MOUNTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A mounting system 18 for mounting a media module 16 to furniture 12, 14 includes a plurality of spacer elements 20,22, each spacer element 20, 22 being configured to interconnect and space two items of furniture 12, 14 a predetermined distance from each other as governed by dimensions of the spacer elements 20, 22. A mounting member 40 is carried by one spacer element 22 of the plurality of spacer elements 20, 22. The mounting member 40 mounts the media module 16 and permits displacement of the media module 16 relative to the items of furniture 12, 14.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Australian Patent No 2015100360 filed on 23 Mar. 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates, generally, to a mounting system and, more particularly, to a mounting system for mounting a media module to an article of furniture, particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, modular furniture.

BACKGROUND

These days, home entertainment systems are becoming increasingly popular with users and require ever more sophisticated audio systems. To enable a user to become immersed in the environment generated by the media being employed, such audio systems are often configured to have components which are placed in proximity to the user. However, such audio system components often do not aesthetically complement furnishings in a room and can detract from the ambience of the room.

In addition, there is an increasing tendency for users to be operating other devices such as tablets, smartphones, etc. while occupying an item of furniture in a room. These devices periodically require recharging and it is inconvenient for the user if charging equipment is not close to hand. However, such charging equipment is also aesthetically unappealing and can detract from the aesthetics of the room.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, there is provided a mounting system for mounting a media module to furniture, the mounting system including

a plurality of spacer elements, each spacer element being configured to interconnect and space two items of furniture a predetermined distance from each other as governed by dimensions of the spacer elements; and

a mounting member carried by one spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements, the mounting member mounting the media module and permitting displacement of the media module relative to the items of furniture.

Each spacer element may comprises a pair of spaced limbs interconnected by a bridging portion, each limb being receivable in a receiving formation of the item of furniture, each limb being a friction fit in its associated receiving formation. In respect of the one spacer element, the mounting member may comprise a sleeve arranged rotatably about the bridging portion of the one spacer element.

The sleeve may carry a mounting arrangement for mounting the media module to the sleeve of the one spacer element so that the media module, in use, is rotatably displaceable relative to the items of furniture.

At least one further spacer element may include a locating element for locating the media module relative to the spacer elements, the locating element being configured to inhibit skewing of the items of modular furniture relative to each other. The locating element may be configured to inhibit skewing by being arranged in an offset position on the at least one further spacer element. The at least one further spacer element may be symmetrical about a central plane, extending parallel to the limbs of the spacer element, bisecting the bridging portion of the spacer element. The locating element may be offset with respect to that central plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the disclosure is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of modular furniture including an embodiment of a media module;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective, exploded view of the modular furniture including an embodiment of a mounting system for the media module;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the mounting of the media module on the mounting system; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the mounting system, in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates modular furniture. In the illustrated embodiment, the modular furniture 10 includes two items of modular furniture 12 and 14 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are each in the form of a seat with a media module 16 arranged between the seats 12 and 14.

It will be appreciated that the modular furniture 10 can adopt any other suitable form, for example, a seat alongside a chaise, the seat being separated from the chaise by the media module 16, a sofa separated from a seat or a chaise by the media module 16, or the like. For ease of explanation, the disclosure will be described with reference to its mounting the media module 16 between the two seats 12 and 14.

The media module 16 is mounted to the seats 12 and 14 by an embodiment of a mounting system 18 (FIG. 2). The mounting system 18 comprises a pair of spacer elements 20, 22. The spacer element 20 is mountable towards a front of the seats 12 and 14 with the spacer element 22 being mountable towards the rear of the seats 12 and 14.

The spacer element 20 is substantially inversely U-shaped having a pair of limbs 24 interconnected by a bridging portion 26. Each seat 12, 14 includes a knock-in 28 arranged proximate a front of the seat 12, 14. The knock-in 28 is a lined socket-defining member in which the associated limb 24 of the spacer element 20 is snugly received. The knock-in 28 is lined with a sleeve (not shown) of a suitable synthetic plastics material such as, for example, HDPE.

The spacer element 20 is symmetrical about an imaginary central plane extending parallel to the limbs 24 and bisecting the bridging portion 26. The spacer element 20 includes a locating formation in the form of a pin 30 which projects upwardly from the bridging portion 26 in a direction opposite to that of the limbs 24. The pin 30 is offset with respect to the central plane.

The spacer element 20 is also symmetrical about an imaginary plane arranged on the longitudinal axis of the bridging portion 26 to bisect the limbs 24. As a result, the spacer element 20 can be mounted between the seats 12 and 14 with the pin 30 on either side of the imaginary central plane.

The media module 16 includes a pair of laterally spaced receiving sockets 32 defined in an operatively front region of the media module 16, the locating pin 30 being receivable in either one of the sockets 32 when the media module is in its closed configuration as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The spacer element 22 is also substantially inversely U-shaped having a pair of spaced limbs 34 interconnected by a bridging portion 36. The spacer element 22 includes a mounting member in the form of a sleeve 38 rotatably received over the bridging portion 36 of the spacer element 22.

Each seat 12, 14 includes a knock-in 39 arranged proximate a rear of the seat 12, 14 with one of the limbs 34 being snugly received in an associated knock-in 39. Once again, each knock-in 39 is lined with a sleeve (not shown) of a suitable synthetic plastics material such as, for example, HDPE.

The sleeve 38 carries a mounting arrangement 40 in the form of a pair of laterally spaced, operatively upwardly projecting pins 42. The pins 42 are received in receiving formations in the form of sockets (not shown) in an operatively rear region of the media module 16. Although not shown, the sockets at the rear of the media module 16 are the same as the sockets 32 at the front of the media module 16.

The sleeve 38 is a friction fit on the bridging portion 36 of the spacer element 22 to facilitate retention of the sleeve 38 at a desired angular position relative to the bridging portion 36 of the spacer element 22. For this purpose, a lining of a suitable synthetic plastics material (not shown) is interposed between the sleeve 38 and the bridging portion 36 of the spacer element 22. This lining is also of a suitable synthetic plastics material such as, for example, HDPE.

The mounting system 18 has been described with reference to the spacer element 20 being at the front of the seats 12 and 14 and the spacer element 22 being at the rear of the seats 12 and 14. However, it will be appreciated that, in some applications, the spacer elements 20 and 22 could be swapped around so that the spacer element 20 is at the rear of the seats 12 and 14 with the spacer element 22 being at the front of the seats 12 and 14. In this case, the pins 42 of the spacer element 22 are received in the sockets 32 at the front of the media module. This latter arrangement is desirable when, for example, the seats 12 and 14 are against a wall which would impede rotation of the media module 16 to the position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The spacing between the limbs 24 of the spacer element 20 and the limbs 34 of the spacer element 22 govern the spacing between the seats 12 and 14. The spacer elements 20 and 22 are dimensioned so that the media module 16 is a tight fit between the seats 12 and 14. This, together with the offset locating pin 30 of the spacer element 20, serves to inhibit skewing of the seats 12 and 14 relative to each other.

In use, the seats 12 and 14 are positioned alongside, but spaced from, each other. The spacer elements 20 and 22 are mounted in position between the seats 12 and 14 by inserting the limbs 24 of the spacer element 20 into the knock-ins 28 and inserting the limbs 34 of the spacer element 22 into the knock-ins 39. This configuration of spacer elements 20 and 22 is selected when it is desired to have the media module rotate upwardly towards the rear of the seats 12 and 14 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. However, as indicated above, the positions of the spacer elements 20 and 22 can be swapped around when it is desired to have the media module 16 rotate upwardly towards a front of the seats 12 and 14 instead.

Once the spacer elements 20 and 22 have been positioned between the seats 12 and 14, the media module 16 is lowered on to the spacer elements 20, 22, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings so that the locating pins 42 of the spacer element 22 are received in the sockets at the rear of the media module 16.

When the media module 16 is in its closed position, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, it covers a space 44 between the seats 12 and 14. This space 44 is used for media equipment such as, for example, a sub-woofer (not shown) positioned between the seats 12 and 14. In addition, a power board (also not shown) is arranged in the space 44 with power cables and/or an electrical lead of a battery charger extending through the media module 16 into a storage receptacle of the media module 16 closed off by a lid 46 of the media module. The power cables can be used to power equipment or devices stored or placed in the storage receptacle of the media module 16 and the battery charger is used to charge a battery of such equipment or devices.

Hence, it is an advantage of the disclosure that a mounting system 18 is provided which facilitates mounting of a media module between items of furniture in an aesthetically pleasing manner. In addition, the mounting system 18 improves the versatility of the modular furniture 10 in that it renders the modular furniture 10 suitable for use with media items such as audio equipment and devices requiring power and/or charging.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A mounting system for mounting a media module to furniture, the mounting system including

a plurality of spacer elements, each spacer element being configured to interconnect and space two items of furniture a predetermined distance from each other as governed by dimensions of the spacer elements; and

a mounting member carried by one spacer element of the plurality of spacer elements, the mounting member mounting the media module and permitting displacement of the media module relative to the items of furniture.

2. The mounting system of claim 1 in which each spacer element comprises a pair of spaced limbs interconnected by a bridging portion, each limb being receivable in a receiving formation of the item of furniture.

3. The mounting system of claim 2 in which, in respect of the one spacer element, the mounting member comprises a sleeve arranged rotatably about the bridging portion of the one spacer element.

4. The mounting system of claim 3 in which the sleeve carries a mounting arrangement for mounting the media module to the sleeve of the one spacer element so that the media module, in use, is rotatably displaceable relative to the items of furniture.

5. The mounting system of claim 1 in which at least one further spacer element includes a locating element for locating the media module relative to the spacer elements, the locating element being configured to inhibit skewing of the items of modular furniture relative to each other.