Bracket system for mounting posters on walls

• US 5,199,681 A
• Filed: 01/27/1992
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark M. Reidy
• Original Assignee: Mark M. Reidy
• Inventors: Reidy, Mark M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/826,004
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 248/488, 248/468, 248/475.1, 248/220.1, 248/216.1, 248/220.2, 248/222.1, 248/225.1, 40/156, 40/611
• US Class Current: 248/488
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0638 Frameless picture holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/215 Mirror clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0018 panel clamping or fastening means

Abstract

The bracket system comprises specially shaped corner components which include an angled slot for receiving the corner of the poster to be mounted. A locking mechanism comprising a pair of members which rotate relative to one another are inserted in the slot behind the poster corner. The locking members include ramped surfaces which engage one another to expand them outwardly and grip the poster corner in the slot. Thus, the poster is firmly gripped in the corner component. A tack like protrusion carried on the back side of the corner component is used to fasten the resulting assembly to a wall surface in a conventional manner, while leaving the poster undamaged.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for attaching a poster to a wall surface, the poster having a front side and a back side and at least one corner portion, the bracket comprising:

first means for engaging the front side of the poster comprising a corner component having a first leg, a second leg forming an angle to the first leg, and a slot in said corner component for receiving the corner portion of the poster,

second means for engaging the back side of the poster, said second means consisting of a locking means, said locking means having friction pad for contacting the back side of the poster, a lever pivotally mounted on the friction pad to bring the first means and said friction pad to grippingly engage the sides of the poster, and

fastening means for attaching the first and second means to the surface.

2. A mounting bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second means is mounted in said slot.

3. A mounting bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking mechanism further comprising

a member attached to said lever, said member including a ramped surface,

said friction pad having a first surface for gripping said back side of said poster and a second surface engaging said ramped surface on said member, whereby said member may be rotated relative to said friction pad when said lever is turned by finger pressure to slide said ramped surface along said second surface of said friction pad such that said locking mechanism wedges outwardly to grip said poster between said corner component and said friction pad.

4. A mounting bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises a penetrating fastener mounted to said corner component and extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second legs.

5. A mounting bracket as set forth in claim 4 wherein said slot extends at a slight angle from a position close to the intersection of said first and second arms where said slot is embedded in said corner bracket to a position adjacent to the ends of the arms where said slot tapers to merge with a plane defined by said wall to which said bracket is to be attached.

6. A mounting bracket system for attaching a generally flaccid web-like member to a wall for display purposes, comprising a plurality of separate corner attaching members for holding said web in close proximity to said wall, each of said corner attaching members including

means for gripping the front and back surfaces of a corner portion of said web whereby said corner portion may be grippingly attached to said corner attaching member,

a tack like penetrating shaft attached to said corner attaching member and extending substantially perpendicular to said web, whereby said shaft can be pushed into said wall and said web is thereby attached to said wall, and

means for holding most of said web generally flat against the surface of said wall when said penetrating shaft is pushed into said wall and said web is thereby attached to said wall.

7. A system for attaching a generally flaccid, web-like member to a wall for display purposes as set forth in claim 6 wherein said corner member includes first and second legs, a slot in said legs sized to receive a corner of said web, said means for gripping being operatively positioned in said slot together with said corner of said web.

8. A system for attaching a generally flaccid, web-like member to a wall for display purposes as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for gripping comprises two generally flat members with mutually engaging ramped surfaces such that when said flat members a removed relative to one another they move generally away from one another by the wedging action of said ramped surfaces, and whereby said corner of said web is gripped between one of said flat members and said corner member.

9. A system for attaching a generally flaccid, web-like member to a wall for display purposes as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for holding most of said poster generally flat against the surface of said wall when said penetrating shaft is pushed into said wall and said web is thereby attached to said wall comprises said slot, and said slot is generally planar and set at an acute angle relative to the normal plane of said web a when displayed in said wall, said slot generally intersecting the plane of said wall at the remote ends of said legs.