1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to mechanisms for hanging articles on a wall or other vertical support surfaces.
2. State of the Art
Pictures, paintings, or other articles (referred to herein as “wall hangings”) in general are often mounted on walls via fasteners located on the wall hanging as well as at least one fastener located on the wall. A popular mechanism for hanging paintings and the like on a wall employs eyelets that are secured by screws to the opposed vertically extending side sections of the frame of a painting and to fasten a wire across the back of the painting, secured on either end by the eyelets. A hook is secured into the wall and the wire is placed into the hook to hang the painting.
Another popular mechanism of mounting a wall hanging employs metallic triangular fasteners that are secured by screws on portions of the wall hanging (e.g., opposed vertically extending sides of the frame of a picture), where the fastener fits on a hook mounted on the wall.
In both of these mechanisms, finding the hook on the wall is oftentimes difficult. In the case of the wire, large wall hangings would have long wires and often these wires are irregular in shape, that is, they have residual coil configurations, or there are dents in the wire from previous hangings, etc. Hanging the wire on the hook often requires placing an arm behind the painting and guiding the wire to the hook. This is cumbersome for both small and large wall hangings.
Similarly, the triangles fasteners often lie with the vertex aimed downward. The triangle needs to be picked up so it can fall into the hook. This is also cumbersome.
The present invention is directed to an assembly for securing an article with a support member affixed or integral thereto to a mounting surface. The assembly includes first and second members having means for detachably coupling together the first and second members through magnetic field interaction therebetween. The first member includes means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article. The second member includes means for securing to the mounting surface, and a hook portion that receives the support member of the article. During use, the first member is coupled to the support member of the article, and the second member is secured to the mounting surface at a desired position. The first and second members are guided and coupled together by magnetic field interaction therebetween. The support member is then decoupled (or partially decoupled) from the first member and moved such that it engages and is supported by the hook portion of the second member.
It will be appreciated that the assembly of the present invention provides for magnetically guided coupling of the support member of the article to the hook portion of the assembly in a manner that is effective and easy to use. Importantly, it alleviates the difficulties in positioning of the support member in the prior art mechanisms as discussed above.
In an illustrative embodiment, the means for securing the second member to the mounting surface is realized by a mounting hole and possibly a slot extending from the mounting hole, wherein the mounting hole and optional slot receive a nail for nailing the second member to the mounting surface in order to secure the second member to the mounting surface.
In one embodiment where the support member is realized by a ferromagnetic material, the means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article can be a magnet for magnetically coupling to the ferromagnetic material of the support member. Alternatively, the means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article can be a hook or clip or other suitable mechanical fastening mechanism for detachably engaging the support member of the article.
In the preferred embodiment, the means for detachably coupling together the first and second members is realized by a permanent magnet affixed or integral to the first or second member, and most preferably by a first permanent magnet affixed or integral to the first member and a second permanent magnet affixed or integral to the second member.
In the preferred embodiment, the first and second members are magnetically coupled together in a coupled configuration with the first member disposed above the hook portion of the second member. From this configuration, the support member of the article can be moved downward such that it engages the hook portion of the second member.
In the illustrative embodiments, the support member of the article can be realized by a wire, rope, filament or triangular hanger element that is received by the hook portion of the second member.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for securing an article to a mounting surface whereby the article has a ferromagnetic support member affixed or integral thereto. The apparatus includes a member having means for securing to the mounting surface, a hook portion that receives the support member of the article, and a magnet that is disposed above the hook portion. The magnet provides guided coupling to the ferromagnetic support member of the article through magnetic field interaction therebetween. During use, the member is secured to the mounting surface at a desired position. The ferromagnetic support member of the article is guided and coupled to the magnet of the member by magnetic field interaction therebetween. The support member is then decoupled (or partially decoupled) from the magnet and moved downward such that it engages and is supported by the hook portion of the member.
It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention provides for magnetically guided coupling of the support member of the article to the hook portion of the apparatus in a manner that is effective and easy to use. Importantly, it alleviates the difficulties in positioning of the support member in the prior art mechanisms as discussed above.
In an illustrative embodiment, the means for securing the member to the mounting surface is realized by a mounting hole and possibly an optional slot extending from the mounting hole, wherein the mounting hole and optional slot receive a nail or other fastening means for securing the member to the mounting surface.
In the illustrative embodiments, the support member of the article can be realized by a wire, rope, filament or triangular hanger element that is received by the hook portion of the second member.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.
Turning now to
During use, the coupling member 40 is magnetically coupled to the wire 51 secured to the wall hanging. The hook member 32 (with the magnet 30 affixed thereto) is nailed or otherwise secured to the wall at a desired location. The coupling member 40 (and wire 51 magnetically coupled thereto) is moved into the magnetic force field provided by the magnet 30 of the hook member 32 in an orientation where the two magnets 30/42 are attracted to one another. This magnetic force field operates in conjunction with the magnet 42 of coupling member 40 to pull the coupling member 40 towards the magnet 30 such that the hook member 32 and coupling member 40 are positioned in a coupling configuration whereby the two magnets 30/42 are in close proximity to one another (preferably contacting with one another), and the wire 51 (which is magnetically coupled to the coupling member 40) is positioned above the hook portion 34 of the hook member 32. By movement of the wall hanging secured to the wire 51, the wire 51 is decoupled from the magnet 42 of the coupling member 40 and moved downward such that the wire 51 engages and is supported by the hook portion 34 of the hook 32 as shown in
Advantageously, the hook member 32 and coupling member 40 employ a magnetic coupling that operates, during use, to guide the coupling member to the hook member. The user needs to only estimate where the hook member is located and the magnetic coupling will guide the coupling member (and support wire coupled thereto) to a position where it can be easily moved to engage the hook portion of the hook member. This combination allows the user to easily engage the support wire and the hook member for supporting the article. In another embodiment, the magnet 42 may be substituted by ferromagnetic metal that is magnetically attracted to the magnet 30 of the hook member 32.
During use, the hook or clip 60 of the coupling member 40′ is coupled to the wire or rope 71 secured to the wall hanging. The hook member 32 (with the magnet 30 affixed thereto) is nailed or otherwise secured to the wall at a desired location. The coupling member 40′ (and the wire or rope 51 coupled thereto) is moved into the magnetic force field provided by the magnet 30 of the hook member 32. This magnetic force field operates in conjunction with the magnet 42 of coupling member 40′ to pull the coupling member 40′ towards the magnet 30 such that the hook member 32 and coupling member 40′ are positioned in a coupling configuration whereby the two magnets 30/42 are in close proximity to one another (preferably contacting with one another), and the wire or rope 71 (which is coupled to the coupling member 40′) is positioned above the hook portion 34 of the hook member 32 as shown in
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the hook member as described herein can be adapted to magnetically attract triangular hanger elements that are commonly used to supports pictures and the like. These triangular hanger elements are attached to the vertical portions of a frame and swivel such that they fold up and down. These triangular hanger elements are very hard to keep in position when trying to hang them. In this embodiment, the magnet of the hook member will magnetically pull a triangular hanger element into the place above the hook. When the picture is lowered, the triangular hanger elements will fall right into the hook to be engaged and supported by the hook.
The plate, hook member and nail sections of the wall hanging hooks as described herein can be made out of aluminum, brass, stainless steel or possibly injection molded out of plastic. The optimal material will be non-magnetic so as not to interfere with the guiding function of the hook member a described herein.
It will be appreciated that the assembly and apparatus of the present invention provide for magnetically guided coupling of the support member of the article to the hook portion of the assembly that is effective and easy to use. Importantly, the assembly and apparatus of the present invention alleviate the difficulties in positioning of the support member in the prior art mechanisms as discussed above.
There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of apparatus and assemblies for securing an article to a mounting surface and a method of using same. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while the illustrative embodiments of
This application claims benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/050,298, filed May 5, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61050298 | May 2008 | US |