Ceiling system for a flat panel display

• US 5,924,665 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Sweere, Harry C., Gonnerman, Michael D., Voeller, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wentsler, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US09/023,222
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 248/285.1, 248/278.1, 248/279.1, 248/280.11, 248/281.11, 248/284.1, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923
• US Class Current: 248/285.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0069 with rack
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• 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: 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 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/021 for rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/068 being part of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 : Plural angular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 : Tilting

Abstract

Multi-jointed and pivoted ceiling mount system for support of a flat panel video display, incorporating a plurality of pivot points providing for pivotal motion of one or more components about a plurality of vertical, horizontal and elevational axes. Support arm having elevational pivot assemblies, including plastic friction washers and gas springs, offers elevational arm control without requiring constant and predetermined positioning effort on the part of the video display operator and keyboard operator.

Claims

1. A mounting system attachable to a ceiling or horizontal surface for supporting a flat panel display screen comprising:

a. a component mount which attaches to said flat panel screen;

b. a pivoting bracket assembly comprising a tilt bracket attached to said component mount, said tilt bracket comprising;

(1) at least two planar metal surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other;

(2) at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk located between said at least two metal surfaces;

(3) at least one spring washer located adjacent and outside an outer surface of said at least two metal surfaces; and

,

(4) said at least two metal surfaces, said at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk, and said at least one spring washer being held under tension by a nut and a bolt;

c. a support arm with an inboard end and an outboard end and a central portion, said outboard end being attached to said pivoting bracket assembly and thereby tiltingly pivotable with respect to said flat panel screen;

d. an arm elevation bracket attached to said inboard end of said support arm, said support arm being elevationally pivotable about said elevation bracket;

e. said arm elevation bracket comprising;

(1) at least two planar metal surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other;

(2) at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk located between said at least two metal surfaces;

(3) at least one spring washer located adjacent and outside an outer surface of said at least two metal surfaces;

(4) said at least two metal surfaces, said at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk, and said at least one spring washer being held under tension by a nut and a bolt; and

,

(5) said arm elevation bracket providing a frictional force to hold said support arm in place and yet provide a low repositioning force;

f. a gas spring with an inboard end and an outboard end, said inboard end being pivotally connected to said arm elevation bracket, and said outboard end being pivotally connected to said central portion of said support arm, said gas spring providing a counterbalancing force to said support arm;

g. a combination of both said gas spring and said frictional force of said elevation bracket providing for a counterbalancing force and a frictional force to said support arm; and

,

h. a surface mount bracket attached to said arm elevation bracket for pivotally mounting said mounting system to said horizontal surface, said surface mount bracket comprising;

(1) two planar metal surfaces and at least one UHMWPE disk positioned between said two planar metal surfaces;

(2) at least one spring washer; and

,

(3) a nut and bolt to hold said at least one UHMWPE disk under tension.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk of said tilt bracket has a similar static and dynamic coefficient of friction and is formed of material taken from a group consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Delrin.

3. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one spring washer of said tilt bracket is a Belleville washer.

4. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said inboard end of said gas spring is positionally connected at an optimal position to said arm elevation bracket and said arm elevation bracket is optimally angled to provide a linear counterbalancing force as said support arm is elevationally pivoted throughout its range of motion for the range of loads mountable on said support arm.

5. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said gas spring is located within said support arm and is positionally connected to said elevation bracket to provide a dynamically changing counterbalance moment corresponding to an increasing or decreasing moment load as said support arm traverses throughout its range of motion.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said support:

arm is evenly supported by said gas spring over a range of motion.

7. A mounting system attachable to a horizontal surface or ceiling for supporting a flat panel display comprising:

a. a component mount that attaches to said flat panel screen;

b. a pivoting bracket comprising;

(1) a tilt bracket attached to said component mount, said tilt bracket providing a tilting movement to said flat panel display about a tilting horizontal axis; and

,

(2) said tilt bracket comprising, in order;

a nut, a Belleville washer, a planar metal surface, an UHMWPE disk, a planar metal surface, an UHMWPE disk, a planar metal surface, a Belleville washer, and a bolt;

c. a support arm with an inboard end and an outboard end and a central portion, said outboard end being attached to said pivoting bracket assembly and thereby tiltingly pivotable with respect to said flat panel screen;

d. an arm elevation bracket attached to said inboard end of said support arm, said support arm being elevationally pivotable about said elevation bracket, said arm elevation bracket comprising a threaded shaft;

e. said arm elevation bracket further comprising, in order;

a nut, a Belleville washer, a steel washer, an oilite washer, a planar metal surface, an UHMWPE disk, a planar metal surface of said support arm, and a bolt;

f. said arm elevation bracket providing a frictional force to hold said support arm in place and yet;

provide a low repositioning force;

g. a gas spring with an inboard end and an outboard end, said inboard end being pivotally connected to said threaded shaft of said arm elevation bracket, and said outboard end being pivotally connected to said central portion of said support arm; and

,

h. a surface mount bracket attached to said arm elevation bracket for pivotally mounting said mounting system to said horizontal surface, said surface mount bracket comprising, in order;

a bolt, a Belleville washer, a flat panel metal surface, an UHMWPE disk, a flat panel metal surface, a Belleville washer, and a nut.

8. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein said inboard end of said gas spring is positionable along said threaded shaft and said threaded shaft is angled with respect to a true vertical direction to provide an optimum counterbalancing force for supporting said support arm.

9. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein said inboard end of said gas spring is positioned at an optimal position to said arm elevation bracket to provide a counterbalancing moment as said support arm is elevationally pivoted throughout a range of pivoting angles.

10. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein said support arm is evenly supported by said gas spring over a range of motion.

11. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein said surface mount bracket further comprises:

a. four track wheels attached to said surface mount bracket; and

,

b. a track for mounting to said ceiling, said track engaging said track wheels to provide linear movement of said system along said ceiling.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein said inboard end of said gas spring is positionally connected to said threaded shaft of said arm elevation bracket to provide an optimum position for supporting said support arm.

13. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein said inboard end of said gas spring is positionally connected at an optimal position to said threaded shaft of said arm elevation bracket to provide an optimum counterbalancing moment as said support arm is elevationally pivoted throughout a range of pivoting angles.

14. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein said support arm is evenly supported by said gas spring over a range of motion.