Supports – Mirror or picture type – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-18
2001-01-09
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Mirror or picture type
Bracket
C248S490000, C248S495000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170793
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for mounting artwork and the like on interior walls, and more particularly, to a track system for wall hangings which facilitates the rearrangement thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Paintings, prints, pictures, and other wall hangings are typically mounted on residential and commercial wall surfaces by a hook or other securing device which penetrates the wall surface. To reposition the wall hanging at some other location on the wall surface, it is necessary to remove and reposition the securing device. The removal of hooks or nails from the wall causes damage to the wall surface and creates unsightly holes which must be filled and refinished or hidden from view by another wall hanging. Also, if the wall structure is not strong enough to support heavier wall hangings, it is necessary to attach the securing device to the upright studs within the wall. This restricts the horizontal placement of the wall hanging to the vicinity of a wall stud.
Track systems have been developed to allow a user to position a wall hanging in a variety of locations on a wall surface without the need for individual hooks or nails. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,014 to Wilson, describes a display system for artwork which uses a moulding bracket attached to the top of a wall and a plurality of vertical display units attached to and slidable along the moulding bracket.
However, this prior art display system does not facilitate convenient horizontal movement of the vertical display units. A user must first loosen the screws that couple the vertical bar with the horizontal bar before the vertical bar can be moved horizontally within the horizontal bar. This display system also fails to compensate for an uneven wall, since the horizontal track is mounted directly onto the wall. This could result in the horizontal track being crooked when mounted. Further, since wall hangings are to be mounted on the vertical display units using a mounting brace secured at the back of the picture, regular wall hangings having wire attachments cannot be accommodated by the display system.
There is accordingly a need for a track system which allows wall hangings to be suspended evenly on an irregular wall surface, and easily repositioned at various positions on a wall without damaging the wall surface. There is also a need for a track system which can be used in association with conventionally wire hung wall hangings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a track system for adjustably suspending wall hangings on a wall having an uneven wall surface, comprising an elongated track, a plurality of longitudinally spaced connectors and at least one carriage. The track is dimensioned to extend horizontally along the wall. Each connector extends between the track and the wall for rigidly coupling the track to the wall and aligning the track in a straight horizontal line laterally offset from the wall surface. Each of the connectors is individually adjustable in length so as to compensate for local irregularities in the wall surface. Each carriage is shaped for engaging and sliding along the track and has a suspending device for suspending a wall hanging.
The present invention is also directed to a track system for adjustably mounting wall hangings on a wall comprising an elongated track, a plurality of longitudinally spaced connectors, and at least one carriage. The elongated track is dimensioned to extend horizontally along the wall. Each connector extends between the track and the wall for rigidly mounting the track on the wall. Each carriage is shaped for sliding along the track and has a generally C-shaped carriage body, a releasable clamp and a suspending device. The carriage body is shaped to slidingly engage the track and has a finger grip on its front surface for sliding the carriage along the track. The releasable clamp releasably secures the carriage body on the track, the clamp being released when pressure is applied to the finger grip. The suspending device is attached to the carriage body and comprises a hook shaped to suspend a wire extending upwardly from a wall hanging.
The present invention is also directed to a track system for adjustably mounting wall hangings on a wall, comprising an elongated track, a plurality of longitudinally spaced connectors, and at least one carriage. The elongated track is dimensioned to extend horizontally along the wall. Each connector extends between the track and the wall for rigidly mounting the track on the wall. Each carriage is shaped for sliding along the track and has a generally C-shaped carriage body shaped to slidingly engage the track and a suspending device. The suspending device depends from the carriage body for suspending a wall hanging, and comprises a hook and a hook adjuster for adjusting the lateral position of the hook relative to the wall surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 956696 (1910-05-01), Frost
patent: 1758292 (1930-05-01), Meyer et al.
patent: 1844096 (1932-02-01), Levene
patent: 2469923 (1949-05-01), Jones
patent: 2976005 (1961-03-01), Stell
patent: 3729627 (1973-04-01), Littell
patent: 3838842 (1974-10-01), McCracken
patent: 3945599 (1976-03-01), Spier et al.
patent: 4611779 (1986-09-01), Leonard, Jr.
patent: 4678151 (1987-07-01), Radek
patent: 4771897 (1988-09-01), Ho
patent: 4775127 (1988-10-01), Nakamura
patent: 4892284 (1990-01-01), Kelrick
patent: 4973021 (1990-11-01), Schuite
patent: 5342014 (1994-08-01), Wilson
patent: 5992813 (1999-11-01), Keers
patent: 6003825 (1999-12-01), Abernathy, Jr.
Martha Stewart, “Decorating Details”, 1998, pp. 16-17 (cover and inside front cover pages also enclosed).
Bereskin & Parr
King Anita M.
LandOfFree
Track system for wall hangings does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Track system for wall hangings, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Track system for wall hangings will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2481555