MOUNTING SYSTEM
A mounting system for mounting a device to a mounting surface such as a wall. In one set of embodiments, the mounting system is configured to mount a display device such as a whiteboard or smart board in front of a preexisting structure such as a chalkboard that is attached to the mounting surface. The mounting system includes a support bracket configured to operatively connect to the mounting surface and operatively connect to the display device. The mounting system may provides selective adjustment of the orientation of the display device relative to the mounting surface.
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The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/330,737 filed Jan. 13, 2009 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to the field of systems for mounting a device to a surface. More particularly the present invention relates to systems for mounting a display, including a whiteboard, smart board or screen, in relation to an preexisting structure, which may be another display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Various conventional systems for mounting a whiteboard, smart board, screen, or similar display are known. For example, one category of mounting systems generally provides an arrangement where the display is attached to a frame or other structure that provides free-standing support for the display. These mounts may further include wheels, casters, or the like, which permit the mounting system and attached display to be maneuvered about a floor or other horizontal surface. Another category of mounting systems provides for substantially permanent attachment of the display to a surface such as a wall or other vertical surface. Still another category of mounts include systems that are attachable to a wall or ceiling and provide for selective deployment and retraction of the display, or more typically, a flexible screen that may be used to display images projected thereon.
Chalkboards, once a standard in classrooms and lectures halls, have more recently fallen out favor. Educators and others have largely adopted whiteboards over chalkboards in light of their convenience and ability to more clearly display both material directly written thereon as well as electronically projected images. In new installations, whiteboards, at least initially, may also be more economical relative to the traditional chalkboard. Moreover, the advent of “smart boards,” e.g., whiteboards that can electronically capture and record material written on their viewable surface, provides an additional option over traditional chalkboards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONVarious embodiments of the present invention comprise systems for mounting a display such as a whiteboard, smart board, screen, or similar type device to a mounting surface. More particularly, various embodiments provide a mounting system that allows a display to be mounted in front of a new or preexisting structure such as a display, which may be a chalkboard. The mounting system may be configured to resiliently orientate and mount the display so that one can comfortably write on the visible surface of the display. Further, the mounting system may be adjustable to permit mounting displays of various configurations and dimensions as well as to accommodate a range of mounting conditions, for example, where the display is amounted in front of a preexisting blackboard.
In one set of embodiments, the mounting system for mounting a display device comprises a first support bracket having a first end and a second end. The first support bracket is configured for operative connection to the mounting surface proximate the first end and is further configured for selectively adjustable operative connection to the display device along a length of the support bracket. The system also includes a first adjustment member operatively connected to the first support bracket proximate the second end. The first adjustment member is configured for engagement with a preexisting structure attached to the mounting surface and underlying the mounted display device and/or the mounting surface itself. The first adjustment member provides support to the display device in a direction substantially normal to the mounting surface. The mounting system is configured to mount the display device in front of the preexisting structure. In various embodiments, the display device may be a whiteboard or a smart board. Further, in various embodiments, the underlying structure may be a preexisting display such as a chalkboard.
These and other features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below.
As shown in
The length of the support bracket 100 may be sized to substantially correspond to the configuration of the display 20. For example and as shown in
The support bracket 100 is configured for operative attachment to a mounting surface such as a wall, a vertical surface, or another surface. A wall attachment portion 105 may be disposed proximate the second end 101. The wall attachment portion 105 may comprise a bracket or other member operatively connected to the support bracket 100. Alternatively, as shown in
The wall attachment portion 105 may be configured for operative attachment to the mounting surface. For example, one or more connecting elements may be received by the wall attachment portion 105 and the mounting surface. As shown in
The surface bracket 120 and/or the wall attachment portion 105 may be adapted for various configurations of the mounting system 10. Further, where the display 20 is mounted in front of an existing display such as a chalkboard, the surface bracket 120 and/or the wall attachment portion 105 may be adapted for various configurations of the underlying display. In a particular embodiment, the surface bracket 120 may include an extended configuration where the mounting system 10 is adapted for mounting a display 20 in front an existing display that is offset from the mounting surface or has an increased depth relative to other existing displays.
The support bracket 100 is configured for operable attachment to the display 20. The support bracket 100 may be directly connected to the display 20 and/or one or more brackets attached to the display 20. A plurality of support bracket openings 108 me be disposed on the support bracket 100. One or connecting elements may be received by one or more of the plurality of openings 108 to secure the display 20 to the support bracket 100. As illustrated in
The support bracket 100 may also include one or more brackets configured to interface with the display 20. For example, as shown in
In particular installations, the display interface member 109 and the display interface bracket 150 may be used together to secure the display 20 to the support bracket 100. In other installations, such as in the arrangement shown in
The support bracket 100 and/or the display interface member 109 and/or the display interface bracket 150 may be configured for ease of attachment and removal of the display 20 from the mounting system 10. For example, as shown in
With reference to
One or more adjustment members 140 may be operatively connected to the support bracket 100. As shown in
In various embodiments, the one or more adjustment members 140 are used in conjunction with the display interface member 109. The one or more adjustment members 140 may be adjustably configurable to adapt to various dimensions and configurations of the mounting system 10 relative to the mounting surface and any underlying existing display. For example, as shown in
When mounted, the support bracket 100 securely orientates the display 20 in relation to the mounting surface. Further, where an preexisting structure such as an existing display is attached to the same mounting surface, the support bracket 100 securely orientates the display 20 in front of the preexisting structure. Thus, the support bracket 100 may be used to securely orientate, for example, a whiteboard or smart board in front of an existing chalkboard or other underlying structure. One or more of the support brackets 100 may be used in mounting the display 20 in this manner. As shown in
With reference to
As depicted in
All or a portion of the mounting system 10 may be constructed of various materials to securely orientate and support the display 20. For example, the support bracket 100 may comprise aluminum or steel. In an embodiment, components of the mounting system 10 may be scratch resistant. In a particular embodiment, components of the mounting system 10 include a scratch resistant black fused epoxy coating. Components of the mounting system 10 may also include various additional or alternatively surface treatments.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described to explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A mounting system for mounting a device to a mounting surface, comprising:
- a first support bracket having a first end and a second end, the first support bracket configured to operatively connect to the mounting surface proximate the first end and configured to be selectively adjustable and to operatively connect to the device along a length of the support bracket; and
- a first adjustment member operatively connected to the first support bracket proximate the second end, the first adjustment member configured to engage with a preexisting structure underlying the device and attached to the mounting surface, the first adjustment member providing support to the device in a direction substantially normal to the mounting surface,
- wherein the mounting system is configured to mount the device in front of the preexisting structure, and wherein the first adjustment member is selectively adjustable in a direction substantially normal to the mounting surface.
2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises one of a whiteboard and a smart board.
3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the preexisting structure comprises a chalkboard.
4. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a plurality of support brackets, each of the plurality of support brackets positioned substantially parallel and spaced apart from an adjacent support bracket; and
- a plurality of adjustment members operatively connected to the plurality of support brackets.
5. The mounting system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of support brackets comprise a first support bracket and a second support bracket, and wherein the first support bracket and the second support bracket are orientated in a substantially vertical orientation.
6. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the position of the device in relation to the plurality of support brackets is vertically adjustable along a length of each of the plurality of support brackets.
7. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a surface bracket including a first portion securable to the mounting surface proximate the preexisting structure and a second portion substantially normal to the first portion operatively connected to the support bracket.
8. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein the mounting system is adjustably adaptable to the depth of the preexisting structure.
9. The mounting system of claim 8, wherein the first adjustment member includes a first portion slidingly engageable with the first support bracket and a second portion substantially normal to the first portion and engageable with the preexisting structure.
10. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the device is slidingly engageable with a portion of the support bracket so as to permit the device to be selectively removed from the mounting system.
11. A mounting system for mounting a device to a mounting surface, comprising:
- a plurality of support brackets, the plurality of support brackets configured to operatively connect to the device and to operatively connect to a portion of the mounting surface proximate a preexisting structure attached to the mounting surface; and
- a plurality of adjustment members, the plurality of adjustment members configured to operatively connect to the plurality of support brackets and operatively engage with at least one of the preexisting structure and the mounting surface,
- wherein the distance between a portion of the display and the mounting surface is selectively adjustable by adjustment of the plurality of adjustment members, and wherein the mounting system is configured to mount the device in front of at least a portion of the preexisting structure without alteration to the preexisting structure.
12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of support brackets are arranged in an substantially vertical orientation.
13. The mounting system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of display interface brackets, each of the plurality of display interface brackets operatively connected to device and one of the plurality of support brackets.
14. The mounting system of claim 13, wherein the vertical position of the device in relation to the plurality of support brackets is selectively adjustable.
15. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the device comprises one of a whiteboard and a smart board.
16. The mounting system of claim 15, wherein the preexisting structure comprises a chalkboard.
17. A mounting system for mounting a display device to a mounting surface, comprising:
- a plurality of vertical support brackets, each of the plurality of vertical support brackets having a first surface and a second surface, each of the plurality of vertical support brackets operatively connected to the mounting surface such that at least a portion of the first surface substantially opposes and is spaced apart from an underlying structure attached to the mounting surface; and
- a display device operatively connected to each of the plurality of support brackets, a portion of the display device substantially opposing the second surface, and at least a portion of the display device disposed in front of and spaced apart from the underlying structure;
- wherein the device is selectively engageable with the plurality of vertical bracket so as to permit the device to be selectively removed from the mounting system.
18. The mounting system of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of adjustment members operatively connected to the plurality of vertical support members and engageable with the underlying structure, wherein the plurality of adjustment members maintain the display device substantially parallel to the mounting surface.
19. The mounting system of claim 17, wherein the display devices comprises one of a whiteboard and a smart board.
20. The mounting system of claim 19, wherein the underlying structure comprises a chalkboard.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2009
Publication Date: Jul 15, 2010
Applicant:
Inventors: Christopher D. Minkley (Wheaton, IL), James D. Walters (Saint Charles, IL)
Application Number: 12/368,918
International Classification: A47B 96/06 (20060101); A47G 1/24 (20060101);