TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present application generally relates to system for mounting an item on a wall. In particular, but not exclusively, the present application relates to a system for mounting a display or an electronic device on a wall.

BACKGROUND

[0002] This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein being representative of the state of the art.

[0003] Items, such as modern displays and electronic devices, for example tablet computers with a touch sensitive display, are commonly mounted on walls or similar surfaces. For such purposes, such items typically comprise, on the backside thereof, holes into which a wall mount can be attached with screws. Often the holes are arranged on a standardized pattern, for example according to VESA Mounting Interface Standard.

[0004] The wall mounts used for such items are often problematic, as access to the backside of the device is hindered, especially as it is often desired that the wall mount is as inconspicuous as possible, i.e. that the item is as close to the wall as possible. Furthermore, typical wall mounts are rather heavy and complicated.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a system for mounting an item on a wall that overcomes or at least mitigates the above-mentioned challenges.

SUMMARY

[0006] Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.

[0007] According to a first example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for mounting an item on a wall, comprising

at least one magnet configured to be attached to the item;

at least one first spacer element configured to be attached between the at least one magnet and the item; wherein the system further comprises a first wall plate comprising at least one hole having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the at least one magnet in such way that the at least one magnet fits therethrough;

a second wall plate attached to the first wall plate and configured to be attached to the wall, the second wall plate comprising ferromagnetic material; and

at least one second spacer element between the first wall plate and the second wall plate.

[0008] The system may comprise plurality of magnets configured to be attached to the item in a predetermined pattern and a corresponding plurality of holes comprised in the first wall plate.

[0009] The predetermined pattern may comprise a pattern in accordance with VESA Mounting Interface Standard.

[0010] The diameter of the at least one first spacer element may be smaller than the diameter of the at least one magnet.

[0011] The at least one second spacer element is configured to keep the first wall plate and the second wall plate at such a distance from each other that the at least one magnet can be moved therebetween.

[0012] According to a second example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting an item on a wall, comprising

attaching at least one magnet to the item with a first spacer element attached therebetween;

pushing the at least one magnet attached to the item through at least one hole in a first wall plate, the at least one hole having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the at least one magnet in such way that the at least one magnet fits therethrough;

attaching the at least one magnet to a second wall plate comprising ferromagnetic material with magnetic force; and

moving the at least one magnet to non-alignment with the at least one hole so that the at least one spacer element rests at the edge of the at least one hole.

[0013] Attaching at least one magnet to the item may comprise attaching a plurality of magnets to the item in a predetermined pattern.

[0014] The predetermined pattern may comprise a pattern in accordance with VESA Mounting Interface Standard. [0015] The diameter of the at least one first spacer element may be smaller than the diameter of the at least one magnet.

[0016] The at least one second spacer element may be configured to keep the first wall plate and the second wall plate at such a distance from each other that the at least one magnet can be moved therebetween.

[0017] Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the foregoing. The embodiments in the foregoing are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in implementations of the present invention. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a system for mounting an item on a wall according to an embodiment of the invention used;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of a part of a system for mounting an item on a wall according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a wall mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention and its potential advantages are understood by referring to Figs. 1 through 3 of the drawings. In this document, like reference signs denote like parts or steps.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a system 100 for mounting an item on a wall according to an embodiment of the invention used. Fig. 1 shows the item 10 to be mounted on a wall 30. The item 10 comprises for example a display, such as a computer monitor or a television, an electronic device such as a tablet computer with a touch display, or a mounting system comprising for example a movable, extendable and/or pivotable arm for attaching to any further item. The item 10 comprises, at the backside thereof, tapped holes 12, configured to receive a screw. The holes 12, are positioned in a pattern, for example four holes in a square according to the VESA Mounting Interface Standard. It is to be noted that system for mounting an item on a wall according to the invention is applicable to other types of hole patterns and hole numbers equally well. The wall 30 comprises for example a glass wall.

[0021] The system 100 for mounting the item 10 on the wall 30 comprises at least one magnet, or magnetic element, 20 configured to be attached to the item 10. In an embodiment, the at least one magnet is configured to be attached to a hole 12 on the item 10 with a screw 24. The system 100 further comprises at least one first spacer element 22 configured to be placed between the at least one magnet 20 and the item 10 in order to keep the magnet 20 at a distance from the surface of the item 10. In an embodiment, the at least one first spacer element 22 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the at least one magnet 20, so that they together form a mushroom-shaped element. It is to be noted that the system 100 comprises on magnet 20 and one first spacer element 22 for each hole 12 of the item 10. The at least one magnet 20 and the first spacer 22 is attached to the item 10 for example by screws. In a further embodiment, the attachment is carried out wit h a different, conventional, method.

[0022] In an embodiment, the at least one magnet 20 comprises a permanent magnet. In a further embodiment, the at least one magnet 20 comprises an electromagnet configured to be turned on and off in order to facilitate the attachment and removal of the item 10 to and from the wall 30.

[0023] The system further comprises at least one first wall plate 40 comprising at least one hole 42. The number of holes 42 corresponds to the number of magnets 20 and the position of the holes 42 corresponds to the pattern of the holes 12 of the item 10. In an embodiment, the at least one hole 42 has a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the at least one magnet 30 in such a way that the diameter of the at least one hole 42 is chosen in such a way that the at least one magnet 30 fits through the at least one hole 42. In an embodiment, the at least one hole 42 and the at least one magnet 30 have a circular shape.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the first wall plate 40 comprises holes 42 for several different patterns of holes 10 in the item, for example holes 42 corresponding to different VESA standard patterns, for example VESA 75 and VESA 100. In an embodiment, the holes 42 of the several different patterns overlap, thus forming irregularly shaped larger holes on the first wall plate 40.

[0025] The first wall plate 40 comprises non-magnetic material, so that the at least one magnet 20 is easily pushed through the at least one hole 42. In an embodiment, the first wall plate comprises metal such as aluminium. In further embodiment, the first wall plate 40 comprises wood, plexiglas, ceramic material or glass.

[0026] The first wall plate 40 is attached to at least one second wall plate 50.

The system further comprises at least one second spacer element 60 between the first wall plate 40 and the second wall plate 50 in order to keep the first 40 and second 50 wall at a distance from each other. The distance between the first 40 and second 50 wall plate is larger than the thickness of the at least one magnet 30 so that the at least one magnet 20 can be moved between the first 40 and second 50 wall plate. In an embodiment, the distance between the first 40 and the second 50 wall plate is about 5-15 mm, preferably about 10 mm. In a stll further embodiment, the distance between the first 40 and the second 50 wall plate is smaller than the thickness of the at least one magnet 20, even 0 cm, in which case the wall mount does not have the additional securing hereinafter described.

[0027] The second wall plate 50 comprises ferromagnetic material so that the at least one magnet 20 will attach thereto with magnetic force. In an embodiment, the second wall plate 50 comprises a steel plate. As the at least one magnet 20 attaches to the second wall plate 50, it in an embodiment, slides downwards a bit, so that the first spacer 22 comes to rest on the edge of the hole 42. Accordingly, should the at least one magnet 20 become detached from the second wall plate, the item 10 would still no fall off the wall, as the first spacer 22 rests on the edge of the hole 42 and the at least one magnet 42 is not aligned with the hole 42 and can not fit therethrough in such position. Furthermore, as the at least one magnet 20 is intentionally not aligned from the hole 42, the system is applicable to surfaces not substantially vertical as well.

[0028] In an embodiment, the at least one first wall plate 40 and the at least one second wall plate 50 each comprise a single plate. In a further embodiment, both comprise several plates, for example a separate plate for each magnet 20. The at least on first wall plate 40 and the at least one second wall plate 50 are attached to each other in a conventional manner, for example by screwing, welding or gluing. In an embodiment, the at least one second wall plate 50 is configured to be attached to the wall 30 in a conventional manner, for example by screwing, welding or gluing.

[0029] The second wall plate 50 is configured to be attached to the surface of the wall or to a recess formed at the surface of the wall 30, for example in such away that the surface of the first wall plate 40 is level with the surface of the wall 30. In a still further embodiment, the first wall plate 40 and/or the second wall plate 50 is integrated into the wall structure, i.e. the first wall plate 40 and/or the second wall plate 50 is a part of a larger plate forming a part of the wall. In an embodiment, should the wall itself be made of ferromagnetic material, such as steel, the second wall plate 50 is omitted, and the at least one magnet 20 will attach directly to the wall. It is to be noted that the system 100 is applicable to other surfaces than walls, for example room dividers, furniture, vehicle parts, retail furniture or windows.

[0030] In an embodiment, the system 100 further comprises a third wall plate

70 on the opposite side of the wall 30. In an embodiment, the second wall plate 50 and the third wall plate 70 are configured to be tightened around the wall between them in a conventional manner. In an embodiment, the third wall plate 70 comprises steel.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of a part of a system for mounting an item on a wall according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows an example of the first wall plate 40. The first wall plate 40 of Fig. 2 comprises two patterns of holes 42, i.e. two square patterns of four holes 42a and 42b. The holes 42a and 42b of Fig. 2 are circular and overlapping, thus forming together a larger hole. While circular holes 42a,42b are depicted in Fig. 2, the holes 42a,42b in an embodiment have a different shape such as square, oval, rectangular, triangular or irregular corresponding to the shape of the at least one magnet 20.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a wall mounting method according to an embodiment of the invention. At step 300 the at least one magnet 30, for example four magnets in accordance with a VESA standard pattern, is attached to the item 10 to be mounted on a wall for example by screwing them to holes 12 with the first spacer element 22 therebetween. At step 310, the magnets 20 attached to the item 10 are pushed through the holes 42 of the first wall plate 40 and the magnets subsequently at step 320 attach to the second wall plate 50 with magnetic force. The attachment to the second wall plate is realized simply by bringing the magnets 20 close enough to the second wall plate 50 and/or by turning on the magnets in case they comprise electromagnets. At step 330 the magnets 20 are moved to non- alignment with the holes 42, so that the first spacer elements 22 rest on the edge of the holes 42. It is to be noted that the steps 320 and 330 can be carried out concurrently or in different order, i.e. the magnets 20 can be moved to non-alignment with the holes 42 while or before they attach to the second wall plate 50. At this point the item 10, for example a display is mounted on the wall.

[0033] In order to dismount the item 10 from the wall, the magnets are detached from the wall 340. The detachment from the second wall plate is realized simply by pulling the magnets 20 far enough from the second wall plate 50 and/or by turning off the magnets in case they comprise electromagnets. At step 350, the magnets 20 are brought to alignment with the holes 42 and subsequently pulled out through the holes at 360 to realize the detachment of the item 10 from the wall. It is to be noted that the steps 340 and 350 can be carried out concurrently or in different order, i.e. the magnets 20 can be brought to alignment with the holes 42 while or before they detach from the second wall plate 50.

[0034] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of a wall mount easy to use despite limited access to the back of the item to be mounted. Another technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of a simple to attach and detach mounting system. A still further technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of an inconspicuous mounting system.

[0035] Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

[0036] It is also noted herein that while the foregoing describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.