Bump resistant hanger for hanging objects on a wall

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting an object on a wall includes a bracket including a first end segment, a second end segment and an intermediate hang segment running laterally between the first end segment and the second end segment. The intermediate hang segment includes an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the lower edge includes a plurality of downwardly extending teeth and a plurality of upwardly extending recesses, wherein the teeth and recesses together define a laterally running hang zone of the intermediate hang segment. The bracket further includes a first side segment extending downward at a first side of the hang zone and a second side segment extending downward at a second side of the hang zone, wherein the first side segment and the second side segment are configured for limiting lateral shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with the hang zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting an object on a wall, comprising:
 a bracket including a first end segment, a second end segment and an intermediate hang segment running laterally between the first end segment and the second end segment, wherein the intermediate hang segment includes an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the lower edge includes a plurality of downwardly extending teeth and a plurality of upwardly extending recesses, wherein the teeth and recesses together define a laterally running hang zone of the intermediate hang segment, wherein the bracket further includes a first side segment extending downward at a first side of the hang zone and a second side segment extending downward at a second side of the hang zone, wherein the first side segment and the second side segment are configured for limiting lateral shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with the hang zone.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a first lower segment running laterally from the first side segment and spaced below a lateral portion of the hang zone, wherein the first lower segment is configured for limiting upward shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with the lateral portion of the hang zone. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein bracket includes a second lower segment running laterally from the second side segment and spaced below a second lateral portion of the hang zone, wherein the second lower segment is configured for limiting upward shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with the second lateral portion of the hang zone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first lower segment has a free end and the second lower segment has a free end, wherein the free end of the first lower segment is spaced laterally from the free end of the second lower segment to provide an upwardly running wall mount structure entry channel to the hang zone. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first lower segment includes a lower edge that angles upwardly toward the wall mount structure entry channel for guiding a wall mount structure into the wall mount structure entry channel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second lower segment includes a lower edge that angles upwardly toward the wall mount structure entry channel for guiding a wall mount structure into the wall mount structure entry channel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the hang zone has a lateral length, wherein a width of the wall mount structure entry channel is no more than sixty percent of the lateral length. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the hang zone has a lateral length, wherein a width of the wall mount structure entry channel is no more than thirty percent. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a lower segment running laterally below the hang zone, wherein the lower segment is configured for limiting upward shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with a lateral portion of the hang zone that is aligned vertically above the lower segment. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lower segment includes a free end, and the bracket includes a wall mount structure entry channel to the hang zone, wherein the wall mount structure entry channel is adjacent the free end. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the hang zone has a lateral length, wherein a width of the wall mount structure entry channel is no more than thirty percent of the lateral length. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes at least one lower segment running laterally below the hang zone to define a lateral bracket slot below the hang zone, wherein the at least one lower segment is configured for limiting upward shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with a lateral portion of the hang zone that is aligned vertically above the at least one lower segment. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bracket defines an upwardly running wall mount structure entry channel to the lateral bracket slot. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for supporting an object on a wall, comprising:
 a bracket defining a lateral hang slot having an upper edge, wherein the upper edge of the lateral hang slot includes a plurality of downwardly extending teeth and a plurality of upwardly extending recesses, wherein the lateral hang slot includes a lower edge running along at least part of a lateral length of the lateral hang slot, wherein a lateral length of the lower edge is at least forty percent of the lateral length of the lateral hang slot.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the lateral length of the lower edge is at least sixty percent of the lateral length of the lateral hang slot. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the lower edge of the hang slot includes a gap therein that defines a wall mount structure entry channel. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the lateral length of the lower edge, excluding a width of the wall mount structure entry channel, is at least seventy percent of the lateral length of the lateral hang slot. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for supporting an object on a wall, comprising:
 a bracket including a hang segment running laterally, wherein the hang segment includes an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the lower edge includes a plurality of downwardly extending teeth and a plurality of upwardly extending recesses, wherein the teeth and recesses together define a laterally running hang zone of the hang segment, wherein the bracket further includes a first side segment extending downward at a first side of the hang zone and a second side segment extending downward at a second side of the hang zone, wherein the first side segment and the second side segment are configured for limiting lateral shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with the hang zone.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the bracket includes at least one lower segment running laterally below the hang zone to define a lateral bracket slot below the hang zone, wherein the at least one lower segment is configured for limiting upward shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with a lateral portion of the hang zone that is aligned vertically above the at least one lower segment. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the bracket defines an upwardly running wall mount structure entry channel to the lateral bracket slot. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for supporting an object on a wall, comprising:
 a bracket including:
 a mount portion comprising first mount segment and a second mount segment having respective mount surfaces that lie in a common plane; 
 a hang portion comprising a first end segment, a second end segment and an intermediate hang segment running laterally between the first end segment and the second end segment, wherein the intermediate hang segment includes an upper edge and a lower edge for engaging on a wall mount structure and defining a laterally running hang zone, a first side segment extending downward at a first side of the hang zone and a second side segment extending downward at a second side of the hang zone, wherein the first side segment and the second side segment are configured for limiting lateral shifting of the bracket relative to a wall mount structure engaged with the hang zone; 
   a first extension segment running from the first mount segment to the hang portion, and a second extension segment running from the second mount segment to the hang portion, so as to space the intermediate segment of the hang portion away from the common plane.