FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system suitable for use in mounting items on a surface. The system comprises a surface-mounted hub, wherein the hub is adapted to receive a mounting portion of the item to be mounted on the surface.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Previous mounting systems exist in the picture framing sector/industry, in essentially two types: traditional picture frames and novelty/promotional magnetic frames.

[0003] Traditional picture frames are typically manufactured using mostly timber materials and glass. They are cumbersome and difficult to assemble - requiring tools and time. When hung via wire and picture hooks, they are notoriously difficult to position accurately on the wall - particularly if multiple frames need to be hung on a single wall or surface. They are, however, available in a wide range of styles and sizes.

[0004] Novelty/promotional magnetic frames are typically die-cut magnetic films, with flat and/or printed graphics around either a clear window and/or aperture. These frames are magnetically assembled to ferrous-metal surfaces, such as a refrigerator or freezer. Typically, such frames are low cost and quality - a quick and cheap way of displaying images. Various combinations of timber/acrylic and magnetic frame designs are available, but are generally focused on the craft/DIY sector.

[0005] The present invention seeks to provide a mounting system that may be adapted for use with picture frames or any other item that may be mounted on a surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a mounting system including a connectable component and a mounting hub, wherein the connectable component is releasably attachable to the mounting hub via magnetic means, and wherein the mounting hub is preferably selected from the group consisting of a hub and a freestand leg. Preferably, the hub is fixable to a surface to allow the connectable component to be mounted thereon, and the freestand leg allows the connectable component to be positioned on, for example, a table, shelf or desk.

[0007] In embodiments of the system of the present invention, the connectable component is incorporated into a mountable item, such as a mountable frame that includes a front plate and a back plate which are adapted to house a display item, wherein the front plate and the back plate are releasably held together and wherein the back plate includes at least one connectable component, for example, a substantially centrally-located connectable component. Preferably, the connectable component and the hub independently comprise magnets and, optionally, magnetically attractable materials, including, but not limited to, magnetically attractable metals.

[0008] Preferably, the front plate of the frame is substantially planar and includes a substantially centrally located viewing zone through which the display item can be observed, optionally including a transparent sheet. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the front plate is not planar, but may be curved or profiled (non-flat).

[0009] In further embodiments of the present invention, the connectable component is incorporated in any item, whereby the item may be mounted in any desired location and/or orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a mountable frame (A) and a hub (B).

[0011] Figure 2 shows a cross-section through an embodiment of a hub as mounted on a wall.

[0012] Figure 3 shows views from the rear of a mountable frame engaged with a freestand leg in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the mountable frame may be mounted in a portrait (A) or landscape (B) orientation.

[0013] Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a back plate for a frame according to the present invention, incorporating visual guides for assisting in the alignment of a display item within the frame. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring to all the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. The following description refers to the specific, illustrated embodiments of the present invention and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the specific, illustrated embodiments.

[0015] The mounting system of the present invention is based on a connectable component 101 which interacts with the hub in a magnetic manner. In use, a mountable item incorporates one or more connectable components 101, whereby it may be magnetically connected to the hub to thereby mount the mountable item. Preferably, at least one of the connectable component 101 and the hub incorporates a permanent magnet 140. If only one permanent magnet 140 is used, the other component 101 comprises a magnetically attracting member, for example steel, which is attracted to the permanent magnet 140. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the permanent magnet 140 is a rare earth magnet, such as, but not limited to, a neodymium magnet. Neodymium magnets are made of an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron (Nd ₂ Fei ₄ B), sometimes abbreviated as NIB, and are typically used in applications requiring strong, compact permanent magnets.

[0016] When the mounting system is used to mount a mountable item on a surface, such as a wall or other similar substantially vertical surface, the hub may be a mounting hub 210. In certain embodiments, the mounting system uses a steel panel as the magnetically attracting member 212 of the mounting hub 210 and a permanent magnet 140 in the connectable component 101. The accompanying figures show the magnetically attracting member 212 as a disc, and the permanent magnet 140 is complimentarily shaped; however, this is not the only possible shape for these components. Further, the magnetic components may be of any shape to suit the particular application, including, but not limited to: circular; square; rectangular; or oval/elliptical. The substantially circular components, as illustrated, allows the mountable item to be rotated with respect to the mounting hub 210, while attached to the mounting hub 210. In further, non-illustrated embodiments, the mounting hub 210 may incorporate a plurality of magnetically attracting members 212 located around its periphery, and the connectable component 101 may incorporate a plurality of permanent magnets 140 whereby the mountable item can be mounted at specific angles corresponding to the alignment of the magnetically attracting members 212 and permanent magnets 140. For example, four magnetically attracting members 212 could be used with two (or more) permanent magnets 140 to allow orientation of the connectable component 101, and thus the mountable item connected thereto, at 90° increments with respect to the mounting hub 210. The mounting hub 210 may be fixed permanently or temporarily to a surface by a fastener, such as, but not limited to a screw 214, and/or an adhesive element 216.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the mounting hub 210 includes a rotational dampener 218 that (i) substantially resists rotational movement of the connectable component 101 connected to the mounting hub 210, for instance in the event of an accidental knock or bump; and/or (ii) allows the connectable component 101 to be rotated relative to the mounting hub 210 whereby it is positioned as the user desires. In certain embodiments, the rotational dampener 218 is co-formed or co-located with the mountable hub 210. In such embodiments, the rotational dampener 218 may be in the form of a moulded plastic and/or rubber component that at least partially surrounds and/or covers the magnetically attracting member 212 of the mounting hub 210, wherein the rubber has a high degree of friction with respect to its interaction with the connectable component 101. In further embodiments, the rotational dampener 218 may be located on, with or adjacent to the connectable component 101 or mountable item. In yet further embodiments, both the connectable component 101/mountable item and the mounting hub 210 may incorporate one or more rotational dampeners 218.

[0018] The connectable component 101 preferably comprises a permanent magnet 140 housed therein. The permanent magnet 140 is preferably housed in a mount-engaging zone 150 of the connectable component 101.

[0019] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the mount-engaging zone 150 is a region that is received by the mounting hub 210, preferably by a rotational dampener 218, and is therefore preferably complementarily shaped. Preferably, the magnet 140 and mount-engaging zone 150 will be centrally located in the connectable component 101, to permit rotation of mountable item relative to the mounting hub 210. The use of a circular mounting hub 210 and mount-engaging zone 150 allows the user to simply mount the mounting hub 210 and then adjust the angle of the mountable item as desired. [0020] In yet a further embodiment, the mount-engaging zone 150 includes a plurality of recesses 152 that are engagable with a freestand leg 220. In certain embodiments, the freestand leg 220 is made of a magnetically attracting material, so that it is held against the mount-engaging zone 150 through the action of a permanent magnet located within the mount-engaging zone 150. In other embodiments, the freestand leg may engage the mount-engaging zone 150 by clips. In yet further embodiments, the freestand leg may engage the mount-engaging zone 150 both magnetically and by clips. Preferably, the freestand leg 220 can engage the mount-engaging zone 150 in one or more positions whereby, in certain embodiments of the present invention, a mountable frame comprising a connectable component 101 may be positioned in a portrait or landscape manner. Further, the freestand leg 220 may also include a foot 222 that has a high degree of friction with respect to its interaction with the surface upon which the mountable frame is positioned, thereby resisting sliding movement of the mountable frame on the surface.

[0021] The mounting system of the present invention may be used to mount various items to a surface. Incorporating a connectable component 101 in the mountable item then allows the mountable item to be mounted to the hub, preferably the mounting hub 210.

[0022] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the connectable component 101 may be used with a frame whereby pictures, photographs and the like may be displayed through the use of a wall-mounted mounting hub 210. A frame comprising a connectable component 101 may be referred to as a mountable frame 100, and may be positioned conveniently for displaying a display item 115.

[0023] The mountable frame 100 may include a front plate 110 and a back plate 120 which are adapted to house a display item 1 15, wherein the front plate 110 and the back plate 120 are releasably held together. In certain embodiments of the present invention the front plate 110 and back plate 120 may be held together by clip members. In some embodiments, the clip members are integrally moulded with the front plate 110 or the back plate 120 and engage corresponding features of the back plate 120 or the front plate 1 10, respectively. In other embodiments, the clip members are separate components that hold the front and back plates 110,120 together. In yet other embodiments, the front plate 1 10 and the back plate 120 are releasably held together by magnetically attracting members 130, wherein both the front plate 110 and back plate 120 include magnetically attracting members 130. Preferably, the front plate 110 and back plate 120 include correspondingly positioned magnetically attracting members 130 whereby the front plate 110 and back plate 120 are held in a pre-determined alignment. Most preferably, the magnetically attracting members 130 comprise magnets and, optionally, magnetically attracting materials. In certain embodiments, the magnetically attracting members 130 are retained within the front plate 110 and/or back plate 120 by the use of one or more caps 128, or by moulding into the front plate 110 and/or back plate 120 during manufacture.

[0024] In order to ensure that the display item 115 is observable, the front plate 110 preferably includes a viewing zone 112 through which the display item 115 may be observed. The viewing zone 112 is preferably a substantially centrally located opening in the front plate 110. While the illustrated embodiments of the invention include a rectangular viewing zone 112, any other shape is possible such as, but not limited to, triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal or any other regular or irregular shape. In yet further embodiments, the viewing zone 112 may include more than one opening, whereby a plurality of display items 115 may be displayed at one time. The viewing zone 112 may include a transparent member 114 to protect the display item 1 15 therebeneath. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the transparent member 114 may be removable whereby a non-planar display item 115 may be displayed in the mountable frame 100.

[0025] In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, the front plate 110 and back plate 120 of the frame 100 are substantially planar. In some embodiments, either or both of the front and back plates 110,120 may include one or more alignment guides 122 for assisting in the alignment of the display item 115 within the mountable frame 100 and to prevent the display item 1 15 from sliding out of the mountable frame 100, between the front plate 110 and back plate 120. The alignment guides 122 may also cooperate to hold the front plate 110 and back plate 120 in alignment while being releasably held together. In certain embodiments, the alignment guides 122 may be in the form of matching grooves and ridges surrounding the viewing zone 112 and corresponding region 124 of the back plate 120. In other embodiments, the alignment guides 122 may be located at or near the periphery of the front and back plates 110,120. In yet further embodiments, the alignment guides 122 may be in the form of one or more insertable elements that can be removed from the frame when not required. The insertable element may be in the form of a pin, post or rib, or other suitable form. Through the use of alignment guides 122, the user may position a display item 115 at a desired location within the frame for display without the need for adhesives, tape or other bonding material. The back plate 120 may also incorporate visual alignment guides 123 to assist a user in positioning a display item 115 within the mountable frame 100.

[0026] In some embodiments, the back plate 120 may incorporate recesses 125 that may assist a user to remove a display item 1 15 from the back plate 120 by allowing the user to insert a finger or other implement between the display item and the back plate.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, there is a back plate label 117 which may be substantially centrally located on the back plate 120 and substantially covers the side of the connectable component 101 that does not interact with the mounting hub 210. The back plate label 117 may be decorative and/or informative and include brand details or a logo for example. It may also assist in covering and/or retaining the magnetically attracting member 140 located therebeneath. In certain embodiments, the back plate label 117 may be of a laminated construction which will have small degree of rigidity or stiffness whereby it may have more substance than a typical "thin" flexible sticker and have a thickness in the order of 0.5 to 1.0 mm. In further embodiments, the back plate label 117 is preferably coated with, or manufactured from, a high friction material that contacts the display item 115, in use, and thereby restricts the ability of the display item 115 to move when being displayed.

[0028] The back plate label 1 17, when comprising a high friction material on its outer surface may also assist in the retention and alignment of a small display item 1 15 within the display zone. For example, a small display item 115 which may not be large enough to be correctly aligned by the alignment guides 122 may be held between the back plate label 117 and the transparent member 114.

[0029] In yet further embodiments of the present invention, the back plate 120 may include a plurality of back plate labels 117. Such embodiments may be necessary or preferable for large and/or heavy display items that require additional support to assist with holding the display item 1 15 in its desired position/orientation within the frame. In other embodiments, the plurality of back plate labels 117 may cover a plurality of magnetically attracting members 140 which may be required to hold large and/or heavy frames to the mounting surface.

[0030] In further embodiments of the present invention, the back plate 120 may include a high friction surface to assist with the alignment of a display item 115 within the frame. [0031] As discussed above, the back plate label 1 17 may be used to cover and/or retain the magnetically attracting member 140 located therebeneath. Preferably, the covered/retained magnetically attracting member 140 is a permanent magnet. In yet further embodiments of the present invention, the magnetically attracting member/s 140 that is/are located in the connectable component 101 is/are moulded into the connectable component 101. Such an arrangement would thereby dispense with the need for a back plate label 117 for its covering/retaining functions; however, its high friction surface may still be required to assist with the positioning and/or retention of a display item within the frame.

[0032] Surrounding the viewing zone 112 of the front plate 110 may be an edge zone 116. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the edge zone 116 incorporates at least one magnetically attracting member 130 positioned to cooperate with a correspondingly positioned magnetically attracting member 130 in the back plate 120. Preferably, the magnetically attracting members 130 comprise magnets and, optionally, magnetically attractable materials, including, but not limited to magnetically attractable metals. The shape of the magnetically attracting members 130 may be any shape that will suit the specific application, including, but not limited to: circular; square; rectangular; or oval/elliptical. These magnetically attracting members 130 interact to releasably hold the front plate 110 and back plate 120 together. In certain embodiments, the front plate may comprise a ferrous metal, in such embodiments the need for specific magnetically attracting members 130 is obviated. Similarly, in the case of using magnetic plastics there is no need for traditional ferrous magnetically attracting members.

[0033] The front plate 1 10 may be made of and/or covered with any suitable material and may be a decorative material, such as, but not limited to: wood; plastic; metal; textile; and fabric.

[0034] In order to be mounted using the mounting system of the present invention, the back plate 120 of the moun table frame 100 includes a connectable component 101. Preferably, the connectable component 101 is substantially centrally located on the back plate 120 to allow freedom of rotation of the mountable frame 100 on the mounting hub 210. [0035] While the above discussion describes and exemplifies the use of the mounting system of the present invention with "picture frames", and their mounting to a wall, the mounting system is adaptable to any situation requiring the positioning of any item. Furthermore, there is flexibility in the mounting position for the mounting hub. For example, the mounting hub may be mounted to any surface, including but not limited to, walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, vehicles etc. In order to mount an item on the mounting hub, the item simply requires the incorporation of a connectable component that can be magnetically connected to the mounting hub. Accordingly, there is great flexibility in its use. For example, the mounting system of the present invention may be used to mount any one or more of a number of items to a surface including, but not limited to, a coat hook, a towel rail, a light, a plant pot, a mirror, sensors and other electronic/mechanical devices.

[0036] In yet further embodiments of the present invention the connectable component 101 is incorporated in an adaptor that allows the mounting system of the present invention to be used with existing picture frames, including canvas-style frames. Such an adaptor includes a connectable component 101 comprising a magnetically attracting member 140 and a mount-engaging zone 150 as described above. The adaptor may engage the rear of the frame and position the connectable component 101 in a position whereby the frame 100 may be oriented appropriately for the item 1 15 displayed in the frame 100.

[0037] Where the terms "comprise", comprises", "comprising", "include", "includes", "included" or "including" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

[0038] Further, any prior art reference or statement provided in the specification is not to be taken as an admission that such art constitutes, or is to be understood as constituting, part of the common general knowledge.

[0039] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that materials and methods, other than those specifically exemplified can be employed in the practice of the invention without resort to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents, of any such materials and methods are intended to be included in this invention. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by examples, preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0040] The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments and Examples described herein, which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the invention, and functionally equivalent methods and components are within the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying Example. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.