Multiple electronic device reorienting support

• US 20040011938A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Oddsen, Odd N. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/393
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/063 Parallelogram arms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

An apparatus for a plurality of electronic devices is adapted for positioning the electronic devices in a plurality of orientations. A swivel arm is pivotably coupled to a support arm for rotation through a plurality of orientations. The electronic devices are coupled to the swivel arm by an assembly which accommodates manipulation of the electronic device along the swivel arm, as well as rotation and tilting.

Claims

1. An apparatus adapted for positioning an electronic device in a plurality of orientations, said apparatus comprising a first member having first and second spaced apart ends, said first end of said first member coupled to a support;

an elongated second member having first and second spaced apart ends pivotably coupled therebetween to said first member at a pivot point, said second member rotatable about said pivot point between a vertical and a horizontal orientation; and

a first coupling assembly attached to said second member adapted for securing an electronic device thereto, said first coupling assembly moveable along said second member between said first and second ends of said second member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second member comprises an arm having a front wall provided with an elongated slot extending between said first and second ends thereof, said first coupling assembly moveably coupled to said front wall along said slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first coupling assembly includes a first element received within said arm underlying said front wall of said arm and a second element overlying said front wall of said arm, whereby said first coupling assembly is restricted from movement along said arm upon engagement of said front wall between said first and second elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further including means for compressing said first and second elements against said front wall of said arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a second coupling assembly attached to said second member adapted for securing another electronic device thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first member comprises an arm stand having an elongated opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including a pivot assembly within said elongated opening for rotationally coupling said second member to said arm stand.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said second member is moveable in a vertical direction along a portion of said arm stand when at least in a horizontal orientation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including means for maintaining the position of said second member relative to said arm stand.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means comprises a plurality of steps provided on said arm stand adapted for cooperatively engaging with a portion of said pivot assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a tilter assembly adapted for coupling said first coupling assembly to an electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a yoke pivotably coupling said tilter assembly to said first coupling assembly, said yoke having a first end pivotably coupled to said tilter assembly and a second end pivotably coupled to said first coupling assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first member comprises an extension arm assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said extension arm assembly comprises an adjustable parallelogram channel assembly having first and second ends, a first end cap attached to said first end of said channel assembly and a second end cap attached to said second end of said channel assembly, said first end cap adapted to couple said channel assembly to a support and said second end cap coupling said channel assembly to said second member, said second end cap arrangeable in a plurality of vertical and horizontal orientations.

15. An apparatus for positioning a plurality of electronic devices in a plurality of orientations, said apparatus comprising an extension arm assembly having first and second spaced apart ends, said first end of said extension arm assembly adapted to be coupled to a supporting surface whereby said second end is arrangable in a plurality of vertical and horizontal orientations;

an elongated member having first and second spaced apart ends pivotably coupled therebetween to said second end of said extension arm assembly at a pivot point, said member rotatable about the pivot point between a vertical and a horizontal orientation, said member moveable in vertical and horizontal directions upon corresponding movement of said second end of said extension arm assembly;

first and second coupling assemblies attached to said member each adapted for securing an electronic device thereto, each of said first and second coupling assemblies moveable along a portion of said member between the pivot point and an adjacent first and second end of said member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said member comprises a hollow arm having a front wall provided with an elongated slot extending between said first and second ends thereof, said first and second coupling assemblies moveably coupled to said front wall within said slot.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said first and second coupling assemblies each include a first element received within said arm underlying said front wall of said arm and a second element overlying said front wall of said arm, whereby said first and second coupling assemblies are restricted from movement along said arm upon engagement of said front wall between said first and second elements.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further including means for compressing said first and second elements against said front wall of said arm.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a pivot assembly rotationally coupling said member to said second end of said extension arm assembly.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a tilter assembly adapted for coupling said first coupling assembly to an electronic device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further including a yoke pivotably coupling said tilter assembly to said first coupling assembly, said yoke having a first end pivotably coupled to said tilter assembly and a second end pivotably coupled to said first coupling assembly.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said extension arm assembly comprises an adjustable parallelogram channel assembly having first and second ends, a first end cap attached to said first end of said channel assembly and a second end cap attached to said second end of said channel assembly, said first end cap adapted to couple said channel assembly to a supporting surface and said second end cap coupling said channel assembly to said member, said second end cap arrangeable in a plurality of vertical and horizontal orientations.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further including a pivot assembly rotationally coupling said member to said second end cap.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, further including an electronic device attached to said first and second coupling assemblies.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said electronic device comprises a flat screen display.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first and second coupling assemblies each include a rotatable ball adapted for attachment to an electronic display.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said stand arm includes a plurality of steps adjacent said opening, said pivot assembly engageable within said steps for maintaining said support arm in a predetermined position.

27. An apparatus for a plurality of electronic devices, said apparatus adapted for positioning the electronic devices in a plurality of orientations, said apparatus comprising an elongated stand arm having first and second spaced apart ends, said first end adapted to be coupled to a supporting surface, said stand arm including an opening extending partially between said first and second ends;

an elongated support arm having first and second spaced apart ends pivotably coupled therebetween to said stand arm by a pivot assembly moveable within said opening, said support arm rotatable about said pivot assembly between a horizontal and a vertical position, said support arm moveable in a vertical direction along a portion of said stand arm upon vertical movement of said pivot assembly within said opening, said support arm having a first slot extending between said first end of said support arm and said pivot assembly and a second slot extending between said second end of said support arm and said pivot assembly;

an adjustable first mounting assembly slidably attached to said support arm within said first slot and adapted for attachment to a first electronic device; and

an adjustable second mounting assembly slidably attached to said support arm within said second slot and adapted for attachment to a second electronic device, whereby the first and second electronic devices can be moved along the support arm and rotated about their respective mounting assembly.