Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WALL HANGING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
100011 Furniture is often purchased in a disassembled, state due to its large
size so that it is easier
to package and transport to the end-use location. In sonic instances, the
store at which the
furniture is purchased will deliver the furniture to the end-user's home and
assemble the furniture
or the consumer, In other instances, the consumer must assemble the furniture
by 'him or
herself. This can be a. great source of frustration to the consumer because
the assembly
instructions are often. difficult for a lay person to understand and the
.furniture parts often do not
fit together readily and seamlessly. Thus, a need exists for a mechanical
coupling system that
can be used for the coupling of pieces of an article of furniture together to
assemble the article of
furniture,
100021 There are many instances in. which people desire to hang an article
from a wall, For
example, people enjoy hanging artwork, and. other decorations from. a wall in
a home to
personalize the space. People also hang artifacts and diplomas and other
achievement indicators
from the walls in their offices. Moreover, people hang shelves and other
ledges from the to
display items thereon, Howeverõ for many people the process of hanging
articles from the wall is
a daunting and stressful experience. Thus, a need exists for a simpler way to
effectively hang
various articles from a wall.
SUMMARY OF mit INVENTION
100031 The present invention is directed to a wall, banging system by which a
wall decor item
such as a. ledge, a frame, artwork, or the like may be mounted to and. hung
from. a. wall. The wall.
hanging system may include a. first mounting assembly that is coupled to the
wall and. a. second
mounting assembly that is coupled to the wall decor item, The first and second
mounting
assemblies may be engaged to mount the wall decor item from the wall, One of
the first and
second. mounting assemblies may include a. post and the other of the first and
second mounting
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
assemblies may include a. cavity. The post may be inserted into an insenion
portion of the cavity
and then slid to a. nesting portion of the cavity to lock the first mounting
assembly to the second
mounting assembly.
100041 In one aspect, the invention may be a wall hanging system comprising; a
first niounting
assembly configured to be coupled to a. wail, the first motmtin.g assembly
comprising at least one
mounting element; a wall decor item; a second mounting assembly coupled to the
wall decor
item, the second mountin.g assembly comprising at least one mounting element
that is configured
I:0 engage the at least One mounting element: of the first mounting assembly
to hang the wall
decor item from the wall; wherein the at least one mounting element of one of
the first and
second mounting assemblies comprises a post having a longitudinal axis and the
at least one
mounting element of the other one of the first and second mounting assemblies
comprises a
cavity haying an insertion portion and a nesting portion; and wherein the wall
decor item is
configured to be mounted to the wall by inserting the post axially into the
cavity along the
insertion portion of the cavity and then sliding the wall decor item relative
to the first mounting
assembly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal, axis of the at least
one post until th.e at least
one post nests within the nesting portion of the cavity.
[00051 In another aspect, the invention may be a wall hanging system
comprising: a mounting
bracket configured to be coupled to a wall., the mounting bracket comprising
at least one cavity
having an insertion portion and a nesting portion; a. wall decor item; at
least One mounting
element coupled to the :wall decor item, the at least one mounting element
comprising a first
portion that is embedded within the wall decor item and a post portion
protruding from the wall
decor item along a. longitudinal axis; and. wherein the wall decor item is
mounted to the wall by
inserting the post portion of the at least one mounting element axially into
the at least one cavity
along the insertion portion of the at least one cavity and then sliding the
wall decor item relative
to the mounting bracket in a. direction transverse to the longitudinal, axis
until the at least one
post portion nests within the nesting portion of the at least one cavity
100063 In yet another aspect, the invention may be a. method, of hanging a
wall decor item from a
wall, the method comprising: coupling a first mounting assembly to the wall.,
the first mounting
assembly comprising a plate portion having a rear surface that faces the wall,
a front surface
opposite the rear surface, and. an annular wall protruding from the front
surface and defining a
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
cavity having an insertion portion and a. nesting portion; aligning a post
protruding from a floor
of a mounting recess of the wall decor item with the insertion portion of the
cavity and moving
the wall decor item towards the first mounting assembly until the post enters
the insertion portion
of the cavity; and sliding the wall decor item relative to the first mounting
assembly in a
direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the post so that the
post slides from the
insertion portion of the cavity to the nesting portion of the cavity, an inner
surface of the annular
wall of the first mounting assembly along the nesting portion of the cavity
mating with an outer
surface of the post to prevent the post from being removed from the cavity
while th.e post is
located within the nesting portion of the cavity.
100071 In a further aspect, the invention may be a wall hanging system
comprising: a wall decor
item having at least one first type of mourning element; a first mounting
bracket and a second
mounting bracket, each of the first and second mounting brackets comprising at
least one second
type of mounting element, a first end having a first coupling feature, and a
second end having a
second coupling feature; an extension bracket comprising a first end having a
third coupling
feature and second end having a fourth coupling .feature; wherein the first
and second mounting
brackets and the extension bracket are configured to be coupled to the wall so
that the extension
bracket extends between the first and second mounting brackets and the third
coupling feature of
the extension bracket mates with the second coupling feature of the first
mounting bracket and
the fourth coupling feature of the extension bracket mates with the first:
coupling feature of the
second mounting bracket; and. wherein the wall, decor item. is mounted to the
wall via
engagement between the at least one first type of mounting element of the wall
decor item and
the at least one second type of mounting element of the first and second
mounting brackets.
100081 Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the
detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the
detailed description
and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended
for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR.AWINGS
100091 The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description
and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
3
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
100101 FIG, I is a front perspective view of a furniture part including a.
board with male and
female couplers attached thereto in. accordance with an embodiment of the
present. invention;
1001.11 FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the furniture part of FIG. 1;
100121 FIGS, 3A-3C are a top perspective view, a bottom perspective view, and
a front view,
respectively, of the male coupler of FIG. I;
100131 RCS, 4A-4D are a top perspective view, a bottom perspective view, a top
view, and a
side view, respectively, of the female coupler of FIG. I;
100141 HG, 4E is a cross-secti on al. view taken along line IVE-IVIE of FIG,
4C;
1001.51 FIG. 4F is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVF-IVF of FIG. 4C;
1001.61 FIG, 4G is a cross-sectional view taken. along line IVC,i-IVG of FIG.
41);
100171 FIG. 414 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVH-IVH of FIG.
41);
[00181 FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional .view taken along line of FIG, 41);
10019.1 FIG. 5 is a top view of the female coupler of FIG, 4A. illustrating
compressive forces
acting on the female coupler when it is installed in the board as shown in
FIG, 1;
100201 FlOS. 6A-611 illustrate the process of coupling the male and female
couplers to the
furniture part, in accordance with an. embodiment of the present invention;
100211 FIGS. 7A-9B illustrate the process of coupling two distinct furniture
parts together via
mating between the male and female couplers attached thereto with FIGS. 7B,
8B, and 9B being
schematic cross-sectional views of FIGS, 7A, SA, and 9Aõ respectively;
[0022] FIG. lOA is a top view illustrating the male coupler attached to the
female coupler,
100231 FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along line X.B-XB of FIG. 10A;
100241 FIGS. 11A and 11 B illustrate male and female couplers in a detached
and attached state,
respectively, in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the present
invention;
100251 FIGS. 11C and 1 ID are cross-sectional views taken along lines X.1.C,-
XIC.. and XID-XID
in FIG. I IB, respectively;
100261 FIGS. 12A and. 12B illustrate male and female couplers in a detached
and attached state,
respectively, accordance with a. second alternative embodiment of the present
invention; and.
100271 FIGS. '12C and I 2D are cross-sectional views taken along lines XIIC-
XIIC and .X.I1D-
XIID in FIG. 10.13, respectively.
4
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
L002$ 1 FIG, 13 is a perspective view of a wall hanging SyStem being used to
hang a wall decor
item from a wall in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
100291 FIG, 14 is a perspective view of the wall hanging system illustrating
the wall having
first. mounting assembly thereon and the wall decor item having a second
mounting assembly
thereon.;
100301 FIG 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG, 13;
100311 FIG, 161 is a perspective view of the first mounting assembly of the
wall hanging system
of FIG, 14;
100321 'FIG, 1613 is a front view of the first mounting assembly of FIG. 16A;
100331 FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the wall decor item
positioned adjacent to the
wall such that the second mounting assembly on the wall decor item is aligned
with the first
mounting assembly on the wall;
100341 FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line of FIG. 17;
[00351 FIG. 19 is the perspective view or HO. 17 with the wall decor item
moved closer to the
wall so that a post of the second mounting assembly is inserted into an
insertion portion of a
cavity of the first mounting assembly;
100361 FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX-X.X of FIG_ 19
100371 FR.i. 21 is the perspective view if FIG. 19 with the wall decor item
having been slid along
the wall so that the post of the second mounting assembly slides into a
nesting portion of the
cavity of the first mounting assembly;
100381 FIG. 22 is a. cross-sectional view taken along line XXII-XXII of FIG.
21;
100391 FIG. 23 is a. perspective view of a wall hanging system in. accordance
with an alternative
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the wall having a first
mounting assembly
thereon and the wall decor item having a second mounting assembly thereon;
100401 FIG, 24 is a. perspective view of the first mourning assembly of the
wall hanging system
of FIG. 23;
100411 FIG. 25 is a. perspective view of the second mounting assembly of the
wall hanging
system of FIG. 23;
100421 FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken. along line XV-XV of FIG. 13
illustrating the wall
hanging system or FIG. 23;
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
100431 FIG, 27 is a perspective view of a wall hanging system in accordance
with another
alternative embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the wail having
a first mounting
assembly thereon and the wall decor item having a second mounting assembly
thereon;
100441 FIG, 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG> 13
illustrating the wall
hanging system of FIG, 23;
100451 FIG, 29A. is a perspective view of an extension member in accordance
with a first
em bodi in ent of the present invention;
100461 FIG 298 is a front. view of the extension member of FIG, 29A;
100471 FIG, 30A is a. perspective view of an extension member in accordance
with a second
embodiment of the present invention;
100481 MO. 3013 is a. front view of the extension member of FIG. 30Aõ whereby
a level is held
by the extension member;
100491 FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a wall mounting system that includes
two of the first
mounting assemblies of FIG. 14 and one of the extension members of FIG. 29A;
and
100501 FAQ 32 is a perspective view of a wall mounting system that includes
three of the first
mounting assemblies of FIG, 14 and two of the extension members of FIG. 30A.
DETA.ILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
100511 The following description of the preferred. emboditnent(s) is merely
exemplary in nature
and is in no way intended, to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
100521 The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of
the present
invention is intended to be read in connection with th.e accompanying
drawings, which are to be
considered part of the entire written description. In the description, of
embodiments of the
invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is
merely intended for
convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope
of the present
invention. Relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal," "vertical,"
"above," "below,"
"up," "down," "top" and "bottom." as well as derivatives thereof (e.g.,
"horizontally,"
"downwardly," "upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the
orientation as then described
or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for
convenience of
description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or
operated in a particular
orientation unless explicitly indicated as such..
Terms such as "attached," "affixed,"
6
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
"connectedõ" "coupledõ" "interconnected," and similar refer to a relationship
wherein structures
are secured or attached to One another either directly OT indirectly through
intervening structures,
as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless
expressly described
otherwise, Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are
illustrated by reference to the
exemplified embodiments, Accordinglyõ the invention expressly should not be
limited to such
exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of
features that
may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the
invention being defined by
the claims appended hereto,
100531 Referring to FIGS. 1-120, the invention will be described with
reference to a furniture
assembly and/or a method of assembling furniture,
100541 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a furniture part 1.0 is illustrated in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, In the exemplified embodiment, the
furniture pan, 10
comprises a board 100, one or more male couplers 200, and one or more female
couplers 300.
Of course, in some embodiments the board 100 may include either male couplers
200 or female
couplers 300, but not both. As shown, the one or more male and female couplers
200, 300 are
coupled or attached to the board 100, the exact manner of such attachment
being described in
more detail below. In some embodiments, the furniture part '10 may be sold
with the male and
female couplers 200, 300 coupled to the board 100 at the positions and
locations necessary to
ensure that a plurality of the furniture parts 10 can be coupled together to
form. an assembled
article of furniture. In some embodiments, the male and female couplers 200,
300 cannot be
readily detached or otherwise separated from the boards 100 without causing
damage to either
the boards 100 or the male/female couplers 200, 300, In some embodiments, the
male and
female couplers 200, 300 may be collectively referred. to herein as a
mechanical coupling system.
In other embodiments, two furniture parts, each including a board 100 and
male/female couplers
200, 300 such that one of the boards includes male couplers 200 and. another
one of the boards
100 includes female couplers 300, may be referred to herein as a mechanical
coupling system or
a furniture assembly.
100551 in the exemplified embodiment, there are two of the male couplers 200
and two of the
female couplers 300 coupled to the board 100. However, there could be one or
more than two of
the male couplers 200 and one or more than two of the female couplers 300
coupled to the board
7
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
100 in other embodiments. Moreover, in still other embodiments there could be
either one or
more of the male couplers 200 and/or one or more of the female couplers 300
coupled to the
board 100, Thus, there do not need to be both the male and female couplers
200,, 300 attached to
each board 100, The locations of the male and fernale couplers 200õ 300 on the
boards 100 are
typically dictated by the m.anufacturer to make it easy for a. consumer or end-
user to assemble the
furniture using the furniture parts 10.
100561 in use, a plurality of different furniture parts 10 can be coupled
together to form an
assembled article of furniture by mating the male couplers 200 of one of the
furniture parts 10
with the female couplers 300 of another one of the furniture parts 10 in
accordance with
instructions provided by the manufacturer. This assembly will be described in
greater detail
below with reference to FIGS. 7A-9B. The specific type of furniture that can
be assembled using
the furniture parts 10 is not. limiting of the present invention. The specific
type of furniture may
include cabinets, sofas, tables, chairs, bookshelves, desks, bed frames,
stools, stands, dressers, or
any other type of furniture that can potentially be assembled by a consumer or
end-user in their
home or office.
100571 in the exemplified embodiment, the board 1 00 is rectangular shaped,
but the board 100
may take on any of a variety of different shapes including polygons, shapes
that are not
polygons, regular shapes, irregular shapes, or the like. Furthermore, although
in the exemplified
embodiment, the board 100 is long and flatõ it need not be fiat in all
embodiments but could
include textures, contours, ridges, protuberances, hills, or the like on any
of its surfaces of edges.
In some embodiments, the board 1 00 need only form a part of an article of
furniture so the final
specifications of the article of furniture will dictate the shape and
structure of the board 100,
Thus, in some embodiments the shape of the board 100 is not to be limiting of
the present.
invention. The board 100 may also be referred to herein as a panel, a
substrate, or a support
structure.
100581 in the exemplified embodiment, the board 100 has a front surface 101, a
rear surface 102,
and an edge 103 extending between the front and rear surfaces 101, 102. The
edge 103 is a
peripheral edge that extends around an entirety of a periphery of the board.
100. In the
exemplified embodiment, the male couplers 200 are coupled to the board 100
along a portion of
the edge 1.03 and the female couplers 300 are coupled to the board. 100 along
the front surface
8
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
101, However, the invention is not to be so limited and in other embodiments
the male couplers
200 could be coupled to the front and/or rear surfaces 101, 1.02 and the
female couplers 300
could be coupled to the rear surface 102 or the edge 103, In other
embodiments, there may be
male couplers 200 and female couplers 300 coupled to the edge 103 and/or male
couplers and
female couplers 200, 300 coupled to one or both of the front and rear surfaces
101, 102 of the
board 100, The basic concept is that the male and female couplers 200, 300 are
positioned on
first and second boards 100 at a location that enables the first and second
hoards 100 (and the
first and second furniture parts 10 that include the first and second boards
100 and the male and
female couplers 200, 300) to be coupled together to form a part of an
assembled piece of
furniture.
100591 There are two main advantages of the male and female couplers 200, 300,
First, they
enable articles of furniture to be assembled without the use of any tools much
quicker than was
previously possible. Specifically, there is no need for hammers, screw
drivers, hex keys, Allen
wrenches, or the like and the male and female couplers 200, 300 mate with one
another readily
and quickly during assembly. Furthermore, disassembly is just as easy as
assembly and it can be
accomplished without causing any damage to the furniture parts 10 so that the
article of furniture
can be reassembled at another location if so desired. Second, the male and
female couplers 200,
300 are able to be used in boards of varying quality. The boards 100 to which
the male and
female couplers 200, 300 are coupled may be formed from fiberboard, which may
include
particle board (also referred to as low-d.ensity fiberboard, or UDR medium
density fiberboard
(M.D.F.) and hardboard (also referred to as high-density fiberboard, or HIV).
In seine
embodiments, the boards 100 may be formed from a low quality or low grade
particle board that
is porous and has a low density. In some embodiments the density of the boards
100 may be in a
range of 600-700k.g/m3, or more specifically 600-650k.g/m3 or in a range of
650-700k.g/t& or
650-680kg/m. In some embodiments, the boards 100 may have a density that is
below
700kg/m3. The material of such low grade particle board may include flakes of
poplar, pine, or
the like along with various binders such as glue and adhesives.
100601 Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, the male coupler 200 will be described in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. The invention is not to be limited to the
specific structural.
details of the male coupler 200 in all embodiments and structural
modifications may be possible
9
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
without affecting its function. In fact, two alternative embodiments of male
couplers will be
described below with reference to FIGS, 1.0A.-11D and 12A.-121) and it should
be appreciated
that even more alternative embodiments are possible,
100611 The male coupler 200 may be formed from metalõ plastic, or the like in
various different
embodiments, in one particular embodiment, the male coupler 200 may be formed
from glass
Filled nylon, Of course, other materials are possible in other embodiments,
including nylon and
other thermoplastics such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene,
polypropylene, or the
like, although a strong and rigid material is preferable because it is being
used to hold an
assembled article of furniture together, The male coupler 200 could also be
formed from wood
or any of various metals in some embodiments. In some embodiments the male
coupler 200 may
be .fortned in an injection molding process, although it could also be formed
by extrusion, 3D
printing, or the like, As described below, th.e female coupler 300 may be
formed from the same
material as the male coupler 200 and in the same manufacturing process (e.g.,
injection molding,
extrusion, 3D printing, or the like). As mentioned above, because the male and
female couplers
200, 300 are the only components that serve to couple the various furniture
parts 10 together, the
male and female couplers 200, 300 should be formed from a strong, rigid
material capable of
supporting a reasonably large amount. of weight and force_
100621 The male coupler 200 extends along an axis A-A from a first end 201 to
a second end
202, the male coupler 200 comprises a :first portion 21.0 configured for
coupling the male
coupler 200 to the board 100 and a second portion 220 configured :for coupling
the male coupler
200 to one of the female couplers 300. The second portion 220 comprises a
first engagement
feature 250 that mates with an engagement feature of the female coupler 300 to
achieve the
coupling between those two components. The first portion 210 terminates at the
first end 201
and the second portion 210 terminates at the second end 202. The male coupler
200 has a
generally cylindrical sha.
100631 The first portion 210 comprises a generally cylindrical body 211 and a
plurality of barbs
212 protruding radially from the cylindrical body 211. The barbs 212 are
axially spaced apart
from one another along the length of the first portion 210 of the male coupler
200. .Each of the
barbs 212 has a top surface 213 that is angled obliquely relative to the axis
A-A and a bottom
surface 214 that is perpendicular relative to the axis A-A. The top surface
213 of the barbs 21.2
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
faces the first end 201 of the male coupler 200 and the bottom surface 214 of
the barbs 212 faces
the second end 202 of the male coupler 200. Due to the angles of the top and
bottom surfaces
213, 214 of the barbs 212, the male coupler 200 can be inserted into an
opening in one of the
boards 100 with the first end 201 entering the opening first Because tlie top
surfaces 213 of the
barbs 212 are angled, the barbs 212 will deflect as the male coupler 200 is
inserted deeper into
the opening in the board 100. 'Because the bottom surfaces 214 of the barbs
212 are
perpendicular to the axis A-A, the barbs 21.2 will substantially prevent the
male coupler 200 from
being removed from the opening and detached from the board 100 once it is
coupled thereto,
Thus, in some embodiments the male coupler 200 can be coupled to the board 100
without. any
adhesives such as glue and without having to weld the male coupler 200 to the
board 100. The
barbs 212 create a sufficient coupling between the male coupler 200 and the
board 100 to prevent
it from being detached from, the board 1.00 once installed, Of course, an
adhesive such as glue
could be used in some embodiments if needed in a particular situation,
100641 in the exemplified embodiment, each of the barbs 21.2 extends
circumferentially around
an outer surface of the cylindrical body 211 of the first portion 210 of the
male coupler 200.
Specifically, each of the barbs 212 extends armularly around the cylindrical
body 211. of the first
portion 211 of the male coupler 200. In the exemplified embodiment, there is
at least one gap
215 provided in each of the barbs 212 which allows the barbs 212 to have a
greater degree of
deflection as the first portion 210 of the male coupler 200 is being couple to
the board 100 as
described further herein below. More specifically, in the exemplified,
embodiment there are two
gaps 215 in each of the barbs 212 and the gaps in all of the barbs 212 are
aligned in a direction, of
the axis A.-A. The barbs 212 are arranged along the cylindrical body 21.1 in a
vertically spaced
apart manner. The exact number of the barbs 212 may be dictated by the length
of the
cylindrical body 211 and the spacing between the barbs 212 and is not to be
limiting of the
present invention in all embodiments.
10065] In the exemplified embodiment, the first portion 210 of the male
coupler 200 also
comprises a cap portion 216 that extends from the cylindrical body 211 to the
first end 201 and a
lower cylindrical, body 217 that extends from the cylindrical body 211. to the
second portion 220.
In the exemplified embodiment, both the cap portion 21.6 and the lower
cylindrical body 21.7
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
have a greater diameter than the cylindrical body 211, The cap portion 216 and
the lower
cylindrical body 21.7 are devoid of any barbs,
100661 In the exemplified embodiment, the second portion 220 of the male
coupler 200 has an
hourglass like shape and its shape forms the first engagement: feature 250.
The second portion
220 of the male coupler 200 extends from the second end 202 of the male
coupler 200 to a
shoulder 203, with the shoulder 203 extending radially from an end of the
lower cylindrical body
217 of the .first portion 210 of the male coupler 200. When the first portion
210 of the male
coupler 200 is inserted into an opening in the board 1.00, abutment of the
shoulder 203 of the
second portion 220 of the male coupler 200 with the board 100 indicates that
the male coupler
200 is in a fully inserted position. Thus, no portion Of the second portion
220 of the male
coupler 200 is located within the board 100 but the entirety of the .first
portion 21.0 of the male
coupler 200 is located within the board 100 in some embodiments, In other
embodiments, only
portions of the first portion 210 of the male coupler 200 may be positioned
within the board 100.
100671 The second portion 220 of the male coupler 200 includes an upper
portion 221 that is
adjacent to the first portion 210 and that includes the shoulder 203 and a
lower portion 222 that
extends to the second end 202 of :the male coupler 200. The upper and lower
portions 221, 222
are angled so as to converge at a waist region 223 of the second portion 220
of the male coupler
200. The upper and lower portions 221, 222 extend away from the axis AA and
diverge .from
one another with increasing distance from the waist region. 223, Stated
another way, each of the
upper and. lower portions 221, 222 are in the shape of a truncated triangle
such that they are each
truncated at the waist region 223.
100681 in the exemplified embodiment, the waist region 223 of the second
portion 220 of the
male coupler 200 forms the first engagement feature 250. Thus, the first
engagement feature 250
in this embodiment comprises a groove, recess, or channel that engages or
otherwise mates with
an engagement feature of the female coupler 300 to facilitate the coupling of
the male coupler
200 to the female coupler 300. More specifically, the first engagement feature
250 is the groove
in combination with the angled sidewalls of the outer surface of the second
portion 220 of the
male coupler 200 as best seen in FIG. 3C. This also facilitates the coupling
of a first board 100
to a second board. 100 when the male and female couplers 200, 300 are coupled
to the first and
second boards 100, respectively. Of course, the invention is not to be limited
to the :first
1.2
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
engagement feature 250 being a groove or the like, In other embodimentsõ the
first engagement
feature 250 may be a protuberance and the second engagement feature of the
female coupler 300
may be a, groove, recess, or channel that receives the protuberance.
10069.1 Referring to .F1GS. 4A-4F, the female coupler 300 will be described in
accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, Similar to the male coupler 200, the
female coupler 300
may also be formed from plastic, wood, metal, or the like, with nylon or glass
filled nylon being
one preferable but non-limiting material. The female coupler 300 may be formed
or
manufactured from injection molding, extrusion, 30 printingõ or any other
technique known in
the art, The female coupler 300 should be formed of a material with sufficient
strength to enable
the male and female couplers 200, 300 to mate with. one another to assemble an
article of
furniture as described herein. In the exemplified embodiment, the female
coupler 300 has a
substantially oval, shape. However., the invention is not to be limited by the
shape of the female
coupler 300 in all embodiments and the female coupler 300 may take on any
desired shape, such
as being square, rectangular, or the like, As long as the female coupler 300
is capable of mating
or otherwise interacting with the male coupler 200 to mechanically couple
those two components
together, the shape of the female coupler 300 is not to be limiting of the
invention, in all
embodiments.
10070.1 The female coupler 300 comprises a body portion 309 that extends from
a first end 301 to
a second end 302 along an axis B-B. The female coupler 300 is elongated along
a longitudinal
axis C-C. The body portion 309 has an outer surface 303 and an inner surface
304.
Furthermore, a plurality of barbs 310 extend from the outer surface 303 of the
female coupler
300 for coupling the female coupler 300 to one of the boards 100. The barbs
310 are positioned
in a spaced apart manner and extend around the entirety of the outer surface
303 (i.e, the barbs
310 are annular, although there may be gaps similar to that which was
discussed above with
regard to the barbs 2.1.2 of the male coupler 200). Each of the barbs 310 has
a top surface 311
and a bottom surface 312. The top surfaces 311 of the barbs 310 are obliquely
angled relative to
the axis B-B and the bottom surfaces 312 of the barbs 310 are angled
perpendicularly relative to
the axis B-B. Thus, as the female coupler 300 is inserted into an opening in
one of the boards
100 with the first end 301 entering the opening first, the angled top surfaces
311 of the barbs 310
13
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
permit the .female coupler 300 to be inserted while the perpendicular bottom
surfaces 312 prevent
the female coupler 300 from be readily removed/detached from the board 100,
100711 The body portion 309 of the female coupler 300 comprises a flange 317
located at or
adjacent to the second end 302. The flange 317 protrudes from the outer
surface 303 of the body
portion 309 and in the exemplified embodiment is a continuous, uninterrupted
protrusion.
100721 The female coupler 300 comprises a cavity 305 that extends along the
axis B-B, which
may also be referred to herein as the cavity axis 13-13. The cavity 305 is
defined by the inner
surface 304. In the exemplified embodiment, the cavity 305 is open at each of
the .first and
second ends 301, 302 of the female coupler 300. Thus, in the exemplified
embodiment there is a
first opening 318 in the first end 301 and a second opening 319 in the second
end 302. As a
result, the cavity 305 extends entirely through the body portion 309 of the
female coupler 300.
By having the cavity 305 open at 'both of the first and second ends 301, 302
of the body portion
309 of the female coupler 300, the female coupler 300 has an added flexibility
which allows for
the female coupler 300 to be slightly compressed when the female coupler 300
is inserted into an
opening in a board. As will be described in more detail, below, this
facilitates creating a secure
connection between the male and female couplers 200, 300. However, it should
be noted that in
some alternative embodiments the cavity 305 may be closed at one end and open
at the other.
10073.1 The cavity 305 comprises an insertion portion 306, a nesting portion
307, and a locking
portion 308, Th. nesting portion 307 is positioned between the insertion
portion 306 and the
locking portion 308. Specifically, the nesting portion 307 extends from a
first end 361 that is
adjacent to the insertion portion 306 to a second end 362 that is adjacent to
the locking portion
308. The insertion portion 306 is the portion of the cavity 305 within which
the male coupler
200 is received during coupling of two boards 100 together. Specifically, the
male coupler 200
is configured to fit through portions of the openings 318, 319 that are
aligned with the insertion
portion 306 of the cavity 305, but the male coupler 200 may not fit within
portions of the
openings 318, 319 that are aligned with the nesting and locking portions 307,
308 of the cavity
305,
100741 The nesting portion 307 is the portion of the cavity 305 within which
the male coupler
200 first becomes coupled to the female coupler 300 in the sense that the male
coupler 200
cannot be removed, axially from the cavity 305 when it is in the nesting
portion 307. (i.e., the
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
male coupler 200 becomes locked to the female. coupler 300 in the axial
direction in the
direction of the axes A-A, B-B), The locking portion 308 of the cavity 305 is
the end of the
cavity 305 that is opposite the insertion portion 306 and it is located where
the sidewalls of the
cavity 305 (Or the inner surface 304) begin to curve into a semicircular
shape,
100751 Th.e female coupler 300 comprises a second locking feature 370 that is
configured to mate
or otherwise interact, with the first locking feature 250 of the male coupler
200 to couple the male
coupler 200 to the female coupler 300, In the exemplified embodiment, the
second locking
feature 370 is a protuberance, Specifically, in the exemplified embodiment the
inner surface 304
of the female coupler 300 comprises a. protuberance 350 that has a. shape that
corresponds with
the shape of the outer surface of the male coupler 200 along the second
portion 220 of the male
coupler 200. Specifically, the inner surface 304 of the female coupler 300
comprises a first
portion 320 and a second portion 321 that. are angled relative to the axis B-B
so as to converge at
a. middle portion 322, in the exemplified embodiment, the middle portion 322
forms an apex of
the protuberance 350. The first and second portions 320, 321 diverge from one
another and from
the axis B-B with increasing distance from the middle portion 322. Thus, the
nesting portion 307
of the cavity 305 has an hourglass-like cross-sectional shape (best shown. in
FIG, 4E) that is
similar to the hourglass-like shape of the second portion 220 of the male
coupler 200. Thus, the
middle portion or apex 322 of the protrusion 350 .forms the second locking
feature 370 and it
nests within the groove of the waist portion 223 of the second portion 220 of
the male coupler
200 to couple those two components together,
100761 As seen, the first portion 320 lies on a first plane Pi and the second
portion 321 lies on a
second plane P2. The first and second. planes PI, P2 intersect one another at
an obtuse angle at
the apex 322. Furthermore, each of the first and second. planes PI, P2
intersects the cavity axis
B-B at a location that is external to the cavity 305. Moreover, a distance DI
between the apex
322 of the protuberance 350 and. the top end. 302 of the female coupler 300 is
constant along the
nesting portion 307 of the cavity 305. Thus, the apex 322 lies on a third
plane 133 and the top end
302 of the female coupler 300 lies on a. fourth plane P4 that is parallel to
the third plane P3.
Thus, the apex 322 is not angled downwardly or upwardly as it moves along the
nesting portion
307 of the cavity 305, but rather it is at a constant height along the inner
surface 304 of the
female coupler 300.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
L00771 A.s best seen in FIG, 4C, the inner surface 304 of the female coupler
300 comprises a first
portion 362 located on a first side of the longitudinal axis CC and a second
portion 363 located
on a second side of the longitudinal is C-C. When in a non-compressed state
when not
coupled to the board 100), the first and second portions 362, 363 of the inner
surface 304 located
along the nesting portion 307 of the cavity 305 are parallel to one another.
Thus, th.e width W of
the nesting portion 307 of the cavity 307 (measured at the apes 322) is
constant along the nesting
portion 307 of the cavity 305.
100781 Referring briefly to FIG, 5, the female coupler 300 is illustrated in a
compressed state, It
should be appreciated that in some embodiments, when the female coupler 300 is
inserted into an
aperture in a board, the board may slightly compress the female coupler, which
may alter the
relative orientation of the first and second portions 362, 363 of the inner
surface 304 of the
female coupler 300, Although FIG, 5 illustrates the female coupler 300 by
itself., this is done for
clarity, It should be appreciated that FIG, 5 illustrates th.e female coupler
300 as it appears when
it is coupled to one of the boards, although the compressive appearance may be
slightly
exaggerated in FIG, 5 for ease of understanding. A. comparison between FIGS.
4C and 5 readily
illustrates how the compressive forces of the board acting on. the female
coupler 300 adjust its
structure and shape.
10079.1 Specifically, the compressive forces F press on the outer surface of
the female coupler
300 and cause portions of the female coupler 300 to deflect inwardly towards
the cavity 305,
More specifically, the compressive forces F of the board cause portions of the
nesting portion
307 of the cavity 305 to deflect inwardly. As a result, when the female
coupler 300 is installed
in one of the boards as described in greater detail. below with reference to
FIGS. 6A.-6D, the
width W of the nesting portion 307 of the cavity 305 is no longer constant
along the entirety of
the nesting portion 307 of the cavity 305. Rather, the width W of the cavity
305 measured in a
direction transverse to the longitudinal axis CC increases froni a. first end
360 of the nesting
portion 307 that is .,idjacent to the insertion portion 306 to a second end
361 of the nesting
portion. 307 that is adjacent to the locking portion 308. Thus, the width W of
the nesting portion
307 of the cavity 305 is at a minimum. at the first end 360 and at a maximum
at the second end
361. Stated another way, the first portion 362 of the inner surface 304
located on the first side of
the longitudinal axis C-C and the second portion 363 of the inner surface 304
located, on the
1.6
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
second side of the longitudinal axis C-C diverge from one another along the
nesting portion 307
of the cavity 305 moving from the insertion portion 306 towards the locking
portion 308,
100801 In the exemplified embodiment, the first end 360 of the nesting portion
307 is the location
within the cavity 305 where the cavity 305 has the smallest width aside from
the, opposing ends
of the cavity 305. Specifically, the ends of the cavity 305 are rounded so
clearly th.e width could
be taken at some position along the ends where it is smaller than the width at
the first end 360 of
the nesting portion 307. Thus, with the opposing ends of the cavity 305
excluded, the portion of
the cavity 305 with the smallest width, marks the first end 300 of the nesting
portion 307 in the
exemplified embodiment., To be more specific, the first and second ends of the
cavity 305 may
each comprise approximately one-tenth of the length of the cavity 305 (with
the length being
mea.sured in, a direction of the longitudinal axis C-C), and the .first end
360 of the nesting portion
307 may be located at the portion of the cavity 305 with the smallest width
that is outside of the
first and second ends. Stated another way, the nesting portion 307 of the
cavity 305 may be the
portion of the cavity 305 where the sidewalls 304 on opposing sides of the
longitudinal axis C-C
continually diverge from one another
100811 As a result, the first end 360 of the nesting portion 307 of the cavity
305 forms a sort of
snap-over feature such that when the male coupler 200 is being coupled to the
female coupler
300, the male coupler must be moved past the first end 360 of the nesting
portion 307 with a
sufficient force to overcome the interference created between the walls of the
female and male
couplers 200, 300. To disengage decouple the male coupler 200 from the female
couplers 300,
this must occur in reverse, which makes it unlikely that the male and female
couplers 200, 300
will become detached accidentally without user intention.
100821 During assembly, the second. portion 220 of the male coupler 200 is
received within the
insertion portion 306 of the cavity 305 of the female coupler 300,
Specifically, the second
portion 220 of the male coupler 200 is inserted, through the opening 319 in
the second end. 302 of
the body portion 309 of the female coupler 300. The male coupler 200 is unable
to be received
directly within the nesting and locking portions 307, 308 of the cavity 305
because the cross-
sectional, shape of the second end 202 of the male coupler 200 does not fit
into the opening 319
along the nesting and locking portions 307, 308 (i.e., the cross-sectional
shape of the second end
202 of the male coupler 200 does not fit into the cross-sectional shape at the
open ends of the
1.7
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
cavity 305 along the nesting and locking portions 307, 308), Rather, the only
way to position the
male coupler 200 within the nesting and locking portions 307, 308 of the
cavity 305 is to insert
the male coupler 200 into the insertion portion 306 of the cavity 305 and then
slide the male
coupler 200 in a direction generally perpendicular to the axes A-A, 11-13
until it enters into the
nesting and locking portions 307, 308 of the cavity 305,
100831 Once the male coupler 200 is located within the nesting portion 307 of
the cavity 305, the
inner surface 304 of the female coupler 300 (i.e., the protuberance 350)
engages/interacts with
the outer surface of the second portion 220 of the male coupler 200 to couple
the male and
female couplers 200, 300 together. When the second portion 220 of the male
coupler 200 is
located within the nesting portion 307, the male coupler 200 cannot be moved
axially (i..e, in the
direction of the axes AA, B-B) relative to the female coupler 300. This occurs
due to the shape
of the outer surface of the second portion 220 of the male coupler 200 and the
shape of the inner
surface 304 (i.e,, wall) of the female coupler 300 being corresponding shapes.
Rather, to
disengage the male coupler 200 from the female coupler 300, the second portion
220 of the male
coupler 200 must first be slid back. to the insertion portion 306 of the
cavity 305, and then the
male coupler 200 can be moved axially relative to the female coupler 300 to
detach the male
coupler 200 from the female coupler 300, This process of coupling the male
coupler 200 to the
female coupler 300 and the resulting structure is best illustrated in FIGS. 6A-
8B, described
below,
10084] Referring briefly to FIGS, 4G-41, cross-sectional views of the female
coupler 300 are
provided at different axial locations therealong to show the differences in
structure and shape of
the in.ner surface 304 at different positions of the female coupler 300.
100851 Referring to FIGS. 6A-614, the process of attaching the male and female
couplers 200,
300 to the board 100 will be described. It should be appreciated that this
process is generally
completed by the manufacturer Or factory so that this process is not something
that a consumer or
end user will likely need to do. First, as shown in FIGS. 6A. and 613, one or
more first apertures
130 are formed into the board 100 for receiving the female couplers 300. The
first apertures 130
are preferably blind holes, meaning they do not extend through both of the
front and rear
surfaces 101, 102 of the board. 100, but rather they have an opening 131 at
one of the front and
rear surfaces 101, 102 and a. floor 132 adjacent to the other of the front and
rear surfaces 101,
18
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
102, However, it is possible in other embodiments for the first apertures 130
to extend entirely
through the board 100 without affecting the function described herein. The
first apertures 130
may be formed using a drill bit, router, or the like. In the exemplified
embodiment, the first
apertures 130 are oval in shape to match, the shape of the female couplers
300. The first
apertures 130 may have a different shape but it should correspond to the shape
of the female
couplers 300 to ensure a tight/snug fit between the female couplers 300 and
the board '100. In
some embodiments, the first apertures 130 may be slightly smaller than the
female couplers 300
so that the board 100 applies a slight inward compressive force/pressure on
the female couplers
300 as described herein above, although this. is not required in all
embodiments,
100861 Next, referring to FIGS. 6C and 6D, the female couplers 300 are
inserted into the first
apertures 130 formed in the board 100. The female couplers 300 are positioned
with the first
ends 301 facing the front surface 101 of the board 100 and then each of the
female couplers 300
is moved towards and into one of the first apertures 130. Once the female
couplers 300 are fully
positioned in the first apertures 100, the second ends 302 of the female
couplers 300 are flush
with the front surface 101 of the board 100. Specifically, the apertures 130
may include a
recessed ledge on which the flanges 317 or the female couplers 300 nest so
that the flanges 317
are flush with the front surface 101 (or other surface that the apertures 130
may be formed into)
of the board 100. Of course, the second ends 302 of the female couplers 300
could be recessed
relative to the front surface 101 of the board 100 in other embodiments, but
the second ends 302
of the female couplers 300 should not protrude from the front surface 101. of
the board 100. The
barbs 310 of the female couplers 300 prevent the female couplers 300 from
being detached .from
the board 100 or otherwise being removed, from the first apertures 130.
Specifically, the barbs
310 are angled in such a manner that they do not prevent insertion of the
female couplers 300
into the apertures 130, but they make it difficult or impossible to remove the
female couplers 300
therefrom without damaging the board. 1.00. An assembler may need to use a.
mallet, hammer, or
other tool to assist in inserting the female couplers 300 into the first
apertures 130.
[0087) As noted above, the apertures 130 may be sized slightly smaller than
the external,
diameter or width of the female couplers 300. As a result, the sidewall
defining the apertures
130 may apply pressure onto the exterior of the female couplers 300, thereby
causing the female
19
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
couplers 300 to compress, This may decrease the size of the cavity 305 to
create a tighter fit
between the male and female couplers 200õ 300,
100881 Next, referring to FIGS. 6E and 6F, second apertures 140 are formed
into a portion of the
edge 103 of the board 100. This can be done using a drill, bit, a router, Or
the like. The holes 140
are blind holes in that they have a floor rather than. extendin.g entirely
through the board 100, 131
the exemplified embodiment, the second apertures 140 are round/circular or
cylindrical in shape
to match the shape of the second portions 220 of the male couplers 200.
100891 Next, referring to FIGS, 6(1 and 6H, the process of coupling the male
couplers 200 to the
board 100 within the second apertures 130 is illustrated, The second ends 202
of the male
couplers 200 are aligned with the second apertures 140 and then the male
couplers 200 are
inserted axially (i.e,, in the direction of its axis A.-A) into the second
apertures 140 until the
shoulders 203 of the male couplers 200 contact. the board 100, The barbs 212
bend and flex to
enable the male couplers 200 to be inserted into the second apertures 140, but
the barbs 212
substantially prevent the male couplers 200 from being removed from the second
apertures 140
and detached .from the board i 00 after attachment thereto. A.n assembler may
need to use a tool
to assist in inserting the male and female couplers 200, couplers 300) into
their respective
openings '130, 140, For example, an assembler may use a hammer, a mallet, or
the like in this
step of the assembly process. Alternatively, the male and female couplers 200,
300 may be
coupled to the board 100 by a machine.
100901 As shown in FIG, 611, when the male couplers 200 are coupled to the
board 100, the first
portions 210 (not visible in FIG, 6H) of the male couplers 200 are located
entirely within the
second apertures 140 and the second portions 220 of the male couplers 200
protrude from the
edge 103 of the board 100 (or whichever surface of the board the male couplers
200 are attached
to). Thus, the second portions 220 of the male couplers 200 are available and
ready to be
inserted into the female couplers 300 that are coupled to another board 100.
FIG.. 611 illustrates a
completed furniture part 10 that includes the board 100, two of the male
couplers 200, and two of
the female couplers 300 (although all are not needed to make a completed
furniture part 10 in all
embodiments as described herein above).
100911 Although in the exemplified embodiment the female couplers 300 are
coupled. to the
board 100 and. then the male couplers 200 are coupled. to the board 100, the
order in which this
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
occurs during the manufacturing process is not limiting of the present
invention.. In some
embodiments, the first and second apertures 1.30, 140 may all be formed into
the board 100õ and
then the male and female couplers 200, 300 may be coupled to the board 100, in
other
embodiments, the male couplers 200 may be coupled to the board 100 before the
female couplers
300 are coupled to the board 100. The order in, which the male and female
couplers 200, 300 are
coupled to the board 100 makes no difference in the functionality of the
device/system. In still
other embodiments, the furniture part 10 may comprise the board 100 and one or
more of the
female couplers 300 but none of the male couplers 200. In another embodiment,
the furniture
part may comprise the board .100 and one or more of the male couplers 200 but
none of the
female couplers 300. Thus, depending on the needs of a particular furniture
part for the
assembly of an article of furniture, the number and types of the couplers
(i.e., male and female
couplers 200, 300) may be modified.,
100921 FIGS. 7A and 711 illustrate a first furniture part 10a and a second
furniture part 10b
aligned in preparation for coupling those two furniture parts 10a, 10b
together. The first
furniture part 10a comprises a first board 100a, two of the male couplers
200a, and two of the
female couplers 300a. The second furniture part. 10b comprises a second board
1.00b, two of the
male couplers 200b, and two of the female couplers 300b. Of course, the first
furniture part 10a.
could omit the female couplers 300a, 300b and the second furniture part 10b
could omit the male
couplers 200b, 200b in some embodiments,
100931 in this embodiment, the male couplers 200a of the first furniture part
10a mate, interact,
or engage with the female couplers 3001) of the second furniture part lOh to
couple the first and
second furniture parts 1.0a, 10b together. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the male
and female
couplers 200a, 3001 aligned in preparation for being coupled together. The
second portions 220a
of the male couplers 200a protrude from the board 100a and are aligned with
the cavities 3051)
(specifically, the insertion portions 306b of the cavities 305b) of the female
couplers 300b that
are coupled. to the board. 100b. As best seen in I'l.G. 7B, the barbs 212a,
3.10b ensure that the
male and female couplers 200a, 300b remain coupled to the boards 100a, 1.00b.
Furthermore, the
shoulder 203a of the male couplers 200a prevents the second portions 220a of
the male couplers
200a from being inserted into the apertures in the board 100a.
21
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
10094i Referring to FIGS, 8A and 88, the first and second furniture parts 10a,
I Oh are moved
towards one another until the second portions 220a of the male couplers 200a
that are coupled to
the first board 100a enter into the insertion. portions 306 of the cavities
305b of the female
couplers 300b that are coupled to the second board .100b, At this point, the
male and female
couplers 200aõ 300b are not locked together and the first board 100a. can be
readily moved away
from the second board 100b. It is not until the male couplers 200a slide into
the nesting portion
307b of the female couplers 300b that the male and female couplers 200a, 300b,
and hence also
the first and second furniture parts 10a, 10b, become locked to one another,
This is because the
cross-sectional shape of the insertion portion 306b of the cavities 305b is
different than the cross-
sectional shape of the nesting portion 3071) of the cavities 3051.
Specifically, the nesting portion
307b has a eross-seetional shape that corresponds with the cross-sectional
shape of the second
portion 220a of the male couplers 200a, but the insertion portion 306b has no
such cross-
sectional shape,
[00951 Next, referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the first furniture part 1.0a is
slid relative to the
second furniture part lOb, thereby sliding the male couplers 200a of the first
furniture part 10a
from the insertion portions 306b to the nesting portions 307b to the locking
portions 308b of the
cavities 305b of the female couplers 300b of the second ffirniture part 10b,
As the male couplers
200a slide from the insertion portions 306b of the cavities 305b to the
nesting portions 307b of
the cavities 305b, the inner surface 300 of the female couplers 300b (j ,e,,
the second
engagement feature 370b) mates/interacts/engages the outer surface of the
second portions 220a
of the male couplers 200a (i.e., the first engagement feature 250a). This
interaction between the
inner surface 304b of the female couplers 300b and the outer surface of the
second portions 220a
of the male couplers 200a. (which is also illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10.B)
prevents the male
couplers 200a from being able to move axially (in the direction of the axis A-
A of the male
couplers 200a).
100961 Thus, when the second portions 220a of the male couplers 200a are
located within the
nesting and locking portions 307bõ 308b of the cavities 305b of the female
couplers 300b, the
male and female couplers 200a, 300b are effectively locked together (in the
axial direction of the
male couplers 200a), which in turn locks the first and second furniture parts
'I0a., 10b together.
As noted above, in order to detach the male couplet's 200a. from the female
couplers 300b, the
22
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
male couplers 200a must first be slid within the cavities 305b back. into the
nesting regions 306b
and then the male couplers 200a. can be moved axially out of the cavities 305,
When the male
and female couplers 200a., 300b are coupled together, this couples the first
and second hoards
100a, 100b together, When the first and second boards 1.00a., 100 are coupled
together, they
form a furniture assembly or a portion of an article of furniture,
100971 As noted above, the female couplers 300a, 300b may be compressed when
positioned
within the board 100b, which. causes the outer surface of the male couplers
20th to frictionally
contact the inner surface of the female couplers 300b. The frictional contact
between the outer
surfaces of the male couplers 200a and the inner surfaces of the female
couplers 300b helps to
prevent the male couplers 200a from sliding back towards the insertion
portions 306b of the
cavities 305b of the female couplers 300b. Rather, a user or some other
external force must be
applied in order to remove the male couplers 200a from the nesting portions
307b of the female
couplers 300b.
100981 Referring to 'FIGS. 11A.-11D, a male coupler 400 and a female coupler
500 are illustrated
in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The
male and female
couplers 400, 500 may be coupled to a board in, the same manner as was
described above. Thus,
the male and female couplers 400, 500 may be made to interact to couple a
plurality of boards
together to fbrm an assembled article of furniture. The male coupler 400 is
identical to the male
coupler 200 except with regard to the structure of the second portion 420 of
th.e male coupler
400. Similarly, the female coupler 500 is identical to the female coupler 300
except with regard
to the structure of the inner surface 504 of the female coupler 500. Although
no barbs are shown
on the female coupler 500, they may be included in some embodiments just as
they are for the
female coupler 300.
100991 In this embodiment, the second portion 420 of the male coupler 400
comprises a plurality
of ring-like protrusions 421 and. the inner surface 504 of the female coupler
500 comprises a.
plurality of notches 509 that receive the ring-like protrusions 421 as the
male coupler 400 slides
within the cavity 505 of the female couple 500. Thus, engagement between the
ring-like
protrusions 421 of the male coupler 400 and the notches 509 of the female
coupler 500 prevents
the male coupler 400 from being axially separated from the female coupler 500
in the same
manner as that which was described above. Thus, the structure of the first and
second
23
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
engagement features is somewhat altered in this embodiment as compared to the
one previously
described.
1001001 F1GS, 12A-121) illustrate yet another embodiment of a male coupler 700
and a. female
coupler 800, The male and female couplers 700, 800 can be coupled to a board
in the same
manner as described above with. regard to the male and female couplers 200,
300, The male and
female couplers 700, 800 may be made to interact, to couple a plurality of
boards together to form
an assembled article of furniture, Again, the only difference between the male
coupler 700 and
the male coupler 200 is with regard to the shape of the portion that interacts
with, the female
coupler 800 and vice versa. Specifically, in this embodiment the engagement is
more of a.
traditional dovetail-type joint. However, despite the change in shape, th.e
function and operation
remains the same as that which was described above. Thus, the structure of the
first and second
engagement. features is somewhat altered in this embodiment as compared to the
one previously
described.
1001011 Referring to FIGS. 13-32, the invention will be described with
reference to a wall
hanging system, or to a method of mounting a wall decor item from a wall.
100102.1 Referring to FIGS. 13-16, a wall hanging system 1000 is illustrated
and will be
described in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wall
hanging system
1000 generally comprises a first mounting assembly 1400 configured to be
coupled to a. wall
1010, a wall decor item '1100, and a second mounting assembly 1200 coupled to
the wall decor
item 1100 and configured to interact with the first mounting assembly 1400 to
mount the wall
decor item 1100 on the wall 1010. Thus, the first and second mounting
assemblies 1400, 1200
are configured. to engage or mate with one another while the first mounting
assembly 1400 as
affixed to the wall 101.0 in order to mount the wall decor item 1100 to the
wall 1010. The first
and second mounting assemblies 1400, 1200 may be referred to herein
collectively as a coupling
assembly 1150.
1001031 In the exemplified embodiment, the wall ch"cor item 1100 is a ledge or
shelf However,
the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the wall decor
item. 1100 may be any
item that a. user desires to hang from a wall or other vertical, or semi-
vertical surface. Thus, for
example, the wall decor item 1100 may be a flame, an artifact, a canvas, a
photograph, a
drawing, a mirror, an artistic work, a. cabinet, a. book.shetf, a chalkboard,
a. whiteboard, a case, a
24
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
hook, a. hat rack., a coat rack., or the like. Moreover, although the term
wall is used herein, the
wall could be any supportin.g structure, such as a cabinet, a book.shelf, a
dresserõ or the like on
which the wall decor item 1100 may be mounted.
1001041 The wall decor item 1100 of the exemplified embodiment is a. shelf or
ledge that
comprises a front surface 1101, a rear surface 1.1.02 opposite the front
surface 1101, and an. upper
surface 1103 that extends between the front and rear surfaces 1101, 1102, The
rear surface 1102
is configured to face, and potentially abut, the wall 1010 when. the wall
decor item 1100 is
mounted to the wall 1.010. The upper surface 1103 is a horizontal surface that
it extends
horizontally from the wall 1010 when the wall decor item 1100 is mounted to
the wall 1010 to
form a support ledge. Thus, various items may be stored and/or supported on
the upper surface
1103 for display or other purposes. For this reason, it may be important for
the wall decor item
1100 to be hung in a level manner to avoid items that: are stored thereon from
falling off.
1001051 In the exemplified embodiment, the wall decor item 1100 is a ledge or
shelf as noted
above. The wall decor item 1100 has the front surface 1101 and the rear
surface 1102, with the
rear surface 1102 being positioned adjacent to and/or in abutting contact with
the wall 1010
when the wall decor item 1100 is mounted to the wall 1010. In the exemplified
embodiment, the
wall decor item 1100 comprises a mounting recess 1120 formed into the rear
surface 1102. The
mounting recess 1120 is bounded by a floor 1121 and one or more sidewalls 1122
extending
from the floor 1121 to the rear surface 1102, Thusõ the floor 1121 of the
mounting recess 1120 is
recessed relative to the rear surface 1102 of the wall decor item 1100. The
mounting recess 1120
forms a pocket-like cavity in the rear of the wall decor item 1100 which can
hide the first and
second mounting assemblies 1400, 1200 from view when the wall decor item 1100
is mounted to
the wall 1010 using the first and second mounting assemblies 1400, 1200.
1001061 As noted above, in this embodiment the second mounting assembly 1200
is coupled to
the wall decor item 1.100. Specifically, the second. mounting assembly 1200 is
coupled. to the
wall decor item 1100 within the mounting recess 1.1.20. In this embodiment,
the second
mounting assembly 1200 comprises a first mounting element 1210 and a second
mounting
element 1220 that are coupled to the wall decor item 1100 in a spaced. apart
manner, Of course,
in other embodiments a. single mounting element (i.e., the first mounting
element 1210) or more
than two mounting elements may be used and form part of the second mounting
assembly 1200.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
The number of mounting elements that are used may depend on a. width of the
wall decor item
1100, as measured from a first side 1104 thereof to a second side 1105
thereof,
1001071 Each of the first and second mounting elements 1210, '1220 (and also
any other
mounting elements that may be included) of the second mounting assembly 1200
comprises a
first portion 1201 that extends into and is embedded within, the wall decor
item 1100 to couple
the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 to the wall decor item 1100
and a. second
portion 1202 that protrudes from the wall decor item 1100 and interacts with
the first mounting
assembly 1400 to mount the wail decor item, 1100 from the wail 1010, The first
portion 1201
may comprise barbs, screw threads, or other locking features to ensure a
secure attachment is
achieved between the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 and the
wall decor item
1100. In some embodiments, an adhesive or glue may be used to affix the first
portion 1201. of
the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 to the wall decor item 1100.
In the figures,
some of the features are only labeled on the first mounting element '121.0,
but it should be
appreciated that the second mounting element 1220 is identical to the first
mounting element
1210.
100108.1 More specifically, in the exemplified embodiment the first portions
1201 of the first and
second mounting elements 1210, '1220 of the second mounting assembly '1200
extend into the
floor 1121 of the mounting recess 1'120 of the wall decor item 1100 and the
second portions
1202 of the first. and second mounting elements 1210õ 1220 of the second.
mounting assembly
1200 protrude from the floor 1121 and into the mounting recess 1120. The
second portions 1202
of the first and second mounting elements 1210, '1220 terminate at a distal
end '1203. In the
exemplified embodiment, the second portions 1202 of the first and second
mounting elements
1210, 1220 do not protrude beyond the rear surface 102 of the wall. decor item
100. Stated
another way, the distal ends '1203 of the second portions 1202 of the first
and second mounting
elements 1.210, 1220 are .flush with or recessed relative to the rear surface
1102 of the wall decor
item 1100. Thus, the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting
elements 121.0,
1220 are located entirely within the mounting recess 1120 of the wall decor
item 1100. This
helps to ensure that the coupling assembly 1150 (including the first and
second mounting
assemblies 1400, 1200) is hidden from view when the wall decor item 1100 is
hanging flout the
wall 1010. In other embodiments, the second portions 1202 of the first and
second mounting
26
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
elements 1210õ 1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200 may protrude beyond
the rear
surface 1102 of the wall decor item 1.100, Furthermore, in other embodiments
the mounting
recess 1120 of the wall decor item 1100 may be omitted and the first and
second mounting
elements 1210, 1220 may be coupled directly to the rear surface 1102 of the
wall decor item
11.00 rather than. being recessed within the mounting recess 1120, Such
variations .11111 within the
scope of the claimed invention as will be discussed in some greater detail
below,
1001091 Th.e second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements
1210, 1220 have a
particular shape that is intended to mate with a corresponding shape of a.
portion of the first
mounting assembly 1400 to facilitate the coupling of the second mounting
assembly 1.200 to the
first. mounting assembly 1.400. In the exemplified embodiment, the second
portions 1202 of the
first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 have an hourgla.ss shape. That
is, the second
portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1.220 have a
waist portion 1204
and first and second truncated cone portions 1205, 1206 that meet at the waist
portion 1204. The
narrow ends of the first and second truncated cone portions 1.205, 1206 face
each other and meet
at the waist portion 1204.
100110] Although the second portions 1202 of the .first and second mounting
elements 1210,
1220 have an hourglass shape in the exemplified embodiment, the invention is
not to be So
limited in all embodiments. The second portions 1202 of the first and second
mounting elements
1210, 1220 may have other shapes that mate with the shape of the first
mounting assembly 1400,
including being in the shape of a singular truncated cone, having various
ridges or protrusions
that nest within various channels or grooves of the first mounting assembly
1400, or the like.
Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited by the particular shape of
the second portions
1202 as shown in the drawings in all embodiments.
WWI The first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 may be secured to the
wall decor
item 1 100 by pre-drilling holes in the rear surface 1102 or floor 1121 and
then inserting the first
portions 1201 of the first and. second mounting elements 1210, 1220 into the
pre-drilled. holes. In
other embodiments, the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 may be
able to create
holes in the rear surface 11.02 or floor 1121 of the wall decor item 1100
rather than having pre-
drilled holes. In such embodiments, there may be grooves formed in the distal
end 1203 of the
27
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
first and second mounting elements 1210õ 1220 for insertion of a driver of a
screwdriver or
similar tool,
WWI 21 In the exemplified embodiment, the second portions 1202 of the first
and second
mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200 form a post
that protrudes
from the rear surface 1102 of the wall decor item .1.1.00 or from the floor
1121 of the mounting
recess 11.20 of the wall decor item 1100. Thus, the second portions 1202 of
the first and second
mounting elements '1210, 1220 form a male-type coupler that is intended to be
inserted into a
female-type coupler (which is tbrmed by the first mounting assembly .1400 as
discussed further
below). The post formed by the second portions 1202 of the first and second
mounting elements
1210, 1220 extends from the floor 1121 of the mounting recess 1120 to the
distal end 1203 along
a longitudinal axis Z-Z.
1001131 Referring to FIGS. 14-16B, the first mounting assembly 1400 will be
described in
greater detail. In the exemplified embodiment, the first mounting assembly
1400 is a bracket
member (also referred to herein as a mounting bracket) 1401 that is configured
to be coupled to
the wall 1010 prior to mounting the wall decor item 1100 on the wall. 1010.
Thus, the first
mounting assembly 1.400 comprises a plate portion. 1402 having a front surface
1403 and a rear
surface 1404 opposite the front surface 1403 and first and second mounting
elements 1410, 1420,
When the first mounting assembly 1400 is coupled to the wall 1010, the rear
surface 1404 of the
plate portion 1.402 faces and/or abuts against the wall 101.0, Although two
mounting elements
1410, 1420 are depicted in the exemplified embodiment, a single mounting
element or more than
two mounting elements may be used in alternative embodiments.
In the exemplified
embodiment, the first and second mounting elements 1410, 1420 are female-type
couplers that
mate with the male-type couplers of the second mounting assembly 1200 for
purposes of
mounting the wall decor item 1100 on the wall. However, it should be
appreciated that the
female-type couplers could be located on the wall decor item 1100 and the male-
type couplers
could be located on the wall 1010 in other embodiments, one of which will be
described below
with reference to FIGS. 23 and 26,
10011 4.1 The plate portion 1402 comprises a plurality of mounting holes 1409
that extend
through the thickness of the plate portion 1402 from the front surface 1403
thereof to the rear
surface 1404 thereof. Each of the mounting holes 1409 is sized and configured
to receive a
28
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
fastener, such as a. screw, a. nail, a bolt, or the like, which can pass
through the mounting hole
1409 and into the wall 1.010 for purposes of affixing the first mounting
assembly .1.400 to the
wail 1010, The mounting holes 1409 could be omitted in other embodiments, and
in such
embodiments the first mounting assembly 1.400 may be coupled to the wall 1010
using other
means, such as double-sided adhesive tape, hook-and-loop fastener strips, or
the like.
1001151 In the exemplified embodiment, the first mounting element 141.0
comprises a first
annular wall 1411 that protrudes from the front surface 1403 of the plate
portion 1402 and. the
second mounting element 1.420 comprises a second annular wall 1421 that
protrudes from the
front surface '1403 of the plate portion 1402, The .first and second annular
walls 1411, 1421 are
arranged on the plate portion 1402 in a spaced apart manner. The first annular
wall 1411.
surrounds a first cavity 1412 and the second annular wall 1421 surrounds a
second cavity 1422.
Although the first and second annular walls 1411, 1421 are used to form the
first and second
cavities 1412, 1422 in the exemplified embodiment, in other embodiments the
plate portion 1402
may be thicker between the front and rear surfaces 1403, 1404 and the first
and second cavities
1412, 1422 may be formed directly into the .front surface 1403 of the plate
portion 1402. The
first and second cavities 1412, 1422 may extend through the full thickness of
the plate portion
1402 from the front surface 1.403 to the rear surface 1404, as shown in FIG.
15. In other
embodiments, the first and second cavities 1412, 1.422 may have a floor rather
than forming
passageways through the full thickness of the plate portion 1402, In either
case, the first
mounting element 1.410 comprises the first cavity 1412 and. the second.
mounting element 1420
comprises the second cavity 1422.
10011.6.1 In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second. annular walls
1.411, 1421 are
formed as a part of the bracket member 1.401. However, the invention is not to
be so limited and
in other embodiments the first and second annular walls 1411, 1421 may be
stand-alone
components that define the first and second cavities .1412, 1422. Thus, the
first and second
annular walls 1411, '1421 may form distinct components that can be separately
fitted within a
hole in the wall. 101.0 or separately coupled to the wall 1.01.0 so as to
extend therefrom while still.
allowing for m.ounting of the wall. decor item 1100 on the wall 1010 in. the
manner described
herein. However, using the bracket member 1401 may be preferable as it will
rnak.e it easier for
29
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
an. end user to ensure that the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 are in
alignment: so that the
wall decor item 1100 will be level once mounted on the wall 1010,
1001171 in the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second annular
walls 1411, 1421 is
oval, Moreover, the first cavity 1412 defined by the first annular wall 141.1
comprises an
insertion. portion 1413 and a nesting portion 1414, Similarly, the second
cavity 1422 defined by
the second annular wall 1421 comprises an insertion portion 1423 and a nesting
portion 1424,
As best seen in FIG. 1.68, the nesting portions 1.414, 1424 of the first and
second cavities 1412,
1422 have a smaller width. than the insertion portions 141.3, 1423 of the
first and second cavities
1412, 1422, Thus, the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting
elements 1210,
1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200 can be inserted into the first and
second cavities
1412, 1422 along the insertion portions 1413, 1423, but not along the nesting
portions 1414,
1424. Rather, once inserted into the insertion portions 1413, 1423, the second
portions 1202 of
the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting
assembly 1200 can
be slid along the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 from the insertion
portions 1413, 1423 to
the nesting portions 1414, 1424.
1001.1.81 Thus, in the exemplified embodiment the insertion. portions 1413,
1423 have a diameter
or transverse cross-sectional area that is larger than the outer diameter or
outer transverse cross-
sectional area of the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting
elements 1210, 1220
of the secon.d mounting assembly 1200, This ensures that the second portions
1202 of the first
and second mounting elements '1210, 1220 can readily enter into and be removed
from the
cavities 14.12, 1422 along the insertion portions 1413, 1423 thereof. The
nesting portions 1414,
1424 have a diameter or cross-sectional area that is smaller than the diameter
or cross-sectional.
area of the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements
1210, 1.220 so that
the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220
cannot be
inserted axially into or removed axially out of the first and. second cavities
141.2, 1422 along the
nesting portions 1414, '1424 thereof
1001191 The first cavity 1412 is delin.ed by an inner surface (Or sidewall)
1415 of the first
annular wall. 1411 and the second. cavity 1422 is defined by an inner surface
(or sidewall) 1425
of the second annular wall. 1421. When the second portions 1202 of the first
and. second
mounting elements 1210, 1220 are located in the insertion portions 1413, 1423,
the inner surface
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
1415, 1425 does not, contact the outer surface of the second portions 1202 of
the first and second
.mounting elements 1210, 1220, When. the second portions 1202 of the first and
second
mounting elements 1210, 1220 are located in the nesting portions 1414, 1424,
the inner surface
1415, 1425 contacts the outer surface of the second portions 1202 of the first
an.d second
mounting elements 1210, 1220 to create a snug fit therebetween., Stated
another wayõ the first
and second cavities 1412, 1422 have a shape along the nesting portions 1414,
1424 thereof that
matches or corresponds to the shape of the second portions 1202 of the first
and second
mounting elements 1210, 1220, Thusõ in :the exemplified embodiment: the second
portions 1202
of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 have an hourglass shape,
and the first and
second cavities 1412, 1422 also have an hourglass shape along the nesting
portions 1414, 1424
thereof. As noted previously, the second portions 1202 of the .first and
second mounting
elements 1210, 1220 are not limited to an hourglass shape, and the shape of
the nesting portions
1414, 1424 of the first and second cavities 1.412, 1424 may change based on
the shape of the
second portions 1.202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220,
100120.1 The point here is that the second portions 1202 of the first and
second mounting
elements 1.210, '1220 are capable of being inserted axially (in the direction
of the longitudinal
axis Z-Z) into the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 along the insertion
portions 1413, 1423
thereof but are not capable of being inserted axially into the first and
second cavities 1412, 1422
along the nesting portions 1414, 1424, Rather, once in the insertion portions
1413, 1423õ the
second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 can
be slid in a
direction transverse to the longitudinal axis Z-Z from the insertion portions
1.413, 142:3 into the
nesting portions 1414, 1424. Then, once the second portions 1202 of the first
and second
mounting elements 1210, 1220 are located within the nesting portions 1414,
1424 of the first and
second cavities 1412, 1424, the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220
cannot be
removed. from the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 by pulling in the axial
direction. (i.e., the
direction of the longitudinal axis Z-Z). This is due to the locking fit and.
interaction between the
outer surface of the second portion 1202 of the first and second mounting
elements 1210, 1.220
with the sidcwall or inner surface 1415, 1425 which defines the first and
second cavities 1412,
1424 (best shown in FIG. 15, which illustrates the snug fit between the
second. portion 1202 of
the first mounting element 1210 and the .nestin.g portion 1424 of the first
cavity 1412). Rather,
31
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements 121.0õ 1220
must first be slid
into the insertion portions 1414, 1424 of the first and second cavities 1412,
1414, and only then
the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 may be removed from the
first and second
cavities 1412, 1414,
1001211 To state the above succinctly, the post (which is formed by the second
portion 120.2 of
the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting
assembly 1200) is
configured to move axially (in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z-Z of
the post) into and out
of the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 of the first mounting assembly
1.400 along the
insertion portions 1413, 1423 of the first and second cavities 141.2, 1422,
The post is prevented
from moving axially into and out of the first and second cavities 1412, 1422
of the first mounting
assembly 1400 along the nesting portions 1414, 1424 of the first and second
cavities 1412, 1422.
The inability of the post to move axially into and out of the first and second
cavities 1412, 1422
along the nesting portions 1414, 1424 there of is due to the post and the
nesting portions 1414,
1424 of the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 having mating shapes that
form an interlock
between. the post and the sidewa.II 1415, 1425 that defines the first and
second cavities 1412,
1.422 when the post is located within the nesting portion 1414, 1424 of the
first and second
cavities 1412, 1422.
1001221 Referring to .FIGS. 16A and 16B, the first mounting assembly 1400, or
more specifically
the plate portion 1401 thereof, extends from a first side edge (or a first
end) 1430 to a second
side edge (or a second end) 1431 along an axis Y-Y. The first side edge 1430
comprises a. first
coupling feature 1432 and the second side edge 1431 comprises a second
coupling feature 1.434.
The first and second coupling features 1432, 1434 are configured to allow for
an interaction
between. two or more of the first mounting assemblies 1400 or between the
first mounting
assemblies 1400 and extension brackets which will be described below with
reference to FIGS.
29A-30B.
1001231 In the exemplified embodiment, th.e first coupling feature 1432
located along the first
side edge 1430 is a recess and the second coupling feature 1434 located, along
the second side
edge 1431, is a protrusion. More specifically, the first coupling feature 1432
is a dovetail recess
and the second coupling feature 1434 is a dovetail protrusion. Thus, the
dovetail protrusion of
the second coupling feature 1434 of one of the first mounting assemblies 1400
may be received
32
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
within the dovetail recess of the first coupling feature 1432 of another one
of the first mounting
assemblies 1400 (or a dovetail recess of an extension member as mentioned
above and described
in greater detail below) to form a track comprising multiple of the first
mounting assemblies
1400 coupled to the wall 1010. Although in the exemplified embodiment the
first coupling
feature 1432 is a dovetail recess and the second coupling feature 1434 is a
dovetail protrusion,
the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the first and
second coupling features
1432, 1434 may take on other shapes that, interact or mate with each other as
described herein,
For example, the recess and protrusion could have simple square OF triangular
or other polygonal
shapes or any other shape as desired while still enabling the protrusion to
nest within the recess
for purposes of forming a track. as described herein and best. shown in FIGS.
31 and 32.
[001241 Referring to FIGS. 17-22 sequentially, the manner of mounting the wall
decor item 1100
to the wall 1010 will be described, There are two views for each "step" in the
process, including
a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, to facilitate th.e description,
Referring first to
FIGS. 17 and 18, the first step is to couple the first mounting assembly 1400
to the wall 1010. In
the exemplified embodiment, this may be achieved by inserting fasteners
(screws, nails, bolts, or
the like) through the mounting holes 1409 of the plate portion 1401 of the
first mounting
assembly 1400. As noted above, in other embodiments double-side adhesive tape,
hook-and-
loop fastener strips, or the like may be used.
10012.51 In the exemplified embodiment, when the first mounting assembly 1400
is coupled to
the wall 1010, the first and second mounting elements 1410, 1420 of the first
mounting assembly
1400 protrude from the wall 1010 in preparation for engagement with the first
and second
mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200, which are
coupled to the
wall decor item 1100, Specifically, as noted above the first and. second.
mounting elements 141.0,
1420 comprise the annular walls 1411, 1421 which protrude from the .front
surface 1403 of the
plate portion 1401, and th.us the annular walls 1411, 1421 also protrude from
the wall 1010.
However, in other embodiments first and second mounting elements 1410, 1420
(and in
particular the first and. second cavities 1412, 1422) could be fully embedded
within the wall 1010
rather than protruding therefrom. in such an. embodiment, the first and second
mounting
elements 1210, 1220 of the second. mounting assembly 1200 may protrude from
the rear surface
1102 of the wall decor item 1100 in order to enable the second portions 1202
of the first and
33
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
second mounting elements 1210, 1220 to properly engage the first and second
cavities 1412,
1422 of the first and second mounting elements 1410õ 1420 of th.e first
mounting assem.bly 1400
as described herein, Regardless, once the first mounting assembly 1400 is
coupled to the wall
1010, the wall. decor item 1100 is positioned with its rear surface 1102
facing the wall 1010 as
shown in FIGS, 17 and 18, More specifically, the wail decor item 1100 is
positioned so that the
second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of
the second
mounting assembly 1200 coupled thereto are aligned with the insertion portions
1413, 1423 of
the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 of the first and second mounting
elements 1410, 1420 of
the first mounting assembly 1400,
1001261 The first cavity 1412 has a first opening 1416 through which the
second portions 1202
of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting
assembly 1200
pass in order for the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting
elements 1210, 1220
to enter the insertion portions 1413, 1423 of the first and second cavities
1412, 1422 of the first
mounting assembly 1400, The second portions 202 of the first and second
mounting elements
1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200 are sized and configured to
pass through the
portion of the first and second openings 1416, 1426 that is aligned with the
insertion portions
1413, 1423 of the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 while being prevented
from passing
through the portion of the first and second openings 1416, 1426 that is
aligned with the nesting
portions 1414õ 1424 of the first and second cavities 1412õ 1422, Thus, as
discussed above, the
second portions 1.202 of the first and second. mounting elements 1210, 1220 of
the second
mounting assembly 1200 may only be configured to pass into the first and
second cavities 1412,
1424 when. they are aligned with, the insertion portions 1413, 1423 of the
first and second
cavities 1412, 1422.
1001271 Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, the next step is to move the wall decor
item 1100 closer to
the wall 1010 until the rear surface 1.102 of the wall decor item. 1100 is
adjacent to or abuts the
wall. 1010. As the wall decor item 1100 is moved closer to the wall 1010 in
this manner, the
second portions 1202 of the first and second. mounting elements 1210, 1220 of
the second
mounting assembly 1200 pass into the insertion portions 1413, 1423 of the
first and second
cavities 1412, 1422 of the first and. second. mounting elements 1410, 1420 of
the first mounting
assembly 1400. As best seen. in FIG, 20, the second portions 1202 of the first
and second
34
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200 are located
in the
insertion portions 1413, 1423 of the first and second cavities 1412õ 1422 of
the first and second
mounting elements 1410, 1420 of the first mounting assembly 1400.
1.00.1.281 In this embodiment, once the wall decor item 1100 is in this
position, the first mounting
assembly 1400 (including the entirety of the bracket member 1401 which
includes the plate
portion 1402 and the first and second annular walls 1411, 1421) nests within
the mounting recess
1120 of the wall decor item 1100. In particular, the rear surface 1102 of the
wall decor item
1100 abuts against the wall 1010 so that the .first Mounting assembly 1400 is
hidden from view
within the mounting recess 1120 of the wall, decor item 1 100. As a result!,
the coupling assembly
1150 including the first coupling assembly 1200 (the first and second coupling
elements 1.210,
1220 thereof) and the second coupling assembly 1400 (the bracket member 1.401
and all other
constituent parts thereof) are hidden from view (as shown in 'FIGS. 13, 19,
and 20) and none of
the aforementioned coupler components are visible when the wall decor item
1100 is mounted on
the wall 1010).
100129.1 Next, referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, the wall decor item 1100 is slid
or translated along
the wall 1010 relative to the first mounting assembly 1400 (as shown by the
arrows as well in
FIGS. 19 and 20) to move the second portions 1202 of the first and second
mounting elements
1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200 .froin the insertion portions
1413, 1423 of the
first and second. cavities 1412, 1422 to the nesting portions 1414, 1424 of
the first and second
cavities 1412, 1422. The wall decor item 1100, and hence also the posts formed
by the second
portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the
second mounting
assembly 1200, are slid in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis Z-Z
of the posts when
moving from the insertion portions 1413, 1423 to the nesting portions 1414,
1424 of the first and
second cavities 1412, 1422.
100130.1 As discussed. above, the nesting portions 1414, 1424 of the first
and. second cavities
1412, 1422 have a shape that matches the cross-sectio.nal shape of the second.
portions 1202 of
the first and second. mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting
assembly 1200. This
is seen in FIG. 22, whereby the inner surface of the .first and second
mounting elements 1.410,
1420 which define the first and second cavities 1412, 1422
mates/interacts/engages the outer
surface of the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting el ern
ents 1210, 1220 of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
second mounting assembly 1200. Thus, when the second portions 1202 of the
first and second
mounting elements 1210õ 1220 of the second mounting assembly 1200 are located
in the nesting
portions 1414, 1424 of the first. and second cavities 1412, 1422 of the first
mounting assembly
1400, the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1.220 of the second
mounting assembly 1200
cannot be removed from the l'irst and second cavities 1412, 1422 unless the
second portions 1202
of the .first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting
assembly 1200 are
first slid back. to the insertion portions 1413, 1423 of the first and second
cavities 1412, 1422.
1001.311 Specifically, reviewing FIGS, 15 and 22 concurrently, the interaction
between the first
and second cavities 1412, 1422 of the first and second mounting elements 1410,
1420 of the first
mounting assembly 1400 and the second portions 1202 of the first and second
mounting
elements 1310, 1.320 of the second mounting assembly 1200 can be readily seen
when the second
portions 1202.
of the first and second .mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting
assembly 1200 are located in the nesting portions 1414, 1424 of the first arid
second cavities
1412, 1414. The interaction of the inner surfaces of the first and second
mounting elements
1410, 1420 of the first mounting assembly 1400 and the outer surfaces of the
second portions
1202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second
mounting assembly
1200 prevents separation of the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220
of the second
mounting assembly 1200 from the cavities 1412, .1422 of the first and second
mounting elements
1410, 1420 of the first mounting assembly 1400, and 'hence also prevents
detachment of the wall
decor item 1100 from the wall 1010.
110111.32] In some embodiments, the second portions 1202 of the first and
second mounting
elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly may be similar or
identical in structure
and function to one of the male couplers 200, 400, 600 described above with
reference to the
furniture assembly shown in FIGS. I -12D. Furthermore, the cavities 1412, 1422
of the first and
second mounting elements 1410, 1420 of the .first mounting assembly 1400 may
be similar or
identical in structure and function to the female couplers 300, 500, 700
described above with
reference to the furniture assembly shown in FIGS. 1-12D. Thus, the
description for those
components provided above may be applicable and applied to these components,
1001331 As noted briefly above, in the exemplified embodiment the second
portions 1202 of the
first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly
1200 are
36
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
located within the mounting recess 1120, in other embodiments, th.e second
portions 1202 of the
first. and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of the second mounting assembly
1200 may
protrude from the rear surface 1102 of the wall decor item 1.100. Similarly,
in the exemplified
embodiment the first and second cavities 1412õ 1 422 of the first and second
mounting elements
1410, 1420 of the first mounting assembly 1400 are located along an outside of
the wall 1010
(i.e,, they protrude from the wall .1010), in other embodiments, the first and
second cavities
'1412, 1422 may be located in holes that are formed into the wall 1010. In
this situation, the
same engagement between the first and second mounting elements 1210, 1220 of
the second
mounting assembly 1200 and the first and second mounting elements 1410, 1420
of the second
mounting assembly 1200 is possible as described herein, although the mounting
recess 1120 may
be omitted and the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting
elements 1210, 1220
of the second mounting assembly 1200 will extend into the wall 1010 rather
than being
positioned adjacent. to an outer surface of the wall 1010 as with the
exemplified embodiment.
100134.1 Referring to FIGS. 23-26, another embodiment of a wall hanging system
2000 is
illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The
wall hanging system
2000 is similar to the wall hanging system 1000 described above with reference
to FIGS. 13-22,
except for the modifications described herein below.
1001.3.51 The wall hanging system 2000 comprises a wall decor item 2100 that
is configured to be
hung on or mounted from a wall 2010. The wall decor item 2100 is identical to
the wall decor
item 1100 described above, and thus the structural details thereof will not be
repeated herein the
interest of brevity. However, briefly the wall decor item 2100 comprises a.
front surface 2101, a
rear surface 2102, and a mounting recess 2120 having a floor 2121 formed into
the rear surface
2102. When the wall decor item. 2100 is mounted to the wall 2010, the rear
surface 2102 of the
wall decor item 2100 faces or abuts against the .wall 2010.
1001361 The wall hanging system 2000 comprises a first mounting assembly 2400
that is
configured to be coupled directly to the wall 2010 and. a second mounting
assembly 2200 that is
configured to be coupled. directly to the wall decor item 2100. The first and
second mounting
assemblies 2400, 2200 are configured to interact and/or mate with one another
to mount or hang
the wall decor item 21.00 from the wall 2010.
37
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
11)01371 The first mounting assembly 2400 comprises a first .mounting element
2410 and a
second mounting element 2420 that are configured to be coupled to the wall
2010, The first
mounting element 2410 comprises a first portion 2411 configured to be embedded
within the
wall 2010 when the first mounting element 2410 is coupled to the wall 2010 and
a second
portion 2412 that protrudes from the wall 2010. The second mounting element
2420 compri.ses a
second portion 2421 configured to be embedded within the wall 2010 when the
second mounting
element 2420 is coupled to the wall 2010 and a second portion 2422 that
protrudes from the wall
2010. In the exemplified embodiment, the first portions 2411, 2421 of the
first arid second
mounting elements 2410, 2420 comprises screw threads or barbs that facilitate
that coupling of
the first and second mounting elements 2410, 2420 to th.e wall, much in the
same way that a wall
anchor or screw is attached to a wall. Th.e second portions 2412, 2422 of the
first and second
mounting elements 2410, 2420 form posts that protrude from the wall 2010. The
second
portions 2414, 2422 have an identical shape to the second portions 1202 of the
first and second
mounting elements 1210, 1220 described above (i.e., an hourglass shape). Thus,
the description
or the second portions 1202 of the first and second mounting elements 1210,
1220 is applicable
to the second portions 2412, 2422 of the first and second mounting elements
2410, 2420.
1001.381 The second mounting assembly 2200 comprises a first mounting element
221.0 and a
second mounting element 2220.111 this embodiment, the first and second
mounting elements
2210, 2220 are separate components that are separately coupled to the wall
decor item 1100
within :the mounting recess 2120. In other embodiments, the first and second
mounting elements
2210, 2220 could be part of a singular bracket member similar to the first
mounting assembly
1400 described above. The first mounting element 2210 comprises a. first
portion 2211 that is
embedded. within the wall decor item 2100 and a second portion 2212 that
protrudes from the
floor 2121 of the mounting recess 2120 of the wall decor item 2100. The second
mounting
element 2220 comprises a second portion 2221 that is embedded within the wall
decor item 2100
and a second portion 2222 that protrudes from the floor 2121 of the mounting
recess 2120 of the
wall decor item. 2100. The .first portions 2211, 2221 of the first and second
mounting elements
2210, 2220 may include barbs or the like to affix the first and. second
mounting elements 221.0,
2220 to the wall decor item 2100. In other embodiments, the first portions
2211, 2221 of the
38
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
first and second mounting elements 2210, 2220 may be affixed to the wall decor
item 2100 using
adhesiveõ friction fit, or the like,
1001.391 In this embodiment, the second portions 2212, 2222 of the first and
second mounting
elements 221.0õ 2220 of the second mounting assembly 2200 each. define a
cavity that is
configured to interact with the second portions 2412, 2422 of the first and
second mounting
elements 2410, 2420 of the first mounting assembly 2400 which. is mounted on
the wall. 2010,
Specifically, the second portion 2212 of the first mounting element 2210
comprises a first cavity
2213 having an insertion portion 2214 and a nesting portion 221.5 and the
second portion 2222 of
the second mounting element 2220 comprises a second cavity 2223 baying an
insertion portion
2224 and a nesting portion 2225. The details of the first and second cavities
2213, 2223 is the
same as the first and second cavities 1412, 1422 described above and will not
be repeated herein
in the interest of brevity.
1001401 In this embodiment, the mounting or the wall decor item 2100 to the
wall 2010 is the
same as that which was described in the previous embodiment. Specifically, the
rear surface
2102 of the wall decor item 2100 is made to face the wall 2010 and then. the
wall decor item
2100 is moved towards the wail 2010 (and towards the first mounting assembly
2400 which is on
the wall 2010) until the second portions 2412, 2422 of the first and second
mounting elements
2410, 2420 of the first mounting assembly 2400 extend into the insertion
portions 2214, 2224 of
the first and second cavities 2213, 2223 of the first and second mounting
elements 2210, 2220 of
the second mounting assembly 2200. Next, the wall. decor item 2100 is slid
along the wall 2010
so that the second portions 2412, 2422 of the first and second mounting
elements 2410, 2420 of
the first mounting assembly 2400 slide into the nesting portions 2215, 2225 of
the first and
second cavities 2213, 2223 of the first and, second. flaunting elements 2210,
2220 of the second
mounting assembly 2200. At this point, the wall. decor item 2100 is mounted on
the wall 2010
and cannot be removed without sliding the first and second mounting elements
2410, 2420 of the
first mounting assembly 2400 back into the insertions portions 2214, 2224 as
has been described
above.
1001411 in the exemplified, embodiment, the first. and. second mounting
elements 2210, 2220 are
coupled to the wall decor item 2100 in a horizontal. orientation. That is,
cavities 2213, 2223 of
the first and second mounting elements 2210, 2220 are elongated in a
horizontal direction
39
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
(between lateral sides of the wall decor item 21.00), However, th.e invention
is not. to be so
limited and in other embodiments the first and second naountirig elements
2210, 2220 could be
coupled to the wall decor item 21(X) in a vertical orientation such that
cavities 2213, 2223 of the
first and second mounting elements 2210õ 2220 are elongated in a vertical
direction (between, top
and bottom surfaces of the wall. decor item 2100), With the first and second
mounting elements
2210, 2220 in a vertical orientation, the wall decor item 2100 may be
slid/translated downwardly
to move the first and second mounting elements 2410, 2420 of the first.
mounting assembly 2400
from the insertion portions 2214õ 2224 of the cavities 2213, 2223 of th.e
first and second
mounting elements 2210, 2220 to the nesting portions 2215, 2225 of the
cavities 2213, 2223 of
the first and second mounting elements 2210, 2220 instead of horizontally as
with the other
embodiments described herein.
1001421 Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, another embodiment of a wall hanging
system 3000 is
illustrated and will be described. The wall hanging system 3000 generally
comprises a wall
decor item 3100, a first mounting assembly 3400 configured to be mounted to a
wall 3010, and a
second mounting assembly 3200 configured to be mounted to the wall decor item
3100. This
embodiment is very similar to the wall hanging system 2000 described above
with reference to
FIGS, 23-26, with the only difference being that there is no mounting recess
in the rear surface
of the wall decor item 3100.
1001431 Specifically, the wall decor item 3100 has a front surface 3101 and a
rear surface 3,102,
The second mounting assembly 3400 comprises a first mounting element 3410 and
a. second
mounting element 3420 which are identical to the .first and second mounting
elements 2410,
2420 of the second. mounting assembly 2400 described above, In this
embodiment, the first and
second mounting elements 3410, 3420 are positioned. within openings in the
rear surface 3102 of
the wall decor item 3400, More particularly, in this embodiment the first and
second mounting
elements 3410, 3420 are positioned entirely within openings in the rear
surface 3102 of the wall
decor item 3400 such that there is no portion of the first and second mounting
elements 3410,
3420 which protrudes from the rear surface 31.02 of the wall decor item 3100.
Thus, when the
wall decor item 3100 is mounted to the wall 3010, the first and second
mounting assemblies
3400, 3200 are hid.den from view, but they are disposed within the openings in
the rear surface
3102 of the wall decor item 3100 rather than being located within a mounting
recess as with the
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
previously described embodiments, The wall. decor item 3100 is mounted to the
wall 3010 due
to engagement between the first and second mointing elements 3210, 3220 of the
second
mounting assembly 3200 and the first and second mounting elements 3410, 3420
of the first
mounting assembly 3400 in the same manner as described above (inserting posts
into insertion
portion of cavity and then, sliding the posts into the nesting portion of the
cavity),
1001441 Referring to FIGS, 29A and 29B, an extension bracket 4000 is
illustrated in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, One or more of the extension
brackets 4000 are
configured to be mounted on the wall alongside of one or more of the bracket
members 1401 of
the first mounting assembly 1400 described above with reference to FIGS, 13-
16B in order to
form a track that maintains alignment on the wall, as discussed further below
with reference to
FIGS. 31 and 32.
NO1451 The extension bracket 4000 comprises a first side edge 4001 and a
second side edge
4002, The first side edge 4001 comprises a third coupling feature 4003 and the
second side edge
4002 comprises a fourth coupling feature 4004. In the exemplified embodiment,
the third
coupling feature 4003 is a recess and the fourth coupling feature 4004 is a
protrusion. M.ore
specifically, in the exemplified embodiment the third coupling feature 4003
comprises a dovetail
recess and the fourth coupling feature 4004 comprises a dovetail protrusion.
Of course, the
dovetail shapes are merely exemplary and are not required in all embodiments,
so long as the
interaction between the extension brackets 4000 and the mounting brackets 1401
of the first
mounting assembly 1400 can be achieved as described herein below.
1001461 The extension bracket 4000 is elongated as it extends from file first
side edge 4001 to
the second side edge 4002. The extension bracket 4000 also comprises a top
edge 4005 and. a
bottom edge 4006. In the exemplified embodiment, the extension bracket 4000
has a. generally
rectangular shape, although other shapes are possible in other embodiments and
the invention is
not limited to this unless recited in the claims. The extension bracket 4000
also comprises a.
front surface 4007 and a rear surface 4008. Finally, in the exemplified
embodiment there are
several holes 4009 formed in the extension bracket 4000 that extend from the
front surface 4007
to the rear surface 4008. The holes 4009 are merely provided to reduce the
volume of material.
used to form the extension bracket 4000. Thus, the holes 4009 could be omitted
or be in other
shapes in other embodiments. The extension bracket 4000 also has recessed
regions on its front
41
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
and rear surfaces 4007õ 4008 (only the front surface is visible in. the
drawings, but the rear
surface has an. identical appearance') for the same purpose of reducing the
amount of material
used to form the extension bracket. 4000,
1001471 The extension brackets 4000 may be made from any desired material,
such as plastic,
metal, wood, or the like. In fact, all of the mounting assemblies and mounting
elements and
extension brackets described herein may be formed from metal, plastic, wood,
or any other
desired rigid material that can facilitate an adequate coupling of the
components as has been
described herein,
1001481 Referring to FIGS, 30A and 30B, another embodiment of an extension
bracket 4100 is
illustrated. The extension bracket 4100 is very similar to the extension
bracket 41.00 described
above, except for the addition of a level mount 41.50. Thus, the extension
bracket 4100
comprises a first side edge 4101 comprising a first coupling feature 41.03 and
a second side edge
4102 comprising a second coupling feature 4104, The first and second coupling
features 4103,
4104 are a dovetail recess and a dovetail protrusion just as with the same
features on the
extension bracket 4000. The extension bracket 4100 comprises a top edge 4105,
a bottom edge
4106, a front. surface 4107, and a. rear surface 4108,
1001491 As noted above, the only difference between the extension bracket 4100
and the
extension bracket 4000 is that the extension bracket 4100 includes a. level
mount 4150. The level
mount 4150 comprises a first C-shaped mount element 4151 and a second C--
shaped mount
element 41,52 that protrude from the front surface 4107 of the extension
bracket 4100. Of
course, the exact shape of the mount elements 4151, 4152 may be modified from
that shown in
order to accommodate a. level, so the shape of the level (spirit level, bubble
level., or the like)
may dictate the shape of the mount elements 4151, 4152 and. their openings.
The level mount
4150 is configured to support a level 4160, as shown in 1-71(i. 30B. That is,
the level 4160 can be
snap-fit into the openings in the first and second C-shaped mount elements
4151, 4152. Thus, in
this embodiment the level. 4160 is a separate component from. the extension
bracket 4100 and it
is detachably coupled thereto along the level mount 4150. In. other
embodiments, the level 4160
may be a permanent part of the extension bracket 4100 such that it cannot be
detached. therefrom.
The level 4160 is used to ensure that the extension bracket 4100 (and track.
formed by the side-
42
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
by-side interaction of the extension bracket 4100 and one or more of the first
mounting
assemblies 1400 of FIGS, 16A. and 168) are coupled to or mounted on a wail in
a level manner,
1001501 FIGS, 31 and 32 illustrate the interaction between the first mounting
assemblies 1400
described with reference to FIGS, 16A. and 168 and the extension brackets 4000
described above
with. reference to FIGS, 29A and 29.8 to fomi a track 5000, Of courseõ the
extension brackets
4100 could easily be swapped in for the extension brackets 4000 as they have
the same shape
arid structure with the added benefit of being able to hold a level to ensure
that the track 5000 is
level on the wall,
1001511 Referring first to Fici, 31 the track 5000 comprises two of the first
mounting assemblies
1400a, 1400b and one of the extension brackets 4000 positioned between the two
of the first
mounting assemblies 1400a, 1400b, The first side edge 4001 of the extension
bracket 4000 is
adjacent to the second side edge 1431a of one of the first mounting assemblies
1.400a and the
second side edge 4002 of the extension bracket 4000 is adjacent to the first
side edge 1430b of
the other one of the first mounting assemblies 1400b. Thus, the first coupling
feature 4002 of the
extension bracket 4000 interacts or mates with the second coupling feature
1434a of the first one
of the first mounting assemblies 1400a and the second coupling feature 4004 of
the extension
bracket 4000 interacts or mates with the first coupling feature '1432b of the
second one of the
first mounting assemblies 1400b. Because these coupling .features are all
dovetail joints
(dovetail recesses and dovetail protrusions), they mate such that the dovetail
protrusions fit
snugly within the dovetail recesses.
[001521ln some embodiments, there may be no direct physical coupling between
the extension
bracket 4000 and. the wall. That is, the first and second ones of the first
mounting assemblies
1400a, 1.400b may be directly affixed to the wall using fasteners (nails,
screws, adhesive snips,
etc.) as described above, but no such fasteners may be used to attach the
extension bracket 4000
to the wall. Rather, the extension bracket 4000 may remain adjacent to the
wall due solely to its
interaction with the first and second ones of the first mounting assemblies
1400a, 1400b. Of
course, in other embodiments some type of fastener may be used to affix the
extension bracket
4000 to the wall in addition to its interaction with the first mounting
assemblies 1400a, 1400b.
1001531 FIG 32 illustrates another track 6000 which includes three of the
first mounting
assemblies 1400a, 1400b, 1400c and two of the extension brackets 4000a, 4000b.
This illustrates
43
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
that the length of the track can be modified as needed depending on the size
of the wall decor
item that is going to be mounted to the wall using the track, and more
specifically usin.g the first
mounting assemblies 1400, Thus, for example, a wall decor item having a width
between 6 and
15 inches may be accommodated on. the wall with just one of the first mounting
assemblies 1400,
A. wall decor item having a width between 15 and 26 inches may be accommodated
on the wall
with, two of the first mounting assemblies 1400 and one of the extension
brackets 4000 (using the
track. 5000 of FiQ. 31). A. wall decor item having a width between 26 and 36
inches may be
accommodated On the wall with three of the first mounting assemblies 1400 and
two of the
extension brackets 4000 (using the track 6000 of FIG. 32). The number of the
mounting
elements of the second mounting assembly which are affixed to the wall decor
item as described
herein may be adjusted based on the side of the wall decor item to match with
the number of the
mounting elements of the first mounting assemblies 1400 that are affixed to
the wall,
[001541 As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each
and every value
that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the
terminus of the range.
In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced
in their entireties.
In the event of a conflict in. a definition in th.e present disclosure and
that of a cited reference, the
present disclosure controls.
I001.55j While the invention has been described with respect to specific
examples including
presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the
art will appreciate
that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described
systems and
techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and
structural and
functional modifications may be made without departing froni th.e scope of the
present invention,
Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set
forth in the
appended claims.
44
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-17
