Abstract:
A mount system for a monitor attaches the monitor to a supporting surface such as a wall in two positions. In the first position, the mount system attaches the monitor in a flush position, and in the second position, the mount system attaches the monitor in a tilt position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a mount system that is adapted to couple to a back side of a monitor and reposition the viewing angle of the monitor, and in particular, function both as a flush mount and a tilt mount. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flat panel monitors such as computer monitors, LCD, plasma, slim televisions, and the like (collectively referred to as “monitor(s)”) are becoming popular because they can be mounted onto a wall to save floor space and for their aesthetically pleasing appearance. Moreover, the recent trend is to make the flat screen monitors slim as possible. For instance, some monitors are now less than 1.0 inch in thickness. And with such slim monitors, it is desirable to mount the monitor close to the wall as possible. 
     A flush mount is one of the popular mounts to attach the monitor close to a wall. In general, a flush mount is provide with a wall plate that is adapted to attach to the wall; and a pair of panel mounting brackets adapted to attach to the rear side of the monitor and then anchor to the wall plate. Flush mounts attach the monitor in an upright position against the wall, and they do not offer tilting function. Without the tilting function, the flush mounts are generally designed to be less than 1.0″ thin so they can attach the monitor very close to the wall. However, when the monitor is attached close to the wall, it is more difficult to install the monitor to the wall. 
     In many instances when the monitor is mounted to a wall, TV viewers prefer to have the monitor tilt down a bit so that the viewers can more comfortably view the monitor. In such instances, rather than a flush mount, a tilt mount is used to attach the monitor to the wall. The added tilt mechanism, however, adds depth to the tilt mount so that the overall depth of the tilt mount is usually deeper than a flush mount. Moreover, to provide the tilt function, the monitor needs to be some distance away from the wall so that the bottom of the monitor does not hit the wall, thereby preventing the monitor from tilting down. The added tilt function also adds to the costs—so that a tilt mount generally costs more than a comparable flush mount. 
     During the purchasing stage of the mount, the buyers usually weigh the pros and cons between the flush and tilt mounts, and pick one depending on their application and budget. Accordingly, there is a need for a mount system that can offer the benefits of both flush and tilt mounts without their above-mentioned dis-advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A mount system for a monitor attaches the monitor to a supporting surface such as a wall in two positions. In the first position, the mount system attaches the monitor in a flush position; and in the second position, the mount system attaches the monitor in a tilt position. In this regard, the mount system may include: a mounting plate adapted to couple to the supporting surface, the mounting plate having a first lip and a second lip, and when the mounting plate is in use, the first lip being on top relative to the second lip; and a first panel mounting bracket having a longitudinal axis and having: a first base adapted to couple to a rear side of the monitor, a first side wall having: a first hook adapted to latch over the first lip of the mounting plate, and a second hook adapted to latch over the first lip of the mounting plate, and when the first panel mounting bracket is in us, the first hook is on top along the longitudinal axis relative to the second hook, and the second hook is farther away from the first base relative to the first hook such that when the second hook is latched over the first lip of the mounting plate, the monitor has a greater tilt angle relative the supporting surface compared to when the first hook is latched over the first lip of the mounting plate. 
     The mount system may also include a second panel mounting bracket having a longitudinal axis and having: a second base adapted to couple to a rear side of the monitor, a second side wall having: a first hook adapted to latch over the first lip of the mounting plate, and a second hook adapted to latch over the first lip of the mounting plate, and when the second panel mounting bracket is in us, the first hook of the second panel mounting bracket is on top along the longitudinal axis relative to the second hook of the second panel mounting bracket, and the second hook of the second panel mounting bracket is farther away from the second base relative to the first hook of the second panel mounting bracket such that when the second hook is latched over the first lip of the mounting plate, the monitor has a greater tilt angle relative the supporting surface compared to when the first hook is latched over the first lip of the mounting plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a mount system in reference to a XYZ coordinates. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the mount system in a first position. 
         FIG. 3  shows the side view of the mounting plate. 
         FIG. 4  shows the side view of one of the brackets without the latching mechanism. 
         FIG. 5  shows a close up side view of one of the hooks latched over the mounting plate. 
         FIG. 6  shows a rear perspective view of one of the first panel mounting bracket. 
         FIG. 7  shows the mount system in a second position. 
         FIG. 8  shows a side view of one of the brackets in the second position where the bracket tilts down angle θ relative the XY plane or the wall. 
         FIG. 9  shows a rear perspective view of the mount system in the second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a mount system  10 , in reference to a XYZ coordinates. In general, the gravitational force may be in the −Y direction.  FIG. 1  shows the mount system  10  in a first position where a monitor  12  may be in an upright position or along the XY plane. The mount system  10  may include a mounting plate  14 ; and first and second panel mounting plates  16  and  18 . The mounting plate  14  may have a base  15  with a plurality of elongated openings  20  adapted to receive anchor bolts to attach the mounting plate to a wall. Each of the brackets  16  and  20  may have a base  21  with plurality of holes  22  and elongated openings  24  adapted to receive screws to attach the brackets  16  and  18  to the rear side of the monitor  12 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the mount system  10  showing the side of the second panel mounting bracket  18 , which is substantially similar to the first panel mounting bracket  16 . As such, for purpose of this disclosure, the details of the bracket  18  will be discussed, which will be applicable to the bracket  16 . The bracket  18  includes a side wall  26  with a first hook  28  and a second hook  30 . In the first position, the first hook  20  latches over the mounting plate  14  as explained in more detail below. The bracket  18  may also include a latching mechanism  32  that is adapted to slide along the longitudinal axis of the bracket  18  or along the Y axis between a first position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , and a second position, which is in the −Y direction relative the first position. A spring  34  may be incorporated between the side wall  26  and the latching mechanism  32  to bias the latching mechanism in the first position. The latching mechanism  32  may have a first hook  36  and a second hook  38  adapted to latch onto the mounting plate  14  as explained in more detail below. The bracket  18  may also have a stopper  40  that is adapted to lean against the wall  42  in the first position so that the monitor  12  may be substantially in the upright position or along the XY plane. 
       FIG. 3  shows the side view of the mounting plate  14  having a base  15  adapted to anchor to the wall  42 . The base  15  may extend to form a first flange  44 , which further extends to form a first lip  46 . The base  15  may also extend to form a second flange  48 , which further extends to form a second lip  50 . The first flange  44  may be longer than the second flange  48  so that the first lip  46  may be distance D farther along the +Z direction relative to the second lip  46 . In the first position, the mounting plate  14  may be positioned so that the first lip  46  may be distance H farther along the +Y direction relative the second lip  50 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the side view of the bracket  18  without the latching mechanism  32  showing the details of the outer edge  52  of the side wall  26 . The outer edge  52  defines the locations of the first hook  28  and the second hook  30 . In the first position, the first hook  28  may be located in the +Y and +Z location relative to the second hook  30 . The first and second hooks  28  and  30  are adapted to latch over the first lip  46  of the mounting plate  14 . Juxtaposed to the first hook  28 , the outer edge  52  may define a first leaning edge  54  and a second leaning edge  56 . The two edges  54  and  56  may be H distance apart and both edges  54  and  56  may be substantially along the Y axis. The first leaning edge  54  may be offset in the +Z direction by a distance D relative to the second leaning edge  56 . 
     Juxtaposed to the second hook  30 , the outer edge  52  may define a third leaning edge  58  and a fourth leaning edge  60 . The two edges  58  and  60  may be H distance apart, and both edges  58  and  60  may be tapered towards the −Z direction as the outer edge  52  moves in the +Y direction. The third and fourth leaning edges  58  and  60  may be located at about the same location along the Z axis; or the distance between the edge  58  and base  21 , and the distance between the edge  60  and the base  21  may be about the same. The side wall may have a first elongated opening  62  adapted to receive the spring  34 . The sidewall may also have a second opening  64  elongated along the longitudinal axis of the bracket  18 . The latching mechanism  32  may engage with the second opening  64  so that the latching mechanism slides along the longitudinal axis of second opening  64 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a close up side view of the first hook  28  latched over the first lip  46  of the mounting plate  14 . In the first position, the first leaning edge  54  is adjacent to the first lip  46  and the second leaning edge  56  is adjacent to the second lip  50 ; and with the first and second lips being offset by the distance D, and the first and second leaning edges being offset by a similar distance D, the base  21  of the second panel mounting bracket  18  may be positioned substantially in an upright position or along the Y axis. The first hook  36  of the latching mechanism  32  engages the second lip  50  to securely anchor the bracket  18  onto the mounting plate  14 . The spring  34  may apply sufficient force to the first hook  36  so that the bracket  18  does not unintentionally disengage with the mounting plate  14 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , in the first position, the brackets  16  and  18  may attach the monitor  12  onto the mounting plate  14  in a substantially upright manner. Note that the depth of the stopper  40  may be adjusted to offset the variances with the walls such as when the wall is not perfectly vertical. 
       FIG. 6  shows rear perspective view of the first panel mounting bracket  16 . The latching mechanism  32  may be slideably engaged with the side wall  26 . The latching mechanism  32  may include a strap  66  with a handle  68  at its end. The strap  66  may have a plurality of holes  70  adapted to receive screws so that the strap  66  may be attached to the mechanism  32 . The length of the strap  66  may be adjusted depending on the holes which are used to attach the strap onto the mechanism  32 . This way, the location of the two handles  68  for each of the brackets  16  and  18  may be positioned just above the bottom of the monitor depending on the size of the monitor. As the user pulls down on the two handles  68 , the first hooks  36  releases from the second lip  50  to allow the two brackets  16  and  18  to disengage with the plate  14 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the mount system  10  in a second position where the second hooks  30  from the brackets  16  and  18  are used to latch over the first lip  46  of the mounting plate  14 .  FIG. 8  shows the side view of the bracket  18  in the second position, where the bracket  18  tilts down angle θ relative the XY plane or the wall  42 . In the second position, the third leaning edge is adjacent to the first lip  46 , and the fourth leaning edge is adjacent to the second lip  50 ; and with the first and second lips  46  and  50  offset by distance D, the third leaning edge  58  may be farther away from the wall  42  than the fourth leaning edge  60  to tilt the base  21  of the bracket  18  downward. The second hook  38  of the latching mechanism  32  engages the second lip  50  to securely anchor the bracket  18  onto the mounting plate  14 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a rear perspective view of the mount system  10  in the second position. To release the brackets  16  and  18  from the mounting plate  14 , the handles  68  may be pulled down towards the −Y direction, which causes the second hooks  38  to release from the second lip  50 . This allows the bracket  18  to be released from the mounting plate  14  or tilt the bracket  18  upwards to allow access to the rear bottom side of the monitor connect the cables and power cords. 
     Note that a variety of factors may determine the tilt angle θ such as the depth of the first flange  44  relative to the second flange  48 . Another factor is the location of the second hook  30  along the longitudinal axis of the bracket  18 . For instance, if the second hook  30  is located in −Y direction relative to the current location, then the tilt angle θ may be increased. As described above, the mount system  10  may be used as a flush mount or a fixed tilt mount depending on the application by latching the first hook  28  or the second hook  30 , respectively, onto the mounting plate  14 . 
     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. For instance, the first and second lips  46  and  50  may not be offset; rather the first and second edges  54  and  56  may be located at about the same location for the flush position, and the third and fourth leaning edges  58  and  52  may be offset to provide the tilt on the bracket. In another example, the depth of the stopper  40  may be adjustable to provide variable positioning between the flush and tilt positioning. Yet in another example, one panel mounting bracket may be provided instead of two panel mounting brackets. In this example, the one panel mounting bracket may have a base between two side walls, and the two side walls may have the hook patterns described above. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.