HANGING APPARATUS AND BRACKET FOR HANGING A FRAME APPARATUS

• US 20170367505A1
• Filed: 06/23/2017
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MCS Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MCS Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Pyle, Michael Lee, Kressin, Matthew Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,681,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/10 Corner clips or corner-connecting appliances for frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1653 for connecting to a surface other than a flat wall, e.g. room corner, ceiling, window
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/20 Picture hooks; X-hooks plugs or hooks for general use F16B13/00, F16B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

A hanging apparatus that includes a frame apparatus that supports a display item and a bracket coupled thereto. The bracket may include a body portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion facilitating coupling of the bracket to the frame apparatus. The body portion may include a peripheral edge including first, second, and third edge portions. There may be a first slot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edge portion and a second slot extending form the third edge portion towards the first edge portion. Furthermore, there may be an aperture extending through the body portion that includes an entry section, first nesting section, and a second nesting section. The first slot and the first nesting section may be aligned along a first axis and the second slot and the second nesting section may be aligned along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

Claims

1. A hanging apparatus comprising:

a frame apparatus configured to support a display item;

a bracket coupled to the frame apparatus, the bracket comprising;

a body portion comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the first and second surfaces, the peripheral edge comprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion extending between the first and second edge portions;

a first slot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edge portion; and

an aperture extending through the body portion from the first surface to the second surface, the aperture comprising an entry section and a first nesting section extending from the entry section towards the second edge portion; and

wherein the first slot and the first nesting section of the aperture are aligned along a first axis that is parallel to the first edge portion of the peripheral edge.

2. The hanging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first slot and the first nesting section of the aperture are elongated along the first axis.

4. The hanging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bracket further comprises a second slot extending from the third edge portion towards the first edge portion, and wherein the aperture further comprises a second nesting section extending from the entry section towards the first edge portion, and wherein the second slot and the second nesting section of the aperture are aligned along a second axis that is parallel to the second edge portion of the peripheral edge.

5. The hanging apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular to one another, and wherein the bracket is symmetric about a reference plane that intersects both of the first and second axes at a 45°

angle.

12. The hanging apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

the frame apparatus comprising;

a frame having an inner surface defining a rabbet and a display opening; and

a stack positioned in the rabbet and being at least partially visible through the display opening, the stack comprising a glazing and a backer panel; and

wherein the bracket comprises a mounting portion extending from the body portion for mounting the bracket directly to the backer panel.

13. The hanging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket wraps around a portion of the backer panel to mount the bracket to the backer panel.

14. The hanging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket comprises:

a first elongated channel extending parallel to the first edge portion of the peripheral edge, the first elongated channel spaced apart from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket; and

a second elongated channel extending parallel to the second edge portion of the peripheral edge, the second elongated channel spaced apart from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket; and

wherein at least a portion of a first edge of the backer panel is positioned within the first elongated channel of the mounting portion of the bracket and at least a portion of a second edge of the backer panel that is adjacent to the first edge of the backer panel is positioned within the second elongated channel of the mounting portion of the bracket, the second surface of the bracket being separated from the backer panel by a gap.

15. The hanging apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket comprises:

a first vertical wall extending downwardly from the first edge portion of the peripheral edge of the body portion of the bracket in a direction away from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket, a first horizontal wall extending from the first vertical wall in a direction away from the first edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, a second vertical wall extending downwardly from the first horizontal wall in the direction away from the second surface of the bracket, and a second horizontal wall extending from the second vertical wall in a direction towards the first edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, wherein the first elongated channel is defined by the first horizontal wall, the second vertical wall, and the second horizontal wall; and

a third vertical wall extending downwardly from the second edge portion of the peripheral edge of the body portion of the bracket in the direction away from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket, a third horizontal wall extending from the third vertical wall in a direction away from the second edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, a fourth vertical wall extending downwardly from the third horizontal wall, and a fourth horizontal wall extending from the fourth vertical wall in a direction towards the second edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, wherein the second elongated channel is defined by the third horizontal wall, the fourth vertical wall, and the fourth horizontal wall.

21. The hanging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an over-the-door hanging member comprising an elongated body extending from a first end to a second end and a U-shaped member located at the second end of the elongated body, the elongated body having a front surface, an opposite rear surface, and a first hook and a second hook extending from the front surface, wherein the first hook is inserted into the first slot of the bracket and the second hook is inserted into the aperture of the bracket to mount the over-the-door hanging member to the bracket, and wherein the U-shaped member is configured for mounting to a top edge of a door to hang the hanging apparatus from the top edge of the door.

3. (canceled)

6-11. -11. (canceled)

16-20. -20. (canceled)

22. A hanging apparatus comprising:

a frame apparatus configured to support a display item;

a bracket coupled to the frame apparatus, the bracket comprising;

a body portion comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the first and second surfaces, the peripheral edge comprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion extending between the first and second edge portions;

a first slot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edge portion and being elongated along a first axis;

a second slot extending from the third edge portion towards the first edge portion and being elongated along a second axis; and

wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular.

23. The hanging apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the first edge portion extends along a first edge axis, the second edge portion extends along a second edge axis, and the third edge portion comprises a linear section that extends along a third edge axis, the third edge axis forming an acute angle with each of the first and second edge axes, wherein the first and second edge axes are perpendicular to one another.

25. The hanging apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising an aperture extending through the body portion from the first surface to the second surface, the aperture comprising an entry section, a first nesting section extending from the entry section towards the second edge portion, and a second nesting section extending from the entry section towards the first edge portion, wherein the first entry section is elongated along the first axis and the second entry section is elongated along the second axis.

27. The hanging apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the first slot extends from the third edge portion to a terminal edge and the second slot extends from the third edge portion to a terminal edge, the terminal edge of the first slot being spaced a first distance from the aperture and the terminal edge of the second slot being spaced a second distance from the aperture, the first and second distances being the same.

29. The hanging apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising an over-the-door hanging member comprising an elongated body extending from a first end to a second end and a U-shaped member located at the second end of the elongated body, the elongated body having a front surface, an opposite rear surface, and a first hook and a second hook extending from the front surface, wherein the first hook is inserted into one of the first and second slots of the bracket and the second hook is inserted into the aperture of the bracket to mount the over-the-door hanging member to the bracket, and wherein the U-shaped member is configured for mounting to a top edge of a door to hang the hanging apparatus from the top edge of the door.

30. The hanging apparatus according to claim 22 wherein a section of the third edge portion extending between the first and second slots comprises a sawtooth configuration.

32. The hanging apparatus according to claim 22 the frame apparatus comprising:

a frame having an inner surface defining a rabbet and a display opening; and

a stack positioned in the rabbet and being at least partially visible through the display opening, the stack comprising a glazing and a backer panel; and

wherein the bracket comprises a mounting portion extending from the body portion for mounting the bracket directly to the backer panel.

33. The hanging apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket wraps around a portion of the backer panel to mount the bracket to the backer panel.

34. The hanging apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket comprises:

a first elongated channel extending parallel to the first edge portion of the peripheral edge, the first elongated channel spaced apart from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket; and

a second elongated channel extending parallel to the second edge portion of the peripheral edge, the second elongated channel spaced apart from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket; and

wherein at least a portion of a first edge of the backer panel is positioned within the first elongated channel of the mounting portion of the bracket and at least a portion of a second edge of the backer panel that is adjacent to the first edge of the backer panel is positioned within the second elongated channel of the mounting portion of the bracket, the second surface of the bracket being separated from the backer panel by a gap.

35. The hanging apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket comprises:

a first vertical wall extending downwardly from the first edge portion of the peripheral edge of the body portion of the bracket in a direction away from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket, a first horizontal wall extending from the first vertical wall in a direction away from the first edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, a second vertical wall extending downwardly from the first horizontal wall in the direction away from the second surface of the bracket, and a second horizontal wall extending from the second vertical wall in a direction towards the first edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, wherein the first elongated channel is defined by the first horizontal wall, the second vertical wall, and the second horizontal wall; and

a third vertical wall extending downwardly from the second edge portion of the peripheral edge of the body portion of the bracket in the direction away from the second surface of the body portion of the bracket, a third horizontal wall extending from the third vertical wall in a direction away from the second edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, a fourth vertical wall extending downwardly from the third horizontal wall, and a fourth horizontal wall extending from the fourth vertical wall in a direction towards the second edge portion of the peripheral edge of the bracket, wherein the second elongated channel is defined by the third horizontal wall, the fourth vertical wall, and the fourth horizontal wall.

24. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

36. A bracket for hanging a frame apparatus on a support surface, the bracket comprising:

a body portion comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the first and second surfaces, the peripheral edge comprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion;

a first slot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edge portion;

an aperture extending through the body portion from the first surface to the second surface, the aperture comprising an entry section and a first nesting section extending from the entry section towards the second edge portion; and

wherein the first slot and the first nesting section of the aperture are aligned along a first axis that is parallel to the first edge portion of the peripheral edge.

37-56. -56. (canceled)