Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for supporting a display device. A bracket includes first and second substantially parallel arms arranged to receive sides of a display device therebetween for attachment thereto. A first cross member is interposed between the first and second arms, and a second cross member is interposed between the first and second arms and extends from the first cross member. The second cross member is arranged to receive a back plane of the display device for attachment thereto. A housing is removably fastened to the bracket. The housing is arranged to surround the bracket and define a window, and the visual display area of a display device attachable to the bracket is viewable within the window.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/288,250, filed May 1, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to visual displays and, more specifically, to visual display supports.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In many applications, visual display devices for displaying video information or other data are typically supported and housed in specialized units that protect and support the display device. Many types of units have been proposed and implemented for supporting and housing cathode ray tube (CRT) displays in many environments, including passenger aircraft. Methods of supporting CRT-based displays include retractable housings and supports, and various configurations of swivelable and tiltable trays for the CRT display. Many of these support and housing devices are limited in the types, sizes and configurations of the displays they support.  
           [0004]    Increasingly, flat panel visual display devices are replacing CRT-based visual displays. These newer, flat panel visual display devices include liquid crystal display and plasma display devices, as well as other newer screen types. Flat panel visual display devices are often rectangular in shape and smaller than CRTs. Accordingly, multiple flat panel displays may be used in lieu of larger displays with retractable or tiltable/swiveable housings and supports. Further, different supports and housings are needed to adapt these flat panel visual display devices to their use environments. As a result, many retractable and/or tiltable/swivelable supports and housings used for CRTs are not desirable for many flat panel displays in environments where space is limited.  
           [0005]    In aircraft and in other applications, space, viewability, and weight considerations are often key factors. However, known display supports may be bulky and heavy. In addition, known display supports may also limit access for installing and repairing flat panel visual display devices.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there is an unmet need in the art for flat panel display support and housing devices which combine simplicity, size constraints, accessibility and weight benefits.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a lightweight, compact, and uncomplicated system for supporting and housing flat panel visual display devices of various configurations and sizes from various manufacturers. The visual display support and housing device of the present invention allows configuration for use on aircraft, especially in passenger aircraft cabins.  
           [0008]    The invention provides a bracket to receive a display device mountable thereon, and a housing removably fastenable to the bracket. The housing is arranged to surround the bracket and define a window. The visual display area of the display device is viewable within the window. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an isometric exploded view of a support bracket of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an isometric exploded view of the support bracket of the present invention attached to a support surface;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric exploded view of a removable housing of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a side view of the support bracket and removable housing of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a front view of the removable housing of the present invention when installed;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a side view of a detail of the removable cover of the present invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side view of another detail of the removable cover of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  are isometric, exploded drawings of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A flat panel display support bracket  10  is suitably covered by a removable housing  40  and is configured to attach to a surface such as to an aircraft cabin ceiling panel  60 .  
         [0018]    In FIG. 1, the support bracket  10  is shown supporting a display  5 . Given by way of non-limiting example, the display  5  is suitably a flat panel visual display. The support bracket  10  includes a first bracket arm  12  and a second bracket arm  14 . The first bracket arm  12  has a first end  13  and a second end  15 . The second bracket arm  14  has a first end  17  and a second end  19 . The first and second bracket arms  12  and  14  are laterally spaced apart from each other by a first cross member  21 . The first and second bracket arms  12  and  14  are attached to the cross member  21  at the first ends  13  and  17 . The first and second bracket arms  12  and  14  extend substantially parallel to each other and are arranged to mountably receive sides of the display  5  therebetween. The first bracket arm  12  has a first finite length L 1  and the second bracket arm  14  has a second finite length L 2  that is less than the first finite length L 1 . It will be appreciated that different lengths L 1  and L 2  allow the display  5  to be mounted horizontally when the supporting surface (not shown) is curved or inclined. It will also be appreciated that a left-to-right mirror opposite, with L 1  less than L 2 , allows the display  5  to be mounted horizontally when the supporting surface (not shown) is curved or inclined in an opposite direction. The first and second bracket arms  12  and  14  may angle forward or backward from their attachment points with the first cross member  21  at their first ends  13  and  17 . The bracket arms  12  and  14  may be angled to affect the tilt of the display  5 . The arms may tilt forward or backward a desired angle, such as an angle between 10 and 30 degrees from the vertical. The bracket arms  12  and  14  may also have no tilt forward or backward. Given by way of non-limiting example, as shown in FIG. 1 the bracket arms  12  and  14  tilt backward at an angle of around 15 degrees.  
         [0019]    The support bracket  10  also includes a second cross member  16 . The second cross member  16  is suitably a substantially planar surface that extends from the first cross member  21  and extends between the first and second bracket arms  12  and  14 . The second cross member  16  works in concert with the first and second bracket arms  12  and  14  to support the display  5 .  
         [0020]    The display  5  is suitably attached to the support bracket  10  with a plurality of display fasteners  20 . The term fastener as used herein means without limitation any suitable device to removably secure one component to another. These may include without limitation threaded screws, push pins, quick release pins, threaded bolts, wing nuts, clips, sliding tabs or other fastening devices having similar functions, as is well known in the art.  
         [0021]    The first and second bracket arms  12  and  14  define a plurality of holes  18  that receive fasteners  20  that attach the support bracket  10  to the display  5 . The holes  18  may be positioned in concert with the angle of the first and second bracket arms  12  and  14  so the display  5  tilts downward at a desired angle, such as an angle between 1 and 35 degrees from the vertical. Given by way of non-limiting example, as shown in FIG. 1 the display  5  tilts downward at an angle of around 15 degrees. A downward angle of around 15 degrees has been found to be preferable for viewing a video display mounted to the ceiling of a passenger aircraft cabin. It will be appreciated that multiple holes  18 , or alternatively slots or other fastening locations and types, permit alternate embodiments of the invention to accommodate different, adaptable, or multiple viewing angles for the display  5 .  
         [0022]    It will be appreciated that the bracket  10  may take any suitable dimension and shape to permit attachment of the bracket  10  to a support surface (not shown) and to the display  5 . The bracket  10  may be made of any suitable material. In one aspect of the invention, the bracket  10  is suitably made from an aluminum casting. Advantageously, an aluminum casting keeps the bracket  10  relatively light. As such, a lightweight aluminum casting is desirable for the bracket  10  when the bracket  10  will be used to support the display  5  in an aircraft. Aircraft ceiling panels can typically support a total weight of no more than 30 pounds. In one embodiment of the invention that may be desirably used in an aircraft passenger cabin, the display  5 , the bracket  10 , the removable housing (not shown), and the plurality of the fasteners  20  are preferably selected such that their total weight does not exceed the weight that can be supported by the ceiling panel. This avoids use of additional or special structural supports. In one presently preferred embodiment, the total weight of the bracket  10  and the display  5  combined is in a range of between around 16 to 25 pounds. Other ceiling panels may support a display  5  weighing as much as 75 pounds.  
         [0023]    As is known, visual displays come in different sizes and configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, varying sizes of the display  5  may be accommodated by the bracket  10  through the use of a plurality of spacers  22 . Given by way of non-limiting example, hollow flexible tubes are suitably used as the spacers  22  in combination with the fasteners  20 . The fasteners  20  are threaded through the holes  18  in the support bracket  10 , pass through the spacers  22 , and in turn are threaded into sockets  7  in the display  5 . It will be appreciated that depending upon the size of the display  5  in relation to the size of the bracket  10 , different sizes and types and dimensions of fasteners  20 , with or without spacers  22 , may be used to attach the display  5  to the bracket  10 . This permits the display  5  to be centered within the bracket  10 , and within the removable housing (not shown) that covers the display  5  and the support bracket  10 . Other suitable spacers  22  include metal or plastic tabs at each fastener  20  positioned between the bracket  10  and the display  5 . Alternative spacing or attachment methods may be utilized to attach the display  5  to the bracket  10 . Plates or pads may be used as spacers, or a complete holding device or sleeve sized to fit within the bracket  10  and surrounding the display  5  may suitably form a single unified spacer that connects the display  5  to the bracket  10 .  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket  10  has a bracket shoulder notch  24  that permits a corner of the display  5  to nest up inside the bracket  10  and the supporting surface (not shown). The notch  24  permits the display  5  to be nested closer against and into a curved support surface, such as a passenger aircraft ceiling. Advantageously, this conserves space utilized by the display  5 , the bracket  10  and the removable housing (not shown). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an upper corner of the display  5  projects up through the notch  24  when the display  5  is mounted into the bracket  10 . In locations where the support surface for the bracket  10  is flat, the notch  24  is not required. The invention is not limited to aircraft interiors but may be utilized in any location where flat screen visual displays are mounted.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the display  5  and the bracket  10  detached from its supporting surface, such as an aircraft cabin ceiling panel  60 . The display  5  is mounted to the bracket  10  with display fasteners  20 . The bracket  10  is mounted to the ceiling panel  60  using a plurality of mounting fasteners  30 . The mounting fasteners  30  are suitably bolts with washers passing through the bracket  10  and the ceiling panel  60 . The fasteners  30  are held in place by lock washers (not shown) and nut plates  62 . In alternative embodiments any suitable fastener may be used.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 shows a corner  23  of the display  5  projecting through the bracket  10  through the notch  24 . When the bracket  10  and the display  5  are mounted to the ceiling panel  60 , the corner  23  projects through the ceiling panel  60  through a substantially rectangular opening  64  in the ceiling panel  60 . This permits the display  5  to be mounted closely up against the ceiling panel  60 , while still allowing the full viewing panel of the display  5  to be visible to a viewer.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the display  5  is attached to the support bracket  10 , which is fastened to the ceiling panel  60 . A removable housing  40  is shown detached from the bracket  10 . The housing  40  covers and protects the display  5 . The display  5  and the bracket  10  are covered by the housing  40  when the housing  40  is fastened into place. In one embodiment, the housing  40  is suitably made from a polyetherimide plastic. However, it will be appreciated that other lightweight, durable materials may be used as desired.  
         [0028]    The removable housing  40  is attached to the bracket  10  and covers the display  5  using a plurality of suitable fasteners, such as, without limitation, quick-release pin fasteners. In one embodiment, two rear housing fasteners  42  and one forward housing fastener  44  hold the housing  40 .  
         [0029]    The housing  40  includes interior standoffs  46 . When the housing  40  is attached to the bracket  10  the standoffs  46  are positioned near the bottom of the back of the display  5 . This supports the lower edge of the housing  40  should the housing  40  be pushed. The standoffs  46  also support the display  5 . The shape of the housing  40  and the standoffs  46  may be configured to cover and rest against the back and edges of a variety of sizes of flat panel display devices. As is known, thickness of the display devices may vary by greater than 0.25 inch, and their screen size and resulting diagonal length may vary by over one inch. For example, a display device may have a diagonal display length in a range from 12 inches to 16 inches. Advantageously, the standoffs  46  permit the housing  40  to accommodate displays of various sizes from different manufacturers.  
         [0030]    The display  5  typically has a periphery or frame outside the screen area, with a width in a range between 0.5 to 1.0 inch. This dimension may vary from screen-to-screen and manufacturer-to-manufacturer. The housing  40  includes a display opening  48 , or cutout, which matches the periphery and provides a mask for the display  5 . Different configurations of the display opening  48  can suitably accommodate and mask different screens from different manufacturers.  
         [0031]    The housing  40  has a mating edge  50  which is shaped to mate with the support surface to form a continuous housing cover over the bracket  10  and the display  5 . The shape of the edge  50  can be any shape to match its supporting surface, such as the ceiling panel  60 . The edge  50  is suitably curved to match the curve of the ceiling panel  60 . In different embodiments, the edge  50  may have penetrations to match the ceiling panel  60 , to provide access for maintainence or repairs, or to accommodate wiring.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the support bracket  10 , the display  5 , and the housing  40 , are fastened to the aircraft-ceiling panel  60 . The housing  40  has a curved bottom that provides a rounded surface in the event a passer-by brushes against or hits the housing  40 . The second cross member  16  provides additional support for the display  5 . The forward housing fastener  44  holds the housing  40  up against the ceiling panel  60 . The edge  50  of the housing  40  mates and rests against the ceiling panel  60 . The ceiling panel  60  suitably has a mating rim  66  to hold and support the edge  50  of the housing  40 . The fastener  44  is suitably a quick release pin and is shown in more detail in FIG. 7.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 shows the shape of the housing  40  in greater detail. The standoff  46  rests against the bottom of the back of the display  5  to help prevent passers-by or objects from pushing against and possibly deforming the housing  40  or the display  5 . The housing  40  contains a display inset  52 , which is suitably sized to place the display opening  48  to within approximately 0.1 of an inch of the front surface of the display  5 . Advantageously, a number of sizes and thicknesses of various displays may be accommodated by the housing  40  by suitably sizing the standoff  46 , the inset  52 , and the opening  48 . A rounded, sloped or multi-stepped shape suitably may be utilized for the inset  52 . This permits the housing  40  to be trimmed after it has been molded to match different display sizes and display thicknesses. If a rounded or sloped inset  52  is used, different trimming changes both the size of the opening  48  and the thickness of the display  5  that can be covered by the housing  40 . In an alternate embodiment, the housing  40  can be molded without an opening  48 , but with a flat surface (not shown) in place of the opening. After manufacture the surface (not shown) may be cut to any size or shape within the inset  52  to match the shape and size of the displays. Trimming the housing  40  after manufacture allows a single housing  40  to be used to cover a plurality of display types without changing the manufacturing moldings for the housing  40 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 shows one preferred embodiment of the present invention viewed towards the front of the display  5  with the housing  40  installed. The housing  40  covers and encloses the display  5  and the support bracket  10  (not shown), and mates against and conforms with the ceiling panel  60  of an aircraft passenger cabin. The display opening  48  of housing  40  is sized to match the display  5 . The display inset  52  offsets the opening  48  within close proximity of the display  5 . The combination of the inset  52 , and the opening  48  form a mask that is shaped to surround the visual display area of the displays, and visually surrounds the visual display area of the display  5 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 6 and 7 show in detail recessed, quick-release pins that fasten the housing  40  to the bracket  10 . FIG. 6 is a detailed cross section of a recessed fastener supporting the back of the housing  40 , while FIG. 7 is a detailed cross section of a hidden fastener supporting the front of the housing  40 .  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 6, the fastener  42  connects the housing  40  to a fastener socket  28 . The fastener  42  is recessed in a recess  58 . This leaves a flush, rear surface to the housing  40 . The recess  58  defines a tool access hole  54  which permits a suitable housing mounting tool  70  to connect with or be inserted into the fastener  42 . The fastener  42  advantageously defines a socket  56  or other suitably shaped opening or slot for activating or rotating the fastener  42 . The fastener  42  is suitably a quick-release pin with a built-in spring. The fastener  42  may be connected to and disconnected from the socket  28  through either a push or a short turn of the tool  70 .  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIG. 7, the fastener  44  suitably uses a quick release fastener. The fastener  44  is suitably a quick-release pin with a spring mechanism. This permits easy attachment and detachment of the housing  40  from the bracket  10 . The fastener  44  is accessed through the tool access hole  54  that is recessed in the inset  52 . This configuration permits the fastener  44  to be concealed and yet accessible, while allowing the front of the housing  40  to be smooth and unobstructed by any fastener heads or connections. The fastener  44  may be attached or detached utilizing the tool  70  that mates with the socket  56  or other suitable opening in the fastener  44 . In a present embodiment of the invention, the tool  70  is an Allen wrench or similar tool, and the socket  56  is a hexagonal socket.  
         [0038]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.