Mounting device for a flat screen display panel

• US 7,624,959 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamber-Johnson LLC
• Original Assignee: Premier Mounts
• Inventors: Dozier, Leonard, Bouissiere, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterling; Amy J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Tan
• Application Number:
  US11/187,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 248/294.1, 248/284.1, 248/274.1, 248/279.1, 248/278.1, 248/917, 248/276.1, 248/291.1, 248/22.14, 248/227.14, D83/73
• US Class Current: 248/294.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 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 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A mount and methods for attaching a flat screen display panel is disclosed in which a wall bracket is attached to a support surface, a panel bracket is secured to a display panel, and the two brackets then cooperate to securely affix the display panel to the support surface while allowing subsequent lateral and pivotal adjustment.

Claims

1. A low-profile mounting device for facilitating attaching a display panel to a mounting surface have horizontal slidability, comprising:

a) a first mounting plate having a first support member, said plate being adapted to be securely affixed to said mounting surface, comprising a horizontally elongated member in which a surface is adapted to be contacted with said mounting surface;

b) a second mounting member having a similar configuration to said first mounting member, and securely affixable a distance apart from said first mounting plate to said mounting surface;

said second mounting plate having a second support member generally parallel to said first support member and spaced a distance therefrom, c) at least two vertically elongated brackets having been configured to be attachable to a display panel, d) a receiver hook configured to engage with said support member of said second mounting member;

e) a hook arm having first and second ends, wherein said hook arm being pivotally attached to each of said brackets proximate said first end and said second end comprising a hook configured to engage with said support member of said first plate;

whereby an installer needs only initially position the display panel near a desired location after which the panel is allowed to slide downwardly until its weight is supported by engagement of said hook arms with said first support member and by engagement of said receiver hooks with said second support member, and said hooks and said support members being capable of sliding horizontally to substantially facilitating a horizontal positioning of said display panel by enabling the respective hooks to be laterally shifted over said support members to locate said display panel in the desired horizontal position, and further comprising a friction increasing device coupled to said first and second hook arms and each respective support brace to maintain a pivotal degree therebetween.

2. The mounting device of claim 1 further including a stop tab and wherein the slidability of said brackets relative to said members is limited by the first bracket to encounter a stop tab when horizontally shifted.

3. The mounting device of claim 1 wherein said support members are rods and wherein said stop tabs support said rod a fixed distance from their respect mounting plates.

4. The mounting device of claim 1 wherein said brackets lie on either side of said stop tab.

5. The mounting device of claim 1 wherein said first and second mounting members are the same member.

6. The mounting device of claim 1 wherein said first and second mounting members are joined.

7. The mounting device of claim 1 wherein at least one support member is a slot in said mounting members and wherein said hook arm is configured to track within said slot.

8. The mounting device of claim 1 wherein said at least one hook arm includes a locking mechanism to prevent removal of said arm from said supporting member after installation.

9. A low-profile mounting device for facilitating attaching a display panel to a mounting surface have horizontal slidability, comprising:

a) a first mounting plate having a first support member, said plate being adapted to be securely affixed to said mounting surface, comprising a horizontally elongated member in which a surface is adapted to be contacted with said mounting surface;

b) a second mounting member having a similar configuration to said first mounting member, and securely affixable a distance apart from said first mounting plate to said mounting surfaces said second mounting plate having a second support member generally parallel to said first support member and spaced a distance therefrom, c) at least two vertically elongated brackets having been configured to be attachable to a display panel, d) a receiver hook configured to engage with said support member of said second mounting member;

e) a hook arm having first and second ends, wherein said hook arm being pivotally attached to each of said brackets proximate said first end and said second end comprising a hook configured to engage with said support member of said first plate;

whereby an installer needs only initially position the display panel near a desired location after which the panel is allowed to slide downwardly until its weight is supported by engagement of said hook arms with said first support member and by engagement of said receiver hooks with said second support member, and said hooks and said support members being capable of sliding horizontally to substantially facilitating a horizontal positioning of said display panel by enabling the respective hooks to be laterally shifted over said support members to locate said display panel in the desired horizontal position and, wherein at least one of said first and second hook arms have a threaded hole formed therein and said lock comprises a threaded knob configured to fit within said threaded hole thereby interfering with subsequent detachment of said hook arm from said support of said first member, and further comprising a lock apparatus to lock said first and second hook arms onto said support member of said first plate.