Extended travel lift mechanism for a flat panel display

• US 6,585,214 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Legrand AV Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Chief Manufacturing Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Dittmer, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEINHOLD, INGRID M
• Application Number:
  US09/819,346
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 248/370, 248/421, 248/631, 248/584, 248/585, 248/564
• US Class Current: 248/370
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/048 for balancing translational movement of the undercarriage

Abstract

An extended travel lift system including a support frame and a display device frame. First and second arms are connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector. A second end of the first arm is pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support frame and a second end of the second arm is pivotally attached to the support frame. Third and fourth arms are connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector. A second end of the third arm is pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm is pivotally attached to the display device frame. A biasing mechanism is provided to bias the display device frame to an extended position. A height control mechanism is provided to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position. The first and second arms are typically located in a first plane and the third and fourth arms are located in a second plane parallel to the first plane.

Claims

1. An extended travel lift system for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support frame and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the support frame;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame, wherein the first and fourth arms are separate components to permit the first arm to be above the fourth arm in a retracted position and below the fourth arm in an extended position;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position; and

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are located in a first plane and the third and fourth arms are located in a second plane parallel to the first plane.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a carrying case sized to receive the extended travel lift system in the retracted position and the display device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a gas cylinder.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a first end pivotally attached to the support frame and a second end pivotally attached to one of the arms.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the height control mechanism comprises a latch configured to engage with a toothed surface of a slot.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the height control mechanism comprises:

a lower end stop generally corresponding to the retracted position;

an upper end stop generally corresponding to the extended position; and

a plurality of intermediate stops corresponding to a plurality of positions between the retracted position and the extended position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the height control mechanism in a locked configuration retains the display device frame in the retracted position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the locked configuration permits the display device frame to move in a shock-absorbing action.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the height control mechanism in a released configuration permits the display device frame to move freely from the retracted position to the extended position.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the height control mechanism comprises a plurality of intermediate stops that are automatically engaged as the display device frame is moved from the extended position to the retracted position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the height control mechanism comprises a ratcheting mechanism that permits movement of the display device frame from the extended position to the retracted position.

13. A portable lift system for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

a carrying structure adapted to receive the lift system and the display device;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the carrying structure and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the carrying structure;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position; and

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position.

14. A portable display system comprising:

a display device;

an extended travel lift system for a display device, the apparatus comprising;

a support frame;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support frame and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the support frame;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame, wherein the first and fourth arms are separate components to permit the first arm to be above the fourth arm in a retracted position and below the fourth arm in an extended position;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position; and

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position.

15. The portable display system of claim 14 comprising a carrying case substantially containing the display device and the extended travel lift system.

16. An extended lift system for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support frame and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the support frame, wherein the first and second arms are located in the same plane;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position; and

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position.

17. An extended travel lift system for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support fame and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the support frame;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame, wherein the third and fourth arms are located in the same plane;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position; and

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position.

18. An extended travel lift system for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support frame and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the support frame;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position;

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position; and

a carrying case sized to receive the extended travel lift system in the retracted position and the display device.

19. An extended travel lift system for a display device the apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support frame and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the support frame;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position; and

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position, wherein the height control mechanism includes a lower end stop generally corresponding to the retracted position;

an upper end stop generally corresponding to the extended position; and

a plurality of intermediate stops corresponding to a plurality of positions between the retracted position and the extended position.

20. An extended travel lift system for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame;

a display device frame;

first and second arms connected at first ends thereof by a hinge connector, a second end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first slide mechanism on the support frame and a second end of the second arm pivotally attached to the support frame;

third and fourth arms connected at first ends thereof by the hinge connector, a second end of the third arm pivotally attached to a second slide mechanism on the display device frame and a second end of the fourth arm pivotally attached to the display device frame;

a biasing mechanism adapted to bias the display device frame to an extended position; and

a height control mechanism adapted to retain the display device frame in either a retracted position or the extended position, wherein the height control mechanism includes a plurality of intermediate stops that are automatically engaged as the display device frame is moved from the extended position to the retracted position.