GB2153002A - Security mount - Google Patents

Abstract

A mount (10) for securing an article (11) to a support (12) comprises a first member (13) adapted for securement to the support (12) and a second member (20) adapted for securement to the article (11) the two members (13) (20) having means (15, 23, 17, 22) whereby they can be interengaged and means (24) whereby they can be locked in their interengaged position to detachably secure the article (11) to the support (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mount This invention relates to a mount for an article such as a till, television set, video recorder or the like, enabling the article to be securely mounted on a support.

Large numbers of valuable, easily portable articles are now provided in domestic, public and industrial premises and theft of such articles is a constant threat to the owners of the articles or the premises. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mount for such an article which can cheaply and effectively prevent or deter theft of such an article.

Accordingly the invention provides a mount for an article including a first, generally planer, member adapted to be secured to a support, and a second, also generally planar, member adapted to be secured to an article, the two members being complementarily shaped to enable them to be lockably united to secure the article to the support whilst shielding fasteners connecting the members to the support and the article.

Preferably the members are unitable to form a pad-like plinth between the article and the support, the plinth being unobstrusive and pleasing in appearance.

One of the members can be generally plate-like and the other can be of shallow box-like construction and adapted to encase and engage with the other member.

A cylinder lock or the like can secure the two members together, a key being provided to enable the member to be released to a separable condition to allow removal of the article for service, replacement or the like.

The two members can be locked together in such a way that although they cannot readily be separated, they can undergoe-relative movement such as pivoting, rotation or limited relative translation whilst locked. This allows the article to be oriented relative to the support but not removed.

Such articulated connection can be important if a television set is to be mounted for viewing from any of several directions.

The members are preferably of sheet metal and can be adapted for securement to the article or support by having apertures therein for fasteners such as bolts, screws, rivets or the like. The apertures can be slots enabling the positions of the fasteners to be adjusted to suit the casings of various articles and/or to suit the support.

Preferably one of the members will be screwed to the support which may be a table top or work surface and the other will be bolted or screwed to a casing of the article.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the following description is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an underneath perspective view of a second member of a first preferred mount of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a first member of the first embodiment.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the mount in use; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a variation.

A first preferred embodiment of mount 10 (Fig.

3) of the invention is suitable for forming a secure connection between an article such as a television set 11 (Fig. 3), a till, a video recorder or the like and a support such as a table top 12 (Fig. 3) work surface or a counter. The mount 10 comprises a first member 13 in the form of a flat rectangular plate of sheet metal 14 having a joggled strip 15 attached adjacent one side to provide a laterally facing channel 16 and having an upstanding flange 17 along an opposite side. The plate 14 has apertures, slots 18 or the like to enable it to be secured by screws 19, bolts or similar fasteners to the support 12.

A second member 20 of the mount 10 is also of sheet metal and is of shallow inverted tray-like form having a rectangular main plate 21 and four depending short side walls 22. Along one edge a flange 23 is provided, lying parallel to the main plate 21, and dimensioned to be received in the channel 16 of the first member 13 and a side wall opposite the flange 23 carries a key or combination controlled lock 24 which can cooperate with a hole or slot in the upstanding flange on the first member to lock the two members together. The main plate has aperture, for example in the form of slots 26, which may be L-shaped or cross-shaped slots which enables the second member to be bolted or otherwise fastened by fasteners such as 27 to the casing of the article to be secured.If the article is electronic or electrical, non-conducting fasteners are preferably used to secure the second member to the casing of the article.

By use of the mount an article such as a video recorder, till or television set can be secured against unauthorised removal. The fastenings securing the members to the support and to the article are concealed and sheilded by the members when locked together.

In a second embodiment (not illustrated) of mount of the invention the two members are, when secured to the support and article, still able to pivot or rotate relative to each other. To this end one of the members is provided with a socket and other with a complementary pillar which slidably engages within the socket. A lock on one of the members controls a member such as a push rod or lever which connects the socket and pillar against separation whilst still allowing relative pivoting or rotation between pillar and socket. Such connection can include a slot around the pillar being engaged by a rod passing through an aperture in the socket.

The second embodiment of mount of the invention is particularly suitable for mounting a television set, for example in a hotel room when the orientation of the set needs to be variable.

Figure 4 illustrates how a mount 27 of the first embodiment can be supported by a plinth mount 28 by way of a captive swivel 29 or by being secured to mount 28.

Plinth mount 28 is in the form of a sheet metal member which has a top-plate 29, side walls 30 and base flanges 31. When flanges 31 are secured as by screws 32 to a table 33, it defines a sleeve or strand which can receive a portion of an instrument such as a micro-computer (not shown) which can be secured therein by a bolt 34 of a lock 35 entering an intrinsic or specially provided socket in the instrument. The combination shown in Fig. 4 is particularly suitable for use with a micro-computerl monitor combination.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. For example, the member which is to be secured to the base of a casing of an electrical or electronic article can be shaped andlor perforated to allow cooling air to enter existing grills or the like in the casing.

Claims (13)

1. Accordingly the invention provides a mount for an article including a first, generally planar member adapted to be secured to a support, and a second, also generally planar, member adapted to be secured to an article, the two members being complementarily shaped to enable them to be lockably united to secure the article to the support whilst shielding fasteners connecting the members to the support and the article.

2. A mount as claimed in claim 1, wherein the members are unitable to form a pad-like plinth between the article and the support, the plinth being unobstrusive and pleasing in appearance.

3. A mount as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein one of the members is generally plate-like and the other is of shallow box-like constructions and adapted to encase and engage with the other members

4. A mount as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a cylinder lock or the like secures to two members together, a key being provided to enable the member to be released to a separable condition to allow removal of the article.

5. A mount as claimed in claim 4 wherein the two members are locked together in such a way that although they cannot readily be separated, they can undergoe relative movement such as pivoting, rotation or limited relative translation whilst locked to allow the article to be shifted relative to the support but not removed.

6. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the members are of sheet metal and are adapted for securement to the article or support by having apertures therein for fasteners.

7. A mount as claimed in claim 6 wherein the apertures are slots enabling the positions of the fasteners to be adjusted to suit the casings of various articles andlor to suit the support.

8. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one of the members is screwed to a support and the other is bolted to the article.

9. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a hollow sheath-like receptacle capable of securement to a support and having locking means for engaging with and retaining an instrument or the like wholly or partially within the sheath.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the mount is connected to the receptacle by a pivot arrangement.

11. A combination as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the receptacle is made from sheet metal and has a main plate depending opposed side walls and inwardly extending flanges adapted for securement to a support.

12. A combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the locking means is constituted by a lock having a bolt which can engage a socket provided in an instrument or the like.

13. A mount or combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.