Picture hanger assembly and method

• US 7,497,028 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Picture Perfect LLC
• Original Assignee: Picture Perfect LLC
• Inventors: Nevers, Joseph G., Paharik, Benjamin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton; Christopher W
• Application Number:
  US11/529,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20080078916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 333/16, 336/45, 336/66, 336/69
• US Class Current: 33/613
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1606 comprising a wall member cooperating with a corresponding picture member

Abstract

A support assembly is configured to secure an object to a structure and includes a bracket adapted to be secured to the object. The bracket has an opening formed therein. The support assembly further includes a support capable of being received within the opening of the bracket in a secure position. The support has a marking element designed to extend away from the object when positioning the support within the opening of the bracket. The arrangement is such that when positioning the support within the opening of the bracket, the marking element forms a mark on the structure in response to positioning the object against the structure. The support assembly also includes a device to secure the support to the structure upon removing the support from the opening of the bracket with the marking element being positioned on the mark formed on the structure. The support secures the object to the structure upon positioning the object on the support in a position in which the support is received within the opening of the bracket. Methods of securing an object to a structure are further disclosed.

Claims

1. A support assembly configured to secure an object to a structure, the support assembly comprising:

a bracket adapted to be secured to the object, the bracket having an opening formed therein;

a support adapted to be received within the opening of the bracket in a secure position, the support having a marking element designed to extend away from the object when positioning the support within the opening of the bracket, the arrangement being such that when positioning the support within the opening of the bracket, the marking element is adapted to form a mark on the structure in response to positioning the object against the structure; and

a device adapted to secure the support to the structure upon removing the support from the opening of the bracket with the marking element being positioned on the mark formed on the structure,

wherein the support secures the object to the structure upon positioning the object on the support in a position in which the support is received within the opening of the bracket.

2. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support further has a base having opposite sides, the marking element extending from one side of the base.

3. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the support further has a head portion extending from an other side of the base, the head portion being adapted to be received within the opening of the bracket.

4. The support assembly of claim 3, wherein the opening of the bracket is configured to have a first portion configured to receive the head portion and a second portion in communication with the first portion configured to receive a neck portion of the support therein when positioning the support within the opening.

5. The support assembly of claim 4, wherein the bracket has at least one tab adapted to secure the bracket to the object.

6. The support assembly of claim 5, wherein the bracket further has a main body having the opening, the main body and the at least one tab defining a space between the bracket and the object when securing the bracket to the object.

7. The support assembly of claim 3, wherein the head portion of the support has a surface and an aperture extending from the surface through the base for receiving the device therein.

8. The support assembly of claim 7, wherein the device comprises a nail that is sized to be received within the aperture.

9. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the marking element comprises a projection having a pointed tip.

10. The support assembly of claim 1, further comprising a leveling device adapted to be placed on the object to indicate an orientation of the object.

11. The support assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fastener configured to replace the support and to mount on the structure to secure the bracket to the structure.

12. The support assembly of claim 11, wherein the fastener comprises a T head screw fastener.

13. A method of securing an object to a structure, the method comprising:

securing a bracket to the object;

releasably securing a support to the bracket, the support having a marking element designed to extend away from the object;

positioning the object against the structure;

applying a force on the object against the structure so as to form a mark on the structure with the marking element;

removing the support from the bracket;

securing the support to the structure with the marking element being positioned on the mark formed on the structure; and

securing the object to the structure by securing the bracket to the support.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein securing the support to the bracket comprises positioning the support within an opening formed in the bracket.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the object to the structure comprises positioning the support within the opening of the bracket.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the marking element is a projection having a pointed tip, and wherein the mark is an indent formed on the structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein securing the support to the structure comprises seating the projection within the indent.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising leveling the object prior to applying a force on the object.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising

replacing the support with a fastener, and

rotating the fastener with respect to the bracket.

20. A kit for securing an object to a structure, the kit comprising:

a first support element adapted to be secured to the object;

a second support element adapted to be secured to the first support element, the second support element having a marking element designed to extend away from the object when securing the second support element to the first support element, the arrangement being such that when securing the second support element to the first support element, the marking element is adapted to form a mark on the structure at a desired location on the structure in response to a force applied on the object; and

a device adapted to secure the second support element to the structure upon removing the second support element from the first support element with the marking element being positioned on the mark formed on the structure;

wherein the second support element secures the object to the structure upon positioning the object on the second support element.

21. The kit of claim 20, wherein the first support element is a bracket, and wherein the second support element is a support.

22. The kit of claim 20, wherein the device comprises a nail.

23. The kit of claim 20, wherein the object is a picture frame and the structure is a wall.

24. The kit of claim 20, further comprising a leveling device adapted to be placed on the object to indicate an orientation of the object.

25. The kit of claim 20, further comprising a third support element configured to replace the second support element to provide tamper-proof attachment to the first support element.

26. The kit of claim 25, further comprising a tool to rotate the third support element.

27. A support assembly configured to secure an object to a structure, the support assembly comprising:

a bracket adapted to be secured to the object;

a support adapted to be releasably secured to the bracket, the support having a marking element designed to extend away from the object when releasably securing the support to the bracket, the arrangement being such that when releasably securing the support to the bracket, the marking element is adapted to form a mark on the structure on the structure in response to positioning the object against the structure; and

a device adapted to secure the support to the structure upon removing the support from the opening of the bracket with the marking element being positioned on the mark formed on the structure,

wherein the support secures the object to the structure upon positioning the object on the support in a position in which the support is releasably secured to the bracket.

28. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein the bracket has an opening formed therein configured to receive the support in a releasably secure position.

29. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein the support further has a base having opposite sides, the marking element extending from one side of the base.

30. The support assembly of claim 29, wherein the support further has a bulbous head extending from an other side of the base, the bulbous head being adapted to be received within the opening of the bracket.

31. The support assembly of claim 30, wherein the opening of the bracket is configured to have a first portion configured to receive the bulbous head and a second portion in communication with the first portion configured to receive a neck of the bulbous head therein when positioning the support within the opening.

32. The support assembly of claim 31, wherein the bracket has at least one tab adapted to secure the bracket to the object.

33. The support assembly of claim 32, wherein the bracket further has a main body having the opening, the main body defining a space between the bracket and the object when securing the bracket to the object.

34. The support assembly of claim 30, wherein the bulbous head of the support has a surface and an aperture extending from the surface through the base, the aperture being configured to receive the device therein.

35. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein the object is a picture frame and the structure is a wall.

36. The support assembly of claim 27, further comprising a leveling device adapted to be placed on the object to indicate an orientation of the object.

37. A method of securing an object to a structure, the method comprising:

securing a first support element to the object;

releasably securing a second support element to the first support element, the second support element having a projection designed to extend away from the object;

positioning the object against the structure;

applying a force on the object so as to form an indent on the structure with the projection of the second support element;

removing the second support element from the first support element;

seating the projection of the second support element within the indent of the structure;

securing the second support element to the structure; and

securing the object to the structure by securing the first support element to the second support element.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising

replacing the support with a fastener, and

rotating the fastener with respect to the bracket.