Adjustable article hanging assembly

Abstract

An adjustable hanging assembly for suspending an article from a surface is provided which includes an elongated strap member, a buckle coupled to a first part of the elongated member and capable of locking a second part of the elongated member such that a portion of the elongated member defines a substantially closed shape adapted to hold the article. The shape and size of the closed shape is adjustable by changing the location the buckle locks the second part of the elongated member. The hanging assembly also includes a mounting bracket coupled to the buckle or the elongated member and includes a mounting member adapted to be attached to the surface. One embodiment includes a ratchet buckle with a pawl that interacts with a plurality of notches on the elongated member to adjust and lock the elongated member as the second part of the elongated member passes through the buckle.

1 . An adjustable hanging assembly for suspending an article from a surface comprising: 
 an elongated member;    a buckle coupled to a first part of said elongated member, said buckle capable of locking a second part of said elongated member such that at least a portion of said elongated member defines a substantially closed shape adapted to hold the article wherein said substantially closed shape is adjustable by changing the location said buckle locks said second part of said elongated member; and    a mounting bracket coupled to said buckle, said mounting bracket including a mounting member adapted to be attached to the surface.    
   
   
       2 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said buckle is a ratchet buckle including a pawl and said second part of said elongated member defines a plurality of notches constructed and arranged to coact with said pawl to adjust and lock said elongated member as said second part of said elongated member passes through said buckle.  
   
   
       3 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said mounting member of said mounting bracket includes a substantially planar face positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by said substantially closed shape, said planar face adapted to come in contact with the surface.  
   
   
       4 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said mounting member defines at least one hole traversing said substantially planar face adapted to secure said mounting bracket to the surface using one of a fastener from the group of fasteners consisting of an adhesive, nail, screw, staple and pin.  
   
   
       5 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said mounting member includes at least one ridge on a side away from said substantially planar face, said ridge adapted to secure a strap to hold said mounting bracket against the surface.  
   
   
       6 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said mounting member of said mounting bracket is an inverted U-shaped member defined by two downwardly projecting members attached at a throat adapted to be hooked over a railing wherein one of said downwardly projecting members is coupled to said buckle such that a plane defined by said substantially closed shape is substantially perpendicular to said downwardly projecting members.  
   
   
       7 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said mounting member of said mounting bracket is an inverted U-shaped member defined by two downwardly projecting members attached at a throat adapted to be hooked over the top edge of an open container wherein one of said downwardly projecting members is coupled to said buckle such that a plane defined by said substantially closed shape is substantially perpendicular to said downwardly projecting members.  
   
   
       8 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the other of said downwardly projecting members is a spike adapted to be inserted into the container.  
   
   
       9 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said buckle includes a coupling projection having a neck and radially projecting head and wherein said mounting bracket includes a substantially vertical U-shaped channel having inwardly projecting edges and a closed end at the bottom, said radially projecting head and said channel sized to allow said buckle to detachably couple to said mounting bracket.  
   
   
       10 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said buckle includes an outwardly projecting, substantially vertical, U-shaped channel having inwardly projecting edges with a closed top end, and wherein said mounting bracket includes a coupling projection having a neck and outwardly projecting head, said coupling projection and said channel sized to allow said buckle to detachably couple to said mounting bracket.  
   
   
       11 . An adjustable hanging assembly for suspending an article from a surface comprising: 
 an elongated member;    a buckle coupled to a first part of said elongated member, said buckle capable of locking a second part of said elongated member such that at least a portion of said elongated member defines a substantially closed shape adapted to hold the article wherein said substantially closed shape is adjustable by changing the location said buckle locks said second part of said elongated member; and    a mounting bracket coupled to said elongated member, said mounting bracket including a mounting member adapted to be attached to the surface.    
   
   
       12 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said buckle is a ratchet buckle including a pawl and said second part of said elongated member defines a plurality of notches constructed and arranged to coact with said pawl to adjust and lock said elongated member as said second part of said elongated member passes through said buckle.  
   
   
       13 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said mounting member of said mounting bracket includes a substantially planar face positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by said substantially closed shape, said planar face adapted to come in contact with the surface.  
   
   
       14 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said mounting member defines at least one hole traversing said substantially planar face adapted to secure said mounting bracket to the surface using one of a fastener from the group of fasteners consisting of an adhesive, nail, screw, staple and pin.  
   
   
       15 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said mounting member includes at least one ridge on a side away from said substantially planar face, said ridge adapted to secure a strap to hold said mounting bracket against the surface.  
   
   
       16 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said mounting member of said mounting bracket is an inverted U-shaped member defined by two downwardly projecting members attached at a throat adapted to be hooked over a railing wherein one of said downwardly projecting members is coupled to said elongated member such that a plane defined by said substantially closed shape is substantially perpendicular to said downwardly projecting members.  
   
   
       17 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said mounting member of said mounting bracket is an inverted U-shaped member defined by two downwardly projecting members attached at a throat adapted to be hooked over the top edge of an open container wherein one of said downwardly projecting members is coupled to said elongated member such that a plane defined by said substantially closed shape is substantially perpendicular to said downwardly projecting members.  
   
   
       18 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the other of said downwardly projecting members is a spike adapted to be inserted into the container.  
   
   
       19 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said mounting bracket further comprises a coupling projection coupled to said elongated member and projecting outward from said substantially closed shape, said projection having a neck and radially projecting head, and wherein said mounting member includes a substantially vertical U-shaped channel having inwardly projecting edges and a closed bottom end, said radially projecting head and said channel sized to allow said coupling projection to detachably couple to said mounting member of said mounting bracket.  
   
   
       20 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said mounting bracket further comprises a coupling receiver coupled to said elongated member and projecting outward from said substantially closed shape, said receiver including a U-shaped channel having inwardly projecting edges and a closed top end, said channel running substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by said substantially closed shape, and wherein said mounting member includes a coupling projection having a neck and radially projecting head, said radially projecting head and said channel sized to allow said coupling receiver to detachably couple to said mounting member of said mounting bracket.  
   
   
       21 . An adjustable hanging assembly for suspending an article from a surface comprising: 
 a flexible, elongated member;    a buckle co-acting with said elongated member to form a closed shape adapted to hold the article, said buckle permitting adjustment of said elongated member when in a loosed position and locking said elongated member when in a locked position; and    a mounting bracket detachably coupled to said buckle, said bracket adapted to attach the hanging assembly to the surface.    
   
   
       22 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said buckle is a ratchet buckle including a pawl and said second part of said elongated member defines a plurality of notches constructed and arranged to coact with said pawl to adjust and lock said elongated member as said second part of said elongated member passes through said buckle.  
   
   
       23 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said mounting bracket includes a substantially planar face positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by said closed shape, said planar face adapted to come in contact with the surface.  
   
   
       24 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said mounting bracket defines at least one hole traversing said substantially planar face adapted to secure said mounting bracket to the surface.  
   
   
       25 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said mounting bracket includes at least one ridge on a side facing away from said substantially planar face, said ridge adapted to secure a strap to hold said mounting bracket against the surface.  
   
   
       26 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said mounting bracket includes a U-shaped member defined by two downwardly projecting members attached at a throat adapted to be hooked over a railing wherein one of said downwardly projecting members is coupled to said buckle such that a plane defined by said closed shape is substantially perpendicular to said downwardly projecting members.  
   
   
       27 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said mounting bracket is a U-shaped member defined by two downwardly projecting members attached at a throat adapted to be hooked over the top edge of an open container wherein one of said downwardly projecting members is coupled to said buckle such that a plane defined by said closed shape is substantially perpendicular to said downwardly projecting members.  
   
   
       28 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the other of said downwardly projecting members is a spike adapted to be inserted into the container.  
   
   
       29 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said buckle includes a coupling projection having a neck and radially projecting head and wherein said mounting bracket includes a substantially vertical U-shaped channel having inwardly projecting edges and a closed end at the bottom, said radially projecting head and said channel sized to allow said buckle to detachably couple to said mounting bracket.  
   
   
       30 . An adjustable hanging assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said buckle includes an outwardly projecting, substantially vertical, U-shaped channel having inwardly projecting edges with a closed top end, and wherein said mounting bracket includes a coupling projection having a neck and outwardly projecting head, said coupling projection and said channel sized to allow said buckle to detachably couple to said mounting bracket.