Patent Abstract:
A system for installing a device in a suspended ceiling grid includes a device housing, and a frame adapted to be received in the suspended ceiling grid. The device housing is received in an aperture defined by the frame. A plurality of structures releasably secures the device housing to the frame. Embodiments of the invention provide simpler and more effective methods and systems for mounting ceiling mounted devices above a suspended ceiling such that the device can be installed in a minimal amount of time by one person.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/351,523, entitled PROJECTOR MOUNT AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INSTALLING A PROJECTOR MOUNT IN A SUSPENDED CEILING, filed on Jun. 4, 2010, said application hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to mounts, and more specifically, to methods and systems for mounting devices in a suspended ceiling. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The use of visual media in business settings has proliferated greatly in recent years due to the widespread availability and decreasing cost of visual projection systems. It is now common in commercial settings to have a projector, screen, or other visual media device more or less permanently installed in one or more conference or meeting rooms. 
         [0004]    In some meeting room settings, it is desirable to have a projector, screen, or other media device that is always available for use, but that is concealed for security or aesthetic reasons when not in use. Consequently, automated lift devices have been developed that enable a projector to be selectively concealed above a suspended ceiling in a room. An example of one such prior art lift device is the SL-236SP SMART-LIFT Automated Projector Mount, made by Chief Manufacturing of Savage, Minn. 
         [0005]    A drawback of mount devices such as the SL-236SP is that they can tend to be heavy and bulky, requiring at least two persons for installation in the room. Also, the installation can be time-consuming and difficult. Consequently, what is needed is a simpler and more effective method and system for mounting a projector above a suspended ceiling such that the projector mount can be installed in a minimal amount of time by one person. 
         [0006]    Other media devices such as retractable screens can also advantageously be installed in suspended ceilings. Such devices can likewise be heavy or bulky, such that installation by one person can be difficult or impossible. What is needed is new methods and systems for installing such devices that enable installation by only one person without the need for assistance by others. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention meets the needs of the industry for a simpler and more effective method and system for mounting a projector or other ceiling mounted device above a suspended ceiling such that the mount or device can be installed in a minimal amount of time by one person. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, a system for installing a device in a suspended ceiling grid includes a device housing, and a frame adapted to be received in the suspended ceiling grid. The device housing is received in an aperture defined by the frame. A plurality of structures releasably secures the device housing to the frame. The plurality of structures for releasably securing the device housing to the frame may include at least one spring latch assembly. The system may further include a plurality of suspension wires for attaching the frame to an overhead structure. The system may also include a projector mount received in the device housing or a retractable screen received in the device housing. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment a method of installing a device in a suspended ceiling grid includes inserting a frame in an aperture defined by the suspended ceiling grid, the frame defining a frame aperture, attaching the frame to an overhead structure with a plurality of suspension wires, inserting a device housing in the frame aperture, and latching the device housing to the frame. The method may further include disposing a device in the device housing after the device housing is latched to the frame. In embodiments of the invention, the step of latching the device housing to the frame comprises advancing the device housing through the frame aperture, thereby retracting a plurality of spring latches. In other embodiments, the step of latching the device housing to the frame comprises manually operating at least one latch attached to the device housing or the frame. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, a system for installing a device in a suspended ceiling grid includes a device housing, a frame adapted to be received in the suspended ceiling grid, the device housing received in an aperture defined by the frame, and means for releasably securing the device housing to the frame. The means for releasably securing the device housing to the frame may include a plurality of spring latch assemblies. In embodiments of the invention, each spring latch assembly may include a latch member operably coupled to the device housing and a biasing spring arranged to bias a portion of the latch member outwardly through an aperture in the device housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The embodiments of the present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mount according to an embodiment of the invention depicted in a suspended ceiling grid; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is view of the mount of  FIG. 1  with a portion of the housing cutaway to show the lift assembly in the housing; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the frame portion of the mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary view of a spring latch portion of the mount of  FIG. 1  engaged in a slot in the frame; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view of a grid interface member of the frame of the mount of  FIG. 1  engaged with the ceiling grid; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a view of the housing and spring latch assembly of the mount of  FIG. 1  with the side of the housing depicted in phantom to enable viewing of the spring latch; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view in which a frame of a system according to an embodiment of the invention is inserted in a ceiling grid during an initial stage of installation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view in which the frame depicted in  FIG. 7  is fully inserted in the ceiling grid; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the frame and ceiling grid of  FIGS. 7 and 8  in a further stage of installation in which the frame is attached to an overhead structure with suspension wires; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the system depicted in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  in a further stage of installation in which a device housing is inserted into the frame; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view in which the device housing depicted in  FIG. 10  is fully inserted in the frame and ceiling grid; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the system of  FIGS. 7-11  in a further stage of installation in which a cradle is inserted in the device housing; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of a spring latch assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of a slide latch assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the slide latch is depicted in an unlatched condition; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of the slide latch assembly of  FIG. 14 , in which the slide latch is depicted in a latched condition; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a rotating tab latch assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the rotating tab is depicted in an unlatched condition; 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the rotating tab latch assembly of  FIG. 16 , in which the rotating tab is depicted in a latched condition; 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a manual slide latch assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the slide latch is depicted in an unlatched condition; 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a side elevation view of an alternative for securing the device housing to the frame using a fastener; 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is a side elevation view of another alternative for securing the device housing to the frame using a fastener; 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a spring tab assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the spring tab assembly of  FIG. 21  in which a fastener secures the spring tab in position; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a device housing and retractable screen assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    While the present invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown 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 present invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    A projector mount  20  according to embodiments of the invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1-12 . Mount  20  generally includes ceiling grid interface frame  22 , mount housing  24 , lift assembly  26 , and cradle  28 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , frame  22  generally includes rails  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , grid member interfaces  38 , and optionally electrical receptacle attachment  40 . Each of rails  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , includes a vertical web portion  42  and outwardly extending flange portions  44 ,  46 . Vertical slots  48  are defined in each rail proximate corners  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 , of frame  22 . Grid member interfaces  38  are attached to the outside faces of web portions  42  of rails  32 ,  36 , at each end of the rail. 
         [0037]    Mount housing  24  generally includes a plurality of side panels  58 , and a top panel  60 . Each spring latch assembly  62  generally includes L-shaped latch body  66  and biasing spring  68 . As depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 13 , spring latch assemblies  62  are pivotally coupled to the inside face of sides  58  at pivots  64 , with lower arm portion  70  of body  66  extending outward through aperture  72  in side panel  58 . Loop portion  74  of spring  68  engages over post  76  of body  66 , while free end  78  bears against side panel  58  to bias lower arm portion  70  in an outward direction through aperture  72 . Lift assembly  26  is received in the enclosure formed by housing  24  as depicted in the cutaway view of  FIG. 2 , and is operably coupled to the housing  24 . 
         [0038]    Cradle  28  generally includes frame  80  and ceiling panel portion  82 . Cradle  28  is coupled to lift assembly  26  such that cradle  28  is selectively extendable through the open bottom of housing  24  upon operation of lift assembly  28 . Ceiling panel portion  82  effectively closes the open bottom of housing  24  when the lift assembly  26  is fully retracted. 
         [0039]    The various installation steps for installing mount  20  in a suspended ceiling grid  84  are depicted in  FIGS. 7-12 . First, as depicted in  FIG. 7 , frame  22  is set downward into grid  84  from above. Bottom flanges  44  of rails  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , rest on lower flanges  86  of the grid members, and grid member interfaces  38  extend over upper flanges  88  of the grid members as depicted in  FIG. 5 . With frame  22  received in grid  84  as depicted in  FIG. 8 , fasteners  88  in grid member interfaces  38  can be tightened to secure frame  22  to grid  84 . 
         [0040]    Next suspension wires  90  are attached to frame  22  as depicted in  FIG. 9 , and secured to the overhead roof or floor structure to provide load bearing support for mount  20  separate from the suspension members for grid  84 . With frame  22  secured in grid  84  and supported with wires  90 , housing  24  is inserted upward through frame  22  as depicted in  FIG. 10 . As the angled upper edge  92  of lower arm portion  70  of each spring latch  62  encounters lower flange  44  of the frame rails, body  66  is urged inward against the bias of spring  68 . Once outer tips  94  of lower arm portions  70  reach the bottom ends  96  of slots  48 , lower arm portions  70  snap into slots  48 , urged by springs  68 , thereby securing housing  24  to frame  22  and grid  84  as depicted in  FIG. 11 . Cradle  28  can then be secured to lift assembly  26  in housing  24  as depicted in  FIG. 12  to complete the installation. 
         [0041]    It will be appreciated that the system and method of the present invention can advantageously provide significant installation time savings, installing up to 10 times faster than previous mount systems. Further, because of the modular configuration of mount  20 , with separate frame  22 , housing  24 , and cradle  28 , the system may be installed by one person using only one ladder. Due to the lighter weight of each component lift afforded by the modular configuration, no floor lifting device is generally needed for the installation. 
         [0042]    It will also be appreciated that other latching arrangements can be substituted for spring latch  62  within the scope of the present invention. Embodiments including such alternative latching arrangements are depicted in exemplary fashion in  FIGS. 14-22 . In  FIGS. 14 and 15 , slide latch assembly  100  generally includes slide  102 , guide post  104 , and spring  106 . Slide  102  defines guide slot  108  and latch tongue  110 . Slide  102  is slidably mounted on side  58  with guide post  104  extending through guide slot  108 . Spring  106  has first end  112  fixed to side  58  and second end  114  coupled to slide  102  to bias slide  102  toward the latched position depicted in  FIG. 15 . When in the latched position of  FIG. 15 , latch tongue  110  extends outward through aperture  72  in side  58  to secure housing  24  to frame  22 . Slide  102  can be retracted against the bias of spring  106  to enable tip  116  to pass lower flange  44  of the frame rails as housing  24  is inserted into frame  22 . Once tip  116  reaches the bottom end  96  of slot  48 , latch tongue  110  snaps into slot  48 , urged by spring  106 , thereby securing housing  24  to frame  22  and grid  84 . A similar slide latch arrangement is depicted in  FIG. 18 , except that slide  118  is retained and is slidable in guide  120  on side  58 . In the depicted embodiment of  FIG. 18 , slide  118  is manually actuated rather than spring loaded, and accordingly has actuation handle  122  to enable slide  118  to be shifted back and forth during installation. 
         [0043]    In  FIGS. 16 and 17 , rotating tab  124  is pivotally attached to frame  22  at pivot  126 . Tab  124  can be rotated out of the way as depicted in  FIG. 16  to enable insertion of housing  24  into frame  22 . Once housing  24  is in place, tab  124  can be rotated to secure housing  24  as depicted in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0044]    In  FIG. 19 , housing  24  has outwardly extending flange  128 . Housing  24  can be secured to frame  22  with a fastener  130  such as a screw extending through an aperture (not depicted) defined in flange  128 . In  FIG. 20 , housing  24  is secured to frame  22  with a screw  132  through an aperture (not depicted) in side  58 . 
         [0045]    In  FIGS. 21 and 22 , spring clip  134  is attached to frame  22  and has tongue portion  136 . Aperture  138  is defined in side  58  to receive tongue portion  136 , and thereby latch housing  24  to frame  22 . Optionally, spring clip  134  can define aperture  139  for receiving a screw  140  to prevent unintended disengagement of tongue portion  136  from aperture  138 . 
         [0046]    It will be further appreciated that embodiments of the invention may enable installation of other ceiling mounted devices, such as retractable viewing screen enclosures and the like. For example, a retractable screen assembly  150  including a screen  152  and housing  154  is depicted in  FIG. 23 . Housing  154  is equipped with spring latch assemblies  62  to enable housing  154  to be easily snapped into a suitable frame (not depicted) similar to frame  22  described hereinabove to thereby enable retractable screen assembly  150  to be easily installed in a suspended ceiling by one person working alone. 
         [0047]    The foregoing descriptions present numerous specific details that provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various embodiments, having been disclosed herein, may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, known components have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments are set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only. Other embodiments may be constructed that nevertheless employ the principles and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. It is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 
         [0048]    Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of non-priority documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein and any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein. 
         [0049]    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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8