Apparatus for lockably mounting picture frames and the like

• US 4,074,888 A
• Filed: 03/11/1976
• Issued: 02/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George H. Garner
• Original Assignee: George H. Garner
• Inventors: Garner, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frazier, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Terrell P.
• Application Number:
  US05/666,180
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 248/466, 248/489, 248/475, 248/497, 248/498, 248/203, 24/221 R, 40/152, 40/152.1, 85/9, 85/1 H, 85/1 L, 85/71, 403/11, 403/19, 403/27
• US Class Current: 248/475.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0655 with anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1606 comprising a wall member cooperating with a corresponding picture member

Abstract

Subject apparatus includes at least one anchoring socket each being fixedly attached to the wall which is provided with a prepared hole for receiving same. A pin member having an oblong heat portion is included for each anchoring socket and is grippingly received therein whereby outward movement of the pin member is precluded. A platelike element is included for each anchoring socket and is fixedly attached to the back side of the picture frame. Subject apparatus may include a guide member for locating the optimum position of the platelike element on the back side of the picture frame. One embodiment of the pin member includes a plurality of angularly arranged barbs disposed along the length of the shaft portion allowing the pin member to be urged into the socket and to preclude subsequent withdrawal thereof. Another embodiment of the pin member includes male threads and the socket is threaded internally for threaded engagement therewith. One embodiment of the platelike element is provided with an oblong aperture for receiving the head of the pin, i.e., when the major axes thereof are aligned. Another embodiment of the platelike element is provided with a circular-shaped aperture. A pair of restraining wires disposed in a parallel spaced apart relationship are stretched across the aperture to define in part an oblong slot which functions in somewhat the same manner as the oblong aperture except a circular-shaped head portion, i.e., when viewed from the side, may be urged between the restraining wires which are adapted to yieldably spread apart and subsequently capture the head portion. Withdrawal of the head from the platelike element is prevented when the major axes of the oblong head and aperture or slot are misaligned, thereby establishing obscured lock structure thus minimizing unwarranted removal of the picture frame. Subject apparatus may include a tool that can be fitted between the wall and the picture frame for engaging a portion of the pin member to allow the pin member to be manually rotated about its longitudinal axis causing the oblong head of the pin member to be selectively aligned and misaligned with the oblong aperture or slot in the platelike element so that the picture frame can be selectively removed from and/or locked to the wall. The guide member and the tool may be integrally formed as a one-piece unit.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting a portable object having a back side to a fixed surface, said apparatus comprising at least one anchoring socket means fixedly attached to said fixed surface, a pin member received in each of said socket means with a portion thereof grippingly engaging said socket means whereby outward movement of said pin member is precluded, at least one platelike element fixedly attached to the back side of the portable object, guide means for locating the optimum position of said platelike element on the back side of the portable object, said guide means including a thin, rigid body portion having a top edge for being aligned with the top or bottom edge of the portable object and having a side edge for being aligned with one of the side edges of the portable object and having an aperture therethrough for allowing a mark to be made therethrough with a pencil or the like on the back side of the portable object when said body portion is positioned on the back side of the portable object with said top edge aligned with the top or bottom edge of the portable object and with said side edge aligned with one of the side optimum of the portable object, said mark corresponding to the optmum position of the center of said platelike element, and lock means for removably locking said platelike element to said pin member with said lock means being hidden from view and being substantially inaccessible without special tools to obscure the structure thereof whereby unwarranted removal of the object from the fixed surface is minimized.

2. Apparatus for mounting a portable object having a back side to a fixed surface, said apparatus comprising at least one anchoring socket means fixedly attached to said fixed surface, a pin member received in each of said socket means with a portion thereof grippingly engaging said socket means whereby outward movement of said pin member is precluded, at least one platelike element fixedly attached to the back side of the portable object, guide means for locating the optimum position of said platelike element on the back side of the portable object, lock means for removably locking said platelike element to said pin member with said lock means being hidden from view and being substantially inaccessible to obscure the structure thereof whereby unwarranted removal of the portable object from the fixed surface is minimized, and tool means for engaging said pin member and for manually rotating said pin member about the longitudinal axis thereof to selectively lock and unlock said lock means, said guide means and said tool means being integrally formed as a one-piece unit.

3. Apparatus for mounting a portable object having a back side to a fixed surface, said apparatus comprising at least one anchoring socket means fixedly attached to said fixed surface, said fixed surface being provided with a hole for receivinbg said anchoring socket means;

a pin member received in said socket means and including a plurality of radially disposed barb portions protruding outwardly at random locations along the length thereof for grippingly engaging said anchoring socket means, said barb portions being angularly oriented to allow said pin member to be urged into said socket means and to preclude subsequent withdrawal thereof;

a platelike element fixedly attached to the back side of the portable object, said pin member including an oblong head portion fixedly attached to the outer end thereof, and said platelike element being provided with an oblong aperture having a size compatible with said oblong head portion to allow free passage therethrough when the major axes of said oblong head portion and said aperture are aligned, withdrawal of said head portion of said pin member from said platelike element being prevented when the major axes of said oblong head portion and said aperture are misaligned, said pin member and said platelike element being hidden from view and being substantially inaccessible without special tools to obscure the structure of said lock means whereby unwarranted removal of the portable object from the fixed surface is minimized;

guide means for locating the optimum position of said platelike element on the back side of the portable object; and

tool means for engaging said pin member and for manually rotating said pin member about the longitudnal axis thereof to selectively lock and unlock said platelike element to said pin member, said guide means and said tool means being integrally formed as a one-piece unit.

4. Apparatus for mounting a portable object having a back side to a fixed surface, said apparatus comprising at least one anchoring socket means fixedly attached to said fixed surface, a pin member received in each of said socket means with a portion thereof grippingly engaging said socket means whereby outward movement of said pin member is precluded, at least one platelike element fixedly attached to the back side of the portable object, guide means for locating the optimum position of said platelike element on the back side of the portable object, lock means for removably locking said platelike element to said pin member with said lock means being hidden from view and being substantially inaccessible to obscure the structure thereof whereby unwarranted removal of the portable object from the fixed surface is minimized, and tool means for selectively locking and unlocking said lock means, said guide means and said tool means being integrally formed as a one-piece unit.