Mounting Assembly

BACKGROUND
Technical Field

This disclosure relates to an assembly for mounting or hanging articles to a surface, such as a wall. The disclosed mounting assembly is useful for mounting a variety of articles, including picture frames, mirrors, artwork, etc. The mounting assembly may be separately attached to an article or directly integrated into the article.

Background Art

The field and background descriptions provided herein are for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the present disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

There exists a wide variety of hardware for mounting articles to a surface. However, many existing solutions are cumbersome and difficult to use, particularly where some degree of precision is desired as to placement of the articles. Many solutions do not allow for adjustments to be made after an article has been mounted.

With reference to FIG. 1, one conventional method of hanging an article 100 is by the use of a sawtooth hanger 101 attached to the back of the article, which can be hung on a nail 111 on a wall 110. This method has a number of disadvantages, including that it is difficult to precisely attach the sawtooth hanger to the article (e.g., the exact midpoint of its top edge), and any deviation from a perfect attachment can cause a deviation in the position of the article as hung. These difficulties are compounded if multiple sawtooth hangers are needed, such as for a larger or heavier item. It is also a destructive process as it requires nailing into the wall and affixing the sawtooth to the article.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, another conventional method of hanging an article 200 is to attach hanging wire 201 to the back of the article at two attachment points 202, affix a hanging hook 211 on the wall 210, and then hang the wire on the hook. The downside of this method is that it is laborious and difficult to be precise in positioning the article on the wall. For example, for the article to hang level and at a desired position and height so that the midpoint 203 of the top edge of the article is placed at the desired point 213 on the wall, an installer must make at least the following steps in a precise fashion: (1) identify the desired position 213, (2) position the attachment points 202 on the article and attach the wire 201 onto them, (3) measure the length 205 between the midpoint 203 of the top edge of the article and the midpoint 204 of the wire 201 when pulled taut toward the top of the article, (4) determine a point 214 on the wall that is the same length 205 below the desired point 213, (5) nail the hook 211 into the wall at a precise position so that the height and location of the inner bottom 212 of the hook corresponds to position 214, and (6) finally to hang the wire 201 on the hook 211. However, even after all these measurements and markings are made, the resulting mounting often still deviates from the desired location due to factors including slight imprecisions in measurement or placement of hardware and the slack and positioning of the wire on the article. For instance, if the two attachment points 202 of the wire are not precisely horizontally aligned, then the article as hung will likely be askew and/or deviate in position from the desired position.

The 3M Company commercially sells a product for hanging articles under the brand name “CLAW.” Similar to conventional hanging hooks, the CLAW is designed to be used with articles having hanging wires, such as wire 201. The CLAW includes hardware of a hook on one side that accepts and supports the wire 201, similar to the non-wall side of the hook 211. The wall-side of the CLAW include sharp protrusions intended to be pressed into drywall. It is akin to a conventional hanging hook 211 with integrated nails. The CLAW is sold with temporary double-sided adhesive foam markers to aid with the process of positioning the CLAW. An adhesive marker is placed on the back of the article to be hung. Then the article is pressed against the wall, causing the marker to attach to the wall and detach from the article. The CLAW is then mounted on the wall where indicated by the marker.

With reference to FIGS. 3A-3D, the use of French cleats provides another conventional method of hanging an article. A French cleat 301 is a flat piece of material with a sloped edge 302 such that it has a taller side 303 and a shorter side 304. One cleat 301 is mounted to a wall 310 with its sloped edge 302 facing up and taller side 303 facing out. Another cleat is mounted to the article 300 with its sloped edge 302 facing down and its taller side 303 facing out. The article-mounted cleat is then placed on to the wall-mounted cleat so that their sloped edges catch and hold the article in place. This method requires multiple precise markings and measurements, including the position on the wall where it is desired to place the top edge of the article, measuring the distance between the top edge of the article to the bottom edge of the cleat to be mounted to the wall, and marking the point on the wall that is the same distance below the first marked point on the wall corresponding to the desired position of the top edge of the article once mounted. Because of the multiple points of measurement, the a person replace another article on the French cleat without adjusting the mount attached to the wall. Additionally, a French cleat is open on either side, such that if a person bumps the article it may fall to the ground.

Some companies, like 3M, commercially offer removable adhesive strips that can be used to stick items to a wall. It is possible to use such adhesive strips to mount articles such as picture frames, such by placing strips in the corners of a picture frame. These strips also require precise measurements. They also have their own downsides, such as making impossible any positional adjustment once the article is stuck to the surface.

SUMMARY

The above-described methods require damage to the surface (e.g., a wall) on which the article is desired to be hung. Often, this includes driving nails, screws, or similar sharp hardware into the wall. As such, many of the foregoing methods are useful only certain types of surfaces, such as drywall or wood, and often useless on brittle materials such as glass, or hard materials such as thick steel.

Even where it is possible to use the above-described methods, they may not be suitable where it is desired to keep the surface undamaged. For example, the surface may be made of a high-grade material that should be kept pristine. Individuals who may rent their homes or offices also may wish to avoid damage to the walls, as any damage may cause them to incur substantial repair or restoration costs. People who move into a new home or renovate their homes may also wish to keep their walls undamaged.

As mentioned, it is possible to use commercially available adhesive strips to mount articles such as picture frames to a wall. However, many of these strips have pull tabs that need to protrude beyond the dimensions of the article to be mounted if it is desired to maintain their removability from the wall, and are thus visible to any observer. This may be aesthetically detrimental, particularly for mounting art or decorative items. As can be imagined, visible hanging hardware, even thin adhesive strips, is likely to be considered unsightly at best. Moreover, using adhesive to stick a picture frame or similar article to a wall causes the article to sit exactly flush with the wall. The aesthetics of such a hanging may conflict with the expectations in certain environments where viewers prefer the look of a slight downward lean.

Another disadvantage of the above-described methods for mounting articles is that it is often difficult to achieve good results because of the multiple points of precision in positioning and measuring. This is exacerbated when the job is done by just one person, particularly for larger or heavier items.

Another disadvantage of the above-described methods for mounting articles is that the precise measurements typically would only work for the originally article for which the measurements were made. For instance, once someone has made all the measurements needed for precisely hanging a specific article using wire and hook, then using that hook for another article having different dimensions or a different placement of hanging wire (or using sawtooth) will cause the other article to be incorrectly positioned.

A disadvantage of using French cleats to mount article as described above is that they do not restrict any lateral movement of the mounted article. The mounted article thus can be easily knocked off and damaged, e.g., by accident, earthquake, etc.

Based on any one or combination of the foregoing drawbacks, there is a need for improved mechanisms of mounting articles to a surface.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a mounting assembly. For example, embodiments of the described mounting assembly provide for hanging pictures or art in galleries, exhibit halls, homes, hotels, or the like. Advantageously, embodiments of the mounting assembly reduce complexity and precision during installation. Similarly, embodiments increase flexibility and adjustment in use, including straightforward interchangeability between articles (e.g., framed pictures or art) without altering the wall mount. Moreover, still other embodiments seek to reduce damage to the wall. In some embodiments, mounted articles hang at an aesthetically pleasing angle to the wall without increasing installation complexity or precision. Another embodiment provides a consumable kit including a frame and one or more frame side assemblies mechanically mateable to one or more wall side assemblies. In some embodiments, the frame side mounting assembly is affixed to the frame, or even is made integral thereto prior to sale.

In still other embodiments, an installer can advantageously and confidently interchange articles without removing the wall-side assembly. For example, once mounted, any piece of art with a matching article-mounted hook can be interchanged.

Embodiments may also include one or more of the following features: requiring only a single measurement to be made to precisely place an article at a particular position on the surface (e.g., a wall), non-destructive to the surface, self-leveling, allowing for both lateral and angle adjustments to be made after an article is mounted, and providing for a slight downward lean of the mounted article as preferred by some. The mounting assembly can be easily used by one person to mount an article.

The mounting assembly comprises a receiver component that may be attached to a flat surface (e.g., a wall) and a hook component that may be attached to an article to be mounted (e.g., a picture frame).

The receiver component comprises a slot into which a tab on the hook component may be inserted. The receiver component may be attached to the flat surface by use of removable adhesive material, and may comprise a centering mark and/or a built-in bubble level to allow for precise positioning of the receiver component. The receiver component optionally includes holes so that, if desired by a consumer who is not concerned about damage to a wall, fasteners such as nails or screws can be used to help secure the receiver component. A consumer may prefer using nails or screws in certain cases, such as if the article is to be mounted over a bed or crib, or to add resilience to earthquakes.

The hook component may be attached to the article to be mounted by means of screws, and it may comprise elongated screw slots which allow precise positioning of the hook component relative to the article. Optionally, the hook component may be integrated into the article. For instance, a picture frame can be manufactured with a built-in hook component.

The article is mounted to the surface by inserting the hook component into the receiver component. The article once mounted may have a slight downward lean, similar to the look of articles hung by using conventional hanging hooks. Further adjustments may be made to its lateral position and angle (e.g., level) of the article after it is mounted.

In an aspect of the invention, a mounting assembly is configured to removably position a frame on a wall, the frame configured to house one or more of a picture, art, or an article, the mounting assembly comprising: a wall mount; and a frame mount; the wall mount configured to removably attach to the wall and including a wall facing surface and a frame facing surface opposite said wall facing surface, said wall facing surface including a surface area, wherein a portion of said surface area includes adhesive configured to operatively and removably attach said portion of said surface area to the wall, and wherein said frame facing surface incudes at least one slot; the frame mount configured to attach to the frame and including an elongated tab shaped to slide within said slot to position said frame on said wall; wherein at least one of said slot and said tab includes edge barriers configured to prevent said tab from horizontally sliding out of said slot and wherein the wall mount includes at least one load-bearing surface configured to accept at least some of a load of the frame through the frame mount.

In an aspect of the invention, said wall mount comprises a receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, said frame mount comprises a hook component.

In an aspect of the invention, said mounting assembly further comprises the frame.

In an aspect of the invention, said frame comprises the frame mount.

In an aspect of the invention, the frame facing surface of the wall mount further comprises a top edge and a centering mark is situated at a midpoint of the top edge.

In an aspect of the invention, the wall mount further comprises a level.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide horizontal adjustment of the frame.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide rotational adjustment of the frame.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide vertical adjustment of the frame.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab of the frame mount further comprises a notch configured to fit over a rib inside the slot of the wall mount.

In an aspect of the invention, the wall mount further comprises one or more tab guides configured to assist initial alignment of the tab and the slot.

In an aspect of the invention, an exhibition of one or more of pictures, art, or articles, the exhibition comprises: a plurality of frames, each frame including a frame mount and each frame housing one of said one or more of the pictures, art, or articles; and a plurality of wall mounts; and each wall mount configured to removably attach to a wall and including a wall facing surface and a frame facing surface opposite said wall facing surface, said wall facing surface including a surface area, wherein a portion of said surface area includes adhesive configured to operatively and removably attach said portion of said surface area to the wall, and wherein said frame facing surface incudes at least one slot; each frame mount configured to attach to the frame and including an elongated tab shaped to slide within said slot to position said frame on said wall; wherein at least one of said slot on each wall mount and said tab on each frame mount includes edge barriers configured to prevent said tab from horizontally sliding out of said slot and wherein the wall mount includes at least one load-bearing surface configured to accept at least some of a load of the frame through the frame mount, and wherein each frame mount is mateable with each wall mount such that mounting said frames is configured to be interchangeable with each wall mount.

In an aspect of the invention, a mounting assembly for mounting an article onto a surface comprises: a receiver component configured to removably attach to the surface, comprising a front surface comprising a slot formed by a front wall and a back wall and a back surface including at least a portion configured to operably rest against the surface when the receiver component is attached to the surface; and a hook component configured to attach to the article, comprising a front surface including at least a portion configured to operably rest against the article when the hook component is attached to the article and a back surface comprising a tab for insertion into the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the slot comprises a slot opening and a lower slot portion; the front wall and back wall of the slot are angled with respect to each other such that the slot opening is larger at one end thereof, the tab comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion is thinner than the slot opening and the bottom portion is of similar thickness as a lower slot portion, such that the tab is configured to lean against the front wall of the slot when the tab is inserted into the slot.

In an aspect of the invention, an adhesive material is affixed to the back surface of the receiver component configured to removably attach the receiver component to the surface; wherein the adhesive material has a thickness that, when applied to the surface, causes a gap to be formed between the surface and a top margin of the back surface of the receiver component; and the receiver component has a top edge comprising a lead-in lip that closes at least a portion of the gap.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises a vertical support configured to operably increase a resistance of the receiver component against a downward bending pressure.

In an aspect of the invention, the front surface of the receiver component further comprises a top edge and a centering mark is situated at a midpoint of the top edge.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises a level.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises one or more holes to allow the receiver component to be attached to the surface by one or more fasteners.

In an aspect of the invention, the front surface of the hook component comprises a bottom edge configured to rest on a top edge of the front wall of the slot of the receiver component when the tab of the hook component is inserted into the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the bottom edge of the front surface of the hook component is convex providing angle adjustments to the hook component relative to the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the slot of the receiver component further comprises a closed slot bottom configured to at least partially support a tab of the hook components when the tab of the hook component is inserted into the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the hook component comprises a fastener slot through which a fastener may be used to fasten the hook component to the article, wherein: the fastener slot has a length dimension and a width dimension; one of the length dimension and width dimension is smaller than a head of the fastener; and both the length dimension and width dimension are smaller than a shank of the fastener, to allow for adjustments in a position of the hook component relative to the article after the hook component has been attached to the article.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide horizontal adjustment of the article.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide rotational adjustment of the article.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide vertical adjustment of the article.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab of the hook component further comprises a notch configured to fit over a rib inside the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises one or more tab guides configured to assist initial alignment of the tab and the slot.

In an aspect of the invention, an article having a mounting assembly for mounting the article onto a surface comprises: a receiver component configured to removably attach to the surface, comprising a front surface comprising a slot formed by a front wall and a back wall and a back surface including at least a portion configured to operably rest against the surface when the receiver component is attached to the surface; and a hook component configured to attach to the article, comprising a front surface including at least a portion configured to operably rest against the article when the hook component is attached to the article and a back surface comprising a tab for insertion into the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises a vertical support configured to operably increase a resistance of the receiver component against a downward bending pressure.

In an aspect of the invention, the front surface of the receiver component further comprises a top edge and a centering mark is situated at a midpoint of the top edge.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises a level.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises one or more holes to allow the receiver component to be attached to the surface by one or more fasteners.

In an aspect of the invention, the bottom edge of the front surface of the hook component is convex providing angle adjustments to the hook component relative to the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the article is one of a picture frame, a mirror, or an artwork.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide horizontal adjustment of the article.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide rotational adjustment of the article.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab is movable within the slot to provide vertical adjustment of the article.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab of the hook component further comprises a notch configured to fit over a rib inside the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises one or more tab guides configured to assist initial alignment of the tab and the slot.

In an aspect of the invention, a receiver component for mounting an article onto a surface is provided, the article including a hook component with portions mechanically compatible with portions of said receiver component, said receiver component further comprising a front surface comprising a slot formed by a front wall and a back wall and a back surface including at least a portion configured to operably rest against the surface when the receiver component is attached to the surface.

In an aspect of the invention, the slot comprises a slot opening and a lower slot portion; and the front wall and back wall of the slot are angled with respect to each other such that the slot opening is larger at one end thereof.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises a vertical support configured to operably increase a resistance of the receiver component against a downward bending pressure.

In an aspect of the invention, the front surface of the receiver component further comprises a top edge and a centering mark is situated at a midpoint of the top edge.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises a level.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises one or more holes to allow the receiver component to be attached to the surface by one or more fasteners.

In an aspect of the invention, the slot of the receiver component further comprises a closed slot bottom configured to at least partially support a tab of the hook component when the tab of the hook component is inserted into the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises a rib inside the slot.

In an aspect of the invention, the receiver component further comprises one or more tab guides configured to assist initial alignment of the tab and the slot.

In an aspect of the invention, a hook component mechanically compatible with portions of a receiver component configured to position an article with respect to a display surface is provided, said hook component further comprising an article-facing front surface and a display surface-facing back surface comprising a tab for insertion into a slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion is thinner than a slot opening of the slot and the bottom portion is of similar thickness as a lower slot portion of the slot, such that the tab is configured to lean against a front wall of the slot when the tab is inserted into the slot.

In an aspect of the invention, the front surface of the hook component comprises a bottom edge configured to rest on a top edge of a front wall of the slot of the receiver component when the tab of the hook component is inserted into the slot of the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the bottom edge of the front surface of the hook component is convex providing angle adjustments to the hook component relative to the receiver component.

In an aspect of the invention, the tab of the hook component is configured to be at least partially supported by a closed slot bottom of the slot of the receiver component when the tab of the hook component is inserted into the slot.

The hook component of claim 41, wherein the hook component comprises a fastener slot through which a fastener may be used to fasten the hook component to the article, wherein: the fastener slot has a length dimension and a width dimension; one of the length dimension and width dimension is smaller than a head of the fastener; and both the length dimension and width dimension are smaller than a shank of the fastener, to allow for adjustments in a position of the hook component relative to the article after the hook component has been attached to the article.

In an aspect of the invention, wherein the tab further comprises a notch.

In an aspect of the invention, a method of mounting an article onto a surface is provided, comprising: identifying a point on the surface; marking the point on the surface; attaching a receiver component to the surface by aligning a centering mark on the receiver component to the point on the surface, while using a level built into the receiver component to ensure that the receiver component is horizontally level; inserting a tab of a hook component of the article into a slot in the receiver component; adjusting the lateral position of the article by sliding the tab laterally within the slot; and adjusting the angle of the article by adjusting the angle of a curved bottom edge of a front surface of the hook component.

In an aspect of the invention, wherein the identifying a point on the surface comprises removably adhering a tape measure to the surface above a general area where the point is desired; extending the tape measure downward toward a floor; stepping on an extended pull tab of the tape measure to secure its position; and identifying the point on the surface by reference to a position on the tape measure.

In an aspect of the invention, wherein the identifying a point on the surface comprises positioning an extended pull tab of a tape measure on a floor against the surface; stepping on the extended pull tab to secure its position on the floor; extending the tape measure upward above a general area on the surface where the point is desired; removably adhering the tape measure to the surface; and identifying the point on the surface by reference to a position on the tape measure.

In an aspect of the invention, wherein the marking the point on the surface comprises placing a removable sticker on the surface.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects, advantages, or features will be embodied in any particular embodiment of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1 shows the use of a sawtooth hanger as known in the prior art.

FIGS. 2A-2B show the use of hanging wire and wall hook as known in the prior art.

FIGS. 3A-3D show the use of French cleats as known in the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a receiver component of a mounting assembly.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the receiver component.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the receiver component with dotted lines to better show the slot into which a hook component of the mounting assembly may be inserted.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the receiver component.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the receiver component without adhesive material.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show example alternate configurations of adhesive material that may be used with the receiver component.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the receiver component.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a cross section of the receiver component.

FIG. 12 is a back perspective view of the hook component of a mounting assembly.

FIG. 13 is a back perspective view of the hook component, shown as attached to the back of an article to be mounted.

FIG. 14 is a back view of the hook component.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the hook component.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the hook component.

FIG. 17 is a back view of the hook component as attached to an article to be mounted.

FIG. 18A is a side view of the mounting assembly, with the hook component as initially slotted into the receiver component.

FIG. 18B is a side view of the mounting assembly, with the hook component at rest as slotted into the receiver component.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the mounting assembly, with the hook component at rest as slotted into the receiver component, in context with the full picture frame to which the hook component is attached.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the mounting assembly, with the hook component at rest as slotted into the receiver component.

FIG. 21 is a front view of an alternate example embodiment of a receiver component of a mounting assembly.

FIG. 22 is a back view of an alternate example embodiment of a hook component of a mounting assembly.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the alternate embodiment of the hook component slotted into the alternate embodiment of the receiver component.

FIG. 24 shows removable arrow tabs that may be used in conjunction with the disclosed mounting assembly.

FIG. 25 shows a tape measure that may be used in conjunction with the disclosed mounting assembly.

FIG. 26 show a process for mounting an article to a surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As disclosed herein, a mounting assembly comprises a receiver component and a hook component, both of which will be discussed in further detail below. To facilitate a complete understanding of the disclosure, the remainder of the detailed description describes the invention with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are referenced with like numerals throughout.

Reference is made to FIGS. 4-8 and 10-11, which depict different views of an example embodiment of a receiver component of a mounting assembly.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a receiver component 400 of a mounting assembly as attached on a surface 4000, which may be a wall, door, easel, cubical, window, divider, ceiling, temporary or reconfigurable room spacers, accordion or pocket sliding surface, floor, step, or any other surface on which articles may be mounted. FIG. 5 is a front view of the receiver component 400. The receiver component 400 comprises a front surface 401 and side surfaces 402. As used here in describing the receiver component 400, the term “front” refers to the aspect of the receiver component 400 that would face outward from a surface (e.g., a wall) on which the receiver component 400 is attached. A slot 403 is formed by a front slot wall 404 that protrudes from the front surface 401 of the receiver component 400. The slot wall 404 has a top edge 412. The slot 403 receives a tab of a hook component (for example, as shown in FIG. 12) of the mounting assembly, as will be described in more detail below. FIG. 6 is a front view of the receiver component 400 with dotted lines to show the internal dimensions of the slot 403, which has a bottom edge 413 and side edges 414. Vertical supports 405 provide support to the structure by resisting downward bending of the receiver component 400, and thus peeling away from the wall, when the article is mounted. Adhesive strips 406 are stuck to the back of the receiver component 400 and include pull tabs 407 allowing for the adhesive strips 406 to be pulled off the surface so that the receiver component 400 can be removed from the surface. The receiver component 400 optionally comprises a centering mark 408, lead-in lip 409, nail or screw holes 410, and/or a bubble level 411.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 10, the side surfaces 402 provide at least some of the structural support for the front slot wall 404, thus accomplishing a void or slot 403 formed by the receiver component front surface 401, each side surface 402, and the slot wall 404. Artisans will recognize for the disclosure herein that the void, gap, or slot 403 may take virtually any shape, including advantageously a shape mechanically mating with or mostly mechanically mating with the shape of a hook mounted to or integral with a frame (such as, for example, shown in FIG. 12). Additionally, the shaped slot 404 and the hook may accomplish structural rigidity, may allow for lateral displacement bounded by the side surface 402, advantageously provide the aesthetic lean out positioning expected in traditional mounts, and/or provide for a wide range of interchangeability. In some embodiments, the slot is a through hole, while in other embodiments the slot includes a lower extremity 413 bounded by a wall or partial wall from the slot wall 404 to the front surface 401.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the receiver component 400. The receiver component 400 has a back surface 701, so referenced here because it is the surface of the receiver component 400 that would be placed against the mounting surface (e.g., a wall) when the receiver component 400 is attached to the mounting surface. A double-sided adhesive material 406 is attached to the back surface. The adhesive material has a removable backing 408 that may be removed by a user to reveal an adhesive surface that may be used to attach the receiver component 400 to the flat surface. The adhesive material may have pull tabs 407 that allow the adhesive material, and thus the receiver component 400, to be removed from the flat surface without damage. Alternatively, the adhesive material may be removable by using a solution (e.g., an alcohol solution), a scraper, or other methods in lieu of or in addition to the pull tab. As shown in the figure, the adhesive material is optionally attached to the back surface at a position to leave a top margin 702 that is uncovered by the adhesive material. Providing for a top margin may improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process of the receiver component 400. If the adhesive material is intended to sit flush with the top edge of the receiver component 400, i.e., leave no top margin, ordinary variances in the manufacturing process may cause the adhesive material to be misaligned as to the top edge, such as to stick out of the top of the receiver component 400. Similar margins may also be included on one or more of the sides, bottom middle or any edge of the back surface 701.

In an embodiment, the adhesive material 406 covers enough of the surface area of the back surface 701 to provide for the expected load during article placement. In an embodiment, the adhesive covers from about 100% of the back surface 701 to about 30% or less. More preferably, the adhesive covers between about 98% and about 50% and most preferably above 75% of the surface area of the back surface 701.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the receiver component 400 without adhesive material. The receiver component 400 may be used without adhesive material, and may instead be attached to the flat surface by other means, such as nails, screws, glue, silicone, notches, mateable surfaces or the like.

The adhesive material 406 may be a double-sided foam tape with silicone, acrylic, or other adhesive coating applied to it. The holding power of the adhesive material is affected by its dimensions, direction, and surface area. The width and height of the adhesive material may be made in the range of 2 mm to 1000 mm, while the depth (thickness) can range from 0.1 mm to 100 mm. Adhesive strips of approximately 30-80 mm (width)×50-250 mm (height)×0.5-3 mm (depth) have been found to provide a good combination of strength, size, and ease of use. In particular, it has been found that the use of two adhesive strips each of approximately 45-55 mm (width)×90-110 mm (height)×0.8-1.2 mm (depth), oriented in a vertical direction, provides adequate strength to keep an approximately 15 pound picture frame mounted on a wall for more than 100 days and counting. Adhesive strips of these dimensions and orientation has been found to hold up to 140 pounds of weight before failing, far exceeding commercially available removable adhesives for wall hangings. For instance, 3M removable adhesive of similar surface area and arranged in the same orientation fails this test at 65 pounds due to being a weaker adhesive on a more elastic foam. The vertical orientation of the adhesive strip is advantageous is that it helps increase the strip's resistance to sheer (vertical) force and better prevents the adhesive from peeling away from the surface. Additionally, the adhesive is stronger and less elastic than commercially available 3M Command Strips, allowing it to be more suitable for mounting heavy articles. In some embodiments, the receiver component 400 may be provided with a different configuration of adhesive strips, such as using four adhesive strips arranged in a row as seen in FIG. 9A or in a 2×2 stacked configuration as seen in 9B. An artisan will recognize from the disclosure herein one can vary the surface area of the back surface 701 and amount of adhesive covering the back surface 701 to account for heavier and lighter expected articles. Moreover, embodiments may include a wide variety of shapes that increase the surface area of the back surface, and thus the availability of adhesive to avoid or reduce visibility from in front of the article. For example, the receiver 400 could be wide with respect to its height, tall with respect to its width, oval, circular, polygonal, or the like, depending on desired holding strength and/or article shape.

With reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 10, which is a side view of the receiver component 400, the adhesive material 406 may have a pronounced thickness 1001 that causes a gap 1002 to be formed between the flat surface (e.g., a wall) and the top margin 702 of the back surface 701 of the receiver component 400. Different types of adhesive materials may have different thicknesses, and thus may cause different size gaps between the receiver component 400 and the flat surface. In particular, heavier duty adhesive material suitable for supporting heavier articles may be thicker than lighter duty adhesive material intended to support lighter articles. The gap may be an undesirable feature in certain uses of the mounting assembly, particularly if the gap is large, because it increases the likelihood that the hook component of the mounting assembly would be incorrectly inserted by a user into the gap rather than into the slot as intended. To mitigate this issue, the receiver component 400 may advantageously further comprise a lead-in lip 409 that protrudes from the back surface toward the flat surface on which the receiver component 400 is mounted, and which functions to at least partially close the gap to obstruct the hook component from being inserted. Other embodiments may include a similar lead-in lip (juxtaposed in the opposite direction) on the surface of the slot wall 404 to lead the hook into the slot.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a cross section of the receiver component 400. As seen in this figure, the slot 403 of the receiver component 400 is formed by a slot wall 404, with a top edge 412, and a back wall 1120, which is part of the front surface 401 of the receiver component 400. The slot wall and back wall may be angled relative to each other so as to form a slot opening 1130 that is larger than a lower portion 1131 of the slot. The larger size of the slot opening relative to the lower slot portion assists with the ease of inserting the hook component into the slot. The slot optionally includes a closed slot bottom 413, or the slot may be open at the bottom.

An installer straightforwardly attaches the receiver component 400 on a surface (e.g., a wall) at a desired location. The hook component, described in more detail below, may then be inserted into the receiver component 400. The receiver component 400 may comprise one or more optional features that may increase its utility. With reference to FIGS. 4-8 and 10-11, a bubble level 411 may be built into or attached to the receiver component 400 to aid in the proper horizontal alignment of the receiver component 400 as it is attached to the flat surface. A centering mark 408 may be disposed along the midpoint of a top edge of the receiver component 400. As depicted, the centering mark comprises a triangle, arrow, or line with its tip indicating the midpoint, or horizontal center, of the top edge. The centering mark may be used to assist in the accurate placement of an article to be mounted to a flat surface. A user may make a mark on the flat surface at the point where it is desired to place the top center of the article, and attach the receiver component 400 to the surface at the position where the centering mark 408 meets the mark on the flat surface. The bubble level and centering mark can be used in conjunction to ensure that the receiver component 400 is mounted to the correct place on the flat surface and that it is level.

The receiver component 400 may comprise one or more holes 410 to allow the receiver component 400 to be attached to the flat surface using additional fasteners, such as nails, screws, wall anchors, etc. Thus, the receiver component 400 may be attached using just the adhesive material 406, both the adhesive material and fasteners, or just fasteners. The holes 410 may be angled relative to the flat surface, e.g., having a 45 degree angle, to help retain the receiver component 400 on the flat surface once the fastener is affixed.

Reference is made to FIGS. 12-17, which depict different views of an example embodiment of a hook component of a mounting assembly.

FIG. 12 is a back perspective view of the hook component 1200 of a mounting assembly. FIG. 13 shows the hook component 1200 as attached to the back of an article 1300 to be mounted, shown here as a picture frame. FIG. 14 is a back view of the hook component 1200. FIG. 15 is a front view of the hook component 1200. FIG. 16 is a side view of the hook component 1200. The back surface 1210 of the hook component 1200 would face outward from the back of the article (e.g., the back of the picture frame) on which the hook component 1200 is attached. Front surface 1510 would be placed against the back of the article when it is attached to the article. As shown, the bottom edge 1520 may have a slight convex shape, such that its midpoint 1521 reaches slightly lower than its outside portions 1522. The function of this curvature will be described below. Alternatively, the bottom edge 1520 of the front surface may be straight.

The hook component 1200 may include slots 1211 through which the hook component 1200 may be attached to the article by the use of fasteners such as screws or nails. The screw slot has a horizontal dimension 1401 (or width) and a vertical dimension 1402 (or length). The horizontal dimensions and the vertical dimension may be different sizes as depicted in the figures, or they can be the same size. Both dimensions must be sufficiently large to accommodate the shank portion of a fastener, while at least one dimension must also be smaller than the head of the fastener so that the hook component 1200 would remain attached to the article by the fastener. As described below in connection with FIG. 17, the dimensions of the slots 1211 allow for users to make adjustments to the positioning of the hook component 1200 relative to the article, such as to make the article more level or better aligned to the ceiling and/or other objects. Alternatively, the hook component 1200 may be attached to the article by other means, such as adhesives, or the hook component 1200 may be integrated into the article 1300 as manufactured. For example, the frame may include an injection molded part accomplishing the structure of the hook component 1200.

A tab 1220 comprising a top portion 1221 and bottom portion 1222 protrudes downward from the back surface of the hook component 1200. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 16, the tab is thinner than the thickness of the overall hook component 1200. The tab may be of uniform thickness, that is, where the top portion 1221 and bottom portion 1222 of the tab 1220 are of similar dimensions. Alternatively, the tab may be made so that it is not uniformly thick. For instance, the top portion 1221 may be made thicker than the bottom portion 1222 so that the tab has a wedge-like shape, which may aid in the insertion and positioning of the hook component 1200 relative to the receiver component 400.

As shown in FIG. 13, one or more optional bumpers 1301 may be attached to the article. The bumpers may protect against damage to the article and/or surface by preventing the article from making direct contact with the surface. The bumpers may be made of various materials, including silicone, polyurethane, or felt. In an embodiment, a commercial kit may include the receiver component 400, the hook component 1200, and one or more bumpers 1301. In other embodiments, a commercial kit may also include the frame. Still other embodiments, the kit may include a frame having an integrally formed or pre-attached hook component 1200.

As shown in FIG. 15, the hook component 1200 may optionally comprise one or more hollowed cavities 1511 to conserve material in the fabrication of the hook component 1200. Supporting members 1512 provide rigidity to the hook component 1200 in the presence of the hollowed cavities 1511, to allow it to sufficiently support the article to which it is attached. The hook component 1200 may make use of different sizes and numbers of hollowed cavities as appropriate for the intended use. For instance, a hook component 1200 intended to be used with heavier items may have fewer hollow cavities (or none) as compared to a hook component 1200 intended to be used with lighter items. Different arrangements of supporting members may also be used. In addition to or instead of the vertical supporting members depicted in FIG. 15, the supporting members could be a matrix arrangement, a hexagonal beehive arrangement, etc.

FIG. 17 is a back view of the hook component 1200 as attached to an article 1300 to be mounted. With reference to FIG. 14, the horizontal dimension 1401 and vertical dimension 1402 of the slots may be selected so as to allow some adjustments to be made to the positioning of the hook component 1200 as (and after) it is fastened into the article 1300. For instance, the horizontal dimension may be selected to be slightly larger than the size of the fastener shank, such as 1.1 to 1.5 times the size of the shank, while the vertical dimension may be selected to be substantially larger than the size of the shank, such as 2-5 times the size of the shank. This configuration would allow some horizontal movement 1701, vertical movement 1702, and even angled movements 1703 of the hook component 1200 to allow a user to ensure its perfect positioning on the article to be mounted. For instance, when a user fastens the hook component 1200 onto the article 1300, it may be the case that the user positions the fasteners (e.g., screws) slightly imperfectly relative to the article. In this case, the latitude providers by the slot dimensions nevertheless allows the user to place hook component 1200 perfectly on the article 1300. A user can also take advantage of the slot dimensions to further adjust the level, or horizontal alignment of the article when it is mounted, such as to make it more or less level to align it with a ceiling or other nearby structures and/or objects.

Reference is made to FIGS. 18A-18B and 19-20, which depict different views of an example embodiment of the receiver component 400 and hook component 1200 working in conjunction to form a mounting assembly 1800.

FIG. 18A is a side view of the mounting assembly 1800, with the hook component 1200 as initially slotted into the receiver component 400. The tab 1220 of the hook component 1200 is inserted into the slot 403 of the receiver component 400. By the use of the hook component 1200 and receiver component 400, the article 1300 (e.g., a picture frame) is easily mounted onto the mounting surface 180 (e.g., a wall) at the precise location desired.

FIG. 18B is a side view of the mounting assembly, with the hook component 1200 at rest as slotted into the receiver component 400. FIG. 19 is a side view of the mounting assembly, with the hook component 1200 at rest as slotted into the receiver component 400, in context with the article to which the hook component 1200 is attached. As discussed above, the slot 403 may be shaped so that the slot opening 1130 is larger than the lower slot portion 1131, while the tab 1220 may be shaped to be uniform thickness throughout (e.g., the top portion 1221 and bottom portion 1222 of the tab 1220 are of similar dimensions). In such a configuration, the tab 1220 would have a tendency to lean against the slot wall 404 of the slot when the tab is inserted into the slot. This causes the article 1300 to be slightly tilted down once it is mounted, which is preferred by many for hanging articles such as picture frames. However, such angled hanging is not necessary and an artisan will appreciate from the disclosure herein that the frame may be made to instead hang substantially parallel to the wall. For example, the relative sizes of the slot opening and lower slot portion (that is, their ratio) may be made different depending on the degree of tilt that is desired. For instance, if no tilt is desired, the slot opening and lower slot portion could be made to be the same size as each other and the tab. A greater slot opening to lower slot portion ratio could be used where it is desired to have a greater degree of downward tilt for the mounted article. Moreover, with reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 19, the size of the bumper 1301 arranged on the back surface of the article may be selected to achieve the desired amount of tilt.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the mounting assembly, with the hook component 1200 at rest as slotted into the receiver component 400. The midpoint 1521 of the bottom edge 1520 of the front surface 1510 of the hook component 1200 rests on the top edge 412 of the slot wall 404 forming the slot in the receiver component 400. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the bottom edge 1520 does not rest on the top edge 412, but rather the bottom edge of tab 1220 rests against the slot bottom 1132 of slot 403 or at a point in the lower slot portion 1131 of slot 403 which is sufficiently narrow to obstruct the further insertion of tab 1220. The slot 403 of the receiver component 400 may be made slightly wider than the tab 1220 of the hook component 1200, so as to allow for slight horizontal adjustments to be made to the position of the hook component 1200 and thus the article to which the hook component 1200 is attached.

Furthermore, as discussed above, the bottom edge 1520 of the front surface 1510 of the hook component 1200 may be made to have a slight convex shape where its midpoint 1521 sits lower than its sides 1522. This allows for slight adjustments to be made to the angle of the resting position of the hook component 1200 and thus to ensure that the article to which the hook component 1200 is attached is horizontally level as mounted. Specifically, to make the angle adjustments, one could simply turn the article slightly so that the bottom edge of the hook component 1200 no longer rests precisely on its midpoint 1521 on the top edge 412 of the slot wall 404, but at some point along the edge that is slightly offset from the midpoint. The weight of the article will weigh down the hook component 1200 and keep it in place as desired. The optional bumpers 1301 on the article may also help keep the article in place by providing traction against the surface.

The receiver component 400 and hook component 1200 may be made using a variety of materials, including injection molded plastic, metal, carbon fiber combinations of the same or the like. The components may also include magnets to attract them to each other, which may further increase the ease and precision of mounting.

Reference is made to FIGS. 21-23, which depict different views of an alternate example embodiment of the receiver component 2100 and hook component 2200 working in conjunction to form a mounting assembly 2300.

FIG. 21 is a front view of an alternate example embodiment of the receiver component 2100 of the mounting assembly. The receiver component 2100 comprises a front surface 2101 and side surfaces 2102. A slot 2103 is formed by a front slot wall 2104 that protrudes from the front surface 2101 of the receiver component 2100 and the vertical structural supports 2105. The slot 2103 receives a tab of an alternate example embodiment of a hook component, as will be described in more detail below. In this embodiment, the slot 2110 of the receiver component 2100 includes a locating rib 2115. This embodiment optionally comprises one or more of adhesive strips 2106 with pull tabs 2107, centering mark 2108, lead-in lip 2109, fastener holes 2110, and level 2111.

FIG. 22 is a back view of the alternate example embodiment of a hook component 2200 of the mounting assembly. The back surface 2210 of the hook component 2200 would face outward from the back of the article (e.g., the back of the picture frame) on which the hook component 2200 is attached. The hook component 2200 may include slots 2211 through which the hook component 2200 may be attached to the article by the use of fasteners such as screws or nails, and which have a horizontal dimension 2201 (or width) and a vertical dimension 2202 (or length). The dimensions of the slots may be configured so as to allow positional adjustments of the hook component 2200 after being fastened to an article. In this embodiment, the tab 2210 comprises a notch 2215 designed to fit over the locating rib 2115. The relative dimensions of the notch and locating rib may be adjusted to allow for greater or lesser degrees of horizontal movement after the hook component is inserted into the receiving component. Optionally, the notch has an opening 2212 that may be wider than the main portion 2213 of the notch, which may ease the insertion of the tab into the slot, particularly where the notch and locating rib are of similar dimensions (i.e., where there is a tight fit).

FIG. 23 is a front view of the alternate embodiment of the hook component 2200 slotted into the alternate embodiment of the receiver component 2100 to form an alternate embodiment of the mounting assembly 2300. As shown, the notch 2215 of the hook component 2200 fits over the rib 2115 of the receiver component 2100.

FIG. 24 shows a removable sticky tab 2400, which may be shaped like an arrow, that may be used in conjunction with the disclosed mounting assembly. This tab sticks to a surface with a light adhesive force, so that it can be used to pinpoint a location on the surface (e.g., wall) without the need to mark the wall using a pen or pencil and then removed without leaving any marking or damage on the surface.

FIG. 25 shows a tape measure 2500 that may be used in conjunction with the disclosed mounting assembly. The tape measure has a relatively elongated end tab 2501 that allows a user to step on it and secure the tape measure in place while measurements are being made. The end tab may be weighted to help maintain the vertical alignment of the tape 2502 while in use. The adhesive pad 2503 on the tape measure allows it to be temporarily adhered to the surface while measurements are being made. This allows one person to more easily make the necessary measurements and marks, in contrast to conventional methods for mounting articles that often require two people or are greatly simplified with two people.

FIG. 26 show a process for mounting an article to a surface using the mounting assembly disclosed herein. At step 2601, a user identifies a point on a surface that is desired to correspond to the midpoint of the top edge of the article once it is mounted. Optionally, the user may use the tape measure 2500 as illustrated in FIG. 25 to identify this point by using the adhesive pad 2503 to stick the tape measure to the surface, pulling the tape to the floor, stepping on the elongated end tab 2501 to keep the tape 2502 steady, and marking a point corresponding to a precise desired height for the top edge of the article. In the alternative, the user may use the tape measure 2500 as illustrated in FIG. 25 to identify this point by identifying a desired point on the floor against the surface, stepping on the elongated end tab 2501 to keep the tape 2502 steady, pulling the tape 2502 upwards and using the adhesive pad 2503 to stick the tape measure to the surface, and marking a point corresponding to a precise desired height for the top edge of the article. At step 2602, the user marks the point, optionally doing so using a removable arrow tab 2400 as illustrated in FIG. 24. At step 2603, the user places the receiver component 400 onto the surface such that the centering mark 408 of the receiver component meets the point on the surface, while ensuring that the receiver component is level by checking either the built-in bubble level 411 or an external level. At step 2604, the user positions the article, onto which the hook component 1200 is already attached, so that the tab 1220 of the hook component 1200 is inserted into the slot 403 of the receiver component 400. At optional step 2605, the user makes lateral and angle adjustments to the position of the article as desired. If the user wishes to mount multiple articles onto a surface and have their top edges aligned, the user simply moves over and starts the process again. Likewise, if the user desires to change the article to another one, for example, to swap pictures, a different frame having a centered hook is straightforwardly interchanged with the current picture. The user can confidently make such replacement without rehanging the receiver component.

Embodiments of the mounting assembly have been disclosed. However, an artisan will recognize from the disclosure herein a wide number and variety of alterations and embodiments that accomplish the innovations of the assembly. For example, the mounting component and hook component may include multiple mateable parts. Also, the mounting component and/or hook component may advantageously be curved or include a curved surface to attach to a curved wall or curved outer frame. Additionally or alternatively, the adhesive material may adaptable to such curvature. In additional embodiments, the receiver component may be colored differently than the hook component. Or, such colors may match or be paired to ensure a matched pair for specific article size ranges. Still further installation or use instructions and/or size limitations may be printed on various surfaces of each component. Such printed information may advantageously include graphical information or reference to online materials. The frame may include mating mechanisms for the hook component. For example, the frame may include slots or fastener holes for a portrait and landscape orientation. Then, a user affixes the hook according to the desired display orientation of the frame.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including, “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. In addition, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” as used in this application and the appended claims are to be construed to mean “one or more” or “at least one” unless specified otherwise.

As a used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of A, B, or C” is intended to cover: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A, B, and C. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be at least one of X, Y or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y and at least one of Z to each be present.

Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure and the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.

Mounting Assembly

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CPC

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Description

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