Mounting systems for digital media players

• US 8,988,616 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovelis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovelis Incorporated
• Inventors: Wengreen, Brian Jeffrey, Wengreen, Eric John
• Primary Examiner(s): Pe, Geepy
• Application Number:
  US14/527,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20150050011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 146 Days
• Field of Search: 348/836, 348/846
• US Class Current: 348/836
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/655 Construction or mounting of chassis, e.g. for varying the elevation of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

Mounting systems can attach a digital media player to a backside surface of a television. Mounting systems can include a tray base and sidewalls that protrude away from the backside surface of the television while the digital media player is located between the sidewalls. Mounting systems can be attached inside of a periphery of the backside surface of the television.

Claims

1. A mounting system configured to mount a digital media player to a backside surface of a television, the television comprising a frontside surface configured to display an image, the mounting system comprising:

a tray base, wherein the tray base comprises a top half and a bottom half, and the tray base comprises a left half and a right half;

a first sidewall coupled to the left half of the tray base, wherein the first sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base;

a second sidewall coupled to the right half of the tray base such that the first sidewall and the second sidewall are coupled at opposite sides of the tray base, wherein the second sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base, wherein the tray base is coupled to the backside surface of the television such that the first sidewall and the second sidewall protrude from the tray base outward relative to the backside surface of the television in a direction away from the frontside surface of the television while the tray base is coupled to the backside surface of the television,

a first retaining lip coupled to the first sidewall; and

a second retaining lip coupled to the second sidewall, wherein the first retaining lip protrudes towards the second retaining lip, and wherein the second retaining lip protrudes towards the first retaining lip, wherein the first retaining lip and the second retaining lip engage at least one surface of the digital media player that faces away from the backside surface of the television while the digital media player is at least partially located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that the mounting system couples the digital media player to the backside surface of the television.

2. The mounting system of claim 1,

wherein the first sidewall comprises a first bottom portion that protrudes rightward to reduce a first distance between the first bottom portion and the right half of the tray base,

wherein the second sidewall comprises a second bottom portion that protrudes leftward to reduce a second distance between the second bottom portion and the left half of the tray base,

wherein the digital media player comprises a lower left corner and a lower right corner, and

wherein the first bottom portion is configured such that the first sidewall extends at least partially around the lower left corner of the digital media player, and the second bottom portion is configured such that the second sidewall extends at least partially around the lower right corner of the digital media player such that the first bottom portion of the first sidewall and the second bottom portion of the second sidewall are configured to prevent the digital media player from falling out of the mounting system by passing between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion.

3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the tray base is coupled inside of a periphery of the backside surface of the television.

4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the tray base is coupled to the backside surface of the television such that the tray base is oriented parallel to the backside surface.

5. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the mounting system further comprises:

an open portion between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion such that the bottom half of the mounting system comprises a bottom open end; and

a gap between the first retaining lip and the second retaining lip, wherein the gap forms an open back of the mounting system such that the at least one surface of the digital media player that faces away from the backside surface of the television is at least partially uncovered by the mounting system.

6. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the digital media player comprises a connection side configured to receive an electrical cable, wherein the digital media player is coupled to the mounting system such that the electrical cable exits the mounting system through the bottom open end, and

wherein the top half of the tray base comprises an at least partially open top located opposite of the bottom open end.

7. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the tray base is located at least partially between the digital media player and the backside surface of the television, and wherein the first retaining lip, the second retaining lip, and the open back are located outward from the digital media player in the direction away from the frontside surface of the television.

8. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein a hook couples the tray base to a vent of the television.

9. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein an adhesive pad couples the tray base to the backside surface of the television.

10. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the mounting system comprises an open portion between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion such that the bottom half of the mounting system comprises a bottom open end that faces downward relative to the television, wherein the digital media player comprises a connection side configured to receive an electrical cable, wherein the digital media player is coupled to the mounting system such that the electrical cable exits the mounting system in a downward direction through the bottom open end such that the connection side faces downward relative to the television.

11. The mounting system of claim 10, wherein the top half of the tray base comprises an open top such that the tray base comprises a top open end located opposite of the bottom open end.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the mounting system is configured to enable inserting the digital media player through the top open end while being configured to prevent the digital media player from falling downward through the bottom open end.

13. The mounting system of claim 10, wherein the top half of the tray base comprises an at least partially open top located opposite of the bottom open end, wherein the mounting system is configured to enable inserting the digital media player through the at least partially open top while being configured to prevent the digital media player from falling downward through the bottom open end.

14. The mounting system of claim 10, wherein the top half of the tray base comprises an at least partially open top located opposite of the bottom open end, wherein a gap between the first retaining lip and the second retaining lip forms an open back of the mounting system such that the at least one surface of the digital media player that faces away from the backside surface of the television is at least partially uncovered by the mounting system.

15. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the first retaining lip extends along the first sidewall from the top half of the tray to the first bottom portion, and wherein the second retaining lip extends along the second sidewall from the top half of the tray to the second bottom portion.

28. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein an adhesive couples the mounting system to the television.

29. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein a hook couples the mounting system to the television.

16. A mounting system configured to mount a digital media player to a backside surface of a television, the television comprising a frontside surface configured to display an image, the mounting system comprising:

a tray base, wherein the tray base comprises a top half and a bottom half, and the tray base comprises a left half and a right half;

a first sidewall coupled to the left half of the tray base, wherein the first sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base;

a second sidewall coupled to the right half of the tray base such that the first sidewall and the second sidewall are coupled at opposite sides of the tray base, wherein the second sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base, wherein the tray base is coupled to the backside surface of the television such that the first sidewall and the second sidewall protrude from the tray base outward relative to the backside surface of the television in a direction away from the frontside surface of the television while the tray base is coupled to the backside surface of the television, the mounting system further comprising;

a first retaining lip coupled to the first sidewall; and

a second retaining lip coupled to the second sidewall, wherein the first retaining lip and the second retaining lip engage at least one surface of the digital media player that faces away from the backside surface of the television while the digital media player is at least partially located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that the mounting system couples the digital media player to the backside surface of the television,

wherein a gap between the first retaining lip and the second retaining lip forms an open back of the mounting system such that the at least one surface of the digital media player that faces away from the backside surface of the television is at least partially uncovered by the mounting system, and

wherein the tray base is located at least partially between the digital media player and the backside surface of the television, and wherein the first retaining lip, the second retaining lip, and the open back are located outward from the digital media player in the direction away from the frontside surface of the television.

17. The mounting system of claim 16, wherein the tray base is coupled inside of a periphery of the backside surface of the television.

18. The mounting system of claim 16, wherein a hook couples the tray base to the backside surface of the television.

19. The mounting system of claim 16, wherein an adhesive couples the mounting system to the television.

30. The mounting system of claim 16, wherein the first sidewall comprises a first bottom portion that protrudes rightward to reduce a first distance between the first bottom portion and the right half of the tray base,

wherein the second sidewall comprises a second bottom portion that protrudes leftward to reduce a second distance between the second bottom portion and the left half of the tray base,

wherein the digital media player comprises a lower left corner and a lower right corner, and

wherein the first bottom portion is configured such that the first sidewall extends at least partially around the lower left corner of the digital media player, and the second bottom portion is configured such that the second sidewall extends at least partially around the lower right corner of the digital media player such that the first bottom portion of the first sidewall and the second bottom portion of the second sidewall are configured to prevent the digital media player from falling out of the mounting system by passing between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion.

20. A mounting system configured to mount a digital media player to a backside surface of a television, the television comprising a frontside surface configured to display an image, the mounting system comprising:

a tray base, wherein the tray base comprises a top half and a bottom half, and the tray base comprises a left half and a right half;

a first sidewall coupled to the left half of the tray base, wherein the first sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base; and

a second sidewall coupled to the right half of the tray base such that the first sidewall and the second sidewall are coupled at opposite sides of the tray base, wherein the second sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall protrude from the tray base outward relative to the backside surface of the television in a direction away from the frontside surface of the television while the tray base is coupled to the backside surface of the television and while the digital media player is located at least partially between the first sidewall and the second sidewall,

wherein the first sidewall comprises a first bottom portion that protrudes rightward to reduce a first distance between the first bottom portion and the right half of the tray base,

wherein the second sidewall comprises a second bottom portion that protrudes leftward to reduce a second distance between second the bottom portion and the left half of the tray base,

wherein the digital media player comprises a lower left corner and a lower right corner, and

wherein the first bottom portion is configured such that the first sidewall extends at least partially around the lower left corner of the digital media player, and the second bottom portion is configured such that the second sidewall extends at least partially around the lower right corner such that the first bottom portion of the first sidewall and the second bottom portion of the second sidewall are configured to prevent the digital media player from falling out of the mounting system by passing between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion.

21. The mounting system of claim 20, wherein the tray base is coupled inside of a periphery of the backside surface of the television.

22. The mounting system of claim 20, wherein a hook at least partially enters a vent of the television such that the hook couples the tray base to the television.

23. The mounting system of claim 20, wherein an adhesive pad couples the tray base to the backside surface of the television.

24. A mounting system configured to mount a digital media player to a backside surface of a television, the television comprising a frontside surface configured to display an image, the mounting system comprising:

a tray base, wherein the tray base comprises a top half and a bottom half, and the tray base comprises a left half and a right half;

a first sidewall coupled to the left half of the tray base, wherein the first sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base;

a second sidewall coupled to the right half of the tray base such that the first sidewall and the second sidewall are coupled at opposite sides of the tray base, wherein the second sidewall extends from the top half to the bottom half of the tray base, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall protrude from the tray base outward relative to the backside surface of the television in a direction away from the frontside surface of the television while the tray base is coupled to the backside surface of the television and while the digital media player is located at least partially between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and

a bottom sidewall coupled to the bottom half of the tray base, wherein the bottom sidewall protrudes from the tray base outward relative to the backside surface of the television in the direction away from the frontside surface of the television while the digital media player is located at least partially between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and

wherein the bottom sidewall is configured to prevent the digital media player from falling out of the mounting system via exiting a bottom end of the mounting system.

25. The mounting system of claim 24, wherein the tray base is coupled inside of a periphery of the backside surface of the television.

26. The mounting system of claim 24, wherein an adhesive pad couples the tray base to the backside surface of the television.

27. The mounting system of claim 24, wherein a hook couples the tray base to the television.