Patent Publication Number: US-2015060627-A1

Title: Frame hanger system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Persons with experience hanging picture frames know that a frame affixed with a hanging wire is preferred for at least the reason that adjusting the horizontal level of the frame is easier when hung on a wire used in common practice. However, wire frame hanging systems have two distinct difficulties. It is often difficult to mate the wire with the mounted hanging assembly. Additionally, it is difficult to alter the vertical height of a hanging frame once the hanging assembly is mounted on a mounting surface or wall without removal of the mounting device. The present invention addresses these difficulties and provides for articles and a system suitable for hanging frames. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is an article for hanging a frame comprising: 
     a main body, whereby said main body has a first end configured to mount on a mounting surface or wall and a second end, whereby the main body is configured such that said second end extends outward when mounted; and 
     a retaining portion on said second end configured to receive a hanging member attached to a frame. 
     In one embodiment, the main body first end, second end, and retaining portion is formed of a single unitary structure. 
     The article outward extension is configured to move toward the mounting surface or wall when the hanging member is mated therewith. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the hanging member is a frame wire. 
     In one embodiment, the first end includes a plurality of openings for selectively mounting said article. 
     In one embodiment, the invention is an article for hanging a frame comprising: 
     a mounting assembly; and 
     a frame hanging body slidably secured within said assembly. 
     In one embodiment, the hanging body includes a plurality of serrated teeth or knurling constructed and arranged to interact with a locking mechanism incorporated on said mounting assembly. 
     The mounting assembly includes locking means for locking said frame hanging body into position. 
     Also contemplated is a method for hanging a frame comprising: 
     providing a hanger body according to the present invention; 
     providing a frame affixed with hanging means for hanging said frame; 
     mounting said first end of said hanger body on a mounting surface or wall; 
     engaging said hanging means with said hanger body. 
     The invention further includes a method for hanging a frame comprising: 
     providing a mounting assembly according to the present invention; 
     providing a frame affixed with hanging means for hanging said frame; 
     affixing and locking said hanging body into position utilizing said mounting assembly; engaging said hanging means with said hanger body. 
     The method further includes: 
     removing said engaged hanging means; 
     unlocking said hanging body; 
     changing the position of said mounting body; 
     affixing and locking said hanging body into position utilizing said mounting assembly; 
     engaging said hanging means with said hanger body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view with frame in position for hanging. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a frame mounted. 
         FIG. 4  is cut away perspective view of a frame mounted. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view sequential step demonstrative of a frame hanging according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view sequential step demonstrative of a frame hanging according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view sequential step demonstrative of a frame hanging according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view sequential step demonstrative of a frame hanging according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view sequential step demonstrative of a frame hanging according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12A  is a side view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16A  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a side view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a side view partial cross section of one hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a side view partial cross section of one hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25  is a front view one embodiment of a hanger of the present invention. 
         FIG. 26  is a side view partial cross section of one hanger of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention relates generally to an article, system and method for hanging picture frames. 
     In one embodiment, as demonstrated in  FIGS. 1-9 , the system  10  includes a hanger body  16  configured with a wire retaining terminal end  30 . Hanger body  16  is constructed and arranged to interact with frame hanging wire  14  of frame  12 . As understood in the art, frame hangers are rated to accept a particularized weight. The hanger body of the present invention is similarly rated with an important novel exception, the weight applied to body  16  causes body  16  to move from an extended position to a position along wall  20  as demonstrated in sequential  FIGS. 5-9 . Hanger body  16  is constructed and arranged to be rated for particularized weight in which a frame with a weight imparts an amount of force on wire  14  and moves wire  14 . 
     Hanger body  16  is secured to a wall  20  with fastener  18 . 
     Fastener  18  is any fastener known in the art including, but not limited to, nails, wall hanger tacks, and the like. Wire  14  is positioned within parameter  26  that includes the region  24  through which wire  14  will contact body  16  (as best seen in  FIGS. 12 and 12A , where  12  shows securing with a nail or hanging tack  18  having a head or as in  FIG. 12   a  with a nail or tack incorporated onto contact body  16 , said incorporated nail or tack presented as  18   a , wherein the embodiment of  FIG. 12   a  is a unitary configuration including nail  18   a  and body  16 .). As shown in sequential  FIGS. 5-9 , wire  14  is positioned in region  26  that includes hanger opening  28 . Once in position, frame  12  is lowered on wall  20  until wire  14  contacts body  16 . As wire  14  is positioned shown by directional arrow  22 , downward force is imparted on body  16 . Wire  14  ultimately contacts retaining curve  28  formed near terminal end  30 . As frame  12  is lowered downward force on body  16  directs body  16  to uncurl in the direction shown by directional arrow  32  of  FIG. 8 . Ultimately, frame  12  is suspended on wire  14  inserted into retaining curve  38  formed on terminal end  32  of body  16 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 . 
     The configuration of hanger body  16  shown in  FIGS. 1-9  is advantageous over prior hanging systems in that wire  14  is more easily paired with the hanger  16  as desired. Since body of hanger  16  is away from wall, wire  14  is less inclined to contact or hang from fastener  18  making distribution of the wire weight less likely to pull fastener  18  from the wall. 
     Once hanger  16  is completely extended, it has a somewhat planer orientation in relation to wall  20  as shown in  FIGS. 9-10 . 
     Also contemplated in the present invention are embodiments of the hanger body as demonstrated in  FIGS. 13-16 . 
       FIG. 13  shows hanger  16   b  having a plurality of hanging cavities incorporated thereon where a user can select a particular hanging cavity for engaging fastener  18  and thus select the vertical distance in which frame  12  is positioned on wall  20 . 
       FIG. 14  shows hanger  16   c  having a plurality of hanging cavities being circular openings incorporated thereon where a user can select a particular hanging cavity for engaging fastener  18  and thus select the vertical distance in which frame  12  is positioned on wall  20 . Additional fasteners  18  can be used to increase strength of the system. 
       FIG. 15  shows hanger  16   d  having a plurality of hanging cavities being enclosed tabular openings incorporated thereon where a user can select a particular hanging cavity for engaging fastener  18  and thus select the vertical distance in which frame  12  is positioned on wall  20 . 
       FIG. 16  shows hanger  16   e  having a three hanging cavities, for using multiple fasteners  18 , incorporated thereon where a user can select a particular hanging cavity for engaging fastener  18 . Additional fasteners  18  can be used to increase strength of the system. 
       FIG. 16A  shows hanger  16   f  having a plurality of hanging bodies incorporated thereon where a user can hang multiple frames  20  on a single article. Also, this configuration prevents tilting of a frame hung on this type of hanger. 
     In one embodiment, as demonstrated in  FIGS. 21 through 24  serrated body portion  36  (portion  36  can also be knurled or roughened) inserts into body holder  40  and has incorporated thereon lock ball  38  that is constructed and arranged to act with lockable access slot  42 . As demonstrated in  FIG. 22 , serrated body portion  36  is inserted through body holder  40  whereby each engagement is with lock ball  38 . A user will continue to pass serrated body  36  in the direction as demonstrated in  FIG. 22  until a desired length of serrated body  36  is extending outward through body holder  40 . As described herein, once hanger body  36  is positioned as desired wire  14  on frame  12  is engaged therein and frame is hung as described above. If height adjustment is desired, the mechanism can be unlocked and, as demonstrated in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , adjustment can be made by pulling on ring  44  and altering position of body  36  followed by a subsequent engagement of the locking mechanism once a desired position is obtained. 
     In one embodiment as in  FIGS. 25 and 25 , latch  50  engages body  36  and provides adjustment in height. 
     As demonstrated in  FIGS. 23-26 , similarly engage body  36  with member  44  and ring  46  that allows adjustment, even when a frame is hanging on body  36 . 
     As stated above, when hanging frame  12  with a hanging wire  14  on a mounting surface  20  whereby the mounting surface  20  is most often a wall, it is often difficult to make wire  14  with a wire hanger body  16 . In one embodiment, the present invention as demonstrated in  FIGS. 1 through 12A  provides a configuration whereby hang your body  16  extends outward from wall  20  in order to more easily receive wire  14  and hang frame  12 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention as demonstrated in  FIGS. 13-15 , the vertical position of a frame  12  attached to a wall  20  utilizing hanging wire  14  is adjustable based on the configurations demonstrated in  FIGS. 13 to 15 . In these configurations each of anger  16   b ,  16   c ,  16   d , are adjustable vertically on wall  20 . This adjustable configuration provides that once nail  18  is mounted onto wall  20  and it is subsequently desired to alter the vertical height of frame  12 , a user merely adjusts and selects a particularized opening thus altering the vertical height without the need for removing nail  18 . 
     While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.