Line of sight mounting system for digital media players

Abstract

The inventions disclosed herein include devices and methods that allow users to couple a digital media player to a display screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a bottomside of the screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a topside of the screen. In several embodiments, the digital media player is positioned approximately horizontally such that the digital media player is oriented approximately parallel to the floor of the room.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for coupling a digital media player to a screen with a backside, a screenside, a bottomside, and a topside, the method comprising:
 obtaining a mounting device with a base portion and at least two outside walls, wherein the base portion and the at least two outside walls are configured to hold the digital media player, the mounting device further comprising an arm that is configured to couple the mounting device to the screen;   configuring the arm so it protrudes away from the base portion in a vertical direction;   positioning the digital media player along the bottomside of the screen such that the digital media player is oriented approximately horizontally while the mounting device is holding the digital media player; and   coupling the arm to the backside of the screen such the arm is positioned above the digital media player.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adhering the arm to the backside of the screen. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the backside comprises a vent and the method further comprising hooking the arm to the vent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the backside comprises a threaded hole and the method further comprising coupling the arm to the threaded hole. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting device has a frontside retention member and the method further comprising moving the frontside retention member relative to the base portion while inserting the digital media player into the mounting device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extending the arm such that an overall length of the arm becomes longer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the arm has a lower portion that is coupled to the base portion and the method further comprising sliding the lower portion relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rotating the arm relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising coupling the arm to the backside of the screen such that at least a portion of the digital media player is visible from a viewing position that is oriented directly at the screenside of the screen and located ten feet from the screenside. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media player has a remote sensor configured to receive signals from a remote control and the method further comprising coupling the arm to the backside of the screen such that at least the remote sensor is visible from a viewing position that is oriented directly at the screenside of the screen and located ten feet from the screenside. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical direction is within plus or minus forty degrees of perpendicular to the base portion. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the digital media player five inches or less below the bottomside of the screen. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the digital media player has a bottom surface and side surfaces, wherein the bottom surface is larger than the side surfaces and the method further comprising orienting the bottom surface within plus or minus thirty degrees of horizontal. 
     
     
         14 . A method for coupling a digital media player to a screen with a backside, a screenside, a bottomside, and a topside, the method comprising:
 obtaining a mounting device with a base portion and at least two outside walls, wherein the base portion and the at least two outside walls are configured to hold the digital media player, the mounting device further comprising an arm that is configured to couple the mounting device to the screen, and an adhesive pad that is configured to couple to the arm and configured to couple the mounting device to the screen;   rotating the arm relative to the base portion such that the arm protrudes away from the base portion;   sliding the arm relative to the base portion such that the arm moves relative to the base portion;   positioning the mounting device along the bottomside or along the topside of the screen;   configuring the arm such that the adhesive pad lays approximately flat against a portion of the backside of the screen; and   adhering the adhesive pad to the backside of the screen.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the arm has an overall length and the method further comprising extending the arm such that the overall length of the arm becomes longer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning the mounting device along the bottomside or along the topside of the screen such that the base portion is oriented approximately horizontally. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising deforming a portion of the mounting device while inserting the digital media player into the mounting device, wherein the portion that deforms is configured to at least partially secure the digital media player to the mounting device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portion that deforms is a frontside retention member. 
     
     
         19 . A method for coupling a digital media player to a screen with a backside, a screenside, a bottomside, and a topside, the method comprising:
 obtaining a mounting device in a collapsed configuration, the mounting device comprising a base portion and at least two outside walls, wherein the base portion and the at least two outside walls are configured to hold the digital media player, the mounting device further comprising an arm that is configured to couple the mounting device to the screen; and   uncollapsing the mounting device by rotating the arm relative to the base portion, sliding the arm towards a middle of the base portion, and extending the arm such that an overall length of the arm becomes longer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the arm has an adhesive surface and the method further comprising adjusting the arm such that the adhesive surface is approximately flat against the backside, adhering the adhesive surface to the backside, and holding the digital media player with the mounting device while the mounting device is adhered to the backside and while the digital media player is located along the bottomside or along the topside of the screen.