CA1268628A - Picture hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A hanger for a picture or like hanging article is formed of a substantially straight bar. The opposite ends of the bar are attached to the rear surface of the article with a degreee of clearance between the surface and the bar. A collar is slidingly mounted on the bar for relative lengthwise adjustment movements of the bar and collar. A locating formation is provided on the collar for suspending the attachment on a wall-mounted hook and the like. The collar has a first portion gripping the bar top and bottom and a second portion extending below the bar, the locating formation comprising a notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the second portion.
This hanger dispenses with the ned for a cord or wire, is simple to attach to a picture, and facilitates leveling of the picture when suspending it by means of the attachment on a wall-mounted hock.

Description

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This invention relates to a hanger attachment for pictures and the like generally for facilitating the hanging thereof on a wall. In this respect, an a-ttachment in accordance wi-th the invention is simple to secure to the back of a picture and also is expeditious in obtaining proper leveling of the picture when hanging same. The invention will be described herein in relation to pictures in order to simplify the description thereof. It is to be understood, however, that the term "picture" is used generally to include any relatively rigid wall hanging such as a painting, photograph, clock, mirror, plate, or the like.
Pictures are commonly hung on the wall by means of a cord, wire or the like secured across the back of the picture by fastener eyes on opposite sides of the picture frame, the wire or cord being suspended on one or more picture hooks embedded in a wall. Difficulty may be experienced in attaching a cord or wire to a back of a picture, particularly in a neat, unobtrusive and secure manner, and difficulty may also be encountered in leveling the picture during mounting by moving the cord or wire along the hook.
The present invention provides a hanger attachment for pictures and the like which dispenses with the need for a cord or wire, which is simple to attach to a picture, and whi~h facilitates leveling of the picture when suspending same by means of the attachment on a wall-mounted hook.
Applicant is aware of the following U~S. patents relating to plcture hanging appliances and the like.
None of these patents, however, discloses a device having the features of the present invention.

779,433 J.A. Long Jan. 10, 1905

2,483,114 E.H. Van Schoor et al Sept. 27, 1949 2,740,603 J.S. Wofford April 3, 1956

3,169,738 N.L. Johnson Febu 16, 1965 3,838,842 R.N~ McCracken Oct. 1, 1974 3,945,599 I.M. Spier et al Mar. 23, 1976 A hanger for a picture or the like hanging article in accordance with the invention comprises a substantially straight bar, means at opposite ends of the bar for attaching same to a rear surface of the article with a degree of clear-ancs between the surface and the bar, a collar slidingly mounted on the bar for relative lengthwise adjustment move-ments of the bar and collar and a locating formation on the collar for suspending the attachment on a wall-mounted hook and the like, said collar having a first portion gripping the bar top and bottom and a second portion extending below the bar, the locating formation comprising a notch extending upwardly f~om a lower edge of said second portion. The attachment means may comprise flange at opposite ends of the bar with holes for screws, tacks or the like.
In use, the attachment may be secured to the rear of a picture fxame or the like near the top of the frame and substantially in the center thereof with the bar extending horizontally. The locating ~ormation (notch) is then sus-pended on a wall-mounted hook, nail or the like. To level the picture, the bar may be moved in either direction through the collar until an appropriate position of balancs is found.
The attachment is simple and economical to manu-facture, and it is simple to attach and use.
These togeth~r with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the ,~ .
.
: ` :: : ' details of construction and operation as more fully herein-after described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein - ~a -like numerals refer -to like parts throughout.
Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a part of a picture provided with a hanger attachment in accordance with the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the combination shown inFigure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hanger attachment.
A hanyer attachment 8 in accordance with the invention comprises a steel bar 10 of sheet material bent at its opposite ends to form shoulders 12 and flanges 14 with nail or like holes 16. The length of the bar between the bends may be about 2 inches. Its width may be about 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch. Slidably mounted on bar 10 is a collar 18 which mày be formed from the same material, the collar being bent over to form ribs 20 which grip around the back of the bar, while allowing sliding adjustment movement of the bar and collar lengthwise the bar. The collar has a central portion 22 below bar 10 formed with a downwardly facing notch 24 or the like locating formation.
In use, attachment 8 may be secured to the rear surface of picture frame 26 near the top of the frame and substantially centrally thereof by means of tacks 28 or the like, the hanger being attached with bar 10 extending substantially horizontally. It is understood that shoulders 12 provide a degree of clearance between the bar and the rear surface of the frame to allow unimpeded adjusting movements of the bar 10 and collar 18.
The picture is suspended on a wall-mounted hook 30 of the like by placing notch 24 o~ the collar on the : "

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hook, and if -the pic-ture does not initially hang level, its level may simpe and e~peditiously be adjusted by length-wise movemen-t of bar 10 in the collar. When released, the weight of the picture will hold the bar in adjusted position in the collar. The hanger may also be made of materials other than steel and may be used on items other than pictures.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occure to those s~illed in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifi-cations and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hanger for a picture or like hanging article comprising a substantially straight bar, means at opposite ends of the bar for attaching same to a rear surface of the article with a degree of clearance between the surface and the bar, a collar slidingly mounted on the bar for relative lengthwise adjustment movements of the bar and collar and a locating formation on the collar for suspending the attach-ment on a wall-mounted hook and the like, said collar having a first portion gripping the bar top and bottom and a second portion extending below the bar, the locating formation comprising a notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of said second portion.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the means at opposite ends of the bar for attaching same to a rear surface of an article comprise respective bends in the bar defining shoulders and flanges with nail holes, the flanges being disposed in parallel with the bar.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the bar is bent to shape from sheet material.