Patent Publication Number: US-2009224116-A1

Title: Saw tooth and d-ring hanger kit and short hole locator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to hanging wall mounted fixtures and/or decorations. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for locating the correct placement of a hanger device of a fixture relative to a wall or surface to enable such fixture to be mounted on the wall at exactly the desired location. 
     It is conventional practice to place wall-mounted fixtures, including pictures and decorative objects, against the surface of a vertical wall. The hanging of such fixtures is common in residential settings and commercial environments including public areas where artwork is displayed, such as hotels, motels, or the like. It is common practice in the hanging of such fixtures or like objects to generally involve securing individual hooks, or one or more nails, to a wall and attaching a flexible wire to the back of the object for engaging the nail or hook. Alternatively, a hanger device may be attached to the fixture for engagement on the hook or nail. 
     It is highly desirable to be able to locate a frame on a wall in the precise position chosen. This is difficult, however, because a variety of hanger devices, such as saw tooth hangers or D-ring attachments, can be located at different places on the frame, and generally are hidden from view behind the frame when the frame is being moved about and positioned on a wall. 
     With the frame held at its desired position upon a wall, present methods for identifying the point at which a hanging device should be secured to the wall require complicated measuring or marking procedures. These procedures must take into account all of the factors of positioning, including vertical and horizontal placement, size and shape of the frame, location of the unseen cord or other attachment device, and estimation of the position that the attachment device will assume when holding the frame. 
     The procedure for properly locating a hanger device becomes more complicated when two or more nails, hooks or other hanger devices are used. Employing dual or multiple hanger devices greatly increases the stability of a hanging frame over the use of a single hanger device, thus minimizing slippage, tilt, or other undesirable positions of a hanging frame. However, locating the precise points for securing dual or multiple hanger devices to a wall, properly spaced and in the same horizontal plane, presently requires the special abilities of highly skilled professionals or laymen with similar capabilities. 
     Oftentimes a user marks the wall to indicate where fasteners, such a screws or nails should be inserted. In order for a fixture to be properly mounted upon a wall it is vital that the fasteners are spatially positioned in relation to the hanger devices of the fixture. A mark is commonly made on the wall with pen, pencil, or chalk, indicating where the fasteners should engage with the wall. However, it is a tedious process to perfectly align the two fasteners upon the wall such that they are engageable with the two keyhole openings. 
     In order to affix the fixture in perfect alignment, not only must the pair of fasteners be aligned horizontally against the surface wall, but also vertically. In this regard, if the spacing between the fasteners is even slightly incorrect, the fasteners may not fit into the narrow opening of the hanger devices. The subsequent result is that the user must forcibly remove the fasteners from the wall, and repeat the process until they are spaced in accordance to the dimensions of the keyhole openings. This process may require multiple attempts prior to the fasteners being correctly spaced. Consequently, throughout this process numerous holes and markings are created in the wall. 
     It is a common practice for users to take measurements using rulers or measuring tape to ascertain the distance between the hanger devices; and subsequently attempt to fashion fasteners upon the wall in accordance to those measurements. However, inaccurate measurement techniques and the failure to accurately align the fasteners on both, a vertical and horizontal plane, often results in misplaced fasteners upon a wall. The subsequent result of such inaccurate techniques often leads to frustration and costly damage to the existing wall. 
     Therefore, in order to overcome the above mentioned deficiencies in the art, there is a need in the art for an improved method and system of hanging wall mounted fixtures on a wall. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a hanger kit and locator for mounting a fixture upon a wall. In a basic embodiment of the present invention, the hanger kit includes at least one fastener to insert into a wall upon which a fixture is hung. The hanger kit further includes a locator pin to provide a reference mark upon a wall. The reference mark is indicative of the precise location of a hanging device of a fixture. In addition, the hanger kit may come packaged in a manner such that all necessary components to mount a fixture are enveloped in a commercial container designed for display in a departmental store. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the wall fixture may utilize saw tooth hangers, as hanger devices, for hanging the fixture upon the wall. In this regard, the hanger kit is referred to as a saw tooth hanger kit. As such, the wall fixture includes a contact surface and has at least one saw tooth hanger disposed thereto. The contact surface is disposed adjacent to the wall when the wall fixture is secured to the wall. The saw tooth hanger further defines a hanger gap between the saw tooth hanger and the contact surface 
     The saw tooth hanger kit may include fasteners and a locator pin. Fasteners may be used to secure the wall fixture to the wall. The fasteners may be general standoff fasteners such as nails, screws, or the like. Likewise, the fasteners may be double headed screws as taught by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/821,766, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. As such, the double headed screws are advantageously designed to bear the brunt of larger loads while employed with traditional wall fixtures with hanger devices. 
     A locator pin may have a flat elongated body having an obverse and a reverse side. In addition, the locator pin has a protrusion on the obverse side extending away from the elongated body. The protrusion may further have a distal end that is capable of marking a wall with a reference mark. A reference mark is indicative of the precise location of the saw tooth hanger on the wall fixture. As such, the user has a visible mark on the wall instructing the user where to insert the fastener into the wall. The locator pin is cooperatively engageable with a saw tooth hanger so that when the wall fixture is secured to the wall, the distal end of the protrusion abuts the wall making a reference mark upon the wall. It is contemplated that one having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that two locator pins may be employed in two saw tooth hangers making two reference marks upon a wall. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an adhesive may be used to temporarily secure the locator pin within the saw tooth hanger. The distal end of the protrusion may be capable of penetrating the adhesive to expose its cutting edge, such that it may still mark the wall with a reference mark. Conventional tape, gauze, glue, or the like may be utilized to temporarily affix the locator pin within the saw tooth hanger. In addition, the adhesive may be of a convenient size relative to other components of the saw tooth hanger such that it may be commercially packaged as part of the saw tooth hanger kit. 
     In order to ensure that the reference mark is fashioned in proper alignment, the saw tooth hanger kit may further include a leveling device. Such a leveling device may be operative to assess the horizontal and vertical axes of the fixture in a spatial context relative to the wall. Conventional leveling devices that utilize a bubble tube carried in a cavity adapted to lie on top of a flat surface may suffice. Additionally, a smaller level capable of being packaged with other components of the saw tooth kit may also be adequate. 
     In a second embodiment of the present invention, a wall fixture may utilize at least one D-ring hanger, as a hanging device, to hang a wall fixture upon a wall. In this regard the hanger kit is conveniently referred to as a D-ring hanger kit. The D-ring hanger is disposed upon the contact surface of the wall fixture. A D-ring hanger includes an assembly of a plate and a ring. The plate is secured to the contact surface whereas the ring is positioned above the plate and may be cooperatively engaged with a fastener. A locator pin may be temporarily affixed upon the contact surface such that the protrusion of the locator pin extends through the ring. 
     The present invention also includes a methodology of utilizing a saw tooth hanger kit to secure a wall fixture upon a wall. The method includes the step of identifying a desirable position upon the wall to affix the fixture. At this time, a first fastener may be inserted into the wall. The insertion of the first fastener is correlated to the location of a first saw tooth hanger. The method continues by temporarily affixing a locator pin into a second saw tooth hanger using an adhesive. At this time, the fixture is temporarily affixed upon the wall by engaging the first fastener to the first saw tooth hanger. The method may continue by using a level to ensure the fixture is aligned in accordance to appropriate dimensional parameters and visual appeal. Subsequently, sufficient pressure may be applied to the fixture, such that the temporarily affixed locator pin may abut the wall. As a result, the cutting edge of the locator pin may create a reference mark or aperture upon the wall. This reference mark is indicative of the precise location of the second saw tooth hanger. The method may continue by removing the locator pin and adhesive and inserting a second fastener into the wall at the reference mark location. At this time, the fixture may be hung upon the wall by cooperatively engaging both fasteners to the correlating saw tooth hangers. Upon mounting the fixture on the wall, the method may continue by utilizing a level to ensure the fixture is appropriately aligned. 
     It is contemplated that the present invention addresses the aforementioned deficiencies in the art. As mentioned above, one of the most difficult and frustrating aspects of many prior art wall hanging systems and methods is ensuring that the fasteners are correctly spaced, such that they will connect with the wall fixture and that the wall fixture will be level. The keyhole kit assists a user in this regard by providing the user a reference mark indicative of the keyhole openings&#39; location. Such a system and method should simplify and alleviate the process of hanging a wall fixture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, where the wall fixture utilizes a pair of saw tooth hangers to hang the fixture. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a locator pin configured to fit within a hanger gap of a saw tooth hanger. 
         FIG. 2   a  is an elevational view locator pin affixed within the hanger gap between a saw tooth hanger and the contact surface of a wall fixture. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a wall fixture, mounted upon a wall, where a pair of fasteners are cooperatively engaged with a pair of saw tooth hangers. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wall, illustrating a first fastener inserted into the wall and a second fastener being inserted into the wall at the reference mark. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pair of fasteners being engaged into a wall, illustrating a wall and the wall fixture, upon which the fasteners are spatially separated in accordance to the dimensions of the saw tooth hangers. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a locator pin affixed within a hanger gap, wherein the elongated body of the locator pin extends above and below the saw tooth hanger. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a locator pin affixed within a hanger gap, wherein the locator pin is temporarily affixed in the hanger gap by utilizing an adhesive. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a wall fixture, upon which a locator pin is temporarily affixed to create a reference mark, where the wall fixture is aligned with a level. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, where the wall fixture is utilizing a pair of D-ring hangers to hang the fixture upon the wall. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a locator pin configured so that the protrusion extends through the ring of the D-ring hanger. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a wall fixture utilizing a D-ring hanger and a locator pin. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a wall fixture utilizing an adhesive to temporarily affix a locator pin within the ring of a D-ring hanger. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment on the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for developing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , there is provided a hanger kit and locator for hanging a wall fixture upon a wall. According to an aspect of the present invention, the wall fixture  10  may include a contact surface  12  which has at least one hanging device to hang a fixture  10  upon a wall  14 . A hanging device may be a hook, nail, saw tooth hanger, D-ring or the like. In one embodiment of the present invention, the wall fixture  10  utilizes two saw tooth hangers  16  to hang a fixture  10  upon the wall  14 . In this regard, the hanger kit is hereby referred to as a saw tooth hanger kit. The saw tooth hangers  16  are disposed upon the contact surface  12  of the wall fixture  10  in a horizontal alignment. A saw tooth hanger  16  defines a hanger gap  18  between the saw tooth hanger  16  and the contact surface  12 . A hanger gap  18  further defines a hanger width  18   a  and a hanger depth  18   b . The saw tooth hanger kit includes at least one fastener  20  and a locator pin  22 . 
     In the present embodiment, the wall fixture  10  is secured to the wall  14  via two fasteners  20 . The fasteners  20  may include nails, screws, tacks, hooks or similar hardware known by those skilled in the art. In the present embodiment, the fasteners  20  are double headed screws. As further illustrated by  FIG. 4 , each fastener  20  is engageable with the wall  14 . In this regard, the fastener  20  may be inserted or secured to the wall  14  and capable of supporting a load. The fasteners  20  should have a load capacity sufficient to support the wall fixture  10 . 
     A user must be meticulous when inserting fasteners  20  into a wall  14 . It is critical that the fasteners  20  are inserted with precision relative to the distance between the saw tooth hangers  16 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the horizontal spatial distance between the fasteners  20  shown as A, whereas the horizontal spatial distance between the saw tooth hangers  16  is shown as B. Therefore, A must equal B in order for the fasteners  20  to successfully engage with the saw tooth hangers  16 . However, it is oftentimes quite difficult to correctly space the fasteners  20  upon the wall  14 . Improperly installed fasteners  20  result in the fasteners  20  having to be removed from the wall  14  and subsequently causing damage to the wall  14 . 
     A locator pin  22  assists a user to properly space fasteners  20  upon a wall  14 . As such, a locator pin  22  provides the user with a reference mark  24  upon the wall  14  indicating the location of where the fastener  20  is to be inserted. As further illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the reference mark  24  is visible to the user. In this regard, a locator pin  22  is temporarily affixed within the hanger gap  18  so that a locator pin  22  abuts the wall  14 , and subsequently creates a reference mark  24 . As such, a locator pin  22  may include nails, screws, tacks, hooks or similar hardware known by those skilled in the art. A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that by employing two locator pins  22  in two saw tooth hangers  16  would make two reference marks  24  upon a wall. 
     In the present embodiment, the locator pin  22  has a generally flat elongated body  22   a  having an obverse side and a reverse side. The locator pin  22  has a protrusion  22   b  on the obverse side that extends away from the elongated body  22   a . In addition, the protrusion  22   b  has a distal end  22   c  that resultantly abuts the wall  14  and makes the reference mark  24 . The locator pin  22  further includes a width  22   w  and depth  22   d . The locator pin  22  is configured such that the width  22   w  and depth  22   d  is less than the hanger width  18   a  and hanger depth  18   b . In this regard, the locator pin  22  may be inserted within the hanger gap  18 .  FIG. 2   a  provides an exploded view of a locator pin  22  affixed within the hanger gap  18 . In the present embodiment, the distal end  22   c  of the locator pin  22  has converging surfaces which are suitable to form a cutting edge for being driven through or marking a penetratable material such as wood, plaster, plaster board or the like. The protrusion  22   b  of the locator pin  22  may further have material continuity with the body  22   a  thereby forming a unitary material. In addition, as illustrated by  FIG. 6 , the elongated body  22   a  may extend above or below the saw tooth hanger  16 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 7 , an adhesive  26  is used to temporarily affix the position of the locator pin  22  within the hanger gap  18 . In this regard, the adhesive  26  is placed over the locator pin  22  allowing the protrusion  22   b  to be exposed by penetrating the adhesive  26 . The user may secure the position of the locator pin  22  by placing the adhesive  26  on the elongated body  22   a  that extends above or below the saw tooth hanger. The placement of the adhesive  26  depends largely on the user&#39;s ability to properly secure the locator pin  22  in the appropriate position. It is contemplated that an alternative embodiment of the locator pin  22  may include an adhesive strip on the reverse side of the elongated body  22   a  to temporarily affix the locator pin in the hanger gap  18 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 8 , the saw tooth hanger kit may further include a leveling device  28 . The leveling device  28  is operative to ensure the wall fixture  10  is level with a horizontal plane. Proper alignment of the locator pin  22  is critical to attain a correct reference mark  24 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 9-12  illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention where the hanging device of the wall fixture  10  includes at least one D-ring hanger  30 . In this regard, the hanger kit is referred to as a D-ring hanger kit. A D-ring hanger  30  generally includes an assembly of a ring  30   a  and a plate  30   b . In the present embodiment, the wall fixture  10  includes a pair of D-ring hangers  30  disposed upon the contact surface  12  of the wall fixture  10 . In a typical D-ring hanger  30 , the plate  30   b  is secured to the contact surface  12  via screws and the ring  30   a  is positioned above the plate  30   b . In addition, the ring  30   a  has an opening  32  through which a fastener  20  extends to support the fixture  10 . A D-ring hanger kit includes at least one fastener  20  and a locator pin  22 . 
     In the present embodiment, the fastener  20  and locator pin  22  as utilized by a D-ring hanger kit are the same as those utilized by a saw tooth hanger kit. In this regard, the head of a fastener  20  is configured to fit within the ring opening  32 . Similarly, the protrusion  22   b  of the locator pin is configured such that it extends through the ring opening  32 . In addition, the locator pin  22  is temporarily affixed to the contact surface  12  such that the protrusion  22   b  extends through the ring opening  32 . In this regard, when the wall fixture  10  is held against the wall  14 , such that the contact surface  12  is adjacent to the wall  14 , the protrusion  22   b  abuts the wall  14  making a reference mark  24 .  FIG. 12  illustrates an adhesive  26  being employed to temporarily affix the locator pin  22  in position, such that the protrusion  22   b  extends through the ring opening  32  and is held up so that the protrusion  22   b  makes contact with the top of the ring  30   a.    
     The D-ring hanger kit may further include a leveling device  28 . The leveling device  28  is operative to ensure the wall fixture  10  is level with a horizontal plane. Proper alignment of the locator pin  22  is critical to attain a correct reference mark  24 . 
     In addition to the foregoing, it is expressly contemplated that the present invention also includes a methodology of securing a wall fixture  10 , with a pair of saw tooth hangers  16 , to a wall  14 . The method includes identifying a desirable location upon a wall  14  to hang the fixture  10 . Subsequently, a first fastener  20  is inserted into the wall  14  at the desired location. The first fastener  20  is intended to engage cooperatively with a first saw tooth hanger  16 . It is critical that both fasteners  20  are engaged in the precise location upon the wall  14  relative to the saw tooth hangers  16 . The method continues by temporarily affixing a locator pin  22  within a second saw tooth hanger  16 . Thereafter, an adhesive  26  is used to affix the locator pin  22  in position within the saw tooth hanger  16 . It is critical that the location of the adhesive  26 , allows for the protrusion  22   b  to be exposed. Additionally, it is vital that the protrusion  22   b  has sufficient exposure such that it abut the wall  20 . 
     The method continues by temporarily affixing the fixture  10  upon the wall  14  by cooperatively engaging the first fastener  20  to the first saw tooth hanger  16 . As illustrated by  FIG. 8 , the method continues by utilizing a leveling device  28  to ensure that the fixture  10  is appropriately aligned. Thereafter, pressure is applied to the fixture  10  such that the protrusion  22   b  makes a reference mark  24  upon the wall  14 . As illustrated by  FIG. 8 , the user may apply the requisite pressure. In addition, as further illustrated by  FIG. 5  the pressure applied should be sufficient such that the protrusion  22   b  creates a reference mark  24  upon the wall  14 . Subsequently, the fixture  10  is removed from the wall  14  and the locator pin  22  along with the adhesive  26  are removed from the fixture  10 . As illustrated by  FIG. 4 , the method continues by inserting a second fastener  20  into the wall  14  at the indicated reference mark  24 . As shown by  FIG. 3 , the method continues by hanging the fixture  10  on the wall by cooperatively engaging both fasteners  20  with both saw tooth hangers  16 . 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.