Computer tablet mounting device and attachment to posts of a display apparatus

• US 9,326,623 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Twine Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Twine Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Harwell, Aaron C., Hawker, Jonathan R., Beebe, Joel, Hawker, Christopher, Vallo, Nick, Vanderveen, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/511,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20150103245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.15, 108/50.11, 248/475.1, 248/218.4, 248/220.21, 248/220.22, 406/060.8, 406/061.2, 406/070.1, 406/110.1, 406/110.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1653 for connecting to a surface other than a flat wall, e.g. room corner, ceiling, window
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like

Abstract

A mounting device for housing a smart device having a user interface comprises a horizontal armature, a screen housing, and a mounting bracket. The mounting device is configured for attachment to a display unit having a plurality of posts. The horizontal armature includes coupling mechanisms disposed at each end thereof, wherein each coupling mechanism is configured to be removably coupled to one of the posts. The screen housing has a hollow interior configured to receive the smart device therein, wherein the screen housing includes at least one aperture for providing visual and tactile access to desired portions of the smart device. The mounting bracket is securely coupled to the screen housing and includes at least one projection extending therefrom and configured to be received in a corresponding opening formed in the horizontal armature to couple the screen housing to the horizontal armature.

Claims

1. A mounting device for attachment to a pair of posts and for housing a smart device having a screen, the mounting device comprising:

a horizontal armature formed from a first body segment and a second body segment, the first body segment having a first coupling mechanism disposed at a first end thereof configured to be removably coupled to one of the posts and the second body segment having a second coupling mechanism disposed at a first end thereof configured to be removably coupled to another one of the posts, wherein a second end of the first body segment is rotatably coupled to a second end of the second body segment;

a screen housing having a hollow interior configured to receive the smart device therein, wherein the screen housing includes at least one aperture for providing at least one of visual and tactile access to the hollow interior; and

a mounting bracket extending from the screen housing for removably coupling the screen housing to the horizontal armature.

2. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism each include a channel formed therein for receiving one of the posts.

3. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism each include an adjustable coupling feature for securely coupling the horizontal armature to the posts by increasing a frictional force therebetween.

4. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket includes a first projection extending therefrom.

5. The mounting device according to claim 4, wherein the first body segment of the horizontal armature includes a first opening formed therein for removably receiving the first projection of the mounting bracket therein to removably couple the screen housing to the horizontal armature.

6. The mounting device according to claim 5, wherein a first end of the first projection includes a locking aperture formed therethrough for receiving a locking device, wherein the locking aperture of the first projection is exposed for receiving the locking device when the first projection is fully inserted into the first opening of the first body segment of the horizontal armature.

7. The mounting device according to claim 5, wherein the mounting bracket includes a second projection extending therefrom and the second body segment of the horizontal armature includes a second opening formed therethough, wherein the second projection is removably received through the second opening.

8. The mounting device according to claim 5, wherein each of the first projection and the first opening have a cross-sectional shape elongated in one direction to prevent rotation of the first projection within the first opening when received therein.

9. The mounting device according to claim 5, wherein the mounting bracket includes a first planar portion securely coupled to the screen housing and a second planar portion extending from the first planar portion in a perpendicular direction;

wherein a protrusion extends from a free end of the second planar portion and is spaced apart from the screen housing by a distance substantially corresponding to a width of the horizontal armature.

10. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the screen housing includes an access panel rotatably coupled thereto.

11. The mounting device according to claim 10, wherein the access panel includes a hinge disposed at a first end thereof and a locking mechanism disposed at a second end thereof.

12. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture of the screen housing is positioned to allow a forward facing camera of the smart device to have visual access to an exterior of the screen housing when the smart device is disposed within the hollow interior.

13. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal armature is arcuate in shape as it extends from the first end thereof to the second end thereof.

14. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the first body segment is rotatably coupled to the second body segment by a hinge element having an axis of rotation arranged perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of each of the first body segment and the second body segment.

15. A portable display unit for displaying a screen of a smart device, the display unit comprising:

at least one horizontally arranged plate;

a plurality of vertically arranged posts disposed about a perimeter of the at least one plate;

a horizontal armature formed from a first body segment rotatably coupled to a second body segment, the first body segment removably coupled to one of the posts and the second body segment removably coupled to another one of the posts, the first body segment of the horizontal armature including a first opening formed therethrough;

a screen housing having a hollow interior for receiving the smart device therein and an aperture formed in a front surface thereof; and

a mounting bracket securely coupled to the screen housing, the mounting bracket including a first projection extending therefrom, the first projection configured to be received through the first opening to removably couple the screen housing to the horizontal armature.

16. The display unit according to claim 15, wherein the mounting bracket includes a second projection extending therefrom and a second opening is formed in the second body segment, wherein the first opening and the second opening are spaced apart to correspond to the first projection and the second projection when the first body segment is rotated relative to the second body segment to a predetermined position.

17. The display unit according to claim 15, wherein a first end of the first projection includes a locking aperture formed therein for receiving a locking device to lock the mounting bracket to the horizontal armature.