Wall mount structure for image display screens

A wall mount structure for a “flat” image display screen and includes preferably two from each other spaced supporting profiles attachable against a vertical supporting surface. At the rear side of the display screen, and into existing threaded mounting holes, are interconnecting structures for the profiles attached, which on connection only facilitate movement in the longitudinal direction of the profiles. The profiles advantageously include recesses which facilitate that in direction of insertion leading interconnecting structures can take up connection with the profiles at a point adjacent to the final and mounted position. The profiles are preferably arranged with a stop at the end portion serving as final end portion during an insertion operation of the interconnecting structures, and preferably also attachable stop and/or lock elements at opposed end portions, to be attached when the display screen has been mounted on the wall surface. Supporting profiles can be mounted extending horizontally or vertically.

This is a nationalization of PCT/SE2005/000381 filed 15 Mar. 2005 and published in English.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wall mount structure for image display screens, e.g. plasma or TFT screens, which are substantially flat.

BACKGROUND ART

Wall mounted image display screens of plasma or TFT type are becoming more and more common, and the size of the screen area is becoming larger and larger. As a result, the screens are also becoming heavier and heavier, and a 42″ plasma screen may thus have a weight in excess of 30 kg. Wall mounting is often recognized by the manufacturer as a desirable alternative, and attachment kits for wall mounting are normally supplied, however, often at a fairly high cost. Such an attachment kit comprises normally of a number of co-acting sheet metal parts, which involve a rather complicated mounting procedure.

US 2002/0067591 A1 discloses a housing for a display panel, including a frame body arranged on the circumference of the display panel and having a back cover arranged on the back of the display panel. However, apart from involving a large number of mechanical parts and a frame which must be made to fit the outside measurements of the display panel, use of a surrounding frame prevents two or more display panels from being mounted closely adjacent to each other, and utilized members for attachment to a wall surface will also be visible. Furthermore, the cost of such a frame structure is also fairly high.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to disclose a structure for wall mounting of image display screens, which is considerably simplified in relation to prior art, and which is easily mounted on a wall surface or other vertical support member, and which furthermore is easily adapted to suit different manufacturers designs of display screens. Furthermore, the wall mounted display screen can easily be locked in relation to the wall when mounted, a feature that may be desirable for display screens mounted in public environments, since this type of display screens are rather expensive, and thus especially liable to be stolen.

The wall mount structure for an image display screens according to the present invention comprises of at least one to a wall surface attachable supporting profile with a longitudinally extending outwardly open through groove, and it is mainly characterized in that at the rear side of the display screen existing mounting holes are used for attachment of interconnecting means by means of a screw thread, said interconnecting means, during a sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of said at least one supporting profile, being arranged to take up an interconnected condition with said at least one supporting profile.

A stop means is preferably arranged at the end portion of supporting profile(s) whereagainst the interconnecting means to be connected to the profile are slided during a mounting operation. A second stop means is advantageously arranged attachable at the end portion of the supporting profile which is opposed to the location of the first stop means. The attachable second stop means can be of a lockable type.

As supporting elements attachable to a supporting vertical structure are preferably two supporting profiles arranged extending substantially horizontal at a wall surface in a spaced relationship to each other corresponding to the height relationship for existing mounting holes at the rear side of the display screen. Alternatively, the supporting profiles may also be arranged extending substantially vertical at the wall surface in a spaced relationship to each other corresponding to the sideway relationship for existing mounting holes at the rear side of the display screen. Furthermore, the supporting profiles are advantageously arranged having a recess facilitating that in the insertion direction for the interconnecting means leading interconnecting means receive engagement with the supporting profiles at a position more adjacent to the stop means than opposed end portion.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference toFIG. 1, an example is shown of a so called “flat” display screen or monitor1, e.g. of plasma or TFT type, mounted on a wall surface2. It should be mentioned, that the term wall surface is intended to cover any supporting vertical structure.

FIG. 2shows an example of how the wall surface2can be prepared for attachment of a display screen1, and in this embodiment are two supporting profiles, as complete units denominated3,3′, attached to the wall surface2. In this embodiment, the two supporting profiles3,3′ are arranged extending horizontally and having a substantially parallel relationship in relation to each other.

At the rear surface of a display screen1, i.e. the surface facing the wall surface2when mounted, exist normally at least four threaded mounting holes4,4′,4″,4′″, intended to be used to facilitate attachment of the display screen to a table support, a floor support, or parts of a mounting kit intended for wall mounting. An example of the configuration for such holes4,4′,4″,4′″ is shown inFIG. 3.

According to the present invention, the above mentioned mounting holes4,4′,4″,4′″ are used for attachment means coacting and interconnecting with the supporting profiles3,3′, said means denominated5as a single complete unit. An example of an embodiment of such an interconnecting means5is shown inFIG. 4connected to a supporting profile3, which is shown in cross-section and attached against a wall surface2, and a portion of the display screen is also shown in point-dash lines.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the supporting profile3can also be described as a U-shaped profile, having the end portions of the free legs bent over in direction towards each other, thus defining a groove6extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile3, open in direction from the wall surface2. Said groove6is arranged having a width larger than the diameter of the screw heads of the screws7utilized for attachment of the supporting profile3against the wall surface2.

FIG. 5shows the supporting profile3with a number of centrally located cylindrical through holes8for the screws7. As shown, these holes8may advantageously consist of a series of holes, spaced from each other by a small predetermined distance. This facilitates, when mounting, possibility to choose those holes which e.g. correspond to existing cross bars in the wall element whereto attachment should take place. Furthermore, a larger or smaller number of holes8with associated screws7can be used, which facilitates adaption to the structural properties of relevant wall, as well as to the weight of the display screen1to be supported. As shown inFIG. 6, and as an alternative to the cylindrical holes8, a number of from each other spaced grooves9may also be used, extending in longitudinal direction of the supporting profile3. This facilitates a further improved possibility to locate the screws7used for attachment of the profile3in positions adapted to existing cross bars which exist in certain types of wall elements. The profile3shown inFIGS. 5 and 6includes also a recess10, which will be further described later with regard to design and function.

As shown inFIG. 7, the interconnecting means5in the shown example of an embodiment comprises of a first cylindrical part11, having a diameter exceeding the width of the groove6, and with a surrounding groove12, into which the free and towards each other directed parts of the profile3(which define the groove6) are received. The surrounding groove12is located in such a way, that the end surface of the first part11, which is surrounded by the profile3, receives such a location, that a sliding movement in longitudinal direction of the groove6is not prevented by the screw heads of the aforementioned screws7. The first part11is advantageously in direction from the profile3transformed into a second part13, having a smaller diameter, in order to reduce the contact surface against the rear surface of the display screen1. Said second part13may consist of a member integrated with the first part11, but may also consist of an individual part. Finally, said first part11and second part13also include a centrally located through hole14, which is used for attachment by means of a screw15to existing threaded hole4in the rear surface of the display screen1.

The mounting operation of a display screen1against a wall surface2with use of the above described components, and with two supporting profiles3,3′ arranged as shown inFIG. 2, will now be described in detail.

Initially are the two supporting profiles3,3′ mounted with use of a suitable number of screws against a wall surface2in a substantially parallel relationship, and having a horizontal extension. The distance between the central portions of the profiles3,3′ is chosen to correspond to the distance in height for the threaded holes4,4′,4″,4′″ at the rear side of the display screen1. In said threaded holes4,4′,4″,4′″ are attached interconnecting means5of the type which have been described more in detail with reference toFIG. 7.

The supporting profiles3,3′ are at one end portion arranged with a stop means15, which, e.g. with reference toFIG. 2, may be arranged at the left and final part of the profiles3,3′ (not shown in said figure). An example of such a stop means15is shown inFIG. 8, and comprises in this case of a pin having a head, extending in vertical direction through holes taken up in the profiles3,3′. The stop means15can obviously be accomplished in numerous ways, i.e. as a screw, a pin, a member integrated with each profile3,3′, or any other desirable way. It is only important that the stop means prevents bypassing movement for the means5interconnected to the profiles3,3′.

An example of previously mentioned recess10is shown inFIG. 9A. According to this example, the recess10facilitates that an interconnecting means5can be moved down to a position supported by present profile3, and this is illustrated schematically inFIG. 9B, in which related members location in relation to each other are shown prior to joining, and with the direction of movement for a joining operation illustrated by means of an arrow.

In this example of an embodiment, the display screen1, which is to be mounted on the wall surface2, is (in this case) located with the leftmost interconnecting means5above the recesses10, the display screen1is slightly lowered whereby the grooves6by their sides surround the upwardly directed part of each profile3,3′, whereafter the display screen1is slided in direction towards the stop means15of the profiles3,3′. During this sliding movement also the other two interconnecting means5will be received by the profiles3,3′, and with the grooves6surrounding towards each other directed parts of the profiles3,3′.

When the interconnecting means5inserted through the recesses10have been slided into contact with related stop means15, the display screen1will be supported by the supporting profiles3,3′ attached to the wall surface2. The display screen1is now preferably locked in the position taken up, e.g. by previously described alternatives for stop means15. Provided that the stop means15is of a more permanent type, one may also use pad locks, wire locks or similar as lock means at the end portions of the profiles3,3′ which are opposed to the stop means15, which results in that the display screen is locked in mounted position, a feature of particular value when display screens1are mounted in public environments.

Described example of an embodiment can be modified in a number of ways, and as a second example can the possibility to arrange the supporting profiles3,3′ extending vertically be mentioned. An example of such a modification is shown inFIG. 10, wherein the lowermost portions of the profiles3,3′ are arranged with stop means15. In this embodiment, the lowermost interconnecting means5are initially inserted at the recesses10by means of a sideway movement in relation to the profiles3,3′, whereafter the display screen1is lowered, whereby on one hand the interconnecting means5inserted through the recesses10are moved downwardly into contact with the stop means15, and on the other hand also the upper interconnecting means5are brought into engagement with the profiles3,3′ by insertion at the upper and open end portions of the profiles3,3′. To accomplish a locking operation at said upper end portions will not be a primarily important action, since the weight of the display screen1will ensure that same remains in intended position. However, locking may often be a desirable action, e.g. as a preventive measure against theft, and this can for example be accomplished in the fashion described with reference to the first embodiment.

It should also be noted, that described embodiments obviously can be arranged without the described recess10, i.e. by insertion of all interconnecting means5from the end portions of the profiles3,3′ which are opposed to the stop means15. A disadvantage would be that a relatively long sliding movement must be performed before contact is established with related stop means15.

For some applications, the first embodiment can be modified by non-use of the lower horizontal supporting profile3′. Such a solution would obviously necessitate that the supporting wall, as well as supporting profile3, has required tensile properties to support the display screen1. In such an embodiment, the lower interconnecting means5may also be mounted on the display screen, in order to serve as support against the wall surface2, and to facilitate that the screen surface of the display screen receives a substantially parallel extension to the wall surface2. Such a modification is schematically illustrated inFIG. 11.

With regard to embodiments including two supporting profiles3,3′, the cross-sectional configuration of the profiles3.3′ may also differ from what has been described earlier. An example of such an alternative arrangement is shown inFIG. 12A, and a mirror-inverted arrangement of same is shown inFIG. 12B.

Previously mentioned recess10can also be accomplished in a number of ways, andFIG. 13relates to an arrangement in which related interconnecting means5can be inserted into a position in engagement with the supporting profiles3,3′ by means of an insertion movement directed towards the wall surface2.

The interconnecting means5for engagement with the profiles3,3′ may also be modified in a number of ways, and may, e.g. comprise of a square or rectangular part with two in relation to each other opposed grooves (for use in connection with profiles having two towards each other directed parts defining the groove6) or having only one groove at one side (when used in connection with profiles of the type shown inFIGS. 12A and 12). In these cases, it is normally advantageous that the part used for contact with the rear surface of the display screen1, previously denominated the second part13, is arranged as an individual and cylindrical member. This will facilitate that the extension of the latter is adapted by its length to the location of the rear part of the display screen1whereagainst abutment is accomplished, i.e. second parts13having different lengths can be supplied, and a user can choose parts13having required length.

The examples of embodiments according to the present invention which have been shown and described can thus be modified in a number of different ways, while maintaining the important features of the inventive thought, and within the scope of the enclosed claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The wall mount structure according to the present invention facilitates easy and rapid attachment of an image display screen to a vertically extending supporting surface. It comprises of a minimum of individual parts, and can be manufactured at a low cost. A minimum of different sizes will cover a large number of differently sized display screens. The wall mount structure can also serve as an anti-theft device, i.e. by facilitating locking in mounted position. Furthermore, the wall mount structure remains hidden behind the display screen, and same also facilitates that a number of display screens are mounted in a close side-by-side relationship.