Device for Hanging Items from a Vertical Surface

Abstract

A vertical-mount display device includes a first component, a second component, and a coupler. The first component is adapted to be mounted to a vertical surface. The second component is adapted to removably couple with the first component such that the second component extends outward from the first component. The coupler is adapted to removably couple the second component to the first component. The second component is adapted to support an item when coupled to the first component.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/070,605, which was filed on Mar. 25, 2008 and which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to devices for hanging items, for example, for hanging and displaying a musical instrument, such as a guitar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many useful items are difficult to store in a way that keeps them handy for when they are needed, but do not expose a storage solution that is an eyesore when the item is in use. An example of such an item would be just about any musical instrument. Musical instruments typically are used on a frequent basis by their owners, and therefore storing them out of sight, such as in a closet, would not be convenient. However, a storage solution that is more convenient, such as an instrument stand, typically takes up a certain amount of floor space, and can take away from the decor of a room when the instrument is not in place. As single-purpose items, other uses for such a stand cannot be taken advantage of to overcome the noted deficiencies.

For example, guitar stands and hangers are well-known, used to store a guitar in an appropriate arrangement when not being played. Guitar stands are useful, but take up a certain amount of floor space, even when not in use. Guitar hangers are wall-mounted, and therefore avoid taking up floor space. Conventional guitar hangers have only one function, and are typically constructed of cheap wood or plastic. When the guitar is mounted on the hanger, the guitar is displayed to the room. However, when a typical conventional wall-mounted hanger is not in use supporting a guitar, it detracts from the character and aesthetic nature of the room.

There is a need for a device, such as a guitar hanger, that serves a decorative purpose when not in use supporting an item. The hanger should be sturdy and easy to use, and preferably should be useful other than for hanging a single particular item.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a wall-mount guitar hanger that has a decorative appearance. The hanger also preferably includes a multi-purpose hanging peg.

According to an aspect of the invention, a vertical-mount display device includes a first component, a second component, and a coupler. The first component is adapted to be mounted to a vertical surface. The second component is adapted to removably couple with the first component such that the second component extends outward from the first component. The coupler is adapted to removably couple the second component to the first component. The second component is adapted to support an item when coupled to the first component.

The first component can be decorative and substantially visible when the second component is not supporting the item. For example, the first component can have the appearance of a musical instrument, such as a guitar.

The first component can be adapted to be fixed to the vertical surface.

The first component can include a gusset, on which a bottom surface of a proximate end of the second component rests when the second component is coupled to the first component. The first component can also include a shoulder above the gusset against which a top surface of the proximate end of the second component abuts when the second component is coupled to the first component. For example, ornamentation on the first component can include the shoulder. The gusset can include a vertical through-hole, the second component can include a cavity at a location substantially above the vertical through-hole when the second component is coupled to the first component, and the coupler can include a pin disposed within the vertical through-hole and biased in an upward direction, such that the pin engages the cavity when the second component is coupled to the first component. For example, the pin can be a spring-loaded plunger pin.

The second component can include a holder at the distal end that is adapted to support the item. For example, the holder can be adapted to support a musical instrument, such as a guitar.

The holder can be formed in the shape of a partial ring having ends defining an opening in the ring. The ends can include raised profiles, which can be rounded. An inside surface of the holder can be cushioned. The second component can include a rubber layer disposed on an inside surface of the holder. The second component can also include an extension piece, with the holder being removably attached to the extension piece. In this case, the second component can also include a lock screw, by which the holder is removably attached to the extension piece.

The second component can include a raised profile on an upper surface of a distal end, and the raised profile can be rounded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the device, mounted to a vertical surface.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the first component of the device.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of an exemplary embodiment of the first component of the device.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the second component of the device.

FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of the second component of the device.

FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of the second component of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For brevity, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be discussed in detail. This exemplary embodiment is a wall-mount guitar hanger that has a decorative appearance and, preferably, a multi-purpose hanging peg. The invention is not limited to the details of this particular example, however, and includes all devices for hanging items from a vertical surface.

The decorative guitar-hanging bracket has interchangeable parts and a spring-loaded plunger pin that positions and locks the removable parts in place. The removable parts are a non-pivoting guitar-hanging hook, a pivoting guitar-hanging hook with a lock screw, and a multi-purpose hanging peg. The pivoting and non-pivoting guitar hooks have a rubber ring that is adapted to support a guitar. The guitar-shaped hanging bracket has a slot-and-gusset design that supports that weight of the guitar hanging from the hook. The multi-purpose hanging peg is sturdy enough to hold a guitar or other object.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical-mount display device 1 includes a first component 2, a second component 3, and a coupler 4. The first component 2 is shown mounted to a vertical surface 5, such as a wall, partition, or any other vertical structure. This first component 2 can be fixed to the wall, or can be removably mounted. The second component 3 is shown coupled with the first component 2 such that the second component 3 extends outward from the first component 2, providing distance from the wall to accommodate a guitar while supported by the second component 3. The coupler 4 removably couples the second component 3 to the first component 2.

As shown, the first component 2 is decorative and substantially visible when the second component 3 is not supporting the guitar. In this exemplary embodiment, the first component 2 has the appearance of a guitar, although any ornamentation can be used.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the first component 2 with the second component 3 detached. As shown, the first component includes a gusset 6, on which the bottom surface of the proximate end of the second component 3 rests when the second component 3 is coupled to the first component 2 as sown in FIG. 1. The ornamental portion 7 of the first component 2 preferably also includes a shoulder 8 above the gusset 6, against which the top surface of the proximate end of the second component 3 abuts when the second component 3 is coupled to the first component 2, helping to hold the first component 2 in place.

The gusset 6 includes a vertical through-hole to accommodate a spring-loaded plunger pin 9, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. This pin 9 is biased in an upward direction, to engage a cavity on the underside of the proximate end of the second component 3, above the gusset through-hole. Once the second component 3 is slid into place above the gusset 6 and engaging the spring-loaded plunger pin 9, the first component 2 is held securely in place. Preferably, the components are fabricated from metal or another suitable sturdy material, so that the hanger 1 will be able to support the guitar or any other desired item.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the second component 3. As shown, the second component 3 includes a holder 10 at the distal end that is adapted to support the guitar. The particular shape and orientation of the holder 10 can vary within the scope of the invention, depending on the item that is intended to be supported by the device.

The particular holder 10 shown in FIG. 4 is suitable for holding a guitar by partially encircling the neck of the guitar. Accordingly, in this embodiment the holder 10 is formed in the shape of a partial ring having ends 11, 12 defining an opening 13 in the ring. The ends 11, 12 can include raised profiles, which can be rounded, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to more securely hold a guitar and to protect the surface of the guitar from rough or sharp edges. As further protection, an inside surface of the holder 10 can be cushioned, such as with a rubber layer 14.

The embodiment of the second component 3 shown in FIG. 5 is pivotable. The component 3 includes an extension piece 15 that is pivotally, and possibly removably, attached to the holder 15. A lock screw 16 is used to fix the orientation of the holder 10, whether it is to be in a parallel position or tilted. The lock screw 16 is loosened to allow changing of the holder 10 orientation, and then tightened to fix the selected position. If the holder 10 is removable from the extension piece 15, the screw 16 can be removed.

When the guitar is removed from the holder 10, the device 1 presents a decorative appearance. The second component 3 can also be removed, so that the ornamental nature of the first component 2 is not obscured. Alternative embodiments of the second component 3 can be coupled to the first component 2 when a guitar is not being held by the device 1. For example, FIG. 6 shows a multi-purpose hanging peg that can be coupled to the first component 2. This peg can be used to hang other items from the device 1, making it more versatile, and providing functionality for the device 1 when, for example, the guitar is taken off the holder 10 for long periods of time. The multi-purpose hanging peg includes an extension portion 17 and, preferably, a raised profile 18 on an upper surface of the distal end, to facilitate the holding of items such as garments that might be hanging on the peg. This raised profile can be rounded to avoid rough or sharp edges.

Preferred and alternative embodiments have been described in detail above. These embodiments are not intended to be limiting of the invention, but rather merely illustrate the inventive concept. The invention is recited in the following claims, which should be given the broadest scope of interpretation in view of the description and reasonable equivalents.

Claims

1. A vertical-mount display device, comprising:

a first component, adapted to be mounted to a vertical surface;

a second component, adapted to removably couple with the first component such that the second component extends outward from the first component; and

a coupler that is adapted to removably couple the second component to the first component;

wherein the second component is adapted to support an item when coupled to the first component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component is decorative and substantially visible when the second component is not supporting the item.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first component has the appearance of a musical instrument.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first component has the appearance of a guitar.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component is adapted to be fixed to the vertical surface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component includes a gusset, on which a bottom surface of a proximate end of the second component rests when the second component is coupled to the first component.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first component includes a shoulder above the gusset against which a top surface of the proximate end of the second component abuts when the second component is coupled to the first component.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first component includes ornamentation, wherein the ornamentation includes the shoulder.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein:

the gusset includes a vertical through-hole;

the second component includes a cavity at a location substantially above the vertical through-hole when the second component is coupled to the first component; and

the coupler includes a pin disposed within the vertical through-hole and biased in an upward direction, such that the pin engages the cavity when the second component is coupled to the first component.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the pin is a spring-loaded plunger pin.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the second component includes a holder at the distal end that is adapted to support the item.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the holder is adapted to support a musical instrument.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the holder is adapted to support a guitar.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the holder is formed in the shape of a partial ring having ends defining an opening in the ring.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the ends include raised profiles.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the raised profiles are rounded.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein an inside surface of the holder is cushioned.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the second component includes a rubber layer disposed on an inside surface of the holder.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the second component includes an extension piece and the holder, wherein the holder is removably attached to the extension piece.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the second component further includes a lock screw, wherein the holder is removably attached to the extension piece by the lock screw.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the second component includes a raised profile on an upper surface of a distal end.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the raised profile is rounded.