This invention relates to two-dimensional hanging artwork, and more particularly, a device for mounting and spacing a protective cover in front of a hanging piece of artwork while allowing the artwork to be viewed through the protective cover.
Artwork, such as paintings, is commonly hung on walls and displayed in museums, galleries and people's homes. A common problem encountered when displaying artwork is protecting that artwork from damage caused by physical contact. For example, damage cause by individuals tripping into a piece of artwork, furniture tipping over into a piece of artwork, water damage from sprinkler systems and so forth. Another common problem encountered when displaying artwork is protecting the artwork from fading caused by sunlight. Conventional protection devices attempt to solve these problems, however such conventional devices are not removably attached to the artwork or the wall on which the artwork is hanging. Thus, conventional devices cannot be easily removed from a piece of artwork when a user wants to fully display the piece of artwork.
Therefore, a need exists for a device that will protect hanging artwork while still allowing the artwork to be viewed and enjoyed and a device that allows the user to easily remove the protective cover from the artwork when a user wants to fully display the piece of artwork.
The relevant prior art includes the following patent references:
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an artwork protection device that allows a user to easily mount and space a protective cover in front of a hanging piece of artwork.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an artwork protection device that protects artwork from damage caused by physical contact with the painting.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide an artwork protection device that protects artwork from damage caused by overexposure to light.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide an artwork protection device that allows artwork to be viewed and enjoyed while the protective cover is in place over the artwork.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an artwork protection device that allows the user to easily remove the protective cover from the artwork when a user wants to fully display the piece of artwork.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide an artwork protection device that is aesthetically pleasing while the protective cover is in place and aesthetically pleasing while the protective cover is not in place.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing an artwork protection device comprising a set of brackets that mount into a wall and support a clear protective cover over the front of a piece of hanging artwork. Each bracket comprises a footing that is attached to the wall using a screw, a nut and bolt, etc. An extension having a proximal end and a distal end attaches to the footing at the proximal end via an attachment means, such as a threaded connection. The proximal end of the extension has a recessed edge that is placed through an aperture located on a corner of the protective cover. The protective cover is then locked into place by attaching a cap to the end of the proximal end of the extension via an attachment means, such as a threaded connection and/or a locking means, which prevents easy access to the painting. Brackets are preferably located at each corner of the protective cover. The protective cover preferably has an ultra violet coating to protect the artwork from sunlight. The protective cover may also be bent along the top edge, thereby sealing off the space between the top of the protective cover and the wall and protecting the artwork from fire sprinklers and dust. The bent top edge provides the additional benefit of providing a surface for a user to place a level while installing the device. The device allows a user to easily remove the protective cover and extensions when the user wants to fully display the painting. For example, if a user is having a party or showing the user can remove the caps, protective cover and extensions. Then, the user can attach the caps directly to the footings via an attachment means, such as a threaded connection, to give a clean look to the footings.
Although the present invention is described herein as an “artwork protection device,” it may also be used to protect anything hanging on a wall, such as flat screen televisions, sports jerseys, t-shirts, tapestries and so forth.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:
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It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts or use herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not considered to be limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/967,274 filed on Dec. 14, 2010, which is currently pending and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12967274 | Dec 2010 | US |
Child | 13667052 | US |