Wall mountings
United States Patent 11 1 Roberts 1 1 WALL MOUNTINGS [75] Inventor:  
 [73] Assignee: Zigzag Productions, Inc., Zigzag,  
 Oreg.  
  22 Filed: July 2,1973  
  21 Appl.No.:375,353  
 James B. Roberts, Zigzag, Oreg.  
 [52] US. Cl 248/467; 248/475 R; 248/476 [51] Int. Cl A47g 1/17 [58] Field of Search 248/467, 475, 472, 470,  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,710,814 4/1929 Dyment 248/459 1.759,519 5/1930 Moore 40/l24.1 1,976,421 10/1934 Traeger et a1. 248/459 2.443.645 6/1948 Turan 40/1521 2,492,411 12/1949 Barnes et a1 248/467 [451 Apr. s, 1975 2,652,647 9/1953 Suciu 248/459 X 2,715,287 8/1955 Birch 3,030,057 4/1962 Wright 3,191,327 6/1965 Nefi&#39; 3,416,765 12/1968 Ebner 248/467 3,784,150 1/1974 Kulicke 248/467 X Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Rodney H. Bonck [57] ABSTRACT The wall mounting comprises a mounting board on the outer side of which may be displayed any items suit able to wall hangings. Secured to the inner side of the mounting board is a second board die-cut to provide spacer components which when raised and interlocked form a spacer unit that maintains the mounting board in spaced relation to the wall thereby creating a floating effect for the item displayed. Provided on the spacer components are hangers for either horizontal or vertical hanging of the mounting board.  
 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAPR 81975 2,876,175  
 FIG. 2  
 FIG. 3  
 WALL MOUNTINGS THE INVENTION This invention relates to mounting for displaying on a wall any suitable items such as photographs. lithographs. original art work. assemblages. etc.  
  It is the primary object of the invention to provide a novel unitary wall mount capable of giving a floating effect to the item displayed thereby.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide a simple. inexpensive wall mount that can be manufactured in quantity at low cost.  
  A further object is to provide a wall mount of such novel construction that it may be shipped or stored in flat condition. and may readily be set up to function as a wall mount.  
  Other objects of the invention as well as the features of novelty thereof will appear from a perusal of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. in which FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view illustrating a wall mount constructed in accordance with the present invention. in its set up condition ready to be hung on a wall and provided on its front side with a picture to be displayed;  
  FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the construction shown in FIG. 1 with the components thereof in a disassembled flattened condition;  
  FIG. 3 is an end view of the construction shown in FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing one of the components in raised position.  
  FIG. 5 is an end view of the construction shown in FIG. 4;  
  FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 4, but showing all of the components raised and assembled as in FIG. 1.  
  FIG. 7 is an end view of the construction shown in FIG. 6;  
  FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of a simpler form of construction embodying the invention and trimmed for vertical hanging; and  
  FIG. 9 is an end view of the construction shown in FIG. 8 trimmed for horizontal hanging.  
  In FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings the reference numeral 10 designates the mounting board which is flat and rigid. and may be made of any suitable stiff sheet mate rial. such as cardboard. pulp-board and the like. Se cured to the rear face of the mounting board 10 is a second board 12 of relatively rigid material, but lighter in weight than the material of the mounting board 10. The board 12 may be made ofa suitable cardboard that can be readily die-cut to provide four foldable space components 13-16. The board 12 preferably has the same peripheral dimensions as those of the mounting board 10 and except for the areas of the components 13-16 is adhered to the board 10 by any suitable adhe sive 9 which may be in the form of a coating or strips. It is within the contemplation of the invention to market the board 12 as a separate item provided with an adhesive 9 of the pressure sensitive type by which the customer may adhere the board 12 to a mounting board 10 of his own choice. or even to the item to be displayed. In such form of the invention. it is desirable to cover the adhesive 9 with a protective covering such as the sheet 39 in FIG. 9 which is of the type usually employed in covering pressure sensitive adhesive material until used as an adhesive. As indicated. either the board 12 or the mounting board 10 is utilized as a support for any desired display item. such as a photograph or picture provided on the sheet 11 shown attached to the front face of the mounting board 10 in the drawings. in any suitable manner, as by glue. These display items may be mounted on the device by the purchaser of the same, or the device may be sold with the display items already mounted thereon. When the device is made to be sold without the display item for the user to mount his own material. the board 12 of the device is formed to provide two handing tabs, thereby en abling the user to hang the device either horizontally or vertically. When however, the device is sold with the display item forming a part thereof only one langing tab for either horizontal or vertical hanging of the device is constructed in the board 12 according to how the item is to be displayed.  
  The components 13-16 are formed out of the material of board 12 by cut scores which do not penetrate entirely through such material so as to leave sufficient of such material to function as folds or hinges for the components. The two elongated die-cut components 14 and 16 are substantially similar in configuration and are foldable inwardly along broken, spaced hinge lines 14&#39;, 16&#39;. respectively. in FIG. 2, extending in substantial parallelism to the longitudinal centerline 17--17 of the device. The hinge lines 14&#39;. 16&#39; are on opposite sides of and equally spaced from the centerline 17- 17. and are spaced apart from each other a distance less than the lengths of the transverse die-cut components 13 and 15. The hinge line 15&#39; of the die-cut component 15 is coincidental with the transverse centerline l8l8 of the device so that such component is located wholly to one side of such centerline and extends therefrom toward the upper end of the mount in its vertically hung position. The die-cut component 13 has a hinge line 13&#39; that is parallel with the hinge line 15&#39; and such component extends inwardly therefrom toward the free end of the component 15. The inner free end of the component 13 has projecting centrally therefrom a hanging tab 20 which is hinged along the line 20&#39; to enable it to be folded upwardly in the vertical hanging position of the mount when the component 13 is folded outwardly to a position at right angles to the board 12. The tab 20 is provided with a triangularly-shaped nail opening 21. the base of which opening coincides with the tab hinge line 20&#39;. The material of the board 12 is cutout at 22 between the tab 20 and the free end of component 15 to provide an opening into which the user&#39;s fingernail may be inserted to lift either the component 13 or the component 15 about their hinge lines.  
  As can better be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. the body of the component 13 has a length equal to the distance between the hinge lines 14&#39;. 16&#39; and causes interruptions in such hinge lines at the ends of the body thereof. The ends of the body of component 13 have integrally formed therewith two outwardly projecting tabs 25, 25 extending outwardly beyond the hinge lines 14. 16&#39; into the areas of the components 14, 16 and adopted to be inserted through slots 26, 26 provided in the components 14, 16 to lock the three components l3, l4 and 16 together in the outwardly folded or raised condition thereof. The width of the component 13 is equal to the width of the components 14 and 16 so that in the assembled condition of such components.  
 the outer free edges thereofwill all be contained in single plane parallel to the board 12.  
  The component 15 has a length greater than the distance between the hinge lines l4&#34; l6 and extends past such lines into the areas of the components 14 and 16. It will be noted also that the components 14 and 16 are so cutout of the board 12 that there are provided two triangular unfoldable portions 27. 27 of board 12 that extend outwardly beyond the hinge lines l4. l6 and enable the ends of the component ls hinge line to be extended beyond the hinge lines 14&#39;, 16&#39;. The free outer end edge portions of the component 15 are cut to provide locking notches 28. 28 located in aligned relation with the hinge lines l4, 16&#39;. The notches 28, 28 are engageable with the edges 29. 29 of the cut-outs which are formed in the components l4. 16 by the ends of the component 15 and the unfoldable portions 27, 27. to lock the components l4, l5 and 16 together in their raised folded positions. The ends of the compo nent [5 are so configured with relation to the unfoldable portions 27. 27, that the resulting cut-out edges 29, 29 are provided with inwardly directed projections 30, 30 past which the notches 28, 28 must be forced as the component 15 is being raised to a position at ninety degress with respect to the board 12 and into interlocking engagement with locking notches 3|, 3] that were formed in such edges 29, 29 when cutting out the apeses of the unfoldable portions 27, 27. The projec&#39; tions 30. 30 are preferably rounded so that the locking notches 23 28 may be readily forced past such projections into locked interengagement with the locking notches 31, 31.  
  A second hanging tab 34 is hingedly connected along the broken hinge line 34&#39; to the central portion of the outer free edge of the component 14. The tab 34 is hinged so that it can be folded inwardly to a position at right angles to the component 14 in the raised condition ofthe latter. Provided in the tab 34 is a triangularly shaped opening 35 through which the head of a nail may be inserted to hang the mounting in a horizontal position. Whichever nail tab is used to hang the mounting. the other is also folded to hanging position to enable the spacing unit comprised of components l316 to function properly as such. The tab 34 is provided with a central extension piece 36 providing sufficient material at the apex of the opening against which the nail bears in supporting the mount horizontally. It will be noted that the nail opening 35 is located centrally of the tab 34 and that the apex of such opening coincides with the transverse centerline l8]8. Associated with the outer free edge ofthe tab 34 and the component 16 are cutouts 37, 38, respectively, providing spaces in which the users fingernail may be inserted to raise the components 14 and 16, respectively.  
  It will be understood from the foregoing that in the disassembled condition of the mounting. as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings it is in a flat, board-like condition and can readily be packed with other boards in bundle form or stacked. When it is desired to use the same as a mounting for an item. such as the picture 11. the latter is connected to the mounting in its flat condition. To hang the mounting. the components 14, 16 are preferably initially raised past a right angular position relative to board 12 in order to establish the folds along the hinge lines 14&#34; 16&#39; and are then returned to their original positions. To form the spacing unit the component i3 is first lifted to a vertical position relative to the board 12 and then the components l4, 16 are lifted to vertical positions. In raising the components l4, l6 the tabs 25, 25 of the component 13 are inserted into the slots 26, 26 of the components 14, 16. With the components l3, l4 and 16 raised, component 15 is raised to vertical position and the locking notches 28, 28 thereof interlocked with the locking notches 31, 31 thereby positively locking all of the components 13-16 in raised position until the locking notches 28, 28, 31, 31 are positively disengaged. In the thus assembled condition of the components 13-16 there is formed in back ofthe mount a spacing unit having three edges. the outer free edges of components l3, l4 and 16, lying in the same plane and adapted to bear against a wall to hold the mounting board 10 in spaced relation to the wall. The result will be that when wall-hung the mounting board will appear to float relative to the wall. To effect such hanging, the tab 20 is folded outwardly to a position at right angles to its associated raised component 13. and tab 34 is folded inwardly to be at right angles to its associated raised component 14. The mounting may then be hung vertically by use of the tab 20, or horizontally by use of the tab 34. If desired the unused tab may be detached from the device.  
  The modified version of the die-cut board or back portion shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. is substantially similar to the above described board 12 except that in the board 12 of FIG. 8 the component 13 has been eliminated, leaving three components 40, 4] and 42 constructed similarly to the above described components l4, l5 and 16, respectively, and raised and inter locked in a manner similar to that described with respect to the latter. ln such construction it is preferred that the height of the component 4l be made equal to r the width of the elongated components 40, 42 to pro vide three edges for bearing against the wall surface. For the purpose of hanging the mount a tab 43, constructed similarly to tab 20 is provided on the outer free edge of the transverse component 4l. The board 12 is cut-out to provide a space 44 in which the users fingernail may be inserted to raise the tab 43 and the component 4]. The board 12&#39; is also cut-out at 37&#39; and 38&#39; to provide fingernail spaces for facilitating the lifting of the components 40 and 42, respectively. As in the case of the previous construction, the tab 43 is so located that the area of the nail opening wiil coincide with one of the medial centerlines of the device. When the device is constructed to provide a vertical support for the display item it is trimmed to provide an edging 45 having a vertical dimension greater than the horizontal dimension thereof. On the other hand. when the device is constructed to provide a horizontal support for the display item it is trimmed to provide an edging having a horizontal dimension greater than the vertical dimension thereof, as indicated by the dotted outline 46 in FIG. 8 of the drawings.  
  The modified version shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings. is illustrated as being constituted of the die cut board alone on which is provided a coating or stripes 9 of pressure sensitive adhesive that is protected by a suitable sheeting 39 until the board 12 is to be ad hered either to a display item, or to a mounting board 10 of the users choice, as has previously been indi cated. It will be understood, however, that the board 12&#39; may be adhered to a mounting board 10 before being sold with or without a display item as in the manner of the board 12. In a similar fashion, the board 12 may be constructed for sale in the manner of the board 12.  
  While I have hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings, preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. or the scope of the appended claims.  
 I claim:  
  1. A backing or spacer board for use in hanging an item for display with a floating effect on a wall, consisting of a sheet of relatively stiff material having front and back surfaces and to the front surface of which is attached the item for display. said spacer board being die-cut in the internal area thereof to leave a peripheral border of the board material surrounding the die-cut. the die-cut providing in such internal area of the spacer board first and second spacing components disposed in spaced relation and each hingedly connected along one of its longitudinal edges to said spacer board and foldable from a flat condition in the plane of said spacer board outwardly and rearwardly to a position at right angles to said spacer board to enable the outer free longitudinal edges of said components to come into engagement with a wall in back of the spacer board. said spacing components being of equal width at their longi tudinally extending wall engagement free edge portions and adapted when in outwardly folded condition with the free longitudinal edges of said components engaging a wall to maintain said spacer board spaced in parallel relation with the wall so as to produce the floating effect. a third spacing component located in said internal area of and in the plane of said spacer board and die-cut to be hingedly connected along one longitudinal edge to said spacer board so as to be foldable from a flat condition in the plane of the spacer board outwardly and rearwardly to a position at right angles to said spacer board. said third spacing component ex tending between and in transverse relation to said first and second components and engageable with both of the latter at spaced portions of said third component. locking means at each of said spaced portions of said third component and on each of said first and second components between the ends of the latter and interen gageable to lock said first. second and third components together in raised position to form a spacing unit for maintaining the item for display spaced from a wall surface. and a hanging tab located in said internal area of and in the plane of said spacer board and said spac ing components. and die-cut to be hingedly connected to the outer free longitudinal edge of one of said spacing components and movable in a translatory fashion with the latter outwardly and rearwardly from the plane of the spacer board and relative to the latter so as to be disposed in angular relation to such one component in the raised condition ofthe latter. said hanging tab having a fastener receiving opening located to coincide with a centerline of said spacer board.  
  2. A spacer board as defined in claim I, in which said hanging tab is located in said internal area of the spacer board so as to be bounded by said first, second and third components and is hingedly connected to the outer free edge of said third component, the outer free edge of said third component in the region of said hanging tab being spaced from the hinged connection of said third component with said spacer board a distance substantially equal to the width of said first and second components.  
  3. A spacer board as defined in claim 1, in which said spacer board is die-cut at the outer free edges of two of said spacing components to facilitate the lifting of such components. and is die-cut at the outer free edge of said hanging tab to facilitate the lifting of said hanging tab and the spacing component to which it is hingedly connected.  
  4. A wall mounting for hanging an item for display with a floating effect on a wall. comprising a spacer board adapted on one side thereof to be attached to the item for display and which is die-cut to provide first and second spacing components of substantially equal width disposed in spaced relation within the area of said spacer board, each of said components being hingedly connected along one edge thereof to said spacer board and foldable from a flat condition in the plane of said spacer board outwardly to a position at right angles to said spacer board. a third spacing component die-cut in said spacer board to be hingedly connected along one longitudinal edge to said spacer board and disposed transversely to said first and second components between the ends of said first and second components. said third spacing component extending between said first and second components and engageable with the latter at spaced portions of said third component. locking means at each of said spaced portions of said third component and on each of said first and second components and interengageable to lock said first. second and third components together in raised position to form a spacing unit for maintaining the item for display spaced from a wall surface. a fourth spacing component disposed transversely to said first and second spacing components and spaced from said third spacing component. said fourth spacing component having a longitudinal length substantially equal to the distance between said first and second components. and having a dimension parallel to the hinged connections of said first and second components substantially equal to the widths of said first and second components so that the outer edges of said first. second and fourth components in the assembled condition thereof are substantially equally spaced from said spacer board. means at the ends of said fourth component and in said first and second components interengageable with each other in the assembled condition of said first, second and fourth components. and a hanging tab die-cut from said spacer board and hingedly connected to one of said first and second components, said hanging tab being centrally located on the outer edge of said one of said first and second components and having a fastener receiving opening located to coincide with a centerline of said spacer board in the assembled condition of the mountings. and a second hanging tab die-cut from said spacer board and hingedly connected to said fourth component, said second hanging tab having a fastener receiving opening located to coincide with a centerline of said mounting board disposed at right angles to said first mentioned centerline.