Patent Application
20230337821
None.
The present disclosure relates to improving a television (or TV) or display mounting bracket (or rack), and, more particularly, to improving the rotative and expansive motion of a wall mountable video display or television bracket so that the display or television screen may be moved (horizontally) away from and (rotatively vertically) downward from the wall, to viewing positions away from, for example, a mantel or other wall-positioned furniture.
Television or display mounting brackets typically provide for limited movement of the television or display screen. Available mounting brackets allow for mounting, for example, an LED or other type of television or display screen on a vertical wall. Existing brackets are available that provide a limited tilt of the display screen. For example, brackets exist that provide a limited tilt rotation about a horizontal x-axis so as to angle the display viewing plane with respect to a horizontal x-y planar surface such as a floor and a z-x planar surface such as a wall. Such brackets allow for neither movement of the screen in toward and outward from (along a horizontal y-axis) the z-x plane (e.g., wall) nor any movement of the screen in an upward or downward (along a vertical z-axis) direction. Further, such brackets typically provide only very limited, if any, rotation of the display screen about the vertical z-axis (so as to angle the screen to the right or left for viewing positions in locations with respect to the x-y planar surface (e.g., with respect to the floor).
Other available display screen wall mounting brackets are advertised as full-motion brackets, providing for movement of the screen inward and outward from a wall (i.e., providing movement of the screen along a y-axis directed orthogonal to the z-x plane of the wall) and for movement of the screen to varying extents right or left along an x-axis horizontal and parallel to the x-y plane or floor. Such so-called full-motion brackets may further provide for pivoting (rotating) the display screen right or left so as to angle the viewing plane (i.e., the z-x plane of the television or display screen viewing area) about the vertical z-axis, yet do not allow for vertical repositioning of the display screen in the vertical z-axis direction.
The present inventor determined that existing TV mounting systems do not satisfactorily account for the (vertically) higher positioning of the TV when mounted over, for example, a fireplace mantel or other obstruction or furniture. The present inventor determined that such mounting positions, while common, are simply uncomfortably too high and provide unsatisfactory TV viewing ergonomics, and available TV or display mounting systems are not available that satisfactorily provide for repositioning the TV or display screen. Television or display screen wall mounting bracket structures that may comprise pairs of parallel arms to allow for vertical repositioning of the display screen in the vertical z-axis direction (e.g., upward or downward, away from or closer to, the floor), the present inventor determined, do not allow for pivoting the screen about a vertical z-axis, adequate repositioning of the screen inward and outward away from the wall mounting surface in a horizontal y-axis direction, or movably mounting (or hanging) the television (or television screen, or display, or display screen) above, for example, a fireplace mantel or similar structure that may extend outward away from the vertical mounting surface.
What is needed are designs for a television or display mounting bracket or rack that provide a greater range of motion and repositioning capabilities in terms of movement along a horizontal inward and outward (or y-axis) direction, movement along a vertical upward or downward (or z-axis) direction, pivoting right or left about a vertical z-axis, and tilting (pivoting) up or down about horizontal x-axis, and that comprise structure configured to permit the effective and improved repositioning functionality when mounted to a vertical surface (wall) over a mantel surface or other obstruction. That is, a television wall mounting rack is needed that is configured for improved movement grow lights are needed that deliver more light at the edges or toward the edges so as to a greater amount of light is delivered to the target grow area.
To address at least some of the aforementioned and other problems, embodiments are provided for a television or video display wall mounting bracket or rack having improved rotative and expansive motion so that the display or television screen may be moved (horizontally) away from and (rotatively vertically) downward from the wall, to viewing positions away from, for example, a mantel or other wall-positioned furniture.
According to one aspect, a television or display mounting bracket comprises a mounting plate configured to be mountable to a vertical surface, a plurality of scissor arms interconnected with one another and to the mounting plate so that the plurality of scissor arms moves within a scissors plane that is non-parallel to the vertical surface, an intermediary plate connected to at least one of the plurality of scissor arms and configured to move within the scissors plane along with the at least one of the plurality of scissor arms, at least one rotating arm pivotally connected to the intermediary plate and configured such that each of the at least one rotating arm moves within a rotating arm plane that is non-parallel to the scissors plane, and at least one pivoting connector of the at least one rotating arm configured to be connectable to the television or display so that the television or display, when connected to the at least one pivoting connector, is movable in relation to the vertical surface via the plurality of scissor arms and, independently, via the at least one rotating arm.
According to an aspect, the scissors plane is orthogonal to the vertical surface, whereby the intermediary plate is extendable within the scissors plane so as to selectively extend the intermediary plate away from the mounting plate and retract the intermediary plate toward the mounting plate, thereby varying a distance between the vertical surface and the intermediary plate.
According to an aspect, the vertical surface comprises a wall surface and the scissors plane is horizontal and parallel with a floor surface, and wherein the mounting bracket permits extending the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, outward from or inward to the wall within a horizontal range of motion parallel to the floor.
According to an aspect, the rotating arm plane is orthogonal to the scissors plane, whereby the at least one rotating arm is pivotally rotatable with respect to an axis of rotation on the intermediary plate so as to permit the at least one rotating arm to rotate between at least an upward or vertical position and an outward position, wherein, in the upward or vertical position, the at least one rotating arm is oriented such that the at least one pivoting connector is closer to the vertical surface than when the at least one rotating arm is in the outward position.
According to an aspect, the vertical surface comprises a wall surface and the scissors plane is horizontal and parallel with a floor surface, wherein the mounting bracket permits extending the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, outward from or inward to the wall within a horizontal range of motion parallel to the floor surface via movement of the plurality of scissor arms, wherein the axis of rotation of on the intermediary plate is horizontal and parallel with the floor surface, and wherein the at least one rotating arm is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the intermediary plate so that the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, is movable along an arc within the rotating arm plane in order to reposition the television or display farther outward from the wall and vertically downward toward the floor surface as the at least one rotating arm moves from the upward or vertical position to the outward position.
According to an aspect, the mounting plate comprises one or more planar structure to which the plurality of scissor arms are interconnected.
According to an aspect, the plurality of scissor arms comprises a pair of scissor arms interconnected with one another so that one end of the pair of scissor arms connects to the mounting plate and another end of the pair of scissor arms connects to the intermediary plate and so as to permit the intermediary plate to be selectively moved away from or moved closer to the mounting plate.
According to an aspect, the pair of scissor arms comprises a pair of articulated arms, the pair of articulated arms having a first arm pivotally attached to the mounting plate, a second arm pivotally attached to the first arm, and the second arm pivotally attached to the intermediary plate.
According to an aspect, the scissor arms are interconnected with the mounting plate and the intermediary plate so as to permit the scissor arms to move within a horizontal plane that is orthogonal to the vertical surface and parallel to a floor surface.
According to an aspect, the intermediary plate comprises a horizontally oriented axis of rotation and the at least one rotating arm comprises a pair of rotating arms with each rotating arm pivotally connected to the intermediary plate via the horizontal axis of rotation and configured so that both rotating arms move together in relation to one another so that the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, is movable along an arc within the rotating arm plane in order to reposition the television or display farther outward from the wall and vertically downward toward the floor surface as the at least one rotating arm moves from the upward or vertical position to the outward position.
According to an aspect, the at least one rotating arm comprises a longitudinally extending arm pivotally connected to the intermediary plate at a rotating arm pivot point at one end and having one of the at least one pivoting connector at the other, wherein the rotating arm pivot point includes a piston or spring force configured to urge rotation of the rotating arm toward the upward or vertical position and resist rotation of the rotating arm toward the outward position.
According to an aspect, the television or display comprises an x-y-z coordinate system wherein an x-axis comprises a width of the television or display and is horizontal and parallel to the floor, a y-axis is orthogonal to the x-axis and extends between a front and a rear surface of the television or display, a z-axis is orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis and extends vertically between a top edge and a bottom edge of the television or display, wherein the bracket allows for repositioning the television or display in a y-axis direction via the scissor arms and rotating the television or display within an arc in a z-y plane, wherein the vertical surface comprises a z-x plane that is orthogonal to a horizontal or floor surface that comprises an x-y plane, wherein the bracket is configured so as to be movable in the y-axis direction away from the vertical surface via the scissor arms, and, independent of the movement in the y-axis direction via the scissor arms, movable about an arc of rotation about an x-axis.
According to an aspect, a method of using a television or display mounting bracket includes providing a television or display and attaching the television or display to a wall using a television or display mounting bracket as previously described, pulling the television or display outward in the y-direction, rotating the television or display outward and downward in the arc in the z-y plane; and tilting the television or display by rotating the television or display about the x-axis.
According to an aspect, moving the television or display in y-direction comprises pulling the television or display away from wall to a distance sufficient to clear a top surface and front edge of a mantel positioned vertically below the mounting bracket.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.
The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein as part of the specification. The drawings described herein illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, and are illustrative of selected principles and teachings of the present disclosure. However, the drawings do not illustrate all possible implementations of the presently disclosed subject matter, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
Similar reference numerals may have been used in different figures to denote similar components.
It is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific assemblies and systems illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined herein. Hence, specific dimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise. Also, although they may not be, like elements in various embodiments described herein may be commonly referred to with like reference numerals within this section of the application.
As an overview,
The orientation and arrangement of the television or display and a mounting bracket therefor, are described herein in the context of an x-y-z coordinate reference or system 128. The wall 126 comprises a planar vertical surface having a z-x plane (or being parallel to a z-x plane). A width of the television or display, as shown, is a distance between the left side edge 110 and the right side edge 106, or the width 112-114 along the bottom edge 108 of the television or display extending between corners 112 and 114 (or the width 118-116 along the top edge 104 of the television or display extending between corners 118 and 116). As depicted in
The top edge 104 and bottom edge 108 are shown in
A depth of the television or display may be defined as a distance between the front screen (front surface) 102 and a back of the television or display, with the depth dimension extending along a y-axis or in a y-axis direction from the z-x plane of the front surface 102 toward the z-x plane of the vertical surface or wall 126.
As is described in further detail below, a mounting bracket for the television or display permits the television or display (which may be referred to using reference numeral 102, used also for referring to the front surface or screen of the television or display), according to embodiments described herein, to be repositioned outward in a horizontal (y-axis direction) away from the x-z plane of the wall 126 so as to extend farther horizontally away from the wall than does the front edge 122 of the top surface of the mantel 120. That is, the mounting bracket allows for the television or display 102 to be moved horizontally outward away from the wall 126 so as to clear (or extend horizontally farther than the wall 126 than) the mantel 120.
Further, also described in further detail below, the mounting bracket permits the television or display 102, according to embodiments described herein, to be repositioned (via motion that is independent from the above-described horizontal or linear/y-axis direction motion) from an upward or vertical position (for example, vertically positioned above the top surface of the mantel 120 as in
Next,
The mounting plate 202 is shown in
In one embodiment, the plurality of scissor arms comprises a second pair of scissor arms in addition to the first pair described above. For example, the second pair of scissor arms may comprise, as shown in
Also illustrated in the perspective view 200 in
Turning now to
As shown in
As arranged in
Also depicted in
Moving to
As shown in
Lastly,
Thus, as the present inventor discovered, the arrangement of scissor arms that extend outward from a vertical mounting surface, rotative (rotating) arms that move in an arc downward from a vertical stowage or stowed position to an outward or deployed position, and pivoting connectors between the outward ends of the rotative (rotating) arms of the mounting bracket and the back surfaces of the television or display provides advantages over prior television or display mounting devices and methods. In this way, as the present inventor discovered, a television or video display wall mounting bracket or rack is disclosed having improved rotative and expansive motion so that the display or television screen may be moved (horizontally) away from and (rotatively vertically) downward from the wall, to viewing positions away from, for example, a mantel or other wall-positioned furniture.
In one embodiment, a television or display mounting bracket comprises a mounting plate configured to be mountable to a vertical surface, a plurality of scissor arms interconnected with one another and to the mounting plate so that the plurality of scissor arms moves within a scissors plane that is non-parallel to the vertical surface, an intermediary plate connected to at least one of the plurality of scissor arms and configured to move within the scissors plane along with the at least one of the plurality of scissor arms, at least one rotating arm pivotally connected to the intermediary plate and configured such that each of the at least one rotating arm moves within a rotating arm plane that is non-parallel to the scissors plane, and at least one pivoting connector of the at least one rotating arm configured to be connectable to the television or display so that the television or display, when connected to the at least one pivoting connector, is movable in relation to the vertical surface via the plurality of scissor arms and, independently, via the at least one rotating arm.
In one embodiment, the scissors plane is orthogonal to the vertical surface, whereby the intermediary plate is extendable within the scissors plane so as to selectively extend the intermediary plate away from the mounting plate and retract the intermediary plate toward the mounting plate, thereby varying a distance between the vertical surface and the intermediary plate.
In one embodiment, the vertical surface comprises a wall surface and the scissors plane is horizontal and parallel with a floor surface, and wherein the mounting bracket permits extending the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, outward from or inward to the wall within a horizontal range of motion parallel to the floor.
In one embodiment, the rotating arm plane is orthogonal to the scissors plane, whereby the at least one rotating arm is pivotally rotatable with respect to an axis of rotation on the intermediary plate so as to permit the at least one rotating arm to rotate between at least an upward or vertical position and an outward position, wherein, in the upward or vertical position, the at least one rotating arm is oriented such that the at least one pivoting connector is closer to the vertical surface than when the at least one rotating arm is in the outward position.
In one embodiment, the vertical surface comprises a wall surface and the scissors plane is horizontal and parallel with a floor surface, wherein the mounting bracket permits extending the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, outward from or inward to the wall within a horizontal range of motion parallel to the floor surface via movement of the plurality of scissor arms, wherein the axis of rotation of on the intermediary plate is horizontal and parallel with the floor surface, and wherein the at least one rotating arm is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the intermediary plate so that the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, is movable along an arc within the rotating arm plane in order to reposition the television or display farther outward from the wall and vertically downward toward the floor surface as the at least one rotating arm moves from the upward or vertical position to the outward position.
In one embodiment, the mounting plate comprises one or more planar structure to which the plurality of scissor arms are interconnected.
In one embodiment, the plurality of scissor arms comprises a pair of scissor arms interconnected with one another so that one end of the pair of scissor arms connects to the mounting plate and another end of the pair of scissor arms connects to the intermediary plate and so as to permit the intermediary plate to be selectively moved away from or moved closer to the mounting plate.
In one embodiment, the pair of scissor arms comprises a pair of articulated arms, the pair of articulated arms having a first arm pivotally attached to the mounting plate, a second arm pivotally attached to the first arm, and the second arm pivotally attached to the intermediary plate.
In one embodiment, the scissor arms are interconnected with the mounting plate and the intermediary plate so as to permit the scissor arms to move within a horizontal plane that is orthogonal to the vertical surface and parallel to a floor surface.
In one embodiment, the intermediary plate comprises a horizontally oriented axis of rotation and the at least one rotating arm comprises a pair of rotating arms with each rotating arm pivotally connected to the intermediary plate via the horizontal axis of rotation and configured so that both rotating arms move together in relation to one another so that the television or display, when connected to the mounting bracket via the at least one pivoting connector, is movable along an arc within the rotating arm plane in order to reposition the television or display farther outward from the wall and vertically downward toward the floor surface as the at least one rotating arm moves from the upward or vertical position to the outward position.
In one embodiment, the at least one rotating arm comprises a longitudinally extending arm pivotally connected to the intermediary plate at a rotating arm pivot point at one end and having one of the at least one pivoting connector at the other, wherein the rotating arm pivot point includes a piston or spring force configured to urge rotation of the rotating arm toward the upward or vertical position and resist rotation of the rotating arm toward the outward position.
In one embodiment, the television or display comprises an x-y-z coordinate system wherein an x-axis comprises a width of the television or display and is horizontal and parallel to the floor, a y-axis is orthogonal to the x-axis and extends between a front and a rear surface of the television or display, a z-axis is orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis and extends vertically between a top edge and a bottom edge of the television or display, wherein the bracket allows for repositioning the television or display in a y-axis direction via the scissor arms and rotating the television or display within an arc in a z-y plane, wherein the vertical surface comprises a z-x plane that is orthogonal to a horizontal or floor surface that comprises an x-y plane, wherein the bracket is configured so as to be movable in the y-axis direction away from the vertical surface via the scissor arms, and, independent of the movement in the y-axis direction via the scissor arms, movable about an arc of rotation about an x-axis.
In one embodiment, a method of using a television or display mounting bracket includes providing a television or display and attaching the television or display to a wall using a television or display mounting bracket as previously described, pulling the television or display outward in the y-direction, rotating the television or display outward and downward in the arc in the z-y plane; and tilting the television or display by rotating the television or display about the x-axis.
In one embodiment, moving the television or display in y-direction comprises pulling the television or display away from a wall to a distance sufficient to clear a top surface and front edge of a mantel positioned vertically below the mounting bracket.
Certain adaptations and modifications of the described embodiments can be made. Therefore, the above discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive. The present disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Further example embodiments may also include all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this description, individually or collectively and any and all combinations or any two or more of the steps or features.
Throughout this document, the use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second or more. The words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise’ and comprises), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “include” and “includes”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contain” and “contains”), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or process steps.
In the present specification and in the appended claims, various terminology which is directional, geometrical and/or spatial in nature such as “longitudinal”, “horizontal”, “front”, “forward”, “backward”, “back”, “rear”, “upwardly”, “downwardly”, etc. is used. It is to be understood that such terminology is used for ease of description and in a relative sense only and is not to be taken in any way as specifying an absolute direction or orientation.
The embodiments described herein may include one or more range of values (for example, size, displacement and field strength etc.). A range of values will be understood to include all values within the range, including the values defining the range, and values adjacent to the range that lead to the same or substantially the same outcome as the values immediately adjacent to that value which defines the boundary to the range. For example, a person skilled in the field will understand that a 10% variation in upper or lower limits of a range can be totally appropriate and is encompassed by the disclosure. More particularly, the variation in upper or lower limits of a range will be 5% or as is commonly recognized in the art, whichever is greater.
Throughout this specification relative language such as the words ‘about’ and ‘approximately’ are used. This language seeks to incorporate at least 10% variability to the specified number or range. That variability may be plus 10% or negative 10% of the particular number specified.
The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations regarded as novel and non-obvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
