Mounting block and use

Abstract

Mounting blocks comprising a body having first and second mounting faces and first and second hanging faces wherein the first mounting face and first hanging face are opposing faces on the body and the second mounting face and second hanging face are opposing faces on the body, wherein: the first and second mounting faces are each adapted to be mounted to a mounting surface; the first and second hanging faces are each adapted to retain a decorative article. Also, collages of two or more decorative articles mounted on a mounting surface with such mounting blocks

1 . A mounting block comprising a body having first and second mounting faces and first and second hanging faces wherein the first mounting face and first hanging face are opposing faces on the body and separated by a distance D 1  and the second mounting face and second hanging face are opposing faces on the body and separated by a distance D 2 , wherein:
 the first and second mounting faces are each adapted to be mounted to a mounting surface;   the first and second hanging faces are each adapted to retain a decorative article; and   distance D 1  and distance D 2  may be the same or different.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting block of  claim 1  where the first mounting face and second mounting face are orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein the first mounting face and first hanging face are parallel to one another and the second mounting face and second hanging face are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first mounting face and the second mounting face is substantially planar. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first mounting face and the second mounting face is adapted for an adhesive to bond thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first hanging face and the second hanging face is generally planar. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein the body is rectangular prism in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein distance D 1  is from about 0.5 to about 2 inches (1.2 to 5 cm), and distance D 2  is from about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches (1.2 to 3.7 cm) greater than distance D 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein distance D 1  is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) and distance D 2  is about 1.5 inches (3.7 cm). 
     
     
         10 . The mounting block of  claim 1  wherein the body also has a third mounting face and a third hanging face on opposing faces of the body separated by a distance D 3 . 
     
     
         11 . The mounting block of  claim 10  wherein distance D 1  and distance D 3  may be the same or different. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting block of  claim 10  wherein the first mounting face, second mounting face, and third mounting face are mutually orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting block of  claim 10  wherein the first mounting face and first hanging face are parallel to one another, the second mounting face and second hanging face are parallel to one another, and the third mounting face and third hanging face are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting block of  claim 1  mounted on a mounting surface selected from the group consisting of walls, partitions, furniture cabinets and panels, easel boards, doors, windows, and shelving. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting block of  claim 14  wherein the mounting block is oriented on the mounting surface such that its longest dimension is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting block of  claim 1  retaining a decorative article selected from the group consisting of pictures, picture frames, document frames, posters, sculptures, clocks, and signs. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A collage comprising first and second decorative articles retained on a mounting surface wherein at least one of the decorative articles is retained on the mounting surface by a mounting block of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The collage of  claim 19  wherein:
 the first decorative article is retained on the mounting surface by a first mounting block of  claim 1  such that the first decorative article is retained on the first hanging face of the first mounting block and the first mounting face of the first mounting block is mounted on the mounting surface at a distance Di from the mounting surface; and 
 the second decorative article is retained on the mounting surface by a second mounting block of  claim 1  such that the second decorative article is retained on the second hanging face of the second mounting block and the second mounting face of the second mounting block is mounted on the mounting surface at a distance D 2  from the mounting surface. 
 
     
     
         22 . The collage of  claim 21  wherein D 1  is greater than D 2 , and wherein a portion of the first decorative article is in front of and overlapping a portion of the second decorative article. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)