Wall Cleat and System for Hanging Items

Abstract

A frame mounting system for hanging frames on a wall surface includes a wall-mount cleat and a product-side cleat that is integrally-formed in at least one side frame rails of a frame during the manufacture of the frame. The two cleats are sized and shaped to selectively and snugly engage each other. A user simply mounts the wall-mount cleat level to a wall surface and then engages the product-side cleat with the wall mount cleat. An additional feature of the present invention is a flat surface that is formed in the frame rail adjacent to the integrally formed cleat. This flat surface is sized and shaped to receive and support a backing material by either staples or an appropriate adhesive to help protect the rear of the picture or painting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A picture frame selectively mountable to a horizontal wall cleat attached to a wall surface, said wall cleat includes an upwardly-directed angled projection that extends away from said wall surface at a first prescribed angle, said projection having a rear engagement surface and a thickness, said picture frame comprising:
 an elongated upper member having an integrally formed cleat-channel along its length, said cleat-channel having an angular engagement surface which is disposed at said first prescribed angle with respect to said wall surface and which faces away from said wall surface; and   wherein said picture is selectively mounted to said wall cleat by positioning said picture with respect to said wall cleat so that said cleat-channel of said upper member receives said projection of said wall cleat, allowing said angular engagement surface of said cleat-channel to abut against said rear engagement surface of said projection and thereby supporting said frame against said wall surface.   
     
     
         2 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 1 , further comprising two side members connected to a lower member, and also connected to said upper member, forming a rectangle. 
     
     
         3 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 2 , wherein said cleat-channel is also integrally formed in said side members and said lower member. 
     
     
         4 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 3 , wherein said members each include a front surface, a picture holding channel, a top surface, a rear surface and a backing support surface, said backing support surface being parallel to said rear surface and positioned between said rear surface and said picture holding channel, said cleat-channel being located between said backing support surface and said rear surface. 
     
     
         5 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 4 , further comprising a planar picture positioned within said picture holding channel of said members and a protective backing sheet secured to said backing support surface of said members. 
     
     
         6 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 2 , wherein said members are made from wood. 
     
     
         7 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 2 , wherein said members are made from metal. 
     
     
         8 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 5 , wherein said protective backing sheet is secured to said backing support surface using an adhesive. 
     
     
         9 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 5 , wherein said protective backing sheet is secured to said backing support surface using staples. 
     
     
         10 ) The picture frame, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cleat-channel includes a front surface which is parallel to and spaced from said angular engagement surface, said front surface and said angular engagement surface being spaced a distance which is greater than said thickness of said projection. 
     
     
         11 ) A system for mounting an item to a wall surface, comprising:
 an elongated wall cleat that is horizontally attached to said wall surface, said wall cleat including an upwardly-directed angled projection that extends away from said wall surface at a first prescribed angle, said projection having an rear engagement surface;   wherein said item includes an elongated upper member having an integrally formed cleat-channel along its length, said cleat-channel having an angular engagement surface which is disposed at said first prescribed angle with respect to said wall surface, said cleat-channel being sized and shaped to selectively receive said projection of said wall cleat; and   wherein said item may be selectively mounted to said wall surface by positioning said item with respect to said wall cleat so that said cleat-channel of said upper member receives said projection of said wall cleat, allowing said angular engagement surface of said cleat-channel to abut against said rear engagement surface of said projection and thereby supporting said frame against said wall surface.   
     
     
         12 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein said item further comprising two side members connected to a lower member, and also connected to said upper member, forming a rectangle. 
     
     
         13 ) The system of  claim 12 , wherein said cleat-channel is also integrally formed in said side members and said lower member. 
     
     
         14 ) The system of  claim 13 , wherein said members each include a front surface, a picture holding channel, a top surface, a rear surface and a backing support surface, said backing support surface being parallel to said rear surface and positioned between said rear surface and said picture holding channel, said cleat-channel being located between said backing support surface and said rear surface. 
     
     
         15 ) The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a planar picture positioned within said picture holding channel of said members and a protective backing sheet secured to said backing support surface of said members. 
     
     
         16 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein said item is a shelf. 
     
     
         17 ) The system of  claim 12 , wherein said members are made from metal. 
     
     
         18 ) The system of  claim 15 , wherein said protective backing sheet is secured to said backing support surface using an adhesive. 
     
     
         19 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein said cleat-channel includes a front surface which is parallel to and spaced from said angular engagement surface, said front surface and said angular engagement surface being spaced a distance which is greater than said thickness of said projection. 
     
     
         20 ) An L-shaped shelf selectively mountable to a horizontal wall cleat attached to a wall surface, said wall cleat includes an upwardly-directed angled projection that extends away from said wall surface at a first prescribed angle, said projection having an rear engagement surface and a thickness, said shelf comprising:
 an elongated back wall having an integrally formed cleat-channel along its length, said cleat-channel having an angular engagement surface which is disposed at said first prescribed angle with respect to said wall surface; and   wherein said shelf is selectively mounted to said wall cleat by positioning said shelf with respect to said wall cleat so that said cleat-channel of said back wall receives said projection of said wall cleat, allowing said angular engagement surface of said cleat-channel to abut against said rear engagement surface of said projection and thereby supporting said shelf against said wall surface.