An article hanger (or holder) that is suitable for mounting to a vertical surface and securely holding an article thereto is disclosed. Also disclosed is a means for covering the fasteners used for mounting the article holder and in some embodiments, the article holder is suitable for mounting outside the periphery of the article such that the hanger is visible after attachment of the article to the hanger. The article hanger includes features that secure the hanging cord of an article thereby preventing relative movement between the article and the hanger and the deleterious effects caused thereby.

A self-closing and locking device for hanging objects on a mounting surface is disclosed. The device includes a mounting bracket and a locking arm member translatably engaged with an elongated track portion of the mounting bracket. The track portion comprises a pair of guide portions defining a slot therebetween, and rear recesses in a back side of the guide portions. The rear recesses comprise lower locking portions, and upper rotating portions that are deeper than the locking portions. The arm member comprises a base portion that is positioned within the rear recesses, and an arm portion that extends from the base portion and through the slot. The device is configured such that the arm member is oriented in a closed position when the base portion is engaged with the locking portions, and orientable in an open position when the base portion is engaged with the rotating portions.

An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component. The second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation to enable staged installation of the anchor assembly into a wall. At least one wall penetrating retainer extends from each of the first and second anchor components. When the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the second anchor component opposes a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type arrangement.

An apparatus and method for hanging objects on a supporting wall includes a bracket with an outwardly extending shelf for supporting engagement with the object. A flange extends upwardly from the bracket and is secured by a fastener to the object. A marking device is removably mounted in an aperture formed in the bracket and has a sharp marking element extending therefrom. After the bracket is attached to the object by the fasteners and the marking element is positioned in the aperture, the object is pressed against the supporting wall at the desired hanging location whereupon the marking element marks the wall at the correct location for installing the hanging hardware. After the hanging hardware is installed at the marked locations, it is subsequently received in the bracket aperture after the marking element is removed therefrom to hang the object on the hanging hardware.

A hanging bracket for hanging a picture frame having at least two right angled corners on a supporting structure. The bracket is a one-piece member formed of plastic having a planar base terminating with a beveled edge formed by two straight sections and an intervening arcuate section. A V-shaped column is spaced from the beveled edge by a V-shaped planar portion of the base and extends perpendicularly from the base terminating in a V-shaped top edge with two straight legs joined at a rounded corner. A pin is embedded in the rounded corner and extends outwardly beyond the straight legs of the column. The base is inserted between the back of a canvas picture and the two adjacent frame members at each corner of the picture frame with the projecting pins being pressed into the support structure to suspend the picture frame therefrom.

An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component. The second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation to enable staged installation of the anchor assembly into a wall. At least one wall penetrating retainer extends from each of the first and second anchor components. When the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the second anchor component opposes a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type arrangement.

A hanging bracket for hanging a picture frame having at least two right angled corners on a supporting structure. The bracket is a one-piece member formed of plastic having a planar base terminating with a beveled edge formed by two straight sections and an intervening arcuate section. A V-shaped column is spaced from the beveled edge by a V-shaped planar portion of the base and extends perpendicularly from the base terminating in a V-shaped top edge with two straight legs joined at a rounded corner. A pin is embedded in the rounded corner and extends outwardly beyond the straight legs of the column. The base is inserted between the back of a canvas picture and the two adjacent frame members at each corner of the picture frame with the projecting pins being pressed into the support structure to suspend the picture frame therefrom.

A bracket for hanging a picture frame on a supporting structure. The bracket is a one-piece member formed of plastic having a pair of legs projecting perpendicularly from a bottom surface of a base and extending at right angles with respect to each other. The legs are spaced from a peripheral edge of the base forming a V-shaped planar portion between the edge and legs. A reinforcing member extends between the pair of legs and an attachment pin mounted in the reinforcing member extends outwardly beyond a top surface of the base. A pair of attachment pins is pressed into the supporting structure to suspend the frame therefrom after two of the brackets are secured in upper right hand corners of the frame.

An apparatus and method for hanging objects on a supporting wall includes a bracket with an outwardly extending shelf for supporting engagement with the object. A flange extends upwardly from the bracket and is secured by a fastener to the object. A marking device is removably mounted in an aperture formed in the bracket and has a sharp marking element extending therefrom. After the bracket is attached to the object by the fasteners and the marking element is positioned in the aperture, the object is pressed against the supporting wall at the desired hanging location whereupon the marking element marks the wall at the correct location for installing the hanging hardware. After the hanging hardware is installed at the marked locations, it is subsequently received in the bracket aperture after the marking element is removed therefrom to hang the object on the hanging hardware.

An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component. The second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation to enable staged installation of the anchor assembly into a wall. At least one wall penetrating retainer extends from each of the first and second anchor components. When the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the second anchor component opposes a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type arrangement.