Pivot/ratchet assembly and support system

• US 6,019,332 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• 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., Voeller, Donald M., Nistler, Steve A., Scheller, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wentsler, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US08/869,873
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 248/292.12, 248/292.13, 248/291.1, 248/292.11, 248/284.1, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/276.1, 248/240, 248/242 , 248/281.11, 248/280.11
• US Class Current: 248/284.1
• 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 mounting systems for support of a flat panel video display and/or keyboard tray, incorporating a plurality of pivot points providing for pivotal motion of one or more components about a plurality of vertical and horizontal axes. Support arms having elevational pivot assemblies, including plastic friction washers and gas springs, offer elevational arm control requiring constant and predetermined positioning effort on the part of the video display operator and keyboard operator.

Claims

1. A pivot ratchet system comprising:

a. a U-shaped bracket, said bracket having a first end and a second end, with a first ratchet array at said first end and a second ratchet array at said second end;

b. a first pivot stud adjacent said first end and a second pivot stud adjacent said second end;

c. a UHMWPE washer over each of said pivot studs;

d. a first angled bracket over said first pivot stud and a second angled bracket over said second pivot stud and each of said pivot studs having a washer, a thrust washer, and a nut;

e. a body member, said body member having a first pair of opposing tabs at a first end of said body member and said body member having a second set of opposing tabs at a second end of said body member;

f. a first roll pin extending through said first pair of opposing tabs and a second roll pin extending through said second pair of opposing tabs; and

g. a pivot pin defining a pivot axis, said pivot pin extending through one of said first pair of opposing tabs, one of said second pair of opposing tabs, said first angle bracket, and said second angle bracket, whereby said body member is capable of pivoting relative to said angled brackets about said pivot axis such that said first and second roll pins may be respectively reversibly engaged in said first and second ratchet arrays.

2. The pivot ratchet system of claim 1, further comprising:

resilient means for forcing engagement of said roll pins in said rachet arrays.

3. The pivot ratchet system of claim 2, wherein said resilient means include a block of resilient material.

4. The pivot ratchet system of claim 1, wherein arrays include rounded teeth.

5. The pivot ratchet assembly of claim 1, wherein the body number further includes a release tab and wherein said release tab is arranged for manual pivoting of said body member to facilitate manual disengagement of said roll pins from said ratchet arrays.

6. A mounting system attachable to a vertical or horizontal surface, the mounting system being suitable for supporting a flat panel display, a keyboard, or other computer component, the mounting system comprising:

a. a component mount suitable for supportingly engaging a display screen, keyboard, or other computer component;

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;

(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;

(5) a pivot ratchet array on one of the at least two planar surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other; and

,

(6) a body member pivotally attached to the other of said at least two planar surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other, said body member having a pair of opposing tabs carrying a roll pin for reversibly engaging said ratchet array;

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;

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

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

,

f. a surface mount attached to said arm elevation bracket for mounting said mounting system to said vertical or horizontal surface.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein said at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk has a similar static and dynamic coefficient of friction is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of taken from a group comprising ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Delrin.

8. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein said at least one spring washer is a Belleville washer.

9. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the adjustable connection of the inboard end of the gas spring allows the gas spring to be optimally positioned with respect to the arm elevational bracket such that the gas spring is capable of providing a dynamically changing counterbalance moment to the support arm corresponding to a changing moment force applied by the flat panel display as the support arm pivots on said arm elevation bracket.

10. The system of claim 6, 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 pivots about said elevation bracket.

11. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein said gas spring provides a counterbalance force to the support arm over a range of up to 180 degrees of motion of the support arm about the elevation bracket.

12. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein said gas spring comprises nitrogen.

13. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein said at least one breakaway frictional polymer disk is fabricated from UHMWPE such that a frictional force between said UHMWPE disk and said at least two planar metal surfaces prevents unforced rotational movement said of one planar metal surface with respect to the other planar metal surface and such that a low breakaway force exists between said at least two planar metal surfaces to provide ease of rotational movement of said one metal surface with respect to said other metal surface under a predetermined force.

14. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein said inboard end of said gas spring is pivotally connected to said arm elevation bracket at a position that is lower than the position of said inboard end of said support arm, wherein said gas spring provides a counterbalancing moment to support said computer component over an angular range of positions of said support arm about said arm elevational bracket.

15. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein said at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk has a similar static and dynamic coefficient of friction and is fabricated from a material selected a group consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Delrin.

16. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein said at least one spring washer is a Belleville washer.

17. The system of claim 14, 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 pivots about said elevation bracket.

18. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein said s spring provides a counterbalance force to the support arm over a range of up to 180 degrees of motion of the support arm about the elevation bracket.

19. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein said at least one breakaway frictional polymer disk is fabricated from UHMWPE such that a frictional force between said UHMWPE disk and said at least two planar metal surfaces prevents unforced rotational movement of said one planar metal surface with respect to the other planar metal surface and such that a low breakaway force exists between said at least two planar metal surfaces to provide ease of rotational movement of said one metal surface with respect to said other metal surface under a predetermined force.

20. The mounting system of claim 19, wherein said at least one spring washer is a Belleville washer.

21. The mounting system of claim 19, 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 pivots about said elevation bracket.

22. The mounting system of claim 19, wherein said gas spring provides a counterbalance force to the support arm over a range of up to 180 degrees of motion of the support arm about the elevation bracket.

23. A mounting system attachable to a vertical or horizontal surface, the mounting system suitable for supporting a flat panel display , a keyboard, or other computer component, the mounting system comprising:

a. a component mount, the component mount being suitable for supportingly engaging a display screen, keyboard, or other computer component;

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;

(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;

(5) a pivot ratchet array on one of the at least two planar surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other; and

,

(6) a body member pivotally attached to the other of said at least two planar surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other, said body member having a pair of opposing tabs carrying a roll pin for reversibly engaging said ratchet array;

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;

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 spring 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 to said computer component and a frictional force providing positional stability; and

,

h. a surface mount attached to said arm elevation bracket for mounting said mounting system to said vertical or horizontal surface.

24. The mounting system of claim 23, wherein said at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk has a similar static and dynamic coefficient of friction is fabricated from a material selected a group consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Delrin.

25. The mounting system of claim 23, wherein each of said at least one spring washer is a Belleville washer.

26. The mounting system of claim 23, 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.

27. The system of claim 23, 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 pivots about said elevation bracket.

28. The mounting system of claim 23, wherein said gas spring provides a counterbalance force to the support arm over a range of up to 180 degrees of motion of the support arm about the elevation bracket.

29. The mounting system of claim 23, wherein said at least one breakaway frictional polymer disk is fabricated from UHMWPE such that a frictional force between said UHMWPE disk and said at least two planar metal surfaces prevents unforced rotational movement of one planar metal surface with respect to the other planar metal surface and such that a low breakaway force exists between said at least two planar metal surfaces to provide ease of rotational movement of said one metal surface with respect to said other metal surface under a predetermined force.

30. A mounting system, the mounting system being attachable to a vertical surface and suitable for supporting a flat panel display , the mounting system comprising:

a. a component mount, the component mount being suitable for attachment to a 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;

(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;

(5) a pivot ratchet array on one of the at least two planar surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other; and

,

(6) a body member pivotally attached to the other of said at least two planar surfaces that rotatingly move with respect to each other, said body member having a pair of opposing tabs carrying a roll pin for reversibly engaging said ratchet array;

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;

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. 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; and

,

f. a surface mount attached to said arm elevation bracket for mounting said mounting system to said vertical surface.

31. The mounting system of claim 30, wherein said at least one easy breakaway frictional polymer disk has a similar static and dynamic coefficient of friction and is fabricated from the material selected a group consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Delrin.

32. The mounting system of claim 30, wherein said at least one spring washer is a Belleville washer.

33. The mounting system of claim 30, 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 pivots about said elevation bracket.

34. The mounting system of claim 30, wherein said gas spring provides a counterbalance force to the support arm over a range of up to 180 degrees of motion of the support arm about the elevation bracket.

35. The mounting system of claim 30, wherein said at least one breakaway frictional polymer disk is fabricated from UHMWPE such that a frictional force between said UHMWPE disk and said at least two planar metal surfaces prevents unforced rotational movement of one planar metal surface with respect to the other planar metal surface and such that a low breakaway force exists between said at least two planar metal surfaces to provide ease of rotational movement of said one metal surface with respect to said other metal surface under a predetermined force.