US4993676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for supporting a television set from a ceiling
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-01-16
•
Granted: 1991-02-19
•
Expires: 2010-01-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for mounting a television set or the like from an ordinary home ceiling that has spaced-apart joists such as two-by-fours placed on edge and a ceiling panel secured to the underside of the joints. The apparatus includes an L-shaped bracket and a hollow shaft connected to one of the legs of the bracket so as to form a U-shaped hook that is engageable in flush contact with a ceiling joist. The shaft extends downward through a hole in the ceiling adjacent to a joist and provides support for a cabinet connected to the shaft. A spacer element is preferably disposed between the cabinet and ceiling, and the cabinet is secured by a disc and nut adjacent to the ceiling and a nut engaging the bottom of the shaft below a support plate connected to the top of the cabinet. Electrical wires and coaxial cables as required are threaded upward through the hollow shaft and are made available for connection to power and signal sources. Special implements for threading the wires and cable and for grasping them from a distance are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Fitts
- 👤 Christina L. Fitts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:12
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/20; F16M11/2007; F16M11/2014; A; A47; A47B; A47B81/00; A47B81/06; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/06; F16M11/10; F16M13/00; F16M13/02; F16M13/027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for mounting a television set or the like from a ceiling that includes spaced-apart joists having a rectangular cross section with a ceiling panel secured to the underside of said joists which comprises: an L-shaped bracket member having a top leg and a side leg; a hollow shaft securable to the top leg in perpendicular relation thereto, said legs and said shaft forming a U-shaped hook adapted to come into flush contact with top and side surfaces of a said joist; a bottom portion of said shaft being adapted to extend downward through a hole in said ceiling; a cabinet for supporting a television set or the like coupled to said bottom portion of said shaft; and means securing said cabinet to said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for mounting a television set or the like from a ceiling that includes spaced-apart joists having a rectangular cross section with a ceiling panel secured to the underside of said joists which comprises: an L-shaped bracket member having a top leg and a side leg; a hollow shaft securable to the top leg in perpendicular relation thereto, said legs and said shaft forming a U-shaped hook adapted to come into flush contact with top and side surfaces of a said joist; a bottom portion of said shaft being adapted to extend downward through a hole in said ceiling; a cabinet for supporting a television set or the like coupled to said bottom portion of said shaft; and means securing said cabinet to said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said top leg has an aperture for receiving said shaft, said shaft extends through said aperture and is secured to said leg by a first nut threadably connected to the top region of the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for securing said cabinet to said shaft comprises a horizontally disposed support plate connected to said cabinet and having an aperture for receiving said shaft and a second nut threadably connected to said shaft and disposed underneath said support plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including a spacer disposed between said cabinet and said ceiling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a disc covering said hole in the ceiling and disposed against said ceiling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a third nut threadably connected to said shaft and urging said disc upward against said ceiling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said spacer is generally cylindrical and includes an axially extending aperture for receiving said shaft and a recess in its top surface for receiving said third nut.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said cabinet includes a horizontal shelf for supporting a TV set and a movable shim member for elevating the back of said set to tilt the set to a desired angle for viewing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for mounting a television set or the like from a ceiling that includes spaced-apart joists having a rectangular cross section with a ceiling panel secured to the underside of said joists which comprises: an L-shaped bracket member having a top leg and a side leg; a hollow shaft securable to the top leg in perpendicular relation thereto, said legs and said shaft forming a U-shaped hook adapted to come into flush contact with top and side surfaces of a said joist; said U-shaped hook being connectable to said joist by insertion through a hole in the ceiling from a location below the ceiling; a bottom portion of said shaft being adapted to extend downward through said hole in said ceiling; a cabinet for supporting a television set or the like coupled to said bottom portion of said shaft; and means securing said cabinet to said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for mounting a television set or the like from a ceiling that includes spaced-apart joists having a rectangular cross section with a ceiling panel secured to the underside of said joists which comprises: an L-shaped bracket member having a top leg and a side leg; a hollow shaft securable to the top leg in perpendicular relation thereto, said legs and said shaft forming a U-shaped hook adapted to come into flush contact with top and side surfaces of a said joist; said U-shaped hook being connectable to said joist by insertion through a hole in the ceiling from a location below the ceiling; a bottom portion of said shaft being adapted to extend downward through said hole in said ceiling; a cabinet for supporting a television set or the like coupled to said bottom portion of said shaft; and means securing said cabinet to said shaft.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-18 | 1994-08-20 | 1995-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 1999-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-18 | 2002-08-20 | 2003-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |