Adjustable monitor arm

• US 5,553,820 A
• Filed: 10/17/1994
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Office Products Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rubbermaid Office Products Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Dennis, Karten, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOTKOWSKI, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US08/322,479
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 248/278.1, 248/279.1, 248/349, 248/917, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/231.71, 248/276.1, 248/286.1, 248/184.1, 248/181.2, 403/90, 403/122
• US Class Current: 248/286.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0008 Pop-up keyboard tray incorporated into a desktop
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• 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 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular

Abstract

A monitor support arm assembly is disclosed comprising a support arm (14), a socket member (38) affixed to a remote end of the support arm, the socket member creating a concave central cavity (84), and an elongate slot (74) extending through support arm and communicating with the socket member cavity (84). An adjustable tray (12), having a concave lower surface (54), seats within the socket member cavity (84) and has an elongate slot (52) extending therethrough that overlaps the first mentioned support arm and socket member slot (74). A friction pad (40) of arcuate shape is affixed to an underside of the support arm (14) and has a through slot (92) that aligns with the support arm slot (74), and a downwardly facing arcuate bearing surface (88). A locking screw shall (98) extends through the friction pad slot (92), and the overlapping support arm and socket member slot (74), and through the tray slot (52) to assemble the components together. Adjustment of the angular position and pitch of the tray (12) is accomplished by loosening the screw, and pivoting the tray concave lower surface (54) within the socket member cavity. The screw shaft (98) travels along the overlapping slots as the adjustment is made and along the friction pad arcuate outer surface (88), which serves to alter the direction in which the screw shaft (98) projects as it moves along the slots (92,74) so that the shaft (98) is always perpendicular to the portion of the bearing surface (54) through which it extends.

Claims

1. An adjustable support arm assembly for a computer monitor or the like, comprising:

an arm member having a first end, a remote second end, and an elongate slot extending through the second arm end;

anchor means for supporting the first arm end;

a support socket affixed to an upper surface of the arm second end, the support socket having a central, upwardly opening cavity defined by a support surface, and the socket cavity communicating with the arm member slot;

an adjustable tray rotatably affixed to the support surface, the tray having a dependent concave bearing surface seated within the support cavity and an elongate tray slot extending through the bearing surface and at least partially overlapping the arm member slot, the tray moving within the support socket into variable angular and rotational positions relative to the support pocket;

releasable locking means for fixing the angular and rotational position of the tray relative to the support socket.

2. A support arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking means comprising a pin member having an elongate intermediate portion and an end which extends through the arm slot and the tray slot and a lock fastener attaching to the pin end, whereby clamping the tray and the support plate together.

3. A support arm assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tray has a cavity in an upper surface opposite to the dependent bearing surface, and the lock fastener resides in the tray cavity below the tray upper surface.

4. A support arm assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprising a pad member attached to an underside surface of the arm member and having an arcuate shaped bottom surface and an elongate slot extending therethrough aligned with the arm member slot, the pin member extends through the pad slot and has a second pin end that travels across the arcuate pad surface, whereby changing the angle at which the pin member projects through the arm and tray slots.

5. A support arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support socket comprising a ring member attached to the arm upper surface and surrounding the arm member slot, and the support surface comprising inwardly directed surfaces of the ring member positioned above the arm member upper surface for supporting the tray bearing surface.

6. A support arm assembly according to claim 5, wherein the tray bearing surface is smooth and continuous thereacross.

7. A support arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the arm anchor means comprising a pivot pin assembly adapted to facilitate articulating movement of the arm second end into variable and alternate angular positions.

8. A support arm assembly according to claim 7, wherein the anchor means further comprising a swivel post assembly adapted to facilitate rotational movement of the one arm end about a vertical axis.

9. A support arm assembly according to claim 8, wherein the anchor means further comprising a clamp assembly adapted to facilitate fixed attachment of the support arm assembly to an edge of a work surface.

10. An adjustable support arm assembly for a computer monitor or the like, comprising:

an arm member having a first end and a remote second arm end;

anchor means for supporting the first arm end;

a support socket affixed to an upper surface of the arm second end, the socket having a central, upwardly opening cavity defined by inwardly facing support surfaces and a bottom surface,

an elongate slot extending through the bottom socket surface;

an adjustable tray having a dependent concave bearing surface seated within the support socket cavity and supported by the support surfaces, and the tray further having an elongate tray slot extending through the bearing surface and at least partially overlapping the support socket bottom surface slot, the tray moving within the socket into variable angular and rotational positions relative to the support socket;

releasable locking means for fixing the angular and rotational position of the tray relative to the support socket.

11. A support arm assembly according to claim 10, wherein the locking means comprising a screw member having an end which extends through the plate slot and the tray slot and a fastener attached to the screw end, whereby clamping the tray and the support plate together.

12. A support arm assembly according to claim 11, wherein the tray has a cavity in an upper surface positioned opposite to the dependent bearing surface, and the fastener resides in the tray cavity below the tray upper surface.

13. A support arm assembly according to claim 11, wherein the assembly further comprising a pad member attached to an underside surface of the arm member and having an arcuate shaped bottom surface and an elongate slot extending therethrough aligned with the arm member slot, the screw member end extends through the friction pad slot and the screw member having a second end that travels across the arcuate pad surface, whereby adjusting and changing the angle at which the screw member projects through the arm and tray slots.

14. A support arm assembly according to claim 13, wherein the tray bearing surface is smooth and continuous thereacross.

15. A support arm assembly according to claim 10, wherein the arm anchor means comprising pivot pin assembly means for facilitating articulating movement of the arm second end into variable and alternate angular positions.

16. A support arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the anchor means further comprising swivel post assembly means for facilitating rotational movement of the one arm end about a vertical axis.

17. A support arm assembly according to claim 16, wherein the anchor means further comprising clamping means for facilitating fixed attachment of the support arm assembly to an edge of a work surface.

18. An adjustable display surface assembly for positioning a computer monitor into variable and alternate positions about multiple axis of movement, comprising:

a support body having a first end and a second end;

a support socket affixed to an upper surface of the support body second end, the socket having a central upwardly opening cavity defined by inwardly facing support surfaces and a bottom surface;

an elongate slot extending through the bottom socket surface;

an adjustable support tray having a dependent concave bearing surface seated within the support socket cavity supported by the support surfaces, and the tray further having an elongate tray slot extending through the bearing surface and at least partially overlapping the support socket bottom surface slot, the tray moving within the socket into variable angular and rotational positions about intersecting horizontal and vertical axis of movement;

releasable locking means for fixing the angular and rotational position of the tray.

19. A display surface assembly according to claim 18, wherein the locking means comprising a pin member having one end which extends through the socket bottom surface slot and the tray slot and a fastener attaching to the pin end, whereby clamping the tray and support socket together.

20. A display surface assembly according to claim 19, wherein the assembly further comprising a pad member attached to an underside surface of the support body and having an arcuate shaped bottom surface and an elongate slot extending therethrough and aligned with the support body slot, and the pin member extends through the pad member slot and has a second pin member end that travels along the arcuate pad member surface, whereby changing the angle at which the pin member projects through the arm and tray slots.

21. A display surface assembly according to claim 18, wherein the socket cavity is substantially semi-spherical and the tray bearing surface is substantially semi-spherical.

22. A display surface assembly according to claim 21, wherein the support body having means for adjusting the elevational position of the socket cavity independently of the adjustment of the tray.

23. A display surface assembly according to claim 22, wherein the support body having means for adjusting the position of the socket cavity laterally independently of the adjustment of the tray about the intersecting axis of movement and the adjustment of the socket cavity elevation.