Display monitor mounting apparatus

• US 7,369,401 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ergotech Group LLC (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: ErgoTech Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Miler, Greg J., Wacker, Mark W., Floersch, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US11/043,348
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/682, 292/301
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2085 comprising means allowing sideward adjustment, i.e. left-right 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: Y10T 292/426 Screw catch

Abstract

A display monitor mounting apparatus for operably securing one or more display monitors thereto includes a support bar having an exterior surface configuration that is matingly engageable to a specific latch element, the latch element being configured as an interfacial piece between the support bar and a respective display monitor, and which provides a quick-connect removable engagement mechanism for selectively engaging the respective display monitor to the support bar.

Claims

1. A display monitor mounting apparatus for operably securing one or more display monitors thereto, said mounting apparatus comprising:

(a) a support bar being configured for operable attachment to a support structure and having a first length along a central longitudinal axis thereof and an outer surface, said outer surface having a channel and an elongated detent portion disposed therein, said channel and said elongated detent portion being spaced apart about said surface and extending substantially parallelly along at least a portion of said first length of said support bar; and

(b) a latch element that is removably securable to said support bar, said latch element having a first bar coupling portion and a second monitor mounting portion, said bar coupling portion having a protrusion configured for mating engagement with said elongated detent portion of said support bar, and a spring-biased retractable plunger for biasably extending into said channel under bias force when said latch element is properly coupled to said support bar, said second monitor mounting portion including a mounting plate that is sized and configured to operably mount a display monitor thereto.

2. A display monitor mounting apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said elongated detent portion has a wedge-shaped cross-section forming first and second detent surfaces in angular facing relationship with one another, the angle formed between said first and second detent surfaces being between about 10°

and about 60°

.

3. A display monitor mounting apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said protrusion of said bar coupling portion operably bears against said first detent surface when said latch means is operably coupled to said support bar.

4. A display monitor mounting apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said outer surface of said support bar is radially disposed about said central longitudinal axis.

5. A display monitor mounting apparatus as in claim 4 wherein at least a section of an inner surface of said bar coupling portion that is in contact engagement with said outer radial surface of said support bar during operable engagement of said latch element to said support bar has a first curvature radius substantially equal to a second curvature radius of said outer surface of said support bar.

6. A display monitor mounting apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mounting plate is pivotally coupled to said first bar coupling portion of said latch element.

7. A display monitor mounting apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said retractable plunger is manually retractable against its spring bias from a position within said channel.

8. A display monitor mounting apparatus for operably securing one or more display monitors thereto, said mounting apparatus comprising:

(a) a support bar being configured for operable attachment to a support structure and having a first length along a central longitudinal axis thereof, an outer surface of said support bar having an elongated detent portion disposed therein and extending along at least a portion of said first length of said support bar, said elongated detent portion having a wedge-shaped cross-section forming first and second detent surfaces extending in angular relationship with one another from an apex, with a fictitious line drawn along said first detent surface from said apex toward said outer surface extending generally away from the one or more display monitors when such one or more display monitors are operably secured to said display monitor mounting apparatus;

(b) a latch element that is removably securable to said support bar, said latch element having a first bar coupling portion and a second monitor mounting portion, said bar coupling portion having a protrusion configured for mating engagement with said elongated detent portion of said support bar by operably bearing against said first detent surface, said second monitor mounting portion including a mounting plate that is sized and configured to operably mount a display monitor thereto.

9. A display monitor mounting apparatus for operably securing one or more display monitors thereto, said mounting apparatus comprising:

(a) a support bar being configured for operable attachment to a support structure and having a first length along a central longitudinal axis thereof, an outer surface of said support bar having a channel and an elongated detent portion disposed therein, said channel and elongated detent portion being spaced apart about said surface and extending substantially parallelly along at least a portion of said first length of said support bar; and

(b) a latch element that is removably securable to said support bar, said latch element having a first bar coupling portion and a second monitor mounting portion, said bar coupling portion having an arm section extending away from said monitor mounting portion and terminating in a protrusion that is configured for mating engagement with said elongated detent portion of said support bar, said arm section further including an aperture that is arcuately spaced from said protrusion by between about 20° and

about 90°

, said bar coupling portion further including a retractable plunger for operably extending into said channel through said aperture when said latch element is properly coupled to said support bar, said second monitor mounting portion including a mounting plate that is sized and configured to operably mount a display monitor thereto.