Mounting bracket for display panel

Claim 2

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated insulating base member having a series of apertures formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface, a flexible electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures and having first portions which project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board or the like, and a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is brought into engagement with said base member, said connectors aNd said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel.

Claim 3

The bracket defined in claim 1 and including a plurality of elevating means on the lower surface of said base member for spacing said base member from a support member when said bracket is secured to said support member.

Claim 4

The bracket defined in claim 1 wherein said guide members are positioned at the ends of said series of apertures.

Claim 5

The bracket defined in claim 1 and including at least one upright support member secured to said base member and adapted to support said display panel carried by said bracket.

Claim 6

The bracket defined in claim 4 and including a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage an edge of said panel.

Claim 7

The bracket defined in claim 4 wherein said upright member includes a hole for receiving a bolt for securing said bracket to a support member.

Claim 8

The bracket defined in claim 4 wherein said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms and bearing against said lips.

Claim 9

The bracket defined in claim 7 wherein said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is pivotably secured thereto.

Claim 10

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated base member having a series of apertures formed along its length, an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures, a panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first and before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member, said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, at least one upright support member secured to said base member and adapted to support said display panel carried by said bracket, and a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage an edge of said panel.

Claim 11

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated base member having a series of apertures formed along its length, an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures, a panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first and before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member, said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, at least one upright support member secured to said base member and adapted to support said display panel carried by said bracket, and a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage an edge of said panel.

Claim 12

The bracket defined in claim 9 and including a plurality of elevating means on the lower surface of said base member for spacing said base member from a support member when said bracket is secured to said support member.

Claim 13

The bracket defined in claim 9 wherein said guide members are positioned at the ends of said series of apertures.

Claim 14

The bracket defined in claim 9 wherein said upright member includes a hole for receiving a bolt for securing said bracket to a support member.

Claim 15

The bracket defined in claim 9 wherein said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms and bearing against said lips.

Claim 16

The bracket defined in claim 13 wherein said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is pivotably secured thereto.

Claim 17

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated base member having a series of first apertures formed along its length, an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures, a panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first and before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member, said connectors and said guide members thus being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, a series of second apertures formed along the length of said base member, at least one upright member secured to said base member and having legs inserted in selected ones of said second apertures, and a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage an edge of said panel.

Claim 18

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated base member having a series of first apertures formed along its length, an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures, a panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first and before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member, said connectors and said guide members thus being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, a series of second apertures formed along the length of said base member, at least one upright member secured to said base member and having legs inserted in selected ones of said second apertures, and a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage an edge of said panel.

Claim 19

The bracket defined in claim 15 wherein said upright member includes a hole for receiving a bolt for securing said bracket to a support member.

Claim 20

The bracket defined in claim 15 wherein said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms and bearing against said lips.

Claim 21

The bracket defined in claim 17 wherein said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is pivotably secured thereto.

Claim 22

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated insulating base member having a series of first apertures formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface, a flexible electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said first apertures and having first portions which project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board or the like, a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member, said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, a series of second apertures formed along the length of said base member, and at least one upright member secured to said base member and having legs inserted in selected ones of said second apertures, said panel having its bottom plate bearing against said upright member whereby mechanical support is provided therefor.

Claim 23

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated insulating base member having a series of first apertures formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface, a flexible electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said first apertures and having first portions which project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board or the like, a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member, said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, a series of second apertures formed along the length of said base member, and at least one upright member secured to said base member and having legs inserted in selected ones of said second apertures, said panel having its bottom plate bearing against said upright member whereby mechanical support is provided therefor.

Claim 24

The bracket defined in claim 19 and including two of said upright support members spaced apart and clamping said panel in place.

Claim 25

The bracket defined in claim 19 and including a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage an edge of said panel.

Claim 26

The bracket defined in claim 21 wherein said upright member includes a hole for receiving a bolt for securing said bracket to a support member.

Claim 27

The bracket defined in claim 19 wherein said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms and bearing against said lips.

Claim 28

The bracket defined in claim 23 wherein said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is pivotably secured thereto.

Claim 29

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising a pair of elongated base members, each having a series of first apertures and a series of second apertures formed along its length, said base members being disposed end to end, with the series of first apertures being aligned and the series of second apertures beinG aligned, an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said first apertures, a panel guide member inserted in at least one of said first apertures, said guide members extending above said connectors, and an upright member having a pair of legs coupled to said pair of elongated base members, with one leg engaging a second aperture in one member and the other leg engaging a second aperture in the other member.

Claim 30

A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising a pair of elongated base members, each having a series of first apertures and a series of second apertures formed along its length, said base members being disposed end to end, with the series of first apertures being aligned and the series of second apertures beinG aligned, an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said first apertures, a panel guide member inserted in at least one of said first apertures, said guide members extending above said connectors, and an upright member having a pair of legs coupled to said pair of elongated base members, with one leg engaging a second aperture in one member and the other leg engaging a second aperture in the other member.