U.S. patent application number 12/317541 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-12 for picture hanging tool.
Invention is credited to Roland C. Schapanski.
Application Number | 20100200723 12/317541 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42539623 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100200723 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schapanski; Roland C. |
August 12, 2010 |
Picture hanging tool
Abstract
A picture hanging tool comprises a main body having a flange
adapted to overlie the upper edge of a picture frame and a slide
which is adjustable relative to the main body. The slide may be
secured in any selected one of a number of different positions
relative to the main body member and has at one end thereof a
projecting coupling carrying a marker which may be pressed lightly
against the wall on which a picture is to be hung for the purpose
of marking the place at which a picture support should be fixed to
the wall. The projecting coupling also includes retainers for
accommodating picture hangers, and such projection coupling is
adjustable to enable the retainers to face a selected one of
different positions.
Inventors: |
Schapanski; Roland C.;
(Venice, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
T.L. GARRETT, PLC
P.O. BOX 1065
FENTON
MI
48430
US
|
Family ID: |
42539623 |
Appl. No.: |
12/317541 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11593704 |
Nov 2, 2006 |
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12317541 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/476 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 1/205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/476 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/24 20060101
A47G001/24 |
Claims
1. A tool for use in hanging in a selected position on a wall an
object having a hanger supported by said object, said tool
comprising a body member; a flange carried by said body member for
removable engagement with an object supporting member carried by an
object to be hung on said wall; a slide member; means mounting said
slide member on said body member for sliding movements toward and
away from said flange; a retainer member on said slide member for
removable attachment to said supporting member; and marker means
carried by one of said members for engagement with said wall for
making a mark on said wall to indicate a selected position which
said supporting member should occupy relative to said wall to
enable said object to be supported by said support member in said
selected position on said wall.
2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein said retainer member has a
plurality of different kinds of receivers, one of which is adapted
to accommodate a filament and the other of which is adapted to
accommodate a bracket.
3. A tool for use in hanging an object on a wall, said object
having thereon a support, said tool comprising a body member; a
slide member; means mounting said slide member on said body member
for longitudinal sliding movements relative thereto; a locating
flange at one end of said body member and extending laterally
therefrom, a coupling member carried by said slide member and
extending laterally therefrom parallel to and in the same direction
as said locating flange, said coupling member including retainer
means for coupling said coupling member to said object support; and
releasable securing means reacting between said body member and
said slide member for releasably securing the latter to said body
member in a selected one of a number of adjusted positions
longitudinally of said body member.
4. The tool according to claim 3 wherein said coupling member
includes marking means for making a mark on said wall when said
slide member occupies said selected one of said positions.
5. The tool according to claim 4 wherein said marking means
comprises a pointed end for engaging and indenting said wall.
6. The tool according to claim 3 wherein said retainer means
comprises a recess for removably accommodating said object
support.
7. The tool according to claim 3 wherein said means mounting said
slide member on said body member includes a groove in said body
member in which said slide member is accommodated, said groove
having side walls engaging opposite sides of said body member, said
walls and said sides together forming an interlocking dovetailed
joint.
8. The tool according to claim 3 wherein said groove in said body
member has a base on which said slide member bears, said base
having a slot extending therethrough, said slide member having an
opening therein, said releasable securing means comprising a
locking pin carried by said slide member and having one end thereof
extending through said slot into said opening, said pin having a
flange between its ends which bears on said body member at opposite
edges of said slot, said pin being rotatable to a position in which
said slide member is clamped on said base.
9. The tool according to claim 8 wherein said opening and said one
end of said pin are correspondingly threaded.
10. The tool according to claim 3 wherein said coupling member is
rotatable relative to said slide member.
11. The tool according to claim 10 wherein said coupling member is
rotatable through at least 180.degree..
12. A tool for use in determining the position on a wall to support
a frame, said tool comprising a body member having a groove in one
face thereof; a slide member slideably accommodated in said groove;
a flange at one end of said body member and projecting laterally
thereof for engagement with a frame to be mounted on a wall; a
coupling member carried by said slide member and projecting
laterally in the same direction as and parallel to said flange,
said coupling member having a recess therein for accommodating a
flexible frame support carried by said frame and being of such
length as to be slack, said coupling member being movable along
said body member when said frame support is accommodated in said
recess and in such direction to a position in which said frame
support is taut, said slide member being removable from said groove
for rotation end-to-end and replaceable in said groove; and means
mounting said coupling member on said slide member for rotation
through at least 180.degree. in response to the replacement of said
side member in said groove.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/593,704 filed Nov. 2, 2006 and claims the benefit of
such filing date.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a tool or aid especially adapted
for use in hanging a framed picture in a desired position on a
vertical wall. It often is difficult to locate a picture in the
desired position relative the height of the wall, and it is
especially difficult to hang a group of pictures adjacent one
another in such manner that the upper edges of the pictures, or
their frames, are at the same level or at selected different
levels.
[0003] The difficulties referred to above are well known and many
proposals have been made for overcoming or alleviating them. In
many instances, however, the proposed solutions involve tools which
are cumbersome and difficult to operate. In addition, a good many
of the hanging aids proposed heretofore require the presence of two
persons to enable one or more pictures to be hung on a wall in
selected relationship to the height of the wall and to one
another.
[0004] Even though some of the previously proposed picture hanging
tools have desirable attributes, it is not uncommon for the users
of such tools to use them improperly, thereby causing multiple
holes to be formed in the wall before a picture is hung at a
desired position on such wall. In some instances the multiple holes
are visible after a picture is hung, thereby necessitating repair
of the wall.
[0005] A principal object of the invention is to provide a picture
hanging tool which overcomes the objectionable characteristics
referred to above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A picture hanging tool constructed according to the
invention comprises a main body portion having at one end thereof a
laterally extending flange that is adapted to overlie and engage
the upper edge of a picture frame. The main body also includes a
groove for the support of a slide member which is slideable toward
and away from the projecting flange. The slide member may be fixed
in any selected one of a number of adjusted positions relative to
the body. The body also has a handle which facilitates the
manipulation of the body and slide member in use.
[0007] Supported by the slide member is a coupling member which
projects from the slide in the same direction as that in which the
flange at one end of the body projects and is parallel thereto. The
coupling member is provided with means for retaining a frame
support or suspension of the kind carried by the picture frame,
thereby enabling the tool to be used for the hanging of pictures
having different kinds and lengths of suspensions.
[0008] The coupling member has a free end which, in use, may
confront the wall on which a picture is to be hung. The free end of
such coupling member is pointed or otherwise configured to enable
it to be pressed lightly against the wall and provide a mark or
indentation indicative of the position which the picture suspension
should occupy on the wall when the picture has been hung.
THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Apparatus according to the invention is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of the apparatus in
condition for operation;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded front elevational view of the
apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, side elevational view of a
part of the apparatus.
THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Apparatus constructed in accordance with the presently
preferred embodiment of the invention is designated generally by
the reference character 1 and comprises a body member 2 having a
base 3 flanked by a pair of rails 4 of dovetail shape for the
accommodation of a slide member 5 which is slideable vertically
toward and away from a laterally projecting flange 6 carried by the
base member 2 at one end thereof. The flange 6 has a flat surface 7
which faces toward the opposite end of the body member 2. Opposite
edges of the slide member 5 are complementary to the dovetail sides
of the rails 4, thereby interlocking the body and slide members and
ensuring smooth sliding movements of the slide member
longitudinally of the body member.
[0015] At that side of the body member opposite the slide member 5
is a handle or grip 8 which extends substantially the full length
of the body member. The base 3 of the member 2 has a longitudinally
extending slot 9 through which the threaded end 10 of an anchor
screw 11 may pass. The threaded end of the screw normally is
accommodated in a correspondingly threaded opening 10a in the slide
member 5. A flange 12 carried by the screw bears upon the rear face
of the base member so as to enable the screw to clamp the slide 5
against the base 3 in any selected position of adjustment
longitudinally of the body member.
[0016] At one end of the slide 5 is a projection or coupling member
13 comprising a flange 14 which confronts and parallels the surface
7 of the flange 6 and is carried by the slide 5. The flange 14 is
reinforced by a bracket 15 which underlies the flange 14 and is
secured to the lower surface of the latter and to the slide 5.
Preferably, the coupling member 13 carries a spindle 16 which is
rotatably accommodated in an opening in the slide member 5 thereby
enabling the projection to rotate through at least 180.degree..
[0017] The coupling member 13 has two grooves or retainers 17 and
18 therein. The groove 17 is adapted to accommodate a picture frame
or hanger such as a suspension bracket (not shown) that is secured
in any suitable way to the back of a frame (not shown) which
supports a picture, poster, dish, or other object that is to be
hung on a wall (not shown). The groove 18 is adapted to accommodate
a flexible, filamentary support (not shown), such as a wire, cord,
or the like having its opposite ends secured by suitable fasteners,
such as eyelet screws fixed to opposite sides of a frame for a
picture or the like as is common place. The filamentary support
conventionally has a length greater than the width of the frame to
which is secured, thereby enabling the support to assume
substantially an inverted V form when the frame is suspended from a
support on a wall.
[0018] The free end of the coupling member 13 is formed as a marker
which, as shown, comprises a point 19 which, when the tool is in
use, confronts the wall on which the object to be hung.
[0019] The tool may include spirit levels 20 and 21 that are
adhered to or accommodated in openings (not shown) formed in the
body member 2 so as to assist the user in positioning the tool in
such manner that the body member is vertical or at a desired
inclination.
[0020] To condition the tool for use in hanging a framed picture,
for example, the picture is placed face down on a flat surface and
the tool is placed on the back of the frame in such position that
the lower surface 7 of the flange 6 bears against that edge of the
frame which will be uppermost when the picture is hung on a wall.
The back of the picture frame will have secured thereto either a
hanger bracket or a filamentary wire or cord fastened at its
opposite ends to securing devices, such as eyelet screws. The wire
or cord conventionally has a length greater than the distance
between the securing screws so there is slack in the wire or cord.
The anchor screw 11 will be loosened thereby enabling the slide
member 5 to be adjusted longitudinally of the frame member 2 toward
or away from the flange 6. If the hanging wire or cord is
accommodated in the slot 18 of the coupling 13, movement of the
slide 5 toward the flange 6 will enable the wire or cord to become
taut and occupy a position relative to the frame that it will
occupy when the picture is hung on the wall.
[0021] When the slack in the hanging wire or cord is taken up by
sliding movement of the coupling 13 and the wire or cord is taut,
the screw 12 may be tightened so as to secure the slide relative to
the base member. The dovetail construction of the sides of the
slide and the sides of the groove 4 ensure secure retention of the
slide relative to the body 2. The slot 9 in the base 3 of the body
member 2 enables the anchor screws 11 to move with the slide 5.
[0022] Following the securing of the slide in the appropriate
position of adjustment relative to the body member 2, the tool may
be removed from the picture and moved to a wall on which the
picture or other object is to be hung. The tool is moved to a
position in which the flange 6 and the coupling 13 confront the
wall and the tool is adjusted vertically to a position in which the
lower surface 7 of the flange 6 is at the position the upper edge
of the picture frame should occupy when the frame is hung on the
wall. When the tool has been so positioned, the coupling 13 may be
pushed manually lightly toward the wall whereupon the pointed end
19 of the coupling will make a slight indentation or mark in the
wall. A picture suspension hanger or nail then may be mounted on
the wall in such position that, when the hanger wire or cord is
supported by the suspension nail, the upper and lower ends of the
frame will occupy the same position relative to the support nail
that it did when such suspension wire was accommodated in the
groove 18 of the coupling 13. When the picture or other object has
been secured to the wall, the upper and lower ends of its frame
will correspond exactly to the distance of the frame from the base
of the retainer groove 18 that was determined during the fitting of
the tool to the picture frame.
[0023] In some instances the position of the wall-mounted picture
support should be at a greater distance from the top of the picture
frame than it is in other instances. In such cases the slide member
15 may be removed from the body member 2, turned end for end, and
replaced in the groove in the body member so that the coupling 13
is 180.degree. removed from the position shown in FIGS. 1-3. This
adjustment enables a significantly greater spacing to be obtained
between the coupling 13 and the flange 6. Following such
adjustment, the projection 13 may be rotated via its spindle 16 so
that the grooves again confront the flange 6. In all other
respects, the operation of the tool is the same as that which has
been described above.
[0024] The tool enables one to hang pictures that are level
horizontally and hang vertically. It also enables one to hang
pictures which have either filamentary or bracket-type supports.
The tool also enables one to hang pictures without requiring help
from anyone else, even in the case where clusters of pictures are
to be hung on the same wall. In addition, the tool enables pictures
to be hung without having to form multiple holes in the wall.
[0025] The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently
preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative
rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the
claims.
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