Image monitor system console

• US 5,537,127 A
• Filed: 04/07/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Jingu, Masaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Application Number:
  US08/418,892
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/126, 345/2, 345/3, 345/903, 348/383, 348/36, 348/840, 348/839, 348/366, 361/681, 361/682, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/924, 312/7.2, 312/194
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0078 Control consoles or desks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/065 rotationally
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• 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 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 Modular display

Abstract

An image monitor system console includes upper and lower stage monitor units accommodated within a console body and arranged in a vertical state, the monitor units being connected to each other to be relatively tiltable and each of the monitor units including a multiple monitors for displaying images and an inclination angle changing assembly being operatively connected to the monitor units for changing vertical inclination angles of the monitor units in a direction towards observers sitting and/or standing in front of the system console. The inclination angle changing assembly includes a tilting mechanism for changing inclination angles of the monitor units and an operating mechanism for operating the tilting mechanism. In one aspect, only the upper monitor unit is tiltable with respect to the observers to an angle within an arrowable range for observation. In another aspect, the monitor units are together moved vertically along rails while changing the inclination angles with respect to the observers.

Claims

1. An image monitor system console comprising:

a base;

a console body mounted on said base and provided with an outer frame;

a plurality of monitor units accommodated within said console body and arranged in a plurality of vertical stages, said monitor units being connected to one another to be relatively tiltable and each of said monitor units including a plurality of monitors for displaying images;

height adjusting means provided for said base of said system console to integrally adjust a vertical height of said monitor units in a direction toward an observer positioned in front of said system console; and

inclination angle changing means operatively connected to the monitor units for changing a vertical inclination angle of the monitor units, said inclination angle changing means comprising a tilting mechanism for tilting an uppermost monitor unit and an operating mechanism for operating the tilting mechanism, said tilting mechanism being disposed between the uppermost monitor unit and a lower monitor unit disposed below the uppermost monitor unit and comprising a gas spring means extendable and contractible in accordance with an operation of said operating mechanism to change the inclination angle of the uppermost monitor unit with respect to the lower monitor unit and a locking means for locking the inclination of the uppermost monitor unit,

wherein said plurality of monitor units are adjusted by said tilting mechanism to change a vertical inclination angle of the monitor units in a direction toward an observer positioned in front of the system console for monitoring the display means so as to change at least an inclination angle of the uppermost monitor unit having a display surface and being tiltably supported by the console body at a portion near the display surface.

2. An image monitor system console according to claim 1, wherein said tilting mechanism is disposed between said uppermost monitor unit and a lower monitor unit disposed below said uppermost monitor unit and comprises means capable of expanding and contracting in accordance with an operation of said operating mechanism to change said inclination angle of said uppermost monitor unit with respect to said lower monitor unit, and locking means secured to said lower monitor unit for locking an inclination of said uppermost monitor unit.

3. An image monitor system console according to claim 2, wherein said means for expanding and contracting comprises gas spring means which is expandable and contractible in a lock released state.

4. An image monitor system console according to claim 2, wherein said locking means is operated by said operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising a lock releasing means for releasing said locking means of said tilting mechanism and a lever member for operating said lock releasing means, said lock releasing means and said lever member being operatively connected together via a wire means which transfers a lever operation force to said lock releasing means.

5. An image monitor system console according to claim 4, wherein said lever member is secured to a monitor unit at a portion easily accessible by said observer.

6. An image monitor system console comprising:

a base;

a console body mounted on said base and provided with an outer frame;

a plurality of monitor units accommodated within said console body and arranged in a plurality of vertical stages, said monitor units being connected to one another so as to change an inclination angle of at least a lowermost monitor unit, each of said monitor units including a plurality of monitors for displaying images;

height adjusting means provided for said base of said system console to integrally adjust a vertical height of said monitor units in a direction it toward an observer positioned in front of said system console; and

inclination angle limiting means for limiting inclination angles of said monitor units, said inclination angle limiting means comprising means for supporting at least the lowermost monitor unit so as to direct it upward with respect to a horizontal plane at a time when the monitor units are adjusted to a down position by said height adjusting means and comprising means for supporting both upper and lower monitor units so as to direct them substantially in a forward direction with respect to the horizontal plane at a time when the monitor units are adjusted to an up position by said height adjusting means.

7. An image monitor system console according to claim 6, wherein each of said monitor units includes a plurality of monitors arranged horizontally as viewed by observers.

8. An image monitor system console according to claim 7, wherein said horizontally arranged monitors include monitor surfaces substantially lying in a plane.

9. An image monitor system console according to claim 6, wherein said inclination angle limiting means comprises:

rail means which is secured to said outer frame of said console body and along which said monitor units are movable, said rail means being composed of a pair of rails secured at respective ends thereof to said to outer frame so as to provide a vertically arcuate configuration; and

operating means for vertically moving said monitor units along said rails, wherein said monitor units are vertically moved along said rails while changing relative inclination angles between said monitor units when said operating means is operated.

10. An image monitor system console according to claim 9 wherein said height adjusting means includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly secured at one end thereof to said console body and at another end thereof to one of said monitor units, and a drive means for operating said hydraulic cylinder assembly to expand or contract a stroke thereof.