Abstract:
The instant mount with articulating arm(s) for mounting an appliance on a vertical structure is both vertically and horizontally adjustable by having a vertical adjustment mechanism and a horizontal adjustment mechanism. Once mounted, the appliance can be displaced away from the vertical structure or retracted toward the vertical structure. Well separated brackets used to mount the instant invention provide for contact points well spaced apart to reduce stress exerted on the vertical structure by the weights of the instant device and appliance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/687,711, filed Jun. 6, 2005, each hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to implements for mounting appliances and, in particular, this invention relates to devices for mounting appliances such as televisions and flat panel displays to generally vertical structures such as walls. 
     2. Background 
     Electronic appliances, such as televisions and flat panel electronic displays are generally heavy, hence, cumbersome to mount to vertical structures such as walls. Brackets and other structures used for mounting these appliances must, therefore, be capable of securing these appliances to vertical structures to prevent them from being dislodged and subsequently damaged and from damaging the vertical structures due to their weight. It is often desirable to have the capability of extending or retracting appliances secured to vertical structures such as walls so as to more easily view images depicted thereon, yet to retract the appliances proximate the vertical structure as desired. Additionally, it is often desirable to have the capability of horizontally and vertically adjusting the position of the appliance during, and after, the appliance is secured to the vertical structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the panel wall mount of this invention provides for a wall mount assembly having well separated upper and lower brackets. One advantage of the foregoing feature is that the well separated upper and lower brackets spread the load imparted by the weight of the panel wall mount of this invention and attached appliance. Another advantage of the foregoing feature is that a wall, or other structure to which the wall mount assembly of this invention is attached, is less likely to become damaged by forces exerted by the weight of the panel wall mount of this invention and attached appliance. Another advantage of the foregoing feature is that the relatively small surface area and well spaced apart location of the brackets enables wiring to exit from the wall structure at virtually any point defined the flat panel electronic display without interfering with the attachment of the mounting brackets to the wall and without apertures or other relief structures in the mounting brackets. 
     It is another feature of this invention that relatively narrow slots and slots having larger, generally circular portions are provided in the attachment of brackets. It is one advantage of the foregoing feature that the panel wall mount of this invention can be quickly and efficiently attached to a desired structure. It is another advantage of the foregoing feature that the panel wall mount of this invention can be easily horizontally adjusted to a substantially exact, desired location, regardless of the location of support members, such as studs. 
     It is another feature of this invention to provide a height adjustment mechanism. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the height of attached appliances can be quickly and easily adjusted to a substantially exact vertical location. In combination with the horizontal adjustment feature, this feature enables substantially exact positional adjustment of the flat panel electronic display, such as within a shadow box, regardless of the location of support members. 
     It is another feature that the adjustable arms of the panel wall mount of this invention define generally longitudinal channels therein for receiving cables. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that cables are quickly and easily routed and a fixed to the arms, so as to be secure from being snagged or pulled when the panel wall mount of this invention is being extended or retracted. The arms of the panel wall mount devices may have smoothed rounded surfaces for further preventing snagging of the cables. In two arm embodiments, power cables may be routed separately from signal cables to prevent undesired interference. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, when considered in view of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the panel display of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a mounting bracket of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a portion of the arm assembly and height adjusting mechanism of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial upper view of the mounting bracket of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial view of one embodiment of a retaining mechanism for the panel display of this invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the panel display of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the panel plate connecting assembly of the panel display of this invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the panel display of this invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the panel display of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a right side view of the panel display of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a left side view of the panel display of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the panel display of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the panel display of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a rear view of the panel display of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 19  is a fragmentary view depicting the arm bracket and panel plate connecting assembly of the panel display of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     It is understood that the above-described figures are only illustrative of the present invention and are not contemplated to limit the scope thereof. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     Each of the features and methods disclosed herein may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and methods to provide improved devices of this invention and methods for making the same. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, combinations of features and methods disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative and preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , one embodiment of the panel wall mount of this invention is depicted generally at  100  and includes a wall mount assembly  102 , an appliance mounting assembly such as a panel mount assembly  104 , an arm assembly  106 , and a height adjusting mechanism  108 . 
     The wall mount assembly, in turn, has a first (upper) bracket  120 , a second (lower) bracket  122 , and covers  124  disposable over the first and second brackets  120  and  122 . In the embodiment depicted, the first and second brackets  120  and  122  are identical or substantially similar. When mounted on the wall mount assembly of this invention, the second bracket  122  is in an inverted relation with respect to the first bracket  120 . Therefore, while the upper bracket  120  is described, corresponding features of the lower bracket  122  are indicated by identical numerals. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the first and second brackets  120  and  122  have a generally U-shaped cross-section with unitarily, or otherwise integrally, joined generally orthogonal upper, vertical, and lower plates  126 ,  128 , and  130  and with lips  132  and  134  extending from the upper and lower plates  126  and  130 , respectively. As shown, the lip  132  curves upwardly from plate  126  and the lip  134  bends downwardly from plate  130 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vertical plate  128  has a pair of terminal keyholes  136  and  137  and at least one, e.g., three, first slots  138 . The keyholes  136  and  137  are generally mirror images of each other and have access portions  140  opening into second slots  142 . The access portions  140  are generally circular and have a larger vertical dimension than the slots  142 . However, the person of ordinary skill in the art will readily see that one or more of the keyholes  136  and  137  may be inverted in another embodiment. The second slots  142  and the first slots  138  may be generally uniform in vertical dimension, horizontally aligned, and extend generally from side-to-side. The upper and lower plates  126  and  130  may have at least one, e.g., five third slots  146  as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the slots  146  are generally uniform and linearly extend from side to side. Connectors, such as bolts  148  and washers  150  may be used to attach the first and second brackets  120  and  122  to the remainder of the device of this invention, as is more fully described below. 
     The keyholes  136 ,  137  and first slots  138  may be used for mounting the instant panel wall mount to a surface, such as a vertical wall surface, wherein connectors with heads (not shown) may be utilized. The connector heads may have a larger radius, or other cross-dimension, than the vertical dimension of the first slot  138  or the second portion  142  of the keyhole  136  and be dimensioned so as to be accommodated in the access portions  140 . Where one of the keyholes  136  is inverted (as described above), the connectors, the heads thereof accommodated by the first portions  140  of the keyholes  136 , can be partially installed on the vertical surface. Then, installation of the instant panel wall mount is continued by being pressing it against the wall, simultaneously aligning the first portions  140  of the keyholes  136  with the connector heads, then sliding it horizontally until the connectors are disposed within and held in place by the slots  142 , which have smaller vertical dimensions than the connector head cross-dimensions. Installation is completed by tightening the connectors until the heads thereof are snug against the vertical plates  128 . 
     The position of the instant panel wall mount may be horizontally adjusted by selecting pairs of the slots  146  for attachment using the bolts  148  or, maintaining the bolts  148  in a pair of slots  146 , sliding the panel wall mount of this invention horizontally to a desired position, then snugly retightening the bolts  148 . Referring again to  FIG. 4 , interior surfaces  152  of the covers  124  may define, e.g., generally axial first and second slots  154  and  156 . The slots  154  and  156  may be dimensioned and positioned to accommodate the upper and lower lips  132 ,  134  of the brackets  120 ,  122  to thereby secure the covers  124  over the brackets  120 ,  122  when desired, e.g., to hide the brackets  120 ,  122  from view when the instant panel wall mount is mounted to a surface such as a wall. The spaced apart location of the brackets  120  and  122  allow the instant panels display mounted to a wall to minimize the load exerted on the wall by the instant panel display and mounted appliance. Moreover, if the plurality of slots is present, the instant display can be horizontally positioned regardless of the location of structural elements such as studs. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  7 , and  8 , the exemplary panel mount assembly  104  has a plate  160  with first and second lower extensions  162  and  164  and is rimmed by lateral lips  166  and  168 , an upper lip  170 , and lower lips  172  and  174 . A plurality, e.g., four keyholes (slots)  176  and other pluralities of respective first, second, and third orifices  178 ,  180 , and  182  are defined in the plate  160 . A retainer  183  as depicted in  FIG. 9  may optionally be pivotally mounted to the plate  160  and may have a handle portion  184  and define a cutout  185 . The keyholes  176  have upper access portions  186  and lower notch (slot) portions  188 . In this embodiment, the upper access portions  186  are generally circular and open into the lower notch portions  188 . The access portions  186  have larger horizontal dimensions (diameters) then the horizontal dimensions of the notch portions  188 . The keyholes  136 ,  137  and  176  may be advantageously utilized with fastening buttons (not shown) attached to items, such as flat panel displays, to be mounted on the plate  160 . Suitable embodiments of the keyholes  136 ,  137  and  176  and fastening buttons are disclosed and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/821,395 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,109, hereby incorporated by reference. In the embodiment depicted, the retainer  183  is pivotally positioned so that the cutout pivots over notch  188  when the retainer  183  is in a closed position to thereby further secure a button already secured within the notch  188 . The orifices  178  are depicted as being generally circular or diamond-shaped, the orifices  180  are shown as being generally elliptical, and the orifices  182  as being generally circular. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other geometric shapes, e.g., square, hexagonal, or the like, may be suitable for other embodiments. The orifices  178  are positioned as desired on the plate  160 , so as to be available for mounting panels, or the like, on the wall mount of this invention, optionally in combination with the slots  176 . Alternatively, the orifices  178 , as well as the orifices  180  and  182 , can be used to accommodate cables and wires extending from the item mounted to the plate  160 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  5 ,  7 , and  10 , the arm assembly  106  of the instant invention includes first and second vertical members  190  and  192 , respective first upper and second lower mounting brackets  194  and  196  (upper bracket  194  optional and not shown), first and second arms  198  and  200 , a panel plate connecting assembly  202 , and a vertical member connecting assembly  204 . The vertical members  190  and  192  are generally cylindrical in the embodiment depicted, thereby being circular in cross section. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other cross-sectional geometries, e.g., elliptical, square, hexagonal, octagonal, or the like, may be suitable for other embodiments. 
     Respective upper and lower mounting brackets  194  and  196  are substantially identical in this embodiment. However, the lower mounting bracket  196  is mounted in an inverse orientation with respect to the upper bracket  194  in this embodiment. Because of this similarity, the lower bracket  196  will be described with the understanding that the description of the lower bracket  196  will apply to the upper bracket  194 , corresponding elements being indicated by identical numerals. As best seen from  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the depicted embodiment of the lower bracket  196  has unitary, or otherwise integral, orthogonal upper, vertical, and lower plates  210 ,  212 , and  214 . Threaded orifices  218  are defined in the upper plate  210 . These threaded orifices  218  accommodate the bolts  148  when the upper and lower brackets  194  and  196  are attached to the respective upper and lower wall mounting brackets  120  and  122 . In addition to, or in place of, the threads present in the orifices  218 , a person of ordinary skill will readily recognize that nuts, lock washers, and the like may be utilized to secure the bolts  148  in place. Additionally, a person of ordinary skill the art will recognize that the upper and lower brackets  194  and  196  may be attached to the wall brackets  120  and  122  using other connectors, e.g., rivets, welds, and functionally equivalent embodiments thereof A generally circular raised portion  222  defining an orifice  224  is defined in the upper plate  210  in the embodiment depicted. The functionalities of the raised portion  222  and orifice  224  are discussed below. Also defined in the upper plate  210  are a pair of orifices (not shown) disposed generally outboard the raised portion  222 . The orifices accommodate a connector operably utilized to attach the vertical members  190  and  192  to the mounting brackets  194  and  196 , optionally using spacers (not shown). A pair of apertures  228  are defined proximate each outboard edge of the lower plate  214 . The brackets  194  and  196  are attached to the brackets  120  and  122  by securing connectors through the slots  146  and apertures  228 . In addition to being horizontally positioned when being installed on a surface such as a wall, the instant device may be further horizontally positioned by selecting pairs of the slots  146  for use with the apertures  228  when the brackets  194 ,  196  are attached to the brackets  120 ,  122 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 , the first and second arms  198  and  200  include respective proximal arm members  240  and  242  and distal arm members  244  and  246 , the proximal and distal arm members pivotally articulated at the joints  248  and  250 , respectively. The proximal arm members  240 ,  242 , in turn, may include respective first ends  252  and  254  and second ends  256  and  258 . In the embodiment depicted, the first ends  252 ,  254  are generally cylindrical and extend generally transversely, e.g., perpendicularly, to adjacent portions of the proximal arm members  240 ,  242 . When operationally assembled, the first ends  252 ,  254  may accommodate a sleeve/spacer  260 . The sleeve/spacer  260 , in turn, accommodates the first and second vertical members  190 ,  192  so that the proximal arm members  240  and  242  can be horizontally pivoted. The second ends  256 ,  258  are pivotally articulated to respective distal arm members  244  and  246  at joints  248  and  250 , such that the distal arm members  244 ,  246  horizontally pivot from the joints  248 ,  250 , respectively. Respective slots  262  and  264  are axially defined in lower portions of the proximal arm members  240  and  242  as seen in  FIG. 8 . 
     The distal arm members  244 ,  246  may include respective first ends  266  and  268  and second ends  270  and  272 . The first ends adjoin the joints  248 ,  250 , respectively. The second ends  270  and  272  pivotally connect to the panel plate connecting assembly  202  as more fully described below. Upper portions of the distal arm members  244 ,  246  may axially define respective slots  274  and  276  as seen in  FIG. 7 . 
     The panel plate connecting assembly  202  of this embodiment may include arm brackets  282  and  284 , an inner bracket  286 , and an outer bracket  288 . At first ends thereof, the arm brackets  282 ,  284  are connected to the distal arm members  244 ,  246 . In cross section, the arm brackets  282 ,  284  are generally U-shaped, defining slots  290  and  292 , the slots  290 ,  292  being dimensioned and positioned on the brackets  282 ,  284  such that the first and second vertical members  190 ,  192  are disposed within the slots  290 ,  292  when the panel wall mount  100  is in the closed position depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The other ends of the brackets  282 ,  284  define respective generally circular bores (not shown). 
     The inner bracket  286  may include a plate  300  bounded by lateral sides  302  and  304  and vertical sides  306  and  308 . Respective upper  310  and  312  and lower  314  and  316  extensions extend from the lateral sides  302  and  304  in this embodiment. Respective apertures  318  and  320  are defined in the vertical sides  306  and  308  in this embodiment. Slots  322 ,  324 ,  326 , and  328  are defined in the respective extensions  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316 . The outer bracket  288 , in turn, has a plate  340  bounded by lateral sides  342  and  344 . The lateral sides  342  and  344  have respective upper portions  346  and  348  and lower portions  350  and  352 . The upper portion  346  has a pair of slots  354  and  356 ; the upper portion  348  has a pair of slots  358  and  360 ; and the respective lower portions  350  and  352  have slots  362  and  364 . A slot  366  and an aperture  368  are defined proximate the respective lower and upper edges of the plate  340 . 
     The inner and outer brackets  286  and  288  are assembled by aligning the slots  322  and  324  of the inner bracket  286  with the slots  354  and  358  of the outer bracket  288  and by aligning the slots  326  and  328  of the inner bracket  286  with the slots  362  and  364  of the outer bracket  288 . Thusly aligned, pin  370  is extended through the slots  358 ,  324 ,  322 , and  354  and pin  372  is extended through the slots  364 ,  328 ,  326 , and  362 . The pins  370  and  372  are secured in place by such means as snap rings  374 . Alternately, the pins  370  and  372  and snap rings  374  may be replaced by such equivalent connectors as bolts, nuts, flat washers, and lock washers. Additionally, the inner and outer brackets  286  and  288  may be secured together by other connectors such as welds, rivets, or the like. The assembled inner and outer brackets  286  and  288  are attached to the plate  160  by extending bolt  376  through slot  366  and bolt  378  through aperture  368 , then securing the bolts  376  and  378  with nuts  380  and washers  382 . Alternatively, other connectors can be used, such as welds and rivets. The assembled panel plate connecting assembly  202  may be pivotally attached to the arm brackets  282  and  284  by extending a bolt  384  through the apertures  318  and  320  when the arm brackets  282  and  284  are in alignment therewith, then securing the bolt  384  in place by tightening a nut  386  thereon. 
     The height adjusting mechanism  108 , in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , includes a bracket  400 , cover  402 , and connector assembly  404 . The bracket  400 , in turn, has a lower portion  406 , vertical portion  408 , and respective first and second upper portions  410  and  412 . The first and second vertical members  190  and  192  extend through apertures  414  and  416 , defined in respective first and second upper portions  410  and  412  and through apertures (not shown) in the lower portion  406 , thereby allowing the bracket  400  and attached arm assembly  106  to be raised or lowered as desired. The first and second ends  252  and  254  of the instant arm assemblies are held in place on vertical members  190  and  192  between the lower portion  406  and the respective upper portions  410  and  412 . The connector assembly  404  may include a bolt  420  and respective upper, lower, and intermediate nuts  422 ,  424 , and  426 . In the embodiment depicted, the bolt  420  extends through the orifice  224  and is rigidly fixed to the upper plate  210 . A threaded portion of the bolt  420  extends through the lower portion  406  of the bracket  400 . The bracket  400  is adjusted as desired by loosening the nuts  422 ,  424 , and  426 , then raising or lowering the bracket  400 , then re-tightening the nuts  422 ,  424 , and  426  to fix the bracket (and instant arm assemblies] at the desired vertical position. 
     Another embodiment of the instant panel wall mount is depicted in  FIGS. 12-19  at  500 . While not shown, a wall mount assembly, such as depicted previously at  102  and a height adjusting mechanism, such as depicted previously at  108 , may be present. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other equivalent mechanisms may be present in some embodiments. The panel wall mount  500  has a singular pivoting arm assembly  506 , which has a singular vertical member  510 , a proximal arm member  514 , and a distal arm member  516 , an arm bracket  518  attached to the distal arm member  516 . The vertical member  510  is generally centrally positioned, in contrast to the offsetting positioning of the vertical members  190  and  192 . In the embodiment shown, the features present on the arm  512  are substantially similar to those of the first and second arms  198  and  200 , described previously. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other features may be present in other embodiments. The arm bracket  518  pivotally attaches the distal arm member  516  to the panel plate connecting assembly  202  by means of the bolt  384 , which is secured by a nut  386 . The panel mount assembly  104  may be secured in a retracted position by a retainer  520 . The retainer  520  includes prongs  522  and  524 . The prongs  522  and  524  are biased so as to retain the vertical member  510  therebetween; but the vertical member  510  may be freed by exerting a force sufficient to force the prongs  522  and  524  apart. 
     Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.