Tilter apparatus for electronic device having bias assembly

• US 20040251389A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Human Active Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Oddsen, Odd N. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 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 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A tilter assembly is provided for positioning an electronic device such as a flat panel display. The tilter assembly includes a tilter shaft holder having an opening aligned along an axis and a shaft received within the opening. The shaft is rotatable about the axis, and may be coupled to a support. The tilter shaft holder is coupled to the electronic device. The tilter assembly also includes a spring device in operative association with the shaft to provide a bias or counterbalance to the electronic device, thereby preventing undesired rotation about the axis.

Claims

1. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate adapted for attaching to a device; and

a tilter assembly including;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having a first opening therein, the first opening being aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the first opening so as to be rotatable about the axis;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support;

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end, the tilter arm being adapted to rotate about the axis upon rotation of the shaft; and

a spring having a first end connected to the adapter plate and a second end connected to the second end of the tilter arm, the spring being operable to provide counterbalance to the device.

2. The tilting device of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a plurality of springs connecting the adapter plate to the second end of the tilter arm.

3. The tilting device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of springs is removable.

4. The tilting device of claim 1, wherein the arm mount is inserted through the shaft substantially perpendicular to the axis.

5. The tilting device of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for engaging the tilter shaft holder and adapted to restrict rotation about the axis.

6. The tilting device of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism is a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder.

7. The tilting device of claim 1, further comprising a bushing received within the first opening in the tilter shaft holder, the bushing receiving the shaft therein.

8. The tilting device of claim 7, further comprising a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder and restrict rotation about the axis, and the tilter shaft holder and the bushing each have a slot disposed along the axis, and when the set screw fully engages the tilter shaft holder both the tilter shaft holder slot and the bushing slot are compressible to restrict rotation about the axis.

9. The tilting device of claim 8, wherein the tilter shaft holder slot extends the entire length of the tilter shaft holder.

10. The tilting device of claim 8, wherein the bushing slot extends the entire length of the bushing.

11. The tiling device of claim 7, wherein the tilter shaft holder comprises a pair of tilter shaft holders, and the bushing includes a pair of bushings received within the pair of tilter shaft holders.

12. The tilting device of claim 11, wherein a first one of the pair of tilter shaft holders is disposed at a first end of the shaft and a second one of the pair of tilter shaft holders is disposed at a second end of the shaft.

13. The tilting device of claim 7, further comprising a retaining ring adapted to engage an end of the bushing and to prevent movement of the bushing along the axis.

14. The tilting device of claim 13, further comprising a cap engaging an end of the tilter shaft holder and covering the retaining ring and the bushing.

15. The tilting device of claim 1, further including at least one screw coupling the tilter shaft holder to the adapter plate.

16. The tilting device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the tilter arm is angled so that the tilter arm does not interfere with action of the spring.

17. The tilting device of claim 16, wherein the second end of the tilter arm is J-shaped.

18. A tilting device for adjustably mounting an electronic device, comprising:

a tilter shaft holder having an opening aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the opening and rotatable about the axis;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support;

means for coupling the tilting device to the electronic device;

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end, the tilter arm being rotatable about the axis upon rotation of the shaft; and

a spring in operative engagement with the tilter arm and the means for coupling, wherein the spring provides counterbalance to the electronic device.

19. The tilting device of claim 18, further comprising a means for restricting rotation of the tilting device about the axis.

20. The tilting device of claim 19, wherein the means for restricting rotation is a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder.

21. The tilting device of claim 18, further comprising a bushing received within the opening of the tilter shaft holder, the bushing receiving the shaft therein.

22. The tiling device of claim 21, wherein the tilter shaft holder comprises a pair of tilter shaft holders, and the bushing includes a pair of bushings received within the pair of tilter shaft holders.

23. The tilting device of claim 21, further comprising a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder for restricting rotation of the tilting device about the axis, wherein the tilter shaft holder and the bushing each have a slot disposed along the axis, and when the set screw fully engages the tilter shaft holder both the tilter shaft holder slot and the bushing slot are compressible to restrict rotation about the axis.

24. The tilting device of claim 18, wherein the spring comprises a plurality of springs.

25. The tilting device of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of springs is removable.

26. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate for attaching to a device; and

a tilter assembly including;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having a first opening aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the first opening so as to be rotatable about the axis;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support; and

a torsion spring received within the shaft, wherein the torsion spring resists rotation of the shaft about the axis and provides counterbalance to the device.

27. The tilting device of claim 26, further comprising a locking mechanism for engaging the tilter shaft holder, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to prevent rotation about the axis.

28. The tilting device of claim 27, wherein the locking mechanism is a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder.

29. The tilting device of claim 26, further comprising a bushing received within the first opening in the tilter shaft holder, the bushing receiving the shaft therein.

30. The tilting device of claim 29, wherein the tilter shaft holder includes a pair of tilter shaft holders and the bushing includes a pair of bushings received within the pair of tilter shaft holders.

31. The tilting device of claim 30, wherein a first one of the pair of tilter shaft holders is disposed at a first end of the shaft and a second one of the pair of tilter shaft holders is disposed at a second end of the shaft.

32. The tilting device of claim 29, further comprising a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder for restricting rotation of the tilting device about the axis, wherein the tilter shaft holder and the bushing each have a slot disposed along the axis, and when the set screw fully engages the tilter shaft holder both the tilter shaft holder slot and the bushing slot are compressible to restrict rotation about the axis.

33. The tilting device of claim 26, further comprising a tension mechanism for pre-tensioning the torsion spring.

34. The tilting device of claim 33, wherein the tension mechanism includes a body portion that is insertable into the torsion spring.

35. The tilting device of claim 33, wherein the tension mechanism includes at least one boss and the tilter shaft holder includes at least one recess, and after pre-tensioning the boss is inserted into the recess such that the torsion spring is securely received within the shaft.

36. The tilting device of claim 35, wherein the boss and the recess are square-shaped.

37. The tilting device of claim 26, wherein the torsion spring includes a first tang at a first end thereof, the first tang being operable to engage the shaft.

38. The tilting device of claim 37, wherein the first tang protrudes from the torsion spring to engage an opening on the shaft.

39. The tilting device of claim 26, further comprising a plug, wherein the torsion spring further includes a second tang at a second end of the torsion spring, and the plug is adapted to engage the second tang and the tilter shaft holder.

40. The tilting device of claim 39, wherein the plug includes at least one boss and the tilter shaft holder includes at least one recess for receiving the boss.

41. A tilting device for adjustably mounting an electronic device, comprising:

a tilter shaft holder having an opening aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the opening and rotatable about the axis;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support;

means for coupling the tilting device to the electronic device; and

a torsion spring received within the shaft, wherein the torsion spring resists rotation of the shaft about the axis and provides counterbalance to the electronic device.

42. The tilting device of claim 41, further comprising a means for restricting rotation of the tilting device about the axis.

43. The tilting device of claim 42, wherein the means for restricting rotation is a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder.

44. The tilting device of claim 41, further comprising a bushing received within the opening of the tilter shaft holder, the bushing receiving the shaft therein.

45. The tilting device of claim 44, further comprising a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder for restricting rotation of the tilting device about the axis, wherein the tilter shaft holder and the bushing each have a slot disposed along the axis, and when the set screw fully engages the tilter shaft holder both the tilter shaft holder slot and the bushing slot compress such that rotation about the axis is restricted.

46. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate for attaching to a device;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having an opening aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the opening so as to be rotatable about the axis; and

a spring device in operative relation to the shaft, wherein the spring device is adapted to provide counterbalance to the device.

47. The tilting device of claim 46, wherein the spring device operatively engages the adapter plate and the shaft.

48. The tilting device of claim 46, wherein the spring device is received within the shaft.

49. The tilting device of claim 46, further comprising a bushing received within the opening, the bushing receiving the shaft therein.

50. A tilter assembly for counterbalancing a device, comprising:

a tilter shaft holder having a first opening aligned along an axis;

a shaft adapted to be coupled to a support, the shaft received within the first opening for rotation about the axis; and

a spring device in operative association with the shaft for counterbalancing the device when attached to the tilter assembly.

51. The tilter assembly of claim 50, wherein the spring device comprises a torsion spring received within the shaft, wherein the torsion spring resists rotation of the shaft about the axis and provides counterbalance to the device.

52. The tilter assembly of claim 51, further comprising a tension mechanism for pre-tensioning the torsion spring.

53. The tilter assembly of claim 52, wherein the tension mechanism includes a boss and the tilter shaft holder includes a recess, and after pre-tensioning the boss is inserted into the recess such that the torsion spring is securely received within the shaft.

54. The tilter assembly of claim 50, wherein the spring device comprises:

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end, the tilter arm being adapted to rotate about the axis upon rotation of the shaft; and

a spring having a first end operatively coupled to the device and a second end connected to the second end of the tilter arm, the spring being operable to provide counterbalance to the device.

55. The tilter assembly of claim 54, wherein the spring comprises a plurality of springs.

56. The tilter assembly of claim 55, wherein at least one of the plurality of springs is removable.