Abstract:
A universal projector mount that can be fitted to mount projectors of a variety of different makes and models. The invention includes multiple adjustable arms coupled with an interface plate that is, in turn, attached to a standard projector mount on the fixed structure from which the projector is supported. The arms are adjustable radially and longitudinally to virtually any position so as to accommodate various fastener or fastener receiving locations on different makes and models of projectors.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application 60/538,634 filed Jan. 23, 2004 and 60/637,710 filed Dec. 21, 2004 both entitled Universal Projector Mount. Both of the above referenced applications are incorporated herein by in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to mounts for projectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal mount for a projector. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Visual projection systems are commonly used for entertainment and displaying, and presenting visual information to groups of people. Such visual projection systems typically include a projector unit and a projection screen. 
     In spaces such as classrooms, conference rooms, and public assembly halls, where the space is often used for presentations, and in home entertainment rooms, it is common that the projector unit be installed as a more or less permanent fixture in the space. Often, the projector will be suspended from an overhead structure, such as a building floor/ceiling assembly or roof, in order to give the projector an unobstructed projection path and to protect it from damage by inadvertent contact. It is generally desirable that the mount be adjustable over a wide range of positions to enable proper aiming and focusing of the projector. 
     Projectors, particularly LCD, CRT, and DRP projectors designed for frequent use in a setting such as described above are quite expensive. In addition, the spaces where the projector is installed may be left unsecured for periods of time or left unattended. Consequently, a problem is that projector units are attractive targets for theft, vandalism and other tampering. 
     There are many different makes and models of mountable projectors commercially available today. There is no single standard for mounting attachments in the industry, and consequently, the mounting attachment fixture configurations differ widely between manufacturers. A consequent problem with available mounting devices to date has been that mounts are not generally interchangeable between projector makes, and therefore, mounts must be made in a large variety of separate configurations. The industry would benefit from a single universal projector mount that can be fitted to mount projectors of a variety of different makes and models. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a universal projector mount that meets the need of the industry for a single universal projector mount that can be fitted to mount projectors of a variety of different makes and models. According to an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of adjustable arms are operably coupled with an interface plate that is in turn attached to a standard projector mount on the fixed structure from which the projector will be hung. The arms are adjustable radially and longitudinally to virtually any position so as to accommodate various fastener or fastener receiving locations on different makes and models of projectors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a universal projector mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 1  with an overhead projector mount attached thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 1  with the arms positioned in an extended position; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another universal projector mount according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevation view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 6  with parts removed for clarity; and 
         FIG. 12  is a rear elevation view of the universal projector mount of  FIG. 6  with parts removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The universal projector mount  10  of the present invention, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , generally includes a mount interface  12  and arms  14 . Mount interface  12  generally includes central member  16  having studs  18  for detachably receiving an overhead projector mount  20 . Overhead projector mount  20  is known in the art and more fully described in co-pending U.S. Utility patent No. 7,156,359, commonly owned by the owners of the present invention and hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     Central member  16  has a recessed portion  22  recessed from peripheral margin  24 . Elongate slots  26  are defined in recessed portion  22  and arranged just inside peripheral margin  24 . Elongate slots  26  include curved slots  27  at the corners and generally straight slots  27   a  along the sides. Central aperture  28  may be provided if desired to lighten the structure. 
     Each arm  14  includes elongate beam portion  30  and foot  32 . Elongate beam portion  30  may have a generally u-shaped cross section with a web  34 , sidewalls  36 , and end wall  37 . Web  34  defines one or more slots  38  along its longitudinal axis. End wall  37  has an aperture  40  defined therein, which may be threaded for receiving a fastener  42 . Foot  32  may be generally L-shaped, with interface flange portion  44  and projector attachment ear  46 . Interface flange portion  44  defines slot  48 , through which fastener  42  is received to secure foot  32  to beam portion  30 . Projector attachment ear  46  has an aperture  49  defined therein for receiving a fastener  50  to attach foot  32  to a projector  52 . Each arm  14  is fastened to central member  16  with a threaded fastener  54  extending through one of elongate slots  26  in central member  16  and slot  38  into threaded nut  56 . 
     To attach universal projector mount  10  to a projector  52 , each fastener  54  is loosened, enabling fastener  54  to slide within the elongate slot  26  through which it extends. Further, slot  38  enables arm  14  to slide radially and rotate relative to central member  16 . Each arm  14  may be positioned so that aperture  49  of attachment ear  46  corresponds with an attachment fixture on projector  52 . Once arm  14  is properly positioned, fastener  54  is tightened to secure arm  14  in the desired position and foot  32  is fastened to the projector  52  with a fastener  50  through aperture  49 . If needed, each fastener  42  may be loosened, enabling foot  32  to slide vertically in order to adjust the spacing of central member  16  from projector  52 . Once in the desired position, fastener  42  may be tightened to secure foot  32  in position. 
     With universal projector mount  10  attached to projector  52 , the overhead projector mount  20  may be attached to central member  16 . In the depicted embodiment, mount  10  has notches  58  corresponding to studs  18 . Each stud  18  is received in a notch  58  and the overhead projector mount is secured in position with knurled nut  60 . 
     It will be appreciated that each arm  14  may be adjusted so that aperture  49  may be positioned in virtually any position inside a radius defined by the length of arm  14  around fastener  54 . Also, each arm  14  may be attached to central member  16  with the fastener  54  through any of elongate slots  26 . Hence, mount  10  is adjustable to a virtually unlimited number of configurations to correspond with nearly any geometric arrangement of fastener receiving locations on a given projector  52 . It will also be appreciated that, although four arms  14  are depicted in this application, any other number of arms  14 , from two to eight or more may be used within the scope of the present invention. 
     Another embodiment of universal projector mount  10  is depicted in  FIGS. 6-12 . The universal projector mount  10 , as depicted in  FIGS. 6-12 , generally includes base plate  66 , universal joint portion  68 , and mount interface  70 . 
     Base plate  66  may be substantially flat as depicted here or differently shaped to adapt to mounting to a variety of surfaces. Base plate  66  has a plurality of apertures  72  at the periphery thereof adapted to accept fasteners for securing base plate  66  to a surface of a supporting structure. Base plate  66  is operably attached to universal joint portion  68 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , though not depicted here base plate  66  may be connected to universal joint portion  68  by large threaded mount  74 . The term base plate  66  is defined for the purposes of this application to encompass portions of overhead projector mount  20  used for securing overhead projector mount  20  to a structure. Base plate  66  may include structures such as struts and tubes that may be used to support universal projector mount at a distance from a building structure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , universal joint portion  68  generally includes base plate yoke  76 , cross portion  78 , and mount interface yoke  80 . Base plate yoke  76  is attached to cross portion  78  at pivot  82  to allow rotation of base plate yoke  76  and, consequently, base plate  66  about a first axis. Base plate yoke  76  defines curved slot  84  through which fastener  86  may be inserted and through which fastener  86  may be tightened to secure base plate yoke  76  rotationally to cross portion  78  thus locking base plate yoke  76  in position relative to cross portion  78 . 
     Mounting interface yoke  80  is pivotably secured to cross portion  78  at pivot  88 . Mounting interface yoke  80  may be rotationally secured to cross portion  78  relative to pivot  88  by locking fastener  90  thus locking mount interface yoke  80  to cross portion  78  in a specific orientation about a second axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , mount interface yoke  80  further includes attachment plate  92 . Attachment plate  92  defines notches  94  which are adapted to interface with knurled nut  96  to secure attachment plate  92  and thus mount interface yoke  80  to mount interface  70 . The term base plate  66  is defined for the purposes of this application to encompass portions of overhead projector mount  20 . 
     Mount interface  70  generally includes central member  98 , arms  100 , and attachment ears  102 . 
     Central member  98  supports studs  104  and is pierced by circumferential slots  106  near its periphery. Studs  104  are located to align with notches  94  of attachment plate  92 . Thus studs  104  can receive knurled nut  96  to secure attachment plate  92  to central member  98 . 
     Circumferential slots  106  may number 4, but his number should not be considered limiting. 
     Arms  100  are secured to central member  98  by arm fastener  108 . Arm fastener  108  may be, for example, a screw or bolt. Arm fastener  108  may be secured anywhere along the length of circumferential slots  106 . 
     Arms  100  include first section  110 , and second section  112 . First section  110  and second section  112  are telescopically slidable relative to one another so that the length of arms  100  may be adjusted. For example, second section  112  may include arm slot  114  adapted to slideably engage with fastener  116  which is secured to first section  110 . Fastener  116  may be tightened to secure first section  110  to second section  112  at a desired degree of telescopic elongation to fix the length of arm  100 . 
     Attachment ears  102  are supported at distal end  118  of arms  100  via adjustment stud  120 . Adjustment stud  120  may be screwed into threaded aperture  122  at the distal end  118  of arm  100 . Lock nut  124  may be utilized on adjustment stud  120  to secure attachment ears  102  at a desired orientation. Apertures  126  pierce attachment ears  102 . Apertures  126  are adapted to receive fasteners to secure attachment ears  102  to a projector (not shown). 
     In operation base plate  66  may be secured to any convenient surface to which it is desired to secure universal projector mount  10 . After base plate  66  is secured, universal joint portion  68  may be secured to base plate  66 . Mount interface  70  may be secured to projector or any other device that it is desired to mount and then mount interface  70  is secured to universal joint portion  68 . Universal joint portion  68  may then be adjusted to align the projector to aim it as desired. 
     Mount interface  70  may be secured to universal joint portion  68  via attachment plate  92 . Attachment plate  92  is positioned so that notches  94  engage to studs  104  and knurled nuts  96  may then be tightened to secure mount interface  70  to universal joint portion  68 . 
     Universal joint portion  68  may be moved to a plurality of positions by adjusting base plate yoke  76  relative to cross portion  78  and mount interface yoke  80  relative to cross portion  78 . Once a desired position is achieved, fastener  86  and locking fastener  90  may be tightened to secure universal joint portion  58  in a desired orientation. 
     When attaching a projector to mount interface  70 , arms  100  may be adjusted positionally within circumferential slots  106  to any desired location. In addition, arms  100  may be rotated relative to circumferential slots  106  to any desired angle. First section  110  and second section  112  may be adjusted telescopically relative to each other to adjust arm  100  to any necessary length. Attachment ears  102  may be adjusted, both angularly relative to the distal end  118  of arms  100 , and in a degree of offset between the peripheral ends of arms  100  and attachment ears  102  by screwing adjustment stud  120  into or out of threaded aperture  122 . Once a desired adjustment is achieved, lock nut  124  may be tightened on adjustment stud  120  to lock adjustment ears  102  relative to the peripheral end of arms  100 . 
     Thus it will be appreciated that by making these multiple adjustments, apertures  126  on attachment ears  102  may be adjusted to align with virtually any arrangement of attachment positions on any projector that may be presented. 
     A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the concepts of the present invention can be modified to incorporate one or more locks that prevent the projector from being detached from the universal projector mount  10  and/or that prevent the orientation of the projector from being changed. 
     It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.