Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE FOR HANGING AND LEVELLING AN ITEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for hanging and levelling an item
from a wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hanging a decorative item from a wall so that the item is securely
fastened and appears level can be difficult. Prior art systems employ a wire
extending between points at or approximate to the edges of the item and
engaged with the item. The wire is then hung from a nail or hook driven into a
wall. Preferably, the wire is cut to a length that avoids significant slack in
the
wire when the wire is engaged with the item. This permits the item to obstruct
the nail or the hook from which the item hangs when the item is hung from the
wall. If the wire is too long and thus has extra slack, the top of the item
would
hang below the nail or hook.
There are number of drawbacks associated with the existing wire system
for hanging items from a wall. First, given the necessity of limiting the
length of
the wire, it is difficult to attach the wire to the nail or hook when hanging
the
item from the wall. Frequently this step in the hanging process occurs blindly
because the item being hung blocks the view of the individual hanging the
item,
such that he or she cannot see the hook or nail and must resort to feel to
identify the place at which the nail or hook extends from the wall. This
process
becomes significantly awkward when there is little slack in the wire and the
individual hanging the item is also attempting to lift the item, which may be
heavy. Frequently, if there is not sufficient slack in the wire, the
individual
hanging the item resorts to simply holding the item above the wire or nail and
lowering it downward, hoping that the wire catches on the nail or hook. If
this
does not occur, the nail or hook may engage the item or its frame, causing
damage. Further, the individual hanging the item may not realize that the item
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is hanging directly upon the hook or nail. In this circumstance, the downward
gravitational force is concentrated at the point where the hook or nail
engages
the item and is not distributed between the two points where the wire attaches
to the item. As a result, there is a greater likelihood that the item will
become
damaged. Also, where the mass of the item is unevenly distributed along its
width and/or length, levelling the item once hung is difficult because the
wire
may unintentionally slide upon the hook or nail. This also may occur where the
two points at which the wire engages the item are at different heights.
Even if the individual hanging the item successfully engages the wire upon
the hook or nail, the item frequently must then be shifted and/or tilted to
ensure
that it is centred and level. Once level, there is no assurance that the item
will
maintain its position on the wall if it is inadvertently bumped. Even a slight
disturbance could slide the wire upon the nail or hook from a position
pursuant
to which the item is level and centred to a position where the item is uneven.
A
further drawback regarding the conventional wire and hook system for hanging
is that the entire mass of the item is centred on a single engagement point on
the wire, thus causing stress to the wire and potentially damaging the wire.
One improvement proposed in the prior art to address the issue of a
single engagement point is multiple engagement points. For example, at public
art exhibitions, items are frequently hung using a grid and S-hook system.
Artists hang items from one or more S-hooks attached to an upright grid. When
two or more S-hooks are used, the downward force applied by the wall hanging
is spread among multiple points on the grid. However, the S-hooks must be at
the same vertical level and the same distance from the item being hung for the
item to be level. Also, the uprights of the grid limit the position of the S-
hooks.
A further drawback of the multiple S-hook system is that it is even more
difficult
to engage the wire on multiple engagement points than it is to do so upon a
single attaching point, as described above.
In a similar prior art system also used frequently at art exhibitions, one or
more chains is hung from a point at or near the top of the wall and one or
more
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S-hooks are attached to links on the chains. The S-hook(s) engage the wire
attached to the wall hanging. In addition to the previously described
difficulties
involved with engaging the wire upon two S-hooks, a further drawback of this
system is that wall hangings hang precariously from the chain system and can
easily be upset. Also, it is even more difficult with these systems to set the
S-
hooks in positions where the item will be level. Further, this system is
rather
complicated and unless the width of the chains is altered, is limited to wall
hangings within a certain range of widths. Altering the width between the
chains can be difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, a device is provided for
hanging and levelling an item, along with a method for manufacturing the
device
and a method for hanging an item.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, a device for hanging an item
is provided. The device comprises a rod with a bend that constitutes a
fulcrum.
The device also has an attaching means proximate to each end of the rod for
releasably attaching the rod to the item being hung.
A further aspect of the invention comprises the device described above
plus the item itself.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a device
for hanging an item is provided. The method comprises the first step of making
a first bend in a rod. Additionally, the method includes bending the rod
proximate to each of its ends to form attaching means for releasably attaching
the rod to the item.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for hanging an item using a
device having a bend and attaching means is provided. The method comprises
the steps of engaging the item with the attaching means. The second step
involves placing the bend on a hanging means.
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In a further aspect of the invention, a method for hanging an item using a
device having a bend and attaching means is provided. The method comprises
the steps of placing the bend on a hanging means. The second step provided is
hanging the item from the device by engaging the item with the attaching
means.
Directional references herein such as "upward", "downward", "upright"
and the like are used herein merely for convenience of description and do not
limit the scope of the invention. All such directional references, whether in
the
present specification or claims, are defined as being purely relational in
nature.
It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the invention may be
oriented
in essentially any direction when being manufactured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description
when read in combination with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized
that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are
not
to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are
arbitrarily
expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following
figures:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 is a front view of the first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention;
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Figure 6 is a front view of the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in enlargement the
attaching means of the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention;
and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention in
situ relative to an item hung from a wall.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A device 10 for hanging an item is shown in Figure 1. The item 10 is
generally comprised of a rod 12. The rod 12 is desirably cylindrical and may
be
formed of a metal alloy such as steel. However, other substances such as
plastic or wood may be used to form the rod 12. The substance used to form
the rod 12 should preferably be capable of being bent and should be
sufficiently
resilient such that the device into which the rod is formed maintains its
shape
when an item is hung from it or regains its shape when the item is removed.
The rod 12 should ideally have a diameter such that the rod is not permanently
misshapen after an item is hung from the device. Where an alloy such as steel
is used, the ideal diameter is within the range of 2 mm to 3 mm for most wall
hangings. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter is 2 mm, which is the
approximate diameter of a conventional wire clothes hanger.
The rod 12 has a bend 20. The bend 20 bisects the rod 12 into two
portions preferably having equal lengths. The bend 20 creates a fulcrum. The
rod 12 is bent at an angle x. The angle x is not so small that ends of the rod
12
are overly proximate to one another. A possible range of angles for the angle
x
is between 120 degrees and 160 degrees. The optimal measurement for the
angle x is 140 degrees.
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The device 10 also has attaching means for attaching the device 10 to an
item being hung from an upright surface. The attaching means can be any
means for attaching the device to an item, including an adhesive or a
mechanical fastener such as a button, clip or a magnet. It will be appreciated
by
a person skilled in the art that the attaching means may attach to the rod 12
at
any place along the length of the rod 12. In a preferred embodiment, the
attaching means are integral with the rod 12 and are formed from the rod 12.
Forming the attaching means from the rod leaves portions 22 and 24 of the rod
on either side of the bend 20. The attaching means are oriented in a manner
that permits the mass of the item hanging on the device to be distributed
equally on either side of the bend 20. In the embodiment shown in the figures,
there are two attaching means. The first attaching means is oriented at the
end
of the first portion and the second attaching means is oriented at the end of
the
second portion 24 of the rod 12. Both attaching means are distal from the bend
20.
As seen in Figures 1 to 3, attaching means are hooks 30 and 32, each
having a U-shape. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that
the
objects of the invention may be achieved if the attaching means are orientated
in a manner such that they may engage an item to be hung from a surface or a
wire attached to the item. Conventionally, the item to be hung has a length of
wire 74 strung between opposing sides of the item. As seen in Figure 8, the
hooks 30 and 32 should be formed and oriented in such a manner so that the
wire 74 may engage the hooks 30 and 32 and remain engaged upon them when
the item 72 is hung from a surface.
The hooks 30 and 32 may be shaped in any manner that permits them to
support a wire hung upon them, which wire supports an item to be hung and
levelled. The hooks 30 and 32 are preferably U-shaped. V-shaped hooks are
also contemplated. Each hook should have two arms 50 and 52 of equal length
such that the arm 52 that is not directly attached to the rod 12 extends
upward
to a point at the same level at which the rod 12 has been bent to form the
hook.
The hooks 30 and 32 are curved such that the distance between upper ends of
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the arms 50 and 52 is in a range that permits the item being hung from a
surface to rest flush with the surface from which it is hung.
The hooks 30 and 32 are cambered in relation to the portions 22 and 24.
In a preferred embodiment, the angles y between the portions 22 and 24 of the
rod 12 and the hooks 30 and 32 is 95 degrees.
The hooks 30 and 32 may be modified in a manner that creates friction
with the wire 74. The hooks 30 and 32 may be fitted with an anti-slip material
such as rubber sleeves 34 and 36. Alternatively, the hooks may have etchings
or be scored (not shown).
The hooks 30 and 32 are formed by bending ends of the rod 12 to form a
U-shape and then bending the U-shaped portions downward through 85 degrees
so that the U-shaped portions (the hooks 30 and 32) form a 95 degree angle
with the portions 22 and 24. The portion of the arm 52 extending above the
height at which the arm 50 meets the portion 22 or 24 of the rod 12 is then
cut
so that the arms 50 and 52 are of equal length.
In a preferred embodiment, the angle x and the length of rod 12 (and the
length of portions 22 and 24) will be such that the distance between the
attaching means is equal to one third of the width of the item to be hung from
the surface.
In a second embodiment of the invention, seen in Figures 4 to 7, the
attaching means are loops 60 and 62. The attaching means of this embodiment
are formed by bending the ends of the rod 12 to form a U-shape as described
above in respect of the first embodiment of the invention. The U-shaped ends
of
the rod 12 are then bent downward through 85 degrees to form a 95 degree
angle in respect of the portions 22 and 24. The portion of the rod 12
extending
to a height above the point at which the attaching means meets the portion 22
or 24 is then trimmed. Subsequently, the arms of the attaching means are
folded toward the portions 22 or 24, as the case may be, to form the loops 60
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and 62. The attaching means are then trimmed so that ends of the attaching
means do not extend beyond a vertical plane in which the portions 22 and 24
reside. Further, the loops 60 and 62 each have an opening 64 so as to
accommodate a wire extending between the sides of the item being hung from
the surface.
In a preferred embodiment, the circumference of the loops 60 and 62 is
such that the item being hung rests flush with the surface from which it is
hung.
The loops 60 and 62 may be fitted with an anti-slip material such as
rubber sleeves 66 and 68. Alternatively, the hooks may have etchings or be
scored (no shown).
An embodiment of the device incorporating a discontinuity at the point
where portions 22 and 24 meet is also contemplated. The discontinuity
interrupts the uniform progression of the portions 22 and 24 toward an apex,
distal from the attachment means. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the
discontinuity is a raised portion 69. The raised portion 69 is orientated
equidistant from each of the attaching means.
In operation, as seen in Figure 8, the device 10 is attached to a protrusion
70 extending from a surface from which an item 72 is to be hung. The
protrusion may be a nail, a hook, a tack or the like. Ideally the device 10 is
placed so that the bend 20 engages the protrusion 70. Alternatively, the
device
10 may be placed such that a portion of the rod 12 proximate to the bend 20
engages the protrusion 70, in which case the device 10 may be slid along the
protrusion 70 so that the bend 20 engages the protrusion 70. If the device 10
has U-shaped hooks as attaching means, the device 10 is placed so that the
space between the arms 50 and 52 of each of the hooks is orientated away from
the surface from which the item 72 is to be hung. If the attaching means are
loops, the device is hung from the protrusion 70 so that the openings 64 of
the
loops 60 and 62 are orientated proximate to the surface from which the item 72
is hung.
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Once the device 10 is hung from the protrusion 70, the item 72 to be
hung is orientated above the device 10 and lowered so that a wire 74 extending
between the sides of the item 72 to be hung engages the attaching means. The
device 10 engages the wire 74 at two points of contact.
Alternatively, before the device 10 is hung from the protrusion 70, the
device 10 is attached to the item 72 by placing the wire 74 on the hooks or
leading the wire 74 through the openings of the loops. The device 10 can then
be slid along the length of the wire 74 so that it is centred along the length
of
the wire 74. Subsequently, the device 10 can be attached to the protrusion 70
extending from the surface from which the item 72 is being hung. Ideally, the
bend 20 of the rod 12 is placed upon the protrusion 70. Alternatively, if a
portion of the rod 12 proximate to the bend 20 is placed upon the protrusion
70,
the device 10 can be slid so that the bend 20 is placed upon the protrusion
70.
In a further alternative, if the device 10 has a discontinuity such as the
raised
portion 69, the device 10 is slid upon the protrusion 70 until the edge of the
raised portion 69 contacts an edge of the protrusion 70. The item 72 will then
drop slightly so that the centre or top of the raised portion 69 engages the
protrusion 70. The slight drop will notify the individual hanging the item 72
that
the device 10 is in the correct place.
Numerous modifications may be made to the embodiments as described
above without departing from the scope of the invention, which is described by
the claims.
