drops down and increases space  32   b  while reducing space  32   a . The length of the screws  21   a  &amp;  21   b  and the spaces  32   a  &amp;  32   b  set the limits on vertical adjustability. When the hooks  25  &amp;  27  are loose the picture frame can be moved sideways to either increase or decrease spaces  33   a  &amp;  33   b . The length of this side adjustability is dependent upon the inside width of the frame and the length of the brackets  24  &amp;  28 . 
     Optional apertures  34   a  &amp;  34   b  are for the addition of side locking screws. These screws would have their own hooks and wall brackets. With this configuration the picture would be locked horizontally as well as vertically. 
     With reference to FIG. 3 showing device  40  similar to device  20  except that it has a third screw and support bracket. The frame  41  has apertures for screws  42   a ,  42   b  &amp;  42   c  which each has a threaded hook  44   a ,  44   b  &amp;  44   c  slidingly engaged onto wall brackets  43   a ,  43   b  &amp;  43   c . When the screws are turned spaces  45   a ,  45   b  &amp;  45   c  are changed; and when slid sideways space  46  changes. By altering the positions of  44   a  &amp;  44   b  the pitch of the picture can be altered until it is made level. 
     With reference to FIGS. 4 a  &amp;  4   b , in which like numerals represent like parts, FIGS. 4 a  &amp;  4   b  are showing device  50  in position for use, attached to wall surface  54 . The frame support  51  is screwed into the picture frame  52  with screws  53 . At the bottom of the frame is an aperture for screw  55  that extends through wedge  57  and has T-bar  56  threadably engaged to it. Support wedges  58   a  &amp;  58   b  are anchored to the wall  54  with screws  59  and butt up against wedge  57  on the top and frame support wedge area  60 . Spaces  60  &amp;  61  provide side adjustability and tightening screw  55  locks the picture flush onto the wall. 
     With reference to FIG. 5 showing device  70 , having picture frame  71  with top and bottom wedged recess areas at  83  &amp;  82  supported by top wall wedge  85  anchored to wall with screws  84  &amp;  86 . The bottom locking wedge  81  is guided by pins  77   a  &amp;  77   b  and attached to motor shaft  75  by bracket  80 . The motor  76  is supported by wall bracket  78  that is anchored to the wall by screws  79   a  &amp;  79   b . The motor  76  is powered from the electrical connector  72  installed in the top of frame  71 . When the frame is attached to the top wall wedge  85  the wire connections  73  &amp;  74  are made. When dc power is supplied to electrical connector  72  the motor  76  drives the shaft  75  so that the bottom wedge  81  locks the picture onto the wall. When the power is reversed the motor retracts the wedge and the picture can be removed from the wall. 
     With reference to FIG. 6 showing device  90  in position for use, with frame  91  having an aperture  102  for the insertion of a screwdriver to turn screw  94 . When not being adjusted aperture  102  is closed with plug  101 . The frame  91  is held in position by bracket  92 , which is on locking screw  94  and held in place by lock nut  93 . Adjusting screw  94  is threadably engaged at  97   a  &amp;  97   b  to wall bracket  96  that is anchored to the wall  98  with screws  95 . A bottom wall bracket  100  engages the bottom lip of the frame and is anchored to the wall with screw  99 . When locking screw  94  is loosened the picture drops and can be removed from the wall. 
     With reference to FIGS. 7 a  &amp;  7   b , in which like numerals represent like parts, FIGS. 7 a  &amp;  7   b  are showing device  110  in position for use, attached to wall surface  122 . Frame base  111  is screwed into picture  113  with screws  112 . Frame base wedge area  114  interfaces with spring loaded wedge  115  that has guide pins  117  extending through apertures in wall bracket  118  and affixed to bar  121 . Wall bracket  118  is anchored to wall  122  with screws  119 . Compression springs  116  surround guide pins  117  and are between the spring-loaded wedge  115  and the wall bracket  118 . Extension springs  120  are affixed to wall bracket  118  and bar  121 . Bottom support wedge  128  interfaces with frame recess  129  and is affixed to bottom wall bracket  125  with adjusting screws  123  and nuts  124  and  127 . Bottom wall bracket  125  is anchored to the wall with screws  126 . Space  130  provides a measure of horizontal adjustability while the screws  123  provide leveling and vertical positioning. Pulling down on the frame allows the bottom support wedge  128  to extend beyond the lip of the frame recess  129  and permits removal of the frame. This embodiment is held flush against the wall and has no external indications of how it is held in place. 
     While the invention has been described above with respect to certain embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.