ASSEMBLIES AND KITS FOR MOUNTING OBJECTS ON WALLS

Abstract

Assemblies and kits comprising anchors and accessories for hanging items on walls. Such an anchor may include a base plate and at least one insert plate with curved prongs, and a mating structure. Such an accessory may include a complementary mating structure. The mating structure of the anchor may include first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures and the complementary mating structure of the accessory may include first and second coupling members.

Description

BACKGROUND

Numerous products and devices exist for installing a hook or hanging device in a wall, such as for hanging a picture frame, a mirror, or the like.

SUMMARY

In broad summary, herein are disclosed assemblies and kits comprising anchors and accessories for hanging items on walls. Such an anchor may comprise a base plate and at least one insert plate with curved prongs, and a mating structure. Such an accessory may comprise a complementary mating structure. The mating structure of the anchor may comprise first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures and the complementary mating structure of the accessory may comprise first and second coupling members. These and other aspects will be apparent from the detailed description below. In no event, however, should this broad summary be construed to limit the claimable subject matter, whether such subject matter is presented in claims in the application as initially filed or in claims that are amended or otherwise presented in prosecution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary anchor, with insert plates of the anchor in an opened configuration.

FIG. 2 depicts the exemplary anchor of FIG. 1 with the insert plates in a partially closed configuration.

FIG. 3 depicts the exemplary anchor of FIG. 1 with the insert plates in a fully closed configuration.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the exemplary anchor of FIG. 3, with the insert plates in a fully closed configuration.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an exemplary assembly comprising an anchor and an accessory.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a portion of the exemplary assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another exemplary assembly comprising an anchor and an accessory.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the exemplary assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of another exemplary assembly comprising an anchor and an accessory.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an exemplary assembly comprising the anchor of FIG. 9 along with another exemplary accessory.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of another exemplary assembly comprising an anchor and an accessory.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the exemplary assembly of FIG. 11 along with a decorative cover.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective isolated view of the exemplary anchor of FIG. 11.

Like reference numbers in the various figures indicate like elements. Some elements may be present in identical or equivalent multiples; in such cases only one or more representative elements may be designated by a reference number but it will be understood that such reference numbers apply to all such identical elements. Unless otherwise indicated, all figures and drawings are not to scale and are chosen for the purpose of illustrating different embodiments of the invention. In particular the dimensions of the various components are depicted in illustrative terms only, and no relationship between the dimensions of the various components should be inferred from the drawings, unless so indicated.

Terms such as vertical, above and below, and upward and downward directions along a vertical axis; and, terms such as horizontal, and left and right directions along the horizontal axis, have their ordinary meaning with respect to an item that is present on a generally vertically wall. Terms such as outward and inward are defined with respect to a wall on which an item is present. Inward refers to a direction generally toward the wall; outward refers to a direction generally away from the wall. Terms such as front and frontward correspond to the outward direction (e.g. FIG. 1 is a front view that depicts an assembly from the outward side); terms such as rear and rearward correspond to the inward direction.

The term “wall” generically denotes any entity with a generally vertically oriented major surface on which an anchor of the general type described herein can be mounted. The term “wall” is used for convenience; such an entity does not necessarily have to be a wall of a building or other immovable structure. Rather, the entity could be, for example, a movable partition or partial partition, an interior panel of a vehicle, and so on.

Although terms such as “first” and “second” may be used in this disclosure, it should be understood that those terms are used in their relative sense only, unless otherwise noted. As used herein as a modifier to a property or attribute, the term “generally”, unless otherwise specifically defined, means that the property or attribute would be readily recognizable by a person of ordinary skill but without requiring a high degree of approximation. The term “substantially”, unless otherwise specifically defined, means to a high degree of approximation. The term “configured to” and like terms is at least as restrictive as the term “adapted to”, and requires actual design intention to perform the specified function rather than mere capability of performing such a function. Terms such as “a” and “an”, particularly when used in combination with comprises, comprising, and like terms, will be understood to mean “at least one”; e.g. the phrase “comprising an accessory” means “comprising at least one accessory”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides arrangements for installing accessories onto anchors. An exemplary type of anchor 1 in which such arrangements can be used is depicted in FIGS. 1-4. Such an anchor 1 may comprise a base plate 10 and at least one (often, two) insert plates 20, each of which is pivotally coupled to the base plate. In many embodiments, such an anchor may be arranged (e.g. mounted on a vertical wall) so that a longitudinal axis “L” of the anchor is at least generally vertically oriented, so that base plate 10 comprises an upper end 11 and a lower end 12. In such a configuration, the transverse axis “T” of the base plate (and of the anchor as a whole) will be oriented at least generally horizontally.

In the depicted embodiment, upper and lower insert plates 20_u and 20_l are present. A proximal end 22 of upper insert plate 20u is pivotally connected to the upper end 11 of base plate 10; a proximal end 22 of lower insert plate 201 is similarly pivotally connected to the lower end 12 of base plate 10. In some embodiments, this pivotal connection may be achieved by way of hinge posts 24 of the proximal ends 22 of the upper and lower insert plates being respectively seated into orifices 19 of upper and lower hinge guides 17 and 18 of base plate 10. Such an arrangement can allow an insert plate 20 to rotate about an axis of rotation 25 in the general manner indicated in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the hinge guides 17 and 18 may extend generally outward from base plate 10 so that orifices 19 (and thus the axis of rotation 25 of the insert plate) are outwardly offset from base plate 10, as evident e.g. from FIG. 2. In many embodiments, the hinge guides may be located at the longitudinal ends of the base plate. The terminology of “at” does not necessarily require that a hinge guide (in particular, an orifice 19 thereof) must be located exactly on a terminal edge of a longitudinal end of the base plate; rather, this terminology will be interpreted as meaning that the hinge guide is located at least near (i.e. proximate) such a longitudinal end, without necessarily being exactly on the end.

Each insert plate 20 will comprise a section that is distal to the above-described proximal end of the insert plate; such a distal section of the insert plate will comprise one or more curved prongs 23 that extends along an arc to a wall-penetrating end. In some embodiments such prongs 23 may extend from the distal end 21 of an insert plate, as evident in the exemplary design of FIG. 1. However, it is not strictly necessary that any such prong(s) must be located at the very distal end of the insert plate; rather, it need only be located in a distal section of the insert plate rather than at the proximal end of the insert plate.

In many embodiments, a base plate 10 may take the form of a single, integral piece of material (e.g. a metal such as steel or aluminum, an organic polymeric material such as an injection-molded piece, etc.) with portions of the single, integral piece being formed, cut, bent, molded, etc., to form various features. For example, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned hinge guides 17 and 18 may be integral portions of a base plate 10. As noted above, in some embodiments hinge guides 17 and 18 may extend generally outward from base plate 10. In some embodiments, these hinge guides may be present as a first pair of transversely-spaced hinge guides 17 at a first (e.g. upper) longitudinal end of base plate 10 and a second pair of transversely-spaced hinge guides 18 at a second (e.g. lower), opposing longitudinal end of base plate 10. In some embodiments, any or all such hinge guides may each take the form of a rail that extends generally outwardly from base plate 10 and that is elongate with a long axis that is at least generally aligned with the longitudinal (e.g. vertical) axis of the base plate and of the anchor as a whole. In some embodiments each rail may extend integrally outward from a transverse (e.g. a left or right) edge of base plate 10. Each such rail may comprise an above-noted orifice 19 into which a hinge post 24 of an insert plate 20 may be seated.

Other optional features that may be present on a base plate 10 include spikes 2 (partially visible in FIG. 1, more clearly visible in other Figures and whose role is discussed in more detail later herein) and arch 3, whose role is discussed later herein. Similarly, an insert plate, and, in particular, any curved prongs thereof, may be in the form of a single, integral piece of material such as metal. The insert plate(s) can be connected to the base plate (e.g. in a permanent manner so that the insert plate(s) cannot be disconnected from the base plate) in the factory, with the resulting anchor being provided to an end user in the general form depicted in FIGS. 1-3. In general, base plate 10, and anchor 1 as a whole, will exhibit a longitudinal axis L and a transverse axis T, as indicated in FIGS. 1-3. Typically, the axes of rotation 25 of the insert plates 20 will be aligned with the transverse axis and will be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, as is evident from FIG. 1.

An end user may begin with anchor 1 generally in a configuration shown in FIG. 1 (noting that in some embodiments the anchor 1 may be packaged and supplied to an end user in a configuration as shown in FIG. 3; if so, the end user can manipulate the insert plates into the general configuration shown in FIG. 1). The anchor may be brought to a suitable location of a wall, and the base plate 10 of the anchor may be held so that the inward (rear) major surface 15 of base plate 10 is closely abutting (e.g. in contact with) the wall. In some embodiments, the base plate 10 may comprise one or more spikes 2, which are defined herein as being linear (not curved, in contrast to the above-discussed curved prongs 23). If so, the base plate may be pressed firmly toward the wall so that the spikes penetrate into the wall, e.g. until the rear surface 15 of the base plate is very closely abutting the wall surface.

With this accomplished, the insert plates 20 may then be rotated about their axes of rotation 25 in the general manner indicated by the curved block arrows in FIG. 1. The insert plates 20 will be moved through positions shown in FIG. 2. Force will be exerted (e.g. by the fingers of the end user) on the outward surfaces 27 of the insert plates 20 as indicated by the block arrows in FIG. 2, so that the curved prongs 23 of the insert plates penetrate into the wall. This pressing force is maintained until the curved prongs have fully penetrated into the wall, and until the inward major surfaces 26 of the insert plates closely abut (e.g. are in contact with) the outward surface 16 of base plate 10. The insert plates 20, and anchor 1 as a whole, will now be in a wall-mounted configuration as shown in FIG. 3. An anchor 1 in this wall-mounted configuration is shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from the inward/rear (wall-facing) side (noting that for ease of presentation, the wall itself is not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4).

For purposes of description, the configuration of FIG. 1 will be referred to as an open configuration; the configuration of FIG. 3 will be referred to as a closed configuration (i.e. in which the insert plates have been rotated into a closed position). The closed configuration is the one that anchor 1 will be in when properly mounted onto a wall (although, as noted above, in some embodiments anchor 1 may be provided to an end user in this closed condition, e.g. to minimize the volume occupied by the anchor during packaging and display).

An arrangement as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, in which the curved prongs of the insert plates are widely spaced from each other when the insert plates are in the open configuration (as in FIG. 1), and closely approach each other when the insert plates are in the closed configuration (as in FIGS. 3 and 4) will be referred to herein as a “convergent” arrangement of the curved prongs. In such convergent arrangements, the hinge posts 24 of the insert plates will typically be located toward the longitudinal (e.g. upper and lower) ends of the base plate 10. Such a convergent arrangement may be contrasted with a “divergent” arrangement e.g. in which the hinge posts of insert plates are located toward the longitudinal center of a base plate and in which the prongs of the respective insert plates get farther apart from each other as the insert plates are rotated toward their wall-mounted configuration.

In some embodiments, the direction of curvature of the curved prongs may be such that when the insert plates are in their closed configuration with the curved prongs closely approaching each other, the wall-penetrating ends of the prongs of one insert plate will curve away from the wall-penetrating ends of the prongs of the other insert plate (as is readily apparent e.g. in FIG. 3). Such an arrangement of the curved prongs (which, again, will be evaluated when the insert plates are in their closed position) will be referred to as a “spreading” arrangement. In some embodiments, a spreading arrangement of the curved prongs may be preferred. In some particular embodiments, an anchor as disclosed herein may comprise insert plates and curved prongs that are arranged in a convergent, spreading arrangement, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and in many of the other Figures herein. However, in some embodiments, a “merging” arrangement, in which the wall-penetrating ends of the prongs of the insert plates curve toward each other rather than away from each other when the insert plates are closed, may be preferred. In some particular embodiments, an anchor may comprise insert plates and curved prongs that are arranged in a divergent, merging arrangement.

In many embodiments, an anchor 1 may be mounted on a wall in a general manner (shown in various Figures herein) in which the longitudinal axis L of the anchor is vertically aligned (i.e., the anchor's longitudinal axis L coincides with a wall's vertical axis V), and in which the transverse axis T of the anchor is horizontally aligned. However, in some particular embodiments, an anchor may be rotated 90 degrees, so that the longitudinal axis L of the anchor is horizontally aligned rather than vertically aligned, as discussed in detail later herein.

In some embodiments, the curved prongs 23 may be located at or near (e.g., may integrally extend from) transverse edges (left and right edges 28 and 29) of an insert plate. In some such embodiments, the curved prongs 23 of an insert plate may be transversely spaced apart from each other at a distance such that the curved prongs will pass transversely outwardly of the transverse edges (left and right edges 13 and 14) of base plate 10, as evident from FIGS. 1-4. In many embodiments, the curved prongs 23 of the insert plates 20 will be the primary means by which the anchor 1 is held on a wall. That is, if any spikes 2 are present on base plate 10, these may serve primarily to hold base plate 10 in place at a desired location of a wall while the insert plates are actuated (rotated) to insert the prongs into the wall (the spikes may of course provide some additional holding power in the fully mounted anchor).

The exemplary base plate 10 of FIGS. 1-3 comprises at least one generally centrally located arch 3; many other exemplary anchors 1 as depicted herein will similarly comprise a base plate 10 that includes an arch 3. Many of the depicted arrangements are prototype designs in which such an arch was included to provide an easily accessible connection point for measuring forces that develop on the base plate and anchor under various use conditions. As such, arches 3 should be considered to be optional components. However, it is possible that in some actual-use conditions the presence of such an arch may provide a benefit; it is thus stipulated that any such arch, or generally similar feature or component, may be present in various embodiments.

In many embodiments, an anchor 1 as described above may be mounted on a wall that is comprised of wallboard (also referred to as drywall, sheetrock, gypsum board, and so on). Such materials have been found to be soft enough to be amenable to being penetrated with curved prongs in the general manner described above, while being stiff enough to firmly hold the prongs (and thus the entire anchor) in place once installed. The lengths of the prongs can be varied to allow selection for a specific thickness of wallboard. The curved prongs can have a fixed radius of curvature, or have varying radii of curvature at various points, either discretely or continuous, along the prong. The curved prongs may have any suitable aspect ratio. Often, the prongs may comprise tapered ends and/or may exhibit gradual taper along a considerable portion of their length. As noted, the prongs can be integral portions of an insert plate, formed from a monolithic piece of material that has been bent or otherwise articulated at select locations to form both the insert plate and the prongs. In various embodiments, an anchor, and its various base plates, insert plates, curved prongs, etc., may be made of metal, e.g. stainless steel, titanium, cobalt-chromium alloy, or a shape-memory alloy such as an alloy of nickel and titanium (e.g., Nitinol).

The above has been a general discussion of representative anchors, and features and properties thereof, which may benefit from any of the arrangements discussed herein. However, it is emphasized that the arrangements herein (e.g. with regard to ways of installing accessories onto anchors) are not limited to being used with the particular exemplary anchors discussed above or with any of the exemplary anchors discussed later herein. Rather, such arrangements may be used with any suitable anchor. Anchors with which such arrangements may be used include e.g. those discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publications 2021/0169241, 2021/0298497, and 2021/0207645; those discussed in U.S. Provisional Application 63/088246 and in the resulting PCT application published as International Patent Application Publication WO/2022/074511; and, those discussed in U.S. Provisional Application 63/279,809 and in the resulting PCT application PCT/IB2022/061005. All of these documents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, for the purpose of more fully describing the many and various types and designs of anchors and accessories with which the arrangements disclosed herein may be used.

Herein are disclosed and discussed arrangements that enable the installing of one or more accessories onto an anchor. For purposes of these discussions, an anchor is defined as an entity that is mountable onto a wall by inserting at least one curved prong of the anchor into the wall. By definition, an anchor will comprise a base plate and at least one insert plate that is pivotally connected to the base plate and that comprises the at least one curved prong that is inserted into the wall. In some embodiments, an anchor may be a compound anchor, which by definition comprises a base plate and two insert plates that are pivotally connected to opposing longitudinal ends of the base plate in the general manner described earlier herein. An arrangement with only one insert plate, or in which two insert plates are pivotally connected directly to each other in the absence of a base plate therebetween, will not fall within the definition of a compound anchor.

An accessory is defined as an item that is purposely configured to be installed onto an anchor (typically, after the anchor has been mounted onto a wall), so that the assembly formed by the accessory and the anchor can be used to support one or more items. In many embodiments, the accessory may be removably installable onto the anchor, e.g. so that the accessory can be removed from the anchor at such time as it is desired to de-mount the anchor from the wall. By definition, any entity that is non-disconnectably connected to the anchor as the anchor is provided to an end user, is considered to be a part of the anchor rather than being an accessory.

In some embodiments an anchor and an accessory may be provided to an end user in a format in which the accessory is fitted onto the anchor. This may be done e.g. for space-savings in packaging of the product and/or so that an end user can see how the assembly is to be constructed in actual use. In such cases, the accessory will typically be detached from the anchor in order to mount the anchor on a wall, after which the accessory can be installed on the wall-mounted anchor. An accessory and an anchor that are assembled together with the anchor mounted on a wall, will be referred to herein as an assembly. An accessory and an anchor that are assembled together with the anchor not yet mounted on a wall (e.g. during packaging and display) will be referred to herein as a kit. Of course, in a kit as provided to an end-user, an accessory need not be fitted onto an anchor; rather any number of anchors and accessories may be provided separately within a packaged kit. Such a kit may also comprise instructions for use, and other ancillary materials.

In many embodiments, only a single accessory will be used, the single accessory functioning to support the weight of whatever item is desired to be hung from the wall. The single accessory may take the general form of e.g. a hook, a bracket, a rod-holder, a shelf, etc., that is directly coupled to the anchor and that can support the weight of any desired item. However, in some embodiments, two (or more) accessories may be present. In some particular embodiments, one accessory may be configured to be coupled to the anchor and may serve to accept another accessory that is configured to accept an item to be hung on the wall. The item-accepting accessory (which may be e.g. a hook, a shelf, etc.) will be referred to as a primary accessory and the accessory that is installed on the anchor and that accepts the primary accessory, will be referred to as a secondary accessory. The secondary accessory will comprise features that allow the secondary accessory to be installed onto the anchor; and, it will further comprise features and allow the primary accessory to be coupled to the secondary accessory. Thus in some embodiments, a secondary accessory may provide a universal-installation system that allows any of several types of primary accessories to be coupled to the secondary accessory and thus installed onto the anchor.

Various types, categories, and designs of accessories (including both single accessories and pairs of primary/secondary accessories) are described and discussed herein. However, it is emphasized that these are only representative examples for the purpose of illustrations. The above-listed (and incorporated-by-reference) patent applications and publications include numerous and varied types of accessories; any of these may find use with the herein-disclosed arrangements.

In some embodiments, an accessory may serve another purpose in addition to e.g. supporting the weight of an item to be hung on a wall. In some embodiments, an accessory may advantageously provide a locking mechanism. By a locking mechanism is meant an entity, or a portion of an entity, that is purposely configured so that when an anchor (with its insert plate(s) in a closed configuration as described above) is mounted to a wall, the entity or portion thereof is located so as to physically block the insert plate(s) of the anchor from rotating outward relative to the base plate of the anchor. In other words, such a locking mechanism can minimize any chances of an insert plate rotating relative to the base plate sufficiently so as to be in danger of becoming dislodged from the wall.

The present application specifically contemplates that an accessory may be configured so that when the accessory is installed on the anchor, one or more portions of the accessory will be positioned so as to serve as a locking mechanism. This can be contrasted with a locking mechanism that is provided by a component of an anchor itself rather than by an accessory that is used with the anchor. Various of the arrangements disclosed herein will be pointed out as including such an accessory-supplied locking mechanism. It is noted however that a locking mechanism may not be necessary in all cases (e.g. depending on the particular design of the anchor, the amount of weight it is configured to support, and so on); thus, not all arrangements disclosed herein may necessarily involve an accessory that provides a locking mechanism.

The assemblies and arrangements disclosed herein may be used to hang myriad items and objects from walls (whether painted, unpainted, etc.) such wallboard, drywall, plaster, and so on. Items that can be mounted include, but are not limited to, wall hangings, heavy art, mirrors, organizers, holders, baskets, containers, bicycles, toys, lawn games, gardening tools, decorations (e.g., holiday decorations), dispensers, wire clips, guitars, floating shelves, plants, curtain rods, heavy-duty hooks, brackets, wall sconces, and carrying handles.

Disclosed herein are arrangements that allow at least one accessory to be installed onto a wall-mounted anchor to form an assembly that can be used to support the weight of an item that is to be hung on the wall. These arrangements rely on the anchor comprising a mating structure and the accessory comprising a complementary mating structure. The mating structure of the anchor and the complementary mating structure of the accessory can be mated to each other to install the accessory on the anchor. The mating structure of the anchor may comprise first and second (e.g., left and right) horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces, and may be used in cooperation with an accessory whose complementary mating structure comprises first and second coupling members. The first and second coupling structures of the anchor and the first and second coupling members of the accessory may be configured so that the first and second coupling members of the accessory can be received into the first and second coupling spaces of the anchor so that the first and second coupling members of the accessory are supported by the first and second coupling structures of the anchor, in order to install the accessory onto the anchor. In some embodiments the coupling spaces of the anchor may take the form of upwardly-open ended gaps or notches; in other embodiments the coupling spaces of the anchor may take the form of orifices that are bounded on all sides (including the upper side) but are accessible along a generally horizontal axis. Specific examples of these will be presented in the following discussions.

Whatever the specific design, the first and second coupling spaces are horizontally-spaced apart from each other and are horizontally-aligned with each other. By this is meant that a line that is at least generally horizontal, and is parallel to the major plane of the base plate of the anchor, will pass through both coupling spaces, so that the orifices are configured to receive the first and second coupling members of the accessory. In many embodiments, the coupling structures may extend, e.g. integrally extend, from opposing (e.g. left and right) transverse edges of the base plate of the anchor, so that the coupling spaces are spaced apart by a distance that is at least equal to the transverse width of the base plate.

In some embodiments the mating structure of the anchor and the complementary mating structure of the accessory are vertically mateable to each other, defined as meaning that the anchor and the accessory are configured so that the accessory can be installed on the anchor by positioning the coupling members of the accessory generally vertically above the mating structure of the anchor and moving the accessory generally downward relative to the anchor into an installed position. For example, the coupling spaces may take the form of upwardly-open-ended gaps or notches. When the accessory is in its installed position on the anchor, the mating structure of the anchor will hold the coupling members of the accessory and will physically prevent the complementary mating structure (and thus the accessory) from moving farther downward, and from moving outward, relative to the anchor. The accessory is thus maintained in its installed position on the anchor. In many such embodiments, the accessory can be uninstalled from the anchor (i.e., disconnected from the anchor) by moving the accessory generally upward relative to the anchor. In some embodiments, this generally upward movement of the accessory may be all that is needed to detach the accessory from the anchor; in other embodiments, one or more ancillary manipulations (e.g., temporary deflection of a securing clip as discussed later herein) may be performed in order to accomplish this.

In some embodiments a mating structure of an anchor and a complementary mating structure of an accessory may be horizontally mateable to each other, defined as meaning that the anchor and the accessory are configured so that the accessory can be installed on the anchor by positioning coupling members of the accessory generally horizontally aligned with coupling spaces of the mating structure of the anchor and manipulating the coupling members (e.g. moving them generally horizontally) so that they become seated in the coupling spaces of the anchor, as discussed in detail later herein. In some such embodiments, the coupling spaces of the mating structure of the anchor may e.g. take the form of bounded orifices as mentioned above.

In some embodiments, a mating structure of an anchor and a complementary mating structure of an accessory may be vertically mateable to each other, defined as meaning that the anchor and the accessory are configured so that the accessory can be installed on the anchor by positioning coupling members of the accessory generally vertically above coupling spaces of the mating structure of the anchor and lowering the coupling members of the accessory vertically downward so that they become seated in the coupling spaces of the anchor.

One exemplary arrangement of an anchor and an accessory is depicted in FIGS. 5-6. FIG. 5 depicts (in front perspective view) an accessory 500 as installed onto an anchor 1 to form an assembly. FIG. 6 is an exploded view in which the accessory is exploded outward from its installed position. Anchor 1 as depicted in FIGS. 5-6 is configured so that (with the anchor is mounted on a wall) the longitudinal axis of the anchor is vertically aligned, with the transverse axis of anchor 1 thus being horizontally aligned (the same is true for accessory 500 as depicted in FIGS. 5-6). Anchor 1 shares many features and attributes with the anchors previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-4; these will not be further commented on except as they relate to the mating structures of the anchor.

Anchor 1 as depicted in FIGS. 5-6 comprises a mating structure 400 that comprises first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide the first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces 405, with the coupling structures comprising first and second (left and right) arms 401 that respectively integrally extend at least generally outward from left and right transverse edges of the base plate of the anchor. Each arm 401 comprises an integral, generally upwardly-extending terminal section 403 with an inward edge that defines an outward boundary of a coupling space 405 provided by the arm, the coupling space 405 being in the form of an upwardly-open-ended coupling gap as most easily seen in FIG. 6. Each terminal section 403 may extend integrally from a buttress 402 that extends integrally from a lateral edge of the base plate of the anchor.

In some embodiments, each such arm 401 may thus integrally extend away from a transverse edge of the base plate in a direction that is outward and is transversely outward, as is evident in FIGS. 5 and 6. That is, each such arm 401 may be outwardly-obliquely angled relative to the base plate of the anchor. By this is meant that arms 401 extend generally outwardly, and transversely outwardly, from the base plate so that arms 401 (when viewed along the vertical axis of anchor 1 and base plate 10) are neither co-planar with base plate 10, nor perpendicular to base plate 10, but rather are positioned at an angle therebetween. In the exemplary design shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, arms 401 are each positioned at an included angle relative to the major plane of the base plate, that is in the range of approximately 45 degrees. (Arms 401 thus each exhibit an included angle relative to a normal axis of the base plate, that is likewise in the range of approximately 45 degrees.) It will be appreciated that the angle at which each arm 401 extends outward from the base plate of the anchor may be varied; for example, in some embodiments each such arm 401 may extend at least generally outwards (e.g. so that the arm is perpendicular to the major plane of the base plate) rather than being at an oblique angle.

In the depicted embodiment, each coupling structure further comprises a flange 406 that integrally extends generally outward and transversely outward from a section of the transverse edge of the base plate that is vertically above the section of the transverse edge of the base plate from which arm 401 extends. In the depicted embodiment, an inward boundary of upwardly-open-ended coupling gap 405 is defined by an outward edge of flange 406. In some embodiments, flange 406 may be outwardly-obliquely angled relative to the base plate of the anchor, e.g. at the same angle as arm 401, so that flange 406 and arm 401 are co-planar. In some embodiments, the terminal (upper) end of terminal section 403 of arm 401 may comprise a catch 404 whose function is discussed below.

In the depicted embodiment, accessory 500 takes the form of an entity with an upper end 501 and a lower end 502 and comprising a main rod or tube 508, with the lower portion of rod 508 formed in the general shape of a flat-bottomed hook 503. The upper end 501 of main rod 508 of accessory 500 comprises an elongate, horizontally-oriented, upper transverse crossbeam 504. First and second portions 505 of upper crossbeam 504 that are seated into the above-described coupling gaps 405 of the mating structure of the anchor, thus serve as the coupling members of the complementary mating structure of the accessory.

For use, the anchor may be mounted onto a wall in a generally vertical configuration as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The accessory may then be held near the anchor so that upper crossbeam 504 is positioned above the upwardly-open-ended coupling gaps 405 of the anchor. The accessory may be lowered so that portions 505 of crossbeam 504 enter coupling gaps 405 and are seated therein. (FIGS. 5 and 6 thus depict a vertically mateable arrangement of an anchor and an accessory.) In some embodiments, at least portions 505 of crossbeam 504 may comprise at least one surface 507 that is shaped, e.g. angled or sloped, so as to provide a snug fit of crossbeam 504 into coupling gaps 405. As noted above, in some embodiments a catch 404 may be provided in each arm 401, so that portions 505 may be held more securely in place. The above-described angling of flange 406 may provide the flange with excellent resistance to deflection along a direction generally toward a normal axis of the wall to which the anchor is attached, while still allowing a portion of flange 406 (in particular, the catch 404) to be able to flex at least somewhat e.g. along a direction generally parallel to the wall) to allow it to “catch” the coupling member 505 of the accessory.

When the accessory is in its installed position on the anchor, the mating structure of the anchor will physically prevent the complementary mating structure (and thus the accessory) from moving farther downward, and from moving outward, relative to the anchor. The accessory is thus maintained in its installed position on the anchor. In many embodiments, the accessory can be uninstalled from the anchor (i.e., disconnected from the anchor) by moving the accessory generally upward relative to the anchor. In some embodiments, any catches 404 that are present may be configured so that this generally upward movement of the accessory is sufficient to dislodge coupling portions 505 of the crossbeam from the coupling gaps of the anchor in order to uninstall the accessory from the anchor. (That is, in many embodiments, no separate manipulation of catches 404, or of any part of arms 401, is necessary in order to free the coupling portions 505 of the accessory from the coupling gaps 405 of the anchor.)

It will be apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6 that in the exemplary arrangement depicted therein, a major central portion (generally identified by reference number 507) of the upper transverse crossbeam 504 of the accessory will serve as an aforementioned locking mechanism. That is, when accessory 500 is properly installed onto anchor 1, portion 506 of accessory 500 will reside immediately outward of, and very closely abutting, the distal (prong-bearing) areas of the insert plates of the anchor. Portion 506 will thus impede the ability of the insert plates to rotate outward relative to the base plate and thus will serve as a locking mechanism in the general manner described earlier herein.

It will be appreciated that in the above-described embodiment, the hinge guides (unnumbered, but easily visible in FIGS. 5 and 6) that support the insert plates, form no part of the mating structure and play no part in the installing of the accessory on the anchor nor in the supporting of the accessory once installed on the anchor. Rather, the mating structure of the anchor is provided by arms 401, which are separate components from the hinge guides.

An alternative arrangement, in which at least some hinge guides do serve as components of a mating structure 400 of an anchor, is depicted in FIGS. 7-8. FIG. 7 depicts (in front perspective view) an accessory 500 as installed onto an anchor 1 to form an assembly. FIG. 8 is an exploded view in which the accessory is exploded outward from its installed position. Anchor 1 as depicted in FIGS. 7-8 is configured so that (with the anchor is mounted on a wall) the longitudinal axis of the anchor is vertically aligned, with the transverse axis of anchor 1 being horizontally aligned (the same is true for accessory 500 as depicted in FIGS. 7-8). Anchor 1 shares many features and attributes with the anchors previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-4; these will not be further commented on except as they relate to the mating structures of the anchor.

In the depicted embodiment, the mating structure 400 of the anchor may be provided by (at least) the upper two (left and right) hinge guides 411 of the base plate of the anchor. For consistency of description herein, two hinge guides that are located on the same transverse edge (e.g., a left edge or a right edge, in the present Figures) of a base plate will be referred to herein as a “set” of hinge guides; two hinge guides that are located at a common longitudinal end (e.g. the upper end) of a base plate will be referred to herein as a “pair” of base plates. According to this terminology, hinge guides 411 are an upper pair of hinge guides. Each upper hinge guide 411 defines a space 412 that is inward (wallward) of the hinge guide. In the depicted embodiment, the hinge guides 411 protrude above the upper end of the base plate of the anchor, so that in use with the anchor mounted on a wall, this space 412 will be between the inward edge of the hinge guide and the front surface of the wall. This space 412 is upwardly-open-ended and is configured to accept a coupling member of an accessory as discussed below. In the depicted embodiment, each upper hinge guide 411 is in the form of a rail that extends outwardly from the base plate and that is elongate with a long axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base plate and anchor (and thus is aligned with the vertical axis of the anchor as mounted on a wall).

In the depicted embodiment, accessory 500 takes the form of an entity comprising an inward section comprising an upper end 501 and a lower end 502. The inward section of accessory 500 comprises the complementary mating structure; from this inward section extends an outward section formed in the general shape of a holder 503 for e.g. a curtain-rod or like entity. (Again, the particular form of the outward section of this accessory is purely for illustrative purposes.) The upper end 501 of the inward section of accessory 500 comprises an elongate, horizontally-oriented, upper transverse crossbeam 504.

For use, the anchor may be mounted onto a wall in a generally vertical configuration as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The accessory may then be held so that upper crossbeam 504 is positioned above the above-mentioned spaces 412 between the upper hinge guides 411 and the wall. The accessory may then be lowered so that portions 505 of crossbeam 504 enter spaces 412 and are seated therein (these Figures thus depict vertical-mateability). Thus in this embodiment, portions 505 of crossbeam 504 serve as the coupling members of the accessory, and spaces 412 serve as the coupling spaces (upwardly-open-ended gaps, in this case) of the anchor. In some embodiments, at least portions 505 of crossbeam 504 may be shaped so as to provide a snug fit of crossbeam 504 into coupling gaps 405. When the accessory is in its installed position on the anchor, the mating structure of the anchor will physically prevent the complementary mating structure (and thus the accessory) from moving farther downward, and from moving outward, relative to the anchor. The accessory is thus maintained in its installed position on the anchor.

The above-described arrangements fall into a general category in which at least some components of an anchor perform “double duty”. Specifically, elongate rails can serve as hinge guides for insert plates of the anchor (e.g. they can each comprise an orifice into which a hinge post of an insert plate is seated); and, at least some of the elongate rails (in the present case, an upper pair of elongate rails) can also serve as components of a mating structure of the anchor that allows an accessory to be installed on the anchor.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 7 and 8, the lower pair of hinge guides (unnumbered, but easily visible in FIGS. 7 and 8) plays no part in the mating structure of the anchor. However, in some embodiments, if desired, the anchor may comprise a securing clip 414 that is e.g. attached or otherwise secured to the base plate of the anchor. In some embodiments, such a securing clip 414 may comprise a lower portion that extends downward below the lower end of the base plate (as most easily seen in FIG. 8) and that comprises an upwardly auto-deflectable resilient flange 415 with at least one downwardly-protruding barb 416. Such a securing clip may be configured so that during installation of the accessory on the anchor, an elongate, horizontally-oriented, lower transverse crossbeam 509 of the accessory momentarily auto-deflects the resilient flange 415 of the securing clip upward to allow the crossbeam 509 to pass under the flange 415. This may be facilitated e.g. by providing the barbs with a downwardly-sloping lower edge as seen in FIG. 8, so that the barbs can easily slide over the upper surface 510 of the lower crossbeam 509. This auto-deflection of the resilient flange 415 of the securing clip upward will allow lower crossbeam 509 to move inwardly (toward the wall) sufficiently that the crossbeam 509 will be positioned inward of the barb(s), after which the flange 415 will (due to its resiliency) automatically return downward to its resting position. This will result in the barb(s) being positioned outward of crossbeam 509 in the manner shown in FIG. 7. The presence of the at least one barb of the securing clip can augment the securing of the accessory in its installed condition on the anchor.

From the above discussions it is evident that for installation of the accessory onto the anchor, it may be helpful to orient the accessory at a slight tilt so that its upper crossbeam 504 is close to the wall and so that the lower crossbeam 509 is slightly farther outward from the wall. After the accessory is lowered to seat the upper crossbeam 504 in the coupling space inward of the upper hinge guides, the accessory can then be rotated gently to urge the lower crossbeam 509 inward to auto-deflect the resilient flange of the securing clip so as to seat the lower crossbeam 509 behind the barb(s) of the securing clip.

In this context, auto-deflect and like terms signify that the action of moving the lower crossbeam 509 inward (wallward) is sufficient to deflect the resilient flange of the securing clip to allow the crossbeam to be moved into a position in which the crossbeam is secured by the securing clip. That is, no other manipulation (in particular, no grasping and moving of the resilient flange or any portion of the securing clip) is needed in order to seat the lower crossbeam 509 behind the barb(s) of the securing clip. However, in the depicted embodiment, typically it will be necessary to momentarily deflect the resilient flange of the securing clip upward (overcoming the biasing force of the resilient flange) in order to move the lower crossbeam outward, at such time as it is desired to uninstall the accessory from the anchor. (Once the lower crossbeam is unseated from the securing clip, the accessory can then be moved generally upward to remove it completely from the anchor).

Such a securing clip may be attached or connected to the anchor (e.g. at the factory, during manufacture of the anchor) in any suitably permanent manner. In some embodiments, the securing clip 414 may extend upward along a considerable extent, e.g. the entirety, of the base plate of the anchor. In some embodiments, a securing clip 414 may comprise transverse tabs 417 that protrude transversely outward past the transverse edges of the base plate; such tabs 417 may each comprise an orifice 418 through which passes a portion of an aforementioned spike 2 of the base plate.

It will be apparent from inspection of FIGS. 7 and 8 that this particular exemplary accessory 500 does not have any portion or area that can serve as a locking mechanism in the manner of the above-discussed portion 506 of the accessory 500 depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. That is, the accessory 500 as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 does not have any portion or area that, when the accessory is installed on the anchor, can closely abut the insert plates of the anchor in such a way as to prevent the insert plates from rotating outward relative to the base plate. As noted, the presence of a locking mechanism may not be required in all case. However, if desired, in some embodiments a locking mechanism may be provided by a locking clip 419 as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. Such a locking clip 419 may be a separate component that is connected to the anchor once the insert plates of the anchor have been rotated to their fully installed position; in some embodiments such a locking clip 419 may be slidably connected to the anchor, and may be held in position e.g. by the presence of an arch (unnumbered, but readily visible, in FIGS. 7 and 8). Such a locking clip may not necessarily have to be removed in order to uninstall the accessory from the anchor; however, it would need to be removed prior to demounting the anchor from the wall. In some embodiments (whether or not any portion or area of the accessory provides a locking mechanism), no such locking clip may be present. In general, the arrangements depicted in FIGS. 5-6 may be considered an example of two-point supporting of a complementary mating structure of an accessory by a mating structure of an anchor. The arrangements depicted in FIGS. 7-8 may similarly be considered an example of two-point supporting, augmented by the presence of a securing clip as discussed in detail above. In some embodiments, three or even four-point supporting of a complementary mating structure may be desired. This may be achieved e.g. by allowing a lower pair of hinge guides to participate in the mating structure of the anchor.

This is illustrated in exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 10 depicts (in front perspective view) an accessory 500 as installed onto an anchor 1 to form an assembly. FIG. 9 is another front perspective view in which an outward portion of the accessory has been omitted and in which an inward portion (a plate) of the accessory is exploded outward from its installed position. Anchor 1 as depicted in FIGS. 9-10 is configured so that (with the anchor mounted on a wall) the longitudinal axis of the anchor is vertically aligned, with the transverse axis of anchor 1 being horizontally aligned (the same is true for accessory 500 as depicted in FIGS. 9-10). Anchor 1 shares many features and attributes with the anchors previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-4; most of these will not be further commented on except as they relate to the mating structures of the anchor. It is noted however that the base plate of this anchor includes a greater number of straight spikes in comparison to some of the other anchors depicted herein. Also, in this exemplary design, the placement of the hinge guides is slightly asymmetric, with the lower hinge guides 422 being situated close to the lower terminal edge of the base plate, but with the upper hinge guides 421 being positioned somewhat below the upper terminal edge of the base plate (but still positioned so as to be at/near the upper end of the base plate according to the definition and discussion provided earlier herein).

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 9, the mating structure of the anchor is provided in part by the upper two hinge guides 421 of the base plate of the anchor, in similar manner as for hinge guides 411 of FIG. 8. Each upper hinge guide 421 defines a space 423 that is inward (wallward) of the hinge guide. This space 423 is upwardly-open-ended and is configured to accept a coupling member of an accessory as discussed below. In the depicted embodiment, each upper hinge guide 421 is in the form of a rail that extends outwardly from the base plate, and that is elongate with a long axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base plate and anchor (and thus is aligned with the vertical axis of the anchor as mounted on a wall).

In the depicted embodiment, the mating structure of the anchor is also provided in part by the lower two (left and right) hinge guides 422 of the base plate of the anchor. Each lower hinge guide 422 defines a space 423 that is inward (wallward) of the hinge guide, the space is again upwardly-open-ended and is configured to accept a coupling member of an accessory. Each lower hinge guide 422 is in the form of a rail that extends outwardly from the base plate, and that is elongate with a long axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base plate and anchor, in similar manner to the upper hinge guides 421. The upper and lower pairs of hinge guides thus collectively provide the mating structure of the anchor, in this arrangement.

In the depicted embodiment, accessory 500 takes the form of an entity comprising an inward section (which will be referred to as an accessory panel) comprising an upper end 501 and a lower end 502. This panel of accessory 500 comprises four generally vertically oriented through-apertures (slots) 514, which are configured to allow the four above-described hinge guides to pass therethrough. For use, the anchor may be mounted onto a wall in a generally vertical configuration as shown in FIG. 9. The accessory may then be held so that its four slots 514 are aligned with the four hinge guides of the anchor. The accessory may be moved inward (wallward) so that the hinge guides pass through the respective slots. The accessory may then be lowered; portions 515 of the panel of the accessory will then be seated in the above-described spaces 423 that are inward of the hinge guides of the anchor. Thus in this (vertically-mateable) embodiment, portions 515 of the panel of the accessory serve as the coupling members of the accessory, and spaces 423 serve as the coupling spaces (upwardly-open-ended gaps, in this case) of the anchor. When the accessory is in its installed position on the anchor, the mating structure of the anchor will physically prevent the complementary mating structure (and thus the accessory) from moving farther downward, and from moving outward, relative to the anchor. The accessory is thus maintained in its installed position on the anchor. This being a case of four-point supporting (as achieved by all four hinge guides, acting in combination), in many embodiments it may not be necessary to augment the holding of the accessory by way of a securing clip of the general type depicted in FIG. 8. Also, it is evident that portion 516 of the panel of the accessory will serve as a locking mechanism that prevents the insert plates from rotating outward relative to the base plate of the anchor; therefore, in many embodiments no locking clip of the general type depicted in FIG. 8 will be needed.

As evident from FIG. 9, in some embodiments the vertically-elongate slots 514 of the panel of the accessory may be horizontally-tapered along an upward direction of the accessory. By this is meant that the slots will be wider toward their lower end, and narrower toward their upper end. Such arrangements may make it easier to initially pass the hinge guides through the (lower portions of the) slots, while still ensuring that the coupling members provided by the accessory panel will be securely held in the coupling spaces of the anchor. As shown in FIG. 10, the accessory in this embodiment comprises two forwardly-extending sidewalls that collectively provide a holder that may support e.g. a curtain rod (the sidewalls are also braced by multiple cross-struts). Again, this particular accessory is provided as a representative illustration and it is repeated yet again that any of the mating structure/complementary mating structure arrangements described herein may be used with any suitable type and design of accessory. In particular, the accessory of FIG. 10 comprises cross-struts that are attachable to, and detachable from, the sidewalls at various locations at which slots are provided in the sidewalls for such purposes. In general, an accessory may be comprised of multiple pieces that can be assembled and disassembled together (as exemplified by the accessory of FIG. 10); or, an accessory may take the form of a single, integral, non-disassemblable unitary item (as exemplified by the accessory of FIG. 7.)

Still another exemplary arrangement is depicted in FIGS. 11-13. FIG. 11 depicts (in front perspective view) an accessory 500 as installed onto an anchor 1 to form an assembly. FIG. 12 depicts the assembly with a decorative cover 528 connected thereto. FIG. 13 is an isolated view of the anchor with the accessory and the decorative cover omitted so that components and features of the anchor are more easily visible. Anchor 1 as depicted in FIGS. 11-13 is configured so that (with the anchor is mounted on a wall) the longitudinal axis of the anchor is vertically aligned, with the transverse axis of anchor 1 being horizontally aligned (the same holds for accessory 500 as depicted in FIGS. 11-12). Anchor 1 shares many features and attributes with the anchors previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-4; these will not be further commented on except as they relate to the mating structures of the anchor.

In the arrangements of FIGS. 11-13, the upper and lower pairs of hinge guides 17 and 18 of the anchor play no part in the mating structure of the anchor. Rather, the mating structure 400 is in the form of first and second flanges 444 that respectively integrally extend at least generally outward (away from the wall) from left and right transverse edges of the base plate. These flanges 444 define first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces (in this case, bounded orifices) 445. Flanges 444 extend outward from tabs 433, which in turn integrally extend at least generally transversely outward from the transverse edges of the base plate. In the depicted embodiment, tabs 433 are at least generally coplanar with the base plate; also, in this particular design the tabs have dedicated through-apertures that allow the curved prongs of the insert plates to pass therethrough, as most clearly visible in FIG. 13.

In this instance accessory 500 is provided by an entity that comprises a main rod or tube 527 with a lower end 502 formed into the general shape of a flat-bottomed hook. The upper end 501 of the main rod may comprise first and second (left and right), horizontally-oriented, upper transverse beams 525. These beams are longitudinally aligned with each other along their long axis (e.g. along a horizontal axis) but not in contact with each other, as evident in FIG. 11. These left and right upper transverse beams 525 may be passed through the coupling spaces (bounded orifices, in this case) 445 of the anchor to couple the accessory to the anchor. To facilitate this, main rod 527 may be configured to be sufficiently deformable that the above-described beams 525 may be momentarily urged transversely outward (away from each other) so that they can be positioned horizontally aligned with, and transversely outwards of, orifices 445. After this, the transversely-outward force can be relaxed to allow beams 525 to move transversely inward toward each other and thus to enter the orifices 445 to assume a configuration shown in FIG. 11. These upper transverse beams 525 of the accessory thus serve as coupling members that are seated in the coupling spaces 445 of the anchor in order to couple the accessory to the anchor in a horizontally-mateable arrangement. As is evident from FIG. 11, in the depicted embodiment, the upper transverse beams 525 of the accessory will serve as a locking mechanism 526 that serve to prevent the insert plates of the anchor from rotating outward relative to the base plate of the anchor.

In some horizontally-mateable arrangements the above-described geometric orientation may be reversed; that is, left and right upper transverse beams of an accessory may face transversely outwards rather than inwards and may be momentarily forced transversely inward toward each other and then allowed to return transversely outward to their “resting” configuration, with the upper ends now seated within coupling spaces (e.g. bounded orifices) of the anchor, in order to couple the accessory to the anchor. An accessory of this general type is disclosed in copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/439648, attorney docket number 84226US001, entitled “KITS AND ASSEMBLIES FOR HANGING ARTICLES ON WALLS and filed evendate with the present application, and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. It is noted that in a particular arrangement described in the 84426US001 application, the coupling spaces (orifices) are provided in a secondary accessory (rather than in an anchor) so that a primary accessory can be coupled (e.g. in a horizontally-mateable manner) to the secondary accessory. This notwithstanding, many of the arrangements, anchors, mating structures, accessories, complementary mating structures, and so on, that are described in the 84426US001 application may be used in combination with any of the arrangements disclosed herein. In particular, the 84426US001 application describes various arrangements in which an accessory is vertically mateable to an anchor and various arrangements in which an accessory is horizontally mateable to an anchor, any of which may be used in combination with the disclosures herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the specific exemplary embodiments, elements, structures, features, details, arrangements, configurations, etc., that are disclosed herein can be modified and/or combined in numerous ways. It is emphasized that any embodiment disclosed herein may be used in combination with any other compatible embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. While a limited number of exemplary combinations are presented herein, it is emphasized that all such combinations are envisioned and are only prohibited in the specific instance of a combination that is incompatible.

In summary, numerous variations and combinations are contemplated as being within the bounds of the conceived invention, not merely those representative designs that were chosen to serve as exemplary illustrations. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the specific illustrative structures described herein, but rather extends at least to the structures described by the language of the claims, and the equivalents of those structures. Any of the elements that are positively recited in this specification as alternatives may be explicitly included in the claims or excluded from the claims, in any combination as desired. Any of the elements or combinations of elements that are recited in this specification in open-ended language (e.g., comprise and derivatives thereof), are considered to additionally be recited in closed-ended language (e.g., consist and derivatives thereof) and in partially closed-ended language (e.g., consist essentially, and derivatives thereof). To the extent that there is any conflict or discrepancy between this specification as written and the disclosure in any document that is incorporated by reference herein, this specification as written will control.

Claims

1. A kit for forming into an assembly for hanging an item on a wall, the kit comprising:

an anchor comprising: a base plate and at least one insert plate with a proximal end that is pivotally coupled to a first longitudinal end of the base plate, the at least one insert plate comprising a distal section comprising one or more curved prongs that each extends along an arc to a wall-penetrating end, the base plate further comprising a mating structure comprising first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces; and,

an accessory comprising a complementary mating structure that comprises first and second coupling members, wherein the first and second coupling structures of the anchor and the first and second coupling members of the accessory are configured so that the first and second coupling members of the accessory can be received into the first and second coupling spaces of the anchor so that the first and second coupling members of the accessory are supported by the first and second coupling structures of the anchor, in order to install the accessory onto the anchor.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein the anchor is configured so that a longitudinal axis of the anchor is a vertical axis and wherein the accessory is configured so that a longitudinal axis of the accessory is a vertical axis; and, wherein the at least one insert plate comprises a first insert plate with a proximal end that is pivotally coupled to a first, upper end of the base plate and comprises a second insert plate that is pivotally coupled to a second, opposing, lower end of the base plate, the first insert plate comprising two curved prongs that extend integrally from opposing transverse edges of the first insert plate and the second insert plate comprising two curved prongs that extend integrally from opposing transverse edges of the second insert plate, the first and second insert plates and their curved prongs being in a convergent, spreading arrangement;

and,

the base plate comprising a first pair of hinge guides at the first, upper end of the base plate and a second pair of hinge guides at the second, opposing, lower end of the base plate, and wherein each hinge guide is in the form of an elongate rail that extends outward from a transverse edge of the base plate, that exhibits a long axis that is aligned with the vertical axis of the anchor, and that comprises an orifice into which a hinge post of an insert plate is seated.

3. The kit of claim 2 wherein the first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide the first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces, are in the form of left and right arms that respectively integrally extend outward from left and right transverse edges of the base plate, and wherein each arm further comprises an integral, generally upwardly-extending terminal section with an inward edge that defines an outward boundary of the coupling space provided by the arm, the coupling space being in the form of an upwardly-open-ended coupling gap.

4. The kit of claim 3 wherein each arm integrally extends away from a transverse edge of the base plate in a direction that is outward and is transversely outward, and wherein each coupling structure further comprises a flange that integrally extends outward and transversely outward from a section of the transverse edge of the base plate that is above the section of the transverse edge from which the arm extends, and wherein an inward boundary of the upwardly-open-ended coupling gap is defined by an outward edge of the flange.

5. The kit of claim 4 wherein the first and second coupling members of the accessory are first and second portions of an elongate, horizontally-oriented, upper transverse crossbeam of the accessory.

6. The kit of claim 2 wherein the first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide the first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces, are respectively provided by first and second elongate rails that provide first and second hinge guides of the first pair of hinge guides at the first, upper end of the base plate, with each elongate rail comprising an upper portion that comprises an inward edge that is positioned outward of the base plate so as to define a coupling space that is an upwardly-open-ended coupling gap located inward of the upper portion of the elongate rail.

7. The kit of claim 6 wherein the first and second elongate rails extend upwardly past an upper end of the base plate so that when the anchor is mounted on the wall, each upwardly-open-ended coupling gap is located between the inward edge of the upper portion of the elongate rail and the wall on which the anchor is mounted.

8. The kit of claim 6 wherein the first and second coupling members of the accessory are first and second portions of an elongate, horizontally-oriented, upper transverse crossbeam of the accessory.

9. The kit of claim 6 wherein the anchor further comprises a securing clip that extends downward below the lower end of the base plate and that comprises an upwardly auto-deflectable resilient flange with at least one downwardly-protruding barb, the securing clip being configured so that during installation of the accessory on the anchor, an elongate, horizontally-oriented, lower transverse crossbeam of the accessory momentarily auto-deflects the flange of the securing clip upward to allow the crossbeam to pass under the flange so as to move inward past the at least one barb, after which the flange automatically returns downward so that the at least one barb is positioned outward of the crossbeam of the accessory, and further wherein the flange is manually manipulable upward to allow the crossbeam to be moved outward without interference from the at least one barb, so that the accessory can be uninstalled from the anchor.

10. The kit of claim 2 wherein the first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide the first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces, are respectively provided by first and second elongate rails that provide first and second hinge guides of the first pair of hinge guides at the first, upper end of the base plate; and, wherein the complementary mating structure further comprises third and fourth horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide third and fourth, horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces, the third and fourth coupling spaces being below the first and second coupling spaces and being respectively provided by third and fourth elongate rails that provide third and fourth hinge guides of the second pair of hinge guides at the second, lower end of the base plate, with each elongate rail comprising an upper portion that comprises an inward edge that is positioned outward of the base plate so as to define a coupling space that is an upwardly-open-ended coupling gap located inward of the upper portion of the elongate rail.

11. The kit of claim 10 wherein the accessory comprises a plate comprising first, second, third and fourth vertically-elongate slots, with first, second, third and fourth coupling members of the accessory being respectively provided by areas of the plate that are above the first, second, third and fourth slots, with the vertically-elongate slots of the accessory and the elongate rails of the anchor being configured so that as the accessory is moved inward toward the anchor, the first, second, third and fourth elongate rails of the anchor pass through the first, second, third and fourth vertically-elongate slots of the plate of the accessory, so that the accessory can then be moved downward so that the first, second, third and fourth areas of the plate are seated in the first, second, third and fourth coupling spaces of the anchor.

12. The kit of claim 10 wherein each vertically-elongate slot is horizontally-tapered along an upward direction of the accessory.

13. The kit of claim 12 wherein the first and second horizontally-spaced coupling structures that provide the first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces, are in the form of first and second flanges that respectively integrally extend at least generally outward from left and right transverse edges of the base plate, and wherein the first and second horizontally-aligned and horizontally-spaced coupling spaces are respectively provided by a first orifice in the first flange and a second orifice in the second flange.

14. The kit of claim 13 wherein the first and second coupling members of the accessory are provided by first and second, horizontally-oriented, upper transverse beams of the accessory, which beams respectively pass through the first and second orifices of the anchor, the first and second beams being longitudinally aligned with each other but not in contact with each other.

15. The kit of claim 1 wherein the anchor and the accessory are configured so that with the accessory installed on the anchor, at least one portion of the accessory is positioned so that it outwardly abuts at least a portion of the at least one insert plate so that the portion of the accessory serves as a locking mechanism that physically prevents the at least one insert plate from pivotally moving in a generally outward direction relative to the base plate.

16. An assembly formed by installing the accessory of the kit of any one of claim 1 onto the anchor of the kit.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein with the accessory installed on the anchor, at least one portion of the accessory is positioned so that it outwardly abuts at least a portion of the at least one insert plate so that the portion of the accessory serves as a locking mechanism that physically prevents the at least one insert plate from pivotally moving in a generally outward direction relative to the base plate.