ELECTRONIC DISPLAY MOUNTING DEVICES, CABINETS INCLUDING SAME, AND METHODS OF MOUNTING ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS
Mounting devices for mounting an electronic display device to a surface include an elongated track or rail, a guide member, and a bracket member. The guide is coupled to the track or rail and can be slid along a length thereof The bracket is attached to the guide on a side thereof opposite the track or rail. A first portion of the bracket extends laterally from the guide between first and second ends. The first end is coupled to the guide and can be rotated relative thereto. The second end of the first portion of the bracket is attached to the second portion thereof, and may be attached to an electronic display device. Cabinets include such mounting devices attached to a bottom surface thereof. Methods for mounting an electronic display device to a cabinet are also disclosed.
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Generally, the present invention relates to devices for mounting electronic displays, such as computer monitors and televisions, to cabinets, ceilings, walls, and other devices and surfaces, to cabinets including such mounting devices, and to methods of mounting electronic displays to cabinets, ceilings, walls, and other devices and surfaces.
BACKGROUNDIt is often necessary or desirable to mount an electronic display to a surface, such as a surface of a wall. Mounting devices, which are often referred to as mounting brackets, have been developed that can be attached to an electronic display and bolted or screwed to a surface to which it is desired to mount the electronic display. Such mounting devices are often designed to enable a person to tilt or rotate the electronic display attached thereto. There is a continuing need in the art, however, for mounting devices for electronic displays that have a simple construction and design, but that provide for a wide range of movement within three-dimensional space.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn some embodiments, the present invention includes mounting devices for mounting an electronic display device to a surface. The mounting devices can include an elongated track or rail, a guide member, and a bracket member. The guide member is coupled to the elongated track or rail, and can be slid along a length of the elongated track or rail. The bracket member is attached to the guide member on a side thereof opposite the elongated track or rail and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the bracket member extends laterally from the guide member between a first end and a second end. The first end of the first portion of the bracket member is coupled to the guide member and can be rotated relative to the guide member. The second portion of the bracket member is configured for attachment to an electronic display device, and may be pivotably coupled to the second end of the first portion of the bracket member.
In additional embodiments, the present invention includes cabinets that include a front surface, at least one side surface, and a bottom surface. The cabinets further include a mounting device attached to the bottom surface thereof that includes an elongated track or rail, a guide member, and a bracket member. The guide member is coupled to the elongated track or rail, and can be slid along a length of the elongated track or rail. The bracket member is attached to the guide member on a side thereof opposite the elongated track or rail and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the bracket member extends laterally from the guide member between a first end and a second end. The first end of the first portion of the bracket member is coupled to the guide member and can be rotated relative to the guide member. The second portion of the bracket member is configured for attachment to an electronic display device, and may be pivotably coupled to the second end of the first portion of the bracket member.
In yet further embodiments, the present invention includes methods of mounting an electronic display device to a cabinet. An elongated track or rail is attached to a bottom surface of at least a portion of a cabinet having a front surface and at least one lateral side surface. A guide member is coupled to the elongated track or rail, and the elongated track or rail and the guide member are configured to enable the guide member to slide along the elongated track or rail. A first portion of a bracket member is coupled to the guide member on a side thereof opposite the elongated track or rail, and the guide member and the first portion of the bracket member are configured to enable the first portion of the bracket member to rotate relative to the guide member. An electronic display device is attached to a second portion of the bracket member.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming that which is regarded as the present invention, the advantages of this invention may be more readily ascertained from the description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular material, apparatus, system, or method, but are merely idealized representations which are employed to describe the present invention. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.
An example embodiment of a mounting device 10 of the present invention is shown in
The track 12 is an elongated member having one or more features that cooperate with the guide member to retain the guide member 14 thereon as the guide member 14 is slid back and forth along the length of the track 12 between a first longitudinal end 18A and a second longitudinal end 18B of the track 12. In the embodiment shown in
The guide member 14 is operably coupled to the track 12 and is configured to cooperate with and slide longitudinally along the track 12. In the embodiments shown in
The track 12 and guide member 14 may comprise, for example, a commercially available linear guide system such as, for example, the 2DA Dual Shaft RoundRail Linear Guide System sold by Danaher Motion, of Washington, D.C.
With continued reference to
The first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 may have a first end 33A thereof and a second, opposite end 33B, and may extend from the guide member 14 in a lateral direction relative to a plane in which the track 12 is disposed that is oriented parallel to the mounting surface 21 of the track 12. The first end 33A of the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 may be rotatably coupled to the guide member 14. By way of example and not limitation, the first end 33A of the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 may be coupled to the pin member 30 and configured to rotate about the pin member 30. In this configuration, the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 may be rotated relative to the guide member 14.
The second portion 34 of the bracket member 16 is configured for attachment to an electronic display device. By way of example and not limitation, the second portion 34 may comprise a plurality of screw or bolt holes 38 (
Referring briefly to
In some embodiments, the second portion 34 of the bracket member 16 may be pivotably coupled to the second end 33B of the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 by, for example, a conventional hinge joint. In this configuration, a tilt angle of an electronic display device attached to the second portion 34 of the bracket member 16 may be adjusted by a user after attaching the mounting device 10 to a surface and securing the electronic display device to the bracket member 16. By way of example and not limitation, the second portion 34 of the bracket member 16 may extend from the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 at an angle Φ that is adjustable between about sixty degrees (60°) and about one hundred and twenty degrees (120°).
In this configuration, an electronic display device attached to the second portion 34 of the bracket member 16 may be provided in a number of positions within three-dimensional space, as will be apparent from the description below.
As shown in
The mounting device 10 is shown in a first configuration in
In some embodiments of the present invention, the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 may be rotatable through at least ninety degrees (90°) relative to the track 12. In additional embodiments, the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 may be rotatable through at least one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°) relative to the track 12. In yet further embodiments, the first portion 32 of the bracket member 16 may be rotatable through three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°) relative to the track 12.
The mounting device 10 is shown in a second configuration in
The mounting device 10 is shown in a third configuration in
The mounting device 10 is shown in a fourth configuration in
In some embodiments, the bracket member 16 may be rotatable from any one of the positions shown in
Optionally, the mounting device 10 may comprise means for securing or biasing the bracket member 16 in one or more positions relative to the guide member 14. By way of example and not limitation, the mounting device 10 may comprise means for securing or biasing the bracket member 16 in one or more of the positions shown in
In the configuration of the mounting device 10 disclosed above, an electronic display device attached to the second portion 34 of the bracket member 16 may be moved to any longitudinal position relative to the track 12, rotated to any desired rotational angle relative to the guide member 14 and the track 12, and may be tilted to a desired tilt angle relative to the guide member 14 and the track 12.
Embodiments of mounting devices of the present invention, such as the mounting device 10 previously described herein with reference to
An example embodiment of a cabinet 100 of the present invention is shown in
The cabinet 100 also comprises an embodiment of a mounting device of the present invention, such as the mounting device 10 previously described herein with reference to
By way of example and not limitation, the central base portion 20 of the mounting device 10 may be attached to the bottom surface 114 of the upper portion 104 of the cabinet 100 such that the bracket member 16 hangs below the track 12. In this configuration, an electronic display device 130 attached to he bracket member 16 may be suspended between the upper portion 104 and the lower portion 102 of the cabinet 100.
The track 12 of the mounting device 10 may be positioned on the bottom surface 114 of the upper portion 104 of the cabinet such that the track 12 extends at least generally parallel to the front surface 116 of the upper portion 104 of the cabinet 100, and at least generally perpendicular to the lateral side surfaces 118 of the upper portion 104 of the cabinet 100. Furthermore, the track 12 of the mounting device 10 may have a selected length that enables the electronic display device 130 attached to the mounting device 10 to be moved at least substantially entirely across a full length (as measured between the lateral side surfaces 118) of the upper portion 104 of the cabinet 100. For example,
The track 12 may be positioned a selected distance from the front surface 116 (or a selected average distance in embodiments in which the front surface 116 is not planar) to cause a front display surface 132 of the electronic display device 130 to be disposed within a certain, preselected distance from the front surface 116 when the electronic display device 130 is oriented toward the front of the cabinet 100, as shown in
The track 12 may be provided with a selected length, and may be positioned on the bottom surface 114 such that a predetermined distance is provided between the lateral side surfaces 118 and each of the first longitudinal end 18A and the second longitudinal end 18B of the track, respectively. The predetermined distance may be selected to cause a front display surface 132 of the electronic display device 130 to be disposed within a certain, preselected distance from the lateral side surfaces 118 when the electronic display device 130 is moved to the respective longitudinal ends 18A, 18B of the track 12 and oriented towards the respective sides of the cabinet 100, as shown in
In the configuration described above, by employing embodiments of mounting devices of the present invention, the electronic display device 130 may be moved to any number of positions along a length of the cabinet below the front surface 116, and can be positioned to face to the front of the cabinet 100 or to the lateral sides of the cabinet 100.
In some embodiments, the cabinet 100 may further include one or more additional storage compartments 122 disposed between the upper portion 104 and the lower portion 102 of the cabinet 100. A front surface 124 of the one or more additional storage compartments 122 may be recessed relative to the front surface 116 of the upper portion 104 of the cabinet 100 to provide space for the mounting device 10 and the electronic display device 130 below the upper portion 104 of the cabinet 100 and in front of the one or more additional storage compartments 122. Although the electronic display device 130 may impede access to the additional storage compartments 122 when the electronic display device 130 is positioned directly in front thereof, the mounting device 10 enables the electronic display device 130 to be moved out of the way of the additional storage compartments 122 to enable access thereto when necessary or desirable. More specifically, the mounting device 10 enables the electronic display device 130, which may be pivotably coupled thereto, to be rotated or pivoted such that underlying features, such as the storage compartments 122, may be readily accessed or adjusted by a user.
Embodiments of cabinets of the present invention, such as the cabinet 100 previously described herein with reference to
While the present invention has been described herein with respect to certain preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that it is not so limited. Rather, many additions, deletions and modifications to the preferred embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. In addition, features from one embodiment may be combined with features of another embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope of the invention as contemplated by the inventors.
Claims
1. A mounting device for mounting an electronic display to a surface, comprising:
- an elongated track or rail disposed in a plane;
- a guide member coupled to the elongated track or rail, the guide member being slidable along a length of the elongated track generally parallel to the plane; and
- a bracket member attached to the guide member on a side thereof opposite the elongated track or rail, the bracket member comprising: a first portion extending laterally from the guide member, the first portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably coupled to the guide member; and a second portion pivotably coupled to the second end of the first portion, the second portion configured for attachment to an electronic display device.
2. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the bracket member are generally disposed within an additional plane oriented generally perpendicular to the plane in which the elongated track or rail is disposed.
3. The mounting device of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the bracket member is rotatable through at least one-hundred and eighty degrees relative to the elongated track or rail.
4. The mounting device of claim 3, wherein the first portion of the bracket member is rotatable to a first position in which the elongated track or rail is disposed generally within the additional plane.
5. The mounting device of claim 4, wherein the first portion of the bracket member is rotatable through the at least one hundred and eighty degrees to a second position in which the elongated track or rail is disposed generally within the additional plane.
6. A cabinet, comprising:
- a front surface;
- a first side surface intersecting the front surface; and
- at least one bottom surface intersecting the front surface and the first side surface, the at least one bottom surface being at least substantially planar; and
- a mounting device for mounting an electronic display device to the at least one bottom surface, comprising: an elongated track or rail attached to the at least one bottom surface; a guide member coupled to the elongated track or rail, the guide member being slidable along a length of the elongated track or rail parallel to the at least one bottom surface; and a bracket member attached to the guide member on a side thereof opposite the elongated track or rail, the bracket member comprising: a first portion extending laterally from the guide member, the first portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably coupled to the guide member; and a second portion pivotably coupled to the second end of the first portion, the second portion configured for attachment to an electronic display device.
7. The cabinet of claim 6, further comprising an electronic display device attached to the second portion of the bracket member.
8. The cabinet of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the bracket member is rotatable to a first position in which a front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed within a plane oriented at least generally parallel to the first side surface.
9. The cabinet of claim 8, wherein a shortest distance between the first side surface and the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed is about thirteen centimeters (13.0 cm) or less when the first portion of the bracket member is in the first position and the guide member is disposed at a first end of the elongated track or rail.
10. The cabinet of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the bracket member is rotatable from the first position to a second position in which the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed is oriented at least generally parallel to the at least one front surface.
11. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein a shortest distance between the front surface and the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed is about thirteen centimeters (13.0 cm) or less when the first portion of the bracket member is in the second position and the guide member is disposed anywhere along the elongated track or rail.
12. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein the cabinet further comprises a second side surface intersecting the front surface on a side of the front surface opposite the first side surface, and wherein the first portion of the bracket member is rotatable from the second position to a third position in which the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed is oriented at least generally parallel to the second side surface.
13. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein a shortest distance between the second side surface and the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed is about thirteen centimeters (13.0) or less when the first portion of the bracket member is in the third position and the guide member is disposed at a second end of the elongated track or rail opposite the first end of the elongated track or rail.
14. A method of mounting an electronic display device to a cabinet, comprising:
- attaching an elongated track or rail to a bottom surface of at least a portion of a cabinet having a front surface and at least one lateral side surface;
- coupling a guide member to the elongated track or rail;
- configuring the elongated track or rail and the guide member to enable the guide member to slide along the elongated track or rail;
- coupling a first portion of a bracket member to the guide member on a side thereof opposite the elongated track or rail;
- configuring the guide member and the first portion of the bracket member to enable the first portion of the bracket member to rotate relative to the guide member; and
- attaching an electronic display device to a second portion of the bracket member.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching the second portion of the bracket member to the first portion of the bracket member with a pivot joint.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming the first portion of the bracket member and the guide member to enable the first portion of the bracket member to rotate to a first position in which a front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed within a plane oriented at least generally parallel to the at least one lateral side surface.
17. The cabinet of claim 16, further comprising positioning the elongated track or rail on the bottom surface at a location causing a shortest distance between the at least one lateral side surface and the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed to be about thirteen centimeters (13.0 cm) or less when the first portion of the bracket member is in the first position and the guide member is disposed at a first longitudinal end of the elongated track or rail.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming the first portion of the bracket member and the guide member to enable the first portion of the bracket member to rotate from the first position to a second position in which the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed is oriented at least generally parallel to the front surface.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning the elongated track or rail on the bottom surface at a location causing a shortest distance between the front surface and the plane in which the front display surface of the electronic display device is disposed to be about thirteen centimeters (13.0 cm) or less when the first portion of the bracket member is in the second position and the guide member is disposed anywhere along the elongated track or rail.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 10, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 11, 2010
Applicant: DENTAL EQUIPMENT, LLC DBA PELTON & CRANE (Charlotte, NC)
Inventors: John Helgesen (Rock Hill, SC), John Maler (Smithtown, NY), Pete Castelli (Patchogue, NY)
Application Number: 12/208,244
International Classification: A47F 5/08 (20060101);