APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED OBJECT LEVELING

Abstract

The present disclosure comprises an object straightener device sized and configured to be attached to the backside, bottom of an object, on the one hand, and attached to the wall that is holding the object, on the other hand. By attaching the object portion of the straightener device to the back of the object, and the wall portion of the straightener device to the wall, once the object is hung, and the desired position is attained, the object can be pressed against the wall, thereby bringing the wall portion and the object portion of the object straightener device into contact with each other and holding the object in the level position. The wall portion and the object portion can be detached from each other to reposition the object and then again attached to each other to hold the object in the newly desired position. Once implemented, the object straightener device will be hidden from the front, when the object is being viewed.

Claims

1. An object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position, comprising: an object portion, said object portion comprising an object first side and an object second side, said object first side comprising an object fastener material, said object second side comprising an object adhesive material; a wall portion, said wall portion comprising wall first side and a wall second side, said wall first side comprising a wall fastener material, said wall second side comprising a wall adhesive material; wherein, when the object portion of the object straightener device is attached to a back and a bottom portion of the object, using the object second side containing the object adhesive material, and the wall portion of the object straightener device is attached to a wall, using the wall second side containing the wall adhesive material; wherein, said object portion and said wall portion are not capable of holding the object on the wall and once the object is properly hung on the wall, and a desired position is attained, the object can be pressed against the wall, thereby bringing the object first side containing the object fastener material into contact with the wall first side containing the wall fastener material, and thereby holding the object in the desired position while keeping the object portion and the wall portion hidden from sight behind the object.

2. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, in which the object fastener material is a hook material.

3. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, in which the wall fastener material is a loop material.

4. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 2, in which the hook material is made up of only a few hooks.

5. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 3, in which the loop material is made up of only a few loops.

6. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, in which the object portion is a square.

7. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, in which the object portion is a circle.

8. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, in which the wall portion is a triangle.

9. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, in which the wall portion is a square.

10. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, in which the wall portion is a circle.

11. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 1, wherein once the object has been pressed against the wall, bringing the object first side containing the object fastener material into contact with the wall first side containing the wall fastener material, the object can be pulled from the wall, separating the object first side containing the object fastener material from the wall first side containing the wall fastener material.

12. The object straightener device for maintaining an object in a desired position in claim 11, wherein once the object has been pulled from the wall, separating the object first side containing the object fastener material from the wall first side containing the wall fastener material, the object can be repositioned and again pressed against the wall, bringing the object first side containing the object fastener material again into contact with the wall first side containing the wall fastener material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to the limit the disclosure, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates the front side of a picture containing the object straightener device for positioning, straightening and leveling pictures in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates the rear side of a picture containing the object straightener device for positioning, straightening and leveling pictures in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates the front side and wall view of a picture containing the object straightener device for positioning, straightening and leveling pictures in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates the object straightener devices for positioning, straightening and leveling pictures in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0031] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features in the various views, the present disclosure pertains to an improved object straightener device that is configured with attachable fasteners to keep an object that could be hung on a wall in the intended position, and to keep the object from moving or rotating.

[0032] FIGS. 1 through 4 show an improved object straightener device 10 and method for securing objects in their desired, level or straightened position, or in the position intended when the object was originally hung. Although the preferred embodiment shows a picture, one having ordinary skill in the art would understand that the straightening device could also be used on frames, mirrors, clocks or any other objects, and the disclosure is not limited to pictures.

[0033] The object straightener device 10 is not intended to hang or hold the object to the wall, but is instead intended to allow the user to easily position the object as intended, whether that position is level or otherwise, and to allow the user to easily reposition and/or modify the hanging position of the object from its original or first position to a repositioned or second position as the user's desires change.

[0034] FIGS. 1 through 4 also show an improvement to the method for securing pictures in their original intended, straight or level position, in accordance with the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show an apparatus and methods that incorporates an exemplary picture straightener device 10 that is sized and configured to be attached to the back side 12, bottom portion 14 of a picture or frame 16, on the one hand, and attached to the wall 18 that is holding the picture or frame 16, on the other hand. As detailed above, the picture 16 reference is meant to include any object that can be hung on a wall. Additionally, the object straightener device 10 does not function to, nor is it capable of, holding the picture 16 to the wall 18, but instead functions to keep the picture 16 from sliding or rotating once the desired or level position is attained. As such, the object straightener device 10 can be very small since the forces it needs to negate are the side-to-side forces and the object straightener device 10 does not need to function to overcome gravitational forces pulling on the picture 16. The object straightener device 10 is meant to be used in conjunction with other devices used to hang objects and structures.

[0036] The object straightener device 10 comprises a picture portion 20 and a wall portion 22. The picture portion 20 contains a picture first side 24 and a picture second side 26 (shown in FIG. 4), while the wall portion 22 contains a wall first side 28 and a wall second side 30 (shown in FIG. 4). The picture first side 24 comprises a picture fastener material 32, and the wall first side 28 comprises a wall fastener material 34. The picture second side 26 comprises a picture adhesive material 36, and the wall second side 30 comprises a wall adhesive material 38.

[0037] In use, the picture portion 20 of the straightener device 10 is attached or adhered to the back 12 and bottom portion 14 of the picture 16, using the picture second side 26 containing the picture adhesive material 36. Next, the wall portion 22 of the straightener device 10 is attached or adhered to the wall 18, using the wall second side 30 containing the wall adhesive material 38.

[0038] Once the picture 16 is properly hung on the wall using another device (see FIG. 3), and the intended position, whether that is the leveled or straightened position (or another position) is attained, the picture 16 can be pressed against the wall 18, thereby bringing the picture first side 24 containing the picture fastener material 32 into contact with the wall first side 28 containing the wall fastener material 34. The picture portion 20 will then be fastened to the wall portion 22 and the picture will be held in the level or straight position. Once implemented, the picture straightener device 10 will be hidden from the front, when the picture is being viewed (see FIG. 1).

[0039] Additionally, once the picture 16 has properly been hung in its intended position, and the picture 16 has been pressed against the wall 18 from the viewing side, the picture 16 can be pulled away from the wall 18 thereby releasing the picture fastener material 32 from the wall fastener material 34. This will allow the user to reposition the picture 16 and use the same technique to position the picture 16 in a different position on the wall 18. In certain instances, where a completely different angle is preferred, the picture 16 can be repositioned without the need to rehang the picture 16. This repositioning allows the user the flexibility to change the position of the picture without removing it from the wall 18.

[0040] The picture straightener device 10 does not function to, and is not capable of, holding the picture 16 to the wall 18, but instead keeps the picture 16 from sliding or rotating once the intended position is attained. As such, the present picture straightener device 10 can be very small, since the forces it needs to address are the side-to-side forces and the picture straightener device 10 does not have to overcome the force of gravity pulling on the picture or frame 16. For example, if the object straightener device 10 utilizes a hook and loop structure for attachment purposes, merely a few hooks or a few loops can be incorporated to provide the functionality described herein. The present disclosure is meant to be used in conjunction with other picture hanging products and structures.

[0041] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the preferred and an alternative embodiment. The two triangles 20 at the corners of the back 12 of the picture 16 comprise the preferred embodiment, while the circle 20 is an alternative embodiment that can be utilized alone or with other devices 10. The three devices 10 are not meant to be used together, although they could be used together and still be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows some different designs for the picture straightener device 10. The design of the two portions 20, 22 of the picture straightener device 10 can be triangles, squares, circles, half-circles, or any other shape based on the shape of the picture or frame 16 being hung on the wall 18 (FIG. 4 shows triangles and half circles).

[0043] For example, if a picture 16 being hung is a rectangle or square (see FIG. 1), the portions 20, 22 of the straightener device 10 can be triangles (shown) or squares for bottom 14 placement, or even half-circular (shown) for placement in the bottom 14 center 40 of the picture 16. Further, the portions 20, 22 of the picture straightener device 10 can be any color based on the color of the wall 18, the color of the picture of frame 16, or any combination of the two. In the preferred embodiment, the picture straightener device 10 is meant to be hidden from view, once the picture or frame 16 has been levelled and straightened on the wall 18.

[0044] As described herein, the present disclosure includes structures for improving picture hanging devices and the methods of hanging a picture 16 to prevent sliding or rotating of the picture 16 on the wall 18. In the preferred embodiment, these improvements comprise small picture straightening devices 10, such as hook and loop type designs that comprise two pieces, a wall piece and an object piece. The picture fastener material 32 and the wall fastener material 34 can be any material that will fasten the picture and wall portions 20, 22 together, for example, hook and loop fasteners, so that when the portions 20, 22 are pressed together, the two portions 20, 22 will hold together until enough force is applied to pry them apart.

[0045] Additionally, each portion 20, 22 will have the adhesive material 36, 38 located on the non-fastener sides 26, 30, such that the picture portion 20 can be adhered or attached to the back 12 of the picture 16, and the wall portion 22 can be adhered or attached to the wall 18. The adhesive materials 36, 38 may be the same materials for both or different materials. Further, each adhesive material 36, 38 located on the second sides 26, 30 of the picture or wall portions 20, 22, may have a cover (not shown) that may need to be removed before the portion 20, 22 is located on the picture 16 or wall 18, respectively. The adhesive material 36, 38 should be tacky enough to hold the portions 20, 22 in their respective locations, but not so tacky that the portions 20, 22 cannot be removed without damaging the picture 16 or the wall 18.

[0046] Once the wall portion 22 is adhered to the wall 18 and the picture portion 20 is adhered to the picture 16, the picture 16, which is hung on the wall 18 through other means, can be lined up to be level or straight. At this point, the picture 16 can be pressed against the wall 18 thereby connecting the fastener materials 32, 34 and holding the picture 16 level and straight and from rotating or turning from that level position. Since the picture straightener device 10 is not holding the picture 16 to the wall 18, the picture portion 20 and the wall portion 22 do not have to be lined up exactly. Only an overlap of each portion 20, 22 is needed to connect and hold the picture 16 level or straight on the wall 18.

[0047] It will be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure, which have been described, are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present disclosure. Although numerous embodiments of this disclosure have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure.

[0048] All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the disclosed system and methods.

[0049] Additionally, joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed apparatus, system and methods as disclosed herein.