Computing device mounting system

A computing device mounting system is described comprising a housing defining a volume and at least one throughhole extending through the housing from a first side of the housing to a second side of the housing; and at least one fastener comprising a first connection mechanism at a first end and a second connection mechanism at a second end, wherein the first connection mechanism of the at least one fastener is arranged to protrude through the at least one throughhole and interfit with a third connection mechanism of a display and wherein the second connection mechanism of the at least one fastener is arranged to interfit with a fourth connection mechanism of a mount.

BACKGROUND

Interactive units, e.g., computers, set-top boxes, and/or network-connected devices, which are connected to display devices, e.g., televisions, displays, monitors, etc., are often mounted either on a stand or as a separate unit that sits on a desktop or a tabletop. This is problematic for customers wanting to mount the television onto the wall. Mounting interactive units separately can be difficult and frustrating to customers when they want to mount the televisions and interactive units onto the wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1depicts a perspective view of a computing device100, e.g., an interactive unit, mounted on a display device101, e.g., a computer monitor, a television, etc. Computing device100mounted to display device101preserves the capability to mount the combined computing device100and display device101to a supporting object by connection to the rear of the computing device, e.g., using a display mount attached to a wall or other surface. Computing device100is mounted to display device101using a mounting capability of the display device. In at least one embodiment, a video electronics standards association (VESA) flat display mounting interface (FDMI) (also referred to as VESA mount) capability of display device101is used to mount computing device100on the display device and the computing device presents a VESA mounting capability at the rear of the computing device. That is, computing device100“passes through” the VESA mount capability of display device101. Computing device100comprises a housing and a processor in the housing.

In some embodiments, computing device100provides user interaction capabilities to connected display device101. In some embodiments, computing device100is further communicatively connected to display device101via a cable102, e.g., an optical cable, an electrical cable, etc. In some other embodiments, computing device100communicatively connects wirelessly to display device101. Computing device100may provide multimedia capabilities, e.g., audio, video, and photo display, and computing and/or networking capabilities, e.g., word processing, web browsing, email interactions.

Computing device100comprises a processing capability, e.g., via a processor or other logic device, an input mechanism, e.g., a wireless keyboard and/or mouse, and an output mechanism, e.g., audio and video ports for connection to connected display device101.

Computing device100comprises a housing103having a rounded rectangular-shaped rear face104and four rectangular-shaped side walls106each connected to an edge of the rear face. Side walls106form the top, bottom, left, and right sides of housing103. A front face105of housing103faces a rear face107of display device101.

In some embodiments, rear face104may be a polygonal or elliptical shape. In other embodiments, more or less than four side walls106may be connected to rear face104. In other embodiments, side walls106may be an extended shaped portion of rear face104. In still other embodiments, side walls106may be polygonal-shaped and/or extend angularly away from rear face104. In some embodiments, housing103is made of aluminum, e.g., die-cast aluminum.

Rear face104further comprises a cylindrical-shaped wall110at each corner of the rear face. Each cylindrical-shaped wall110extends in a generally perpendicular direction away from rear face104and generally parallel to side walls106. Opposite edges108(for simplicity a single edge108is shown) of each side wall106connect to a corresponding cylindrical-shaped wall110. Rear face104in combination with side walls106and cylindrical-shaped walls110together form an open-ended box shape, e.g., an open-ended parallelepiped shape, for retaining the computing device capabilities and provide a structural configuration for mounting attached display device101to a supporting object, e.g., a vertical surface such as a wall having a mount, a display stand, etc.

In other embodiments, walls110may be polygonal-shaped or elliptical-shaped and/or extend angularly away from rear face104at other than a perpendicular angle. In some embodiments, cylindrical-shaped walls110may be formed as a continuous part of housing103.

At least one side wall106further comprises a surface at an angle to the face of side wall106to define an opening113for connectors, such as power, and input and output connection ports. In some embodiments, defined openings113for connectors may be consolidated to a single side wall106. In other embodiments, each side wall106comprises a defined opening113.

An X-shaped section112of rear face104connects a rear-ward portion of cylindrical-shaped walls110at the four corners of the rear face together. In some embodiments, X-shaped section112may be formed as a raised portion of rear face104. In some embodiments, X-shaped section112may be a depression formed in rear face104. X-shaped section112may provide a flat region for a mounting device to contact computing device100during mounting of a connected computing device100and display device101to a supporting object.

Housing103further comprises four defined throughholes114extending through the housing from rear face104and axially through cylindrical wall110to a front-ward portion of the housing. Throughholes114are each cylindrical-shaped and axially aligned with a centerline of the cylindrical walls110and defined by an interior face at an angle to rear face104. In still other embodiments, housing103comprises fewer or greater numbers of throughholes114.

Each throughhole114receives a fastener116comprising a first end for connecting computing device100to display device101. Fastener116also comprises a second end which, with a fastener116inserted in a throughhole114, is exposed to the exterior of housing103for connecting computing device100to a supporting object. After fastener116attaches computing device100to display device101, the attached computing and display devices are connected to a supporting object with the second end of the fastener. A computing device mounting system comprises a computing device housing103and at least one fastener116.

FIG. 2depicts a side view of computing device100mounted on display device101and connected to a mount200connected to a supporting object202, e.g., a wall. Specifically, front face105of computing device100faces rear face107of display device101and rear face104faces mount200which is, in turn, connected to supporting object202. Computing device100is positioned between display device101and mount200connected to supporting object202. In some embodiments, mount200may be a mounting bracket or arm, a VESA mount, etc. and supporting object202may be a wall, a stand, a desk, etc. Mount200may be permanently or temporarily connected to supporting object202and computing device100. In some embodiments, computing device100connects directly with supporting object202.

FIG. 3depicts an exploded perspective view of computing device100and four fasteners116each aligned with a respective centerline of four defined throughholes114. Each fastener116comprises a first end300for connecting computing device100to display device101and a second end302for connecting the computing device to mount200.

After insertion of fastener116into throughhole114, at least a portion of first end300extends beyond front face105of computing device100. In at least some embodiments, the four fasteners116and the four throughholes114are aligned parallel to each other.

FIG. 4Adepicts a side sectional view of fastener116according to an embodiment. Fastener116comprises a first cylindrical-shaped portion400and a second cylindrical-shaped portion402. As depicted, second portion402is smaller in diameter than first portion400.

First portion400comprises second end302comprising a mechanism for connection to mount200. First portion400comprises a first end face404at second end302of fastener116and a shoulder405adjacent second portion402. A first inner surface406connects with first end face404and extends inwardly at an angle from the first end face and defines a fastener opening408for receiving a fastener. First inner surface406forms a hexagonal-shaped portion (FIG. 4B) of fastener opening408in second end302. A second inner surface410extends at an angle from first inner surface406and further defines fastener opening408.

In some embodiments, first inner surface406forms a polygonal-shaped portion of fastener opening408. In at least one embodiment, first inner surface406forms a circular-shaped portion (FIG. 4C) comprising a notch418bisecting first end face404for receiving a bladed screwdriver end.

An inner threaded region412extends axially from second inner surface410toward first end300. Inner threaded region412is threaded to receive a threaded connection mechanism from supporting object202, e.g., a bolt or other threaded device from mount200connected to the supporting object, or from mount200.

In some embodiments, inner threaded region412connects directly with first inner surface406. In at least one embodiment, inner threaded region412corresponds to a VESA mount threading, i.e., with fastener116attached to display device101by first end300, threaded region412extends an existing VESA mount capability of display device101.

Second portion402connects to first portion400at shoulder405and extends axially away from second end302. Second portion402comprises a neck414connected to first portion400at shoulder405and an outer threaded portion416connected to the neck. Outer threaded portion416is threaded to mate with a correspondingly situated threaded receptacle of display device101. In some embodiments, outer threaded portion416connects directly with shoulder405without neck414.

FIG. 5depicts another perspective view of computing device100, i.e., a portion comprising front face105of housing103opposite from rear face104. Housing103comprises a cover500extending across the lower open portion of the housing and extending adjacent side walls106and shaped walls110. Cover500provides a cover for components within housing103interior. In some embodiments, cover500comprises two or more pieces. In some further embodiments, cover500is solid without vent openings.

A retaining mechanism503, e.g., a screw, a bolt, a rivet, etc., retains cover500in place on lower portion of housing103. A plurality of retaining mechanisms503(for simplicity, a single retaining mechanism is identified) are positioned adjacent the periphery of cover500. In some embodiments, a single retaining mechanism503may retain cover500in place. In at least some embodiments, cover500is formed as an integrated portion of housing103. In some embodiments, cover500is permanently connected with side walls106and/or cylindrical-shaped walls110, e.g., by welding, joining, or other connection mechanisms.

As depicted inFIG. 5, cylindrical-shaped wall110comprises an inner wall504and a second cylindrical-shaped wall506axially aligned with the cylindrical-shaped wall Second cylindrical-shaped wall506comprises a face508at the end distal from rear face104and at least even with a front edge510of cylindrical-shaped wall110. With fastener116attached to display device101, face508and/or front edge510may contact rear face107of the display device.

In some embodiments, face508extends radially outward to front edge510and inner wall504forms the inner portion of second cylindrical-shaped wall506.

FIG. 5depicts second end300of fastener116extending through throughhole114and beyond face508. Second end300of fastener116comprises a connection mechanism, e.g., a threaded region, for connecting with a correspondingly situated connection mechanism, e.g., a corresponding threaded receiver, of display device101.

FIG. 6depicts a portion of a sectional side view of theFIG. 2connection of display device101, computing device100, and mount200taken through an axial portion of a cylindrical-shaped wall110. Fastener116is inserted into throughhole114and a portion of outer threaded portion416extends through face508of second cylindrical-shaped wall506and into a threaded connection600in rear face107of display device101. Front face105of housing103contacts rear face107at at least face508of second cylindrical-shaped wall506. In some embodiments, front edge510of cylindrical-shaped wall110contacts a portion of rear face107.

With fastener116fully inserted into throughhole114, shoulder405of the fastener contacts an inner surface of face508of second cylindrical-shaped wall506. Collar414of fastener116extends through the defined opening in face508. Movement of outer threaded portion416into threaded connection600causes shoulder405to urge the inner surface of face508toward display device101and thereby urge face508into contact with rear face107of the display device.

With fastener116fully inserted into throughhole114, second end302of the fastener receives a threaded fastener602, e.g., a threaded bolt, into opening408and into cooperation with inner threaded region412to connect mount200to computing device100. Mount200, in turn, is connected to supporting object202. In some embodiments, threaded fastener602connects supporting object202directly to computing device100.

As depicted, mount200comprises a first inner wall604adjacent a rear face of the mount and defining an opening to receive threaded fastener602. Mount200further comprises a second inner wall606adjacent first inner wall604and front face608of the mount and defining a second opening. Second inner wall606forms a smaller diameter opening than first inner wall604. An inner face610, parallel with front face608of mount200, connects first inner wall604and second inner wall606.

Threaded fastener602comprises a head portion612connected with a threaded portion614. Head portion612comprises a shoulder616at the connection of the head portion and threaded portion614and extending away from threaded portion614. As threaded fastener602is inserted through the first and second openings of mount200and into cooperation with threaded region412, shoulder616contacts inner face610and urges the inner face toward computing device100and thereby urges front face608of the mount into contact with rear face104of the computing device. In some embodiments, threaded fastener602may be a screw, bolt, or other connection mechanism.