Support arm assembly

• US 20070040084A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Erik, Sturman, Lane, Lok, Greg, Tatman, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/280.110
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• 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 11/2092 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 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/02 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/063 Parallelogram arms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction

Abstract

An assembly for supporting a device for movement between several positions, the assembly comprising a first four-bar subassembly including proximate and distal ends and a second four-bar subassembly including proximate and distal ends and first and second link members that pivot about substantially parallel axis, the distal end of the first four-bar subassembly linked to the proximate end of the second four-bar subassembly for rotation about an additional axis that is substantially perpendicular to the parallel axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for linking a device at a distal end of a support structure where the device includes a surface and the surface includes at least one edge, the apparatus comprising:

a first coupler supported by one of the distal end and the device surface, the first coupler including a first bearing surface;

a second coupler supported by the other of the distal end and the device surface, the second coupler forming a second bearing surface arranged to bear against at least portion of the first bearing surface when the device is supported by the support structure;

one of the first and second couplers including a latch surface;

and a single latch member including a first end linked to the other of the first and second couplers, a second end that extends from the first end and a central portion between the first and second ends, wherein, when the device is supported by the support structure and the second bearing surface bears against at least a portion of the first bearing surface, the second end of the latch member extends toward the device surface edge and the second end of the latch is moveable between a latched position wherein the central portion is adjacent the latch surface and maintains the couplers coupled and an unlatched position wherein the central portion is separated from the latch surface and the device and coupler supported thereby are freely removable from the support structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first coupler forms at least a first channel that includes the first bearing surface and wherein the second coupler forms at least a first edge that forms the second bearing surface and that is at least partially received within the first channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first coupler also forms a second channel that forms a third bearing surface and the second coupler forms a second edge that forms a fourth bearing surface and wherein, when the couplers are coupled, the third bearing surface contacts at least a portion of the fourth bearing surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and third bearing surfaces generally face each other and wherein the second and fourth bearing surfaces generally face in opposite directions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the first and second channels includes first and second ends and wherein the second ends are closer than the first ends.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the distance between the first and second channels gradually decreases between the first and second ends thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second edges formed by the second coupler has first and second ends and wherein the distance between the first and second edges gradually decreases between the first and second ends thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first coupler is supported by the device surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first ends of the channels are lower than the second ends.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second coupler forms the latch surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the latch surface generally faces downwardly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second end of the latch member extends downward.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the latch member is a spring member that is biased toward the latched position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the spring member is a leaf spring and wherein the leaf spring moves toward the device surface when moved from the latched to the unlatched position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the central portion includes a finger member that extends therefrom and wherein the portion of the latch member adjacent the latch surface when the latch member is in the latched position is a surface of the finger member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the finger member generally extends from the central portion in a direction from the second end toward the first end of the leaf spring.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device is a flat panel display screen, the surface is a rear surface and the surface edge is a lower edge.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first coupler is supported by the device surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second coupler forms the latch surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the latch member extends downward.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch member is a spring member that is biased toward the latched position.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the spring member is a leaf spring and wherein the leaf spring moves toward the device surface when moved from the latched to the unlatched position.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first coupler includes a rotating member and a coupler member, the coupler member forming the first bearing surface, the rotating member is linked to the device surface and mounted to the coupler member for rotation about an axis.

24. An apparatus for linking a device at a distal end of a support structure where the device includes a surface and each of the device surface and the distal end of the support arm is a supporting feature, the apparatus comprising:

a first coupler supported by one of the supporting features;

a second coupler supported by the other of the supporting features and configured to at least in part receive a portion of the first coupler; and

a latch member supported by one of the first coupler, the second coupler and one of the supporting features and including a distal end;

wherein, when the first coupler is at least in part received by the second coupler, the latch member distal end extends laterally to at least one side of the first and second couplers and substantially parallel to the device surface and is moveable substantially perpendicular to the device surface between latched and unlatched positions wherein the latch member latches and unlatches the first coupler to the second coupler, respectively.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the latch member moves toward the device surface when moving form the latched position to the unlatched position.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the latch member is a leaf spring.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the second coupler is secured to the device surface and the latch member is secured to the second coupler.

28. An assembly for supporting a device for movement between several positions, the assembly comprising:

a first four-bar subassembly including proximate and distal ends; and

a second four-bar subassembly including proximate and distal ends and first and second link members that pivot about substantially parallel axis, the distal end of the first four-bar subassembly linked to the proximate end of the second four-bar subassembly for rotation about an additional axis that is substantially perpendicular to the parallel axis.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the distal end of the second four-bar subassembly is linked to the device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further including a base and a third arm subassembly between the base and the device.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the third arm subassembly is linked between the base and the first four-bar subassembly.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the third arm subassembly includes first and second curved sections and a substantially straight section between the first and second curved sections and wherein oppositely facing ends of the first and second curved sections extend along substantially parallel first and second trajectories.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the elongated member extends generally along an axis that forms first and second angles with each of the first and second trajectories, respectively, where each of the first and second angles is between 5 and 30 degrees.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the elongated member is tubular.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein at least one of the four-bar subassemblies includes first and second link members where each of the link members includes first and second ends and where the first and second ends are mounted for rotation to first and second end members, respectively, and, wherein, the first ends are mounted closer together than the second ends.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the second four-bar subassembly includes first and second link members where each of the link members includes first and second ends and where the first and second ends are mounted for rotation to first and second end members, respectively, and, wherein, the first ends are mounted closer together than the second ends.

37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the arm assembly further includes a third arm subassembly that includes proximate and distal ends, the first four-bar subassembly includes proximate and distal ends, each of the base and the distal end of the third arm subassembly form couplers of a first type and each of the proximate end of the first four-bar subassembly and the proximate end of the third arm subassembly form a coupler of a second type, each of the second type couplers configured to couple with either of the first type couplers.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein each of the first type couplers forms one of a cavity and a post and each of the second type couplers forms the other of a cavity and a post and wherein the posts are dimensioned to be receivable within the cavities to facilitate rotation about common cup-post axis.

39. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the device is a flat panel display.

40. A variably configurable kit assembly for adjustably supporting a device, the assembly comprising:

a base forming a first coupler of a first type;

an arm assembly linking the base to the device, the arm assembly comprising;

a first arm subassembly including proximate and distal ends and forming a first coupler of a second type at the proximate end and a second coupler of the first type at the distal end; and

a second arm subassembly including proximate and distal ends and forming a second coupler of the second type at the proximate end and supporting the device at the distal end;

wherein, each of the second type couplers is configured to be couplable to either of the first type couplers.

41. The assembly of claim 40 wherein each of the first type couplers forms one of a cup and a post and each of the second type couplers forms the other of a cup and a post and wherein the posts are dimensioned to be receivable within the cups to facilitate rotation about an axis common to the coupled post and cup.

42. The assembly of claim 41 wherein each of the first type of couplers forms a cup that narrows from an upper end to a lower end and each of the second type couplers forms a post that narrows from an upper end to a lower end.

43. The assembly of claim 42 further including a frusto-conical bushing between each pair of adjacent first and second couplers.

44. The assembly of claim 40 wherein the arm assembly can be configured with the proximate ends of the first arm subassembly and the second arm subassembly coupled to the base and the distal end of the first arm subassembly, respectively and wherein the arm assembly can be configured with the proximate end of the second arm subassembly coupled to the base.

45. The assembly of claim 40 wherein the second arm subassembly includes at least one four-bar subassembly.

46. The assembly of claim 40 wherein the base includes a first base for mounting a work surface and wherein the assembly further includes at least a second base for mounting to a vertical surface wherein the second base forms an additional coupler of the first type configured to optionally receive any of the couplers of the first type.

47. The assembly of claim 46 wherein the second base coupler includes a clip for mounting the second base to a slat wall.

48. The assembly of claim 40 further including a device mount subassembly including proximal and distal ends, the mount subassembly forming a first coupler of a third type at the distal end, the second arm subassembly forming a first coupler of a fourth type configured to be couplable to a coupler of the third type.

49. The assembly of claim 48 further including a third arm subassembly including proximate and distal ends and forming a third coupler of the second type at the proximate end and a second coupler of the fourth type.

50. The assembly of claim 49 wherein each of the second and the third arm subassemblies has a length dimension and wherein the length dimension of the second arm subassembly is greater than the length dimension of the third arm subassembly.

51. The assembly of claim 47 wherein the first arm subassembly includes a four-bar mechanism and the second arm subassembly includes a fixed member.

52. An arm assembly for adjustably supporting a flat panel display, the assembly comprising:

a first arm member including proximate and distal ends and including a surface that forms one of an open ended frusto-conical cavity and a frusto-conical post at the distal end; and

a second arm member including proximate and distal ends and including a surface that forms the other of an open ended frusto-conical cavity and a frusto-conical post at the proximal end, the display supported by the distal end of the second arm member;

wherein the post is at least partially received within the cavity with the post forming surface facing the cavity facing surface and for rotation about an axis.

53. The assembly of claim 52 further including a bushing having internal and external surfaces where the internal surface defines a frusto-conical shape that is substantially similar to the shape of the surface forming the post and the external surface defines a frusto-conical shape that is substantially similar to the shape of the surface forming the cavity, the bushing positioned between the surfaces that form the post and cavity.

54. The assembly of claim 53 wherein the internal surface of the bushing is generally a mirror image of the external surface of the bushing.

55. The assembly of claim 53 wherein the bushing further includes at least one malleable and deformable rib that extends from at least one of the internal and external surfaces.

56. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the bushing includes a plurality of malleable and deformable ribs that extend from at least one of the internal and external surfaces.

57. The assembly of claim 56 wherein the ribs extend from the external surface.

58. The assembly of claim 53 wherein at least one of the internal surface, the external surface and one of the surfaces that forms the cavity and that forms the post includes at least one malleable and deformable rib.

59. The assembly of claim 53 wherein the bushing is formed of plastic.

60. The assembly of claim 52 wherein the first arm member forms the cavity at the distal end.

61. The assembly of claim 53 wherein the cavity and the post are a first cavity and a first post, the first arm member also including a surface that forms one of a second open ended frusto-conical cavity and a second frusto-conical post at the proximate end, the assembly further including a base member that forms the other of a second open ended frusto-conical cavity and a second frusto-conical post at the proximate end and a second bushing having internal and external surfaces where the internal surface defines a frusto-conical shape that is substantially similar to the shape of the surface forming the second post and the external surface defines a frusto-conical shape that is substantially similar to the shape of the surface forming the second cavity wherein, the second post is at least partially receivable within the second cavity with the second bushing between the surfaces that form the second post and second cavity and for rotation about an axis.

62. The assembly of claim 53 wherein an aperture is formed in a base of the cavity and a threaded opening is formed in an end of the post and further including a bolt that extends through the aperture and that is received in the threaded opening to maintain the bushing under a compressive force between the surfaces that form the cavity and the post.

63. The assembly of claim 62 wherein the external surface of the bushing further includes at least one malleable and deformable extending member that deforms when compressed between the surfaces that form the post and the cavity.

64. A tilter apparatus for adjustably mounting a flat panel display to a support member, the apparatus comprising:

a rigid mount member coupled to the device;

first and second link members, each link member including first and second ends, the first ends of the link members coupled to the support member for pivotal motion about substantially parallel first and second axis where the first and second axis are separated by a first dimension, the second ends of the link members coupled to the mount member for pivotal motion about substantially parallel third and fourth axis where the third and fourth axis are separated by a second dimension that is different than the first dimension.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the second dimension is less than the first dimension.

66. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the mount member is coupled to a rear surface of the display.

67. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein each of the first and second link members includes a generally V-shaped member.

68. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the first, second, third and fourth axis are substantially horizontal, the support member forms a collar and wherein the first and second link members are coupled to the collar by a coupling including at least one post member that extends into the collar where the post is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis formed by the collar.

69. An apparatus for adjustably mounting a flat panel display to a support arm wherein the support arm includes a distal end and the display includes a rear surface, the apparatus comprising:

a tilt assembly coupling the rear surface of the display to the distal end of the support arm, the tilter assembly configured to facilitate display rotation about a substantially horizontal axis that resides on a side of the rear surface opposite the tilter assembly.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the tilter assembly includes rigid mount member coupled to the rear surface of the display and first and second link members, each link member including first and second ends, the first ends of the link members coupled to the distal end of the support arm for pivotal motion about substantially parallel first and second axis where the first and second axis are separated by a first dimension, the second ends of the link members coupled to the mount member for pivotal motion about substantially parallel third and fourth axis where the third and fourth axis are separated by a second dimension and wherein the second dimension is less than the first dimension.

71. A four-bar assembly for use in a support arm for adjustably supporting a device, the assembly comprising:

first and second end members;

a first link member, the first link member including a substantially flat elongated rigid member having at least a first lateral edge and first and second ends that are coupled to the first and second end members, respectively; and

a second link member, the second link member including a substantially flat elongated rigid member having at least a first lateral edge and first and second ends that are coupled to the first and second end members, respectively, so as to be substantially parallel to the first link member with the first lateral edge of the second link member facing in the same direction as the first lateral edge of the first link member;

wherein, the space between the first and second link members is open between the first lateral edges of the first and second link members.

72. The assembly of claim 71 wherein each of the first and second link members also includes a second lateral edge that faces in the direction opposite the first lateral edge and wherein the space between the first and second link members is open between the second lateral edges of the first and second link members.

73. The assembly of claim 72 further including first and second cover members that are removably coupled to at least one of the end members so as to block the space between the first edges and to block the space between the second edges, respectively.

74. The assembly of claim 73 wherein each of the covers is removably coupled to each of the end members.

75. The assembly of claim 71 wherein each of the first and second end members includes a generally C-shaped member including first and second distal ends, the first ends of the first and second link members linked to the first ends of the end members and the second ends of the first and second link members linked to the second ends of the end members.

76. The assembly of claim 75 further including at least a first cover member removably coupled to at least one of the first and second end members, the cover member including a rectilinear portion and integral semi-circular portions at opposite ends of the rectilinear portion.

77. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein each of the end members includes an extension member that extends between and generally in the same direction as the distal ends of the end member and wherein the cover member is coupled to the extension members at coupling points.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the coupling point with the first end member extension member is generally midway between the distal ends of the first end member and the coupling point with the second end member extension member is generally midway between the distal ends of the second end member.

79. The assembly of claim 71 wherein the first link member is an upper link member, the assembly further including a spring mechanism including first and second ends wherein the first end is coupled to the first end member and the second end is coupled to the upper link member.

80. The assembly of claim 79 wherein the spring mechanism is a gas spring.

81. The assembly of claim 79 wherein an adjusting mechanism is provided at one of the first and second ends of the spring mechanism for adjusting the force applied by the spring mechanism to the upper link member.

82. The assembly of claim 71 further including at least one retaining member mounted to an external surface of at least one of the first and second link members for retaining wires adjacent the external surface.

83. An apparatus for use as one of two link members in a four-bar support arm subassembly, the arm subassembly including first and second end members, the apparatus comprising:

a substantially single thickness, elongated rigid link member having first and second ends and first and second oppositely facing lateral edges; and

first and second rollers at the first and second ends of the link member for mounting to the first and second end members, respectively.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the first and second rollers are integrally formed at the first and second ends of the link member.

85. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the link member is substantially flat and planar.

86. The apparatus of claim 83 also for:

use with a four-bar subassembly including a spring mechanism wherein the link member includes oppositely facing internal and external surfaces, the apparatus further including a collar member extending from the internal surface adjacent the first end of the link for attachment to one end of the spring mechanism.

87. A lower arm assembly for use in an extension arm that includes an upper arm assembly, the arm for adjustably mounting a device to a support member, the lower arm assembly comprising:

an elongated member having first and second ends, respectively, and forming an internal cavity along at least a portion of the member'"'"'s length wherein the cavity opens to at least one side, the member including first and second couplers at the first and second ends for coupling to the support member and the and the upper arm assembly, respectively.

88. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the cavity opens downward.

89. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the cavity forms a cavity edge with an external surface of the elongated member and wherein the assembly further includes a cover receivable within a portion of the cavity for substantially closing the cavity edge cavity.

90. The assembly of claim 89 wherein the cavity includes first and second ends and wherein an edge of the cover at opposite ends of the cover forms openings with the cavity edge adjacent the first and second ends of the cavity.

91. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the elongated member includes first and second curved sections and a substantially straight section between the first and second curved sections and wherein oppositely facing ends of the first and second curved sections extend along substantially parallel first and second trajectories.

92. The assembly of claim 91 wherein the elongated member extends generally along an axis that forms first and second angles with each of the first and second trajectories, respectively, where each of the first and second angles is between 5 and 30 degrees.

93. The assembly of claim 87 wherein the elongated member is tubular.

94. A support arm assembly for supporting a device with respect to a support, the assembly comprising:

a rigid arm member having first and second ends that extend along trajectories that are substantially parallel to first and second axis, respectively, where the first and second axis are misaligned;

a first linkage post having opposite first and second ends and supported for rotation at the first end of the arm member about the first axis, the first end of the first linkage post supported by the support; and

a second linkage post having opposite first and second ends and supported for rotation at the second end of the arm member about the second axis, the second end of the second linkage post supporting the device, the first end of the second linkage post linked to the second end of the first linkage post so that rotation of the first post causes rotation of the second post.

95. The assembly of claim 94 further including an elongated intermediate linkage linked between the second end of the first linkage post and the first end of the second linkage post to translate rotational movement between the first linkage post about the first axis and the second linkage post about the second axis.

96. The assembly of claim 95 wherein the first and second axis are parallel.

97. The assembly of claim 96 wherein the arm member includes first and second curved end portions and a central substantially straight portion.

98. The assembly of claim 97 wherein the arm member forms a cavity substantially along the entire length of the arm member and wherein the intermediate linkage is positioned within the cavity.

99. The assembly of claim 95 wherein the intermediate linkage is substantially straight and rotates around an axis that is angled with respect to each of the first and second axis.

100. The assembly of claim 99 further including first and second transfer blocks, the first block mounted between the first end of the intermediate linkage and the second end of the first linkage post and the second block mounted between the second end of the intermediate linkage and the first end of the second linkage post.

101. The assembly of claim 100 further including a differential subassembly that links the second end of the second linkage post to the device.

102. The assembly of claim 101 wherein the differential assembly has a two-to-one ratio.

103. The assembly of claim 94 further including a differential subassembly linked between the first and second linkage posts.

104. The assembly of claim 103 wherein the differential assembly has a two-to-one ratio.

105. The assembly of claim 94 further including a support structure that is mounted to the support and that forms a surface, the first end of the first linkage post frictionally engaging the surface.

106. The assembly of claim 94 wherein the device is a flat panel display screen.

107. The assembly of claim 94 wherein the first and second axis are parallel.