CA2310976A1 - Picture hanging tool - Google Patents

Description

TO: CANADIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE
FROM: KELLY KRAKE
c/o Whitt & Company, Barristers and Solicitors 555, 407 - 8"' Ave. SW
CALGARY, ALBERTA T2P 1E5 CANADA
RE: PICTURE HANGING TOOL
I am a resident of Canada, with the mailing address set out above. I am the inventor and the Applicant. I hereby seek the grant of a Canadian patent. This document sets forth a description of my invention, under section 93 of the Patent Rules, as follows:
I. DESCRIPTION OF MY INVENTION
My invention is a picture hanging tool which is used to properly position a picture or similar wall mounted object before the nail or hanger upon which said picture is hung or fastened to a wall or similar hanging surface (the "Invention").
II. PICTURE HANGING TOOL PARTS
The Invention consists of the following parts and segments, in one embodiment, which is set out here by way of example and not as restricting the scope of my invention:
A. The Components of the Apparatus 1. a rectangular or triangular body of variable dimensions and thickness, which has up to three buttons extending from one surface, and small marking devices retracted but extensible directly opposite the aforementioned buttons on the opposite surface, and a handle at the opposite end from the buttons on the button side of the rectangular or triangular body and on the same side as the buttons; and

2. (optionally) one or more bubble or similar levels in the rectangular or triangular surface on the same side as the aforementioned buttons.
(collectively referred to as the "Components") B. The Apparatus The Invention, which comprises the Components above, is manufactured to standard specifications and may be comprised of plastic, wood or similar material, which may be molded as a unit or assembled as individual parts.
When the Invention is manufactured and all of the Components assembled, a typical embodiment of the Invention is as follows:
1. the body of the invention, which is either rectangular or triangular in shape, is of a pre-determined length;
2. the aforementioned handle device is located near the end of the body and the aforementioned buttons are located on the same side of the body, but at the opposite end of the body;
Provisional Patent -1- Kelly Krake

3. a groove of variable dimension surrounding the buttons is channeled entirely through the rectangular or triangular body. This channel provides the button portion with the flexibility of movement when the buttons are depressed;

4. on the opposite side of the rectangular or triangular body, and aligning exactly directly opposite the aforementioned buttons, are marking devices which are retracted at ease, but when a button is depressed, are extended past the body's back surface, and thus are made to make a mark on the adjacent wall or other surface; and located near the handle portion of the rectangular or triangular body are (optionally) leveling devices, which in the current embodiment, are limited to two and which are located perpendicular to the other to allow the body itself to be leveled in either horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) orientation to level an object, which allows the body's edges to be used to mark or measure horizontal or vertical lines.
The invention may be manufactured as one complete unit and engineered according to predetermined measurements or it may be composed of separate manufactured parts, which are then assembled to comprise one object.
A typical embodiment of the invention would be, see the above Components, with the exception of the leveling devices, formed into a plastic product by using an injection molding method, for example. During the injection molding process, pre-determined indentation would be made where the aforementioned leveling devices would then be permanently inserted. The invention would then be ready to be used.
C. The Method of use of the Apparatus The invention is simply designed to be used to accurately determine the exact position that a picture, or similar wall mounted object, should be placed on any wall or hanging surface. For example, a picture is hung on any one of the extending buttons. A person holding onto the handle then positions the invention, together with the picture, against the hanging surface at exactly the location that the picture is intended to be hung. When the exact location is chosen, the picture is removed and one or more buttons are depressed. This action causes the marking device to mark the hanging surface, marking the exact location where a picture hanging device, such as a nail, should be inserted.
Once this has occurred, the picture or object can then be hung in its exact position and leveled using the leveling bubbles.
III. THE PRIOR ART
My Invention is an improvement over the prior art, which would not be obvious to a skilled practitioner in the industry. For example, the prior art consists of a picture hanging apparatus with many segments and parts that have to be assembled. Once complete, this apparatus then requires considerable effort to mount the picture and then position it against the hanging surface. My invention eliminates much of this assembly and allows for easier and more accurate positioning.
Provisional Patent -2- Kelly Krake IV. IMPROVEMENTS OVER PRIOR ART
The Invention:
1. is formed of one piece and has no moving parts;
2. it requires no assembly;
3. it is inexpensive to produce;
4. it is easy to use;

5. it is light;

6. it is accurate;

7. it is useful as a straight-edge, a level or a ruler; and

8. it incorporates a space on which information or advertising may be mounted or displayed.
All of the above, and as displayed in my drawings attached in the 8 sheets, comprises my invention.
All of the above comprises my invention.
Dated at Calgar~,,,~lberta 3~ ~ ~ day of May, 2000.
Witness K y Crake ~o~w~
Provisional Patent -3- Kelly Krake

Claims