Patent Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for a picture hanging device for mounting a picture to a retention member engaged to a wall that includes a tube having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion of the tube is designed to receive a retention member mounted to a wall, the top portion of the tube extends into the air for correctly aligning the picture on the retention member, whereby a hanging mechanism engaged to the picture is positioned about the tube and is slide down the tube for engagement to the retention member and the tube is positioned within the center of the picture for correctly aligning the picture on the retention member.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a picture hanging device, and more specifically relates to a device for accurately and precisely positioning a picture, mirror, or the like on a retention member or retention members engaged to a wall or like surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The art of hanging a picture, mirror, or the like can be a tedious process. A retention member or retention members must be placed on a wall at a desired height and then the picture, mirror, or the like must be correctly positioned on the retention member. Many pictures and mirrors either contain a hanging wire or hanging hook on the rear of the picture or mirror for positioning the picture or mirror on the retention member. The act of positioning the hanging wire or hanging hook correctly on the retention member can be challenging. Additionally, the act of straightening the picture or mirror while it is engaged to the retention member can be equally challenging. 
     There is a need for a device that easily allows a user to position the hanging wire or hanging hook of a mirror or picture on a retention member positioned on a wall. There is also a need for a device that easily allows a user to accurately align the picture or mirror on the retention member. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the present invention is a picture hanging device for mounting a picture to a retention member engaged to a wall. The picture hanging device includes a tube having a top portion and a bottom portion, a bottom portion of the tube that is designed to receive a retention member mounted to a wall, and the top portion of the tube extends into the air for correctly aligning the picture on the retention member. The hanging mechanism is engaged to the picture and is positioned around the tube and is slid down the tube for engagement to the retention member and the tube is positioned within the center of the picture for correctly aligning the picture on the retention member. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the tube is generally cylindrical. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the top portion of the tube is crimped, closed-in, or flattened. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the tube is composed of plastic. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retention member has an upper portion that is bent in upon itself and has a bore extending therethrough. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for hanging a picture that includes providing a retention member, a nail, a picture having a hanging mechanism, and a tube having a top portion and a bottom portion. The retention member is placed on the wall and the retention member is attached to the wall using the nail. The tube is engaged to the bottom portion of the retention member, the hanging mechanism of the picture is placed over the tube, and the hanging mechanism is slid down the tube until the hanging mechanism is engaged to the retention member. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a kit of parts for hanging a picture that includes at least one retention member, at least one nail and at least one tube for engaging the retention member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the picture hanging device; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the picture hanging device; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the picture hanging device mounted to a wall and a picture about to be installed on the picture hanging device; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a picture inserted on the picture hanging device; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a picture inserted on the picture hanging device; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tube being removed from the retention member of the picture hanging device; and 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the tube of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now specifically to the drawings, a picture hanging device is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The device  10  includes a retention member  12 , a nail  14 , and a tube  16 . The tube  16  is a generally cylindrical tube that has a top portion  18  and a bottom portion  20 . The retention member  12  has an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of the retention member  12  is angled upward to receive a hanging mechanism of a picture  24 . The upper portion of the retention member  12  is designed to receive the nail  14  and the lower portion of the retention member  12  is designed to receive the bottom portion  20  of the tube  16 . 
     The retention member  12  is designed to be engaged to a wall  22  or other like structure. Preferably, the retention member  12  is a standard picture bracket that is one, solid piece. The upper portion of the retention member  12  is bent in upon itself and has a bore extending therethrough. The bore is designed to receive the nail  14  for engaging the retention member  12  to the wall  22 . 
     In addition to receiving the hanging mechanism of a picture  24 , the lower portion of the retention member  12  also receives the bottom portion  20  of the tube  16 . When the tube  16  is positioned on the lower portion of the retention member  12 , the tube  16  extends upward at an angle. The tube  16  is designed to receive the hanging mechanism of a picture  24  for engaging the hanging mechanism to the lower portion of the retention member  12 . 
     Although the tube  16  is preferably generally cylindrical, it may be any shape as required by the user. It also should be noted that the tube  16  may have any length, width, or diameter that is desired by the user. However, it is preferred that the length of the tube  16  is a length that would extend above the top of a picture  24 , when the hanging mechanism of the picture  24  is engaged to the lower portion of the retention member  12 . Preferably, the tube  16  extends above the top of the picture  24  a length of about 1 inch or more. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the tube  16  can extend any distance above the top of the picture  24  as desired by the user. 
     The term hanging mechanism of the picture  24  is generally a term meaning the mechanism or device located on the picture  24  for suspending the picture  24  from the retention member  12 . Generally, the hanging mechanism consists of a hook, a wire, a string, a nylon string, or the like that is positioned on the back of the picture  24 . It should also be noted that picture may be interchanged with a minor, or other like structure that a user may desire to hang from the wall  22  or other support structure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the top portion  18  of the tube  16  is closed-in on itself and has a center point  26 . In other words, the top portion  18  is flattened or crimped and both sides are engaged to one another. The tube  16  has a constant inner and outer circumference. However, one of ordinary in the art will recognize that the inner and outer circumference of the tube  16  may have differing or varying inner and outer circumferences based upon the desires of the user. It will be noted that the top portion  18  may have any shape that is desired by the user. 
     During use, the retention member  12  is engaged to the wall  22  with the nail  14 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 . The bottom portion  20  of the tube  16  is engaged to the lower portion of the retention member  12 . Preferably, the tube  16  is hollow and the lower portion of the retention member  12  is inserted into the bottom portion  20  of the tube  16  and is retained therein by friction fit. The top portion  18  of the tube  16  is closed-in or crimped and the closed-in or crimped side is positioned parallel to the wall  22 . 
     The hanging mechanism of the picture  24  is positioned over or around the tube  16 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In other words, the tube  16  is positioned between the hanging mechanism and the picture  24  with the hanging mechanism positioned around the tube  16  when the hanging mechanism is a wire or the like. If the hanging mechanism is a hook or the like, the tube  16  is positioned within the hook with the hook around the tube  16 . The hanging mechanism and picture  24  is slid down the tube, until the hanging mechanism is engaged to the lower portion of the retention member  12 . A user will be able to determine whether the tube  16  is positioned between the hanging mechanism and the picture (or within the hanging mechanism should the hanging mechanism be a hook or the like) by moving the picture  24  towards and away from the wall  22  because the tube  16  will move in conjunction with the picture  24 . When the hanging mechanism is engaged to the retention member  12 , the tube  16  extends above the picture  24 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Once the hanging mechanism is engaged to the retention member  12 , the user may utilize a measuring tape to determine the center portion of the picture  24 . This center portion may be marked utilizing a pencil, tape, or another marking device or mechanism that can be removed easily from the picture  24  without leaving a mark. The picture  24  can be moved to the left or right to ensure the center of the picture  24  is aligned with the tube  16 . The tube  16  may also include an indicator or mark  26  that indicates the center of the tube  16  for enabling the user to position the center of the picture  24  with the center of the tube  16 . Further, the user may apply a level to ensure the picture is hanging level. Afterwards, the tube  16  is disengaged from the retention member  12  by pulling the tube  16  upwards, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     The retention member  12  may also be a self-adhering plastic bracket, such as the Command™ line of brackets or hooks from the 3M Corporation. The retention member  12  may also be a cloth bracket, a nail, or the like. The retention member  12  may be anything that is engaged to a wall that receives a picture or mirror and holds the picture or mirror on the wall. The retention member  12  may be a standard picture hanging bracket that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand and purchase. In another embodiment, the retention member  12  is a metal picture bracket as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     A kit of goods is disclosed herein. The kit may include a retention member  12 , a nail  14 , and a tube  16  for accurately and efficiently hanging a picture  24 . The kit may be situated in a bag, box or other suitable packaging for retaining the items in the kit. The kit may also include a hanger, a bore or the like for hanging the kit on a display shelf. Additionally, the kit may include a hanging mechanism, such as a wire, hook, eye hook, string, nylon string, a nail, at least two nails, a plurality of nails, or the like that would be utilized to hang a picture  24 , mirror or the like. The kit may also include more than one retention member  12 , more than one nail  14 , and more than one tube  16 . The kit may also include varying sizes of retention members  12 , nails  14 , and tubes  16 . The kit may also include a set of instructions for using the picture hanging device  10 . 
     It will be known by one of ordinary skill in the art to have a tube  16  of multiple sizes and dimensions, depending upon the uses by the user. The tube  16  may be composed of plastic, but could also be composed of a material other than plastic, such as nylon, rubber, paper product, plastic composites or the like, that has similar rigidity and/or flexibility, is light weight, and has similar durability as plastic. 
     Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0