Apparatus and Method for Mounting Audio-Visual Components

• US 20080106885A1
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arie, Isamu, Matsuoka, Fumiya
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/825
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements

Abstract

A bracket or support bar system is for installing one or more audio-visual (“A/V”) components or modules and generally overcomes the need for external cables and wiring connections. Every A/V component of the A/V system is attached to a wall bracket or support bar that enables the transfer of power signals and control signals (including media data) to each of the A/V components.

Claims

1. A first apparatus for securing an audio-visual (“

A/V”

) component to a structure surface, wherein the A/V component has a component first conductive surface, wherein the first apparatus is for use with a second apparatus adapted for attachment to the structure surface, wherein the second apparatus has a second apparatus first electrical bus and a second apparatus first conductive surface electrically connected to the second apparatus first electrical bus, the first apparatus comprising;

a support bar adapted for attachment to the structure surface and defining a channel adapted to receive the A/V component;

a first apparatus first electrical bus attached to the support bar;

a first apparatus first conductive surface disposed on the support bar and electrically connected to the first apparatus first electrical bus, wherein the first apparatus first conductive surface is adapted to abut the component first conductive surface when the A/V component is received by the channel; and

a first apparatus second conductive surface disposed on the support bar and electrically connected to the first apparatus first electrical bus, wherein the first apparatus second conductive surface is adapted to abut the second apparatus first conductive surface when the support bar and the second apparatus are attached to the structure surface adjacent to one another.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first apparatus first electrical bus is for a power line communications (“

PLC”

) network.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 wherein the A/V component is a first A/V component, wherein the first apparatus is further for securing a second A/V component to the structure surface when the first A/V component is not secured to the structure surface by the first apparatus, wherein the channel of the support bar is adapted to receive the second A/V component when the first AN component is not received by the channel, and wherein the first and second AN components are adapted to perform generally different functions.

4. The first apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first AN component is a first one of a digital video recorder, a DVD player, an amplifier, a speaker, a television tuner, an AN controller, and a CD player, and wherein the second AN component is a second one of the digital video recorder, the DVD player, the amplifier, the speaker, the television tuner, the AN controller, and the CD player.

5. The first apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel defined by the support bar extends in a generally longitudinal direction and has a generally V-shaped cross-section.

6. The first apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support bar has a distal support bar surface adapted to abut the structure surface when the support bar is attached to the structure surface, wherein the channel is defined by a distal channel surface and a proximate channel surface, wherein the distal channel surface is generally parallel to the distal support bar surface, and wherein the proximate channel surface tapers away from the distal channel surface.

7. The first apparatus of claim 1 wherein the A/V component has a component second conductive surface, wherein the second apparatus has a second apparatus second electrical bus and a second apparatus second conductive surface electrically connected to the second apparatus second electrical bus, the first apparatus further comprising:

a first apparatus second electrical bus attached to the support bar;

a first apparatus third conductive surface disposed on the support bar and electrically connected to the first apparatus second electrical bus, wherein the first apparatus third conductive surface is adapted to abut the component second conductive surface when the AN component is received by the channel; and

a first apparatus fourth conductive surface disposed on the support bar and electrically connected to the first apparatus second electrical bus, wherein the first apparatus fourth conductive surface is adapted to abut the second apparatus second conductive surface when the support bar and the second apparatus are attached to the structure surface adjacent to one another.

8. The first apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first apparatus first electrical bus is for transmitting a power signal and the first apparatus second electrical bus is for transmitting a control signal.

9. A system for securing a plurality of audio-visual (“

A/V”

) components to a structure surface, wherein the plurality of A/V components has a plurality of component first conductive surfaces, the system comprising;

a plurality of support bars adapted for attachment to the structure surface, wherein the plurality of support bars defines a plurality of channels adapted to receive the plurality of A/V components;

a plurality of first electrical buses attached to the plurality of support bars;

a plurality of support bar first conductive surfaces disposed on the plurality of support bars and electrically connected to the plurality of first electrical buses, wherein the plurality of support bar first conductive surfaces is adapted to abut the plurality of component first conductive surfaces when the plurality of A/V components is received by the plurality of channels; and

a plurality of support bar second conductive surfaces disposed on the plurality of support bars and electrically connected to the plurality of first electrical buses, wherein one of the plurality of support bar second conductive surfaces is adapted to abut another one of the plurality of support bar second conductive surfaces when one of the plurality of support bars is attached to the structure surface adjacent to another one of the plurality of support bars.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of support bars has a cross-section profile, and wherein the cross section profile of any one of the plurality of support bars is generally the same as the cross-section profile of any other one of the plurality of support bars.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of support bars is interchangeable with the plurality of A/V components so that any one of the plurality of channels is adapted to operatively receive any one of the plurality of A/V components, and wherein each of the plurality of A/V components is adapted to perform a generally different function than any other of the plurality of A/V components.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of A/V components has a plurality of component second conductive surfaces, the system further comprising:

a plurality of second electrical buses attached to the plurality of support bars;

a plurality of support bar third conductive surfaces disposed on the plurality of support bars and electrically connected to the plurality of second electrical buses, wherein the plurality of support bar third conductive surfaces is adapted to abut the plurality of component second conductive surfaces when the plurality of A/V components is received by the plurality of channels; and

a plurality of support bar fourth conductive surfaces disposed on the support bar and electrically connected to the plurality of second electrical buses, wherein one of the plurality of support bar fourth conductive surfaces is adapted to abut another one of the plurality of support bar fourth conductive surfaces when the one of the plurality of support bars is attached to the structure surface adjacent to the other one of the plurality of support bars.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of support bars has a cross-section profile, and wherein the cross section profile of any one of the plurality of support bars is generally the same as the cross-section profile of any other one of the plurality of support bars.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of support bars is interchangeable with the plurality of A/V components so that any one of the plurality of channels is adapted to operatively receive any one of the plurality of A/V components, and wherein each of the plurality of A/V components is adapted to perform a generally different function than any other of the plurality of A/V components.

15. A method of securing an audio-visual (“

A/V”

) component to a structure surface, the method comprising;

attaching a first support bar to the structure surface, wherein the first support bar defines a first channel; and

placing at least a portion of the A/V component into the first channel, wherein the A/V component has an A/V component conductive surface;

wherein the first support bar includes a first electrical bus, a first support bar first conductive surface electrically connected to the first electrical bus, and a first support bar second conductive surface electrically connected to the first electrical bus;

wherein the first support bar first conductive surface abuts the A/V component conductive surface when the at least a portion of the A/V component is placed into the first channel;

wherein the first support bar is for use with a second support bar having a second electrical bus electrically connected to a second support bar first conductive surface; and

wherein the first support bar second conductive surface is adapted to abut the second support bar first conductive surface when the first and second support bars are attached to the structure surface adjacent to one another.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the A/V component is a first A/V component, and wherein the method is further for securing a second A/V component to the structure surface, the method further comprising:

attaching the second support bar to the structure surface at a location adjacent to the first support bar so that the second support bar abuts the first support bar, wherein the second support bar defines a second channel; and

placing at least a portion of the second A/V component into the second channel, wherein the second A/V component has a second A/V component conductive surface;

wherein the second support bar further includes a second support bar second conductive surface electrically connected to the second electrical bus; and

wherein the second support bar second conductive surface abuts the second A/V component conductive surface when the at least a portion of the second A/V component is placed into the second channel.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus are for a power line communications (“

PLC”

) network.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first A/V component is a first one of a digital video recorder, a DVD player, an amplifier, a speaker, a television tuner, an A/V controller, and a CD player, and wherein the second A/V component is a second one of the digital video recorder, the DVD player, the amplifier, the speaker, the television tuner, the A/V controller, and the CD player.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second channels each extends in a generally longitudinal direction and has a generally V-shaped cross-section.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first support bar and the second support bar each has a distal support bar surface abutting the structure surface when each of the first and second support bars is attached to the structure surface, wherein each of the first and second channels is defined by a distal channel surface and a proximate channel surface, wherein the distal channel surface is generally parallel to the distal support bar surface, and wherein the proximate channel surface tapers away from the distal channel surface.

21. A system for securing a plurality of audio-visual (“

A/V”

) components to a structure surface, wherein each of the plurality of A/V components is adapted to perform a generally different function than any other of the plurality of A/V components, the system comprising;

a plurality of support bars adapted for attachment to the structure surface;

means for interchangeably supporting the plurality of A/V components with the plurality of support bars so that any one of the plurality of A/V components is operationally supported by any one of the plurality of support bars; and

means for transferring a power signal and a control signal between each of the plurality of support bars.