Patent Publication Number: US-2004056168-A1

Title: Bracket for hanging mirrors and/or pictures

Description:
[0001] This invention relates to a bracket to be used for hanging an object such as a mirror, picture, painting, and/or the like from a wall(s). More particularly, this invention relates to such a bracket that includes a base portion, at least one foot portion, and angled portion(s) interconnecting the base portion to the foot portion(s).  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Brackets for hanging objects from walls are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,631,888, 4,591,125, 4,171,117, and 4,216,597.  
       [0003] Unfortunately, many conventional mirror/picture hanging brackets are designed such that the mirror/picture ends upon hanging on a wall at a significant angle such as 15 degrees (i.e., the mirror/picture is not approximately parallel to the wall surface on which it is hanging).  
       [0004] Additionally, many conventional mirror/picture hanging brackets are lacking in terms of strength. For example, many conventional mirror/picture hanging brackets are not capable of efficiently and safely supporting heavy mirrors/pictures on a vertically extending wall.  
       [0005] In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there exists a need for a bracket for hanging an object from a wall, wherein the bracket has satisfactory strength and/or is capable of enabling the object to be hung approximately parallel to the wall surface.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] An object of certain example embodiments of this invention is to provide a bracket for hanging an object (e.g., mirror, picture, painting, and/or the like) on a wall so that a plane generally defined by the object is approximately parallel (i.e., parallel plus/minus about 5 degrees) to a surface of the wall on which the object is hung.  
       [0007] Another object of certain example embodiments of this invention is to provide a bracket for hanging an object on a wall, wherein the bracket is strong enough so as to enable heavy objects to be safely hung. In certain example embodiments, the bracket is strong enough so as to safely hang objects having a weight of at least about 50 lbs., more preferably of at least about 100 lbs., even more preferably of at least about 200 lbs., and most preferably of at least 300 lbs., although brackets herein may be used to hang objects of any desired weight.  
       [0008] Another object of certain embodiments of this invention is to fulfill one or more of the above listed objects and/or needs.  
       [0009] In certain example embodiments of this invention, one or more of the above-listed objects and/or needs may be satisfied or fulfilled by providing a bracket for hanging a mirror on a wall, the bracket comprising: a flat base portion adapted to be adhered to the mirror and spaced apart from the wall; first and second coplanar flat foot portions provided in a plane approximately parallel to a plane defined by the base portion, the first and second foot portions adapted to contact the wall; at least first and second angled portions provided between the flat base portion and the first and second foot portions, respectively, so that the base portion is connected to the first and second foot portions at least by the respective angled portions; wherein at least one of the angled portions defines an angle θ relative to a plane of the base portion of from about 5 to 80 degrees; and wherein each of the foot portions comprises an aperture defined therein adapted to receive a support extending from a surface of the wall.  
       [0010] In other example embodiments of this invention, one or more of the above-listed objects and/or needs may be fulfilled or satisfied by providing a bracket for hanging an object on a wall, the bracket comprising: a base portion; at least one foot portion that is approximately parallel to the base portion; at least one angled portion provided between the base portion and the foot portion so that the base portion is connected to the foot portion by at least the angled portion; and at least one indentation provided for strengthening the bracket, the indentation being at least partially located at a corner area where the foot portion meets the angled portion.  
       [0011] In still further embodiments of this invention, one or more of the above-listed objects and/or needs may be fulfilled by providing a method of hanging an object on a wall, the method comprising: adhering a bracket to a rear surface of the object, the bracket comprising a base portion that is adhered to the rear surface of the object, first and second coplanar foot portions provided in a plane approximately parallel to a plane defined by the base portion, at least first and second angled portions provided between the base portion and the first and second foot portions, respectively, so that the base portion is connected to the first and second foot portions at least by the respective angled portions; providing a support extending outwardly from a surface of the wall; and hanging the object on the wall by positioning the object and bracket so that the support extends through an aperture defined in at least one of the foot portions of the bracket, thereby causing the object to be hung on the wall in a manner such that the base portion is spaced apart from the wall and the foot portions may contact the surface of the wall.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bracket according to an example embodiment of this invention used in hanging a mirror from a wall.  
       [0013]FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the bracket of FIG. 1 as viewed from the adhesive side thereof.  
       [0014]FIG. 3 is a close-up cross sectional view of a portion of the bracket of FIGS.  1 - 2 , at a location where one of the angled portions interconnects the base portion to a foot portion.  
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     [0015] Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views.  
     [0016] Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a bracket used for hanging an object (e.g., mirror, painting, picture, bulletin board, or the like) from a wall. The wall may be a vertically extending wall in certain instances, or alternatively may be non-vertical and extend upwardly at an angle of from about 45-89 degrees relative to the horizontal. In certain example embodiments, the bracket includes a base portion, a pair of feet (or foot portions), and angled portions interconnecting the base portion to the respective feet. In certain example embodiments, the bracket may comprise a metal (e.g., 0.030 gauge aluminum or any other suitable metal of any suitable thickness), and may be a unitary or one-piece structure. Stamping may be used to form the metal into the shape of the bracket. While the bracket is made of metal (includes pure metal, metal alloys, and/or the like) in certain example embodiments, other materials such as plastic may instead be used in certain embodiments.  
     [0017] In certain example embodiments, the bracket may be shaped so that when an object is hung from a wall using the bracket, a plane generally defined by the object is approximately parallel (i.e., parallel plus/minus about 5 degrees) to a surface of the wall on which the object is hung. In certain example embodiments, the bracket is strong enough so as to enable heavy objects to be safely hung.  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bracket according to an example embodiment of this invention being used to hang an object (a mirror in this particular example) from a wall. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bracket of FIG. 1 and does not show the mirror or wall, while FIG. 3 is a close-up cross sectional view of a portion of the bracket of FIGS.  1 - 2 , at a location where one of the angled portions interconnects the base portion to a foot portion.  
     [0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the mirror M includes a reflective coating  3  supported by a substrate (e.g., glass substrate)  5 . In this particular example, the mirror is a back-surface type mirror, in that the reflective coating  3  is provided on a surface of the substrate  5  opposite the viewer  7 . Light making up an image proceeds through substrate  5 , and is reflected by coating  3  back through the substrate and toward the viewer  7  who can view the reflected image from the mirror. Coating  3  may be a single layer coating (e.g., Ag or Al) in certain example embodiments, although multi-layer reflective coatings including at least one reflective layer are more often used and thus more likely to be used for mirrors discussed herein. It is also noted that brackets herein may be used to hang first surface mirrors, pictures, paintings, and other sorts of objects.  
     [0020] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , bracket  9  is used to hang mirror M from the illustrated wall. Bracket  9  includes base portion  11 , foot portions  14   a  and  14   b , and angled portions  15   a  and  15   b  which interconnect the base portion  11  to the respective foot portions  14   a  and  14   b . In certain example embodiments, base portion  11  is approximately flat and/or is approximately parallel (i.e., parallel plus/minus about 5 degrees) to one or both foot portions  14   a ,  14   b . In certain example embodiments, the base portion  11  has no aperture defined therein. Foot portions  14   a ,  14   b  are also approximately flat in shape in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain embodiments, one or both of foot portions includes at least one aperture  23  defined therein adapted to receive at least one support  21  extending from a surface of the wall. Angled portions  15   a ,  15   b  may form an angle θ of from about 5 to 90 degrees with a plane defined by base portion  11 , more preferably angle θ is from about 5 to 75 degrees, even more preferably from 10 to 75 degrees, and most preferably from about 20-60 degrees. When the angle θ defined by each angled portion  15   a ,  15   b  is about the same, and the length of each angled portion  15   a ,  15   b  is about the same, then foot portions  14   a  and  14   b  may be approximately coplanar (i.e., in approximately the same plane). Sheet metal stamping may be used in manufacturing the bracket shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , and such angles may be formed via stamping.  
     [0021] Base portion  11  is attached (e.g., adhered) to the object to be hung (i.e., to mirror M in FIG. 1). In the FIG. 1 embodiment, base portion  11  of the bracket  9  is attached to the mirror via first and second adhesive layers and/or strips  17 . For purposes of example, adhesive strips may initially be adhered to base portion  11  of the bracket and have a backing layer(s) (not shown) provided thereon. When it is desired to attach the bracket to an object to be hung (i.e., to the mirror M in FIG. 1), the backing layer is peeled off and the bracket  9  is attached to the object via adhesive  17 . One, two, three, or more adhesive strips or layers (of any suitable shape)  17  may be used to attach the base portion  11  of the bracket to the object to be hung. The number, size and/or shape of adhesive layers  17  may be a function of the size, weight, and/or shape of the object in certain instances.  
     [0022] In the FIG. 1 embodiment, where the object being hung is a back-surface mirror, adhesive  17  adheres the base portion  11  of the bracket  9  directly to the coating  3  of the mirror. However, if a first-surface mirror were to be hung, the adhesive  17  would then adhere the base portion  11  directly to the glass substrate  1  since the coating would be on the other side of the substrate. An example adhesive  17  is Fastmount 2132 tape, which does not seem to harm or eat away at reflective coating  3 . Of course, any other suitable type of adhesive, glue or the like may be used to attach the bracket to the back of the object to be hung on the wall.  
     [0023] Once the base portion  11  of the bracket  9  has been attached to the object to be hung via adhesive  17 , then the object (e.g., mirror M) may then be hung on a wall. In the FIG. 1 example embodiment, supports  21  (e.g., nails, screws, clips, or the like) extend outwardly from the wall surface on which the object is to be hung. In order to hang the object on the wall via these supports  21 , the bracket  9  is positioned so that supports  21  extend through respective first and second apertures  23  defined in foot portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the bracket. Then, when the object is released, gravity causes the object to drop until the supports  21  abut or come to rest against respective top edges of apertures  23  and the object is in a hanging position on the wall.  
     [0024] Alternatively, only one aperture  23  and corresponding support  21  may be used to hang an object using bracket  9  (with the other aperture remaining unused with no support extending therethrough). Thus, the design of bracket  9  with first and second spaced apart apertures  23  enables object(s) to which the bracket is attached to be hung in a variety of different manners. The object can be hung in one manner if both apertures  23  and corresponding supports  21  are used to hang the object, or alternatively can be hung in a different manner (90 degrees different) when only one of the apertures  23  and a corresponding support  21  is used to hang the object.  
     [0025] Since foot portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the bracket  9  are not coplanar with base portion  11 , the object can be hung from a wall so as to be approximately parallel with the wall surface. In other words, the hanging object defines a plane that is approximately parallel to a plane of the wall surface. This is because the bottom surfaces B of foot portions  14   a ,  14   b  cause the object to be approximately parallel to the wall surface, and prevent an undesired angled hanging position (i.e., bottom surface(s) B of the feet may rest against the wall surface preventing undesired angled hanging positions). Thus, when bracket  9  is attached to the object to be hung via base portion  11 , foot portions  14   a  and/or  14   b  may contact the wall in order to stabilize the hanging position and prevent undesired hanging angles. In a desired hanging position, the object (e.g., mirror M) is positioned such that the entire back surface mirror is approximately the same distance (i.e., the same distance plus/minus about {fraction (1/4)} inch) from the surface of the wall on which it is hung.  
     [0026] In certain example embodiments, the bracket  9  may also provide improved strength relative to certain known hanging brackets. For purposes of example, the bracket  9  may in some embodiments be strong enough so as to safely hang an object weighting at least about 50 lbs., more preferably at least about 100 lbs., even more preferably at least about 200 lbs., and most preferably at least about 300 lbs. for at least 60 seconds, although brackets herein may be used to hang objects of any desired weight.  
     [0027] In certain example embodiments of this invention, protrusions (e.g., formed via gussets)  25  may be defined in a corner portion  27  of the bracket  9  where a foot portion ( 14   a  or  14   b ) meets an adjacent angled portion ( 15   a  or  15   b ). These protrusions  25  provide added strength in the corner (bend) area  27  of the bracket, and help prevent bending of the bracket during use. Protrusions  25  protruding outwardly from one surface of the bracket may be formed by making indentations in the metal on the other surface of the bracket. Such indentations may be formed during the stamping process. In certain example embodiments, the protrusions  25  protrude outwardly from the metal of the bracket  9  in a direction toward the object to be hung, so that the indentations are on the rear side of the bracket and the protrusions are on the side of the bracket facing the object to be hung. The protrusions  25  and/or indentations may be triangular, circular, trapezoidal, rectangular, or any other suitable shape in different embodiments of this invention. While the indentations (and thus the protrusions  25  resulting therefrom) are shown as being provided at corner area  27 , in other embodiments they instead and/or in addition may be provided at corner area(s)  29  where an angled portion ( 15   a  or  15   b ) meets the adjacent base portion  11 .  
     [0028] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In certain example alternative embodiments, it is possible to remove one of the foot portions ( 14   a  or  14   b ) and/or one of the angled portions ( 15   a  or  15   b ).