GB2496461A

GB2496461A - Device for hanging pictures and the like on a wall using magnets

Info

Publication number: GB2496461A
Application number: GB1202032.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Meredith Yates
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-11-11
Filing date: 2012-02-06
Publication date: 2013-05-15
Also published as: GB201206194D0; GB201204697D0; GB201201096D0; GB201202032D0; GB201206357D0; GB2496463A; GB2501082A; GB201122122D0; GB201119566D0

Abstract

A device for hanging pictures and the like on a wall comprises first and second members. The first member is a first bar or rail a adapted to be mounted in a recess within the surface of the wall and then covered with wallpaper or a skim of plaster such that it cannot be seen when not in use. The second member is a second bar or rail provided with at least one hook from which a picture or the like can be hung. The first and second members further comprise complementary magnetic portions b allowing the second bar or rail to be releasably held in place on the surface of the wall, by magnetic attraction, over the recess containing the first bar or rail. In use, the device allows pictures and the like to be easily hung from a wall without causing damage to the wall or its decoration.

Description

THE INVISIBLE WALL HANGING SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

The present methods of hanging pictures or other objects from a wall, where there is no fixed and visible picture rail, include using a picture hook, a screw, a pin, a nail or blue tack. All these methods cause some damage to the wall and its decoration. Many modern houses do not generally have fixed and visible picture rails and the magnetic invisible wall hanging system allows the hanging of objects on the wall without causing any damage to the wall and its decoration.

1. THE IN VISIBLE RAIL AND ATTACHMENT Figure land la This is a rail with magnets set into it at regular intervals. The face of the rail is covered with steel mesh and then set and fixed into a wall. Once recessed into the wall a skim plaster is trowelled over it and it becomes blended into the wall. The rail has an interlocking facility at each end and is long enough to support a number of magnets. The rail can also be set into the ceiling. The rail is made up of a number of components and these include the backing strip or channel (a) and magnets set at regular intervals (b). Figure la shows a cross section of the channel (c) along with a cross section of the magnet (d) mounted on the strip.

Figure 2 On the face of the plastered wall are set steel plates into which are set cut out hooks. The individual plate can cover two of the magnets in the rail. Set into the plate is a hook in the centre (cut into the plate) and magnets at each end.

Each plate has felt on the back to prevent scuffs or shine to the wall. The strength of the magnets on both the rail and the plate will vary in order to allow the support of different weights of pictures or other hanging objects. The plate is readily removable. The picture or other object can be hung in the normal way with a cord over the cut out hook in the centre of the plate. The plate is made up of a number of components and these include two magnets (a) and a hook in the shape of a triangle (b). The hook is cut out of the plate, leaving a void (c), and the tip of the hook is bent slightly outwards from the plate.

Figure 2a A top view of the plate is pictured in Figure 2a. The figure shows the two magnets (a) and the hook (b).

2. THE INVISIBLE SINGLE FIXINGS AND ATTACHMENTS Figure 3 and 3a This is a butterfly bolt with a magnet set into the centre of it. This allows the magnet to be secured into a partition or stud wall so that it is invisible. The face of the magnet is covered with a steel mesh to allow plaster to adhere to the face of it. The butterfly bolt is made up of a magnet (a) and a mesh covering the magnet (b). The non-deployed butterfly bolt is pictured in Figure 3 and the deployed butterfly bolt is pictured in Figure 3a.

Figure 4 This is a single magnet with a hole through the centre of it which allows it to be fixed into a solid wall. The face of the magnet is covered with a steel mesh to allow plaster to adhere to the face of it. The single magnet is made up of a magnet (a)) a hole for a fixing screw (b) and a mesh (c).

Figure 5 This is a single plate incorporating one magnet and one hook in either one of the magnets in the rail or to the single magnet within the butterfly bolt or to the single magnet in a solid wall. The hook or plate can be removed from the wall. The plate is made up of a magnet (a) and a hook in the shape of a triangle (b). The tip of the triangle is bent slightly outwards from the plate.

3. FITTINGS TO BE ATTACHED TO OBJECTS THAT ARE TO BE HUNG ON THE WALL FigureS These are magnets with a hole in the centre, used singly or collectively, that can be screwed to a picture frame or to another object so that the picture or other object can attach to one of the magnetic fixings (described above) within a wall. The magnets are made up of a magnet (a) and a hole for a fixing screw (b).

Figure 7 This is a steel tape with an adhesive backing and screw holes that can be fixed to a picture frame, picture or other object so that the picture frame, picture or other object can attach to one or more of the magnetic fixings (described above) within a wall. The steel tape is made up a number of components including an adhesive backing (a) and screw holes (b).

4. THE ROLLER ROD Figure 8 This is a rod or channel that contains magnets at regular intervals. The magnets can be slid along the length of the rod. The face of the rod is covered with steel mesh and then set and fixed into a wall. Once recessed into the wall a skim plaster is trowelled over it and it becomes blended into the wall. The rod has an interlocking facility at each end and is long enough to support a number of magnets. The rod can also be set into the ceiling. The rod is made of a number of components and these include the magnets at regular intervals (a), the spacers between the magnets (b) and the backing strip (c).

Figure 8a In between the magnets are non-magnetic cylinders which serve as spacers between the magnets. Figure 8a shows a cross-section of the rod including the channel (d) and the magnet (e). The attachments to be used with the rod remain the same as those described above.

Figure 9 This is a curved section of the rod or channel (which may be interlocked with the rod or channel pictured in Figure 8) that allows magnets to be moved within it. The magnets can be slid along the length of the rod, as above. In between the magnets are non-magnetic cylinders which serve as spacers between the magnets. Figure 9 shows the curved rod including the magnets (a), the spacers (b) and the channel (c). The same cross-section (see above) applies.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS 3 1. A rail that is comprised of a row of magnets fixed in a channel that is hidden in a wall or ceiling and allows objects to be hung on the wall or ceiling without any permanent and visible means of support.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A hook that consists of a plate which incorporates two magnets, that will span and attach to two of the wall magnets in the channel (described in claim 1) and can be removed from the wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A butterfly bolt that incorporates one magnet and can be fitted into a partition, wall board or ceiling board, so that it is hidden and allows objects to be hung on the wall without any permanent and visible means of support.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A single magnet fixed with a screw into a solid wall so that it is hidden and allows objects to be hung from a wall without any permanent or visible means of support.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A single plate incorporating one magnet and one hook that can attach to one of the magnets in the channel (described in claim 1), to the single magnet within the butterfly bolt or to the single magnet in a solid wall and can be removed from the wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A magnet with or without a hole in the centre that can be screwed or otherwise attached to an object so that the object can adhere to the wall which contains any of the above internal fixings.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A steel tape with an adhesive backing and screw holes that can adhere to an object so that the object can adhere to the wall which contains any of the above internal fixings.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A straight or curved rail and is comprised of moveable magnets separated by spacers in a rod or channel that is hidden in a wall or ceiling that allows objects to be hung on the wall or ceiling without any permanent and visible means of support.</claim-text>