Projection equipment support system

• US 20060061738A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AR Metal Fabrication, LLC
• Original Assignee: AR Metal Fabrication, LLC
• Inventors: Rizzo, Anthony Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,445,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/043 Allowing translations
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/12 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/027 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/22 Soundproof bodies

Abstract

A novel support system for the mounting/suspension/elevation of a commercial projector is disclosed. The projector support disclosed herein grasps the projector to be mounted at one of its surfaces (typically, the bottom surface) through the use of two support arms. The design/arrangement of these support arms is critical as numerous prior art attempts to come up with a general purpose solution to the projector mounting problem have failed. The support arms are affixed to the projector surface through mounting screws or other equivalent fastening mechanisms. Importantly, the support arms each feature an adjustment slot which runs substantially the entire length of the arms. The presence of the two slotted arms allows for a countless array of scissoring arrangements for the support arms. This is critical because it allows for interconnection with/mounting of the vast majority of commercial projectors (which invariably feature differing constellations of mounting holes). The projector support also employs a primary mount to facilitate swiveling/positioning of the projector so that the unit is effectually oriented for projection.

Claims

1. A projection equipment support system for supporting a unit of projection equipment at a surface of said unit, said projection equipment support system supporting said unit at an effectual orientation for projection relative to a support structure, said surface featuring a plurality of mounting holes, said projection equipment support system comprising:

(a) two support arms, each of said support arms comprising an adjustment slot portion, at least one of said adjustment slot portions running the substantial length of its associated support arm, whereby

(1) the first of said two support arms is affixed to said surface by means of a plurality of mounting screws, each of said mounting screws positioned within the adjustment slot portion of said first support arm, each of said mounting screws engaging a corresponding mounting hole on said surface, and

(2) the second of said two support arms is affixed to said surface by means of a mounting screw positioned within the adjustment slot portion of said second support arm, said mounting screw engaging a corresponding mounting hole on said surface, said second of said two support arms also being affixed to said first support arm by means of a fastener positioned within the adjustment slot portion of at least one of said support arms; and

(b) a primary mount affixed at one end to one of said two support arms by means of a fastener positioned at a centralizing location of said one support arm, so that, when said primary mount is affixed at the other end to said support structure, said unit is effectually oriented for projection.

2. The projection equipment support system of claim 1 wherein said primary mount is a ball mount.

3. The projection equipment support system of claim 2 wherein said ball mount provides variable-resistance mounting support.

4. The projection equipment support system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said mounting screws are fitted with corresponding spacers to separate a portion of said projection equipment support system from said unit of projection equipment.

5. The projection equipment support system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least one adjustment slot portions comprises a single slot running the substantial length of the support arm of which it is a part.

6. The projection equipment support system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least one adjustment slot portions comprises a slot segment.

7. The projection equipment support system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least one adjustment slot portions comprises a hole.

8. A projection equipment support system for supporting a unit of projection equipment at a surface of said unit, said projection equipment support system supporting said unit at an effectual orientation for projection relative to a support structure, said surface featuring a plurality of mounting holes, said projection equipment support system comprising:

(a) two support arms, each of said support arms comprising an adjustment slot portion, at least one of said adjustment slot portions running the substantial length of its associated support arm, whereby

(1) the first of said two support arms is affixed to said surface by means of a plurality of mounting screws, each of said mounting screws positioned within the adjustment slot portion of said first support arm, each of said mounting screws engaging a corresponding mounting hole on said surface, and

(2) the second of said two support arms is affixed to said surface by means of a plurality of mounting screws, each of said mounting screws positioned within the adjustment slot portion of said second support arm, each of said mounting screws engaging a corresponding mounting hole on said surface; and

(b) a primary mount affixed at one end to one of said two support arms by means of a fastener positioned at a centralizing location of said one support arm, so that, when said primary mount is affixed at the other end to said support structure, said unit is effectually oriented for projection.

9. The projection equipment support system of claim 8 wherein said primary mount is a ball mount.

10. The projection equipment support system of claim 9 wherein said ball mount provides variable-resistance mounting support.

11. The projection equipment support system of claim 8 wherein one or more of said mounting screws are fitted with corresponding spacers to separate a portion of said projection equipment support system from said unit of projection equipment.

12. The projection equipment support system of claim 8 wherein at least one of said at least one adjustment slot portions comprises a single slot running the substantial length of the support arm of which it is a part.

13. The projection equipment support system of claim 8 wherein at least one of said at least one adjustment slot portions comprises a slot segment.

14. The projection equipment support system of claim 8 wherein at least one of said at least one adjustment slot portions comprises a hole.

15. A projection equipment support system for supporting a unit of projection equipment at a surface of said unit, said projection equipment support system supporting said unit at an effectual orientation for projection relative to a support structure, said surface featuring a plurality of mounting holes, said projection equipment support system comprising:

(a) two support arms, each of said support arms comprising a fastener support portion, at least one of said fastener support portions running the substantial length of its associated support arm, whereby

(1) the first of said two support arms is affixed to said surface by means of one or more fasteners, at least one of said one or more fasteners positioned within the fastener support portion of said first support arm, at least one of said one or more fasteners engaging a corresponding mounting hole on said surface, and

(2) the second of said two support arms is affixed to said surface by means of a one or more fasteners, at least one of said one or more fasteners positioned within the fastener support portion of said second support arm, at least one of said one or more fasteners engaging a corresponding mounting hole on said surface; and

(b) a primary mount affixed at one end to one of said two support arms by means of a fastener positioned at a centralizing location of said one support arm, so that, when said primary mount is affixed at the other end to said support structure, said unit is effectually oriented for projection.

16. The projection equipment support system of claim 15 further comprising a fastener connecting said first support arm to said second support arm.

17. The projection equipment support system of claim 16 wherein said fastener connecting said first support arm to said second support arm further connects said two support arms to said unit of projection equipment.

18. The projection equipment support system of claim 15 wherein said primary mount is a ball mount.

19. The projection equipment support system of claim 18 wherein said ball mount provides variable-resistance mounting support.

20. The projection equipment support system of claim 15 wherein one or more of said fasteners are fitted with corresponding spacers to separate a portion of said projection equipment support system from said unit of projection equipment.