Apparatus and method for mounting audio-visual components
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A first apparatus for securing a first audio-visual (“
- A/V”
) component housing to a structure surface and for use with a second A/V housing, wherein each of the first and second A/V component housings encloses electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content, wherein the first A/V component housing 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 for transmitting a power signal 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 first A/V component housing, wherein the support bar is configured to support the first A/V component housing and to secure the first A/V component housing to the structure surface when the first A/V component housing is received by the channel;
a first apparatus first electrical bus for transmitting the power signal, wherein the first apparatus first electric bus is 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 first A/V component housing 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,wherein the channel of the support bar is adapted to receive the second A/V component housing when the first A/V component housing is not received by the channel thereby supporting the second A/V component housing and securing the second A/V component housing to the structure surface, andwherein the electronic circuitry in the first A/V component housing is adapted to perform a generally different function than the electronic circuitry in the second A/V component housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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 or control signals (including media data) or both to each of the A/V components.
32 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A first apparatus for securing a first audio-visual (“
- A/V”
) component housing to a structure surface and for use with a second A/V housing, wherein each of the first and second A/V component housings encloses electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content, wherein the first A/V component housing 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 for transmitting a power signal 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 first A/V component housing, wherein the support bar is configured to support the first A/V component housing and to secure the first A/V component housing to the structure surface when the first A/V component housing is received by the channel; a first apparatus first electrical bus for transmitting the power signal, wherein the first apparatus first electric bus is 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 first A/V component housing 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, wherein the channel of the support bar is adapted to receive the second A/V component housing when the first A/V component housing is not received by the channel thereby supporting the second A/V component housing and securing the second A/V component housing to the structure surface, and wherein the electronic circuitry in the first A/V component housing is adapted to perform a generally different function than the electronic circuitry in the second A/V component housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- A/V”
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8. A system for securing a plurality of audio-visual (“
- A/V”
) component housings to a structure surface, wherein each of the plurality of A/V component housings encloses electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content, wherein the plurality of A/V component housings 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 component housings, wherein the plurality of support bars is configured to support the plurality of A/V component housings and to secure the plurality of A/V component housings to the structure surface when the plurality of A/V component housings is received by the plurality of channels; a plurality of first electrical buses for transmitting a power signal, wherein the plurality of first electrical buses is 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 AN component housings 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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- A/V”
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14. A system for securing a plurality of audio-visual (“
- A/V”
) component housings to a structure surface, wherein each of the plurality of A/V component housings encloses electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content, wherein the electronic circuitry in each of the plurality of A/V component housings is adapted to perform a different function than the electronic circuitry in any other of the plurality of A/V component housings, the system comprising;a plurality of support bars adapted for attachment to the structure surface; a channel defined in each of the plurality of support bars adapted for supporting the plurality of A/V component housings with the plurality of support bars so that any one of the plurality of A/V component housings is operationally supported by any one of the plurality of support bars; and a plurality of conductive paths adapted for transferring a power signal and a control signal between each of the plurality of support bars.
- A/V”
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15. A method of securing a first audio-visual (“
- A/V”
) component housing and a second A/V component housing 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; attaching a second support bar to the structure surface, wherein the second support bar defines a second channel; placing at least a portion of the first A/V component housing into the first channel of the first support bar thereby supporting the first A/V component housing and securing the first A/V component housing to the structure surface; and placing at least a portion of the second A/V component housing into the second channel thereby supporting the second A/V component housing and securing the second A/V component housing to the structure surface, wherein the first A/V component housing encloses first electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content and the second A/V component housing encloses second electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content, wherein the first support bar comprises a first electrical bus for transmitting a power signal, wherein the first electrical bus is electrically connected to a first support bar first conductive surface and electrically connected to a first support bar second conductive surface, wherein the first support bar first conductive surface abuts a first A/V component conductive surface of the first A/V component housing when the at least a portion of the first A/V component housing is placed into the first channel, wherein the second support bar comprises a second electrical bus for transmitting the power signal, wherein the second electrical bus is electrically connected to a second support bar first conductive surface and electrically connected to a second support bar second conductive surface, wherein the second support bar first conductive surface abuts a second A/V component conductive surface of the second A/V component housing when the at least a portion of the second A/V component housing is placed into the second channel, and wherein the attaching of the second support bar to the structure surface comprises attaching the second support bar to the structure surface so that the second support bar second conductive surface abuts the first support bar second conductive surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- A/V”
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22. A method of using a first audio-visual (“
- A/V”
) component housing in a premises having a first room and a second room, the method comprising;attaching a first support bar and a second support bar to a first structure surface, wherein the first support bar defines a first channel and the second support bar defines a second channel, and wherein the first structure surface is disposed in the first room of the premises; attaching a third support bar to a second structure surface disposed in the second room of the premises, wherein the third support bar defines a third channel; placing at least a portion of the first A/V component housing into the first channel of the first support bar thereby supporting the first A/V component housing and securing the first A/V component housing to the first structure surface; placing at least a portion of a second A/V component housing into the second channel of the second support bar thereby supporting the second A/V component housing and securing the second A/V component housing to the first structure surface, wherein the first A/V component housing encloses first electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content and the second A/V component housing encloses second electronic circuitry for processing control signals or data for using A/V content, wherein the first support bar comprises a first electrical bus electrically connected to a first support bar first conductive surface and electrically connected to a first support bar second conductive surface, wherein the first support bar first conductive surface abuts a first A/V component conductive surface of the first A/V component housing when the at least a portion of the first A/V component housing is placed into the first channel, wherein the second support bar comprises a second electrical bus electrically connected to a second support bar first conductive surface and electrically connected to a second support bar second conductive surface, wherein the second support bar first conductive surface abuts a second A/V component conductive surface of the second A/V component housing when the at least a portion of the second A/V component housing is placed into the second channel, wherein the attaching of the second support bar to the first structure surface comprises attaching the second support bar to the first structure surface so that the second support bar second conductive surface abuts the first support bar second conductive surface; removing the at least a portion of the first A/V component housing from the first channel of the first support bar; and placing the at least a portion of the first A/V component housing into the third channel of the third support bar thereby supporting the first A/V component housing and securing the first A/V component housing to the second structure surface disposed in the second room of the premises, wherein the third support bar comprises a third electrical bus electrically connected to a third support bar first conductive surface, and wherein the third support bar first conductive surface abuts the first A/V component conductive surface of the first A/V component housing when the at least a portion of the first A/V component housing is placed into the third channel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
- A/V”
Specification