Easel display arrangement

• US 6,899,311 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Ternus, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US10/349,869
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 248/469, 248/474, 248/454, 248/457, 248/441.1, 163/70, 163/74, 163/41, 163/42, 162/77, 162/99, 162/55
• US Class Current: 248/454
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1215 with a canted-coil torsion spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/13 characterised by the type of wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0062 collapsible

Abstract

A display arrangement is disclosed. The display arrangement includes a flat panel display. The display arrangement further includes a display housing for the flat panel display. The display arrangement also includes an adjustable leg for supporting the display housing and thus the flat panel display in an inclined position. The display arrangement additionally includes a hinge for coupling the adjustable leg to the display housing so that the adjustable leg is pivotable relative to the display housing. The hinge is configured to provide a tilting action for adjusting the tilt angle of the display arrangement, and a collapsing action for reducing the depth of the display arrangement.

Claims

1. A display arrangement, comprising:

a flat panel display;

a display housing for the flat panel display;

an adjustable leg for supporting the display housing and thus the flat panel display in an inclined position;

a hinge for coupling the adjustable leg to the display housing so that the adjustable leg is pivotable relative to the display housing, the hinge being configured to provide a tilting action for adjusting the tilt angle of the display arrangement, and a collapsing action for reducing the depth of the display arrangement, the hinge exerting one or more motion controlling forces on the adjustable leg during the tilting and collapsing actions, the hinge providing a first biasing force in a first direction during the tilting action, a second biasing force in a second direction during the collapsing action, a first braking force during the tilting action, and a second braking force during the collapsing action; and

a pair of fixed legs attached to the display housing, the fixed and adjustable legs providing a base for the display arrangement when the display arrangement is positioned in an upright or nearly upright position, the fixed and adjustable legs being spaced in a manner that provides three point stability to the display arrangement.

2. The display arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein the flat panel display is a liquid crystal display.

3. The display arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein during the tilting action the adjustable leg is outwardly movable so as to place the adjustable leg away from the display housing, and wherein during the collapsing action, the adjustable leg is inwardly movable so as to place the adjustable leg next to the display housing.

4. The display arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein during the tilting action, the adjustable leg pivots relative to the display housing in a first direction between a first angle and a second angle, and wherein the during the collapsing action, the adjustable leg pivots relative to the display housing in a second direction between the first angle and a third angle, the first angle placing the adjustable leg a first distance away from the display housing so as to provide a first tilt angle, the second angle placing the adjustable leg a second distance away from the display housing so as to provide a second tilt angle, the third angle placing the adjustable leg proximate the display housing so as to reduce the depth of the display arrangement.

5. The display arrangement as recited in claim 4 wherein the first tilt angle is 10 degrees and the second tilt angle is 30 degrees.

6. An easel enclosure for a display, comprising:

a body configured to carry the display;

an adjustable leg for supporting the body in an inclined position;

a hinge for pivotally coupling the adjustable leg to the body, the hinge allowing the adjustable leg to pivot through a collapsing range and a tilting range, the collapsing range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between a storage position against the body and a first tilt position away from the body, and the tilting range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between the first tilt position and a second tilt position that is further away from the body than the first tilt position, the hinge exerting one or more motion controlling forces on the adjustable leg through the collapsing and tilting ranges, the hinge providing a biasing force in a first direction through the tilting range, and a second biasing force in a second direction through the collapsing range.

7. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 6 wherein the hinge includes a base for providing a connection point to the body, and a tongue that rotates relative to the base and that provides a connection point to the adjustable leg, the rotation of the tongue defining the collapsing and tilting range of the adjustable leg.

8. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 6 wherein the body is positioned in a first inclined position when the adjustable leg is placed in the first tilt position, and wherein the body is positioned in a second inclined position when the adjustable leg is placed in the second tilt position.

9. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 6 wherein the overall depth of the easel enclosure is reduced when the adjustable leg is placed in the storage position.

10. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 6 wherein the biasing forces position the adjustable leg in the first tilt position when substantially no other forces are exterted on the adjustable leg.

11. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 10 wherein the first biasing force is greater than the the second biasing force, the first biasing force working against the weight of the display in order to maintain the desired tilt angle between the first tilt position and the second tilt positions, the second biasing force preventing the adjustable leg from freely pivoting between the first tilt position and the storage position.

12. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 11 wherein the hinge includes a first spring element that provides the first biasing force through the tilting range, and a second spring element that provides the second biasing force through the collapsing range.

13. An easel enclosure for a display, comprising:

a body configured to carry the display;

an adjustable leg for supporting the body in an inclined position;

a hinge for pivotally coupling the adjustable leg to the body, the hinge allowing the adjustable leg to pivot through a collapsing range and a tilting range, the collapsing range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between a storage position against the body and a first tilt position away from the body, and the tilting range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between the first tilt position and a second tilt position that is further away from the body than the first tilt position, the hinge including a base for providing a connection point to the body, and a tongue that rotates relative to the base and that provides a connection point to the adjustable leg, the rotation of the tongue defining the collapsing and tilting range of the adjustable leg, the tongue having a collapse position that corresponds to the storage position, an initial tilt position that corresponds to the first tilt position, and a final tilt position that corresponds to the second tilt position, wherein the collapse position is located on a first side of the initial tilt position, and the final tilt position is located on a second side of the initial tilt position.

14. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 13 wherein the hinge also includes a hinge mechanism for controlling the motion of the tongue relative to the base.

15. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 14 wherein the hinge includes one or more positioning components for locking or holding the tongue in a desired position, as for example, a position between the collapse position, the initial tilt position and the final tilt position.

16. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 15 wherein the position component is a spring.

17. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 14 wherein the hinge includes one or more biasing components for biasing the tongue in one of its positions, as for example, the collapse position, the initial tilt position and the final tilt position.

18. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 17 wherein the biasing component is a spring.

19. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 14 wherein the hinge provides a first spring force in the direction of the tilting motion via a first spring element and a second spring force in the direction of the collapsing motion via a second spring element.

20. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 19 wherein the first spring force is large as compared to the second spring force.

21. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 14 wherein the hinge includes one or more dampening components for dampening the rotation of the tongue so that it moves in a slow and controlled manner.

22. An easel enclosure for a display, comprising:

a body configured to carry the display;

an adjustable leg for supporting the body in an inclined position;

a hinge for pivotally coupling the adjustable leg to the body, the hinge allowing the adjustable leg to pivot through a collapsing range and a tilting range, the collapsing range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between a storage position against the body and a first tilt position away from the body, and the tilting range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between the first tilt position and a second tilt position that is further away from the body than the first tilt position, the hinge comprising

a pair of spaced apart hinge stands, the hinge stands being mounted to the body;

a shaft rotatable relative to the hinge stands;

a tongue attached to the shaft and mounted to the adjustable leg, the tongue being rotatable with the shaft in a first direction and a second direction, the few direction corresponding to the tilting range, the second direction corresponding to the collapsing range;

a stop plate configured to limit the motion of the tongue in the first and second directions;

a spring element capable of providing a spring bias between the tongue and the stop plate in the first direction; and

a dampening mechanism capable of dampening the motion of the tongue in either the first direction or the second direction.

23. The easel enclosure as recited in claim 22 wherein the stop plate is an extension of at least one of the hinge stands during the tilting action, and wherein the stop plate is movable relative to the hinge stand during the collapsing action.

24. A hinge assembly for use in an easel like enclosure, the hinge assembly being configured to provide a tilting action in a first direction and a collapsing action in a second direction, the hinge assembly comprising:

a pair of spaced apart hinge stands, the hinge stands including a through hole, the hinge stands being mountable to a housing of the easel like enclosure;

a rotatable shaft having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion having a lager diameter than the outer portion so as to form a shoulder, the outer portion being inserted within the through holes of the hinge stands;

a tongue attached to the inner portion of the shaft such that it rotates with the shaft in the first and second directions, the tongue being mountable to a leg of the easel like enclosure;

a stop plate having a through hole for receiving the outer portion of the shaft, the stop plate being positioned on the outer portion of the shaft between the shoulder and a portion of a first hinge stand, the stop plate being configured to limit the rotation of the tongue in the first and second directions; and

a collar inserted within the through hole of the first hinge stand, the collar having a through hole for receiving the outer portion of the shaft, the collar being positioned on the outer portion of the shaft between the stop plate and a nut coupled to the end of the outer portion of the shaft and capable of exerting an axial load, the collar being configured to couple the axial load to the stop plate and onto the shoulder of the inner portion of the shaft and to decouple the axial load from the hinge stand.

25. The hinge as recited in claim 24 wherein the stop plate is an extension of the first hinge stand during the tilting action, and wherein the stop plate is movable relative to the hinge stand during the collapsing action.

26. The hinge as recited in claim 24 further comprising:

a first washer disposed between the shoulder and the stop plate and including a through hole dimensioned to fit over the inner portion of the shaft;

a second washer disposed between the hinge stands and the nut and including a through hole dimensioned to fit over the outer portion of the shaft, and

wherein the nut transmits an axial load through the second washer, through the collar, through the stop plate, through the fist washer and into the shoulder on the shaft.

27. The hinge as recited in claim 26 wherein the tongue moves against friction forces exerted on the shaft by the axial load of the nut during the tilting action, and wherein the tongue does not move against the friction forces exerted on the shaft by the axial load of the nut during the collapsing action.

28. The hinge as recited in claim 26 wherein the nut, washers, collar, stop plate, shaft and tongue rotate as a unit during the collapsing action.

29. The hinge as recited in claim 26 further comprising:

a torsion spring dimensioned to fit over the inner portion of the shaft, the first torsion spring providing a spring bias between the tongue and the stop plate; and

a second torsion spring dimensioned to fit over the outer portion of the shaft, the first torsion spring providing a spring bias between the hinge stand and the stop plate.

30. The hinge as recited in claim 29 further comprising:

a friction washer having a through hole that is dimension for receiving the collar, the friction washer being disposed between the hinge stand and the stop plate in order to dampen the motion during the collapsing action.

31. The hinge as recited in claim 29 wherein the stop plate includes a pair of cut outs, a first cut out limiting the pivoting nature of the tongue in the first direction, a second cut out limiting the pivoting nature of the tongue in the second direction, the first cut out receiving a portion of the tongue, the size of the first cut out defining the range of motion for the tilting action, the second cut out receiving a protrusion that extends from the hinge stand, the size of the second cut out defining the range of motion for the collapsing action.

32. The hinge as recited in claim 31 wherein during the tilting action an end of the second cut out engages the protrusion thereby preventing further rotation of the stop plate and wherein during the collapsing action the end of second cut out disengages from the protrusion thereby allowing rotation of the stop plate.

33. An easel enclosure for a display, comprising:

a body configured to carry the display;

an adjustable leg for supporting the body in an inclined position;

a hinge for pivotally coupling the adjustable leg to the body, the hinge allowing the adjustable leg to pivot through a collapsing range and a tilting range, the collapsing range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between a storage position against the body and a first tilt position away from the body, and the tilting range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between the first lit position and a second tilt position that is further away from the body than the first tilt position, the hinge exerting one or more motion controlling forces on the adjustable leg through the collapsing and tilting ranges, the hinge providing a braking force through the tilting range.

34. An easel enclosure for a display, comprising:

a body configured to cry the display;

an adjustable leg for supporting the body in an inclined position;

a hinge for pivotally coupling the adjustable leg to the body, the hinge allowing the adjustable leg to pivot through a collapsing range and a tilting range, the collapsing range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between a storage position against the body and a first tilt position away from the body, and the tilting range allowing the adjustable leg to be placed between the first tilt position and a second tilt position that is further away from the body than the first tilt position, the hinge exerting one or more motion controlling forces on the adjustable leg through the collapsing and tilting ranges, the hinge providing a braking force through the collapsing range.