US3251569A

US3251569A - Adjustable hanger

Info

Publication number: US3251569A
Application number: US371223A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred L Rynearson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-05-29
Filing date: 1964-05-29
Publication date: 1966-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-17

Description

May 17, 1966 F. L. RYNEARSON ADJUSTABLE HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1964 I N V EN TOR. WA/42.50

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picturelocation or orientation.

United States Patent Office Patented May 17, 1966 3,251,569 ADJUSTABLE HANGER Fred L. Rynearson, Dublin, Calif. (721 Carroll Drive, Garland, Tex. 75040) Filed May 29, 1964, Ser. No. 371,223 9 Claims. (Cl. 248-31) The present invention relates in general to a device for hanging objects such as pictures, mirrors, or the like, upon a wall, and employs a very simple mechanism for adjusting the height of the object relative to the hanger, as well as fixing the inclination of the object with respect to horizontal.

Although the present invention is applicable to the mounting or hanging of any desired object upon a wall, or the like, the following description is referenced to the hanging of pictures or mirrors, as upon the wall of a room. It is readily recognized by those having mounted pictures upon a wall, that considerable difficulty is often encountered in precisely locating the vertical position of the picture. Relatively light weight objects are conventionally mounted by the utilization of a flexible line, such as a picture wire, extending across the back of the picture and adapted to fit over some type of hook means driven or otherwise secured into a wall. Heavier objects, such as large pictures or extended mirrors, are conventionally mounted by one or more rigid brackets affixed to the back of the object to engage hook means secured to the wall. In either case, it is commonly found that considerable d-ifliculty is encountered in determining the exact height at which the hook, or the like, should be secured to the wall in order to precisely determine the location of the top of the object to be hung.

It is known that various types of adjustable picture hangers, or the like, have been developed to the end of overcoming the above-noted difficulty. These prior art devices are commonly relatively complicated and provide only a very small vertical adjustment. Additionally, movable picture hangers known in the art are normally relatively expensive because of the necessary complexity thereof.

The present invention is particularly directed to the provision of a very simple and inexpensive device for the mounting of pictures, or the like, so as to be economically competitive with non-adjustable picture hangers. In addition, the present invent-ion provides for a relatively large degree of vertical picture movement after mounting, so as to substantially overcome the present day problems of precise vertical location of pictures during mounting. In addition to the foregoing, the present invention provides for fixing the lateral inclination of the picture mounted with the invention hereof. This features then results in preventing inadvertent tilting of a mounted picture, so that periodic adjustments of the level thereof are no longer required. This adjustable inclination furthermore provides for the first time a simple manner of mounting pictures at desired angles to vertical. It is possible, in accordance herewith, for example, to mount a series of pictures in a semicircle or complete circle upon a wall, and the ease of mounting is such that the average homeowner may readily accomplish any desired Such mounting is accomplished with much less effort and calculation than is presently required for the normal mounting of pictures by conventional non-adjustable means.

The present invention, in general, comprises a device defining a channel within which there is disposed a traveling block with a threaded shaft therethrough for moving the block along the channel. engage either rigid mounting means affixed to an object to be hung, or to engage a flexible line, such as a picture wire, which extends over or through restraining body This block is adapted to portions of the device, so that upon movement of the block the line is forcibly folded to thereby decrease the effective length thereof between the wire ends secured to opposite sides of the picture frame. In the instance of flexible line mounting, the line is tensioned during folding and after adjustment of the picture position and location upon a wall, the wire is maintained in tension, so that relative movement of the picture with respect to the mounting means is restrained. In the instance of rigid mounting brackets, the device hereof is provided with slots of limited dimension in the body portion to receive prongs of the mounting bracket and to thereby prevent lateral motion of the bracket and the object secured thereto. The adjustable hanger of this invention may be formed in a variety of different physical configurations, and certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described below as exemplary of the invention.

- Although the present invention is herein illustrated and described with respect to particular preferred embodiments hereof, it is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated details. Reference is made to the appended claims for a precise delineation of the true scope of this invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration indicating the forces applied by the adjustable hanger of this invention to accomplish the objects hereof;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention;

' FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a central sectional view in elevation of another embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a rigid mounting bracket as may be fixedly secured to the back of an object, such as a picture, to be hung by the device of the present invention;

F-IGU RE 9 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention, upon which there is situated a rigid mounting bracket like the one shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane 1010* of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane 1111 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of a modification of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 9.

Considering now the present invention in some detail, and referring first to FIGURE 1, there will be seen to be illustrated the back of :a picture 11 including a frame 12 having a picturewire, or the like 13., anchored at separate sides and extending across the back of the picture. Mounting means 14, in accordance with the present invention, engage the picture wire 13 for mounting the picture upon the wall. These mounting means are fixedly secured to a wall or other mounting surface, as described below, and provide for forcibly folding and tensioning the wire 13 so as to vary the effective length thereof. This folding is accomplished by restraining Vertical'movement of the wire at two spaced points, and applying a force to the wire between these points. One manner of carrying out the invention is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1 as the application of a force indicated by the arrow 16 downwardly upon the center of the wire, while effectively applying upward forces 17 and 18 to the wire on opposite sides of the point at which the downward force 16 is applied. The force 16 is controllably applied so as tovary the amount of folding of the wire to control the available effective length thereof between the sides of the frame. It will be appreciated that with the increased folding of the wire, same becomes effectively shorter to consequently raise the picture frame, as it must then extend at less of an angle from the frame sides. Not only does the invention serve to shorten or lengthen the hanger wire'13, but also places the wire in tension sufficient to prevent wire slippage at the points of engagement with the hanger 14. In this manner, the invention serves to prevent inadvertent tilting or movement of the picture after mounting, for the wire cannot slide upon the wall hanger, and furthermore, the picture may be intentionally mounted at an angle merely by placing a different portion of the wire through thehanger.

Considering now specific details of preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, reference is made to FIGURES 2 and 3, wherein there is illustrated a housing or body 21 shown to have a generally rectangular shape with an open front. This housing may be formed of a variety of different materials, including metal and plastic, and includes a planar back wall 22, a pair of

side walls

23 and 24, and top and bottom walls 26 and 27, respectively. The length of the housing 21 may, of course, be varied; however, the total length determines the total amount of adjustability'atforded by the hanger of the invention. In this embodiment there is disposed within the housing a slide block 31 which fits snugly against the back wall 22 and between the

side walls

23 and 24 forming a slide channel or keyway, so'

the-block may slide longitudinally of the housing. A threaded shaft 32 extends longitudinally throughthe housing with a shaft head 33 on the top wall of the housing exteriorly thereof. Locking means 34 engage the lower end of the shaft 32 beneath the bottom wall 27 of the housing, so that the shaft is freely rotatable within the housing and is maintained in the aforementioned position. A slot may be provided in the shaft head 33 to facilitate rotation of the shaft by a screwdriver or the like.

Within the housing, the threaded shaft 32 extends in threaded relation through the slide block 31, so that upon rotation of this shaft the block 31 is slid longitudinally of the housing 21. A transverse aperture 36 is formed through the block 31 to accommodate passage of a picture wire, or the like 13.

In utilization of the adjustable hanger of the present invention, the body or housing 21 is firmly afiixed to a wall, or the like, upon which a picture, mirror, or similar item is ,to be hung. The housing need only be mounted in the approximate position of desired picture mounting, i.e. within an inch or so of the desired height of the top of the picture. Upon the back of the picture there is then socured a flexible line, such as a picture wire 13, as by means of a threaded eye secured to one side of the picture frame. The free end of the picture wire extending from this eye is then threaded through the housing openings and the transverse opening in the slide block 31 of the picture hanger. It is to be appreciated in this respect that such threaded engagement of the picture wire 13 and slide block of the hanger is only readily accomplished when the block is either at the top or bottom of the housing. Openings 41 and 42 in the

side walls

23 and 24, respectively, are provided to accommodate passage of the Wire through the housing and block aperture. In addition to these top openings 41 and 42, there may also be provided bottom openings 43 and 44, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, so that the wire may be threaded through the block aperture with the slide block at the bottom of the housing. The wire is then connected to the opposite side of the picture frame as by a threaded eye screwed into the frame, so as to leave some slack in the wire in extension across the back of the frame.

In the circumstance described above, and following attachment of both ends of the wire after threading of same through the adjustable hanger of the present invention, it will be seen that the picture is firmly secured to the wall; however, the height thereof is not precisely determinable. Adjustment of the height of the picture is accomplished by rotation of the threaded shaft 32. Upon turning of the shaft, as by a screwdriver engaging the slotted head 33 thereof, it will be appreciated that the slide block is forced to move longitudinally of the hanger housing 21. In the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, it is clear that movement of the block downwardly toward the bottom 27 of the housing will draw an additional amount of wire 13 into the housing, so as to effectively accomplish a tension folding of the wire. As the block 31 is moved downwardly,

the wire slack between the opposite edges of the picture frame will be reduced, and consequently the frame will be raised. Conseqently, accurate vertical positioning of the picture is readily accomplished merely by rotation of the shaft until the top of the picture frame rises to the desired level. With the slide block moved from the top position thereof downwardly within the housing, there is accomplished a tensioning of the picture wire, so that same is firmly gripped by the picture hanger. Consequently, it is not possible for the wire to slip with respect to the hanger, and thus the adjusted picture position is firmly maintained even though exterior forces may be applied to the picture frame. In clear distinction to normal methods of picture hanging, wherein a picture wire is extended over a hook, or the like, secured to a wall, the present invention prevents slipping of the wire with respect to the hook, and consequently precludes tiling of the picture after adjustment of the position thereof.

In addition to the vertical positioning of a picture, or the like, which may be readily accomplished by the present invention, it is further provided herein that the orientation of the mounted picture shall be fixed by the hanger of this invention. Thus, wind forces, vibrations, or the like, which may normally cause a picture to tilt, do not tilt the picture when same is mounted with the present invention, for the hanger grips the picture wire in such a manner that it cannot slide with respect thereto. This feature of the present invention may also be employed to mount pictures at an angle, for example, for it is only necessary to fold the picture wire by the hanger of the present invention at some off-center position in order to produce a predeterminable inclined picture orientation upon the wall. It is thus possible, in accordance with the present invention, to mount an individual picture at a desired inclination to horizontal, or to mount a plurality of separate pictures in a desired array, such as a semicircle, or the like. Formerly this type of mounting with non-adjustable mounting means was quite difficult; however, the adjustability of the hanger of this invention and the fact that same firmly grips the picture wire to maintain a desired inclination of the picture, makes this type of mounting extremely simple.

In addition to the utilization of the present invention identified above, it is also possible to employ adjustable hangers of this invention in combination. The individual hanger, illustrated in FIGURES 2- and 3, for example, may be employed in pairs with a large unit such as a mirror, to tension mount the mirror. FIGURE 2 illustrates a picture wire or the like 13, as extending through the top openings 41 and-42 of the hanger housing. However, it is believed apparent that a second identical hanger may be mounted below the first, for example, with a second picture wire extending through the bottom. openings 43 and 44 in threaded relation through a slide block of the hanger, so that upon rotation of the threaded shafts of the hangers, it is possible to firmly anchor the mounted element with both hangers. Various other alternative arrangements and utilizations of the present invention are also possible.

With regard to the degree or amount of adjustment afforded by the present invention, it is noted that the drawing of an additional amount of wire into the adjustable hanger causes a shortening of the available wire length exteriorly of the hanger which is twice the amount of the movement of the slide block. Thus, a three-inch long hanger will be capable of drawing about six inches of wire therein. Forcible or tension folding of the wire causes two wire sides to be disposed generally adjacent each other, so that one inch travel of the movable element of the adjustable hanger hereof causes a two-inch reduction-in the length of wire, or the like, threaded therethrough. It is consequently possible, in accordance with the present invention, to provide for a very substantial adjustable movement of a picture, or the like, with a relatively small adjustable hanger. It is to be further noted that downward movement of the slide block 31 in the embodiment of FIGURE 2, for example, causes a force to be applied to the threaded shaft in such a direction as to attempt to raise the shaft. Of course, the opposite of this situation results when the wire, or the like, is threaded through the lower openings in the housing, and wire tensioning is accomplished by raising the slide block.

Although the present invention has been described above in connection with one single preferred embodiment thereof, it is believed apparent that numerous variations are possible, and in this respect attention is invited to FIGURE 4 of the drawings illustrating one possible embodiment particularly adapted to the mounting of very heavy units or devices, such as large'plate glass mirrors, or the like. In this embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4, there is provided a structurally strong casting 51 having agenerally L-shape comprised of a flat upright portion 52 and a perpendicular platform 53. A threaded shaft 54 extends downwardly through the platform 53 into threaded engagement with a slide block 55 in a keyway 56 and affixed to or forming a part of a vertical slide bar 57. This slide bar extends through a mating slot in the platform 53, and has a transverse aperture 58 through the top of the bar to accommodate the passage of flexible line such as a picture Wire, or the like. A pair of raised bosses 59 are disposed atop the platform 53, one on each side of the slide bar, and each of these bosses has a transverse aperture 61 therethrough also to accommodate the passage of a picture wire. Like apertures may also be provided at the bottom of the hanger, as illustrated.

In utilization of this particular-embodiment of the present invention, a free end of the picture wire is threaded through the opening in a first of the bosses 59, thence through the aperture 58 near the top of the slide bar 57, and subsequently through the opening in the other boss 59. This free end of the wire is then firmly anchored to the opposite side of the picture frame, much in the same manner as described above in connection with other embodiments of this invention. The threaded shaft 54 has a slotted head disposed atop the platform 53 so that upon rotation of the shaft, as by a screwdriver, the slide bar will be moved vertically along the upright portion 52 of the body 51. The lateral extension or 56 of the slide bar fits within a longitudinal keyway so as to prevent any possible rotary motion of the slide bar and also to fix the exact direction of movement of the slide bar upon rotation of the threaded shaft. As the slide bar is raised, it will be seen that a wire threaded through the bosses 59 and slide bar aperture 58 will be drawn in tension into a fold, or thelike, so as to thereby decrease the effective distance between ends of the wire. This embodiment of the invention will thus be seen to operate in the same manner as the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, in that a picture wire, or the like, threaded through the adjustable hanger may be folded a desired degree in order to effectively decrease the overall length of the picture wire. I

One further embodiment of the present invention, among many possible embodiments, is illustrated in FIG- URES 5 and 6. Under certain circumstances, it is desirable to minimize the depth of the hanger, and also to minimize manufacturing costs thereof so as to provide a minimum cost item for sale to the public. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 is directed to this end and includes a body member 71 forming a keyway or track, Within which there is disposed a slide block slidably engaging the back and sides of the body. This block 72 has a central threaded aperture for receiving a threaded shaft, so that upon rotation of the shaft the block will be forced to move vertically of the body. In this instance, the block is formed with a front protuberance or boss 73, which is laterally apertured, as indicated at 74. The boss extends outwardly of the hanger housing. Provision is made, as in the embodiments of FIGURES 2 and 4, for engaging a picture wire, or the like, on each side of the block, and these means may simply comprise a pair of ears 76 extending outwardly from each side wall of the body at the top thereof. Openings laterally through these ears then accommodate the passage of a picture wire, which is also threaded through the block aperture 74. Of course, similar ears or the like, may be provided at the bottom of the hanger housing to thereby accomplish the same results as discussed in connection with the embodiment of FIGURE 2. This particular embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 is extremely simple to manufacture, and requires a minimum of materials so as to thereby require only a minimum selling price.

With regard to mounting of the adjustable hanger of the present invention upon a wall, or the like, it is noted that screws, nails, or any other desired type of secure mounting means may be employed. In the embodiment of FIG- URE 2, the housing 21 may, for example, be mounted upon a wall by screws extending through the back wall 22 of the housing. Under these circumstances, the unit would normally be sold in disassembled condition, so that ready access to the screws is possible, although an alternative is available by providing the screw holes in laterally offset relation, as indicated at 28 in FIGURE 2. In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, it is contemplated that relatively strong mounting means will be utilized, inasmuch as this embodiment is particularly adapted to the hanging of very heavy objects. In the structure of this embodiment ample space is available on the upright por tion 52 of the unit to provide openings 62 through which screws or other securing means may be extended for piercing and gripping a wall. In the interests of reducing costs and ease of installation, it is also possible to form laterally extending projections or ears upon the hanger hous ing or suitable apertures therethrough to accommodate the passage of nails, screws, or other securing means. This is illustrated in FIGURE 6, wherein the housing, if formed of metal, may have small cutouts 77 on the side which are folded back to be flat with the rear wall, and are apertured so that the nails, or the like, may extend therethrough for hanger mounting. In addition, there may be provided aligned, slanted openings 78 through the top and back wall of the housing to accommodate the passage of a nail at an angle into a Wall against which the hanger is to be mounted.

Each of the illustrated and described embodiments of the present invention, as well as numerous other possible embodiments, operates in generally the same manner and includes the same basic elements. Provision is made for threading a flexible line such as a cord, wire, or the like,

through a housing portion, through a slide block, and,

Such circumstance There is illustrated in FIGURE 7 a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the housing 81 is formed of a single flat piece of material such as aluminum, for example, having sides and ends folded over to form a generally rectangular open-sided box defining a longitudinal channel 82. A slide block 83 is disposed within this channel 82 in slidable relation thereto, and an elongated threaded shaft 84 extends lengthwise through the channel and through the block in threaded engagement therewith. A head 86 of the shaft is disposed atop the housing, and suitable locking means 87 are disposed beneath the bottom of the housing, The slide block 83 is transversely apertured adjacent the rear wall of the housing, as illustrated, so as to accommodate the passage'of a picture wire, or the like, therethrough. Housing restraining portions are provided in order to accommodate folding of the line or wire, and in this embodiment same is formed as an aperture 89in each side wall of the housing adjacent the top rear thereof, and having an inclined forward surface. In this manner, a picture wire threaded through a first housing aperture 89, thence through the slide block aperture and out the opposite housing aperture 89 will result in the wire being disposed adjacent the rear wall housing. Turning of the threaded shaft 84 to drive the slide block 83 downward in the channel causes the picture wire or line to ride downward on the inclined surface of the housing apertures 89 and thus to be pulled into engagement with the rear wall of the housing. This is advantageous in drawing the picture tightly against the wall.

The rigid mounting bracket illustrated in FIGURE 8 forms no part of the hanger, per se, however it may be advantageously employed as a part of a hanger combination in accordance with the present invention. This bracket may generally comprise an upright back wall 91 having one or more openings therethrough for fixed engagement against the back of a picture, or the like, and one or more prongs 92 depending from this back wall and laterally spaced therefrom, as illustrated. This type of bracket, when secured to the back of a mirror, picture, or other object to be hung, may be utilized with the adjustable mounting means of the present invention by inserting the prong or prongs through slots in the top of the housing of this invention. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGURE 7, there is shown a slot 93 through which there may extend a prong of .a single-pronged mounting bracket to engage the top of the traveling nut 83. A cut-out portion in the horizontal part of the mounting bracket may be provided so that the bracket fits about the head 86 of the threaded shaft, while resting upon the top of the housing, to thus provide access to this shaft head for rotation of the shaft in adjustment of the picture height.

In FIGURES 9 to 11, .there is shown an adjustable mounting device adapted for utilization with the rigid mounting .bracket of FIGURE 8. This embodiment of the invention is similar to that described above and illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. As shown, a vertical slide bar 101 extends upwardly from a slide nut 102 disposed in slidingrelation within a channel formed by the back and side walls of a housing 103. Front ribs may be provided, as illustrated in FIGURE 10, to fully restrain the traveling nut 102 within the channel in slidable relation thereto. By the provision of a vertical slide bar 101 extending in sliding relation through a slot in a top 104 of the housing, the forces are reversed from the embodiment of FIGURE 7, for example, so that it is not necessary to' provide a bottom wall to the housing. Again in this embodiment, a vertically disposed threaded shaft 106 extends through the traveling nut 102 with a shaft head disposed atop the housing, so that upon rotation of the shaft the nut is constrained to slide longitudinally of the housing channel. A pair of spaced slots 107 are provided in the housing top 104 to accommodate prongs 92 of the rigid bracket 91. These prongs extend through the housing top into engagement with the top of the traveling nut 102. Thus, in the position illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10, for example, rotation of the shaft 106 to raise the traveling nut 102 will force the bracket 91 upward by pressure upon the bottom of the prongs 92 thereof from the traveling nut. It will appreciated that substantially vertical movement of the mounting bracket 91 is possible with this embodiment of the present invention, and also that lateral motion of the bracket and thus the picture, or the like afiixed thereto, is precluded by the limited lateral extent of the slots 107 in the adjustable mounting means.

In the circumstance wherein it is desirable or necessary to employ a rigid attachment to the object to be hung, it is also possible in accordance with the present invention to eliminate prongs, or the like, upon the rigid mounting means, and, for example, to substitute one or more slide bars extending vertically upward through the top of the invention in the manner generally indicated in FIGURE 9. FIGURE 12 illustrates one possible manner of employing the invention in this respect, wherein a pair of vertical slide bars 111 and 112 extend through the top of the housing. Angle brackets 113 are fixedly secured to the back of a picture, mirror, or other object to be hung, and each includes an apertured leg extending into proximity with an apertured slide bar, so that joinder of each bracket and leg may be made by means such as a cotter pin, or the like 114. Vertical movementof a slide block carrying the slide bars 111 and 112 will thus move the angle brackets 113 and picture, or the like, secured thereto. Thus adjustment of a picture, or the like, is readily accomplished.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing brief description of particualr preferred embodiments of this invention that there is presented hereby a highly advantageous device for adjustable mounting or hanging of devices such as pictures, mirrors, and the like. Because of the multitude of variations possible in the physical structure of the adjustable hanger of this invention, no attempt is made herein to illustrate or describe each such possible variation. There has, instead, been described the structure and operation of particular preferred embodiments of the invention, and the following claims set forth the invention in precise terminology.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable hanger. for mounting pictures and the like upon a generally vertical mounting surface comprising a hanger body, a threaded shaft mounted longitudinally of said body for rotation only, a slide member threaded on said shaft and slidahly engaging said body for driven movement longitudinally thereof upon shaft rotation, said slide member having an aperture therethrough and said body having at least two apertures adjacent one end of slide member travel, and a flexible line threaded through the aperture in said slide member and extending in both directions therefrom through said body apertures, whereby the line is forcibly folded by traverse of the slide members away from the body apertures.

2. An adjustable hanger for pictures or the like, comprising an elongate housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface and having a longitudinal keyway, said housing further having at least one pair of transverse apertures of limited extension longitudinally of the keyway and disposed one on each side of the keyway adjacent one end thereof, a slide member disposed in sliding relation to said housing in said keyway and having a transverse aperture the-rethrough to accommodate passage of a flexible line also threaded through said housing apertures, and a threaded shaft extending in threaded engagement through said slide member longitudinally of said housing .and mounted by said housing in rotatable relation only, whereby shaft rotation moves said slide member in the key way to thereby forcibly fold a flexible line threaded through the hanger. I

3. An adjustable hanger for pictures and the like, comprising a housing having a longitudinal keyway, a slide block disposed in sliding relation within said keyway and including a portion having a lateral aperture therethrough, and a threaded shaft mounted by said housing for rotation only and threadably engaging said slide block for controllably sliding the slide block, said housing having .a pair of apertures disposed one on each side of said keyway adjacent an end thereof whereby a wire or the like threaded through the slide block aperture and the housing apertures is forcibly folded by movement of the block away from the housing apertures.

4. An adjustable hanger adapted to be secured to a mounting surface and to engage a flexible line having both ends fixed to means to be mounted, comprising a body member having an apertured portion adapted to engage a mounting surface and receive mounting means through the apertures, said body having a longitudinal channel and at least one pair of apertured portions through which a flexible mounting line is adapted to pass, a slide block slidably disposed in said channel and having an apertured portion through which the flexible mounting line is adapted to pass in extension between said body apertures, and a threaded shaft fixed in position longitudinally of said channel in threaded extension through said slide block and mounted for rotation on said body, said shaft having a slotted head for controlled rotation thereof to move said slide block and draw a predeterminab'le length of flexible line through said body apertures.

5. An adjustable hanger .as set forth in claim 4, further defined by said body comprising an elongate rectangular housing with side walls engaged by said slide block and end walls through whioh said shaft extends, the pair of apertured portions in said body comprising openings at the top and bottom of each side wall to accommodate passage of the flexible mounting line.

6. An adjustable hanger as set forth in claim 4, further defined by said body having an upright portion with a platform extending from one end thereof, said upright portion defining said channel, and the apertured slide block portion including a bar disposed parallel to the channel and extending in sliding relation through a slot in said platform.

7. An adjustable hanger as set forth in claim 4, further defined by said body having 'a fiat back wall with narrow parallel side walls defining said channel and each side wall having projections at each end thereof with 10 apertures therethrough, and said slide block having a front boss extending beyond the side walls and having the aperture therethrough.

8. An adjustable hanger as set forth in claim 4, further defined by said body having a flat back wall with openings therethrough for mounting upon a mounting surface,

and a pair of parallel side walls defining said channel said side walls each having a small aperture at the top rear thereof with said aperture having an inclined front surface slanting downward toward the back wall, and said slide block having a rear central boss thereon engaging said back wall and having a transverse aperture therethrough.

9. An adjustable hanger adapted for attachment to a mounting surface for the mounting of pictures, and the like, comprising a housing having parallel side walls extending from a back wall to define a channel and top and bottom walls terminating the channel, said walls each having an aperture therethrough adjacent the top and back walls with an inclined front surface slanting downward to the back wall, a block slidably disposed in said channel and having a central projection extending to'the back wall with a transverse aperture therethrough, said References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,575,177 3/1926 Moran 248328 1,887,031 11/1932 Lyon 248233 2,495,477 1/1950 Raitt 248-32 2,965,339 12/1960 Denton 24828 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

J. PETO, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE HANGER FOR MOUNTING PICTURES AND THE LIKE UPON A GENERALLY VERTICAL MOUNTING SURFACE COMPRISING A HANGER BODY,A THREADED SHAFT MOUNTED LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BODY FOR ROTATION ONLY, A SLIDE MEMBER THREADED ON SAID SHAFT AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID BODY FOR DRIVEN MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF UPON SHAFT ROTATION, SAID SLIDE MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH AND SAID BODY HAVING AT LEAST TWO APERTURES ADJACENT ONE END OF SLIDE MEMBER TRAVEL, AND A FLEXIBLE LINE THREADED THROUGH THE APERTURE IN SAID SLIDE MEMBER AND EXTENDING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS THEREFROM THROUGH SAID BODY APERTURES, WHEREBY THE LINE IS FORCIBLY FOLDED BY TRAVERSE OF THE SLIDE MEMBERS AWAY FROM THE BODY APERTURES.