Incremental angular position and locking system for mounting devices

Abstract

A mounting system comprising an incremental angular position and locking system. A tilt bracket is configured to operatively connect to a surface, and an adapter bracket is operatively and movably connected to the tilt bracket, with the adapter bracket being configured to operatively connect to an object such as an audio/video device. A plurality of angular position features are associated with one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket, and an angular positioning element is configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular position features. When the angular positioning element is in engaged with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is impeded from moving relative to the tilt bracket. When the angular positioning element is not in engagement with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is substantially free to move relative to the tilt bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable tilt system with an angular position and locking mechanism constructed according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tilt bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the adapter bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of an adapter bracket with various components attached thereto;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an adjustable tilt system with an angular position and locking mechanism constructed according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the adapter bracket of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the tilt bracket of FIG. 5.

Claims

1. A mounting system, comprising: a tilt bracket configured to operatively connect to a surface;an adapter bracket operatively connected to the tilt bracket, the adapter bracket configured to operatively connect to an object;at least one carrier engaging both the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket and permitting the adapter bracket to adjust relative to the adapter bracket;a plurality of angular position features associated with one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket; andan angular positioning element configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular position features,wherein when the angular positioning element is in engagement with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is impeded from moving relative to the tilt bracket, and wherein when the angular positioning element is not in engagement with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is substantially free to move relative to the tilt bracket.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of angular position features comprise a plurality of angular alignment holes formed within the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket, and wherein the angular positioning element is configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular alignment holes to impede the movement of the adapter bracket relative to the tilt bracket.

3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the angular positioning element comprises a fastener configured to selectively pass through the plurality of angular alignment holes.

4. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket that does not include the plurality of angular position features includes at least one locking feature that at least selectively engages the angular positioning element.

5. The mounting system of claim 4, wherein the angular positioning element is capable of engaging at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features when the at least one locking feature is aligned with the at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising an alignment feature associated with the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket that does not include the plurality of angular position features, the alignment feature providing an indication to a user when the at least one locking feature is aligned with at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the alignment feature provides a visual indication to the user when the at least one locking feature is aligned with at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features.

8. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein the alignment feature comprises an alignment hole formed within the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket that does not include the plurality of angular position features, and wherein an indication is at least partially visible through the alignment hole when the at least one locking feature is aligned with an angular alignment feature.

9. The mounting system of claim 8, wherein the indication comprises another of the angular alignment features.

10. A mounting system, comprising: a tilt bracket configured to operatively connect to a surface;an adapter bracket movably connected to the tilt bracket via a carrier, the adapter bracket configured to receive an electronic device;a plurality of angular position features associated with one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket; andan angular positioning element configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular position features,wherein when the angular positioning element is in engagement with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is impeded from moving relative to the tilt bracket, and wherein when the angular positioning element is not in engagement with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is substantially free to move relative to the tilt bracket.

11. The mounting system of claim 10, further comprising an alignment feature associated with the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket that does not include the plurality of angular position features, the alignment feature providing an indication to a user when the at least one locking feature is aligned with at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the alignment feature provides a visual indication to the user when the at least one locking feature is aligned with at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features.

13. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein the alignment feature comprises an alignment hole formed within the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket that does not include the plurality of angular position features, and wherein an indication is at least partially visible through the alignment hole when the at least one locking feature is aligned with an angular alignment feature.

14. The mounting system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of angular position features comprise a plurality of angular alignment holes formed within the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket, and wherein the angular positioning element is configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular alignment holes to impede the movement of the adapter bracket relative to the tilt bracket.

15. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein the angular positioning element comprises a fastener configured to selectively pass through the plurality of angular alignment holes.

16. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket that does not include the plurality of angular position features includes at least one locking feature that at least selectively engages the angular positioning element.

17. The mounting system of claim 16, wherein the angular positioning element is capable of engaging at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features when the at least one locking feature is aligned with the at least one of the plurality of angular alignment features.

18. A method of positioning a mounting system comprising an tilt bracket and an adapter bracket movably connected to each other, comprising: operatively connecting the tilt bracket to a surface;operatively connecting an object to the adapter bracket, wherein a plurality of angular position features are associated with one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket, and wherein at least one locking feature is associated with the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket that is not associated with the plurality of angular position features;moving the adapter bracket relative to the tilt bracket until the at least one locking feature is aligned with a desired one of the plurality of angular position features; andengaging an angular position element with the desired one of the plurality of angular position features, resulting in the position of the adapter bracket being fixed relative to the tilt bracket.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: using an alignment feature to determine when the at least one locking feature is aligned with a desired one of the plurality of angular position features.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of angular position features comprise a plurality of angular alignment holes formed within the one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket, and wherein the angular positioning element is configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular alignment holes to impede the movement of the adapter bracket relative to the tilt bracket.