Picture hanging system

Abstract

A picture hanging system comprising a permanently installed array of tensioned vertical cables spaced at uniform intervals that are attached both at the top and bottom of a wall on which pictures are to be displayed. In the preferred embodiment pictures are hung from bracket assemblies that are attached with integral clamping means to the cables at the desired locations on the wall. An integral picture hook on each bracket assembly that can be slid on the bracket assembly to adjust the desired horizontal position. Thus the hanging system permits quick and accurate installation of pictures anywhere on the wall. A single-cable clamp assembly is employed to hang very small pictures or small items on a wall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to picture hanging systems and more particularly to a system that permits quick and easy placement of pictures on walls at the exact desired locations without damaging the walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A picture is normally suspended from its hanging wire by a single hook that is fastened to the wall by a nail. A well-known problem arises in installing the picture in the exact desired location on the wall when using the above noted method. Typically the hook is first installed on the wall at a location judged to be approximately correct. The picture is then hung and a determination is made as to where to relocate the hook to achieve a placement closer to the desired location. This trial and error method may involve several repetitions until the exact desired location is obtained. It is also noisy, time consuming and damages the wall due to the multiple nail holes that are created. The problem becomes particularly acute in art galleries where numerous pictures are displayed on the walls, which are frequently replaced or moved.

[0003] Various picture-hanging systems have been developed, such as disclosed in Hayde, U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,987 and Fleishman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,999, which are particularly for use in galleries, to overcome the above noted problems. Such systems however suffer from one or more of the following impediments.

[0004] First, usually, only one suspension member is employed per picture resulting in non-redundant support and a relatively large non-aesthetic support member. Second, tools are often required to hang the pictures. Third, typically, additional pictures cannot be installed in the same area without first removing existing pictures and their associated hangers and then re-installing them. Fourth, picture orientation is often not stable due to being suspended from a single narrow hook and from cables or rods that can move on the wall in pendulum fashion. Fifth, expensive tracks are often required from which the rods or cables are suspended. Lastly, walls having a slope at the top or bottom, or having obstacles projecting from them cannot be readily accommodated.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a picture hanging system which overcomes some or all of the above identified shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The principal and secondary objects of the invention are to provide an inexpensive, unobtrusive, aesthetically appealing, adjustable picture hanging system that allows quick, quiet, easy and precise placement of pictures at numerous locations on a wall, provides secure, redundant attachment of the picture and is easily and quickly adjustable and does not require special skills or tools to operate.

[0007] These and other objects are achieved by a system having two or more lengths of cable vertically deployed at spaced apart intervals over a wall section to form an array of cable lengths. A bracket having a pair of spaced apart clamps is clamped to adjacent lengths of cables at a desired location on the wall. The clamps are tightened or loosened by integral thumbscrews without the need for any tools. The bracket can be quickly attached or detached from the lengths of cable at any time without affecting other pictures already hanging on the wall. A separate picture hook is slidingly mounted to each bracket so that it can slide horizontally on the bracket. When installing a picture the bracket is secured in the approximate final location. The picture is hung and a determination is made how far to shift it vertically and/or horizontally. The desired position is readily achieved by moving the bracket vertically on the cable lengths and by sliding the hook horizontally on the bracket. The picture hooks that support the picture wires are widened over prior designs and the cabling attached to the wall is tensioned, thus providing the picture with additional stability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a wall on which the cabling is deployed according to the invention.

[0009] FIG. 1a is an elevational view of the wall of FIG. 1 zoomed in on an anchorment.

[0010] FIG. 1b is a cross-sectional side view at the anchorment of FIG. 1b taken along the line 1b-1b.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a wall where the floors and ceilings slope and there is an obstruction in the wall on which the cabling is deployed according to the invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of the bracket assembly including the picture hook.

[0013] FIG. 3a is a front view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 3

[0014] FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional side view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 3a taken along line 3b-3b.

[0015] FIG. 3c is a cross-sectional side view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 3a taken along line 3c-3c.

[0016] FIG. 3d is a top view of the bracket assembly showing plates being separated during manufacture.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of a single-cable clamp assembly incorporating an integral picture hook.

[0018] FIG. 4a is a side view of the single-clamp assembly showing the front and back arms separated during manufacture.

[0019] FIG. 4b is a front view of a single cable clamp assembly.

[0020] FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view of the single-cable clamp taken along line 4c-4c.

[0021] FIG. 5 is an elevation view showing fastener placement and cable routing on the wall.

[0022] FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a wall showing a large and/or heavy picture 12 supported by two bracket assemblies, a medium sized picture 13 supported by a single bracket assembly, and a small picture 14 supported by a single-cable clamp assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the deployment of a cable 1 in serpentine fashion around anchorments in the form of screws 2 that are installed at the top and bottom of the wall 3 to form a plurality of parallelly spaced apart vertical cable lengths 4. Typically plastic expansion anchors are employed in conjunction with the screws, particularly when installing the screws into dry wall to maximize the load carrying capability of the screws as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. The cable system can readily be installed in situations where the floor or ceiling slopes or is irregular in shape as shown in FIG. 2. It can also accommodate protruding obstructions 4 in the wall 3 as also shown in FIG. 2.

[0024] The horizontal distance between cable lengths is preferably uniform and essentially the same as the nominal length of the bracket that is employed. The cable generally employed for hanging is a multi-strand type made of stainless steel. However other materials such as translucent mono-filament nylon line can also be employed. The latter support strand material has the advantage of blending in with the color of the wall behind it. The diameter of the cable or line is generally less than 0.032 inch.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3 the bracket assembly is formed by two opposing plate members 5a and 5b, two clinch nuts 6, two thumbscrews 7 and a picture hook 8. The plate members incorporate holes near each end. The two clinch nuts are secured to the rear surface of the rear plate member 5a by pressing them into the holes in this member. The picture hook 8 is slidingly captured by the plate members 5a, 5b as shown in FIG. 3c. During manufacture the hook is positioned at the center of the two plate members and the plate members are bent away from each other on both sides of the hook at a combined angle A, preferably between about 5° and 10° as shown on FIG. 3d. The thumbscrews pass through corresponding holes in the front plate member 5b and screw into the clinch nuts. When doing this the plate members that are originally deflected 5 to 10° apart are compressed together until their inner opposing surfaces tightly clamp portions of the cabling 1 as shown in FIG. 3b. During loosening of the thumbscrews, the outward spring bias of the plates causes them to separate at both ends allowing vertical movement or removal of the bracket assembly altogether.

[0026] The ends of the plate members 5 are beveled as shown in FIG. 3c to facilitate insertion of the cables between them when installing the bracket assemblies on a wall.

[0027] The picture hook 8 is formed to have a downwardly facing “C” shaped portion X2 sized to slide with moderate friction over the plate members as shown in FIG. 3c. The hook has a width dimension W which is preferably at least 1 inch wide to provide a stable picture installation. More preferably the hook width is at least 1.5 inches and most preferably the width is at least 2 inches.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a single-cable clamp assembly that is employed to hang or attach small pictures, small identification tags or other small items to the wall. The clamp assembly is comprised of a generally “U” shaped bent plate 9 having front and back arms 10a, 10b that incorporate two holes, a clinch nut 6, and a thumbscrew 7. The clinch nut and thumbscrew are the same parts that are employed on the bracket assembly. The clinch nut is pressed into the backside of the hole in the back arm 10b of plate 9. The plate 9 is bent over on itself during manufacture until the arms 10a and 10b are spaced apart a distance “D” which is larger than the diameter of the cabling 1 as shown on FIG. 4a. Distance “D” is preferably between 0.25 and 0.38 inches. The thumbscrew 7 is then inserted into the remaining hole in the bent plate 9 and partially screwed into the clinch nut 6. To install the clamp on the wall it is inserted over the cabling 1 and the thumbscrew is further tightened until the bent plate 9 firmly clamps on to a single length of cabling. This process is reversed when removing the clamp from the cabling with the arms 10a and 10b springing back apart to a distance “D” as the thumbscrew is loosened. The plate also incorporates a distal bent tab 11 on the front arm 10a that forms a picture hook as shown on FIG. 4 and FIG. 4b.

[0029] All parts of the bracket assembly and single cable clamp assembly are made of strong durable and adequately resilient metallic materials such as various metals including stainless steel, however plastic materials can also be employed.

[0030] Now will be described the inventive method of attaching the cabling to a wall. First vertically aligned marks are made at both the top and bottom of the wall at certain locations described below. Next small pilot holes are drilled into the wall at these locations. Next wedge anchors are inserted into the holes and flat head screws partially installed in them. The pilot holes are located on the wall in a specific repetitive pattern as shown in FIG. 5. As shown on FIG. 5, if the desired uniform cable spacing is d1 and the screw diameter is d2 then the horizontal distance between the pilot holes is alternately (d1+d2) and (d1−d2). This results in a uniform horizontal spacing between cable lengths of d1 when the cabling is uniformly wound over the screws in clockwise fashion. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the use of different diameter screws will allow variation in the pilot hole locations.

[0031] Typically the cable is first secured to a screw on the upper far left side of the wall by winding it at least twice around the screw in clockwise rotational direction fashion and then tightening the screw to the wall as shown in FIG. 5. This is followed by winding the cable clockwise once or twice around the screw underneath in clockwise fashion while maintaining moderate cable tension. While holding moderate tension the screw is turned clockwise until it is tightly fastened to the wall and until the desired final cable tension is achieved. This is followed by progressively employing the aforementioned tightening and cable tensioning procedure at every screw location on the wall and in this way forming a uniformly spaced serpentine cable array on the wall. It is important to properly tension the cables during their installation in the above described manner so as to minimize any possible horizontal movement of pictures that are later hung on the wall.

[0032] Now will be described the inventive method of installing a picture on a wall. First a horizontally oriented bracket assembly is attached to two cables in the approximate position where the picture is to be hung. Next the picture hook is slid on the bracket to the approximate final vertical centerline position of the picture. The picture is then hung from the hook on a trial basis. Next a determination is made how far to shift the picture vertically and/or horizontally and the picture is taken down. The thumb screws 7 are then loosened to permit them to slide on the cable lengths and the clamp is moved to the desired vertical position on the wall. This is followed by tightening of the thumbscrews, locking the bracket to the cabling. The picture hook 8 is next slid on the bracket assembly to the desired horizontal position. Finally the picture is hung from the hook, completing the installation.

[0033] It is very important that pictures are securely attached to the wall. The invention accomplishes this by carrying each picture on two cables making its support redundant. If a picture 11 is very large or very heavy or if it is desired to further increase the degree of support redundancy, two brackets connected at the same elevation to four individual cables can be employed as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 also shows a medium size picture 12 hung from a single clamp.

[0034] Cable service loads are low because of the redundant picture support, resulting in relatively small cable sizes and an unobtrusive installation. Because the cables are permanently installed they can be painted with the same paint as used on the wall thereby making them even less noticeable.

[0035] Since the cables are connected at the top and bottom of a wall by individual screws the hanging system readily accommodates installation on walls that slope at the top or bottom or are irregular in shape such as on stairways as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore any obstructions on the wall can be readily bypassed utilizing additional screws as also shown on FIG. 2.

[0036] In instances where a very small picture 13 is to be hung or a small picture identification tag is to be placed near the picture, a single-clamp assembly attached to only one cable is used as shown on FIG. 6. In this manner very small items can be hung on the wall without revealing the attachment hardware.

[0037] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of any eventual claims.

Claims

1. A picture hanging system which comprises:

a plurality of spaced apart lengths of cable secured to a wall; and,

a picture hanging bracket assembly comprising a first clamp for releasably attaching to one of said lengths of cable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said lengths are spaced apart at uniform intervals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said lengths comprise a single cable run which is routed in serpentine fashion over a series of spaced apart anchorments secured to the wall.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said bracket assembly further comprises a second clamp and wherein said clamps are attached to two adjacent lengths of cable.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said bracket assembly further comprises first and second opposing plates bound at a medial section by a picture hook.

6. The system of claim 5, in which each of said plates is formed to have an oblong body having opposite ends.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a first of said opposite ends of said first plate is biased away from said second plate.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said bracket assembly further comprises:

each of said plates being formed to have a hole at each of said opposite ends;

two clinch nuts each pressed into one of said holes through said first plate; and,

two thumbscrews each engaging one of said nuts through said holes of said second plate thereby forming said clamps.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said picture hook has a substantially “C” shaped portion slidingly capturing said plates thereby allowing the hook to be slid back and forth to achieve a desired final horizontal positioning.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said picture hook has a width dimension of at least 1 inch.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said bracket assembly comprises a generally “U” shaped member having first and second spaced apart clamping arms forming said first clamp.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said assembly further comprises a clinch nut bonded to said first arm and a thumb screw penetrating opposing holes through said arms and engaging said nut.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said second arm has an angled portion thereby forming a picture hook.

14. A method for creating a picture hanging system on a wall, said method comprises:

partially attaching a plurality of support screws into said wall at spaced apart locations;

attaching a first portion of a cable to said wall;

winding a second portion of said cable around a first one of said screws in a first rotational direction; and,

tightening said first one of said screws in said first rotational direction thereby tensioning said cable.

15. The method of claim 14, which further comprises:

further deploying said cable in serpentine fashion about a remainder of said screws.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said screws tighten through clockwise rotational movement and said first rotational movement is clockwise.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein each of said screws has a diameter and wherein said spaced apart locations are selected so that a first horizontal spacing is a distance plus said diameter, and a second adjacent horizontal spacing is said distance minus said diameter.

18. A method for positioning a picture on a wall, said method comprises:

securing a bracket between a pair of spaced apart lengths of cable attached to a wall; and,

hanging said picture on a picture hook attached to said bracket.