Three bearing positioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning systems for flat panel devices, such as large screen TVs, require multiple people to reposition and cannot traverse inside corners or be hidden behind false walls, compromising aesthetics and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system using hex rails and yoke assemblies that allow horizontal movement of flat panel devices across surfaces, including inside corners, hidden behind false walls, with a tri-bearing system for smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flat panel display device is fixedly mounted to a wall surface, then the device remains stable and secure, but repositioning the device requires removing it from the mounting, repairing wall damage, and repeating the process, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed mounting system into a dynamic repositionable system by introducing a rail mechanism that allows the display device to move along the wall surface. The rail system with carriage assemblies enables the device to be relocated easily while maintaining secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is segmented into separate functional components: the rail system attached to the wall, the carriage assemblies that move along the rail, and the display device. This segmentation allows independent movement of the device along the rail without affecting the wall mounting structure, enabling easy repositioning while maintaining system stability.
2Ease of operation
If a positioning system uses exposed mechanical components to allow movement, then repositioning becomes easier, but the mechanical components compromise the aesthetic integrity of the room environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mechanical rail components from the visible room environment and relocates them to the wall surface or behind false walls. The rail system is positioned out of direct view while maintaining its functional capability to support and move the display device, thus preserving aesthetic integrity while enabling easy repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces false walls or decorative panels as intermediary elements that conceal the mechanical rail system. These intermediaries serve as visual barriers between the viewer and the mechanical components, allowing the rail system to remain functional while hidden from view, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and aesthetic integrity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a positioning system uses a simple mounting mechanism, then installation becomes easier, but the system cannot traverse inside corners or be hidden behind false walls
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate various wall configurations including straight walls, inside corners, and false walls. The modular rail segments can be configured to follow different wall geometries, and the system can be concealed behind false walls while maintaining full functionality, thus achieving both ease of installation and high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the rail system into three-dimensional space to accommodate corner traversing by using curved or angled rail segments that follow the wall geometry. The system can move from two-dimensional wall surfaces into three-dimensional corner spaces, enabling the display device to traverse inside corners while maintaining a relatively simple installation approach.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy repositioning of flat panel devices without visible mechanical components, maintaining aesthetic integrity and allowing movement across multiple surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
A roller element bearing rides on top of a hexagon (hex) rail
Implementation Method 2
An alignment bearing maintains the roller element bearing in the center of the hex rail
Data Source
AI summary
A three-bearing system (TBS) running on a hexagonal rail behind a false wall enables a TV hung on a first wall to move horizontally along the first wall, traverse an inside corner formed by the first wall and a second wall, and move horizontally along the second wall. A yoke supports the three bearings and is attached to the TV by a rigid support arm (made of metal, carbon fiber, or other structural support material) that has passed through one or more horizontal slots in a false wall. The protruding support arms holding the TV in place are attached to the hexagonal rail system that is permanently attached to the structure of the building. Through the user's selected movement or positioning, viewing the TV is easier and more comfortable from many positions in a room.