The invention relates generally to mounts for flat panel displays, and more specifically to mounts for large flat panel displays such as plasma displays.
Flat panel displays have become an increasingly popular substitute for television tubes and computer CRT's (cathode ray tubes). Flat panel displays are typically mounted on a structure, such as a wall, and ideally the angle of the flat panel display relative to vertical can be adjusted for optimum viewing. Various positioning devices have been used, such as friction based hinges, mechanical linkages with springs or other biasing devices, and various mechanical latches.
A type of flat panel display known as a “plasma” display has become especially popular for large screen display devices. While plasma displays offer a large screen size in a relatively compact package, they are relatively expensive. As a result, it is often advantageous to move a plasma display between multiple locations in order to maximize usage.
Plasma displays are typically heavy and relatively delicate, and consequently, mounts for plasma displays must be capable of securely supporting the weight of the device. Numerous prior art mounting devices exist that are capable of supporting a plasma display. These previous mounting devices, however, due to the need to provide a secure attachment, typically have cumbersome latching and locking mechanisms which may be difficult to maneuver, particularly for a user attempting to mount a heavy plasma display alone. Hence, there is still a need in the industry for a secure mount for a flat panel display that is easily maneuverable by an individual user.
The present invention meets the need of the industry for a secure mount for a flat panel display that is easily maneuverable by an individual user. According to an embodiment of the invention, a mount for removably attaching a flat panel electronic display device to a fixed structure includes a first bracket operably couplable to the flat panel electronic display device and a second bracket operably couplable to the fixed structure. The first bracket includes a pair of opposing hooks or other engaging structures. The second bracket has a body portion presenting a first edge for receiving one of the pair of opposing hooks and at least one latch portion operably coupled with the body portion. The latch portion presents a second edge for receiving the other of the pair of opposing hooks. The latch portion is selectively shiftable between a first position and a second position relative to the body portion, wherein when the first one of the pair of opposing hooks of the first bracket is engaged with the first edge of the second bracket, the second edge is engaged with the second one of the pair of opposing hooks to secure the first bracket and the second bracket together when the latch portion is positioned in the first position and the second edge is not engaged with the second one of the pair of opposing hooks to enable the first bracket and the second bracket to be separated when the latch portion is positioned in the second position.
In an embodiment of the invention, at least one hook bracket having a pair of opposing hooks is affixed to either the plasma display or the structure upon which the plasma display is to be mounted. A corresponding interface bracket is affixed to the other of the plasma display and the structure. The interface bracket has a body portion with a first edge for receiving a first one of the opposing hooks of the hook bracket and at least one latch portion operably coupled with the first body portion. The latch portion has a second edge for receiving the second hook of the hook bracket. With the first edge engaged in the first hook of the hook bracket, the latch portion is selectively shiftable between a disengaged position, wherein the second edge is clear of the second hook, and an engaged position, wherein the second edge is engaged in the second hook to secure the plasma display in place on the structure.
In one embodiment, a pair of hook brackets are spaced apart on the back surface of a plasma display with the opposing hooks oriented in a vertical direction. The interface bracket has a pair of latch portions operably coupled with the body portion. The interface bracket is mounted on the fixed structure so that the first edge is oriented generally upward. In operation, with both latch portions in the disengaged position, the top hooks of the spaced-apart hook brackets, are engaged over the first edge of the interface bracket. The latch portions are then shifted to the engaged position, thereby engaging the second edge of each in a separate one of the bottom hooks of the hook bracket, securing the display in place on the interface bracket and the fixed structure to which it is attached. Removal of the plasma display is the reverse of installation.
In an embodiment of the invention, each of the latch portions of the interface bracket have a plurality of slots defined therein. Each slot may have a central portion positioned at an angle relative to the horizontal and extending upward and laterally outward. Further, each slot may have a generally horizontal portion at each end, with the inward horizontal portion being generally lower than the outward horizontal portion. The body portion has a plurality of outwardly extending guide posts, and each guide post is slidably engaged in a separate one of the slots in the latch portions. The guide posts may have a enlarged retaining head on the outward end. The latch portions are selectively laterally slidable to shift between the engaged and disengaged positions. In the disengaged position, the guide posts are positioned in the inward, relatively lower, horizontal portion of the slots. As the latch portion is urged laterally inward toward the center of the body portion and the guide posts encounter the angled portion of the slots, the latch portions move downwardly as the guide posts slide in the angled slot portions, and the edges of the latch portions engage in the upwardly directed hooks of the hook brackets. When the guide posts encounter the outward, relatively higher, portions of the guide slots, the latch portions may be moved further laterally inward to the end of the slots to inhibit easy disengagement of the edges of the latch portions from the hooks. Again, removal is the reverse of installation.
Mount 30 of the present invention generally includes interface bracket 32 and hook brackets 34. Interface bracket 32 generally includes body portion 36 with a pair of laterally slidable latch portions 38. Body portion 36 has lower 40 and upper 42 mounting flanges, each with a plurality of elongate apertures 44 for receiving fasteners (not depicted) to fasten interface bracket 32 to a fixed structure such as the wall or column of a building. Raised portion 46 is provided between mounting flanges 40, 42, defining a latch recess 48 on the back side 50 of interface bracket 32. Apertures 52 may be defined in raised portion 46 to accommodate hook brackets 34 as further described herein below. Hanger flange 54 extends upward and outward above upper mounting flange 42, and presents upper edge 56 for receiving hook brackets 34 as also further described hereinbelow.
Opposing latch portions 38 each have a plurality of guide slots 58. Each guide slot 58 includes a central portion 60 angled upward and outwardly relative to the center of interface bracket 32, and may include inner 62 and outer 64 portions, which are oriented generally horizontal. Guide posts 66 extend outwardly from the back side 50 of interface bracket 32 into latch recess 48, and are received in guide slots 58. Each guide post 66 may have an enlarged head portion 68 having a larger diameter than the width of guide slot 58. These enlarged head portions 68 serve to retain latch portions 38 on body portion 36. Guide posts 66 may be threaded fasteners such as screws or bolts.
As depicted in
Latch portions 32 may include a locking flange 70 at outer end 72. When latch portions 32 are positioned in the latched position, locking flange 70 confronts corresponding flange 74 on interface bracket 32. Locking flange 70 and flange 74 may include corresponding apertures 76 for receiving a padlock (not depicted) and/or corresponding apertures 78 for receiving a self-tapping screw (not depicted) to lock latch portions 32 in the latched position.
Hook bracket 34 generally includes interface channel 80 and hook plate 82. Optionally, tilt plate 84 may be included to enable vertical tilting adjustment of a display as further described herein below. Interface channel 80 is depicted in
As depicted in
A tiltably adjustable embodiment of hook bracket 34 is depicted in
In operation, a pair of hook brackets 34 are spaced apart to the back side 98 of a display 100, so that hook plates 82 are generally vertically positioned with upper hook 106 on top. Latch portions 32 are positioned in the unlatched position, and upper hooks 106 are engaged over upper edge 56 of hanger flange 54 of interface bracket 32. Lower hooks 108 extend through apertures 52 so that lower slots 110 defined by lower hooks 108 vertically align with lower edges 112 of latch portions 32. Latch portions 32 are then urged inwardly toward the center of interface bracket 32 and move inwardly and downward as guide slots 58 slide around guide posts 66, until lower edges 112 of both latch portions 32 are engaged in lower slots 110 and guide posts 66 are positioned at the outer ends of guide slots 58. In this position, locking flanges 70 confront corresponding flanges 74 on interface bracket 32, and the latch portions 32 may be locked in the latched position as described herein above. Removal of the display from mount 30 is the reverse of installation.
One in position, the tilt position of display 100 may be adjusted in the tilt embodiment of the invention by slightly loosening thumb nuts 138, enabling hook plates 82 to slide up or down relative to tilt plate 84, guided by curved slots 118, 122. Once in the desired tilt orientation, thumb nuts 138 may be tightened to frictionally hold the display 100 in position.
Other configurations are contemplated within the scope of the present invention, including for example, configurations wherein hook brackets 34 are attached to the fixed structure and interface bracket 32 is attached to the display. It will of course be appreciated that, in such a configuration, interface bracket 32 and hook brackets 34 would be inverted so that upper edge 56 of interface bracket 32 faces downward. Further, it will be appreciated that other embodiments of the invention may include only one hook bracket 34, or any other number of hook brackets. It will also be appreciated that functionally similar engaging structures other than hooks may be used, such as opposing channels, flanges, or recesses.
In one alternative embodiment of the invention depicted in
In one example, depicted in
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/614,092 filed Sep. 29, 2004, and entitled UNIVERSAL MOUNT FOR FLAT PANEL DISPLAYS, hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60614092 | Sep 2004 | US |