IP Library Granted Patent US 7,856,732
Granted Patent B2
US 7,856,732 · App. 12/367,376 · Granted Dec 28, 2010

System for mounting an object to a surface

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,856,732
App. No.
12/367,376
Granted
Dec 28, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for mounting an object such as a flat screen television on a surface such as a wall. A mounting template is fastened to the surface and defines multiple sets of openings corresponding to multiple mounting configurations. Wall brackets are removably secured within the openings and are then fastened to the surface. Object spacers are fastened to mounting locations on the object corresponding to the mounting configuration of the wall brackets, and are connected to the wall brackets to secure the object to the wall. A level may be secured within the mounting template. The mounting template may include fold lines to facilitate packaging and storage of the mounting template.

Claims (27)

1. A system for mounting an object on a surface comprising:

a mounting template defining at least one set of openings corresponding to a configuration of mounting locations on the object; and

a plurality of first links that are removably securable within the openings and are configured to be fastened to the surface, wherein

there are multiple sets of openings corresponding to multiple configurations of mounting locations on objects, and

the mounting template further comprises horizontal and vertical fold lines oriented such that the mounting template can be folded so that the multiple sets of openings overlap, and so that the first links can be inserted into the overlapped openings to retain the folded structure.

2. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second links that are configured to be fastened to the mounting locations on the object and that are connectable to the first links.

3. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first links are wall brackets sized to be removably retained within the openings in the mounting template and to be fastened to a wall.

4. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second links are object spacers configured to connect to the wall brackets and to be fastened to a surface of the object.

5. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 2 , the mounting template further comprising a slot sized to removably retain the second links when packaged.

6. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 1 , wherein there are three sets of openings.

7. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the three sets of openings correspond to the 100 mm×100 mm, 100 mm×200 mm and 200 mm×200 mm VESA standards.

8. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the horizontal and vertical fold lines are oriented such that the three sets of openings overlap.

9. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 1 , and further comprising a level that is secured within the mounting template.

10. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mounting template further comprises fold lines to facilitate packaging and storage of the mounting template.

11. A system for mounting an object as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mounting template is constructed of cardboard.

12. A method for mounting an object to a surface comprising:

providing a template with multiple sets of openings corresponding to multiple mounting configurations of mounting locations on objects, wherein the mounting template further comprises horizontal and vertical fold lines oriented such that the mounting template can be folded so that the multiple sets of openings overlap, and so that the first links can be inserted into the overlapped openings to retain the folded structure;

removing the first links from the overlapped openings and unfolding the folded structure;

fastening the template to the surface;

inserting first links into a set of openings on the template corresponding to a desired mounting configuration;

fastening the first links to the surface; and

mounting the object on the first links.

13. A method for mounting an object as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:

fastening second links to the object in the desired mounting configuration; and

mounting the object to the surface by connecting the second links on the objects to the first links on the wall.

14. A method for mounting an object as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:

removing the template from the surface after the first links are fastened to the surface.

Assignments (5)
GRANT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2022
From: ERGOTRON, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060613/0415 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NORTEK, INC.; BARCOM ASIA HOLDINGS, LLC; BARCOM CHINA HOLDINGS, LLC; BNSS LP, INC.; BNSS GP, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; GEFEN, LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); HUNTAIR MIDDLE EAST HOLDINGS, INC.; LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE LLC; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; REZNOR LLC; TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041346/0048 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041327/0089 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 026276, FRAME 0073 Recorded Jun 3, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; ERGOTRON, INC.; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORDYNE LLC; ERGOTRON, INC. (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO THE AVC GROUP, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (F/K/A PANAMAX LLC); LINEAR LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SECURE WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 033083/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 13, 2014
From: LINEAR LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; CES GROUP, LLC; REZNOR LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032891/0753 →