Secure mounting system for overhead mounted projector

• US 20040211872A1
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand AV Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Chief Manufacturing Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Dittmer, Jay, Bremmon, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/323
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 of head mounted projectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

An adjustable tamper-resistant overhead mounting system for a projector. The system includes brackets attachable to the projector and a suspension member attached to an overhead structure. At least one tamper resistant fastener is used at each connection of the brackets, the projector and the suspension member, to deter theft and tampering. The arrangement of the brackets may enable easy adjustable positioning of the projector about pitch, roll and yaw axes. The projector may also be enclosed in an enclosure system to protect against contact by foreign objects. The enclosure is adapted to be installable without removing the projector or otherwise disturbing the mounting system.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant mounting system for adjustably attaching a visual projection device to a suspension member fixedly attached to an overhead structure, the system comprising:

a device interface bracket adapted to be attachable to the projection device with at least one tamper resistant fastener; and

a suspension member interface portion operably coupled to said device interface bracket, said suspension member interface portion adapted to be attachable to the suspension member with at least one tamper resistant fastener, said device interface bracket and said suspension member interface portion being secured together with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said device interface bracket includes a planar portion with a pair of spaced apart parallel flanges projecting upwardly from said planar portion, wherein said suspension member interface portion is rotatably mounted between said flanges so that said device interface bracket is rotatable relative to said suspension member interface portion, and wherein each flange and said suspension member interface portion are attached with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

3. The mounting system of claim 2, further comprising at least one suspension member fixedly attachable to said overhead structure, wherein said suspension member is operably coupleable to said suspension member interface portion, and wherein said suspension member and said suspension member interface portion are attached with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein said suspension member is a pipe having a threaded portion, wherein said suspension member interface portion has a threaded portion adapted to threadedly receive the threaded portion of said pipe, and wherein said at least one tamper resistant fastener is a set screw threaded through said suspension member interface portion and contacting the threaded portion of said pipe so as to impede unthreading of said pipe from said suspension member interface portion.

5. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein said device interface bracket includes an adapter plate adapted to be attached to the visual projection device with at least one tamper resistant fastener, and wherein said adapter plate is attached to said planar portion with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure adapted to enclose the visual projection device, said enclosure including:

a integral surround portion having a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, and a pair of open ends; and

a pair of end caps adapted to fit over and close said open ends, each of said pair of end caps being secured to the surround portion with at least one tamper resistant fastener, said enclosure being secured to said tamper resistant mounting system with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, further comprising at least one lock and an elongate locking bar having a hooked end and a opposing straight end with an aperture for receiving said lock, wherein one of said end caps has an engaging structure for receiving said hooked end and the other of said end caps has an opening formed therethrough, wherein said locking bar is positionable so that said straight end extends through said opening with the aperture outside of the enclosure when said hooked end is received in said engaging structure, and wherein said locking bar lockably secures said end caps to said surround portion when said lock is received in said aperture in said straight end.

8. The mounting system of claim 6, further comprising at least one suspension member coupling said suspension member interface portion to said structure, wherein said top of said surround portion has a elongate slot extending from one of said open ends to proximate the center of said top, and wherein said slot is adapted to fit around said suspension member.

9. A tamper resistant adjustably positionable visual projection system adapted to be mounted from an overhead structure, comprising:

a projection device; and

a mounting system including;

(a) a device interface bracket attached to the projection device with at least one tamper resistant fastener; and

(b) a suspension member interface portion operably coupled to said device interface bracket, said suspension member interface portion attached to the overhead structure with at least one tamper resistant fastener, said device interface bracket and said suspension member interface portion being secured together with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said device interface bracket includes a planar portion with a pair of spaced apart parallel flanges projecting upwardly from said planar portion, wherein said suspension member interface portion is rotatably mounted between said flanges so that said device interface bracket is selectively rotatably adjustable relative to said suspension member interface portion, and wherein each flange and said rocker portion are attached with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said mounting system further comprises at least one suspension member fixedly attached to said overhead structure, wherein said suspension member is operably coupled to said suspension member interface portion, and wherein said suspension member and said suspension member interface portion are attached with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein said suspension member is a pipe having a threaded portion, wherein said suspension member interface portion has a threaded portion adapted to threadedly receive the threaded portion of said pipe, and wherein said at least one tamper resistant fastener is a set screw threaded through said suspension member interface portion and contacting the threaded portion of said pipe so as to impede unthreading of said pipe from said suspension member interface portion.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising an enclosure enclosing said projection device, said enclosure being attached to said mounting system with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said enclosure includes an integral surround portion having a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, and a pair of open ends, and a pair of end caps adapted to fit over and close said open ends, each of said pair of end caps being secured to the surround portion with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one lock and an elongate locking bar having a hooked end and a opposing straight end with an aperture for receiving said lock, wherein one of said end caps has an engaging structure for receiving said hooked end and the other of said end caps has an opening formed therethrough, wherein said locking bar is positionable so that said straight end extends through said opening with the aperture outside of the enclosure when said hooked end is received in said engaging structure, and wherein said locking bar lockably secures said end caps to said surround portion when said lock is received in said aperture in said straight end.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said mounting system further comprises at least one elongate suspension member coupling said suspension member interface portion to said structure, wherein said top of said surround portion has a elongate slot extending from one of said open ends to proximate the center of said top, and wherein said slot is adapted to fit around said suspension member.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a clamp engaged with said enclosure, said clamp having a pair of clamping members and at least one tamper resistant fastener operably coupling said pair of clamping members, said clamping members arranged and adapted to clamp said at least one suspension member therebetween when said at least one tamper resistant fastener is tightened.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said enclosure is attached to said claim with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

19. A tamper resistant enclosure system adapted to enclose a visual projection device, the visual projection device being suspended from an overhead structure by at least one suspension member, the system comprising:

an enclosure portion including;

(a) an integral surround portion having a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, and a pair of open ends, said top having a slot extending from one of said open ends to proximate the center of said top, said slot adapted to fit around said suspension member; and

(b) a pair of end caps adapted to fit over and close said open ends, each of said pair of end caps being secured to the surround portion with at least one tamper resistant fastener, said enclosure being operably coupled to the at least one suspension member with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for lockably securing said end caps on said surround portion.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising tamper resistant means for clamping said enclosure portion to said at least one suspension member.

22. A tamper resistant mounting system for adjustably attaching a visual projection device to a suspension member fixedly attached to an overhead structure, the system comprising:

a device interface bracket adapted to be attachable to the projection device;

tamper resistant means for attaching said device interface bracket to the projection device;

a suspension member interface portion operably coupled to said device interface bracket, said suspension member interface portion adapted to be attachable to the suspension member; and

tamper resistant means for fastening said suspension member interface portion to said device interface bracket.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising tamper resistant means for securing said suspension member interface portion to the suspension member.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising an enclosure adapted to enclose the mounting system and visual projection device, the enclosure comprising a surround portion having a pair of open ends, a pair of end caps for closing the open ends, and tamper resistant means for securing each of said end caps to said surround portion.