GB2463524A

GB2463524A - Display device wall bracket with spring loaded pivot bolts

Info

Publication number: GB2463524A
Application number: GB0817023A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary David Purton
Original assignee: TECH INTERNAT Ltd B
Current assignee: TECH INTERNAT Ltd B
Priority date: 2008-09-17
Filing date: 2008-09-17
Publication date: 2010-03-24
Also published as: GB0817023D0

Abstract

A display device wall bracket comprises a wall plate 10 attachable to a wall, a mount 30, 30a attachable to the display device, a slotted pivotal attachment arrangement between the mount 30, 30a and a base element 20, 20a, bolt means 40 for effecting the pivotal attachment and a compression spring 50 loadable by the bolt means 40. In use with the spring 50 loaded an orientation of the display device can be manipulated by a user without loosening and retightening the bolt means 50. The mount 30, 30a may be attached to the wall plate 10 by the base elements 20, 20a which has hooks 21, 21a that engage the wall plate 10. In another embodiment the base element (100, fig 2) is fixed directly to the wall. In yet other embodiments a pivoted articulated arm (e.g. see 410, fig 5) is attached to the wall plate and the mount and base plates are fixed to the arm.

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE WALL MOUNT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bracket for mounting a display device on substantially vertical surface such as that of a wall. It is particularly concerned with a bracket for mounting a flat panel television screen on the internal wall of a building, including a home, restaurant, public house or club, though the bracket could also be employed with a television of the cathode ray tube type.

Background to the Invention

Brackets are known for adjustably mounting a television to a wall. U.S. Patent Specification 7152836 describes an adjustable tilt mount for mounting a display panel to a wall. One embodiment comprises a wall plate for mounting upon a wall, a pair of support brackets slidably mountable on the wall plate, and a pair of mount brackets detachably attachable to a display screen. A curved slot, the centre of curvature of which is external to the mount, is formed in the mount brackets and via these the mount brackets are adjustably attached with bolts to the support brackets. The centre of curvature of the slots is intended to coincide with the centre of gravity of the display panel in order to facilitate adjustment. U.S. Patent specifications 2005/0087661 and 2007/0041150 also describe adjustable tilt mounts for mounting flat panel televisions to a wall.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention a bracket for mounting a display device to a substantially vertical surface comprises: a base element attachable to a wall; a mount attachable to a display device; a pivotal attachment arrangement between the mount and the base element; bolt means for effecting the said pivotal attachment; and a compression spring loadable by the bolt means; whereby with the spring loaded the orientation of the display device can be manipulated without loosening and retightening the bolt means.

The attachment of the base element to a wall may be direct, for example via suitable screws through holes or slots therein.

According to a feature of the invention, however, the base element may be mountable on a wall plate which in turn is arranged for attachment to a wall.

Advantageously the means by which either the display device mount is attached to the base element or the base element is attached to the wall plate comprises hook means. In this way a wall plate can be attached to a wall and a device mount attached to the display device, then the device mount/display device assembly can be hooked on to the wall plate assembly, the completion of the mounting then being effected by fastening means such as nuts and bolts. In this way the mounting of a device to a wall can be considerably facilitated since the weight of the device assembly does not have to be supported, for example manually, whilst actual attachment is being effected. By virtue of the use of the compression springs provided in accordance with the invention, moreover, adjustment of the orientation of a heavy and/or cumbersome device can be greatly facilitated since the weight of the device assembly does not have to be manually supported, for example after loosening all the appropriate mounting bolts in order for such adjustment to be made.

The hook means may comprise a hook shaped formation on either the device mount, the base element or the wall plate. The hook means may also comprise a corresponding fulcrum on the base element or the wall plate respectively. The fulcrum may comprise a simple pin, or bolt means which may also carry a compression spring. Alternatively the hook means may comprise one or more upstanding posts, perhaps screw threaded, on the base element or the wall plate and locator holes in the device mount or the base element respectively.

The base element may, according to another feature of the invention, comprise a pair of such elements, and the device mount likewise. By this means the mounting can be rendered quite versatile in that a single bracket can be employed to mount devices of differing breadth.

The pivotal attachment arrangement may comprise one or more slots, preferably curved, through which said bolt means pass. In one embodiment the mount hooks over a fulcrum pin projecting from the base member and the curve of the slot or slots is on a constant radius from the pin. In another embodiment the centre about which the slots' curve is generated is beyond the bracket and the attachment of the mount to the base element is via two bolts spaced apart on the curve in the slots. Both of such bolts are preferably arranged to carry a compression spring. The bolts may be such as can only be loosened or tightened with a tool or tools such as a spanner or key such as an alien key or both. Alternatively a knurled or wing arrangement may be employed to lock the bolt.

The spring is preferably of stainless steel or is plated, for example with chromium or brass, for aesthetic purposes. The springs typically have an internal diameter 8.79mm, a wire diameter 1.7mm and a free length of 15.88mm and a spring rate of 1 7.78N1mm2.

A washer may be employed to seat the spring. The washer may be of metal or plastics material. Advantageously both a plastics and a metal washer are used together.

In one embodiment of the present invention therefore the base plate carries a fixed pair of pivot pins and, somewhat distal therefrom, a curved slot for which the centre of curvature is the pivot and in which the bolt and spring operate.

A further alternative wall mount arrangement comprises a wall plate attachable to a wall or the like and an arm extending or extendable therefrom and upon which the base plate is mounted, preferably in a manner arranged to swivel in a substantially horizontal plane. The arm may itself be articulated, probably also for swivelling in a substantially horizontal plane. It may be arranged at least partly to stow on the wall pate. The articulation may also be spring loaded.

The bolts may if desired be tamper proof, a feature which can be particularly useful in a hostelry or club or other context in which groups of unrelated people come and go.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a wall mount kit for mounting a television screen; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a second, tiltable wall mount; Figure 3 is an exploded isometric view of a third, tiltable wall mount; Figure 4 is an isometric view of a fourth, swivellable and tiltable wall mount; and Figures 5 and 6 are isometric views of a fifth, extendable, swivellable and tiltable wall mount.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

The wall mount bracket device shown in figure 1 comprises a wall plate 10, two base elements 20, 20a and two display device mounts 30, 30a.

The wall plate 10 has a base portion 11 through perforations in which it is attachable toawall, and upperand lowerverticallyextendingflanges 12,13.

The base elements 20, 20a are formed with hooks 21, 21a which fit to the wall plate flanges 12, 13 and hold the base elements thereto. The base elements 20, 20a are generally formed from metal in a U-section and have upper and lower bolt holes 22, 22a by which the mounts 30, 30a are attached thereto.

The display device mounts 30, 30a are also formed of metal in a U-section, into which the base elements 20, 20a fit snugly when nylon washers 23 fit therebetween.

Faces 31 of the mounts 30, 30a are perforated for mounting a display screen and side walls 32 thereof have curved slots 33, 33a the centre of curvature of which is ahead of the device and coincides somewhat with the centre of gravity of the display screen.

Bolts 40 with nuts 41 hold the mounts 30, 30a to the base elements 20, 20a, passing through the slots 33, 33a and the holes 22, 22a.

Compression springs 50 are mounted on the bolts 40 with plastic washers 42 and metal washers 43 acting as seats to the springs 50.

The bolts 40 fit snugly in the slots 33, 33a. The bolts have tamper resistant heads, whereby a special tool is required to loosen and tighten them. Alternatively, where bolts are acting in tandem, some thereof may have tamper proof heads and others be readily adjustable, for example having knurled or winged heads. In this way a user can readily adjust the orientation of the screen in the event that springs have relaxed over time.

Locking bars 60, 60a fit to the base elements 20, 20a to help prevent elements 20, 20a being lifted off the wall plate 10.

In use with the wall plate 10 mounted on a wall, the elements 20, 20a are attached to the mounts 30, 30a with the bolts 40 so tightened on the springs 50 that the mounts tilt smoothly on the elements 20, 20a. The mounts 30, 30a are attached to the display device and the assembly so formed offered to the wall plate 10, the hooks 21 embracing the upper flangel2. The locking bars 60, 60a are fitted to the clips 21a to lock the elements 30, 30a to the lower flange 13 of the wall plate 10. Then the tilt of the display screen can be adjusted readily, and the nuts 41 need not be fully tightened on the bolts 40, thus to permit tilt adjustment whilst the screen holds the orientation at which it is thereby set.

In a particular example of the embodiment described with reference to figure 1, for holding a television weighing up to 35Kg, bolts 40 are 8mm and nuts 41 are nyloc nuts. The springs 50 are of stainless steel with an internal diameter 8.79mm, a wire diameter 1.7mm and a free length of 15.88mm. The spring rate is 17.78N/mm2.

The wall mount illustrated in figure 2 has a base plate 100 adapted for direct attachment to a wall. It is of "top hat" section with side flanges 101 having a hole and a slot whereby the baseplate can be mounted upon a wall. The sides 102 of the U-shaped portion each carry a pivot pin 103 and, thereabove and distal therefrom, a threaded anchor for a bolt 104. A device display mount 110 of substantially U cross section is configured for snug fitting within the U-shaped portion of the base plate 100. The sides of the mount 110 are each formed with a hook portion 111 for engaging the pivot pin 103 and a curved slot 112. The radius of the curved slots 112 is centred upon the base of the pivot pins 103. The front face of the mount 110 has holes 113 for mounting a device such as a television screen. The arrangement is such that bolts 104 having heads suitable for retaining a compression spring 121 will fit through the slots 112 and into the threaded anchors. Washers 122 (plastic) and 123 (stainless steel) are provided for seating the springs 121 adjacent the slots 112.

In use, with the base plate 100 attached to a wall, the device mount 110 is attached to the device to be carried and hooked into the hook portions 111. The bolts 104, carrying the springs 121 and the washers 122, 123 are offered through the slots 112 and screwed into the threaded anchors until the desired combination of movability and restraint is attained.

The wall mount illustrated in figure 3 has a base plate 200 adapted for direct attachment to a wall. It has lugs 201 each carrying two curved slots 209 for bolts 203, 204 and configured for attachment thereto of a device mount 205. Each lug 201 has a hook formation 208 and a curved slot 209, the curve of which is centred upon the base of the hook portion 208. The hook formations 208 and the slots 209 are located for alignment with the threaded anchors 202 in the lugs 207. The device mount 205 comprises a face plate portion 206 and lugs 207 formed to fit snugly inside the lugs 201. The bolts 203, 204 each carry a compression spring 210 and washers 211 (plastic) and 212 (stainless steel). The bolt 203 is for engagement with the hook formation 208 and the bolt 204 is designated for engagement through the slot 209.

In use of the mount described with reference to figure 3, the base plate 200 is mounted to a wall. The bolts 203, carrying their springs 210 and washers 211, 212 are screwed loosely into those anchors 202 designated to be adjacent the hook formations 208 in such a way as to permit the hook formations 208 to engage over the bolts 203. The device mount 205 is attached to, for example, a flat panel television. The device mount 205 is then offered to the base plate 200 so that the hook portions 208 engage over the bolts 203. The bolts 204, each carrying a spring 210 and washers 211, 212 are then located in their respective anchors 202 through the curved slots 209. The bolts 203, 204 are then tightened until the tilt of the television etc can be adjusted to any desired orientation.

The wall mount illustrated in figure 4 has a wall mount bracket 300, an arm 310, a base plate mount 320, a base plate 330 and a device mount 340. The mount bracket is constructed with an attachment plate 301, a detachable cover 302 and a pivot block 303. The arm 310 is pivotally attached to the pivot block 303 for rotation about a substantially vertical axis. The base plate mount 320 is attached to the arm 310 via a pivot 311 permitting horizontal rotation. The base plate mount 320 has top lugs 321 carrying upstanding screw threaded posts 322 and an anchor nut 323. The base plate 330 has end lugs 331 and a top flange 332. The end lugs 331 have threaded anchors 333 while the top flange 332 has holes for engagement with the posts 322. As shown, there are manually operable nuts 334 engageable with the posts 322. The base plate 330 has a hole through which can pass a bolt 335 to engage with the anchor handwheel 323. The device mount 340 comprises a plate 341 for attachment to a television or the like and end lugs 342. The end lugs 342 fit snugly over the lugs 331 of the base plate 330 and have formed therein curved slots 343 configured around the same centre. Bolts 344 carrying compression springs 345 and washers 346 (plastic) and 347 (stainless steel) screw through the slots 343 and into the anchors 333.

In use of the wall mount illustrated in figure 4 the plate 301 carrying the hinges 303 and 311, the arm 310, and the base plate mount 320 is attached to a wall and the cover 302 fitted into place. The device mount 340 is attached to a television or the like and the base plate 330 is then attached into the mount 340 via the bolts 345.

The bolts 344 are tightened until the springs 345 are under some compression. The assembly of television, device mount 340 and base plate 330 is then offered to the base plate mount 320 by hooking same over the bolt 335. The handwheel 323 is then attached and tightened. The orientation of the television can then be adjusted in the lateral and vertical arcs as required.

In a particular embodiment of the wall mount described with reference to figure 4 the bolt 335 is tamperproof, as are the bolts 344 and those employed to attach the device mount 340 to the television and the screws employed to attach the attachment plate 301 to the wall.

The wall mount illustrated in figures 5 and 6 comprises a wall mount bracket 400, an extending arm assembly 410, a base plate mount 420, a base plate 430 and an interface attachment mount 440. The wall mount bracket 400 has a plurality of stations 401 for pivotally mounting the arm assembly 410. The arm assembly 410 is articulated and can thus fold against the wall and extend from the wall as desired via hinges 411, 412 and 413, rotating about a substantially vertical axis. The arm assembly 410 carries pivotally at its distal end the base plate mount 420. The base plate mount 420 has a top flange 421 upon which are mounted threaded handwheel posts 422. It is also configured to enable the base plate 430 to be locked thereto via nuts and bolts 423. The base plate 430 has side lugs 431 and a top flange 432. The side lugs 431 have threaded anchors 432. The interface attachment mount 440 comprises an interface attachment plate 441 and two side lugs 442. The side lugs 442 are formed to fit snugly over the base plate lugs 431 and have curved slots 443 having a common centre of curvature. Bolts 444 carrying compression springs 445 and base washers 446 (plastic) and 447 (stainless steel) screw through the slots 443 into the threaded anchors 432.

In use of the wall mount illustrated in figures 5 and 6, the bracket 400 carrying the arm assembly 410, the base plate mount 420 and the interface attachment mount 440 are attached to a wall. The base plate 430 is then attached to the interface attachment mount 440 via the bolts 444. The bolts 444 are then tightened until the springs 445 are under some compression. The interface attachment mount 440 is attached to a device mount. When the television is thus fully mounted on the wall the tightness of the screws 445 can be adjusted so that the tilt of the television can be controlled under merely manual pressure.

The springs in each of the embodiments described with reference to figures 2 to 6 may be similar to those described with reference to figure 1.

All nut and bolts assemblies may be tamperproof.

A particular advantage possessed by the above described devices is that they can readily be constructed to have aesthetic appeal, as aspect which is of no little importance in the domestic context.

The invention is particularly suitable for use with a flat panel television.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bracket for mounting a display device to a substantially vertical surface comprising: a base element attachable to a wall; a mount attachable to a display device; a pivotal attachment arrangement between the mount and the base element; bolt means for effecting the said pivotal attachment; and a compression spring loadable by the bolt means; whereby with the spring loaded the orientation of the display device can be manipulated without loosening and retightening the bolt means.
2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 and having hook means whereby the display device is mountable to the wall.
3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the hook means comprises a corresponding fulcrum.
4. A bracket as claimed in claim 3 and wherein the fulcrum comprises a pin.
5. A bracket as claimed in claim 3 and wherein the fulcrum comprises a bolt.
6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5 and wherein the bolt carries a compression spring.
7. A bracket as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the hook means comprises one or more upstanding posts, there being corresponding locator holes.
8. A bracket as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the posts are screw threaded.
9. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the attachment of the base element to a wall is direct.
10. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 and wherein the base element is mountable on a wall plate which in turn is arranged for attachment to a wall.
11. A bracket as claimed in claim 10 and having an arm by which the base element is attached to the wall plate.
12. A bracket as claimed in claim 11 and wherein the arm is pivoted to the wall plate to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane.
13. A bracket as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 and wherein the arm is pivoted to the base element to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane.
14. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 and wherein the arm is articulated.
15. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the base element is one of a pair.
16. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the pivotal attachment arrangement comprises one or more slots.
17. A bracket as claimed in claim 16 and wherein the slots are curved.
18. A bracket as claimed in claim 17 and wherein the attachment of the mount to the base element is via two bolts spaced apart on the curve in the slots.
19. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein at least some of the bolt means are tamperproof.
20. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the compression spring is formed from steel.
21. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the springs have an internal diameter 8.79mm, a wire diameter 1.7mm, a free length of 15.88mm and a spring rate of 17.78N/mm2.
22. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.