Abstract:
A dual arm articulating mounting system including a vertical adjustment feature. The vertical adjustment feature comprises a bracket that is secured to a rotation box and supports a bolt. The bolt goes through a support plate, with the support plate including at least two holes with bushings inserted therein. The bushings act as guides along smaller-diameter inside tubes while positioning the mount in the vertical position. A nut is threaded onto the bolt on the top side of the plate. As the nut is turned, the rotation box and the television or display device is raised or lowered under its own weight.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/756,305, filed Jan. 5, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to mounting systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to mounting systems for flat panel televisions with dual articulating arms, where the vertical position of the television can be adjusted after installation. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In recent years, flat panel televisions have become enormously popular in both commercial and residential sectors. As the prices for plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) flat panel displays have continued to fall, and the quality for the same devices have improved, more and more businesses and individuals have purchased such devices for both home and business entertainment purposes. 
   One of the advantages of flat panel televisions units that customers have found particular appealing is their relatively low thickness. Because conventional “tube” televisions have a relatively large depth, the display options for such devices are quite limited. In the residential setting, most users require a television stand or large entertainment center to store the television. Such stands or entertainment centers can take up significant floor space, which is often undesirable. In the commercial or educational setting, users will often install large overhead mounting systems that can contain the television. However these systems usually require professional installation and, once the television is secured to the mount, it is often difficult to access and adjust due to it&#39;s height. With flat panel televisions, on the other hand, users are presented with a relatively new option: mounting the television directly to the wall. By mounting the television to the wall, a person can eliminate the need to take up potentially valuable floor space. 
   Although the introduction of flat panel televisions on a wide scale has presented new opportunities to both residential and commercial customers, it has also presented new challenges. In particular, flat panel televisions, while usually having significantly smaller depth or profile than conventional “tube” televisions, tend to be quite heavy. Particularly for flat panel televisions with large screens, this weight can become also prohibitively great. With such large weights involved, it is especially important that users can easily, safely, and securely mount the devices without having to make substantial adjustments. Furthermore, with such weights involved and the high cost of such devices, it is extremely important that the device be mounted correctly on the first attempt: if the device is not correctly mounted on the first try, there is a high risk of damaging the device and causing injury to those installing it. 
   With the above considerations in mind, there have been various attempts to develop mounting systems that address these concerns. Besides the flat wall mounts, there have been articulating arm mounts produced. This type in general allow a flat panel to be placed flat against the wall, or moved straight out away from the wall varying distances (mount dependant) and swing left or right, limited only by TV-to-wall contact. These articulating mounts add tremendous variety to flat panel television viewing including straight, or any variation of up to 90 degrees left or right of straight. Installations can also recess the flat panel television into a cabinet (with an articulating mount) flush with the outer wall surface. The articulating mount then allows the TV to come out of the recess and pivot left or right providing infinite additional viewing angles. 
   Flat panel televisions are ever increasing in size, and as they become less expensive, consumers are buying the largest they can afford. Flat panel televisions also provide conveniently twice the screen size of a “tube” unit, for a more enjoyable viewing experience. Customers are trying to fit the largest flat panel television into limited space: such as just above a fireplace mantel, enclosed in a cabinet, or in a corner up against the ceiling. These examples require a specific fine tuning of the vertical position of the television for the perfect installation effect, while still maintaining the television swivel left and right feature. 
   Some newer flat panel television mounts also include an articulating arm which permits the television to be moved away from a wall or other surface. One such single articulating arm mount is designed to primarily hold larger flat panel television units. Such a mount typically includes a welded wall bracket that is connected to the wall using fasteners such as wood screws. The wall bracket is connected to a set of articulating arms via metal tubing. The articulating arm is connected to a set of components that permit the flat panel television, when attached to the mount, to tilt, roll, and rotate relative to a wall or other mounting surface. This style of mount is used not only on a wall, but often is mounted on a recessed opening which is cut out of or built into the wall or mounting surface. In the application of the mount being positioned on a surface that is not recessed, the end user or installer may need to adjust the vertical positioning of the television in order to obtain a preferred viewing location. In the case where the mount is installed within a recessed opening, the installer may need to adjust the vertical position to account for any variance in the original positioning of the mount relative to the opening, or any displacement that may be natural to the mount itself. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a dual-arm mounting system, designed to hold larger size flat screen televisions, with a vertical adjustment feature. The mounting system includes a wall bracket that is fastened to the wall using wood screws or other fasteners, connected to two sets of articulating arms. The two sets of articulating arms are connected to a series of components that permit the flat screen television or other display device to tilt, roll, rotate, and vertically adjust feature. An adapter plate is fastened to the mounting plate to which the television or other display device can be attached. 
   The vertical adjustment feature comprises a bracket that is secured to a rotation box and supports a bolt. The bolt goes through a support plate, with the support plate including at least two holes with bushings inserted therein. The bushings act as guides along smaller-diameter inside tubes while positioning the mount in the vertical position. A nut is threaded onto the bolt on the top side of the plate. As the nut is turned, such as with a wrench, the rotation box, as well as the television or display device, is raised or lowered under its own weight. By being located on the “display side” of the mount, this vertical adjustment feature provides an installer with a very accessible point at which to adjust the vertical position of the flat panel television or other display device. 
   These and other advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a first perspective view of a mounting system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a second perspective view of a mounting system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a mounting system constructed according to the present invention, without the mounting system being attached to a display device or a support surface; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view a portion of the vertical adjustment feature of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the vertical adjustment feature of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the vertical adjustment feature of FIG. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show a mounting system  100  constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The mounting system  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a wall mounting plate  102  which is adapted to secure to a wall or other flat surface. First and second inner support arms  103  and  104  are rotatably connected to the wall mounting plate  102 . When the wall mounting plate  102  is affixed to a wall or other surface substantially perpendicular to the ground, the first and second inner support arms  103  and  104  are capable of rotating about an axis substantially perpendicular to the ground. The first and second inner support arms  103  and  104  are also rotatably connected to a first and second outer support arm  105  and  106 , respectively. The pairs of inner and outer support arms  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106  are interconnected with a common axle and are attached to the wall mounting plate  102  with short axles. The first and second outer support arms  105  and  106  are operatively connected to the vertical adjustment feature  110  of the present invention, which is operatively connected to a tilt plate  16 . The tilt plate  16  is configured to selectively tilt relative to the vertical adjustment feature  110 . 
   The tilt plate  16  is operatively connected to an adapter plate  12 , which can directly or indirectly (e.g., via a device mounting plate  111 ) connect to a display device  108 . These components can be connected to each other via screws or other fasteners known in the art. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting system  100  is configured to support a flat panel television. However, other types of devices could also be mounted on the mounting system  100 . 
     FIGS. 4-6  shows the vertical adjustment feature  110 , according to one embodiment of the present invention, in greater detail. The vertical adjustment feature  110  includes a tilt stop plate  112  coupled to a tilt box  114 . The tilt stop plate  112  can be coupled to the tilt box  114  via welding or other fastening mechanisms. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the tilt stop plate  112  includes an adjustment knob  116  which is used to adjust the angular orientation of the tilt plate  16  relative to the rest of the vertical adjustment feature  110 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , an adjustment bolt  118  is positioned between a support plate  120  and an upper surface of the tilt stop plate  112 . The adjustment bolt  118  is held in place by a bolt stop plate  130 . An adjustment nut  132  is threadedly connected to the adjustment bolt  118  and is positioned on top of the support plate  120 , with a washer  133  therebetween. The support plate  120  is positioned on top of outer support arm end portions  122 . A pair of primary axles  124  pass through the outer support arm end portions  122  and the support plate  120  before contacting the upper surface of the tilt stop plate  112 . In one embodiment of the invention, the primary axles are welded to the tilt stop plate  112 . Support arm bushings  126  are positioned between the lower ends of the outer support arm end portions  122  and the respective primary axles, and support plate bushings  128  are positioned on the opposite end of the outer support arm end portions  122  near the support plate  120 . These bushings aid in providing smooth movement of the primary axles  124  within the outer support arm end portions  122 . 
   When attached, the weight of the display device  108  is transferred through the tilt plate  16 , the tilt box  114 , and the tilt stop plate  112  to the adjustment bolt  118 . The support plate  120  serves to spread all of the weight across both of the outer support arm end portions  122 . Therefore, the weight of the display device  108  always keeps the various components pushing downward onto the adjustment nut  132  and the support plate  120 . The support plate  120  is its own component of flat shape, and also is “floating” in that there are no other direct connecting components or shapes. This allows the display device  108  weight to be evenly distributed upon the first and second outer support arms  105  and  106 . 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting system  100  is supplied to the customer completely assembled, as is shown in  FIG. 2 . The installation process involves the wall mounting plate  102  being secured to a wall or flat surface, and a display device  108  being directly or indirectly secured to the adapter plate  12 . Once installation is complete, vertical adjustment of the display device  108  may be required. To do so, the installer places an adjustment tool, such as a standard open end wrench, on the adjustment nut  132 , and turns the adjustment nut  132  either clockwise or counterclockwise. When the adjustment nut  132  is rotated, there is relative movement between the adjustment bolt  118  and the adjustment nut  132 . If the adjustment nut  132  is turned clockwise, the display device  108  is raised due to the adjustment bolt  118  moving upward relative to the adjustment nut  132 , as the tilt stop plate  112  and other attached components are moved upward as well. If the adjustment nut  132  is rotated counter-clockwise, the display device  108  is lowered as the adjustment bolt  118  moves downward relative to the adjustment nut  132 . In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the total potential vertical adjustment is about two inches. This total adjustment can be limited, for example, by the use of a stop nut (not shown) positioned on the adjustment bolt  118 . It is also possible for the vertical adjustment feature  110  to have other maximum ranges of vertical movement. The up and down motion of the vertical adjustment feature  110  is guided by the movement of the primary axles  124  within the outer support arm end portions  122 , the support arm bushings  126  and the support plate bushings  128 . 
   The location of the vertical adjustment feature  110  (near the display device  108 ) in the invention has several advantages. First, while pressure has to be placed onto the support arms, only one adjustment point (at the adjustment nut  132 ) is required. Second, the inherent shallow depth of the end components is maintained even with the inclusion of the vertical adjustment feature  110 . Third, the locating of the vertical adjustment feature  110  near the display device  108  preserves the overall “look” of the wall mounting plate  102 , with the wall mounting plate  102  remaining uncluttered and non-mechanical in appearance. The additional components of the vertical adjustment feature  110  are not visible from even a direct side view. In addition, a side-to-side rotation of the mounted display device  108  is still permissible and is not limited by the addition of the vertical adjustment feature  110 . Additionally, by providing linear motion close to the display device  108 , moment forces applied to the effected bushings in motion from this mechanism on the axles is reduced over other possible locations. 
   Installation time is also reduced with the vertical adjustment feature  110  components provided assembled on the same end as the display device  108 . This allows for easy separation of the wall mounting plate  102  from the first and second inner support arms  103  and  104 , if necessary. With the design wall mounting system  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the installer first locates and installs the wall mounting plate  102 . The wall mounting plate  102  weighs about 5 lbs in one embodiment of the invention and therefore may be easier to handle by itself than if attached to the rest of the mounting system  100 . 
   The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.