Self-balancing adjustable flat panel mounting system

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/449,834 filed May 30, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,961.

[0002] The present invention is directed to a self-balancing mounting system for a flat panel display that permits a single operator to tip the flat panel display to any desired angle.

[0003] Flat panel displays have become an increasingly popular substitute for projection devices and CRT's. The flat panel display is typically mounted on a structure, such as a wall. Flat panel displays, especially LCD displays, are typically most clearly viewable from a position directly in front of the display. The display image is often too dark or not visible at all if viewed from a significant angle.

[0004] It is thus preferable that the angle of a flat panel display can be adjusted for optimum viewing. Various prior art positioning devices have been used, such as friction based hinges, mechanical linkages with springs or other biasing devices, and various mechanical latches. The friction based devices need to be sufficiently strong to hold a relatively heavy flat panel displays, while being easy to operate.

[0005] Traditional friction based devices and mechanical latches often require one person to hold the flat panel display at the correct angle, while a second person adjusts the device. Movement in the upward direction requires the operator to lift a substantial portion of the weight of the flat panel display. In some instances, the operator must also overcome the resistance of the positioning device.

[0006] Also, the hinge and pivot joints used in prior devices typically enable positioning of the display about only one axis per joint. The degree of display position adjustability of such devices is limited by the number of joints that can be economically and practically provided.

[0007] Mechanical linkages with springs are expensive to build. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,196 (Sweere et al.) discloses a multi-jointed, pivoted support arm to support and position a flat panel display that uses a nitrogen gas spring counterbalance mechanism. What is needed in the industry is a low-cost, easy to operate, and relatively maintenance free system for mounting and positioning flat panel displays that also offers a high degree of adjustability for display positioning.

[0008] The present invention is a mounting system for a flat panel display that substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry. A display interface having a hollow, semi-spherical shell portion is attached to the flat panel display. The semi-spherical shell is formed with a generally constant radius of curvature. The center of the radius of curvature is disposed proximate the center of gravity of the flat panel display with the display interface attached. The display interface is received in a guide structure that has a bearing portion engaging the outer surface of the semi-spherical shell, and a second bearing portion engaging the inner surface of the semi-spherical shell through an aperture formed in the semi-spherical shell. The semi-spherical shell is guided between the first and second bearing portions so that the flat panel display and device interface are generally rotatable about the center of the radius of curvature of the semi-spherical shell.

[0009] The above described configuration enables the flat panel display to be positioned in a virtually infinite number of positions within the range of travel of the semi-spherical shell within the mount. The location of the center of rotation of the display proximate the center of gravity of the display and device interface enable self-balancing so that a virtually equal effort is required to position the display in any position, and with a relatively low effort so that positioning can be accomplished by an individual user.

[0010] In accordance with the invention, a self-balancing adjustable flat panel electronic display system adapted for mounting on a fixed structure is provided. The system includes a support structure adapted to attach to the fixed structure, and a flat panel electronic display device with a device interface portion thereon. The flat panel display device and the device interface portion together have a center of gravity. The device interface portion includes a semi-spherical portion having an outer surface with a generally constant radius of curvature with a center proximate the center of gravity. The system also includes a guide portion operably coupled to the device interface portion and the support structure. The guide portion has a first bearing portion engaging and guiding the outer surface of the semi-spherical portion and a retaining portion for retaining the device interface portion in engagement with the first bearing portion. The flat panel display and the device interface portion are rotatable about the center of the radius of curvature of the semi-spherical portion.

[0021] A self-balancing adjustable mounting system 10 of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1-8. The system 10 generally includes a flat panel display 12, a mount 14 and a support structure 16. Support structure 16 is attachable to any fixed structure such as wall 18.

[0022] Mount 14 generally includes device interface 20 and guide structure 22. Device interface 20 generally includes a mounting plate portion 24 and a semi-spherical shell portion 26. The semi-spherical shell portion 26 has an outer surface 28, an inner surface 30 and an aperture 32 formed through the shell 26. Semi-spherical shell portion 26 has a generally constant radius of curvature 34 defined from a common center 36 over all curved portions of the shell 26.

[0023] Mounting plate 24 is removably attachable to flat panel display 12. Threaded fasteners 38 extend through slots 40 in adapter plate 42 and thread into holes 44 in flat panel display 12. Slots 40 enable adapter plate 42 to be vertically positionable on flat panel display 12 so as to allow for positioning of center 36 near the center of gravity of the display, as will be further discussed herein below. Alternate slots 46 may be provided to enable adapter plate 42 to mate with a flat panel displays 12 of various manufacture and model, which may have an alternate positioning of holes 44.

[0024] Fastening buttons 48 are secured to adapter plate 42 with fasteners 50. Fastening buttons 48 have a head portion 52, a base portion 54, and a narrow shank portion 56, defining a slot 58. Slot 58 is dimensioned so as to receive the edge 60 of mounting plate 24. Mounting plate 24 has a plurality of notches 62 corresponding with the location of fastening buttons 48. Notches 62 are located so that mounting plate 24 may be slid into position with notches 62 engaged with shank portion 56 of each fastening button 48, and with the edges of mounting plate 24 captured between head portion 52 and base portion 54 of each fastening button 48. With mounting plate 24 in this position, latch mechanism 64 may be pivoted into position over head portion 52 of one of the fastening buttons 48, thereby securing mounting plate 24 in position. In addition to the arrangement described above, any other suitable arrangement for attaching mounting plate 24 to flat panel display 12 may be used, including fasteners directly securing mounting plate 24 to flat panel display 12.

[0025] Guide structure 22 generally includes an outer guide portion 66 and a retaining portion 67 in the form of inner guide portion 68. Outer guide portion 66 has a boss 70 with a pair of projecting prongs 72. Boss 70 extends through aperture 32 in semi-spherical shell portion 26. Boss 70 has a bore 74 with an interior threaded portion 76. Outer guide portion 66 also has at least one bearing portion 78, which contacts the outer surface 28 of semi-spherical shell portion 26 and serves to guide rotating movement of device interface 20 and flat panel display 12. As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5, bearing portion 78 may be a circular strip 80 fitted inside a lip 82 at the periphery 84 of outer guide portion 66. In this embodiment, bearing portion 78 is in sliding engagement with outer surface 28. Although bearing portion 78 may be made from any material having suitable friction and durability characteristics, it is presently preferred that ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) be used for its superior lubricity, abrasion resistance, toughness, and freedom from stress cracking.

[0026] As an alternative to frictional contact of bearing portion 78 with outer surface 28, a ball bearing mechanism 86 may be used in place of bearing portion 78 to provide rolling contact. As depicted in FIG. 7, ball bearing mechanism 86 generally includes a race portion 88 containing a plurality of ball bearings 90. Ball bearings 90 roll within sockets 92 in race portion 88.

[0027] Inner guide portion 68 generally includes retainer plate 94 and bearing portion 96. Bearing portion 96 has a center aperture 98 with a pair of lobes 100, which are conformingly shaped so as to receive prongs 72 of boss 70. Retainer plate 94 fits over bearing portion 96 and has a center aperture 102. Bushing 104 fits through center aperture 102 of retainer plate 94 and center aperture 98 of bearing portion 96, extending into bore 74 of boss 70. Bushing 104 has a lip 106 which engages an edge 108 of retainer plate 94. Fastener 110 extends through bushing 104 and threads into threaded portion 76 or boss 70, thereby securing inner guide portion 68 to outer guide portion 66.

[0028] Bearing portion 96 slidably engages inner surface 30 of semi-spherical shell portion 26 and serves as an additional guide for rotation of device interface 20 and the attached flat panel display 12. It is preferred that, in the depicted sliding contact embodiment, bearing portion 96 be formed from UHMWPE material for its especially desirable properties in this application. Again, it is anticipated that other suitable mechanisms, such as a ball bearing arrangement providing roller contact, could also be used in this configuration.

[0029] Mount 14 may be made so as to be attachable to any suitable support structure 16. As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, support structure 16 may be a swing arm assembly 110. Swing arm assembly 110 generally includes an inner arm 112, an outer arm 114 and a mounting bracket 116. Outer arm 114 has a bore 118, with an upwardly directed enlarged portion 120. Guide structure 22 has a corresponding bore 122 with a downwardly directed enlarged portion 124. Bushing 126 fits into enlarged portions 120 and 124 and is rotatable therein. Mount 14 is thus horizontally rotatably adjustable with respect to outer arm 114, as indicted by the arrows in FIG. 2.

[0030] Fastener 128 extends through bore 118, bushing 126 and bore 122, emerging in recess 130 at bottom side 132 of outer arm 114. Fastener 128 has head 134, which is received in recess 136 formed in top side 138 of guide structure 22. One or more friction washers 140 may be provided between head 134 and guide structure 22 so as to enable an adjustable amount of friction to be applied for resisting pivoting of guide structure 22 relative to outer arm 114. Nut 142 is threadably engaged with fastener 128 so as to permit application of axial pressure to friction washer 140 by tightening. Friction washer 144 may be provided between mount 14 and outer arm 114 to provide smooth rotation for the joint. Since the bottom side 145 of outer arm 114 is open, a bottom plate 145a may be affixed with fasteners 145b as depicted to enclose outer arm 114 for aesthetic purposes, and to retain any cables or wires that may be routed inside the arm.

[0031] A similar arrangement may be used to rotatably attach outer arm 114 to inner arm 112. Outer arm 114 has a bore 146 with a downwardly directed enlarged portion 148 (not depicted). Inner arm 112 has a bore 150 with an upwardly directed enlarged portion 152. Bushing 154 rotatably fits in enlarged portions 148 and 152. Fastener 156 extends through bores 146 and 150, as well as bushing 154. Fastener 156 may be secured in place with nut 158 to hold inner arm 112 and outer arm 114 together. One or more friction washers 160, 162, may be provided as before. Again, since the bottom side 163 of inner arm 112 is open, a bottom plate 163a may be affixed with fasteners 163b as depicted to enclose outer arm 112 for aesthetic purposes, and to retain any cables or wires that may be routed inside the arm.

[0032] Mounting bracket 116 is depicted in FIG. 8, and generally includes bracket portion 164 and hanger plate 166. Hanger plate 166 may be secured to a fixed structure, such as a wall, using fasteners inserted through apertures 168. Bracket portion 164 has a groove 170 inside housing 172 for receiving edge 174 of hanger plate 166.

[0033] A swing arm, such as inner arm 112, may be secured to mounting bracket 116 with the same arrangement as described above for connecting inner arm 112 with outer arm 114. Bracket portion 164 has a bore 176 with an upwardly directed enlarged portion 178. Inner arm 112 has a bore 180 with a downwardly directed enlarged portion 182. Again, a bushing 184 rotatably fits in enlarged portions 178, 182. Fastener 186, nut 188, and friction washers 190, 192, secure the swing arm to the bracket.

[0034] Mounting bracket 116 may be secured to a fixed structure by first installing hanger plate 166 on the structure as described above. With the hanger plate 166 in place, housing 172 is placed over hanger plate 166 so as to cover it. The housing 172 is slid downward, thereby engaging edge 174 of hanger plate 166 in groove 170, and securing bracket portion 164 and hanger plate 166 together. Set screw 194, threaded through hole 196 and secured by nut 198 prevents upward sliding movement of bracket portion 164, thereby preventing disengagement of bracket portion 164 from mounting bracket 166.

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates, in exemplary fashion, a side view of a flat panel display 12 mounted to mount 14. The flat panel display 12 and the device interface 20 together have an actual center of gravity, annotated 200. As described above, semi-spherical shell portion 26 has a constant radius of curvature 34 with a common center 36. Device interface 20 is preferably positioned so that center 36 of radius of curvature 34 is located as closely as possible to the actual center of gravity 200.

[0036] Of course it will be readily appreciated that the location of actual center of gravity 200 will vary depending on the weight distribution of the particular flat panel display 12 attached to the mounting system. For purposes of the invention, a virtual center of gravity 202 may be approximated by a spherical volume 204 having actual center of gravity 200 at its center.

[0037] The operation of the invention may now be understood with reference to FIGS. 1-8. As described above, semi-spherical shell portion 26 is captured between an outer guide portion 66 and an inner guide portion 68 of guide structure 22. These guide portions 66, 68, have respective bearing portions 78, 96, that engage surfaces 28, 30, of semi-spherical shell 26. Semi-spherical shell 26 is movable between outer guide portion 66 and inner guide portion 68, guided by bearing portions 78, 96.

[0038] To adjust the position of flat panel display 12, a user may push or pull any portion of the periphery 206 of the flat panel display 12. The applied force causes flat panel display 12 and device interface 20 to rotate about center 36, as semi-spherical shell 26 passes between bearing portions 78, 96. The location of center 36 within virtual center of gravity 202, proximate actual center of gravity 200, enables flat panel display 12 to be self-balancing, thus requiring no greater amount of effort for positioning in any particular direction. This configuration enables rotational movement in any direction within the range of travel of semi-spherical shell 26 within guide structure 22, thus enabling flat panel display 12 to be positioned in a virtually infinite number of orientations.