Adjustable projector mount

• US 20070257181A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand AV Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Milestone AV Technologies LLC (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Dittmer, Jay, Smith, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/637
• 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 2200/02 Locking means

Abstract

A mount for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure includes a device interface operably attachable to the projection device and a device orientation adjustment structure operably coupled with the device interface. The device orientation adjustment structure has structure defining up to three independent axes for adjustment of projector pitch, roll, and yaw. A single selectively adjustable friction element may be provided to enable projector position to be fixed about for any one or all of the independent axes. A gear adjustment mechanism may be provided to enable fine adjustment of projector position. Moreover, any one or all of the independent axes may pass through the projector device, preferably proximate its center of gravity so that it is self balanced on the mount to ease adjustment.

Claims

1. A mount for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure, the mount comprising:

a device interface operably attachable to the projection device; and

a device orientation adjustment structure operably coupled with the device interface, the device orientation adjustment structure including at least one upright extending from the device interface and a support structure interface extending from and operably coupled with the at least one upright, the support structure interface adapted to be operably coupled with the overhead structure, the at least one upright and the support structure interface having cooperating guide structures defining a first axis of rotation, the support structure interface including a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions of the support structure interface operably coupled so as to define a second axis of rotation generally transverse to the first axis of rotation, wherein the device interface is separately selectively shiftable about both the first and second axes of rotation when the support structure interface is fixedly coupled with the overhead structure, and wherein neither of the first and second axes of rotation extend through any portion of either the device interface or the device orientation adjustment structure.

2. The mount of claim 1, wherein the mount includes a pair of spaced apart uprights extending from the device interface, and wherein the support structure interface extends between the spaced apart uprights.

3. The mount of claim 1, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist shifting of the device interface about the first axis of rotation.

4. The mount of claim 3, wherein the single selectively adjustable friction element comprises a threaded fastener arranged to frictionally bias the support structure interface against the at least one upright.

5. The mount of claim 1, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist shifting of the device interface about the second axis of rotation.

6. The mount of claim 5, wherein the single selectively adjustable friction element comprises a threaded fastener arranged to frictionally bias the first and second portions of the support structure interface together.

7. The mount of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the support structure interface comprises an outer frame defining a central aperture, and wherein the second portion of the support structure interface comprises an inner frame, the inner frame disposed in the central aperture of the outer frame.

8. The mount of claim 1, wherein the mount includes a pair of spaced apart uprights extending from the device interface, and wherein the support structure interface extends between the pair of uprights.

9. The mount of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the support structure interface defines a first plurality of gear teeth engagable with a drive element to selectively shift the device interface about either the first or second axis of rotation.

10. The mount of claim 9, wherein the drive element comprises a screwdriver.

11. The mount of claim 10, wherein the screwdriver has a Phillips tip.

12. The mount of claim 1 in combination with the projection device, wherein at least one of the first and second axes of rotation extend through the projection device.

13. The mount and projection device combination of claim 12, wherein the projection device defines a center of gravity, and wherein at least one of the first and second axes of rotation extend proximate the center of gravity.

14. The mount of claim 1, wherein the first and second axes of rotation substantially intersect.

15. The mount of claim 1, wherein the support structure interface further comprises a third portion operably coupled with the first and second portions so as to define a third axis of rotation generally transverse to both the first and second axes of rotation, wherein the device interface is selectively rotatable about the third axis of rotation.

16. The mount of claim 15, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist rotation of the device interface about the third axis of rotation.

17. The mount of claim 16, wherein the single selectively adjustable friction element comprises a threaded fastener arranged to frictionally bias the second and third portions of the support structure interface together.

18. The mount of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the support structure interface comprises an outer frame defining a central aperture, wherein the second portion of the support structure interface comprises an inner frame, the inner frame disposed in the central aperture of the outer frame and defining an inner frame central aperture, and wherein the third portion of the support structure interface comprises a coupler, the coupler selectively rotatably received in the inner frame central aperture.

19. The mount of claim 18, further comprising at least one suspension element adapted to attach to the overhead structure, the coupler having structure for receiving the at least one suspension element.

20. The mount of claim 19, wherein the at least one suspension element is a pipe, and wherein the coupler defines a central bore for receiving the pipe therein.

21. The mount of claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third axes of rotation substantially intersect.

22. The mount of claim 15 in combination with the projection device, wherein all of the first, second, and third axes of rotation extend through the projection device.

23. The mount and projection device combination of claim 22, wherein the projection device defines a center of gravity, and wherein at least one of the first, second, and third axes of rotation extend proximate the center of gravity.

24. A mount for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure, the mount comprising:

a device interface operably attachable to the projection device; and

a device orientation adjustment structure operably coupled with the device interface, the device orientation adjustment structure including a pair of spaced apart uprights extending from the device interface and a support structure interface extending between the spaced apart uprights and having a first portion operably coupled with each upright, the support structure interface adapted to be fixedly coupled with the overhead structure, the uprights and the support structure interface having cooperating structure defining a first axis of rotation, wherein the device interface is selectively shiftable about the first axis of rotation, and wherein the first axis of rotation does not extend through any portion of either the device interface or the device orientation adjustment structure.

25. The mount of claim 24, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist shifting of the device interface about the first axis of rotation.

26. The mount of claim 24, wherein the first portion of the support structure interface defines a first plurality of gear teeth engagable with a drive element to selectively shift the device interface about the first axis of rotation.

27. The mount of claim 26, wherein the drive element comprises a screwdriver.

28. The mount of claim 27, wherein the screwdriver has a Phillips tip.

29. The mount of claim 24, wherein the support structure interface includes a second portion, the first and second portions of the support structure interface operably coupled so as to define a second axis of rotation generally transverse to the first axis of rotation, wherein the device interface is separately selectively shiftable about both the first and second axes of rotation when the support structure interface is fixedly coupled with the overhead structure, and wherein neither of the first and second axes of rotation extend through any portion of either the device interface or the device orientation adjustment structure.

30. The mount of claim 29, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist shifting of the device interface about the second axis of rotation.

31. The mount of claim 29, wherein the second portion of the support structure interface defines a second plurality of gear teeth engagable with the drive element to selectively shift the device interface about the second axis of rotation.

32. The mount of claim 31, wherein the drive element comprises a screwdriver.

33. The mount of claim 32, wherein the screwdriver has a Phillips tip.

34. The mount of claim 29, wherein the support structure interface further comprises a third portion operably coupled with the first and second portions so as to define a third axis of rotation generally transverse to both the first and second axes of rotation, wherein the device interface is selectively rotatable about the third axis of rotation.

35. The mount of claim 34, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist rotation of the device interface about the third axis of rotation.

36. The mount of claim 34, wherein the third portion of the support structure interface defines a third plurality of gear teeth engagable with the drive element to selectively rotate the device interface about the third axis of rotation.

37. The mount of claim 36, wherein the drive element comprises a screwdriver.

38. The mount of claim 37, wherein the screwdriver has a Phillips tip.

39. A visual projection system adapted to be attached to the ceiling of a structure, the system comprising:

a projection device;

a device interface operably coupled to the projection device; and

a device orientation adjustment structure operably coupled with the device interface, the device orientation adjustment structure comprising means for defining an axis of pitch adjustment, wherein the projection device is selectively shiftable about the axis of pitch adjustment, and wherein the axis of pitch adjustment does not extend through any portion of either the device interface or the device orientation adjustment structure.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the axis of pitch adjustment extends proximate a center of gravity of the projection device.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the means for defining an axis of pitch adjustment includes at least one upright extending from the device interface and a support structure interface extending from the at least one upright, the support structure interface having a first portion operably coupled with the at least one upright.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist rotation of the projection device about the axis of pitch adjustment.

43. The system of claim 39, further comprising means for defining an axis of roll adjustment generally transverse to the axis of pitch adjustment, wherein the projection device is separately selectively shiftable about both the axis of pitch adjustment and the axis of roll adjustment, and wherein neither of the axis of pitch adjustment and the axis of roll adjustment extend through any portion of either the device interface or the device orientation adjustment structure.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the axis of roll adjustment extends proximate a center of gravity of the projection device.

45. The system of claim 43, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist shifting of the device interface about the axis of roll adjustment.

46. The system of claim 43, further comprising means for defining an axis of yaw adjustment generally transverse to both the axis of pitch adjustment and the axis of roll adjustment, wherein the projection device is selectively rotatable about the axis of yaw adjustment.

47. The system of claim 46, further comprising a single selectively adjustable friction element disposed to frictionally resist rotation of the device interface about the axis of yaw adjustment.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the axis of yaw adjustment extends proximate a center of gravity of the projection device.

49. The mount of claim 46, wherein the device orientation adjustment structure defines at least one plurality of gear teeth engagable with a drive element to selectively shift the device interface about at least one of the axis of pitch adjustment, the axis of roll adjustment, or the axis of yaw adjustment.

50. The mount of claim 49, wherein the drive element comprises a screwdriver.

51. The mount of claim 50, wherein the screwdriver has a Phillips tip.