Abstract:
A wire system for use with picture frames and other items to be hung from or mounted to a vertical support. The wire system includes a base that includes a plurality of openings and rotatable levers that include respective internal passageways. Wire is installed through the various openings and the internal passageways of the levers in a manner where rotation of the levers causes the wire to be bent at various locations. With the wires appropriately bent, the wire is secured within the wire system. To adjust the wire, the levers are rotated to their respective open positions to unbend the wire thus allowing it to be freely movable within the wire system. Generally, the wire system is for use on the back of picture frames and other items to be hung from a wall, where the wire system enables a user to easily tighten or loosen the wire in a simple manner.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/405,224, filed Aug. 22, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a wire system for hanging picture frames and the like and, more particularly, to a device that secures wire on picture frames and other items to be mounted on a vertical support. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Wire secured to and extending across the back of a picture frame (i.e., picture frame wire or wire, as used herein) is utilized to allow for the easy hanging of that picture frame on an appropriate nail, picture frame hanger or other item protruding from a wall or other vertical surface. Wire is secured to picture frames utilizing staples or by feeding the wire through eye hooks screwed into the picture frame and then wrapping the wire around itself. 
   Devices that are more modern are available but generally require that the wire be wrapped around itself to secure it, which in turn requires that the wire be unwrapped or unwound should it be necessary to tighten or loosen the wire. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wire system (also called wiring device herein) that is easy to use and, at the same time, overcomes the above-mentioned shortcoming associated with standard wiring methods. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wire system that allows for the quick and easy securing of wire onto the back of a picture frame or other object to be hung on a wall or other vertical support. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire system that can quickly and easily tighten (or loosen) the wire. 
   Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, an assembly for retaining wire for use with a picture frame and other objects to be mounted to a vertical support includes a base and one or more movable levers mounted to the base. The lever includes a passageway, through which wire may be fed, and the lever is movable between open and closed positions, wherein the assembly securely retains the wire when the lever is in the closed position, and does not securely retains the wire when the lever is in the open position. 
   As an aspect of the invention, the lever is rotatably movable relative to the base. 
   As another aspect of the invention, the assembly may further include a second lever through which the wire extends. 
   As a further aspect of the invention, the assembly includes a locking mechanism that is coupled to the lever for selectively locking the lever in the closed position. 
   As an additional aspect of the invention, the wire is bent in one or more positions when the lever is moved to the closed position so as to sufficiently retain the wire within the assembly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of the wire system of the present invention, in use with a picture frame; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the wire system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is another enlarged view of the wire system of the present invention, shown in a partially open position; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of the wire system&#39;s locking mechanism in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of the wire system mounted to a picture frame; and 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of two wire systems mounted to a picture frame in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration broadly showing how the wire system of the present invention is utilized.  FIG. 1  schematically shows the back of a picture frame  10 , a pair of eye hooks  12  and  14  that are screwed into the back of the picture frame on opposite ends, as shown, and wire  16 . Of course, eye hooks  12  and  14  may be replaced with other suitable devices known in the art that are mounted in any suitable manner to the back, sides or top of a picture frame (or other item to be mounted on a wall or vertical support). 
     FIG. 1  also shows a wire system  20  in accordance with the present invention. Wire system  20  (also called wiring device herein) is utilized to provide various advantageous features, as further discussed below. Although  FIG. 1  shows the use of only a single wire system  20 , two wire systems may be utilized on a single picture frame. In such case, one wire system is disposed adjacent to or near one of the eye hooks (e.g., eye hook  12 ) and a second wire system is disposed near the other eye hook (e.g., eye hook  14 ). If only a single wire system is utilized, it is preferred that the wire system be disposed near one of the eye hooks, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , where wire  16  is secured near that eye hook in the manner described herein and wherein the other end of wire  16  is secured to the other eye hook (e.g., eye hook  14 ) in any manner known in the art. Of course, wire system  20  may be disposed at any location between the two eye hooks. 
   If two wire systems are utilized, then each end of wire  16  is secured in accordance with the present invention, thus fully obviating the need to wrap the wire around itself. Securing of the wire utilizing wire system  20  of the present invention is further discussed below. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings,  FIG. 2  shows wire system  20  in its closed position and  FIG. 3  shows the wire system in a partially open position.  FIG. 2  shows an enlarged view of portion “A” shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown, a portion of wire  16  extends through wire system  20 , then through eye hook  12 , back through wire system  20  and then terminating in a manner well known in the art. Wire system  20 , in accordance with the present invention, includes two rotatable levers  22 A and  22 B. In the positions shown in  FIG. 2  (i.e., the closed position), levers  22 A and  22 B serve to secure the wire. When wire system  20  is made of a suitably strong material, and levers  22 A and  22 B are locked (further discussed below), the device of the present invention sufficiently maintains wire  16  so that the wire system of the present invention may be used with picture frames and other items to be hung that are quite heavy. Of course, smaller, less strong wire systems can be manufactured and used for relatively light picture frames, whereas bigger, stronger wire systems may be manufactured and used for relatively heavy picture frames (e.g., weighing 100 lbs. or more). Given the description herein, selection of materials and dimensions for the wire system of the present invention is well within the ability of a person of ordinary skill in the art and, thus, further discussion of strengths and dimensions are not provided herein. 
   Wire system  20  includes a body  24  on which levers  22 A and  22 B are rotatably mounted. Each lever  22 A and  22 B includes a respective handle portion  26  and a respective central body portion  28 . The wire system&#39;s body  24  includes two sets of circular protrusions  21  (shown in phantom) that extend from the flat surface of body  24  and corresponding recesses within levers  22 A and  22 B operate to interact with the circular protrusions so that levers  22 A and  22 B are secured to and rotatable on the wire system&#39;s body  24 . However, the particular manner in which levers  22 A and  22 B are rotatably mounted to body  24  is not critical to the present invention and such rotatable mounting may be achieved in any manner well known in the art. 
   The wire system&#39;s body  24  also includes a number of protruding walls  32  that serve at least three functions, as follows. First, walls  32  include a number of openings  36 A,  36 B,  36 C,  36 D, as shown in  FIG. 2 , that are used to direct the wire through the wire system  20  of the present invention, as further discussed below. Second, a couple of portions of the walls serve to limit rotational movement of levers  22 A,  22 B. Third, the depth of walls  32  along with levers  22 A and  22 B, define a recessed region in which wire is disposed. Thus, wire does not constantly rub against a wall or the picture frame itself during use of the wire system of the present invention. 
   Each lever  22 A and  22 B includes a respective tunnel or a passageway  34 , represented by dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , through which wire  16  extends. 
   Following wire  16 , originating from eye hook  14  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), the wire extends first though opening  36 A of wall  32 . Wire  16  then extends through passageway  34  within lever  22 B, and then extends through opening  36 B within wall  32 . Wire  16  then extends away from the wire system  20  of the present invention and through eye hook  12 , as shown, and then back through another opening—opening  36 C. The wire then extends though passageway  34  of rotatable lever  22 A, then through opening  36 D within wall  32 . 
   When levers  22 A and  22 B are in their “closed” positions, as shown in  FIG. 2 , wire  16  is held taut by the wiring system of the present invention, primarily due to the forced bending of the wire at various points by the use of levers  22 A and  22 B and the placement of openings  36 A,  36 B,  36 C and  36 D. As shown in  FIG. 2 , wire  16  is bent at four locations E 1 , E 2 , E 3  and E 4 . Each bending of the wire is sufficient to prevent wire movement due to the physical characteristics of most types of picture frame and other types of hanging wire. As shown, the wire is bent more than 90 degrees. Even greater bending angles provide greater securing of the wire and, thus, levers that accomplish even greater bending may be utilized. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , lever  22 A is shown in its “open” position. Although not shown in the drawings, lever  22 B similarly may be placed in its open position via rotation relative to the wire system&#39;s body  24 . During initial installation of wire system  20  of the present invention, where wire system  20  typically will be purchased or otherwise provided without wire extending through it, levers  22 A and  22 B are rotated to their respectively open positions. One end of suitable picture frame wire is fed through each of the openings and passageways of the wire system to follow the path shown. Since levers  22 A and  22 B are in their open position (lever  22 B not shown in the open position in  FIG. 3 ), wire is easily fed through wire system  20 . As is clear from the drawings, wire initially is fed through opening  36 A, then through passageway  34  of lever  22 B, then through opening  36 B, then around eye hook  12  (or other equivalent component mounted to the back of the picture frame), then back to wire system  20  through opening  36 C, then through passageway  34  of lever  22 A, and finally through opening  36 D. The wire then may be terminated around eye hook  14  (e.g., by wrapping the wire around itself after having passed through eye hook  14 ) or by use of another suitable termination device or technique or by use of another wire system in accordance with the present invention, as previously mentioned. Generally, after the wire is sufficiently terminated, it should not be taut, as would be well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Then, to close the wire system of the present invention, both levers  22 A and  22 B are rotated to their respective closed position—to the positions shown in  FIG. 2 . As previously discussed, the forced bending of the wire at various positions, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , provides a securing of the wire within wire system  20 . 
   To modify the length of wire after it has been installed on the back of a picture frame by use of wire system  20  of the present invention, the wire may be loosened or tightened, as herein described. One or both levers  22 A and  22 B may be opened, and with a lever open, wire  16  is allowed to be moved so as to tighten or loosen it, as would be appropriate. After such movement, the opened lever or levers  22 A and/or  22 B are rotated to their final, closed position. 
   As previously mentioned, each of the levers  22 A and  22 B can be locked in their respective closed position. Locking is facilitated by a pair of recesses  40  (only one recess  40  shown in  FIG. 3 ). Each lever  22 A and  22 B includes an aperture  38  through which a locking mechanism  42 , schematically shown in  FIG. 4 , is disposed. Locking mechanism  42  disposed through aperture  38  is movable along one axis. Locking mechanism  42  may be moved in directions x and y, shown in  FIG. 4 . When lever  22  is in its closed position, and when locking mechanism  42  is moved in direction x, an appropriately sized portion of locking mechanism  42  becomes disposed within recess  40  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The various components are suitably sized so that a slight amount of force is required to lock lever  22 A (as well as lever  22 B), so that it does not become unlocked by simple movement or shaking of wire system  20  of the present invention. Other forms of appropriate locking mechanisms may be utilized, as would be known within the art. For example, locking pins may be installed within suitably sized holes disposed within levers  22 A and  22 B and the body of the wire system, where unlocking requires removal of the pins. Wingnuts and other similar devices likewise may be utilized. Thus, the specific manner of locking may be accomplished by any suitable means which accomplishes this function. 
   In accordance with another variation of the present invention, wire system  20  may be mounted (i.e., fixed) to the back (or side, top, etc.) of picture frame  10  or other object to be mounted to a vertical support. As shown in  FIG. 5 , wire system  20  is fixed to one side of the back of picture frame  10  in any suitable method, such as by use of a screw, bolt or other known device. In such case, the use of an eye hook adjacent to the wire system is not needed, since the wire system itself serves both to firmly retain the wire and to retain such wire to the picture frame. Two wire systems may also be utilized in this manner, as shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown, the left side of the back of the picture frame  10  includes a first mounted wire system  20  and the right side of the back of the picture frame includes a second mounted wire system  20 . In such case, no eye hook is needed, nor any other mechanism for mounting wire to the picture frame, including staples or other known devices. 
   The present invention has been described with reference to specific designs and description, as provided above. However it is appreciated that various other designs may be provided. For example, while the disclosed wire system is shown as including two rotatable levers, and four openings within body  24  of wire system  20 , other numbers of levers and/or openings may be provided. Perhaps to accommodate substantially heavier picture frames, three (or more) rotatable levers may be provided. As another example, the design described shows levers  22 A and  22 B that rotate in opposite directions. However, both levers may rotate in the same directions, and/or may be placed on the same side (e.g., left side) of the wire system. As a further example, levers  22   a  and  22   b  may move from their respective open position to closed position in a different manner, including, but not limited to, movement along a single axis. 
   Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiments described herein, the alternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.