Low Profile Tilt Mount
A mount system for a monitor tilts the monitor between a retracted position and an extended position. The mount system includes a first anchoring bracket adapted to couple to the supporting surface, and a first panel mounting bracket adapted to couple to a rear side of the monitor. The mount system also includes first and second bars between the first anchoring bracket and the first panel mounting bracket. The first and second bars are arranged in such a way that the weight of the monitor is substantially balanced against the natural tendency of the monitor to lend down so that a user may move the monitor between the extended and retracted position with ease.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. (1) 61/142,899, filed Jan. 7, 2009; and (2) 61/089,575, filed Aug. 18, 2008, which are both hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is directed to a mount system that is adapted to couple to a back side of a monitor and reposition the viewing angle of the monitor, and in particular, to tilt the monitor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFlat 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. Moreover, the recent trend is to make the flat screen monitors slim as possible. For instance, some monitors are now about 1.5 inches in thickness. And with such slim monitors, it is desirable to mount the monitor close to the wall as possible.
Mounting the monitor close to the wall, however, has a number of dis-advantages with current mounting solutions. First, when mounting a monitor to a wall, it is often desirable to tilt the monitor facing down so that viewers can more comfortably view the monitor. With current mounting solutions, however, the monitor needs to be some distance away from the wall. Otherwise, the bottom of the monitor will hit the wall, thereby preventing the monitor form tilting down. As such, closer the monitor is mounted to the wall, smaller the tilt angle that can be provided on the monitor. Second, closer the monitor is to the wall, it is more difficult to have access to the back of the monitor. During the installation process, rear access of the monitor is often needed to connect the cables and wires to the back side of the monitor. Accordingly, there is a need for a low profile tilt mount without the above-mentioned dis-advantages of current mounting solutions.
Once the monitor is mounted to a wall, in order to reposition the monitor, the viewer needs to walk over to the monitor and physically remove the monitor to a new viewing angle. Repositioning a monitor, however, is not always feasible because of the weight of the monitor makes it difficult to move or the monitor may be located high above the floor so that the viewer may not be able to reach it without a ladder for example. Accordingly, there is a need to be able to reposition the monitor more easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA mount system includes is adapted to tilt a monitor between a retracted position and an extended position. The mount system includes: a first anchoring bracket adapted to couple to the supporting surface; a first panel mounting bracket adapted to couple to a rear side of the monitor, the first panel mounting bracket adapted to extend and retract relative to the first anchoring bracket; a first bar having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first bar pivotably coupled to the first anchoring bracket about a first pivot axis, the distal end of the first bar pivotably coupled to the first panel mounting bracket about a second pivot axis, a first vector defined from the first pivot axis to the second pivot axis, and when the mount system is in use, the second pivot axis is located below the first pivot axis, and a first angle between the first vector and a vertical axis; and the mount system also includes a second bar having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second bar pivotably coupled to the first anchoring bracket about a third pivot axis, the distal end of the second bar pivotably coupled to the first panel mounting bracket about a fourth pivot axis, a second vector defined from the third pivot axis to the fourth pivot axis, and when the mount system is in use, the third pivot axis is located below the first pivot axis, the fourth pivot axis is located below the third pivot axis, a second angle between the second vector and the vertical axis, and the second angle is greater than the first angle.
The first bar has a first length between the first and second pivot axes, the second bar has a second length between the third and fourth pivot axes, and the distance between the first pivot axis and the third pivot axis may be equal to about a sum of the first and second lengths.
With the first and second bars arranged as mentioned above, the overall depth of the mount system may be minimized so that the rear side of the monitor is substantially flush with the mounting surface such as the wall. Moreover, the moving mechanism such as the first and second bars may be located on the bottom half portion of the monitor so that the top portion behind the monitor is substantially clear of the mechanism to give the mount system a clean look.
The first mounting bracket 20 includes a first panel mounting bracket 26 and a first anchoring bracket 28. The first panel mounting bracket 26 may have a base 30 with a plurality of hole patterns 32 adapted to receive one or more screws to attach to the rear side 24 of the monitor 12. The first panel mounting bracket 26 may also have side walls 34 such that the first panel mounting bracket 26 may form a U-shaped configuration. The anchoring bracket 28 may have a base 36 and side walls 38 forming a U-shaped configuration. The anchoring bracket 28 may have a first hook 40 adapted to latch onto a first rail 42 of the attachment bracket 16, and a second hook 44 adapted to latch onto a second rail 46 of the attachment bracket 16. The first mounting bracket 20 may include a first bar 48 and a second bar 50 located between the first panel mounting bracket 26 and the first anchoring bracket 28.
In reference to the YZ coordinates, the second pivot axis 58 may be located +Z and −Y direction relative to the first pivot axis 56 such that a first vector 53 from the first pivot axis 56 to the second pivot axis 58 of the first bar 48 forms a first angle θ1 between the first vector 53 and the vertical axis or the Y-axis. The fourth pivot axis 66 may be located +Z and −Y direction relative to the third pivot axis 64 such that a second vector 65 from the third pivot axis 64 to the fourth pivot axis 66 of the second bar 50 forms a second angle θ2 between the second vector 65 and the vertical axis or the Y-axis.
The first bar 48 may be longer than the second bar 50 such that the distance Y1 between the first and third axes 56 and 64 is longer than the distance Y2 between the second and fourth axes 58 and 66. The panel mounting bracket 26 may be adapted to couple to the monitor 12 such that the second axis 58 on the panel mounting bracket 26 may be located −Z and −Y direction relative to the center of gravity 14 of the monitor 12 such that the center of gravity 14 may be offset relative to the second pivot axis 58. A gap 68 may or may not be provided between the panel mounting bracket 26 and the anchoring bracket 28. The gap 68 may be eliminated to further reduce the profile of the mount system 10.
A first distance D1 or first vector 53 may define the distance between the first and second pivot axes of the first bar, and a second distance D2 or second vector 65 may define the distance between the third and fourth pivot axes of the second bar 50. The distance between the first and third pivot axes 56 and 64 may be equal to about the sum of the first and second distances D1+D2.
In this example, the gravitational force “g” may be in the −Y direction. With the center of gravity 14 of the monitor 12 being offset in the +Y and +Z direction relative to the second pivot axis 58, the panel mounting bracket 26 has a tendency to extend or tilt down due to the moment of inertia applied by the weight of the monitor being offset. With the first and second bars 48 and 50 arranged as discussed above, in order for the panel mounting bracket 26 to extend or tilt, the second and fourth pivot axes 58 and 66 need to move in the +Y direction or be lifted against the direction of the gravitational force “g”. At the same time, the weight of the monitor applies downward force on the second and fourth pivot axes 58 and 66 to resist against extending or tilting the panel mounting bracket 26. As such, the moment of inertia, due to the weight of the monitor being offset, is substantially counter balanced by its own weight of the monitor. Accordingly, the monitor 12 can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position with a nominal force applied to the monitor 12 or the panel mounting bracket 26. And, once the monitor has been moved, the monitor may be maintained at that position with little or no resistive force.
A number of factors may determine the equilibrium position of the mount system 10 due to the moment of inertial and the weight of the monitor. For instance, if the mount system 10 is free to rest at an equilibrium position, the mount system 10 may have a slight tilt angle θ3. To maintain the panel mounting bracket 26 at a predetermined position, a locking lever 72 may be provide at the second pivot axis 72 or at any other pivot axes 56, 64, and/or 66. Once the monitor 12 or the panel mounting bracket 26 has been moved to a desired position, the mount system 10 may be maintained at that position by locking the lever 72 to substantially prevent the second pivot axis 58 from rotating. Alternatively, friction type, bearings, washers, and the like may be incorporated at the pivot axes 56, 58, 64, and 66 to maintain the panel mounting bracket 26 at a desired position once it has been moved.
The first and second bars 128 and 134 may be between a first anchoring brace 136 and a second anchoring brace 138. The two braces 136 and 138 may be substantially similar to each other such that detail description of the brace 136 is discussed detail below, which applicable to the brace 138. The brace 136 may have a first hole 140 and a second hole 142. The brace 136 may also have a first arc opening 144 with the focal point being the first hole 140; and the brace 136 may have a second arc opening 146 with the focal point being the second hole 142. The first bar 128 may have a first hole 148 near a proximal end 150 of the first bar 128, and a second hole 152 near the distal end 126 of the first bar 128. In addition, the first bar 128 may have a third hole 154 between the two holes 148 and 152. The second bar 134 may have a first hole 156 near a proximal end 158 of the second bar 134, and a second hole 160 near the distal end 132 of the second bar 134. In addition, the second bar 134 may have a third hole 162 between the two holes 156 and 160.
The first and second bars 128 and 134 may be positioned between a first anchoring brace 136 and a second anchoring brace 138, and a first pin 164 may be used to pivotably couple the first hole 148 of the first bar 128 to the two holes 140 of the first and second braces 138. A second pin 166 may be used to pivotably couple the first hole 156 of the second bar 134 to the two holes 142 of the first and second braces 138. The two distal ends 126 and 132 of the first and second bars 128 and 134, respectively, may be positioned between the side walls 116 and 118; and a third pin 168 may be used to pivotably couple the second hole 152 of the first bar 128 to the first hole 120 of the panel mounting bracket. A fourth pin 170 may be used to pivotably couple the second hole 160 of the second bar 134 to the second hole 122 of the panel mounting bracket.
A first screw 172 may pass through the arc opening 144 and the third hole 154 of the first bar 128, and as the first bar pivots about the first pin 162, the first screw 172 may move along the arc opening 144. The first screw 172 may have a distal end 174 with a threaded end adapted to receive a threaded cap 176 to tighten the two braces 136 and 138 together so that a certain amount of friction may be applied between outside surfaces 178 of the two braces and the two washers 180. In addition, the first bar 128 may have surface area 182 around the third opening 154 so that a certain amount of friction may be applied between the inner surfaces 182 of the two braces to resist the movement of the first bar 128 about the first pin 164. Likewise, a second screw 184 may pass through the second arc opening 146 and third opening 162 of the second bar 134 to resist the movement of the second bar 134 about the second pin 166.
A bracket 186 and a spacer 188 may be provided between the first and second braces 136 and 138 to maintain a predetermined distance between the two braces.
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. For instance, a variety of different types of motorized actuators may be used to extend and retract the panel mounting bracket relative to the anchoring bracket. For example, scissors type motorized jack or miniature version of a scissor jack commonly used to lift an automobile that is motorized may be used. Another alternative motorized actuator that may be used is type of actuators commonly used to move power automobile seats. Moreover, a motorized actuator, such as a linear actuator, may be incorporated into a manual tilt mount that has an arc cutout that pivots a monitor substantially about its center of gravity to tilt the monitor. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A mount system adapted to attach a monitor to a supporting surface, the mount system comprising:
- a first anchoring bracket adapted to couple to the supporting surface;
- a first panel mounting bracket adapted to couple to a rear side of the monitor, the first panel mounting bracket adapted to extend and retract relative to the first anchoring bracket;
- a first bar having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first bar pivotably coupled to the first anchoring bracket about a first pivot axis, the distal end of the first bar pivotably coupled to the first panel mounting bracket about a second pivot axis, a first vector defined from the first pivot axis to the second pivot axis, and when the mount system is in use, the second pivot axis is located below the first pivot axis, and a first angle between the first vector and a vertical axis; and
- a second bar having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second bar pivotably coupled to the first anchoring bracket about a third pivot axis, the distal end of the second bar pivotably coupled to the first panel mounting bracket about a fourth pivot axis, a second vector defined from the third pivot axis to the fourth pivot axis, and when the mount system is in use, the third pivot axis is located below the first pivot axis, the fourth pivot axis is located below the third pivot axis, a second angle between the second vector and the vertical axis, and the second angle is greater than the first angle.
2. The mount system according to claim 1, including a wall bracket adapted to couple to a wall.
3. The mount system according to claim 1, where the first bar is longer than the second bar.
4. The mount system according to claim 1, where the first bar is about twice as long as the second bar.
5. The mount system according to claim 1, where the first bar has a first length between the first and second pivot axes, the second bar has a second length between the third and fourth pivot axes, and the distance between the first pivot axis and the third pivot axis is equal to about a sum of the first and second lengths.
6. The mount system according to claim 1, where when the mount system is in use, the first and third axes are substantially along the vertical axis.
7. The mount system according to claim 1, where when the mount system is in the retracted position, the second angle is between about 40° and 50°.
8. The mount system according to claim 1, where when the mount system is in the retracted position, the first angle is about 30° and the second angle is about 45°.
9. The mount system according to claim 1, where a distance between the first and second pivot axis is about 4 inches, and a distance between the third and fourth pivot axes is about 2 inches.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2009
Publication Date: Feb 18, 2010
Inventor: Sung I. Oh (West Covina, CA)
Application Number: 12/543,502
International Classification: A47B 96/06 (20060101);