Self-balancing adjustable mounting system with friction adjustment

• US 7,380,760 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand AV Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: CSAV Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Dittmer, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/147,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 248/181.1, 248/663, 248/288.31, 248/288.51, 248/917, 248919-923, 248/278.1, 248/282.1, 248/349.1, 248/276.1, 403/22, 403/90, 361/681, 439/162, 269/75
• US Class Current: 248/278.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 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: F16M 2200/028 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/068 being part of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular

Abstract

A self-balancing adjustable mounting system for a flat panel display. A display interface having a hollow, frusto-spherical shell portion is attached to the flat panel display. The display interface is received in a guide structure that has a bearing portion engaging the outer surface of the frusto-spherical shell, and a second bearing portion engaging the inner surface of the frusto-spherical shell. The frusto-spherical shell is guided between the first and second bearing portions so that the flat panel display and device interface are generally rotatable about the center of the radius of curvature of the semi-spherical shell. A friction adjustment mechanism enables selective adjustment of the amount of friction between the first and second bearing portions and the frusto-spherical shell so as to enable the flat panel display to be fixed in a position to inhibit undesired movement of the display due to contact or other cause.

Claims

1. An adjustable flat panel electronic display system adapted for mounting on a non-horizontal fixed structure, the system comprising:

a support structure adapted to attach to the fixed structure;

a flat panel electronic display device;

a device interface portion for receiving the flat panel electronic display device thereon, the device interface portion including a frusto-spherical portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a flange portion extending radially outwardly from the frusto-spherical portion, the flange portion having structure defining at least one aperture for receiving a fastener to couple the device interface portion with the flat panel electronic display device, the frusto-spherical portion having structure defining an aperture and presenting an aperture periphery;

a guide structure operably coupling the device interface portion and the support structure, the guide structure including a first bearing portion frictionally engaging and guiding the outer surface of the frusto-spherical portion and a retaining portion frictionally engaging and guiding the inner surface of the frusto-spherical portion so as to retain the device interface portion in engagement with the first bearing portion, the first bearing portion and the retaining portion together exerting a clamping force on the frusto-spherical portion, the retaining portion selectively adjustably shiftable relative to the first bearing portion to vary the amount of clamping force exerted on the frusto-spherical portion by the first bearing portion and the retaining portion; and

a friction adjustment mechanism including a rotatable friction adjustment knob presenting a periphery and having a plurality of finger-grippable indentations arranged around the periphery, the friction adjustment knob threadedly engaged with the retaining portion to selectively shift the retaining portion when the friction adjustment knob is rotated, whereby the amount of friction resisting movement of the frusto-spherical portion relative to the first bearing portion and the retaining portion is selectively adjustable with the friction adjustment knob.

2. A self-balancing adjustable flat panel electronic display system adapted for mounting on a non-horizontal fixed structure, the system comprising:

a support structure adapted to attach to the fixed structure;

a flat panel electronic display device;

a device interface portion for receiving the flat panel electronic display device thereon, said flat panel display device having a center of gravity, said device interface portion including a frusto-spherical portion having an outer surface with a generally constant radius of curvature and a flange portion extending radially outwardly from the frusto-splierical portion, the flange portion having structure defining at least one aperture for receiving a fastener to couple the device interface portion with the flat panel electronic display device, the radius of curvature of the frusto-spherical portion defining a center proximate the center of gravity of the flat panel display device;

a guide structure operably coupling said device interface portion and the support structure, said guide structure having a first bearing portion frictionally engaging and guiding the outer surface of said frusto-spherical portion and a retaining portion for retaining said device interface portion in engagement with said first bearing portion, wherein the flat panel electronic display device is selectively rotatably positionable in roll, pitch, and yaw, about the center of the radius of curvature of the frusto-spherical portion with substantially equal effort; and

means for selectively adjusting an amount of frictional force between the first bearing portion and the outer surface of the frusto-spherical portion.

3. The display system of claim 2, wherein the means for selectively adjusting an amount of frictional force between the first bearing portion and the outer surface of the frusto-spherical portion includes a control operably coupled with the retaining portion, and wherein the retaining portion is selectively shiftable with the control.

4. The display system of claim 3, wherein the control is a rotatable knob.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein the rotatable knob has a plurality of finger grippable structures.

6. The display system of claim 2, wherein the frusto-spherical portion comprises a hollow shell having an inner surface, the guide structure further comprising a second bearing portion engaging and guiding the inner surface of the hollow shell.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein said second bearing portion slidably engages said inner surface of said frusto-spherical portion.

8. A self-balancing adjustable flat panel electronic display system adapted for mounting on a non-horizontal fixed structure, the system comprising:

a support structure adapted to attach to the fixed structure;

a flat panel electronic display device defining a center of gravity;

a device interface portion for receiving the flat panel electronic display device thereon, the device interface portion including a frusto-spherical portion having an outer surface with a generally constant radius of curvature and a flange portion extending radially outwardly from the frusto-spherical portion, the flange portion having structure defining at least one aperture for receiving a fastener to couple the device interface portion with the flat panel electronic display device, the frusto-spherical portion having structure defining an aperture and presenting an aperture periphery, the radius of curvature defining a center proximate the center of gravity, the weight of the flat panel electronic display device acting through the center of gravity exerting a moment force on the support structure; and

a guide structure operably coupling the device interface portion and the support structure, the guide structure having a first bearing portion engaging and guiding the outer surface of the frusto-spherical portion and a non-resilient retaining assembly arranged so as to apply a biasing force for holding the device interface portion in engagement with the first bearing portion, the guide structure including a portion extending through the aperture in the device interface portion, the portion of the guide structure extending through the aperture in the frusto-spherical portion having an outer surface spaced apart from the aperture periphery in all radial directions when the device interface portion is positioned so that the portion of the guide structure extending through the aperture in the frusto-spherical portion is at the center of the aperture in the frusto-spherical portion, wherein the flat panel electronic display device and device interface portion are selectively rotatably positionable about the center of the radius of curvature of the frusto-spherical portion in all rotational directions with substantially equal effort.

9. The display system of claim 8, wherein the non-resilient retaining assembly includes a control for varying a magnitude of the biasing force.

10. The display system of claim 9, wherein the control is a rotatable knob.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the rotatable knob has a plurality of finger grippable structures thereon.

12. The display system of claim 8, wherein the frusto-spherical portion comprises a hollow shell having an inner surface, the guide structure further comprising a second bearing portion engaging and guiding the inner surface of the hollow shell.

13. The display system of claim 12, wherein the second bearing portion slidably engages the inner surface of said frusto-spherical portion.