TILT HEAD ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

• US 20130176667A1
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap One LLC (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wirepath Home Systems LLC (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Kai-Sheng, Kulkarni, Amit, Marcum, Bryan Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,062,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• 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 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/061 Scissors arms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/186 for supporting telecommunication equipment selecting apparatus H04Q1/02

Abstract

A tilt head mechanism for use with a display device includes a base plate member configured to connect to a vertical mounting structure or surface and an adapter plate member operatively connected to the base plate member. The adapter plate member has a front surface configured to connect to a display device, and the front surface has a center point. The adapter plate member is independently: movable horizontally away from and toward the base plate member; and tiltable downwardly and upwardly relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface, wherein the front surface center point of the adapter plate member does not move substantially horizontally as the adapter plate member is tilted relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface.

Claims

1. A tilt head mechanism for use with a display device, the tilt head mechanism comprising:

a base plate member configured to connect to a vertical mounting structure or surface; and

an adapter plate member operatively connected to the base plate member, the adapter plate member having a front surface configured to connect to a display device, the front surface having a center point;

wherein the adapter plate member is independently;

movable horizontally away from and toward the base plate member; and

tiltable downwardly and upwardly relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface, wherein the front surface center point of the adapter plate member does not move substantially horizontally as the adapter plate member is tilted relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface.

2. The tilt head mechanism of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate member is movable horizontally between a collapsed position with the front surface center point of the adapter plate member spaced a first distance from the base plate member and a fully extended position with the front surface center point of the adapter plate member spaced apart a second distance from the base plate member.

3. The tilt head mechanism of claim 2, wherein the first distance is no greater than about 1 inch and wherein the second distance is at least about 2.5 inches.

4. The tilt head mechanism of claim 2, wherein the adapter plate member is tiltable between a first downward angle relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface and a first upward angle relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface regardless of whether the adapter plate member is in the collapsed position or the fully extended position.

5. The tilt head mechanism of claim 4, wherein the first downward angle is at least about 10 degrees relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface and the first upward angle is at least about 5 degrees relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface.

6. The tilt head mechanism of claim 4, configured such that the adapter plate member is:

movable from a first position, wherein the adapter plate member is in the collapsed position and the front surface is substantially parallel to the vertical mounting structure or surface, to a second position, wherein the adapter plate member is in the fully extended position and the front surface is substantially parallel to the vertical mounting structure or surface;

tiltable from the second position to a third position, wherein the adapter plate member is in the fully extended position and at the first downward angle relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface, wherein the front surface center point of the adapter plate member does not move substantially horizontally as the adapter plate member is moved from the second position to the third position; and

movable from the third position to a fourth position, wherein the adapter plate member is between the fully extended position and the collapsed position and at the first downward angle relative to the vertical mounting structure or surface.

7. The tilt head mechanism of claim 4, further comprising at least one scissor assembly connecting the base plate member and the adapter plate member, the scissor assembly adapted to move the adapter plate member between the collapsed position and the fully extended position.

8. The tilt head mechanism of claim 7, wherein the adapter plate member includes a plurality of guide paths and the scissor assembly includes a plurality of followers, each follower configured to engage a respective guide path to facilitate rotation between the first downward angle and the first upward angle.

9. The tilt head mechanism of claim 7, wherein the adapter plate member includes a pair of outwardly extending spaced-apart flanges, each flange including at least one guide path, and wherein the at least one scissor assembly comprises a pair of spaced-apart scissor assemblies, each scissor assembly including at least one follower configured to engage the guide path of a respective flange to facilitate rotation between the first downward angle and the first upward angle.

10. The tilt head mechanism of claim 9, wherein each flange includes a pair of guide paths, wherein each guide path is an elongated slot having first and second opposite ends, wherein each scissor assembly includes a pair of followers, each one configured to translate within a respective one of the slots, wherein each follower translates toward one of the first and second opposite ends of the slot when the adapter plate member is tilted to the first downward angle and translates toward the other one of the first and second opposite ends of the slot when the adapter plate member is tilted to the first upward angle.

11. The tilt head mechanism of claim 7, wherein the base plate member includes at least one guide path and the scissor mechanism includes at least one follower, each follower configured to engage a respective guide path to facilitate movement between the collapsed position and the fully extended position.

12. The tilt head mechanism of claim 11, wherein the at least one scissor assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart scissor assemblies, one each connected to opposing sides of the base plate member, wherein each opposing side of the base plate member includes a guide path comprising a slot having first and seconding opposite ends, wherein each scissor assembly includes a follower configured to engage a respective slot, wherein each follower translates toward one of the first and second opposite ends of the slot when the adapter plate member is moved to the collapsed position and translates toward the other one of the first and second opposite ends of the slot when the adapter plate member is moved to the fully extended position.

13. The tilt head mechanism of claim 8, comprising a pair of scissor assemblies, each scissor assembly including:

first and second arms, each arm having first and second opposed end portions and a center portion, the first and second arms pivotally connected at their center portions, the first end portion of each arm connected to the base plate member; and

a follower plate, the follower plate including the plurality of followers, the follower plate having first and second opposed end portions, the first end portion of the follower plate connected to the first arm and the second end portion of the follower plate connected to the second end portion of the second arm;

wherein the second end portion of the follower plate includes a slot having first and second opposite ends and wherein the second end portion of the first arm includes a follower configured to engage the slot, wherein the follower translates toward one of the first and second opposite ends of the slot when the adapter plate member is moved to the collapsed position and translates toward the other one of the first and second opposite ends of the slot when the adapter plate member is moved to the fully extended position.

14. The tilt head assembly of claim 13, further comprising a cross member extending between and connecting the scissor assemblies.

15. The tilt head assembly of claim 1, wherein the front surface center point of the adapter plate member does not move substantially vertically as the adapter plate member is moved horizontally away from and toward the base plate member.

16. A display device system, comprising:

a tilt head assembly, comprising;

a base plate member operatively connected to a vertical mounting surface;

an adapter plate member having a plate portion, the adapter plate member having first and second spaced-apart flanges extending outwardly away from the plate portion, each of the first and second flanges including at least one guide path, the plate portion having a front surface configured to connect to a display device, the front surface having a center point centered between the first and second flanges; and

a pair of spaced-apart scissor assemblies connecting the base plate member and the adapter plate member, wherein each scissor assembly includes at least one follower received in the guide path of a respective first and second flange of the adapter plate member; and

a display device connected to the front surface of the adapter plate member;

wherein the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are independently;

movable horizontally away from and toward the base plate member and the vertical mounting surface by extending and retracting the scissor assemblies; and

tiltable downwardly and upwardly relative to the vertical mounting surface, wherein each follower translates within a respective guide path as the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are tilted relative to the vertical mounting surface, and wherein the front surface center point of the adapter plate member does not move substantially horizontally as the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are tilted relative to the vertical mounting surface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are movable horizontally between a collapsed position with the front surface center point of the adapter plate member spaced a first distance from the base plate member and a fully extended position with the front surface center point of the adapter plate member spaced apart a second distance from the base plate member, wherein the adapter plate member and the display device received thereon are tiltable between a first downward angle relative to the vertical mounting surface and a first upward angle relative to the vertical mounting surface regardless of whether the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are in the collapsed position or the fully extended position, and wherein the tilt head assembly is configured such that the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are:

movable from a first position, wherein the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are in the collapsed position and the front surface of the adapter plate member is substantially parallel to the vertical mounting surface, to a second position, wherein the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are in the fully extended position and the front surface of the adapter plate member is substantially parallel to the vertical mounting surface;

tiltable from the second position to a third position, wherein the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are in the fully extended position and at the first downward angle relative to the vertical mounting surface, wherein the front surface center point of the adapter plate member does not move substantially horizontally as the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are moved from the second position to the third position; and

movable from the third position to a fourth position, wherein the adapter plate member and the display device connected thereto are between the fully extended position and the collapsed position and at the first downward angle relative to the vertical mounting surface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the display device connected to the adapter plate member front surface has a bottom rear portion, and wherein:

in the first position, the bottom rear portion of the display device is substantially at the first distance away from the base plate member;

in the second position, the bottom rear portion of the display device is substantially at the second distance away from the base plate member;

in the third position, the bottom rear portion of the display device is at a third distance away from the base plate member, the third distance being between the first and second distances; and

in the fourth position, the bottom rear portion of the display device is at a fourth distance away from the base plate member, the fourth distance being less than the third distance.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein, in the fourth position, the bottom rear portion of the display device is positioned adjacent the vertical mounting surface.

20. A method for tilting a flat panel display to a desired angle, the method comprising:

connecting the flat panel display to a tilt head mechanism by connecting a rear surface of the flat panel display to a front surface of an adapter plate member of the tilt head mechanism, the adapter plate member front surface having a center point, the adapter plate member operatively connected to a base plate member of the tilt head mechanism that is operatively connected to a vertical wall, wherein the adapter plate member is independently;

     1) movable horizontally away from and toward the base plate and the wall; and

     2) tiltable relative to the base plate member and the wall;

moving the adapter plate member and the flat panel display connected thereto horizontally away from the base plate member and the wall such that the adapter plate member and the flat panel display connected thereto are in a second position;

from the second position, tilting the adapter plate member and the flat panel display connected thereto to a third position at a desired angle relative to the wall, wherein the center point of the adapter plate member front surface does not move substantially horizontally as the adapter plate member and the flat panel display connected thereto are tilted to the third position; and

from the third position, moving the adapter plate member and the flat panel display connected thereto at the desired angle horizontally toward the wall to a fourth position wherein a back portion of the flat panel display is adjacent to the wall.