Picture hanging system

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying a work of art generally includes at least two hook mounting means operatively arranged to be fixedly secured to a wall structure, a rod operatively arranged to be suspended within the hook mounting means at a fixed distance away from the wall structure, at least two ring means operatively arranged for slideable and rotational movement upon the rod means and each suspending a wire means therefrom, at least two wire means, each having an upper loop and a lower loop and an identical length, the wire means operatively arranged to be suspended from the ring means by the upper loops, and at least one frame having at least two attachment means, the frame operatively arranged to be suspended from the lower loops by the attachment means.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to display devices, and more particularly, to a modular system for hanging and displaying pictures such as photographs, paintings, posters and the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Pictures, including paintings, posters, photographs and the like, are typically framed for hanging on a wall or other vertical surface. Conventional systems for hanging pictures generally include picture frames wherein cables or wires are affixed to the rear of a frame, either along the sides of the frame or along the top of the frame and the frame hung from a wall. The cable and wire members typically suspend the frame from a hook affixed to the wall and the hook is typically hidden from view by the picture frame. Other methods of hanging pictures are also known and can include clips or brackets affixed to the rear of the frame for suspending the frame on a hook, nails or other fasteners that are affixed to the wall. [0003] While conventi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In a preferred embodiment a picture is contained within a picture frame and the picture frame is suspended from a supporting structure by a pair of wall hook mounting means, a rod means, a pair of ring means, a pair of wire means, and an pair of attachment means. The wall hook mounting means is configured to offset the rod means from a wall such that the picture suspended therefrom is prevented from contacting the wall, thus, minimizing damage. The rod means is provided for securing the ring means, which are generally configured for translational and rotational movement upon the rod means. It should be appreciated by those having skill in the art, however, that the ring means could be operatively arranged such that its motion may be arrested, e.g. by means of a locking screw, bolt or the like. The ring means is operatively arranged to secure an upper loop of the wire means. A lower loop of the wire means at the opposite end is secured to the picture frame by the attachment means and the lower loop may rotate with respect to the attachment means for adjustment purposes. The wire means preferably comprises a monofilament wire, but could comprise other types of wire such as cable, rope or chain. Additionally, while the present invention may be configured for suspending pictures such as photographs, paintings, posters or other works, a preferred embodiment suspends a picture from a picture frame comprising two panes of glass that secure to one another via the attachment means. It should be appreciated that the present invention could also be configured for suspending items other than pictures or picture frames, for example, works of art and the like.

[0007] The picture hanging system of the invention is, thus, aesthetically appealing, easy to adjust, and minimizes the damage that may occur to both the supporting structure and the work. Moreover, because the picture hanging system of the present invention is adjustable, the sizes, heights and arrangement of a group of pictures can be changed using the supporting hardware, which obviates the need to make additional holes in a wall to accommodate changes. It should be appreciated that the picture hanging system of the present invention may also be configured for hanging one or more pictures from a surface such that the work may be viewed from both sides.

[0008] A general object of the invention, thus, is to provide a means for suspending one or more works from a supporting structure such as a wall or a window, such that damage to the works and the supporting structure is avoided.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a common means for suspending a plurality of works, such as pictures, from a supporting structure such that excessive damage to the picture or picture frame is avoided.

[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide an aesthetically appealing modular system for suspending a plurality of pictures from a wall such that the pictures can be readily arranged and rearranged without causing unnecessary damage to the supporting structure.

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, in order to hang a plurality of pictures on a wall, considerable damage to the wall from hooks and / or nails is incurred.

Additionally, alignment of the various pictures with one another can be troublesome.

While the device illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,999 solves many of the problems typically associated with hanging pictures, the device described therein does not provide means for preventing unnecessary damage to a wall caused by the picture frame and hardware or prevent damage to the picture.

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