Abstract:
A multi position mount for an electronic display providing an adjustable display interface including a mounting assembly providing adjustable movement in at least one direction as determined by a plurality of follower members disposed within slots for slideable movement, and includes a mounting bracket having flanges configured the receive the adjustable display interface in at least two distinct locations. A plurality of mounting positions are possible for quick and easy engagement and disengagement, where at least one position provides mounting of a flat panel device in very close proximity to a mounting surface, and at least one position provides for angled adjustment of a flat panel display.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/019,096, filed on Jan. 4, 2008, hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to mounts for video display devices, and more particularly to mounts for flat panel displays. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Flat panel monitors and televisions have become highly popular and widely used throughout commercial, business, and residential environments around the globe. These flat panel displays allow an enhanced viewing experience with layout versatility, space savings, and the ability to replace bulky computer monitors and television sets with displays that are merely a fraction of the depth and weight of similar prior displays of identical screen size. 
         [0004]    The dimensional characteristics of the displays allow them to be conveniently hung on a wall or connected to a mounting surface such as a column, post, or flat surface of a piece of furniture. The ability to mount these devices near a wall provides an attractive display arrangement. When such mounting is utilized, it is highly desirable to be capable of readily adjusting the position or orientation of a flat panel display. Versatility of movement of the mount is often important to achieving a device that is positioned exactly in the most functional or aesthetically pleasing location desired by the user. Such versatility is particularly desirable as the unique characteristics of a wall or mounting surface may dictate the location where the mount may be attached. 
         [0005]    Many past mounts have provided designs that, while adjustable, do not provide the option of a mounting arrangement that places the flat panel display in extremely close relation with a wall. This is often the case when clearance space is needed for tilting movement of adjustable mounting structures and for accommodating the adjustment mechanisms necessary for such movement. The ability to have a flat panel arrangement mounted very closely to a wall is desirable for aesthetic reasons in addition to space savings provided. It is also desirable, however, to have a mount equipped with adjustability features that can be easily implemented. Moreover, a simple design which can be easily manufactured is also sought. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for a display mount providing close wall-mounting, enhanced versatility of positioning and adjustment, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention addresses the need of the industry for a flat panel display mount that provides enhanced positioning ability, versatility of movement, and ease of installation, maintenance, and manipulation. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the display mount generally include an adjustable display interface that includes a mounting structure for attachment to a flat panel display providing adjustable movement in at least one direction as determined by a plurality of follower members disposed within slots for slideable movement, and a mounting bracket having flanges adapted for receiving the adjustable display interface so that it may reside in one of a plurality of potential locations. 
         [0009]    The invention provides advantages of multiple possible mounting locations which may be quickly engaged and disengaged, where at least one location allows for mounting a flat panel device in very close proximity to a mounting surface, and at least one location allows for angled adjustment of a flat panel display. Further, the mount is arranged such that it is largely self-balanced when the display is adjusted. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flat panel display mount according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the parts of the display mount of  FIG. 1  where the adjustable display interface is separated from the mounting bracket; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mounting bracket for the display mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the parts of an adjustable display interface of a display mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4   a - c  are perspective views of parts of an adjustable display interface of a display mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4   d  is a front view of a follower member of a display mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is perspective view of a display mount of  FIG. 1  in a first position utilizing a first bracket slot; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is side view of a display mount of  FIG. 1  in a second position utilizing a second bracket slot; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6   a  is top view of a display mount of  FIG. 1  in a second position utilizing a second bracket slot; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is side view of a display mount of  FIG. 1  in a second position utilizing a second bracket slot and in a pivoted alignment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the flat panel display mount of  FIG. 1  where the display interface is removed from the mounting bracket and connecting assembly; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the flat panel display mount of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0023]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been depicted by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The present invention relates to an adjustable display mount for attaching a flat panel electronic display to a fixed structure. Such flat panel displays include plasma displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), or any other kind of electronic display that is of similar dimensions or characteristics. Fixed structures generally refer to walls, but also may include ceilings, beams, columns, pieces of furniture, booths, or any other fixed or permanent structure to which a display mount might be attached. 
         [0025]    An embodiment of a flat panel display wall mount is depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 9 . Such a mount embodiment may be particularly well-suited for mounting relatively small or midsize flat panel electronic devices.  FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which an adjustable display mount  10  generally includes an adjustable display interface  12  and a mounting bracket  14 . The adjustable display interface  12  generally includes a mounting assembly  16 , connecting assembly  18 , two arcuate follower members  20  and  22 , a bolt  24  and a fastener  26 . Mounting bracket  14  is a single piece mounting structure that is generally attachable to a fixed structure with any suitable fastener or attachment means that utilizes upper mounting aperture  28  and lower mounting aperture  30 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  also designates, for reference purposes, the relative directions of x-y-z coordinates as applied to the mounting system. Any reference herein to movement in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, or a z-axis direction relates to these coordinate axes. The y-axis is oriented up and down, the z-axis is fore-and-aft, and the x-axis is perpendicular to the z-axis and the y-axis, and is oriented laterally from side-to-side of the mounting system. 
         [0027]    The device seen in  FIG. 1  is a display mount which provides dual position mounting as well as tilt adjustability. When mounting bracket  14  is fixed to a wall or similar surface, mounting assembly  16  of adjustable display interface  12  would typically be mounted to the back of a flat panel display, although no such display is shown here for clarity and better viewing of the mount. Receiving slots  34  in the back of the adjustable display interface  12  are coupled to four corresponding flange members  40  located on mounting bracket  14 . These slots may be a set of interior slots  36  or outer slots  38  located on mounting bracket  14 . (See  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) Engagement with the interior slots  36  provides an extremely close mounting configuration with respect to the a wall or other surface where the mounting bracket  14  may be attached. Alternatively, engagement with the outer slots  38  provides clearance space such that the mounting assembly  16  and an attached flat panel display can be adjusted by tilting to achieve a desired viewing angle. 
         [0028]    The individual parts of the adjustable mount  10  can be better understood from  FIG. 2  where the adjustable display interface  12  and adjustable mounting bracket  14  are shown separated from one another. Mounting bracket  14  is a single piece rigid member with two slots  36  and  38  on each of its four flange members  40 . The adjustable display interface  12  is, however, a multi-piece assembly of parts that may be moved and adjusted. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  discloses the mounting bracket  14  in greater detail. Mounting bracket  14  generally has a flat rectangular base plate  42  with a front face  44  and a rear face  46 . The back face  46  is abutted into engagement with a wall or other fixed mounting structure. The front face  44  is exposed to an attached adjustable display interface  12 . The mounting bracket  14  is secured to a wall with fasteners through the upper mounting aperture  28  and lower mounting aperture  30 . The mounting bracket  14  also has four flanges  40  disposed in perpendicular relation to the base  42 . Each flange  40  shown has a corresponding interior slot  36  and an exterior slot  38  that are formed within the upper edge of the flange. Flanges with additional slots providing further adjustment locations and capabilities are contemplated by this invention as well. Taken as a group, interior slots  36  or exterior slots  38  form sets of engagement structure with four corresponding coupling locations. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 4 , the parts of the adjustable display interface can be seen in a disassembled form for purposes of explanation. Generally, the adjustable display interface  12  includes a mounting assembly  16 , connecting assembly  18 , two arcuate follower members  20  and  22 , a bolt  24 , and a fastener  26 . The example of a bolt  24  and fastener  26  might be used to hold the adjustable display interface  12  together in adjustable, slideable relation. This fastener and bolt arrangement may be placed in the assembly for tightening through either side of the mount assembly, as desired. The individual parts of the adjustable display interface  12  can be seen individually in greater detail in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c.    
         [0031]    The mounting assembly  16  is shown in  FIG. 4   a . Mounting assembly  16  is generally a continuous flat plate of sheet metal formed to contain two outwardly projecting sections  48  and  50  from either side of a top bar  52 , two lower portions  54  and  56  extending from mid sections  58  and  60 . The mounting assembly  16  additionally contains two perpendicular metal flanges  62  and  64  surrounding the open central portion  66 . The perpendicular flanges have a curved periphery and interior arcuate slots  68  and  70  formed in each flange, such that the slots  68  and  70  are in spaced-apart parallel relation to one another. Apertures  72  are found in various locations on the mounting assembly  16  for attachment by fasteners to the back of a flat panel display. The back face  46  of the mounting assembly  16  is shown in  FIG. 4   a . This back face  46  faces away from a mounted flat panel display. The generally flat front-face of the mounting assembly  16  (not shown), is mounted in abutting relationship to the back surface of a mounted flat panel display. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4   b  sets forth a connecting assembly  18  of the adjustable display interface  12 . The connecting assembly  18  generally has a primarily flat surface  74  with four outwardly projecting corners  76  which form a somewhat rectangular shape. The width of the connecting assembly  18  is narrower than the span between the flanges  62  and  64  of the mounting assembly  16 . Along each of the longer edges of the connecting assembly  18  are perpendicularly disposed flanges  78 . The flat surface  74  of the connecting assembly  18  has four receiving slots  34  spaced around its edges. These slots  34  are used for connection with the slots located on the flanges  40  of the mounting bracket  16  during operation. The flat surface  74  also contains a large central aperture  80  and two curved perimeter surfaces  82  and  84 . 
         [0033]    Centrally located in the flanges  78  are arcuate slots  86 . The angle of curvature of the arcuate slots  86  being approximately the same as the arcuate slots  68  and  70  in the flanges  62  and  64  of the mounting assembly  16 . When assembled these arcuate slots help to provide an tiltable adjustment relationship between the connecting assembly  18  and the mounting bracket  16 . 
         [0034]    At one corner of the connecting assembly  18  is a locking mechanism  88 . Locking mechanism  88  is generally a pivotally mounted metal latch that may partially cause interference with one of flanges  40  when disposed in one of the receiving slots  34  when the locking mechanism  88  is pivoted into position. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4   c  and  4   d  set forth the follower members  20  and  22  of the adjustable display interface  12 . Each member has a flat arcuate shaped outer portion  90  from which smaller inner arcuate shaped protrusions  92  extend on both sides. The inner protrusions  92  are shaped to mate with the slots  86  in the connecting assembly  18  on one side and the second inner protrusion  92  is shaped to slide within the arc shaped slot  68  or  70  of the mounting assembly  16 . There is a central aperture  94  in the follower members  20  and  22  through which a bolt  24  may extend. As depicted in  FIG. 4   d  one side of follower members  20  and  22  may have a recessed surface  91  sized to accommodate fastener  26  in order to achieve a tighter frictional interference with the outer side of flange  62  or  64  of the mounting assembly  16  when the adjustable display mount  10  is assembled. 
         [0036]    The configuration and adjustability of the assembled adjustable wall mount  10  can be seen in  FIGS. 5-7 .  FIG. 5  shows the mount assembled in a first configuration where the mount enables a flat panel display to be mounted on mounting assembly  16  in very close relation to the wall  32 . Here, the receiving slots  34  of the adjustable display interface  12  are engaged over flanges  40  and into the four corresponding interior slots  36  of the mounting bracket  14 . This position generally requires the mounting assembly  16  to be in a generally upright position parallel to the wall  32  as the bracket  14  and assembly would cause interference with the mounting assembly  16  if rotated. Maximum space is saved by mounting a flat panel display in this way and an appealing wall-mounted arrangement is achieved. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows the mount assembled in a second configuration where the mount enables adjustment of the flat panel display. In this arrangement, the receiving slots  34  of the adjustable display interface  12  are engaged over flanges  40  and into the four corresponding outer slots  38  of the mounting bracket  14 . Utilizing this configuration provides clearance for rotation of the mounting assembly  16  and an attached flat panel display (not shown). The rotation of mounting assembly  16  is governed by tightening and loosening the fastener  26  and allowing the slots  68  and  70  of the mounting assembly  16  to slide along the protrusions  92  of follower members  20  and  22  located in slots  86  of the connecting assembly  18 . 
         [0038]    For example,  FIG. 7  discloses an example of a mount in the configuration of  FIG. 6  where the mounting assembly  16  is being tilted in an angled manner. To achieve this configuration a user must loosen the fastener  26  from the bolt  24  (not shown here for clarity) such that the arcuate slots  70  of the mounting assembly  16  may slide freely along the outer protrusion  92  of the follower members  20  and  22 . This movement provides tilting that enables a user to position a flat panel display in an angled manner while still positioning the flat panel display in relatively close relation to the wall or mounting surface. 
         [0039]    Another feature of this design is that the arrangement provided may be a self-balanced adjustable system for flat panel mounting. When the adjustable display interface  12  is attached to a flat panel display a curved guide structure may provide a systantially constant radius of curvature with a center disposed proximate the center of gravity of the flat panel display. This configuration enables the positioning of the display with virtually equal effort to the display in any desired orientation. Therefore, in one embodiment, when a flat panel display is attached to a fixed surface with the adjustable display mount, the display is adapted to revolve about a substantially horizontal axis extending proximate a center of gravity of the display such that the display and display interface allow for self-balancing. Further, details of how such self-balancing is accomplished may be understood from U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,101, hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 8 and 9  reveal front and rear views, respectively, of the display mount  10  for greater structural clarity. In  FIG. 8  the mounting assembly  16  is removed for clarity. The relative spacing of the connecting assembly  18  and mounting assembly  16  can be seen as well as the centrally disposed bolt  24  and general configuration of the locking mechanism  88  in the locked position. 
         [0041]    Therefore, installation and use of the display device may be performed by carrying out a series of steps. In general, the user must first mount the bracket  14  to a fixed structure using any suitable fastening means in connection with apertures  28  and  30 . The user must also attach the adjustable display interface  12  to the desired flat panel display by using any suitable fastening means in connection with apertures  72  on the mounting assembly  16 . Next, the user must select the desired slot in the mounting bracket  14  for engagement and then place the receiving slots  34  of the adjustable display interface  12  in engaged relation to the slots  36  or  38  of the mounting bracket  14 . If the user selected the outer slots  38  for engagement, the user may then loosen fastener  26  such that mounting bracket  14  may glide around the followers  20  and  22  according to the movement allowed by slots  68  and  70 . The fastener  26  may then be tightened into position at the desired configuration. 
         [0042]    Embodiments other than those explicitly set forth in the figures are contemplated by this invention as well. For example, while only a single slot  68  and  70  are used on each side of the mounting assembly  16 , using a plurality of slots is likewise contemplated. Similarly, while the slots disclosed in the figures are arcuate and curved, utilizing straight guide slots is likewise contemplated. An arrangement having an adjustable display interface allowing motion in more than one direction is also possible through use of readily known mounting devices with multidirectional mounting features. 
         [0043]    In another embodiment a mounting bracket is configured to provide more than two locations where the display interface  12  is attached to the mounting bracket. For example, the mounting bracket having a variety of flange structures is contemplated where the display interface  12  is mounted at different heights and distances from the fixed structure along the mounting bracket. An arrangement reversing the location of the engagement slots and the flanges between the display interface and the mounting bracket is also contemplated. 
         [0044]    The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are encompassed within the scope of the claims. Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112, sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.