NZ524382A - Adjustable hanger for hanging object on vertical surface - Google Patents

Abstract

Component 12 is typically fixed to a picture frame (not shown) and is pivotally connected to component 11 which is typically fixed to a wall. Component 12 has a serrated surface 15 which engages a finger 25 on component 11 to allow for pivotal adjustment of component 12 relative to component 11.

Description

5243 No: 524382 Date: 25 February 2003 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A HANGER ASSEMBLY We, WAYNE DAVID BRUNTON a New Zealand citizen of 475 Ruahine Street, Palmerston North, New Zealand and SHANE NATHAN LOWE a New Zealand citizen of 2 Pukekura Place, Taradale, Napier, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the foil 2 TITLE OF THE INVENTION "A Hanger Assembly" BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to a hanger assembly. The invention is particularly intended for the hanging of an object such as a picture/picture frame on a wall or other upright surface or structure.

Conventionally the frames of pictures and like objects are hung on a wall or other upright surface, or structural surface, by the use of a hook nailed, adhered or otherwise fixed to the surface. The frame will typically have a wire, string or the like which engages over the hook.

A problem with such an arrangement is that over time the frame will move from its correct orientation. This will often occur due to shock, jarring or the like of the surface (e.g. due to a door slamming) or due to other forces such as the frame being physically knocked. The net result is that the frame will move from its correct position.

SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 3 To try and overcome this problem it is known to use two hooks. However, it is often difficult to ensure that hooks are correctly positioned so that the frame will hang in its correct orientation.

Other hanger systems have been proposed but these have tended to be of complex construction and/or difficult to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a hanger assembly which overcomes, or goes some way to overcoming disadvantageous or drawbacks with known hanger devices/arrangements, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Broadly the invention in one aspect consists of An adjustable hanger assembly for hanging an object on a vertical surface and includes a first mounting means adapted for mounting to a said object to be hung on the vertical surface, a second mounting means adapted for coupling to a vertical surface, the first and second mounting means being coupled by a pivot coupling so that relative movement between the first and second mounting means can occur about the axis of the pivot coupling, one SPEC477(COMP) -AMENDED JUNE 2005 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 9 JUL 2005 RECEIVED 4 of the mounting means has a serrated surface spaced from the pivot axis and the other of the mounting means has an engagement means engaged with said serrated surface to retain the first and second mounting means in a relative adjusted position.

Preferably the first mounting means includes a means for fixing to an object.

Preferably the serrated surface is spaced a distance from the pivot axis and is arcuate in shape. In the preferred form the arcuate surface has a radial centre which is coaxial with the pivot axis.

Preferably the pivot coupling is able to be uncoupled.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the pivot coupling can only be uncoupled by relative movement of the first and second mounting means to an angular position which is not achieved during normal rotational adjustment of the hanger assembly when an object is hung thereby on a vertical surface.

In the preferred form of the invention the pivot coupling is formed by an opening in the first mounting means and a SPEC477(COMP) -AMENDED JUNE 2005 4a spigot of second mounting means engaged therein. The spigot can have at least one radial projection, which is engageable through a corresponding radial groove in a wall of the opening when the pivot coupling is being coupled or uncoupled.

Preferably, the engagement means is at least one finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following more detailed description of the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a view of the reverse side of a picture frame to which the first mounting means of a first embodiment of the hanger assembly has been attached, Figure 2 is an elevation view of the second mounting means of the hanger assembly, Figure 3 is an illustration of the first and second mounting means assembled together, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hanger assembly according to a second embodiment, the view looking toward the first mounting means side of the hanger assembly, SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 6 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but looking at the reverse side of the hanger assembly, Figure 6 is a detailed view of the distal end of the tongue of the first mounting means, and Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing yet a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first mounting means 10 is intended, in the preferred form of the invention, to be fixed to the frame F of a picture, mirror or like object. The second mounting means 12 is, in the preferred form of the invention, intended for fastening to the surface of a wall or other upright surface or structure.

In the first preferred form of the invention, as illustrated, the first mounting means 10 is a one piece component having an elongate mounting element 12 which can be fastened by suitable means to the frame F.

In its simplest form the mounting element 12 will simply be nailed using tacks T or the like to the frame F. It will SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 7 be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other means of fastening can be achieved including the adhering of the mounting element 12 by gluing or, more conveniently, double-sided contact adhesive tape.

Projecting from the mounting element 12 is a tongue 13. The distal end of the tongue 13 has an edge 14 which is serrated (15) i.e. it has a plurality of closely adjacent teeth. In the preferred form of the invention the edge 14 is of arcuate form and preferably has a centre of radius which is co-axial with an opening 16 formed in the tongue 13 preferably where the tongue 13 projects from the mounting portion 12.

The first mounting means 10 can be manufactured from a suitable material such as plastics. When manufactured from plastic material the serrations 15 can be integrally applied to the edge surface 14. However, in other embodiments of the invention the serrated portion 15 could be manufactured separately and fastened to the distal end of the tongue 13.

The second mounting means 11 (which can also be a one piece component) a plate 18 which has openings 19 (see Figure 3) through which mechanical fasteners such as tacks Tr (see SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 8 Figure 2) can be engaged to fasten the plate 18 to a surface S.

Adjacent an edge 17 of the plate 18, which in use will be uppermost, is a projecting spigot 20. The diameter of the spigot 20 is commensurate with the diameter of the opening 16 of the first mounting means 10. The spigot 20 can thus engage in opening 16 to form a pivot coupling between the first and second mounting means 10 and 11.

To ensure that the pivot coupling 16,20 remains coupled during normal use, the spigot 20 has one or more radial projections 21. The opening 16 in the first mounting means 10 has one or more corresponding radially extending grooves 22. The pivot coupling is achieved by orientating the spigot 20 relative to the opening so that the radial projection(s) 21 align with the radial groove(s) 22. Thus after the spigot 20 has been pushed into the opening 16 and the angular disposition of the mounting means 10 and 11 altered the projections 21 engage with the surface of the tongue 13 surrounding the opening 16 thereby capturing the spigot 20 within the opening 16.

SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 9 The position of the projections 21 and grooves 22 are such that in normal use of the hanger assembly the radial projections and grooves never become aligned.

At the lower end 23 of the mounting plate 18 there is provided an arcuate wall 24. This provides a mounting for an engagement means in the form of a finger 25, which is so positioned that it engages with the serrations 15 of the tongue 13. More than one finger 25 could be provided.

In use, therefore, the first mounting means 10 is fastened to the frame F while the mounting plate 18 is fastened to the wall surface S in the position where it is desired that the frame be hung. The frame is then orientated so that the spigot 20 can engage in the opening 16. Following engagement of spigot 20 into opening 16, the frame F is moved relative to the mounting plate 18 such movement effectively being about the pivot axis established by the spigot 20 in the opening 16. This causes the radial projections 21 to engage with the material of the tongue 13 defining the perimeter of the opening 16.

The frame is then moved to its desired hanging position, which causes the finger 25 to engage with the teeth 15 of serrated edge 14 of the tongue 13. When the frame has been SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 adjusted to its desired position the finger 25 will be engaged between a pair of adjacent serrations 15 thereby effectively providing a holding force to hold the frame F in its desired position.

Because of the nature of the serrations 15, fine adjustment can be achieved. Also it will be appreciated that in the event that the frame becomes disorientated, say due to someone brushing against the frame and causing it to move, then it is simply a matter of once again readjusting the frame to its correct orientation. Finger 25 engaging in serrations 15 automatically ensures that the frame is once again held in the correct orientation.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that it is not essential that the mounting plate 18 be orientated in a strict vertical orientation.

As previously described, the pivot coupling (16,20) is fully assembled and incapable of being separated unless, of course, the frame is reverted to the initial orientation in the event of say the frame needing to be removed from its hanging position.

SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 11 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the hanger assembly incorporating the present invention is open to modification within the scope of the invention as it is intended. Thus, Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment, which is more in the nature of a commercial embodiment of the hanger assembly. In these figures of the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same features described in the first embodiment.

The second embodiment provides first and second mounting components 10 and 11, both of which are moulded from plastic material. The configuration and design of components 10 and 11 is such as to provide the necessary mechanical performance of the components yet at the same time in a manner which provides rigidity, but with best use of plastic material and to a degree, provide aesthetic appeal to the hanger assembly. Thus for example, where the plate 18 of the first embodiment is shown essentially as a rectangular solid element, the plate 18 of the second embodiment is generally of triangular shape with a central open portion and strategic positioning of the openings 19 for fixing of the plate to the surface S.

In this embodiment of the invention however, the serrations 15' are formed in a raised rib or increased thickness SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 12 section 26 integrally formed as part of the second mounting component 11. Also formed in conjunction therewith, is a pair of projections 27, the purpose of which will hereinafter become apparent.

With the first mounting component 10 the lower end of the tongue 13 incorporates the finger or indexing point 25'. As shown more clearly in Figure 6, the area of the tongue 13 behind the indexing point 25' is of hollow section 28. This permits flexing of the indexing point 25' in a fore/aft position.

As previously described, the pivot coupling (16,20) is fully assembled and incapable of being separated unless, of course, the frame is reverted to the initial orientation in the event of say the frame needing to be removed from its hanging position.

The first mounting component 10 also incorporates a modification in the mounting portion 12 where each arm 29 of the mounting portion 12 is provided with a series of openings 30, as well as a series of parallel break lines 31. These break lines 31 allow part of the arm 29 to be scored along the break line and then snapped off so as to reduce the length of the arms 29 to suit e.g. smaller SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 13 picture frames. Thus, effectively the length of each arm 29 can be readily adjusted to suit dimensional limitations yet still provide a fixing opening 30 for mounting of the first mounting component 10 to the picture frame F.

The two components 10 and 11 are assembled and used in the same manner as previously described with the first embodiment. However, when the picture frame is moved to its desired hanging position (after spigot 20 has been installed in an opening 16) the distal end 32 of the tongue 13 slides into the gap formed between the projections and the main body of the second mounting component 11. Thus, not only does the indexing point 25' come into contact with the serrations 15' but also the projections 27 prevent relative movement (i.e. separation) between the distal end of the tongue 13 and the second mounting component 11 which would or may otherwise result is separation of the indexing point 25' from the serrations 15'.

It will also be observed that in this embodiment of the invention a fixing opening 19 is provided in the spigot 20. Thus a fastener can be engaged therethrough in such a manner as to provide fixing of the second mounting component 11 to the surface S, but also to provide better stability of the spigot 20.

SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004 14 Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention where a pair of fixing arms 33 are provided adjacent the spigot 20 to further aid (via openings 34) in secure fastening of the second mounting component 11 to the surface S.

The hanger assembly according to the present invention is simple to use and is effective in holding a frame in its required orientation on a wall surface or surface of some other structure. The hanger assembly provides for fine adjustment so that the correct orientation of the frame can be achieved.

Because of the interaction of the two main components of the hanger assembly the frame will be held in its correct orientation irrespective of any normal forces which may be transmitted through the surface which would normally cause the frame to move and become disorientated. In the event that the force is greater than the holding force of the hanger assembly then it is simply an easy matter for someone to readjust the frame into its correct position whereupon it will once again be automatically held in that orientation.

SPEC477(COMP) MAY 2004

Claims (2)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An adjustable hanger assembly for hanging an object on a vertical surface and includes a first mounting means adapted for mounting to a said object to be hung on the vertical surface, a second mounting means adapted for coupling to a vertical surface, the first and second mounting means being coupled by a pivot coupling so that relative movement between the first and second mounting means can occur about the axis of the pivot coupling, one of the mounting means has a serrated surface spaced from the pivot axis and the other of the mounting means has an engagement means engaged with said serrated surface to retain the first and second mounting means in a relative adjusted position.

2. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the serrated surface is on the first mounting means.

3. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the engagement means is provided with the second mounting means.

SPEC477(COMP) - CLAIMS

JULY 2005

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A. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the serrated surface is on the second mounting means and the engagement means is provided with the first mounting means.

5. A hanger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first mounting means includes a means for fixing of the first mounting means to an object.

6. A hanger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the serrated surface is spaced a distance from the axis of pivot coupling and is arcuate in shape.

7. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 6 where the arcuate surface has a radial centre which is co-axial with the pivot axis.

8. A hanger assembly wherein the pivot coupling is able to be uncoupled.

9. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pivot coupling is only able to be uncoupled by relative movement of the first and second mounting

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JULY 2005

17

means to an angular position which is not achieved during normal rotational adjustment of the hanger assembly when an object is hung thereby on a vertical surface.

10. A hanger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot coupling is formed by an opening in the first mounting means and a spigot of the second mounting means is engaged therein.

11. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the spigot has at least one radial projection which is engageable through a corresponding radial groove in a wall of the opening when a pivot coupling is being couple or uncoupled.

12. A hanger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims where the engagement means is at least one finger.

13. A hanger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first mounting means includes a pair of oppositely disposed arms, through which each arm a fastener can be engaged to, in use, fasten the first mounting means to an object.

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14. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the length of each arm can be adjusted.

15 A hanger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including retention means to prevent relative separating movement between parts of the first and second mounting means distal from the axis of pivot coupling.

16. An adjustable hanger assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

17. An adjustable hanger assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

18. An adjustable hanger assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 7 the accompanying drawings.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE

OF N.Z.

RECEIVED

2 9 JUL 2005

WAYNE DAVID BRUNTON and SHANE NATHAN LOWE By their Attorney DON HOPKINS & ASSOCIATES

Per:

SPEC477(COMP) - CLAIMS

JULY 2005