DISPLAY MOUNT WITH POST-INSTALLATION LEVELING SYSTEM

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/855,599, entitled DISPLAY MOUNT WITH POST-INSTALLATION LEVELING SYSTEM, filed October 31 , 2006, hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mounts for flat panel electronic display devices and more specifically to installation systems and methods for flat panel electronic display mounts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due their superior image quality over CRT displays and rapidly declining prices, flat panel electronic displays are now being used nearly everywhere in business and home environments. The prevalence of specialized mounting devices for attaching flat panel electronic displays to walls and other structures has mirrored the displays themselves. Mounting devices including myriad different configurations of brackets and arms have been developed for the purpose. Examples of such devices are depicted in U.S. Patent Nos. D507,477; D496,367; D495,714; D495,713; D494,596; and D493,800, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

A desirable quality for flat panel display mounting devices is the ability to maintain the display in a level condition relative to the floor or ground. A level display is not only desirable from an aesthetic standpoint, but also functionally. Particularly for mounts enabling positional adjustment of the display, undesirable stresses can be places on the mount and structure to which the mount is attached if the display is out-of-level. Also, the display can be more difficult to positionally adjust if out-of-level due to an uneven weight distribution.

Mounting devices are typically to attached to a wall or other structure using one or more mechanical fastening members. Where structural elements such as studs are advantageously positioned, lag bolts or screws are often used to fasten the mounting device to the structure. In other cases where a mount is to be fastened to drywall or plaster wall where studs are not available, toggle bolts or drywall anchors are used.

A problem that often arises when fastening these existing display mounts to the structure is that the mount will shift position slightly when the fastening members are tightened. That is,

the mount is initially positioned in a level condition, but as the lag screws, toggles, or anchors are fully tightened, the mount will rotate slightly out-of-level. While the out-of-level condition is often not apparent immediately, it becomes evident once the display is attached to the mount. It is typically very difficult to reposition the mount by loosening and retightening the fastening members, since the mount tends to shift every time the fastening members are tightened. Also, such a trial-and-error process is often time consuming and may add to the cost of installation.

When fastening members cannot be driven directly through mounting apertures in the display mount and into a wall stud, existing display mounts can be especially prone to an out-of- level condition. Specifically, user preference, room aesthetics, or the availability of coaxial cable and electrical outlet often dictate the placement of a display mount between wall studs. Due to load place upon the display mount by the electronic display being attached, hollow wall anchors such as conical plastic anchors, nylon wall drillers, and molly bolts are generally used mount the display mount to the wall. The nature of most hollow wall anchors, however, requires that an anchoring member be secured within the wall before a fastening member can be driven through the display mount. As a result, mounting a display mount between wall studs often requires the additional steps of drilling a hole for receiving the anchoring members, inserting the anchoring member into the hole, and anchoring the fastening member in the anchoring member. This added complexity to the mounting procedure can further contribute to an out-of-level condition of the display mount. What is needed in the industry is a display mount enabling repeatable accurate level installation of the display with a minimum of effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the need of the industry for a display mount enabling repeatable accurate level installation of the display with a minimum of effort. According to an embodiment, a mounting system for flat panel electronic displays defines at least one round aperture and at least one arcuate aperture having a radius of curvature centered on the round aperture. The mounting system may be first fastened to a structure with fastening members through the round aperture and the arcuate aperture. The mounting device may then be adjusted for level by rotating the mount about the fastening member through the round aperture. A leveling device may be provided with the mount to enable indication of leveling. The leveling of the mounting system and a display attached to the mounting system may also be adjusted after the display is affixed to the mounting system in the same manner.

According to an embodiment, an apparatus for mounting a flat panel electronic display to a wall includes a mounting bracket having a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion, the top flange portion defining a round opening, the bottom flange portion defining an elongated opening, wherein the round opening is adapted to receive a first fastener therethrough to fasten the apparatus to the wall, and wherein the elongated opening is adapted to receive a second fastener therethrough to fasten the apparatus to the wall. The apparatus further includes structure for receiving a leveling device and structure for operably coupling the flat panel electronic display to the mounting bracket.

According to embodiments of the invention, the elongated opening may be an arcuate slot, a straight slot or any other shaped elongate opening. In embodiments with an arcuate slot, slot may have a radius of curvature centered on the round opening. The apparatus may further include second and third round openings and second and third elongated openings, the second and third elongated openings having radii of curvature centered on the second and third round openings, respectively. The mounting bracket may include a wall interface portion and a display interface portion operably coupled to the wall interface portion, the wall interface portion having the top flange portion and the bottom flange portion, the display interface portion including the structure for operably coupling the flat panel electronic display to the mounting bracket, the display interface portion being selectively tiltable in relation to the wall interface portion. In other embodiments, the apparatus may further include a leveling device, which may be a bubble level.

An electronic display system adapted to be mounted to the wall of a structure according to an embodiment of the invention may include a flat panel electronic display, a leveling device, and a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion, the top flange portion defining a round opening, the bottom flange portion defining an elongated opening, wherein the round opening is adapted to receive a first fastener therethrough to fasten the mounting bracket to the wall, and wherein the elongated opening is adapted to receive a second fastener therethrough to fasten the mounting bracket to the wall. The mounting bracket may further include structure for receiving the leveling device and structure for operably coupling the flat panel electronic display to the mounting bracket. According to additional embodiments of the invention, a kit for mounting a flat panel electronic display to a wall may include a mounting bracket having a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion, the top flange portion defining a round opening, the bottom flange portion defining an elongated opening, wherein the round opening is adapted to receive a first fastener therethrough to fasten the apparatus to the wall, and wherein the elongated opening is adapted to

receive a second fastener therethrough to fasten the apparatus to the wall, the mounting bracket further including structure for receiving a leveling device and structure for operably coupling the flat panel electronic display to the mounting bracket. The kit includes a leveling device and instructions for leveling the mounting bracket when attached on the wall by inserting a first fastening member through the round opening and a second fastening member through the elongated opening, placing the leveling device in the structure for receiving the leveling device, rotating the mounting bracket around the first fastening member until the leveling device indicates the mounting bracket is level, and tightening the first and second fastening members.

A method of mounting an electronic display device on a wall according to an embodiment of the invention includes providing a mounting bracket having a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion, the top flange portion defining a round opening, the bottom flange portion defining an elongated opening, the mounting bracket further comprising structure for receiving a leveling device, attaching the mounting bracket to the wall with a first fastener through the round opening, inserting a second fastener through the elongated opening, inserting a leveling device in the structure for receiving a leveling device, leveling the mounting bracket by rotating the mounting bracket about the first fastener until the leveling device indicates a level condition, tightening the first and second fasteners, and coupling the flat panel display to the mounting bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a display mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the display mounting system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting system, flat panel display, and wall structure taken at section 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4A is a front elevation view of the display mounting system of Figure 1; Figure 4B is a front elevation view of a display mounting system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a display mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the mounting system depicted in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the mounting system depicted in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a display mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a front elevation view of the mounting system of Figure 1 during an installation process;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fastening button; and

Figure 11 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a display mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a side view of the display mounting system depicted in Figure 11 with an attached flat panel display;

Figure 13 is a rear view of the display mounting system depicted in Figure 4A with an attached flat panel display;

Figure 14 is a rear view of the display mounting system depicted in Figure 6 or 8 with an attached flat panel display; Figure 15 depicts a flat panel display mounted to the wall of a room with a display mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a front elevation view of a mounting bracket according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 17 is a side elevation view of the bracket depicted in Figure 16. While the present invention is amendable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 15, flat panel display 42 is depicted mounted to a wall in a room using a mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mounting systems, depicted as reference numeral 20 in Figures 12-14, are generally adapted to receive flat panel displays 42 and can be mounted to a wall. hi first embodiment, mounting system 20 generally includes a unitary body 22 with a planar portion 24 and a pair of offset flanges 26, 28, at top 30 and bottom 32 edges respectively. In another embodiment, flanges 26, 28 are offset from side edges 31, 33. Flange 26 has

connecting portion 34 and flange 28 has connecting portion 36, each generally perpendicular with planar portion 24.

Planar portion 24 defines slots 38, each for receiving a fastening button 40 operably attached to a flat panel display 42, which may be any display device such as an LCD or plasma display, or any other device such as a speaker. Fastening buttons 40 and slots 38 function to operably couple flat panel display 42 on mount 20 as disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application 2004/0232298, hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. In the embodiments depicted in Figs. 1-7, each slot 38 includes a pair of keyhole shaped portions merged together including an inner portion 44 and an outer portion 46. It will be appreciated that fastening buttons 40 may be arranged on flat panel display 42 in a first pattern corresponding to the locations of inner portions 44 or in a second pattern corresponding to the locations of outer portions 46. These first and second patterns may correspond to industry standard mounting patterns and dimensions such as those promulgated by VESA. In other embodiments, such as depicted in Fig. 8, single keyhole slots 48 may be disposed in any other desired pattern and using any desired dimensions. Moreover, flat panel display 42 may be coupled with mount 20 using any other fastening system as may be desired, such as with threaded fastening members (not depicted).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, flange 26 defines apertures 50, each for receiving a fastening member 52 to fasten mounting system 20 to a structure 54 such as a gypsum wallboard covered wall 56. Flange 28 defines slots 58. Connecting portion 34 defines recess 60 for receiving bubble level 62. Apertures 50 and slots 58 can be any number of shapes. In an example embodiment, center aperture 50b is round. Mounting system 20 can thereby be plumbed by hanging mounting system 20 on fastening member 52 inserted through center aperture 50b into structure 54. Although side apertures 50a,c need not necessarily have the same shape as center aperture 50b, side apertures 50a-c are generally the same size and shape as center aperture 50b.

To account for variations in leveling that may occur when fastening members 52 are anchored into structure 54, slots 58 are different in size and/or shape than apertures 50. The area of the opening defined by slot 58 is greater than the area of the opening defined by aperture 50. Referring to Figures 4A and 4B, slots 58 are generally elongated openings adapted to snugly receive fastening member 64.

In an example embodiment, each slot 58 is arcuate and has a radius of curvature R centered on one of apertures 50a-c, as depicted in Figure 4 A. In another embodiment, each slot 58 has a radius of curvature R centered on center aperture 50b. In another embodiment, each of

slots 58 is elongated, but does not have a radius of curvature, as depicted in Figures 4B. In yet another embodiment, slots 58 are round and have a diameter that is larger than the diameters of apertures 50.

The ability of the present invention to facilitate post-installation leveling of a display can be applied to any number of mounting systems. Specifically, the self-plumbing configuration of apertures 50 and slots 58, including their relative arrangement and shapes, is not restricted to embodiments of mounting systems having a unitary body 22. Rather, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that present invention can improve the ability to achieve a level mount of any number of flat panel displays without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be used for post-installation leveling of flat panel display mounts having a radial arm, articulating arm, or telescoping arm. The present invention can also be used to achieve post-installation centering of flat panel display mounts attachable to horizontal surfaces, such as ceilings or fixtures.

In an embodiment, mounting system 20 includes a tilting display adjustment feature, as depicted in Figures 5-8. The tilting display adjustment feature generally allows the vertical angle of flat panel display 42 to be adjusted in relation to a structure 54, such as a gypsum wallboard covered wall 56. According to this embodiment, mounting system 20 generally includes wall interface bracket 66 and cooperating display interface bracket 68 pivotally coupled at pivot 70. Follower 72 is received in guide slot 74. Follower 72 may be tightened or loosened to add or remove, respectively, frictional resistance to pivoting of display interface bracket 68 about pivot 70.

Referring to Figure 5, interface bracket 66 has back portion 80 and side portions 82 and display interface bracket 68 has front portion 84 and side portions 86. Side portions 82 of interface bracket 66 define front edges 90a and back edges 90b and back portion 80 of interface bracket 66 defines wall-mounting surface 92. Side portions 86 of display interface bracket 68 define front edges 94a, back edges 94b, top edges 96, and bottom edges 98 and front portion 84 of display interface bracket 68 defines display-mounting surface 100.

Follower 72 and pivot 70 can be located at various positions on side portion 86 of display interface bracket 68. Depending upon the relative positioning of follower 72 and pivot 70 on side portions 86 of display interface bracket 68, flat panel display 42 can be positioned in or between upright, downward tilted, and upward tilted positions. Referring to Figure 7, for example, follower 72 is located near top edge 96 and pivot 70 is located near bottom edge 98 in an embodiment. With this configuration, flat panel display 42 can pivot between the upright and downward tilted positions. In another embodiment, pivot 70 is located substantially intermediate

top and bottom edges 96, 98. When pivot 70 is intermediate top and bottom edges 96, 98, follower 74 can be located above or below pivot 70. Multiple followers 74 can also be located both above and below pivot 70. With these configurations, flat panel display 42 can pivot between the upward and downward tilted positions. In another embodiment, follower 72 is located near bottom edge 98 and pivot 70 is located near top edge 96. With this configuration, flat panel display 42 can pivot between the upright and upward tilted positions.

Wall interface bracket 66 defines round apertures 50 and slots 58. As with the embodiments depicted in Figures 1-4, slots 58 are different in size and/or shape than apertures 50 such that the area of the opening defined by slot 58 is greater than the area of the opening defined by aperture 50. Li an example embodiment, each slot 58 has a radius of curvature R centered on one of apertures 50a-c, as depicted in Figure 8. In another embodiment, each slot 58 has a radius of curvature R centered on center aperture 50b. In another embodiment, each of slots 58 is elongated, but does not have a radius of curvature. In yet another embodiment, slots 58 are round and have a diameter that is larger than the diameters of apertures 50. Wall interface bracket 66 can also define aperture 74a for receiving bubble level 62.

Mounting system 20 can be mounted on wall 54 in any number of ways. In an example embodiment, mounting system 20 is mounted on wall 54 by first inserting fastening member 52 through one of apertures 50 and fastening member 64 through the corresponding slot 58. Fastening members 52, 64 may then be snugged, and bubble level 62 placed in recess 60. Body 22 may be rotated laterally about fastening member 52 with fastening member 64 sliding in slot 58 to achieve a level position as indicated by bubble level 62. Once leveled, fastening members 52, 64, may be tightened and other fastening members inserted through apertures 50 and arcuate slots 58 to complete the attachment of mounting system 20 to structure 54. Bubble level 62 may then be removed from recess 60, and with flat panel display 42 coupled with the mounting system 22, used to check flat panel display 42 for level. If flat panel display 42 is out of level, fastening members 52, 64, and others may be loosened slightly and body 22 rotated laterally, with flat panel display 42 still attached, about fastening member 52 as needed to achieve level.

In another embodiment such as depicted in Fig. 4B, fastening member 52 is first inserted through center aperture 50b and a fastening member 64 is inserted into straight slot 58b. It will be appreciated that fastening member 64 should be selected so that the diameter of the portion 64a of fastening member 64 extending through slot 58b is somewhat smaller than the width of slot 58b while the head 64b is larger than with width of slot 58b, thereby providing some tolerance to enable body 22 to pivot about fastener 52 with portion 64a of fastener 64 sliding in slot 58b. Body 22 may then be rotated about fastening member 52 to achieve a level orientation

as indicated by bubble level 62. Once leveled, additional fastening members 52, 64 can be inserted or anchoring holes can be drilled into wall 54 through apertures 50a-c and slots 58a-c. When it is desired that anchors be inserted into wall 54 so as to be aligned with apertures 50 and slots 58, body 22 can be rotated about fastening member 52 in center aperture 50b to reveal the anchoring holes in wall 54. With anchor properly situated within wall 54, body 54 can again be rotated about fastening member 52 in center apertures 50b. Once anorchoring holes in wall 54 are aligned with apertures 50 and slots 58, additional fastening members 52, 64 subsequently inserted through apertures 50a,c and slots 58a-c and into wall. If flat panel display 42 is out of level, fastening members 52, 64 may be loosened slightly and body 22 rotated laterally, with flat panel display 42 still attached, about fastening member 52 as needed to achieve level.

Similar steps can be taken to achieve a level mount of different types of display mounts. Just as the embodiments of the present invention depicted in Figures 1-4 can be mounted to a wall 54 in a level position using the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention depicted in Figures 5-8 can also be attached to wall 54 in a level position. Once flat panel display 42 is attached on display interface bracket 68, the display may be tiltably adjusted about pivot 70. Display mounts having a radial arm, articulating arm, or telescoping arm, as well as display mounts attachable to horizontal surfaces such as ceilings or fixtures, can also be attached to a wall 54 or other surface in this manner.

It will be appreciated that other configurations of mounting system 20 are contemplated within the present invention, including varying numbers of apertures 50 and arcuate slots 58 as depicted, for example, in Figure 11. In further examples, bubble level 62 may be made integral with body 22, may be omitted entirely in favor of separate leveling means, or another leveling device, such as a laser level may be substituted. It will also be appreciated that a mounting system according to the present invention may be made from any suitable material having suitable strength and durability properties such as metal or plastic.

In a further embodiment depicted in Figs. 16 and 17, round aperture 5Og may be located intermediate top flange 26 and bottom flange 28. In the depicted embodiment, arcuate slots 58 are located in each of top flange 26 and bottom flange 26, each arcuate slot 58 having a radius of curvature R centered on round aperture 50g. Aperture 50g may be located in a recess 50h defined by a boss 5Oi, the bottom wall 50j of which is generally registered with flanges 26, 28. In use, the bracket 20 may be attached to a wall with a fastener through aperture 50g. Fasteners may then be driven through arcuate slots 58. Bracket 20 may then be rotated about the fastener through aperture 50g until level. All fasteners may then be tightened and additional fasteners driven through apertures 50 to secure the bracket 20 in position. It will be appreciated by those

of skill in the art that either one of slots 58 may be omitted and that aperture 5Og need not be centered in bracket 20 so long as aperture 5Og remains at the center of the radius of curvature R of an arcuate slot 58 in either of the flanges 26, 28.

The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are encompassed within the scope of the claims. Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112, sixth paragraph of 35 U.S. C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms "means for" or "step for" are recited in a claim.