Ergonomic monitor stand

• US 4,589,621 A
• Filed: 01/03/1984
• Issued: 05/20/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Whitehead, Verlon E., Hunt, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US06/567,702
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 248/586, 248/585, 248/587, 248/588, 248/590, 248/591, 248/421, 248/354.1, 248/352, 254/126, 254/122
• US Class Current: 248/586
• 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 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage

Abstract

A stand (10) is disclosed for supporting a computer display (8) workstation for easy adjustment without tools to a desired position by rotating the stand, tilting a platform (60) attached to the stand and lifting the stand. The stand comprises a six bar (20, 22, 16, 30, 32, 54) pivotable linkage having spring (44, 48, 52) means for compensating for the load, the spring force being adjustable to accommodate changes in load without affecting the spring rate.

Claims

1. A variably positionable support stand for computer work station having a base comprising:

a platform adapted for limited pivotal motion, attached to the base of the workstation;

a six bar linkage connected at one side to the platform, said linkage including selectively adjustable upward force exerting spring means for compensating for the downward force exerted by the workstation,

said spring means comprising coil springs each having one end thereof attached to a lower member of the six bar linkage and the other end thereof engaged in a manually alterable tension adjuster; and

a rotatable base connected to a side of the linkage opposite the side connected to the platform.

2. The stand of claim 1 wherein the six bar linkage comprises:

a pair of mirror image pivotally connected two bar linkages adapted to meshingly engage at their free upper and lower ends in sector gears, pivotally mounted in parallel brackets.

3. The stand of claim 2 wherein:

the platform is attached to the bracket connecting the engaged upper sector gears of the pair of two-bar linkages; and

the rotatable base is connected to the six bar linkage by means of the bracket connecting the lower engaged sector gears.

4. An ergonomic, mechanically hysteretical workstation support including:

a lower pair of links having their lower ends gearingly engaged;

an upper pair of links having their upper ends gearingly engaged;

pivot means connecting the upper ends of the lower pair of links and the lower ends of the upper pair of links;

rotating base means connected to the gearingly engaged lower ends of the lower pair of links;

first bracket means connected to the gearingly engaged lower ends of the lower pair of links;

second bracket means connected to the gearingly engaged upper ends of the upper pair of links;

pivotable platform means connected to the bracket first bracket means;

spring means of selectively variable force located in said lower pair of links for urging said pivotally connected lower pair and upper pair of links vertically upward from the rotating base means, said spring means comprising coil springs each having one end thereof connected with one of said lower pair of links and the other end thereof connected to said first bracket means; and

adjustment means in said first bracket means for varying the force in the coil springs.

5. An easily adjustable support for a computer workstation comprising:

a base bracket mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane;

vertically adjustable means connected to the base bracket said vertically adjustable means comprising a mechanically hysteretical system comprising;

two sets of two pivotally joined arms, having their free ends terminating in gear teeth of equal pitch, said arms being arranged to have their free ends in meshing engagement with the corresponding free ends of the other arms;

variably tensionable spring means connected to at least one arm of each set of arms for compensating for the weight of the workstation;

lower pivot means connecting one set of meshingly engaged arm end to the base bracket; and

upper pivot means connecting the other set of meshingly engaged arm ends to the upper bracket;

an upper bracket connected to said vertically adjustable means; and

pivotally movable platform means connected to said upper bracket said platform being pivotable about an axis parallel to said base, and adapted to receive a workstation.

6. Improved apparatus for enabling a computer workstation to be tilted, rotated, raised or lowered comprising:

an upper frame member for engaging the bottom portion of the workstation and adapted for limited pivotal movement;

a lower frame member adapted for rotation;

a four bar linkage connected between the upper and lower frame members;

biasing means connected to the four bar linkage for urging the four bar linkage upwardly for counterbalancing the load exerted by the workstation;

means for selectively adjusting the biasing means for compensating for changes in workstation load; and

fixed rate spring means connected across the four bar linkage for cooperating with the biasing means.