Computing accessory mounting apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US9717339B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Computing accessory mounting apparatus",
  "abstract": "The disclosure provides for a mounting apparatus for mounting a computing accessory to a display device. The mounting apparatus includes an attachment portion for holding a computing accessory body. An extension extends away from the attachment portion and includes one or more permanent magnets. When the mounting apparatus is in a mounted location on the display device, (i) a display-facing portion of the extension extends along and faces a rear surface of the display device; (ii) the one or more permanent magnets attract the extension to ferromagnetic material in the display device to magnetically hold the mounting apparatus in the mounted location; and (iii) the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body adjacent an outer edge of the display device.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A computing accessory mounting system, comprising: a display device; and a mounting apparatus including: an attachment portion configured to hold a computing accessory body; an extension extending away from the attachment portion and including one or more permanent magnets, the mounting apparatus mounted on the display device in a mounted location such that (i) a display-facing portion of the extension extends along and faces a rear surface of the display device; (ii) the one or more permanent magnets attract the extension to ferromagnetic material in the display device to magnetically hold the mounting apparatus in the mounted location on the display device; and (iii) the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body adjacent an outer edge of the display device; a positioning guide attached to the extension and configured to abut against the outer edge of the display device when the mounting apparatus is in the mounted location, the positioning guide including a portion configured to protrude inwardly over the outer edge toward a front side of the display device; a spacer element on the display-facing portion of the extension configured to space the one or more permanent magnets from the rear surface of the display device; and an adjuster operatively coupled to the spacer element and configured to adjust an extent to which the spacer element protrudes inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device.",
    "2. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the extension is further configured to enable the mounting apparatus to be relocated to a different mounted location so that the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body in a different position adjacent the outer edge of the display device.",
    "3. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the attachment portion is configured to enable the computing accessory body to be selectively held on and removed from the attachment portion.",
    "4. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the positioning guide is elongated and extends along the outer edge of the display device.",
    "5. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the spacer element is a material that covers the one or more permanent magnets and is positioned between the one or more permanent magnets and the rear surface of the display device when the mounting apparatus is in the mounted location.",
    "6. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the spacer element is a foot that protrudes from the display-facing portion of the extension inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device.",
    "7. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the adjuster includes a thread mechanism to adjust the extent of protrusion.",
    "8. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the adjuster includes a cam mechanism to adjust the extent of protrusion.",
    "9. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 1, where the one or more permanent magnets are recessed into the display-facing portion of the extension.",
    "10. A computing accessory mounting system, comprising: a display device; a computing accessory body; and an extension attached to the computing accessory body via an attachment portion configured to hold the computing accessory body, the extension extending away from the computing accessory body and including one or more permanent magnets, the extension mounted on the display device in a mounted location such that (i) a display-facing portion of the extension extends along and faces a rear surface of the display device; (ii) the one or more permanent magnets attract the extension to ferromagnetic material in the display device to magnetically hold the extension in the mounted location on the display device; and (iii) the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body adjacent an outer edge of the display device; a positioning guide attached to the extension and configured to abut against the outer edge of the display device when the mounting apparatus is in the mounted location, the positioning guide includes a portion configured to protrude inwardly over the outer edge toward a front side of the display device; and a spacer element on the display-facing portion of the extension configured to space the one or more permanent magnets from the rear surface of the display device; and where the spacer element is a foot that protrudes from the display-facing portion of the extension inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device, and where an adjuster is operatively coupled to the foot and configured to adjust an extent to which the foot protrudes inwardly toward the rear surface of the display device.",
    "11. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 10, where the extension is further configured to enable the computing accessory to be relocated to a different mounted location so that the attachment portion holds the computing accessory body in a different position adjacent the outer edge of the display device.",
    "12. The computing accessory mounting system of claim 10, where the spacer element is a material that covers the one or more permanent magnets and is positioned between the one or more permanent magnets and the rear surface of the display device when the extension is in the mounted location."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "In a variety of computing environments, it is desirable to mount a computing accessory to a display device. Various attachment mechanisms have been used to achieve such mounting. In some cases a clip structure is used to grasp an edge of the display device. This is often used, for example, with small cameras mounted to the top edge of a display device. Clips, however, can be prone to breakage, e.g., as a result of mishandling or another object bumping against the accessory. Clips can also limit the locations at which the accessory can be mounted, e.g., they are often mainly useful for mounting accessories to the top edge a computer monitor.\n\nA hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro, is another example of an attachment mechanism. This, however, can wear over time so that the holding force becomes insufficient. This also requires selection of a particular mounting location. The accessory therefore cannot be flexibly and easily removed and/or repositioned, and the mounting location cannot be used for another, different, computing accessory. Use of adhesive, such as with various tapes, can also suffer from these disadvantages.\n\nIn some cases the display device itself includes a specific mounting feature specially designed for a particular accessory. For example a stylus dock is sometimes integrated into the edge of a computer monitor. This limits the stylus to being mounted in one location, and it prevents that edge location from potentially being used for a different computing accessory.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 1/1607",
    "A47B 2097/005",
    "A47B 97/00",
    "F16M 13/022",
    "H01F 7/04"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47B 97/00",
    "F16M 13/02",
    "G06F 1/16",
    "H01F 7/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "William Loren Emery"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-12-16",
  "publication_date": "2017-08-01",
  "grant_date": "2017-08-01",
  "priority_date": "2014-12-16",
  "application_number": "US-201414572219-A",
  "family_id": "55022694",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}