US2898064A - Picture hanger device - Google Patents

Description

g- 4, 1959 R. c. SCOTT 2,898,064

PICTURE HANGER DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1956 RALPH C. SCOTT INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent PICTURE HANGER DEVICE Ralph C. Scott, Rochester, N.Y. Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 623,995

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-31) The present invention relates to a supporting device, and more particularly to an adjustable picture hanger.

As is well known, in hanging a picture or similar device, it is desirable, if not essential, for the most satisfactory results, that the picture be positioned properly laterally or horizontally and also vertically. Where the term picture is used in the specification and claims, it is used in its generic sense to cover a picture, mirror, easel, or similar device, which is to be hung in suspended relation.

The present invention has as its principal object, the provision of a new and improved picture hanger device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which permits accurate positioning and adjustment of the picture.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a hanger which may be easily and quickly adjusted to a new position when and if desired.

And still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class described which will permit small increments of adjustment to enable accurate positioning and leveling of the picture.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a hanger device which, when adjusted, will maintain its adjustment until again positively readjusted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hanger device which is simple instructure, rugged, easy to adjust, and positive in its operation.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel fea tures being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the hanger of the present invention, showing the relation of the parts to the picture, the latter being shown in the dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the picture and hanger device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of a hanger, similar to that of Fig. 1, but of a larger size, to support a larger or wider picture;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation view of a clip or bracket for use on the back of the picture; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket illustrated in Fig. 4, showing the arrangement of the spaced adjustment slots.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts.

The hanger comprises a base plate, generally indicated by the numeral 10. This plate is formed with a flat back plate 11 which lies flat against a fixed wall or sup port 12, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The upper end of plate 11 is bent at 13 to form a downwardly inclined section or portion 14 which is spaced outwardly from plate 11, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of portion 14 is then bent at 15 to form an inwardly inclined section 16 which extends toward plate 11. The plate 11 and portion 14 form spaced walls and are provided with aligned 4, 2,898,064 Patented Aug. 4, 19 59 ice holes 17 which are arranged in inclined relation, see Fig. 2, to receive the nail or other fastening means 18 for fixedly securing or anchoring the base plate 10 to the wall or support 12, as shown or illustrated in Fig. 2. The lower end of plate 11 is bent at 19 to provide a section 20, which overlies and is spaced from the lower part of plate 12 to provide a horizontal channel 21 which extends the full length of plate 11. This entire base plate 10 is preferably formed from a single sheet or piece of metal, but it may be made of any other suitable material.

A picture supporting member 22, in the form of a thin strip of metal, or other suitable material, is positioned in the channel 21 and is supported on the bend 19 thereof as seen .in Fig. 2. The member 22 has a length which is greater than the length of channel 21 and plate 10, see Figs. 1 and 2, and for a purpose to be later described. Also, the height of member 22 is preferably slightly greater than the depth of channel 21, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. l3, that the member 22 may be slid laterally freely in channel 21 and relative to the plate 10 to position the member 22 laterally relative to the plate 10 for a purpose to be later described. However, in all positions of adjustment, the opposite ends 23 and 24 of member 22 project laterally beyond the side edges 25 and 26, respectively, of plate 10, as best shown in Figs. 1

and 3.

The top edge 27 of member 22, adjacent the ends 23 and 24 thereof, is formed with downwardly extending, open- end slots 28 and 29. These slots are adapted to receive the thin connecting members 30 positioned between the balls 31 of a ball-type chain 32. As the latter isof well known construction, further details are not deemed necessary. By means of this arrangement, a pair of ball-type chains 32 are connected detachably to and suspended from the slots 28 or 29 at the opposite ends of member 22 laterally of the edges 25 and 26 of plate 10. The plate 10 and member 22 may be made of various lengths depending upon the length of the picture member to be supported. However, in all cases, the member 22 is of a length greater than plate 10 and is freely slidable and is supported in the channel 21. Figs. 1 and 3 show such constructions which are of different length to suit pictures of different widths. Aside from the differences in the length of the parts, the hangers are identical in structure, and similar parts in different views are designated by the same numerals.

As is well known, the balls 31 are spaced equally along the chain 32 and the distance between the centers of the adjacent balls may be designated as a link and indicated by the letter C. It is noted that the bottom of the slots 28 and 29 alsoare spaced vertically a distance I each of which comprises a base plate 38 secured to the back 33. The upper end of plate 38 is bent at 39 to form a downwardly extending section 40 of the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 5. As will be noted, see Fig. 1, these brackets 37 are positioned below and spaced laterally of plate It and member 22 so that the chains 32 connecting slots 28 or 29 to bracket 37 are inclined downwardly and outwardly which is the usual practice in handling a picture or similar object. This arrangement aflfords the most suitable support for the picture. The section 40 of each bracket 37 is formed with a vertically arranged open end slot 41 which extends upward from the lower edge 45 of the section 40, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This slot 41, like slots 28 and 29, is adapted to receive one of the connecting members 30 of a'chain 32, as shown in Fig. 2. In addition, each section 40 is preferably formed with a pair of horizontally openend slots 42 extending laterally or horizontally from slot 41. Preferably only two of these horizontal slots 42 are provided and these slots are positioned a distance C apart. However, if desired a greater number of such slots 42 may be provided, and similar slots 42 may be arranged on the opposite side of the main slot 41, and may be aligned or in staggered relation with the other slots 42.

When the member 30 of a chain 32 is inserted in one of the slots 28 or 29, adjacent balls 31 engage the opposite faces of member 22, as is deemed apparent. Similarly, when the member 38 of a chain 32 is positioned in one of the slots 41 or 42, the adjacent balls 31 engage the opposite faces of section 40 of bracket 37. In this way, the chains 32 are held firmly yet detachably in position on the member 22 which, in turn, is supported in a sliding relation in the channel 21 of plate It the latter, in turn, being fastened to the wall or support 12 by means of nails 18.

In mounting a picture 34, the plate is first fixed to the wall 12 in a position approximately central of the picture. The chains 32 are then connected between the member 22 and the brackets 37. If the picture is not positioned laterally in the desired relation, it is only necessary to slide the member 22 laterally in the proper direction along channel 21 until the desired lateral position is reached. Thus, the structure of the present invention provides an easy, quick and simple way to secure lateral positioning of the picture. Of course, if it later is necessary or desirable to vary the lateral position of the picture, the member 22 is again moved along the channel 21, as is deemed apparent. Furthermore, by connecting the chains in the proper slots 28 and 29, 41 and 42, the picture may be accurately leveled or vertically adjusted. Initially the chains may be placed in any suitable group of slots to secure a rough or initially leveling or vertical adjustment. Then, by varying the relation of the chains on the two ends of member 22 and positioning the chains in the different slots, a very fine and highly accurate vertical adjustment of the picture may be obtained. Furthermore, the spacing arrangement of the slots 28 and 29, 41 or 42, provides what may be termed a Vernier effect, the advantages of which are deemed apparent.

Thus, by moving the member 22 laterally relative to the plate 10, an accurate lateral positioning of the picture is secured. If sufiicient lateral displacement cannot be obtained with the member 22, then being used, this member may be removed and a longer member substituted therefor. Then, by selecting the particular slots into which the chains are positioned, the vertical positioning and leveling of the picture may be obtained with a high degree of accuracy, the advantages of which are deemed apparent. The chains may be initially inserted in any group of slots to secure a rough leveling adjustment. Then, after the picture is supported, the positions of the chains may be altered to place the chains in definite slots to obtain the desired high degree or finer vertical adjustment or leveling of the picture.

The present invention thus provides a picture hanger device which assures accurate and satisfactory lateral positioning and leveling of the picture. This device is simple, easy to use, rugged, and highly satisfactory.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A picture hanger device, comprising in combination, a base plate attachable in a fixed relation on a support, a picture supporting member of a length greater than said plate, means on said plate supporting said member slidably on said plate so that said member may be adjusted laterally relative to said plate to adjust a picture laterally relative to said plate, said supporting member being formed with at least a pair of open end slots extending downwardly from the top edge thereof adjacent the ends thereof and laterally of said plate, a picture, brackets secured to the rear side of said picture adjacent the opposite edges thereof, each of said brackets being formed with at least a pair of vertically spaced open end slots, and separate chain members connecting the slots of said supporting member to the slots of said brackets to support said picture from said supporting member, the vertical distance between the bottoms of the slotson each end of said supporting member and the vertical distance between the slots of said bracket being substantially equal to the length of a link of said chain, the arrangement of the slots being such that by the proper selection of the slots a very accurate adjustment of the opposite edges of the picture can be obtained to level the picture.

2. A picture hanger device, comprising in combination, a base plate attachable in a fixed relation on a support, said plate being formed with a horizontally extending channel, a picture supporting member of a length greater than said plate and slidably positioned and supported in said channel for movement laterally thereof to adjust the position of a picture laterally relative to said plate, said supporting member being formed with a pair of vertically extending open-end slots extending downwardly from the upper edge of said supporting member and adjacent the opposite ends thereof and laterally of said plate, a picture, a pair of brackets secured to the rear side of said picture adjacent opposite edges thereof, each of said brackets being formed with a pair of vertically spaced open-end slots, separate link members composed of links and connecting the ends of said supporting member to said brackets, and elements of said link members positionable selectively in said slots to adjust the relative lengths of said members to adjust the opposite edges of said picture to level the latter, the bottoms of the slots in said supporting member and the vertical spacing of the slots in said brackets being substantially equal to the length of a link of said link members so that by selecting the proper elements of said link members and the slots on said supporting member and said brackets the opposite edges of said picture may be adjusted separately and accurately to obtain the desired level relation of said picture on said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 341,964 Taylor May 18, 1886 2,005,334 Casper June 18, 1935 2,448,588 Greenberg Sept. 7, 1948 2,657,887 White Nov. 3, 1953 2,740,603 Woffo-rd' Apr. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,153 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1920

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