Wall-Mounted Hook

Abstract

An anchor assembly for use with hollow panels, comprises a holding member, such as a hook, and an anchor. The anchor is adapted to penetrate a hollow panel, such as a wall, and, once the anchor assembly has been installed to the wall, the anchor is firmly secured thereto while the hook, which is joined to the anchor, is located on a visible side of the wall. The anchor includes a first anchor portion and a second vice portion. The anchor portion, when the anchor assembly is installed to the wall, extends through the hole defined in the wall while the vice portion is located behind the wall. An elbow portion is provided on the anchor between the anchor and vice portions for allowing the anchor to be pivoted when being installed in the wall from a first position where the vice portion is inserted though the wall to form the hole therein and a second position where the vice portion extends behind the wall and in abutment therewith and the anchor portion is lodged in the hole.

1 . An anchor assembly for use with hollow panels, comprising a holding member and an anchor, the anchor being adapted to penetrate a hollow panel and, once the anchor assembly has been installed to the hollow panel, to be secured thereto while the holding member which is joined to the anchor, is adapted to be located on a visible side of the hollow panel, the anchor includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion, when the anchor assembly is installed to the hollow panel, being adapted to extend through a hole defined in the panel while the second portion is adapted to be located behind the panel, an elbow portion being provided on the anchor between the first and second portions for allowing the anchor to be pivoted when being installed in the panel from a first position where the second portion is inserted through the panel to form the hole therein to a second position where the second portion extends behind the panel and in abutment therewith and the first portion is lodged in the hole, wherein the second portion includes a distal end adapted to engage and penetrate the panel, and further includes a substantially cylindrical portion extending between the distal end and the elbow portion, and wherein the substantially cylindrical portion defines a flare at a distal end thereof, said flare merging with a proximal edge of the distal end. 
     
     
         2 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding member and the anchor are of unitary construction. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding member includes a hook for suspending items therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the anchor is installed in the panel, an inside surface of the elbow portion is adapted to abut the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding member is adapted to abut a visible surface of the hollow panel when the anchor is installed in the panel. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor extends rearwardly from an upper end of the holding member, the holding member including a spike extending rearwardly from a lower end thereof, the spike being adapted to penetrate the panel and, when the anchor is installed in the panel, to be lodged therein. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the spike extends substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the spike slightly curves upwardly in an orientation that substantially follows a pivot of the holding member when the anchor is pivoted from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the second portion of the anchor is pointed. 
     
     
         10 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the pointed distal end includes an outer male thread that is used to engage and penetrate the panel as the anchor assembly is rotated about an axis of the second portion towards and into the panel. 
     
     
         11 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein a channel is defined in the second portion for receiving a panel material when the second portion is rotatably inserted into and through the panel. 
     
     
         12 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the channel is defined in the distal end and proximally therefrom in the second portion. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein a cutting edge is defined on the distal end at the channel for facilitating an engagement of the distal end in the panel when the anchor is initially rotated into the panel. 
     
     
         14 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the second portion is adapted to define the hole through the panel such that the first portion is snugly received in the hole once the anchor is installed in the panel. 
     
     
         15 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical portion substantially merges with a similar substantially cylindrical portion provided on the elbow portion at a junction thereof with the second portion. 
     
     
         16 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein proximally of the substantially cylindrical portion provided on the elbow portion, the elbow portion is slightly narrower to facilitate a passing of the anchor in the hole as it is pivoted from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         17 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor defines a cam surface to facilitate a passing of the anchor in the hole as it is pivoted from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         18 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the cam surface is provided substantially along an outside surface of the elbow portion. 
     
     
         19 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the cam surface is adapted such that, during the insertion of the anchor through the panel it raises and positions the anchor such that it covers completely the hole in the panel and fills the hole thereby using substantially all of the available surface of the hole as a bearing surface when a load is applied on the holding member. 
     
     
         20 . An anchor assembly for use with hollow panels, comprising a holding member and an anchor, the anchor being adapted to penetrate a hollow panel and, once the anchor assembly has been installed to the hollow panel, to be secured thereto while the holding member which is joined to the anchor, is adapted to be located on a visible side of the hollow panel, the anchor includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion, when the anchor assembly is installed to the hollow panel, being adapted to extend through a hole defined in the panel while the second portion is adapted to be located behind the panel, an elbow portion being provided on the anchor between the first and second portions for allowing the anchor to be pivoted when being installed in the panel from a first position where the second portion is inserted through the panel to form the hole therein to a second position where the second portion extends behind the panel and in abutment therewith and the first portion is lodged in the hole, wherein a substantially vertical fin is provided on an inside surface of the elbow portion, the vertical fin, when the anchor is installed in the panel, being adapted to be lodged in the panel on a side thereof opposite the holding member. 
     
     
         21 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the vertical fin defines a free cutting edge for facilitating an engagement thereof in the panel. 
     
     
         22 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the substantially vertical fin is adapted to prevent rotation of the anchor assembly when the anchor is installed in the panel. 
     
     
         23 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the substantially vertical fin is adapted to provide reinforcement to the anchor. 
     
     
         24 . An anchor assembly for use with hollow panels, comprising a holding member and an anchor, the anchor being adapted to penetrate a hollow panel and, once the anchor assembly has been installed to the hollow panel, to be secured thereto while the holding member which is joined to the anchor, is adapted to be located on a visible side of the hollow panel, the anchor includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion, when the anchor assembly is installed to the hollow panel, being adapted to extend through a hole defined in the panel while the second portion is adapted to be located behind the panel, an elbow portion being provided on the anchor between the first and second portions for allowing the anchor to be pivoted when being installed in the panel from a first position where the second portion is inserted through the panel to form the hole therein to a second position where the second portion extends behind the panel and in abutment therewith and the first portion is lodged in the hole, wherein at least one load-bearing member is provided externally of the first portion of the anchor, the load-bearing member, when the anchor is installed in the panel, being adapted to be lodged in the panel and being adapted thereat to provide a bearing surface on the panel, in addition to that provided by the first portion, against forces applied downwardly on the holding member. 
     
     
         25 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the load-bearing member includes a pair of lateral fins extending, when the anchor is installed in the panel, substantially horizontally on opposite sides of the first portion. 
     
     
         26 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the lateral fins are located substantially at a lower end of the first portion. 
     
     
         27 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the lateral fins, located substantially at the lower end of the first portion, and the lower end of the first portion provide a continuous and substantially horizontal surface adapted to rest on the panel when the anchor is installed in the panel. 
     
     
         28 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein each load-bearing member has a shape that tapers from the holding member towards the elbow portion. 
     
     
         29 . The anchor assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein each load-bearing member is connected at a proximal end thereof to the holding member.