Self-leveling mounting device for mountable objects

Abstract

A self-leveling mounting assembly for mounting a mountable object on a vertical surface is described. The assembly includes: an engagement member structurally integrated in or securable to a mountable object, and providing a cavity; a fixturing plate adapted for securement to a vertical surface; and a retention member coupleable with the fixturing plate and with the cavity of the engagement member. The retention member includes first and second portions that are rotatable in relation to one another, with the first portion being fixedly positioned in relation to the fixturing plate, and with the second portion being positioned in the cavity to allow self-leveling movement of the mountable object on the vertical surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-leveling mounting assembly for leveled mounting of a mountable object, such self-leveling mounting assembly comprising:
 an engagement member structurally integrated in or securable to a mountable object, said engagement member comprising a cavity;   a fixturing plate adapted for securement to a vertical surface; and   a retention member coupleable with the fixturing plate and with the cavity of the engagement member, the retention member comprising first and second portions that are rotatable in relation to one another, with the first portion being fixedly positioned in relation to the fixturing plate, and with the second portion being positioned in the cavity to allow self-leveling movement of the mountable object.   
     
     
         2 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member cavity comprises an elongate slot in which the retention member is selectively positionable. 
     
     
         3 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement member comprises a main elongate portion comprising the elongate slot therein, the main elongate portion at its extremities being joined to flange extensions that are adapted for securement to the mountable object. 
     
     
         4 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the flange extensions are perpendicular to the main elongate portion of the engagement member. 
     
     
         5 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the main elongate portion comprises a medial opening communicating with the elongate slot in the engagement member. 
     
     
         6 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises a frame member of a frame for the mountable object, wherein the cavity comprises a slot that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the frame member and configured for coupling of the retention member therewith. 
     
     
         7 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member comprises a bearing that is positioned to allow rotational movement of the first and second portions in relation to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member comprises bearing surface enabling rotational movement of the first and second portions in relation to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member comprises a ring bearing, and a mounting block to which the ring bearing is secured, with the mounting block being configured to be received in the engagement member cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the fixturing plate includes a main surface, and an axle member extending outwardly from the main surface, and the ring bearing has a central opening that is engageable with the axle member. 
     
     
         11 . A self-leveling mounting assembly for leveled mounting of a mountable object, said self-leveling mounting assembly comprising:
 (a) a fixturing assembly comprising:
 (i) a fixturing plate adapted for securement to a vertical surface, the fixturing plate including a main surface, and an axle member extending outwardly from the main surface; 
 (ii) a ring bearing including a central opening circumscribed by an annular inner portion, and an annular outer rotatable portion that is coaxial with and rotatable with respect to the annular inner portion, wherein the axle member of the fixturing plate is secured in the central opening of the ring bearing; and 
 (iii) a mounting block having a recess therein adapted to receive the ring bearing so that the ring bearing is secured to the mounting block and the mounting block is freely rotatable in relation to the fixturing plate; and 
   (b) an engagement member adapted for securement to a mountable object, the engagement member being adapted for coupling with the mounting block so that upon coupling of the mounting block and engagement member when the fixturing plate is secured to the vertical wall and the engagement member is secured to a mountable object, the mountable object is self-leveling on the vertical wall.   
     
     
         12 . The self-leveling mounting device of  claim 11 , wherein the ring bearing comprises a double-sealed ball bearing ring bearing. 
     
     
         13 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fixturing plate comprises at least one hole therein, for mechanical fastener attachment of the fixturing plate to the vertical wall. 
     
     
         14 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the axle member of the fixturing plate is secured in the central opening of the ring bearing by press-fitting of the axle member in the central opening. 
     
     
         15 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the ring bearing is secured to the mounting block by press-fitting of the annular outer rotatable portion of the ring bearing in the recess of the mounting block. 
     
     
         16 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting block and engagement member are mechanically interlockable with one another with one another for said coupling. 
     
     
         17 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting block and engagement member are slidably engageable with one another for said coupling. 
     
     
         18 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement member comprises a cavity including marginal groove portions overlaid by laterally inwardly extending flange elements, and the mounting block comprises laterally outwardly extending tongue elements that slidably engage the marginal groove portions of the cavity when the mounting block and engagement member are coupled with one another. 
     
     
         19 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the cavity is bounded by a laterally extending stop surface of the engagement member. 
     
     
         20 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the laterally extending stop surface of the engagement member at respective ends thereof intersects with convexly arcuate surfaces of protruberant stop elements bounding the cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the engagement member includes a main back wall bounding the cavity. 
     
     
         22 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the main back wall has at least one hole therein for mechanical fastener attachment of the engagement member to the mountable object. 
     
     
         23 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fixturing plate, mounting block, and engagement member are constructed of material selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, plastics, wood, graphite, and composite materials. 
     
     
         24 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fixturing plate, mounting block, and engagement member are constructed of metal. 
     
     
         25 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the metal comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         26 . The self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the metal comprises steel. 
     
     
         27 . A wall-mountable article, comprising a self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 11 , and a mountable object secured to the engagement member thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The wall-mountable article of  claim 27 , wherein the mountable object comprises a picture frame. 
     
     
         29 . A self-leveling mounting assembly for mounting a mountable object on a vertical surface, said assembly comprising:
 a vertical surface mounting assembly adapted for attachment to the vertical surface and including a rotatable bearing arranged for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the vertical surface, and an engagement member adapted for attachment to a mountable object and for coupling with the rotatable bearing so that when the engagement member is attached to the mountable object, coupled with the rotatable bearing, and the vertical surface mounting assembly is attached to the vertical surface, the mountable object is positionally self-leveling on the vertical surface.   
     
     
         30 . A wall-mountable article, comprising a self-leveling mounting assembly of  claim 29 , and a mountable object attached to the engagement member thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The wall-mountable article of  claim 30 , wherein the mountable object comprises a picture frame.