Abstract:
Described herein is a system having an LCD computer monitor including a monitor housing. The system further includes a connector apparatus for allowing quick electrical and mechanical coupling and decoupling of said LCD computer monitor to a support member disposed on a wall or a rear portion of a car seat. The connector apparatus has a first component attached to the rear surface of said LCD computer monitor and a second component mountable to the support member and capable of mating with the first component.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation (CON) of and claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 13/182,148, which is a CON of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/549,628, filed Aug. 28, 2009, which is a CON of and claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 12/042,015, filed Mar. 4, 2008, which is a CON of and claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 10/764,572, filed Jan. 27, 2004, which is a CON of and claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 10/069,151, filed Jun. 20, 2002, which is a national stage application of PCT/IB00/01148, filed Aug. 22, 2000, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/150,307, filed on Aug. 23, 1999. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to LCD systems, and more particularly to an LCD display system which incorporates a quick connect/release connector apparatus for enabling an LCD monitor to be electrically and mechanically coupled, simultaneously, to a support member, through a quick and easy sliding movement of the LCD monitor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    LCD monitors have become increasingly popular in a wide variety of applications. Such monitors are lightweight, when compared to CRT type monitors, and therefore much more easily handled by an individual. LCD monitors are often used in applications where two or more monitors are often required, such as in the financial industry, where multiple graphs of information need to be viewed in real time. Multiple monitor applications are also found in use in engineering applications, manufacturing applications, and a wide variety of other applications where a large amount of information needs to be displayed simultaneously for the user(s). 
         [0004]    Often such multiple LCD monitor systems are supported on a common arm. The arm is typically held above the worksurface, such as a desk or table, by a vertical column attached to a base. Frequently the need arises to remove one LCD monitor and use it with a separate workstation area. Since LCD monitors are still relatively expensive as compared with CRT monitors, and further attached to a display stand to form a single assembly, it is not possible to easily remove one LCD monitor from a display system and connect it to another workstation where the need for the LCD monitor is more acute. Thus, it is either not possible or highly impractical to disconnect LCD monitors from various work areas and reconnect them at workstations where a particularly acute need for the additional monitor has arisen. The operation of electrically disconnecting the video cable from the LCD monitor, and then mechanically uncoupling the LCD from its support or base (if such was even provided for by the manufacturer of the display system), and then reconnecting the LCD monitor both electrically and mechanically to a different LCD display system and associated computer, would be extremely time consuming and cumbersome. 
         [0005]    The lack of a present day means to conveniently electrically and mechanically mount an LCD monitor, removably, on some form of a cooperating docking station thus significantly limits the utility of the monitor by preventing it from being easily removed from use in one application and physically taken by the user to be used in another application. For example, the lack of such a coupling/connector system prevents an LCD monitor used with a computer at a user&#39;s workplace from being easily uncoupled and taken home for use with a home computer. Providing a connector system which would allow quick and easy electrical and mechanically coupling and uncoupling of the LCD monitor would allow it to be easily taken by the user and used wherever it may be needed. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a universal connector apparatus which enables an electrical and mechanical connection to be made, generally simultaneously, between an LCD monitor and a docking station of a supporting member, thus allowing the LCD monitor to be used, 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a connector apparatus for an LCD monitor which is relatively inexpensive to produce, lightweight, compact and which does not require any special tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, etc., to enable an LCD monitor to be uncoupled, both electrically and mechanically, from a support member. 
         [0008]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a universal connector apparatus which enables two or more LCD monitors, each having one portion of the connector apparatus, to be electrically and mechanically coupled, and interchanged as needed, to one or more second portions of the connector apparatus. In this manner any number of LCD monitors could be coupled or interchanged as needed to a support member or docking station without any modification to the LCD monitor or the support member/docking station. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a universal connector apparatus having a first component and a second component. The first component is intended to be fixedly secured to an LCD monitor on an exterior surface thereof, and preferably on a rear or bottom portion of a housing thereof. The second component is a mating component which is intended to be fixedly secured to any form of support member or surface. The first member comprises a housing having an electrical connector, preferably a male connector. The second member comprises a housing in the form of a cup which has a mating electrical connector, and preferably a female connector, fixedly mounted therein. 
         [0010]    The housing of the first component further includes an integrally formed protrusion which, in one embodiment, comprises a wedge shaped protrusion. The housing of the second component comprises a recess which is shaped complementarily to the projection on the first component of the connector assembly. Accordingly, when a wedge shaped protrusion is employed, then a similarly sized wedge shaped recess will be employed in the housing of the second component. 
         [0011]    The electrical connector component mounted within the housing of the second component is preferably mounted at the bottom of the recess. When the projection of the first component is slidably inserted into the recess of the second component, both a mechanical and an electrical connection are made almost simultaneously. If a wedge shaped projection and recess is employed, the wedge shape provides the added benefit of automatically aligning the male and female electrical connectors as they are slid into mating engagement with one another. 
         [0012]    It will be appreciated that the two piece connector apparatus described above can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as within vehicles, on wall mounted monitor support arms, directly on walls, or wherever desired. The only limitation is that the surface that the second component is attached to has sufficient area and strength to allow the second component to be fixedly attached to it. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and by referencing the following drawings, in which; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a rear area of an LCD monitor incorporating a preferred embodiment of a first component of the universal connector apparatus, and a portion of a support arm incorporating a preferred embodiment of a second component of the apparatus, with the two components about to be slidably engaged with one another; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the LCD monitor of  FIG. 1  about to be slidably engaged with the support arm through the use of the two connector components; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the LCD monitor and support arm of  FIG. 2  coupled together through the use of the connector apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the LCD monitor and support arm of  FIG. 3  illustrating the slim-line profile of the coupled components; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the second component of the connector apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the second component coupled to a ball joint associated with a horizontal support arm of a display base; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the first component of the connector apparatus; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a mating second component for the first component shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the first component shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the first component of  FIG. 7  attached to a rear area of a housing of an LCD monitor, and ready to be slidably coupled to the second component of  FIG. 8 , which is in turn coupled to a support arm; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the system shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of two LCD monitors being supported on a support member, where at least the right LCD is coupled to the support arm through the use of one of the embodiments of the connector apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  shows the display system of  FIG. 11  with the right monitor uncoupled from the support arm; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  shows an alternative application of the connector apparatus of the present invention being used to releasably couple an LCD monitor to the rear of a vehicle seat; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  shows another alternative application where an LCD monitor is releasably coupled to an inside of a vehicle door; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an LCD monitor about to be supported on a vertical wall through the use of the connector apparatus of the present invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an LCD monitor about to be releasably coupled to a pivoting display arm attached to a wall surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a connector apparatus  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector apparatus  10  includes a first component  12  which is fixedly attached to a housing  14  of a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor  16 . The first connector  12  is preferably attached to a rear or bottom surface of the housing  14 , but it will be appreciated that the first component  12  could be secured at other locations on the housing provided sufficient area is available to attach the component  12 . A second connector component  18  forms a docking station and is attached, in this embodiment, to a ball joint  20 , which is in turn attached to a support arm  22 . The ball joint  20  allows the second component  18  to be moved as needed relative to the support arm  22  and, therefore, to allow the LCD monitor  16  to be adjusted for an optimum viewing angle. 
         [0032]    With further reference to  FIG. 1 , the first component  12  includes a housing  24  having a wedge shaped protrusion  26 . Below the wedge shaped protrusion is an electrical connector  28  which, in this embodiment, is illustrated as a male connector. The second component  18  includes a cup shaped housing  30  within which is disposed a second electrical connector  32 . A video cable  34  is electrically coupled to the electrical connector  32 . In this embodiment, the electrical connector  32  comprises a female connector. It will be appreciated, however, that the electrical connector  28  of the first component  12  could be a female component and the connector  32  could be a male component. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the LCD monitor  16  is shown about to be attached to the second component  18  of the connector apparatus  10 . Arrow  36  indicates that the LCD monitor  16  is moved slidably down onto the cup shaped housing  30  to attach the first component  12  to the second component  18  of the connector apparatus  10 . The inter coupled components  12  and  18  are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . When attached as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first component  12  is disposed generally within the cup shaped housing  30  and electrically and mechanically coupled to the second component  18 . Second component  18  thus not only allows an electrical connection to be made with the video cable  34 , but also has sufficient strength to support the entire LCD monitor  16 . The attached components are also shown in  FIG. 4  from a bottom view.  FIG. 4  illustrates the generally blended, low profile attachment of the first and second components  12  and  18 , respectively. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the second component  18  can be seen in greater detail. The cup shaped housing  30  has a wedge component  38  adjacent to a lower housing portion  40  within which the female electrical connector  32  is disposed. A recessed area  42  behind the wedge component  38  provides a small amount of clearance for a portion of the wedge member  26  when member  26  is inserted into the second component  18 . The interengagement of the wedge shaped portion  26  and the wedge shaped member  38  serves to automatically align the male pins of electrical connector  28  ( FIG. 1 ) with the electrical connector  32  when the first component  12  is slidably attached to the second component  18 . Threaded screws  44  can then be used to even more positively secure the two electrical connectors  28  and  32  to one another. The generally low profile arrangement of the second connector  18  is shown further in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0035]    The connector apparatus  10  of the present invention thus enables the LCD monitor  16  to be slidably coupled to a support arm  22  such that the entire LCD monitor  16  can be supported securely. The intercoupling of the first and second components  12  and  18 , respectively, does not require time consuming disassembly or any special tools. When it is desired to remove the monitor  16  from the cup shaped housing  30  of the second component  18 , the user merely lifts the LCD monitor  16  upwardly and the entire unit will slidably disengage from the electrical connector  32  (provided threaded screws  44  are not engaged with connector  28 ). The wedge shaped components  26  and  38  further ensure that the electrical connectors  28  and  32  will be perfectly aligned every time the LCD monitor  16  is secured to the second component  18 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a connector apparatus  50  in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The connector apparatus  50  generally comprises a first component  52  and a second component  54 . The first component  52  is intended to be secured fixedly to a housing portion of an LCD monitor, just as shown in  FIG. 1 . The second component  54  is similarly intended to be fixedly secured to any other form of support member which is used to support the LCD monitor attached to the first component  52 . The first component  52  similarly includes a housing  56  with a wedge shaped protrusion  58  projecting therefrom. An electrical connector  60 , in this embodiment a male connector, is secured to the housing  56  at the bottom of the wedge shaped protrusion  58 . The orientation of the electrical connector  60  is shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the second component  54  is shown in greater detail. The second component  54  includes a cup shaped housing  62  having a component  64  forming a wedge shaped recess  66 . An electrical connector  68  is disposed within a lower portion  70  of the wedge shaped member  64 . Threaded screws  72  may be included or used with the connector  68  to help secure the connector  68  to the connector  60 . 
         [0038]    Securing of the first component  52  to the second component  54  is otherwise identical to the connector apparatus  10 . The LCD monitor attached to the first component  52  is positioned adjacent the second component  54  and then lowered such that the wedge shaped protrusion  58  slidably engages within the wedge shaped recess  66 . The wedge shaped recess  66  serves to automatically center and align the connector  60  with the connector  68  as the first component  52  fully slidably engages the second component  54 . 
         [0039]    With both of the embodiments  10  and  50  of the present invention, it will be appreciated that electrical connectors  28  and  60 , respectively, are each electrically coupled to the display element of the LCD monitor to which they are secured. Thus, one side of each of connectors  28  and  60  will have electrical conductors in communication with the display element. Each of the first components  12  and  52  may be attached to a housing of an LCD monitor by threaded screws or any other means which securely affixes the body of the component  12  or  52  to a portion of the housing of the LCD monitor. Alternatively, it may be advantageous to form the first components  12  or  52  with the housing of the LCD monitor. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the sliding attachment of the first component  52  with the second component can be seen. The first component  52  is shown attached to the LCD monitor  16 . Arrow  74  in  FIG. 11  indicates the direction of movement of the second component  54  relative to the first component  52  in order to effect attachment of the two components together. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a dual screen LCD monitor system  80  is shown incorporating LCD monitors  82  and  84 . LCD monitors  82  and  84  are supported on a generally horizontally disposed arm  86 , which is in turn supported on a generally vertically disposed column  88 . The column  88  is in turn supported on a base  90 . In  FIG. 13 , it can be seen how LCD monitor  84  can be lifted off of the second component  54  by lifting upwardly on the LCD monitor  84 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 14 , it can be seen how the second component  54  can be modified to omit the cup shaped housing  62  and could be attached to a seat  92  within a vehicle to allow LCD monitor  16  to be releasably detached from the second component  54  and removed from the vehicle.  FIG. 15  similarly shows the second component  54  attached to an inside of a vehicle door  94  which allows the LCD monitor  16  to be removed from its location on a vehicle door and taken from the vehicle. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 16 , the second component  54  is shown attached to a wall  96 . The LCD monitor  16  can thus be supported on the wall  96  simply by dropping the monitor slidably onto the second component  54  such that the first and second components  52  and  54 , respectively, become slidably engaged. In  FIG. 17 , the second component  54  is shown secured to a pivotal support arm  98 , which is also attached to the wall  96 . The LCD monitor  16  can be attached to the second component  54  as described hereinbefore. 
         [0044]    It will be appreciated then that the preferred embodiments of the present invention allow an LCD monitor to be quickly and easily coupled to and uncoupled from a support member without the need for complicated disassembly procedures. The wedge shaped portions of each of the first and second components of the present invention further enable the electrical connectors of the first and second components to be aligned precisely as the first component attached to the LCD monitor is slidably engaged with the second component. Thus, there is little or no chance that the user will damage the male pins of the male electrical connector during reattachment of the monitor to the second component. 
         [0045]    It will further be appreciated that a principal advantage of the connector apparatus  10  or  50  of the present invention is that it allows one LCD monitor to be used at a variety of locations where the second component of the apparatus is in use. This provides much greater versatility for an LCD display monitor by allowing it to be used in a variety of environments where the need may arise. 
         [0046]    Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.