Abstract:
A low profile projector mount for media projectors, enabling images of a media projector to be sufficiently aligned with a projection screen upon which the images are to be displayed. The alignment of the low profile projector mount is achieved through pitch, roll, and/or yaw adjustment mechanisms incorporated into the low profile projector mount. The low profile projector mount can be flush mounted to a ceiling or attached to an extension column or other intermediary support system. A quick-release system allows a projector attached to the low profile, projector mount to be removed without disturbing the low profile, projector mount. In addition, retractable members for effectuating the pitch, roll, and/or yaw adjustments are utilized.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/881,807, filed Jan. 19, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to mounting systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to mounting systems for use with devices such as media projectors. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. 
         [0004]    Display devices such as media projectors offer an alternative to traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions and monitors, and more recently to flat panel displays such as liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma screen televisions and monitors. Media projectors operate by projecting a display either onto a projection screen or from behind a projection screen. Positioning a media projector to project a display onto a display screen traditionally required placing the media projector on a table or other surface at a required distance from the display screen. Because the required distance could put the media projector behind viewers situated in front of the projection screen, it was a common occurrence for a viewer to inadvertently block the display being projected from the media projector. Therefore, positioning a media projector on a table or similar surface was undesirable. 
         [0005]    To prevent having viewers or other objects inadvertently block the projected display, ceiling-mounted projectors were developed. However, conventional projector mounts are often large and unwieldy to install, require ample ceiling support, and are visually unappealing. In particular, conventional projector mounts use a plurality of fasteners, thus requiring the use of tools to adjust for positioning the media projector and for positioning the conventional projector mount itself. For example, a special installer is oftentimes required to re-adjust image alignment of the media projector, for example, and for removing a media projector from the conventional projector mount in order to service the media projector. Furthermore, the plurality of fasteners tended to easily slip or move out of alignment when adjusting the conventional projector mounts. In addition, conventional projector mounts do not provide an easy and convenient system and method of making necessary adjustments to enable the display being cast to be satisfactorily aligned with the projector screen. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Various embodiments of the present invention provide a projector mount for use with a variety of devices, especially media projectors. A media projector is operatively connected to a connection block, for example, via an adapter, where the connection block is then engaged with a projector mount body. The projector mount body in turn can be flush mounted to a ceiling or similar support structure. Alternatively, the projector mount body can be attached to an extension column at a first end, where a second end of the extension column is attached to the ceiling or similar support structure. The projector mount enables images of a media projector to be sufficiently aligned with a projection screen upon which the images are to be displayed. The alignment of the projector mount is achieved through pitch and roll adjustment mechanisms incorporated into the projector mount utilizing worm gears working in conjunction with worms. Use of the worm gears provides easy yet secure adjustment of the projector mount. Alternatively, lead screws can be used in place of the worms to effectuate the same adjustment mechanisms. Alignment of the projector mount with regard to yaw to achieved by manually rotating the projector mount. 
         [0007]    The various embodiments of the present invention allow for an aesthetically clean and pleasing appearance to ceiling mounted media projectors. Installation of the projector mount and the media projector attached thereto is convenient, as is configuring and adjusting the projector mount and the media projector according to desired yaw, pitch, roll, and height. Fewer are needed for installing and no tools are necessary for adjusting the projector mount, where any adjustments made to the projector mount are securely maintained. In addition, the worm gear adjustment mechanisms allow for more precise adjustments on a smaller scale than previously provided. 
         [0008]    These and other advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a projector mount constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a first side view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a second side view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a third side view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a first perspective view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a second perspective view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a third perspective view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a fourth perspective view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is fourth side view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a first cutout side view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a second cutout side view of the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  shows a method of installing an extension column onto the projector mount of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of an adapter for use in conjunction with the projector mount of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    The various embodiments of the present invention provide a projector mount in which a media projector can be conveniently and easily mounted. The projector mount can be adjusted via a plurality of adjustment knobs driven by worms working in conjunction with worm gears, thus affecting an orientation of the media projector and an image or display projected from the media projector in a variety of directions with regard to yaw, pitch, and roll. Alternatively, lead screws can be utilized in place of the worms. In addition to easily adjusting the orientation of the projector mount, the projector mount only be adjusted via the plurality of adjustment knobs. For example, manually moving the media projector or the projector mount without utilizing the adjustment knobs is not possible. Because the adjustment of the media projector orientation within the projector mount can only be achieved using the plurality of adjustment knobs in conjunction with the worm gears, the orientation is more likely to remain fixed. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a projector mount  100  constructed in accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the projector mount  100  can be comprised of a plurality of elements, for example, a projector mount body  101 , a captive screw  105 , an extension column cavity  110 , a roll adjustment knob  115 , at least four yaw adjustment grooves  120  in one embodiment, a pitch adjustment knob  130 , and a directional indicator  135 . It should be noted that the directional indicator  135  is a substantially triangular and/or arrow-like indicator for indicating a frontwards orientation of the projector mount body  101 . However, any shape can be utilized as a directional indicator and other orientations, e.g., sides and rear, can be indicated. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  7 ,  10 ,  11 , and  14  show additional elements which can be included as part of the projector mount  100 , such as a connection block  125 , an adapter  126  (one such adapter is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. D513,470 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and a yaw lock screw  140 . It should be noted that although the projector mount body  101  is shown to be substantially circular, the projector mount body  101  can also be configured as, but not limited to other shapes such as, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, etc. The shape of the projector mount body  101  can be altered as described to adapt to various mounting requirements. For example, if the mounting position of the projector mount  100  is at a corner of a ceiling, a triangularly shaped projector mount body  101  would allow the projector mount  100  to be mounted further “into” the corner than if the projector mount body  101  was circular. 
         [0026]    The adapter  126  can be comprised of an adapter plate  127  and at least one connector channel  128 . The adapter  126  functions as a mechanism for attaching various types of media projectors to the connection block  125 . In  FIG. 14 , the media projector can be secured to the adapter plate  127  using four connector channels  128 . The adapter plate  127  is in turn operatively engaged with the connection block  125 . It should be noted that the although the shape of the adapter  126  is shown as being substantially circular, it could be configured with other shapes, as long as the adapter  126  can operatively engage the connection block  125  in the manner described above. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2 and 7  show how the pitch adjustment knob  130  can be used to achieve pitch adjustment. A user can rotate the pitch adjustment knob  130  in either one of two directions. In other words, the pitch adjustment knob  130  can be rotated about an axis substantially defined by the pitch adjustment rod  130 . Rotating the pitch adjustment knob  130  results in the rotation of the pitch adjustment worm  132 , thus engaging the pitch adjustment worm gear  133 . It should be noted that the engaging of the pitch adjustment worm gear  133  by the pitch adjustment worm  132  can include a plurality of helical grooves, for example, that make up the pitch adjustment worm  132  frictionally contacting a surface of the pitch adjustment worm gear  133 . Alternatively, the pitch adjustment worm gear  133  can be made up of plurality of teeth or spurs incorporated onto the surface of the pitch adjustment worm gear  133 . 
         [0028]    The pitch adjustment worm gear  133  is configured as a semicircular protrusion on the connection block  125  that, when engaged with the pitch adjustment worm  132 , forces one side of the entire connection block  125  to be raised or lowered. It should be noted that the protrusion is not limited to being semicircular in shape, but can also be circular or any other appropriate shape. Rotating the pitch adjustment knob  130  in a first direction, for example, can force a front portion of the connection block  125  to be raised and a rear portion to be lowered, as indicated by arrow  116 . Therefore, the connection block  125  is effectively canted to the rear. Rotating the pitch adjustment knob  130  in an opposite direction can force the front portion of the connection block  125  to be lowered and the rear portion to be raised, thus effectively canting the connection block  125  forward, as also indicated by the arrow  116 . It should be noted that the pitch adjustment knob  130  can be set to raise or lower the front or rear portions of the connection block  125  depending on the helical orientation of the plurality of grooves comprising the pitch adjustment worm  132 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows that the roll adjustment knob  115  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the pitch adjustment knob  130 . The roll adjustment knob  115  operates in conjunction with a roll adjustment worm (not shown) also oriented perpendicularly to the pitch adjustment worm  132 . Like adjusting pitch as described above, rotating the roll adjustment knob  115  induces the roll adjustment worm to engage a roll adjustment worm gear (not shown). However, the movement induced by the rotation of the roll adjustment knob  115  results in the connection block  125  and a media projector connected thereto canting either to a leftward direction or to a rightward direction, as shown by arrow  117  in  FIG. 3 . Again, the direction of rotation necessary to cant the connection block  125  and the media projector towards the left or right merely depends on the helical orientation of grooves, for example, that make up the roll adjustment worm. In addition,  FIG. 8  shows pivot points  145  about which the connection block  125  pivots to effectually perform the leftwards and rightwards canting of the connection block  125  and/or the media projector connected thereto. 
         [0030]    The various embodiments of the present invention utilize retractable knobs, such as pitch and roll adjustment knobs  130  and  115 , respectively. Therefore, the pitch and roll adjustment knobs  130  and  115  remain in a retracted or “hidden” position when not being used to adjust pitch and roll as shown in  FIGS. 1-12 . However, when a user desires to adjust the pitch of the connection block  125 , for example, the user pulls the pitch adjustment knob  130  in a direction substantially away from the projector mount body  101  and commences rotating the pitch adjustment knob  130 . When the desired adjustments have been made, the pitch adjustment knob  130  can be put back to its retracted position. Therefore, a cleaner aesthetic is provided to the entire look of the projector mount  100 . It should be noted that various mechanisms that allow for the retracting or hiding of the pitch and roll adjustment knobs  130  and  115  can be used. In addition, it should be noted that a tool can be used to operate the pitch and roll adjustment knobs  130  and  115  when they are in their respective, retracted positions. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  6 , and  9  illustrate how the various embodiments of the present invention allow for yaw adjustment, where yaw can refer to the swiveling or rotating of a media projector (not shown) about an axis defined by the extension column cavity  110 . To adjust yaw, at least one fastener (not shown), in the form of a threaded rod in one embodiment, is secured through any one of the yaw adjustment grooves  120  to a ceiling or support structure. Therefore, the projector mount body  101  and therefore, the media projector connected thereto, can be manually rotated or swiveled by a user, allowing the at least one rod to travel within at least one of the yaw adjustment grooves  120 . Greater yaw adjustment can be achieved by lengthening the yaw adjustment grooves  120 . It should be noted that by utilizing the at least one rod, the projector mount  100  can be flush mounted to a ceiling or support structure because the at least one rod acts as a securing rod as well if the ceiling comprises a wood or other material penetrable by the at least one rod. Alternatively, if the ceiling is, for example, concrete, concrete anchors (not shown) can be utilized in conjunction with the at least one rod to secure the projector mount body  101  to the ceiling. 
         [0032]    Alternatively,  FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate another method of mounting the projector mount  100  to a ceiling according to the various embodiments of the present invention. The projector mount body  101  is mounted to an extension column  150 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the extension column  150  is threaded, allowing it to be screwed into an extension column cavity  110  configured into the projector mount body  101 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the extension column cavity  110  includes a plurality of thread grooves  155  for accepting the extension column  150 . The extension column  150  is then mounted in an appropriate manner to a ceiling, for example, a u-bolt ceiling mounting system. This allows the projector mount  100  to be secured to a ceiling truss, for example. When an extension column is utilized with the projector mount  100 , a desired degree of yaw can be achieved simply by rotating the projector mount body  101  in relation to the extension column  150 , i.e., threading more or less of the extension column  150  into the extension column cavity  110 . Once the desired degree of yaw is achieved, the yaw lock screw  140  is tightened, thereby frictionally engaging the thread grooves  155  of the extension column  150  and preventing movement relative thereto. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 2-4 ,  10 , and  12  show various side views of the projector mount  100 , respectively, while  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8  show various bottom and perspective views of the projector mount  100 . As illustrated, the connection block  125  is attached below the projector mount body  101  so that when the projector mount  100  is mounted to a ceiling or similar support structure, the projector mount body  101  is oriented between the ceiling and the connection block  125 . In addition, the media projector can be attached to the adapter  126 , where the adapter  126 , in turn, can be secured to the connection block  125 . This allows a media projector to be secured to the connection block  125  so that when the connection block  125  is attached to the projector mount body  101  as described above, the media projector also is oriented below the projector mount body  101 . The connection block  125  can engage the projector mount body  101  for example, by being slid into a slot (not shown) configured to accept the connection block  125 , although other methods of attaching the connection block  125  can be utilized. As described above, when a media projector is attached to the connection block  125  via the adapter  126 , the slidable engagement feature allows the projector to be easily slid into and out of position. The connection block  125  can, in addition, be locked into position via a friction-actuated stop or lock, such as the captive screw  105 , or another type of quick-release mechanism (not shown). 
         [0034]    It should be noted that whenever a worm gear is used to provide pitch and roll adjustment, such adjustments can only be made by rotating the pitch and roll adjustment knobs  130  and  115 . In other words, the pitch and roll adjustment gears engage the pitch and roll adjustment pinions, respectively, in such a way that manual adjustments, e.g., a user pushing or pulling the media projector, will not affect image alignment. Also, because of this engagement feature, no other setting or locking mechanism for maintaining a desired pitch or roll, is needed, although one can be utilized. 
         [0035]    It should also be noted that all or some of the elements comprising the projector mount  100  described above can be cast, forged, or sintered out of a metal material, for example, aluminum, as opposed to being machined. Cast aluminum provides sufficient strength to secure most projectors to a ceiling, while being light enough in weight to allow for easy adjustment and installation of the projector mount  100 . In addition, the aluminum can be painted, anodized, or treated with other appropriate coatings to blend in with the ceiling and/or other surrounding structures, as well as provide some measure of scratch resistance. Alternatively, other metallic and non-metallic material or materials and manufacturing processes can be used to construct the projector mount  100  and its various elements. 
         [0036]    The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The features of the embodiments described herein may be combined in all possible combinations of methods, systems and devices.