Improvements in the Method of and Means for Suspending Pictures and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1890-Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Suspending
Pictures and the like.
I, HENRY BENEST, of 15 Campbell Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention which relates to the suspending of pictures and the like on walls, and
other places, provides means for effecting this object in a strong and simple manner
and in such a way that the picture when suspended is always level and its inclination
to the wall can be easily and quickly varied to suit the light or other requirements.
The invention consists first in the method of attaching the suspending cords, wires,
or the like to the back of the picture, and secondly to a special form of hook over
which the cord is passed.
According to this invention the picture is slung on an endless cord, wire or the
like, passed through four screw eyes or staples fixed on the back of the picture
frame. Two of these eyes or staples are fixed to the back of the picture frame on
the sides as in the ordinary manner, and the other two are fixed along the bottom
each a certain distance from the centre. The picture is suspended by the cord
between the two ordinary staples and also by the cord between the two bottom
staples, each suspension being placed over a separate part of the hook.
The hook consists of a back plate to be secured to the wall or turned over and hung
on a rod, the said back plate terminating in a forked bracket within which is pivoted
a tongue piece bearing against a shoulder on the back piece. The said tongue piece
is provided with a small hook or curved projection on its lower end. The cord
between the two bottom staples is placed over the lower hook, and the cord between
the ordinary staples is placed over the pivoted tongue piece. The weight of the
picture on the cord turns the tongue piece over on its pivot and sets up a jambing
action which effectually prevents the cord slipping transversely over the hook. More-
over, the strain or pull on the cord from the two bottom staples or rings causes the
pivoted tongue piece to press more firmly against the shoulder on the back piece, thus
ensuring the picture being always level when suspended. Its angle of inclination can
be altered by simply raising or lowering the bottom of the picture as desired and
allowing the free suspension cord to adjust itself to the required position.
Dated this 17th day of October 1889
"
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Suspending
Pictures and the like.
I, HENRY BENEST, of 15 Campbell Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer, 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 :—
This invention which relates to the suspending of pictures and the like on walls, and
other places, provides means for effecting this object in a strong and simple manner
and in such a way that the picture when suspended is always level and its inclination
to the wall can be easily and quickly varied to suit the light or other requirements.
The invention consists first in the method of attaching the suspending cords, wires,

page_text: or the like to the back of the picture, and secondly to a special form of hook over
which the cord is passed.
According to this invention the picture is slung on an endless cord, wire, or the like
passed through four screw eyes or staples fixed on the back of the picture frame.
Two of these eyes or staples are fixed to the back of the picture frame on the sides as
in the ordinary manner, and the other two are fixed along the bottom, each a certain
distance from the centre. The picture is suspended by the cord between the two
ordinary staples, and also by the cord, between the two bottom staples, each suspension
being placed over a separate part of the hook.
The hook consists of a back plate to be secured to the wall or turned over and hung
on a rod, the said back plate terminating in a forked bracket within which is pivoted
a tongue piece bearing against a shoulder on the back piece. The said tongue piece
is provided with a small hook or curved projection on its lower end. The cord
between the two bottom staples is placed over the lower hook, and the cord between
the ordinary staples is placed over the pivoted tongue piece. The weight of the
picture on the cord turns the tongue piece over on its pivot and sets up a jambing
action which effectually prevents the cord slipping transversely over the hook. More-
over the strain or pull on the cord from the two bottom staples or rings causes the
pivoted tongue piece to press more firmly against the shoulder on the back piece, thus
ensuring the picture being always level when suspended. Its angle of inclination can
be altered by simply raising or lowering the bottom of the picture as desired and
allowing the free suspension cord to adjust itself to the required position.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Figure 1 is a perspective back view of a picture suspended according to my inven-
tion, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figures 3 and 4 are respectively
side and front elevations of one of my improved suspension hooks; Figures 5 and 6
shew the details of the hook, Figure 5 shews front elevation and plan of the back
piece A, and Figure 6 shews a side elevation of the tongue piece B. Figures 7 to 10
shew modified forms of the hook.
In Figures 1 and 21 have shewn the picture frame with the four screw eyes or
staples D, DI placed one at each corner, but it is not essential that they should be so
placed. So long as the lower screw eyes or staples D' are equidistant from the centre
of the bottom E of the frame, they may be placed either on the bottom of the frame
or in corresponding positions on the opposite sides. The position of the upper screw
eyes or staples D is determined in the ordinary manner. The cord or wire F is passed
through all the screw eyes or staples one after the other, as shewn, and the ends are
joined together in any suitable position. The lower part of the endless cord or wire,
i.e. the part between the two lower screw eyes or staples D' is passed over the small
book or curved projection G, and the upper part, i.e. the part between the upper screw
eyes or staples D is passed over the pivoted tongue piece B.
The tongue piece B is
formed with a bulge, curve, or projection M so placed that the weight of the picture
frame on the cord or wire turns the said tongue piece B over on its pivot towards the
back piece and causes it to jamb the cord between the said tongue piece B and the
back piece A, thereby preventing the cord or wire from moving transversely over
the said tongue piece. If therefore the picture frame is hung with the bottom E
horizontal, it will remain so as long as the cord is gripped by the pivoted tongue
piece B. With the picture frame slung on the wire or cord and suspended sub-
stantially in the manner shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the slope or inclination of the
frame to the wall, or other place, may be varied as desired. The frame being shifted
up or down as required will remain in any position in which it may be placed within
the limits of the normal slope, and a position at right angles to the wall or
practically so.
The suspension hook shewn in Figures 3 to 6 is made in two parts, the back
piece A, and the pivoted tongue piece B. The back piece may be formed with a
ring C as shewn in Figure 8, or may be curved so as to fit on to, or pass over, a rod

page_text: in the ordinary manner, or it may be provided with a hole H as shewn in Figures 4
and 5 to hang over a nail, or two or more small holes may be made in the back piece
through which pins may be placed to attach it to a wall or other place in the well
known manner. The lower part of the back piece is provided with a rectangular open
frame J, Figure 5, on which is placed the tongue piece B with its lower end protruding
through the said open frame J. The front edge K of this frame serves as a rest for
the shoulder L on the tongue piece B which is thus prevented from falling out of the
said frame J. The tongue piece is provided with a projection or bulge M which said
bulge, when the cord or wire is passed thereover, bears against the back piece and sets
up the jambing action herein before referred to. This form of suspension hook is
simple in construction, as each part may be cast, and, when worked up true the two
parts may be placed together, the tongue piece in the back piece, no fitting up or
attaching to each other being required.
Figure 7 shews a cheaper form of suspension hook, in which the two parts are
stamped up or blocked from sheet metal, the sides N of the back piece being turned
over at right angles, to form forked brackets in holes of which gudgeons on the
tongue piece are inserted as shewn, thus forming the pivot on which the said tongue
piece turns. A bulge or projection M' is also formed on the back piece, so that the
cord or wire may be effectually clipped between the two bulges M and M'. If
desired, an additional and similar bulge M' may be placed on the back piece of the
hook, shewn in Figures 3 to 6, but I do not find this necessary where the material
used is sufficiently rigid. As the small hook, or curved projection G is only required
for the purpose of supporting the lower part of the cord, no jambing action being
required, it may be placed on the back piece as shewn in Figure 7, or on the lower.
end of the tongue piece as shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 6. In the latter position it
will assist the jambing action of the tongue piece by pulling its lower end outwards
away from the back piece, but this is not required if the tongue piece is properly
constructed.
In Figures 8, 9, and 10 I have shewn other forms of my invention, slightly
different in construction. In each of these the tongue piece B is pivoted
between the side cheeks N of the back piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
(1) A suspension hook for picture frames and the like such as is herein describéu,
consisting of a back piece A to which a tongue piece B is pivoted in such a manner,
that the strain on the picture cord or wire will turn the said tongue piece on its pivot,
causing the cord or wire to be tightly gripped or jambed between the back piece A
and tongue B, and having a small additional hook or curved projection G on the tail
of the tongue piece, or fast on the back piece, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
-
(2) The method of hanging picture frames and the like by means of the four eyes.
or staples D, D, or their equivalents, arranged substantially in the manner described,
through which the cord or wire F is passed, and the ends joined, and the picture
frame slung, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2.
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.