Flexible mount apparatus and system

• US 9,052,057 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MW Products LLC
• Original Assignee: MW Products LLC
• Inventors: Stenhouse, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US13/797,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 248/276.1, 248/281.11, 248/284.1, 248/917, 248/918, 248/460, 248/489
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• 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 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

A flexible mounting system and apparatus, the system comprising a horizontally collapsible frame and one or more vertical mounting rails coupled to the horizontally collapsible frame. The horizontally collapsible frame is comprised of two horizontal rails, a first side rail pivotally mounted to the two horizontal rails, wherein the first side rail is hinged at the midpoint by a first stationary connector, and a second side rail pivotally mounted to the two horizontal rails, wherein the second side rail is hinged at the midpoint by a second stationary connector.

Claims

1. A flat-screen television mounting system, the system comprising:

a horizontally collapsible frame that couples to a wall, wherein the frame includes;

two horizontal rails, each horizontal rail having a first end and a second end,

a first side rail pivotally mounted between the respective first ends of the two horizontal rails, wherein the first side rail is hinged at a midpoint by a first stationary connector, and

a second side rail pivotally mounted between the respective second ends of the two horizontal rails, wherein the second side rail is hinged at a midpoint by a second stationary connector; and

one or more vertical mounting rails that couple to and support a flat-screen television, the one or more vertical mounting rails coupled to the horizontally collapsible frame.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more locking straps coupled to the one or more vertical mounting rails.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more vertical mounting rails includes an aperture through which the one or more vertical mounting rails couple to a portable lock.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the two horizontal rails includes an integrated spirit level.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first side rail is coupled to two appendages that are parallel to the first side rail and extend beyond the first side rail at either end; and

the second side rail is coupled to two appendages that are parallel to the second side rail and extend beyond the second side rail at either end.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the two horizontal rails have a plurality of axial grooves.

7. A flat-screen television mount apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a top horizontal rail that couples to a wall, the top horizontal rail pivotally coupled to a first side rail and a second side rail;

a first connector pivotally coupled to the first side rail;

a third side rail pivotally coupled to the first connector;

a bottom horizontal rail that couples to a wall, the bottom horizontal rail pivotally mounted to the third side rail;

a fourth side rail pivotally coupled to the bottom horizontal rail; and

a second connector pivotally coupled to the fourth vertical side rail and the second vertical side rail, wherein the flat-screen television mount apparatus is adjustable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration while remaining assembled.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top horizontal rail includes an integrated spirit level.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first side rail is coupled to an appendage that is parallel to the first side rail and extends toward the top horizontal rail;

the second side rail is coupled to an appendage that is parallel to the second side rail and extends toward the top horizontal rail;

the third side rail is coupled to an appendage that is parallel to the third side rail and extends toward the bottom horizontal rail; and

the fourth side rail is coupled to an appendage that is parallel to the fourth side rail and extends toward the bottom horizontal rail.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top horizontal rail includes a plurality of axial grooves.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the bottom horizontal rail includes a plurality of axial grooves.