A Modular Wall Mounting Apparatus

Abstract

The configurable wall mount presented herein has particular applicability to supporting electronic devices mounted in walls and ceilings. The configurability stems from modular components configured to be coupled together. Thus, the wall mount is configurable for mounting devices ranging from small communications connectors to large electronic control panels.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates configurable mounts for electronic devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mounting brackets or “Mud Rings” are used in a variety of settings and locations to mount electronic equipments, e.g., cables, to walls. Prior art mud ring configurations were commonly of a fixed size (usually measured by the number of “Gangs”). Thus, a user must purchase a separate mud ring for each application.

Mounting brackets are indispensable because they facilitate installation of electronic equipments without attachment to wall studs. Thus, equipments can be placed practically anywhere on a wall or ceiling as long as one can run the necessary cables to the location. A user needing to mount one cable may cut an opening the size of one-gang for the installation. Standard mounting brackets will usually handle the one-gang opening. However, needing to mount more cables may need to cut other openings in the wall to install other mounting brackets. This becomes aesthetically not pleasing when it is the same type of cable that is being installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a configurable wall mount bracket. The mount has particular applicability to supporting electronic devices mounted in walls and ceilings. The configurability of the present invention stems from three modular components configured to be couplable together. Thus, the wall mount or mounting bracket is configurable for mounting devices ranging from a small communications connector to large electronic control panels.

Other embodiments of the wall mount may be configured to suit virtually any mounting application. For instance, instead of having modular pieces that increase the size by one-gang, the extension pieces may be configured to increase the size by half-gang. In addition, the height of the wall mount may be made configurable by configuring the end plates to accept extension members at the base wall.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of a two-gang wall mount in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a side view of a wall mount in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 1C is a front view of a wall mount in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a wall mount in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an end plate member 30 of a configurable wall mount in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a flag member 40 of a configurable wall mount in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an extension member 50 of a configurable wall mount in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an extension member 101 of a configurable wall mount in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a one-gang configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a three-gang configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a four-gang configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a configurable apparatus for mounting devices, such as electronic equipment, to a support structure. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.

In general, the invention is a configurable wall mount. The width of the wall mount is configurable using modular components to a size suitable for the mounting application. Thus, the mount is configurable for mounting devices ranging from a small communications connector to large electronic control panels. In one or more configurations, the mount may be configured for mounting a plurality of communications connectors and other electronic equipments having a height similar to that of the configurable mount.

The mount has particular applicability to supporting electronic devices mounted in walls, and as such the mount is sometimes referred to herein as a wall mount, though it will be understood that the mount and method therein have other applicability and thus the descriptor “wall” such as used in the term “wall mount,” is not intended to be limiting.

One embodiment of configurable wall mount 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5. As illustrated, configurable wall mount 20 comprises a pair of end plates 30; a plurality of locking flags 40 and screws 60; and zero or more extension plates (e.g. plate 50 and 101) on each side. Each member of configurable wall mount 20 may be made of plastic, metal, or any other structurally capable material.

End plate 30 is a u-shape member comprising base 31, a first leg 32 at one end, and a second leg 33 at the other end. End plate 30 further includes a top face 27 and a bottom face 28, and a flange 34, which runs along the entirety of an inside periphery of end plate 30 at said bottom face 28, and extends outwardly perpendicular from said bottom face 28. The depth of flange 34 (i.e. extension from bottom surface 28 to the tip 35) is preferably equivalent to or less than the thickness of the mounting surface to which wall mount 20 is adapted to be used. For simplicity in manufacturing, it should be noted that the dept of flange 34 may be a standard fixed size.

Endplate 30 further comprises a plurality of optional apertures 22 and 25. Optional aperture 22 is for mounting wall mount 20 to a surface such as a podium or the side of a cabinet, while optional aperture 25 may be used for mounting a face plate. Optional apertures 22 and 25 may also be used to mount an electrical switch or duplex outlet. Preferably, these apertures should line up with holes found in standard electrical back boxes.

The free end of first leg 32 is adapted to couple to a structural member with similar configuration as the free end of second leg 33. In addition, the width of first leg 32 is preferably equivalent to the width of second leg 33. The first leg 32 further comprises a plurality of apertures 23 and 24. Aperture 24 is located closer to the free end of first leg 32 and provides means for coupling with other members, e.g., second leg 33 of a second end plate 30 or an extension plate. Aperture 23 is located between base 31 and aperture 24 and provides means for securing flag 40 to end plate 30. Aperture 23 is integral to slide post 36.

Slide post 36 is coupled to bottom face 28 and extends parallel to flange 34 and ends at tip 29. Slide post 36 further includes aperture 23 which runs the entirety of its length starting from top face 27 and ends at its tip 29. Slide post 36 is preferably half-cylindrical in shape and aperture 23 preferably opens up (i.e. includes cutout 27) beyond bottom 35 of flange 34 to allow flag 40, which is secured by screw 60, to swing away from the mounting surface when screw 60 is turned in its unlocking direction. Thus, aperture 23 provides means through which screw 60 may be used to adjustably lock flag 40 in place.

Cutout 27 in slide post 36 allows flag 40 to swing inwards, i.e., towards the inside periphery of end plate 30 to facilitate installation to a mounting surface. Operation of flag 40 during installation is further discussed below.

The second leg 33 comprises a plurality of apertures 22, 23, 25 and 38. Aperture 38 is located closer to the free end of leg 33 and provides means for coupling with other members, e.g., first leg 32 of a second end plate 30 or one end of an extension plate which is configured for coupling therein (e.g. configured as free end of first leg 32). Aperture 23 is located between base 31 and aperture 38 and provides means for securing flag 40 to end plate 30.

Second leg 33 further comprises a second flange 26 and a second slide post 36 which are coupled to bottom face 28 and extend parallel to flange 34. Second flange 26 is preferably located closer to the outside periphery of the top plate of second leg 33 such that second slide post 36 is located within the bounds created by flange 34 and flange 26. Second slide post 36 is preferably configured similar to first slide post 36 located on first leg 32.

Aperture 38 is preferably threaded to hold screw 70 in cylinder 39. Cylinder 39 is coupled to bottom face 28 which is at the free end of second leg 33 and extends outwardly and perpendicular to bottom face 28. Cylinder 39 further includes a top plate 89. Thus, aperture 38 runs perpendicular to bottom face 28 starting at top plate 89. In addition, it should be noted that the free end of first leg 32 is preferably configured to couple to any other structural member having a configuration equivalent to the free end of second leg 33.

Flag 40 comprises a vertical plate section 45, a cylindrical section 51 that is substantially equal in height to vertical plate section 45 and coupled to one end of vertical plate section 45, and a foot section 43 (e.g., a flange) coupled to the top of a second end of vertical plate section 45. Foot section 43 may be serrated at its top face to provide grip when in contact with an inside face of the mounting surface. Cylindrical section 51 further comprises threaded aperture 41 which is configured for holding screw 60. As illustrated in FIG. 1C, flag 40 is movably coupled with cylinder 36 using screw 60 such that the top face of its foot section 43 (e.g. serrated surface) faces bottom face 28 of end plate 30.

Flag 40 further comprises flange 46 to provide additional strengthening for plate 45 and foot section 43 to prevent buckling when wall mount 20 is mounted to a support structure.

Wall mount 20 further comprises one or more optional extension plates 50 and 101 representing different incremental box sizes. For instance, extension plate 50 may represent a one-gang increase in size for the mounting bracket illustrated herein, while extension plate 101 may represent a two-gang increase. It should be apparent to those of skill in the art that these example sizes are just for illustration purposes only. Also, it should be apparent that the configuration and size of the end plate member and extension plate member is not fixed to those illustrated herein. For instance, the extension plate member may be configured in a variety of sizes to provide the flexibility to further configure the mounting bracket.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, extension plate 50 is a linear member comprising a first end portion 61 and a second end portion 63. The thickness and width of extension plate 50 is equivalent to that of first and second leg members 32 and 33. In addition, first end portion 61 is preferably configured to have identical shape as the free end of first leg 32. And, second end portion 63 is preferably configured to have identical shape as the free end of second leg portion 33.

Extension plate 50 further includes a top plate having a top face 72 and a bottom face 73, and a flange 71, which runs along the entirety of an inside periphery of extension plate 50 at said bottom face 73, and extends outwardly perpendicular from said bottom face 73. The depth and thickness of flange 71 (i.e. extension from bottom surface 73 to the tip) is preferably equivalent to the depth and thickness of flange 34 of end plate 30. In addition, the width of extension plate 50 is preferably equivalent to the width of the legs of end plate 30.

Extension plate 50 comprises a plurality of apertures 62, 64, and optionally 65. Optional aperture 65 may be used for mounting a face plate to a wall mount configured with extension plate 50 and should preferably line up with holes found in standard electrical back boxes when extension plate 50 is installed as part of wall mount 20.

Extension plate 50 further includes a second flange 69 which runs along the entirety and towards the middle periphery of extension plate 50 at said bottom face 73, and extends outwardly perpendicular from said bottom face 73. The depth and thickness of flange 69 (i.e. extension from bottom surface 73 to the tip) is preferably equivalent to the depth and thickness of flange 71. Flange 69 further runs parallel to flange 71 and is configured to provide additional rigidity for extension member 50.

End portion 61 is adapted to couple to a structural member configured as free end portion of second leg 33 of endplate 30. End portion 63 is adapted to couple to a structural member configured as free end portion of first leg 32 of endplate 30. In addition, the width of the top plate of extension plate 50 is preferably equivalent to the width of top plate of the legs of end plate 30.

Aperture 62 is located closer to the end 61 and provides means for coupling with other members, e.g., second leg 33 of end plate 30 or end 63 of a second extension plate. Aperture 64 is located at end 63 and provides means for securing flag 40 to extension plate 50 using screw 60. Aperture 64 is further integrated into slide post 68.

Slide post 68 is coupled to bottom face 73 and extends parallel to flanges 69, 71. Slide post 68 is preferably configured as slide post 36 of endplate 30. Thus, slide post 68 includes aperture 64 which runs the entirety of its length starting from top face 72 and ends at the free tip of slide post 68.

Slide post 68 is preferably half-cylindrical in shape and aperture 64 preferably opens up (i.e. includes cutout 72) beyond bottom 35 of flange 69 to allow flag 40, which is secured by screw 60, to swing away from the mounting surface when screw 60 is turned in its unlocking direction. Thus, aperture 64 provides means through which screw 60 may be used to adjustably lock flag 40 in place.

Aperture 66 is preferably threaded to hold screw 70 in cylinder 67 for securing extension plate 50 to any end portion of any member configured similar to first leg 32 of endplate 30. Cylinder 67 is coupled to the free end of end portion 63 and extends from the bottom face 73 of the top plate of extension member 50. Preferably, the top of cylinder 67, which includes a top plate 74, may not exceed the bottom face 73 of extension member 50. Since end 61 is configured to mate with any member configured similar to second leg 32 of endplate 30 (e.g. end 63), cylinder 67 and its top plate 74 are configured to fit into chamber 75 so that apertures 62, 24 line up with aperture 66, 38 when extension member 50 is coupled to wall mount 20.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of extension plate member 101. As illustrated, extension plate member 101 is similar in configuration to extension plate member 50 with the exception that extension plate member 101 is longer and represents a two-gang increase in wall mount 20 when installed. Extension plate member 101 may further include a second mounting hole 65 for faceplates.

One configuration of wall mount 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1D using the building blocks described herein. As illustrated, two end plates 30 (A,B) are coupled with two extension plates 50 (A,B) and four flags 40 (A,B,C,D) to form wall mounting bracket 20. The first leg 32A of the first end plate 30A is coupled to second end 63 of extension plate 50B using a first screw 70A; and the second leg 33B of the second end plate 30B is coupled to first end 61 of extension plate 50B using a second screw 70B. The first leg 32B of the second end plate 30B is coupled to second end 63 of a second extension plate 50A using a third screw 70C; and the second leg 33A of the first end plate 30A is coupled to first end 61 of the second extension plate 50A using a fourth screw 70D. Finally, flags 40 (A,B,C,D) are coupled into guide posts 36 (A,B,C,D) using one screw 60 for each flag.

As illustrated in the assembled configuration of FIGS. 1A-1D, wall mount 20 is ring-shaped, i.e., with an open window 100, and configured to fit around an opening in a mounting structure, e.g., a wall, a podium, etc. Flange 34 extends into the opening in the mounting surface. A plurality of flags 40 act in combination with bottom face 28 of plate 30 to provide a vise grip thus coupling the mounting bracket 20 to the mounting structure.

In operation, a user may cut a rectangular opening in the mounting structure, e.g. a wall, suitable for the mounting task. For instance, the task could be for mounting of a two-gang electrical box. Thus, if the extension plate 50 is configured for one gang increment, then wall mount 20 may be assembled using two end plates 30, two extension plates 50, and four flags 40 to obtain a configuration to fit the opening. Wall mount 20 is then placed in the opening with the flags flipped inwards. Finally, tightening of screws 60 rotates the flags outwards so that they are guided through aperture 23 towards the back face 28 until the foot of the flag and the bottom face of end plate 20 form a vise grip on the lip of the mounting structure opening.

It will be apparent to those of skill in the arts that using members 30, 40, and any combination of extension members 50 and 101, wall mount 20 is configurable to virtually any size. For instance, FIG. 6 is an illustration wherein no extension plate is used to configure wall mount 600. In such configuration, it may be desirable to only use a pair of flag 40's for the mounting task. Also, an embodiment illustrating a three-gang wall mount is shown in FIG. 7. In this illustration, the two-gang increase is achieved by using one extension plate 101 instead of two extension plates 50. Thus, the wall mount is relatively more rigid because it has less members being coupled together than if tow extension plate 50's are used.

Further, an embodiment illustrating a four-gang configuration is shown in FIG. 8. This configuration uses a combination of extension plates 50 and 101. Thus, any size mounting bracket may be configured using combinations of extension plates 50 and 101. Also, note that any number of flags 40 may be used for mounting so long as there are available guide posts to handle them.

It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatus and the method therefrom are merely illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention and many other embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A configurable mounting bracket comprising:

a pair of end plates, each of said end plate having a base, a first leg at one end, and a second leg at an opposite end, wherein said first leg of one of said end plates is couplable to a second leg of another of said end plates, said end plate further having a top face and a bottom face, and a flange running entirely along an inside periphery of said end plate at said bottom face, said flange extending outwardly perpendicular from said bottom face, said end plate further having a plurality of apertures and a slide post; and

a plurality of locking flags, wherein each of said plurality of locking flags is couplable to said end plate through said slide post using a first screw in one of said plurality of apertures, each of said plurality of locking flags including a foot for providing grip when said first screw is tightened.

2. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1 wherein said end plate is u-shaped.

3. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first one of said pair of end plates is coupled to a second one of said pair of end plates to form a mounting bracket.

4. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one extension plate, each of said extension plate having a third end and a fourth end, wherein said third end is couplable to said first end of said end plate, and said fourth end is couplable to said second end of said end plate.

5. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one element configured to cause said foot of said flag and bottom of said end plate to move towards one another to lock them to a mounting structure.

6. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 5 wherein said element configured to cause said foot of said flag and bottom of said end plate to move towards one another comprises a threaded fastener extending between said top end of said end plate and said flag.

7. A configurable mounting bracket comprising:

a pair of end plates, each of said end plates configured to be couplable to a second one of said pair of end plates to form a mud ring, said end plate further having a plurality of apertures and a slide post; and

a plurality of locking flags configured to be couplable to said end plate through said slide post using a first screw in one of said plurality of apertures, each of said plurality of locking flags including a foot for providing grip when said first screw is tightened.

8. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 7 wherein said end plate further comprises:

a base;

a first leg at one end of said base;

a second leg at an opposite end of said base, wherein said first leg of one of said end plates is couplable to a second leg of another of said end plates;

a top face and a bottom face;

a flange running entirely along an inside periphery of said end plate at said bottom face, said flange extending outwardly perpendicular from said bottom face.

9. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 7 wherein said end plate is u-shaped.

10. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 7 wherein a first one of said pair of end plates is coupled to a second one of said pair of end plates to form a mounting bracket.

11. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 8, further comprising at least one extension member, each of said extension member having a third end and a fourth end, wherein said third end is couplable to said first end of said end plate, and said fourth end is couplable to said second end of said end plate.

12. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 8, further comprising at least one element configured to cause said foot of said flag and bottom of said end plate to move towards one another to lock them to a mounting structure.

13. The configurable mounting bracket in accordance with claim 12 wherein said at least one element comprises a threaded fastener extending between said top end of said end plate and said flag.