Picture hanging system

Abstract

A picture hanging system comprising a permanently installed array of tensioned vertical cables spaced at uniform intervals that are attached both at the top and bottom of a wall on which pictures are to be displayed. In the preferred embodiment pictures are hung from bracket assemblies that are attached with integral clamping means to the cables at the desired locations on the wall. An integral picture hook on each bracket assembly that can be slid on the bracket assembly to adjust the desired horizontal position. Thus the hanging system permits quick and accurate installation of pictures anywhere on the wall. A single-cable clamp assembly is employed to hang very small pictures or small items on a wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A picture hanging system which comprises: 
 a plurality of spaced apart lengths of cable secured to a wall; and,    a picture hanging bracket assembly comprising a first clamp for releasably attaching to one of said lengths of cable.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said lengths are spaced apart at uniform intervals.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said lengths comprise a single cable run which is routed in serpentine fashion over a series of spaced apart anchorments secured to the wall.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket assembly further comprises a second clamp and wherein said clamps are attached to two adjacent lengths of cable.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said bracket assembly further comprises first and second opposing plates bound at a medial section by a picture hook.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , in which each of said plates is formed to have an oblong body having opposite ends.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a first of said opposite ends of said first plate is biased away from said second plate.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said bracket assembly further comprises: 
 each of said plates being formed to have a hole at each of said opposite ends;    two clinch nuts each pressed into one of said holes through said first plate; and,    two thumbscrews each engaging one of said nuts through said holes of said second plate thereby forming said clamps.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said picture hook has a substantially “C” shaped portion slidingly capturing said plates thereby allowing the hook to be slid back and forth to achieve a desired final horizontal positioning.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said picture hook has a width dimension of at least 1 inch.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket assembly comprises a generally “U” shaped member having first and second spaced apart clamping arms forming said first clamp.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said assembly further comprises a clinch nut bonded to said first arm and a thumb screw penetrating opposing holes through said arms and engaging said nut.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said second arm has an angled portion thereby forming a picture hook.  
     
     
         14 . A method for creating a picture hanging system on a wall, said method comprises: 
 partially attaching a plurality of support screws into said wall at spaced apart locations;    attaching a first portion of a cable to said wall;    winding a second portion of said cable around a first one of said screws in a first rotational direction; and,    tightening said first one of said screws in said first rotational direction thereby tensioning said cable.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , which further comprises: 
 further deploying said cable in serpentine fashion about a remainder of said screws.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said screws tighten through clockwise rotational movement and said first rotational movement is clockwise.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of said screws has a diameter and wherein said spaced apart locations are selected so that a first horizontal spacing is a distance plus said diameter, and a second adjacent horizontal spacing is said distance minus said diameter.  
     
     
         18 . A method for positioning a picture on a wall, said method comprises: 
 securing a bracket between a pair of spaced apart lengths of cable attached to a wall; and,    hanging said picture on a picture hook attached to said bracket.