EP4056078B1 - Height-adjustable hanger and hanger attachment kit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a height-adjustable hanger according to claim 1. The invention further relates to a hanger mounting kit according to claim 13. Height-adjustable hangers for pictures, mirrors or other objects to be fixed to a wall are usually bodies that are fixed to a wall with a screw, nail or the like or directly on the picture frame or other object to be hung to be attached. For this purpose, the hangers have a central opening through which the nail, screw or the like is passed. The central opening is located eccentrically in the hanger. This results in a height adjustment when the hanger is rotated about the fastening means. The hangers usually have a front plate on the side of the support body facing away from the wall, which front plate protrudes radially beyond the support body. This construction forms a hook and prevents, for example, a suspension wire, a suspension eyelet or a suspension bracket on the picture, on the mirror or the like from slipping off the hanger.

A typical example of such a hanger is in DE 20 2017 006 535 U1 shown. In this case, the supporting body has a circular shape and the front panel is placed centrally on the supporting body. The central opening is attached off-centre. In such an embodiment, the stroke is infinitely adjustable. However, in all positions outside of the two minimum and maximum lift positions, the top point is not centrally located over the central opening, so that when loaded there is a torque suitable to rotate the picture hanger out of position. Such a hanger therefore requires additional fasteners that prevent twisting under load. In addition, the uppermost point shifts laterally when different heights are adjusted by rotating the support body, so that a picture hung on it loses its lateral alignment.

Also from DE 102 02 581 A1 a wall hook for pictures is known, which has an eccentrically mounted bore and a round or octagonal peripheral surface. In this case, the fixation is solved in such a way that, in addition to the eccentric central opening for receiving a fastening screw, there is a small hole for a nail protection against twisting is present. In this case, too, twisting the wall hook causes a lateral displacement of the respective uppermost support surface or the uppermost support point and thus the suspension point for a picture.

In DE 24 60 930 A1 is realized in a similar octagonal or round eccentrically mounted adjustable shelf for shelves a rotational fixation by a serration in a conical approach of the nail hole. This prior art also shares the problem of lateral displacement of the support surface when the trailer rotates.

DE 103 11 778 B3 discloses a height adjustable hanger according to the preamble of claim 1.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to provide a height-adjustable hanger which allows stable height adjustment and positioning in a simple manner.

This object on which the invention is based is achieved by a height-adjustable hanger with a flat supporting body with a basic polygonal shape and a front panel which is either firmly connected to the supporting body or is in one piece and protrudes beyond the supporting body at least at the abutting edges of the polygonal circumference, the front panel and the supporting body having a continuous and have a central opening that is rotationally symmetrical about a central axis, the basic polygonal shape of the support body being formed irregularly around the central opening with 3 to 12, in particular 4 to 8, side surfaces, the hanger being further developed in that the abutting edges of the side surfaces are flattened and designed as bearing surfaces are, each having different distances to the central axis of the central opening to set different strokes and each symmetrical and perpendicular to a direct line connecting the central axis of the central opening to the respective Bearing surface are arranged and aligned.

The hanger according to the invention corresponds to several hooks of different heights in one and can be used to compensate for inaccuracies when drilling holes in walls or when attaching suspension eyes or suspension brackets to frames.

The invention is based on the basic idea that a previously customary separate fixation can be omitted if the support body as such is designed to be self-stabilizing in terms of construction by avoiding laterally acting forces. This is done through the use and the special alignment and arrangement of the flattened abutting edges of the side surfaces as bearing surfaces. These are each positioned or aligned symmetrically and perpendicular to a direct connecting line from the central axis of the central opening to the respective bearing surface. This direct connecting line thus forms an axis of symmetry or symmetry surface for all loads or forces acting on the support surface. At the same time, this has the effect that in each of the possible positions in which one of the bearing surfaces lies over the central opening, the center of the bearing surface also lies perpendicularly over the central opening and the lateral alignment of the bearing surfaces is therefore the same. This eliminates the lateral shifting of the suspension position when setting different heights, which was inherent in the eccentric support bodies of the prior art and is undesirable especially in formations with several images.

If one of the bearing surfaces is arranged perpendicularly above the central axis of the central opening and is loaded with the weight of a picture, a mirror or the like, the flux of force runs exactly vertically down to that guided through the central opening fasteners. Lateral force contributions on the contact surface from the left and right of the axis of symmetry cancel each other out. If, on the other hand, the bearing surface were not arranged symmetrically and perpendicularly to this vertical connecting line, a torque would result that is absent in the symmetrical configuration according to the invention. The prerequisite for this is that the side surfaces adjacent to the bearing surfaces are not also loaded. This can be achieved either by using a short picture wire whose opening angle when resting on the support surface of the hanger is such that it does not touch the adjacent side surfaces, or by using a bracket with a smooth or serrated bottom edge which is screwed into a picture frame, which, due to its shape, only rests on the uppermost support surface.

The height-adjustable hanger is fastened to a wall or picture frame or the like with a fastening means, for example a screw, a nail or the like passed through the central opening, and can be easily rotated around the fastening means in the unloaded state in order to set a certain stroke. As a result, each of the bearing surfaces can be brought into the uppermost position perpendicularly over the fastening means and the stroke can be adjusted in this way. The same applies to each of the bearing surfaces, namely that in this position, when loaded by a picture, a mirror or the like, the frictional connection is diverted vertically downwards into the fastening means without torque. Thus, the hanger is self-stabilizing in each of its 3 to 12 discrete lifting positions and does not require separate fastening means such as additional nail holes, groove systems with special screws or the like.

In embodiments, the bearing surfaces are around the central opening spaced apart from each other at fixed angular distances of 360°/N, where N is the number between 3 and 12 of the bearing surfaces. This results in a particularly precise adjustability of the hanger. In embodiments, the strokes of the contact surfaces are spaced at fixed intervals, in particular millimeters or half a millimeter, from the central axis of the central opening.

The strokes of adjacent bearing surfaces preferably differ by at most two spacing steps. This results in an essentially eccentric basic shape. This measure also prevents the basic polygonal shape from becoming too irregular, so that, for example, in the case of individual bearing surfaces, the adjacent side surfaces fall off at an angle that is too small. In the case of a suspension with a relatively long suspension wire, it could otherwise happen that the wire not only rests on the support surface, but also on one or both adjacent side surfaces. This would introduce a lateral force flux into the support body, resulting in a torque that could twist the hanger out of position. The hanger would then no longer be self-centering.

With a higher number of contact surfaces, a suspension wire must be kept so short that it has a very large opening angle at the suspension point in order to avoid a corresponding lateral load. In the case of a regular octagon, this opening angle would be 135°, for example. In the case of an octagon that is irregular as in the present invention, this angle would be even larger. A significantly higher number of contact surfaces is also of little use because the achievable total stroke is very limited due to the ever shorter connecting side surfaces if the contact surfaces are still usefully separated from the side surfaces should. Especially with a higher number of bearing surfaces and side surfaces, it may be better to deviate from an equal spacing in terms of angular distribution around the central opening and instead provide an equal length of the side surfaces between the bearing surfaces, or a compromise between the two models.

In embodiments, the liner includes a structure having a central tube around the central opening, spokes extending radially along respective direct lines of connection from the tube to the bearing surfaces, and cross braces defining the perimeter of the liner and interconnecting adjacent bearing surfaces. This structure results in sufficient structural stability using less material than a solid body.

In order to secure the hanger to the wall or to the object to be hung, the central opening on the side of the front panel has a funnel structure. This funnel structure serves to prevent the hanger from slipping off the fasteners when using a nail or countersunk screw. For this purpose, in embodiments, the funnel structure has a cone opening angle that corresponds to the corresponding cone opening angles of common countersunk screws, in particular of 60°, 80° or 90°. These and other common opening angles (full opening angle) are recorded, for example, in the relevant DIN standards for countersunk screws or other regulations. Other standard screws with other cone opening angles are also possible. The hanger should be used with a screw or other fastener with a suitable cone angle.

In embodiments, the front panel has a peripheral contour which protrude radially beyond the bearing surfaces in the form of lugs in the areas of the bearing surfaces and have indentations in the areas between the lugs. These lugs, which protrude radially beyond the bearing surfaces, form the retaining structure that prevents, for example, a picture with its fastening wire or other fastening means from slipping off the bearing surface. The lugs should be centered on the respective contact surfaces so that a correct adjustment is made vertically via the central bore through the visual impression of the alignment of the lug. The lugs may also have markings that will be vertical when properly aligned. The indentations between the lugs increase the grip and ensure that the lugs are narrow and can therefore also be used with narrow holding means on a picture frame, a mirror or the like.

In a development it is provided that the lugs and indentations of the peripheral contour of the front panel are curved. Such a curved design in turn increases the grip and ensures safe and easy adjustability of the orientation and thus the stroke of the hanger on the wall or picture frame or the like. The peripheral contour of the front panel preferably does not deviate radially behind the peripheral contour of the support body in areas of the indentations.

In embodiments, the front panel is provided with markings on its front side in the areas of the lugs, which indicate a relative or absolute stroke associated with the respective bearing surface. These can be numbers, for example, which represent either a relative stroke, starting from zero for the bearing surface with the smallest stroke up to the maximum stroke, or an absolute radial Specify the distance of the respective contact surface to the center of the central opening. The corresponding markings can denote, for example, millimeter values or also step numbers.

In embodiments, the hanger is made of a plastic, metal, or wood. In a one-piece version, the hanger can be produced particularly easily in an injection molding process from an injection-mouldable plastic.

The object on which the invention is based is also achieved by a hanger attachment set, comprising one or more height-adjustable hangers according to the invention as described above and at least one number of screws, nails or bolts corresponding to the number of hanger or hangers, the contour of which fits into the inner contour of the central opening of the hanger or fit.

The hanger mounting kit embodies the same features, properties and advantages as the hanger of the present invention. The screws, nails or bolts of the hanger attachment kit to be used do not require any structural retaining means such as grooves, ribs or the like other than a mating countersunk conical head structure or other retaining structure on their respective heads.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the description of embodiments of the invention taken together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can fulfill individual features or a combination of several features.

In the context of the invention, features with "particularly" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

Fig. 1

eine schematische transparente Frontalansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Aufhängers,

Fig. 2

eine schematische halbtransparente Frontalansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Aufhängers gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine schematische transparente Perspektivansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Aufhängers und

Fig. 4

eine schematische perspektivische Rückansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Aufhängers.

The invention is described below without restricting the general inventive concept using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, with express reference being made to the drawings with regard to all details according to the invention that are not explained in more detail in the text. Show it:

1

a schematic transparent front view of a hanger according to the invention,

2

a schematic semi-transparent front view of the hanger according to the invention 1 ,

3

a schematic transparent perspective view of the hanger according to the invention and

4

a schematic perspective rear view of the hanger according to the invention.

In the drawings, elements and/or parts that are the same or of the same type are provided with the same reference numbers, so that they are not presented again in each case.

1 shows a schematic front view of a hanger 10 according to the invention in a transparent representation. The outer circumference of the hanger 10 is formed by the curved circumference of the front plate 12 with five lugs 16 and five indentations 14 between the lugs. The indentations 14 each touch the outer side surfaces of the support body 20. The support body 20 has a basic polygonal shape with five side surfaces. The side faces are the outer ones Surfaces of cross braces 30 of the support body. The abutting edges of the cross braces 30 are flattened to form bearing surfaces 28 . These are located at different radial distances from a central opening 22 which penetrates the support body 20 and the front panel 12 and is surrounded by a peripheral tube 24 .

The bearing surfaces 28 are connected to one another laterally via the cross braces 30 and to the tube 24 surrounding the central opening 22 via radial spokes 26. The five bearing surfaces 28 are at angular distances of 72° (=360°/5) around the central opening 22 arranged and each have different distances from the center of the central opening 22. Another angular distribution is possible, which leads to a more uniform distribution of the lengths of the cross braces 30, for example. The bearing surfaces 28 are aligned perpendicular to the spokes 26 or to the connecting line between the center of the respective bearing surface 28 and the center of the central opening 22 and symmetrically to the sides, i.e. they each extend laterally the same distance from the central connecting line, the runs through the center or the radial plane of symmetry of the respective spoke 26 . This perpendicular and symmetrical arrangement and orientation ensures that when a bearing surface 28 is positioned vertically above the center of the central opening 22, a loading pressure is dissipated vertically and without lateral components, i.e. without torque, into a fastener which is driven through the central opening 22 is inserted. This applies to each of the five bearing surfaces 28.

A funnel structure 18 is indicated schematically around the central opening 22, in which the central opening is conically widened on the side of the front panel 12 in order to interact with a suitable countersunk screw, for example to fix the hanger 10 to a wall, with simple rotatability of the Hanger 10 remains guaranteed.

In 2 12 is a front view of the hanger 10 of FIG 1 shown schematically in a semi-transparent view. Was in 1 the bearing surface 28 with the smallest stroke shown at the top is in 2 the bearing surface 28 is rotated upwards with a medium stroke.

The structure of the tube 24, the spokes 26 and the bearing surfaces 28 of the support body 20 is shown with dashed lines, with the solid lines the border of the front panel 12 with the lugs 16 and the indentations 14 between the lugs 16. Each lug 16 is aligned with a of the bearing surfaces 28 of the support body 20.

In this exemplary embodiment, the lugs 16 contain number symbols from 0 to 4 in integer steps, which indicate the respective relative stroke that is achieved when the hanger 10 with the respective bearing surface 28 or lug 16 is in the vertical position above the central opening 22 is brought. The bearing surface with the number "0" is the one with the smallest stroke, the one with the number "4" the one with the greatest stroke. This can be millimeter increments or possibly also half-millimetre increments.

3 shows the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 in a transparent perspective front view, so that the funnel structure 18 can be seen in perspective, also the arrangement of the front panel 12 on the front side of the support body 20. It is also easy to see how a nose 16 forms a hook-shaped structure together with the bearing surface 28 .

The hanger 10 of the invention Figures 1 to 3 is in 4 shown in a perspective rear view, from which both the Hook structure of lugs 16 and bearing surface 28 is clearly visible, as well as the structure of tube 24, spokes 26 and cross braces 30 of support body 20.

As well as that Figures 1 to 4 as can be seen, the cross braces 30 which form the side faces of the polygonal basic structure are not centered with respect to the central opening 22 . A misalignment of the hanger 10 in such a way that one of the side surfaces or cross braces 30 is arranged above the central opening 22 therefore leads to an improper suspension, in which the stroke is not well defined and undesired lateral adhesions with the corresponding torque are exerted on the hanger 10 that can turn it out of its position. The side surfaces are therefore not bearing surfaces 28 within the meaning of the present invention.

Reference List

10

hanger

12

front panel

14

indentation

16

Nose

18

funnel structure

20

supporting body

22

central opening

24

Pipe

26

spoke

28

bearing surface

30

cross brace

Claims (13)

1. A height-adjustable hanger (10) having a flat bearing body (20) with a polygonal basic shape as well as a front plate (12) being firmly connected to, or integral with, the bearing body (20), and protruding beyond the bearing body (20) at least at the abutting edges of the polygonal periphery, the front plate (12) and the bearing body (20) having a continuous central opening (22) which is rotationally symmetrical about a central axis, the polygonal basic shape of the bearing body (20) being irregularly formed around the central opening (22) with 3 to 12, in particular 4 to 8, side surfaces, characterized in that the abutting edges of the side surfaces are flattened and configured as support surfaces (28) which, for the purpose of setting different strokes, are each at different distances from the central axis of the central opening (22) and are each arranged and aligned symmetrically and perpendicularly to a direct connecting line from the central axis of the central opening (22) to the respective support surface (28).
2. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support surfaces (28) are spaced apart around the central opening at fixed angular distances of 360°/N, wherein N is the number of between 3 and 12 of the support surfaces.
3. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the strokes of the support surfaces (28) are spaced apart in fixed spacing increments, in particular millimeters or half millimeters, from the central axis of the central opening (22).
4. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the strokes of adjacent support surfaces (28) differ by at most two spacing steps.
5. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bearing body (20) has a structure having a central tube (24) around the central opening (22), spokes (26) running radially along respective direct connecting lines from the tube (24) to the support surfaces (28), and transverse struts (30) forming the perimeter of the bearing body (20) and connect adjacent support surfaces (28).
6. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the central opening (22) has a funnel structure (18) on the side of the front plate.
7. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the funnel structure (18) has a conical opening angle corresponding to corresponding conical opening angles of common countersunk screws, in particular of 60°, 80° or 90°.
8. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the front plate (12) has a circumferential contour which, in the regions of the support surfaces (28), protrudes radially beyond the support surfaces (28) as noses (16) and has indentations (14) in the regions between the noses (16).
9. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the noses (16) and indentations (14) of the peripheral contour of the front plate (12) are curved.
10. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the circumferential contour of the front plate (12) does not recede radially behind the peripheral contour of the bearing body (20) in the areas of the indentations (14).
11. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the front plate (12) is provided with markings on its front side in the areas of the noses (16) indicating a relative or absolute stroke associated with the respective support surface (28).
12. The height-adjustable hanger (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is made of a plastic, metal or wood.
13. A hanger attachment kit, comprising one or more height-adjustable hangers (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 and at least a number of screws, nails or bolts corresponding to the number of the hanger (10) or hangers (10), the contour(s) of which screws, nails or bolts fits or fit into the inner contour of the central opening (22) of the hanger (10).

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