WO2007086025A1

WO2007086025A1 - Stand and screen holder for use on such a stand

Info

Publication number: WO2007086025A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/050272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martinus P. M. Van Den Thillart; Jan Van Hecke
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2006-01-27
Filing date: 2007-01-26
Publication date: 2007-08-02

Abstract

Stand comprising a base (2) and a screen holder (3) connected to the base (2) in a first position, wherein the screen holder (3) is detachable from the base (2) and in an inverted second position connectable to a wall (4), the screen holder (3) having connection elements (5 a) for connecting a flat screen both in the first as well as the second position. The invention further relates to a screen holder (3) for use on an above-mentioned stand.

Description

Stand and screen holder for use on such a stand

The invention relates to a stand comprising a base and a screen holder.

Such stands are known from practice. The known stands are adapted to receive a flat screen, for example a flat television screen. A user can connect a flat television screen to a stand in order to bring it to a desired position. A disadvantage of such known stands is that when the user chooses to mount the television to a wall, the stand cannot be used. An additional screen holder has to be provided to enable mounting the flat television to the wall.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a stand that is able to hold a flat screen and at the same time provides a wall mounting connection.

In order to achieve this object the stand according to the invention comprises a base and a screen holder connected to the base in a first position, wherein the screen holder is detachable from the base and in an inverted second position connectable to a wall, the screen holder having connection elements for connecting a flat screen both in the first as well as the second position. Such stand is a multifunctional stand that provides different connecting positions for a flat television screen. A user can choose if he wants to put the flat television onto the stand, said stand holding the television can be placed on every desired location. If the user chooses to connect the television to a surface, for instance a wall, he can use the screen holder to connect the television safely to the wall. Therefore, the screen holder has to be detached from the base and inverted to bring it in a second position which enables the screen holder to be connected to the wall. After connecting the screen holder to the wall the flat screen can be connected to the screen holder with aid of the connection elements. Such a stand is very favorable because it provides users of flat televisions the possibility to choose their favorite way of positioning the television.

It further takes less material to manufacture such a multifunctional stand in comparison to the needed material when manufacturing a separate base stand and a separate wall connection.

Another advantage is that by only providing only one stand with a television, a smaller packaging size can be used and consequently the associated transport costs decrease.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, the screen holder has a main part and two side parts, the side parts each extending from a free end of the main part in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the main part. In the first position of the screen holder, the main part is connected to the base and situated substantially parallel to the base and the side parts are adapted to receive the television screen. Preferably, the connection elements are provided on said side parts. In further elaboration of the invention, the side parts extend upwardly when the screen holder is in the first position, while the side parts extend downwardly when the screen holder is in the second position. In a favorable embodiment, the main part and the side parts provide an open space there between, said space being adapted to receive cables and/or cable connections. The open space enables that the user can easily attach cables or cable connections to the television while the television is placed on the screen holder, regardless if the screen holder is connected to the base or to a wall. The open space further prevents the cables from damaging by getting stuck between the screen holder and the backside of the flat screen. When being placed on the base, the cables extend from the backside of the screen through the open space. When being on the wall, the open space extends downwardly, allowing to lead the cables from the backside of the screen downwardly.

In another advantageous embodiment, the connection elements comprise first connection elements for connection the flat screen on the screen holder when being in the first position, wherein the connecting elements comprise second connection elements for connecting the flat screen on the screen holder when being in the second position. The connection elements provide an easy connection of the television screen to the screen holder regardless of which position the screen holder is in.

In further elaboration of the invention, the screen holder comprises safety elements, like safety screws, for fixating the flat screen to the screen holder when being connected with aid of the connecting elements. This is very advantageous because it prevents the flat screen from coming off the screen holder thereby preventing the screen from damaging.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the screen holder is moveably connected to the base. When the screen holder, holding a flat screen television, is connected to the base, it is favorable that the television screen can be moved to provide an optimal viewing position for the user, for example by rotating the screen. When the user is changing sitting position, he can adapt the position of the flat screen relative to that sitting position always having the best viewing angle.

The invention further relates to a screen holder for use on an above described stand in a first position, wherein the screen holder is detachable from the base of the stand and is in an inverted second position connectable to a wall, the screen holder having connection elements for connecting a flat screen both in the first as well as the second position. The screen holder provides the same kind of advantages as the stand mentioned before.

The invention also relates to a system comprising the stand according to the invention and a flat screen connectable or connected to the screen holder of the stand.

The invention will be further elucidated by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a stand;

Fig. 2 shows a screen holder in a second position;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the stand folding the television screen; and

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a flat screen connected to a wall.

Fig. 1 shows a stand 1 comprising a base 2 and a screen holder 3 connected to base 2. The screen holder 3 is placed in a first position. The screen holder 3 is detachable from the base 2 and can be brought to an inverted second position to be connectable to a wall (see fig. 2). The screen holder 3 has connection elements 5 for connecting a flat screen (not shown) both in the first as well as the second position. In the first position, the screen holder 3 is moveably connected to the base 2. The screen holder can be rotated around axis A to bring the flat screen into a desired viewing position. The screen holder 3 has a main part 7 and two side parts 8, 9. Said side parts 8, 9 each extend from the opposite free ends 10, 11 of the main part 7 in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the main part 7. In this first position, the side parts 8, 9 extend upwardly.

In fig. 2, the screen holder is detached from the base 2 and is brought in an inverted second position. As can be seen, the side parts 8, 9 extend downwardly in this second position from the main part 7, thereby providing an open space 12 there between. Said open space 12 is adapted to receive cables and/or cable connections (not shown). When being in the second position, the screen holder 3 can be connected to a wall (not shown) with aid of the wall mounts 14. After mounting the screen holder 3 to the wall, a flat screen (not shown) can be connected to the screen holder 3 by using the connection elements 5b. The connection elements 5 comprise first connection elements 5 a for connecting the flat screen to the screen holder 3 when being in the first position. Furthermore, the connection elements 5 comprise second connection elements 5b for connecting the flat screen 6 to the screen holder 3 when being in the second position. The screen holder 3 comprises safety elements 13, 13' like safety screws, for fixating the flat screen to the screen holder 3 after the screen has been connected to the screen holder 3 with aid of the connecting elements 5. The safety elements 13, 13' prevent the flat screen from coming off the screen holder 3, thereby preventing the screen from being damaged.

In fig. 3 a side view of the flat screen 6 being connected to the stand 1 is provided. The screen 6 is connected to the screen holder 3 with aid of the connection elements 5 a. The screen 6 is fixated with aid of the safety elements 13. The open space (not shown) between the main part 7 and the side parts 8, 9 enables the cable 15 being easily connected to the screen 6 by the user.

In fig. 4 a side view of the flat screen 6 connected to a wall 4 is shown. The flat screen 6 is connected by means of the connection elements 5b to the screen holder 3. The safety elements 13' fixate the flat screen 6 to the screen holder 3, so a safe connection between the screen 6 and the wall is provided. The cable 15 is guided through the open space (not shown) between the main part 7 and the side parts 8, 9 of the screen holder 3 and is connected to the backside of the flat screen 6. Due to the inverted position, the open space extends downwardly, enabling easy connection of the cable 15 to the backside of the flat screen 6 and at the same time preventing the cable 15 from getting stuck between the screen 6 and for instance the screen holder 3 or other parts of the stand 1.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various changes or modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

For example, the connecting elements can be adapted to moveably connect the flat screen to the screen holder. It is also possible to provide the connection elements and/or the safety elements at different positions on the screen holder. Furthermore, a different shape of the screen holder can be provided having the same effects and advantages as the described shape of the screen holder provides. It is clear that the stand is suitable for holding a flat screen like a flat television screen, for instance plasma or LCD screen, a computer display, for example a TFT screen or the like.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Stand comprising a base (2) and a screen holder (3) connected to the base (2) in a first position, wherein the screen holder (3) is detachable from the base (2) and in an inverted second position connectable to a wall (4), the screen holder (3) having connection elements (5a, 5b) for connecting a flat screen (6) both in the first as well as the second position.

2. Stand according to claim 1, wherein the screen holder (3) has a main part (7) and two side parts (8, 9), the side parts (8, 9) each extending from a free end of the main part (7) in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the main part (7).

3. Stand according to claim 2, wherein the side parts (8, 9) extend upwardly when the screen holder (3) is in the first position, while the side parts (8, 9) extend downwardly, when the screen holder (3) is in the second position.

4. Stand according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the main part (7) and the side parts

(8, 9) provide an open space (12) there between, said space (12) being adapted to receive cables (15) and/or cable connections.

5. Stand according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the connection elements (5) comprise first connection elements (5a) for connecting the flat screen (6) on the screen holder (3) when being in the first position, wherein the connecting elements 5 comprises second connection elements (5b) for connecting the flat screen (6) on the screen holder (3) when being in the second position.

6. Stand according anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the screen holder (3) comprises safety elements (13, 13') like safety screws, for fixating the flat screen (6) to the screen holder (3) when being connected with aid of the connecting elements (5).

7. Stand according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the screen holder (3) is movably connected to the base (2).

8. Screen holder, for use on a stand according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 in a first position, wherein the screen holder (3) is detachable from the base (2) of the stand (1) and is in an inverted second position connectable to a wall (4), the screen holder (3) having connection elements (5) for connecting a flat screen (6) both in the first as well as the second position.

9. System comprising the stand according to anyone of the claims 1 to 7 and a flat screen connectable or connected to the screen holder of the stand.