With Selectively Engaging Projections And Recessions Patents (Class 248/496)
  • Patent number: 11421429
    Abstract: A panel mounting system for mounting building materials to a building surface includes a rigid cleat fixed with the building surface. Multiple building panels each have a cleat depression formed in a rear surface for receiving the cleat. Each edge of the building panel interlocks with an adjacent panel so that all of the building panels hold each other together against the building surface along with the cleat. Some of the building panels may include a hooked flange projecting that engages a flange-receiving groove of an adjacent building panel to mutually secure the building panels together. Some embodiments include a gable rail fixed with the building surface that projecting outwardly to engage a gable rail-receiving slot formed within the rear surface of a trim panel that has an ornate front surface. Other decorative panels may be included for fixing with the trim panels or other of the bundling panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Dean Elzner, Jason Woodland
  • Patent number: 11204128
    Abstract: A first bracket is attached to a heat source apparatus. A second bracket is fixed to a wall. The second bracket has an engagement portion over which the first bracket is hooked. The first bracket has a through hole through which the engagement portion is inserted. The first bracket has a plurality of protruding portions that protrude from an upper end of the through hole into the through hole. The plurality of protruding portions are arranged side by side along the upper end of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Sugatani
  • Patent number: 11047526
    Abstract: A bracket for hanging an item on a wall is disclosed. The bracket has one or more bracket apertures which are used to mount the bracket to the hanging item. The hanging item could be an item like a picture or a shelf. The bracket has a mounting aperture which is used to mount the hanging item on a nail or a screw. Adjacent to the mounting aperture is a pinhole having a set screw. To use the bracket the user unthreads the set screw from the pinhole opening. The user places the hanging item in its desired location on the wall and pushes the item against the wall so that the set screw marks a spot on the wall where the user should place a nail or a screw for hanging the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Bahri Karaaslan
  • Patent number: 10835060
    Abstract: An adjustable hanger assembly is provided that includes a slider base and a slider that can be adjusted horizontally and vertically within the slider base. The slider can be held in a position by a fastener such as a threaded fastener. A series of horizontal grooves and ridges on the slider can engage a series of complementary grooves and ridges on the slider base, and the engagement can occur at different heights. The slider can freely move horizontally once inserted into the slider base. The slider base can be squeezed by tightening the threaded fastener to pinch the slider and hold the slider in a desired vertical and horizontal position. The hanger assembly can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally after the slider base is fixedly secured to a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Kenneth William Burton
  • Patent number: 10709269
    Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a wall hanging apparatus allowing removable fixation of an object, such as a board, to a structure and allowing a user rapidly adjust the angular orientation of the object in relation to the wall. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a wall hanging apparatus allowing modular mounting and reconfigurability of boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Comsero Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Franco
  • Patent number: 10143315
    Abstract: A frame apparatus for displaying an article. The frame apparatus includes a frame having a rabbet and a channel having a channel axis formed into a wall of the rabbet. A stack is positioned within the rabbet for display. The stack may include a glazing, an article for display, and a backer panel. A clip member is slidably coupled to the frame within the channel such that the clip member can slide within the channel along the channel axis while remaining coupled to the frame. The clip member has a hanging feature. Thus, the clip member serves the dual purpose of securing the stack within the rabbet and also providing the hanging feature for the frame. Furthermore, the clip member functions as a built-in self-leveling feature because it can slide within the channel thus ensuring that the frame is hung in a level manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Lee Pyle
  • Patent number: 9839307
    Abstract: A bracket for hanging a picture frame on a supporting structure. The bracket is a one-piece member formed of plastic having a pair of legs projecting perpendicularly from a bottom surface of a base and extending at right angles with respect to each other. The legs are spaced from a peripheral edge of the base forming a V-shaped planar portion between the edge and legs. A reinforcing member extends between the pair of legs and an attachment pin mounted in the reinforcing member extends outwardly beyond a top surface of the base. A pair of securement pins in the frame legs are driven into the frame to secure the bracket in a right angle corner of the frame. A pair of attachment pins is pressed into the supporting structure to suspend the frame therefrom after two of the brackets are secured in upper right hand corners of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: UNDER THE ROOF DECORATING INC.
    Inventors: Kelly R. Krake, Liette Tousignant, Michael Kurtz
  • Patent number: 9395044
    Abstract: A wall hanger includes a fastening member, a linking member including a top wall, a lateral wall, and a bottom wall, and a sleeving member. A first connecting portion is at the fastening member. A second connecting portion is at the top wall to connect with the first connecting portion. The lateral wall is extending vertically toward a first direction distant from the top wall and has first teeth. The bottom wall is extending toward the first direction from the lateral wall and is parallel to the top wall. The sleeving member includes a base member, a supporting wall standing on the base member, and an abutting wall extending from the supporting wall and parallel to the base member. A groove is defined by the base member, the supporting wall, and the abutting wall. The top surface of the abutting wall has second teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Cheng-Ge Cheng
  • Patent number: 9370267
    Abstract: A hanger, support and other component or system capable of supporting one or more objects is contemplated. The hanger may be configured to provide four-way adjustability sufficient to facilitate adjustably supporting objects after being affixed to a supporting surface and/or to facilitate adjustably supporting objects having a wire or other support member hidden from view or otherwise difficult to orientate relative to a support surface. The hanger may be configured to enable four-way re-positioning in an up, down, left or right direction, optionally while the one or more objects are supported thereon, without requiring removal or manipulation of fasteners anchoring it to a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Dean N. Greve
  • Patent number: 9307850
    Abstract: A picture-hanging device for hanging an object such as a picture or mirror that allows a picture to be adjusted vertically after securing the picture-hanging device to a wall. The device has an elongated adjustment member, an adjustable locking head that slideably engages with the elongated adjustment member, and a cable secured to either the elongated adjustment member or the adjustable locking head. The cable secures the picture to a picture-hanging device, and the height of the picture can be adjusted relative to the position of the picture-hanging device even after the picture-hanging device has been secured to a wall. This adjustable picture-hanging device allows the user to fine tune the placement of a picture without having worry about the precise placement of the picture-hanging device, or studs in a wall. The device also prevents unnecessarily drilling new holes in a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Morris Azad
  • Patent number: 9249929
    Abstract: A device to hang articles includes a first member defining a first elongate slot and adapted to be affixed to a mounting surface, and a second member defining a second elongate slot and oriented generally perpendicular to the first member. The second member defines a hook disposed near an end of the second member. The device also includes a threaded screw protruding through the first elongate slot and the second elongate slot, and a retaining nut in engagement with the threaded screw to clamp the first member and the second member thereby securing a relative position between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG. CORP.
    Inventors: Adam Callif, Jessina Collins, James Leroy Daniels
  • Patent number: 9151441
    Abstract: An adjustable suspension apparatus and method. One embodiment provides a substrate mounting apparatus that provides the ability to mount the apparatus on a substrate and move the location of a suspended object in at least a substantial two-dimensional planar area. One embodiment allows the suspended object to be moved vertically, laterally, and tilted or leveled with respect to the substrate by merely sliding one or more components of the apparatus from one place to another on the apparatus, without moving the components of the apparatus mounted on the substrate. One embodiment includes a laterally extending element, a peaked or inverted-peaked structure, and interconnecting supports providing for mounting of the laterally extending element to the substrate and sliding support for laterally slidable members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NTI Products, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Wheeler, Brian D. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9101236
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for maintaining an article, such as a picture frame suspended by a saw-tooth bracket, in a desired position on a vertical surface, such as a wall having a nail. The system comprises a first bracket having a projecting nub, and a second bracket having a cooperative corresponding divot. With the first bracket fixed to a rear surface of the article and the second bracket fixed to the wall, such that when the article is in the desired position the nub of the first bracket is engaged with the divot of the second bracket, if jarred, the article pivots back and forth about the nail until the nub becomes re-engaged with its cooperative divot, thereby bringing the article back into the desired position. Each bracket may be temporarily mutually affixed at interlocking ribs to facilitate initial adhesion with the article and the vertical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Vladimir Vayntraub
  • Patent number: 8979049
    Abstract: A mount bracket system (20) includes a wall-mount part (2) including an axis portion (4) with a cylindrical column shape and a stopper (5) provided at the axis portion and having a width larger than a diameter of the axis portion (4); and a wall-mount frame (3) including a path (7) continuing from an opening (7a) and having a width larger than the diameter of the axis portion (4) and smaller than the width of the stopper (5). The path includes a projection (7b) projecting inward from an edge of the path (7), and the projection (7b) is located nearer the opening (7a) than the axis portion (4) of the wall-mount part (2) is when the axis portion (4) is retained at a retaining point of the wall-mount frame (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8899541
    Abstract: An adjustable fastener includes a base having a first surface and an opposing second surface. At least two flanges extend outwardly from the second surface. The flanges are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis of the base. At least one tab is movably attached to the base. The tab is positioned between the two flanges and includes at least one rib extending outwardly therefrom. A carriage is movably attachable to the base. The carriage is directly attachable to at least a portion of an object. The carriage includes at least one elongated extension having a plurality of complementary spaced-apart ribs for engaging the rib of the tab of the base to locate and retain the elongated extension on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Joshua E. Bixler
  • Patent number: 8814124
    Abstract: A system for securing a maintaining an article, such as a picture frame, in a desired position on a vertical surface, such as a wall, is disclosed. The system comprises a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket has a first part of a pivot and includes at least one projecting nub. The second bracket has a second part of the pivot and at least one divot that are each cooperative with one of the at least one projecting nubs. In use, the first and second brackets are each fixed to either a rear surface of the article proximate a top edge thereof, or to the vertical surface. Each nub of the first bracket engages the cooperative divot of the second bracket when the article is in the desired position on the vertical surface. When jarred, the article pivots back and forth about the pivot until each nub becomes re-engaged with its cooperative divot, by gravity, to bring the article back into the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Vladimir Vayntraub
  • Patent number: 8807502
    Abstract: An adjustable fastener includes a base configured to be fixedly attached to a structure. The base defines a longitudinally extending channel therein. At least a portion of the channel has a plurality of spaced-apart ribs or teeth extending inwardly into the channel. A carriage is movably attached to the base. The carriage is directly attachable to at least a portion of an object. The carriage includes at least two laterally spaced-apart elongated extensions. Each extension has a plurality of complimentary spaced-apart ribs or teeth for engaging the plurality of ribs or teeth of the base to locate and retain the elongated extensions within the channel of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Joshua E. Bixler
  • Patent number: 8800950
    Abstract: It is important to mount a mirror assembly on a shaft in such a manner as to enable tilting without a backlash. According to the present invention, an inner circumferential face of a cylinder portion 20 of a notch member 15 of a clutch mechanism 8 comes into contact with an outer circumferential face of a shaft 3, and an outer circumferential face of the cylinder portion 20 of the notch member 15 of the clutch mechanism 8 comes into contact with an inner circumferential face of a housing portion 9 of a mirror assembly 4, respectively. As a result, the present invention is capable of mounting the mirror assembly 4 on the shaft 3 in such a manner to enable tilting without a backlash, by means of the cylinder portion 20 of the notch member 15 of the clutch mechanism 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jouichi Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 8757568
    Abstract: A wall mount assembly includes a first engagement member and a second engagement member. The first engagement member includes a slide structure and two positioning indentations oppositely disposed relative to the slide structure. The second engagement member includes a slider and two positioning bosses oppositely disposed relative to the slider. The first engagement member and the second engagement member are capable of being correspondingly disposed on an object and a wall. When the slider enters the slide structure from an entrance of the slide structure and is confined to slide relative to the slide structure so as to be blocked at a stop position of the slide structure, the two positioning bosses are embedded in the two positioning indentations respectively so that the object can be fixed on the wall stably. Therefore, the wall mount assembly simplifies the wall-mount operation of the object and provides a stable wall-mount effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: AmTRAN Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Ko
  • Patent number: 8702051
    Abstract: An assembly for attaching a flexible or rigid canvas (2) comprising eyelets (24) to a support comprises a rigid frame (4, 4?, 5, 6) forming the support, a first attachment means arranged to be directly secured to the canvas (2) and a second attachment means provided within the frame and capable of receiving the first attachment means. The second attachment means is formed of an open housing (3). The housing comprises two walls (4, 4?) which are spaced apart and are arranged opposite to each other. Each wall is provided on its internal surface (4?, 4??) with a notched or toothed portion arranged to hold the first attachment means when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: VTS SA
    Inventor: Matthieu Vanham
  • Patent number: 8646197
    Abstract: A system is provided for hanging an overhead sign from a ceiling. The system includes an elongated member, a connector member, and a fastening mechanism. The elongated member includes an elongated portion and a set of two nodes formed on opposing ends of the elongated portion. A first node is configured to be coupled to the overhead sign. The connector member includes a hook, an extended portion, and a disk. The extended portion defines a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The hook extends from the first end of the extended portion and is coupled to the second node. The disk extends radially outwardly from the second end of the extended portion for rotatable attachment to the ceiling. The fastening mechanism is inserted through the second node and the hook of the connector member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Clark, Amy M. Bacskai, Daniel Golke
  • Patent number: 8376308
    Abstract: A picture frame hanger is provided with an elongate strip having a base for mounting upon an upright support surface. The base includes at least one cavity extending inward from opposing surfaces to intersect and collectively form an aperture for receiving a fastener at an angle to one of the at least one cavities. The strip includes a series of teeth and a key along a length of the strip. A carriage is mounted for translation along the elongate strip, and includes a keyway that cooperates with the key for orienting the carriage relative to the strip. A flange is provided for receiving a picture frame support member. A latch is pivotally connected to the carriage for engaging the teeth. A user may disengage the latch from the strip for adjusting an upright position of the carriage. A method for forming the aperture of the elongate strip is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Dean Norton Greve′
  • Patent number: 8302339
    Abstract: A display system utilizing a graphics box as a primary component is disclosed. The graphics box greatly increases the flexibility and aesthetic appeal of displayed graphics cards. The ability to mass produce the graphics box, use multiple graphics boxes to deliver displays of different size and information content and, especially, the ability to reuse the graphics boxes, means that costs of the disclosed display system are relatively low and are achievable without a decrease in the aesthetic appeal of the entire display. Structures for supporting the graphics box to further increase the flexibility of the display system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Randy Pender, Van Stry Erik
  • Patent number: 8276870
    Abstract: A hanging structure includes a back bezel recessed with a bezel recess, a first hanging member, and a second hanging member. The first hanging member movably arranged in the bezel recess includes an ear-shaped hanging part which is axially recessed with an accommodating hole with a first guiding path at side face. The first guiding path includes an axial segment and two positioning notches obliquely extending from the axial segment. The second hanging member movably arranged in the accommodating hole includes a main body and a mushroom-shaped hanging part. The main body, at its surface, includes a guiding protrusion which is movably arranged in the first guiding path of the first hanging member. The mushroom-shaped hanging part selectively extends out of the accommodating hole depending on which positioning notch the guiding protrusion moves into. Therefore, the hanging structure has various hanging modes to be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Hannspree, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Hung Huang, Stephen Tsai
  • Patent number: 8141838
    Abstract: An adjustable picture hanger for suspending an object from a surface. An exemplary embodiment may include a base mounted to a wall, a central plate selectively rotatable with respect to the base, and/or a hook slidable in a slot in the plate. The position of the hook relative to the wall may be adjusted by rotating the plate with respect to the base and/or by sliding the hook along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventors: Natalia Johnson, Christian Scott Leyden, Jackie Grant
  • Patent number: 7988121
    Abstract: A wall hanger for hanging a display device on a wall includes a latching member, an outer hanger member, an inner hanger member and a screw. The inner hanger member includes a threaded portion with a threaded hole and a lock portion with a lock hole. The lock portion is integrally formed with the threaded portion and bent to face the threaded portion with a predetermined space therebetween so that the threaded hole and the lock hole are concentrically positioned. The screw has a predetermined length so that the inner and outer hanger members sandwich a rear cover of the display device when the rear cover of the display device is disposed therebetween. The lock hole prevents a long screw from being threaded into the display device by mating an inner peripheral face of the lock hole with a distal end of the long screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kameoka
  • Patent number: 7891124
    Abstract: A frame hanger apparatus including a rectangular wall piece for attachment to a wall and a frame piece attachable to a picture frame. The wall piece has front and back surfaces, the front surface having a lower lip and an upper lip formed thereon. The lower lip has an arced top surface, and the upper lip has first and second elongated horizontally disposed mounting slots positioned therein. The frame piece has a lip projecting from the front surface which has an arced surface thereon. The arced top surface of the wall piece is dimensioned to dovetail with the arced surface of the lip of the frame piece and an overhanging lip on the wall piece is positioned so as to lock the wall piece and frame piece together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: David E. Willis
  • Patent number: 7740222
    Abstract: A hanging electronic device, for hanging on a H thickness wall, comprises a main body and an adjustable hanging mechanism. The adjustable hanging mechanism for mounting the main body on the wall comprises: at least one cantilever bar and an elastic member. The cantilever bar has a first rod, a second rod, a third rod and an elastic member. The first rod has a rotation axis for the cantilever bar to rotate on the main body, and the second rod is coupled to the first rod. The third rod coupled to the second rod is substantially parallel to the first rod. The elastic member is coupled to the first rod. When the cantilever bar rotates relatively to the main body with a rotation angle ?, the third rod is firmly against the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Xian-Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 7578492
    Abstract: An adjustable hanger for hanging pictures, tools, or the like has an elongated, slotted bracket member having a wall mounting portion at one end thereof. A hanger hook member has a vertical portion with a bolt hole adjacent one end and is adapted to be positioned anywhere along the bracket by means of a bolt member and a resilient washer. The surfaces of the bracket and the vertical portion of the hook member may be roughened or striated to insure better purchase of the resilient washer between those two members when compressed by the action of the bolt member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Laura Darre′
  • Patent number: 6666425
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable wall hanger includes a main body that is securable to a vertical surface with mounting screws, nails, or other similar fasteners, and an adjustable bracket. The main body includes a pair of mounting apertures and is generally symmetrical about a plane passing through the axes of the mounting apertures. The main body also includes a vertically-oriented linear ratchet having a plurality of teeth, and a pair of parallel, outwardly-facing, spaced-apart peripheral tracks or grooves. Each of the tracks is open at the top of the main body. The adjustable bracket includes a pair of cylindrical locator pins that enter the tracks at the top of the main body and slide within them. The adjustable bracket also includes a pawl that engages the linear ratchet. The locator pins allow the adjustable bracket to be rotated upwardly, so that the pawl may be disengaged from the linear ratchet, the adjustable bracket moved up or down, and the pawl re-engaged with the ratchet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Jerry Lee Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6572067
    Abstract: An assembly for hanging picture frames and other objects to a vertical support includes a base adapted to be mounted to the vertical support, a wheel supported by the base and rotatable on the base, and a hook rotatably coupled to the wheel and adapted to rotate upon rotation of the wheel relative to the base. The hook includes a hooked portion that receives an item to be mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Kamenstein, Joseph P. Opramolla, Robert Howitt
  • Patent number: 6557813
    Abstract: A device for hanging an object on a wall comprises a vertical guide (22) and a horizontal rail (44) mounted on a body (30) which is adjustable up and down the guide. A further horizontal rail (46) may be slid horizontally along the rail (44). In use the guide (22) is fixed to the wall and the rail (46) is fixed horizontally to the back of a picture of other article to be hung. The position of the article is adjusted by sliding the body (30) in the guide (22) and/or the rail (46) along the rail (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Brian Duggan
  • Patent number: 6550739
    Abstract: An adjustable linear locking assembly, such as may be used in a mounting device or other suitable devices, which assembly allows automatic, substantially continuous adjustment to the linear position of a locking element such as an interface. The assembly may also provide two-way adjustability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: HangGlider Partners
    Inventor: Thomas J. Brindisi
  • Patent number: 6527244
    Abstract: An assembly for hanging picture frames and other objects to a vertical support includes a base with locking grooves that is mounted to the vertical support and a wheel disposed on the base and which is movable thereon. The wheel includes a set of teeth disposed around its perimeter and where one of those teeth is received within one of the base's locking grooves. A mounting knob fixed off-center to the front surface of the wheel is designed to receive the item to be mounted thereon. To mount a picture frame or other object, the assembly is mounted to the vertical support, the object to be mounted is mounted on the assembly's knob, the amount of correction to the mounted object's vertical and/or horizontal position is ascertained, the object is removed from the knob, the wheel of the assembly is moved accordingly and then locked in place, and the object is re-mounted on the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Kamenstein, Joseph P. Opramolla, Robert Howitt
  • Publication number: 20020166939
    Abstract: A method for mounting a frameless wall decor article to a generally vertical support surface, frameless wall decor article including a mounting member attached thereto, the mounting member having a vertical engaging surface and a downward support surface perpendicular to a vertical centerline of the frameless wall decor article, includes aligning a receiving member with the generally vertical support surface by leveling an upward support surface of the receiving member with the generally vertical support surface, attaching the receiving member to the generally vertical support surface with the upward support surface in a level position, and engaging the mounting member with the receiving member so that the vertical engaging surface of the mounting member is in abutting relationship with a vertical engaging surface of the receiving member, the downward and upward support surfaces are parallel to each other, and the horizontal position of the mounting member and frameless article are horizontally adjustable rel
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: William J. Plein, Gary Van Deursen
  • Patent number: 6241210
    Abstract: A device that provides adjustable hanging of an item, such as a picture frame, on a vertical support such as a wall. The hanger may provide for automatic, in situ, and/or substantially continuous vertical adjustment, and/or horizontal adjustment. The adjustable hanger may comprise a first portion affixed to the vertical support, and a second portion that engages with the first portion and fixedly attaches to or is incorporated in the reverse side of the item, with one or both of the aforementioned portions being formed to allow automatic, in situ, continuous vertical adjustment and selective locking with respect to the other portion through a clamp, bias, or similar means; one or both these portions may also be formed to allow horizontal adjustment and repositioning with respect to the other portion. Also disclosed is a device for horizontally extending the available range of mounting positions for items that need to be supported by a stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: HangGlider Partners
    Inventor: Thomas J. Brindisi
  • Patent number: 6152418
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a bracket mountable to a surface and including multiple separated fingers extending at least partially transverse to gravitational pull when the bracket is mounted to the surface. A connector is adapted to be received by at least one of the fingers at multiple locations relative to the bracket such that the connector overlaps the at least one finger relative to the gravitational pull, the connector providing a lip directed at least partially transverse to the gravitational pull when the connector is received by the bracket and the bracket is mounted to the surface. A positioner is adapted to adjustably receive an elongated member and to be coupled to the connector overlying a portion of the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Richard L. Panicci
  • Patent number: 6032915
    Abstract: A device that provides automatic, in situ, continuously adjustable mounting of an item on a vertical support, comprising a first portion affixed to the vertical support, and a second portion that fixedly or releasably engages with the first portion and fixedly attaches to or is incorporated in the reverse side of the item. One or both of the two portions is formed to allow automatic, in situ, continuous vertical adjustment and repositioning with respect to the other portion, and one or both portions may also be formed to allow horizontal adjustment and repositioning with respect to the other portion. Also, a device for horizontally extending the available range of mounting positions for items that need to be supported by a stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas J. Brindisi
  • Patent number: 6003825
    Abstract: An adjustable device for hanging a wire-supported object on a wall device comprises a first bar for attachment at to the wall in a horizontal position, a second bar perpendicular to the first bar and having a hook or hooks for accepting a wire secured to the object to be hung, and a connector with channels that hold the bars for sliding movement relative to each other. The first bar is secured to the wall at its ends and then the connector can be moved horizontally along the first bar and the second bar can be moved vertically within the connector. This permits the object to be positioned at precisely the desired position even after the hanger device is secured to the wall, unlike conventional devices that must be removed from the wall for repositioning. A spring-loaded pin on the connector is accepted into openings in the bars to lock them into the position that places the object on the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Henry H. Abernathy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5906349
    Abstract: An elongated strip of connected picture hangers adapted to be coiled around a feeding reel and fed into an assembly machine for further processing and for automatic attachment of the picture hangers to the backing of picture frames, each hanger comprising substantially planar metallic body portion having a living hinge extending thereacross for allowing the hanger to be accepted by the assembly machine. A portion of the body of the hanger is cut out for receiving support means from the desired hanging location. A reinforcement rib extends along the top edge of the hanger for strengthening the picture hanger for larger and heavier type picture frames. A pair of dimpled protrusions automatically bias the picture hanger away from the picture frame backing for easier attachment of the picture hanger to the display support means. The arrangement of the above features provides for spacing means which allows for proper stacking of the picture hangers around the feeding reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: Armand E. Roy
  • Patent number: 5779294
    Abstract: A mounting system and method includes a mounting device for handling an object during treatment or preparation and for mounting the object to a display member for displaying the object. The mounting system and method is particularly suited for use by a taxidermist to handle and mount a fish or other animal prepared by the taxidermist. The mounting device includes a mounting plug adapted to be received in a recessed region in the display member. One or more object engaging members extend from the mounting plug to engage and secure the object. A mounting rod extends from a second end of the mounting plug and includes a gripping region, for easy gripping and handling by a user. The mounting method includes inserting the mounting rod through an aperture in the display member so that the mounting plug is received into the recessed region in the display member. A fastener is then engaged with a fastener engaging region on the mounting rod to secure the mounting device to the display member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Steven A. Magri
  • Patent number: 5605313
    Abstract: A hanger for suspending an object from a vertical surface. The inventive device includes an object mounting assembly for securing to a rear surface of an object. A vertical surface mounting assembly is provided for mounting to a vertical surface such as a wall or a pane of glass. The vertical surface mounting assembly includes a mounting projection received within a central receiver of the object mounting assembly so as to adjustably and removably couple the object to the vertical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventors: Donald L. Erickson, Linda L. Serna-Erickson
  • Patent number: 5584462
    Abstract: A hanger for adjustably suspending an object from a wall. The inventive device includes a wall bracket securable to a wall surface. An adjustable bracket is slidably positioned through the wall bracket and includes a depending hook for suspending an object. A securing fastener is directed through the adjustable bracket and can be rotatably advanced to lock the adjustable bracket relative to the wall bracket in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Douglas M. Reese
  • Patent number: 5482244
    Abstract: A hanger for supporting objects such as pictures and mirrors is made of a bendable metal strip or from a molded plastic, having on one end a groove which is parallel to a wall and uppermost when mounted on the wall for supporting a picture. This groove is particularly suitable for fitting into and supporting a saw tooth clip installed on the top frame of a picture, mirror, or the like, but it is also suitable for supporting a picture hanger wire, without being exposed to view above the frame when supporting either the clip or the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Joseph F. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5480120
    Abstract: An adjustable hanger apparatus is provided for hanging an object on a vertical surface and includes a first hanger assembly for mounting on the vertical surface and a second hanger assembly for mounting on the object. The first hanger assembly includes a first connector portion. The second hanger assembly includes a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of second connection portions arrayed along the longitudinal axis. The second connection portions are adapted to connect to the first connector portion of the first hanger assembly, such that, when a selected second connection portion is connected to the first connector portion, the object hangs by the second hanger assembly and the first hanger assembly next to the vertical surface. Adjustment of vertical position of the object on the vertical surface is obtained by selecting a specific second connection portion along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: Bobby R. Bruner
  • Patent number: 5048788
    Abstract: A hanging device for a hardboard member, such as a hardboard-backed picture, includes pairs of prongs which grip the hardboard, and a saw-tooth structure with which the hanging device can be suspended from a nail or similar article. The prongs of each pair are angled towards each other so that they bite into the hardboard when inserted. The hanging device is preferably formed from an initially flat piece of metal. A first portion of the hanging device includes one or more openings containing the prongs and a second portion defines an opening having the sawtooth structure. In an alternative embodiment, the second portion also includes prongs, and in this embodiment, there are three sets of prongs for engaging the hardboard. After the hanging device has been driven into the hardboard, the second portion is bent away from the hardboard, so that the hanging device can be suspended from a nail or picture hanger affixed to a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Moore Push-Pin Company
    Inventor: Eugene M. Lorincz
  • Patent number: 4871140
    Abstract: A hanging device facilitates the attachment of a foam board, or an equivalent object, to a wall. The hanging device has a body portion and at least one prong. The method of attaching the hanging device to the foam board includes the steps of inserting the prong upwardly into the foam board, and then rotating the body portion, which remains outside the foam board, so that at least part of the foam is compressed by the prong. If the foam board has a paper skin or backing, insertion of the prong creates a slot in the skin, and the slot tends to hold the device in position. The part of the body portion remaining outside the foam board can be suspended from a mounting device, such as a nail or a conventional picture hanger, affixed to a wall. The prong itself can also be bent towards the body portion, to increase the compression of the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Moore Push-Pin Company
    Inventors: Marlin J. Hoskinson, Eugene M. Lorincz, George W. Samson
  • Patent number: 4775129
    Abstract: A wall hanging fastener is provided which is universally applicable in that it can be nailed to the frame of a wall hanging and placed with a serrated edge on a wall nail, or it can be hooked on a wall nail, or in its preferred mode, the wall hanging has a hanging wire which is entrained through special slots in the fastener, and the fastener is slipped over a wall nail. When used according to the preferred embodiment, the fastener will resist axial sliding along the wire, so that once it is centered, if it is centered properly, the painting shall remain in its proper position and will not become angled as do most hanging paintings due to being brushed or the slight jarring of the wall on which the painting is hung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Inventor: John A. Gleisten
  • Patent number: 4728237
    Abstract: A hanger adapted to be driven into a wooden frame member includes a one-piece stamped metal member having a head and a flat elongate symmetrical shank with a series of lands and grooves disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the shank between its tip and a pair of laterally extending shoulders on its head. Inclined camming surfaces extend between the lands and grooves and cooperate therewith to compress the wood fibers laterally of the shank as it is driven into the wood. A lateral gripping surface behind each land surface engages the wood fibers which expand into the distally adjacent groove to provide a positive gripping action which resists disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Moore Push-Pin Company
    Inventors: Eugene Lorincz, Marlin J. Hoskinson
  • Patent number: 4689906
    Abstract: A structure for displaying articles on vertical surfaces. Included in the structure is a frame assembly for retaining the display article and a pair of frame hangers retained by the frame assembly and adapted to receive the ends of a supporting strand. The frame assembly comprises a plurality of joined elongated frame sections; each frame section comprising a longitudinally extending channel defined by a rear wall, a pair of side walls joined to the rear wall, and a pair of front wall lips each having one edge joined to a different one of the side walls and opposite edges spaced apart by a slot that opens into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Esselte Pendaflex Corp.
    Inventor: Charles F. Sherman