Mounting system for flat panel displays

A mounting system for adjustably mounting a flat panel display to a support medium, the mounting system comprising:

• a frame assembly comprised of a first rail and a second rail, wherein the first and second rails are horizontally oriented and equally spaced from one other;
• and
• an adjustable mount comprising:
• a first body portion configured to be removably coupled to the first and second rails of the frame assembly, such that the first body portion may be moved laterally along the first and second rails;
• a second body portion configured to be coupled to a flat panel display, wherein the flat panel display has a fixed center of gravity;
• and
• a linkage assembly coupled to the first body portion and the second body portion, the linkage assembly allowing the second body portion to move from a retracted position wherein the second body portion is adjacent the first body portion to an extended position wherein the second body portion is maintained at an angle from the first body portion,
• wherein the movement of the second body portion with respect to the first body portion from the retracted position to the extended position causes the center of gravity of the flat panel display to move only in a single horizontal plane perpendicular to the first body portion such that the center of gravity of the flat panel display does not move vertically during movement from the retracted position to the extended position, further comprising a friction assembly to maintain a selected angle of the first body portion;
• and wherein the friction assembly comprises:
• a friction rod coupled to one of the first or second body portions;
• a pair of friction shoes adjacent to the friction rod;
• and a compression assembly coupled to the pair of friction shoes and the other of the first or second body portions, wherein adjustment of the compression assembly causes pressure to be applied between the pair of friction shoes and the friction rod, thereby preventing undesired movement of the friction shoes along the friction rod and maintaining a selected angle of the first body portion.