Flat screen monitor support system

Abstract

A kit for mounting a monitor including a mounting plate adapted to mount to a monitor, a joint adapted to be coupled to the mounting plate in a quick-release manner, and a bracket having first and second ends. The first end is adapted to couple to the joint and the second end is adapted to be attached to a fixed structure, such as a pole or a wall. The articulated arm has a fixed end and a movable end with the movable end adapted to be coupled to the joint, whereby the joint can be coupled to either of the bracket and the articulated arm.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A kit for mounting a monitor comprising: 
 a mounting plate adapted to mount to the monitor;    a joint adapted to be coupled to said mounting plate in a quick-release manner;    a bracket having first and second ends, said first end adapted to couple to said joint, said second end adapted to be attached to a fixed structure; and    an articulated arm having a fixed end and a movable end, said movable end adapted to be coupled to said joint, whereby said joint can be coupled to either of said bracket and said articulated arm.    
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate is adapted to mount to the back side of the monitor.  
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said joint is a ball and socket joint.  
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said joint is adapted to be pivotably secured to the articulated arm or to the bracket.  
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate includes at least one pivotable locking member, said pivotable locking member being pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, said locking member preventing said mounting plate from being removed from said joint when said locking member is in the locking position.  
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein said locking member is maintained in said locking position by a flexible latch portion that can be elastically deformed between a first and second shape.  
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said joint includes a tapered plate, said tapered plate having a generally trapezoidal shape that tapers from a bottom end toward a top end and that is adapted to contact said mounting plate when said joint is coupled to said mounting plate.  
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said tapered plate defines a plane that is generally parallel to and adjacent a plane defined by said mounting plate when said mounting plate is coupled to said joint.  
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed end of said articulated arm is adapted to be mounted on a worksurface.  
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate and said joint are adapted to be secured together in a snap-fitting manner.  
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket is adapted to mount to a wall.  
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket is adapted to be attached to a pole.  
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said bracket includes a collar for mounting to a pole.  
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said bracket includes a collar and a lever arm, said collar dimensioned to fit around a pole, said lever arm adapted to move between a locked position in which the lever arm and collar frictionally retain the bracket on said pole and an unlocked position in which the lever arm and collar are free to move along the length of the pole.  
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein said bracket further includes a channel adapted to receive and hold at least one cord for the flat screen monitor.  
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket includes at least one hook and said bracket is adapted to be mounted onto a standard.  
     
     
         17 . A mounting assembly for a monitor comprising: 
 a mounting plate adapted to be fixedly attached to the back side of the monitor;    a wall mount bracket adapted to be attached to a wall;    a joint having a first and a second end, said first end being attachable to said wall mount bracket, said second end including a quick-release mechanism adapted to releasably couple to said mounting plate whereby said plate can be attached to said quick release mechanism without the need for tightening any fasteners.    
     
     
         18 . The mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said quick-release mechanism includes at least one pivotable locking member, said pivotable locking member being pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, said locking member preventing said mounting plate from being removed when said locking member is in the locking position.  
     
     
         19 . The mounting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said locking member is maintained in said locking position by a flexible latch portion that can be elastically deformed between a first and second shape.  
     
     
         20 . The mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said joint is adapted to be pivotally secured to said wall mount bracket.  
     
     
         21 . The mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said joint comprises a ball and socket joint.  
     
     
         22 . The mounting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said joint includes a tapered, trapezoidal plate and said mounting plate includes a tapered trapezoidal sleeve adapted to receive said tapered, trapezoidal plate.  
     
     
         23 . A mounting assembly for mounting a monitor to a pole comprising: 
 a mounting plate adapted to mount to the monitor;    a collar dimensioned to fit around a pole;    a lever arm pivotally attached to said collar and adapted to move between a locked position in which the collar is frictionally retained on the pole and an unlocked position in which the collar is free to move along the length of the pole; and    a joint having a first and a second end, said first end being attached to said collar, said second end adapted to releasably couple to said mounting plate.    
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said joint includes a quick-release mechanism adapted to releasably couple to said mounting plate without the need for tightening any fasteners.  
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said quick-release mechanism includes at least one pivotable locking member, said pivotable locking member being pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, said locking member preventing said mounting plate from being removed when said locking member is in the locking position.  
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said locking member is maintained in said locking position by a flexible latch portion that can be elastically deformed between a first and second shape.  
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said joint is adapted to pivot with respect to said collar.  
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said joint includes a ball and socket joint.  
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said joint includes a tapered, trapezoidal plate and said mounting plate includes a tapered trapezoidal sleeve adapted to receive said tapered plate.  
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said collar further includes a channel adapted to receive and hold at least one cord for the monitor.  
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said collar includes a cylindrical aperture adapted to receive a pole, said cylindrical aperture having a first diameter when said lever is in the locked position and a second diameter when said lever is in the unlocked position, said first diameter being smaller than said second diameter.  
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said lever includes a cam surface that engages the pole when the lever is in the locked position, said cam surface having a curvature that matches a curvature of an outer surface of the pole.