Modular mounting system for televisions and associated equipment

Abstract

Modular mounts and systems for mounting televisions and accessories on a wall. A base mount includes capability for mounting and positioning a television. The system includes an accessory mount with a selectable array of brackets for attaching and securing wires and cables and various accessories to the mount. The accessory' brackets can be adapted to receive rack mountable accessories. A user can select among the various brackets as needed to achieve a combination that serves the needs of the user. Brackets can be added later or removed should the needs change. Another accessory' mount includes one or more detachable accessory mounting plates. The accessory mounting plates can have a hole pattern adapted to receive device mounting clamps, which can be arranged surrounding an accessory' and twisted in place to secure to the accessory' mounting plate. The clamp can then be adjusted to secure the accessory to the plate.

Description

[0001] MODULAR MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR TELEVISIONS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

[0002] RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 541,354, entitled MODULAR MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR TELEVISIONS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, and filed September 29, 2023, said application being hereby fully incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The invention relates to mounts for televisions, and more specifically, mounts for attaching a flat panel television and related devices to a wall.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] Rapid advances in technology have led to widespread adoption of flat panel televisions, such as LED and OLED displays, in business and consumer settings. The decrease in costs due to widespread use has led to a steady increase in the affordability of very large displays, often exceeding 55 inches in diagonal measurement, and even approaching 100 inches. Accordingly, a need has arisen for wall mounts capable of attaching such large displays to a wall, alleviating the need to provide tables or stands which reduce the available floor area of a room where the display is located.

[0008] Moreover, it is desirable to have some capability for positioning the display when mounted on a wall, both to improve the viewability’ of the display (e.g. mitigating display surface glare), as well as to provide easy access to the rear of the display where power supplyconnectors, and connection ports, such as HDMI, USB, DVI, DisplayPort®, and other types of connectors are typically located. As a result, mounts often have tilt and other positioning capabilities built in.

[0009] Another feature that has come into widespread use with flat panel televisions is the use of accessories such as decoders, receivers, controllers, and streaming devices that enable digital content to be accessed and displayed. These devices must be located in close proximity to the television and typically have a large number of associated wires and cables for power, providing input to the accessories, and output to the television. It is desirable for aesthetic reasons to conceal both the accessory devices and the associated cabling.

[0010] A drawback of prior art mounting or containment devices for these types of accessories is that the device is often itself bulky and lacking in flexibility. For example, U.S. Patent No. 9,644,787 discloses a videoconferencing equipment assembly that is intended to be used with a separate television mount. This assembly has a large enclosure for mounting behind the television and receiving various rack mounted accessories. This enclosure, however, occupies a relatively large space behind the television, requiring that the television be positioned a greater distance from the wall when stowed. Also, the assembly is not scalable, so that there is no option for reducing the space occupied by the assembly, even if all the space in the enclosure or all the rack mounts are not needed.

[0011] Accordingly, what is still needed in the industry' is a solution for mounting a large television and accommodating accessories and cabling that overcomes the identified drawbacks of the prior art.

[0012] SUMMARY

[0013] The inventions disclosed herein address the need in the industry for a solution for mounting a large television and accommodating accessories and cabling that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art. Embodiments of the invention include a mount with base capability7for mounting and positioning a television. In one embodiment, the system includes an accessory7mount with a selectable array of brackets for attaching and securing wires and cables and various accessories to the mount. The accessory brackets can be adapted to receive rack mountable accessories. A user can select among the various brackets as needed to achieve a combination that serves the needs of the user. Brackets can be added later or removed should the needs change.

[0014] Moreover, other embodiments include an accessory mount including one or more detachable accessory mounting plates. The accessory mounting plates can have a hole pattern adapted to receive device mounting clamps, which can be arranged surrounding an accessory and twisted in place to secure to the accessory mounting plate. The clamp can then be adjusted to secure the accessory to the plate.

[0015] In an embodiment, a modular mounting system for attaching an electronic display device and at least one accessory7device to a wall of a structure includes an upper rail, a lower rail vertically spaced apart from the upper rail, an accessory mount adapted to receive the at least one accessory device, the accessory' mount extending between, and operably coupled to, the upper rail and the lower rail, and a pair of display mounts adapted to receive the electronic display device and operably coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail. Each display mount includes an inner assembly coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail, an outer assembly adapted to receive the electronic display device, and an extension assembly operably coupling the inner assembly and the outer assembly. The extension assembly enables the outer assembly to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which the outer assembly is positioned adjacent the inner assembly, and a deployed position in which the outer assembly is spaced apart from the inner assembly.

[0016] In embodiments, the extension assembly includes a pair of scissor arms. The display mount can have a latch mechanism arranged to latch the display mount in the stowed position, the latch mechanism coupled with a release cord and having an emergency release member separate from the release cord. The latch mechanism may include a spring-biased latch member, and the emergency release member can be an emergency release arm portion of the latch member.

[0017] In embodiments, the outer assembly includes a track and a display interface spaced apart from the track defining a gap therebetween, and the emergency release arm portion of the latch member projects into the gap when the display interface is in the stowed position.

[0018] In embodiments, the accessory mount can include a rack mounting bracket, a rack mounting shelf or a detachable accessory mounting plate.

[0019] In embodiments, the outer assembly includes a track and a display interface operably coupled with the track by a tilt adjustment bracket, the tilt adjustment bracket providing a plurality of detent stops such that the electronic display device can be disposed at a plurality' of pre-defined tilt positions. The outer assembly can further include a vertical adjustment assembly enabling selective vertical shifting of the outer assembly relative to the extension assembly.

[0020] In embodiments, a mount for attaching an electronic display device and at least one accessory’ device to a wall of a structure includes an upper rail, a lower rail vertically spaced apart from the upper rail, an accessory mount adapted to receive the at least one accessory device, and a pair of display mounts adapted to receive the electronic display device and operably coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail. The accessory' mount can be operably coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail.

[0021] In embodiments, each display mount can include an inner assembly coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail, an outer assembly adapted to receive the electronic display device, and an extension assembly operably coupling the inner assembly and the outer assembly, the extension assembly enabling the outer assembly to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which the outer assembly is positioned the inner assembly, and a deployed position in which the outer assembly is spaced apart from the inner assembly. The display mount can have a latch mechanism arranged to latch the display mount in the stowed position, the latch mechanism coupled with a release cord and having an emergency release member separate from the release cord. The latch mechanism may include a spring-biased latch member, and wherein the emergency release member comprises an emergency release arm portion of the latch member. The outer assembly can include a track and a display interface spaced apart from the track defining a gap therebetween, and wherein the emergency release arm portion of the latch member projects into the gap when the display interface is in the retracted position.

[0022] In embodiments, the accessory mount can be a rack mounting bracket, a rack mounting shelf, or a detachable accessory mounting plate.

[0023] In embodiments, the outer assembly includes a track and a display interface operably coupled with the track by a tilt adjustment bracket, the tilt adjustment bracket providing a plurality of detent stops such that the electronic display device can be disposed at a plurality of pre-defined tilt positions. The outer assembly can further include a vertical adjustment assembly enabling selective vertical shifting of the outer assembly relative to the extension assembly

[0024] The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify various embodiments.

[0025] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 depicts a modular mounting system for a television and associated equipment according to an embodiment of the invention, with equipment received in mounting brackets of accessory mounts:

[0028] FIG. 1A depicts the modular mounting system of FIG. 1, with an attached television shown in phantom; FIG. 2 depicts the modular mounting system of FIG. 1 without attached equipment;

[0029] FIG. 3 depicts the base mounting system of the modular mounting system of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 3A is a cross-section taken at section 3A-3A of FIG. 3:

[0031] FIG. 4 depicts an accessory mount of the modular mounting system of FIG. 1, adapted for receiving a rack-mount device;

[0032] FIG. 5 depicts an accessory mount of the modular mounting system of FIG. 1, adapted for securing wires and cables;

[0033] FIG. 6 depicts another accessory mount of the modular mounting system of FIG. 1, adapted for securing wires and cables;

[0034] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of various accessory mounts of the modular mounting system of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view of a portion of the modular mounting system of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a front isometric view' of a display mount of the modular mounting system of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of the display mount of FIG. 9;

[0038] FIG. 11 is a partial exploded rear isometric view of the display mount of FIG. 9;

[0039] FIG. 12 is a rear isometric view of the display mount of FIG. 11 with portions depicted in phantom;

[0040] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view’ of the mount of FIG. 3 taken at Section 16-16 of FIG. 3; and

[0041] FIG. 14 is an elevation view of the tilt adjustment bracket of the mount of FIGs. 9-13;

[0042] FIG. 15 a front isometric view of a modular mounting system according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 16 is a front isometric view of the modular mounting system of FIG. 15 without accessory device mounting plates; FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the upper rail of the system of FIG. 16, taken at section 17-17 of FIG. 16;

[0044] FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the upper rail of the system of FIG. 16;

[0045] FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of the upper rail of the system of FIG. 16;

[0046] FIG. 20 is an isometric view of a side connecting bracket of the system of FIG. 16;

[0047] FIG. 21 is an isometric view of an accessory device mounting plate of the system of FIG. 16;

[0048] FIG. 22 is an isometric view of a device mounting clamp of the system of FIG. 16;

[0049] FIG. 23 is an exploded isometric view of a latch assembly with emergency release of the system of FIG. 16;

[0050] FIG. 24 is a rear isometric view of the spring housing of the latch assembly of FIG. 23;

[0051] FIG. 25 is an isometric view of the top portion of a display mount of the system of FIG. 16 with the track portion of the outer assembly hidden for clarity;

[0052] FIG. 26 is an isometric view of the top portion of the outer assembly of a display mount of the system of FIG. 16, also depicting the latch assembly;

[0053] FIG. 27 is an isometric view of the top portion of the outer assembly of a display mount of the system of FIG. 16, with the track depicted in phantom for clarity;

[0054] FIG. 28 is a top plan view of the outer assembly of a display mount of the system of FIG. 16, depicted in a deployed position;

[0055] FIG. 29 is a top plan view of a display mount of the system of FIG. 16, depicted in a stowed position with the display interface tilted;

[0056] FIG. 30 is an isometric view of the latch assembly of the system of FIG. 16, depicted with a latch lock out clip;

[0057] FIG. 31 is a front isometric view of a modular mounting system according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0058] FIG. 32 is a front isometric view of the modular mounting system of FIG. 31, without accessory' device mounting plates; and FIG. 33 is a partial, exploded isometric view of the modular mounting system of FIG.

[0059] 31.

[0060] While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary', the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

[0061] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] There is depicted in FIGs. 1-8 a modular mounting system 20 for a television and associated accessories according to embodiments of the invention. Modular mounting system 20 generally includes base mount 22, optional cable management bars 24, optional cable management plates 26, optional rack mounting bracket 28, optional rack mounting bracket extensions 30, optional rack shelf 32, and optional rack mounting bracket divider assembly 34.

[0063] As depicted in FIG. 3, base mount 22 generally includes channels 36, channel connectors 38, together defining upper rail 39 and lower rail 41, and display mount assemblies 40. Channels 36 can be generally c-shaped in cross-section as depicted in FIG. 3A, with backplane 42, top and bottom walls 44, 46, respectively, and lips 48, 50. It will be appreciated that although two channels 36 are shown in FIG. 3 as connected with channel connectors 38 to define a width W for upper rail 39 and lower rail 41, a single channel for each could be used, or more channels 36 can be connected together with channel connectors 38 to increase width W to accommodate larger screens or multiple televisions.

[0064] Display mount assembly 40 is depicted in FIGs. 9-15, and generally includes inner assembly 52, outer assembly 54, and extension assembly 55, which includes scissor arms 56, 58. Inner assembly 52 generally includes track 60, top hook bracket 62 forming hook portion 64, and lower retaining assembly 66. Track 60 can be a generally c-shaped channel, and includes projecting bottom tab 68 forming hook portion 70 in conjunction with low er retaining assembly 66 at the bottom end of inner assembly 52.

[0065] Outer assembly 54 generally includes track 72 which can be a generally c-shaped channel, display interface 74, and tilt adjustment bracket 76. As depicted in FIGs. 1, 3, and 8, display interface 74 can define apertures 80 for receiving display interface extensions 78. Tilt adjustment bracket 76 is pivotally coupled to display interface 74 with bolt 82 and nut 84 and defines slot 86 with position notches 88. Rivet 90 extends from track 72 through slot 86. Display interface 74 is pivotally coupled to track 72 at rivets 92, 94.

[0066] Scissor arm 56 presents inner end 96 and outer end 98. Inner end 96 is pivotally coupled to track 60 with bolt 100. Outer end 98 is pivotally coupled to slide blocks 102 with pin 104. Slide blocks 102 are received, and slide vertically in the channel defined by track 72. Scissor arm 58 presents inner end 106 and outer end 108. Inner end 106 carries axle 110 having rollers 112, which roll in the c-shaped channel formed by track 60. Outer end 108 carries axle 114 which is pivotally coupled with slide blocks 116. Slide blocks 116 are received, and slide vertically, in the c-shaped channel defined by track 72. Axle 114 is cross drilled with an aperture (not depicted) that is threaded and receives vertical adjustment bolt 118. Slide blocks 116 are confined to sliding within the upper portion 120 of track 72 by stop screw s 122. Scissor arm 56 and scissor arm 58 are pivotally coupled together with pin 124.

[0067] It will be appreciated that extension assembly 55 enables outer assembly 54 and an attached television to be selectively shifted closer to or away from inner assembly 52. In a stowed position, as depicted in FIGs. 1-3, outer assembly 54 is positioned very close to inner assembly 52, so that an attached television can be disposed very close to a wall. Extension assemblies 55 can then be extended to a deployed position as depicted in FIGs. 10-12 by pulling outward on the television, so that the television is positioned away from the wall. Latch assembly 200 enables display mount assembly 40 to be latched in the stowed position. Latch assembly 200 can be released by pulling downward on release cord 198, enabling extension assembly 55 to be extended.

[0068] Cable management bar 24 is depicted in FIG. 6, and generally includes body portion 126 having backplane 128 and flanges 130, 132. Projecting tabs 134 are punched in backplane 128, and these are adapted to receive wire ties for securing wires and cables. As depicted in FIGs.l, 1A, and 2, flange 132 is adapted to attach to channels 36 of base mount 22 if desired for securing wires and cables to mounting system 20.

[0069] Cable management plate 26 is depicted in FIG. 5, and generally includes planar body portion 136 having securing tabs 138. Projecting tabs 140 are punched in body portion 136, and these are adapted to receive ware ties for securing wires and cables. As depicted in FIGs. 1, 1A, and 2, projecting tabs 140 are adapted to attach between channels 36 of upper rail 39 and lower rail 41 of base mount 22 if desired for securing wires and cables to mounting system 20.

[0070] An accessory mount in the form of rack mounting bracket 28 is depicted in FIGs. 4 and 7, and generally includes body portion 142 having backplane 144, end walls 146 and mounting flanges 148. Rack mounting bracket 28 can have a height A and width B (e.g., 19 x 1.75 inches) sufficient for accommodating a standard 1RU rack mounted device 150, such as, for example, the Vaddio® Quick Connect CCU depicted in FIGs. 1 and 1 A. Rack mounting bracket 28 can be attached between channels 36 of upper rail 39 and lower rail 41 of base mount 22 as depicted in FIGs. 1, 1A and 2. In other embodiments, one or two half-width 1RU devices 152, 154, can be mounted in rack mounting bracket 28 using rack mounting bracket divider assembly 34 as depicted in FIGs. 1, 2, and 7. Alternatively, rack shelf 32 can be employed as an accessory mount to receive rack-mounted devices having a greater depth dimension C. Rack mount ears 156 can be attached to rack mount devices 150, 152, or 154, if such mounting provisions are lacking on the device itself. Rack mounting bracket extensions 30 as depicted in FIG. 7 can be attached to rack mounting bracket 28 to enable additional rack mount devices 150, 152, 154, to be stacked or accommodate 2RU devices. With such a configuration, display interface extensions 78 can be attached to display interface 74 using apertures 80 so that television 158 does not strike and interfere with rack mount devices 150, 152, 154, when display mount assemblies 40 are fully retracted.

[0071] In use, upper rail 39 and lower rail 41 can be attached to the surface of a wall 190. Depending on the accessories to be mounted, cable management bars 24, cable management plates 26, rack mounting brackets 28, and / or rack shelf 32 can be attached to upper rail 39 and / or lower rail 41 in any desired combination. For example, if only one 1RU device is needed, one rack mounting bracket 28 can be attached between either the left or right ends of upper rail 39 and lower rail 41 along with cable management bars 24 and / or cable management plates 26 as desired to secure associated wires and cables. If one full width 1RU device and two half-width 1RU devices are needed, one rack mounting bracket 28 can be attached between either the left or right ends of upper rail 39 and lower rail 41, and either another rack mounting bracket 28 or rack shelf 32 at the other ends of upper rail 39 and lower rail 41 along with cable management bars 24 and / or cable management plates 26 as desired to secure associated wires and cables.

[0072] Display mounts 40 can then be attached to the rear side of television 158. Hook portions 120 of inner assembly 126 can be engaged with projecting lips 64, 66, to attach display mounts 40 and television 158 to upper rail 39 and lower rail 41. With television 158 attached to upper rail 39 and lower rail 41, vertical adjustment bolts 184 on each display mount 40 can be rotated to adjust the relative height and skew of television 158 to conform with the ceiling, floor, or adjacent televisions 158. Any wires and cables can be plugged into devices 150, 152, 154, and television 158, and secured to cable management bars 24 and / or cable management plates 26 with wire ties.

[0073] Television 158 can be tilted by pulling upper end 202 of display interface 74 to tilt outward, pivoting around rivets 92, 94. Tilt adjustment brackets 76 pivot around bolts 82, enabling slot 86 to slide around rivet 90. Notches 88 provide convenient detent stops so that upper end 202 can be disposed at pre-defined tilt positions. As depicted in FIG. 14, these detent stops can be selected to correspond with tilt positions such as 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 degrees relative to vertical, or can be selected to correspond to any other desired positions. Television 158 can shifted away from the wall by pulling release cord 198 to release latch assembly 200. Television 158 can then be positioned closer to or further away from the wall via scissor arms 56, 58, and can also be pivoted to a limited degree side-to-side by differential extension of display mounts 40.

[0074] Another embodiment of a modular mounting system 220 for a television and associated accessories is depicted in FIGs. 15-30. System 220 generally includes frame 222, display mounts 224, and an accessory mount in the form of detachable accessory mounting plates 226. Frame 222 generally includes upper rail 228, lower rail 230, and side connecting brackets 232, 234. Upper rail 228 and lower rail 230 can be generally c-shaped in cross-section as depicted in FIG. 17, with backplane 236, top and bottom walls 238, 240, respectively, and lips 242, 244. Lips 242, 244, are adapted to receive top hook bracket 62 forming hook portion and lower retaining assembly 66. Although upper rail 228 is depicted in FIGs. 17 and 18, lower rail 240 is a mirror image. It will be appreciated that upper rail 228 and lower rail 230 can be made to any length desired to define a width W to accommodate any size screen or multiple televisions. As depicted in FIG. 18, bottom wall 240 defines a plurality of spaced-apart rectangular slots 246 along longitudinal length L for receiving tabs of detachable accessory mounting plates 226, as will be further described below. As depicted in FIG. 19, backplane 236 defines slots 248 for receiving fasteners (not depicted) to attach modular mounting system 220 to a wall. Wire management clips 249 can be attached to enable wires to be neatly routed along upper rail 228 and lower rail 230.

[0075] Side connecting bracket 232 is depicted in FIG. 20, with side connecting bracket 234 being a mirror image. Side connecting bracket 232 generally includes rear plane 250 and side face 252. Rear plane 250 has perpendicular flanges 254, 256, which each define apertures 258, 260, 262. Apertures 258, 262, receive fasteners 263 as depicted in FIG. 16, which extend into apertures 264 to fasten side connecting brackets 232, 234, to upper rail 228 and lower rail 230. Aperture 260 is a rectangular slot for receiving a tabs of detachable accessory mounting plates 226. An exemplary detachable accessory mounting plate 226 is depicted in FIG. 21. Detachable accessory mounting plate 226 generally includes main body portion 266, which defines a multiplicity of apertures 267 arranged in a pattern as depicted, and which can receive small device mounting clamps 268, depicted in FIG. 22. Small device mounting clamps 268 are available from Legrand AV, Inc., 6436 City West Parkway, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, and generally include base portion 270, column 272, and clamping slide 274. Base portion 270 has connector projection 276 which can be inserted into one of apertures 267. Small device mounting clamp 268 can then be twisted 90° to secure small device mounting clamp 268 in a desired position on detachable accessory mounting plate 226. It will be appreciated that multiple small device mounting clamps 268 can be arranged around a small non-rack mount accessory device, such as a video / audio receiver, transmitter, or controller. Clamping slides 274 can then be pressed downward on columns 272 to engage the accessory device and secure it to detachable accessory mounting plate 226. Detachable accessory' mounting plate 226 has projecting tabs 278, and shiftable lever tab 280. Projecting tabs 278 and shiftable lever tab 280 can be inserted into rectangular slots 246 of upper rail 228, lower rail 230. Shiftable lever tab 280 can be operated to secure detachable accessory mounting plate 226 in position. It will be appreciated that although detachable accessory mounting plates 226 are depicted in FIG. 15 as being installed at opposite ends of frame 222, these can be installed at any other location within frame 222, enabled by the continuous arrangement of rectangular slots 246 along longitudinal length L of upper rail 228 and lower rail 230. Hence, detachable accessory mounting plate 226 provides a quick and flexible way to removably attach and mount accessory devices to modular mounting system 220 without the need for dedicated rack mounts.

[0076] Display mounts 224 have the same structure and operation as previously described for display mount assembly 40, except that latch assembly 300 is provided in place of latch assembly7200 for an emergency latch release feature, as described below and depicted in FIGs. 23-30. This emergency latch release feature enables the display mounts 224 to be released from their stowed position should release cord 198 become detached or otherwise not accessible from the front of the display.

[0077] As depicted in the exploded view of FIG. 23, latch assembly 300 generally includes latch member 302, biasing compression spring 304, spring housing 306, and fasteners 308. Latch member 302 defines elongate slots 310, 312, latch projection 314, emergency release arm 316, and release cord connection tab 318. Biasing compression spring 304 is received in elongate slot 310. Latch projection 314 presents sloped edge 320 and latch tip 322. Emergency release arm 316 presents engagement surface 324, and release cord connection tab 318 defines aperture 326. Spring housing 306 defines apertures 307. As depicted in FIG. 24, spring housing defines semi-cylindrical recess 327 with end face 329. Projections 331 extend outwardly from inner face 333.

[0078] FIG. 25 is a partial isometric view of the top portion of display mount 224 with portions of outer assembly 54 including track 72 hidden to more clearly show the structure and operation of latch assembly 300. Track 60 of inner assembly 52 has projecting tab 328 which defines aperture 330. Display mount 224 is depicted in the stowed and latched position, in which latch tip 322 is engaged in aperture 330 to prevent extension of extension assembly 55.

[0079] FIGs. 26 and 27 are isometric views of the top portion of outer assembly 54 and scissor arm 58, depicting latch assembly 300. Latch assembly 300 is mounted on side face 332 of scissor arm 58 with fasteners 308 through apertures 307 and elongate slots 310, 312, such that latch member 302 can slide on side face 332 in the directions indicated by the arrow. Projections 331 extend through elongate slots 310, 312, with ends bearing against side face 332 to enable sliding clearance between inner face 333 and side face 332 for latch member 302. End 334 of biasing compression spring 304 bears against end 336 of elongate slot 310, while end 338 of biasing compression spring 304 bears against end face 329 of spring housing 306 to bias latch member 302 relative to scissor arm 58.

[0080] As depicted in FIG. 27, emergency release arm 316 projects forwardly into aperture 340 in track 72. FIG. 28 is a partial top plan view of the display mount 122 in an extended position. As depicted, display interface 74 is mounted to track 72 with standoffs 342, forming gap 344 between display interface 74 and track 72. Display interface extension 75 can be attached to display interface 74 to provide additional width.

[0081] As display interface 74 is pushed toward the stowed position adjacent inner assembly 52, sloped edge 320 of latch projection 314 engages forward edge 346 of tab 328, and latch member 302 is urged downward against the bias of biasing compression spring 304. Once latch tip 322 clears the edge of aperture 330, biasing compression spring 304 urges latch member 302 upwards, engaging latch tip 322 in aperture 330 and latching display mount 224 in the stowed position. As depicted in FIG. 29 (shown with display interface 74 tilted), with display mount 224 in this stowed position, engagement surface 324 of emergency release arm 316 projects into gap 344. From here, latch assembly 300 can be released by pulling downward on release cord 198, causing latch member 302 to move downwardly against the bias of biasing compression spring 304 until latch tip 322 clears aperture 330. Display interface 122 can be extended by pulling outwardly. Should release cord 198 be missing, tangled, or otherwise inaccessible, latch assembly 300 can also be released by advancing a long slender object (not depicted) (e.g., a flat ruler, cardboard or wood scrap, etc.) downwardly through gap 344 to contact engagement surface 324 of emergency release arm 316. The object can then be pressed downw ard, thereby causing latch member 302 to move downwardly against the bias of biasing compression spring 304 until latch tip 322 clears aperture 330, releasing display mount 224 for extension.

[0082] Another optional feature is depicted in FIG. 30. According to this feature, release cord connection tab 318 is bent upwardly, and latch lock out clip 348 is inserted between release cord connection tab 318 and spring housing 306 to block latch member 302 in the unlatched position. With latch lock out clip 348 inserted, latch assembly 300 is prevented from latching display mount 224 in the stowed position.

[0083] It will be appreciated that the emergency latch release disclosed herein can be adapted to types of extension mechanism other than the scissor arms depicted herein. For instance, a single or articulating swing arm assembly could be employed to enable a display interface to be shifted closer to or away from an in-wall enclosure. In such a device, the swing arms fold into the area inside the frame to enable an attached display to be positioned close to the wall. The swing arms can be equipped with a latch releasable with a cord, and an emergency release accessible from outside the enclosure with a long slender object as described herein. Such arrangements are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

[0084] A further embodiment of the invention configured to mount devices and a television in a “portrait’’ arrangement is depicted in FIGs. 31-33. In this embodiment, modular mounting system 350 generally includes upper rail 352, lower rail 354, connection plates 356, 358, display mounts 360, 362, extension brackets 364, 366, 368, 370, and accessory' mounts in the form of detachable accessory mounting plates 372. Upper rail 352 and lower rail 354 have the same structure as upper rail 228 and lower rail 230 previously described, except are generally somewhat shorter in accordance with the change of orientation from “landscape” to “portrait.” As depicted in FIG. 33, connection plates 356, 358, are secured to extension brackets 364, 366, 368, 370, with fasteners 374, and extension brackets 364, 366, 368, 370, are secured to upper rail 352 and lower rail 354 with fasteners 376.

[0085] Extension brackets 364, 366, 368, 370, are each pan shaped with backplane 378, outer side 380, inner side 382, and end flanges 384, 386. Inner side 382 defines a plurality' of spacedapart rectangular slots 388 receiving tabs of detachable accessory mounting plates 372. The structure of detachable accessory mounting plates 372 is identical to detachable accessory mounting plates 226 previously described. Also, display mounts 360, 362, are identical to display mounts 224 as previously described, except that display interface extension plates 390 can be attached to display interfaces 74 as depicted in FIG. 31 to provide additional vertical length.

[0086] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

[0087] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subj ect matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

[0088] Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Suh combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

[0089] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation byreference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0090] For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(1) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms ‘"means for’7or “step for” are recited in a claim.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . A modular mounting system for attaching an electronic display device and at least one accessory' device to a wall of a structure, comprising: an upper rail; a lower rail vertically spaced apart from the upper rail; an accessory mount adapted to receive the at least one accessory device, the accessory mount extending between, and operably coupled to, the upper rail and the lower rail; and a pair of display mounts adapted to receive the electronic display device and operably coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail, each display mount including an inner assembly coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail, an outer assembly adapted to receive the electronic display device, and an extension assembly operably coupling the inner assembly and the outer assembly, the extension assembly enabling the outer assembly to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which the outer assembly is positioned adjacent the inner assembly, and a deployed position in which the outer assembly is spaced apart from the inner assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the extension assembly comprises a pair of scissor arms.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display mount has a latch mechanism arranged to latch the display mount in the stowed position, the latch mechanism coupled with a release cord and having an emergency release member separate from the release cord.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring-biased latch member, and wherein the emergency release member comprises an emergency release arm portion of the latch member.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the outer assembly comprises a track and a display interface spaced apart from the track defining a gap therebetween, and wherein the emergency release arm portion of the latch member projects into the gap when the display interface is in the stowed position.

6. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the accessory mount comprises a rack mounting bracket.

7. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the accessory mount comprises a rack mounting shelf.

8. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the accessory mount comprises a detachable accessory mounting plate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer assembly includes a track and a display interface operably coupled with the track by atilt adjustment bracket, the tilt adjustment bracket providing a plurality of detent stops such that the electronic display device can be disposed at a plurality of pre-defined tilt positions.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the outer assembly further comprises a vertical adjustment assembly enabling selective vertical shifting of the outer assembly relative to the extension assembly.

11. Amount for attaching an electronic display device and at least one accessory device to a wall of a structure, comprising: an upper rail; a lower rail vertically spaced apart from the upper rail; an accessory mount adapted to receive the at least one accessory' device; and a pair of display mounts adapted to receive the electronic display device and operably coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail.

12. The mount of claim 10, wherein the accessory mount is operably coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail.

13. The mount of claim 10, wherein each display mount includes an inner assembly coupled to the upper rail and the lower rail, an outer assembly adapted to receive the electronic display device, and an extension assembly operably coupling the inner assembly and the outer assembly, the extension assembly enabling the outer assembly to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which the outer assembly is positioned adjacent the inner assembly,and a deployed position in which the outer assembly is spaced apart from the inner assembly.

14. The mount of claim 12, wherein the display mount has a latch mechanism arranged to latch the display mount in the stowed position, the latch mechanism coupled with a release cord and having an emergency release member separate from the release cord.

15. The mount of claim 13, wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring-biased latch member, and wherein the emergency release member comprises an emergency release arm portion of the latch member.

16. The mount of claim 14, wherein the outer assembly comprises a track and a display interface spaced apart from the track defining a gap therebetween, and wherein the emergency release arm portion of the latch member projects into the gap when the display interface is in the stowed position.

17. The mount of claim 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein the accessory mount comprises a rack mounting bracket.

18. The mount of claim 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein the accessory mount comprises a rack mounting shelf.

19. The mount of claim 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein the accessory mount comprises a detachable accessory mounting plate.

20. The mount of claim 12, wherein the outer assembly includes a track and a display interface operably coupled with the track by a tilt adjustment bracket, the tilt adjustment bracket providing a plurality of detent stops such that the electronic display device can be disposed at a plurality of pre-defined tilt positions.21 The mount of claim 18, wherein the outer assembly further comprises a vertical adjustment assembly enabling selective vertical shifting of the outer assembly relative to the extension assembly.

Images