US20040195477A1 - Device for hanging articles - Google Patents
Device for hanging articles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20040195477A1 US20040195477A1 US10/803,357 US80335704A US2004195477A1 US 20040195477 A1 US20040195477 A1 US 20040195477A1 US 80335704 A US80335704 A US 80335704A US 2004195477 A1 US2004195477 A1 US 2004195477A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bracket
- body portion
- aperture
- hook
- back wall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G1/00—Mirrors; Picture frames or the like, e.g. provided with heating, lighting or ventilating means
- A47G1/16—Devices for hanging or supporting pictures, mirrors, or the like
- A47G1/20—Picture hooks; X-hooks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G1/00—Mirrors; Picture frames or the like, e.g. provided with heating, lighting or ventilating means
- A47G1/16—Devices for hanging or supporting pictures, mirrors, or the like
- A47G1/20—Picture hooks; X-hooks
- A47G2001/207—Safety hooks preventing accidental dislodging of the picture
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to devices for supporting articles and more particularly, to devices for hanging decorative items.
- Brackets for supporting decorative items that include a thin supporting wire that traverses along their backside.
- One type of commercially available bracket includes a main body portion and a stationary hook that is attached to the main body portion. The end of the hook extends away from the main body portion for purposes of capturing the supporting wire attached to a decorative item.
- the main body portion normally includes one or more apertures for receiving a fastener, such as a screw or a nail. A user may position the main body portion of the bracket against a suitable hanging surface such as a wall and may drive the fastener through the appropriate aperture to secure the bracket to the hanging surface.
- the user may position the decorative item close to the hanging surface with the backside of the item facing the hook of the bracket. Typically, the user then lowers the decorative item to permit the supporting wire of the decorative item to engage the hook. Once engaged, the bracket may support the decorative item.
- the supporting wire may not “catch” the hook on the user's first attempt to hang the decorative item. In fact, it may take three or more attempts before the supporting wire engages the hook. As such, it may be quite frustrating to hang these items.
- the user may drop or lose control of the decorative item during the engagement attempt, which may result in injury to the user or damage to the item.
- the supporting wire may even engage a portion of the bracket that was not designed for supporting the decorative article.
- the supporting wire may accidentally catch one of the heads of the fasteners used to secure the main body portion of the bracket to the hanging surface, which may cause the user to believe mistakenly that the decorative item is secure.
- a bracket that overcomes the disadvantages listed above without a substantial increase in costs or complexity.
- the present invention concerns a bracket for hanging articles.
- the bracket includes a body portion having at least one side wall and at least one first aperture in which the body portion is attachable to a swingable hook.
- the bracket also includes a swingable hook.
- the swingable hook may have a hooking portion, at least one side portion and at least one engaging portion in which the at least one engaging portion is attached to the at least one side portion.
- the first apertures of the body portion engage the end portions of the swingable hook.
- the side portions of the hook may frictionally engage inner surfaces of the side walls such that the swingable hook is swingably set to a plurality of positions.
- At least one of the inner surfaces of the side walls of the body portion may include at least one protrusion extending away from the inner surfaces of the side walls.
- the side portions of the swingable hook rest on the protrusions, thereby providing additional support to the frictional engagement between the side portions and the inner surfaces of the side walls.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bracket for hanging articles in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 5 illustrates yet another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another bracket for hanging articles in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the bracket of FIG. 6 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 8 illustrates another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 6 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 9 illustrates another side view of the bracket of FIG. 6 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a side wall of another example of a bracket in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 11 illustrates a portion of a swingable hook of the bracket of FIG. 10 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 12 illustrates the swingable hook of FIG. 11 engaged to the side wall of FIG. 10 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- the bracket 10 may be used to hang virtually any type of hanging article, including decorative items like paintings, mirrors or pictures.
- the bracket 10 may include a body portion 12 and a swingable hook 14 .
- the body portion 12 may have a back wall 16 , one or more side walls 18 attached to the back wall 16 and a top wall 20 .
- the top wall 20 may be attached to the back wall 16 and the side walls 18 .
- One or more of the back wall 16 , the side walls 18 and the top wall 20 may be separate components and may be secured to one another to create the body portion 12 .
- the body portion 12 may be a single, integrated unit molded from, for example, the same piece of material.
- each side wall 18 may be sloped downward, and the top wall 20 may slope downwards at an angle that at least substantially corresponds to the downward slope of the tops 17 of the side walls 18 . Additionally, the side walls 18 may extend above the top wall 20 , a feature that will be discussed later.
- the back wall 16 , the side walls 18 and the top wall 20 may be made of any type of durable material. Suitable examples include metal, plastic, ceramic or wood.
- the swingable hook 14 may include one or more engaging portions 22 , one or more side portions 24 and a hooking portion 26 .
- the engaging portions 22 and the hooking portion 26 may be attached to the side portions 24 .
- the hooking portion 26 is the part of the swingable hook 14 that may be used to engage the support wire, for example, of a hanging article.
- the hooking portion 26 is not limited to the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, as the hooking portion 26 may be any suitable structure capable of ensuring that a hanging article remains engaged to the swingable hook 14 .
- the components of the swingable hook 14 may be constructed of any suitable material, including metal, plastic, ceramic or wood. Of course, it must be understood that the composition of the swingable hook 14 is in no way limited to these particular materials. Moreover, the construction of the swingable hook 14 is not limited to the same type of material used to build the back wall 16 , the side walls 18 or the top wall 20 .
- At least one of the side walls 18 may include one or more first apertures 28 . These first apertures 28 may be used to engage the engaging portions 22 of the swingable hook 14 .
- the engaging portions 22 and the first apertures 28 may be substantially circular. An example of their engagement is shown in FIG. 2 in which the engaging portions 22 have been inserted through the first apertures 28 . This type of engagement allows the swingable hook 14 to swing towards and away from the back wall 16 of the body portion 12 . It is important to note that the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2.
- first apertures 28 may be constructed as a substantially hollow protrusion that extends away from the side walls 18 .
- the engaging portions 22 may be inserted in the hollow protrusions.
- the side walls 18 may include any suitable number of first apertures 28 , and the additional first apertures 28 may be positioned above or below the location containing the first apertures 28 illustrated in the drawings.
- the top wall 20 may include one or more second apertures 30
- the back wall 16 may include one or more corresponding second apertures 30
- the second apertures 30 on the top wall 20 and the back wall 16 are created by boring through the top wall 20 and the back wall 16 at an angle relative to the back wall 16 .
- the angle at which the bores are drilled may correspond at least substantially to the angle at which the tops 17 of the side walls 18 slope downwards (respective to the back wall 16 ).
- One or more fasteners 32 such as a nail or a screw, may be inserted through the second apertures 30 on the top wall 20 and then through the corresponding second apertures 30 on the back wall 16 .
- the fasteners 32 may slide through the second apertures 30 at a predetermined angle relative to the back wall 16 of the body portion 12 .
- the predetermined angle may be any angle between roughly forty-five and seventy degrees relative to the back wall 16 .
- the fasteners discussed herein are described as fasteners that pierce the body portion and/or surface, such as a nail, screw, bolt or the like, it is also contemplated that the body portion may be attached to the surface using a fastener having an adhesive characteristic.
- An adhesive characteristic is one that creates a chemical or mechanical bond between two surfaces through contact of the two surfaces to one another. Additionally, for metallic surfaces, the body portion may be attached by placing a magnet on a back wall of the body portion.
- the back wall 16 of the body portion 12 when the back wall 16 of the body portion 12 is positioned against a hanging surface 34 , a user may insert the fasteners 32 through the second apertures 30 . Subsequently, the user may drive the fasteners 32 through the second apertures 30 such that the fasteners 32 pierce the hanging surface 34 . Although not necessary, the user may drive the fasteners 32 to the point where a head 36 of the fasteners 32 is substantially flush with the top wall 20 .
- the hanging surface 34 may be any surface suitable for supporting the body portion 12 and the weight of the hanging article. Suitable examples include walls or doors. The angle at which the fasteners 32 are positioned relative to the back wall 16 , and hence the hanging surface 34 , may provide a sturdy engagement between the fasteners 32 and the hanging surface 34 .
- one or more of the side walls 18 may extend above the top wall 20 . This feature may prevent the support wire on a hanging article from accidentally engaging the heads 36 of either one of the fasteners 32 if such heads 36 are not completely flush with the top wall 20 . Additionally, the downward slope of the tops 17 of the side walls 18 (and the top wall 20 ) may help guide a support wire towards the swingable hook 14 , if the support wire were to land on this area of the bracket 10 when a user attempts to hang an article.
- a distance D 1 between the side portions 24 may be substantially the same as or greater than a distance D 2 , the distance between inner surfaces 38 of the side walls 18 .
- the swingable hook 14 may be made of many different types of materials. In one arrangement, the swingable hook 14 , irrespective of the material used in its construction, may be flexible. For example, a user may squeeze the side portions 24 towards or away from one another. In particular, by squeezing the side portions 24 towards one another, a user may decrease the distance D 1 to enable the swingable hook 14 to be easily inserted in between the side walls 18 .
- the user may position the swingable hook 14 such that the engaging portions 22 are substantially lined up with the first apertures 28 .
- the user may then release the swingable hook 14 , and the engaging portions 22 and the side portions 24 may move towards the inner surfaces 38 of the side walls 18 .
- the engaging portions 22 may engage the first apertures 28 . Because the distance D 1 is substantially the same or greater than the distance D 2 , the side portions 24 of the swingable hook 14 may frictionally engage the inner surfaces 38 of the side walls 18 . This engagement is shown in FIG. 2.
- the swingable hook 14 may be swingably set to a plurality of positions.
- the user may pull the swingable hook 14 away from the back wall 16 , and when the user removes the pulling force, the swingable hook 14 will remain at least substantially in the position last reached when the force was removed.
- This setting is illustrated in FIG. 2.
- the invention is not limited to this example, as the swingable hook 14 may be set to a wide range of positions.
- the swingable hook 14 may be pushed towards the back wall 16 until the side portions 24 are stopped by the back wall 16 . This particular setting is shown in FIG. 4.
- pulling the swingable hook 14 away from the back wall 16 of the body portion 12 facilitates the hanging of a hanging article. Specifically, it is easier for the support wire of a hanging article to engage the hooking portion 26 of the swingable hook 14 . Once the support wire has engaged the swingable hook 14 , the user may lower the hanging article. The weight of the hanging article may overcome the frictional engagement between the side portions 24 and the inner surfaces 38 of the side walls 18 and may force the swingable hook 14 back towards the body portion 12 until the side portions 24 come into contact with the back wall 16 .
- one or more protrusions 40 may be positioned on the inner surfaces 38 of the side walls 18 . These protrusions 40 may extend away from the inner surfaces 38 on which they are situated. Additionally, the protrusions 40 may be paired into opposing protrusions 40 in which one protrusion 40 located on one inner surface 38 may be directly positioned across from another protrusion 40 mounted on the other inner surface 38 . Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 ; however, it is understood that the invention is not limited in this regard, as the protrusions 40 may be positioned in accordance with any other suitable manner.
- the protrusions 40 may provide a location on which the side portions 24 of the swingable hook 14 may rest. For example, referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the user may pull the swingable hook 14 away from the back wall 16 . Because the swingable hook 14 is flexible, the protrusions 40 may force the side portions 24 towards one another such that the side portions 24 slide over the protrusions 40 as the user pulls the swingable hook 14 . In one arrangement, the protrusions 40 may have a roughly spherical shape to permit the side portions 24 to slide easily over the protrusions 40 . Once the side portions 24 move over the protrusions 40 , the side portions 24 may rest upon the protrusions 40 . An example is shown in FIG. 5.
- This resting engagement may hold the swingable hook 14 in place while he user attempts to engage the support wire of the hanging article with the swingable hook 14 .
- the weight of the article may force the side portions 24 to slide back over the protrusions 40 .
- the protrusions 40 may be used to supplement the frictional engagement between the side portions 24 and the inner surfaces 38 of the side walls 18 .
- the protrusions 40 may be used in lieu of the frictional engagement to swingably set the swingable hook 14 .
- the invention is not limited to merely having two opposing protrusions 40 , as the inner surfaces 38 may include any suitable number of protrusions 40 positioned in any suitable manner.
- FIG. 6 another example of a bracket 10 in accordance with the inventive arrangements is shown.
- the hooking portion 26 of the swingable hook 14 may be positioned such that it points back towards the back wall 16 .
- the operation of the bracket 10 is similar to that described with respect to the previous drawings. This arrangement, however, narrows the gap between the hooking portion 26 and the back wall 16 .
- an end 42 of the hooking portion 26 may extend to a point such that a portion of the end 42 is positioned in the area between the side walls 18 . This example is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 7.
- Constructing the swingable hook 14 in accordance with this embodiment may improve the stability of a decorative item being supported by the bracket 10 .
- this hooking portion 26 may make it more difficult for the supporting wire of a decorative item to disengage the hooking portion 26 accidentally.
- the angle at which the hooking portion 26 extends towards the back wall 16 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; the hooking portion 26 may extend towards the back wall 16 at any other suitable angle.
- a tab 44 may be attached to the back wall 16 .
- the tab 44 may be constructed out of the same material as the back wall 16 and may be attached near the bottom of the back wall 16 .
- the tab 44 and the back wall 16 may be a single, integrated unit and may be molded from, for example, the same material.
- the tab 16 may include a first segment 46 and a second segment 48 in which the first segment 46 and the second segment 48 extend away from one another at a predetermined angle.
- the predetermined angle is such that the first segment 46 runs substantially parallel with an edge 50 of the side walls 18 ; moreover, the second segment 48 may run substantially parallel to the top wall 20 (for purposes of clarity, the swingable hook 14 is not shown in FIG. 9).
- the invention is in no way limited to this particular example.
- the second segment 48 of the tab 16 may include one or more tab apertures 52 . Additionally, the back wall 16 may include one or more corresponding fourth apertures 54 . As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a fastener 32 may be inserted through the tab aperture 52 and aligned with the corresponding fourth aperture 54 . Subsequently, the fastener 32 may be driven through the hanging surface 34 , which may secure the lower end of the bracket 10 to the hanging surface 34 . The engagement of this fastener 32 may supplement the engagement of the fasteners 32 presented in the discussion relating to FIG. 2, or it may be used in lieu of the fasteners 32 of FIG. 2. Similar to the fasteners 32 described with respect to FIG. 2, the fastener 32 may be driven through the hanging surface 34 at an angle based on the alignment of the tab aperture 52 and the corresponding fourth aperture 54 , which may improve the engagement of the bracket 10 to the hanging surface 34 .
- the engaging portions 22 of the swingable hook 14 may engage the first apertures 28 located on the side walls 18 .
- the first apertures 28 have been illustrated as being substantially circular in shape.
- FIG. 10 a close-up view of another example of a suitable first aperture 28 is shown.
- the first aperture 28 may include a substantially circular top portion 56 and a slot 58 .
- the top portion 56 may flow into the slot 58 to create a single opening.
- the slot 58 may run along an axis A that, in one arrangement, may be substantially parallel with the back wall 16 .
- the slot 58 may be positioned along any other suitable axis.
- the engaging portion 22 of the swingable hook 14 may be modified to engage the first aperture 28 of FIG. 10.
- the engaging portion 22 may include a rectangular-shaped protrusion 60 that may fit within the slot 58 of the first aperture 28 of FIG. 10.
- at least a portion of the engaging portion 22 may remain substantially circular, as illustrated in previous embodiments.
- a user may align the engaging portion 22 with the first aperture 28 such that the protrusion 60 is positioned along an axis that is not parallel to that of axis A, the axis along which the slot 58 runs.
- the protrusion 60 of the engaging portion 22 may move through the top portion 56 of the first aperture 28 .
- the protrusion 60 may move through the top portion 56 until a face 62 (see FIG. 11) of the engaging portion 22 contacts the edges of the top portion 56 , as shown in FIG. 12. Because the protrusion 60 is not lined up with the slot 58 , however, the protrusion 60 will not slide down the slot 58 . At this point, the engaging portions 22 , and hence the swingable hook 14 , are free to rotate.
- the weight of the item may force the swingable hook 14 towards the back wall 16 .
- the engaging portions 22 including the protrusions 60 , may rotate as well.
- the protrusion 60 will eventually line up with the slot 58 , and the protrusion 60 will slide down the length of the slot 58 until it reaches the bottom of the slot 58 .
- the protrusion 60 is “locked” in the slot 58 , and the engaging portions 22 , and hence the swingable hook 14 , are no longer able to rotate.
- This embodiment may add further stability to the bracket 10 .
Abstract
A bracket for hanging articles. The bracket includes a body portion having at least one side wall and at least one first aperture in which the body portion is attachable to a hanging surface. The bracket also includes a swingable hook. The swingable hook has a hooking portion, at least one side portion and at least one engaging portion in which each engaging portion is attached to one side portion. Each first aperture of the body portion engages at least one end portion of the swingable hook. In addition, each side portion of the hook may frictionally engage an inner surface of each side wall such that the swingable hook is swingably set to a plurality of positions. At least one protrusion located on an inner surface of the side wall may be used as an additional resting place for each side portion of the swingable hook.
Description
- This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/456,142, filed Mar. 20, 2003.
- (Not Applicable)
- 1. Technical Field
- The present invention relates generally to devices for supporting articles and more particularly, to devices for hanging decorative items.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- Many individuals may wish to decorate their homes or workspaces with decorative items, such as paintings, mirrors or pictures. Currently, there are a number of devices available to the public that facilitate the hanging of these items. In particular, many retailers offer different types of brackets for supporting decorative items that include a thin supporting wire that traverses along their backside. One type of commercially available bracket includes a main body portion and a stationary hook that is attached to the main body portion. The end of the hook extends away from the main body portion for purposes of capturing the supporting wire attached to a decorative item. Additionally, the main body portion normally includes one or more apertures for receiving a fastener, such as a screw or a nail. A user may position the main body portion of the bracket against a suitable hanging surface such as a wall and may drive the fastener through the appropriate aperture to secure the bracket to the hanging surface.
- Once the bracket is secured to the hanging surface, the user may position the decorative item close to the hanging surface with the backside of the item facing the hook of the bracket. Typically, the user then lowers the decorative item to permit the supporting wire of the decorative item to engage the hook. Once engaged, the bracket may support the decorative item.
- Significantly, however, it may be taxing to effectuate the engagement of the supporting wire and the hook. Specifically, the supporting wire may not “catch” the hook on the user's first attempt to hang the decorative item. In fact, it may take three or more attempts before the supporting wire engages the hook. As such, it may be quite frustrating to hang these items. Moreover, there is an increased risk that the user may drop or lose control of the decorative item during the engagement attempt, which may result in injury to the user or damage to the item. The supporting wire may even engage a portion of the bracket that was not designed for supporting the decorative article. For example, the supporting wire may accidentally catch one of the heads of the fasteners used to secure the main body portion of the bracket to the hanging surface, which may cause the user to believe mistakenly that the decorative item is secure. Thus, there is a need for a bracket that overcomes the disadvantages listed above without a substantial increase in costs or complexity.
- The present invention concerns a bracket for hanging articles. The bracket includes a body portion having at least one side wall and at least one first aperture in which the body portion is attachable to a swingable hook. The bracket also includes a swingable hook. The swingable hook may have a hooking portion, at least one side portion and at least one engaging portion in which the at least one engaging portion is attached to the at least one side portion. The first apertures of the body portion engage the end portions of the swingable hook. In addition, in one embodiment, the side portions of the hook may frictionally engage inner surfaces of the side walls such that the swingable hook is swingably set to a plurality of positions. In one embodiment, at least one of the inner surfaces of the side walls of the body portion may include at least one protrusion extending away from the inner surfaces of the side walls. The side portions of the swingable hook rest on the protrusions, thereby providing additional support to the frictional engagement between the side portions and the inner surfaces of the side walls.
- Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, while referring to the attached drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bracket for hanging articles in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 5 illustrates yet another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another bracket for hanging articles in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the bracket of FIG. 6 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 8 illustrates another perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 6 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 9 illustrates another side view of the bracket of FIG. 6 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a side wall of another example of a bracket in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 11 illustrates a portion of a swingable hook of the bracket of FIG. 10 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- FIG. 12 illustrates the swingable hook of FIG. 11 engaged to the side wall of FIG. 10 in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
- The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended to be illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” may include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”
- The present invention will now be further described through the following drawings. It is to be understood that these drawings are non-limiting and are presented to provide a better understanding of various embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to represent every possible embodiment of the present invention.
- Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a
bracket 10 for hanging articles is shown. Thebracket 10 may be used to hang virtually any type of hanging article, including decorative items like paintings, mirrors or pictures. Thebracket 10 may include abody portion 12 and aswingable hook 14. Thebody portion 12 may have aback wall 16, one ormore side walls 18 attached to theback wall 16 and atop wall 20. Thetop wall 20 may be attached to theback wall 16 and theside walls 18. One or more of theback wall 16, theside walls 18 and thetop wall 20 may be separate components and may be secured to one another to create thebody portion 12. In another arrangement, thebody portion 12 may be a single, integrated unit molded from, for example, the same piece of material. - As illustrated, a
top 17 of eachside wall 18 may be sloped downward, and thetop wall 20 may slope downwards at an angle that at least substantially corresponds to the downward slope of thetops 17 of theside walls 18. Additionally, theside walls 18 may extend above thetop wall 20, a feature that will be discussed later. Theback wall 16, theside walls 18 and thetop wall 20 may be made of any type of durable material. Suitable examples include metal, plastic, ceramic or wood. - The
swingable hook 14 may include one or moreengaging portions 22, one ormore side portions 24 and a hookingportion 26. The engagingportions 22 and the hookingportion 26 may be attached to theside portions 24. The hookingportion 26 is the part of theswingable hook 14 that may be used to engage the support wire, for example, of a hanging article. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hookingportion 26 is not limited to the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, as the hookingportion 26 may be any suitable structure capable of ensuring that a hanging article remains engaged to theswingable hook 14. - Like the
back wall 16, theside walls 18 and thetop wall 20, the components of theswingable hook 14 may be constructed of any suitable material, including metal, plastic, ceramic or wood. Of course, it must be understood that the composition of theswingable hook 14 is in no way limited to these particular materials. Moreover, the construction of theswingable hook 14 is not limited to the same type of material used to build theback wall 16, theside walls 18 or thetop wall 20. - At least one of the
side walls 18 may include one or morefirst apertures 28. Thesefirst apertures 28 may be used to engage the engagingportions 22 of theswingable hook 14. In one arrangement and without limitation, the engagingportions 22 and thefirst apertures 28 may be substantially circular. An example of their engagement is shown in FIG. 2 in which the engagingportions 22 have been inserted through thefirst apertures 28. This type of engagement allows theswingable hook 14 to swing towards and away from theback wall 16 of thebody portion 12. It is important to note that the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, it is not necessary for thefirst apertures 28 to pierce theside walls 18 completely, as thefirst apertures 28 may be constructed as a substantially hollow protrusion that extends away from theside walls 18. In this arrangement, the engagingportions 22 may be inserted in the hollow protrusions. In addition, theside walls 18 may include any suitable number offirst apertures 28, and the additionalfirst apertures 28 may be positioned above or below the location containing thefirst apertures 28 illustrated in the drawings. - The
top wall 20 may include one or moresecond apertures 30, and theback wall 16 may include one or more correspondingsecond apertures 30. Thesecond apertures 30 on thetop wall 20 and theback wall 16 are created by boring through thetop wall 20 and theback wall 16 at an angle relative to theback wall 16. In one embodiment, the angle at which the bores are drilled may correspond at least substantially to the angle at which the tops 17 of theside walls 18 slope downwards (respective to the back wall 16). One ormore fasteners 32, such as a nail or a screw, may be inserted through thesecond apertures 30 on thetop wall 20 and then through the correspondingsecond apertures 30 on theback wall 16. Because of the angle at which thesecond apertures 30 were bored, thefasteners 32 may slide through thesecond apertures 30 at a predetermined angle relative to theback wall 16 of thebody portion 12. Without limitation and merely as an example, the predetermined angle may be any angle between roughly forty-five and seventy degrees relative to theback wall 16. Also, while the fasteners discussed herein are described as fasteners that pierce the body portion and/or surface, such as a nail, screw, bolt or the like, it is also contemplated that the body portion may be attached to the surface using a fastener having an adhesive characteristic. An adhesive characteristic is one that creates a chemical or mechanical bond between two surfaces through contact of the two surfaces to one another. Additionally, for metallic surfaces, the body portion may be attached by placing a magnet on a back wall of the body portion. - Referring to FIG. 3, the angle at which the
fasteners 32 extend from theback wall 16 and the angle at which thetop wall 20 and thetops 17 of theside walls 18 slope downwards respective to theback wall 16 are more clearly illustrated. - Referring back to FIG. 2, when the
back wall 16 of thebody portion 12 is positioned against a hangingsurface 34, a user may insert thefasteners 32 through thesecond apertures 30. Subsequently, the user may drive thefasteners 32 through thesecond apertures 30 such that thefasteners 32 pierce the hangingsurface 34. Although not necessary, the user may drive thefasteners 32 to the point where ahead 36 of thefasteners 32 is substantially flush with thetop wall 20. The hangingsurface 34 may be any surface suitable for supporting thebody portion 12 and the weight of the hanging article. Suitable examples include walls or doors. The angle at which thefasteners 32 are positioned relative to theback wall 16, and hence the hangingsurface 34, may provide a sturdy engagement between thefasteners 32 and the hangingsurface 34. - The
back wall 16 may also include one or morethird apertures 37. When theback wall 16 is positioned against the hangingsurface 34, one ormore fasteners 32 may be driven through thethird aperture 37 and the hangingsurface 34. In this example, thefastener 32 may be a wall anchor, a wall screw or a sheet metal screw. Afastener 32 that has been inserted through thethird aperture 37 to secure thebody portion 12 to the hangingsurface 34 may be used to supplant the driving offasteners 32 through thesecond apertures 30. Alternatively, this type of engagement may be used to supplement anyfasteners 32 that have been inserted through thesecond apertures 30 for purposes of securing thebody portion 12 to the hangingsurface 34. - In one arrangement and as noted earlier, one or more of the
side walls 18 may extend above thetop wall 20. This feature may prevent the support wire on a hanging article from accidentally engaging theheads 36 of either one of thefasteners 32 ifsuch heads 36 are not completely flush with thetop wall 20. Additionally, the downward slope of the tops 17 of the side walls 18 (and the top wall 20) may help guide a support wire towards theswingable hook 14, if the support wire were to land on this area of thebracket 10 when a user attempts to hang an article. - Referring once again to FIG. 1, a distance D1 between the
side portions 24 may be substantially the same as or greater than a distance D2, the distance betweeninner surfaces 38 of theside walls 18. As noted earlier, theswingable hook 14 may be made of many different types of materials. In one arrangement, theswingable hook 14, irrespective of the material used in its construction, may be flexible. For example, a user may squeeze theside portions 24 towards or away from one another. In particular, by squeezing theside portions 24 towards one another, a user may decrease the distance D1 to enable theswingable hook 14 to be easily inserted in between theside walls 18. - Once inserted, the user may position the
swingable hook 14 such that the engagingportions 22 are substantially lined up with thefirst apertures 28. The user may then release theswingable hook 14, and the engagingportions 22 and theside portions 24 may move towards theinner surfaces 38 of theside walls 18. The engagingportions 22 may engage thefirst apertures 28. Because the distance D1 is substantially the same or greater than the distance D2, theside portions 24 of theswingable hook 14 may frictionally engage theinner surfaces 38 of theside walls 18. This engagement is shown in FIG. 2. - Because of the frictional engagement, the
swingable hook 14 may be swingably set to a plurality of positions. As an example, the user may pull theswingable hook 14 away from theback wall 16, and when the user removes the pulling force, theswingable hook 14 will remain at least substantially in the position last reached when the force was removed. This setting is illustrated in FIG. 2. Of course, the invention is not limited to this example, as theswingable hook 14 may be set to a wide range of positions. As another example, theswingable hook 14 may be pushed towards theback wall 16 until theside portions 24 are stopped by theback wall 16. This particular setting is shown in FIG. 4. - Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, pulling the
swingable hook 14 away from theback wall 16 of thebody portion 12 facilitates the hanging of a hanging article. Specifically, it is easier for the support wire of a hanging article to engage the hookingportion 26 of theswingable hook 14. Once the support wire has engaged theswingable hook 14, the user may lower the hanging article. The weight of the hanging article may overcome the frictional engagement between theside portions 24 and theinner surfaces 38 of theside walls 18 and may force theswingable hook 14 back towards thebody portion 12 until theside portions 24 come into contact with theback wall 16. - In one particular arrangement, one or
more protrusions 40 may be positioned on theinner surfaces 38 of theside walls 18. Theseprotrusions 40 may extend away from theinner surfaces 38 on which they are situated. Additionally, theprotrusions 40 may be paired into opposingprotrusions 40 in which oneprotrusion 40 located on oneinner surface 38 may be directly positioned across from anotherprotrusion 40 mounted on the otherinner surface 38. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4; however, it is understood that the invention is not limited in this regard, as theprotrusions 40 may be positioned in accordance with any other suitable manner. - The
protrusions 40 may provide a location on which theside portions 24 of theswingable hook 14 may rest. For example, referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the user may pull theswingable hook 14 away from theback wall 16. Because theswingable hook 14 is flexible, theprotrusions 40 may force theside portions 24 towards one another such that theside portions 24 slide over theprotrusions 40 as the user pulls theswingable hook 14. In one arrangement, theprotrusions 40 may have a roughly spherical shape to permit theside portions 24 to slide easily over theprotrusions 40. Once theside portions 24 move over theprotrusions 40, theside portions 24 may rest upon theprotrusions 40. An example is shown in FIG. 5. This resting engagement may hold theswingable hook 14 in place while he user attempts to engage the support wire of the hanging article with theswingable hook 14. After the support wire engages theswingable hook 14 and the article is lowered, the weight of the article may force theside portions 24 to slide back over theprotrusions 40. - The
protrusions 40 may be used to supplement the frictional engagement between theside portions 24 and theinner surfaces 38 of theside walls 18. Alternatively, theprotrusions 40 may be used in lieu of the frictional engagement to swingably set theswingable hook 14. In either arrangement, the invention is not limited to merely having two opposingprotrusions 40, as theinner surfaces 38 may include any suitable number ofprotrusions 40 positioned in any suitable manner. - Referring to FIG. 6, another example of a
bracket 10 in accordance with the inventive arrangements is shown. In this example, at least a portion of the hookingportion 26 of theswingable hook 14 may be positioned such that it points back towards theback wall 16. The operation of thebracket 10 is similar to that described with respect to the previous drawings. This arrangement, however, narrows the gap between the hookingportion 26 and theback wall 16. In one particular arrangement, anend 42 of the hookingportion 26 may extend to a point such that a portion of theend 42 is positioned in the area between theside walls 18. This example is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 7. - Constructing the
swingable hook 14 in accordance with this embodiment may improve the stability of a decorative item being supported by thebracket 10. For example, this hookingportion 26 may make it more difficult for the supporting wire of a decorative item to disengage the hookingportion 26 accidentally. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the angle at which the hookingportion 26 extends towards theback wall 16 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; the hookingportion 26 may extend towards theback wall 16 at any other suitable angle. - Referring back to FIG. 6 and to FIG. 8, a
tab 44 may be attached to theback wall 16. In one arrangement but without limitation, thetab 44 may be constructed out of the same material as theback wall 16 and may be attached near the bottom of theback wall 16. Alternatively, thetab 44 and theback wall 16 may be a single, integrated unit and may be molded from, for example, the same material. In either arrangement, thetab 16 may include afirst segment 46 and asecond segment 48 in which thefirst segment 46 and thesecond segment 48 extend away from one another at a predetermined angle. As an example, and referring to FIG. 9, the predetermined angle is such that thefirst segment 46 runs substantially parallel with anedge 50 of theside walls 18; moreover, thesecond segment 48 may run substantially parallel to the top wall 20 (for purposes of clarity, theswingable hook 14 is not shown in FIG. 9). Of course, the invention is in no way limited to this particular example. - Moving back to FIG. 6 and8, the
second segment 48 of thetab 16 may include one ormore tab apertures 52. Additionally, theback wall 16 may include one or more correspondingfourth apertures 54. As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, afastener 32 may be inserted through thetab aperture 52 and aligned with the correspondingfourth aperture 54. Subsequently, thefastener 32 may be driven through the hangingsurface 34, which may secure the lower end of thebracket 10 to the hangingsurface 34. The engagement of thisfastener 32 may supplement the engagement of thefasteners 32 presented in the discussion relating to FIG. 2, or it may be used in lieu of thefasteners 32 of FIG. 2. Similar to thefasteners 32 described with respect to FIG. 2, thefastener 32 may be driven through the hangingsurface 34 at an angle based on the alignment of thetab aperture 52 and the correspondingfourth aperture 54, which may improve the engagement of thebracket 10 to the hangingsurface 34. - As previously described (see FIGS. 1, 2,4 and 5), the engaging
portions 22 of theswingable hook 14 may engage thefirst apertures 28 located on theside walls 18. Thus far, thefirst apertures 28 have been illustrated as being substantially circular in shape. Referring to FIG. 10, a close-up view of another example of a suitablefirst aperture 28 is shown. Here, thefirst aperture 28 may include a substantially circulartop portion 56 and aslot 58. Thetop portion 56 may flow into theslot 58 to create a single opening. Theslot 58 may run along an axis A that, in one arrangement, may be substantially parallel with theback wall 16. Of course, theslot 58 may be positioned along any other suitable axis. - As shown in FIG. 11, the engaging
portion 22 of theswingable hook 14 may be modified to engage thefirst aperture 28 of FIG. 10. Specifically, the engagingportion 22 may include a rectangular-shapedprotrusion 60 that may fit within theslot 58 of thefirst aperture 28 of FIG. 10. In addition, at least a portion of the engagingportion 22 may remain substantially circular, as illustrated in previous embodiments. - In operation, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a user may align the engaging
portion 22 with thefirst aperture 28 such that theprotrusion 60 is positioned along an axis that is not parallel to that of axis A, the axis along which theslot 58 runs. When the user releases theside portions 24 of theswingable hook 14, theprotrusion 60 of the engagingportion 22 may move through thetop portion 56 of thefirst aperture 28. Theprotrusion 60 may move through thetop portion 56 until a face 62 (see FIG. 11) of the engagingportion 22 contacts the edges of thetop portion 56, as shown in FIG. 12. Because theprotrusion 60 is not lined up with theslot 58, however, theprotrusion 60 will not slide down theslot 58. At this point, the engagingportions 22, and hence theswingable hook 14, are free to rotate. - Once the support wire of a decorative item engages the
swingable hook 14 and the item is lowered, the weight of the item may force theswingable hook 14 towards theback wall 16. As theswingable hook 14 moves towards theback wall 16, the engagingportions 22, including theprotrusions 60, may rotate as well. Theprotrusion 60 will eventually line up with theslot 58, and theprotrusion 60 will slide down the length of theslot 58 until it reaches the bottom of theslot 58. At this point, theprotrusion 60 is “locked” in theslot 58, and the engagingportions 22, and hence theswingable hook 14, are no longer able to rotate. This embodiment may add further stability to thebracket 10. - Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, it should be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
Claims (14)
1. A bracket for hanging articles, comprising:
a body portion having at least one side wall and at least one first aperture, wherein the body portion is capable of being attached to a surface; and
a swingable hook having a hooking portion, at least one side portion and at least one engaging portion, wherein the at least one engaging portion is attached to the at least one side portion;
wherein the at least one first aperture of the body portion engages the at least one end portion of the swingable hook.
2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side portion of the hook frictionally engages an inner surface of the at least one side wall such that the swingable hook may be swingably set to a plurality of positions.
3. The bracket of claim 2 , wherein the bracket includes at least two side walls. with each side wall having at least one first aperture; further wherein the swingable hook has at least two side portions and at least two engaging portions, wherein each engaging portion is attached to a separate side portion.
4. The bracket according to claim 3 , wherein each inner surface of the at least two side walls includes at least one protrusion extending away from the inner surfaces of the side walls, wherein each side portion of the swingable hook is capable of resting on at least one protrusion.
5. The bracket according to claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the at least one side wall includes at least one protrusion extending away from the inner surface of the side wall, wherein the at least one side portion of the swingable hook is capable of resting on the at least one protrusion.
6. The bracket according to claim 1 , wherein the body portion is capable of being attached to the surface using a fastening means.
7. The bracket according to claim 6 , wherein the fastening means is a material having adhesive characteristics.
8. The bracket according to claim 6 , further wherein the body portion includes a back wall having at least one aperture in the back wall through which the fastening means may be inserted to connect the body portion to the surface.
9. The bracket according to claim 8 , further wherein the body portion includes a top wall having at least one aperture, wherein a fastening means may be inserted through the at least one aperture in the top wall and the at least one aperture in the back wall to connect the body portion to the surface.
10. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the hooking portion is angled.
11. The bracket according to claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a back wall having a tab attached thereto.
12. The bracket according to claim 11 , further wherein the tab and the back wall have an aperture through which a fastening means may be inserted to connect the body portion to the surface.
13. The bracket according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first aperture comprises a circular top portion and a slot.
14. The bracket according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one engaging portion has a rectangular-shaped protrusion that is capable of fitting in the slot of the at least one first aperture.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/803,357 US20040195477A1 (en) | 2003-03-20 | 2004-03-18 | Device for hanging articles |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US45614203P | 2003-03-20 | 2003-03-20 | |
US10/803,357 US20040195477A1 (en) | 2003-03-20 | 2004-03-18 | Device for hanging articles |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20040195477A1 true US20040195477A1 (en) | 2004-10-07 |
Family
ID=33098088
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/803,357 Abandoned US20040195477A1 (en) | 2003-03-20 | 2004-03-18 | Device for hanging articles |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20040195477A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004084681A2 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150060627A1 (en) * | 2013-09-03 | 2015-03-05 | Marshall Stauber | Frame hanger system |
WO2018053347A1 (en) * | 2016-09-19 | 2018-03-22 | Christopher Morris | Retrofittable system and apparatus for hanging articles on pre-installed supports |
WO2018141884A1 (en) * | 2017-02-01 | 2018-08-09 | Katchy Products Limited | A hanging apparatus |
US10765247B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2020-09-08 | House of Atlas, LLC | Support bracket for rod assembly |
US11432664B2 (en) * | 2020-09-14 | 2022-09-06 | Uttermost Co. | Safety hanger |
US11452398B2 (en) | 2020-01-22 | 2022-09-27 | House of Atlas, LLC | Bracket for surface mounting |
US20230064453A1 (en) * | 2021-08-24 | 2023-03-02 | Gregory Jordan Hoffstetter | Picture Hanging System |
US11812882B2 (en) | 2020-07-06 | 2023-11-14 | House of Atlas, LLC | Support bracket |
Citations (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2049716A (en) * | 1935-02-04 | 1936-08-04 | Alvin W Owen | Hanger |
US2679998A (en) * | 1949-04-08 | 1954-06-01 | British Duplex Seals Ltd | Suspension device |
US2723815A (en) * | 1951-03-20 | 1955-11-15 | Clarence L Browning | Picture hanger |
US3020013A (en) * | 1959-03-27 | 1962-02-06 | Ochin Zeil | Picture hanger |
US3226065A (en) * | 1964-04-20 | 1965-12-28 | Sterling L Smith | Picture hook |
US3312442A (en) * | 1966-02-24 | 1967-04-04 | Lowell J Moeller | Hanger device |
US3422449A (en) * | 1964-05-04 | 1969-01-14 | Harry Rinnman | Eyeglasses with adjustable magnetically attached temples |
US3604673A (en) * | 1969-11-14 | 1971-09-14 | Robert I Klein | Picture straightener |
US3908955A (en) * | 1974-07-22 | 1975-09-30 | Jeanmarie Gallery Inc | Convertible frame support |
US3923278A (en) * | 1974-07-15 | 1975-12-02 | Paul M Marcil | Wall hook structure and method of forming same |
US4039138A (en) * | 1974-07-16 | 1977-08-02 | Coats & Clark, Inc. | Saw tooth hanger |
US4146204A (en) * | 1977-04-25 | 1979-03-27 | Thalenfeld David R | Foldable display hook for merchandise display racks and the like |
US4335865A (en) * | 1979-10-09 | 1982-06-22 | Cormier Joseph A | Curtain rod bracket |
US4367819A (en) * | 1980-07-30 | 1983-01-11 | Clip Strip Corporation | Display rack |
US4455756A (en) * | 1981-12-24 | 1984-06-26 | Greene Gordon D | Device for hanging pictures |
US4809894A (en) * | 1986-01-24 | 1989-03-07 | Matti Viio | Device for detachably connecting objects to an article of clothing |
US4821992A (en) * | 1988-05-09 | 1989-04-18 | Johnson Dennis M | Picture hook with safety closure |
US4893776A (en) * | 1988-09-20 | 1990-01-16 | Floyd John F | Picture hanging apparatus |
US5110077A (en) * | 1987-09-18 | 1992-05-05 | Romano Mossini | Members for supporting articles on smooth walls |
US5588629A (en) * | 1995-05-22 | 1996-12-31 | Barnes; Renny H. | Wall article hanging device |
US5878988A (en) * | 1997-06-24 | 1999-03-09 | Rakower; Joel A. | Mounting bracket and method |
US6241210B1 (en) * | 1996-03-19 | 2001-06-05 | Hangglider Partners | Adjustable mounting device |
US6651945B2 (en) * | 2000-10-31 | 2003-11-25 | Ernest Rivellino | Device for hanging articles |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US973173A (en) * | 1909-08-11 | 1910-10-18 | Moses P Comeau | Hat-holder. |
-
2004
- 2004-03-18 WO PCT/US2004/008148 patent/WO2004084681A2/en active Application Filing
- 2004-03-18 US US10/803,357 patent/US20040195477A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2049716A (en) * | 1935-02-04 | 1936-08-04 | Alvin W Owen | Hanger |
US2679998A (en) * | 1949-04-08 | 1954-06-01 | British Duplex Seals Ltd | Suspension device |
US2723815A (en) * | 1951-03-20 | 1955-11-15 | Clarence L Browning | Picture hanger |
US3020013A (en) * | 1959-03-27 | 1962-02-06 | Ochin Zeil | Picture hanger |
US3226065A (en) * | 1964-04-20 | 1965-12-28 | Sterling L Smith | Picture hook |
US3422449A (en) * | 1964-05-04 | 1969-01-14 | Harry Rinnman | Eyeglasses with adjustable magnetically attached temples |
US3312442A (en) * | 1966-02-24 | 1967-04-04 | Lowell J Moeller | Hanger device |
US3604673A (en) * | 1969-11-14 | 1971-09-14 | Robert I Klein | Picture straightener |
US3923278A (en) * | 1974-07-15 | 1975-12-02 | Paul M Marcil | Wall hook structure and method of forming same |
US4039138A (en) * | 1974-07-16 | 1977-08-02 | Coats & Clark, Inc. | Saw tooth hanger |
US3908955A (en) * | 1974-07-22 | 1975-09-30 | Jeanmarie Gallery Inc | Convertible frame support |
US4146204A (en) * | 1977-04-25 | 1979-03-27 | Thalenfeld David R | Foldable display hook for merchandise display racks and the like |
US4335865A (en) * | 1979-10-09 | 1982-06-22 | Cormier Joseph A | Curtain rod bracket |
US4367819A (en) * | 1980-07-30 | 1983-01-11 | Clip Strip Corporation | Display rack |
US4455756A (en) * | 1981-12-24 | 1984-06-26 | Greene Gordon D | Device for hanging pictures |
US4809894A (en) * | 1986-01-24 | 1989-03-07 | Matti Viio | Device for detachably connecting objects to an article of clothing |
US5110077A (en) * | 1987-09-18 | 1992-05-05 | Romano Mossini | Members for supporting articles on smooth walls |
US4821992A (en) * | 1988-05-09 | 1989-04-18 | Johnson Dennis M | Picture hook with safety closure |
US4893776A (en) * | 1988-09-20 | 1990-01-16 | Floyd John F | Picture hanging apparatus |
US5588629A (en) * | 1995-05-22 | 1996-12-31 | Barnes; Renny H. | Wall article hanging device |
US6241210B1 (en) * | 1996-03-19 | 2001-06-05 | Hangglider Partners | Adjustable mounting device |
US5878988A (en) * | 1997-06-24 | 1999-03-09 | Rakower; Joel A. | Mounting bracket and method |
US6651945B2 (en) * | 2000-10-31 | 2003-11-25 | Ernest Rivellino | Device for hanging articles |
US6672551B2 (en) * | 2000-10-31 | 2004-01-06 | Ernest Rivellino | Device for hanging articles |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150060627A1 (en) * | 2013-09-03 | 2015-03-05 | Marshall Stauber | Frame hanger system |
US10765247B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2020-09-08 | House of Atlas, LLC | Support bracket for rod assembly |
US11266263B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2022-03-08 | House of Atlas, LLC | Support bracket for rod assembly |
WO2018053347A1 (en) * | 2016-09-19 | 2018-03-22 | Christopher Morris | Retrofittable system and apparatus for hanging articles on pre-installed supports |
WO2018141884A1 (en) * | 2017-02-01 | 2018-08-09 | Katchy Products Limited | A hanging apparatus |
US11452398B2 (en) | 2020-01-22 | 2022-09-27 | House of Atlas, LLC | Bracket for surface mounting |
US11805931B2 (en) | 2020-01-22 | 2023-11-07 | House of Atlas, LLC | Bracket for surface mounting |
US11812882B2 (en) | 2020-07-06 | 2023-11-14 | House of Atlas, LLC | Support bracket |
US11432664B2 (en) * | 2020-09-14 | 2022-09-06 | Uttermost Co. | Safety hanger |
US20230064453A1 (en) * | 2021-08-24 | 2023-03-02 | Gregory Jordan Hoffstetter | Picture Hanging System |
US11712122B2 (en) * | 2021-08-24 | 2023-08-01 | Gregory Jordan Hoffstetter | Picture hanging system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2004084681A2 (en) | 2004-10-07 |
WO2004084681A3 (en) | 2005-08-11 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6651945B2 (en) | Device for hanging articles | |
US8899541B2 (en) | Adjustable fastener | |
US8091852B2 (en) | Hanger device and method for hanging an object | |
US6241210B1 (en) | Adjustable mounting device | |
US4712761A (en) | Picture wall hanging assembly | |
US4506856A (en) | Lockable pegboard hook construction | |
US6186466B1 (en) | Hanging frame stabilizer | |
US20070235622A1 (en) | Wallboard appurtenance attachment | |
US20080078916A1 (en) | Picture hanger assembly and method | |
US20090294610A1 (en) | Picture hanger assembly and method | |
KR20030076255A (en) | Hanger assembly | |
US20040195477A1 (en) | Device for hanging articles | |
US11478091B2 (en) | Hanging system and bracket thereof | |
WO2017069862A1 (en) | Support for wire shelf and method of use | |
US20090050775A1 (en) | Mounting means for securing articles to surfaces | |
US20070029355A1 (en) | Wall & rod multiple garment hanger | |
US20080315063A1 (en) | Keyhole mounting system | |
US6691964B1 (en) | Easy view invisible mounting system | |
NZ519028A (en) | Wall hanging device | |
US6682033B1 (en) | Support device for supporting frames and other objects from a structure | |
US20050000068A1 (en) | Apparatus for fastening items on a mantle or shelf | |
KR102107655B1 (en) | Pegboard mounting device | |
US8807502B2 (en) | Adjustable fastener | |
JP3090190B2 (en) | Side racks for refrigerators, etc. | |
US7559456B1 (en) | Mail delivery indicator system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |