Apparatuses and methods for mounting displays

• US 20070252060A1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Don W. Mcpherson
• Original Assignee: Don W. Mcpherson
• Inventors: McPherson, Don W.
• Application Number:
  US11/799,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/282.100
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for mounting a display, including flat panel television (FPD) or similar display devices. A base object is mounted to a base member with at least two joints for rotatable coupling, each joint near an opposite end of the base member. A FPD is mounted to a mounting member with at least two joints for rotatable coupling, each joint near an opposite end of the mounting member. At least two arms, a first arm member with a first end coupled to the first joint of the base member and a second end coupled to the first joint of the mounting member, and a second arm with a first end coupled to the second joint of the base member and a second end coupled to the second end of the mounting member. Other embodiments of the invention are further described herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a base member configured to mount against a base object and having at least two joints for rotatable coupling, a first joint of the base member near one end of the base member, and a second joint of the base member near a second end of the base member, the first joint of the base member is positioned at an offset from the second joint of the base member so they are not directly aligned; and

a mounting member configured to mount to a display, having at least two joints for rotatable coupling, a first joint of the mounting member near a first end of the mounting member and a second joint of the mounting member near a second end of the mounting member, the first joint of the mounting member is positioned at an offset relative to the second joint of the mounting member so they are not directly aligned, and

at least two arms, a first arm with one end coupled to the first joint of the base member and a second end coupled to the first joint of the mounting member, and a second arm with one end coupled to the second joint of the base member and a second end coupled to the second joint of the mounting member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the base member, the mounting member and the arm member may be made of any material including metal and metal alloy that may withstand the weight of a display ranging from about 20 lb up to about 300 lb mounted on the mounting member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first arm moves with the mounting member, while the second arm remains fixed with the base member, when the mounting member pivots about a first end of the base member and the second arm moves with the mounting member, while the first arm remains fixed with the base member, when the mounting member pivots about a second end of the base member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least two arms are of the same length.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the two joints on the base member are offset vertically by a same vertical offset as the two joints on the mounting member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the two joints on the base member are separated horizontally along an axis at a same distance as a distance between the two joints on the mounting member along a horizontal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the joints further comprise at least one of a hinge joint, a clevis pinhole joint, a ball joint, or any type of joint that allows a rotational movement.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the mounting member and the base member has a predetermined top and bottom.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bottom of the base member is configured to have ports or an attachment to route cables.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bottom of the base member or the mounting member is configured to hold at least a remote control of a flat panel television display (FPD).

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member and the base member are configured to take advantage of space available between the top portion and bottom portion of a FPD for placement of the at least two arms so as to minimize distance between the back of the FPD and the wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member is configured to have a recess to receive the top and bottom portions of the base member respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a base object is mounted to a back side of the base member and a display is mounted on the front side of the mounting member.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the joints of the base member are near a top and/or bottom portion of the base member and the joints of the mounting member are near a top/or bottom portion of the mounting member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the base member has at least 4 points of attachment to the base object.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the fixed object is at least one of a wall, a column or a fixed object substantially heavier than a display.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the display is a flat panel television display (FPD) with a screen size ranging from about 15″

to about 80″ and

weighs from about 20 lbs to about 300 lbs.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least 4 points of attachment are equally divided to attach against at least 2 studs on the wall or the column if the FPD has a screen larger than 32″

or weighs heavier than 50 lb.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein at least 6 points of attachment are equally divided to attach against at least 3 studs on the wall or the column if the FPD has a screen larger than 40″

or weighs heavier than 100 lb.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base member may be mounted onto a slideable track mechanism which is mounted onto the base object, the base member and the track mechanism configured to allow the base member slide on the base object along the track.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting member may be attached to a separate member that mounts to the display.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the separate member is configured for translational or rotational movement of the display.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base member comprises at least two wall attachment portions which are sized and spaced to attach to studs or other building members behind a wall.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a first mounting member capable of being mounted to a fixed object;

a second mounting member capable of being mounted to a display;

at least two arm members, each arm member having a first end and a second end, wherein,

a first end of a first arm member is coupled to a first joint near a first end of the first mounting member and a second end of the first arm member is coupled to a second joint near a second end of the second mounting member; and

a first end of a second arm member is coupled to a first joint near a second end of the first mounting member and a second end of the second arm member is coupled to a second joint near a first end of the second mounting member.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein a first arm member moves with the mounting member, while the second arm member remains fixed with the first mounting member, when the second mounting member pivots about a first end of the first mounting member and a second arm member moves with the second mounting member, while the first arm member remains fixed with the first mounting member, when the second mounting member pivots about a second end of the first mounting member.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the at least two arms are of the same length.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of the base member, the mounting member and the arm member may be made of any material including metal and metal alloy that may withstand the weight of a display ranging from about 20 lb up to about 300 lb mounted on the mounting member.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each of the mounting member and the base member has a predetermined top and bottom.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the bottom of the base member or is configured to have ports or an attachment to route cables.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the bottom of the base member or the mounting member is configured to hold at least a remote control of a flat panel television display (FPD).

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member and the base member are configured to take advantage of space available between the top portion and bottom portion of a FPD for placement of the at least two arms so as to minimize distance between the back of the FPD and the wall.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member is configured to have a recess to receive the top and bottom portions of the base member respectively.

33. An apparatus, comprising:

means for fixing a first mounting member onto a fixed object;

means for fixing a display onto a second mounting member;

means for rotatably coupling the first mounting member to the second mounting member by at least two arm members, wherein the second mounting member is positioned directly over the first mounting member in a neutral position, the second mounting member and a first arm member are further configured to pivot about a first end of the first mounting member from the neutral position and the second mounting member and a second arm member are configured to pivot about a second end of the first mounting member from the neutral position.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein a first arm member moves with the mounting member when the mounting member pivots about a first end of the base member and a second arm member moves with the mounting member when the mounting member pivots about a second end of the base member.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the at least two arms are of the same length.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the two joints on the base member are offset vertically by a same vertical offset as the two joints on the mounting member.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the two joints on the base member are separated horizontally along an axis at a same distance as a distance between the two joints on the mounting member along a horizontal axis.

38. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein each of the mounting member and the base member has a predetermined top and bottom.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the bottom of the base member or is configured to have ports or an attachment to route cables.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the bottom of the base member or the mounting member is configured to hold at least a remote control of a flat panel television display (FPD).

41. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member and the base member are configured to take advantage of space available between the top portion and bottom portion of a FPD for placement of the at least two arms so as to minimize distance between the back of the FPD and the wall.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member is configured to have a recess to receive the top and bottom portions of the base member respectively.

43. An apparatus comprising:

a first mounting member configured to mount against a fixed object on a back side, the first mounting member having two joints, each of the two joints are placed near an opposite end of the first mounting member at an offset apart;

a second mounting member configured to mount against a display on a front side, the second mounting member having two joints, each of the two joints are placed near an opposite end of the second mounting member at an offset apart; and

at least two arms, each arm having a first end and a second end, each of the at least two arms coupling one joint on the second mounting member to one joint on the first mounting member, wherein the second mounting member overlaps the first mounting member in a neutral position and the second mounting member and a first arm is configured to rotate about a first end of the first mounting member, and the second mounting member and a second arm is configured to rotate about a second end of the second mounting member.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein each of the mounting member and the base member has a predetermined top and bottom.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the bottom of the base member or is configured to have ports or an attachment to route cables.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the bottom of the base member or the mounting member is configured to hold at least a remote control of a flat panel television display (FPD).

47. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member and the base member are configured to take advantage of space available between the top portion and bottom portion of a FPD for placement of the at least two arms so as to minimize distance between the back of the FPD and the wall.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the top and bottom portions of the mounting member is configured to have a recess to receive the top and bottom portions of the base member respectively.

49. An apparatus, comprising:

a base member with at least two joints for rotatable coupling, a first joint near a first end of the base member, and a second joint near a second end of the base member;

a mounting member with at least two joints for rotatable coupling, a first joint near a first end of the mounting member and a second joint near a second end of the mounting member; and

at least two arm members, a first arm member with a first end coupled to the first joint of the base member and a second end coupled to the first joint of the mounting member, and a second arm with a first end coupled to the second joint of the base member and a second end coupled to the second joint of the mounting member.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein a first arm member moves with the mounting member when the mounting member pivots about a first end of the base member and a second arm member moves with the mounting member when the mounting member pivots about a second end of the base member.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the at least two arms are of the same length.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the two joints on the base member are offset vertically by a same vertical offset as the two joints on the mounting member.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the two joints on the base member are separated horizontally along an axis at a same distance as a distance between the two joints on the mounting member along a horizontal axis.

54. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the base member is at least a portion of a door frame and the mounting member is a door.