Stand-off for supporting art and other objects

Abstract

A stand-off system for providing fixed, vertical orientation of artwork parallel to a vertical surface, the system comprising a bracket having a portion for coupling the bracket to the vertical surface and a vertical mounting plate portion, the mounting plate having a shaped opening positioned along an upper edge surface of the mounting plate portion, and a stem portion having a mounting surface for rigidly mounting the stem portion onto the artwork, the stem portion further comprising a body portion and flat head portion separated by a shaped neck portion, the head and neck portions defining a flange shaped to precisely register with the shaped opening and thereby maintain a predetermined orientation of the piece of artwork.

1 . A stand-off system for providing fixed, vertical orientation of artwork or other objects parallel to a vertical surface, the system comprising: 
 a channel-shaped bracket having a portion for coupling the bracket to the vertical surface and a vertical mounting plate portion, the mounting plate having a shaped opening positioned along an upper edge surface of the mounting plate portion such that the vertical mounting plate portion and the portion for coupling the bracket to the vertical surface forms an essentially rectangular channel portion; and    a stem portion of unitary construction having a mounting surface for rigidly mounting the stem portion onto the artwork, the stem portion further comprising a body portion and flat head portion separated by a shaped neck portion, the head and neck portions defining a flange shaped to precisely register and support the shaped neck portion with the shaped opening of the upper edge surface of the mounting plate and thereby maintain a predetermined orientation of the artwork or other objects.    
   
   
       2 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the opening along the upper edge surface of the mounting plate portion of the bracket is round and the shaped neck portion has a corresponding round shape.  
   
   
       3 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the opening along the upper edge surface of the mounting plate portion of the bracket is rectangular and the shaped neck portion has a corresponding rectangular shape.  
   
   
       4 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the opening along the upper edge surface of the mounting plate portion of the bracket is square and the shaped neck portion has a corresponding square shape.  
   
   
       5 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the opening along the upper edge surface of the mounting plate portion of the bracket is V-shaped and the shaped neck portion has a corresponding V shape.  
   
   
       6 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the bracket is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of sheet metal, plastic, wood, resin and other natural and synthetic materials.  
   
   
       7 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the stem portion is machined from a single piece of material.  
   
   
       8 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the stem portion is formed by injection molding.  
   
   
       9 . The stand-off system of  claim 1 , in which the portion for coupling the bracket to the vertical surface and the vertical mounting plate portion are connected by side plate portions.  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)