Tilt/swivel support for personal computer monitor

• US 5,683,068 A
• Filed: 04/03/1995
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Diaz, Elizabeth B., Chase, Steven B., Levins, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US08/415,319
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/923, 248/371, 248/349.1, 248/183.1, 312/223.2, 312/7.2
• US Class Current: 248/371
• 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 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

An appliance such as an all-in-one personal computer unit is mounted on a support assembly which provides for horizontal swiveling and vertical tilting of the computer unit. The support assembly includes three pieces, namely, base, swivel and tilt members mounted one upon the other and interconnected by snap-in connections. The center of gravity of the computer unit lies substantially on vertical and horizontal axes of rotation of the support structure.

Claims

1. A tilt/swivel supporting structure for supporting a body on a support surface for tilting and swiveling movements, respectively, said supporting structure comprising:

a stationary base member adapted to rest on the support surface;

a swivel member mounted on said base member by a first snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member by a second snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis and adapted to receive said body;

said first snap-in connection including a first group of upright flexible snap fingers of one-piece construction with one of said swivel member and said base member, said first group of snap fingers arranged in a generally circular pattern and positioned to enter a cylindrical hole formed in the other of said base member and said swivel member, said hole defining said vertical axis of rotation for said swivel member, and said second snap-in connection including a second group of flexible snap fingers of one-piece construction with one of said tilt member and said swivel member.

2. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 1, wherein said base member includes a smaller outer periphery than said swivel member, an upper portion of said base disposed within an interior space formed by said swivel member.

3. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 1, wherein said base, swivel, and tilt members are formed of a plastic material.

4. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 1, wherein said snap fingers of said first group are formed on said base member and extend vertically upwardly.

5. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 1, wherein said second group of snap fingers comprises two parallel snap structures, each snap structure being curved and extending in a direction of tilting movement of said tilt member and formed on one of said tilt and swivel members, said snap structures disposed on opposite sides of said vertical axis and arranged to enter a slot formed in the other of said tilt and swivel members, each snap structure forming a curved shoulder overlying a surface on the other of said tilt and swivel members to oppose uncoupling of said tilt and swivel members.

6. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 5, wherein said snap structures are formed on said swivel member.

7. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 6, wherein said cylindrical hole is formed by a tubular portion of said swivel member, said tubular portion projecting upwardly through said slot formed in said tilt member.

8. A tilt/swivel supporting structure for supporting a body on a support surface for tilting and swiveling movements, respectively, said supporting structure comprising:

a stationary base member adapted to rest on the support surface;

a swivel member mounted on said base member by a first snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member by a second snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis and adapted to receive said body;

wherein said swivel member includes a concave top surface, and said tilt member comprises a convex bottom surface, one of said concave and convex surfaces including a plurality of bumps against which the other of said concave and convex surfaces bears.

9. A tilt/swivel supporting structure for supporting a body on a support surface for tilting and swiveling movements, respectively, said supporting structure comprising:

a stationary base member adapted to rest on the support surface;

a swivel member mounted on said base member by a first snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member by a second snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis and adapted to receive said body;

wherein said second snap-in connection comprises two parallel snap structures, each being curved and extending in a direction of tilting movement of said tilt member and formed on tone of said tilt and swivel members, said snap structures disposed on opposite sides of said vertical axis and arranged to enter a slot formed in the other of said tilt and swivel members, each snap structure forming a curved shoulder overlying a surface on the other of said tilt and swivel members to oppose uncoupling of said tilt and swivel members.

10. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 9, wherein each of said snap structures comprises a row of relatively flexible snap arms.

11. A tilt/swivel supporting structure for supporting a body on a support surface for tilting and swiveling movements, respectively, said supporting structure comprising:

a stationary base member adapted to rest on the support surface;

a swivel member mounted on said base member by a first snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member by a second snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis and adapted to receive said body;

said first snap-in connection including flexible snap fingers of one-piece construction with one of said swivel member and said base member, and said second snap-in connection including flexible snap fingers of one-piece construction with one of said tilt member and said swivel member;

wherein said swivel member includes a concave top surface, and said tilt member comprises a convex bottom surface, one of said concave and convex surfaces including a plurality of bumps against which the other of said concave and convex surfaces bears.

12. The tilt/swivel supporting structure according to claim 11, wherein one of said concave and convex surfaces includes a plurality of ribs extending in said direction of tilting movement of said tilt member, and the other of said tilt and swivel members includes slots in which respective ones of said ribs is movably disposed.

13. In combination, a body and a tilt/swivel supporting structure for supporting said body, said tilt/swivel supporting structure comprising:

a stationary base member adapted to rest on the support surface;

a swivel member mounted on said base member for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis and supporting said body;

wherein a center of gravity of said body lies substantially on said horizontal axis.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said center of gravity lies substantially on said vertical axis.

15. In combination, a body and a tilt/swivel supporting structure for supporting said body, said tilt/swivel supporting structure comprising:

a stationary base member adapted to rest on the support surface;

a swivel member mounted on said base member for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis and supporting said body;

wherein a center of gravity of said body lies substantially on said vertical axis.

16. A support assembly for a body, comprising:

a base member including a plurality of upwardly extending snap fingers arranged in a generally annular pattern;

a swivel member mounted on said base by a first snap-in connection comprised of said snap fingers and a circular center hole formed in said swivel member for receiving said snap fingers to lock said base and swivel members against vertical separation and define a vertical axis of rotation of said swivel member relative to said base member, said swivel member including an upper concave surface and two parallel rows of snap arms projecting upwardly from said top surface; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member by a second snap-in connection comprised of said snap arms and a slot formed through a convex bottom surface of said tilt member, said slot sized to receive said snap arms to lock said tilt and swivel members against vertical separation while permitting tilting movement of said tilt member relative to said swivel member about a horizontal axis.

17. The support assembly according to claim 16, wherein said top surface includes upwardly projecting bumps upon which said bottom surface of said tilt member rests.

18. The support member according to claim 16, wherein said top surface includes parallel slots, and said bottom surface includes ribs extending into said slots and supported on bottom surfaces thereof, said ribs and slots extending in the direction of tilt movement.

19. The support member according to claim 16, wherein said base member has a smaller outer periphery than said swivel member, and an upper portion of said base member projects upwardly into a hollow space formed by said swivel member.

20. The support member according to claim 19, wherein said base member extends below said swivel member by a distance less than 5 mm.

21. The support member according to claim 20, wherein said distance is about 2 mm.

22. A tilt/swivel supporting structure for supporting a body on a support surface for tilting and swivelling movements, respectively, said supporting structure comprising:

a stationary base member adapted to rest on the support surface;

a swivel member mounted on said base member by a first snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; and

a tilt member mounted on said swivel member by a second snap-in connection for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis and adapted to receive said body;

wherein said first snap-in connection comprises a plurality of upright snap fingers arranged in a generally circular pattern on one of said base and swivel members and positioned to enter a cylindrical hole formed in the other of said base and swivel members, said hole defining said vertical axis of rotation for said swivel member.

23. A tilt structure for an object, comprising a lower member having a curved top surface, and an upper member having a curved bottom surface mounted on said top surface, said top and bottom surfaces forming a concave-convex interface permitting said upper member to move in a tilting direction about a horizontal axis, one of said surfaces including a slot extending in said tilting direction, the other of said surfaces including two parallel snap structures extending in said tilting direction and arranged to pass through said slot, each snap structure including a curved locking shoulder extending in said tilting direction and arranged to prevent separation of said members from one another while permitting said tilting movement.

24. The tilt structure according to claim 23, wherein one of said surfaces includes bumps on which the other surface rides during the tilting movement.

25. The tilt structure according to claim 24, wherein one of said surfaces includes outwardly projecting ribs extending in said tilt direction and spaced apart along said horizontal axis, the other surface including slots in which respective ones of said ribs are slidably disposed.