Universal projector mount

• US 20050161575A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand AV Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Milestone AV Technologies LLC (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Dittmer, Jay, Friederich, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/519
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/043 Allowing translations
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/12 in more than one direction

Abstract

A universal projector mount that can be fitted to mount projectors of a variety of different makes and models. The invention includes multiple adjustable arms coupled with an interface plate that is, in turn, attached to a standard projector mount on the fixed structure from which the projector is supported. The arms are adjustable radially and longitudinally to virtually any position so as to accommodate various fastener or fastener receiving locations on different makes and models of projectors.

Claims

1. A universal projector mount for mounting a projector to a structure, comprising:

a base plate securable to the structure;

a mount interface comprising a central member, operably connected to the base plate, and a plurality of arms, each arm being operably attached to the central member at a pivoting attachment and being free to pivot substantially in a common plane, each arm supporting at its peripheral end an attachment member connectable to an attachment fixture on the projector the attachment member being adjustable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane and wherein at least one of the plurality of arms is adjustable such that a length from the pivoting attachment to the peripheral end may be varied.

2. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lockable universal joint interposed between the base plate and the mounting interface.

3. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the arms further comprises a first section and a second section, the first section being telescopically slidable relative to one another.

4. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivoting attachment is movable substantially along a perimeter of the central member and can be fixed at locations substantially along the perimeter of the central member.

5. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 2, in which the mount interface is removably attachable to the universal joint.

6. A method of mounting a projector to a structure, comprising the steps of:

securing a base plate to the structure

securing a mounting interface to the projector, the mounting interface comprising;

a central member, and a plurality of arms, each arm being operably attached to the central member at a pivoting attachment, each arm supporting at its peripheral end an attachment member connectable to an attachment fixture on the projector;

pivoting and slidably adjusting the arms substantially in a common plane until each attachment member is aligned with a respective attachment fixture;

adjusting each attachment member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane until the attachment member is in apposition with the respective attachment fixture;

attaching each attachment member to its respective attachment fixture; and

securing the mounting interface to the base plate.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

attaching a universal joint between the base plate and the mounting interface;

adjusting the universal joint to align the projector; and

securing the universal joint in a desired aligned position.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6,

in which at least one of the arms further comprises a first section and a second section, the first section being telescopically slidable relative to the second section;

and

further comprising the steps of slidably adjusting the first section relative to the second section; and

securing the first section relative to the second section.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of slidably adjusting the position of the pivoting attachment substantially along the perimeter of the central member;

and

securing the pivoting attachment at a desired location substantially along the perimeter of the central member.

10. A universal projector mount for mounting a projector to a structure, comprising:

means for securing the universal projector mount to a structure;

means for interfacing with the projector comprising

a central member;

means for pivotable attachment to the central member, the means for pivotable attachment being pivotable substantially in a common plane and adjustable such that a length from the central member to a peripheral end of the means for pivotable attachment is variable;

means for adjustment in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane; and

means for attachment to an attachment fixture on the projector.

11. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for articulation between the means for interfacing with the projector and the means for securing the universal projector mount.

12. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 11, further comprising means for locking the means for articulation.

13. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 11, further comprising means for removably attaching the means for interfacing to the means for articulation.

14. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 10, in which the means for pivotable attachment comprises a first section and a second section, the first section being telescopically slidable relative to one another.

15. The universal projector mount as claimed in claim 10, in which the means for pivotable attachment comprises a movable attachment with the central member whereby the means for pivotable attachment may be positioned at a variety of locations about a perimeter of the central member.

16. A universal projector mount bracket for mounting any of a plurality of known projectors on a fixed structure, each projector having a unique set of bores for attaching the projector to the mount bracket by means of fasteners disposed therein, the mount bracket comprising a central member and a plurality of elongate arms, each arm having a pair of opposing ends and including a projector attachment portion proximate one of the ends, each arm operably coupled to the central member so as to be selectively rotatably and axially positionable relative to the central member whereby each attachment portion is selectively positionable to correspond with the location of one of the unique set of bores of the projector.

17. The mount bracket of claim 16, wherein the attachment portion of each arm is selectively adjustably positionable relative to the arm.