Quick release assembly for an electronic device

• US 20060181637A1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Derry, Bradley A., Oddsen, Odd N. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49956 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32532 Clamped members

Abstract

A quick release assembly is provided to enable a user to easily attach and detach electronic equipment such as a flat panel monitor to an extension arm or other mounting device. One embodiment of the quick release assembly includes an adapter plate for connecting to the electronic equipment, a connecting plate for securing to the mounting device, and a release plate disposed between the adapter plate and the connecting plate. When fully assembled, the user can press a release mechanism on the release plate to disengage the release plate and the connecting plate from the adapter unit. After the release mechanism is pressed, the connecting plate can be slid off of the adapter plate. Unlike conventional devices, it is not necessary to remove or loosen hard to reach fasteners in order to disconnect the electronic device from the mounting device.

Claims

1. An adapter unit for releasably coupling a device to a mounting unit, comprising:

an adapter plate having means for connecting to the device;

a connecting plate having means for connecting to the mounting unit and means for coupling to the adapter plate; and

a release plate disposed between the adapter plate and the connecting plate, the release plate including a release mechanism for decoupling the connecting plate from the adapter plate.

2. The adapter unit of claim 1, wherein the connecting plate comprises a rotating plate for rotating the device about an axis.

3. The adapter unit of claim 2, wherein the rotating plate is rotatable about the axis through at least 180 degrees.

4. The adapter unit of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism comprises a post disposed about a first end of the release plate.

5. The adapter unit of claim 1, wherein the release plate includes at least one connector and the adapter plate includes at least one receptacle adapted to secure the at least one connector thereto.

6. The adapter unit of claim 1, wherein the release plate includes at least one boss on a first side thereof, and the connecting plate includes at least one receptacle adapted to receive the at least one boss.

7. The adapter unit of claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the connecting plate to the adapter plate includes a connector having a pair of angled members adapted to engage a first end of the adapter plate.

8. The adapter unit of claim 1, wherein the connecting plate comprises a rotating plate having a protrusion on a first side thereof, the protrusion being receivable by a channel in a tilter mount of the mounting unit, and wherein the rotating plate is at least partly rotatable along the channel of the tilter mount.

9. An adapter unit for releasably coupling an electronic device to a tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate having a set of through-holes arranged therein, the adapter plate being securable to the electronic device by receiving fasteners through the set of through-holes;

a rotating plate fastened to the tilting device, the rotating plate include a pair of angled members for securing the rotating plate to the adapter plate; and

a release plate sandwiched between the adapter plate and the rotating plate, the release plate including a post disposed adjacent to a first end thereof for decoupling the rotating plate from the adapter plate.

10. The adapter unit of claim 9, wherein a first side of the adapter plate remote from the secured electronic device includes an angled surface tapering from a first thickness at a first end thereof to a second thickness at a second end thereof.

11. The adapter unit of claim 10, wherein the first side of the adapter plate further includes a pair of planar surfaces disposed on either side of the angled surface, the pair of planar surfaces including means for releasably securing the release plate thereto.

12. The adapter unit of claim 9, wherein the set of through-holes comprises a first set arranged with a first distance between adjacent through-holes thereof, and a second set arranged with a second distance between adjacent through-holes thereof, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

13. The adapter unit of claim 12, wherein the first distance is on the order of 75 millimeters and the second distance is on the order of 100 millimeters.

14. The adapter unit of claim 12, wherein a first side of the adapter plate includes a pair of stepped surfaces, the first set of through-holes being arranged on a first one of the stepped surfaces and the second set of through-holes being arranged on a second one of the stepped surfaces.

15. The adapter unit of claim 9, wherein the adapter plate includes an opening along a first side thereof to receive the post of the release plate.

16. The adapter unit of claim 9, wherein the rotating plate includes a first side having a raised portion with a protrusion thereon, the protrusion being receivable by a channel in a tilter mount of the tilting device.

17. An adapter system for releasably coupling an electronic device to a mounting unit, comprising:

a tilting device including;

a tilter head having means for securing to the mounting unit,

a tilter mount, and

a tilter bar for rotatably coupling the tilter mount to the tilter head; and

an adapter unit including;

an adapter plate having means for connecting to the device,

a connecting plate securable to the tilter mount and having means for coupling to the adapter plate, and

a release plate disposed between the adapter plate and the connecting plate, the release plate including a release mechanism for decoupling the connecting plate from the adapter plate.

18. The adapter system of claim 17, wherein the tilter mount includes a pair of flanges coupled to the tilter bar and a stop on a first side of the tilter mount for arresting the rotation of the tilter mount along an axis.

19. The adapter system of claim 18, wherein the stop comprises a pair of blocks disposed on either end of the first side adjacent to the pair of flanges.

20. The adapter system of claim 18, further comprising:

a washer;

wherein the tilter mount further includes a washer channel for receiving the washer, the washer channel being disposed on a second side of the tilter mount; and

wherein the connecting plate comprises a rotating plate having a protrusion on a first side thereof, the protrusion being in communication with the washer in the washer channel so that the rotating plate is rotatable about an axis of the tilter mount.

21. A method of configuring an adapter unit that is operable to releasably couple an electronic device to a mounting apparatus, the method comprising:

coupling a release plate to an adapter plate so that a first side of the release plate contacts a first side of the adapter plate; and

coupling a connecting plate to the release plate and to the adapter plate so that a first side of the release plate contacts a second side of the release plate, the release plate being disposed between the adapter plate and the connecting plate;

wherein actuation of the release plate causes the connecting plate to at least partly decouple from the adapter plate.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein coupling the connector plate includes sliding the connecting plate into contact with the adapter plate so that a pair of angled members of the connector plate are in operative contact with the adapter plate.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising fastening the electronic device to a second side of the adapter plate.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising securing the connecting plate to the mounting apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein securing the connecting plate includes riveting the connecting plate to a tilter mount of the mounting apparatus.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising pressing a release mechanism on the release plate to at least partly decouple the connecting plate from the adapter plate.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising slidably disengaging the connecting plate from the adapter plate.

28. An adapter unit for releaseably coupling a device to a mounting unit, comprising:

an adapter plate having means for connecting to the device;

a connecting plate having means for connecting to the mounting unit and means for coupling to the adapter plate; and

a release plate disposed between the adapter plate and the connecting plate, the release plate including means for decoupling the connecting plate from the adapter plate.

29. The adapter unit of claim 28, further comprising a security mechanism operable to prevent unauthorized or accidental detachment of the adapter plate from the connecting plate.

30. The adapter unit of claim 29, wherein the security mechanism comprises a threaded fastener receivable by a through-hole in the adapter plate.

31. The adapter unit of claim 28, wherein the adapter plate further comprises means for retaining the connecting plate.

32. The adapter unit of claim 31, wherein the retaining means comprises at least one tab disposed on a first surface of the adapter plate, and the connecting plate is retained between the tab and a second surface of the adapter plate.