Abstract:
A method of levelling a picture and a levelling assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the method. A first step involves suspending a picture ( 20 ) from a single mounting point ( 40 ) located at an upper portion of the picture ( 20 ). A second step involves securing at least one roller ( 22 ) to a lower portion ( 18 ) of the picture ( 20 ) to facilitate self levelling radial movement about the upper mounting point ( 40 ) by force of gravity.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method of levelling a picture and a picture levelling assembly constructed in accordance with the teaching of the method. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is common to see pictures hanging that are not level. With some picture hangers, vibrations passing along a wall caused by a closing of a door or the like, result in the picture shifting so that the picture is are no longer level. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to the present invention there is provided a method of levelling a picture. A first step involves suspending a picture from a single mounting point located at an upper portion of the picture. A second step involves securing at least one rollers, to a lower portion of the picture to facilitate self levelling radial movement about the upper mounting point by force of gravity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a rear elevation view of a picture incorporating the levelling assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the weight positioned on the track of the levelling assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of the roller of the levelling assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side plan view of a hanging nail. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a variation of a roller mounting for the roller. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the variation of the roller mounting mounted on a picture. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the variation of the roller mounting being adjusted. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a variation of the weight and track. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    The preferred embodiment, a levelling assembly for a picture generally identified by reference numeral  10  developed in accordance with the teachings of the preferred method, will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 through 4 . Variations will be discussed further on with respect to  FIG. 5 through 8 . 
         [0014]    Structure and Relationship of Parts: 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , levelling assembly  10  includes an elongated body  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16 . Body  12  is adapted to attach to a lower portion  18  of a picture  20 , such as by screws  21 . There are rollers  22  at each end  14  and  16  that are adapted to facilitate radial movement of lower portion  18  of picture  20  along a wall (not shown) on which picture  20  has been hung. Rollers  22  hold picture  20  a set distance from the wall to allow picture  20  to rotate freely to facilitate it returning to level if adjustment becomes necessary. A weight  23  is mounted on body  12  in a central position between first end  14  and second end  16 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , weight  23  is positioned in a track  24  that allows selective sliding movement along track  24  toward first end  14  or second end  16  of body  12 . Referring again to  FIG. 1 , track  24  is depicted as extending substantially the width of picture  20 , although a shorter track that is centred on picture  20  would also suffice. There may be means provided to selectively adjust the positioning of weight  23  toward first end  14  or toward second end  16  of body  12  in order to accommodate asymmetrical imperfections in picture  20 , or it may be done manually by simply sliding weight  23  toward one end or another. Means, such as a screw clamp  26  as depicted, may also be provided to secure weight  23  in the selected position, although it will be understood that other means of securing weight  23  are possible, such as a series of holes (not shown), with a pin biased by a spring outward into one of the holes that may be pushed out to allow weight  23  to be move in one direction or another and become secured in another hole. Alternatively, a spring biased knob may be used, where the contact surfaces of the knob and the track have an engaging profile such that the knob may be pulled down to allow the weight to slide, and released to secure the weight. Other means will be apparent to those in the art. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , each roller  22  is mounted to a hub  28  for rotational movement about a first axis. Hub  28  is then mounted within a housing  30  that has an interior  32  defining a circular hub receiving cavity  34 . Hub  28  is thus mounted for rotational movement about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, such that the angular position of each roller  22  is adjusted by rotating hub  28  within cavity  34 . Means, such as bumps  36  that engage ridges  38  in the interior  32  of hub  28 , are provided to secure hub  28  in a selected rotational position. Other means will also be apparent to those in the art. 
         [0017]    Operation: 
         [0018]    Levelling assembly  10  is provided as described above. Referring to  FIG. 1 , to hang picture  20  with levelling assembly  10 , a hangar clip  40  is attached to the centre of picture  20  at the top. Other hangar clips  40  than the one shown may be used. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a nail  42  or screw is driven into the wall where picture  20  is to hang from. As it is important that there be sufficient space to permit picture  20  to move freely, the design of nail  42  ensures that it will not be driven into the wall too far. Other means may be used obtain a similar result. Referring to  FIG. 1 , levelling assembly is centred and attached to lower portion  18  of picture  20  by either screws  21 , or other means such as sticky tape. Rollers  22  are then pulled out to disengage bumps  36  from ridges  38 , and rotated such that axis  29  is parallel to a line connecting axis  29  to hangar clip  40  to allow picture  20  to rotate about hangar clip  40 . 
         [0019]    Picture  20  may then be hung on the wall by engaging hangar clip  40  and nail  42 . Once picture  20  is hung, weight  23  is adjusted toward first end  14  or second end  16  to achieve a suitable orientation for picture  20 . Weight  23  is then secured in the selected position by tightening screw clamp  26 . Once installed, weight  23  is positioned such that picture  20  is biased by gravity toward the desired orientation, and picture  20  has three points of contact with the wall: two rollers  22 , and nail  42 . If picture  20  is moved from this orientation by vibration or by being bumped, rollers  22  allow picture  20  to rotate about nail  42  to return to the desired orientation. It will be noted that the above description is ideally suited for a wall with a smooth finish that allows rollers  22  to move freely. If the wall is not sufficiently smooth, steps may be required to ensure rollers  22  are able to move freely (e.g. the installation of a track or other smooth surface). 
         [0020]    Variation: 
         [0021]    It will be understood that variations of the components above may be used. For example, a variation of the mounting for roller  22 , denoted by reference numeral  50 , is shown in  FIG. 5 through 7 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , mounting  50  includes roller  22 , a wheel mount  52 , an axle  54 , and a bottom mount  56 . As rollers  22  and weight  23  are separate pieces, assembly  10  may be installed on any size of picture  20 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , bottom mount  56 , which attaches to picture  20 , receives wheel mount  52  in a manner such that wheel mount  52  is free to rotate within bottom mount  56 . Wheel mount  52  in tarn attaches to axle  54  of roller  22 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , a tool  58  is used to adjust the angular position of roller  22 , which is done by rotating wheel mount  52  within bottom mount  56 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , weight  23  is also shown to be mounted in a different manner. As shown, weight  23  does not include a set screw, but rather is held within a channel  60  by two overlying tabs  62 . Channel  60  and tabs  62  may be made from extruded plastic. Tabs  62  have a horizontal opening  64  in between, such that the position of weight  23  may be adjusted by accessing weight  23  through opening  64 . UVeight  23  is held in position by tabs  62 . 
         [0023]    Definition: 
         [0024]    It will be understood that the term “picture” is used in the broadest possible sense. The term picture includes diplomas and other framed items that may be completely text, without a graphic image. The term picture includes graphic images within frames and graphic images mounted on rigid substrates without frames. 
         [0025]    In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements. 
         [0026]    It will be apparent to one skilled in the alt that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.