Mounting system for use with audio/visual devices or the like

• US 9,388,938 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peerless Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Peerless Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Molter, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Application Number:
  US14/296,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20140284442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 attaching an audio/visual device to a surface via a surface mounting member. The mounting system includes a support attachment bracket configured to operatively connect to the surface mounting member, a display mounting bracket configured to operatively connect to the audio/visual device, an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the display mounting bracket relative to the support attachment bracket between a collapsed position and a tilted position, and a locking feature configured to selectively engage a post for retaining the mounting system in the collapsed position. The locking feature is disposed on one of the support attachment bracket, the display mounting bracket, and the adjustment mechanism. The post is disposed on another of the support attachment bracket, the display mounting bracket, and the adjustment mechanism.

Claims

1. An adjustment mechanism for a mounting device for supporting an audio/visual device, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a retaining member comprising two spaced apart and opposing walls, wherein each wall includes a threaded opening therein;

an adjustment member having threads for engaging each threaded opening, the adjustment member being adjustable relative to the retaining member; and

a contact member including a tab that is selectively contacted by an end of the adjustment member;

wherein there is relative translation between the retaining member and the contact member upon rotation of the adjustment member relative to the retaining member when the end of the adjustment member contacts the tab of the contact member.

2. The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the tab includes an external surface that is contacted by the end of the adjustment member to provide the relative translation between the retaining member and the contact member.

3. The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the tab includes two opposite surfaces, and wherein the end of the adjustment member contacts one of the two opposite surfaces to provide the relative translation between the retaining member and the contact member.

4. The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the adjustment member is a threaded fastener having a driving end configured to facilitate rotation of the fastener, and wherein the end of adjustment member is a driven end that is opposite the driving end.

5. An adjustment mechanism for a mounting device for supporting an audio/visual device, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a retaining member including a threaded opening therein;

an adjustment member having threads for engaging the threaded opening, the adjustment member being adjustable relative to the retaining member;

a contact member including a tab that is selectively contacted by an end of the adjustment member;

a first bracket operatively coupled to an audio/visual device; and

a second bracket configured to mount to a mounting surface;

wherein the retaining member is operatively coupled to one of the first bracket and the second bracket and the contact member is operatively coupled to the other bracket of the first bracket and the second bracket to thereby translate the audio/visual device relative to the mounting surface, and

wherein there is relative translation between the retaining member and the contact member upon rotation of the adjustment member relative to the retaining member when the end of the adjustment member contacts the tab of the contact member.

6. The adjustment mechanism of claim 5, wherein the retaining member comprises two spaced apart and opposing walls, wherein each wall of the retaining member includes a threaded opening configured to thread to the threads of the adjustment member.

7. The adjustment mechanism of claim 6, wherein the retaining member has a U-shaped cross-section with the walls forming the legs of the U-shape.

8. An adjustment mechanism for a mounting device for supporting an audio/visual device, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a retaining member having a body with an opening therein;

an adjustment member engaging the opening and having a driven end and a driving end opposite the driven end, the driving end being spaced apart from the body; and

a contact member including an external surface;

wherein an adjustment of the adjustment member translates the driving end towards the body relative to the retaining member and translates the driven end away from the body so as to move the contact member relative to the retaining member via contact between the driven end and the external surface,

wherein the opening in the body is a threaded opening, and wherein the adjustment member includes external threads that thread to the threaded opening of the body,

wherein the body comprises a first wall spaced apart from a second wall of the retaining member, wherein each of the first wall and the second wall includes a threaded opening, and wherein the threads of the adjustment member thread to both the threaded opening of the first wall and the threaded opening of the second wall.