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(11) | EP 0 475 910 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Section member for hanging on a wall pictures and the like |
| (57) A section member (1) for hanging to a wall pictures and the like comprises a rectangular
cross-section body which defines, on its bottom surface a groove (3) for housing sliders
for supporting a hanging wire and, on its front surface, an opened region (10), there
being moreover provided a zone (15) therethrough holes (17) can be formed for restraining
wall affixing elements, and having an axis slanted with respect to the front surface,
the opening being adapted to be closed by a snap applied cover (30). |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a section member for hanging to a wall pictures and the like.
[0002] There are already commercially known section members for application to a wall, generally at the ceiling level, for suspending hook elements and the like, to which there is connected a wire adapted to suspend pictures and the like to be applied to the walls.
[0003] These prior hanging section members, however, are affected by several drawbacks, the main of which is that in a case in which near the ceiling a trimming edging is provided, then the assembling of these section members is rather difficult since a proper installation is obstructed by the provision of the mentioned trimming edging.
[0004] Another drawback is that the means for affixing to the wall the section member can not be concealed to view which provides an antiaesthetic effect.
[0005] Yet another drawback is that, in order to fit the section member to several contingent requirements, it is necessary to make said section member with several different colors, with a consequent high production cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a section member construction, to be applied to a wall for hanging pictures and the like, which can be easily and quickly applied to the wall, even if a trimming edging is already applied thereon near the ceiling.
[0007] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a section member construction which can be easily drilled during the installation in order to properly restrain said section member to the wall.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a section member construction, for the above mentioned applications, which is adapted to properly conceal to view the section member restraining means, while providing the possibility of fitting to different color requirements, without the need of modifying the color of the section member body.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a section member construction which, in addition to being adapted for a quick and simple assembling, is furthermore very reliable in operation and can be made at a very reduced cost.
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a section member construction adapted to be applied to a wall for hanging pictures and the like, characterized in that said section member construction comprises a contoured section member body having a substantially rectangular cross-section and being provided, on the bottom surface thereof, with a groove for housing sliders for supporting a wire element for hanging pictures and the like and, on the front surface thereof, being provided with an opening, a zone there being moreover provided adapted to be drilled by a plurality of holes for allowing wall fixing means to be passed therethrough,said holes having an axis slanted with respect to said front surface, said opening being adapted to be closed by a snap applied cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the body of the section member according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is another schematic perspective view showing a closure cover associated with the section member according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a drilling operation in which holes are formed through the section member body, for receiving wall restraining means; and
Figure 4 is another schematic cross-sectional view showing the cover applied to the section member.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the section member construction, for hanging to a wall pictures and the like, according to the present invention, comprises a contoured section member body, overally indicated at the reference number 1, which has a substantially rectangular shape and is made by extruding aluminium or the like metal materials.
[0013] More specifically, at the rear surface of the section member, at the bottom thereof, there is provided a cut-out, indicated at the reference number 2, which provides a spacer element from the wall, so as to allow a possible finishing edging associated with the wall near the ceiling to be properly housed.
[0014] At its bottom surface, the contoured section member body 1 is provided with a downward open groove 3, therein there are restrained conventional sliders to which there is coupled a wire element for hanging thereon pictures and the like.
[0015] On its front surface, the section member is provided with an opening 10, substantially extending through the overall front surface and being delimited at the top thereof by a top edge 11 and, at the bottom thereof, by a bottom edge 12, which, practically, forms the side wall of the groove 3.
[0016] A main feature of the present invention is that, on its inner portion, the contoured section member body 1 is provided with a reinforcement enlarged portion 15, arranged at the top rear corner thereof, that is at the corner which will be arranged at the corner region between the wall and ceiling.
[0017] Advantageously, at this corner, on the portion of the section member facing said opening, there is formed a lead-in recess 16, therethrough holes 17 can be drilled for receiving wall restraining means, which holes have an axis which is slanted at substantially 45° with respect to the front surface of the section member body.
[0018] This slanted arrangement, in addition to providing a firm coupling, also provides the great advantage that the space between the drilling tool 20 and ceiling is not obstructed as the several holes are made.
[0019] In fact, owing to the very reduced size of the section member, if horizontal holes would be made, then an interference would inevitably occur between the body of the drilling tool 20 and ceiling, which would prevent a hole to be made at a proper position.
[0020] Another main feature of the present invention is that the opening 10 can be closed by a cover element 30, advantageously made of an extruded plastic material, and which can be snap engaged on the opening 10.
[0021] More specifically, the body 30 is provided with a flat portion 31 superimposing on the front surface of the section member, so as to properly conceal it to the view.
[0022] Accordingly, it is possible to make section members 1 in a single color, whereas the several covers 30 can be made with the desired colors,, which is very facilitated owing to the use of the plastic material which can be molded in a lot of desired colors.
[0023] In order to connect the section member, there is provided an abutment lug 32, formed on the inner surface of the cover 30 which, during the assembly, engages under the top edge 11 thereagainst also abuts a top abutment 33 correspondingly formed on the inner face of the cover 30.
[0024] In order to restrain the cover, from the cover 30 a tooth element 35 extends which ends with a spike element 36, snap engaging with a counter-tooth element 37 defined by the contoured body 1 at the top portion of the groove 3.
[0025] Advantageously, at the attachement region of the tooth element 35 there is provided a cut-out 38 for enhancing the resiliency of said tooth element.
[0026] At the bottom portion of its inner surface, the cover 30 is moreover provided with a bottom abutment 39 which abuts against the bottom edge 12 of the body 1 so as to hold the bottom edge of the cover slightly spaced from said body 1, in order to provide a gripping element which will facilitate the disengagement of the cover as it is necessary.
[0027] From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
[0028] In particular, the fact is to be pointed that the provision of an enlarged region, at the corner zone of the section member, provides the possibility of easily making slanted holes thereby greatly simplifying and accelerating all of the assembling operations.
[0029] Moreover, the snap application of the cover 30 allows the restraining means to be concealed to the view, thereby providing an assembly which, in addition to being greatly functional and reliable, is also very pleasant from an aesthetical standpoint.
1. A section member construction adapted to be applied to a wall for hanging pictures
and the like, characterized in that said section member construction comprises a contoured
section member body having a substantially rectangular cross-section and being provided,
on the bottom surface thereof, with a groove for housing sliders for supporting a
wire element for hanging pictures and the like and, on the front surface thereof,
being provided with an opening, a zone there being moreover provided adapted to be
drilled by a plurality of holes for allowing wall fixing means to be passed therethrough,
said holes having an axis slanted with respect to said front surface, said opening
being adapted to be closed by a snap applied cover.
2. A section member, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said contoured body
is provided, at the bottom portion of its bottom surface, with a cut-out for housing
possible finishing edging elements provided at the wall, at the level of the ceiling.
3. A section member, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said section
member body is provided, at the rear top corner region thereof, with an enlarged region,
therein the hole region is arranged.
4. A section member, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said hole region is provided with a recess adapted to allow slanted holes
to be made, said slanted holes being slanted at an angle of 45° with respect to the
main surface of the section member body.
5. A section member according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in
that said opening is delimited at the top thereof by a top edge and, at the bottom
thereof, by a bottom edge.
6. A section member, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said cover is provided with a flat portion having, on the inner surface thereof,
a lug adapted to engage with the bottom end portion of the top edge, on the inner
surface of said cover there being moreover provided a tooth element ending with a
spike element which can be snap engaged with a counter-tooth element formed at the
top portion of the groove of said section member.
7. A section member, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said section member further comprises, at the attachement region of said tooth
element to said cover, a cut-out adapted to enhance the resiliency of said tooth element.
8. A section member, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said section member further comprises, on the inner surface of said cover,
a top abutment which can be engaged with said top edge and a bottom abutment, to be
contact engaged with the bottom edge of said section member body.