| Claims 1. Device (1) for suspending a picture frame, arranged to constitute a part of the wire system that suspends a picture (12) comprising at a first end a wire attachment (2) to which a first part of a (divided) suspension wire (7) is to be attached, characterized in that the device at its other end is arranged to wedge in another part of the suspension wire (7) between a movably suspended pulley (9) and inclined internal walls of the device (1), the end of said second part of the suspension wire (7), at the inside of the pulley (9), being extended from the device (1) and being available for adjusting the length of the wire system while the picture is hanging in place. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is comprised by two main parts (Ia) and (Ib) and further comprising a wireless alarm unit (3) that is arranged to communicate with a common main alarm unit, the two main parts (Ia) and (Ib) being connected via a transversal rod (5) that extends through openings (6) in main part (Ia), said holes being oblong in the length direction to allow a certain degree of freedom of movement between the main parts (Ia and Ib), such arranged that when the tension in the suspension wire (7) - and thus between the parts (Ia) and (Ib) is released, a contracting movement between the main parts (Ia) and (Ib) is triggered that aided by a spring actuated release mechanism (4) is arranged to actuate the alarm unit (3). 3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the wireless alarm unit (3) is arranged to be powered by an embedded battery. 4. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the wireless unit (3) is arranged to register alarms from a plurality of corresponding distributed alarm units (3) and to report further on. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wire (7) comprises two separate parts of wire. |
Background
Most people have some time hanged a picture on a wall and faced the problem of adjusting its height to the height of another picture or another object. It is also difficult to foresee how a picture will look from a distance when one is close to the wall for mounting its attachments. Commonly a number of attempts are required until one is satisfied, which is time consuming and in worst cases leads to several holes in the wall.
Theft of art and paintings are commonly reported and there is evidently a need for improving the security with respect to such incidents. It is thus a major need for good alarm systems in order to combat such thefts.
Prior art
PCT patent application WO 06091176 Al concerns a picture suspension where the height of the picture may be adjusted by changing the length of the suspension wire. This solution requires that the picture is lifted down in order to adjust the wire length at the back side of the picture. It is not easy to know how much the length is to be changed in order to obtain a certain height adjustment; therefore this solution will typically require that the height adjustment is made more than once.
EP 1884750 A2 describes a suspension arrangement that includes an alarm. This is an alarm that is activated when a hanger is removed from a holder. By suspension of pictures it is not relevant to remove the hanger when the picture is lifted off the wall, so this hanger is not well suited in connection with picture suspension. This publication, by the way, does not describe height adjustment.
Object
An object with the present invention is to provide a solution that allows a simple adjustment of the height of a picture after is has been hanged on the wall. This is desirable for making it easier to see the actual level of the picture when adjustment is made, to avoid the need for several adjustments and/ or a result that one is not content with. Another object is to provide a more secure alarm solution that makes it very difficult to remove a picture from a wall without releasing an alarm.
Brief description of the invention
The objects mentioned are achieved by the device according to the present invention as described by claim 1.
By "wire system" in this connection is understood the wire itself, which is separate, as well as the device according to the invention that interconnects the two parts of the suspension wire and allows an easy adjustment of the length of the whole, i.e. of the wire system.
By "inclined" walls (of the device) is understood walls having a mutual distance that is gradually decreased in the direction of the device' end and there having a distance that is less than the diameter of the pulley.
By "pulley" is understood a disc shaped, circular member with or without a groove along its circumference.
By "first end" and "other end" of the device according to the invention is referred to the respective opposite ends of the device arranged to be attached to respective parts of a suspension wire. It is, however, no requirement that these "ends" constitute absolute extreme points of the device in one direction or the other. When referral is made to the length direction of the device, it is the direction from said first end to said other end that is meant (from one attachment point of the wire to another).
According to the present invention the entire wire, including the free end of this, is normally hidden behind the wall and the picture. In a situation in which it is desirable to raise the picture somewhat, typically when the picture is hanged on the wall for the first time, the device is operated by pulling the free and of the suspension wire that extends from the device. When the suspension wire is released, it becomes wedged in the device so that the picture remains suspended in that position. When a picture is hanged on the wall for the first time, an excess length of wire is typically applied so that it is visible outside the picture frame. Since the operation of the device consists in pulling a wire, it may be done while the device is positioned behind the picture, allowing the height of the picture to be adjusted while the picture hangs in its place, typically on a wall.
In addition there is room for mounting an alarm unit within - or as part of - the device, an alarm unit that is actuated when the tension in the suspension wire ceases, i.e. when someone lifts the picture down from its point of suspension.
In its simplest form, the device is without alarm or possibility of including alarm unit and typically having an integrated outer body without joints or hinges which is a prerequisite for allowing activation of an alarm unit. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, there is, however, an alarm unit included in the device or the device is prepared for receiving an alarm unit. The outer body is in such cases divided in two parts hinged together as described in further detail below.
In the sections to follow the invention is described in further detail in the form of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings that only show chosen embodiments of the invention.
Drawings
Fig. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device for picture suspension according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the device for picture suspension. Fig. 3 shows the back side of a picture on which a variant of the device according to the present invention is utilized.
Fig. 4 shows the back side of a picture on which another variant of the device according to the present invention is utilized.
Detailed description of the present invention
Identical reference number in different figures is used to refer to same figure detail. The drawings show examples of embodiments and are not limiting for the invention.
Figure 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device for picture suspension, comprising main parts Ia and Ib. The figure illustrates how the two main parts Ia and Ib are attached by means of a through extending rod 5. Furthermore a wireless alarm unit 3 having a spring biased release mechanism 4 is shown mounted in main part Ia. A pulley 9 with accompanying locking mechanism 10 and 11 is shown mounted in main part Ib. It is furthermore shown how a wire 7 is inserted through the main part Ib, past the pulley 9 and extending thorough a hole 8 in the wall of main part Ib.
Fig. 2 shows a side sectional view of the same device as shown in Fig. 1. It is disclosed by Fig. 2 that the shape of openings 6 through which the through extending rod 5 is arranged, is oblong, so that the parts Ia and Ib may move back and forth in relation to one another.
As already mentioned the device according to the invention may be made without alarm 3 and release mechanism 4 and in that case there is no reason to provide the outer body of the device as two separate parts that are hinged together in a mutually displaceable manner. A person skilled in the art will understand that also the through extending rod 5 is superfluous in such an embodiment, when the purpose of this is to hold the two parts - when there are two parts - together, but still allowing sufficient freedom of movement to trigger an alarm.
Fig. 3 shows the back side of a picture 12 intended for suspension on a point of attachment 14 on a wall. It is indicated how the device 1 for picture suspension is included in the wire system between the suspension points 13 on the picture frame.
Fig. 4 shows the back side of a picture 12 intended for suspension by two attachment points 14 on the wall by means of the suspension points 13 on the picture frame. It is indicated how a device 1 for picture suspension according to the present invention is included in the wire system on one side of the picture 12 while the suspension point 13 on the other side is arranged to be hung directly on the attachment point 14 at that side.
The invention mainly consists of a device 1 that is assembled as part of a wire system that is used to suspend pictures. The suspension is not unlike traditional suspension means for suspension of pictures, but a difference is the suspension wire 7 that is divided for interconnection with the device 1, so that the wire system comprises the suspension wire 7 and the device 1.
Below a suspension point 13 (on the picture) as well as an attachment point 14 (on the wall) are discussed. The suspension point and the attachment point may independent of each other have the physical shape of a screw, nail or other suitable means for suspension. The terms suspension point and attachment point are intended to cover all variants.
The device 1 may e.g. be used both in cases in which the picture is hung by one attachment point 14 on the wall (Fig. 3) or by two attachment points 14 on the wall (Fig. 4). As long as the suspension is made in a manner ensuring a tension in the suspension wire 7, the device 1 may be used with a different number of or different position of the hooks 13 and 14.
The device 1 consists of two main parts Ia and Ib. In the main part Ia there is at one end a wire attachment means 2 in the form of a hole to which one end of the suspension wire may be tied. In this part of the device a wireless alarm unit 3 may also be included as shown. This alarm unit can communicate wireless with a common main alarm unit (not shown) that register alarms from a plurality corresponding alarm units 3. The main alarm unit records any alarm signals, which will contain information of identity so it can pass on a message indicating which device 1 activated the alarm.
The alarm unit 3 has a spring biased release mechanism 4 that is connected with the through extending rod 5. The alarm unit 3 furthermore has en embedded battery that only used current when the release mechanism activates the alarm.
The thorough extending rod 5 extends from the main unit 1 through two oblong openings 6 in the main part Ia, while the openings for rod 5 in part 5b preferably are circular and having an inner diameter that corresponds with the diameter of the rod 5. The oblong opening 6 in the part Ia allows the through extending rod a certain freedom of movement in the direction to or from the alarm unit 3.
The other part of the suspension wire 7 is attached to the other main part Ib by introducing the wire into the side of main part Ib that faces away from part Ia and making it become wedged between a movably suspended pulley 9 and moderately inclined internal walls of the main part Ib. The free end of the suspension wire 7 is extended through a hole 8 in the side wall of Ib, so that it is terminated with a free and for the user available end. By this arrangement for the suspension wire it is ensured that length thereof may be adjusted by pulling its free end so that the pulley moves back and no longer wedges the suspension wire against the inner wall of part Ib. The wire may be shortened or lengthened and when the suspension wire again is tensioned, the pulley will move back to its locking position where the suspension wire is wedged in.
In this manner the tension from the two parts of the wire 7 is transferred to each part of the main body Ia and Ib of the adjustment device 1. When there is a tension in the wire system, like it will be as a consequence of the picture weight as long as the picture is suspended from an attachment point on the wall, the through extending rod 5 will be displaced to the end position of the opening 6 as far away from the alarm unit 3 as possible. In this position the alarm unit 3 is inactive. If anyone attempts to lift the picture 12 down from the wall, without first deactivating the alarm unit 3 and/ or the main alarm unit, the lack of tension in the suspension wire 7 will due to the spring biased release mechanism 4, cause the rod 5 to move towards the alarm unit 3, which will trigger the alarm. This is registered by the main alarm unit which communicates the alarm signal further, e.g. via the telephone net, so that relevant action may be taken.
Example of use
It is desired to decorate a wall where some pictures of uniform size are already hung, by hanging another picture 12 of same size. It is thus desired that the picture 12 is hung at the same height as the other pictures to give a tidy impression.
The picture is relatively large and therefore provided with two suspension points 13, one at each side of the back of the picture frame. Since the wall is one with solid "hold" it is sufficient with one attachment point 14 in the wall, thus avoiding an excess of holes in the wall.
The mid-point of the picture is than calculated, assuming a vertical line through this on the wall. On this line, in a point some 5 to 10 cm below upper edge of the frame of the picture or object along which the new picture is to be hung, an attachment point, e.g. a hook, is positioned. It is sufficient with an approximate position in the vertical direction since the fine adjustment is to be performed with the present invention.
One end of a suspension wire 7 is then attached to one of the suspension points 13 at the back side of the picture 12. The other end of the suspension wire 7 is attached to the hole 2 in body part Ia of the adjustment device 1. Another part of the suspension wire 7 is attached to the other suspension point 13 at the backside of the picture 12. The free end of this part of the suspension wire 7 is entered into the adjustment device 1, around the therein arranged pulley 9and through the hole 8 to the outside of the adjustment device 1. It is ensured that the free end is sufficiently long to reach outside the frame of picture 12 and that the suspension wire 7 has a slack sufficient to initially place the picture 12 somewhat lower than its final desired suspension level.
The picture is than hanged from the attachment point 14 by means of the wire system comprising the suspension wire 7 and the adjustment device 1. The free end of the suspension wire 7 that is led by the pulley 9 and out of the device 1 by the hole 8, is normally available outside the frame edge. By pulling this free end of the suspension wire 7, the suspension is shortened so that the picture is elevated. When desired height is accomplished, the free end of the suspension wire 7 is released so that there again becomes a tension in the wire system in the direction of both suspension points. The suspension wire thereby pulls the pulley 9 to a position where the latter locks the suspension wire against the inside wall of body part Ib. Thereafter the free end may optionally be cut behind the frame, alternatively be pulled around the picture and positioned over one or more of the attachment points 14 so that the suspension wire 7 is no longer visible.
If the suspension wire 7 is tightened too much and the picture thus is suspended too high, the picture 12 may be lifted down and the wire released, so that the process may be repeated. The process is independent of the whether tor not here is an alarm unit 3 mounted in the adjustment device 1.
Possible modifications
The invention may be modified in different ways without departing from its scope as defined by the appended claims. As an example a simple variant may be one in which the pulley is replaced by a wedge shaped body to lock the suspension wire. This wedge shaped body may be pushed into locking position by a spring and may be designed with a rough surface to improve its locking ability. It is also contemplated that the alarm is activated by the pulley or by another suitable locking body or that the suspension wire is attached directly to the alarm release mechanism. With respect to the alarm, the main point is that it is activated by a lack of tension in the suspension wire.
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