Abstract:
A flat panel display mount attachable to a piece of furniture that can safely accommodate the increased loading from large flat panel display devices.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims of the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/475,646 entitled DISPLAY SUPPORT COLUMN and filed Apr. 14, 2011, said application being hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to mounts for flat panel televisions and monitors, and more specifically, to mounts for attaching a flat panel television to furniture. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Prior mounts for attaching flat panel televisions to furniture have generally included desk clamp and arm assemblies, as well as wall type mounts that attach to the back plane of taller furniture pieces. These mounts are generally unsuitable, however, for larger flat panel displays, such as for those 30 inches and larger, due to the increased structural integrity needed for the greater weight of the display. 
         [0004]    As a result, there is a need in the industry for a flat panel display mount attachable to a piece of furniture that can safely accommodate the increased loading from large flat panel display devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the need in the industry for a flat panel display mount attachable to a piece of furniture that can safely accommodate the increased loading from large flat panel display devices. 
         [0006]    According to an embodiment, a mounting device for attaching an electronic display to an article of furniture includes a body portion with a pair of spaced-apart elongate vertical members, the body portion presenting a top end and a bottom end and defining structure proximate the bottom end for attaching the body portion to the article of furniture, a display mount adapted to receive the electronic display thereon coupled to the body portion proximate the top end, and a selectively removable accessory attachment bracket frictionally engaged between the vertical members of the body portion. In embodiments, the display mount may include a tilt-head assembly. The structure for attaching the body portion may comprise a slot angled with respect to the horizontal. The vertical members may have a square cross-section. 
         [0007]    In embodiments, the accessory attachment bracket may comprise an elongate member presenting four corners, two of the corners being rounded, and may define structure such as a slot for receiving an accessory mounting attachment. The accessory mounting attachment may comprise a hook structure received in the slot. 
         [0008]    According to another embodiment, an article of furniture includes a shelf structure presenting at least one horizontally oriented shelf surface, and a mounting device for attaching an electronic display to the shelf structure. The mounting device includes a body portion with a pair of spaced-apart elongate vertical members, the body portion presenting a top end and a bottom end and defining a pair of angled slots proximate the bottom end for receiving fasteners to attach the body portion to the shelf structure, and a display mount coupled to the body portion proximate the top end, the display mount adapted to receive the electronic display thereon. In further embodiments, the article of furniture may include a selectively removable accessory attachment bracket frictionally engaged between the vertical members of the body portion. The accessory attachment bracket may be an elongate member presenting four corners, two of the corners being rounded, and may define structure for receiving an accessory mounting attachment. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a mounting device for attaching an electronic display to an article of furniture includes a body portion including a pair of spaced-apart elongate vertical members, the body portion presenting a top end and a bottom end and defining a pair of angled slots proximate the bottom end for attaching the body portion to the article of furniture, and a display mount coupled to the body portion proximate the top end, the display mount adapted to receive the electronic display thereon. A selectively removable accessory attachment bracket may be frictionally engaged between the vertical members of the body portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0010]    The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a mount according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to a shelf structure and supporting a flat panel television; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a column display mount according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the column display mount of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the top portion of the column display mount of  FIG. 2  with the tilt display mount portion omitted for clarity; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the furniture attachment portion of the column display mount of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the column display mount of  FIG. 2  with removable accessory attachment brackets installed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view of one of the removable accessory attachment brackets depicted in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a front view of another of the removable accessory attachment brackets depicted in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the removable accessory attachment bracket of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a rear view of the removable accessory attachment bracket of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the removable accessory attachment bracket of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the removable accessory attachment bracket of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the column display mount of  FIG. 2  with a removable accessory attachment bracket in an initial stage of installation; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the column display mount of  FIG. 2  with a removable accessory attachment bracket in a further stage of installation; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the column display mount of  FIG. 2  with a removable accessory attachment bracket in a still further stage of installation. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    In  FIGS. 1-15  there is depicted a column display mount  20  according to an embodiment of the invention. Column display mount  20  generally includes column assembly  22  and tilt head assembly  24 . Tilt-head assembly  24  may be similar in function to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,836, hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0028]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , column display mount  20  can be attached to an article of furniture such as shelf unit  21 . It will be appreciated that column display mount  20  may be attached to any other type of furniture piece as may be desired. As further depicted in  FIG. 1 , a flat panel electronic display  23  (depicted in phantom) such as a monitor or television may then be attached to tilt-head assembly  24  to mount electronic display  23  to the article of furniture. 
         [0029]    Column assembly  22  generally includes a pair of spaced-apart square tube members  26 ,  28 , connected with square tube cross-members  30 ,  32 , front panel  34 , tilt-head coupler  36 , furniture connectors  38 ,  40 , and removable accessory attachment brackets  42 ,  44 . Tilt-head coupler  36  generally includes tilt-head interface bracket  46  which is pivotally coupled with support interface bracket  48  at pivot bolt  50 . Tilt-head interface bracket  46  receives tilt-head assembly  24  on mounting surface  52 , while support interface bracket is attached to members  30 ,  32 , with fasteners  54 . Tilt-head interface bracket  46  is horizontally pivotable about bolt  50  to enable pivoting of flat panel display  56  from side-to-side. 
         [0030]    Furniture connectors  38 ,  40 , attach to tube members  26 ,  29 , respectively, as depicted in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 , and each define a pair of angled elongate slots  58 ,  60 . Column display mount  20  is coupled to furniture piece  62  with fasteners (not depicted), extending through slots  58 ,  60 . The geometry of furniture connectors  38 ,  40 , provides certain discrete advantages. First, slots  58 ,  60 , enable attachment of column display mount  20  to an extremely broad range of A/V furniture of different models, makes, and styles. The angled slots  58 ,  60 , automatically ensure column display mount  20  is centered behind the furniture piece and not slightly off to one side or the other. In addition, furniture connectors  38 ,  40 , attach to the outside of members  26 ,  28 , instead of the front. This enables column display mount  20  to be compatible with a significant range of furniture of different heights without compromising aesthetics. When connecting to shorter pieces of furniture, the upper holes for attaching the pillar may become exposed above the top of the furniture piece but do not become visible from the front. 
         [0031]    Removable accessory attachment brackets  42 ,  44 , generally each include body portion  64 , which may be molded from plastic in a single piece, defining horizontal slots  66 ,  68 ,  70 . Opposing corners  72 ,  74 , of body portion  64  may be slightly rounded as depicted, while corners  76 ,  78 , are more squared. 
         [0032]    As depicted in  FIG. 13 , each removable accessory attachment bracket  42 ,  44 , is installed between members  26 ,  28 , by inserting the bracket at a slight angle as depicted and rotating in the direction of the arrows. Rounded corners  72 ,  74 , ride against the inwardly facing surfaces of members  26 ,  28 , enabling rotation of bracket  42 ,  44 , until side surfaces  80 ,  82 , are abutted against the he inwardly facing surfaces of members  26 ,  28 , and bracket  42 ,  44 , is firmly wedged between members  26 ,  28 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Removal is the reverse of installation. 
         [0033]    With the bracket  42 ,  44 , wedged in place, attachment members such as hooks  84 , or screw attachment points  86 , may be attached in slots  66 ,  68 ,  70 . Each hook  84  and point  86  has attachment portion  88  defining narrowed portion  90 . To attach hooks  84  and points  86 , the hook or point is rotated 90 degrees as depicted in  FIG. 14  so as to enable end portion  92  of each attachment portion to pass through slot  66 ,  68 ,  70 . The hook  84  or point  86  is then rotated as depicted in  FIG. 15  to lodge end portion  92  behind the front face of body portion  64 , thereby securing the hook  84  or point  86  in place. Removal is the reverse of installation. 
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that in addition to the unitary, single piece construction of the body portion of the depicted accessory attachment bracket  42 ,  44 , other configurations are contemplated which would enable the bracket  42 ,  44 , to be similarly wedged into position between members  26 ,  28 . For example, the body portions of each bracket  42 ,  44 , might be comprised of two or more separate pieces, linearly slidable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis of the bracket  42 ,  44 . The separate parts of the body portion of each bracket  42 ,  44 , could be coupled with a ratchet assembly, enabling free extension to elongate the bracket  42 ,  44 , but preventing shortening of the bracket  42 ,  44 , without manual release of the ratchet mechanism. In this way, the bracket could be inserted between the members  26 ,  28 , and extended to abut the ends of the bracket against the side surfaces of the members  26 ,  28 , to wedge the bracket  42 ,  44 , in place. The separate pieces of the body portion could be arranged in a telescoping or parallel arrangement. These, and other arrangements by which brackets can be wedged in place between members  26 ,  28 , are contemplated and included within the scope of the invention. 
         [0035]    The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are encompassed within the scope of the claims. Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section  112 , sixth paragraph of  35  U.S.C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.