Table mount system for flat panel display

• US 5,947,429 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US09/023,227
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 248/278.1, 248/284.1, 248/276.1, 248/280.11, 248/291.1, 248/292.11, 248/292.13, 248/123.11, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/486 , 248/485, 248/487, 362/401, 362/402
• US Class Current: 248/123.11
• 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 table 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 a steel coil spring, offers elevational arm control without requiring constant and predetermined positioning effort on the part of the video display operator and keyboard operator. The steel coil spring provides counterbalance force to the support arm.

Claims

1. A flat panel display tabletop support system comprising:

a. an arm having a first end and a second end and a spring attachment situated between the first end and the second end;

b. a pivot means including at least one UHMWPE washer means at each of the ends of said arm;

c. a flat panel display means at said pivot means of said first end of said arm;

d. a bracket means at said pivot means of said second end of said arm and wherein said bracket means includes an adjustable spring mount; and

,

e. a spring connecting the adjustable spring mount and the spring attachment and providing a counterbalance pulling force.

2. A mounting system attachable to a table top surface for supporting a flat panel display screen comprising:

a. a component mount which is suitable for supportingly engaging said display 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 with 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 coil 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;

g. a surface mount bracket attached to said arm elevation bracket to pivotally hold said elevation bracket to said table top surface, said surface mount bracket comprising;

(1) at least two planar metal surfaces;

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

(3) at least one spring washer; and

,

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

h. wherein said inboard end of said coil 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; and

,

i. wherein said coil 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.

3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein any of said easy breakaway frictional polymer disks are formed of material having similar static and dynamic coefficients of friction and are selected from a group consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Delrin.

4. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein any of said at least one spring washers is a Belleville washer.

5. A mounting system for supporting a flat panel screen on top of a table comprising:

a. a component mount, the component mount being suitable for attaching to said screen;

b. a pivoting bracket comprising;

(1) a tilt bracket attached to said component mount, said tilt bracket allowing a tilting movement of 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 with 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 coil spring with an inboard end and an outboard end, said inboard end being pivotally and adjustably 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 an angled base, 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.

6. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein said inboard end of said coil spring is pivotally connected to said arm elevation bracket at a position that is above said pivotable attachment of said inboard end of support arm with said elevation bracket, wherein said coil spring provides an even counterbalancing tension movement to support said flat panel display screen over a range of positions of which said flat panel display screen can travel.