US3261578A

US3261578A - Hanger unit

Info

Publication number: US3261578A
Application number: US374302A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irvin L Himebaugh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-11
Filing date: 1964-06-11
Publication date: 1966-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 1983-07-19

Description

y 1966 l. 1.. HIMEBAUGH 3,261,578

HANGER UNIT Filed June 11, 1964 1N VEN TOR. A? V/A/ L Ill/7536590 6 ijpm kfi mm 93m; 7. EM

,qrfo elviys United States Patent 3,261,578 HANGER UNIT Irvin L. Himebaugh, 1703 Wayne Ave., Dayton, Ohio Filed June 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,302 4 Claims. (Cl. 248--29) This invention relates to a new and improved hanger device for picture frames and other articles which may be similarly hung.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved hanger device which is economical to fabricate, more efficient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications and unlikely to malfunction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more stable device for hanging pictures and other articles which may be similarly supported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger unit so designed to inhibit lateral shift or tilt of a sup ported article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hanger device which may be created by a simple stamping or forming operation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a hanger unit the elements of which possess the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the means and mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein are shown some but obviously not necessarily the only forms of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the one portion of a hanger device which is to be attached to an article to be supported;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the wall bracket constituting the other portion of the invention hanger device;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the hanger element shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a reverse view of the element shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates the hanger device of FIGS. 1-5 as utilized to removably attach a picture frame to a wall structure;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 reveals a modified form of the bracket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the element as shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an application of an invention hanger unit utilizing the device of FIGS. 8 and 9 in supporting a picture frame or similar article.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of ref erence throughout the several views.

The embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings will be illustrated in reference to their use in hanging picture frames. However, it should be understood that the application thereof is by no means so limited.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the portion of the invention hanger device which is to be plane generally parallel thereto.

3,261,578 Patented July 19, 1966 attached to the picture frame. It consists of a formed rectangular strip 10 of suitable material, such as metal or plastic. The forming of this strip provides that a central generally rectangular section 11 thereof is offset to a plane parallel to that occupied by its respective generally

rectangular end portions

12 and 13. The offset provides slightly convergent strip portions 14 which join the

respective end portions

12 and 13 to the section 11. The

end portions

12 and 13 provide a base for the strip 10 and are suitably apertured to accommodate screws S by means of which the strip may be secured to frame F.

The portion of the hanger device which is to be attached to a wall structure is seen in FIGS 35 of the drawings. As shown, it consists of an integrally formed plate 15 including a generally rectangular plate section 16 and a rectangularly formed finger 17 which projects from one edge. The plate 15 is so stamped to have its central and edge portion 18 including the finger 17 offset from and joined on three sides by sloping wall sections 19 to a U-shaped rim 20. The offset portion 18 is thereby placed in a plane closely spaced from and parallel to that occupied by the rim 20. This establishes a concavity in the plate 15 at the face thereof which is to be applied to a wall structure. Thus, as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings, as the plate 15 is applied to a wall structure W, the rim 20 will seat in flush abutting relation to the wall structure while the central portion and the central portion of the upper edge of the plate is offset therefrom, in a The finger 17, being generally co-planar with the plate portion 18, is thereby established generally parallel to the rim 20 and the face of the wall which it abuts. The portion 18 has an aperture 40 at its center to accommodate a flat head screw 50 (FIG. 4) by means of which the bracket plate 15 may be fixed to the wall.

As applied to a frame, the degree of offset of the central portion 11 of the strip type bracket 10 is just sufficient to readily accommodate the rectangular finger 17 of the plate 15. Moreover, the finger 17 is therefore of a width to essentially bridge and fill the space between the slightly divergent strip portions 14, the strip section 11 and the frame F.

Accordingly, having suitably and fixedly positioned the plate 15 on a wall and applied .a strip bracket 10 to a frame, the frame may be vertically dropped to have the strip 10 accommodate the finger 17 in a manner believed obvious.

In the process, strip portions 14 may seat on the upper edge of the plate 15 at the divergent wall sections 19. It may therefore be seen that as a picture frame is applied to a wall structure through the medium of the bracket 10 and the bracket plate 15 including the projecting finger 17, the frame is provided with a most secure and stable mount. The rectangular form of the finger and the mating generally rectangular form of the loop defined by the generally rectangular offset in the bracket 10 provides a mount of the picture so as to inhibit relative lateral shift or tilt. The close slip interfit of the hanger elements lends a firm and unconditional support to the article in question. It is a feature of the invention that the nature of the finger 17 and the bracket 10 is such that the frame or other article to which the bracket 10 may be attached is thereby supported in substantially parallel relation to a wall structure. In certain instances the finger 17 may be given a slight inclination to achieve a predetermined tilt of the frame, if desired. In any event, the establishment of the frame or other article supported by a device in accordance with the invention is positive in character. 'It will remain as set.

The hanger unit above described is so designed that one may stably support an article of substantial size and weight. However, where necessary, the unit may be used in pairs. It may therefore be seen the invention provides, in a very simple and economical manner, a more secure support for a picture frame or similar articles. The interengagement of the simply effected bracket components as achieved in forming the hanger elements of the invention leaves no question as to the end results. The brackets simply interconnect and positively maintain an established interconnection.

As mentioned previously, it will be obvious from the preceding that the application of the invention embodiments is extensive and not limited to picture frames.

FIGS. 8 through 10 of the drawings show a modification of the bracket element of FIGS. 1 and 2. This bracket form is generally used in pairs, each element of the pair .being supported by a device such as the plate above described. It is particularly advantageous for use on articles having a limited available area to which a supporting bracket may be applied. An example of an article of this nature is a narrow picture frame, in which case a bracket is applied at the respective opposite sides. In such case, the bracket consists of a rectangular strip element 30 having one rectangular end portion 31 providing its base. The portion 31 is joined by an approximately right angled strip portion 32 to an offset strip section 33 positioned in a plane adjacent and generally parallel to that of the end portion 31. The remote end of the section 33 terminates in a short right angled strip extremity 34 arranged opposite and substantially parallel to the strip portion 32.

Thus one end of the strip 30 provides a base suitably apertured for seating the strip to a narrow frame section of a picture While the remainder of the strip is provided by a generally rectangular U-shaped offset which is open at the plane of the base.

The strip element 30 provides a bracket for use with a smaller version of the wall bracket 15, here identified in FIG. 10 of the drawings by the numeral 15'. The finger 17' in this instance is similarly accommodated, as in the version previously described, by the rectangular offset of the strip 30 and cooperates therewith to achieve a stable supporting function in a manner believed obvious. The strip portions 32-34 fully enclose and balance on the finger 17' and the appropriate adjacent portions of the plate 15'. The plate 15' further includes portions 18 and corresponding to

portions

18 and 20 of the FIG. 5 embodiment. The bracket 30 is adapted to be mounted to a narrow picture frame or the like F.

The advantages of the hanger devices in accordance with the present invention are believed obvious. Not only is their form simple but the simplicity of their application facilitates their use and thestable mount which they provide lends optimum supportmg strength for any application. This renders the invention embodiments extremely versatile for a variety of support functions.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of Its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hanger device, including a flat body having four side edges, a mid part of the body being deformed to define on one side thereof a recess opening through a location in a top peripheral edge of the body and to define on the other side an offset wall portion, said recess leaving on said one side a relatively broad and continuous three sided flat planar surface of U-shape configuration to bear against a mounting surface, a finger projecting in the plane of and as a continuation of said offset wall portion through and beyond the plane of said top peripheral edge of said body to project relatively thereto, said finger being disposed in a plane approximately parallel to and offset from the said flat planar surface of said one side, and aperture means in said body providing for the mounting thereof, said aperture means comprising a single aperture opening through the deformed portion of said body within the peripheral dimensions of said body and adjacent to the base of said finger.

2. A hanger device according to claim 1, characterized in that said single aperture opening is disposed equidistant between a bottom peripheral edge of said body and the outer extremity of said finger.

3. A hanger device, including .a first bracket having an attachment portion to be mounted substantially flush against a mounting surface and having further an interengaging portion in freely projecting relation to said attachment portion, said interengaging portion being formed integrally with said attachment portion and offset from the plane thereof, a shoulder being formed along one side edge of said interengaging portion defining the joint between said portions, the other free side edge of said interengaging portion being turned over to define with said shoulder a channel-like slot, and another bracket having an offset finger to be received in said slot, one of said brackets being wall mountable and the other being attachable to an article to be mounted to a Wall, said finger being elongated to have a long bearing in said first bracket, the slot in said first bracket interengaging said finger and being correspondingly elongated to have a length exceeding that of said finger.

4. A hanger device, including a first bracket having an attachment portion to be mounted substantially flush against a mounting surface and having further an interengaging portion in freely projecting relation to said attachment portion, said interengaging portion being formed integrally with said attachment portion and offset from the plane thereof, a shoulder being formed along one side edge of said interengaging portion defining the joint between said portions, the other free side edge of said interengaging portion being turned over to define with said shoulder a channel-like slot, another bracket for cooperative engagement with the first said bracket, one of said brackets being wall mountable and the other being attachable to an article to be mounted to a wall, said other bracket including a fiat body having four side edges and being deformed in its mid part to define on one side thereof a recess opening through a top peripheral edge of said body and defining on the other side an offset wall portion, said recess leaving on said one side a relatively broad and continuing three sided flat planar surface of U-shape configuration to bear against a mounting surface, a finger projecting in the plane of and as a continuation of said offset wall portion through and beyond the plane of the said top peripheral edge of said body to project relatively thereto, said finger being disposed in a plane approximately parallel to and offset from the planar surface of said one side, the projecting length of said finger being elongated to have a long bearing in said first bracket, the slot in saidfirst bracket intereng g g d finger having -a length exceeding that of said finger, and aperture means in the said body of said 1,908,147

other bracket providing for the mounting thereof, said 2,103,106

aperture means comprising a single aperture opening 2,891,757

through the deformed portion of said body within the peripheral dimensions of said body and adjacent the 5 base of said finger. 942,766 593,348

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,883,834 10/1932 Turner 248 1,887,159 11/1932 Knight 24828 6 5/1933 Hoegger 248--28 12/ 1937 Yurkovitch 248-224 6/1959 Lang 248-224 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1956 Germany. 10/1947 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

1Q CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

J. H. LACHEEN, J. PETO, Assistant Examiners.