Suspension system for personal computers and monitors
First Claim
1. A suspension system for positioning and supporting a display device of a personal computer above a work surface, the suspension system comprising:
- a carriage to receive the display device therein;
a tilt and swivel mechanism attached to and extending above said carriage, said tilt and swivel mechanism allowing said carriage to be tilted and rotated relative to the work surface;
a parallelogram linkage system including first and second substantially parallel suspension arms, each said arm having a distal end and a proximal end and said linkage system carrying said tilt and swivel mechanism adjacent said distal ends of said arms;
a pivot housing, said pivot housing being pivotably fastened to and supporting said suspension arms at said proximal ends thereof;
a truck member pivotably mounting said pivot housing;
tracking means, said truck member being mounted for movement along said tracking means, said carriage, said mechanism, said linkage system and said housing being movable between a first position disposed over the work surface and a second position displaced from said first position as said truck member is moved relative to said tracking means;
a support frame member, said tracking means being attached to said frame member;
a pressure cylinder for urging said carriage and the display device upwardly in a generally vertical direction away from the work surface and having first and second ends spaced apart by a length, said first end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the distal end of said first suspension arm and said second end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the proximal end of said second suspension arm; and
means for adjusting the length between said first and second ends of said pressure cylinder, said adjusting means comprising;
a block, said block including a guide channel extending therethrough and said guide channel positioned at an angle relative to the length of said pressure cylinder, and further including a recessed portion within said block;
a carrier member mounted for slidable movement within said guide channel;
a set screw contained within said recessed portion and threadably engaging said carrier member such that rotation of said set screw moves said carrier member relative to said block; and
means for coupling said carrier member to said pressure cylinder.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A suspension system for a personal computer or monitor comprising a carriage in which the monitor or computer is mounted, the carriage being supported from above by a frictionally secured swivel and tilt mechanism in turn attached to a pivotable and rotatable support arm. The support arm is balanced by an adjustable pneumatic pressure cylinder, and is mounted on a roller assembly such that it may be carried along a path defined by a track assembly, thereby permitting the monitor or computer to be transported between first and second positions, as well as simultaneously being raised or lowered vertically, tilted, rotated, or swiveled. The track assembly may be attached to the underside of a shelving unit and incorporated into a modular partition system, or attached to a freestanding frame.
306 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A suspension system for positioning and supporting a display device of a personal computer above a work surface, the suspension system comprising:
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a carriage to receive the display device therein; a tilt and swivel mechanism attached to and extending above said carriage, said tilt and swivel mechanism allowing said carriage to be tilted and rotated relative to the work surface; a parallelogram linkage system including first and second substantially parallel suspension arms, each said arm having a distal end and a proximal end and said linkage system carrying said tilt and swivel mechanism adjacent said distal ends of said arms; a pivot housing, said pivot housing being pivotably fastened to and supporting said suspension arms at said proximal ends thereof; a truck member pivotably mounting said pivot housing; tracking means, said truck member being mounted for movement along said tracking means, said carriage, said mechanism, said linkage system and said housing being movable between a first position disposed over the work surface and a second position displaced from said first position as said truck member is moved relative to said tracking means; a support frame member, said tracking means being attached to said frame member; a pressure cylinder for urging said carriage and the display device upwardly in a generally vertical direction away from the work surface and having first and second ends spaced apart by a length, said first end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the distal end of said first suspension arm and said second end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the proximal end of said second suspension arm; and means for adjusting the length between said first and second ends of said pressure cylinder, said adjusting means comprising; a block, said block including a guide channel extending therethrough and said guide channel positioned at an angle relative to the length of said pressure cylinder, and further including a recessed portion within said block; a carrier member mounted for slidable movement within said guide channel; a set screw contained within said recessed portion and threadably engaging said carrier member such that rotation of said set screw moves said carrier member relative to said block; and means for coupling said carrier member to said pressure cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A suspension system for positioning the supporting a display device of a personal computer above a work surface, said suspension system comprising:
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a carriage to receive the display device therein; a tilt and swivel mechanism attached to and extending above said carriage, said tilt and swivel mechanism allowing said carriage to be tilted and rotated relative to the work surface; a parallelogram linkage system including first and second substantially parallel suspension arms, each said arm having a distal end and a proximal end and said linkage system carrying said tilt and swivel mechanism adjacent said distal ends of said arms; a pivot housing, said pivot housing being pivotably mounted to and supporting said suspension arms at said proximal ends thereof; a pressure cylinder for urging said carriage and the display device upwardly in a generally vertical direction away from the work surface and having first and second ends spaced apart by a length, said first end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the distal end of said first suspension arm and said second end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the proximal end of said second suspension arm; a truck member pivotably mounting said pivot housing; tracking means, said truck member being mounted for movement along said tracking means, said carriage being movable between a first position disposed over the work surface and a second position displaced from said first position as said truck member is moved relative to said tracking means; a rectangular support frame member above the work surface and carrying said tracking means, said frame member having a length dimension substantially exceeding its width dimension, and having its length dimension substantially parallel to said tracking means; and said linkage system and said truck member being moveable between operating and storage positions such that when in storage position said linkage assembly is generally parallel to said tracking means and said length dimension. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A suspension system for positioning and supporting a display device of a personal computer above a work surface, said suspension system comprising:
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a carriage to receive the display device therein; a tilt and swivel mechanism attached to and extending above said carriage, said tilt and swivel mechanism allowing said carriage to be tilted and rotated relative to the work surface; a parallelogram linkage system including first and second substantially parallel suspension arms, each said arm having a distal end and a proximal end and said linkage system carrying said tilt and swivel mechanism adjacent said distal ends of said arms; a pivot housing, said pivot housing being pivotably fastened to and supporting said suspension arms at said proximal ends thereof; a pressure cylinder for urging the carriage and display device upwardly in a generally vertical direction away from the work surface and having first and second ends spaced apart by a length, said first end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the distal end of said first suspension arm and said second end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the proximal end of said second suspension arm; a truck member pivotably mounting said pivot housing; and tracking means, said truck member being mounted for movement along said tracking means, said carriage being movable between a first position disposed over the work surface and a second position displaced from said first position as said truck member is moved relative to said tracking means; and said carriage further including a saddle frame having a first pair of generally horizontal frame members which are spaced apart a distance from one another and support the display device, said frame further including a second pair of generally horizontal frame members spaced apart from one another and extending forwardly and rearwardly of said tilt and swivel mechanism to closely overlie and contain the display device and restrain it from tipping forwardly from the carriage during tilting, said first and second pairs of frame members being spaced vertically a distance apart and connected by a pair of vertical leg portions.
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15. A suspension system for positioning and supporting a display device of a personal computer above a work surface for the convenience of an operator, said suspension system comprising:
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a carriage to receive the display device therein and having a front and back; a tilt and swivel mechanism attached to and extending above said carriage, said tilt and swivel mechanism allowing said carriage to be tilted and rotated relative to the work surface; a parallelogram linkage system including first and second substantially parallel suspension arms, each said arm having a distal end and a proximal end and said linkage system carrying said tilt and swivel mechanism adjacent said distal ends of said arms; a pivot housing, said pivot housing being pivotably fastened to and supporting said suspension arms at said proximal ends thereof; a pressure cylinder for urging the carriage and display device upwardly in a generally vertical direction away from the work surface and having first and second ends spaced apart by a length, said first end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the distal end of said first suspension arm and said second end of said pressure cylinder being mounted adjacent to the proximal end of said second suspension arm; a truck member pivotably mounting said pivot housing and allowing said linkage system to extend radially from said truck member; tracking means supported above the work surface, said truck member being mounted for sliding movement along said tracking means, said carriage being movable between a first position disposed over the work surface and a second position displaced from said first position as said truck member is moved relative to said tracking means; and said tilt and swivel mechanism being rotatable through substantially 360° and
said pivot housing being rotatable relative to said tracking means through at least 180°
while fully supporting the carriage over the work surface to thereby permit sliding, swinging and rotational movement of said carriage to substantially any position around and below said tracking means and within the radius defined by said linkage system while allowing the front of the carriage to confront the operator in all such positions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A suspension system for positioning and supporting a display device of a personal computer above a work surface for the convenience of an operator, said suspension system comprising:
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a carriage to receive the display device therein and having a front and back; a tilt and swivel mechanism attached to and extending above said carriage, said tilt and swivel mechanism allowing said carriage to be tilted and rotated relative to the work surface; a parallelogram linkage system including first and second substantially parallel suspension arms, each said arm having a distal end and a proximal end and said linkage system carrying said tilt and swivel mechanism adjacent said distal ends of said arms; a pivot housing, said pivot housing being pivotably fastened to and supporting said suspension arms at said proximal ends thereof; upward biasing means to urge the carriage and display device upwardly in a generally vertical direction away from the work surface; a truck member pivotally mounting said pivot housing and allowing said linkage system to extend radially from said truck member; tracking means supported above the work surface, said truck member being mounted for sliding movement along said tracking means, said carriage being movable between a first position disposed over the work surface and a second position displaced from said first position as said truck member is moved relative to said tracking means; and said tilt and swivel mechanism being rotatable through substantially 360° and
said pivot housing being rotatable relative to said tracking means through at least 180°
while fully supporting the carriage over the work surface to thereby permit sliding, swinging and rotational movement of said carriage to substantially any position around and below said tracking means and within the radius defined by said linkage system while allowing the front of the carriage to confront the operator in all such positions.
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Specification