Apparatuses and methods for hanging frames

• US 6,719,260 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIC, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hoyt E. Hart
• Inventors: Hart, Hoyt E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Korie
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/816,056
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 248/466, 248/467, 248/475.1, 248/479, 248/489, 248/493
• US Class Current: 248/479
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1606 comprising a wall member cooperating with a corresponding picture member
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/168 Pads or the like preventing displacement of hanging pictures, mirrors, or the like

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for hanging frames upon mounting surfaces. A hanger, upon which a frame is hung, is securely attached to a mounting surface, such as a wall. The hanger comprises a two-level, female, mandrel slot for receiving a two-level male mandrel. Additionally, bottom-rail-supports may be used to secure the bottom of the frame to the wall to support the weight of the frame and to immobilize the frame on the wall. A spirit-level device may be used for leveling the installed frame on the apparatus prior to fixing the frame to the wall with or without bottom-rail-supports.

Claims

1. An apparatus for hanging an object on a wall or other mounting surface, said apparatus comprising:

a hanger body comprising a front, a back and a stepped smooth radial slot;

a mandrel comprising a front and a back, wherein said front of said mandrel comprises at least one surface extension having a greater radius than a body of said mandrel, such that radii of said body and said extension comprise a stepped configuration engageable by said radial slot of said hanger body, said surface extension being substantially circular in shape with a chord intersecting a diameter of said circular shape;

and wherein said front of said mandrel further comprises a smooth circumference such that said mandrel is freely rotatable upon said smooth radial slot of said hanger body with minimal frictional engagement in a rotational direction;

a fastener for attaching said hanger body to the mounting surface; and

a fastener for attaching said mandrel to the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a support.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said support comprises at least one fastener for attaching said, support to the object.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising at least one countersunk opening completely penetrating said support for holding said fastener.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one opening completely penetrating said hanger body from said front to said back for holding said fastener for attaching said hanger body to the mounting surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of said countersunk openings penetrates said hanger body at an oblique angle.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of said openings comprises a tapered, predetermined diameter corresponding to a diameter of said fastener.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mandrel comprises an opening completely penetrating said mandrel from said front to said back of said mandrel for holding said fastener for attaching said mandrel to the object.

9. A method of hanging frames or other objects, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a hanger body with at least one fastener opening and a smooth, stepped radial slot;

placing the hanger body flush against a mounting surface;

fastening and positioning the hanger body at a desired location upon the mounting surface;

providing a mandrel having at least one surface extension wherein the surface extension comprises a greater radius than a body of the mandrel, such that radii of the body and the extension comprise a stepped configuration engageable by the smooth radial slot of the hanger body, said surface extension being substantially circular in shade with a cord intersecting a diameter of said circular shade, and wherein the surface extension comprises a smooth circumference;

positioning the mandrel on the reverse of the frame or other object;

fastening the mandrel to the frame or other object;

installing the frame or other object on the hanger body by disposing the mandrel on the hanger body;

freely rotating the frame or other object about the mandrel upon the smooth radial slot of the hanger body to obtain a desired position on the mounting surface with minimal frictional engagement between the mandrel and hanger body in the rotational direction; and

fixing the frame on the mounting surface at the desired position.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of fastening the hanger body comprises inserting at least one fastener, at least partially, into an opening in the hanger body.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of driving the fastener completely through the opening in the hanger body and into the mounting surface.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of fastening the mandrel to the frame or other object comprises inserting a single fastener into a single opening in the mandrel.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of driving the single fastener into the frame or other object.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of providing an additional fastener for fixing the frame or other object to the mounting surface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing an additional fastener comprises providing a support.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of disposing the support on the frame or other object.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of fixing the frame on the mounting surface at the desired position comprises using the support to fix the frame or other object to the mounting surface.