Display frame for mounting vertical surface

• US 4,689,906 A
• Filed: 08/21/1985
• Issued: 09/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Esselte Pendaflex Corporation (Esselte Group Holdings SA), Nielsen and Bainbridge LLC
• Original Assignee: Esselte Pendaflex Corporation (Esselte Group Holdings SA)
• Inventors: Sherman, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hakomaki, J.
• Application Number:
  US06/767,802
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 40/152.1, 40/152, 40/155, 40/156, 248/489, 248/490, 248/491, 248/492, 248/493, 248/495, 248/496, 248/497, 248/295.1, 403/295
• US Class Current: 40/757
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0605 made from extruded or moulded profiles, e.g. of plastic or metal
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1666 Devices for connecting a suspension wire to a picture

Abstract

A structure for displaying articles on vertical surfaces. Included in the structure is a frame assembly for retaining the display article and a pair of frame hangers retained by the frame assembly and adapted to receive the ends of a supporting strand. The frame assembly comprises a plurality of joined elongated frame sections; each frame section comprising a longitudinally extending channel defined by a rear wall, a pair of side walls joined to the rear wall, and a pair of front wall lips each having one edge joined to a different one of the side walls and opposite edges spaced apart by a slot that opens into the channel. Each frame hanger is retained by a channel of a different frame section and comprises a latch arm portion extending into a portion of the channel defined by the rear wall, one of the side walls and one of the front wall lips, an inner end of the latch arm portion engaging the rear wall; a base portion having one end projecting out of the channel through the slot and joined to the latch arm portion, the one end engaging the opposite edge of the one front wall lip and the base portion defining a tapped hole; a lever portion extending from an end of the base portion opposite to the one end and defining an engagement surface; a fastener having a head and a threaded shank received by the tapped hole, the head comprising first and second diametrically opposed contact surfaces, the first contact surface engaging the engagement surface and the second contact surface engaging an outer surface of the one side wall; and a retainer adapted to retain one end of a frame supporting strand.

Claims

1. Article display apparatus comprising:

a frame assembly comprising a plurality of joined elongated frame sections;

each frame section comprising a longitudinally extending channel defined by a rear wall, a pair of side walls joined to said rear wall, and a pair of front wall lips each having one edge joined to a different one of said side walls and opposite edges spaced apart by a slot that opens into said channel; and

a pair of frame hangers each retained by a channel in a different one of said frame sections;

each of said hangers comprising a latch arm portion extending into a portion of said channel defined by said rear wall, one of said side walls and one of said front wall lips, an inner end of said latch arm portion engaging said rear wall;

a base portion having one end projecting out of said channel through said slot and joined to said latch arm portion, said one end engaging said opposite edge of said one front wall lip and said base portion defining a tapped hole;

a lever portion extending from an end of said base portion opposite to said one end and defining an engagement surface;

a fastener having a head and a threaded shank received by said tapped hole, said head comprising first and second diametrically opposed contact surfaces, said first contact surface engaging said engagement surface and said second contact surface engaging an outer surface of said one side wall; and

retainer means adapted to retain one end of a frame supporting strand.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second contact surface is spaced from said one end of said base portion in a direction parallel to said latch arm portion by a distance greater than the length thereof projecting into said channel portion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said base portion comprises a flat surface that defines said tapped opening, and said lever portion comprises an outer portion substantially parallel to said flat surface and a connecting portion extending in said direction between said base portion and said outer portion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said base portion defines a transverse groove in said flat surface and extending the full width thereof, the bottom of said transverse groove defining a portion of said one end of said base portion from which said distance is measured.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first and second contact surfaces comprise a conical portion of said head, and said engagement surface comprises a sloped surface portion of said connecting portion with a slope corresponding to the slope of said conical portion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said base portion defines a transverse groove in said flat surface and extending the full width thereof, the bottom of said transverse groove defining a portion of said one end of said base portion from which said distance is measured.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said retainer means comprises a retainer opening in said outer portion of said lever portion.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said shank is substantially orthogonal to said flat surface.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said latch arm portion extends substantially orthogonally to said flat surface.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said frame sections comprises a rim portion for bordering an item to be displayed by said frame assembly, said rim portion being substantially parallel to said base portion and extending from said one edge of said front wall lip other than said one front wall lip.