GB2448332A

GB2448332A - Secure mounting device for projector

Info

Publication number: GB2448332A
Application number: GB0706957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glen Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-11
Filing date: 2007-04-11
Publication date: 2008-10-15
Also published as: GB0706957D0

Abstract

A mounting device 100 for a projector 103 comprises a cradle 107 attached to a framework 105a,105b, the cradle facilitating adjustment of the mounting device to hold projectors of various sizes. A suspension member 117 is attached to the cradle to suspend the mounting device from a ceiling, and a securing member 113 is provided to prevent unauthorised removal of the projector. The framework may comprise two or more wing members 105a,105b, at least one of which may comprise a hole. The securing member may comprise a rod, cable or chain, and may be passed through the hole in the wing and one of a plurality of holes 109 in the cradle to attach the wing to the cradle. The securing device may comprise a hole (305, Fig. 3) at one end to which a padlock 115 may be secured. The other end of the securing device may be fixed to the ceiling. Alternatively, the securing device itself may comprise a padlock.

Description

A SECURE MOUNTING DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a secure mounting device for and more specifically, the invention relates to a secure mounting device for projectors, particularly digital projectors.

Background of the Invention

Projectors or visual projection systems are commonly used for displaying and projecting a variety of visual information to a group of people at a time. Said visual projection systems include a projector and a projection screen. The projector is generally mounted in level of the screen. Examples of a projector that is mounted in level of the screen are Over Head Projectors (OHP), digital projectors etc. Mounting the projector level with the screen can interfere with people's view of projection screen.

Often the projector is mounted on an overhead structure attached to ceiling or roof of a building. Mounting the projector overhead overcomes problems of interfering with an audience's view of the screen.

Generally, it is desirable that the projector is adjustably mounted so as to :. enable the proper focusing and projection of visual information. It is also :..::: desired to be able to adjust the lens, sensor, and control buttons, connection *. . . . . sockets of the projector for proper control and projection of visual information. * **. *

Projectors such as Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) projectors, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and Digital Light Processing (DLP) are expensive.

Furthermore, the overhead mounting structures are not often secured to ensure that projectors are kept safe and prevented from being stolen.

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Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable and easily manoeuvrable mounting system that secures the projector mounted on a roof or a ceiling.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a secure mounting device for a projector comprising: an adjustable frame that defines a cradle for securely receiving the projector and means for locking the frame so as to prevent unauthorised removal of the projector therefrom.

The mounting device preferably includes a cradle, in the form of a steel or metal frame, which can be adjusted to receive a visual projection device of varying size and dimensions. Further, the mounting device provides a tamperproof security member, which secures the projector from being stolen.

Preferably the mounting device provides access to an adjustment means for adjusting controls of the projection device when supported or housed therein.

Advantageously the cradle may be adapted to rotate so as to receive the projector in one of four different orientations, whilst enabling the projector to point at a screen. An advantage with this is that the cradle may receive different types of projector in such a way that projector control buttons do not interfere with brackets or struts of the cradle and so can be reached by a user.

ideally the mounting device is adapted to be permanently connected to or :... affixed to a ceiling, building structure, wall or a roof of a building. * S * S*S

Preferably means is provided to permit tilting of the cradle so as to vary the angle of projection of the projector. One way in which this is achieved is by S..

* forming an arcuate slot or groove in the mounting device and arranging the *: .: cradle on a pinion whereby tilting is achieved by movement of the pinion in the groove.

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The invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mounting device as viewed from front and top in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mounting device as viewed from front and bottom in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cable used as securing member of the mounting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Referring to the Figures, there is shown various embodiments of a mounting device 100 for adjustably mounting a visual projection device 103 overhead.

Examples of visual projection device 103 include LCD projector, DLP projector and cathode ray tube (CRT) projector. The various embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed in detail with references to Figures 1-3.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mounting device 100 as viewed from front and top in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Mounting device 100 includes a framework. The framework can include two or more wing members. In the embodiment of the invention, the framework includes two wing members 105a, 105b. Wing members 105a and 105b are used to hold visual projection device 103. Mounting device 100 further includes a *..

cradle 107 attached to the metallic framework. Cradle 107 is attached to the framework by wing members 105a and 105b. Cradle 107 contains a series of holes 109a, 109b. A series of holes 109a, 109b are provided in cradle 107 to * hold visual projection devices of variable sizes. At least one of the two or more wing members can slide along series of holes 109a, 109b and be attached to cradle 107. Variation of the disposition and orientation of the mounting device may be made in order to accommodate different sized arid weight projectors, thereby maintaining an evenly distnbuted weight of the projector in the cradle. This enables the centre of gravity of the complete system (cradle and projector) to be shifted as required.

Further, visual projection device 103 can be held in mounting device 100 at a variety of positions to facilitate easy manoeuvring of various elements of visual projection device 103 such as lens, sensor, control buttons and connection sockets.

Cradle 107 is attached permanently to metallic iMng member 105a. Mounting device 100 further includes one or more wing screws lila and Ilib. Wing screws lila and Ilib help in clamping visual projection device 103 firmly.

Mounting device 100 further comprises a securing member 113. Securing member 113 can be used to resist the visual projection device 103 from being stolen. In accordance with one err!bodiment of the present invention, securing member 113 can be a rod, a cable or a chain. Securing member 113 attaches cradle 107 and metallic wing member 105b by passing securing member 113 through holes 109b provided in cradle 107.

Securing member 113 comprises a hole at one of its end to securely lock visual projection device 100 by means of a padlock 115. Other end of securing member 113 is attached to an anchor point on the ceiling or roof of the building. Cradle 107 is also attached to a suspension member 117 which S..... is in turn anchored to the ceiling or roof of the building. Suspension member 117 is attached to cradle 107 by means of a screw 119. Alternatively suspension member 117 is Connected to cradle 107 by way of a bolt that passes through an arcuate slot. This permits the cradle to be tipped to an ideal angle at a screen (not shown). Cradle 107 can be rotated in a plane perpendicular to the axis of suspension member 117. Cradle 107 can be S.....

rotated at an angle desired for projection. In one embodiment the angles of rotation of cradle 107 can be 90, 180 or 270 degrees. The rotation of cradle 107 is facilitated in order to provide flexibility of projection of visual information at various planes.

Mounting device 100 can further include a padlock guard 121 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Padlock 115 is securely fixed to padlock guard 121. Padlock guard 121 can prevent the burden of taking care of detachable padlock 115 from being lost or stolen.

In accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the securing member to secure the mounting device can be a padlock. The padlock locks the cradle with the wing members of the framework. The cradle and one of the two or more wing members can include slots to lock them with the help of the padlock.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mounting device 100 as viewed from front and bottom in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Visual projection device 103 is supported at its base between wing members 105a and 105b by a plurality of rubber feet 201a, 201b, 201c, and 201d. The plurality of rubber feet 201a, 201b, 201c, and 201d provide support to visual projection device 103 and prevents it from being damaged.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cable 301 used as securing member 113 of the mounting device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Cable 301 includes a metallic head 303 attached to one : ... end of cable 301. Metallic head 303 includes a hole 305 to facilitate locking S...

by means of a padlock S. .* The present invention provides mounting device 100 to mount visual S..

projection device 103 overhead. Visual projection devices of various sizes and dimensions can be mounted in the mounting device 100 by using series of holes 109a, 109b provided in the cradle 107. Further, visual projection device 103 is mounted securely in the mounting device and is prevented from being stolen. The security is being provided by securing member 113.

Examples of securing member 113, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, can be a cable attached with a padlock, a rod attached with a padlock, a chain attached with a padlock or simply a padlock.

The cable, chain or rod can further be secured by attaching it to the roof or ceiling of the building.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. a

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Claims

1. A secure mounting device for a projector comprising an adjustable frame that defines a cradle for securely receiving the projector and means for locking the frame so as to prevent unauthorised removal of the projector therefrom.

2 A mounting device for adjustably mounting a visual projection device overhead, the mounting device comprising: a framework, the framework being used to hold the visual projection device in a variety of positions; a cradle attached to the framework, the cradle being used to firmly hold the visual projection device and facilitating adjustment of the mounting device to hold visual projection devices of various sizes; a suspension member attached to the cradle, the suspension member being used to hold the mounting device from roof or ceiling of a building; and a securing member, the securing member being used to resist the visual projection device from being stolen.

3. A device according to claim I or 2, wherein the visual projection device can be selected from a group comprising LCD projector, CRT projector, DLP projector and the like.

4. A device according to claim I or 2, wherein the securing member is selected from a group comprising a rod, a cable, a chain and the like.

5. A device according to claim I, wherein the securing member I...

comprises a hole to securely fit in a lock. S...

6. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the securing member is * attached to a fixed member of a ceiling or a roof of a building. S. S S **

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7. A device according to claim I or 2, wherein the securing member is a * padlock.

8. A device according to claim I or 2, wherein the framework comprises two or more wing members.

9 A device according to claim 7, wherein the cradle is attached to at least one of the two or more wing members of the framework by means of a plurality of wing screws.

1O.A device according to claim 7, wherein the cradle is attached to at least one of the two or more wing members of the framework by means of the securing member.

11. A device according to claim 7, wherein the cradle comprises a plurality of holes to enable it to be adjustably attached to the two or more wing members of the framework.

12.A device according to claim 7, wherein the visual projection device is supported at the base between the two or more wing members by a plurality of rubber feet.

13. A device according to claim 7, wherein the securing member is further secured from being stolen by attaching a lock to the securing member.

14.A device according to claim 12, wherein the lock is a padlock.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the visual projection device can be rotated with the framework in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the Suspension member. *S..

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