Arm apparatus for mounting electronic devices with cable management system

• US 6,726,167 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovative Office Products, LLC (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Oddsen, Odd N. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, ANITA M
• Application Number:
  US10/305,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 248/274.1, 248/282.1, 248/276.1, 248/289.11, 248/289.31, 248/917, 248/919, 248/920, 248/122.1, 248/125.7, 248/278.1, 248/291.1, 403/300, 403/301, 403/306, 403/310, 403/311, 403/313, 403/292
• US Class Current: 248/274.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0088 Appliance support having rotary joint or articulated connection
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/063 Parallelogram arms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/57 Distinct end coupler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5741 Separate screw or pin-type connections

Abstract

An extension arm suitable for mounting a flat-screen electronic peripheral device, such as a computer monitor or television, includes a forearm extension that has at one end a first coupling for attachment to a tilter, a platform or other means for supporting a flat-screen device and at the other end a second coupling with a slot formed therein. The extension arm also includes a pair of endcaps, each having a shaft. The shaft of the first endcap is pivotably rotatable in a support mount, such as a wall, desk or pole mount. The shaft of the second endcap is hollow and is pivotably rotatable in the second coupling of the forearm extension. The extension arm also comprises an upper channel and a lower channel. Each channel has at opposite ends integrally cast rollers which are pivotably attached to each of the endcaps. The lower channel has a cable channel formed therein. The upper and lower channels and the endcaps form an adjustable parallelogram.

Claims

1. An endcap for use in an extension arm that adjustably mounts a device to a support mount and conceals cables to and from the device within said endcap, said endcap comprising:

a partially enclosed housing having a first endwall, a second endwall spaced therefrom and at least one partially enclosed sidewall extending therebetween, said first endwall having a endwall hole therein, said at least one sidewall forming an opening extending between said first and second endwalls; and

a shaft assembly having a shaft hole therethrough, said shaft assembly connected to said first endwall such that said shaft hole and said endwall hole are aligned to form a continuous opening in communication with said opening formed by said at least one sidewall.

2. The endcap of claim 1, wherein each of said symmetrical endcap adapters have a semicircular cross sectional profile.

3. The endcap of claim 1, wherein said hollow shaft has a portion with a first diameter and a portion with a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

4. The endcap of claim 3, wherein the second diameter of said hollow shaft is nearly the same as a diameter of said endwall hole.

5. The endcap of claim 3, wherein said portion of said hollow shaft with the second diameter is received within said endwall hole.

6. The endcap of claim 1, wherein said first endwall further includes threaded holes in communication with said endwall hole.

7. The endcap of claim 6, further comprising fasteners inserted in said threaded holes to couple said shaft assembly and said partially enclosed housing.

8. The endcap of claim 1, wherein said endwall hole is adapted whereby a plug of a cable can fit therethrough.

9. An endcap for use in an extension arm that adjustably mounts a device to a support mount and conceals cables to and from the device within said endcap, said endcap comprising a partially enclosed housing having an interior region, said housing including a first endwall, a second endwall spaced therefrom and at least one partially enclosed sidewall extending therebetween, said first endwall having an endwall hole therein, said at least one sidewall forming an opening extending between said first and second endwalls;

and a shaft having a shaft hole therethrough, a portion of said shaft received within said endwall hole whereby said shaft hole is in communication with said interior region of said housing and said opening formed by said at least one sidewall.

10. The endcap of claim 9, wherein each of said symmetrical endcap adapters have a semicircular cross sectional profile.

11. The endcap of claim 9, wherein said hollow shaft has a portion with a first diameter and a portion with a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

12. The endcap of claim 11, wherein the second diameter of said hollow shaft is nearly the same as a diameter of said endwall hole.

13. The endcap of claim 11, wherein said portion of said hollow shaft with the second diameter is received within said endwall hole.

14. The endcap of claim 9, wherein said first endwall further includes threaded holes in communication with said endwall hole.

15. The endcap of claim 14, further comprising fasteners inserted in said threaded holes to couple said shaft and said partially enclosed housing.

16. The endcap of claim 9, wherein said endwall hole is adapted whereby a plug of a cable can fit therethrough.

17. The endcap of claim 9, wherein said sidewall is c-shaped.

18. An endcap for use in an extension arm that adjustably mounts a device to a support mount and conceals cables to and from the device within said endcap, said endcap comprising:

a partially enclosed housing having a first endwall, a second endwall and at least one sidewall, said first endwall having a endwall hole therein; and

a shaft assembly having a shaft hole therethrough, said shaft assembly connected to said first endwall such that said shaft hole and said endwall hole are aligned to form a continuous opening, wherein said shaft assembly includes two symmetrical endcap adapters connected together to form a hollow shaft.

19. An endcap for use in an extension arm that adjustably mounts a device to a support mount and conceals cables to and from the device within said endcap, said endcap comprising a partially enclosed housing having an interior region, said housing including a first endwall, a second endwall and at least one sidewall, said first endwall having an endwall hole therein;

and a shaft having a shaft hole therethrough, a portion of said shaft received within said endwall hole whereby said shaft hole is in communication with said interior region of said housing, wherein said shaft includes two symmetrical endcap adaptors assembled to form a hollow shaft.

20. An endcap for use in an extension arm that adjustably mounts a device to a support mount and conceals cables to and from the device within said endcap, said endcap comprising:

a partially enclosed housing having a first endwall, a second endwall and at least one sidewall, said first endwall having a endwall hole therein, wherein said at least one sidewall is semicircular in shape and connects to said first endwall and said second endwall; and

a shaft assembly having a shaft hole therethrough, said shaft assembly connected to said first endwall such that said shaft hole and said endwall hole are aligned to form a continuous opening.

21. An endcap for use in an extension arm that adjustably mounts a device to a support mount and conceals cables to and from the device within said endcap, said endcap comprising a partially enclosed housing having an interior region, said housing including a first endwall, a second endwall and at least one sidewall, said first endwall having an endwall hole therein, wherein said at least one sidewall is semicircular in shape and connects to said first endwall and said second endwall;

and a shaft having a shaft hole therethrough, a portion of said shaft received within said endwall hole whereby said shaft hole is in communication with said interior region of said housing.