Suspended ceiling projector mount apparatus

• US 7,568,313 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Matley
• Original Assignee: William T. Matley
• Inventors: Matley, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/876,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 52/39, 525/060.6, 522/206, 522/208, 522/431, 362/404, 362/147, 362/148, 248/317, 248/327, 248/333, 248/343, 439/215, 439/537, 174/491
• US Class Current: 52/39
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/186 suspended, e.g. secured to the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

A ceiling mount apparatus including a mounting board mountable in a drop ceiling grid, a mounting support with a first end threadingly engaging a ceiling mount plate on a projector. A second end of the mounting support is fixedly mounted on the mounting board by a clamp. One end of a safety strap is attached to a fixed ceiling member and another end is attached to a fastener of the apparatus to prevent inadvertent dislodgement of the mounting board from the ceiling grid. A safety pin extends through diametrically opposed apertures on the second end of the mounting support to prevent the support member from inadvertently dislodging from the mounting board. The mounting board also includes a pre-mounted electrical outlet possessing a predetermined length of electrical cord.

Claims

1. A ceiling mount apparatus for mounting projectors and other audio/visual equipment on a ceiling comprising:

a mounting board adapted for mounting on a ceiling said mounting board having a first planar side and an opposing second planar side;

a mounting support in the form of a tubular member having first and second ends, the tubular member carried on the mounting board for supporting a projector on the mounting board;

an aperture in the mounting board receiving the second end of the tubular member therethrough;

a support plate carried on only the first planar side of the mounting board, the support plate including an aperture coaxially aligned with an aperture in the mounting board through which the mounting support extends with a portion of the mounting support on both first and second planar sides of the mounting board;

clamp means positioned adjacent only the first planar side of the mounting board for clamping the member to the mounting board wherein the clamp means comprises;

a body having a first leg, an opposed, spaced second leg, said first and second legs each having free ends and a central end leg joining the first and second legs; and

a bracket, the bracket fixed to the support plate and to the clamp means.

2. The ceiling mount apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp means further comprises:

fastening means projecting through aligned apertures in the first and second legs for affixing the clamp means to the tubular member.

3. The ceiling mount apparatus of claim 2 wherein the aligned apertures are adjacent to the free ends of the first and second legs.

4. The ceiling mount apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for fixing the clamp means to the mounting board.

5. The ceiling mount apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means, securable to a ceiling support and to the ceiling mount apparatus for preventing disengagement of the mounting board from the ceiling, wherein the means for preventing disengagement comprises;

a strap means securable at one portion to the ceiling support and at another portion to the support plate.

6. The ceiling mount apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

fastener means, carried on the mounting board, for securing one portion of the strap means to the mounting board.

7. A ceiling mount apparatus for mounting projectors and other audio/visual equipment on a ceiling comprising:

a mounting board having first and second planar side adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

a mounting support means, carried on the mounting board, for supporting a projector on the mounting board, said mounting support means comprising a tubular member;

clamp means positioned adjacent only on the first planar side of the mounting board for clamping the mounting support means to the mounting board wherein the tubular member further comprises a threaded first end for threading attachment to a projector and wherein the tubular member has a portion extending on the first and second sides of the mounting board and the clamp means extends on the first side of the mounting board, the clamp means including a body having a first leg, an opposed, spaced second leg, and a central end leg joining the first and second legs; and

fastening means projecting through aligned apertures in the first and second legs for affixing the clamp means to the tubular member.

8. A ceiling mount apparatus for mounting projectors and other audio/visual equipment on a ceiling comprising:

a mounting board having first and second opposing planar sides and adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

a mounting support means, carried on the mounting board, configured with a portion extending from the second planar side of the mounting board for supporting a projector from the second planar side of the mounting board;

a support plate carried only on the first planar side of the mounting board, the Support plate including an aperture coaxially aligned with an aperture on the mounting board through which the mounting support means extends with a portion of the mounting support means on both planar sides of the mounting board;

clamp means for clamping the mounting support means to the mounting board, the clamp means seated on the support plate on the first planar side of the mounting board; and

means for fixing, the clamp means to the mounting board wherein the means or fixing the clamp means is carried only on the first planar side of the mounting board, the fixing means including a bracket fixed to the support plate and to the clamp means.

9. A ceiling mount apparatus for mounting projectors and other audio/visual equipment on a ceiling comprising;

a mounting board having first and second planar side adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

a mounting support means, carried on the mounting board, for supporting a projector on the mounting board, said mounting support means comprising a member;

clamp means positioned adjacent only the first planar side of the mounting board for clamping the mounting support means to the mounting board wherein the member further comprises a threaded first end for threading attaching to a projector and wherein the member has a portion extending on the first and second sides of the mounting board and the clamp means extends on the first side of the mounting board; and

means, carried on the mounting support means, for preventing separation of the mounting support means from the mounting board, the separation preventing means including a pin laterally extending through the mounting support means, one end of the pin extending from the mounting support means for interference with the mounting board in the event of relative movement between the mounting support means and the mounting board the one end of the pin extending from the mounting support means for interference with the mounting board and one end of the pin having a threaded end, and a fastener engageable with the threaded end of the pin to fix the pin in the mounting support means.

10. A ceiling mount apparatus for mounting projectors and other audio/visual equipment on a ceiling comprising:

a mounting board adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

a mounting support means carried on the mounting board, for supporting a projector on the mounting board;

means, carried on the mounting support means, for preventing separation of the mounting support means from the mounting board, the means for preventing separation including a pin laterally extending through the mounting support means, one end of the pin extending from the mounting support means for interference with the mounting board in the event of relative movement between the mounting support means and the mounting board; and

the pin having a threaded end projecting exteriorly of the mounting support means, a fastener engagable with the threaded end of the pin to fix the pin on the mounting support means.

11. A ceiling mount apparatus for mounting projectors and other audio/visual equipment on a ceiling comprising:

a mounting board having first and second planar side adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

a mounting support means, carried on the mounting board, for supporting a projector on the mounting board, said mounting support means being a member;

clamp means positioned adjacent only the first planar side of the mounting board for clamping the mounting support means to the mounting board;

wherein the member further comprises a threaded first end for threading attaching to a projector and wherein the member has a portion extending on the first and second sides of the mounting board and the clamp means extends on the first side of the mounting board; and

an electrical outlet carried on the mounting board.

12. The ceiling mount apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

an electrical conductor electrically connected at one end to the outlet, the electrical conductor having a free electrically connectable end.

13. The ceiling mount apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the electrical outlet has a socket portion, the socket portion exposed through the mounting board.

14. A ceiling mount apparatus for mounting projectors and other audio/visual equipment on a ceiling;

a mounting board having first and second opposing planar sides and adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

a mounting support means, carried on the mounting board, configured with a portion extending from the second planar side of the mounting board for supporting a projector from the second planar side of the mounting board;

a support plate carried only on the first planar side of the mounting board, the support plate including an aperture coaxially aligned with an aperture on the mounting board through which the mounting support means extends with apportion of the mounting support means on both planar sides of the mounting board; and

means, carried on the mounting support means, for preventing separation of the mounting support means from the mounting board, the separation preventing means including a pin laterally extending through the mounting support means, one end of the pin extending from the mounting support means for interference with the mounting board in the event of relative movement between the mounting support means and the mounting board.