Articulated bracket for office equipment

• US 6,378,829 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erwin Müller Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Novus Strater GmbH
• Inventors: Sträter, Uwe, Sträter, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US09/423,346
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 248/276.1, 248/280.4, 248/283.1, 248/292.13, 248/281.11, 248/282.1, 248/289.11, 248/123.11
• US Class Current: 248/276.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• 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 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage

Abstract

The invention relates to an articulated bracket for supporting especially office equipment, such as screens, telephones and the like, in variable positions. The inventive bracket comprises a base part (2) which is secured in a fixed position, a lower bracket part (4) which is connected to said base part via a first joint (8) in such a way that it can pivot, and an upper bracket part (6) which is connected to said lower bracket part (4) via a second joint (10) in such a way that it too can pivot. Said upper bracket part (6) is connected to the base part (2) by means of a pull element (16), said pull element being guided via the joints (8, 10). Elastic means (18) are arranged in such a way that a carrying force (F) is produced to support the bracket parts (4, 6). Said elastic means (18) have two elastic elements (20, 22), a first elastic element (20) being located in the region of the lower bracket part (4) between said lower bracket part (4) and the pull element (16), and a second elastic element (22) being located in the region of the upper bracket part (6) between said upper bracket part and the pull element (16). Said pull element runs continuously between the base part (2) and the second joint (10).

Claims

1. An articulation arm for the variably positioned mounting of office equipment, comprising a base part (2), which is to be fastened in a stationary manner, a bottom arm part (4), pivotably connected to the base part (2) via a first articulation (8), and a top arm part (6), pivotably connected to the bottom arm part (4) via a second articulation (10), the top arm part (6) is connected to the base part (2) via a pull element (16), and spring means (18) comprising first and second spring elements (20,22) are provided so as to produce a carrying force (F) which supports the arm parts (4, 6), where the pull element (16) is guided over the two articulations (8, 10) eccentrically to the respective articulation axis (12, 14) and fastened on the base part (2), the first spring element (20) is arranged in the region of the bottom arm part (4), between the latter and the pull element (16), which runs continuously between the base part (2) and the second articulation (10), the first spring element thus being arranged in parallel with the pull element (16) and the second spring element (22) is arranged in the region of the top arm part (6), between the latter and the pull element (16), the second spring element thus being arranged in series with the pull element (16).

2. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pull element (16) is formed in two parts from a bottom pull part (24) and a top pull part (26), it being the case that the two pull parts (24, 26) are connected in the region of the second articulation (10) via a deflecting element (28) which can be rotated freely about the articulation axis (14).

3. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bottom pull part (24) is formed by a flexible pull cable (30) which is fastened, on one side, on the base part (2) eccentrically to the articulation axis (12) of the first articulation (8) and, on the other side, on the deflecting element (28) eccentrically to the articulation axis (14) of the second articulation (10).

4. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pull cable (30) is guided, in the region of the first articulation (8), over a deflecting curve (36) of the base part (2) and therefor, in the region of the second articulation (10), over a deflecting curve (38) of the deflecting element (28).

5. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 4, wherein the deflecting curve (36) of the base part (2) has a constant radius of curvature over the cable-deflecting path.

6. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 4, wherein the deflecting curve (36) of the base part (2) has a changing radius of curvature over the cable-deflecting path.

7. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bottom pull part (24) is formed by a rigid pull rod (56) which is fastened, on one side, on the base part (2) in an articulated manner and eccentrically to the articulation axis (12) of the first articulation (8) and, on the other side, on the deflecting element (28) in an articulated manner and eccentrically to the articulation axis (14) of the second articulation (10).

8. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top pull part (26) is formed by a flexible pull cable (40) which is fasted, on one side, on the deflecting element (28) eccentrically to the articulation axis (14) of the second articulation (10) and, on the other side, on the top arm part (6) indirectly via the second spring clement (22).

9. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pull cable (40) is guided, in the region of the second articulation (10), over a deflecting curve (42) of the deflecting element (28).

10. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 9, wherein the two deflecting curves (38, 42) assigned to the pull cables (30, 40) are arranged in an offset manner in the direction of the articulation axis (14).

11. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two deflecting curves (38, 42) are designed having a constant radii of curvature over the cable-deflecting path.

12. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 10, wherein the deflecting curve (38), which is assigned to the bottom pull cable (30), and the deflecting curve (42), which is assigned to the top pull cable (40), have a changing radius of curvature over the cable-deflecting path.

13. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of the pull cable (30) and the pull cable (40) has, on an end side, a connector piece (44) which is seated in a form-fitting manner in a receiving depression (46) of the corresponding part (2;

28) connected to said cable end.

14. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring elements (20, 22) are designed as one of compression and tension springs.

15. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pull element (16) is connected to the base part (2) indirectly via a carrying-force adjustment device (50).

16. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm parts (4, 6) are each designed as tubular hollow bodies with preferably an approximately rectangular cross-sectional contour, the pull element (16) and spring means (18) being arranged within the arm parts (4, 6).

17. The articulation arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm parts (4, 6) form an articulation housing (52) in their connecting region, each arm part (4, 6) having a housing half-shell (54a,b).