DEVICE FOR HANGING AN OBJECT ON A WALL
There is provided a device for hanging an object on a wall. The device includes a wall mount and an object mount. One mount has first and second bracket portions each being u-shaped and configured to receive the other mount. Each bracket portion has a horizontally-extending elongated slot. The other mount has a projection shaped to extend through the slots. The projection limits horizontal movement of the object mount relative to the wall mount to within a set range. The set range spans a first position where the projection abuts a part of the first bracket portion adjacent to a distal end of its elongated slot, to a second position, where the projection abuts a part of the second bracket portion adjacent to a distal end of its elongated slot. The wall mount may include a vertically-extending slot for vertical adjustment of the device relative to the wall.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/970,611 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 16, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and priority to which is claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a device for hanging an object on a wall, and in particular, hanging a frame picture, mirror or the like, onto a wall.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTIt is known to provide a device for hanging an object, such as a picture frame, on a wall where the device comprises an elongate u-shaped bracket that engages a corresponding elongate angled bracket with apertures that can align with studs. However relying on the position on the wall stud may result in an inconvenience to the user, because the location of the wall stud may not correspond with a desired position of the picture frame relative to the rest of the wall and room.
Some devices of the known prior art allow for horizontal adjustability of the picture frame. However, some of these devices may require numerous parts and thus may be relatively expensive to manufacture. Also, some of these devices may be bulky and cumbersome to assemble and connect to picture frames. Moreover, some such devices may render the picture frame susceptible to slidably dislodging off the wall and falling to the floor, thereby increasing the risk that the picture may become damaged.
There is accordingly a need for a device that connects to the wall in a secure manner, that allows for horizontal adjustability and height adjustability of the picture frame relative to the wall, that is relatively easy to install, that is configured to ensure that the picture frame remains connected to the wall, that requires relatively few parts, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention provides a device disclosed herein that overcomes the above disadvantages. It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved device for hanging an object on a wall.
There is accordingly provided a device for hanging an object on a wall. The device includes a wall mount for fastening to the wall. The device includes an object mount for fastening to the object. A first one of the mounts has both a first bracket portion and a second bracket portion. Each bracket portion is configured to receive at least part of a second one of the mounts. At least part of each of the bracket portions is u-shaped in cross-section. Each of the bracket portions has a horizontally-extending elongated slot. Each of the horizontally-extending elongated slots has a first end and a second end opposite thereof. The first ends of the horizontally-extending elongated slots face each other. The second one of the mounts has a projection shaped to at least partially extend through the horizontally-extending elongated slots. The bracket portions enable horizontal positioning of the object mount relative to the wall mount to be adjustable. The projection is configured to interact with the bracket portions and limit horizontal movement of the object mount relative to the wall mount to within a set range. The set range spans a first position where the projection abuts a part of the first bracket portion adjacent to the second end of its horizontally-extending elongated slot, to a second position. In the second position, the projection abuts a part of the second bracket portion adjacent to the second end of its horizontally-extending elongated slot.
There is also provided a device for hanging an object on a wall. The wall has a wall stud. The device includes a wall mount for fastening to the wall. The wall mount has a central portion and a vertically extending, elongate slot that extends through the central portion. The elongate slot is configured to enable the wall mount to be vertically adjustable relative to a wall stud. The elongate slot is shaped to receive a fastener for passing therethrough and fastening into the wall stud upon the wall mount being vertically adjusted. The device includes an object mount for fastening to the object. A first one of the mounts has both a first bracket portion and a second bracket portion. Each bracket portion is u-shaped and is configured to receive at least part of a second one of the mounts. The first one of the mounts has a space between the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion. The second one of the mounts has a projection disposable in the space between the bracket portions. The bracket portions enable horizontal positioning of the object mount relative to the wall mount to be adjustable. The projection is configured to interact with the bracket portions and limit horizontal movement of the object mount relative to the wall mount to within a set range. The set range spans the space from a first position, where the projection abuts the first bracket portion, to a second position, where the projection abuts the second bracket portion.
The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawings and
The device 12 includes an object mount 16 as best shown in
The object mount 16 includes a peripheral edge 33 at its top 24 and extending between sides 28 and 30. The peripheral edge 33 is configured to align with and extend adjacent to the horizontal edge 22 of the frame 14. The apertures 35 extend parallel to and are spaced-apart from the peripheral edge 33. The apertures 35 enable the screws 37 to pass therethrough.
The object mount 16 has a pair of spaced-apart projecting members, in this example positioning tabs 34 and 36 disposed along and extending outwards from the peripheral edge 33 of the object mount. The positioning tabs 34 and 36 in this example are generally rectangular in shape and are disposed adjacent to sides 28 and 30, respectively, of the object mount. The positioning tabs 34 and 36 in this example extend from the mounting strip 32 at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the elongate mounting strip 32. The positioning tabs 34 and 36 are configured to abut against the horizontal edge 22 of the frame 14.
The object mount 16 includes an elongate rail strip 38 configured to be spaced-apart from the frame 14 and configured to extend in parallel with the mounting strip 32. Rail strip 38 extends from side 28 to side 30 and is adjacent to bottom 26.
The object mount 16 includes an angled strip 40 extending from side 28 to side 30. Angled strip 40 is interposed between and connects together the rail strip 38 and the mounting strip 32. As shown in
The object mount 16 includes a centrally disposed projection 42. The projection 42 in this example is formed by a bent portion partially cut-out from the rail strip 38. Referring to
According to one example, the sheet metal is 18 gauge in thickness. The object mount 16: from side 28 to 30, is 8 inches long; and from top 24 to bottom 26, is 1.5 inches wide. The projection 42 accordingly to one example extends outwards relative to the rail strip 38 by ⅛th of an inch and is ⅛th of an inch wide in the horizontal direction, extending parallel with the rail strip 38. The positioning tabs 34 and 36 are ⅜th of an inch wide in the horizontal direction, relative to
The device 12 also includes a wall mount 18 as shown in
The mounting plate 56 has a pair of peripheral portions 66 and 68 on either side of the central portion 58 adjacent to the top 48. Peripheral portion 66 of the mounting plate 56 extends from side 52 towards side 54 and peripheral portion 68 of the mounting plate 56 extends from side 54 towards side 52. Peripheral portions 66 and 68 of the mounting plate 56 together with the part of the central portion 58 of the mounting plate 56 therebetween may be said to comprise an elongated strip that is rectangular in shape. Peripheral portion 66 of the mounting plate 56 has an aperture 70 extending therethrough and peripheral portion 68 of the mounting plate 56 has an aperture 72 extending therethrough. Apertures 70 and 72 enable further fasteners such as nails or screws 73 as shown in
The wall mount 18 includes a pair of spaced-apart bracket portions 74 and 76. In this example mounting plate 56 forms part of the bracket portions as shown in
Accordingly to one example, the wall mount 18 from side 52 to side 54, is 8 inches long. The central portion 58 in one example, from top 48 to bottom 50, is 3 inches long and 2 inches wide between bracket portions 74 and 76. The bracket portions 74 and 76 are each 3 inches long in the horizontal direction, relative to
Referring to
In use and referring first to
Referring to
The frame 14, with its object mount 16 now connected thereto, may then hook onto the wall mount 18, as shown in
The position of the frame 14 may next be horizontally adjusted. The bracket portions 74 and 76 and the projection 42 are configured to interact and enable the horizontal position of the object mount 16 to be adjusted relative to the wall mount 18 within a set range. The object mount 16 may be slidably displaced, with the rail strip 38 slidably adjustable within bracket portions 74 and 76 to the left or to the right from the perspective of
Referring to
Many advantages result from the structure of the present invention. For example, the device 12 as herein described provides the advantage of being securely mountable to a wall stud while being slidably adjustable to allow a picture or mirror to be selectively offset from the stud location as desired. Thus the device 12 as herein described, with its central projection 58 of the mounting plate 56 and sliding rail strip, provides flexibility and adjustability with respect to the exact positioning of the picture while at the same time, with its central portion 58 of the mounting plate 56 configured to attach to the wall stud, enabling a very strong connection to the wall. The device as herein described thus may enable the mounting of relatively large and heavy objects.
The device 12 as herein described, by providing an elongate central portion 58 with apertures 61, 63 and 64 configured to align with the wall stud, renders the use of wall plugs unnecessary as well as allowing for height adjustability on wall 15. This thereby further simplifies the installation of the device 12. The elongate aspect of the central portion 58 of the mounting plate 56 so connected provides further stability to the bracket portions 74 and 76.
The bracket portions 74 and 76 together with the central projection 58 of the mounting plate 56 ensure that some adjustability is permitted while, at the same time, inner edges 79 and 81 of the bracket portions 74 and 76 are so positioned as to eventually abut with and stop movement of the projection 42 if the frame 14 is slid too far. The device 12 as herein described thus provides the further advantage ensuring that the frame 14 can slide, but not slide off the wall mount 18 and thus fall off the wall and get damaged. The projection 42 together with the portions of the bracket portions 74 and 76 that abut therewith thus form safety stops for the device 12.
As previously mentioned, the positioning tabs 34 and 36 enable the object mount to be connected to the frame in a very user-friendly manner. The user may accomplish this task by for example only one hand.
The angled strips 80 and 82 are configured to guide and deflect the rail strip 38 to within the u-shaped portions 78 of the bracket portions 74 and 76. The angled strips 80 and 82 thus enable the object mount 16 to be connected to the wall mount 18 in an even more user-friendly manner.
The device as herein described provides the further advantage of needing relatively few parts. The device may thus be more compact, less bulky, less expensive to manufacture and easier to assemble.
Also, the first bracket portion 74.1 has a slot 86 that extends from a first end 87 of the slot 86 located by inner end 88 of the bracket portion 74.1 that is adjacent to central portion 58.1, towards side 52.1 of the wall mount 18.1. The second bracket portion 76.1 has a slot 90 that extends from a first end 91 of the slot located by inner end 92 of the bracket portion 76.1 adjacent to central portion 58.1, towards side 54.1 of the wall mount 18.1. The slots 86 and 90 are disposed within the u-shaped part of the bracket portions and extend in a generally horizontal direction relative to
The object mount to be used in association with wall mount 18.1 may be substantially the same as that shown in
Elongate peripheral portions 66.2 and 68.2 include apertures 70.2 and 72.2, respectively. Elongate peripheral portions 66.2 and 68.2 are so shaped and apertures 70.2 and 72.2 as so positioned as to enable fasteners to pass through apertures 70.2 and 72.2 and into further respective wall studs, in addition to the wall stud aligned with central portion 58.2 of the mounting plate 56.2. The device 12.2 thus provides the advantage of enabling the wall mount 18.2 to be fastened to the wall with relatively even greater force. The device 12.2 shown in
Also, because bracket portions 74.2 and 76.2, central portion 58.2 and space 77.2 are relatively longer and wider, this advantageously enables the device to accommodate an increased horizontal range within which the picture frame may be adjusted.
Many variations are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the object mount has been described as having the rail strip 38 and the projection 42 and the wall mount has been described as having the pair of bracket portions 74 and 76. In the alternative, the object mount may be configured to have the pair of bracket portions and the wall mount may be configured have the corresponding rail strip 38 and the projection 42.
Also, it is not strictly required that the central portion of mounting plate of the wall mount align with and connect via fasteners to the wall stud of the wall. For example, the wall mount may be connected via fasteners to the wall with suitable wall plugs, which are well known to those skilled in the art.
The device as herein described is made of sheet metal. The sheet metal may be galvanized steel sheet. Alternatively, the device may be made of aluminium, plastic or any other suitably strong material.
It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to the following claims.
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. A device for hanging an object on a wall, the device comprising:
- a wall mount for fastening to the wall; and
- an object mount for fastening to the object, a first one of the mounts having both a first bracket portion and a second bracket portion each being configured to receive at least part of a second one of the mounts, at least part of each of the bracket portions being u-shaped in cross-section, each of the bracket portions having a horizontally-extending elongated slot, each of the horizontally-extending elongated slots having a first end and a second end opposite thereof, the first ends of the horizontally-extending elongated slots facing each other, the second one of the mounts having a projection shaped to at least partially extend through the horizontally-extending elongated slots,
- the bracket portions enabling horizontal positioning of the object mount relative to the wall mount to be adjustable, and the projection being configured to interact with the bracket portions and limit horizontal movement of the object mount relative to the wall mount to within a set range spanning a first position, where the projection abuts a part of the first bracket portion adjacent to the second end of its horizontally-extending elongated slot, to a second position where the projection abuts a part of the second bracket portion adjacent to the second end of its horizontally-extending elongated slot.
18. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the horizontally-extending elongated slots are configured to extend in parallel with the bracket portions.
19. The device as claimed in claim 17, the object having a horizontal edge and wherein the object mount has a peripheral edge and a pair of spaced-apart positioning tabs disposed along and extending outwards from the peripheral edge of the object mount, the positioning tabs being configured to abut against the horizontal edge of the object, the positioning tabs thus acting to facilitate horizontal leveling of the object relative to the object mount and facilitate fastening the object mount to the object.
20. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first one of the mounts includes a central bracket portion interposed between and integral with the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion, the central bracket portion having a top edge aligned and parallel with the horizontally-extending elongated slots, the central bracket portion being configured to enable the projection of the second one of the mounts to slide along the top edge of the central bracket portion.
21-22. (canceled)
23. A device for hanging an object on a wall, the wall having a wall stud, the device comprising:
- a wall mount for fastening to the wall, the wall mount having a central portion and a vertically extending, elongate slot that extends through the central portion, the elongate slot being configured to enable the wall mount to be vertically adjustable relative to a wall stud, the elongate slot being shaped to receive a fastener for passing therethrough and fastening into the wall stud upon the wall mount being vertically adjusted; and
- an object mount for fastening to the object, a first one of the mounts having both a first bracket portion and a second bracket portion each being u-shaped and being configured to receive at least part of a second one of the mounts, the first one of the mounts having a space between the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion, the second one of the mounts having a projection disposable in the space between the bracket portions, the bracket portions enabling horizontal positioning of the object mount relative to the wall mount to be adjustable, and the projection being configured to interact with the bracket portions and limit horizontal movement of the object mount relative to the wall mount to within a set range spanning the space from a first position, where the projection abuts the first bracket portion, to a second position where the projection abuts the second bracket portion.
24. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the wall mount is the first one of the mounts and the object mount is the second one of the mounts.
25. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the wall mount is t-shaped and wherein the central portion of the wall mount is disposed between and extends below the bracket portions.
26. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the wall mount has a vertically-extending elongate slot, the vertically-extending elongate slot being configured to enable the wall mount to be vertically adjustable relative to a wall stud, the elongate slot being shaped to receive a fastener for passing therethrough and fastening into the wall stud upon the wall mount being vertically adjusted.
27. The device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the wall mount has a central portion disposed between and extending below the bracket portions, the vertically-extending elongate slot extending through the central portion of the wall mount.
28. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the wall mount has a pair of spaced-apart, elongate end portions, each of the end portions having a vertically-extending elongate slot extending therethrough for vertically adjusting the wall mount relative to the wall.
29. The device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the wall mount has a pair of spaced-apart, elongate end portions, each of the end portions having a vertically-extending elongate slot extending therethrough for vertically adjusting the wall mount relative to the wall.
30. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the wall mount is the first one of the mounts, the object mount is the second one of the mounts and the bracket portions of the wall mount are positioned between the end portions of the wall mount.
31. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first ends of the horizontally-extending slots of the bracket portions are spaced-apart from each other, and wherein the wall mount has a central portion disposed between the bracket portions, the central portion of the wall mount aligning with and extending in parallel with the bracket portions.
32. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the wall mount is t-shaped and has a central portion disposed between and extending below the bracket portions, the central portion of the wall mount having a vertically-extending elongate slot extending therethrough for further vertically adjusting the wall mount relative to the wall.
33. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the wall mount is t-shaped and wherein the central portion of the wall mount is disposed between and extends below the bracket portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 4, 2013
Publication Date: May 16, 2013
Inventor: Timothy Wayne Schneider (Qualicum Beach)
Application Number: 13/734,127
International Classification: A47F 7/14 (20060101);