Supports – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-10-02
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
C348S786000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296214
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to video walls and, more particularly, is concerned with a method and apparatus for supporting and connecting the individual screen panels comprising a multiple screen panel video display wall.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the overall dimensions of large screen video walls. Large video walls are often designed for information display purposes, including command and control centers, sports venues, and the entertainment industry. The video wall is commonly comprised of several smaller rear projection screen panels. Each panel of the video wall then receives a portion of the overall picture resulting in an enlarged total image.
The screen panels are combined in any gridded configuration. Typically, the screens are held in place by integral frame members which must support the weight of each screen to prevent warpage of the lower screens. Because the integral frame members are usually supported on their ends, the integral frame members are relatively wide to prevent bowing and sagging in the span. The width creates a relatively large line or grid pattern in the overall video presentation. In the past, a metal framework provided the necessary support to the panels. Each screen panel edge was held by individual metal components that created an opaque border around the periphery of the screen panel.
While this support system was used extensively in the past, it has serious drawbacks. Due to the need to support each screen individually, the screen was supported by a bracketing system. The bracketing system was made of a non-translucent material, such as metal or wood, and, as a result, it obstructed the path of light between the projector and the screen surface. The bracketing system also allowed the reflection of stray light into the screen display area since the bracketing system was not capable of diffusing light. In addition, in order to hold each screen panel, a support member attached to the front of the screen. The support members created a grid-like formation over the viewing surface.
Consequently, a need exists for improvements in the framing system for video walls which will reduce the grid-like formation over the viewing screen while supporting each individual panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The current invention makes possible the creation of a video wall support system resulting in optimal continuity of the viewing surface from screen panel to screen panel. Due to an innovative means of gripping and enclosing the edges of the individual panels, the present invention obscures less than 2-3 mm of the screen panel along each panel edge, and in some embodiments can eliminate all obstructions. In addition, exposed supports in the form of c-clips, are molded of clear plastic which creates a less obtrusive joint compared to the opaque prior art joints. The supporting bracket for the joint is tapered from the end attached to the supporting frame to the narrower end nearest to the video screen panel. The tapering allows the light from the projector to strike the screen unimpeded. This also substantially lessens the dead space between the individual projected images on each screen.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting individual video screen panels while creating an enlarged overall video presentation with minimal obstruction. Each video panel is framed by a small, clear plastic, c-shaped clip. In an alternative embodiment, each panel is notched and held to a supporting bracket by a thin piece of mylar tape.
The c-clips snap into an extruded black-anodized aluminum supporting bracket. The supporting bracket is tapered, increasing in thickness from the c-clip end backwards toward the end attached to the support structure.
In further embodiments, the screen panel has a groove around its periphery with a notched interior surface, so that a bracket with a flange directed parallel to the surface of the screen panel can form a tongue-in-groove connection with the grooves. This connection provides a low-profile connection that reduces blockage of the light from the projection, and thus reduces or eliminates the light obstruction. The interior surface of the brackets on which the flange is formed are advantageously grooved so that any incident light is not reflected onto the screen panel.
The supporting bracket utilizes a flange to attach to the wood or metal support structure. In addition, the extrusion is shaped to diffuse any stray light present to avoid reflections into the display area. The result is a support system which supports each individual panel with members that do not interfere with the light path. Also, the support system provides a very small non-imaged space between video screen panels. The present invention thereby creates a more efficient structure and a more continuous overall image.
The extrusion of this invention comprises an elongated holding bracket having a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape along substantially the entire length of the bracket. The cross-sectional shape has a thicker first end and a smaller second end connected by an interior and exterior sides that generally converge at an angle of about &thgr; or less, where &thgr; is the angle at which the image is projected onto the screen. The cross-sectional shape has a mounting surface for connecting the bracket to a support structure. The second end has a flange that extends inward a distance selected to minimize blockage of the projected image, and advantageously extends inward a distance selected to completely avoid blocking the image projected on the screen. Advantageously, the extrusion has an aperture sized to receive a threaded fastener with threads having a pitch, where the aperture includes at least one of an elongated slot in the interior surface extending the length of the bracket and having opposing walls that contain a plurality of grooves spaced apart by the pitch, or a hollow aperture extending the length of the bracket sized to engage the threaded fastener.
In use, the extruded bracket cooperates with a screen having a plurality of edges with a groove extending along the length of each edge. The screen also has an interior side facing the projector with a notched portion along the length of the grooved edges. The notch and groove cooperate with the flange on the extrusion to form a tongue-in-groove connection to hold the grooved edges of the screen.
In a further embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for holding a video display screen onto which an image is projected by a projector, where the screen having a plurality of edges. The apparatus includes a plurality of elongated holding brackets having a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape with a thicker first end and a smaller second end. At least some of the brackets have a mounting surface for connecting to a support structure. The cross-sectional shape has an exterior side and an interior side that converge at an angle selected to reduce, and preferably to avoid blocking the image from the projector. Fastening means connect to the second end to engage an adjacent edge of the screen, with the brackets being placed on a plurality of the plurality of edges of the screen to hold the screen in position. The fastening means can comprise means for engaging grooves in a plurality of edges of the screen to hold the grooved edges of the screen.
In a further embodiment the bracket has a distal end configured to hold an adjacent edge of the screen from movement in at least one direction, where brackets are placed around the periphery of the screen to hold the screen in position. The distal end in one embodiment extends substantially parallel to one side of the bracket and cooperates with a notch in the adjacent edge of the screen to hold the screen. In a further embodiment, the distal end comprises at least one flange extending inward to hold the screen with the inwardly extending dimension of the flange being selected to reduce, and more advantageously to minimize blocking the image projected on the
ADF Incorporated
Anderson Lowell
Ramirez Ramon O.
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
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