TELEVISION MOUNT WITH MOTION CONTROL FEATURES

A full-motion television mount having features enabling the use of televisions outdoors by controlling the motion of the mount to alleviate the effects of wind and other inadvertent shifting. The motion control features can include one or more motion control arms pivotally coupled to a wall interface of the mount and slidably coupled to an arm assembly of the mount through a friction control, wherein the friction control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease sliding friction between the motion control arm and the arm assembly. Also, the motion control features can include one or more wrist motion controls operably coupled between the arm assembly and the television interface, wherein the wrist motion controls are selectively adjustable to increase and decrease friction between the television interface and the arm assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is related to television mounts, and more specifically full motion television mounts.

BACKGROUND

Flat screen televisions and monitors, such as those using LCD, LED, or OLED technology, have become very common. Such devices can provide a large, lightweight, high performance display screen that is also very thin. As technology has improved and prices have decreased, it has become affordable for many consumers to mount televisions in multiple convenient locations, including outdoors.

It is often desirable for televisions to be freely maneuverable to adjust the orientation of the screen to fit user preferences. For this reason, mounts often have extendable arms and tilt and swivel capability-referred to in the industry as “full-motion” mounts. A problem with prior art full-motion mounts, however, is that when used outdoors, the television can be buffeted by winds, causing the television to shift from its set position, or even to be blown so far as to collide with building structure and be damaged. Also, such mounts are subject to other external forces, such as inadvertent bumping by people or objects that can cause similar shifting and damage.

What is needed is a full-motion television mount that has features enabling use outdoors by controlling the motion of the mount to alleviate the effects of wind and in locations where it is desirable to selectively limit motion of the mount to prevent undesirable shifting and damage to the display or mount.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to embodiments of the inventions, a full-motion television mount, systems, and methods that have features enabling the use of televisions outdoors by controlling the motion of the mount to alleviate the effects of wind and other inadvertent shifting are disclosed herein. The motion control features can include one or more motion control arms pivotally coupled to a wall interface of the mount and slidably coupled to an arm assembly of the mount through a friction control, wherein the friction control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease sliding friction between the motion control arm and the arm assembly, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the arm assembly relative to the wall interface. Also, the motion control features can include one or more wrist motion controls operably coupled between the arm assembly and the television interface, wherein the wrist motion control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease friction between the television interface and the arm assembly, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the television interface relative to the arm assembly.

According to an embodiment, a television mount includes a wall interface adapted to attach to a wall, a television interface adapted to attach to a television, an arm assembly having a first end pivotally coupled to the wall interface and a second end pivotally coupled to the television interface, and a motion control arm pivotally coupled to the wall interface and slidably coupled to the arm assembly through a friction control, wherein the friction control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease sliding friction between the motion control arm and the arm assembly, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the arm assembly relative to the wall interface. The television mount can further include a wrist motion control operably coupled between the arm assembly and the television interface, wherein the wrist motion control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease friction between the television interface and the arm assembly, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the television interface relative to the arm assembly.

According to embodiments, the arm assembly can include a single articulating arm or a pair of articulating arms. The television mount can include a tilt head assembly operably coupling the television interface and the arm assembly, wherein the tilt head assembly enables selective tilting of the television interface and an attached television relative to the arm assembly and wall interface. The television interface can be selectively tiltable about a generally horizontal virtual tilt axis positioned forwardly from the television interface. The motion control arm can define a slot, and the friction control can thread into the arm assembly.

In further embodiments, a television mount includes a wall interface adapted to attach to a wall, a television interface adapted to attach to a television, an arm assembly having a first end pivotally coupled to the wall interface and a second end pivotally coupled to the television interface, and a wrist motion control operably coupled between the arm assembly and the television interface, wherein the wrist motion control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease friction between the television interface and the arm assembly, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the television interface relative to the arm assembly. The television mount can further include a motion control arm pivotally coupled to the wall interface and slidably coupled to the arm assembly through a friction control, wherein the friction control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease sliding friction between the motion control arm and the arm assembly, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the arm assembly relative to the wall interface.

In embodiments, the arm assembly can include a single articulating arm or a pair of articulating arms. The television mount can include a tilt head assembly operably coupling the television interface and the arm assembly, wherein the tilt head assembly enables selective tilting of the television interface and an attached television relative to the arm assembly and wall interface. The television interface can be selectively tiltable about a generally horizontal virtual tilt axis positioned forwardly from the television interface. The wrist motion control can include a guide bracket defining a slot, the guide bracket operably coupled to the television interface, and a follower bracket attached to the arm assembly, a friction control extending through the slot and threaded into the arm assembly.

In embodiments, a television mount includes a wall interface adapted to attach to a wall, a television interface adapted to attach to a television, an arm assembly having a pair of articulating arms, each articulating arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the wall interface and a second end pivotally coupled to the television interface, a pair of motion control arms pivotally coupled to the wall interface, each one of the motion control arms slidably coupled to a separate one of the articulating arms through a separate friction control, wherein each friction control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease sliding friction between the respective motion control arm and the articulating arm, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the articulating arm relative to the wall interface, and a pair of wrist motion controls, each wrist motion control operably coupled between a separate one of the articulating arms and the television interface, wherein the wrist motion control is selectively adjustable to increase and decrease friction between the television interface and the articulating arm, thereby selectively limiting shifting of the television interface relative to the articulating arm.

Each wrist motion control can include a guide bracket defining a slot, the guide bracket operably coupled to the television interface, and a follower bracket attached to the respective articulating arm, a friction control extending through the slot and threaded into the articulating arm. The television mount can further include a tilt head assembly operably coupling the television interface and the articulating arms, wherein the tilt head assembly enables selective tilting of the television interface and an attached television relative to the articulating arms and the wall interface. The television interface can be selectively tiltable about a generally horizontal virtual tilt axis positioned forwardly from the television interface.

The summary above is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As depicted inFIGS.1-7D, television mount20generally includes wall interface22, television interface24, coupled by arm assembly25. Arm assembly25has a first end27and an opposing second end29, and generally includes articulating swing arm assemblies26,28. Swing arm assembly26generally includes inner arm30and outer arm32. Inner arm30is pivotally coupled to wall interface22at pivot post34, and pivotally coupled to outer arm32at joint36. Outer arm32is pivotally coupled to flange54with pivot pin38. Swing arm assembly28generally includes inner arm40and outer arm42. Inner arm40is pivotally coupled to wall interface22at pivot post44, and pivotally coupled to outer arm42at joint46. Outer arm42is pivotally coupled to flange55with pivot pin48.

Wall interface22generally includes upper cross member100, lower cross member102, and central column104. Upper cross member100and lower cross member102can be secured to a wall105with fasteners (not depicted) to secure television mount20in place on wall105. Pivot posts34,44, are mounted in front of central column104, and are pivotally coupled between upper cross member100and lower cross member102in bearing blocks107,109.

Television interface24generally includes upper cross member106, lower cross member108, and central column110. A tilt head assembly including tilt bracket112is attached to rear face114of central column110and includes front wall116with rearwardly projecting flanges118,120. Each flange118,120, defines guide slots122,124, which receive followers126,128carried by flanges54,55. Followers126,128, can slide or roll in guide slots122,124. Guide slots122,124, are defined and oriented such that tilt bracket112, and the attached central column110, can tilt about a generally horizontal virtual tilt axis Y-Y spaced apart forwardly from front faces130,132, of upper cross member106and lower cross member108, respectively. It will be appreciated that if guide slots122,124, are arcuate and oriented along the circumference of a circle with a center at horizontal virtual tilt axis Y-Y as depicted, the tilt axis will be stationary. Guide slots122,124, however, can be straight or virtually any other geometric shape that causes the motion of television interface24to tilt about an instantaneous center or axis of rotation. Hence, horizontal virtual tilt axis Y-Y can shift continuously during rotation according to well-known principles of machine kinematics. It is preferable that horizontal virtual tilt axis Y-Y is positioned such that it passes through a television68attached to television interface24, thereby making television68“self-balancing” about horizontal virtual tilt axis Y-Y, reducing the need for friction controls to hold television68in a desired tilt position.

Television68can be attached directly to upper cross member106and lower cross member108with fasteners (not depicted). Alternatively, television68can be attached to hook brackets (not depicted), which hook over upper cross member106and lower cross member108to enable television68to be easily attached and detached from television interface24without the need to remove fasteners.

A first aspect—“wrist” motion control according to embodiments of the invention—is depicted inFIGS.2,3, and5. Guide brackets50,52, project outwardly from flanges54,55, of television interface24, and define slots56,58, respectively. Follower brackets60,62, are fixed to outer arms32,42, respectively. Follower brackets60,62, are threaded to receive friction controls64,66, respectively, which pass through slots56,58, as depicted. Knobs65,67, enable selective tightening and loosening of friction controls64,66, respectively.

In use, with friction controls64,66, loosened, television interface24can freely pivot relative to outer arms32,42, to enable television68to be positioned as desired as depicted inFIGS.6A-6C. When it is desired to inhibit movement of television68, for example when the mount20and television68are subject to wind or other external forces, friction controls64,66, can be tightened to add friction to inhibit motion of television68. In this way, television68can remain in the desired position and not be shifted by wind or inadvertent bumping.

A second aspect of motion control according to embodiments of the invention is depicted inFIGS.4and5. Motion control arms70,72, are pivotally coupled to wall interface22at pivots74,76, respectively. Motion control arms70,72, define slots78,80, respectively. Friction controls82,84, extend through slots78,80, and thread into lower arm30and lower arm40respectively. Knobs83,85, enable selective tightening and loosening of friction controls82,84, respectively.

In use, with friction controls82,84, loosened, arm assemblies26,28, can freely articulate and pivot relative to wall interface22, enabling television68to be positioned as desired as depicted inFIGS.7A-7D. When it is desired to inhibit movement of television68, for example when the mount20and television68are subjected to wind or other external forces, friction controls82,84, can be tightened to add friction to inhibit motion of television68. In this way, television68can remain in the desired position and not be shifted by wind or inadvertent bumping.

It will be appreciated that although the depicted embodiment has an arm assembly25including two articulating swing arm assemblies26,28, other embodiments are contemplated where arm assembly25includes only one articulating swing arm assembly, or a single non-articulating arm. The same “wrist” motion control, and/or a motion control arm may be applied to such embodiments with similar effect as described above.

For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.