EP2761389A1

EP2761389A1 - A multimedia system and a mounting element therefor

Info

Publication number: EP2761389A1
Application number: EP12762580.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kaj Nielsen
Original assignee: Bang and Olufsen AS
Current assignee: Bang and Olufsen AS
Priority date: 2011-09-27
Filing date: 2012-09-20
Publication date: 2014-08-06
Also published as: WO2013045337A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mounting element applied for hanging multimedia systems. The mounting element enables easy tilting of the multimedia systems to enhance the usability of multimedia system for the comfort of the user. The invention includes a mounting element that enables tilting of the multimedia system by user interaction and with very little force required from the user; this independently of the weight of the multimedia system in question.

Description

A MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM AND A MOUNTING ELEMENT THEREFOR

The present invention relates to a support device applied for hanging/mounting multimedia equipment. The support/mounting device enables easy tilting of the multimedia apparatus to enhance the usability of multimedia equipment for the comfort of the user.

More and more multimedia devices are present on the market. Devices like mobile phones, smart phones, media players, and book readers with specific product examples like the iPod, iPad, iTouch, and iPhone are characterized as being small and very effective types of products for and digital data handling and accessing media information.

Providing the information to the user normally requires bigger external screens and loudspeaker systems to present the audio-video (A/V) in a convenient way and in a reasonable quality.

For the comfort of the user, flexibility in positioning of the A/V equipment is a demand.

Positioning, in this situation, is the positioning of the equipment for the user to obtain the optimal position in viewing angle and/or listening position.

Thus, there is a huge demand for equipment that has multifunctional position options that allows a high flexibility in configuring the physical positioning of the A/V equipment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system fulfilling this demand.

The invention relates e.g. to a mounting element that enables a multimedia system hanging on the wall or from the ceiling to be tilted by user interaction and with very little force required from the user, independently of the weight of the multimedia system in question.

A first aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus comprising: a multimedia system and a mounting element comprising : a conically shaped, rotatable spindle having a threaded outer surface, a mounting element configured to fix the spindle to a structure, a wire having two ends each connected to the multimedia system and being fixed to the spindle at a position between the ends thereof, part of the wire being wound around the spindle.

The mounting arrangement as disclosed is suitable as a very flexible support device for A/V equipment that might be configured according to certain functional specifications.

More specifically the mounting arrangement can be configured to support:

• an audio system including means for receiving digital audio information like e.g. DAB and/ or net radio, optionally including loudspeakers with amplifiers and filters;

• a sound provider optionally including loudspeakers with amplifiers and filters;

· a video system including means for receiving digital video information like e.g. DVB and/ or netTV, a display and optionally including loudspeakers with amplifiers and filters;

• a combined A/V system including the elements mentioned above;

• each of the configurations having a mounting element functioning as support for the product to hang on a wall or hang from a ceiling, and to be tilted in a viewing angle or listening angle for the comfort of the user; and

• the tilting angle may be changed from one angle to another angle while keeping the center of gravity basically in the same X,Y position to minimize the force required from the user for the tilting from the one angle to the other angle.

Thus, the mounting element of the apparatus may be configured for and applied in relation to e.g. but not limited to:

• a TV set including a display where the TV is hanging on the wall or from the ceiling;

• a TV set including loudspeakers where the TV is hanging on the wall or from the

ceiling;

• an Audio set including loudspeakers where the set is hanging on the wall or from the ceiling;

• a multimedia system including a display/TV and loudspeakers where the TV is

hanging on the wall or from the ceiling; and

· one or more loudspeakers hanging on the wall or from the ceiling.

Thus, the multimedia system may be any audio and/or video system, such as a TV, a display/monitor, an Audio provider, such as including loudspeakers, and the system may comprise elements for receiving audio and/or video signals or for providing such signals, such as a DVB/DVD/CD player. In this respect, a conical spindle is an element which is preferably rotationally symmetric around an axis and has an outer diameter becoming smaller along one direction of the rotational axis.

In a preferred embodiment, a first wire length of the wire between the first end and the spindle engages the spindle at a first position where the spindle has a larger diameter than a second position of the spindle engaged by a second wire length of the between the second end and the spindle.

Thus, rotation of the spindle, e.g. 90°, will extend/shorten the second wire length less than the shortening/extending of the first wire length, simply due to the difference in diameter of the conical spindle at the two positions.

Naturally, the wire(s) may be wound around the spindle(s) any number of windings. Normally an integer number plus a half winding. Thus, a half winding may suffice, but usually, about 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 or 5.5 windings or more may be desired. The number of windings will, together with the wire thickness and/or the threaded surface of the spindle, determine the difference in diameter at the first and second positions and thus the relation, at a given rotation, between how much smaller one length of the wire becomes and how much larger the other length becomes. This may be adapted to the dimensions of the system so that the overall effect is obtained that the center of mass of the system remains at the same height during tilting. The length may be defined as the distance (Euclidian or along the wire) between the fixing point to the system and the point of engagement of that length with the spindle.

In that manner, not only does one of the lengths become smaller and the other becomes longer upon rotation of the spindle, but the amount or length which one gets smaller differs from the amount the other gets larger. This may be adapted to the angle of the multimedia system to ensure that the height of the centre of mass stays in the same height during tilting.

Thus, the "effective" length (the sum of the two lengths of the wire) of a wire will be reduced or extended, when the pertaining spindle is rotated.

A preferred embodiment is one, wherein the mounting element comprises: - a second conically shaped, rotatable spindle having a threaded outer surface, a second mounting element configured to fix the second spindle to a structure, a second wire having two ends each connected to the multimedia system and being fixed to the second spindle at a position between the ends thereof, part of the second wire being wound around the second spindle. The use of two wires may be desired for stabilizing the position of the system hanging from the wall/ceiling. The two wires may be connected to the apparatus at two different positions, horizontally, such as at outer, vertical sides thereof.

Miscellaneous standard connection means may be applied to attach the mounting element to the system. In the preferred embodiment, the connection means have the ability to rotate a certain degree e.g. within an angle of 0° - 45°.

More and more electrical equipment becomes wireless, so except for the power supply line(s), no wires need be connected to the equipment.

One embodiment thus further comprises a power supply external to the multimedia system, wherein the multimedia system comprises a frame and a power requiring object positioned within the frame, and wherein the first and second wires are electrically connected to the power requiring object and not the frame and are configured to provide power from the power supply to the power requiring object.

In standard audio/video equipment, displays/monitors/TVs require power, as do amplifiers, players, receivers and the like. Not providing received power to the frame obviously protects the user from the power.

Preferably, this power is of low voltage, e.g. in the range 6 volt to 24 volt

In a preferred embodiment: first ends of the wire and the second wire are connected to an upper part of the multimedia system, and - second ends of the wire and the second wire are connected to a lower part of the multimedia system. In one embodiment, the connection of the wire to the frame of the multimedia equipment is via an object that has a freedom to rotate around the axis of point of connection, and the arrangement allows an angle of tilting of the attached multimedia system, such as in the range from 0° to 45°. Preferably, the mounting element may be mounted on a wall or on a ceiling according to the user's desire. The conical spindle may be mounted on standard means like a flange, a plate or the like to be rotatable around the horizontal axis.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of operating the apparatus according to the first aspect, the method comprising tilting the multimedia system so as to rotate the spindle, whereby a center of gravity of the multimedia system does not alter its height during the tilting step.

Naturally, the tilting will preferably be around a horizontal axis.

In one situation, wherein a first end of the wire and the second wire are connected to an upper part of the multimedia system, and a second end of the wire and the second wire are connected to a lower part of the multimedia system, a first wire length between the first end and the spindle increases more than a second wire length between the second end and the spindle is reduced, when the spindle is rotated in a first direction.

Then, preferably, the first wire length is reduced more than the second wire length is increased, when the spindle is rotated in a second direction being opposite to the first direction.

In one embodiment, in the above situation where the wires are electrically conducting, the method may comprise power being supplied from the power supply to the power requiring object via the wires.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the prior art.

Figure 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the embodiment of figure 2. Figures 4 & 5 illustrate details in the mounting element of the embodiment of figure 2.

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art system with a system 5 hanging by a wire 3 supported by a rotatable wheel 1. Figure 1A illustrates the system 5 being in one position, and figure IB illustrates the system 5 being in another position. To move the system from the one position to the other position requires a certain work, 7, corresponding to the height difference in positions 6 of the center of gravity 7 in the two positions, and the weight of the system.

Typically, the weight of the system may be in the range 10 kg -30 kg, which requires a certain force for the user to supply in order to move the system from one position to the other. Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a system 5 hanging in a wire 30 supported by a rotational wheel 10. Figure 2A illustrates the system 5 being in one position, and figure 2B illustrates the system 5 being in another position. To move the system from the one rotational position to the other position requires almost no force, as there is no height difference between positions 6 of the center of gravity 7 in the two positions. This balanced tilting is obtained simply by adjusting the "effective" length (being the sum of the length of wire from the spindle to, respectively, the two positions fixed to the system) of the wire 30 according to the actual tilting angle of the system. Upon rotation of the wheel/spindle in one direction, the wire is winding on to the spindle and effectively becomes shorter, and by rotation in the other direction, the wire effectively becomes longer. Figure 3 illustrates a system 5 hanging from the ceiling in two mounting elements each comprising the conical spindle 10, which is fixed to the ceiling via a flange 20, and the wires 30, where one end of each wire is connected to the upper part 50 of the system 5 and the other end of each wire is connected to the lower part 40 of the system 5.

As an alternative to the ceiling mount, the flange 20 may be mounted onto a wall. In addition, an external power supply 25 is illustrated which is electrically connected to the spindles and the wires to feed power to a power consuming element 52 in the system. This element may be a receiver, a monitor/display, an amplifier, a controller or the like. The electrical connection between the wires and the element 52 leaves a frame 51 of the system electrically isolated, so that a user engaging the frame 51 is not exposed to the electricity. Figure 4 illustrates details in relation to the conical spindle 10. The spindle is rotatable as a wheel on the axle 16 and around the horizontal axis 8, thus an axle 16 is fixed to the ceiling/wall mount flange 20.

The surface of the spindle 10 has a threaded shape 11 to support and position the wires 30 in the process of winding the wires onto the spindle 10 to effectively make the wires shorter or opposite to unwind to effectively make the wires 30 longer.

Upon rotation 12 of the wheel/spindle in one direction the wire 30 is effectively winding on to the spindle and effectively becomes shorter, and by rotation 12 in the other direction the wire 30 effectively becomes shorter. In a preferred embodiment, there are two wires and two spindles one for each side of the system. Each of the wires 30 are fixed to the pertaining spindle into e.g. an ordinary recess, e.g. as a hole 15 and combined with a screw.

The wires 30 are fixed to the holes 15 of the spindles, once the system is correctly positioned and tilted. Figure 5 illustrates further details of the conical spindle 10. The thread 11 supports the wires 30 in the different positions into which the spindle 10 is rotated. This is illustrated with examples of alternative wire positions 30' on the spindle 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the spindle are: the larger diameter 18 is approximately 40 mm; the smaller diameter 17 is approximately 15 mm; the length of the spindle 19 is approximately 25 mm.

A rotation delimiter may be provided to act as a brake of friction. This delimiter may be provided as part of the thread 11 along the periphery of the larger diameter 18; the width of this delimiter could be approximately 3 mm.

The present invention relates to a mounting element that enables easy tilting and positioning of systems to enhance the usability of multimedia systems.

The invention is applicable as an arrangement for e.g. TV sets, tablet PC's, laptops, audio- video equipment, loudspeaker and systems including sound providers. Aspects of the invention

1. A lever arrangement in a support device applied for tilting hanging multimedia

equipment, the arrangement characterized by:

• a first object that constitutes a conical shaped spindle that can be rotated around a horizontal axe,

• the first object is being connected to a second object that constitutes a fixation plate,

• the first object having a recess on the surface, the form of the recess being

threaded and adapted to support the third object,

• the third object being a wire which is connected at both ends to the multimedia apparatus,

• the third object being fixated to the first object, and the fixation point on the third object is at a position in between the two ends of the third object,

• the fixation point on the first object is at a position in between the two edged of the first object,

• the length of the third object becomes shorter when the first object is rotated in a first direction, and the length of the third object becomes longer when the first object is rotated in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

2. A lever arrangement according to aspect 1, wherein the arrangement is configured with two identical levers means each including one first object, one second object and one third object.

3. A lever arrangement according to aspect 2, wherein the connection of the third object to the frame of the multimedia equipment is via an object that has a freedom to rotate around the axis of point of connection.

4. A lever arrangement according to aspect 3, wherein the arrangement allows an angle of tilting of the attached multimedia equipment, the angle in a range from 0° to 45°.

5. A lever arrangement according to aspect 4, wherein the connection of the third object to the frame of the multimedia equipment is via an object that is electrical isolated from the frame but electrical connected to an object within the multimedia equipment. A lever arrangement according to aspect 5, wherein the third object is electrical connected to power supply means external to the multimedia equipment. A lever arrangement according to aspect 6, wherein the second object is configured to be wall mounted or ceiling mounted. A lever arrangement according to all aspects, wherein an assembly including the first object, the second object and the third object in common constitutes a mechanism to be applied by multimedia apparatus including audio provider means and video provider means.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a multimedia system and a mounting element comprising : a conically shaped, rotatable spindle having a threaded outer surface, a mounting element configured to fix the spindle to a structure, a wire having two ends each connected to the multimedia system and being fixed to the spindle at a position between the ends thereof, part of the wire being wound around the spindle.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting element comprises: a second, conically shaped, rotatable spindle having a threaded outer surface, a second mounting element configured to fix the second spindle to a structure, a second wire having two ends each connected to the multimedia system and being fixed to the second spindle at a position between the ends thereof, part of the second wire being wound around the second spindle.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: a first end of the wire and the second wire are connected to an upper part of the multimedia system, and a second end of the wire and the second wire are connected to a lower part of the multimedia system.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a power supply external to the multimedia system, wherein the multimedia system comprises a frame and a power requiring object positioned within the frame, and wherein the first and second wires are electrically connected to the power requiring object and not the frame and are configured to provide power from the power supply to the power requiring object.

5. A method of operating the apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising tilting the multimedia system so as to rotate the spindle, whereby a center of gravity of the multimedia system does not alter its height during the tilting step.

6. A method of operating the apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a first wire length between the first end and the spindle increases more than a second wire length between the second end and the spindle is reduced, when the spindle is rotated in a first direction.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the first wire length is reduced more than the second wire length is increased, when the spindle is rotated in a second direction being opposite to the first direction.

8. A method of operating the apparatus according to claim 4, the method comprising power being supplied from the power supply to the power requiring object via the wires.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a first wire length of the wire between the first end and the spindle engages the spindle at a first position where the spindle has a larger diameter than a second position of the spindle engaged by a second wire length of the between the second end and the spindle.