Mount And Retaining Clip Therefor
A mount (10) for securely mounting an item has at least one first component (12, 14) configured to be secured to an item to be mounted and a second component (16) configured to be secured to a support. The first (12, 14) and second (16) components have complimentary inter-engaging means (20, 52) at a first point of contact (22), and a retaining clip (34) at a second point of contact to fix the relative position of the first component (12, 14) with respect to the second component (16).
This invention relates to a mount and a retaining clip therefor. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a mount for flat panel displays, such as computer monitors and liquid crystal and plasma television sets, and a retaining clip therefor.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTIONWith the increase in size and weight of flat panel displays there is an increasing need for a mount that is secure and yet easy to use.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a mount and a retaining clip therefore which addresses these issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a mount comprising a first component configured to be secured to an item to be mounted and a second component configured to be secured to a support, the first and second components having complementary inter-engaging means at a first point of contact, and wherein a retaining clip is provided at a second point of contact to fix the relative position of the first component with respect to the second component.
Thus, the present invention enables an item to be mounted simply by attaching it to a first component, attaching a second component to a desired support, engaging the first component (and thereby the item) on the second component on the support and retaining the two components in a fixed position by means of the retaining clip. The retaining clip serves to prevent the first and second components from becoming unintentionally disengaged and therefore provides additional security.
In a particular embodiment, the item to be mounted is a flat panel display.
The second point of contact is preferably remote from the first point of contact.
The complementary inter-engaging means may comprise at least one hook and at least one lip for engagement with the hook. The hook may be provided on the first component and the lip may be provided on the second component. In one embodiment, the hook is provided at or towards the upper end of the first component, when in use, and the at least one lip is provided at or towards the upper end of the second component, when in use.
The retaining clip may be configured as a latching or locking mechanism.
The retaining clip may be configured to flex to allow the other of the first component or second component to adopt a retained position and whereupon the retaining clip is relaxed to retain the first and second components together. In a particular embodiment, a spring clip constitutes the retaining clip. Alternatively, a leaf spring or resilient plunger may constitute the retaining clip. The leaf spring may be configured to lock the first and second components together when pressure is applied to the retaining clip by one of the first or second components.
In one embodiment, the retaining clip is provided on one of the first or second components and is configured to engage with the other of the first or second components simply when the first component is engaged with the second component and gravity is allowed to bring the first component to its rest position.
The retaining clip may be configured to engage with the other of the first and second components automatically so that manual operation of the retaining clip is not required. By ‘automatically’ it will be understood that the retaining clip does not require individual priming or adjustment to allow engagement of the components. This is particularly advantageous when heavy items are being mounted.
The retaining clip may be configured to disengage with one of the first component or second component by manual manipulation. In one embodiment, the retaining clip is configured to disengage with the first and/or second components by relative sliding movement. For example, the retaining clip may be configured to slide horizontally to disengage the retaining clip from the first and/or second component. In certain embodiments the retaining clip may be configured to disengage the first component from the second component at the second point of contact (i.e. unlock the mount) but wherein the retaining clip is retained on one of the first or second components. In other embodiments the retaining clip might be configured for complete detachment from the first and second components.
The retaining clip may be formed from nylon and may be moulded. The retaining clip may be formed as a discrete component or may be integral with the one of the first component or second component.
In a particular embodiment, the retaining clip is provided on the first component and is configured to engage with a projection on the second component to retain the two components together.
Multiple retaining clips may be employed for added security.
The position of the retaining clip(s) with respect to one or other of the first and second components may be varied. The retaining clip(s) may be slideable along the length of one or other of the first and second components.
A locating means may be provided to fix the location of the retaining clip on one or other of the first or second components. The locating means may be in the form of a detent or projection provided on the retaining clip or the first or second component.
The points of engagement between the first and second components (e.g. the first and/or second points of contact) may be variable so that a single mount can be advantageously used for the mounting of a variety of differently sized items.
The first component may comprise two or more discrete parts, each comprising one portion of the complementary inter-engaging means. Each part may also be provided with a retaining clip.
The second component may be configured for mounting directly on a wall or other support or may be configured for mounting on an arm or arms, which serve to extend the range of movement permitted by the mount.
The first and/or second components may be made from steel.
Advantageously, the present invention provides a quick-release mount for a flat panel display comprising a pivot for holding a display captive to hang on a support such as to allow engagement of a quick-release clip positioned at a spaced location from the pivot.
The support may be a wall or a stand.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a retaining clip for a mount comprising an attachment means for attachment to one of a first or second component of a mount and a flexible part configured to flex to allow the other of the first or second component to adopt a retained position with respect to the one of the first or second components to retain the first and second components in a fixed relative position.
Preferably the retaining clip of the second aspect of the invention is configured for use with the mount of the first aspect of the invention, as described above.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of mounting an item comprising attaching the item to a first component of a mount, attaching a second component of the mount to a desired support, inter-engaging the first and second components and retaining the first and second components in a fixed relative position by means of a retaining clip.
The first and second components may be inter-engaged in one position and then moved or pivoted relative to each other to a second position in which they are retained by the retaining clip.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
With reference to
The two first components 12, 14 are spaced apart and aligned horizontally. Each of the two first components 12, 14 comprises a longitudinal support panel 18 arranged perpendicularly to the wall. A hook 20 is formed at the upper end of the support panel 18 to form a channel 22 in the support panel 18, which is parallel to the wall. Along the length of the support panel 18, a flange 24 is provided. The flange 24 forms a flat surface which is parallel to the wall and includes a hole 26 in its upper section a longitudinally extending cut-out 28 in its mid-section (designed to reduce the weight of the two first components 12, 14) and a longitudinally extending slot 30 in its lower section. The hole 26 and slot 30 are configured to receive screws therethrough for attachment to the rear of the flat panel display. In this embodiment, each flange 24 is turned outwardly from the centre of the mount 10. However, in alternative embodiments it may be desirable for each flange 24 to be turned inwardly or for one flange 24 to be turned inwardly and one flange 24 to be turned outwardly.
Towards the base of each support panel 18 there is provided a horizontal ledge 32, which is again turned outwardly from the centre of the mount 10. The ledge 32 is configured for attaching a retaining clip 34 to each of the two first components 12, 14.
As is more clearly shown in
Referring back to
When in use, the two first components 12, 14 are attached to the rear of a flat panel display via their respective flanges 24 and the second component 16 is attached to a support such as a wall via its mounting section 44. With reference to
In
In
Whilst all of the above described embodiments comprise inter-engaging means in the form of a hook 20 and a lip 52 provided at or towards the upper ends of the first and second components 12, 14, 16 respectively, and a retaining clip provided at or towards the lower ends, the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement and embodiments may be devised with other types of inter-engaging means as well as having inter-engaging means and retaining clips provided at other positions.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, whilst the above discussion has been concerned with mounts suitable for mounting flat panel displays, the invention is equally applicable to mounts for other items.
Claims
1. A mount comprising a first component configured to be secured to an item to be mounted and a second component configured to be secured to a support, the first and second components having complimentary inter-engaging means at a first point of contact, and wherein a retaining clip is provided at a second point of contact to fix the relative position of the first component with respect to the second component.
2. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the retaining clip comprises a leaf spring configured to lock the first and second components together when pressure is applied to the retaining clip by one of the first or second components.
3. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the retaining clip is provided on one of the first or second components and is configured to engage with the other of the first or second components when the first component is engaged with the second component and gravity is allowed to bring the first component to its rest position.
4. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the retaining clip is configured to disengage with the first component and/or the second component by relative sliding movement.
5. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the retaining clip is provided on the first component and is configured to engage with a projection on the second component to retain the two components together.
6. A mount according to claim 1, wherein multiple retaining clips are employed.
7. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the position of the retaining clip(s) with respect to one or other of the first and second components can be varied.
8. A mount according to claim 7, wherein the retaining clip(s) are slideable along the length of one or other of the first and second components.
9. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the location of the retaining clip is fixed by a locating means in the form of a detent or a projection provided on the retaining clip or the first or second component.
10. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second points of contact between the first and second components are variable so that a single mount can be used for the mounting of a variety of differently sized items.
11. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the first component comprises of two or more discrete parts, each comprising one portion of the complementary inter-engaging means.
12. A mount according to claim 11, wherein each of the two or more discrete parts is provided with a retaining clip.
13. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the second component is configured for mounting on an arm or arms, which serve to extend the range of movement permitted by the mount.
14. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the item to be mounted is a flat panel display.
15. A mount comprising a first component configured to be secured to an item to be mounted and a second component configured to be secured to a support, the first and second components having complimentary inter-engaging means at a first point of contact which allows the first component to pivot relative to the second component such that gravity can serve to bring the first and second components together at a second point of contact whereupon a retaining clip is provided to lock the first and second components together.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 2, 2009
Publication Date: Jul 9, 2009
Inventor: Raymond Worrall (Wolverhampton)
Application Number: 12/348,217
International Classification: A47B 96/06 (20060101);