Year: 1888

page_text: I, WARBEN MONTGOMERY BRINKERHOFF, of Auburn, in the County of Cayuga and
State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention is an improvement in picture-hangers, and has for its object to provide
a hanger which can be made to adapt itself to irregularities in the walls, to the
irregularities of the supporting cornice or molding also to permit of the hanging of a
picture beneath the point at which two parts of the molding or cornice join, whether
at some point on the side walls or at the corners of the room, or at re-entrant angles
within the room. It also has for its object the production of a hanger which may be
attached to the walls by nails or screws at points where a solid bearing cannot be found
for a single nail or screw at a central point above the picture.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown several forms in which I have
contemplated embodying my invention, and such invention is fully disclosed in the
accompanying Specification and claims.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 shows a form of my improved hanger with hooks for holding the cord in
an inwardly-deflected position to prevent the moving of the cord on its support and to
retain the picture in position upon the walls.
Figure 2 shows a similar form of hanger with an additional picture-support on the
connecting bar.
Figure 3 is a view of a hanger without the locking or retaining hooks.
Figure 4 is a view of a hanger designed to be supported by nails or screws.
Figure 5 is a view of a hanger similar to that shown in figure 1 with the end plates
capable of adjustment toward or from each other.
Figure 6 is a view of modified form of adjustable hanger with a central picture-
support added thereto.
Figures 7 and 8 are views of a hanger having the connection between the end
plates of flexible metal, the said connection being corrugated to give a greater degree
of rigidity.
Figure 9 is a view of a hanger having a hinged or jointed connection between the
two end plates.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 show hangers with other forms of adjustable connections
between the end plates.

page_text: Persons familiar with hanging pictures know that most walls are more or less
irregular, which irregularities interfere with the proper hanging of pictures thereon.
They are also aware that it is not infrequently desired to hang pictures at points where
the cornice is joined. In using nails or screws it is also a frequent occurrence that a
solid support for the nail cannot be obtained at the exact point at which it is desired
to hang the picture and that the nail has to be driven at one side or the other of the
desired point. I overcome these difficulties by my invention and also provide a hanger
which can be used for the support of heavy pictures where an extended bearing upon
the cornice is desired, although I do not claim, broadly, to be the first inventor of
devices for accomplishing this result.
The general form of the hanger is much the same in the various figures; and such
hanger consists of two plates or arms A A¹, provided with cord-supporting hooks or
projections connected by a bar or rod B. These plates or arms may be provided with
cornice-hooks a, as shown in nearly all of the figures, or may be provided with
apertures a¹, to engage nails or screws or other supporting means as shown in figure 4.
The cord-supporting hooks or projections a³ may be of the form shown, or of any
other preferred construction, and may be made integral with the plates A or attached
thereto.
The bar B is preferably made of elastic or flexible material, so as to yield readily
to the irregularities of the wall or cornice. This degree of elasticity or flexibility in
some cases may be sufficient to enable the hanger to be employed in corners of the
room or upon re-entrant angles of the wall within the room. In order that quite thin
material may be used to form this connection and yet possess a sufficient degree of
rigidity, such bar may be stiffened at the points desired by corrugating the same or by
providing it with elevated portions or depressions in a well known way. Two forms
of accomplishing this result are shown in figures 7 and 8. In the latter the corrugations
extend inward from the outer ends, leaving a blank space in the centre to afford
greater facility for inward or outward deflection when desired.
In figure the bar B is shown as extensible, being formed in two parts, 6 and 61
overlapping each other, one of the parts being also provided with one or more hooks
on one side, forming a guide, which receives the end of the other part and in which
such other part moves to effect the adjustment of the plates A the proper distance
apart.
In figure 6 the bar B is formed in two parts which engage similar guides on the
back of a plate B¹, and the adjustment is secured in a similar manner. This plate B¹
may also be provided with cord-supporting hooks or projections a³, a³, from which
another picture may be suspended.
In figure 10 I have shown the connection B as composed of two bars or rods C₁ c¹
which cross each other intermediate of such plates. These rods or bars are held by
frictional contact in clips or bearings on the plates A whereby a certain amount of
adjustment may be secured. In this case the plate B₁ is located at the point of the
intersection or crossing of the rods or bars C, c¹.
In figure 11 the bar B is a single rod or tube connected with plates A in a similar
manner, and the adjustment of the plates thereon is secured by moving them along
such rod or tube.
In figure 12 the bar B is composed of one or more tubes b and one or more rods or
tubes of less diameter than the tube or tubes and which telescope within the
same.
In figure 9 the bar B is formed of two parts b, 61 hinged together at d.
In addition to the cord-supporting hooks each hanger may be provided with hooks
or projections e, e for holding the cord in an inwardly-deflected position, as shown in
figures 1, 2 and 5. These hooks or projections may be made from and form part of
the bar B or the plates A or may be attached to either of these parts.
The plate B¹ may be made of ornamental form and may also be provided with cord
retaining or locking hooks or projections e¹, e¹ as shown in figure 2. This plate may
be employed with each of the different forms of banger shown, or it may be dispensed
with and the hangers used without it.

page_text: The cord locking or retaining hooks e, e on the hangers perform an additional
function in a double hanger of this character as by means of the same a considerable
amount of outward strain is given to the lower end of the hanger, and the cord, being
locked or prevented from slipping on the cord-support, does away with the tendency
to draw the arms of the hanger together, and almost entirely relieves the connection
between the arms from strain. Thus I am enabled to employ a connecting construction
of light and flexible material, much lighter than could be used without them.
I do not desire to be limited to the exact constructions shown as modifications of
each may be made without departing from the principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically-disposed arms, each provided with
moans for engaging a support for the same, the said arms supporting the entire weight
of the hanger, a connection between the said arms, and two independent cord-supporting
projections below the supporting means, held from contact with each other by the
connection between the arms, substantially as described.
2. A picture-hanger consisting of two arms, each provided with means for engaging
a support for the same, a connection between the said arms holding the same apart,
but permitting the independent adjustment of the said arms, and a cord-support attached
to the said hanger, substantially as described.
3. A picture-hanger consisting of two arms, each provided with means for engaging
a support for the same, and a bar of flexible material connecting the said parts and
provided with elevations and depressions to increase the rigidity of the bar, and a
cord-support attached to the said hanger, substantially as described.
4. A picture-hanger consisting of two arms, each provided with means for engaging
a support for the same, and a bar connecting the said arms, and an adjustable connection
between the said arms holding them from contact with each other, and a cord-support,
substantially as described.
5. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically-disposed arms, each provided with
means for engaging a support for the same, a bar connecting the said arms and
holding them out of contact with each other, and two cord-supports for two separate
cords, substantially as described.
6. A picture hanger consisting of two vertically-disposed arms, each provided with
means for engaging a support for the same, a connection between the said arms
holding them out of contact with each other, a cord-support, and locking or retaining
projections below the cord-support for holding the cord in an inwardly-deflected
position, substantially as described.
7. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically-disposed armis, each provided with
means for engaging a support for the same, a bar connecting the said arms, a cord-
support, and a plate attached to the said bar, and provided with an additional cord-
support, substantially as described.
8. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically-disposed arms, each provided with
means for engaging a support for the same, a connection between the said arms, two
cord-supports connected with the hanger, and a locking projection or projections below
the cord supports within vertical lines from the outer edges of such supports
substantially as described.
That the outh 1
1000