ARTICULATING MOUNT FOR A DISPLAY

• US 20130082156A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imperial Stamping Corporation
• Original Assignee: Imperial Stamping Corporation
• Inventors: Conner, Patrick A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,004,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/281.11
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2085 comprising means allowing sideward adjustment, i.e. left-right translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/061 Scissors arms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/655 Construction or mounting of chassis, e.g. for varying the elevation of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment

Abstract

An articulating mount for a television or other device with a display screen, permits in/out translation, left/right translation, and left/right roll or tilting movement of the display of the television or device. The left/right roll or tilting movement is about a generally horizontal axis that remains substantially perpendicular to the display screen of the device that is mounted to the bracket. The articulating mount further provides added retention and support of the television or device when a bracket of the mount is fully retracted, such as when the mount is used in a vehicle that is underway.

Claims

1. An articulating support for mounting a television or other electronic device with a display screen to a wall surface, said support comprising:

a wall bracket for attachment to a wall or other substantially vertical support surface;

a display bracket for attachment to an electronic device having a display screen;

a linkage arm configured to movably mount said display bracket to said wall bracket to permit at least in/out translation and side-to-side translation of said display bracket, said linkage arm having opposite end portions that are pivotably coupled between said display bracket and said wall bracket to permit movement of said display bracket relative to said wall bracket; and

a generally horizontal pivot mount at one of said display bracket and said wall bracket, said horizontal pivot mount configured to permit said display bracket to rotate about a generally horizontal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the display screen of the electronic device.

2. The articulating support of claim 1, wherein said generally horizontal pivot mount is selectively lockable against rotation about the substantially horizontal axis.

3. The articulating support of claim 2, wherein said generally horizontal pivot mount comprises a horizontal shaft that is rotatably supported in a sleeve, and a lock member that is coupled to said horizontal shaft and that is repositionable between a locking position and a non-locking position.

4. The articulating support of claim 3, wherein:

said horizontal shaft of said generally horizontal pivot mount comprises a threaded shaft portion extending outwardly from said sleeve;

said lock member comprises a threaded nut that is threadedly received on said threaded shaft portion of said horizontal shaft, wherein said nut is repositionable via rotation of said nut relative to said shaft; and

said non-locking position of said threaded nut corresponds to a selected degree of frictional resistance to rotation of said horizontal shaft in said sleeve.

5. The articulating support of claim 3, further comprising a friction disc positioned along said shaft and between at least one of said display bracket and said lock member.

6. The articulating support of claim 1, further comprising a retaining element coupled to one of said wall bracket and said display bracket, said retaining element configured to releasably engage said linkage arm when said linkage arm is in a retracted position, to thereby releasably secure said linkage arm in the retracted position.

7. The articulating support of claim 6, wherein said retaining element comprises a resilient snap-lock clip that is secured to said wall bracket.

8. The articulating support of claim 1, wherein said linkage arm comprises a first linkage arm of a pivot arm linkage, said pivot arm linkage further comprising a second linkage arm, each of said linkage arms having opposite end portions, said first linkage arm pivotably coupled to said wall bracket and to said second linkage arm at its respective opposite end portions, and said second linkage arm pivotably coupled to said first linkage arm and to said display bracket at its respective opposite end portions.

9. The articulating support of claim 8, further comprising:

a wall bracket pivot member having a generally vertical axis of rotation, said first linkage arm being pivotably coupled to said wall bracket via said wall bracket pivot member for pivotal movement of said first linkage arm in a generally horizontal plane; and

a display bracket pivot member having a generally vertical axis of rotation, said second linkage arm being pivotably coupled to said display bracket via said display bracket pivot member for pivotal movement of said display bracket about said axis of rotation of said display bracket pivot member.

10. The articulating support of claim 9, wherein said pivot arm linkage comprises a pair of said first linkage arms in vertically spaced arrangement and a pair of said second linkage arms in vertically spaced arrangement, each of said first linkage arms being coupled to said wall bracket pivot member and to a respective one of said second linkage arms, and each of said second linkage arms further being coupled to said display bracket pivot member.

11. The articulating support of either claim 9, wherein said generally horizontal pivot mount is coupled between said display bracket and said display bracket pivot member.

12. The articulating support of claim 1, further comprising a bump-stop element for stabilizing said display bracket relative to said wall bracket when said linkage arm is in the retracted position, said bump-stop element being coupled to one of said wall bracket and said display bracket for engaging the other of said wall bracket and said display bracket when said linkage arm is in the retracted position.

13. The articulating support of claim 12, wherein said bump-stop element is movably coupled to said one of said wall bracket and said display bracket to permit inward and outward adjustment of said bump-stop element.

14. The articulating support of claim 13, wherein said bump-stop element comprises a threaded shaft.

15. The articulating support of claim 12, wherein said bump-stop element comprises a soft cap for engagement with said other of said wall bracket and said display bracket.

16. An articulating support for mounting a television or other electronic device with a display screen to a wall surface, said support comprising:

a wall bracket for attachment to a wall or other substantially vertical support surface;

a display bracket for attachment to an electronic device having a display screen;

a pivot arm linkage configured to movably mount said display bracket to said wall bracket to permit at least in/out translation and side-to-side translation of said display bracket, said pivot arm linkage including first and second linkage arms having respective opposite end portions, wherein said first linkage arm is pivotably coupled to said wall bracket and to said second linkage arm at its respective opposite end portions, and said second linkage arm is pivotably coupled to said first linkage arm and to said display bracket at its respective opposite end portions;

a retaining element coupled to one of said wall bracket and said display bracket, said retaining element configured to releasably engage said pivot arm linkage when said pivot arm linkage is in a retracted position, to thereby releasably secure said pivot arm linkage in the retracted position;

a bump-stop element for stabilizing said display bracket relative to said wall bracket when said pivot arm linkage is in the retracted position, said bump-stop element being coupled to one of said wall bracket and said display bracket for engaging the other of said wall bracket and said display bracket when said pivot arm linkage is in the retracted position; and

a generally horizontal pivot mount at one of said display bracket and said wall bracket, said horizontal pivot mount comprising a horizontal shaft that is rotatably supported in a sleeve, and a lock member that is coupled to said horizontal shaft and that is repositionable between a locking position and a non-locking position, wherein said horizontal pivot mount is configured to permit said display bracket to rotate about a generally horizontal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the display screen of the electronic device, and wherein said horizontal shaft is selectively lockable against rotation, relative to said sleeve, about the substantially horizontal axis.

17. The articulating support of claim 16, wherein:

said horizontal shaft of said generally horizontal pivot mount comprises a threaded shaft portion extending outwardly from said sleeve;

said lock member comprises a threaded nut that is threadedly received on said threaded shaft portion of said horizontal shaft, whereby said nut is repositionable via rotation of said nut relative to said shaft;

a friction disc positioned along said horizontal shaft and adjacent at least one of said display bracket and said lock member; and

wherein said non-locking position of said threaded nut corresponds to a selected degree of frictional resistance to rotation of said horizontal shaft in said sleeve.

18. The articulating support of claim 16, wherein said bump-stop element is movably coupled to said one of said wall bracket and said display bracket to permit inward and outward adjustment of said bump-stop element.

19. The articulating support of claim 18, wherein said bump-stop element comprises a threaded shaft and a soft cap for engagement with said other of said wall bracket and said display bracket.

20. The articulating support of claim 16, wherein said retaining element comprises a resilient snap-lock clip that is secured to said wall bracket.