Angled picture frame hanger

• US 5,100,094 A
• Filed: 07/12/1991
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LML International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Breakthrough Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Handwerger, Leroy, Seybold, James I.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSS, J
• Application Number:
  US07/729,160
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 248/489, 248/490, 248/493, 248/496, 40/152.1, 40/153, 40/156, 24/115 K
• US Class Current: 248/489
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1666 Devices for connecting a suspension wire to a picture

Abstract

An angled picture frame hanger assures safe and secure hanging of wooden picture frames with narrow moldings under heavy weight loading and/or soft wood moldings of all widths. The hanger includes a flat metal plate with two screw holes. At right angles to the plate are flange portions that overlap and butt against an inner edge of a rear of the frame. An angled hook portion is connected to the flat plate. Wire or cord is attached through the angled hook portion and the frame is ready for hanging on a wall or other support. The flange portions act as a brace against the weakening of the frame due to splitting of the wood fibers by the fastening screws. The angled hook portion reduces the forces of the pull of wire or cord to lessen the stress upon the attached flat plate.

Claims

1. A picture frame hanger comprising:

a flat plate portion adapted to be secured to a picture frame,

at least one flange portion extending at an angle from said flat plate portion for abutting an innermost edge of molding of the picture frame to align said flat plate portion on the rear of the picture frame and for piercing a dust cover extending across the back of a frame,

an extension portion extending from said flat plate portion, and

a hook portion extending at an angle from said extension portion, above and in a direction away from said flat plate portion, said hook portion extending in a plane parallel to a plane of said flat plate portion, and said hook portion including means for securing a wire or string to the hook portion to hang the picture frame.

2. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one flange portion extends downwardly from said flat plate portion at an angle of 90°

.

3. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hook portion extends at an angle of less than 90°

to a common edge of said flat plate portion and said at least one flange portion.

4. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hook portion extends at an angle of 75°

.

5. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means includes a hole in said hook portion.

6. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 5, wherein a washer extends through said hole to prevent wire or string threaded through said hole from being cut by edges of said hole.

7. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two flange portions separated from each other.

8. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein said two flange portions are located on opposite sides of said extension portion.

9. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one flange portion includes a sharp edge for piercing of a dust cover of the picture frame.

10. A picture frame hanger comprising:

a flat plate portion,

two holes in said flat plate portion spaced from one edge of said flat plate portion,

two flange portions extending downwardly at an angle of 90°

from said one edge of said flat plate portion and located adjacent to said two holes for abutting an innermost edge of molding of a picture frame to position said flat plate portion on the rear of the picture frame and for reinforcing the molding where a nail or screw extends through said to holes to secure said flat plate portion to the picture frame,

an extension portion extending from said one edge of said flat plate portion, and

a hook portion extending at an angle from said extension portion, above and in a direction away from said flat plate portion, said hook portion including means for securing a wire or string to the hook portion to hang the picture frame.

11. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein said two holes of said flat plate portion are spaced equally from said one edge of said flat plate portion.

12. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein said hook portion extends at an angle of less than 90°

to said one edge of said flat plate portion.

13. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 12, wherein said hook portion extends at an angle of 75°

.

14. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means includes a hole in said hook portion.

15. A picture frame hanger as claimed in claim 14, wherein a washer extends through said hole to prevent wire or string threaded through said hole from being cut by edges of said hole.

16. In combination, a picture frame and two picture frame hangers secured on opposite sides of said picture frame, said two picture frame hangers each including a flat plate portion having two holes spaced equally from one edge of the flat plate portion, said flat plate portion being secured to a rear of molding forming said picture frame by screws or nails extending through said holes of said flat plate portion, two flange portions extending downwardly from said one edge of said flat plate portion and being aligned against an innermost edge of the molding an adjacent to said holes of said flat plate portion to reinforce the molding where the nails or screws extend through said two holes, an extension portion extending upwardly from said one edge of said flat plate portion and being connected with a hook portion having a hole, said hook portion extending above and in a direction away from said flat plate portion with a wire or string extending through the hole of each hook portion to hang the picture frame on a hook secured to a wall and said hook portion extending in a direction of force of said wire at an angle to said one edge of said flat plate portion.