Hanger with photo display

Abstract

Support hook(s) incorporating a display adjunct. The hook is fabricated from a flat sheet of material. The material is transparent and is capable of a high degree of flexing without breaking. Double-sided tape is employed to mount the sheet on a flat, vertical surface such as a wall or door. The sheet is sized to neatly press a display against the vertical surface. The display may take the form of a photograph, an advertisement, a message, or the like. The display can be easily changed without causing the double-sided mounting tape to release. The hook is designed to support a load of pre-determined maximum weight. If the pre-determined weight is exceeded, the hook will bend (without breaking) to release the load. A frame is provided to be removably disposed over the wall or door mounted sheet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to supports. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to hook support structure incorporating a display adjunct therewith.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of hooks for supporting objects such as garments, hats, keys, umbrellas, etc. is commonplace. The hooks are conventionally mounted on walls or doors in the home or office. Unfortunately, conventional hooks are usually unsightly and add no “feng shui” to the surrounding area. Furthermore, conventional hooks are usually “permanently” mounted using a screw fastener or the like, which fastener mars the wall or door. The art would certainly welcome a support hook that incorporates a decorative adjunct and that could easily be mounted or un-mounted from a wall or doorway. Thus, a support hanger incorporating a photo display solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

There are many devices in the related art designed to support objects via a hook. Pertinent samples of such related art are cited and identified in the accompanying IDS. However, none of the cited and identified related art, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a support hanger having a display adjunct as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is drawn to support hook(s) incorporating a display adjunct. The hook is fabricated from a flat sheet of material. The material is transparent and is capable of a high degree of flexing without breaking. Double-sided tape is employed to mount the sheet on a flat, vertical surface such as a wall or door. The sheet is sized to neatly press a display against the vertical surface. The display may take the form of a photograph, an advertisement, a message, or the like. The display can be easily changed without causing the double-sided mounting tape to release. The hook is designed to support a load having a pre-determined maximum weight. If the pre-determined weight is exceeded, the hook will bend (without breaking) to release the load. A frame is provided to be removably disposed over the wall or door mounted sheet. This arrangement presents a serviceable support hook in conjunction with a pleasing decorative display. The sheet may also incorporate an array of hooks.

Accordingly, the invention presents a support hook(s) that can be easily and quickly mounted to almost any vertical surface. The support hook incorporates an adjunct that may be utilized to tastefully display photographs or other types of visual material. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

A clear understanding of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a hanger with a display assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the transparent sheet of a hanger with a display assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the transparent sheet of a hanger with a display assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the transparent sheet and decorative frame of a hanger with a display assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the decorative frame of a hanger with a display assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the decorative frame of a hanger with a display assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the transparent sheet of a hanger with a display assembly according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 wherein the hanger with display assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at 10. Assembly 10 comprises a sheet of plastic material 12, which sheet incorporates a support hook 14. Sheet 12 is mounted to a vertical surface 16 such as a wall or a door (as shown). A frame member 30 is removably mounted on sheet 12 in a manner as will be explained below.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, sheet 12 and hook 14 are fabricated from a single piece of transparent, plastic material. The plastic material has high degree of flexibility that will allow the hook to bend (note phantom lines) without breaking. Any transparent material exhibiting these qualities may be utilized to fabricate the sheet if such material is otherwise suitable (costs, availability, non-toxic, etc.) A strip of double-sided adhesive 18 is employed to mount the rear surface of sheet 12 to vertical surface 16. Adhesive strip 18 is of sufficient size to maintain a bond between sheet 12 an surface 16 when a load of pre-determined weight is disposed on hook 14. A small space 20 is formed between the rear surface of sheet 12 and vertical surface 16. Space 20 extends from the top edge 12a of sheet 12 to the top edge 18a of double sided adhesive strip 18. As contemplated, a selected display item 22 may be removably disposed in the space 20 in a manner to be viewed through the front surface of sheet 12. As indicated above, the display item may take the form of a photograph, a memo or any type of visual material. The dimensions of the display item will be coextensive with the dimensions of sheet 12.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 4-6 which illustrate the disposition of decorative frame 30 onto sheet 12. Frame 30 is configured to encapsulate the perimeter of sheet 12 leaving hook 14 and the front surface of sheet 12 exposed. The side edges of sheet 12 are received within the side walls 32 of frame 30. Wall 34 is positioned across the rear of frame 30 to form a pocket 36 adapted to receive the top edge 12a of sheet 12 therein. This arrangement allows frame 30 to be easily mounted and removed if it is desired to change a display item. Although illustrated as rectangular, it is obvious that the sheet and frame could be fabricated in other configurations and of various sizes if desired.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention wherein plural hooks 40 are disposed along a bottom edge 40a of transparent sheet 42. A decorative frame (not shown) is configured to be disposed on sheet 42 in the same manner as described above relative to sheet 12. The instant embodiment is especially useful for hanging an array of keys thereon.

As indicated above, the hooks are designed to support a load having pre-determined maximum weight. If the pre-determined weight is exceeded, the hook will bend (without breaking) to release the load. The flexibility of the material will allow the hook to return to its original position.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A hanger with visual display, comprising:

a single, non-perforated, thin, transparent sheet, said single, non-perforated, thin, transparent sheet having a front surface, a rear surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges;

a visual display item disposed adjacent said rear surface of said sheet;

at least one hook unitarily formed on said bottom edge and extending downwardly therefrom;

a double-sided adhesive strip extending across said rear surface and adhesively attached thereto; and

a decorative frame removably supported on said single, non-perforated thin, transparent sheet, said decorative frame having side walls, a pocket and an opening therein, said opening exposing said front surface of said single, non-perforated, thin transparent sheet.

12. The hanger with visual display according to claim 11, wherein said side walls of said decorative frame receive the side edges of said single, non-perforated, thin transparent sheet and said pocket of said decorative frame receives the top edge of said single, non-perforated, thin transparent sheet.

13. The hanger with visual display according to claim 11, wherein said single, non-perforated, thin transparent sheet and said hook are fabricated from a plastic material having a high degree of flexibility.

14. The hanger with visual display according to claim 11, wherein said hook is designed to support a load having a pre-determined weight and wherein said hook will bend without breaking to release a load that exceeds said pre-determined weight.

15. The hanger with visual display according to claim 11, including an array of hooks each hook of said array being unitarily formed on said bottom edge and extending downwardly therefrom.