Tablet Mounting Arm Systems and Methods

• US 20130092805A1
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Funk, Joe, Lindblad, Shaun C., Ergun, Mustafa A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,441,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/121
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• 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 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/97 Holders with separate means to prevent loosening of the coupling or unauthorised removal of apparatus held
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

One embodiment provides a tablet mounting system including a support having a tablet portion located near the first end of the support arm for supporting a tablet, a monitor portion located between the tablet portion and the second end of the support arm for supporting a display monitor, and a support portion located between the first end and the second end of the support arm for attaching the arm to a support object such as a desk, wall, desk stand, or display arm. In some cases, the support portion is located closer to the monitor portion of the support arm than to the tablet portion of the support arm. A tablet mount is configured to support a tablet and to attached to the tablet portion of the support arm. Methods for mounting tablets are also provided.

Claims

1. A tablet mounting system comprising:

a support arm having a first end and a second end, the support arm comprising

a tablet portion located near the first end of the support arm for supporting a tablet,

a monitor portion located between the tablet portion and the second end of the support arm for supporting a display monitor, and

a support portion located between the first end and the second end of the support arm, the support portion configured to attach to a support object, the support portion located closer to the monitor portion of the support arm than to the tablet portion of the support arm; and

a tablet mount configured to support a tablet and to attach to the tablet portion of the support arm;

wherein in an attached state the support arm is configured to position the tablet mount and a supported tablet relative to the support object.

2. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the support portion is partially overlapped with the monitor portion.

3. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the support portion is completely overlapped with the monitor portion.

4. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the support portion is located between the tablet portion and the monitor portion without overlapping the monitor portion.

5. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein in the attached state a weight of the supported tablet creates a first rotational force based on a distance between the tablet portion and the support portion, and a weight of a supported display monitor creates a second rotational force based on a distance between the monitor portion and the support portion, whereby

(a) the first rotational force has a direction substantially opposite a direction of the second rotational force, and

(b) the magnitude of the first rotational force is not substantially greater than twice the magnitude of the second rotational force.

6. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a weight beam attached to the support arm, the weight beam supporting a counterweight movable along at least a portion of the length of the weight beam.

7. The tablet mounting system of claim 6 wherein in the attached state a weight of the supported tablet creates a first rotational force based on a distance between the tablet portion and the support portion, a weight of a supported display monitor creates a second rotational force based on a distance between the monitor portion and the support portion, and a weight of the counterweight creates a third rotational force based on a distance between the counterweight and the support portion, whereby

(a) the first rotational force has a direction substantially opposite a direction of the second rotational force and substantially opposite a direction of the third rotational force, and

(b) the magnitude of the first rotational force is not substantially greater than twice the magnitude of the second rotational force combined with the third rotational force.

8. The tablet mounting system of claim 1 further comprising a brace located between the first end of the support arm and the support portion, the brace configured to engage with an edge of a supported display monitor.

9. The tablet mounting system of claim 1 wherein the support portion is configured to attach to the support object in a plurality of orientations, whereby the support arm is configured with a corresponding plurality of orientations, wherein

in a first of the plurality of support arm orientations, the supported tablet is located to the right of a supported display monitor, in a second of the plurality of support arm orientations, the supported tablet is located to the left of a supported display monitor, in a third of the plurality of support arm orientations, the supported tablet is located above a supported display monitor, and in a fourth of the plurality of support arm orientations, the supported tablet is located below a supported display monitor.

10. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the tablet portion provides rotation of the tablet mount and the supported tablet with respect to the support arm, the rotation including at least two biased tablet orientations comprising a tablet portrait orientation and a tablet landscape orientation.

11. The tablet mounting system of claim 10, wherein the tablet portion further comprises a detent mechanism comprising:

a slider,

a rotating catch that is permitted to rotate relative to the slider,

a landscape detent feature, and

a portrait detent feature, wherein

the rotating catch can be seated in one of two features;

(i) the landscape detent feature, and (ii) the portrait detent feature; and

wherein

when the rotating catch is seated in the landscape detent feature, the supported tablet is in a landscape orientation, and

when the rotating catch is seated in the portrait detent feature, the supported tablet is in a portrait orientation.

12. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the support arm further comprises a projection arm having a first end and a second end, and an extension arm having a first end and a second end, the projection arm and the extension arm interconnected such that the extension arm is longitudinally movable relative to the projection arm to extend and retract between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, the projection arm being interconnected near the first end of the projection arm, and the extension arm being interconnected near the second end of the extension arm, and wherein the tablet portion is further located near the first end of the extension arm.

13. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the tablet portion comprises a VESA support arrangement for attaching the tablet portion to the tablet mount.

14. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the tablet mount is configured to releasably retain the supported tablet.

15. The tablet mounting system of claim 1, wherein the tablet mount comprises a tablet docking station.

16. The tablet mounting system of claim 1 wherein the support portion is configured to attach to one or more of a laptop stand, a desktop display monitor stand, a wall mount, a computer cart, and an articulating arm support.

17. A tablet mounting system comprising:

a projection arm having a first end and a second end, the projection arm comprising

a monitor portion located near the second end of the projection arm for supporting a display monitor, and

a support portion located between the first end and the second end of the projection arm, the support portion configured to attach to a support object; and

an extension arm having a first end and a second end, the extension arm comprising a tablet portion located near the first end of the extension arm, the tablet portion configured to support a tablet;

wherein the projection arm and the extension arm are interconnected to form an extensible arm assembly, wherein the extension arm is longitudinally movable relative to the projection arm to extend and retract between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, and wherein the projection arm is interconnected near the first end of the projection arm and the extension arm is interconnected near the second end of the extension arm.

18. The tablet mounting system of claim 17, further comprising a tablet mount configured to attach to the tablet portion of the extension arm and support a tablet.

19. The tablet mounting system of claim 18, wherein the tablet mount is configured releasably retain a supported tablet.

20. The tablet mounting system of claim 17, wherein the support portion is at least partially overlapped with the monitor portion.

21. The tablet mounting system of claim 17 wherein the extensible arm assembly further comprises a brace configured to engage with an edge of a supported display monitor.

22. The tablet mounting system of claim 17, wherein the tablet portion provides rotation of a tablet mount and a supported tablet, the rotation including at least two biased tablet orientations comprising a tablet portrait orientation and a tablet landscape orientation.

23. A tablet mounting system, comprising:

a base configured to engage with a surface;

a support member configured to couple to the base and extend from the base; and

a support arm having a first end and a second end, the support arm comprising

a tablet portion located near the first end of the support arm for supporting a tablet,

a monitor portion located between the tablet portion and the second end of the support arm for supporting a display monitor, and

a support portion located between the first end and the second end of the support arm, the support portion configured to attach to the support member, the support portion located closer to the monitor portion of the support arm than to the tablet portion of the support arm; and

a tablet mount configured to support a tablet and to attach to the tablet portion of the support arm;

wherein in an attached state the base, the support member, and the support arm are configured to position the tablet mount and a supported tablet relative to the surface.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the support portion is at least partially overlapped with the monitor portion.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the support arm further comprises a projection arm having a first end and a second end, and an extension arm having a first end and a second end, the projection arm and the extension arm interconnected such that the extension arm is longitudinally movable relative to the projection arm to extend and retract between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, the projection arm being interconnected near the first end of the projection arm, and the extension arm being interconnected near the second end of the extension arm,

wherein the tablet portion is further located near the first end of the extension arm,

wherein the monitor portion is located near the second end of the projection arm, and

wherein the support portion is located between the first end and the second end of the projection arm.

26. The system for positioning a display monitor and a tablet of claim 23, wherein the base is configured to attach to the surface and/or rest unattached against the surface.

27. The system for positioning a display monitor and a tablet of claim 23, wherein the base comprises three or more wheels and is configured to movably engage with a floor surface.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the tablet mount is configured to releasably retain the supported tablet.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the tablet portion provides rotation of the tablet mount and the supported tablet with respect to the support arm, the rotation including at least two biased tablet orientations comprising a tablet portrait orientation and a tablet landscape orientation.

30. A method for mounting a tablet with a tablet mounting system, comprising:

providing a tablet;

providing a support arm having a first end and a second end, the support arm comprising

a tablet portion located near the first end of the support arm for supporting the tablet,

a monitor portion located between the tablet portion and the second end of the support arm for supporting a display monitor, and

a support portion located between the first end and the second end of the support arm, the support portion configured to attach to a support object, the support portion located closer to the monitor portion of the support arm than to the tablet portion of the support arm;

attaching a tablet mount to the tablet portion of the support arm, the tablet mount configured to support the tablet; and

supporting the tablet with the tablet mount.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising attaching a monitor mount to the monitor portion of the support arm and supporting a display monitor with the monitor mount.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the support object comprises a laptop stand, a desktop display monitor stand, a wall mount, a computer cart, or an articulating arm support, and further comprising attaching the support arm to the support object.