Monitor support system

• US 6,994,306 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Constant Force Technology LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Lindblad, Shaun C., Fluhrer, Robert W., Sweere, Harry C., Showalter, Matthew J., Al-Zebdeh, Khalid, Benson, Cory D., Theis, John W., Eliason, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US09/724,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 248/297.11, 248/286.1, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/295.1, 361/682, 348/825
• US Class Current: 248/295.11
• 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 11/24 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 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/045 for panning movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

A system for providing support and position control of a monitor. In one embodiment, a method of supporting a monitor includes converting an ascending energy storage member force curve into a substantially constant supporting force against the monitor. In one aspect, a method of supporting a monitor includes providing an energy storage member and a cam which are cooperatively positioned so as to move relative to each other along the path of motion. As the energy storage member moves along the path relative to the cam, the cam displaces the energy storage member and thereby changes a force applied by the energy storage member on the cam, and wherein the cam converts the force applied by the energy storage member into a supporting force on the monitor.

Claims

1. A monitor support mechanism supporting a monitor, the monitor support mechanism comprising:

a guide having a path of motion associated therewith;

a cam having a cam profile;

a cam follower adapted to ride on the cam;

a force member to apply a force to the cam follower which forces the cam follower against the cam, the force in a direction which is non-parallel to the path of motion, the cam applies a reaction force against the cam follower which converts the force member force into a first reaction force component in the direction of the path of motion and a second reaction force component; and

a truck coupled to the monitor, coupled with the at least one cam follower, movably coupled with the guide, and movable along the path of motion, the force member applies an increasing force on the cam follower as the truck moves along the path of motion;

wherein the cam profile comprises a shape wherein the first reaction force component is a substantially constant supporting force on the monitor;

an arm rotatably coupled to the truck and having a distal end coupled to the cam follower, wherein the arm includes a plurality of attachment points along a length of the arm and wherein the force member is a spring coupled to the arm at one of the plurality of attachment points.

2. The monitor support mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the cam profile generally faces and does not intersect an axis of motion of the truck.

3. The monitor support mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the path of motion is oriented in a vertical direction.

4. The monitor support mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein said cam includes opposing inward facing cam surfaces having a decreasing width there between towards a lower end of the cam surfaces.

5. The monitor support mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein said cam includes a pair of outward facing cam surfaces having an increasing width there between towards a lower end of the cam surfaces.

6. The monitor support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the truck, the cam follower, and the energy storage member all move in a generally planar arrangement with each other.

7. The monitor support mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a member for increasing a pre-load force on the force component.

8. The monitor support mechanism of claim 1, wherein a frictional force prevents the truck from moving until the friction force is overcome by a pre-determined outside force applied to the truck.

9. A monitor support mechanism supporting a monitor, the monitor support mechanism comprising:

a support having a guide associated therewith;

a cam having two opposing cam surfaces, the cam surfaces having a distance there between, where the distance varies from an upper portion to a lower portion of the cam and wherein the guide is between the two opposing cam surfaces;

two pivoting members each having a cam follower coupled thereto, the cam followers adapted to ride on the opposing cam surfaces, and the cam followers coupled with the pivoting members;

at least one spring coupled between the two pivoting members;

a truck coupled with the two pivoting members and coupled to the monitor, the truck movably coupled with the guide, where the cam follower rides along the cam surface as the truck travels along the guide.

10. The monitor support mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one spring is disposed adjacent to a distal end of the pivoting members.

11. A monitor support mechanism supporting a monitor, the monitor support mechanism comprising:

a support having a guide associated therewith;

a cam having a cam surface, the cam having a curved shape around the guide;

at least one cam follower adapted to ride on the cam surface;

a coil spring to apply a force for forcing the cam follower against the cam surface, the cam surface converting the force into a first reaction force component in the direction of an axis of motion and a second reaction force component;

a truck operatively coupled with the at least one cam follower and coupled to the monitor, the truck movably coupled with the guide, where the cam follower rides along the cam surface as the truck travels along the guide;

wherein the first reaction force is substantially constant as the truck translates up and down the guide.

12. The monitor support mechanism of claim 11, wherein each cam follower rides on the cam surface and rotates the cam to increase the spring force.

13. A monitor support mechanism comprising:

a support having a guide associated therewith;

a cam having a cam surface, the cam coupled to the support;

at least one cam follower adapted to ride on the cam surface;

a flat spring to apply a force for forcing the cam follower against the cam surface, the cam surface converting the force into a first reaction force component in a direction of an axis of motion and a second reaction force component; and

a truck operatively coupled with the at least one cam follower and coupled to the monitor, the truck movably coupled with the guide, where the cam follower rides along the cam surface as the truck travels along the guide.

14. The monitor support mechanism of claim 13, further comprising means for changing a pre-load force on the flat spring.