US3146981A

US3146981A - Picture hanger

Info

Publication number: US3146981A
Application number: US265493A
Authority: US
Inventors: William N Wheeler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-03-15
Filing date: 1963-03-15
Publication date: 1964-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-01

Description

p 1, 1964 w. N. WHEELER 3,146,981

PICTURE HANGER Filed March 15, 1963 egww William N- Wheeler IN VENTOR.

BY WM 14% United States Patent 3,146,981 PICTURE HANGER William N. Wheeler, 216 Sycamore Road, Lexington, Ky. Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 265,493 5 Claims. (Cl. 24828) The present invention relates to wall-supported nailattached picture hangers of a type wherein the hanger is provided with an upturned or an equivalent book which, under ordinary circumstances of use functions to seat and suspend a picture or frame suspension wire, that is, the median portion thereof in a now well known manner and pertains, more particularly, to hangers which are used in pairs and which, instead of supporting the suspension wire serve to support specially designed screw eyes which are provided on an attachable side of a picture, frame or the like.

As is usually the case and in keeping with present-day and prevailing picture hanging practices the frame of the picture is provided on its wall confronting side with the aforementioned suspension Wire. Usually the ends of the wire are fastened or anchored at oppositely disposed points on the end members of the picture frame leaving the length of wire therebetween of such length that the bight portion thereof can be looped over the seating hook of the wall bracket or hanger. Experience has shown that the foregoing method and means is possessed of certain difficulties and objections in that the picture is often vibrated or jarred or otherwise shifted from its intended well hung position with the result that it is not level and consequently assumes an undesirable displaced position which, to most people, is intolerable and requires attention. This tendency of pictures, as ordinarily hung, to become misaligned and unlevel has given rise to the necessity of taking measures and the following proper steps which are corrective in nature and which are intended to maintain a picture or the like in a level, straight-appearing and constantly stabilized position.

One prior art adaptation which can, if desired, be referred to as prior art is the picture frame stablilizer covered in U.S. Patent No. 1, 177,106. Another accomplishment constituting representative prior art is the picture hanger covered in Patent No. 2,384,487 which is mentioned here because of the fact that it shows a plurality of wall supports and means on the picture frame having proper coaction therewith so that the two supports function to maintain desired stability and overcome the likelihood of picture misalignment difiiculties.

The above reference patents have also been selected for reference here because of the fact that they show so-called conventional-type picture hanging brackets of the aforementioned nailable hook-equipped type and wherein the headed nail is driven by way of guide means into the wall at a diagonal easy anchorable angle. In carrying out the principles of the present invention one aspect thereof has to do with an improved walLtype hanger bracket which is novel in that it is provided on the central portion of the back and at the bottom thereof with a positioning detent which is designed and adapted to seat itself in a recess 0r keeper seat provided therefor. At the central top portion it is provided with a forwardly and outwardly bent lug which constitutes a stabilizer and nail guide and the free edge of the return bent upper end portion is fashioned into a substantially V-shaped seat for reception and guided utilization of the anchoring nail.

Another aspect of the invention which is deemed to be an improvement in the art has to do with the use of the aforementioned improved wall brackets in pairs with the brackets spaced apart at the predetermined level on the wall and anchored in place. With this arrangement cooperable eye screws (which are provided on the upper back portion of the picture or other frame) can be simultaneously but releasably connected with the suspending hook portions of the paired brackets whereby to thus permit the picture to be readily applied and removed and constantly supported at the desired level with assured stability.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective which shows (at the left) the rear upper portion of a picture or an equivalent frame or the like with the improved eye screws thereon and which further shows (at the right) a fragmentary portion of the wall or other stationary support provided with the desired pair of complemental picture hangers or hanger brackets;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view with parts in section and parts in elevation showing the picture opposed to the wall and illustrating a single hanger bracket and a single cooperating screw eye and the manner in which each is constructed and the manner in which they cooperate with each other in providing the desired separable connection between the picture and wall;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view with parts in section and elevation taken approximately on the plane of the section line 33 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the indicating arrow;

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective of one of the improved screw eyes; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of one of the improved brackets looking at the wall contacting side or surface thereof.

As will be hereinafter observed and by way of introduction to the description of the details it will be observed that the present invention, with the principal component parts considered in combination requires the use of fewer parts, does away with the usual hanger wire and customary screw eyes on the picture frame. It overcomes difliculties encountered in hanging pictures and the like on a wall or other support surface especially if the picture is very large and it prevents the likelihood, as is ordinarily the case, of the suspended picture being displaced to an undesirable position when struck with a vacuum cleaner handle, by a child or in some other manner swung to an undesirable cocked position. Referring now to FIGURE 1 the picture or other frame which is to be hung on the wall A is denoted here generally by the reference letter B, the upper flat side C being opposed to the wall in the manner illustrated, for eX- ample, in the arrangement seen in FIGURE 2. The concept has to do not only with a clasp B but the fact that A is provided at a desired point with a pair of duplicate oppositely disposed picture hangers or brackets which are generally denoted individually by the numeral 6. These brackets thus positioned serve to accommodate the cooperating screw eyes 8 which are provided on the side C. Each screw eye comprises an elongated link-shaped eye proper as at 10 one bar portion of which is provided with a lateral screw threaded attaching shank 12. The other bar member or portion 14 is provided on the exterior side with a central pointed indenting and marking member here referred to as a prong 16. There are two such screw eyes in use as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and they are both the same in construction. These eyes are accommodated by the duplicated hanger brackets 6. Each bracket comprises a generally flat surfaced body or plate 18 which is approximately rectangular and which has a ledge-like hook portion 20 bent forwardly from the lower edge 28 and which in turn is provided with an upstanding bill portion 22 with a later-ally flared lip 24 to facilitate attachment of the eye 10 thereto. At the median portion just above the bend 21 the bracket is provided with an outstanding pointed stud which constitutes an anti-slipping detent 26. The lower portion of the plate is denoted at 28 to distinguish it from the upper portion wherein an upper end 30 is bent laterally or outwardly as at 32 to provided the nail placement guide and stabilizing means. The free end is bent downwardly and rearwardly as at 34 and is joined by a return bend 36 to the bent end portion 30 and at the center of the return bend a nail hole 38 is provided to accommodate the readily insertable and removable attaching and retaining nail 40. It should be noted in this connection that the free lip portion of the bent terminal is bent into gentle V-shaped form as at 42 and defines a nominal but effective seat which assists in piloting and seating the nail 40 when it is applied and driven to its anchored position. The median upper portion has a tongue 44 struck therefrom and this tongue has its free edge spaced from the sloping terminal portion 34 and constitutes a further guide and stabilizing member. Consequently this hanger features in addition to the usual type the added seating guide 42 and stabilizing lug 44 and positioning detent 26.

It will be evident that the opening 38 cooperates with the complemental or companion opening 39 in the plate proper to facilitate placement and anchoring of the nail.

The screw eyes 8 are screwed into the rear face C of each side of the picture frame B close to the top of the frame. The linking eyes of the screw eyes are both turned to assume a horizontal position. The frame B is then held at armslength with the hands holding the sides of the frame at the place where the screw eyes have been attached. The frame B can be positioned against the wall A in the desired place and leveled according to the users eyesight. After the frame is positioned the points 16 of each screw eye are forcibly pressed against the wall leaving small indentations or depressions in the Wall surface. Now, lay the frame aside and press a nail 40 in one of the wall brackets or fixtures 6 so that the point of the nail will be back flush with the back face of the bracket. Place the bracket on the wall so the seating and positioning detent 26 of the bracket will seat in one of the selected depressions in the wall. Holding the bracket in this position on the wall and with one hand the suitably angled nail can be driven into the wall with a hammer in the other hand. The nail being securely held in the bracket before driving it into the wall makes it easier, quicker and more exacting in fixing the bracket to the wall. The same procedure is followed in fixing the other bracket to the wall. The frame with its linking eyes 8 is then held in approximately the same manner as before with a forefinger of each hand extending around behind the frame to position the screw eye openings over the hooks (20, 22, 24) of the brackets 6.

It is submitted that a careful consideration of the specification in conjunction with the views of the drawing and other exemplary aspects of the disclosure will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding not only of the nature of the subject matter of the invention but the significant features and advantages and manner of satisfactorily utilizing the invention. Therefore, a more extended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a vertical wall constituting a stationary support, a wall-type picture embodying frame means opposed in spaced rel ation to the surface of the wall, and picture-supporting, aligning, leveling and stabilizing means interposed between the wall surface and a cooperating surface of the picture frame, said means embodying a pair of spaced hanger brackets fixedly mounted on the surface of the wall, and a pair of adapter members carried by the picture frame and separably conneotible with component parts provided therefor on the respectively cooperable brackets, and wherein each bracket comprises a plate-type body superimposed upon the Wall surface with which it is cooperable, said bracket being provided at a lower end thereof with a suspension hook and at an upper end portion with nail piloting, guiding and retaining means, there being a driven nail cooperable removably with said means and anchored in the wall, said body having a projecting detent seated in a depression which is provided therefor in the surface of said support wall.

2. In combination, a vertical wall constituting a stationary support, a wall-type picture embodying frame means opposed in spaced relation to the surface of the Wall, and picture-supporting, aligning, leveling and stabilizing means interposed between the wall surface and a cooperating surface of the picture frame, said means embodying a pair of spaced hanger brackets fixedly mounted on the surface of the wall, and a pair of adapter members carried by the picture frame and separably connectible with component parts provided therefor on the respectively cooperable brackets, the adapter members on said picture frame comprising a pair of screw eyes mounted opposite each other and in spaced apart coplanar relationship, each eye being provided with a laterally outwardly projecting bracket-position marking prong.

3. For use in hanging a picture or the like on a wall surface, a picture hanger bracket comprising a plate-type body having a generally flat surface adapted to be placed against a Wall surface and having an outwardly projecting pointed detent, said bracket being provided at its bottom with a forwardly upwardly projecting hook, being provided at its top with lateral and return bent portions cooperating and defining guiding and stabilizing means for an insertable and removable nail, said means having a terminal V-shaped lip portion providing a seat for the nail, also having a struck-out tongue disposed above but in close proximity to said seat portion and adapted to cooperate with the shank of the nail.

4. For use on and in conjunction with a picture frame, an improved screw-eye having an elongated eye portion generally rectangular in plan, a screw-threaded shank integral with and projecting laterally from a median portion of one lengthwise side of the eye portion, and a conicalshaped wall indenting and marking member integrally mounted on a median portion of an opposed lengthwise side of said eye portion and having its axis in axial alignment with the axis of said shank, said eye portion being rectangular in plan.

5. For use in hanging a picture frame on a stationary wall or an equivalent surface, a nailable hanger bracket comprising a onepiece body embodying a generally fiat 5 plate portion having a surface thereof which is adapted to be placed against said wall surface, said bracket having a bottom end portion provided with a forwardly upwardly projecting hook for reception and retention of a hanger eye provided on a screw eye, said body being provided at the top of said plate portion with an outstanding laterally bent portion and a c ornplemental return bent portion, the latter having a free lower end disposed in close proximity to and at the lower end of a nail accommodating slot provided in said plate portion, that portion at the juncture of the upper lateral bent portion and depending return bent portion being provided with a nail accommodating References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,609,837 Salt Dec. 7, 1926 1,794,327 Simon Feb. 24, 1931 2,105,061 Tate et al Jan. 11, 1938 3,031,159 Waller Apr. 24, 1962

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION, A VERTICAL WALL CONSTITUTING A STATIONARY SUPPORT, A WALL-TYPE PICTURE EMBODYING FRAME MEANS OPPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO THE SURFACE OF THE WALL, AND PICTURE-SUPPORTING, ALIGNING, LEVELING AND STABILIZING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE WALL SURFACE AND A COOPERATING SURFACE OF THE PICTURE FRAME, SAID MEANS EMBODYING A PAIR OF SPACED HANGER BRACKETS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON THE SURFACE OF THE WALL, AND A PAIR OF ADAPTER MEMBERS CARRIED BY THE PICTURE FRAME AND SEPARABLY CONNECTIBLE WITH COMPONENT PARTS PROVIDED THEREFOR ON THE RESPECTIVELY COOPERABLE BRACKETS, AND WHEREIN EACH BRACKET COMPRISES A PLATE-TYPE BODY SUPERIMPOSED UPON THE WALL SURFACE WITH WHICH IT IS COOPERABLE, SAID BRACKET BEING PROVIDED AT A LOWER END THEREOF WITH A SUSPENSION HOOK AND AT AN UPPER END PORTION WITH NAIL PILOTING, GUIDING AND RETAINING MEANS, THERE BEING A DRIVEN NAIL COOPERABLE REMOVABLY WITH SAID MEANS AND ANCHORED IN THE WALL, SAID BODY HAVING A PROJECTING DETENT SEATED IN A DEPRESSION WHICH IS PROVIDED THEREFOR IN THE SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT WALL.