Wall hanger, mounting kit, and method

• US 6,042,078 A
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Donovan
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Donovan
• Inventors: Donovan, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US09/027,024
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 248/544, 248/546, 248/547, 248/466, 248/475, 248/489, 248/497, 248/493, 30/366, 227/107, 81/44, 7/167
• US Class Current: 248/547
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/205 Devices for positioning picture hooks on a wall

Abstract

The wall hanger of the present invention is designed to minimize the damage done to a wall when hung thereon. The wall hanger has a plurality of narrow bores angling generally downward through which pleating pins may be inserted to anchor the wall hanger. The wall hanger additionally has a support member from which may be hung an object. The bores and support member are configured to maximize a proportion of gravitational stress transferred to the wall to relieve stress on the pins. A pilot tool is also disclosed that starts a hole in the wall through the bores in the hanger and then is used to push a pin through the bore, into the pretapped hole in the wall, and further into the wall until its head is flush with the hanger. A kit is provided that consists of a wall hanger and a mounting tool. In addition, a method is provided for mounting a wall hanger to a wall.

Claims

1. A hanger for mounting an object to a wall while mimimizing damage thereto, the hanger having:

a generally planar first side for interfacing with a wall;

a second side generally opposed to the first side;

a top edge and a bottom;

a plurality of narrow bores disposed adjacent the top edge, the bores extending from the second side to the first side and angling away from the top edge at an angle in a range of 20 to 30 degrees from a normal to the first side of the base, wherein each bore is dimensioned to permit a pleating pin to pass therethrough; and

means for supporting an object, the supporting means protruding from the second side and positioned a first distance from the top edge and a second distance greater than the first distance from the bottom, such a positioning serving in use to translate a portion of a gravitational force exerted by the supported object into a force directed into the wall, thereby relieving a stress on pins inserted through the bores into the wall.

2. The wall hanger recited in claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a unitary protrusion having means for restraining a hanging means of an object when the hanging means has been hung upon the protrusion.

3. The wall hanger recited in claim 2, wherein the protrusion comprises a hook member having a first end integrally connected to the hanger second side and a second end having an upwardly extending portion defining a valley onto which an object may be hung and restrained by the upwardly extending portion.

4. The wall hanger recited in claim 2, wherein the protrusion comprises a screw affixed to the hanger second side and the restraining means comprises a head of the screw.

5. The wall hanger recited in claim 1, further having a second edge and a third edge, each meeting the top edge at an angle less than 90 degrees, forming along with the top edge a generally triangular shape, the bottom comprising a bottom point of the triangular shape at a junction of the second and the third edge.

6. The wall hanger recited in claim 5, wherein the top edge, the second edge, and the third edge meet at angles of approximately 60 degrees, thereby forming a generally equilateral triangular shape.

7. The wall hanger recited in claim 6, wherein the top edge, the second edge, and the third edge are beveled outward from the second side to the first side.

8. The wall hanger recited in claim 1, wherein the support means comprises means for supporting an object generally adjacent the second side.

9. The wall hanger recited in claim 1, wherein the bores are further dimensioned to permit a sewing needle to pass closely therethrough, for permitting a wall hole to be pretapped with a pilot tool having a sewing needle at a first end and a handle at a second end prior to an insertion of a pleating pin through each bore, the sewing needle having a greater stiffness than a pleating pin for facilitating piercing a surface of the wall.

10. A picture hanger for minimizing damage to a wall comprising a triangular clear plastic member having:

a generally planar first side for interfacing with a wall;

a generally planar second side opposed to the first side;

a top edge along a first edge of the triangular member;

a generally pointed bottom formed by a second edge and a third edge of the triangular member;

a plurality of narrow bores positioned along the top edge extending in a direction away from the top edge from the second side to the first side at an angle with a normal to the first side in a range of approximately 20-30 degrees, wherein each bore is sufficiently narrow and sufficiently long to permit a pleating pin to pass therethrough; and

a support protrusion having a first end affixed to the base second side and an upturned portion at a second end for restraining a picture wire of a picture, the protrusion positioned a first distance from the top edge and a second distance greater than the first distance from the bottom, such a positioning serving in use to translate a portion of a gravitational force exerted by the supported object into a force directed into the wall, thereby relieving a stress on pins inserted through the bores into the wall.

11. A hanger kit for mounting an object to a wall while minimizing damage thereto comprising:

a hanger having;

a generally planar first side for interfacing with a wall;

a second side generally opposed to the first side;

a top edge and a bottom;

a plurality of narrow bores disposed adjacent the top edge at an angle in a range of 20 to 30 degrees from a normal to the first side of the base, the bores extending from the second side to the first side and angling away from the top edge, wherein each bore is dimensioned to permit a pleating pin to pass therethrough; and

means for supporting an object, the supporting means protruding from the second side and positioned a first distance from the top edge and a second distance greater than the first distance from the bottom, such a positioning serving in use to translate a portion of a gravitational force exerted by the supported object into a force directed into the wall, thereby relieving a stress on pins inserted through the bores into the wall; and

a pilot tool comprising;

a pointed borer for pretapping a hole in a wall after having passed through a bore of the wall hanger, the borer having a first pointed end, a second end, and a length dimensioned to make a hole in a wall sufficiently deep to house a pleating pin; and

a handle affixable to the second end of the borer at a first end and having an indentation at a second end dimensioned to surround a head of a pin for pushing the pin into a pretapped hole in a wall.

12. A method for mounting an object on a wall in a fashion so as to minimize the damage done to the wall, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a wall hanger having;

a generally planar first side for interfacing with a wall;

a second side generally opposed to the first side;

a top edge and a bottom;

a plurality of narrow bores disposed adjacent the top edge at an angle in a range of 20 to 30 degrees from a normal to the first side of the base, the bores extending from the second side to the first side and angling away from the top edge, wherein each bore is dimensioned to permit a pleating pin to pass therethrough; and

means for supporting an object, the supporting means protruding from the second side and positioned a first distance from the top edge and a second distance greater than the first distance from the bottom, such a positioning serving in use to translate a portion of a gravitational force exerted by the supported object into a force directed into the wall, thereby relieving a stress on pins inserted through the bores into the wall;

placing the wall hanger first side against a wall and the top edge facing generally upwards;

pushing a boring tool through at least two bores to pretap a hole in the wall aligned with each bore, the hole being sufficiently long to enable a pleating pin to pass through the bore and into the wall;

pushing a pleating pin into each pretapped bore; and

mounting an object upon the support means.