Mounting assembly and installation

Abstract

A mounting assembly comprises a wire hook configured to be received in an opening through a panel from the front side to the back side thereof so that only a relatively short hook portion extends from the front side, while a relatively longer segment of the wire hook extends from the back side of the panel to engage the back side of the panel at a location spaced from the opening. The assembly also comprises an object holder adapted to be supported by the relatively short hook portion of the wire hook when the wire hook is in the opening of the panel and engaged with the back side of the panel. The object holder has an arm extending from a mounting portion and defining a support surface for supporting the object. In one embodiment of the invention, the assembly is installed on a wall or ceiling panel.

1 . An assembly for mounting an object on a wall or ceiling panel having a front side and a back side opposite the front side, the assembly comprising:
 a wire hook configured so that it can be received in an opening extending through the panel from the front side to the back side so that only a relatively short hook portion extends from the front side of the panel, while a relatively longer segment of the wire hook at an opposite end thereof extends from the opening at the back side of the panel to engage the back side of the panel at a location spaced from said opening; and   an object holder for holding the object, the object holder comprising a mounting portion adapted to be supported by the relatively short hook portion of the wire hook when the wire hook is in the opening of the panel and engaged with the back side of the panel, the object holder comprising an arm extending from the mounting portion and defining a support surface for supporting the object.   
   
   
       2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a substantially circular ring portion. 
   
   
       3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion comprising a substantially planar panel-facing surface that faces the panel when the wire hook is installed in the panel and the object holder is mounted thereon, the arm extending from the mounting portion to a location that is spaced no more than about 0.75 inches from a plane containing the panel-facing surface. 
   
   
       4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the object holder includes a mounting portion comprising a substantially planar panel-facing surface that faces the panel when the wire hook is installed in the panel and the object holder is mounted thereon. 
   
   
       5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the object holder defines a bore for receiving the relatively short hook portion and the arm is connected to the mounting portion at a location that is offset from the bore a direction parallel to a plane containing the panel-facing surface. 
   
   
       6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the bore comprises a substantially cylindrical portion that limits pivotal movement of the wire hook relative to the object holder when a portion of the wire hook is received in the bore. 
   
   
       7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes a mounting block having a substantially planar panel-facing surface that faces the panel when the wire hook is installed in the panel and the object holder is mounted thereon, the mounting block having a thickness in a direction substantially perpendicular to said panel-facing surface that is in the range of about 0.15 inches to about 0.75 inches. 
   
   
       8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the arm partially encloses an area, the arm being sized and shaped to receive a rod having a diameter of at least about 0.75 inches in said partially enclosed area. 
   
   
       9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is able to hold at least about 25 pounds of weight. 
   
   
       10 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the assembly is able to hold about 50 pounds of weight. 
   
   
       11 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the arm of the object holder comprises a mounting surface for mounting a object on the object holder. 
   
   
       12 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the mounting surface of the arm comprises a substantially planar surface facing a direction that is generally opposite a direction faced by the drywall-facing surface of the mounting portion of the object holder. 
   
   
       13 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a substantially planar drywall-facing surface, the arm of the object holder extending to an end opposite the mounting portion at a location that is no more than about 0.75 inches from a plane containing the drywall-facing surface. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the arm partially encloses an area, the arm being sized and shaped to receive a rod having a diameter of at least about 0.75 inches in said partially enclosed area. 
   
   
       15 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a drywall panel. 
   
   
       16 . A mounting installation comprising:
 a panel having a front side and a back side opposite the front side, the panel having an opening therein extending between the front and back sides thereof;   a wire hook received in the opening, the wire hook comprising a relatively short hook portion extending from the front side of the panel and a relatively longer segment at an end of the wire hook opposite the relatively short hook portion, the relatively longer segment extending from the opening at the back side of the panel to engage the back side of the panel at a location spaced from said opening; and   an object holder for holding an object, the object holder comprising a mounting portion supported by the relatively short hook portion of the wire hook and an arm extending from the mounting portion and defining a support surface for supporting the object.   
   
   
       17 . A mounting installation as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the panel has a substantially vertical orientation, the relatively longer segment of the wire hook engaging the back side of the panel at a location that is generally above said opening. 
   
   
       18 . A mounting installation as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the object holder is configured so that the arm extends from the mounting portion at an elevation lower than the elevation of the hook. 
   
   
       19 . A mounting installation as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the object holder and wire hook are configured so that separation of the object holder from the wire hook requires rotation of the object holder relative to the wire hook. 
   
   
       20 . A mounting installation as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the object holder is adapted to hold a curtain rod. 
   
   
       21 . A mounting installation as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the panel has a substantially horizontal orientation.