Multi-position computer support

• US 4,687,167 A
• Filed: 10/23/1985
• Issued: 08/18/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Skalka, Gerald P., Stanley H. Skalka
• Original Assignee: Skalka, Gerald P., Stanley H. Skalka
• Inventors: Skalka, Gerald P., Skalka, Stanley H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Cornelius J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US06/790,487
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 248/282, 248/283, 248/284, 248/183, 248/424, 248/425, 248/411, 108/92, 108/93, 108/94, 108/102, 108/103, 108/139, 108/140, 108/142, 211/95, 211/96, 308/244, 384/226, 384/244, 384/271, 384/276, 384/424, 403/87, 403/162, 403/163, 403/84
• US Class Current: 248/126
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0085 Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32286 Clamping screw traverses sliding complementary arcuate bearing surfaces

Abstract

A computer support includes a base member to which an inner swing arm is pivotally mounted with an outer swing arm being pivotally mounted on the outer end of the inner swing arm and supporting a platform support by a lazy-susan bearing on its outer end. The pivotal connections are provided by pivot shafts over which pivot sleeves are positioned with upper and lower spaced roller bearing sets therebetween and a low-friction load bearing sleeve of substantial hardness engaging the lower end of each pivot sleeve to support same. Brake/lock means at each pivot permits retention of the arms in any desired rotational position in separate horizontal planes of movement.

Claims

1. A cantilever support system for supporting a supported item for movement in a horizontal plane above a fixed surface comprising:

base means fixed to said fixed surface and including a first vertical pivot shaft extending upwardly from attachment means on the fixed surface;

first swing arm means including an outer end and an inner end mounted on said base means and including a first vertical pivot sleeve on its inner end fitted over said vertical pivot shaft and engageable therewith by first roller bearing means comprising an upper roller bearing set in the upper end of said first vertical pivot sleeve and a lower roller bearing set spaced substantial distance below said upper bearing set in the lower end of said first vertical pivot sleeve, and further including second vertical pivot shaft means extending upwardly from said outer end of said first swing arm means;

second swing arm means having an outer end and an inner end, said inner end being pivotally mounted on the outer end of the first swing arm means by a second pivot sleeve and second roller bearing means therebetween;

carrier plate means mounted on the outer end of said second swing arm means;

rotary bearing means attached to and supported by carrier plate means;

support platform means supported by said rotary bearing means to provide a movable support for any item positioned on said support platform means; and

wherein said base means additionally includes a first tubular sleeve bearing fitted over said first vertical pivot shaft and positioned beneath and supportingly engaging the lower end of said first vertical pivot sleeve and additionally including a second tubular sleeve bearing fitted over said second vertical pivot shaft and positioned beneath and supportingly engaging the lower end of said second pivot sleeve.

2. The system of claim 1 additionally including first brake/locking means for permitting said first swing arm means to be locked in any desired position of rotation about said first vertical pivot shaft.

3. The system of claim 2 additionally including second brake/locking means for permitting said second swing arm means to be locked in any desired position of rotation about said second vertical pivot shaft.

4. The system of claim 3 additionally including detent means in said rotary bearing means for permitting selective rotational positioning of said support platform means in any one of a plurality of rotational positions about the rotational axis of said rotary bearing means.

5. The system of claim 4 additionally including manually engageable manipulating handle means connected to said support platform and positioned forwardly thereof.

6. A cantilever support system for supporting a supported item for movement in a horizontal plane above a fixed surface comprising:

base means fixed to said fixed surface and including a first vertical pivot shaft extending upwardly from attachment means on the fixed surface;

first swing arm means including an outer end and an inner end mounted on said base means and including a first vertical pivot sleeve on its inner end fitted over said vertical pivot shaft and engageable therewith by first roller bearing means therebetween and further including second vertical pivot shaft means extending upwardly from said outer of said first swing arm means;

second swing arm means having an outer end and an inner end, said inner end being pivotally mounted on the outer end of the first swing arm means by a second pivot sleeve and second roller bearing means therebetween;

carrier plate means mounted on the outer end of said second plate means;

rotary bearing means attached to and supported by carrier plate means;

support platform means supported by said rotary bearing means to provide a movable support for any item positioned on said support platform means;

wherein said base means additionally includes a first tubular sleeve bearing fitted over said first vertical pivot shaft and positioned beneath and supportingly engaging the lower end of said first pivot sleeve; and

said first tubular sleeve bearing has a conical interior surface fitted over said first vertical pivot shaft and said conical interior surface has its largest diameter portion at its lower end.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said first swing arm additionally comprises a hollow metal beam of quadri-lateral transverse cross-section and having an inner end welded to said first pivot sleeve at a location approximately midway between the upper and lower ends of said first pivot sleeve.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said second swing arm additionally comprises a hollow metal beam of quadri-lateral transverse cross-section and having an inner end welded to said second pivot sleeve at a location between the upper and lower ends thereof.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said first roller bearing means comprises a first roller bearing set mounted in the upper end of said first vertical pivot sleeve and a second roller bearing set mounted in the lower end of said first vertical pivot sleeve.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said second roller bearing means comprises an upper roller bearing set mounted in the upper end of said second pivot sleeve and a lower roller bearing set mounted in the lower end of said second pivot sleeve.

11. The system of claim 10 additionally including a second tubular sleeve bearing fitted over said second vertical pivot shaft and positioned beneath and supportingly engaging the lower end of said second pivot sleeve.

12. The system of claim 11 additionally including first locking means for permitting said first swing arm to be locked in any desired position of rotation about the axis of said first vertical pivot shaft.

13. The system of claim 12 additionally including second brake/locking means for permitting said second swing arm to be locked in any desired position of rotation about the axis of said second vertical pivot shaft.

14. The system of claim 13 additionally including detent means in said rotary bearing means for permitting selective rotational positioning of said support platform means in any one of a plurality of positions about the rotational axis of said rotary bearing means.

15. A cantilever support system for supporting a supported item for selected positioning in a horizontal plane comprising:

fixedly positioned base means including a first vertical pivot shaft extending upwardly from said base means;

swing arm means having an inner end and an outer end and mounted on said base means by a first vertical pivot sleeve on its inner end fitted over said first vertical pivot shaft and upper and lower roller bearing sets respectively mounted in upper and lower ends of said first vertical pivot sleeve;

means supporting rotary bearing means on the outer end of said swing arm means for rotational positioning about a vertical axis extending through the outer end of said swing arm means;

support platform means supported by said rotary bearing means to provide a movable support for any item positioned on said support platform means; and

a bearing sleeve fitted over said vertical pivot shaft and positioned beneath said pivot sleeve in a supporting manner, said bearing sleeve having a conical opening on its interior with its larger end being its lower end and being fitted over said vertical pivot shaft so as to provide clearance for a welding bead employed in securing said vertical pivot shaft to said base means.

16. The system of claim 15 additionally including selectively operable locking means for locking said swing arm in a desired position of rotation relative to the axis of said vertical pivot shaft.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said swing arm is of rectangular transverse cross-section and is of hollow metal construction with its longest transverse dimension being in a horizontal plane.