GB2247609A

GB2247609A - Hook for hanging object on a support surface

Info

Publication number: GB2247609A
Application number: GB9114355A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen * Harrold Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-29
Filing date: 1991-06-26
Publication date: 1992-03-11
Also published as: GB9114355D0; GB9014485D0

Abstract

Hook apparatus (2) for hanging an object (4) on a support surface (6) comprises a first portion (8) for attaching to the support surface (6), a second portion (10) which is slidably mounted to the first portion (8), and a third portion (12) which is slidably mounted to the second portion (10) and which has hook means (14) from which the object (4) can hang, the second portion (10) being slidable in a horizontal direction and the third portion (12) being slidable in a vertical direction so that the hook apparatus (2) is horizontally and vertically adjustable. <IMAGE>

Description

HOOK APPARATUS FOR HANGING AN OBJECT ON A SUPPORT SURFACE This invention relates to hook apparatus for hanging an object such for example as a picture on a support surface such for example as a wall.

Hitherto, objects such for example as pictures were hung on support surfaces such as walls by means of nails knocked into the support surface. Purpose made hooks were then devised as an improvement on the nails.

There are various known types of these purpose made hooks.

The simplest type has no moving parts and basically just constitutes a fixed hook which must be secured in the exact desired position. Often it is difficult to gauge the exact desired position and often these simple hooks are knocked into a wall in a position which subsequently turns out to be incorrect. Removal of the hook from the wall to reinsert it in a correct position often causes damage or difficulty if the wall or other support surface is weak and it is desired to make a new hole or holes close to a previously made hole or holes. In order to overcome this problem with the simple hooks, more complex hook apparatus was devised for providing a degree of movement between different parts of the hook apparatus, for the purpose of providing fine adjustment of the hook apparatus after it has been positioned on a wall or other support surface.

The known different types of hook apparatus with relatively movable parts are of complex construction which makes them difficult and therefore expensive to manufacture. It is an aim of the present invention to provide hook apparatus which has relatively movable parts but which at the same time is of a simple construction and therefore easy to manufacture.

Accordingly, this invention provides hook apparatus for hanging an object on a support surface, which hook apparatus comprises a first portion for attaching to the support surface, a second portion which is slidably mounted to the first portion, and a third portion which is slidably mounted to the second portion and which has hook means from which the object can hang, the second portion being slidable in a horizontal direction and the third portion being slidable in a vertical direction so that the hook apparatus is horizontally and vertically adjustable.

The first, second and third portions of the hook apparatus may be easily separately manufactured and then easily assembled together. This enables the hook apparatus to be marketed at a competitive price. The hook apparatus can be used for hanging any desired and suitable objects on any desired and suitable support surface. Thus, for example, the objects may be pictures, mirrors, clothes brushes or ornaments. The support surface will usually be a wall but it may be a side of a cupboard or the edge of a shelf as may be desired.

Preferably, the first portion has a groove in which the second portion slides. The groove may be defined by inwardly directed side flanges. With a groove having inwardly directed side flanges, the second portion may be slidably connected to the first portion by a dovetail joint.

Usually, the third portion will slide in the second portion. Advantageously, the third portion slides in the second portion such that the hook means is positionable above or below the second portion. This enables different sized objects with different types of hanging means, for example longer or shorter lengths of cord, to be hung such that the hook apparatus is not visible.

The third portion may be made from strip material such that it has the hook means at one end, and a leg,or a pair of legs which extend from the hook means parallel to each other, the leg or legs being slldable in the body portion.

Usually, the strip material will be wire.

The strip material may however be a solid strip or, alternatively, the third portion can be made from material other than strip material. Generally, the third portion can have any desired shape for the hook means.

The hook apparatus may include first fastener means, the first fastener means being provided on the second portion and being for fastening the third portion in a chosen position to the second portion.

The first fastener means is preferably a screw for screwing into the second portion until it engages with the third portion. Other types of first fastener means may however be employed.

The hook apparatus may include second fastener means, the second fastener means being provided on the.

first portion and being for fastening the first portion in a chosen position on the support surface.

The second fastener means may comprise an aperture for receiving a nail or a screw, the aperture being positioned along a centre line of the first portion. Alternatively, the second fastener means may have a pair of apertures for receiving a pair of nails or screws. Still further, the second fastener means may have two end apertures and a central aperture. Other types of second fastener means may be employed.

The hook apparatus may include third fastener means, the third fastener means being provided on the second portion and being for retaining the second portion in a chosen position on the first portion.

The third fastener means may comprise a row of abutment members provided on the second portion, the third portion being such as to engage at least one of the abutment members and thereby to retain the second portion. The row of abutment members is preferably provided along a bottom edge of the first portion. Other types of fastener means may be employed if desired.

The first, second and third portionsmay be made of a plastics material or a metal. The hook apparatus may be manufactured and sold with or without nails or screws. The hook apparatus may be sold in packets with one or more pieces of the hook apparatus in each packet.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows first hook apparatus; Figure 2 shows part of the first hook apparatus in a different position; Figure 3 is a side view of part of the first hook apparatus; Figure 4 is a front view of second hook apparatus; and Figure 5 is a rear view of the second hook apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown hook apparatus 2 for hanging an object in the form of a picture 4 on a support surface in the form of a wall 6.

The hook apparatus 2 comprises a first portion 8 for attaching to the wall 6, a second portion 10 which is slidably mounted to the first portion 8, and a third portion 12 which is slidably mounted to the second portion 10. The third portion 12 has hook means 14 from which the picture 4 hangs by means of a cord 16 attached to the back of the picture 4. The second portion 10 is slidable in a horizontal direction as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow. The third portion 12 is slidable in a vertical direction as will also be explained in more detail hereinbelow. The horizontal and vertical slidable movements enable the hook apparatus 2 to be horizontally and vertically adjustable.

The first portion 8 has a groove 18 which is defined by inwardly directed side flanges 20. The second portion 10 slides in the groove 18. The second portion 10 has parts 22 which are complementary to the side flanges 20 so that the second portion 10 is slidably connected to the first portion 8 by a dovetail joint.

The third portion 12 slides in the second portion 10. More specifically, the third portion 12 is made from strip material in the form of wire. The wire has the hook means 14 at one end, and it is bent to form a pair of legs 24 which extend from the hook means 14 parallel to each other. The pair of legs 24 slide in a pair of apertures 26 in the second portion 10. As shown in Figure 1, the legs 24 have been inserted in the apertures 26 from the bottom of the second portion 10 so that the hook means 14 is located below the second portion 10.

The hook apparatus 2 includes first fastener means in the form of a screw 28 for fastening the third portion 12 in a chosen position to the second portion 10. The chosen position will usually be that position in which the hook means 14 is at a desired distance with respect to the second portion 10. In this connection, for ease of illustration and understanding, the picture 4 is shown in Figure 1 as hanging below the hook apparatus 2. It is however to be appreciated that the hook means 14 will usually be positioned such that it cooperates with the cord 16 to hang the picture 4 in front of the hook apparatus 2 so that the hook apparatus 2 is not visible. The screw 28 is located in a bore in the side of the first portion 10 as shown.Thus, when the screw 28 is screwed into the second portion 10, it engages one leg 24 of the third portion 12 and thus retains the third portion 12 tightly in position in the second portion 10.

The hook apparatus 2 includes second fastener means in the form of a pair of apertures 30. The apertures 30 are for receiving nails or screws in order to enable the first portion 8 to be secured in a chosen position on the wall 6.

As an alternative to the apertures 30, the first portion 8 may be secured to the wall 6 by means of apertures 32. In Figure 1, the apertures 32 are shown as having received nails or picture pins 34.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that the third portion 12 is turned upside down from the position shown in Figure 1. In the position shown in Figure 2, the legs 24 are inserted into the apertures 26 from the top of the second portion 10. This means that the hook means 14 is then positioned above the second portion 10 instead of below the second portion 10 as shown in Figure 1. The position of the hook means 14 as shown in Figure 2 may be preferred for ensuring that the hook apparatus 2 is not seen when used to hang certain types of objects.

Figure 3 is a side view of the hook means 14 in the position occupied by the second portion 12 as shown in Figure 1. It will be seen from Figures 1 and 3 that the cord 16 passes over the hook means 14 such that the cord 16 is between the hook means 14 and the legs 24. In the position of the third portion 12 as shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that the cord 16 passes through the trough 34 formed in the hook means 14.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative first portion 8. The first portion 8 shown in Figure 4 has only one aperture 30. This aperture 30 is formed in a lobe part 36 of the first portion 8.

The aperture 30 is on a centre line through the first portion 8 so that the first portion 8 is evenly balanced about the single nail or pin that will pass through the aperture 30 to locate the first portion 8 on the wall 6.

The first portion 8 shown in Figures 4 and 5 receives the second portion 10 shown in Figure 4. When the second portion 10 is in position, it may be desired to positively secure the second portion 10 against horizontal sliding along the groove 18. The first portion 8 shown in Figure 4 is thus provided with third fastener means in the form of a row of abutment members 38 which can be formed to protrude from the lowermost side flange 20. Alternatively, they can be formed as depressions in the lowermost side flange 20. The abutment members 38 are such that the legs 24 of the third portion 12 engage the abutment members and thus tend to prevent the second portion 10 sliding along the groove 18 in the first portion 8.Naturally, the friction between the legs 24 and the abutment members 38 is not so great as to prevent desired movements by hand of the second portion 10 along the groove 18 during initial adjustment of the hook apparatus 2.

The various illustrated types of apparatus 2 enable adjustment in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The hook apparatus 2 is easy to manufacture and it can be easily hidden behind the picture 4. The hook apparatus 2 can be used to enable a row of pictures to be hung with all of their top edges neatly in line and equally spaced. Similarly, a column of pictures can be hung vertically in line and equally spaced. Also, a block of varied pictures can be hung so as to achieve an aesthetically pleasing overall effect.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected.

Thus, for example, if the first portion 8 is made of an appropriate material, it may be fixed by adhesives or magnetism to a desired support surface. The screw 28 and the abutment members 38 may be replaced by other fastener arrangements so that, for example, the screw 28 could be replaced by a ratchet arrangement, and the ratchet arrangement formed by the abutment members 38 could be replaced by a screw. Other shapes may be employed for the hook means 14 and the third portion 12 can be made of a material other than wire and it can be made as a solid moulded or stamped piece of apparatus if desired. Thus, for example, the third portion 12 could be produced as a pendulous hook. The third portion 12 may advantageously have a stop member (not shown) for preventing the third portion 12 sliding right through the second portion 10 and thus enabling the picture 4 to fall to the floor.Objects other than pictures may be hung from the hook apparatus 2 so that mirrors, ornaments, clothes brushes and any other desired and suitable objects may be hung from the hook apparatus 2. The various objects may be hung from hangers other than the cord 16 so that, for example, they may be hung from a chain or an eyelet. Aq shown in Figures 4 and 5, one of the legs 24 may be bent over at its free end to stop the third portion 12 from being pulled out of the second portion 10. The aperture 26 receiving the leg 24 with the bent over end may be enlarged to allow the bent over end to pass easily through the aperture 26. Also as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the two abutment members 38 at each end of the row of abutment members may project outwardly slightly farther than the remaining abutment members 38.

During assembly, the legs 24 can be forced over these two end abutment members 38 but, during normal use, these two end abutment members 38 will stop the second portion 10 from sliding out of either end of the groove 18.

Claims

1. Hook apparatus for hanging an object on a support surface, which hook apparatus comprises a first portion for attaching to the support surface, a second portion which is slidably mounted to the first portion, and a third portion which is slidably mounted to the second portion and which has hook means from which the object can hang, the second portion being slidable in a horizontal direction and the third portion being slidable in a vertical direction so that the hook apparatus is horizontally and vertically adjustable.

2. Hook apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first portion has a groove in which the second portion slides.

3. Hook apparatus according to claim 2 in which the groove is defined by inwardly directed side flanges.

4. Hook apparatus according to claim 3 in which the second portion is slidably connected to the first portion by a dovetail joint.

5. Hook apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the third portion slides in the second portion.

6. Hook apparatus according to claim 5 in which the third portion slides in the second portion such that the hook means is positionable above or below the second portion.

7. Hook apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the third portion is made from strip material such that it has the hook means at one end, and a leg, or a pair of legs which extend from the hook means parallel to each other, the leg or legs being slidable in the body portion.

8. Hook apparatus according to claim 7 in which the strip material is wire.

9. Hook apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including first fastener means, the first fastener means being positioned on the second portion and being for fastening the third portion in a chosen position to the second portion.

10. Hook apparatus according to claim 9 in which the first fastener means is a screw for screwing into the second portion until it engages with the third portion.

11. Hook apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including second fastener means, the second fastener means being provided on the first portion and being for fastening the first portion in a chosen position on the support surface.

12. Hook apparatus according to claim 11 in which the second fastener means comprises an aperture for receiving a nail or a screw, the aperture being positioned along a centre line of the first portion.

13. Hook apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including third fastener means, the third fastener means being provided on the second portion and being for retaining the second portion in a chosen position on the first portion.

14. Hook apparatus according to claim 13 in which the third fastener means comprises a row of abutment members provided on the second portion, the third portion being such as to engage at least one of the abutment members and thereby to retain the second portion.

15. Hook apparatus according to claim 14 in which the row of abutment members is provided along a bottom edge of the first portion.

16. Hook apparatus hanging an object on a support surface, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.