Scroll Hanger

Abstract

A scroll hanger comprising: a scroll housing, the scroll housing comprising: an upwardly extending member, with a width, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a magnetic material within the upwardly extending member and along the width of the upwardly extending member; an inner magnetically permeable member in communication with the inner surface of the upwardly extending member; and an outer magnetically permeable member that is removeably attachable to the outer surface of the upwardly extending member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, in general, to hangers or hanging assemblies. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for hanging or displaying a sheet item of media art such as a scroll, quilt, tapestry, embroidery, needlepoint, blanket, rug, flag, cloth banner, curtain, hanging beads, and like items.

BACKGROUND

Various types of hangers are known for displaying various items such as scrolls, quilts, tapestry, curtains, hanging beads, rugs and other items. The items often are used to display such art in various environments ranging from a personal home to a public museum. In a home, for instance, an item of art may be displayed on a wall and changed as the seasons change.

One of the problems with the conventional apparatus and systems for handling and displaying such decorative items is the difficulty in adjusting the length of the art to be hung from the hanger. Many times, the art that a observer is most interested in seeing is located somewhere on the art piece such that the length of the art piece must be adjusted so that the art is properly centered and located for an aesthetically pleasing presentation.

Thus, a need exists for a hanger that allows a user to easily adjust the length of art piece with respect to the hanger.

SUMMARY

The disclosed invention relates to a scroll hanger comprising: a scroll housing, the scroll housing comprising: an upwardly extending member, with a width, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a magnetic material within the upwardly extending member and along the width of the upwardly extending member; an inner magnetically permeable member in communication with the inner surface of the upwardly extending member; and an outer magnetically permeable member that is removeably attachable to the outer surface of the upwardly extending member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the disclosed scroll hanger;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the disclosed scroll hanger showing the inner magnetically permeable member;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed scroll hanger;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed scroll hanger showing the archival quality pH neutral cover;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed scroll hanger showing a scroll in the scroll hanger;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed scroll hanger showing the outer magnetically permeable member; and

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the disclosed scroll hanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed scroll hanger 10. In this document, the term “scroll” will be used, however “scroll” will include any decorative media that can be hung from the disclosed scroll hanger, including, but not limited to scrolls, quilts, tapestries, embroideries, needle points, blankets, rugs, flags, banners, curtains, and hanging beads. The scroll hanger 10 comprises a scroll housing 14. The scroll housing 14 has two open ends 18, 22. The open ends are large enough to allow a scroll to slide into the housing 14. In this embodiment, the shape of the housing 14 is generally a rectangular cube, however other shapes such as cylindrical, triangular, and trapezoidal may be used. The housing 14 comprises an upwardly extending member 26 that extends generally the width WH of the housing. In this view the inner surface 38 of the upwardly extending member 26 is visible. A plurality of pellet magnets 30 are distributed within the upwardly extending member 26. The pellet magnets 30 are configured to make the upwardly extending member a magnetized surface. The pellet magnets 30 are shown in a generally linear distribution along the upwardly extending member 26, however the pellet magnets 30 may be distributed in any manner within the upwardly extending member 26 so long as the upwardly extending member 26 is able to generate a generally uniform magnetic force. The pellet magnets 30 may be about 1/16 inch to about 1 inch diameter, and preferably about ¼ inch in diameter. The pellet magnets may be about 1/64 inch thick to about ¼ inch thick, and preferably about 1/16 inch thick. The pellet magnets 30 may be rare earth magnets, however, any other suitable magnets are encompassed by the scope of this invention. This invention encompasses any means of developing a generally uniform magnetic force on the upwardly extending member 26, including, but not limited to magnetic filings dispersed in the upwardly extending member 26, or one or more layers of magnetic material comprising the upwardly extending member 26, or using electromagnets on or adjacent to the upwardly extending member 26. Also shown on the scroll hanger 10 is a hanging means that comprises a string, cord or wire 70 and one or two holes 74 located in the top of the housing 14. Of course other hanging means may be used with the scroll hanger 10 such as mounting screws and mounting holes, adhesives, welds, etc.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the scroll hanger 10 of FIG. 1. In this figure, an inner magnetically permeable member 34 is shown in communication with the inner surface 38 of the upwardly extending member 26. The inner magnetically permeable member 34 assists in making stronger the magnetic field generated by the magnets 30. Additionally, the inner magnetically permeable member 34 may be configured to retain the pellet magnets 30 within magnet holes formed in the upwardly extending member 26. The inner magnetically permeable member 34 extends generally the width WH of the scroll hanger 10.

FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the scroll hanger of FIG. 1. In this view the outer surface 42 of the upwardly extending member 26 is visible. The inner magnetically permeable member 34 is partially visible.

FIG. 4 shows a rear perspective view of the scroll hanger of FIG. 3, however in this Figure, an archival quality pH neutral cover 46 is attached to the upwardly extending member 26 such that it generally covers the entire inner surface 38, outer surface 42, and the inner magnetically permeable member 34. The archival quality pH neutral cover 46 protects the scroll from rust, stains, etc.

FIG. 5, shows a rear perspective view of the scroll hanger 10 of FIG. 4, with a scroll 50 located within the scroll hanger 10. A portion of the scroll 50 may be rolled up and located within the housing 14. A portion of the scroll 10 may be rolled on a roller member 54, which is also located within the housing 14. By adjusting the amount of scroll 50 rolled within the housing 14, the length of the scroll 50 hanging from the scroll hanger 10 may be adjusted. The side of the scroll 50 meant to be viewed is the front side 58. The rear side 62 of the scroll 50 faces the reader.

FIG. 6 shows a shows a rear perspective view of the scroll hanger 10 with an outer magnetically permeable member 66 located adjacent to the scroll 50 and magnetically attached to the upwardly extending member 26 via the magnets 30 (not seen in this view). The outer magnetically permeable member 66 holds the scroll 50 in place relative to the scroll hanger 10. In other embodiments the outer magnetically permeable member 66 may be covered in a an archival quality pH neutral cover.

FIG. 7 shows a rear cut-away perspective view of another embodiment of a scroll hanger 76. In this embodiment, rather than a rectangular cube shaped housing, a cylindrical housing 78 is used. A scroll 50 (not shown) would sit in the interior 82 of the cylindrical shaped housing 78. A portion of the scroll would hang over the upwardly extending member 26 and would be kept in place by an outer magnetically permeable member 66 that would be magnetically attached via its proximity to the upwardly extending member 26 via the magnets 30 disbursed throughout the upwardly extending member 26. An inner magnetically permeable member 34 is in communication with an inner surface of the upwardly extending member 26. Additionally, an archival quality pH neutral cover 46 is attached to the upwardly extending member 26 such that it generally covers the entire inner surface of the upwardly extending member 26, the outer surface of the upwardly extending member 26, and the inner magnetically permeable member 34.

The housings 14, 78 of the disclosed scroll hangers may be made out of acrylic, Plexiglas, wood, butyl, fiberglass, any suitable non-magnetic material, including but not limited to cardboard. The outer magnetically permeable member 66 may be made out of stainless steel to protect the scroll from rusting. The width WH of the scroll hanger may range from about 6 inches to about 12 feet wide or more. Preferably the width WH of the scroll hanger may range from about 18 inches to about 3 feet wide.

The disclosed scroll hanger allows users to easily and inexpensively hang scrolls and other decorative media. In addition, the disclosed scroll hanger allows a user to easily adjust the length of the scroll hanging out of the scroll hanger.

It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A scroll hanger comprising:

a scroll housing, the scroll housing comprising: an upwardly extending member, with a width, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a magnetic material within the upwardly extending member and along the width of the upwardly extending member; an inner magnetically permeable member in communication with the inner surface of the upwardly extending member; and

an outer magnetically permeable member that is removeably attachable to the outer surface of the upwardly extending member.

2. The scroll hanger of claim 1, further comprising:

an archival quality pH neutral cover attached to and generally covering the upwardly extending member and inner magnetically permeable member.

3. The scroll hanger of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material comprises:

a plurality of pellet magnets.

4. The scroll hanger of claim 3, wherein the pellet magnets are about 1/16th of an inch to about 1 inch in diameter and about 1/64th of an inch thick to about ¼th of inch thick.

5. The scroll hanger of claim 3, wherein the pellet magnets are about ¼th of an inch in diameter and about 1/16th of an inch thick.

6. The scroll hanger of claim 1, wherein the scroll housing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of acrylic, Plexiglas, wood, butyl, fiberglass, and cardboard.

7. The scroll hanger of claim 1 wherein the housing has a generally rectangular cube shape.

8. The scroll hanger of claim 1 wherein the housing has a generally cylindrical shape.

9. The scroll hanger of claim 1, further comprising:

an archival quality pH neutral cover attached to and generally covering the outer magnetically permeable member.