Patent Application
20140175243
This application relates generally to the field of display board systems and more specifically to a hanger system for display boards.
Presently there are known display board systems, which may include one or more display boards such as so-called “white” boards that can include at least one dry-erase surface, that are used frequently by different industries, hospitals, schools, governmental facilities, law firms, churches and the like for a myriad of purposes, such as tracking of events or schedules, patients and numerous other milestones. Some display systems incorporate a single display board, while other systems employ a plurality of display boards within a self supporting frame or alternatively as part of a kiosk. In some other versions, at least one display board can be hard mounted to an existing supporting surface such as a wall or office cubicle. In the latter versions, it can be difficult to effectively align and mount a single board or a plurality of adjacent display boards. These systems also often involve adhering or otherwise attaching a display board permanently to the supporting surface and do not provide ready means for removal and/or replacement or realignment of the board(s). Techniques have been provided, such as wall anchors, that provide adequate support of the boards, but do not permit flexibility in the hanging thereof.
In brief, the proposed concept relates to a system for hanging a display board to an existing supporting surface, such as a wall or office cubicle. The display board includes at least one channel sized to accommodate an engagement portion of a board hanger element. The board hanger element is defined by a body having a center receiving hole enabling the element to be initially secured to a wall or other supporting surface using a threaded fastener. Aligned with the center receiving hole is the engagement portion that can be fitted within one of the formed rear channels of the display board in a first position. The hanger element further includes a radially extending arm that can be gripped to permit the hanger element to be rotated about the center receiving hole. The engagement portion can be rotated into a fixed or locked position within the channel that retains the hanger using a frictional fit. By disposing board hanger elements at each corner or other suitable location(s), a display board can be suitably mounted by initially mounting each hanger element to the supporting surface, attaching a display board such that the engagement portions initially support the board, and then rotating the board hanger to the locked position in order to finally secure the board in place using a minimum of assembly steps. The display board can be selectively released by rotating the board hanger element in the opposite direction, which rotates the engagement portion to its initial position, enabling release of the display board but in which the hanger element remains secured to the supporting surface. Disposing a plurality of board hanger elements, for example, at corners or other suitable locations relative to the display board enables faster assembly time and aids in the assembly/aligmnent of a multiple display board system. Additional flexibility/versatility can be provided by providing the slotted portions along the length of the display board.
According to one version, there is provided a board hanger system comprising at least one hanger element having a body, including a center receiving hole enabling the at least one hanger element to be secured to an existing fixed supporting surface. The hanger element is rotatable about the center receiving hole and includes an engagement portion on one side. The engagement portion can be defined by upper and lower sides and lateral sides, the lateral sides being shorter in length than the upper and lower sides. A display board includes a rear facing side having at least one channel with a slot sized to receive the engagement portion of the hanger element and in which the hanger element is movable from a first position to a second position when rotated about the center receiving hole. Rotation from the first position to the second position releasably clamps the hanger element relative to the display board and therefore to the supporting surface as well.
According to another version, there is provided a method for releasably attaching a display board to a supporting surface, the method comprising the steps of providing at least one hanger element, securing the at least one hanger element to a supporting surface, placing an engagement portion of the hanger element into a channel defined by the display board and rotating the hanger element from the first position to a second position in order to clamp the display board to the supporting surface. Preferably, the hanger element(s) permit releasable retention of the display board.
The engagement portion is preferably defined by a shape that further enables securement through frictional engagement with the display board when the hanger element is rotated from the first position to the second position. In one version, the display board includes at least one channel dimensioned to receive the engagement portion and provide the frictional clamping engagement when the hanger element is rotated to the second position.
One advantage realized by the herein described hanger system and hanger elements is greater ease in hanging and alignment of display boards to a wall or other supporting surface.
Another advantage is that the attachment of the display board to the fixed supporting surface is releasable, thereby enabling replacement and realignment as needed.
Yet another advantage realized is that the channel dimensioned to receive the engagement portion of the display board hanger allows for ease of horizontal adjustment.
These and other technical features and advantages will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following relates to certain exemplary embodiments for a display board hanger system, including a unique display board hanger element used in the system as well as a method of use and manufacture of same. Throughout the course of discussion that follows, certain terms are used throughout such as “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “side”, “front”, “rear” and the like. These terms provide a suitable frame of reference with regard to the accompanying drawings, but are not intended to overly limit of the inventive concepts that are described herein, including the claims, except where specifically and notably indicated.
In addition, the drawings presented herein are intended to adequately illustrate the salient features of the system, including the display board hanger element. To that end, it should be understood that the drawings may not he necessarily to scale and no reliance of any scaling of same should be made other than in providing the required understanding of features.
Turning to
Disposed on the first or inner face surface 108 and adjacent the lower end 132 of the body 104 is an engagement portion 140 extending outwardly from the plane defined by the first side surface 108. The engagement portion 140 includes a first extending section 144 having a substantially cylindrical surface 148, as well as a linearly adjacent second extending section 152. According to the present embodiment, the second extending section 152 is defined by a substantially rectangular configuration having a major dimension that extends along the width direction of the body 104 and a minor dimension extending along the length dimension of the body 104. The second extending section 152 extends outwardly from the first extending section 148 and is substantially larger in overall size, for reasons discussed herein.
A center receiving hole or opening 156 extends through the entirety of the body 104, including the engagement portion 140 as well as an opposing protrusion 160 that projects outwardly from the second or outer face surface 112. More specifically, the second extending section 152 is defined by an upper side edge 164, a lower side edge 166 and a pair of opposing lateral side edges 172, 174. The upper and lower side edges 164, 166 are parallel to one another and extend substantially perpendicular to the center receiving hole 156. The lateral side edges 172, 174 are also parallel to one another with the exception of a pair of curved surfaces 178, 180 formed at the top of the lateral side edge 172 and the bottom of the lateral side edge 174, respectively.
The second extending section 152 according to this embodiment includes a substantially cylindrical recess 184 extending beyond the diameter of the center receiving hole 156. The defined recess 184 forms a counter sink for the receiving hole 156 for purposes of receiving a threaded fastener and in which the radius of the recess 184 extends sufficiently such that portions of the upper and lower edges 164, 166 of the second extending section 152 are removed. A variation to the above design is illustrated by a display board hanger element 100A in
Referring to
Finally, the upper end 136 of the hanger element body 104 includes a tab member 190 disposed along the side surface 124 of the body 104 and extending outwardly relative to the plane of the front side surface 108, the tab member 190 including a pair of gripping surfaces 194, 196 on respective upper and lower sides thereof.
An exemplary display board for use with the herein described hanger element 100 is now described with reference to
According to this version, an edge portion 210 is fitted over the top of the display board 200, the edge portion including planar front and rear surfaces 213, 215 as that are essentially planar with the front and rear facing surfaces 204 and 208, respectively, as well as a bottom wall 228. Additionally, similar edge portions 210,
Still referring to
Referring to
The display board 200 can then be attached to at least one display board hanger element 100A in which the engagement portion 140 is initially aligned with the rear channel 217 of the display board 200. To enable fitting within the channel 217, the major dimension (length) of the second extending portion 152 is aligned with the slot 238, permitting the display board 200 to be advanced toward the supporting surface wherein the second extending section 152 is fitted within the confines of the channel 217 and the first extending section 144 is fitted within the slot 238 and between the upper and lower edges 244, 246.
Referring to
Referring to
A plurality of display board hanger elements 100A can be similarly attached and/or removed in the same manner and in which each hanger element 100A remains fixed to the supporting surface (not shown), thereby enabling display boards to be replaced, aligned or otherwise augmented, as needed.
It will be readily apparent that other modifications and variations can be made in accordance with the inventive concepts, which are described herein and in further are in accordance with the following claims.
