APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A DISPLAY AND A DISPLAY CONTROL ELEMENT
A display mount system comprises a display mount, a display, a display control element, and a bracket. The bracket is secured to all of the display mount, the display, and the display control element. The bracket facilitates the supporting of both the display and the display control element in very close proximity with one another and without using a second mount (i.e., in addition to the display mount).
This application claims priority from, and incorporates by reference, provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/857,757, filed Nov. 8, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention generally relate to display mounts, and more particularly, to a bracket that is configured to be mounted to a display mount while simultaneously supporting both a display and a related display control element.
Display mounts are now used in many commercial, industrial, and consumer applications for mounting flat panel displays. A display mount is typically secured to a fixed location such as a wall or ceiling. The distal end of a display mount includes a mounting plate for mounting a display. The Video Electronics Standard Association (“VESA”) has set forth a family of standards for mounting flat panel displays. The family of standards is known as the Flat Display Mounting Interface (FDMI) or the VESA Mounting Interface Standard (MIS), while a display mount employing the standard is simply known as a VESA mount. Most modern flat-panel displays (e.g., monitors and televisions) employ a VESA mount.
A VESA mount consists of a standardized array of screw holes so that display mounts and displays can be secured to one another. In other words, A VESA mount allows for the mounting of a display employing an overlapping and standardized array of screw holes.
Recently, it has become common practice to introduce a display control element that is located in proximity to the display. The purpose of the control element is to enable a display to show a variety of content in addition to, or in place of, conventional broadcast content such as terrestrial, cable, and satellite television. The utility of the control element is to determine what and where content will be displayed. The control element may be used for a variety of purposes, including the receipt, positioning, or recording of content or to report on content display schedules. The content may include conventional broadcast content (as described above) as well as information provided by means of solid state memory, media (e.g., hard drive, CD, and DVD) or networks (e.g., wireless, wired, and fiber).
When a control element is employed in the proximity of a display, the control element is not typically positioned directly adjacent to, or in contact with, the display or display mount. For example, a wall-mounted display may include a control element that is separately mounted to the wall, several inches or feet from the display. The control element transmits to the display through the use of cables or wires that traverse the several inches or feet to connect the control element to the display. As the display mount does not house or support the control element, separate provisions are employed to mount the control element and to secure it from damage or theft, and to communicably connect the control element to the display.
Thus, a need exists for a display mount that can serve as an integrated mounting platform for both a display and a display control element. Further, a need exists for security for such a display control element mounted in what may be a public venue. Finally, a need exists for a suitable housing to provide the proper environment for the display control element, which consists of electronic components sensitive to environmental conditions such as heat, humidity, and dust.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONCertain embodiments of the present invention provide a display mount system. The display mount system includes a bracket configured to be mounted on a display mount. The display mount may be, for example, of a ceiling-mount or wall-mount variety. The bracket is configured to receive and support both a display and a related display control element.
The bracket facilitates the supporting of both the display and the display control element in very close proximity with one another. Because the bracket is able to secure the display control element in close proximity with the display, very little wiring or cables are needed in order for the display to receive signals from the display control element. Thus, the display control element and therefore the display's content can be controlled locally.
The display control element does not need to be separately mounted. It is integrated by the bracket into a conventional mounting system (i.e., a display and display mount).
Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide for the security of the display control element from theft or tampering and for the protection of the display control element from environmental conditions such as heat, humidity, and dust.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
There is nothing novel regarding the display mount 20 depicted in
The display-engaging surface 40 includes two sets of four screw holes 34 and 36 in compliance with two VESA Mounting Interface Standards. The inner four holes 34 are separated by 100 mm intervals 35. The outer four holes 36 are separated by 200 mm intervals 37.
The display mount-engaging surface 41 includes eight screw holes 34 and 36 arranged in the same manner as the sets of screw holes 34 and 36 on the display-engaging surface 40. (In
The control element-engaging surface 42 includes a bottom end 49 that extends beyond the other three surfaces 40, 41, and 43 of the bracket 12. The bottom end 49 includes a locking hole 50 and a screw hole 51. The locking hole 50 is configured to receive an externally applied security device such as a padlock. The display control element may include a corresponding and overlapping locking hole (not shown) so that, for example, a padlock could be passed through it as well as through the locking hole 50 of the bracket 12, thereby securing the bracket 12 and the control element 14 to one another.
The screw hole 51 on the bottom end 49 of the control element-engaging surface 42 may be used to secure the bracket 12 to a corresponding and overlapping screw hole (not shown) of the control element.
The control element-engaging surface 42 also includes two tabs 52 that are formed from the control element-engaging surface 42. The tabs 52 protrude outward (i.e., in a direction away from the empty space encompassed by the four surfaces 40-43) of the bracket 12 for engaging cutouts formed in the housing 70 of the control element 14 (see
The non-engaging surface 43 includes a seam 54, formed by the manufacturing process of the bracket 12. The bracket 12 is formed from a single metal plate that is subsequently folded 90 degrees in four places creating the rectangular shape of the bracket 12. After being folded, the rectangular shape of the bracket 12 is strengthened by the seam 54. (The seam 54 is better illustrated in
Returning to
Although certain embodiments of the present invention (e.g.,
While certain embodiments of the present invention employ a 4-walled rectangularly-shaped bracket, other embodiments may include brackets of other shapes such as, for example, a 2-walled L-shaped bracket. A first wall of such an L-shaped bracket could provide a display-engaging surface and a display-mount-engaging surface on its opposing sides while a second wall could provide the control element-engaging surface.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A display mount system, comprising:
- a display mount;
- a display;
- a display control element; and
- a bracket, said bracket secured to each of said display mount, said display, and said display control element.
2. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said bracket is positioned between said display and said display mount.
3. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said display control element is not visible from a position in front of said display.
4. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said display control element includes a housing for protecting said display control element from an environmental condition.
5. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said display control element includes a housing for protecting said display control element from unauthorized access.
6. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said display mount and said bracket employ overlapping arrays of screw holes in compliance with a VESA Mounting Interface Standard.
7. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said bracket and said display employ overlapping arrays of screw holes in compliance with a VESA Mounting Interface Standard.
8. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said bracket and said display control element have substantially the same thickness as one another.
9. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein each of said display control element and said bracket includes a locking hole, each of said locking holes overlapping with each other in an orientation configured to receive a lock.
10. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said bracket is formed from two walls that are generally perpendicular to each other, a first of said two walls secured to both of said display and said display mount, a second of said two walls secured to said display control element.
11. The display mount system of claim 1, wherein said display, said bracket, and said display mount employ overlapping arrays of screw holes in compliance with a VESA Mounting Interface Standard, said screw holes configured to receive screws that penetrate all three of said display, said bracket, and said display mount.
12. A bracket, comprising:
- a first mounting surface configured to mate with a display;
- a second mounting surface configured to mate with a display control element; and
- a third mounting surface configured to mate with display mount.
13. The bracket of claim 12, wherein said first mounting surface employs an array of screw holes in compliance with a VESA Mounting Interface Standard.
14. The bracket of claim 12, wherein said third mounting surface employs an array of screw holes in compliance with a VESA Mounting Interface Standard.
15. The bracket of claim 12, wherein said first and third mounting surfaces are on opposite sides of said bracket.
16. The bracket of claim 12, wherein said first and third mounting surfaces are spaced apart from one another to create an interstitial space, said interstitial space being of substantially the same thickness as a thickness of a display control element, said display control element being mated with said bracket.
17. The bracket of claim 12, wherein said first and third mounting surfaces are generally parallel to one another, and wherein said second mounting surface is generally perpendicular to said first and third mounting surfaces.
18. The bracket of claim 12, wherein said first and third mounting surfaces are formed on opposite sides of a first wall, and wherein said second surface is formed on a side of a second wall, said first and second walls being generally perpendicular to one another.
19. The bracket of claim 17, further comprising a fourth surface that is generally parallel to said second mounting surface, said bracket being hollow in the area circumscribed by said four surfaces.
20. The bracket of claim 12, further comprising finger tabs configured to mate with a set of slots on a display control element.
21. The bracket of claim 12, wherein said second surface includes a threaded hole for mating with a complimentary threaded hole on a display control element.
22. The bracket of claim 12, further comprising a locking hole configured to receive a lock.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 8, 2007
Publication Date: May 8, 2008
Inventors: Mark Horner (Muskego, WI), Andrew Rehm (Arlington Heights, IL), John Watts (Roselle, IL)
Application Number: 11/937,036
International Classification: A47F 5/08 (20060101);