Adjustable mount

Abstract

An adjustable mount 1 for mounting a device 2 to a surface comprising: a device bracket 4 attachable to the device, and a mounting bracket 6 attachable to the surface. The device bracket is slidably attached to the mounting bracket such that the device bracket is movable relative to the mounting bracket along an adjustment axis between a first position and a second position. The adjustable mount further comprises one or more biasing members 8 (figure 2) for providing a restoring force which biases the device bracket towards the second position. The mount may also comprise: a releasable locking mechanism for securing the bracket in a position; a motor; an additional securing bracket 12; and / or rails 10 (figure 2) and sliders comprising ball bearings.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adjustable mount for mounting a device to a surface and to a display kit comprising the adjustable mount. Background Wall mounts for securing display screens to surfaces such as walls or boards are known. Some wall mounts are configured to enable the display screen to be moved relative the wall to which it is mounted. However, these movable wall mounts can be bulky and visible from in-front of the display screen. Additionally known wall mounts can be heavy and difficult to move when used to mount large display screens. In particular, wall mounts which enable the display screen to be moved vertically up and down and be difficult to operate owing to the weight of the display screen. The inventors have devised the present invention in light of these considerations. Summary of the Invention In a general sense, embodiments of the present invention provide an adjustable mount for securing a device, such as a display screen, to a surface. The adjustable mount is provided with a biasing mechanism which is configured to help lift the device, thereby providing a more easily adjustable and ergonomic mount. The invention is set out in the appended set of claims. In a first aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an adjustable mount for mounting a device to a surface comprising: a device bracket attachable to the device, and a mounting bracket attachable to the surface, wherein: the device bracket is slidably attached to the mounting bracket such that the device bracket is movable relative to the mounting bracket along an adjustment axis between a first position and a second position, and the adjustable mount further comprises one or more biasing members for providing a restoring force which biases the device bracket towards the second position. Accordingly, the provision of the biasing members of providing the restoring force can help to move the device bracket, and hence the device, from the first position to the second position thereby providing easier adjustment of the device position. In particular, when the second position of the device bracket is a physically higher position than the first position, the biasing members can usefully support some or all of the weight of the device and help to lift the device. The invention includes the combination of the aspects and preferred features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. The adjustable mount may be a wall mount for securing the device to a vertical surface. Accordingly, the first position may be a lower position of the device bracket (in use, when the adjustable mount is secured to a vertical surface), and the second position may be an upper position of the device bracket. Therefore, the one or more biasing members may be configured to provide a restoring force which biases the device bracket towards the upper position. In this way, the one or more biasing members may be configured to help lift the device. Accordingly, the adjustment axis may be a vertical axis. As such, the device bracket may be vertically movable relative to the mounting bracket, when the mounting bracket is attached to a vertical surface. Of course, the skilled person would understand that the adjustable mount may be secured to an angled (or even horizontal) surface so that the upper position may be relatively higher than the lower position of the device bracket (or at an equal height to). The adjustment axis may therefore be parallel to a plane of the surface to which the mounting bracket is secured. The mounting bracket may be considered as a securing bracket, a stationary bracket, or a wall bracket. The mounting bracket may be configured to remain stationary with respect to the surface and the device bracket may be movable relative to the mounting bracket and to the surface. The device may be a display device such as a display screen or a touch screen etc. For example, the device may be a videoconferencing device (e.g., a TV-format videoconferencing device including a display screen, one or more microphones, one or more video cameras, a computing device, and a networking device). The surface to which the mounting bracket is attached may be a wall, e.g. of a room, or may be a stand-alone framework configured to support the device. For example, a vertical surface attached at a distal end to one or more feet so as to provide a stand-alone platform. The stand-alone framework may include wheels or casters so that the device may be moved easily. The biasing provided by the restoring force may be more or less than or equal to a weight of the device which acts to pull the device towards the lower position (i.e., under gravity). Accordingly, in some examples the one or more biasing members may be configured to (entirely) lift the device bracket (and the device), for example when a locking mechanism is disengaged, and in other examples the one or more biasing members may be configured to help lift the device bracket (and the device), for example when urged by a user. The device bracket may be movable to any position in-between the first and second positions along the adjustment axis. A height of the device bracket may be greater than a height of the mounting bracket. In this context, a height may be measured along a direction parallel to the adjustment axis. By ensuring that the device bracket is taller than the mounting bracket a likelihood that the mounting bracket is hidden behind the device is increased compared to existing mounts which comprised mounting brackets which are larger than the device brackets and so extend beyond the extent of the device. An extent of the movement of the device bracket along the adjustment axis may be limited such that the mounting bracket is configured to remain within an extent of the device bracket along the adjustment axis. Accordingly, outer edges of the mounting bracket along the adjustment axis may remain within corresponding outer edges of the device bracket when the device bracket moves along the adjustment axis. For example, when the device bracket is in the first position, a first edge of the mounting bracket may be aligned with a corresponding first edge of the device bracket, and when the device bracket is in the second position, a second edge of the mounting bracket may be aligned with a corresponding second edge of the device bracket. Therefore, when the device bracket is in a lower position, the mounting bracket may be aligned with (and attached to) an upper portion of the device bracket, and when the device bracket is in an upper position, the mounting bracket may be aligned with (and attached to) a lower portion of the device bracket. In this way, the mounting bracket is prevented from extending beyond the extent of the device bracket and so may be prevented from being visible from a front of the device. The, or each, of the one or more biasing member(s) may be attached by a first end of the biasing member to the device bracket and by a second end of the biasing member to the mounting bracket. Therefore, the biasing members may be configured to pull the mounting bracket and the device bracket together (or push them apart). For example, the one of more biasing members may comprises a spring. The one or more biasing members may comprise an elasticated component, an air bladder (usable to provide restorative forces through the compression and expansion of air contained therein), an elastomeric component, and / or a hydraulic component. The one or more biasing members may provide a restoring force by provision of a counter-weight element. For example, the at least one, or each, of the biasing members may be or comprise a tension spring. The tension spring(s) may be configured to be in an extended state when the device bracket is in the first position and thereby generate a tension force, the tension force providing the restoring force which biases the device bracket towards the second position. Accordingly, when the device bracket is in the second position, the tension spring may be in a contracted state. In this way the tension spring may act to pull the device bracket towards the second (upper) position. However, in other examples, the one or more biasing members may comprise a contraction spring which is configured to push the device bracket towards the second (upper) position. Therefore, in this example, the contraction spring may be in a contracted state when the device bracket is in the first position and in an extended state when the device bracket is in the second position. The one or more biasing members may comprise (or be) a linear spring. That is, the tension or contraction spring may be a linear spring. Accordingly, the one or more biasing members may be configured to exhibit a linear relationship between the restoring force and a displacement of the device bracket along the adjustment axis. Each spring (which may be a linear spring) may be a spiral spring (which may be referred to as a spiral torsion spring) which is configured to be wound (rolled) up when the device bracket is in the second (upper) position and to unravel when the device bracket moves from the second position towards the first (lower) position. Therefore, the spiral spring may be completely or partially unwound when the device bracket is in the first position thereby providing a biasing force as the spiral spring attempts to wind up to a default, wound state. By providing a spiral spring, the function of the biasing member(s) may be longer lasting due to the improved sturdiness of spiral springs which can operate for more cycles than e.g., coil springs. The adjustable mount may comprise a plurality of biasing members. For example, the adjustable mount may comprise at least two or at least three biasing members, or more preferably, four biasing members. Therefore, the restoring force may be more evenly distributed, and each biasing member may experience less wear. A magnitude of the restoring force (and the one or more biasing members) may be configured to support and / or counteract a weight of the device when the adjustment axis is a vertical axis (i.e., when the mounting bracket is attached to a vertical surface). The restoring force may be configured to counteract the weight of the device when the device bracket is in the first position. For example, a magnitude of the restoring force may be equal to (or within a margin of) the weight of the device. For example, a spring constant of each biasing member may be configured (or selected) so that the restoring force is equal to or within a threshold restoring margin of the weight of the device when the device bracket is in the first position. For example, the threshold margin may be between 0% to 20% of the weight of the device. For example, the spring constant may be configured so that a magnitude of the restoring force provided by the biasing members is e.g., between 2 to 50 N, between 10 to 20 N less than the weight of the device. The restoring force may be at least 100 N and no more than 300 N. Where there is a plurality of biasing members, the restoring force may be divided equally or unequally between the biasing members. In some examples, the restoring force provided by the biasing members may be configurable. For example, a tension, a length, and / or a spring constant of the spring(s) may be adjustable for configuring the adjustable mount to receive different devices. For example, the restoring force of the adjustable mount may be given by: Fr=mg +Fth wherein m is a mass of the device, g is acceleration due to gravity (such that mg is the weight of the device) and Fth is a threshold restoring offset. For example, Fth may be e.g., between 0% to 20%, 0% to 15% of the weight of the device. The threshold restoring offset may be a negative offset such that the total restoring force is less than the weight of the device. Therefore, in this example, the one or more biasing members may be configured to help lift the device rather than to independently lift the device. The device bracket may comprise one or more rails extending along the adjustment axis. The mounting bracket may be attached to the rails such that the mounting bracket is slidable along the rails thereby providing the relative movement of the device bracket. The rails may act to guide the movement of the device bracket. When the adjustable mount is secured to a vertical surface, the rails may be referred to as vertical rails. The vertical rails may have a height which is greater than a height of the mounting bracket. By providing rails on the device bracket rather than on the mounting bracket the adjustable mount can be hidden from view behind the device. The device bracket may comprise a first side rail and / or a second side rail. The mounting bracket may be insertable and attached between the first and second side rails. Accordingly, the mounting bracket may be configured to slide (relative to the device bracket) within the first and second side rails. The device bracket may comprise a mid-rail extending along a middle portion of the device bracket (and forming one of the rails discussed above). The mid-rail may be a third rail in a middle of the device bracket located between the first and second side rails. The mounting bracket may comprise one or more sliders insertable into corresponding rails of the device bracket. The sliders may comprise ball bearings, thereby providing smoother and quieter movement of the device bracket and generating less wear. A height of the device bracket along the adjustment axis may be at least two times greater (i.e., at least twice as long) than a height of the mounting bracket along the adjustment axis. Preferably, the device bracket may be three times greater than the mounting bracket. The one or more rails of the device bracket may preferably be longer than a height of the mounting bracket. Preferably the one or more rails may be at least two times longer, more preferably three times longer, than the height of the mounting bracket. The device bracket may be movable relative to the mounting bracket by a maximum displacement of at least 200mm along the adjustment axis. The device bracket may be movable relative to the mounting bracket by a maximum displacement of no more than 500mm along the adjustment axis. The device bracket may be movable relative to the mounting bracket by a maximum displacement between 200mm and 500mm, or between 300mm and 400mm, or 350 mm. This can enable users to easily adjust the height of the device for when they are standing or when seated. The adjustable mount may further comprise an additional securing bracket attached (or attachable) to the device bracket for receiving the device such that the device bracket is attachable to the device via the additional securing bracket. A width of the additional securing bracket, perpendicular to the adjustment axis, may be greater than a width of the device bracket. In this way, devices which are wider than the device bracket may be secured to the adjustable mount in a more secure and balanced manner. The adjustable mount may further comprise a releasable locking mechanism for securing the device bracket in the first position and / or the second position and / or any position therebetween. In other examples, the device bracket may be configured to remain in a chosen position by friction. The biasing members may usefully act to maintain the chosen position of the device bracket by counter-balancing the weight of the device so that less friction is required to hold the device in place. The device bracket may be manually adjustable between the first and second positions. In other examples, the adjustable mount may further comprise a motor for moving the device bracket between the first and second positions. In a second aspect there is provided a kit comprising the adjustable mount of the first aspect and a display device attached to the device bracket. The display screen may, for example, have a mass e.g., of at least 5kg, at least 10kg, at least 20kg. Summary of the Figures Embodiments and experiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Fig. 1 shows an adjustable mount according to aspects of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows the adjustable mount of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the adjustable mount; and Fig. 4 shows a front perspective view of the adjustable mount and a separate display device for attaching to the adjustable mount. Detailed Description of the Invention Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Figure 1 shows an adjustable mount 1 attached to a display device 2 for mounting the display device 2 to a surface (not shown). Preferably the surface is vertical. The adjustable mount 1 is adjustable for moving the display device 2 up and down on the surface in order to adjust the height of the device 2 between an upper and a lower position. The adjustable mount 1 comprises a device bracket 4 which is attachable to the display device 2. The device bracket 4 is slidably connected to a mounting bracket 6. The mounting bracket 6 is attachable to the surface for mounting the display device 2. The mounting bracket 6 is therefore stationary in use with respect to the surface and the device 2. The device bracket 4 is slidably attached to the mounting bracket such that the device bracket 2 is movable relative to the mounting bracket 6 along an adjustment axis between a first position and a second position. In the example shown, the device bracket 4 is configured to slide vertically up and down on the mounting bracket 6 in a vertical direction and the adjustment axis is a vertical axis. Accordingly, when the adjustable mount 1 is attached to a vertical surface the first position is a lower position of the device bracket 4 and the second position is an upper position of the device bracket 4. In Fig. 1 the device bracket 4 and the display device 2 are in the upper position wherein the device bracket 4 has been moved upwards so that a lower edge of the mounting bracket is aligned with a lower edge of the mounting bracket 8. Fig. 2 shows the adjustable mount 1 of Fig.1 wherein the device bracket 4 and the display device 2 are in the lower position wherein the device bracket 4 has been moved downwards with respect to the mounting bracket 6. Therefore, in Fig. 2, an upper edge of the mounting bracket 8 is aligned with an upper edge of the device bracket 4. The device bracket is movable to positions in between the upper and lower positions shown in Figs. 1-2. In some examples, the device bracket 4 may be movable beyond the positions shown in Figs. 1-2. In other examples, a maximum displacement of the device bracket 4 may be limited to the upper and lower positions shown in Figs. 1-2. The device bracket 4 comprises vertical rails 10 for guiding the movement of the device bracket 4 on the mounting bracket 6. In the examples shown, two side rails 10 are provided into which the mounting bracket 4 is inserted and slides within. Additionally, a mid-rail 10 is provided which extends up a middle of the device bracket 4. The mounting bracket 6 comprises ball-bearing sliders (not shown) which fit into the rails 10 of the device bracket 4 for providing smooth motion of the display device 2. The adjustable mount 1 further comprises biasing members 8 for providing a restoring force which biases the device bracket 4 towards the upper position. In this way the biasing members act to pull the device bracket 4 (and the display device 2) upwards, towards the upper position. This helps to counteract the weight of the device and help users adjust the height of the display device 2 without it feeling too heavy. As shown in Figs. 1-2, the biasing members 8 are linear spiral springs. In the examples shown, four spring 8 are provided. However other numbers of biasing members 8 may be possible. A first end of each spring 8 is attached to the mounting bracket 4 and a second end of each spring 8 attached to a lower portion of the device bracket 4. Therefore, in Fig. 1, where the device bracket 4 is in the upper position, the springs 8 are in a contracted state. In Fig. 2, where the device bracket 4 is in the lower position, the springs 8 are shown in an extended state wherein they are stretched between the lower portion of the device bracket and the mounting bracket. The springs 8, which are in tension, attempt to move back in to the contracted state and so provide the restoring force which acts to pull the device bracket 4 upwards towards the upper position. The biasing members 8 are configured to support and counteract a particular weight of the display device 2. For example, a spring constant of each spring 8 may be configured so that the total restoring force provided by all of the springs 8 is near to or equal to the weight of the display device 2 and the device bracket 4. For example, the spring constant of each spring 8 may be increased for heavier display devices 2 thereby providing a greater restoring force, and decreased for lighter display devices 2 thereby providing a lesser restoring force. By providing a device bracket 4 which is taller than the mounting bracket 2 and comprising rails 10, the adjustable mount 1 remains hidden behind the display device 2. This is in contrast to other known mounts in which the rails 10 may be provided on the mounting bracket 4 which is longer than the display device 2 and so would be visible behind the display device 2. The device bracket 4 is configured to remain in a chosen position along the adjustment axis owing to friction. In other examples, the adjustable mount 1 may comprise a releasable locking mechanism for securing the device bracket 2 in a chosen position. The device bracket 4 is manually adjustable along the adjustment axis, as supported by the restoring force provided by the biasing members 8. In other examples, the adjustable 1 may be motorised for moving the device bracket 4 up and down. Fig. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the adjustable mount 1 attached to a display device 2, wherein the device bracket 4 and the display device 2 are in the upper position. Fig. 4 shows a front perspective view of the adjustable mount 1 and a display device 2 which is separated from the adjustable mount 1. In both of these examples, the adjustable mount 1 comprises an additional securing bracket 12 attached to device bracket 4 for attaching to the display device 2. Therefore in these examples the device bracket 4 is attachable to the display device 2 via the additional securing bracket 12. The additional securing bracket 12 is wider than the device bracket 4 for providing a wider support for the display device 2. Also shown in Fig. 4 is a wall bracket 14 for installing the adjustable mount 1 on a surface. The mounting bracket 6 can therefore be attached to the surface using the wall bracket 14. *** The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations. Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” and “include”, and variations such as “comprises”, “comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and / or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a 5 numerical value is optional and means for example + / -10%.

Claims

1. An adjustable mount for mounting a device to a surface comprising:a device bracket attachable to the device, anda mounting bracket attachable to the surface, wherein:the device bracket is slidably attached to the mounting bracket such that the device bracket is movable relative to the mounting bracket along an adjustment axis between a first position and an second position, andthe adjustable mount further comprises one or more biasing members for providing a restoring force which biases the device bracket towards the second position.

2. The adjustable mount of claim 1 wherein a height of the device bracket is greater than a height of the mounting bracket along the adjustment axis.

3. The adjustable mount of claim 2 wherein an extent of the movement of the device bracket along the adjustment axis is limited such that the mounting bracket is configured to remain within an extent of the device bracket along the adjustment axis.

4. The adjustable mount according to any preceding claim wherein each biasing member is attached by a first end of the biasing member to the device bracket and by a second end of the biasing member to the mounting bracket.

5. The adjustable mount of claim 4 wherein the one or more biasing members comprise one or more linear springs.

6. The adjustable mount of claim 5 wherein each linear spring is a tension spring configured to be extended when the device bracket is in the first position and contracted when the device bracket is in the second position.

7. The adjustable mount of claim 5 or 6 wherein the linear spring is a spiral spring configured to be wound when the device bracket is in the upper position and to unravelled when the device bracket is in the first position.

8. The adjustable mount according to any preceding claim comprising or consisting of four biasing members for providing the restoring force.

9. The adjustable mount according to any preceding claim wherein a magnitude of the restoring force is configured to counteract a weight of the device when the adjustment axis is a vertical axis, and the device bracket is in the first position.

10. The adjustable mount according to claim 9 wherein a spring constant of each biasing member is configured so that the magnitude of the restoring force, when the device bracket is in the first position, is equal to or within a threshold margin of the weight of the device.

11. The adjustable mount according to claim 10 wherein the spring constant of each biasing member is configured so that the magnitude of the restoring force is equal to or less than the weight of the device.

12. The adjustable mount of any preceding claim wherein the device bracket comprises one or more rails extending along the adjustment axis and the mounting bracket is attached to the rails.

13. The adjustable mount of claim 12 wherein device bracket comprises a first side rail and a second side rail and the mounting bracket is inserted between and slideable within the first and second side rails.

14. The adjustable mount of claim 13 further comprising a third rail located between the first and second side rails.

15. The adjustable mount according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the mounting bracket comprises one or more sliders insertable into corresponding rails of the device bracket, wherein the sliders comprise ball bearings.

16. The adjustable mount according to any preceding claim wherein a length of the one of more rails of the device bracket is at least two times longer than a height of mounting bracket along the adjustment axis.

17. The adjustable mount according to any preceding claim wherein the device bracket is movable relative to the mounting bracket by a maximum displacement of at least 200mm along the adjustment axis.

18. The adjustable mount according to any preceding claim further comprising an additional securing bracket attached to the device bracket for receiving the device such that the device bracket is attachable to the device via the additional securing bracket.

19. The adjustable mount of claim 18 wherein a width of the additional securing bracket, perpendicular to the adjustment axis, is greater than a width of the device bracket.

20. The adjustable mount according to any preceding claim further comprising a releasable locking mechanism for securing the device bracket in the first position and / or the second position and / or a position between the first and second positions.

21. The adjustable mount of any preceding claim further comprising a motor for moving the device bracket between the first and second positions.

22. A display kit comprising the adjustable mount according to any preceding claim and a display device attached to the device bracket.

23. The display kit according to claim 22 wherein the restoring force of the adjustable mount is given by: Fr=mg±Fthwherein mg is a weight of the device, and Fth is a threshold restoring margin.

24. The display kit according to claim 23 wherein Fth is between 0% to 15% of the weight of the display device.

25. The display kit according to claim 23 or 24 wherein Fth is a negative offset such that a magnitude of the restoring force is less than the weight of the device.

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