Abstract:
A mount for removably attaching a flat panel electronic display device to a fixed structure includes a first bracket operably couplable to the flat panel electronic display device and a second bracket operably couplable to the fixed structure. The first bracket includes a pair of opposing hooks or other engaging structures. The second bracket has a body portion presenting a first edge for receiving one of the pair of opposing hooks and at least one latch portion operably coupled with the body portion. The latch portion presents a second edge for receiving the other of the pair of opposing hooks. The latch portion is selectively shiftable between a first position engaged with the first bracket and a second position clear of the first bracket.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/614,092 filed Sep. 29, 2004, and entitled UNIVERSAL MOUNT FOR FLAT PANEL DISPLAYS, hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to mounts for flat panel displays, and more specifically to mounts for large flat panel displays such as plasma displays.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Flat panel displays have become an increasingly popular substitute for television tubes and computer CRT&#39;s (cathode ray tubes). Flat panel displays are typically mounted on a structure, such as a wall, and ideally the angle of the flat panel display relative to vertical can be adjusted for optimum viewing. Various positioning devices have been used, such as friction based hinges, mechanical linkages with springs or other biasing devices, and various mechanical latches.  
         [0004]     A type of flat panel display known as a “plasma” display has become especially popular for large screen display devices. While plasma displays offer a large screen size in a relatively compact package, they are relatively expensive. As a result, it is often advantageous to move a plasma display between multiple locations in order to maximize usage.  
         [0005]     Plasma displays are typically heavy and relatively delicate, and consequently, mounts for plasma displays must be capable of securely supporting the weight of the device. Numerous prior art mounting devices exist that are capable of supporting a plasma display. These previous mounting devices, however, due to the need to provide a secure attachment, typically have cumbersome latching and locking mechanisms which may be difficult to maneuver, particularly for a user attempting to mount a heavy plasma display alone. Hence, there is still a need in the industry for a secure mount for a flat panel display that is easily maneuverable by an individual user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention meets the need of the industry for a secure mount for a flat panel display that is easily maneuverable by an individual user. According to an embodiment of the invention, a mount for removably attaching a flat panel electronic display device to a fixed structure includes a first bracket operably couplable to the flat panel electronic display device and a second bracket operably couplable to the fixed structure. The first bracket includes a pair of opposing hooks or other engaging structures. The second bracket has a body portion presenting a first edge for receiving one of the pair of opposing hooks and at least one latch portion operably coupled with the body portion. The latch portion presents a second edge for receiving the other of the pair of opposing hooks. The latch portion is selectively shiftable between a first position and a second position relative to the body portion, wherein when the first one of the pair of opposing hooks of the first bracket is engaged with the first edge of the second bracket, the second edge is engaged with the second one of the pair of opposing hooks to secure the first bracket and the second bracket together when the latch portion is positioned in the first position and the second edge is not engaged with the second one of the pair of opposing hooks to enable the first bracket and the second bracket to be separated when the latch portion is positioned in the second position.  
         [0007]     In an embodiment of the invention, at least one hook bracket having a pair of opposing hooks is affixed to either the plasma display or the structure upon which the plasma display is to be mounted. A corresponding interface bracket is affixed to the other of the plasma display and the structure. The interface bracket has a body portion with a first edge for receiving a first one of the opposing hooks of the hook bracket and at least one latch portion operably coupled with the first body portion. The latch portion has a second edge for receiving the second hook of the hook bracket. With the first edge engaged in the first hook of the hook bracket, the latch portion is selectively shiftable between a disengaged position, wherein the second edge is clear of the second hook, and an engaged position, wherein the second edge is engaged in the second hook to secure the plasma display in place on the structure.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, a pair of hook brackets are spaced apart on the back surface of a plasma display with the opposing hooks oriented in a vertical direction. The interface bracket has a pair of latch portions operably coupled with the body portion. The interface bracket is mounted on the fixed structure so that the first edge is oriented generally upward. In operation, with both latch portions in the disengaged position, the top hooks of the spaced-apart hook brackets, are engaged over the first edge of the interface bracket. The latch portions are then shifted to the engaged position, thereby engaging the second edge of each in a separate one of the bottom hooks of the hook bracket, securing the display in place on the interface bracket and the fixed structure to which it is attached. Removal of the plasma display is the reverse of installation.  
         [0009]     In an embodiment of the invention, each of the latch portions of the interface bracket have a plurality of slots defined therein. Each slot may have a central portion positioned at an angle relative to the horizontal and extending upward and laterally outward. Further, each slot may have a generally horizontal portion at each end, with the inward horizontal portion being generally lower than the outward horizontal portion. The body portion has a plurality of outwardly extending guide posts, and each guide post is slidably engaged in a separate one of the slots in the latch portions. The guide posts may have a enlarged retaining head on the outward end. The latch portions are selectively laterally slidable to shift between the engaged and disengaged positions. In the disengaged position, the guide posts are positioned in the inward, relatively lower, horizontal portion of the slots. As the latch portion is urged laterally inward toward the center of the body portion and the guide posts encounter the angled portion of the slots, the latch portions move downwardly as the guide posts slide in the angled slot portions, and the edges of the latch portions engage in the upwardly directed hooks of the hook brackets. When the guide posts encounter the outward, relatively higher, portions of the guide slots, the latch portions may be moved further laterally inward to the end of the slots to inhibit easy disengagement of the edges of the latch portions from the hooks. Again, removal is the reverse of installation. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from the back side of an interface bracket of a mount according to the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a front elevation view of the interface bracket of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a side elevation view of the interface bracket of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a mount according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a mount according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of an interface channel according to the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the interface channel of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the interface channel of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a hook plate and tilt plate assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hook plate according to the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the hook plate and tilt plate assembly of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 8  in an assembled condition;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a hook bracket according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a hook bracket according to another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a tilt adjustable embodiment of a mount according to the present invention attached to a flat panel display having one latch portion in a latched position and another latch portion in an unlatched position;  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a non-tilt adjustable embodiment of a mount according to the present invention attached to a flat panel display having one latch portion in a latched position and another latch portion in an unlatched position;  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a mount according to the present invention with a display in an intermediate stage of installation;  
         [0027]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a mount according to the present invention with a display in another intermediate stage of installation;  
         [0028]      FIG. 16  is a partial perspective view of a mount according to the present invention with a display in yet another intermediate stage of installation;  
         [0029]      FIG. 17  is a partial perspective view of a mount according to the present invention with a display in still another intermediate stage of installation;  
         [0030]      FIG. 18  is a rear elevation view of an interface bracket according to the invention with the latch portions in the unlatched position;  
         [0031]      FIG. 19  is a rear elevation view of the interface bracket of  FIG. 18  with the latch portions in the latched position;  
         [0032]      FIG. 20  is a close-up perspective view of a locking flange and corresponding interface bracket flange according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 21  is a close-up perspective view of the latch portion of the interface bracket in the latched position and engaging a hook bracket;  
         [0034]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the mount of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a lower portion of the mount of  FIG. 22  depicting one mode of attaching the interface brackets to a display;  
         [0036]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the upper portion of the mount and mode of attachment depicted in  FIG. 23 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 25  is a rear elevation view of the mount of  FIG. 22  attached to a display using the mode depicted in  FIGS. 23 and 24 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a portion of the mount of  FIG. 22  showing another mode of attaching the interface brackets to the display;  
         [0039]      FIG. 27  is a rear elevation view of the mount of  FIG. 22  attached to a display using the mode depicted in  FIG. 26 ; and  
         [0040]      FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the mount of the present invention depicting an optional mount for a display accessory.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]     Mount  30  of the present invention generally includes interface bracket  32  and hook brackets  34 . Interface bracket  32  generally includes body portion  36  with a pair of laterally slidable latch portions  38 . Body portion  36  has lower  40  and upper  42  mounting flanges, each with a plurality of elongate apertures  44  for receiving fasteners (not depicted) to fasten interface bracket  32  to a fixed structure such as the wall or column of a building. Raised portion  46  is provided between mounting flanges  40 ,  42 , defining a latch recess  48  on the back side  50  of interface bracket  32 . Apertures  52  may be defined in raised portion  46  to accommodate hook brackets  34  as further described herein below. Hanger flange  54  extends upward and outward above upper mounting flange  42 , and presents upper edge  56  for receiving hook brackets  34  as also further described hereinbelow.  
         [0042]     Opposing latch portions  38  each have a plurality of guide slots  58 . Each guide slot  58  includes a central portion  60  angled upward and outwardly relative to the center of interface bracket  32 , and may include inner  62  and outer  64  portions, which are oriented generally horizontal. Guide posts  66  extend outwardly from the back side  50  of interface bracket  32  into latch recess  48 , and are received in guide slots  58 . Each guide post  66  may have an enlarged head portion  68  having a larger diameter than the width of guide slot  58 . These enlarged head portions  68  serve to retain latch portions  38  on body portion  36 . Guide posts  66  may be threaded fasteners such as screws or bolts.  
         [0043]     As depicted in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , latch portions  38  are selectively shiftable between an unlatched position, depicted in  FIG. 18 , and a latched position, depicted in  FIG. 19 . In the unlatched position, guide posts  66  are positioned in inner portion  62  of guide slots  58 . As latch portions  38  are urged inwardly in the direction of the arrows toward the center of interface bracket  32 , guide posts  66  encounter angled central portion  60  of guide slots  58 . Latch portions  38  move inwardly and downward as central portions  60  of guide slots  58  move around guide posts  66 . When guide posts  66  reach the upper limit of central portion  60 , latch portions  32  may be moved further inward so that guide posts  66  reach the outer ends of outer portions  64  of guide slots  58 , and latch portions are positioned in the fully latched position, depicted in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0044]     Latch portions  32  may include a locking flange  70  at outer end  72 . When latch portions  32  are positioned in the latched position, locking flange  70  confronts corresponding flange  74  on interface bracket  32 . Locking flange  70  and flange  74  may include corresponding apertures  76  for receiving a padlock (not depicted) and/or corresponding apertures  78  for receiving a self-tapping screw (not depicted) to lock latch portions  32  in the latched position.  
         [0045]     Hook bracket  34  generally includes interface channel  80  and hook plate  82 . Optionally, tilt plate  84  may be included to enable vertical tilting adjustment of a display as further described herein below. Interface channel  80  is depicted in  FIGS. 4, 5 , and  5 A, and generally includes a u-shaped body portion  86  having a center portion  88  with a pair of opposing side flanges  90 ,  92 . Center portion  88  may have a plurality of round apertures  94  and elongate apertures  96  for receiving fasteners (not depicted) to attach hook bracket  34  to the back side  98  of a display  100  as depicted in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . Electrical isolation for the display may be provided with fasteners and/or washers made from appropriately electrically isolating materials as disclosed in U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/821,395, commonly owned by the owners of the present invention, and hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. One or both of side flanges  90 ,  92 , may have a plurality of apertures  102  for receiving fasteners  104  to couple interface channel  80  with hook plate  82  or tilt plate  84 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , apertures  102  may be square to accommodate carriage bolts to be used for fasteners  104 .  
         [0046]     As depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , hook plate  82  has opposing upper  106  and lower  108  hooks. Upper hook  106  defines upper slot  107 , which is dimensioned so as to be snugly receivable on upper edge  56  of hanger flange  54  of interface bracket  32 . Lower hook  108  defines lower slot  110 , which is dimensioned to receive the lower edge  112  of latch portions  32 . In the non-adjustable embodiment of  FIG. 7 , round apertures  114  are provided in hook plate  82  to receive fasteners such as carriage bolts  104  to couple hook plate  82  to interface channel  80 .  
         [0047]     A tiltably adjustable embodiment of hook bracket  34  is depicted in  FIGS. 6, 8 , and  9 . In this embodiment, hook plate  82  has a pair of round apertures  116  flanking a curved slot  118 . Tilt plate  84  has central round aperture  120  and curved slots  122 . Round apertures  124  receive carriage bolts  104  to fasten tilt plate  84  to interface channel  80 . Fasteners  126  extend through round apertures  116  and bushings  128 , which ride in curved slots  112 . Fasteners  126  are secured in place with nuts  130 . Nuts  130  may be locking nuts to increase the overall security of the installation. Friction washers  132  and standard washers  134  may be provided to facilitate smooth sliding motion between tilt plate  84  and hook plate  82 . Fastener  136  extends through central aperture  120  and curved slot  118 , and is securing in place with thumb nut  138 . Again, friction washers  140  may be provided to facilitate smooth sliding motion between tilt plate  84  and hook plate  82 . It will be appreciated that curved slots  122  may be configured and positioned so as to locate the center of tilting rotation proximate the center of gravity of the display, as disclosed in co-pending U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/449,833, commonly owned by the owners of the present invention, and hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0048]     In operation, a pair of hook brackets  34  are spaced apart to the back side  98  of a display  100 , so that hook plates  82  are generally vertically positioned with upper hook  106  on top. Latch portions  32  are positioned in the unlatched position, and upper hooks  106  are engaged over upper edge  56  of hanger flange  54  of interface bracket  32 . Lower hooks  108  extend through apertures  52  so that lower slots  110  defined by lower hooks  108  vertically align with lower edges  112  of latch portions  32 . Latch portions  32  are then urged inwardly toward the center of interface bracket  32  and move inwardly and downward as guide slots  58  slide around guide posts  66 , until lower edges  112  of both latch portions  32  are engaged in lower slots  110  and guide posts  66  are positioned at the outer ends of guide slots  58 . In this position, locking flanges  70  confront corresponding flanges  74  on interface bracket  32 , and the latch portions  32  may be locked in the latched position as described herein above. Removal of the display from mount  30  is the reverse of installation.  
         [0049]     One in position, the tilt position of display  100  may be adjusted in the tilt embodiment of the invention by slightly loosening thumb nuts  138 , enabling hook plates  82  to slide up or down relative to tilt plate  84 , guided by curved slots  118 ,  122 . Once in the desired tilt orientation, thumb nuts  138  may be tightened to frictionally hold the display  100  in position.  
         [0050]     Other configurations are contemplated within the scope of the present invention, including for example, configurations wherein hook brackets  34  are attached to the fixed structure and interface bracket  32  is attached to the display. It will of course be appreciated that, in such a configuration, interface bracket  32  and hook brackets  34  would be inverted so that upper edge  56  of interface bracket  32  faces downward. Further, it will be appreciated that other embodiments of the invention may include only one hook bracket  34 , or any other number of hook brackets. It will also be appreciated that functionally similar engaging structures other than hooks may be used, such as opposing channels, flanges, or recesses.  
         [0051]     In one alternative embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIGS. 22-28 , opposing L-shaped interface brackets  140 ,  142 , are coupled with hook brackets  34 . Interface brackets  140 ,  142 , may include a plurality of apertures  144  disposed at predetermined locations corresponding to fastener receiving locations of particular displays, thereby allowing for varying modes of attachment to displays of different makes, models, and sizes.  
         [0052]     In one example, depicted in  FIGS. 23-25 , fasteners  146  extend through apertures  144  and are threaded into holes  148  in display  150 . Spacers  152 , which may be made from any suitable material such as nylon, are employed to space interface brackets  140 ,  142 , apart from the back side  154  of display  150 . In the display model of the depicted example, holes  148  are congregated near the bottom edge  156  of display  150 . Resilient bumpers  158  are positioned between display  150  and each interface bracket  140 , 142 , proximate bracket top edge  160  to maintain proper spacing of the interface brackets  140 ,  142 , from display  150 . In another example, depicted in  FIGS. 26-27 , holes  148  are positioned proximate both bottom edge  156  and top edge  162  of display  150 , enabling interface brackets  140 ,  142 , to be attached to display  150  proximate both the bottom and top edges of the bracket. It will be appreciated that interface brackets  140 ,  142 , may be provided with any number of apertures  144  positioned so as to correspond with fastener receiving locations for any desired display device. Further, it will be appreciated that brackets  140 ,  142 , may be spaced apart any desired distance to accommodate displays of varying sizes.  
         [0053]      FIG. 28  depicts one embodiment of an optional bracket  164  for mounting an accessory  166  such as a display power box. Bracket  164  generally includes a body portion  166  configured and dimensioned to receive accessory  166 , and having a pair of hooks  168 . Hooks  168  may be hooked over upper edge  56  of hanger flange  54  of interface bracket  32 . It will be appreciated that bracket  164  may be configured to receive and mount any desired accessory for which space allows between the back side  154  of display  150  and the wall or other fixed structure to which the display is mounted.