Stowable support apparatus

• US 6,179,263 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rosen Products LLC
• Inventors: Rosen, John B.., LeVine, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US09/455,263
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 248/278.1, 248/283, 248/917, 248/918, 248/999, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/924, 248/296.1, 248/280.1, 248/584, 248/286.1, 248/279.1, 297/188.15, 297/188.16, 297/188.17, 297/145, 297/217.3, 297/194, 312/254, 312/229, 312/248, 312/249, D14/114, D14/239
• US Class Current: 248/278.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00153 Monitors mounted on or in the seat other than the seat back
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A stowable support apparatus is disclosed and includes a base with a support arm pivotally coupled to the base. The support arm is pivotal between a stowed position and a display position, and it has a display unit coupled thereto distal the base. The apparatus further includes a lock mechanism that is configured to retain selectively the support arm in the stowed or the display position, and the lock mechanism is housed substantially, or completely, within the support arm. In some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus includes a sensor for detecting and indicating when the support arm is in its stowed position. In other embodiments, the apparatus further includes a mounting bracket mounted on the support arm distal the base. The display unit is mounted on the mounting bracket, and the mounting bracket enables pivotal and rotational movement of the display unit with respect to the support arm.

Claims

1. A support apparatus for a display unit, comprising:

a base;

a support arm pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the support arm is pivotal with respect to the base between a stowed position and a display position; and

a lock mechanism substantially housed within the support arm, wherein the lock mechanism selectively engages the base to prevent pivotal movement of the support arm with respect to the base;

wherein the base includes a bias mechanism configured to pivot the support arm away from the base when the support arm is in the stowed position and the lock mechanism is actuated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bias mechanism includes a kick plate that is shaped to engage at least a portion of the support arm when the support arm is in the stowed position and to pivot the support arm away from the base when the support arm is in the stowed position and the lock mechanism is actuated.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base includes a sensor that detects when the support arm is in the stowed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor is in electronic communication with an indicator.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the base includes a bias mechanism with a kick plate that engages at least a portion of the support arm when the arm is in the stowed position, the sensor includes a first portion mounted on the base and a second portion mounted on the kick plate, the first and second portions of the sensor engage each other when the support arm is in the stowed position, and the sensor detects the engagement of the first and the second portions, thereby indicating the support arm is in the stowed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism selectively prevents removal of the support arm from the stowed position and the display position until the lock mechanism is actuated.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a display unit coupled to the support arm distal the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further includes a mounting bracket mounted on the support arm, and wherein the display unit is mounted on the mounting bracket.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mounting bracket includes a rotational assembly that enables the display unit to rotate about the long axis of the support arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the rotational assembly restricts the range of rotation of the support arm to less than 360°

.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the rotational assembly restricts the range of rotation of the support arm to less than 180°

.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mounting bracket further includes a pivotal assembly that enables the display unit to pivot about an axis transverse to the long axis of the support arm.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mounting bracket includes a handle with a user-grippable region.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user-grippable region defines a removed region that facilitares a user and adjusting the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the removed region includes an aperture through which at leas a portion of the user'"'"'s hand can extend.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display position of the support arm is oriented in the range of approximately 100°

to approximately 145°

with respect to the stowed position of the support arm.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display position of the support arm is oriented in the range of approximately 110°

to approximately 130°

with respect to the stowed position of the support arm.

18. A support apparatus for a display unit comprising:

a base including a hub with a plurality of spaced-apart detents;

a support arm pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the support arm is pivotal with respect to the base between a stowed position and a display position; and

a lock mechanism substantially housed within the support arm, wherein the lock mechanism selectively engages the base to prevent pivotal movement of the support arm with respect to the base, and wherein the lock mechanism includes a locking head with a tip that sequentially is received at least partially within respective ones of the plurality of detents as the support arm is pivoted to the stowed and the display positions.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of detents define an intermediate region on the hub between adjacent detents, and wherein the support arm is pivotal within a range defined by the intermediate region, with the tip of the lock mechanism slidably engaging the intermediate region and being free from engagement with the plurality of detents.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the lock mechanism is retained in an actuated position when the support arm is in the intermediate region.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of detents include a first detent, which defines the stowed position of the support arm, and a second detent, which defines the display position of the support arm.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the tip of the locking head includes a first surface that extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, and a second surface that extends at a convergent angle with respect to the first surface as it extends away from the chamber.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second detent conforms to the shape of the first and second surfaces of the tip.

24. A support apparatus for a display unit, comprising:

a base;

a support arm pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the support arm is pivotal with respect to the base between a stowed position and a display position; and

a lock mechanism substantially housed within the support arm, wherein the lock mechanism selectively engages the base to prevent pivotal movement of the support arm with respect to the base, and wherein the lock mechanism includes a break-away mechanism that enables the support arm to pivot out of the display position when a sufficient force is imparted to the apparatus in the direction of the stowed position.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the break-away mechanism includes a chamber into which the locking head is housed, with a collar though which the tip of the locking head extends and a spring within the chamber that urges the locking head against the collar, wherein the bias mechanism is actuated by a force being imparted on the apparatus which causes the locking head to overcome the force exerted by the spring and the tip to be at least partially withdrawn into the chamber, thereby enabling the support arm to pivot toward the stowed position.

26. A support apparatus for a display unit, comprising:

a base;

a support arm pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the support arm is pivotal with respect to the base between a stowed position and a display position, and wherein the display position of the support arm is oriented in the range of approximately 80°

to approximately 160°

with respect to the stowed position of the support arm; and

a lock mechanism substantially housed within the support arm, wherein the lock mechanism selectively engages the base to prevent pivotal movement of the support arm with respect to the base.

27. A support apparatus for a display unit, comprising:

a base;

a support arm pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the support arm is pivotal with respect to the base between a stowed position, an intermediate position and a display position; and

a lock mechanism selectively retaining the support arm in a defined orientation with respect to the base, wherein the lock mechanism requires actuation to remove the support arm from the stowed and the display positions;

wherein one of the support arm or the base includes a plurality of spaced-apart stops, and the other of the support arm or the base includes the lock mechanism mounted thereon and oriented to sequentially engage the plurality of stops to retain sequentially the support arm in the stowed position and the display position.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, in combination with a display unit coupled to the support arm distal the base.

29. A stowable support apparatus for use with a display unit, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a support arm pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the support arm is pivotal with respect to the base between a stowed position and a display position; and

a sensor that detects when the support arm is in the stowed position.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the sensor is in electronic communication with an indicator for displaying whether the support arm is in the stowed position.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 in combination with a display unit coupled to the support arm.