Frame Hangers

Abstract

A frame hanger for a picture frame, mirror frame or the like includes hinge members secured to the frame in horizontally spaced relationship to provide a horizontal pivot axis. A linear support member extends in a horizontal direction generally parallel to the pivot axis and is pivotally mounted to the hinge members through laterally offset transition sections disposed at opposite ends of the support member, whereby the pivot axis is parallel to, and laterally spaced from the support member. Preferably, the support member is linearly adjustable for permitting use of the frame hanger with frames of different horizontal dimensions. Preferably, the support member is supported by at least two horizontally spaced hanger mounts which are secured to a wall or other supporting structure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to frame hangers, and more specifically to pivotally mounted frame hangers for picture frames, mirror frames and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Continuous wire has been utilized as a frame hanger for years. Generally the wire is purchased in roll form, and the required length is severed from the roll, draped horizontally across the back of the frame and secured to side frame members of the frame.

The above described wire frame hanger has several disadvantages. First, one usually is required to purchase more wire than is needed, since the wire is packaged in rolls of limited length ranges. Sometimes the excess wire (i.e., in roll form) is misplaced before reuse of the wire is required. Therefore, one must repurchase an additional roll of wire for a subsequent use. This is uneconomical. Moreover, the mere fact that one is required to purchase excess wire which may not be used for years, if ever, is economically wasteful.

A second disadvantage of the above-described wire frame hanger resides in the manner in which the wire is draped across the back of the frame. Normally the wire is in extremely close proximity to the back of the frame. This necessitates moving the frame while it is in contact with a surface of a frame supporting structure, such as a wall, to properly seat the hanger on hanger mounts which are secured to the supporting structure. This means of placing the frame on a supporting structure often mars a surface of the supporting structure in regions which are exposed to view.

A third disadvantage of the above-described wire frame hanger resides in the fact that the wire is flexible. Normally such wires are so flexible that even when they are mounted on two horizontally spaced hanger mounts, a slight bumping of the frame, such as may occur when dusting the frame, can tilt the frame out of proper horizontal alignment.

Some prior art frame hangers, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 133,789 and 1,485,281 employ shaped support members defining an apex which is adapted to be engaged by a single hanger mount. If the center of gravity of the frame is not in vertical alignment with the apex of the support member, a torque may be imposed on the frame when it is mounted on a supporting structure to thereby cause the frame to tilt out of proper horizontal alignment when the frame is jarred by the slightest of force. Moreover, the frame hangers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,485,281 primarily are adapted for use with frames having a rearwardly protruding cleat. If the frame does not have such a cleat, the frame hangers would have to be secured to the outer side walls of the frame where they would be exposed to view to provide an aesthetically unpleasing construction.

Substantially rigid frame hangers which include a linearly extending support member are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,641,427 and 3,298,655. These frame hangers are not pivotally mounted, and therefore, the support members are always maintained in close proximity to the back of the frame to assure stable mounting of the frame to a supporting structure, such as a wall. Frames employing the use of these frame hangers are mounted on a supporting structure in the same manner as described with respect to the continuous wire holders. This method of mounting, as described above, often mars a surface of the supporting structure in regions which are exposed to view. Moreover, these linearly extending frame hangers are not adjustable, and therefore different size hangers must be manufactured for use with frames which differ greatly from each other in their horizontal dimensions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A frame hanger for a picture frame, mirror frame or the like includes hinge members secured to a frame in horizontally spaced relationship to provide a horizontal pivot axis. A linear support member extends in a horizontal direction generally parallel to the pivot axis and is pivotally mounted to the hinge members through laterally offset transition sections disposed at opposite ends of the support members, whereby the pivot axis is parallel to, and laterally spaced from the support member. Preferably the support member is sufficiently rigid to maintain its substantially linear configuration when mounted on a supporting structure, such as a wall, to support the weight of a frame.

The linear support member is pivotally mounted so that it can be disposed in rearwardly spaced relationship with respect to the back of the frame when the frame is to be mounted, or set on hanger mounts secured to a supporting structure. In this manner the frame is maintained out of contact with the supporting structure during the initial phase of the mounting operation to prevent marring of a surface of the supporting structure. After the linearly extending support member is engaged with the hanger mounts a downward force is applied to the frame to thereby cause the linear support member to pivot to a position in close proximity to the back of the frame, whereby the frame is disposed closely adjacent the supporting structure to establish a stable mounting for the frame.

Preferably at least two horizontally spaced frame hanger mounts are secured to the supporting structure to engage the linear support member at horizontally spaced locations. In this manner a jarring of the frame resulting from dusting the frame or inadvertently bumping the frame will not cause the frame to cant out of proper horizontal alignment with respect to the supporting structure.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the linear support member is adjustable in a linear direction to thereby permit use of the same frame hanger with frames of widely different horizontal dimensions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent by referring to the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a frame hanger according to a first embodiment of this invention secured to a frame, and showing the hanger in two different pivotal positions;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of a frame hanger according to this invention having a different pivotal construction than in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of a frame hanger according to this invention having a different pivotal construction than in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary isometric view of a preferred construction of a linear support member of a frame hanger according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a frame hanger 10 is pivotally secured to side frame members 12 and 14 of a frame 16. The frame 16 can be of any type, and preferably is a picture frame, mirror frame or the like.

The frame hanger 10 includes hinge members 18 and 20 secured to the side frame members 12 and 14 in horizontally spaced relationship. Each hinge member has a marginal end defining an opening 22 therein, and the openings 22 are in horizontal alignment to define a horizontal pivot axis. The hinge members 18 and 20 are secured to the side frame members by any suitable fastening means, such as screws 24.

The frame hanger 10 includes a linear support member 26 disposed in a substantially horizontal direction generally parallel to the pivot axis defined by openings 22 in the hinge members 18 and 20. The linear support member 26 can be made from metal, plastic, wood or the like, and preferably is sufficiently rigid to maintain its linear configuration when supporting a frame on hanger mounts 28 and 30. The hanger mounts 28 and 30 are secured to a supporting structure (not shown), such as a wall, post, door, or the like.

The frame hanger 10 further includes a pair of transition sections 32, each of which has opposed marginal ends defining openings 34 and 36, respectively, therethrough. Opposite ends of the linear support member 26 are disposed within openings 34 of the transition sections, and a pivot pin, or rod 35 is disposed within opening 22 of each hinge member 18 and 20, and through opening 36 in each of the transition sections 32. As a result of this construction the linear support member 26 is parallel to and laterally spaced from the pivot axis. Preferably, the frictional force between the pivot pins 35 and the hinge members 18 and 20 is sufficient to permit the support member and transition sections to maintain any preset pivotal position relative to the frame under the influence of gravitational force.

To mount the frame 16 to the hanger mounts 28 and 30, the linear support member 26 is pivoted to a position spaced rearwardly from the back of the frame. Preferably the linear support member 26 is pivoted to a position wherein the transition sections 32 and the linear support member lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame, whereby the support member is spaced its farthest distance rearwardly from the back of the frame 16. With the linear support member 26 disposed as indicated above, it is set, or mounted on the hanger mounts 28 and 30 without contacting the frame 16 in rubbing engagement with a supporting structure (not shown), such as a wall. A downward force, as indicated at A, then is applied to the frame 16 to cause the linear support member 26 and the transition sections 32 to pivot to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1. In this latter position the linear support member 26 is in close proximity to the back of frame 16, and the frame is supported in a stable condition closely adjacent the supporting structure.

Referring to FIG. 2, a modified construction of a hinge member 18a and transition section 32a is shown. The other hinge member is identical to 18a, and cooperates with a transition section in exactly the same manner as will now be described with respect to FIG. 2. The hinge member 18a includes a marginal end defined by horizontally spaced fingers 38. Each finger 38 has an opening therethrough which is in horizontal alignment with the opening through every other finger. The transition section 32a includes horizontally spaced fingers 40 which mesh with the fingers 38. The fingers 40 have openings therein which are in horizontal alignment with the openings through fingers 38, and a pivot pin, or rod 35a is disposed through both sets of openings to provide a pivot axis. The mode of operation of this embodiment is indentical to that described above in connection with FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, a further embodiment of this invention is shown. In this embodiment a linear support member 26b, transition sections 32b (only one shown) and pivot pins or rods 35b (only one shown) are formed as a unitary construction. The mode of operation of this embodiment is identical to that described above in connection with FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, a preferred construction of a linear support member 26c is shown. The support member is comprised of separate sections 42 and 44 in telescopic relationship with each other. In this construction the linear extent of the support member 26c can be adjusted to be utilized with many different size frames. The linearly adjustable support member 26c can be adapted for use with any of the transition sections and hinge member constructions shown in FIGS. 1 through 2.

Claims

1. A frame hanger and frame assembly comprising:

A. a pair of hinge members secured to rear surfaces of a frame in horizontally spaced relationship and intermediate upper and lower margins of said frame to provide a horizontal pivot axis, said hinge members being unexposed to view from the front of said frame;

B. a linear support member including at least two sections movable relative to each other for permitting the linear length of the support member to be varied;

C. a transition section joined at each end of the linear support member and extending in laterally offset relationship to said support member and terminating at a marginal end; and

D. pivot means pivotally interconnecting each hinge member with a respective transition section adjacent the marginal end of each transition section whereby the horizontal pivot axis is substantially parallel to said support member and is laterally spaced from said support member, said pivot means being frictionally interconnected with said hinge members for permitting the transition sections and support member to maintain any preset pivotal position under the influence of gravitational force, the lateral distance between said support member and the pivot axis being less than the distance from the horizontal pivot axis to the upper and lower margins of the frame, whereby said transition sections and support member are unexposed to view from the front of the frame in all pivotal positions

2. The frame hanger frame assembly according to claim 1, wherein said linear support member includes at least two sections in telescopic relationship with each other to permit the linear length of said support

3. The frame hanger and frame assembly according to claim 1, said frame having a pair of horizontally spaced frame sections, said hinge members being secured to a rear surface of said horizontally spaced frame sections.