Patent ID: 8413398

Claim:
A panel mounting system, comprising: at least one cable configured to be secured to a support structure; at least one substantially spherical ball pivot having a mounting channel extending axially through the ball pivot, the mounting channel being configured to receive and secure the at least one cable therein to suspend the at least one ball pivot from the at least one cable; at least one unitary ball socket comprising: a body having a first terminal end, an opposing second terminal end, and a length extending therebetween, the body comprising an inner cylindrical chamber at least partially surrounding and directly contacting the at least one ball pivot such that the at least one unitary ball socket is supported by the at least one ball pivot, the first terminal end of the body defining a first terminal end of the inner cylindrical chamber, the inner cylindrical chamber comprising a seamless cylindrical surface of uniform diameter, and a flange extending radially outward from the first terminal end of the body, the flange including a front surface and a back surface; and a solid resin or glass panel having front display surface and an opposing rear surface, the panel further comprising a through-hole extending from the front display surface to the opposing rear surface; wherein: at least a portion of the body of the at least one ball socket is positioned within the through-hole of the panel, the front display surface of the panel is positioned against and supported by the back surface of the flange of the at least one ball socket, the at least one ball socket is configured to move relative to the at least one ball pivot to secure the panel in any of a plurality of different orientations relative to the at least one cable; and the front display surface of the panel is exposed and visible when the panel mounting system is suspended from the support structure.