text: fig1 shows a mounting system 20 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention . the mounting system 20 includes a surface mounting bracket 22 and a plurality of device mounting brackets 24 . in the embodiment of the invention shown in fig1 , two device mounting brackets 24 are used . however , virtually any number of device mounting brackets 24 may be used depending upon factors such as the size and weight of the item to be mounted . the surface mounting bracket 22 is configured to be mounted to a wall or other flat surface via a variety of surface mounting plate openings 26 and fasteners ( not shown ), while the device mounting brackets 24 are configured to attach to the back of a display unit such as a flat panel television . in the embodiment depicted in fig1 , the device mounting brackets 24 include an upper hook portion 30 for accepting an upper portion of the surface mounting bracket 22 . as shown in fig1 , each device mounting bracket 24 includes a device contact bracket 32 and a mounting contact bracket 35 . in various embodiments , the device contact brackets 32 each comprise a device contact bracket base 29 with device contact bracket flanges 33 extending therefrom . a plurality of followers ( not shown ) are used to couple the device contact bracket 32 and the mounting contact bracket 35 through a plurality of guide structures 37 . as a result of this arrangement , the device contact bracket 32 is movable relative to the surface mounting bracket 22 . in one embodiment of the invention , the guide structures 37 comprise substantially straight slots . however , other arrangements are also possible . in another embodiment depicted in fig7 - 9 , a movable friction crank 39 may be used to selectively adjust the frictional resistance of the device mounting bracket 24 relative to the surface mounting bracket 22 and to lock the position of these components relative to each other . the device contact bracket 32 includes an elongated upper portion 27 and an elongated lower portion 28 along a longitudinal axis thereof . the device contact bracket 32 also includes a plurality of device bracket contact slots 31 and / or holes along a longitudinal axis thereof . the device bracket contact slots 31 and / or holes are used to couple the device mounting bracket 24 with the back side of a television , display unit , or other audio / visual device via mounting holes contained thereon . as shown in fig1 - 4 , one or more bracket extension mechanisms 38 are removably connected to the various device mounting brackets 24 as necessary . each bracket extension mechanism 38 includes a base portion 40 and a pair of extension bracket flanges 42 . the base portion 40 includes a plurality of base portion slots 47 therein . the base portion slots 47 are sized and arranged to also align with mounting holes on the back side of the device to be mounted . as shown in fig1 - 4 , each extension bracket flange 36 includes a series of extension bracket slots 44 formed therein , with each extension bracket slot 44 aligning with a corresponding extension bracket slot 44 on the opposite bracket extension flange 36 . the extension bracket slots 44 are configured to align with at least one projection 43 located on the elongated upper portion 27 and / or elongated lower portion 28 of the device mounting bracket 24 . in various embodiments of the present invention , the projections 43 can comprise , for example , pins , screws , bolts , etc . ( and combinations thereof ) that are positioned within respective elongated upper and lower portions 29 and 28 . in the case of screws , bolts or similar fasteners , a tightening of these components can be used to securely fasten the extension bracket flange 36 to the elongated upper portion 27 and / or elongated lower portion 28 . as shown in fig4 , for example , each projection 43 can attach to one device mounting bracket flange 46 of the device mounting bracket 24 , in which case additional projections 43 can be used for an opposite device mounting bracket flange 46 if necessary . however , it is also possible for a single projection 43 to attach or otherwise operably connect to both device mounting bracket flange 46 of a device mounting bracket 24 . as shown in fig1 - 4 , the extension bracket slots 44 are angled upwards moving from an edge of the extension bracket flange 36 towards the center thereof . in this arrangement , when the projections 43 mate with desired extension bracket slots 44 , the extension bracket flange 36 “ holds ” the device mounting bracket 24 in place . fig5 shows a similar arrangement for an example extension bracket flange 36 intended for use on the bottom of the device mounting bracket 24 . the bracket extension mechanisms 38 are used to extend the effective surface length of the device mounting bracket 24 as necessary . in a case where a relatively small and / or lightweight display device is to be mounted , the normal length of the device mounting bracket 24 may be sufficient to enable the device mounting bracket 24 to fully support the device . on the other hand , if a much larger and / or heavier device is to be mounted , a user can locate bracket extension mechanisms 38 on the elongated upper and lower portions 29 and 28 as necessary , creating a longer elongated surface for operably connecting to the back of the device . additionally , the user is provided with the ability to modify the amount of additional length that is provided by selecting the appropriate extension bracket slots 44 for mating with the projections 43 . fig6 shows another embodiment of the invention . in fig6 , the plurality of extension bracket slots 44 are replaced by extension holes 41 on the bracket extension mechanism 38 . the extension holes 41 are sized to accept pins , screws , other types of projections that can also attach to the device mounting bracket 24 . it is also possible to use both extension bracket slots 44 and extension holes 41 on the same extension bracket flanges 36 if necessary or desired . in each of these embodiments , it is also possible to include length markers 50 , which can aid a user in identifying and selecting the appropriate extension bracket slots 44 to use during the mounting process , as well as ensuring that the same extension bracket slots 44 are used for each bracket extension mechanism 38 in a mounting system 20 . in various embodiments of the invention , the surface mounting bracket 22 is expandable in addition to or instead of the device mounting bracket 24 . fig1 and 10 - 15 show various versions of such an expandable surface mounting bracket 22 . as depicted in these figures , the surface mounting bracket 22 is formed of multiple components which engage and align each other via one of several mechanisms . fig1 and 10 depict one expandable surface mounting bracket 22 in detail . the expandable surface mounting bracket 22 in this embodiment comprises modules in the form of a central connection portion 60 and a pair of peripheral portions 62 on each side thereof . the central connection portion 60 is configured to slidably engage each of the peripheral portions 62 . in the embodiment shown in fig1 and 10 , this is accomplished by having the central connection portion 60 include upper and lower central connection horizontal support members 64 which are partially offset from corresponding peripheral horizontal support members 66 located on each of the peripheral portions 62 . as a result , the peripheral portions 62 are capable of being slid in front of ( or behind in an alternate embodiment ) the central connection portion 60 so that the total longitudinal length of the surface mounting bracket 22 can be adjusted as necessary . once a desired configuration for the surface mounting bracket 22 has been achieved , surface mounting bracket fasteners 68 such as short screws are used to secure the peripheral portions 62 to the central connection portion 60 . fig1 - 15 show various particular embodiments of expandable surface mounting bracket 22 . it should be understood , however , that a wide variety of arrangements can be used for the expandable surface mounting bracket 22 . fig1 shows an arrangement where the central connection portion 60 and the peripheral portions 62 include interlocking regions 70 , which permits these components to mate with each other . in this arrangement , different central connection portions 60 and peripheral portions 62 can be mixed and matched in order to create surface mounting brackets 22 of different sizes . fig1 shows a three - part arrangement that is similar to the arrangement shown in fig1 and 10 . however , the central connection portions 60 in fig1 does not include upper and lower central connection horizontal support members 64 . instead , the central connection portions 60 can fit within a groove or slot on the back of the peripheral portions 62 , for example , or simply be placed behind the peripheral portions 62 to achieve a desired arrangement . fig1 shows yet another embodiment of the surface mounting bracket 22 . in this embodiment , it is shown that more than three components may be used . in this particular embodiment , a plurality of identical or different modules 72 may be used in succession , allowing a user to create a surface mounting bracket 22 of virtually any length necessary for a mounting process . fig1 and 15 show yet other embodiments of a surface mounting bracket 22 , where only two modules 72 are used . in fig1 , the two modules 72 slidably engage with each other and are fastened to each other by the use of a connection bracket 74 , which slidably engages the modules 72 . in fig1 , no connection bracket may be necessary . the foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description . it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed , and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the present invention . the embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated .