Support element and device for hooking and positioning painting or the like

• US 6,283,434 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philippe Holder
• Original Assignee: Philippe Holder
• Inventors: Holder, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US09/029,128
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 248/495, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/489, 248/490, 248/467, 248/466, 407/13, 407/45, 407/57
• US Class Current: 248/495
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/164 and being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/205 Devices for positioning picture hooks on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/481 for operating in areas having limited access

Abstract

An apparatus for hanging an object including a device that has (i) a body with a threaded passage that passes through the body; (ii) a member for fixing the body to a substantially vertical surface; (iii) a bracket element for supporting a protruding surface of the object; and (iv) a threaded adjustment member inserted into the passage and movable with respect to the body for displacement of the protruding surface relative to the body and for supporting the protruding surface relative to the body in any of a plurality of positions. The adjustment member has a first end that protrudes from a top face of the body and a second end that protrudes from a bottom face of the body. In one embodiment, the bracket element tapers to a point. In another embodiment it has a generally planar surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for hanging an object on a substantially vertical surface, said object comprising a surface that protrudes from an upper end of a face of the object, said apparatus including at least one article comprising:

(a) a body having a threaded passage that passes through the body;

(b) means for fixing the body to the substantially vertical surface;

(c) bracket means for supporting the protruding surface, wherein the bracket means comprises a bracket element with a single tip that tapers to a point, whereby the bracket element is able to make point contact with the protruding surface;

(d) threaded displacement means insertable in the passage and movable with respect to the body for displacement of the bracket means relative to the body and for supporting the bracket means relative to the body in any of a plurality of positions with the displacement means inserted in the passage, said displacement means comprising a first end that projects from the passage at a top face of the body and a second end that projects from the passage at a bottom face of the body with the displacement means inserted in tide passage, said first end comprising said bracket means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means comprises at least one through hole or slot extending between a front face and a rear face of the body for receiving a curved blade comprising a portion of bent or rolled metal plate, said through hole or slot being substantially cylindrical.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means comprises a plurality of holes or slots that are inclined with respect to the normal to a rear face of the body by an angle between 5 and 45 degrees, said plurality of holes or slots being parallel to one another.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article comprises an intermediate fixing body or base with an adhesive face for abutment against said substantially vertical surface, said face being integral with said intermediate fixing body or base.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprises a base or adapter of flattened form, said base or adapter comprising means for connecting said body to said base or adapter, said base or adapter comprising adhesive means on a rear face thereof for adhering to the substantially vertical surface.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a plastic material and said displacement means comprises a plastic or metal screw, said body further comprising:

(i) first housing means, comprising at least first and second substantially cylindrical houses, for receiving a tack or nail;

(ii) second housing means, comprising at least two housings, for receiving a fixing blade and (iii) third housing means, comprising at least one housing, for receiving the head of a fixing screw.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bracket means has a generally planar surface for supporting the protruding surface.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprises an adapter with slide means for slidable engagement of the adapter and the body, said adapter comprising orifice means for insertion of a member that fixes the adapter to the substantially vertical surface.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprises at least two blades, said at least two blades having identical cross sections and different lengths or having identical shapes and different widths.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removable, positioning rule comprising an upper face and a lower face, said lower face comprising a plurality of housing means for receiving the tip.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising tool for adjustment of the disposition of the displacement means relative to the body, said tool comprising an elongate body portion, a first end and a second end comprising means for actuating said displacement means to effect said adjustment.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second end of the displacement means comprises an impression for receiving a screwdriver blade and the means for actuating comprises a screwdriver blade for insertion into the impression and jaw means for maintaining the screwdriver blade in the impression to effect said adjustment.

13. A method for hanging an object on a substantially vertical surface, said object comprising a surface that protrudes from an upper end of a face of the object, said method comprising:

(a) providing at least first and second articles each comprising (i) a body having a threaded passage that passes through the body and (ii) threaded adjustment means inserted into the threaded passage and movable with respect to the body for displacement of the protruding surface relative to the body and for supporting the protruding surface relative to the body in any of a plurality of positions, said adjustment means comprising a first end that protrudes from a top face of the body and a second end that protrudes from a bottom face of the body;

(b) affixing the at least first and second bodies to the substantially vertical surface with the first and second articles in spaced relation in a substantially horizontal alignment;

(c) resting the protruding surface of the object on the respective first ends of the adjustment means of the first and second articles; and

(d) adjusting the adjustment means of at least the first of said articles to raise or lower the protruding surface relative to the body.

14. An apparatus for hanging an object on a substantially vertical surface, said object comprising a surface that protrudes from an upper end of a face of the object, said apparatus including at least one article comprising:

(a) a body having a threaded passage that passes through the body;

(b) means for fixing the body to the substantially vertical surface, wherein said fixing means comprises a plurality of holes or slots that are inclined with respect to the normal to a rear face of the body by an angle between 5 and 45 degrees, said plurality of holes or slots being parallel to one another;

(c) bracket means for supporting the protruding surface;

(d) threaded displacement means insertable in the passage and movable with respect to the body for displacement of the bracket means relative to the body and for supporting the bracket means relative to the body in any of a plurality of positions with the displacement means inserted in the passage, said displacement means comprising a first end that projects from the passage at a top face of the body and a second end that projects from the passage at a bottom face of the body with the displacement means inserted in the passage, said first end comprising said bracket means.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said fixing means comprises at least one through hole or slot extending between a front face and a rear face of the body for receiving a curved blade comprising a portion of bent or rolled metal plate, said through hole or slot being substantially cylindrical.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the article comprises an intermediate fixing body or base with an adhesive face for abutment against said substantially vertical surface, said face being integral with said intermediate fixing body or base.

17. An apparatus for hanging an object on a substantially vertical surface, said object comprising a surface that protrudes from an upper end of a face of the object, said apparatus including at least one article comprising:

(a) a body having a threaded passage that passes through the body;

(b) means for fixing the body to the substantially vertical surface;

(c) bracket means for supporting the protruding surface, said bracket means having a generally planar surface for supporting the protruding surface;

(d) threaded displacement means insertable in the passage and movable with respect to the body for displacement of the bracket means relative to the body and for supporting the bracket means relative to the body in any of a plurality of positions with the displacement means inserted in the passage, said displacement means comprising a first end that projects from the passage at a top face of the body and a second end that projects from the passage at a bottom face of the body with the displacement means inserted in the passage, said first end comprising said bracket means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fixing means comprises at least one through hole or slot extending between a front face and a rear face of the body for receiving a curved blade comprising a portion of bent or rolled metal plate, said through hole or slot being substantially cylindrical.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the article comprises an intermediate fixing body or base with an adhesive face for abutment against said substantially vertical surface, said face being integral with said intermediate fixing body or base.