Patent Application
20090049728
The present invention relates, in general, to securing devices for display frames and, more particularly, this invention relates to a securing device for attachment to a display frame such that such display frame may be attached to corkboard, gypsum board, and fabric covered walls such as walls of a cubicle, office space, bulletin boards, and the like.
Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, display frames, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to display and protect pictures, certificates, diplomas, artwork, memorabilia, and the like. Various types of frames exist including those for freestanding display and those which include wire or a hook securing means for hanging over a nail in a wall. However, these types of display frames are not useful for corkboard, gypsum board, and fabric covered walls such as walls of a cubicle, office space, bulletin boards, and the like. Therefore, there exists a need for a device which can be attached to display frames or formed integrally with display frames such that such display frames can easily be attached to corkboard, gypsum board, and fabric covered walls such as walls of a cubicle, office space, bulletin boards, and the like.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Wallo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,161 discloses a hanging device and method for picture frames or like objects. The device includes a pair of spaced horizontally positionable prongs which are adapted to be secured in accurate horizontal alignment on a vertical supporting surface such as a wall. The prongs extend upwardly and outwardly from the wall and have upwardly extending points and may have downwardly and rearwardly extending cam surfaces for supporting the hanging objects. The object as hung is meant to be engaged flat against a wall surface. The device is especially meant for supporting extruded aluminum picture frames.
Barnes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,139, discloses a wall article hanging device including a metal plate having one or more prongs angled from a surface thereof for angled penetration into a wall surface such as gypsum board or sheet rock. The metal plate is flushly and rigidly attached to a rear surface of a wall article such as a picture frame using one or more prongs in opposed relationship to the wall attaching prongs.
Barnes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,629, discloses a wall article hanging device including a metal plate having one or more prongs angled from a surface thereof for angled penetration into a wall surface such as gypsum board or sheet rock. The metal plate is flushly and rigidly attached to a rear surface of a wall article such as a picture frame using one or more prongs in opposed relationship to the wall attaching prongs.
Leif, U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,827, discloses a self-hanging picture frame which is formed with a blind bore into which a pin, nail or other fastening element may be adjustably fitted. The bore is angled to the flat back surface of the picture frame. The bore is filled with self setting plastic material to lock the fastening element in place.
Einhorn, U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,516, discloses a method of forming a push pin article which includes forming a base member having two opposite sides with a hole therethrough, inserting a pin through such hole, and flowing material into such hole to fill such hole.
The present invention provides a securing device for attachment to a display frame. Such securing device includes a support member having a first side and a second side. Such support member is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. A first securing means is disposed at least one of on such first side of such support member and through such support member for releasably securing such support member to such display frame at a predetermined location. A second securing means is at least one of secured to and formed integrally with such second side of such support member for releasably securing such display frame to at least one of a corkboard, a gypsum board, a fabric covered wall, a cubicle wall, a bulletin board, a cardboard wall, a vertical structure and a combination thereof.
According to another embodiment, in combination with a display frame, the improvement comprising a securing means operably connectable to such display frame. Such securing means including at least one insertion member for inserting into at least one of a corkboard, a gypsum board, a fabric covered wall, a cubicle wall, a bulletin board, a cardboard wall, a vertical structure and a combination thereof.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a securing device which can be easily attached to a display frame such that such display frame is releasably attachable to corkboard, gypsum board, bulletin boards, fabric covered walls, and the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a securing device for attachment to a frame such as those used to display and protect pictures, certificates, diplomas, artwork, memorabilia, and the like, such securing device being implemented by attachment to such frame and then by simply inserting prongs attached to such securing device into corkboard, gypsum board, bulletin boards, fabric covered walls, and the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a securing device particularly well suited for attachment to a display frame which is meant to be hung on cubicle type walls; such securing device providing prongs by which such display frame may be hung.
Yet another object of the present invention is provide in combination with a display frame, the improvement comprising a securing means at least one of operably connectable and formed integrally with such display frame which may be utilized to secure such display frame to corkboard, gypsum board, bulletin boards, fabric covered walls, and the like.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to
Referencing more particularly
Such securing device 10 includes a support member 14 having a first side 16 and a second side 18. Such support member 14 is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape.
It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of plastic, metal and wood. It is presently most preferred that such first predetermined material is plastic.
It is presently preferred that such support member 14 is substantially flat.
A first securing means 22 is disposed at least one of on such first side 16 of such support member 14 and through such support member 14 for releasably securing such support member 14 to such display frame 12 at a predetermined location.
It is presently preferred that such first securing means 22 is at least one of an adhesive type securing means, a screw type securing means, and a nail type securing means. It is presently most preferred that such first securing means 22 is an adhesive type securing means 24.
A second securing means 26 at least one of secured to and formed integrally with such second side 18 of such support member 14 for releasably securing such display frame 12 to at least one of a corkboard, a gypsum board, a fabric covered wall, a cubicle wall, a bulletin board, a cardboard wall, a vertical structure and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such second securing means 26 includes at least one of a prong type securing means 28 and a pin type securing means 32.
It is presently most preferred that such second securing means 26 is a prong type securing means 28. It is presently preferred that such prong type securing means 28 includes at least one flexible prong. It is meant that such at least one flexible prong may be able to be bent in a direction desired by a user to facilitate inserting such prongs into at least one of such corkboard, such gypsum board, such fabric covered wall, such cubicle wall, such bulletin board, such cardboard wall, such vertical structure and such combination thereof such that such display frame 12 is secured thereto.
It is presently preferred that such second securing means 26 includes a plurality of prongs 34 each having a first end 36 and a second end 38, such first ends 36 including sharpened tips 42, such plurality of prongs 34 being secured to such support member 14 at such second ends 38 thereof such that each of such sharpened tips 42 point at least one of downwards, sideways, outwards, and a combination thereof such that when such sharpened tips 42 are inserted into such at least one of such corkboard, such gypsum board, such fabric covered wall, such cubicle wall, such bulletin board, such cardboard wall, such vertical structure and such combination thereof such display frame 12 is secured thereto.
It is presently preferred that such plurality of prongs 34 are disposed on such support member 14 in pairs. Furthermore, as illustrated in
According to another embodiment, referenced more particularly in
Such securing means 50 including at least one insertion member 52 for inserting into at least one of a corkboard, a gypsum board, a fabric covered wall, a cubicle wall, a bulletin board, a cardboard wall, a vertical structure and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such at least one insertion member 52 includes at least one of at least one prong type member 54 and at least one pin type member 56. It is presently most preferred that such at least one insertion member 52 includes at least one prong type member 54.
It is presently preferred that such least at least one prong type member 54 includes at least one flexible prong. It is meant that such at least one prong may be able to be bent in a direction desired by a user to facilitate inserting them into at least one of such corkboard, such gypsum board, such fabric covered wall, such cubicle wall, such bulletin board, such cardboard wall, such vertical structure and such combination thereof such that such display frame 12 is secured thereto.
It is presently preferred that such at least one insertion member 52 includes a plurality of prong type members 54 each having a first end 56 and a second end 58, such first ends 56 including sharpened tips 62, such plurality of prong type members 54 being secured to at least one of such securing means 50 and such display frame 12 at such second ends 58 thereof such that each of such sharpened tips 62 point at least one of downwards, sideways, outwards, and a combination thereof such that when such sharpened tips 62 are inserted into such at least one of such corkboard, such gypsum board, such fabric covered wall, such cubicle wall, such bulletin board, such cardboard wall, such vertical structure and such combination thereof such display frame 12 is secured thereto.
It is presently preferred that such plurality of prong type members 54 are disposed on at least one of such securing means 50 and such display frame 12 in pairs.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/957,909 filed Aug. 24, 2007.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60957909 | Aug 2007 | US |
