Support for flat monitors

• US 20060065795A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CompX International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CompX International Incorporated
• Inventors: Blackburn, Nicholas L.
• Application Number:
  US11/239,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060065795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/122.100
• 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 11/2085 comprising means allowing sideward adjustment, i.e. left-right 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 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/027 by friction

Abstract

A support for a plurality of flat monitors has a plurality of support arms. Some of the support arms have a curved body and the support arms are connectable to a main support so that several monitors can be supported at the same height whether the main support is horizontal or vertical. Ball lock joints are used as the connectors between the support arms. A method of constructing a support, the appropriate combination of support arms and connectors are chosen to construct a monitor with the desired number of monitor supports.

Claims

1. A support for a plurality of flat monitors comprising a plurality of support arms, at least some of said support arms having a curved body with a top and bottom, a first end and a second end, said ends each having an opening therein to receive a connector, said ends being pivotally connected about any connector located within said ends, said first end being located at a higher level than said second end when said ends are substantially oriented in horizontal planes, said support being capable of supporting all of said flat monitors at an identical height, said support arms being connectable to a main support and to one another, there being sufficient support arms supporting each monitor to support all of said monitors at an identical height.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support arms are connected to said main support and to each other at different levels.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are connectors located at either end of said support arms, at least one of said connectors being a ball lock joint.

4. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support arms are connectable at either end, either above or beneath another support arm.

5. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main support is a horizontal beam with connectors thereon.

6. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main support is vertically oriented.

7. A support as claimed in claim 6 wherein said main support has a cylindrical body and said body is sized to act as a connector to one or more of said support arms.

8. A support as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support arms on said cylindrical body have a releasable lock to hold said arms in a fixed position on said body.

9. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support arms are substantially horizontal.

10. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support arms with a curved body are identical to one another.

11. A support as claimed in claim 10 wherein said support arms with a curved body are first support arms and there are second support arms, said second support arms having a straight body with an opening at one end to receive a connector, each second support arm being pivotal about the connector, said second arms each having another end that has a monitor connector thereon, said monitor connector being tiltable.

16. A support as claimed in claim 6 wherein there are two curved support arms connected to said vertical body above one another, said curved support arm that is above said other support arm being an upper support arm and said other support arm that is beneath said upper support arm being a lower support arm, there being at least two additional curved support arms, one additional support arm being connected to each of said upper and lower support arms, said additional support arm for said upper support arm being connected beneath said upper support arm and said additional support arm that is connected to said lower support arm being connected above said support arm so that a free end of one of said additional support arms is at a same height as a free end of the other said additional support arms.

12. A support for a plurality of flat monitors comprising a plurality of support arms, said support arms having a first end and a second end, each of said ends having an opening therein to receive a connector, there being a plurality of connectors, at least one of said connectors being a ball lock joint that is sized and shaped to removably fit within any one of said openings, said at least one ball lock joint having a locked position and an unlocked position, at least one of said support arms being pivotal about said at least one ball lock joint when said at least one ball lock joint is in said locked position, said at least one ball lock joint being removable from said end when said at least one ball lock is in said unlocked position.

13. A support as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least some of said support arms have a curved body.

14. A support as claimed in claim 13 wherein said curved body curves in a vertical plane so that one end of said support is located at a different level from another end of said support.

15. A support as claimed in claim 14 wherein said curved support arms are reversible, interchangeable and can be connected to other support arms located above or beneath said ends.

17. A method of constructing a support for a plurality of flat monitors, said support having a main support with a plurality of first support arms, said first support arms having a curved body with a first end and a second end, said curved body extending in a vertical plane, said ends each having an opening therein to receive a connector and being capable of being pivotally connected to said connector, there being a plurality of connectors and a plurality of second support arms, said second support arms being straight support arms with monitor attachments at free ends thereof, said method comprising choosing an appropriate combination of first support arms and connectors from said plurality of first arms, second arms and connectors and connecting said support arms to said main support and/or to one another with second support arms being added to said first support arms where necessary to achieve a monitor support for a desired number of monitors having said free ends that are at a desired height.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said method includes the steps of choosing and connecting said supports to have said free ends at an identical height for all of said monitors.