IP Library Granted Patent US 9,717,339
Granted Patent B2
US 9,717,339 · App. 14/572,219 · Granted Aug 1, 2017

Computing accessory mounting apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,717,339
App. No.
14/572,219
Granted
Aug 1, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure provides for a mounting apparatus for mounting a computing accessory to a display device. The mounting apparatus includes an attachment portion for holding a computing accessory body. An extension extends away from the attachment portion and includes one or more permanent magnets. When the mounting apparatus is in a mounted location on the display device, (i) a display-facing portion of the extension extends along and faces a rear surface of the display device; (ii) the one or more permanent magnets attract the extension to ferromagnetic material in the display device to magnetically hold the mounting apparatus in the mounted location; and (iii) the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body adjacent an outer edge of the display device.

Claims (25)

1. A computing accessory mounting system, comprising:

a display device; and

a mounting apparatus including:

an attachment portion configured to hold a computing accessory body;

an extension extending away from the attachment portion and including one or more permanent magnets, the mounting apparatus mounted on the display device in a mounted location such that (i) a display-facing portion of the extension extends along and faces a rear surface of the display device; (ii) the one or more permanent magnets attract the extension to ferromagnetic material in the display device to magnetically hold the mounting apparatus in the mounted location on the display device; and (iii) the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body adjacent an outer edge of the display device;

a positioning guide attached to the extension and configured to abut against the outer edge of the display device when the mounting apparatus is in the mounted location, the positioning guide including a portion configured to protrude inwardly over the outer edge toward a front side of the display device;

a spacer element on the display-facing portion of the extension configured to space the one or more permanent magnets from the rear surface of the display device; and

an adjuster operatively coupled to the spacer element and configured to adjust an extent to which the spacer element protrudes inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device.

2. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the extension is further configured to enable the mounting apparatus to be relocated to a different mounted location so that the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body in a different position adjacent the outer edge of the display device.

3. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the attachment portion is configured to enable the computing accessory body to be selectively held on and removed from the attachment portion.

4. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the positioning guide is elongated and extends along the outer edge of the display device.

5. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the spacer element is a material that covers the one or more permanent magnets and is positioned between the one or more permanent magnets and the rear surface of the display device when the mounting apparatus is in the mounted location.

6. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the spacer element is a foot that protrudes from the display-facing portion of the extension inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device.

7. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the adjuster includes a thread mechanism to adjust the extent of protrusion.

8. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the adjuster includes a cam mechanism to adjust the extent of protrusion.

9. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1 , where the one or more permanent magnets are recessed into the display-facing portion of the extension.

10. A computing accessory mounting system, comprising:

a display device;

a computing accessory body; and

an extension attached to the computing accessory body via an attachment portion configured to hold the computing accessory body, the extension extending away from the computing accessory body and including one or more permanent magnets, the extension mounted on the display device in a mounted location such that (i) a display-facing portion of the extension extends along and faces a rear surface of the display device; (ii) the one or more permanent magnets attract the extension to ferromagnetic material in the display device to magnetically hold the extension in the mounted location on the display device; and (iii) the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body adjacent an outer edge of the display device;

a positioning guide attached to the extension and configured to abut against the outer edge of the display device when the mounting apparatus is in the mounted location, the positioning guide includes a portion configured to protrude inwardly over the outer edge toward a front side of the display device; and

a spacer element on the display-facing portion of the extension configured to space the one or more permanent magnets from the rear surface of the display device; and

where the spacer element is a foot that protrudes from the display-facing portion of the extension inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device, and where an adjuster is operatively coupled to the foot and configured to adjust an extent to which the foot protrudes inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device.

11. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 10 , where the extension is further configured to enable the computing accessory to be relocated to a different mounted location so that the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body in a different position adjacent the outer edge of the display device.

12. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 10 , where the spacer element is a material that covers the one or more permanent magnets and is positioned between the one or more permanent magnets and the rear surface of the display device when the extension is in the mounted location.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2015
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034819/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2014
From: EMERY, WILLIAM LOREN
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034519/0888 →