GB2165684A

GB2165684A - Adjustable supporting unit for a display device

Info

Publication number: GB2165684A
Application number: GB08426279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-10-17
Filing date: 1984-10-17
Publication date: 1986-04-16
Also published as: GB8426279D0; GB2165684B

Abstract

An adjustable supporting unit for a display device comprises a supporting bracket 14 which can be fitted to a vertical or horizontal support surface and provides a pivot or swivel mounting 16 for supporting a casing 10 adjacent one side of the latter, the casing being adapted to receive the display device in any one of four orientations so that it is orientated upright whatever the orientation of the support surface to which the bracket is mounted (Figs. 1 to 4) and remains correctly orientated during adjustment about the pivot or swivel mounting. The casing comprises a front part and a rear part which are openable apart for insertion of a display device 12, such as a T.V. monitor or a clock, and lockable together by device 34. The front part has a partial inner surround 36 which defines a square shape which can be filled asymmetrically by the display device and a detachable panel 38 in any one of four orientations. The swivel mounting comprises a bushing on the casing in which engages a stub shaft of the bracket, a dog plate (43, Fig. 7) being mounted to turn with the casing. Counterbalance is provided by removable springs 61 mounted between abutments on the dog plate and mountings 49 on the bracket. Bush 50 restricts the angle of swivel and a cap 45 covers any protruding parts on the bracket. The cable for powering the display device may pass through bush 41. The casing may remain in a chosen pivotal position by friction, and means may lock the dog plate in the chosen position. The bracket may include a wedge-shaped mounting plinth. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An adjustable supporting unit for a display device or the like Field of the invention This invention relates to a unit for accumulating and supporting a display device such as a television monitor in an adjustable manner.

Background to the invention Adjustable supporting housings are commonly employed at railway stations and airports, for example, to accommodate monitors which display information to passengers. Adjustability is a prime requirement for universal use, because different situations will require the monitor screen to be orientated at differing angles and positions relative to the fixed support to which the housing is attached.

Known housings, however, are not as flexible as might be desired, and are sometimes rather inelegant and structurally cumbersome and/or unattractive.

The invention According to one aspect of the present invention, an adjustable supporting unit for a display device comprises a regularly shaped casing with four sides and which has a pair of mounting points on two opposite sides located nearer to one than the other of the other two sides, and a support bracket for attachment to a support surface, which bracket is pivotally secured to the pair of mounting points to allow the casing to be mounted above or below or laterally of said support surface, the casing being adapted to receive a display device in four differing orientations, thereby to allow the device to be correctly orientated for viewing of the display however the casing is mounted relative to the support surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, an adjustable supporting unit for a display device comprises a bracket for attachment to a support surface, a casing for the display device, means on the bracket and adjacent one side of the casing for defining a swivel axis on which the casing is mounted for swivelling relative to the bracket, and means in the casing enabling the display device to be mounted therein in any one of four orientations which will position the display for correct viewing whether the swivel axis is disposed at the top, at the bottom or at either side of the casing.

The invention also extends to the combination of the adjustable supporting unit with the display device, which may be a TV monitor, VDU, a back-illuminated display, a time indicator such as a clock, an LED, a roller blind mechanism or any other display device or the like which displays information which has to be orientated upright for correct viewing.

The invention offers greater flexibility of mounting for display devices than adjustable housings known hitherto, whilst at the same time enabling a support bracket of reduced size and mass and visually of more attractive appearance than existing housings in which the mounting points are located midway between two opposite sides thereof.

The display device will usually include a rectangular window in or on which information is to be displayed, as for example on a TV monitor screen, and advantageously the display device will mount non-symmetrically to the casing so that there is a large depth panel at least either above or below the display device, for example to enable the display of permanent information (on the panel).

The casing is preferably square and has a front which is removable to be positionable in any one of four different orientations relative to the main part of the housing, so as to enable an orientation-adjustable non-symmetrical aperture in the front of the housing through which the display device can be viewed. This non-symmetrical aperture may match the typical rectangular window of the display device, as referred to above. Moreover, the removable front may be formed in two or more parts, including at least one part which defines the at least one large depth panel previously referred to.

Locking means are preferably provided to enable the casing to be locked in a chosen position of swivel adjustment relative to the support bracket. Alternatively, a stiff friction adjustability may be a stiff friction adjustability may be employed. A locking means control element will preferably be exposed to one side of the casing.

The pivot means connecting the casing to the bracket may include a counterbalancing mechanism. Such a mechanism is especially useful for the case when the casing is mounted with the pivot axis at or towards its lower edge. A preferred counterbalancing mechanism is a springloaded cantilever mechanism, which balances an increasing tension in a spring against an increasing moment in the unit weight. The springs may act between attachments on the bracket and attachments on a dog plate mounted to swivel with the casing.

In some situations, for example desk mounting, a greater angle of swivelling may be required than would normally be permitted without the casing fouling the support surface (desk top). In this case, the support bracket may be mounted to the support surface via a plinth which provides an appropriate stand-off.

Where the unit is to be mounted laterally of the support surface, a wedge-like plinth will enable the bracket to be angled in order to give a greater range of adjustment.

However, in the maximum range of swivelling of the casing relative to the bracket is preferably limited by stops, even when a counterbalancing mechanism is provided.

In the case of a TV monitor or other display device having an electric power connection, the cable or cabling preferably passes through a bore in the pivot or swivel bearings. A cover is preferably provided to conceal the end of the bearing and the cable passing therethrough.

Moreover, again in the case of an electrically powered display device, an isolating switch may be provided whereby, when the mountings for the casing are loosened, and/or possibly if the detachable front of the casing is loosened, the switch is caused to operate to isolate the housing from the power source.

The adjustable supporting housing of this invention can find application not only in stations, airports and the like, but also in factories, shops and offices, for example to accommodate and support surveillance monitors, clocks, VDUs or similar display devices.

Description of drawings The invention will now be exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1A to 1D diagrammatically illustrates the principle of the invention; Figure 2 is a more detailed front elevational view of the unit when mounted in the position corresponding to Fig. 1A; Figure 3 is a corresponding side elevation; Figure 4 is a corresponding plan view; Figure 5 is a side view of one limb of a mounting bracket; Figure 6 is a cross-section through a bracket limb cover or cap; Figure 7 is an end view of pivot with cover removed; Figure 8 is a cross-section on A-A through the pivot, and Figure 9 is a cross-section on B-B through the clamp.

Description of embodiment Referring first to Figs 1 A to 1 D, the display device supporting unit of the invention essentially consists of a casing 10 for the display device 12 and a mounting bracket 14 to which the casing is swivel mounted and which is fixable to a supporting surface such as a wall or ceiling. The casing 10 is mounted to the bracket 14 to define a swivel axis 16 which is disposed at and adjacent one side of the casing 10, which is of generally rectangu lar shape. For this purpose, the bracket 14 is of a shallow U-shape, with a base 18 and two spaced parallel limbs 20.

The base of the bracket 14 is fixable to the supporting surface 22 in any one of four orientations, respectively shown in Figs. 1 A to 1D.

In Fig. 1A, the supporting surface 22 is a ceiling, and the casing 10 with display device 12 is suspended beneath the bracket 14 and is able to swivel about a horizontal axis 16 adjacent the top edge of the casing.

In Fig. 1B, the supporting surface 22 is a desk top or the like, and the casing 10 with display device 12 is held above the bracket and is able to swivel about a horizontal axis 16 adjacent its bottom edge.

In Figs. 1C and 1D, the base of the bracket 14 is fixed to vertical supporting surface 22, and the casing 10 with display device 12 is able to swivel about a vertical axis 16 at the side of the casing adjacent the support 22.

The casing 10 is adapted to receive the display device 12 in any one of four orientations so that said display drive, such as a TV monitor, is correctly orientated in each of the four positions in which the mounting bracket is fixed in Figs. 1A to 1D. Thus, in each of Figs. 1A to 1D, the display device 22 appears in the same orientation, in each casing located in the casing in an off-centre position displaced towards that side of the casing 10 which is lowermost in the orientation in question.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4, the casing 10 comprises a front part 30 and a rear part 32 which are openable apart and lockable in the closed condition by means of a locking device 34. The casing is openable to permit insertion of the display device 12, such as a TV monitor, in a chosen orientation selected according to the orientation in whiich the unit is to be mounted to a supporting surface.

The front part is faced with a partial inner surround 36 which is closed across the fourth side by a detachable front panel 38. The surround 36 essentially defines a square shape and is filled asymmetrically by the display device such as the screen 12 of a TV monitor and by the detachable panel 38. When the display device 12 is reorientated relatively to the casing 10, the detachable front panel 38 is also repositioned. This front panel 38 may carry permanent display information. The front of the casing also has an outer fascia surround 39.

The mounting bracket 14 connects to the casing to define the swivel axis again referenced 16. The mounting means comprises, on each side of the casing at the swivel axis a cast bezel which includes a bushing 40 in which engages a stub shaft 41 (see Fig. 8) carried by the appropriate limb 20 of the Ushaped mounting bracket 14. The hollow stub shaft is mounted to the bracket in association with a dog plate 43 (see Fig. 7) the purpose of which will be mentioned hereinafter. The stub shafts and other parts of the swivelling mechanism protrude to the outside surface of the limb 20 of the bracket, and for this reason each limb of the bracket includes a cover or cap 45, retained in position by screws 42.

The external appearance of the bracket limb 20, inside the cap, is shown in Fig. 5. The cap 45 is specifically shown in Fig. 6 and assembled in Fig. 8.

The base 18 of the mounting bracket 14, as will be clear from Fig. 4, includes four apertures 44 to enable normal fixed mounting to the supporting surface 22 and a larger control aperture 46 which can be utilised for a swivel mounting, thereby to enable rotation of the complete unit about a vertical axis or, more generally, about an axis normal to the swivel axis of the casing on the bracket.

The above-mentioned dog plate 43 is mounted to turn with the casing 10 relative to the bracket 14, and serves, inter alia, to provide an abutment 47 for two springs (one of which is shown at 61) which act to provide a counterbalance when the unit is mounted in the orientation of Fig. 1B. The two springs are mounted one on each side of the unit and each is connected between its dog plate abutment 47 and a mounting bracket 49 so that the casing (and display device mounted therein) do not tend to overbalance, even though the centre of gravity thereof is located above the axis of swivelling and is movable through the vertical plane containing said axis.

The springs are removable, since counterbalancing is not required when the unit is orientated as shown in Figs. 1A, 1C or 1D.

Additionally, a spacer bush (see Fig. 7) serves as a stop provided to restrict the angle of swivelling between the bracket 14 and the casing 10. The bush 50 is twisted by the edges of the rectangular aperture 52 (see Figs. 5 and 7). Moreover, it is preferred to be able to lock the casing 10 (with display device 12) in a chosen position of swivel adjustment relative to the bracket 14. To this end the edge of the dog plate 43 can be clamped by a clamp 51 (best seen in Figs. 7 and 9).

Access to the clamp tightening nut 53 is gained by removing the cover 45.

Especially when the unit is mounted on a desk top, for example, the angle at which the unit is required to be tilted relative to the base of the mounting bracket may exceed firstly that which is normally permitted by the stops and secondly that which can be achieved without the unit fouling the supporting surface, especially for example at the rear of the display device. A required angle of tilt can be enabled, in this case, by release or removal of a stop and/or by mounting the base of the mounting bracket to the desk or other supporting surface via a spacing block, which if desired may be a wedge-shaped block.

Referring again to Fig. 7, the hollow bush 41 enables the entry of a cable 55 for powering the display device (as in the case of a TV monitor for example). Thus, the cable 55 is entered into the space between the mounting bracket limb and its cover via aperture 57, and passes through the bush 41 between the mounting bracket and the casing.

Although not mentioned, the hollow bush 41 is held in place by a grub screw 59 which locks the bush in its receiving aperture, as shown in Fig. 8.

It will be appreciated that the above-described arrangement may be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined.

Claims

1. An adjustable supporting unit for a display device comprising a regularly shaped casing with four sides and which has a pair of mounting points on two opposite sides located nearer to one than the other of the other two sides, and a support bracket for attachment to a support surface, which bracket is pivotally secured to the pair of mounting points to allow the casing to be mounted above or below or laterally of said support surface, the casing being adapted to receive a display device in four differing orientations, thereby to allow the device to be correctly orientated for viewing of the display however the casing is mounted relative to the support surface.

2. An adjustable supporting unit for a display device comprising a bracket for attachment to a support surface, a casing for the display device, means on the bracket and adjacent one side of the casing for defining a swivel axis on which the casing is mounted for swivelling relative to the bracket, and means in the casing enabling the display device to be mounted therein in any one of four orientations which will position the display for correct viewing whether the swivel axis is disposed at the top, at the bottom or at either side of the casing.

3. A supporting unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, for a display device such as a TV screen having a generally rectangular display window, wherein the casing is adapted to receive the display device so that the display window is positioned non-symmetrically, and a panel is provided at least either above or below the display window of the display device, for example to bear permanent information.

4. A supporting unit according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the casing is square and has a front which is removable to be positionable in any one of four different orientations relative to the main part of the housing, so as to enable an orientation-adjustable non-symmetrical aperture in the front of the housing through which the display device can be viewed.

5. A supporting unit according to claim 4, wherein the non-symmetrical aperture provided by the front of the casing matches the rectangular display window of the display device.

6. A supporting unit according to claim 4 or claim 5 when appendant to claim 3, wherein the removable front is formed in two or more parts including at least one part which defines the said panel.

7. A supporting unit according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the casing remains in a chosen position of adjustment by means of stiff friction adjustability.

8. A supporting unit according to any of claims 1 to 6, including means for locking the casing in a chosen position of adjustment.

9. A supporting unit according to claim 8, having a locking means control element exposed to one side of the casing.

10. A supporting unit according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pivot means connecting the casing to the bracket includes a counterbalancing mechanism.

11. A supporting unit according to claim 10, wherein the counterbalancing mechanism is a springioaded cantilever mechanism which balances an increasing tension in a spring against an increasing moment as the position of the centre of mass of the casing changes relative to the pivot axis.

12. A supporting unit according to claim 11, wherein the spring or springs of the cantilever mechanism act between one or more attachments on the bracket and one or more attachments on a dog plate mounted to swivel with the casing.

13. A supporting unit according to any of claims 1 to 12, including end stops for limiting the extent of pivotal or swivelling adjustment.

14. A supporting unit according to any of claims 1 to 13, for a display device having an electrical power connection, wherein the pivot or swivel mounting includes a bore for passage of the cable connection.

15. A supporting unit according to claim 14, wherein a cover is provided to conceal the end of the mounting bore and the cable passing therethrough.

16. A supporting unit according to claim 14 or claim 15, including an isolating switch operable to isolate the display device from the power source if the mountings for the casing are loose and/or the detachable front of the casing is ioose.

17. A supporting unit according to any of claims 1 to 16, including a stand-off plinth via which the bracket is adapted to be mounted to the support surface.

18. A supporting unit according to claim 17, wherein the plinth is wedge shaped.

19. An adjustable supporting unit for a display device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. The combination of the supporting unit of any of claims 1 to 19 with a display device fitted thereto.