Assembly for securing an article on a mounting surface

• US 7,891,616 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Room-D Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Room-D Products LLC
• Inventors: Pinchuk, Leonard, Pinchuk, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US12/435,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 248/206.5, 248/547, 248/683, 248/475.1, 248/489, 248/490, 248/493, 248/497, 248/498
• US Class Current: 248/206.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/162 Picture members for connection to a conventional wall hook or nail
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/20 Picture hooks; X-hooks plugs or hooks for general use F16B13/00, F16B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/106 Permanent

Abstract

An assembly for securing an article with a support member affixed or integral thereto to a mounting surface. The assembly includes first and second members having means for detachably coupling together the first and second members through magnetic field interaction therebetween. The ffirst member includes means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article. The second member includes means for securing to the mounting surface, and a hook portion that receives the support member of the article. During use, the first member is coupled to the support member of the article, and the second member is secured to the mounting surface at a desired position. The first and second members are guided and coupled together by magnetic field interaction therebetween. The support member is then decoupled from the first member and moved such that it engages and is supported by the hook portion of the second member.

Claims

1. An assembly for securing an article to a mounting surface, the article having a support member affixed or integral thereto, the assembly comprising:

a first member having means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article; and

a second member having means for securing to the mounting surface, and a hook portion that receives the support member of the article;

wherein the first and second members have means for detachably coupling together the first and second members through magnetic field interaction therebetween, and the means for means for securing to the mounting surface includes at least one of i) a mounting hole and ii) a nail portion that extends from the second member.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the mounting surface comprises a wall or other vertical surface.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the mounting hole and a slot extending from said mounting hole.

4. An assembling according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the mounting hole, and the mounting hole receives a nail for nailing the second member to the mounting surface in order to secure the second member to the mounting surface.

5. An assembly according to the claim 1, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the mounting hole and a nail that is received by the mounting hole and nailed to the mounting surface to secure the second member to the mounting surface.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the support member comprises a ferromagnetic material, and the means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article comprises a magnet for magnetically coupling to the ferromagnetic material of the support member.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article comprises a hook or clip or other suitable mechanical fastening mechanism for detachably engaging the support member of the article.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for detachably coupling together the first and second members comprises a magnet affixed or integral to the first or second member.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for detachably coupling together the first and second members comprises a first magnet affixed or integral to the first member and a second magnet affixed or integral to the second member.

10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the first and second members are coupled together in a coupled configuration with the first member disposed above the hook portion of the second member.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein:

in the coupled configuration, the first member supports the support member of the article in a position above the hook portion.

12. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the support member of the article comprises a wire, rope, filament or triangular hanger element that is received by the hook portion of the second member.

13. A method for securing an article to a mounting surface, the article having a support member affixed or integral thereto, the method comprising:

providing the assembly of claim 1;

using the means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article to couple the first member to the support member of the article;

using the means for securing to the mounting surface to secure the second member to the mounting surface;

using the means for coupling together the first and second members to couple together the first and second members;

detaching the support member from the first member and moving the support member such that it is engaged and supported by the hook portion of the second member.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the mounting surface comprises a wall or other vertical surface.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the mounting hole.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface further comprises a slot extending from the mounting hole.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

inserting a nail through the mounting hole to secure the second member to the mounting surface.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the nail portion extending from the second member, and the nail portion is inserted into the mounting surface in order to secure the second member to the mounting surface.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the support member comprises a ferromagnetic material, and the means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article comprises a magnet for magnetically coupling to the ferromagnetic material of the support member.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the means for detachably coupling to the support member of the article comprises a hook or clip or other suitable mechanical fastening mechanism for detachably engaging the support member of the article.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the means for detachably coupling the first and second members comprises a magnet affixed or integral to the first or second member.

22. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the means for detachably coupling the first and second members comprises a first magnet affixed or integral to the first member and a second magnet affixed or integral to the second member.

23. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the first and second members are coupled together in a coupled configuration with the first member disposed above the hook portion of the second member.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein:

in the coupled configuration, the first member supports the support member of the article in a position above the hook portion.

25. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the support member of the article comprises a wire, rope, filament or triangular hanger element that is received by the hook portion of the second member.

26. An apparatus for securing an article to a mounting surface, the article having a ferromagnetic support member affixed or integral thereto, the apparatus comprising:

a member having means for securing to the mounting surface, a hook portion that receives the support member of the article, and a magnet for guided coupling to the ferromagnetic support member of the article through magnetic field interaction therebetween, wherein the magnet is disposed above the hook portion and the means for securing to the mounting surface includes at least one of i) a mounting hole and ii) a nail portion that extends from the second member.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

the mounting surface comprises a wall or other vertical surface.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the mounting hole.

29. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the mounting hole and a slot extending from said mounting hole.

30. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the mounting hole, and the mounting hole receives a nail for nailing the member to the mounting surface in order to secure the member to the mounting surface.

31. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

the means for securing to the mounting surface includes the nail portion extending from the member, the nail portion for insertion into the mounting surface.

32. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

in a coupled configuration, the magnet supports the support member of the article in a position above the hook portion.

33. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

the support member of the article comprises a wire or triangular hanger element that is received by the hook portion of the second member.