Tilting, swiveling, locking base for monitors

• US 5,881,985 A
• Filed: 02/04/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoenig, David V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPCSIK, ROBERT N
• Application Number:
  US08/794,858
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 248/371, 248/395, 248/397, 248/398, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/916
• 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: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A tilting, swiveling, locking base apparatus tilts, swivels and locks to a computer monitor. The base apparatus comprises a tiltball unit including a slot opening which has a key opening portion, a recessed ledge disposed about the slot opening, and a locking rib disposed on the recessed ledge adjacent the key opening portion. The base apparatus further comprises a support unit having support points lying in a plane and including a shaft extending in a direction substantially perpendicular from the plane to an outer end, teeth on the outer end of the shaft configured to fit through the slot opening only in the key opening portion, a locking rim configured to slideably engage the recessed ledge, and an elastic locking snap formed to be deflected by the locking rib when the teeth are inserted into the key opening and to rebound when the shaft is displaced in the slot from the rib. The base apparatus uses a special tool to deflect the locking snap for detaching the tiltball unit from the support unit.

Claims

1. A tilting, swiveling, locking base apparatus comprising:

a) a tiltball unit having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a slot opening disposed in said tiltball unit and having a key opening portion communicating therewith;

a raised ledge disposed on said top surface and circumscribing the slot opening;

a recessed ledge disposed on said bottom surface and circumscribing the slot opening; and

a locking rib connected to the recessed ledge and disposed about the key opening portion; and

b) a support unit having support points lying in a plane and including a shaft extending in a direction substantially perpendicular from the plane to an outer end;

teeth on the outer end of the shaft configured to fit through the slot opening only in the key opening portion;

a locking rim configured to slidably engage the recessed ledge and to allow swiveling of the tiltball unit relative to the support unit equal to and greater than 360 degrees in a horizontal plane; and

an elastic locking snap comprising a rim stop connected thereto and an overhanging portion secured to said elastic locking snap such that the locking rib is capable of contacting and deflecting the elastic locking snap when the teeth are inserted into the key opening portion and the locking snap rebounds when the shaft is displaced in the slot opening from the locking rib.

2. The base apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tiltball unit is configured to support a monitor.

3. The base apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tiltball unit includes a substantially convex surface.

4. The base apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support unit includes a substantially concave surface having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the substantially convex surface.

5. The base apparatus of claim 1 wherein the key opening portion includes a recessed crown and a pair of recessed wings.

6. The base apparatus of claim 5 wherein the teeth include a pair of wing-shaped nubs configured to fit through the pair of recessed wings.

7. The base apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking snap is defined by a pair of substantially parallel slits through an arc portion of the locking rim.

8. The base apparatus of claim 1 wherein the overhanging portion defines a disassembly hole for receiving a special tool for urging the locking snap to an unlocked position.

9. The base apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking snap rebounds when the tiltball unit is engaged to the support unit and has been moved a predetermined distance away from the key opening portion.

10. The base apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slot opening is oblong.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the raised ledge comprises a ledge crown and a pair of ledge wings such that said ledge crown and said ledge wings circumscribe the recessed crown and the recessed wings.

12. A monitor base apparatus comprising:

a) a support unit for removably receiving a tiltball unit;

b) a locking snap engaged to said support unit for removably locking said tiltball unit to said support unit;

c) a rim stop connected to said locking snap for preventing said tiltball unit from disengaging from said support unit and for allowing swiveling of the tiltball unit relative to the support unit equal to and greater than 360 degrees in a horizontal plane; and

d) an overhanging lip extending from said locking snap for allowing a user to disengage said support unit from said tiltball unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 additionally comprising a locking rim having a locking rim opening wherein said rim stop removably lodges.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 additionally comprising a shaft having a plurality of teeth disposed thereto.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 additionally comprising a shaft having a plurality of teeth disposed thereto.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said support unit includes a spherical surface having a base opening and said locking snap comprises a deflectable tab integrally bound to said spherical surface and lodging in said base opening.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said support unit includes a spherical surface having a base opening and said locking snap comprises a deflectable tab integrally bound to said spherical surface and lodging in said base opening.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said overhanging lip comprises a disassembly hole for receiving a special tool for urging said locking snap to an unlocked position to facilitate disengaging of said support unit from said tiltball unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said tiltball unit comprises a slot opening having a key opening portion communicating thereto;

a recessed ledge circumscribing said slot opening and capable of slidably receiving said locking rim; and

a locking rib disposed on said recessed ledge.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said key opening portion is defined by a recessed crown and a pair of recessed wings.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said tiltball unit includes a raised ledge for capturing said teeth when the tiltball unit is engaged to the support unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said tiltball unit comprises a slot opening having a key opening portion communicating thereto;

a recessed ledge circumscribing said slot opening and capable of slidably receiving said locking rim; and

a locking rib disposed on said recessed ledge.

23. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said overhanging lip extends from said locking snap beyond said rim stop.