Adjustable hanging device

Abstract

An adjustable hanging device, which hangs an object on a wall surface, includes a bracket, a screw rod, and a carriage. The bracket is mounted on the wall surface. The screw rod extends into the bracket, and is operable so as to rotate relative to the bracket. The carriage threadedly engages the screw rod, supports the object, and is movable along the screw rod when the screw rod is operated so as to adjust the position of the object on the wall surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 093206819, filed on May 3, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a hanging device, more particularly to an adjustable hanging device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Typically, flat panel displays are hung on a wall surface with the use of a conventional hanging device, such as screw means.

The conventional hanging device is disadvantageous in that, if the flat panel display is not leveled upon hanging, the position of the conventional hanging device needs to be adjusted. The adjustment of the position of the conventional hanging device involves unfastening and re-fastening thereof, which is inconvenient, error prone, and time consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable hanging device that is capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawback of the prior art. According to the present invention, an adjustable hanging device, which is adapted to hang an object on a wall surface, includes a bracket, a screw rod, and a carriage. The bracket is adapted to be mounted on the wall surface. The screw rod extends into the bracket, and is operable so as to rotate relative to the bracket. The carriage threadedly engages the screw rod, is adapted to support the object, and is movable along the screw rod when the screw rod is operated so as to adjust the position of the object on the wall surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an adjustable hanging device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to illustrate a screw rod and a carriage of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in an assembled state;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view to illustrate the preferred embodiment in a state of use; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of an adjustable hanging device 100 according to this invention is shown to include a bracket 2, a screw rod 3, and a carriage 4.

The adjustable hanging device 100 is adapted to hang an object 12 (see FIG. 4) on a wall surface (W) (see FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the object 12 is a flat panel display.

The bracket 2 is adapted to be mounted on the wall surface (W), and includes first and second bracket parts 21, 22. The first bracket part 21 defines a carriage-receiving space (S), and includes a base wall 211, first and second lateral walls 212, 213, and top and bottom walls 214, 215, which cooperatively confine the carriage-receiving space (S). A hang ring 216 is provided on the top wall 214 of the first bracket part 21. The first bracket part 21 further defines an opening (O) that is in spatial communication with the carriage-receiving space (S). The second bracket part 22 serves to cover detachably the opening (O) in the first bracket part 21. The top wall 214 of the first bracket part 21 is formed with a hole 210 that is in spatial communication with the carriage-receiving space (S).

The screw rod 3 extends into the bracket 2, and is operable so as to rotate relative to the bracket 2, as indicated by the arrow (X) in FIG. 3. In particular, the screw rod 3 has an enlarged head 31 that is disposed externally of the carriage-receiving space (S) and that is anchored to a periphery of the hole 210 in the top wall 214 of the first bracket part 21, and a shank 32 that extends integrally from the enlarged head 31 of the screw rod 3 and into the carriage-receiving space (S) through the hole 210 in the top wall 214 of the first bracket part 21. The shank 32 of the screw rod 3 has a threaded portion 321 that is separate from the first bracket part 21, i.e., the threaded portion 321 is free of a threaded connection with the first bracket part 21. As such, rotation of the screw rod 3 relative to the bracket 2 does not result in axial movement of the screw rod 3. The shank 32 of the screw rod 3 further has a non-threaded portion 322 disposed between the enlarged head 31 and the threaded portion 321 of the screw rod 3. In this embodiment, the non-threaded portion 322 of the shank 32 of the screw rod 3 is formed with an annular flange 33 that projects radially therefrom. The enlarged head 31 and the annular flange 33 of the screw rod 3 cooperatively define an annular groove 30 therebetween. The periphery of the hole 210 in the top wall 214 of the first bracket part 21 is received in the annular groove 30 so as to permit mounting of the screw rod 3 on the bracket 2.

The carriage 4 is disposed in the carriage-receiving space (S), threadedly engages the threaded portion 321 of the screw rod 3, is adapted to support the object 12, and is movable along the threaded portion 321 of the screw rod 3, as indicated by the arrow (Y) in FIG. 2, when the screw rod 3 is operated. In particular, the carriage 4 includes first and second carriage parts 41, 42, and a threaded rod 43. The second carriage part 42 extends transversely from the first carriage part 41 in a direction away from the top wall 214 of the first bracket part 21. It is noted that the carriage 4 is U-shaped, and includes a first arm, a second arm parallel to the first arm, and a cross arm that interconnects the first and second arms. The first arm serves as the first carriage part 41, whereas the cross arm serves as the second carriage part 42. The first carriage part 41 is formed with a first inner thread 410. The threaded portion 321 of the shank 32 of the screw rod 3 engages threadedly the first inner thread 410 of the first carriage part 41 of the carriage 4. The second carriage part 42 is formed with a second inner thread 420. The second bracket part 22 is formed with an elongated hole 220. The threaded rod 43 has a first end portion 431 that engages threadedly the second inner thread 420 of the second carriage part 42 of the carriage 4, and a second end portion 432 that extends from the first end portion 431 of the threaded rod 43, and that has a free end distal from the first end portion 431 of the threaded rod 43 and formed with an enlarged head. It is noted that the second end portion 432 of the threaded rod 43 extends outwardly of the carriage-receiving space (S) through the elongated hole 220 in the second bracket part 22, and is adapted to hang the object 12. It is also noted that the elongated hole 220 in the second bracket part 22 has a sufficient length to permit movement of the threaded rod 43, as indicated by the arrow (Z) in FIG. 3, when the screw rod 3 is operated.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, as an application of the adjustable hanging device 100 of this invention, the object 12 is hung on the wall surface (W) with the use of two adjustable hanging devices 100. Each of the adjustable hanging devices 100 is first mounted on the wall surface (W) by means of a screw fastener 5 that passes through the hang ring 216 of a respective one of the adjustable hanging devices 100 and that is fastened to the wall surface (W). The object 12 has left and right end portions 121, 122, each of which is formed with a hanging groove 120, 120′. The object 12 is then hung on the wall surface (W) such that the enlarged head of the second end portion 432 of a respective one of the threaded rods 43 is disposed in and is anchored to a periphery of a respective one of the hanging grooves 120, 120′. Upon hanging the object 12, and if the object 12 is not leveled, that is, if one of the left and right end portions 121, 122 is higher or lower than the other, each of the screw rods 3 may be operated to raise or lower the vertical position of the left and right end portions 121, 122 of the object 12 on the wall surface (W) until the object 12 is leveled.

It is noted that the adjustable hanging device 100 may be mounted on the wall surface (W) such that the screw rod 3 is oriented to extend horizontally. As such, when used in the aforementioned application of the adjustable hanging device 100 of this invention, each of the screw rods 3 may be operated to adjust the horizontal position of the object 12 on the wall surface (W).

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An adjustable hanging device adapted for hanging an object on a wall surface, comprising:

a bracket adapted to be mounted on the wall surface;

a screw rod extending into said bracket and operable so as to rotate relative to said bracket; and

a carriage threadedly engaging said screw rod, adapted to support the object, and movable along said screw rod when said screw rod is operated so as to adjust the position of the object on the wall surface.

2. The adjustable hanging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bracket includes a first bracket part that defines therein a carriage-receiving space, said first bracket part including a top wall formed with a hole which is in spatial communication with said carriage-receiving space,

said carriage being disposed in said carriage-receiving space, and including a first carriage part formed with a first inner thread,

said screw rod having an enlarged head that is disposed externally of said carriage-receiving space and that is anchored to a periphery of said hole in said top wall of said first bracket part, and a shank that extends from said enlarged head of said screw rod through said hole and into said carriage-receiving space, said shank of said screw rod having a threaded portion that is separate from said first bracket part, and that engages threadedly said first inner thread of said first carriage part of said carriage.

3. The adjustable hanging device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shank of said screw rod further has a non-threaded portion disposed between said enlarged head and said threaded portion of said screw rod, and formed with an annular flange which projects radially therefrom, said enlarged head and said annular flange of said screw rod cooperatively defining an annular groove therebetween, said periphery of said hole in said top wall of said first bracket part being received in said annular groove.

4. The adjustable hanging device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said carriage further includes

a second carriage part that extends transversely from said first carriage part in a direction away from said top wall of said first bracket part, and that is formed with a second inner thread, and

a threaded rod that engages threadedly said second inner thread of said second carriage part of said carriage and that is adapted to hang the object.

5. The adjustable hanging device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first bracket part defines an opening that is in spatial communication with said carriage-receiving space, said bracket further including a second bracket part for covering detachably said opening in said first bracket part, said second bracket part being formed with an elongated hole, said threaded rod extending outwardly of said carriage-receiving space through said elongated hole in said second bracket part, said elongated hole in said second bracket part having a sufficient length to permit movement of said threaded rod when said screw rod is operated.

6. A hangable module comprising:

an adjustable hanging device including a bracket adapted to be mounted on the wall surface, a screw rod extending into said bracket and operable so as to rotate relative to said bracket, and a carriage threadedly engaging said screw rod, and movable along said screw rod when said screw rod is operated; and

an object supported by said carriage so as to be adjustable in position on the wall surface.

7. The hangable module as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bracket includes a first bracket part that defines therein a carriage-receiving space, said first bracket part including a top wall formed with a hole which is in spatial communication with said carriage-receiving space,

said carriage being disposed in said carriage-receiving space, and including a first carriage part formed with a first inner thread,

said screw rod having an enlarged head that is disposed externally of said carriage-receiving space and that is anchored to a periphery of said hole in said top wall of said first bracket part, and a shank that extends from said enlarged head of said screw rod through said hole and into said carriage-receiving space, said shank of said screw rod having a threaded portion that is disposed in said carriage-receiving space, that is separate from said first bracket part, and that engages said first inner thread of said first carriage part of said carriage.

8. The hangable module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shank of said screw rod further has a non-threaded portion disposed between said enlarged head and said threaded portion of said screw rod, and formed with an annular flange which projects radially therefrom, said enlarged head and said annular flange of said screw rod cooperatively defining an annular groove therebetween, said periphery of said hole in said top wall of said first bracket part being received in said annular groove.

9. The hangable module as claimed in claim 8, wherein said carriage further includes

a second carriage part that extends transversely and downwardly from said first carriage part, and that is formed with a second inner thread, and

a threaded rod that engages threadedly said second inner thread of said second carriage part of said carriage to hang said object.

10. The hangable module as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first bracket part of said bracket defines an opening that is in spatial communication with said carriage-receiving space, said bracket further including a second bracket part for covering detachably said opening in said first bracket part, said second bracket part being formed with an elongated hole, said threaded rod extending outwardly of said carriage-receiving space and through said elongated hole in said second bracket part, said elongated hole in said second bracket part having a sufficient length to permit movement of said threaded rod when said screw rod is operated.

11. The hangable module as claimed in claim 6, wherein said object is a flat panel display.