Mounting bracket system capable of mounting a monitor between adjacent walls

Abstract

The mounting bracket system includes a first beam and a second beam adapted to couple to each other in an adjustable manner where the overall width of the mounting bracket system may be adjusted to allow the mounting bracket to couple to adjacent walls.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to a U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/809,800, filed May 30, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to a mounting bracket system capable of mounting a monitor to a corner of two adjacent walls.

2. Background of the Invention

Flat panel monitors such as computer monitors, LCD, plasma, slim televisions, and the like (collectively referred to as “monitor(s)”) are becoming popular because they can be mounted onto a wall to save floor space and for their aesthetically pleasing appearance. In particular, monitors are generally mounted to a wall with a mechanical support arm or a bracket, and then fixed in a desired orientation to maximize the viewing angle of the monitor. In some applications, however, mounting a monitor along a wall may not be feasible. For instance, there may not be enough space along the wall to mount a monitor; or mounting a monitor to any one side of the wall within a room may not provide the desired viewing angle of the monitor. Accordingly, there is a need to be able to mount a monitor to more than one wall within a room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The mounting bracket system includes a first beam and a second beam adapted to couple to each other in an adjustable manner where the overall width of the mounting bracket system may be adjusted to allow the mounting bracket to couple to adjacent walls. In particular, a mounting bracket system is adapted to couple to two adjacent walls and support a monitor, the mount bracket system includes: a first beam having a first base portion and a first pivot portion, the first pivot portion adapted to couple to a first wall; a first hinge adapted to pivotably couple the first pivot portion to the first beam; a second beam having a second base portion and a second pivot portion, the second beam adapted to couple to the first base portion in an adjustable manner along the longitudinal axis of the second beam portion, and the second pivot portion adapted to couple to a second wall; and a second hinge adapted to pivotably couple the second pivot portion to the second beam portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mounting bracket system adapted to couple to two adjacent walls.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting bracket system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective disassembled view of the mounting bracket system.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting bracket system,

FIG. 5 is a top view of the mounting bracket system.

FIG. 6 is another top view of the mounting bracket system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mounting bracket system 10 adapted to couple to a first wall 12 and a second wall 14. In this example, the two walls 12 and 14 may be joined to form a corner where a mounting bracket may be mounted, rather than along one of the walls for a number of reasons, as discussed above. The mounting bracket system 10 includes a first beam 16 and a second beam 18 adapted to couple to each other in an adjustable manner where the overall width of the mounting bracket system 10 may be adjusted, as described in more detail below. The mounting bracket system 10 may have structural integrity to support the weight of a monitor attached to the two walls 12 and 14.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the mounting bracket system 10. The first beam 16 may have a first base portion 20 and a first pivot portion 22. A first hinge mechanism 24 may be provided between the first base portion 20 and the first pivot portion 22 to allow the two portions to pivot relative to each other. The second beam 18 may have a second base portion 26 and a second pivot portion 28. A second hinge mechanism 30 may be provided between the second base portion 26 and the second pivot portion 28 to allow the two portions to pivot relative to each other. The first and second base portions 20 and 26 may be adapted to couple to each other in an adjustable manner so that the overall width “W” of the mounting bracket system 10 may be adjusted. A variety of methods known to one skilled in the art may be used to adjust the overall width “W” of the mounting bracket system 10.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first beam 16 and the second beam 18. The second base portion 26 may have at least one elongated opening 40. In this example, two elongated openings 40 and 42 are shown. The second pivot portion 28 may have at least one elongated opening 44. In this example, two elongated openings 44 and 46 are shown. The first base portion 20 may have a plurality of openings 48. Each of the openings 48 is adapted to receive a coupling mechanism such as a bolt and nut combination. Each of the plurality of openings 48 may align with one of the elongated openings 40 and 42 so that bolts may pass through the openings 48 and through one of the elongated openings 40 and 42 to couple the first and second base portions 20 and 26 together. The first pivot portion 22 may have one or more elongated openings 50.

The overall width of the plurality of openings 48 may be narrower than the width of the elongated openings 40 and 42 so that the overall width “W” as shown in FIG. 2 may be adjusted. Moreover, the elongated openings 44, 46, and 50 on the first and second pivot portions allow one or more bolts to be positioned along the elongated openings 44, 46, and 50 and anchor to wooden studs within the wall, which may located at different locations.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the mounting bracket system 10, along the line 4 shown in FIG. 2, supporting a monitor 50. A wall mount 52 may be provided between the monitor 50 and the mounting bracket system 10. The wall mount 52 may include a base plate 54 with a hook 56 adapted to latch onto the first base portion 20. Note that the height of the first base portion 20 is taller than the height of the second base portion 26 to allow the hook 56 to latch over the top edge 58 of the first base portion 20.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the mounting bracket 10 supporting the monitor 50 between the first and second walls 12 and 14. The mounting bracket 10 can be adjusted in a variety of ways to mount a variety of different size monitors between two adjacent walls. The width “W” of the mounting bracket system may be adjusted to accommodate different size monitors. In addition, the two pivoting portions 22 and 28 may be adjusted to accommodate two adjacent walls which are at an odd angel with each other. For instance, in FIG. 5, the angle 0 between the two walls 12 and 14 may be acute or other odd angle, but with the two pivoting portions 22 and 28 may be adjusted to fit into the walls in a such a way that the monitor is facing in the desired angle within the room.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the mounting bracket 10 supporting the monitor 50 between the first and second walls 60 and 62. In this example, the two walls 60 ad 62 may be substantially parallel with respect to each other forming a hallway between.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket system adapted to couple to two adjacent walls and support a monitor, the mount bracket system including:

a first beam having a first base portion and a first pivot portion, the first pivot portion adapted to couple to a first wall;

a first hinge adapted to pivotably couple the first pivot portion to the first beam;

a second beam having a second base portion and a second pivot portion, the second beam adapted to couple to the first base portion in an adjustable manner along the longitudinal axis of the second beam portion, and the second pivot portion adapted to couple to a second wall; and

a second hinge adapted to pivotably couple the second pivot portion to the second beam portion.

2. The mount bracket system according to claim 1, where the second base portion has at least one elongated opening along the longitudinal axis of the second beam, and the first base portion has at least one hole adapted to align with the at least one elongated opening.

3. The mount bracket system according to claim 1, where each of the first and second pivot portions has at least one elongated opening.

4. The mount bracket system according to claim 1, where the first base portion has a first vertical height in use and the second base portion has a second vertical height in use, and the first vertical height is either shorter or taller than the second vertical height.