Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Universal Static Wall Mount Bracket
Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of mounting brackets for
mounting plasma or LCD display technologies onto walls or other appropriate
receiving or supporting surfaces.
Background of the Invention
Plasma and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display technologies have
become very popular for both commercial and residential use. These formats
offer a low-profile configuration that has the particular advantage of
occupying
minimal space, this being particularly desirable in space restricted
locations.
Generally, these display units are mounted on a wall, a display stand or
within
a display cabinet. As such, suitable mounting brackets are necessary to
securely mount these display units to a receiving or supporting surface.
Mounting brackets are known, with a variety of manufacturers such as
Chief Manufacturing, Sanus Systems, Peerless and Vogel's offering various
models and configurations depending on the specific display and application.
While a number of the available products are deemed universal, meaning they
are usable with a variety of plasma and LCD display technologies from
different manufacturers, these products are limited to mounting formats known
at the time of manufacture. With an increase in the number of manufacturers
that are providing plasma and LCD technologies, compatibility problems of a
particular manufacturer with a particular display bracket may arise. New
models may also exhibit variations in the mounting holes from previous
models, possibly rendering obsolete a bracket relying on multiple hole
patterns for known mounting formats.
In view of the above, there is clearly a need for a truly universal
mounting bracket that is infinitely adjustable in two dimensions to securely
accommodate without difficulty plasma and LCD displays.
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Summary of the Invention
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, provided is a
bracket for mounting a display on a receiving or supporting surface, said
bracket comprising a plurality of slidable and lockable bracket portions
permitting adjustment of said bracket in both horizontal and vertical
directions,
providing a universal mount for a variety of displays to be used with said
bracket, said bracket being adapted to mount using suitable fasteners upon a
receiving or supporting surface.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the
current invention.
Figure 2 is a rear view of the embodiment of Figure 1 having a plasma
or LCD display in mounted position.
Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 2 having a plasma
or LCD display in mounted position.
Figure 4a is a perspective view of a mounting button for use with the
current invention.
Figure 4b is an alternate embodiment of a mounting button for use with
the current invention.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Various aspects of the present invention are described in detail where
it is appreciated that the principles may find application for use in mounting
plasma and LCD display technologies to a receiving or supporting surface
such as a wall or a display stand/cabinet. It is preferable to be able to
mount a
plasma or LCD display closely to a wall or other receiving or supporting
structure, thereby taking advantage of the low-profile configuration these
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technologies offer. This minimizes the room occupied by the display and
offers a professional, clean look to the mounted product.
The present invention provides a universal, infinitely adjustable
mounting bracket for use with plasma or LCD technologies. As shown in
Figure 1, the invention generally comprises four primary bracket portions that
together form the infinitely adjustable mounting bracket 10 capable of
supporting a plasma or LCD display. First bracket portion 12 and second
bracket portion 14 are configured to slidably engage one another so as to
allow the bracket to adjust horizontally for different widths of displays.
Second
bracket portion 14 provides at least two holes through which a suitable lock
is
positioned, the lock being slidably received by slot 16 on first bracket
portion
12, allowing second bracket portion 14 to slide relative to first bracket
portion
12. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, three holes 18, 20, 22 are
provided in second bracket portion 14 and locks 24, 26 comprise oversized
washers 28 releasably fastened into position using suitable threaded
fasteners 30. It can be appreciated that fasteners 30 engage either threads
machined or rolled into second bracket portion 14, or may be received by
suitable threaded nuts 32. It can be appreciated that while Figure 1 shows
the threaded nuts as separate, in a preferred embodiment, the nuts are
suitably affixed (i.e. welded, self clinching) to the bracket. It can be
further
appreciated that in alternate embodiments, threaded nuts 32 may be separate
from the bracket structure. By providing multiple holes in second bracket
portion 14, a greater range of widths are possible as holes closer to the end
34 engaging the first bracket portion 12 provide for wider display formats.
While a single lock may be sufficient to fix the first and second bracket
portions relative to one another, in preferred embodiments, as shown in
Figure 2, two locks 24, 26 may be used. To facilitate the sliding relationship
between first bracket portion 12 and second bracket portion 14, the bracket
portions may be configured with angled or curved edges 36, 38 dimensioned
to seat in sliding relationship relative to one another. As shown in Figure 2,
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angled or curved edge 36 of first bracket portion 12 nests within angled or
curved edge 38 of second bracket portion 14.
To slibably affix the third and fourth bracket portions 40, 42, first and
second bracket portions 12, 14 are each configured with slots dimensioned to
allow the third and fourth bracket portions 40, 42 to slide in the vertical
direction relative to the first and second bracket portions 12, 14. As shown
in
Figure 1, third bracket portion 40 is configured with hole 44 through which a
suitable lock is positioned, the lock being slidably received by slot 46 on
first
bracket portion 12. Similarly, fourth bracket portion 42 is configured with
hole
48 through which a suitable lock is positioned, the lock being slidably
received
by slot 50 on second bracket portion 14. To facilitate the sliding
relationship
between first bracket portion 12 and third bracket portion 40, the bracket
portions may be configured with angled or curved edges 52, 54 dimensioned
to seat in sliding relationship relative to one another. As shown in Figure 2,
angled or curved edge 54 of third bracket portion 40 preferably nests within
angled or curved edge 52 of first bracket portion 12. Similarly, to facilitate
the
sliding relationship between second bracket portion 14 and fourth bracket
portion 42, the bracket portions may be configured with angled or curved
edges 56, 58 dimensioned to seat in sliding relationship relative to one
another. As shown in Figure 2, angled or curved edge 58 of fourth bracket
portion 42 preferably nests within angled or curved edge 56 of second bracket
portion 14. As indicated above, the locks 60 comprise oversized washers 62
releasably fastened into position using suitable threaded fasteners 64. It can
be appreciated that fasteners 64 engage either threads machined or rolled
into respective third and fourth bracket portions 40, 42, or may be received
by
suitable threaded nuts 66. It can be appreciated that while Figure 1 shows the
threaded nuts as separate, in a preferred embodiment, the nuts are suitably
affixed (i.e. welded, self clinching) to the bracket. It can also be
appreciated
that the threaded nuts may be separate from the bracket structure.
To fasten the bracket to a wall or other suitable receiving or supporting
surface, each of the bracket portions is provided with an offset portion
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comprising a mounting slot, through which suitable fasteners may be
positioned, depending on the nature of the receiving or supporting surface.
First and second bracket portions 12, 14 have offset portions 68, 70, each
being sufficiently offset so as to allow the offset portions to sit flat upon
a wall
5 without interference from the sliding mechanism permitting horizontal
adjustment. Similarly, third and fourth bracket portions 40, 42 each have
offset portions 72, 74, each again being sufficiently offset so as to allow
the
offset portions to sit flat upon a wall without interference from the sliding
mechanism permitting vertical adjustment. To ensure vertical alignment with
the receiving or supporting surface (i.e. wall), offset portions 68, 70, 72,
74 are
coplanar, thus ensuring that each of the mounting slots 76, 78, 80, 82,
respectively, are coplanar, as shown in Figure 3. The universal mounting
bracket is provided with mounting slots 76, 78, 80, 82 to provide an installer
with flexibility with respect to mounting the bracket in locations having
variable
or spaced support beams or studs (i.e. framed homes having studs every
16").
As shown in Figure 1, first bracket portion 12 provides an offset
mounting means 84, adapted to engage a mounting button fixed to the rear of
the display. Similarly, the second, third and fourth bracket portions 14, 40,
42
also provide offset mounting means 86, 88, 90, respectively. Each of the
offset mounting means 84, 86, 88, 90 are offset in a direction towards the
display unit to be mounted, enabling engagement with the appropriate
mounting button 94, as shown in Figure 2. Offset mounting means 84 of first
bracket portion 12 is provided with two u-shaped cutouts 92 for receiving the
mounting button by drop-placement into the appropriate cutout; each of the
remaining offset mounting means 86, 88, 90 being similarly configured. To
ensure vertical alignment, each of the offset mounting means 84, 86, 88, 90
are coplanar. To enable capture of a mounting button 94 by the respective
u-shaped cutout, the mounting button may be configured as shown in Figure
4a, the mounting button comprising a stem portion 96 proportioned to fit
within
the u-shaped cutout and where also provided is a head portion 98 being
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substantially larger than the width of the cutout provided on the offset
mounting means. The mounting button 94 may also be configured as shown
in Figure 4b, the mounting button comprising a short cylinder 100 having a
circumferential groove 102 that fits within the u-shaped cutout.
In use, the mounting bracket is first loosened by releasing the locks 24,
26, 60. The mounting buttons 94 are securely attached to display 110 with
fasteners 95 in accordance with instructions provided. The loosened
mounting bracket is then adjusted both horizontally and vertically to fit upon
the rear of the display, the mounting buttons sliding into the appropriate
u-shaped cutouts of the offset mounting means. In a particularly preferred
embodiment, the mounting bracket is suited to fit displays having a diagonal
in
the range of about 37" to about 61 ". It can be appreciated, however, that the
mounting bracket of the current invention can be configured to fit larger or
smaller displays by scaling the invention accordingly. Lock 24, may be moved
as necessary to attain a wider or narrower configuration. Each of the locks
are then tightened so as to spatially fix the four bracket portions relative
to
one another. The mounting bracket is then removed from the rear of the
display and mounted using suitable fasteners or hardware positioned through
mounting slots 76, 78, 80, 82 to the receiving or supporting surface (i.e.
wall,
display stand, cabinet, etc...). Once the mounting bracket is securely
fastened, the display can be drop-placed onto the bracket, each of the
mounting buttons being retained by the respective u-shaped cutout of the
respective offset mounting means. With this bracket, the display can be
mounted with less than 1 inch between the rear of the display and the
receiving or supporting surface. In a preferred embodiment, this distance is
7/8", or less. In a particularly preferred embodiment, this distance is 0.84".
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the offset
mounting means is provided with a single cutout, or possibly a plurality of
cutouts for receiving the mounting buttons. In a further embodiment, the
cutout may be shaped to prevent accidental disengagement. For example,
the slot may be L-shaped, S-shaped or Z-shaped.
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In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the bracket
portions may incorporate curved or angled edging to provide increased
structural rigidity to the overall mounting bracket.
It can be appreciated that while the current invention has been
discussed with respect to plasma and LCD technologies, the invention may
find further application for mounting artwork, conference-room presentation
boards, advertisement signs, etc. In essence, the invention may be used in
any application where an infinitely adjustable low profile bracket mechanism
is
required.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been
described, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof.
