BRACKET FOR MOUNTING ACCESSORIES TO FLAT SCREEN DISPLAYS

Abstract

An accessory bracket for mounting accessory devices and cables to the backside of flat screen displays. The accessory bracket provides a more secure way of mounting accessories to the backside of flat panel displays. The accessory bracket may be made of sheet metal and have a hole in it so that a standard wall mount bolt can pass through the hole allowing the accessory bracket to be fastened securely to the backside of a flat panel display utilizing the standard threaded holes on the back of most current flat panel displays. The accessory bracket may also have a tab that protrudes off to the side from it's main body so that it may be mounted next to an installed flat panel display wall mount without interfering with the wall mount's intended function.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to accessory brackets used for securely mounting accessories and/or cables to the back of a flat panel display, computer monitor or television. For the sake of simplicity, in this document, a flat panel display, computer monitor or television will simply be referred to as a flat panel display.

Currently many devices are manufactured and sold to enhance or expand the functionality of a flat panel display. The common method of securing these devices to the back of a flat panel display, has been to utilize some sort of adhesive, typically double-sided tape or hook and loop fasteners.

The popular method of using adhesives to secure items or cables to the back of a flat panel display has proven to be unreliable. After some period of time the adhesive fails due to the accessory's weight and the heat of the Hat panel display. This leaves the added accessories or cables dangling from the flat panel display.

Frequently, there is a requirement to mount objects to the back of a flat panel display that is permanent and secure. This ensures that a safe and reliable system can be installed without the need of frequent maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a flat panel display accessory bracket. The main elements of the accessory bracket are retaining hardware or features that will hold an accessory device or cables. A tab that extends from the bracket that allows the bracket to be attached to a flat panel display. The tab being constructed of a material that is thin enough and strong enough to be compatible with an existing wall mount that supports the same flat panel display. The tab being constructed long enough so that it may fit under or over the existing flat panel display wall mounting hardware. The tab may also have a “U” shaped cutout or a hole at the end of it that allows a standard mounting bolt to pass through it in such a way that the accessory mount can be fastened securely to the back of the flat panel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

An object of the invention is to provide a bracket for mounting accessories to the back side of flat panel displays. The purpose of our invention is to provide a better and more secure way of mounting accessories to the back side of flat panel displays.

Another object is to provide a bracket for mounting accessory devices and cables to flat panel displays that uses existing mounting holes and bolts that are more secure than traditional adhesive based methods.

Another object is to provide a bracket for mounting accessory devices and cables to flat screen displays that can be easily and quickly mounted.

Another object is to provide a bracket for mounting accessory devices and cables to flat panel displays that can be securely mounted with a bolt or bolts to the back of a flat panel display that may or may not have an existing wall mount support bracket attached to the flat panel display and that does not interfere with such.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawing, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanied drawing is a general concept of one possible embodiment that is intended to hold a rectangular shaped piece of equipment.

FIG. 1 illustrates one possible embodiment of the invention, the back of a typical flat panel display and a threaded bolt for securing the accessory bracket to the flat panel.

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawing:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention. The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the claims.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a way of securely mounting accessory devices and cables to the back of flat panel displays. This is accomplished utilizing the universal mounting holes that exist on the back of most flat panel displays intended typically for wall mounts.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of an accessory bracket 110 and a flat panel display 100 are shown. The accessory bracket 110 may be designed, for example, with a tab 116 or tabs that protrude in such a way that the accessory bracket can be fastened to an existing mounting hole 102 using a typical mounting bolt 104 that passes through a hole or other cutout 112 in the tab.

The accessory bracket 110 may have one or more tabs 116 for greater mounting versatility. The accessory bracket 110 may be constructed from materials that allow the tab or tabs 116 to be as thin as possible yet provide structural support for the intended accessory. The accessory bracket 110 may have retaining features 114 that are constructed in a way that holds the intended accessory securely.

The tab or tabs 116 may be long enough so that they do not interfere with other existing mounts such as a pre-existing wall mount that may be attached to the flat panel display. The tab or tabs 116 may be thin enough so that they do not significantly affect the function of a wall mount that could be used simultaneously and in conjunction with the accessory bracket 110. The accessory bracket 110 may be used for electrical accessories or for enhanced cable management among other things.

Claims

1. A method of reliably securing an accessory bracket to the backside of a flat panel display by; bolting or screwing it in place utilizing existing structural mounting holes in the flat panel display typically used for traditional wall mounts;by way of an integrated tab that protrudes from the accessory bracket long enough to mount the accessory or cables without interfering with a typical wall mount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a mounting tab integrated with the accessory bracket is thin enough to be installed underneath or on the top side of a typical flat panel display wall mount without significant structural, or functional impact to the flat panel display wall mount.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory bracket features a hole or “U” shaped cutout in the accessory bracket so that an appropriate sized and threaded screw or bolt can be inserted to fasten the accessory bracket securely to the backside of the flat panel display utilizing one of the structural, threaded holes in the backside of the flat panel display.