Slideable Picture Hook Assembly

Abstract

The present invention is a picture hook assembly with a hook for supporting an object, or framed object on a wall, with the ability to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of the framed object without removing the object from the hook and while the object is hanging on the wall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

1. Background of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for attaching a picture and picture frame or other object to be hung or attached to a wall, more specifically, a picture hook assembly that is slideable in two directions in order to adjust the picture frame while the picture frame is hanging on the hook assembly device.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention embodies a slideable picture hook assembly for adjusting a picture frame while hanging on the hook holding the picture frame to the wall.

Picture frame hook devices are well known and typically have a hook for supporting a picture frame, and the hook is attached to a wall by a nail driven through the hook. However, once the nail is placed in the wall with the hook, in order to adjust the position of the picture frame, the hook cannot be moved in any direction without removing the nail and the hook from the wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a an adjustable picture hook apparatus which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which provides a device for adjusting the position of a picture on a wall which is easy to use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention an adjustable device for mounting an item to a wall, the device having a first beam having openings for positionally fixing the first beam on the wall, a second beam having a hook for holding the item, a cross connector mounting the second beam to the first beam, the second beam and the cross connector defining a ratchet allowing a linear displacement of the second beam relative to the cross connector or in a first direction, the ratchet locking the second beam relative the cross connector in a second direction opposite the first direction and preventing a reverse displacement of the second beam.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the device has a cord having a first end affixed to the second beam, the cord for moving the second beam relative to the cross connector and to the first beam when the item is disposed on said hook.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention a fixing button is mounted to a second end of the cord, the fixing button fixing the second end of the cord to the wall beyond a periphery of the item disposed on the hook to provide access to the cord.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention the cross connector and the second beam have teeth defining a ratchet.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the teeth are linear and at least one of the teeth have a lead in for allowing the second beam to be displaced in the first direction.

In accordance with another mode of the invention, the cross connector is linearly displaceable along the first beam.

In accordance with a further mode of the invention, the cross connector has a channel to receive the first beam, the channel guiding a movement of the cross connector along the first beam.

In accordance with an additional mode of the invention the cross connector has a second channel on an opposite side of the cross connector, the second channel guiding the second beam therein.

In accordance with still a further mode of the invention, the first beam is horizontally disposed when in a mounted position on the wall and the second beam is vertically disposed and vertically displaceable in the mounted position.

In accordance with still a further mode of the invention is a tip removably affixed to a leading end of the second beam with respect to the first direction, the tip shaped for guiding a mounting wire of the item away from the wail to the hook.

In accordance with yet still a further mode of the invention, is a stop removably affixed to a trailing end of the second beam with respect to the first direction, the stop limiting a travel of the second beam and preventing an unintended separation of the second beam from the cross connector.

The construction and method of operation of the device, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail A of the vertical support 30 taken from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an object to be supported with the present picture book assembly such as a picture frame.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of fixing button 85.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the horizontal support 20 fastened to a vertical surface or wall 11 with a fastener 12 at lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of cross support 40 shown looking at the wall side, showing the pawls and notch 46.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of cross connector 40 looking at the picture side, showing the pawls and notch 45.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the present invention attached to a wail with fixing button 85 extended upward and attached to the wall.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a front view of an object or picture frame 70 attached to a wail with the fixing button 85 outside the perimeter of the painting 70.

FIG. 11 is a front view looking at the picture frame 70 on wall 11 but without a picture, thus the picture hook assembly 10 can be seen in place, including the wire 71 on hook 35 and cord 80 leading to fixing button 85.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of header 50.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of footer 60.

FIG. 14 is a side view of header 50.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of horizontal support 20 taken at line 15-15 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of vertical support 30 taken at line 16-16 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of footer 60.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of header 50.

FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of vertical beam 30.

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of horizontal beam 20.

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of vertical beam 30 taken along lines 21-21 from FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is enlarged detail B of FIG. 1 showing portions of cross connector 40.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is an assembly with a hook for supporting an object, a picture frame or a framed object on a wall, with the ability to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of the framed object without removing the object from the hook and while the object is hanging on the wall.

Referring to FIG. 1 is the picture hook assembly 10 of the present invention. Horizontal beam 20 is releasably slideable within cross connector 40. Horizontal beam 20 includes first beam openings 21, 21A and 22 that can receive a screw, nail or other fastener to hold horizontal beam 20 close to or against a wall or other surface 11. Horizontal beam 20 also includes beam openings 23 and 24 having a smaller diameter than openings 21 and 22, to primarily receive a thinner nail or other fastener to support horizontal beam 20 on wall 11. First beam openings 21 and 23 are at a first end 20A of horizontal beam 20 and openings 22 and 24 are at a second end 20B of horizontal beam 20. Opening 21A is at the midpoint of horizontal beam 20.

When horizontal beam 20 is mounted within cross connector 40, cross connector 40 is slidable along horizontal beam 20 along the length of horizontal beam 20, from the first end 20A to the second end 20B.

A vertical beam 30 is releasably slideable within cross connector 40. Vertical beam 30 has a first side 30A and a second side 30B, and a first end 33 and a second end 34. Each side 30A and 30B has corresponding teeth or notched edges 31 and 32 respectively, each at the same height from the first end 33 of vertical support 30 to the opposite end 34 of vertical support 30. In an alternate embodiment vertical beam 30 may have corresponding teeth or notched edges 31 or 32 on only one side of vertical beam 30. As shown in FIG. 21, a stringer 37 can be added to vertical beam 30 to form an integral part of vertical beam 30 to provide increased rigidly and strength to vertical beam 30 preventing vertical beam 30 from bending when object 70 has increased weight. In a preferred embodiment, stringer 37 can be of metal, or any stiff, rigid material can be used. Alternatively, vertical beam 30 can be of a stiffer material to support any anticipated increased weight of the object 70.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an object 70 to be hung on or placed on a wall or vertical surface 11. The rear of object 70 will typically include a cable or wire 71 that is firmly attached at the ends 71A and 71B of cable 71 to a frame 72 of the object 70. Wire 71 will fit on a hook 35 of the picture hook assembly 10.

The first end 33 of vertical beam 30 fits within a footer 60. The first end 33 and second end 34 of vertical beam 30 have chamfered lead in edges 33A and 34A to allow easy insertion into notch 45 of cross connector 40. The second end 34 of vertical beam 30 fits within a header 50. Between first end 33 and second end 34, and preferably closer to second end 34 is a hook 35. Hook 35 is constructed and arranged to support a guide wire or cable 71 attached to an object 70 that is desired to be hung on a wall or other vertical surface 11.

Cross connector 40 includes pawls 41 and 42 that engage ratchet teeth 31 and 32 of the sides 30A and 303 of vertical beam 30. Each pawl 41 and 42 has a sloped face 41A and 42A that permits motion of vertical beam 30 in one direction only. Further, it is possible to have the teeth 31 and pawl 41 or teeth 32 and pawl 42 only on one side or the other side of vertical beam 30 as opposed to having the teeth 31 and pawl 41 and teeth 32 and pawl 42 on both sides of vertical beam 30. When the vertical beam 30 is in place within cross connector 40, vertical beam 30 is slidably movable relative to cross connector 40 in one direction D as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 22, pawls 41 and 42 have sloped sides 41A and 42A, have pointed edges 41B and 42B and flat sides 41C and 42C. The sloped sides 41A and 42A allow teeth 31 and 32 to slide by pawls 41 and 42 when vertical beam 30 moves in direction D. However, when vertical beam 30 is urged in the opposite direction of direction D, the teeth 31 and 32 engage flat side 41C and 42C and points 41B and 42B engage interior flat walls 47 and 48 of cross connector 40 to prevent movement of vertical beam 30 in the opposite direction of direction D.

A cord 80 has a first end 81 for attachment to vertical member 30 at one of several openings 80A, preferably the area of hook 35, and a second end 82 attached to a fixing button 85. Fixing button 85 as seen enlarged in FIG. 4 includes a button portion 86 an adhesive portion 87 and a removable liner 88. Cord 80 is shown attached to the button portion 86.

Header 50 is releasably attached in a friction fit to vertical beam 30, where either second end 34 or the first end 33 of vertical beam 30 fits with a friction fit into notch 52 of header 50. Header 50 includes a support or hook 53 for an object 70. Likewise, footer 60 is releasably attached in a friction fit to vertical beam 30 where either first end 33 or second end 34 of vertical beam 30 fits with a friction fit into notch 62 of footer 60. As shown, header 50 and footer 60 would be at the opposite ends of vertical beam 30. Footer 60 and header 50 provide additional support to vertical beam 30 to prevent vertical beam 30 from rocking over or back and forth across cross connector 40.

Referring to FIG. 1 cross connector 40 has a first side or picture side 43. A notch 45 seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 slideably receives vertical beam 30 therewithin, allowing vertical beam 30 to slide therewithin. Pawls 41 and 42 limit the direction of travel of vertical beam 30 in one direction D as shown in FIG. 1. In use the direction D may be in a vertical direction. In such example, the weight of the object is pulled downward by gravity and thus the pawls 41 and 42 prevent the object from being pulled downward and the adjustment and slideable direction of vertical beam 30 is only in one direction D opposite the pull of gravity.

Referring to FIG. 5 the cross connector 40 has a second side or wall side 44. A notch 46 seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 slideably receives horizontal beam 20 allowing horizontal beam 20 to slide therewithin. In use, horizontal beam 20 can slide in either direction within notch 46 of cross connector 40.

As seen in FIG. 5, horizontal beam 20 has a wall facing side surface 25 and 26 at respective ends of horizontal beam 20. Header 50 has a wall facing surface 50a and footer 60 has a wall facing surface 60A. When picture hook assembly 10 is secured to a wall 11, the wall facing surfaces 50a, 60A, 25 and 26 are each in contact with wall 11 to ensure that picture hook assembly 10, including horizontal beam 20, header 50 and footer 60 are securely and evenly held by fasteners through openings 21, 21A, and 22 and/or 23 and 24 to wall 11.

FIG. 6, is a cross-sectional view of horizontal beam 20 with a fastener 12 through opening 24 in wall 11 which secures horizontal beam 20 against wall 11

FIG. 7 shows the wall side 44 of cross connector 40 and opposed pawls 41 and 42 and notches 45 and 46. In an alternate embodiment, opening 40A can be used to attach cross connector 40 to a wall 11 or other surface, eliminating the necessity of using horizontal beam 20. A fastener, not shown would attach cross connector 40 to wall 11 through opening 40A. The picture side 43 of cross connector 40 is shown in FIG. 8.

When mounting a picture frame 70, for example, on a wall 11, picture hook assembly 10 is first attached to the wall 11 using fasteners 12 through any of the openings 21, 21A, 22, 23 and 24 to secure the horizontal beam 20 of assembly 10 to wall 11. As seen in FIG. 9 fixing button 85 is secured after removal of liner 88 to wall 11 by adhesive 87. The support cable 71 of picture frame 70 is then mounted on hook 35 and as seen in FIG. 10 the front of picture frame 70 will be visible and fixing button 85 affixed to wall 11 is outside the perimeter edge of picture frame 70. In use, to adjust the picture frame 70, cord 80 is used to move or slide the picture hook assembly 10 to a different location, by removing the fixing button 85 from where it is attached to the wall 11 and then the user pulls on cord 80 to adjust the position, such as centering of the picture frame 70 in a horizontal direction or adjusting the height of the picture frame 70 in a vertical direction, on the wall 11 while the picture frame 70 remains with cable 71 on hook 35 or 53 of picture hook assembly 10.

As seen in FIG. 11, as if looking from wall 11 towards the rear of picture frame 70 and the rear or wall surface side of assembly 10, it can be seen that fixing button 85 is connected by cord 80 to vertical beam 30 of picture hook assembly 10. In the event it is necessary, it is now possible to adjust the location of picture frame 70 on wall 11 without removal of picture frame 70, while cable 71 and picture frame 70 remain hanging on hook 35 or hook 53. The user can move picture frame 70 in either horizontal direction by pulling cord 80 and fixing button 85 connected by cord 80 to picture assembly 10. By pulling fixing button 85 and cord 80 in such a manner, the horizontal alignment of picture frame 70 can be adjusted, by pulling the slideable cross connector 40 along horizontal beam 20 between ends 20A and 20B in either direction until the picture frame 70 is in a desired centered position according to the user.

Once the horizontal adjustment is made, then if necessary and assuming the picture hook assembly 10 and vertical beam 30 are in a vertical orientation, a vertical height adjustment can be made by pulling fixing button 85 and cord 80 attached to vertical beam 30 in a vertical direction as shown by letter D. As vertical beam 30 is pulled through notch 45, pawls 41 and 42 engage teeth 31 and 32 to prevent vertical member 30 from moving in an opposite direction, against direction D (or downward). When the correct vertical height adjustment is made cable 80 can be cut so that it will disappear and hang free within the perimeter of frame 70, behind picture frame 70 and fixing button 85 can be discarded. The picture frame 70 is now, after adjustments in perfect position as adjusted by the user.

While making the vertical adjustment, in the event vertical member 30 is pulled all the way in one direction D such that footer 60 is adjacent to cross connector 40 and it is desired to move the vertical beam 30 and hook 35 in the opposite direction, then in such event, picture frame 70 can be removed, access is gained to the picture hook assembly 10 and footer 60 can be removed and vertical beam 30 can be removed by pulling or pushing it all the way through notch 45 and removed from cross connector 40. At that time header 50 can be removed and vertical beam 30 can be re-threaded by putting second end 34 into notch 45 to begin the process again and then replacing header 50 on second end 34 and footer 60 on first end 33.

Alternatively if necessary at this time, the direction of vertical beam 30 can be reversed, since it is omnidirectional, and first end 33 can be pushed into notch 45 so that vertical beam 30 passes pawls 41 and 42 to engage teeth 31 and 32 respectively. In this case header 50 will be placed on first end 33 and footer 60 will be placed on second end 34, further hook 35 will now be at the lower end, and below connector 40. First end 81 of cable 80 can be placed on hook 35, fixing button 85 is placed outside the perimeter edge 73 of the edge of picture frame 70 and now the steps to adjust the horizontal and/or vertical positions of the picture frame 70 can be repeated.

Referring to FIG. 19, it will be noted that hook 35 has hook portions 35A and 35B, so that hook 35 can be used with vertical beam 30 in either direction or orientation, such that hook portion 35A or 35B will support the cable 71 of object 70. As shown in FIG. 14, when threading wire 71 onto hook 35, the leading sloped edge 51 of header 50 forces wire 71 to engage either hook 53 or hook 35.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, header 50 has a notch opening 52 to receive the first end 33 or second end of vertical beam 30 in a friction fit. Likewise footer 60 has a notch opening 62 to receive the first end 33 or second end of vertical beam 30 in a friction fit. Additionally locking tabs 38 and at ends 33 and 34 of vertical beam 30 releaseably lock header 50 and footer 60 onto vertical beam 30. As shown in FIG. 21, on the wall side of tabs 38 and 39 are protuberances 38A and 38B that engage openings 52A and 62A on header 50 and footer 60 to releasably lock header 50 and footer 60 to vertical beam 30.

As shown in FIG. 14, header 50 on the sloped edge 51 has a second hook 53 to catch wire 71 to support picture frame 70.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An adjustable device for mounting an item (70) to a wall, the device comprising: a first beam (20) having openings for positional fixing the first beam on the wall;a second beam (30) having a hook (35) for holding the item,a cross connector (40) mount said second beam (30) to said first beam, said second beam (30) and said cross connector (40) defining a ratchet allowing linear displacement of said second beam (30) relative to said cross connector (40) in a first direction, said ratchet locking said second beam (30) relative to said cross connector (40) in a second direction opposite said first direction and preventing a reverse displacement said second beam (30).

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: a cord having a first end affixed to said second beam, said cord for moving said second beam relative to said cross connector and to said first beam when the item is disposed on said hook.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising: fixing button mounted to a second end of said cord, said fixing button fixing said second end of said cord to the wall beyond a periphery of the item disposed on said hook to provide access to said cord.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said cross connector and said second beam have teeth defining said ratchet.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said teeth are linear and at least one of said teeth have a lead in for allowing said second beam to be displaced in said first direction.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said cross connector is linearly displaceable along said first beam.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said cross connector has a channel to receive said first beam, said channel guiding a movement of said cross connector along said first beam.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said cross connector has a second channel on an opposite side of said cross connector, said second channel guiding said second beam therein.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first beam is horizontally disposed when in a mounted position on the wall and said second beam is vertically disposed and vertically displaceable in the mounted position.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a tip removably affixed to a leading end of said second beam with respect to said first direction, said tip shaped for guiding a mounting wire of the item away from the wail to said hook.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a stop removably affixed to a trailing end of said second beam with respect to said first direction, said stop limiting a travel of said second beam and preventing an unintended separation of second beam from said cross connector.