Support assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879821-B2
Application number	US-201615261482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Oct 17, 2003
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

An electronic sign having slotted frame cabinets, whereby each slotted frame cabinet can conveniently be attached to one or more vertically or horizontally positioned adjacent slotted frame cabinets by using connecting components which are generally located around the periphery of one or more slotted frame cabinets. Connecting components including splice bars, splice plates, and mounting clamps are aligned in, positioned along, and secured to backing bars which are co-located in backing bar slots in one or more of the slotted frame cabinets. Lift eyes can be variably located in one or more lift eye slots. The use of externally located connecting components, which do not extend through the cabinetry, minimize the entry of environmental elements into the interior of the electronic sign. Multiple slotted frame cabinets can be connected without the removal of LED display panels. Bracket assemblies and clamping assemblies are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for at least partially supporting a display relative to a support structure, the assembly comprising:
a bracket member having first and second surfaces spaced from and parallel with one another, third and fourth surfaces spaced from and parallel with one another, and fifth and sixth spaced surfaces including a portion converging toward one another and connecting the first and second surfaces at their respective longitudinal ends,
wherein the second surface is defined by at least one retaining lip extending substantially orthogonal from the third or fourth surface, the at least one retaining lip defining a second surface slot-like opening and partially defining a channel within the bracket member;
a bracket mounting system operable to secure the bracket member to a display, the bracket mounting system including a connection shaft and an internally threaded connection member; and
a mounting clamp structured to be slidably coupled to the channel, the mounting clamp tiltable toward and away from the slot-like opening to secure the bracket member to a support structure.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a length greater than a length of the second surface and includes at least one lumen near a longitudinal end thereof.

3. An assembly for at least partially supporting a display relative to a support structure, the assembly comprising:
a bracket member having first and second surfaces spaced from and parallel with one another, and third and fourth surfaces spaced from and parallel with one another, wherein the second surface is defined by at least one retaining lip extending substantially orthogonal from the third or fourth surface, the at least one retaining lip defining a second surface slot-like opening and partially defining a channel within the bracket member;
a bracket mounting system operable to secure the bracket member to a display, the bracket mounting system including a connection shaft and an internally threaded connection member; and
a clamping system including a connection shaft, an internally threaded connection member, and a mounting clamp structured to be slidably coupled to the channel, the mounting clamp tiltable toward and away from the slot-like opening to secure the bracket member to a support structure.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the bracket mounting system further includes a slidable channel member which, together with the connection shaft and the internally threaded connection member of the bracket mounting system, allows for adjustable securement of the bracket member, at the first surface, to a display.

5. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the connection shaft of the bracket mounting system further includes a head portion which, together with the internally threaded connection member and a threaded body of the connection shaft, allows for adjustable securement of the bracket member, at the first surface, to a display.

6. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the bracket member includes at least one strut panel extending between the third and fourth surfaces, the at least one strut panel further defining the channel within the bracket member.

7. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the mounting clamp is configured to adjustably secure the second surface of the bracket member to a vertically- or horizontally-oriented support structure.

8. The assembly of claim 3 , the clamping system further comprising a slidable channel member configured to be received into the channel of the bracket member,
wherein movement of the connection shaft or the internally threaded connection member of the clamping system in a first direction moves the second surface of the bracket member toward the support structure, and wherein movement of the connection shaft or internally threaded connection member of the clamping system in a second direction moves the second surface of the bracket member away from the support structure.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the mounting clamp includes a clamp body with an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture sized to allow passage of a portion of the connection shaft of the clamping system, wherein the clamp body is configured to pivot about the connection shaft when the connection shaft or internally threaded connection member is moved in the first direction.

10. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first surface includes a length greater than a length of the second surface.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first surface includes at least one lumen near a longitudinal end thereof.

12. An assembly for at least partially supporting a display relative to a support structure, the assembly comprising:
a bracket assembly including a bracket member having first and second surfaces spaced from and parallel with one another, the second surface including at least one retaining lip defining a second surface slot-like opening and partially defining a channel within the bracket member; and
a clamping assembly including at least one clamping device body, at least one connection shaft, and at least one internally threaded connection member,
wherein movement of the connection shaft or internally threaded connection member in a first direction moves the second surface of the bracket member toward the support structure, and wherein movement of the connection shaft or internally threaded connection member in a second direction moves the second surface away from the support structure.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the clamping device body includes, at a first end, a first portion configured to be received in the slot-like opening of the second surface and, at a second end, a second portion configured to contact a support structure.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first portion configured to be received in the slot-like opening is positioned intermediate first and second recess portions configured to align and intimately engage an exterior surface of the at least one retaining lip.

15. The assembly of claim 12 , the clamping assembly further comprising a slidable channel member configured to be received, in conjunction with a head portion of the connection shaft, into the channel of the bracket member, the connection shaft at least partially extending out of the slot-like opening, through a lumen in the clamping device body, and secured using, at least in part, the internally threaded connection member.

16. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the connection shaft includes a head portion configured to be received into the channel of the bracket member such that the connection shaft at least partially extends out of the slot-like opening and through a lumen in the clamping device body.

17. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising one or more channel fall-out prevention members extending, at a location near longitudinal ends of the second surface, in a direction parallel to the at least one retaining lip.

18. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first surface includes a length greater than a length of the second surface.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first surface includes at least one lumen near a longitudinal end thereof.

20. An assembly for at least partially supporting a display relative to a support structure, the assembly comprising:
a bracket member having first and second surfaces spaced from and parallel with one another, and third and fourth surfaces spaced from and parallel with one another, wherein the second surface is defined by at least one retaining lip extending substa

Assignees

• Daktronics

Inventors

• Kludt Kory D
• Mammenga Jon M
• Hart Nathan W
• Hulscher Michael A

Classifications

• A47B57/54

  consisting of clamping means, e.g. with sliding bolts or sliding wedges {(fixed on cords or the like A47B43/006)} · CPC title

• A47B57/58

  with means for adjusting partitions horizontally (book-ends A47B65/00) · CPC title

• F16B2/065

  using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B2/12

  using sliding jaws · CPC title

• F16M13/02 Primary

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title