Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for hanging a painting on a wall at a desired horizontal position and at a desired vertical position and in a desired rotation position, for which purpose the painting is provided with first hanging members and for which purpose the wall has to be provided with second hanging members to be anchored in drill holes to be drilled for the purpose in the wall and configured and suitable for co-action with the first hanging members. The invention also relates to a method for hanging such a painting on a wall at a desired horizontal position and at a desired vertical position and in a desired rotation position by means of such a device. This particularly involves indicating the correct positions of the drill holes to be drilled in the wall.

Background of the invention

Systems for hanging a painting are known wherein the painting is lifted manually and moved to a desired position, after which the correct position of a wall hook, screw or drill hole is marked on the wall by means of an object with a sharp point, or a wall hook is arranged directly at the correct location, see for instance US4455756A, US4382337A and US5867917A. Manipulation of the painting, marking of a drill hole or direct arrangement of a wall hook is however not easy. Such a system is therefore only suitable in principle for hanging a smaller and lighter painting on a single wall hook. Manual lifting and moving with all the associated risks of damage to the painting, and certainly the marking, wherein it is necessary to press against the painting, make such systems less suitable, and usually even not permissible, in the case of a more costly painting/museum piece. Also known are devices for hanging a painting which comprise a frame for placing the painting thereon. The frame can rest on a ground surface and/or lean against a wall. DE202005002818U1 thus describes such a device with which a painting, placed on such a frame, can be moved to a desired position, after which the painting is hung with a suspension wire. It is unclear how the correct position of a wall hook, screw or drill hole is marked on a wall. US2009045315A1 describes a similar device with which a painting can be brought to a desired position, after which the correct position of a wall hook, screw or drill hole is marked on the wall by means of an object with a sharp point. US2009283650A1 describes another similar device. Manual movement of the frame with the painting placed thereon and placing the painting at height are however still difficult here and also involve risk of damage to the painting. Such devices are therefore also less suitable, and possibly even not permissible, in the case of a more costly painting/museum piece.

The present invention now provides a solution to hanging a painting which does not have the stated drawbacks, or at least does so to lesser extent, and with which it is possible to meet the strict requirements in the case of a more costly painting/museum piece.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 14. 'Horizontal' and 'vertical' are understood in the context of the invention to mean respectively 'horizontal in a situation of use' and 'vertical in a situation of use' . By means of the moving means, preferably swivel wheels, the painting suspended from the frame can thus be readily and safely moved to the desired horizontal position. The frame preferably comprises a first frame part and a second frame part, which first frame part rests on a ground surface in a situation of use and which second frame part is provided with the third hanging members, and the device also comprises first adjusting means configured and suitable for adjusting the relative vertical positions of the second frame part and the first frame part. The painting suspended from the frame can thus be moved readily and safely to the desired vertical position. The device preferably also comprises second adjusting means configured and suitable for adjusting the relative vertical positions of the third hanging members such that the desired rotation position of the painting suspended from the frame can be obtained. The painting suspended from the frame can thus be readily and safely placed, generally set level, in the desired rotation position.

The positions of the drill holes to be drilled in the wall can subsequently be indicated by means of indicating means provided for the purpose, for instance comprising a laser or marking means. The drill holes can then be drilled in the wall at the indicated positions and the second hanging members can be anchored therein, after which the painting can be hung on the wall by means of the first hanging members and the second hanging members anchored in the drill holes.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings, more or less schematically:

figure 1 shows three paintings hung on a wall;

- figure 2 shows three paintings with three types of hanging member;

figure 3 shows a device according to the invention in a rest position;

figure 4 shows a first detail of the device;

figure 5 shows the device with a painting suspended therefrom in a starting situation; figure 6 shows the device with the painting suspended therefrom in desired positions and desired rotation position; and

figure 7 shows a second detail of the device and a wall provided with second hanging members. Exemplary embodiments

Figure 1 shows three paintings of differing shape hung on a wall (3). The centre lines (M) of the paintings are all the same distance from ground surface (11), for instance 152 cm, as is usual in a museum. Figure 2 shows three types of first hanging members: the STEDDIE® type, suspension eyes and a suspension wire, arranged on the rear sides of the paintings. In order to hang a painting at a desired horizontal position and with its centre line at a desired distance from the ground surface, second hanging members, screws or wall hooks, co-acting with the first hanging members have to be arranged on the wall and anchored in drill holes drilled at correct positions in the wall. The correct positions of the drill holes also depend on the positions of the first hanging members and the dimensions of the painting.

Device (1) shown in figures 3-7 for hanging a painting (2) on a wall (3) comprises a frame (7) comprising a first frame part (9) and a second frame part (10), and also guide means (22), in the shown example in the form of two wheels with vertical rotation axes, for guiding frame (7) in the vicinity of and along wall (3). Painting (2) is provided with first hanging members (4a;4b) which in the shown example form part of the STEDDIE® hanging system marketed by Artprotech International. First frame part (9) rests on ground surface (11). Second frame part (10) is provided with third hanging members (6a;6b) co- acting with first hanging members (4a;4b). In the shown example the mutual distance between third hanging members (6a;6b) is adjustable within a specific range and thus adaptable to the mutual distance between first hanging members (4a;4b). Device (1) also comprises moving means (8), in the shown example comprising four swivel wheels, in the shown example with braking device, for moving frame (7) in horizontal direction, as well as first, for instance electromechanical or hydraulic adjusting means (12) for adjusting the relative vertical positions (V10;V9) of second frame part (10) and first frame part (9). The horizontal position (H) and the vertical position (V) of painting (2) suspended from frame (7) can thus be varied. Device (1) also comprises second, for instance electromechanical adjusting means (13) for adjusting the relative vertical positions (V6a;V6b) of third hanging members (6a;6b). The rotation position (R) of painting (2) suspended from frame (7) can thus be varied and painting (2) thus hung level.

Device (1) also comprises first measuring means (14) and second measuring means (15), here in the form of horizontal pins, for measuring the vertical positions (V16;V17) of upper edge (16) and lower edge (17) of painting (2) suspended from frame (7). 'Upper edge' and 'lower edge' are here understood to mean respectively 'a point on the upper edge' and 'a point on the lower edge' . Device (1) also comprises control means (18) for controlling the vertical position (V) of painting (2) suspended from frame (7) by means of first adjusting means (12) on the basis of the vertical positions (V16;V17) of upper edge (16) and lower edge (17) of painting (2) suspended from frame (7) measured by means of measuring means (14; 15). A desired vertical position (GV) of painting (2) suspended from frame (7), for instance a desired distance from the centre line (M) of painting (2) to ground surface (11), can be entered in control means (18) and thus be realized more or less automatically by means of control means (18) and first adjusting means (12). In another embodiment the measuring means can for instance also comprises a plurality of measuring pins for measuring a plurality of points on upper edge (16) and/or lower edge (17) of painting (2) so as to thus be able to determine rotation position (R) of painting (2), and for instance to be able to set rotation position (R) to a desired rotation position (GR) by means of control means (18) and second adjusting means (13).

Device (1) also comprises indicating means (20), in the shown example comprising two lasers, for indicating the positions (P21a;P21b) of drill holes (21a;21b) to be drilled in wall (3). Lasers (20) are positioned relative to third hanging members (6a;6b) in the shown example such that the central axes of lasers (20) coincide with the central axes of third hanging members (6a;6b). The intersection points of the central axes of lasers (20) and wall (3) thus directly indicate the correct positions (P21a;P21b) of drill holes (21a;21b) to be drilled when painting (2) suspended from frame (7) is situated at the desired horizontal position (GH) and at the desired vertical position (GV) and in the desired rotation position (GR), or in this case hangs level. Markings (19a; 19b) can then be arranged at the indicated positions (P21a;P21b) on wall (3) by means of marking means, for instance in the form of a pencil, pin or an object with a sharp point. After frame (7) with painting (2) suspended therefrom is moved away, drill holes (21a;21b) can be drilled at the indicated positions (P21a;P21b) in wall (3). In another possible embodiment the device can comprise drilling means for this purpose. After arranging and anchoring second hanging members (5a;5b) of the STEDDIE® type matching first hanging members (4a;4b) in drill holes (21a;21b), in the shown example by means of plugs, painting (2) can be taken off frame (7) and be hung on wall (3) by means of first hanging members (4a;4b) and second hanging members (5a;5b) anchored in drill holes (21a;21b). The painting (2) hung on wall (3) is then located at the desired horizontal position (GH), at the desired vertical position (GV) and in the desired rotation position (GR), or in this case hangs level.

The invention makes it possible to hang a painting readily and safely at a desired position and in a desired rotation position on a wall, wherein the strict requirements in the case of a more costly painting/museum piece are satisfied.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the shown exemplary embodiments, but that diverse embodiments obvious to a skilled person are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention can thus also be applied in the case of other types of hanging members, such as suspension eyes and wall hooks, by modifying the third hanging members.

Reference numerals used

1 device

2 painting

3 wall

4a;4b first hanging members (painting)

5a;5b second hanging members (wall)

6a;6b third hanging members (frame)

7 frame

8 moving means (swivel wheels for horizontal movement of frame)

9 first frame part

10 second frame part

11 ground surface

12 first adjusting means (relative vertical positions frame parts)

13 second adjusting means (relative vertical positions third hanging members)

14 first measuring means (upper edge painting)

15 second measuring means (lower edge painting)

16 upper edge painting

17 lower edge painting

18 control means

19a; 19b markings (wall)

20 indicating means (lasers)

21a;21b drill holes (wall)

22 guide means (wheels for guiding of frame along wall)

H horizontal position painting

V vertical position painting

R rotation position painting

V6a;V6b vertical positions third hanging members (frame)

V9;V10 vertical positions frame parts

V16 vertical position upper edge painting

V17 vertical position lower edge painting GH desired horizontal position painting

GV desired vertical position painting

GR desired rotation position painting

M centre line painting

P21a;P21b positions drill holes