Supports – Mirror or picture type – With spring-actuated clamping of front and back
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-16
2001-02-06
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Mirror or picture type
With spring-actuated clamping of front and back
C248S316400, C211S045000, C040S617000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182938
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to an apparatus for releasably attaching wall hangings to a vertical structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wall hangings such as calendars are typically mounted to walls through primitive attachment devices, which include driving nails or pins through the wall hanging and into the wall. Adhesive means such as glue are also used. However, the aforementioned attachment devices present several disadvantages. Foremost, nailing or gluing hangings into walls creates unwanted damage, including holes and stains on the wall hanging and wall.
Hanging calendars create a particular problem because they typically contain multiple pages, where each page represents one month or other time period. In order to access all the pages, the user must repeatedly remove and reattach the calendar to the wall. Such actions may result in wall damage. Moreover, use of the prior art attachment devices can become cumbersome and tedious, requiring the user to repeatedly pin and remove the calendar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for attaching wall hangings and calendars to a wall or other vertical structure. As used herein, the term “wall hanging” is intended to encompass all types of articles typically hung from a vertical support structure including artwork, shades, posters, charts, calendars, textile materials, decorative articles, lighting devices, and ornate panels. Specifically, the apparatus is attached to a wall, where it selectively engages a wall hanging, thereby removing the need to directly attach the wall hanging through primitive attachment means.
Principal elements of the invention comprise a housing having a wall attachment means, a slot in the housing for receiving a predetermined part of the wall hanging and a clasp means for holding the wall hanging in the slot. The housing may be decorative in appearance with a front and rear facade.
In the preferred embodiments, the slot extends along a bottom end of the housing. The slot has sufficient width to accommodate the thickness of a wall hanging part such as the upper end of a multi-page calendar. The clasp means includes a clasp member that will releasably engage the wall hanging. If the wall hanging is provided with an engagement aperture, the clasp member will pass through the aperture for a more secure connection.
The clasp means includes an activating button accessible from the front facade. The button is connected to an actuating means for moving the clasp member across the slot.
The invention encompasses four embodiments of the clasp means. A first embodiment utilizes a J-shaped rod as an actuating means. A top segment of the rod is fixed to the button which extends through a button recess in the front facade. From the recess, the top segment passes through the rear facade and then turns about 90 degrees to a mid-segment. The mid-segment merges into a second turn from which extends a bottom segment comprising the aforementioned clasp member. A biasing means may be inserted between the button and button recess to maintain the clasp member in a closed position in the slot.
A second embodiment provides a flexible E-strip as the actuating means. The top end of the strip is fixed to the housing rear facade. Proximate the strip midpoint is a connector element comprising a button attachment part which extends into the housing and engages the button. The lower portion of the strip is provided with the aforementioned clasp member comprising an outwardly directed clasp part. When the button is depressed, the clasp part will withdraw from the housing slot. Upon release of the button, the inherent flexural strength of the E-strip will move the clasp part back into the slot.
A third embodiment of the actuating means comprises an L-shaped flex member. The upper end of the flex member is secured to the rear facade. The lower end is provided with the clasp member comprising a clasp element. In its normal position, the clasp member extends outwardly across the aforementioned slot. A connector element comprising a button fastener interconnects the flex member to the button. Alternatively, the element may extend inwardly from the button and simply abut the inner surface of the flex member. Either way, depressing the button will cause deflection of the flex member and move the clasp element out of the slot.
The fourth embodiment utilizes a housing comprising front and rear interlocking shell parts. The actuating means comprises a flexible panel extending from the rear shell having a button connector element which secures the panel to the button. The panel also includes a clasp member comprising a clasp projection extending outwardly from the panel free end portion. When the panel is in its normal position, the projection extends into the housing slot to permit operation in a manner similar to the above embodiments.
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Hovet Kenneth J.
King Anita M.
LandOfFree
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