Screen mounting apparatus

• US 5,835,268 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allied Electronics Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Allied Electronics Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Stechly, Paul Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): MALLEY, DANIEL PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US08/876,868
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 359/443, 359/449, 359/450, 359/400
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/56 Projection screens

Abstract

A screen mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of vertically and horizontally adjacent rear projection screen panels. The apparatus includes an upper mounting member attachable to a first support and to an upper edge of a rear projection screen panel for hanging the rear projection screen panel from the first support along the upper edge. An intermediate member is attachable to a second support and has inner and outer flanges for respectively engaging inner and outer faces of a rear projection screen panel along its lower edge to provide lateral support to the rear projection screen panel along the lower edge. The intermediate member further has securing means for securing an upper edge of an underlying rear projection screen panel to support the rear projection screen panel from the upper edge. A vertical member is also provided securable to a third support and having engaging means for engaging adjacent vertical edges of an adjacent pair of rear projection screen panels to provide lateral support to the rear projection screen panels along the adjacent vertical edges.

Claims

1. A screen mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of vertically and horizontally adjacent rear projection screen panels, said system comprising:

an upper mounting member attachable to a first support and to an upper edge of a rear projection screen panel for hanging at least two of said rear projection screen panels from said first support along said upper edge; and

allowing movement of said at least two rear projection screen panels along said upper mounting member during installation;

an intermediate member attachable to a second support and having an inner and an outer flange for respectively engaging inner and outer faces of a rear projection screen panel along the lower edge of said rear projection screen panel to provide lateral support to said rear projection screen panel along said lower edge,

said intermediate member further having fasteners extending through an upper edge of an underlying rear projection screen panel to hang said rear projection screen panel from said upper edge; and

,

a vertical member securable to a third support and having engaging means for engaging adjacent vertical edges of an adjacent pair of rear projection screen panels to provide lateral support to said rear projection screen panels along said adjacent vertical edges.

2. A screen mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper mounting member includes:

a plurality of pins, each having a shank extending from a head, said head being larger in diameter than said shank and said shank being insertable through holes along said upper edge of said rear-projection screen panel to attach said panel to said upper mounting member;

a pin supporting member having a channel running along its length with a cross sectional profile corresponding to that of said head, a slot extending between an outer face of said pin supporting member and said channel having a breadth generally corresponding to the diameter of said shank whereby each said pin may be slid along said pin supporting member with said head received by said channel and a portion of said shank extending from said slot; and

,

a cover attachable to said pin supporting member in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship therewith, said cover having a slot extending along its length for receiving an outer end of said shank.

3. A screen mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said intermediate member further comprises:

a first part having a first end securable to said second support and a second end opposite said first end;

said inner flange extends upwardly from said first part at said second end;

said outer flange is a strip securable to said second end in a generally parallel, spaced apart relationship therewith by said fasteners which further extend through said strip into said second end below said inner flange; and

,

said underlying rear projection screen panel is provided with holes along its upper edge through which said fasteners extend to hang said underlying rear projection screen panel from said upper edge, without imparting a bending moment to said upper edge.

4. A screen mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said vertical member includes:

a pair of generally parallel resilient strips joined along one edge and curving away from each other toward an opposite edge; and

,

an outwardly facing channel running along each said opposite edge for receiving an edge of said rear projection screen panel, said channels being biased away from each other by the resiliency of said strips.

5. A screen mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vertical member includes:

a pair of generally parallel resilient strips joined along one edge and curving away from each other toward an opposite edge; and

,

an outwardly facing channel running along each said opposite edge for receiving an edge of said rear projection screen panel, said channels being biased away from each other by the resiliency of said strips.

6. A screen mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channels are divided into sections by slots extending inwardly from said opposite edge of each of said strips, across said channels and across a substantial portion of said strips to enable each of said sections to move independently from the remaining sections against said resiliency of said strips.

7. A screen mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said channels are divided into sections by slots extending inwardly from said opposite edge of each of said strips, across said channels and across a substantial portion of said strips to enable each of said sections to move independently from the remaining sections against said resiliency of said strips.

8. An upper mounting member for supporting a rear projection screen panel, said member comprising:

a plurality of pins, each having a shank extending from a head, said head being larger in diameter than said shank;

a pin supporting member having a channel running along its length with a cross sectional profile corresponding to that of said head and a slot extending between an outer face of said pin supporting member and said channel having a breadth generally corresponding to the diameter of said shank whereby each said pin may be slid along said pin supporting member with said head received by said channel and a portion of said shank extending from said slot; and

,

a cover attachable to said pin supporting member in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship therewith, said cover having a slot extending along its length for receiving an outer end of said shank.

9. An upper mounting member as claimed in claim 8 further having at least one opening extending from said channel through a rear face of said pin supporting member opposite said outer face, said opening being large enough to enable said pin to be inserted therethrough.

10. An intermediate member for supporting an upper edge of an underlying rear projection screen panel and a lower edge of an adjacent rear projection screen panel, said intermediate member comprising:

a first part having a first end securable to a mounting support and a second end opposite said first end;

an inner flange extending upwardly from said first part at said second end;

an outer flange securable to said second end in a generally parallel, spaced apart relationship therewith by fasteners extending through said outer flange into said second end below said inner flange.

11. An intermediate member as claimed in claim 10 further having a mounting flange extending upwardly from said first part at said first end for receiving fasteners therethrough to secure said first part to said support.

12. An intermediate member as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first part has a further downwardly extending mounting flange at said first end through which fasteners may be inserted to secure said first part to said support.

13. An intermediate member as claimed in claim 10 further having a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart flanges extending from said first end for receiving at least part of said second member therebetween.

15. A vertical member as claimed in claim 13 wherein said channels are divided into sections by slots extending inwardly from said opposite edge of each of said strips, across said channels and across a substantial portion of said strips to enable each of said sections to move independently from the remaining sections against said resiliency of said strips.

14. A vertical member for a screen mounting apparatus securable to a support and having engaging means for engaging adjacent edges of an adjacent pair of rear projection screen panels to provide lateral support to said rear projection screen panels along said edges, said vertical member comprising:

a pair of generally parallel resilient strips joined along one edge and curving away from each other toward an opposite edge; and

,

an outwardly facing channel running along each said opposite edge for receiving said edge of said rear projection screen panel, said channels being biased away from each other by the resiliency of said strips.