Device for hanging objects on a vertical surface and a method of using the same

Abstract

A hanger assembly having separable surface and object brackets that can slidably engage in a nested position without fasteners. The nested position is formed through the engagement of opposing channels of the respective surfaces of the surface and object brackets. The surface bracket has marking tabs for impressing on a vertical surface a selected orientation of the object that is connected to the object bracket, which in turn is nested with the surface bracket. Once the vertical surface is impressed by the marking tabs, the surface and object brackets can be un-nested and the surface bracket mounted to the vertical surface with the guidance impressions left my the marking tabs. Then the surface and object brackets can be re-nested for installation of the object against the vertical surface. The object is not limited to pictures or panels, and can be irregularly shaped articles.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a surface bracket, comprising: a surface mounting plate; a surface channel extending along a front-facing bottom portion of the surface mounting plate; and a rear-facing surface nub extending along a distal end of the surface channel in such a way as to partially close an upward-facing opening to a void defined by said surface channel; and an object bracket, comprising: an object mounting plate; an object channel extending along a rear-facing upper portion of the object mounting plate; the object channel comprising a vertical leg, wherein the vertical leg is generally coextensive with the surface mounting plate; a front-facing object nub extending along a distal end of the object channel in such a way that the object nub snugly slides in and out of the void to move between a nested and un-nested position, respectively, wherein in the nested position a substantial portion of both the vertical leg and the surface mounting plate uniformly abut; and a plurality of object mounting holes in the object mounting plate; and a plurality of first mounting holes in the vertical leg, wherein each object mounting hole aligns with one of the plurality of first mounting holes.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of marking tabs along a rear-facing surface of the surface mounting plate.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of marking tabs comprise at least two vertical marking tabs and at least two horizontal marking tabs.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein each marking tab is elongated.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the front-facing object nub and the rear-facing surface nub have dimensionality that prevents moving between the nested position and the un-nested position except in an approximately vertical direction and an approximately horizontal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

(3) FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

(4) FIG. 4 is a front exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a rear exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIGS. 6A-6E show elevation views illustrating an initial assembling and wall marking process of a method of installing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in FIGS. 6C and 6D a nested position effectuated by inter-engagement of a pair of channels is illustrated;

(7) FIGS. 6F-6H show elevation views illustrating a lightweight mounting process of the method of installing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

(8) FIGS. 6I-6K show elevation views illustrating a heavyweight mounting process of the method of installing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

(10) Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hanger assembly having separable surface and object brackets that can slidably engage in a nested position without fasteners. The nested position is formed through the engagement of opposing channels of the respective surfaces of the surface and object brackets. The surface bracket has marking tabs for impressing on a vertical surface a selected orientation of the object that is connected to the object bracket, which in turn is nested with the surface bracket. Once the vertical surface is impressed by the marking tabs, the surface and object brackets can be un-nested and the surface bracket mounted to the vertical surface with the guidance impressions left my the marking tabs. Then the surface and object brackets can be re-nested for installation of the object against the vertical surface.

(11) It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as forward (front), rearward (rear), downward (lower), upward (upper) and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the FIGS., wherein the forward direction, relative to the hanger assembly 10, is toward the object 11b. In other words, in FIGS. 2 and 3, forward is toward the right margin, rearward is toward the left margin, upward is toward the top margin, and downward is toward the bottom margin. A vertical direction would extend between the upward and downward directions, wherein a horizontal is orthogonal to the vertical direction and the forward and rearward directions (into the drawing sheet).

(12) Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6K, the present invention may include a hanger assembly 10. The hanger assembly 10 may include two separable pieces: a surface bracket 20 and an object bracket 30.

(13) The surface bracket 20 may have a mounting plate 21 defined by upper and lower longitudinal edges and two opposing side edges. The lower longitudinal edge (or a lower portion) of the mounting plate 21 has a lower channel 23. The lower channel 23 defines a U-shaped member extending along a length of a front face of the mounting plate 21. A distal edge of the lower channel 23 has a rear-facing lower protrusion 22. The mounting plate 21 may have lightweight mounting holes 24 and heavyweight mounting holes 40.

(14) The rear face of the mounting plate 21 may have a plurality of marking tabs: vertical marking tabs 26 and horizontal marking tabs 28. The vertical marking tabs 26 have a cross section that may be elongated (having a length greater than a width, wherein the ratio of length to width is more than 1) wherein the length of the vertical marking tabs 26 is oriented in a vertical direction. The horizontal marking tabs 28 have an elongated cross section wherein the length of the horizontal marking tabs 28 is oriented in a horizontal direction. The vertical marking tabs 26 and horizontal marking tabs 28 may be formed through bent portions of the upper longitudinal edge and the two opposing side edges, respectively. The marking tabs 26 are dimensioned and adapted to leave surface marks 11c in a supporting surface 11a. The elongated nature of the surface marks 11c (a function of the elongated marking tabs 26 and 28) helps facilitate leveling and aligning an object 11b with other objects that are not yet installed. Thus, a user can arrange a plurality of objects relative to each other before mounting any of them through using the elongated surface marks 11c to get a more accurate leveling reading from a leveling device relative the elongated surface marks 11c (as oppose to just connecting two spaced apart point marks).

(15) The object bracket 30 may have a mounting plate 31 defined by upper and lower longitudinal edges and two opposing side edges. The mounting plate 31 may have object mounting holes 34.

(16) An upper channel 33 depends from the upper longitudinal edge (or an upper portion) of the mounting plate 31. The upper channel 33 defines a downward-facing U-shaped member extending along a length of a rear face of the mounting plate 31. A distal edge of the upper channel 33 has a forward-facing upper protrusion 32.

(17) The rear vertical leg 37 of the upper channel 33 may provide vertically oriented heavyweight clearance slots 42 and lightweight access holes 36, which may or may not be aligned with the object mounting holes 34 for attaching the object bracket 30 with an object 11b. Both the heavyweight clearance slots 42 and the lightweight access holes 36 provide vertical and/or horizontal tolerance whereby mounting fasteners 29/44 can operatively associate with the rear vertical leg 37 while providing clearance for such mounting fasteners 29/44 during the installation process.

(18) FIGS. 6G and 6H demonstrate how the surface bracket 20 and the object bracket 30 may be readily nested. Particularly, the upper channel 33 of the object bracket 30 rests upon and within (inter-engages) a space defined by the lower channel 23 of the surface bracket 20; specifically, the lower channel 23 and lower protrusion 22 define a cavity 25 dimensioned and adapted to slidably receive the upper protrusion 32 of the upper channel 33 by way of an upward opening to the cavity 25. The lower protrusion 22 acts as an overhang to the cavity 25, and thereby defining the dimensions of said upper opening.

(19) A method of using the present invention may include the following. The hanger assembly 10 disclosed above may be provided.

(20) One novel aspect of the present system is that after mounting the object bracket 30 to the object 11b, the surface bracket 30 may nested with the object bracket 30 so that the hanger assembly 10 acts as one. Thus, the object can be selectively leveled and or aligned relative adjacent existing or planned wall hangings, whereby the user may then press the leveled-aligned object 11b to cause the marking tabs 26 and 28 of the surface bracket 20 to leave wall markings 11c, that can be overlapped at the time of mounting the surface bracket 20 to the vertical surface 11a.

(21) Another novel aspect of the present system is that after mounting the surface bracket 20 to the supporting surface 11a by way of heavyweight mounting fasteners 40 and mounting the object bracket 20 to the object 11b by way of object fasteners 39, the two brackets 20 and 30 are dimensioned and adapted in such a way so that while moving between an un-nested condition (FIG. 6G) and a nested condition (FIG. 6H) that the heads of the heavyweight mounting fasteners 40 protruding from the vertical surface 11a are accommodated by the vertical and/or horizontal clearance afforded by the heavyweight clearance slots 42. As a result, the object 11b may be quickly hung onto the vertical surface 11a without need of a mechanical fastener connecting the two brackets 20 and 30.

(22) It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to pictures or panels as it can also be applied to irregular shaped articles where different methods of attachment (such as glue) can be utilized, where the top is uneven or not level. The present invention can also be used for pieces of furniture such as headboards, shelves, etc. The hanger assembly does not even have to be level to work properly.

(23) The present invention can be manufactured from extruded aluminum or from pressed metal, drilling or pressing screw holes and pressing out tabs.

(24) It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.