Device suitable for suspending a component, such as a flat panel display screen, as well as an intermediate plate and a carrier

A device suitable for suspending a component, such as a flat panel display screen, which device includes a carrier comprising at least one hook or one recess and a nearby opening, as well as an intermediate plate comprising at least one recess which can be positioned over said hook or a hook which can be positioned in said recess, as well as a passage positioned coaxially opposite the opening present in the carrier. The intermediate plate further comprises a resilient strip extending substantially parallel to the intermediate plate, which strip is provided with a pin which is supported in the passage. The pin is movable against spring force from a first position, in which it is disposed in the opening in the carrier, to a second position, in which it is disposed outside said opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device suitable for suspending a component, such as a flat panel display screen.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The invention also relates to an intermediate plate and to a carrier suitable for use with such a device.

In relatively large spaces, such as exhibition buildings, ceiling-suspended display screens are frequently used for providing visitors with information they may require. Recently, flat panel display screens, such as plasma displays, have been developed. Such relatively heavy display screens must be relatively easy to suspend, so that a person will not have to lift the display screen unnecessarily long. Furthermore it must be relatively easy for an authorised person to detach the display screen again. On the other hand, accidental or unauthorized removal of the display screen must be prevented.

Consequently it is an object of the invention to provide a device which enables easy suspension of a component.

This objective is accomplished with the device according to the invention in that the device includes a carrier comprising at least one hook or one recess and a nearby opening, as well as an intermediate plate comprising at least one recess which can be positioned over said hook or a hook which can be positioned in said recess, as well as a passage positioned coaxially opposite the opening present in the carrier, which intermediate plate further comprises a resilient strip extending substantially parallel to the intermediate plate, which strip is provided with a pin which is supported in the passage, said pin being movable against spring force from a first position, in which it is disposed in the opening in the carrier, to a second position, in which it is disposed outside said opening.

The intermediate plate need to be connected to a rear side of the component, such as the flat panel display screen. The carrier need to be connected to a floor-, ceiling- or wall-mounted construction. Subsequently, the intermediate plate and the component connected thereto can be hung on a hook on the carrier via said recess.

The pin is thereby moved in a direction away from the carrier against the spring force of said strip. The moment the recess is correctly positioned over the hook, the pin will move under spring force through the passage in the intermediate plate into the opening present in the carrier. At that point, the pin has effected a locking engagement between the intermediate plate and the carrier.

One embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the intermediate plate comprises four recesses which are symmetrically disposed relative to the passage, with the strip extending diagonally between said four recesses.

This makes it possible to connect the intermediate plate to the component in four different ways, whilst at least one recess is available in each case for connection to the hook on the carrier.

Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that one end of the strip can be moved against spring force by means of an unlocking mechanism.

The movement of one end of the strip against spring force by means of an unlocking mechanism causes the pin to be moved in a direction away from the carrier, as a result of which the pin is moved out of the opening in the carrier. The intermediate plate and the component connected thereto can then be lifted off the carrier.

Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the intermediate plate comprises at least one guide which is movably connected to the intermediate plate.

The guide can be fixed to the component, and because the guide is movable relative to the intermediate plate, a desired adjustment with respect to points of attachment present on the component can be obtained.

Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that a section comprising two staggered strips as well as a bridge member interconnecting said strips is present on a side of said guide that faces away from the intermediate plate, and each strip is provided with openings.

As a result of the presence of the various openings in the strips, it is possible in practically all cases to connect the section to the component.

Like parts are indicated by corresponding numerals in the FIGS.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a device by means of which a flat panel display screen2, such as a plasma display, is connected to a vertically extended tube4via a carrier3. The carrier3and the attachment of the carrier3to the tube4form part of a separate patent application of the present applicant. As is shown inFIG. 2, the carrier3comprises a tiltable backplate5and spaced-apart hooks6formed thereon. An opening7is present in the backplate5between the hooks6.

The device1furthermore comprises an elongated intermediate plate8, which is provided with guide sections9,10on both longitudinal sides. Two guides11,12are slidably arranged over said guide sections via U-shaped edges. The guide11is movable in the direction indicated by the arrow P1and in the opposite direction, whilst the guide12is movable in the direction indicated by the arrow P2and in the opposite direction. Connected to each guide11,12by means of two sets of bolts and nuts13is a Z-shaped section14. Said Z-shaped section14extends transversely to the directions indicated by the arrows P1, P2. Each Z-shaped section comprises two staggered strips15,16, as well as a bridge member17interconnecting said strips. The strips15,16are each provided with elongated openings18, with the openings18present in the strips15,16being staggered relative to each other. The openings18have different lengths. The sets of bolts and nuts13extend through openings present in the strips15. The display screen2is connected to the Z-shaped sections14by means of bolts19extending through openings18present in the strips16. Every commercially available flat panel display screen is provided with threaded holes at the rear side, via which the display screen can be suspended. The spacing between said holes varies according to the particular type of display screen, however. In the situation that is shown inFIG. 1, the horizontal spacing between the holes18in the strips16can be adapted to the spacing between the openings present in the display screen2by moving the guides11,12further out of the plate8. Since the openings in the strips16are elongated, it is possible in practically all cases to find at least two openings18through which bolts can be passed after adjustment of the horizontal spacings, which bolts subsequently fit in openings present in the display screen.

If no openings18are available in the strips16, it is possible to disconnect the Z-shaped sections14from the carriers11,12, after which the strips16are connected to the carriers11,12instead of the strips15. The display screen2can now be connected to the strips15. Since the elongated openings18present in the strips15are staggered relative to the openings18present in the strips16, it is possible in that case to find a number of openings18through which the bolts19can be passed for connecting the display screen2.

In addition to that it is possible to attach the sections14to the carriers11,12via the strips15, for example, in order to obtain a greater spacing between the strips to be connected to the display screen2, in which situation the strips16face away from each other.

FIG. 3ais a front view of a device1showing that the intermediate plate8is provided with a number of recesses21symmetrically disposed round a passage20. The intermediate plate8furthermore includes an elongated metal strip22, which is pivotally connected to the guide sections9,10via the flanged edges23. The strip22furthermore includes a pin24, which is slidably accommodated in the passage20. A pin25is connected to the strip22on a side of the strip22remote from the end23. The pin25extends through an opening26present in the intermediate plate8.

The intermediate plate8furthermore includes a lock27comprising a lip28which pivots in the direction indicated by the arrow P3.

In the situation that is shown inFIG. 3A, the hooks6on the carrier3are accommodated in the recesses21, so that the intermediate plate8hangs on the carrier3. The pin24extends through the passage20in the intermediate plate into the opening7present in the backplate5in that situation. This makes it impossible to lift the intermediate plate8off the backplate5. If a person wishes to lift the intermediate plate8off the hooks6, he will have to press the pin25in the direction indicated by the arrow P4inFIG. 3Afrom a side which is shown inFIG. 5, causing the strip22to bend against the spring force of the strip22. As a result the pin24, which is likewise disposed near the centre of the strip22, is moved in a direction away from the carrier and out of the opening7in the backplate5. The intermediate plate8can now be lifted off the carrier together with the display screen2connected thereto.

In order to prevent the intermediate plate8becoming detached accidentally or undesirably (in the case of theft, for example), it is possible to rotate the lip in the direction indicated by the arrow P3from the position indicated inFIG. 3Ato the position indicated inFIG. 3Bby means of a key to be inserted into a lock27, in which latter position the lip28is positioned over the strip22. In this position of the lip28it is not possible to move the pin25in the direction indicated by the arrow P4, as a result of which it is not possible to remove the pin24from the opening7in the backplate5, either.

FIG. 5shows the other side of the intermediate plate8that is shown inFIG. 4, in which the pin24projecting from the intermediate plate8is clearly visible.

If the component to be suspended is relatively elongated, with the long side extending substantially vertically, the intermediate plate8can be rotated 90° to the position shown in FIG.6. The guides11,12can again be moved in the directions indicated by the arrows P1, P2, which extend vertically in the situation as shown in FIG.6.

The upper hook6, seen inFIG. 2, comes into contact with the side of a recess21facing away from the pin24in every position of the intermediate plate8, whilst the lower hook6, seen inFIG. 2, comes into contact with a side of a recess21facing towards the pin24in every case. This makes it possible to position the intermediate plate8in four different orientations with respect to the carrier3, in each of which orientations a desired locking engagement can be realised by means of the pin24.

It is also possible for the Z-sections to extend parallel to the directions indicated by the arrows P1, P2. The sections should not be connected to the guides until the guides have been moved out in that case.

It is also possible to fit the intermediate plate14with hooks which can be inserted into recesses formed in the carrier.

The advantage of the embodiment that is shown in the FIGS., however, is that the hooks on the carrier will be partially disposed in spaces available in the intermediate plate, so that are relatively compact construction is obtained.