Secure mounting system for overhead mounted projector

• US 7,156,359 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand AV Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: CSAV Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Dittmer, Jay, Bremmon, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US10/821,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 248/317, 248/323, 248/324, 248/343, 248/917, 248/920, 248/923, 248/918, 248/551, 701/64, 70/14, 70/58, 702/32, 70/18, 348/373, 348/151, 348/375, 348/825, 348/836, 348/839, 352/242, 352/243, 353/119
• US Class Current: 248/551
• 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 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 of head mounted projectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

An adjustable tamper-resistant overhead mounting system for a projector. The system includes brackets attachable to the projector and a suspension member attached to an overhead structure. At least one tamper resistant fastener is used at each connection of the brackets, the projector and the suspension member, to deter theft and tampering. The arrangement of the brackets may enable easy adjustable positioning of the projector about pitch, roll and yaw axes. The projector may also be enclosed in an enclosure system to protect against contact by foreign objects. The enclosure is adapted to be installable without removing the projector or otherwise disturbing the mounting system.

Claims

1. A visual projection device and tamper resistant mounting system for adjustably attaching the visual projection device to a suspension member fixedly attached to an overhead structure, the system comprising:

a device interface bracket operably coupled to the projection device with a first tamper resistant fastener; and

a suspension member interface portion operably coupled to said device interface bracket, said suspension member interface portion adapted to be attachable to the suspension member with a second tamper resistant fastener, said device interface bracket and said suspension member interface portion being secured together with a third tamper resistant fastener, each of the first, second, and third tamper resistant fasteners having coding for receiving a correspondingly coded tool for installing and removing the fastener, whereby the coding inhibits engagement and removal of the fastener with any tool other than the correspondingly coded tool,

the system further comprising an enclosure enclosing said projection device, the device interface bracket, and the suspension member interface portion, said enclosure being attached to said mounting system with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

2. The visual projection device and system of claim 1, wherein said enclosure includes an integral surround portion having a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, and a pair of open ends, and a pair of end caps adapted to fit over and close said open ends, each of said pair of end caps being secured to the surround portion with at least one tamper resistant fastener.

3. The visual projection device and system of claim 2, further comprising at least one lock and an elongate locking bar having a hooked end and a opposing straight end with an aperture for receiving said lock, wherein one of said end caps has an engaging structure for receiving said hooked end and the other of said end caps has an opening formed therethrough, wherein said locking bar is positionable so that said straight end extends through said opening with the aperture outside of the enclosure when said hooked end is received in said engaging structure, and wherein said locking bar lockably secures said end caps to said surround portion when said lock is received in said aperture in said straight end.

4. The visual projection device and system of claim 2, wherein said mounting system further comprises at least one elongate suspension member adapted to couple said suspension member interface portion to the overhead structure, wherein said top of said surround portion has a elongate slot extending from one of said open ends to proximate the center of said top, and wherein said slot is adapted to fit around said suspension member.

5. The visual projection device and system of claim 4, further comprising a clamp engaged with said enclosure, said clamp having a pair of clamping members and at least one tamper resistant fastener operably coupling said pair of clamping members, said clamping members arranged and adapted to clamp said at least one suspension member therebetween when the tamper resistant fastener operably coupling said pair of clamping members is tightened.

6. The visual projection device and system of claim 5, wherein said enclosure is attached to said clamp with at least one tamper resistant fastener.