Abstract:
Improvements in a mount for attaching a television of projector to an overhead or ground structure is disclosed. The mount allows for spin, side to side and front to back angle adjustment. The adjustment components are formed from the present projector mount uses metal component having a rack comprising a plurality of formed teeth that are engageable in the recessed side of a crosshead screwdriver that is trademarked as a Phillips screwdriver. The recesses of the crosshead screwdriver act as a pinion gear in the rack to adjust the mounted angle of a projector on the projector mount. This configuration reduces parts count, size and cost without compromising functionality. The axis of rotation of both the side-to-side and front-to-back pass through the projector mount.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to improvements in an adjustable projector mount. More particularly, the present projector mount uses metal component having a rack comprising a plurality of formed teeth that are engageable in the recessed side of a crosshead screwdriver that is trademarked as a Phillips screwdriver. The recesses of the crosshead screwdriver act as a pinion gear in the rack to adjust the mounted angle of a projector on the projector mount. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Television and computer projectors are either placed on a table or are mounted to the ceiling. When these devices are mounted they must often be adjusted to project the image onto a screen or wall. The adjustment often requires changing the vertical and or rotational angle of the projector. Minor angular changes will have a great effect on where the image is being shown because the distance from the adjustment point to the pivot is amplified based upon the distance the image is being projected. Early projector mounts used frictional slides or jack screws where an installer would loosen or turn one or more threaded clamps and rotate or move the projector on the slides. Later versions of projector mounts used gears that a user turned to alter the angle. The use of gears improved the installers&#39; ability to make minor changes, but the addition of the gears increased the mounting height and complexity of the projector mount. Exemplary examples of projector mounts using this technology are disclosed below herein. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,654 issued Oct. 19, 1982 to Franz Werner et al and U.S. Design Pat. No. D552,454 issued Oct. 8, 2007 to Shaun Fynn disclose frictional slides or swivels where the angle is adjusted by manually gripping the monitor or projector and physically rotating or turning the monitor or projector. While these patents disclose adjustable projector mounts, because of the backlash that is associated with frictional systems these mounts do not allow for finite positioning of the projected beam of a projector. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,068 issued Mar. 28, 2000 to Joseph Tcherny discloses a Low Profile LCD Projector Mount. The projector stand can be slid and locked into a base or lower element. This patent only provides front to back rotation of the mounting bracket. Adjustment is performed by loosening a screw clamp and manually rocking the LCD projector to achieve the desired angle. There are no provisions to alter the side to side orientation and because of mechanical backlash re-positioning of the projector would require several attempts. 
         [0005]    U.S. Published Application 2007/0257181 published Nov. 8, 2008 to Jay Dittmer et al., discloses an Adjustable Projector Mount using integrated rack and integrated pinion gears to make adjustments to the angle of the LCD projector. The inclusion of the gears makes angular adjustment simpler with minimal backlash, but the integration of the gears, rack and pinion creates additional height and complexity to the projector mount. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a projector mount where adjustment of the front to back and side to side is made with the head of a screw driver providing the function of the pinion gear. The proposed projector mount provides this function using integrated rack gears on the projector mount that are engageable and adjustable with a standard cross point screw driver. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the projector mount for the angular adjustment to be made with a rack formed in the side walls of the projector mount. These side walls already exist to provide structural and bearing surfaces on the vertical sides of the projector mount. A pivot pin is placed through the side walls to create a fulcrum that the rack is lifted against to alter the angle of the projector mount. The fulcrum exists on multiple sides of the projector mount to allow separate adjustment of the front-to-back angle and the side-to-side projecting angle. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the projector mount for the front-to-back and side-to-side adjustment is with the use of a cross head screwdriver that is trademarked as a Phillips screwdriver. The head of a cross head screwdriver is placed into a hole corresponding to the approximate diameter of the shank diameter of the cross head screwdriver where the head forms a pinion gear that engages into rack gear in the projector mount to adjust the projection angle. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the projector mount to provide spin adjustment to the projector mount to accommodate projection direction if the projector mount is not installed facing straight onto the projector screen or wall. Spin angle adjustments may be necessary when the ceiling mount is secured to a structural member that is not centered with the screen or wall or when installation in the center of the screen or wall is not possible. 
         [0010]    It is another object projector mount is to construct the projector mount in a low profile to allow the projector mount to be mounted close to the ceiling. The need to mount the projector is close proximity to the ceiling allows for installations where there is limited room height. Inclusion of gears into the projector mount that aide in angular adjustment usually add additional height to the mounting apparatus that are not present in the pending design. 
         [0011]    It is still another object of the projector mount to produce a projector mount is a more cost effective price. The elimination of parts, or the combination of parts, is the most effective means to reduce the cost of production. Cost reduction is often accomplished with the loss of functionality. In the pending application the rack is formed into existing structure and the pinion gear is provided using the cross head screw driver that an installer would normally use to install the projector mount. All of the desired features remain in the pending application with a lower cost of manufacturing. 
         [0012]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the projector mount showing the mount on a ceiling extension tube and a LCD type projector. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded diagram of the projector mount showing the various components. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the adjustment components from  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a back view of the projector mount. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a left view of the projector mount. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a cross head screw driver engaged in the rack. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a detailed view of the cross head screw driver engaged in the rack from  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the projector mount showing the mount  10  on a ceiling extension tube and a LCD type projector  12  having a lens  14  that projects and image onto a screen or wall. This figure shows an LCD type projector mounted on a down tube  11 , but the projector  12  could be mounted on a floor mounted post in an inverted orientation or on a side wall if desired. The down tube  11  is secured into a pipe thread and is locked from rotation with a set screw  95 . The projector is secured or screwed into the projector with bolts  26 , screws or the like. The securing mechanism is with a series of arms  20 - 23  that terminate on feet  25 . The arms  20 - 23  are adjustably secured to the base  50  with slots  31  that are secured with a thumb screw  30  or similar securing means. The direction and angle of the projector  12  is adjustable. A yaw  42  adjustment is made by pushing a taw adjust tab  40  to one side or another. The yaw adjustment allows the projector to be side-to-side without moving the arms or the connection with the down pipe  11 . The pitch  46  is adjustable by inserting a cross tipped screwdriver that is more commonly called a Phillips screwdriver into the pitch adjustment hole  44 . The pitch adjustment raises and lowers the location of the projected image. Greater description of the pitch adjustment is found with  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  6  and  7 . The roll  49  is adjustable by inserting a cross tipped screwdriver into the roll adjustment hole  48 . The role adjusts the side-to-side angle of projection. Greater description of the roll adjustment is found with  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  6  and  7 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded diagram of the projector mount showing the various components.  FIG. 3  shows a detailed exploded view of the adjustment components from  FIG. 2 . The dashed line  15  in  FIG. 2  identifies the components that are shown in  FIG. 3 . Item numbers may not appear in both figures but the two figures should be viewed together to understand the relationship of the components. The arms  20 - 23  are curved in shape to allow them to wrap under and around the base  50  without intersecting each other. Each arm  20 - 23  has a vertical bend  24  that provides clearance to the underside of a projector for cooling and air movement. The vertical bend  24  has a horizontal foot  25  with a hole  27  for mounting to a projector. The curved portion of each arm has an elongated slot  31  that allows each arm to slide on the bottom of the base  50 . The slot(s)  31  allows the projector mount to accommodate a variety of different size projectors with different mounting location holes. A series of holes  34  allows the arms  20 - 23  to be secured in a number of different locations on the base  50 . A screw  33  bolt or other fastening means is placed through the arm  20 - 23 , hole  34  washer  32  and into a thumb nut  30  that secures the position of each arm  20 - 23  onto the base  50 . The base  50  has two wedge locking areas  52  that the lower plate  60  slides into to secure the lower plate  60  to the base  50  with a separable coupling. 
         [0022]    The lower plate  60  has corresponding tapered sides  61  that guide and secure the lower plate  60  into the wedge locking areas  52 . Two screw recesses  51  exist for locating and securing the lower plate  60  onto the base  50 . Studs  63  on the lower plate  60  engage into the screw recesses  51  and thumb nuts  64  lock the lower plate  60  into the base  50 . Stops  62  prevent over engagement of the lower plate  60  in the base  50 . 
         [0023]    The lower base  60  has a center yaw stud  57  where a yaw adjustment tab  40  is secured to allow for side to side movement of a mounted projector. Washers  67 ,  68  are placed over the top of the yaw adjustment tab  40 . Bushing  69  is further placed on top of washer  68  where it is secured with nut  58 . The front and back sides of the lower plate  60  are bent and have a slot  56  where screws  55  travel while screws  55  are secured into the middle plate  70 . Screws  65  are used as pivot points as they pass through the lower plate  60  and into the middle plate  70 . The tip of a cross headed screw driver is placed through pitch adjustment hole  44  where the tip engages into pitch rack  71  for adjustment of the pitch. A detailed view of the engagement and adjustment is shown and described in more detail with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Screws  55  and  65  pass through washers  66 . Screws  55  and  65  can be loosened to allow for pitch  46  adjustment and then tightened to lock the pitch  46  adjustment (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The middle plate  70  is secured to the lower plate  60  through pivot screws  65 . 
         [0024]    Lever rack arm  82  is pivotally secured to the middle plate  70  with screw  72  acting as a fulcrum pivot point where it passes through washers  74 , hole  84  and into threaded hole  75  allowing the projector mount to pivot through the projector mount. The screws can be slightly tightened to provide a frictional movement of the pivot. The rack arm  82  exists on only one side between the middle plate  70  and the upper plate  80 . Slot  83  provides constrained movement of rack arm  82 . Screw  73  acts as a guide for rack arm  82  where screw  73  passes through washer  74 , slot  83  and is threaded into the middle plate  70 . The tip of a cross headed screw driver is placed through roll adjustment hole  48  (not visible in this view) where the tip engages into roll rack  81  for adjustment of the roll. A detailed view of the engagement and adjustment is shown and described in more detail with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0025]    Screws  72  and  73  can be loosened to allow for roll  48  adjustments and then tightened to lock the roll  42  adjustment (shown in  FIG. 1 ). These screws can be slightly tightened to provide some frictional movement of the roll  42 . Tube coupler  90  is secured to the upper plate  80  using screws  93  that pass through washers  94  and then into tapped holes in the tube coupler  90 . A series of arced slots  92  exist in the top plate to allow for limited rotation of the upper plate  80  on the tube coupler  90 . A set screw  95  threads through the side of the tube coupler to prevent rotation of an installed tube on the tube coupler  90 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a back view of the projector mount.  FIG. 5  shows a left view of the projector mount. Two or more of the securing arms  20 - 23  are shown in these figures with some spacing that allows air flow between a mounted projector and the projector mount. The base  50  is shown secured to the securing arms  20 - 23  with thumb nuts  30 . The yaw adjusting tab  40  is shown extending horizontally in  FIG. 4  and extending from the projector mount in  FIG. 5 . The lower plate  60  is secured onto the base  50 . The middle plate  70  connects the lower plate  60  to the upper plate  80 . The tube coupler  90  extends out the top of the upper plate  80  where it is secured with screw(s) ( 93 ). Set screw  95  is visible in  FIG. 5  to lock a down pipe (not shown) onto the tube coupler  90 . 
         [0027]    Adjustment of the roll  49  is best viewed in  FIG. 4 . To adjust the roll  49  screws  72  and  73  are loosened. A cross tipped screw driver is inserted into the roll adjust  48  hole where the flutes of the screw driver engage in the rack gear. Turning the screw driver will make the upper plate  90  pivot on screw  72 . A more detailed image and description of the engagement of the cross tipped screwdriver in the rack is shown and described in more detail with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Screw  73  will move in slot  83 . When the desired roll  49  is achieved, screws  72  and  73  will be tightened to lock the roll orientation 
         [0028]    Adjustment of the pitch  46  is best viewed in  FIG. 5 . To adjust the pitch  46  screws  55  and  65  are loosened. A cross tipped screw driver is inserted into the roll adjust  44  hole where the flutes of the screw driver engage in the rack gear. Turning the screw driver will make the middle plate  70  pivot on screw  65 . A more detailed image and description of the engagement of the cross tipped screwdriver in the rack is shown and described in more detail with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Screw  55  will move in a slot. When the desired pitch  46  is achieved, screws  55  and  65  will be tightened to lock the pitch orientation. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a cross head screw driver engaged in the rack.  FIG. 7  shows a detailed view of the cross head screw driver engaged in the rack from  FIG. 6 . Securing arms  20 ,  21 ,  23  are shown in  FIG. 6  on the bottom (or top depending upon installation orientation). The base  50  is shown secured to the securing arms  20 - 23  with thumb nuts  30 . The yaw adjusting tab  40  is shown extending horizontally in  FIG. 4  and extending from the projector mount in  FIG. 5 . The lower plate  60  is secured onto the base  50 . The middle plate  70  connects the lower plate  60  to the upper plate  80 . The tube coupler  90  extends out the top of the upper plate  80  where it is secured with screw(s) ( 93 ). Set screw  95  is visible in  FIG. 6  to lock a down pipe (not shown) onto the threads  91  of tube coupler  90 . Thumb nut(s)  64  secure the lower plate  60  to the base  50 . The yaw adjusting tab  40  is shown extending from the lower plate  60  in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 6 and 7  only show and describe adjustment of the roll  49 , but adjustment for the pitch is performed using similarly configured components and rack as a means of using a cross tipped screw driver for the function of a pinion gear on a rack to adjust the pitch. Components for adjusting the pitch include screws  55 ,  65  and pitch adjustment  44  and were shown and described with  FIG. 5 . The roll  49  adjustment is performed by loosening screws  72  and  73 . The same cross tipped screw driver that is used to loosen screws  72  and  73  can be used as a pinion gear to adjust the roll. A cross tipped screw driver  16  is inserted into the roll adjust hole where the flutes  18  of the screw driver engage in the roll adjust  48  rack gear. A detailed view within the dashed box in  FIG. 6  is shown zoomed in  FIG. 7 . In the zoomed view  7  the flutes  18  of the end of the shank of the cross tipped screwdriver  16  are shown engaged into the rack  48 . The hole the screwdriver is placed into acts as a bearing to locate the screwdriver tip  17  allowing the tip  17  to be a means for the function of acting as a pinion gear on the rack  48 . Turning the screw driver will make the upper plate  90  pivot on screw  72 . Screw  73  will move in slot  83 . When the desired roll  49  is achieved, screws  72  and  73  will be tightened to lock the roll orientation. 
         [0031]    Thus, specific embodiments of a projector mount have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.