Adjustable projector mount

• US 8,297,578 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand AV Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Milestone AV Technologies LLC (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Dittmer, Jay, Smith, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US13/195,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20110315844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 248/317, 248/324, 248/274.1, 248/243, 348/151
• US Class Current: 248/323
• 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 2200/02 Locking means

Abstract

A mount for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure includes a device interface operably attachable to the projection device and a device orientation adjustment structure operably coupled with the device interface. The device orientation adjustment structure has structure defining up to three independent axes for adjustment of projector pitch, roll, and yaw. A single selectively adjustable friction element may be provided to enable projector position to be fixed about for any one or all of the independent axes. A gear adjustment mechanism may be provided to enable fine adjustment of projector position. Moreover, any one or all of the independent axes may pass through the projector device, preferably proximate its center of gravity so that it is self balanced on the mount to ease adjustment.

Claims

1. A projector mount comprising:

a projector interface assembly;

a support structure interface;

a selectively rotatable drive element; and

a projector orientation adjustment assembly coupling the projector interface assembly and the support structure interface, the projector device orientation adjustment assembly comprising;

a pitch adjustment assembly comprising a first rack having first gear teeth, the first gear teeth being adapted to receive the selectively rotatable drive element and arranged to drive shifting of the projector interface assembly about a pitch axis; and

a roll adjustment assembly comprising a second rack having second gear teeth, the second gear teeth being adapted to receive the selectively rotatable drive element and arranged to drive shifting of the projector interface assembly about a roll axis.

2. The mount of claim 1, further comprising a yaw adjustment assembly comprising a third rack having third gear teeth, the third gear teeth being adapted to receive the selectively rotatable drive element and arranged to drive shifting of the projector interface assembly about a yaw axis.

3. The mount of claim 2, wherein the third selectively rotatable drive element comprises a gear element and a knob.

4. The mount of claim 1, wherein the first selectively rotatable drive element comprises a gear element and a knob.

5. The mount of claim 1, wherein the second selectively rotatable drive element comprises a gear element and a knob.

6. The mount of claim 1, wherein the projector interface assembly includes a plate adapted to slidably receive a fastening structure coupled to the projector.

7. The mount of claim 1, wherein the support structure interface defines an aperture for receiving a portion of an overhead support structure.

8. A projection system comprising:

a projector; and

a mount coupling the projector to an overhead structure, the mount comprising;

a projector interface assembly adapted to couple with the projector;

a support structure interface;

a selectively rotatable drive element; and

a projector orientation adjustment assembly coupling the projector interface assembly and the support structure interface, the projector device orientation adjustment assembly comprising;

a pitch adjustment assembly comprising a first rack having first gear teeth, the first gear teeth being adapted to receive the selectively rotatable drive element and arranged to drive shifting of the projector interface assembly about a pitch axis; and

a roll adjustment assembly comprising a second rack having second gear teeth, the second gear teeth being adapted to receive the selectively rotatable drive element and arranged to drive shifting of the projector interface assembly about a roll axis.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mount further comprises a yaw adjustment assembly comprising a third rack having third gear teeth, the third gear teeth being adapted to receive the selectively rotatable drive element and arranged to drive shifting of the projector interface assembly about a yaw axis.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the third selectively rotatable drive element comprises a gear element and a knob.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first selectively rotatable drive element comprises a gear element and a knob.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the second selectively rotatable drive element comprises a gear element and a knob.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the projector interface assembly includes a plate adapted to slidably receive a fastening structure coupled to the projector.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the support structure interface defines an aperture for receiving a portion of an overhead support structure.