Mounting system for flat panel display

• US 8,814,115 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Muday, Tom, Eyman, Zachary, Stenhouse, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US12/779,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 248/284.1, 248/274.1, 248/278.1, 248/289.11, 248/242, 248/244, 248/480, 248/371, 248/372.1, 248/393, 248/395, 248/398, 248/917, 248/919, 248/309.1, 248/279.1, 248/286.1, 248/923
• US Class Current: 248/284.1
• 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

Abstract

A mounting system for adjustably mounting a flat panel display to a support medium. The system consists of a frame assembly that can be attached to a support medium. One or more adjustable mounts are attached to the frame assembly, and a flat panel display is attached to the adjustable mounts. Each adjustable mount can extend from a retracted position to an extended position in order to tilt the flat panel display and provide an optimum viewing angle to a viewer. As the adjustable mount extends, the center of gravity of the attached flat panel display moves in approximately a horizontal plane, enabling the display to be tilted by a user with a minimum amount of applied force. In some embodiments, a friction assembly is provided to maintain the selected position of each adjustable mount.

Claims

1. An adjustable mount for holding a flat panel display, comprising:

a first portion defining a first slot, a second slot, and a first hole, wherein the first hole is positioned between the first slot and the second slot;

a second portion that extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second end defining a second hole for receiving a pin, wherein the second portion has a direct sliding connection to the first portion and is tiltable relative to the first portion, the direct sliding connection including a pin passing through the second hole in the second portion, the pin also passing through the second slot in the first portion;

a first link that has a sliding connection to the first portion via the first slot, and has a pivot connection to the second portion; and

a second link that has a pivot connection to the first link and a pivot connection to the first portion via the first hole, wherein the second hole for receiving the pin moves in a substantially vertical direction when the second portion is tilted relative to the first portion.

2. The adjustable mount of claim 1, wherein

the first portion is configured to be mounted to a support medium, and

the second portion is configured to be mounted to the flat panel display.

3. The adjustable mount of claim 2, wherein

the support medium includes a rail, and

the second portion includes a flange that fits to the rail.

4. The adjustable mount of claim 1, wherein

the sliding connection of the first link to the first portion includes a pin that moves within a range of motion defined by the first slot.

5. The adjustable mount of claim 1, wherein the second portion is sized to encompass the first portion and the first and second links in a retracted position.

6. An adjustable mount for mounting a flat panel display to a support medium comprising:

a back body portion that is configured to be mounted to the support medium, the back body portion defining a first slot, a second slot, and a first hole, wherein the first hole is positioned between the first slot and the second slot;

a front body portion that is configured to be mounted to the flat panel display, the front body portion extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second end defining a second hole for receiving a pin, wherein the front body portion has a direct sliding connection to the back body portion and is tiltable relative to the back body portion, the direct sliding connection including a pin passing through the second hole in the front body portion, the pin also passing through the second slot in the back body portion;

a first link that has a sliding connection to the back body portion and a pivot connection to the front body portion; and

a second link that has a pivot connection to the first link and a pivot connection to the back body portion via the first hole, wherein the second hole for receiving the pin moves in a substantially vertical direction when the front body portion is tilted relative to the back body portion.

7. The adjustable mount of claim 6, wherein

the support medium includes a rail, and

the back body portion includes a flange that fits to the rail.

8. The adjustable mount of claim 6, wherein

the sliding connection of the first link to the back body portion includes a pin that moves within a range of motion defined by the first slot.

9. The adjustable mount of claim 6, wherein the front body portion is sized to encompass the back body portion and the first and second links in a retracted position.

10. An adjustable mount for holding a display, comprising:

a first portion defining a first slot, a second slot, and a first hole, wherein the first hole is positioned between the first slot and the second slot;

a second portion that extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second end defining a second hole for receiving a pin, wherein the second portion has a direct sliding connection to the first portion and is tiltable relative to the first portion, the direct sliding connection including a pin passing through the second hole in the second portion, the pin also passing through the second slot in the first portion; and

a linkage that has a sliding connection to the first portion via the first slot, and has a pivot connection to the second portion, wherein the second hole for receiving the pin moves in a substantially vertical direction when the second portion is tilted relative to the first portion.

11. The adjustable mount of claim 10, wherein

the first portion is configured to be mounted to a support medium, and

the second portion is configured to be mounted to the display.

12. The adjustable mount of claim 11, wherein

the support medium includes a rail, and

the second portion includes a flange that fits to the rail.

13. The adjustable mount of claim 10, wherein

the sliding connection of the linkage to the first portion includes a pin that moves within a range of motion defined by the first slot.

14. The adjustable mount of claim 10, wherein the second portion is sized to encompass the first portion and the linkage in a retracted position.

15. An adjustable mount for holding a display, comprising:

a first portion defining a first slot, a second slot, and a first hole, wherein the first hole is positioned between the first slot and the second slot;

a second portion that extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second end defining a second hole for receiving a pin, wherein the second portion has a direct sliding connection to the first portion and is tiltable relative to the first portion, the direct sliding connection including a pin passing through the second hole in the second portion, the pin also passing through the second slot in the first portion;

a first linkage that has a sliding connection to the first portion via the first slot, and has a pivot connection to the second portion; and

a second linkage that has a pivot connection to the first linkage and a pivot connection to the first portion via the first hole, wherein the second hole for receiving the pin moves in a substantially vertical direction when the front body portion is tilted relative to the back body portion.

16. The adjustable mount of claim 15, wherein

the first portion is configured to be mounted to a support medium, and

the second portion is configured to be mounted to the display.

17. The adjustable mount of claim 16, wherein

the support medium includes a rail, and

the second portion includes a flange that fits to the rail.

18. The adjustable mount of claim 15, wherein

the sliding connection of the first linkage to the first portion includes a pin that moves within a range of motion defined by the first slot.

19. The adjustable mount of claim 15, wherein the second portion is sized to encompass the first portion and the first and second linkages in a retracted position.

20. An adjustable mount for mounting a flat panel display to a support medium comprising:

a back body portion that is configured to be mounted to the support medium, the back body portion defining a first slot, a second slot, and a first hole, wherein the first hole is positioned between the first slot and the second slot;

a front body portion that extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the second end defining a second hole for receiving a pin, wherein the front body portion is configured to be mounted to the flat panel display, has a direct sliding connection to the back body portion and is tiltable relative to the back body portion, the direct sliding connection including a pin passing through the second hole in the front body portion, the pin also passing through the second slot in the back body portion;

a first linkage that has a sliding connection to the back body portion and a pivot connection to the front body portion; and

a second linkage that has a pivot connection to the first linkage and a pivot connection to the back body portion via the first hole, wherein the second hole for receiving the pin moves in a substantially vertical direction when the front body portion is tilted relative to the back body portion.

21. The adjustable mount of claim 20, wherein

the support medium includes a rail, and

the back body portion includes a flange that fits to the rail.

22. The adjustable mount of claim 20, wherein

the sliding connection of the first linkage to the back body portion includes a pin that moves within a range of motion defined by the first slot.

23. The adjustable mount of claim 20, wherein the front body portion is sized to encompass the back body portion and the first and second linkages in a retracted position.