Pictures, mirrors, wall plaques and the like are commonly fixed to a wall by hanging a support string, wire or cord on a nail, or in some cases on a picture hook nailed to the wall.

Nails and picture hooks, however, have the disadvantage that once fixed to the wall their height is set. The only means of adjusting the height of the picture is then either by altering the length of the string or the string attachment on the back of the picture which is neither convenient nor easy to do or by removing the nail and hammering it into the wall again. Even if this is done carefully, the correct position cannot be guaranteed and it may be necessary to do this several times before a satisfactory position is achieved.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a device which facilitates this troublesome adjustment.

In accordance with the invention, an adjustable hook device for a picture, mirror or the like to be hung on a wall comprises one or more suspension points along a shank and one or more hooks or hook positions so that in use the distance between the selected suspension point and hook position can be varied to enable a picture to be hung at a desired height notwithstanding that a nail or the like in the wall may not be positioned at the appropriate height.

In practice there will either be a plurality of suspension points or a plurality of hooks or hook positions so that either the relative position of the selected suspension

point to the hook or the position of the hook relative to the suspension point determines the distance between the two, and accordingly the height of the picture or the like.

In one embodiment, a screw thread is provided to enable the hook to be moved up or down so that the distance between the suspension point and the hook may be varied in order to adjust the height of the picture when suspended on the wall.

Another option is for the shank to be provided with a ratchet or series of notches in which the hook can be engaged to enable the distance between the suspension point and the hook to be varied.

A similar effect may be obtained by providing between 2 and 10 hooks axially spaced along the length of the shank, or by providing between 2 and 20, preferably 10, locations axially spaced along its length at which the hook can be positioned.

However, in the preferred form of the device, the shank is provided with a series of holes which comprise the suspension points substantially along its axis whereby the distance between a single hook and the suspension point may be varied by selecting the appropriate suspension point. Between 3 and 20 suspension points, and ideally 10, are provided along the shank. These may comprise a hole with a slot linking it with the side of the shank. The slots are conveniently staggered alternately on either side of the shank and may be angled downwards, towards the hook or hooks at 35 to 55°, preferably at 45°, to the axis of the shank to ensure that the device does not fall off the nail in use.

The width of the slots is preferably smaller than the diameter of the holes so that the device clicks onto a nail, or at least rests positively on a nail or hook to prevent it from being unintentionally dislodged. The device may advantageously be sold with suitably sized nails which thus just click into the holes. Once the correct location has been selected the unwanted part of the shank may be cut or broken off.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1A and B are diagrammatic front and side elevations respectively of the preferred form of an adjustable hook device 10 comprising a shank 12 having a number of suspension points 14 by which it can be attached to a wall 16 by a nail 18. The device is provided with an integral stout hook 20 at what is intended to be the lower end of the shank 12.

In this example, the device 10 has 10 equally-spaced suspension points, each comprising a hole 22 substantially along the axis of the shank. Each hole 22 has a slot 24 whose width is slightly smaller than the diameter of the holes 22. The slots 24 are staggered on either side along the axis of the shank 12, and substantially at 90° to it. If desired, however, in order to prevent still further the possibility of the device becoming dislodged from the nail when in use, the slots can be angled downwardly at, say, 45°. Because of the slightly smaller width of the slot 24 than the diameter of the hole 22 it can be arranged so that it clicks onto a suitably sized nail 18.

In use, the nail 18 is planted in the wall using one's best efforts to position it so that a hole approximately half way up the shank 12 will be used. The device is clipped on the nail using the selected suspension point 14 and the picture hung on the hook 20 to test its height. If it is not at the desired height, the device is removed from the nail and tested for height until the most appropriate hole 20 is used. The shank 12 may then be shortened by cutting or breaking off the unused portion at one of the slots above the one that is to be used, or along one of the weakened indentations 26.

The device is conveniently injection moulded from a suitable plastics material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic front elevation of an alternative form of the device 10 comprising a shank 12 which is threaded (shown diagrammatically) substantially over its whole length except for its upper end which is provided with a suspension point 14. The shank is provided with a stout moveable hook 20 which slides freely over the thread. The hook 20 is be secured at a selected position along the shank by means of a nut 28 which is provided with a corresponding thread which mates tightly with that on the shank.

In an alternative version, the hook 20 itself is provided with the thread, thus dispensing with the nut, though sacrificing some precision.

In use, the hook is moved to an approximately mid-way position along the shank 12 by adjusting the nut 28, a nail is planted in the wall as best possible to achieve the desired height of the picture and the suspension point 14 of device is hung over the nail (or a hook attached to it; neither is shown here). Any necessary adjustment to the height of the picture is achieved by screwing the nut 28 up and down as necessary to achieve the required height of the hook 20 to position the painting correctly. In this embodiment of the device the screw threaded nut allows a very fine adjustment indeed.

Fig. 3A is a diagrammatic side elevation of another form of the device 10 whereby the shank has a ratchet 30 along which a stout hook can normally be slid along the shank when the hook 20 is turned upwards. However, when the hook 20 is turned downwards (to carry the weight of a picture) the part 32 of the shank 12 opposite the hook 20 engages with one of the ratchets 30, thus preventing any further downward movement. In this way the position of the hook 20 may be adjusted to vary the distance between the suspension point 14 and the hook.

As may be seen more clearly in the plan of the hook element in Fig. 3B the base of the hook 20 is formed with a rectangular slot 34 which is longer than the width of the shank 12 so that it can be slid up and down, but as soon as it is inclined

downwards the opposite end 32 of the slot 34 engages one of the teeth of the ratchet 30 and secures the hook. The position of the hook may thus be adjusted along the length of the shank to achieve the desired height of a picture in the same way as in the previous embodiments.

For heavier pictures, the shank 12 may be provided with a ratchet both along its front and rear sides so that both sides of the slot 34 can rest respectively on a tooth, thus giving more positive support to the hook 20 and thus the picture. Equally, the shank may have a triangular section (with the ratchet on the face which in use is nearest to the wall), or an oval, circular section.

In another version (not shown) a device similar to that shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, has fewer suspension points, perhaps only one, but may have up to 20 hooks, spaced one above each other. Ideally, the optimum number of hooks in this arrangement appears to be 10.