Patent US3912216A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3912216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lockable, self-leveling wall mounting device for picture frames and the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-02-25
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1995-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A lockable, self-leveling wall-mounting device for hanging picture frames and the like on a wall, comprising a male unit attached to the back of a picture frame having a pair of notched latching arms extending therefrom, and a female unit for receiving the male unit thereinto and having a pair of springbiased lugs for lockable engagement with the notches of the latching arms of the male unit and a wall-attachable hanger unit swivelably secured to the back of the female unit. A key constructed of a blade-like body with a tapered nose is insertable into the female unit to wedgingly engage, in a simultaneous fashion, the latching arms and thereby force the lugs away from each other while disengaging the lugs from the notches of the arms, to effect unlocking of the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C Gano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:09
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G1/00; A47G1/16; A47G1/1606
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A lockable, self-leveling picture frame hanger for mounting to a wall, comprising: a. a latching mechanism, comprising: a male unit, comprising: a body having a forwardly-projecting end and a rearwardlyprojecting end; a pair of spaced-apart, blade-like, latching arms depending downwardly from said rearwardly-projecting end of said body, said arms each having a notched portion therein adjacently disposed to said body; and means for attaching said forwardly-projecting end of said body to the backside of a picture frame; a female unit for receiving said latching arms of said male unit thereinto and effecting a key-releaseable coupling therewith, comprising: a housing having an opening therein through which said latching arms may be inserted; latching means within said housing, comprising: a pair of latching members, the corresponding ends of which are pivotally mounted to said housing, whereby said latching members are disposed in side-by-side, edgewise relationship and movable towards and away from each other, said pair of latching members further having a pair of lugs at the ends opposite said pivotally mounted ends, which are correspondingly mateable with said pair of notches in said latching arms of said male unit; and spring biasing means disposed between each of said pair of latching members and said housing, whereby said pair of latching members are urgingly biased towards each other; b. a mounting plate having a plurality of apertures therein through which wall-anchoring fasteners may be inserted to secure said mounting plate to a wall; and c. coupling means for swivellably interconnecting said mounting plate to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A lockable, self-leveling picture frame hanger for mounting to a wall, comprising: a. a latching mechanism, comprising: a male unit, comprising: a body having a forwardly-projecting end and a rearwardlyprojecting end; a pair of spaced-apart, blade-like, latching arms depending downwardly from said rearwardly-projecting end of said body, said arms each having a notched portion therein adjacently disposed to said body; and means for attaching said forwardly-projecting end of said body to the backside of a picture frame; a female unit for receiving said latching arms of said male unit thereinto and effecting a key-releaseable coupling therewith, comprising: a housing having an opening therein through which said latching arms may be inserted; latching means within said housing, comprising: a pair of latching members, the corresponding ends of which are pivotally mounted to said housing, whereby said latching members are disposed in side-by-side, edgewise relationship and movable towards and away from each other, said pair of latching members further having a pair of lugs at the ends opposite said pivotally mounted ends, which are correspondingly mateable with said pair of notches in said latching arms of said male unit; and spring biasing means disposed between each of said pair of latching members and said housing, whereby said pair of latching members are urgingly biased towards each other; b. a mounting plate having a plurality of apertures therein through which wall-anchoring fasteners may be inserted to secure said mounting plate to a wall; and c. coupling means for swivellably interconnecting said mounting plate to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The picture frame hanger of claim 1, further including key means insertable through said opening in said housing through which said latching arms are inserted for simultaneously forcing said latching members from each other and out of said notches in said latching arms of said male unit with which said latching members are lockably engaged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The picture frame hanger of claim 2, wherein said key means is a blade having a width sufficient to spread said latching members apart to effect disengagement from said notches of said latching arms, one end having a tapered edge for progressively spreading said latching members apart following the initial contact between said blade and said pair of latching members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
The picture frame hanger of claim 1, wherein each of said latching arms is triangularly-shaped with the longest side of said triangle forming the outside edge thereof with the base of said triangle being joined to said body along a portion of said base so as to form a notched portion therebetween with said notched portion having its opening facing outwardly from said body, so that as said latching arms are progressively inserted into said housing and engage said pivotable latching members, said latching members ride the longest side of each triangularly-shaped latching arms to effect a progressively spreading apart of said latching members to compress the spring biasing means to increase the bias force exerted thereby on said latching members for positively urging said latching arms into said notches when alignment therebetween is achieved.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The picture frame hanger of claim 1, wherein said mounting plate further includes a forwardly-projecting, raised platform disposed intermediately thereof and having an aperture therethrough, said platform serving to space apart said mounting plate from said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The picture frame hanger of claim 1, wherein said coupling means is a loosely-fitting rivet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |