Angulated wall hanging device

Abstract

A wall hanging system includes an angle setting device or element for adjustably supporting and/or positioning a wall hanging or article, such as a framed picture, painting or mirror, or a wall-mounted movie screen or television or the like, at an angle relative to a generally vertical surface, such as a wall, when the article is hung or supported at the wall. The angle setting element may mount at the article or at the wall, and may be adjustably mounted so as to facilitate adjustment of the angle of the article relative to the wall. The wall hanging system thus tilts the article relative to the wall to enhance the viewing experience for a viewer by tilting an article toward the eyes or eye level of a typical viewer so that the viewer's line of sight is more directly toward the viewing surface of the article.

1 . A wall hanging system for adjustably supporting an article at a generally vertical support surface, said wall hanging system comprising: 
 an article configured to be supported at a generally vertical support surface, said article having a front viewing surface and a mounting surface;    an angle setting element mounted at said mounting surface of said article;    a support element for supporting said article at the generally vertical support surface; and    wherein said angle setting element extends from said mounting surface and is configured to engage the generally vertical support surface when said support element supports said article at the generally vertical support surface, said angle setting element spacing a portion of said article from the generally vertical support surface so as to establish an angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface.    
   
   
       2 . The wall hanging system of  claim 1 , wherein said angle setting element is selectively adjustable to selectively adjust said angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       3 . The wall hanging system of  claim 2 , wherein said angle setting element is movable along said mounting surface of said article to adjust said angle.  
   
   
       4 . The wall hanging system of  claim 2 , wherein said angle setting element is pivotable relative to said mounting surface of said article to adjust said angle.  
   
   
       5 . The wall hanging system of  claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a frame structure having a pair of opposite supporting members, said wall hanging system comprising a pair of angle setting elements with each of said angle setting elements being mounted to said mounting surface of a respective one of said supporting members.  
   
   
       6 . The wall hanging system of  claim 1 , wherein said angle setting element spaces a lower portion of said article from the generally vertical support surface so as to establish an upward angle of said article relative to the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       7 . The wall hanging system of  claim 1 , wherein said angle setting element spaces an upper portion of said article from the generally vertical support surface so as to establish a downward angle of said article relative to the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       8 . The wall hanging system of  claim 1 , wherein said angle setting element spaces a side portion of said article from the generally vertical support surface so as to establish a sideward angle of said article relative to the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       9 . The wall hanging system of  claim 1 , wherein said angle setting element is located remotely from said support element.  
   
   
       10 . A wall hanging system for adjustably supporting an article at a generally vertical support surface, said wall hanging system comprising: 
 an article configured to be supported at a generally vertical surface, said article having a front viewing surface and a mounting surface;    an angle setting element mounted at one of said mounting surface of said article and the generally vertical support surface;    a support element for supporting said article at the generally vertical support surface;    wherein said angle setting element extends from one of said mounting surface and said generally vertical support surface and is configured to engage the other of said mounting surface and said generally vertical support surface when said support element supports said article at the generally vertical support surface, said angle setting element spacing a portion of said article from the generally vertical support surface so as to establish an angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface; and    wherein said angle setting element is adjustable to selectively adjust said angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface.    
   
   
       11 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , including a mounting element configured to mount said angle setting element to said one of said mounting surface and the generally vertical support surface, said angle setting element being adjustable relative to said mounting element.  
   
   
       12 . The wall hanging system of  claim 11 , wherein said angle setting element has an inclined surface at an end thereof, said inclined surface being adjustably mounted to said mounting element.  
   
   
       13 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , including an illumination source for illuminating said article.  
   
   
       14 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , wherein said angle setting element includes a wheel that rollingly engages said one of said mounting surface and said generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       15 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , wherein said angle setting element is configured to move along a track, said track being fastened to said one of said mounting surface and the generally vertical support surface, said angle setting element being movable along said track to adjust said angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       16 . The wall hanging system of  claim 15 , wherein said angle setting element is selectively securable at one of a plurality of positions along said track.  
   
   
       17 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , wherein said angle setting element comprises a support arm and a mounting arm, said support arm and said mounting arm being connected at opposed ends, wherein said mounting arm is configured to attach to said one of said mounting surface and the generally vertical support surface, said support arm establishing said angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       18 . The wall hanging system of  claim 17 , wherein said support arm and said mounting arm are pivotally connected at said opposed ends, said support arm being pivotable relative to said mounting arm to adjust an arm angle between said mounting arm and said support arm to adjust said angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       19 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , wherein said angle setting element is mounted such that a bottom edge of said article is spaced from the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       20 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , wherein said angle setting element is mounted such that a top edge of said article is spaced from the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       21 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , wherein said angle setting element is mounted such that a side edge of the article is spaced from the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       22 . The wall hanging system of  claim 10 , wherein said angle setting element is located remotely from said support element.  
   
   
       23 . A method of supporting an article at a generally vertical support surface at an angle relative to the support surface, comprising: 
 providing an angle setting device;    attaching the angle setting device to one of an article and the generally vertical support surface;    supporting said article at a generally vertical support surface; and    tilting said article relative to the generally vertical support surface by said angle setting device extending from one of said article and said generally vertical support surface and engaging the other of said article and said generally vertical support surface, said angle setting device spacing a portion of said article from the generally vertical support surface, wherein said article is displayed in a tilted configuration to enhance a viewing angle of said article.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising adjusting said angle setting device to adjust said angle between said article and the generally vertical support surface.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein adjusting said angle setting device comprises moving said angle setting device along said article.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein adjusting said angle setting device comprises pivotally adjusting said angle setting device relative to said article.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein supporting said article comprises supporting an article at a generally vertical support surface via an angle setting device attached to the generally vertical support surface and extending therefrom.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein supporting said article further comprises supporting said article at a lower edge of said article.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein supporting said article further comprises selectively receiving a lower edge of said article in one of a plurality of channels formed along said angle setting device.