With Level Indication Means Patents (Class 40/713)
  • Patent number: 11529005
    Abstract: A self leveling picture frame assembly for automatically leveling a picture includes a picture frame defining a viewing space to display a picture. An insert is insertable into the picture frame to retain the picture in the picture frame. A leveling chamber is integrated into the insert and the leveling chamber contains a leveling fluid. The total quantity of leveling fluid is substantially less than a volume of the leveling chamber thereby facilitating the leveling fluid to travel freely in the leveling chamber. Moreover, the leveling fluid collects in the lowest point of the leveling chamber when the picture frame is hung on a vertical support surface. In this way the leveling fluid can level the picture frame on the vertical support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Butler
  • Patent number: 10925415
    Abstract: A self-leveling picture frame apparatus for automatically leveling pictures hung on a wall includes a frame body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a left portion, and a right portion defining a frame aperture. A leveling liquid is coupled within a leveling cavity of the frame body. The leveling cavity is shaped to direct the leveling liquid towards a midline of either the upper portion, the lower portion, the left portion, or the right portion depending on which portion is lowest. A transparent front cover is coupled to the frame body. The front cover is coupled to a front face of the frame body within the frame aperture. A back cover is coupled to a back face of the frame body over the frame aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Butler
  • Patent number: 8899541
    Abstract: An adjustable fastener includes a base having a first surface and an opposing second surface. At least two flanges extend outwardly from the second surface. The flanges are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis of the base. At least one tab is movably attached to the base. The tab is positioned between the two flanges and includes at least one rib extending outwardly therefrom. A carriage is movably attachable to the base. The carriage is directly attachable to at least a portion of an object. The carriage includes at least one elongated extension having a plurality of complementary spaced-apart ribs for engaging the rib of the tab of the base to locate and retain the elongated extension on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Joshua E. Bixler
  • Patent number: 8898945
    Abstract: A system and method for hanging a picture frame on a wall, comprising the steps of providing a picture frame with a hanger, for receiving a nail therein and a marking device temporarily secured to the picture frame and disposed near the void for receiving the nail; pressing the picture frame with the marking device protruding out from the picture frame, so that the marking device makes a perceivable mark on the wall, then removing the marking device; inserting a nail, screw or a length adjustable wall auger into the wall at the mark; and hanging the picture with the hanger so that the nail, screw or a length adjustable wall auger occupies some of the space earlier occupied by the marking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Roger H Miller
  • Patent number: 7587847
    Abstract: A picture frame assembly has a base mountable on a wall or other surface having a recess for receiving a cover sub assembly containing a picture therein. The base has integral components for leveling the base using a plumb line during fixing of the base to a wall or other surface to assure precise positioning before the cover sub assembly is mated to the base, to provide a front loading frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventor: William Lasher
  • Patent number: 6471175
    Abstract: A frame hanging tool has an elongated body member formed with a plurality of openings. Inserts are removably fastened to the body member in the openings. The inserts are each configured to receive and guide fasteners such as nails and screws. One of the inserts has a level for indicating whether the fasteners received in the inserts are aligned level with respect to each other. In this manner, a person is assured that the object being hung will be level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventors: Martin L. Kratish, Lawrence Kratish
  • Patent number: 6409140
    Abstract: A frame hanging tool has an elongated body member formed with a plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of openings has an opening edge and a recessed border formed at least partly around the opening edge. The inserts have an overhanging edge that has a shape corresponding with the recessed border for removably fastening the inserts to the body member within the openings. The recessed border can have a protrusion and the overhanging edge can have a recess, or vice-versa, the recess aligned with and corresponding to the protrusion. The protrusion and the recess can be curved or linear in shape. A shape of the recessed border can correspond with or be slightly smaller than a shape of the overhanging edge. The overhanging edge can have a tapered corner for easier insertability. The inserts are each configured to receive and guide fasteners such as nails and screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventors: Martin L. Kratish, Lawrence Kratish
  • Patent number: 6357716
    Abstract: An object hanging tool includes an elongated body member having at least one removable insert holder for removably fastening, to the body member, an insert for receiving and guiding a fastener to be secured to a structure. The insert holder is slidably disposed at an edge of the body member, and has a holder opening with a holder opening edge and a recessed border formed at least partly around the opening edge. The recessed border self-secures to an overhanging edge of the insert upon placing the insert into the holder opening. The recessed border can have a protrusion and the overhanging edge can have a recess, or vice-versa, the recess aligned with and corresponding to the protrusion. A shape of the recessed border can correspond with or be slightly smaller than a shape of the overhanging edge. The inserts are each configured to receive and guide fasteners such as nails and screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventors: Lawrence Kratish, Martin L. Kratish
  • Patent number: 5927675
    Abstract: A frame hanging tool which includes an elongated body member having a first side, a second side and a length. The frame hanging tool also has at least one level arranged on the elongated body member. The elongated body member has a plurality of fastener guides formed therein for receiving and guiding a plurality of fasteners. The at least one level indicating whether the plurality of fasteners are aligned level with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventors: Martin L Kratish, Lawrence Kratish
  • Patent number: 5848489
    Abstract: A frame includes a hanging surface adapted to be adjacent a wall when the frame is hung, and a front surface generally opposite the hanging surface. A level indicator is recessed within the frame and is visible when viewing the front surface of the frame. A removable cover plate is configured to conceal the level indicator from view. In another embodiment, the level indicator is visible when looking upward at the frame from below the frame when the frame is hung on a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Inventors: David E. Hartley, Marcia G. Hartley