09.04.2008 — The patents are filed, and Chief Manufacturing is now poised to launch the thinnest thin TV mounts ever.

The company gave CE Pro the first look at its new family of Thinstall flat-panel mounts called Thinstall Universal, available in tilt and fixed models.

Chief's original Thinstall mount – the one you see in the advertisements with a penny shown for reference – were pretty thin, with a depth of only .49 inches.

The problem was that the product was made for a single display, the Hitachi Ultra Thin TV.

The new models are universal, which is a good thing given all of the ultra-flat TVs now on the market.

Plus, they're even thinner than the originals, leaving only a .39-inch gap between the back of the screen and the wall.

Chief product manager Seth Baker thinks it's the "thinnest universal mount on the market."

It isn't easy making a flat mount, says Baker, who credits Chief's Paul Smith for designing the ingenious product. It's tough to support a heavy TV with so little hardware, he explains, and then there's the cabling to account for.

To accommodate the cabling, Chief's PAC520 in-wall box has ample space for the stuff.

Lots of Tech in Such a Small Space

Then the company has a slew of little innovations that can make all the difference in the world when it comes to stabilizing a TV and getting behind it.

Let's start with the "kickstands." (Chief calls them "cable stands" but kickstands makes sense)

How on earth can you get behind an ultra-flat TV that's stuck on an ultra-flat mount, say, if you need to get to a cable?

In the case of Chief (as well as sister company Sanus), you simply lift up the bottom of the TV, and kickstands on each side of the display flip out behind the screen. They hold the TV in place several inches away from the wall, leaving enough room for even the thickest hands to get to the connections.

To retract the kickstands, simply tug the tabs at the bottom of the mount, and the TV resumes its normal flush position against the wall.

Now, how to keep it there.

At the top of the mounts are two latches – fold them down to lock the TV in place; flip them up to adjust the TV's position.

Baker indicates that some other flat mounts on the market are secured with little more than Velcro.

Tilt and Fixed Models

Chief is developing several models in the Thinstall Universal line.

The fixed mounts have a depth of only .39 inches; the tilt mounts, just .75 inches in the home position. It tilts down 15 degrees.

"It's the lowest-profile fingertip tilt mount ever displayed," says Baker.

Mounts will be available for both medium- and large-screen TVs. The mounts will support at least 100 pounds – and probably more in the case of the fixed mounts, Baker says.

The products are expected to ship in October, and Chief will provide a "technology demo" during CEDIA Expo.

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