Adjustable LCD screen assembly for writing machine

• US 7,403,375 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stenograph LLC
• Original Assignee: Stenograph LLC
• Inventors: Kras, Dennis John, Chvojcsek, Frank John
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAPE, ZACHARY
• Application Number:
  US11/140,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 3122231-2232, 361/681, 345/169, 345/905, 248917-923, 349/58, 349/65, 400/91, 400/94, D18/20, 178/21
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing

Abstract

The adjustable LCD screen assembly for a writing machine includes base and an LCD screen assembly coupled to each other by a hinge assembly. An embodiment of the hinge assembly includes a pivot post and a pair locking set screws, Bellville spring washers, a screw, an anti-rotation washer, a first bracket and a second bracket. The hinge assembly mounts to the base along the first bracket and to the LCD screen assembly along the second bracket. The hinge assembly utilizes a compression mechanism including a spring mechanism to generate frictional force between the elements of the hinge assembly to hold the LCD screen assembly in place with respect to the base under “static conditions,” yet allows for infinite adjustability of the LCD screen assembly, within a given range of motion, under “pivoting conditions.”

Claims

1. An adjustable display assembly comprising:

a base;

a screen housing; and

a hinge pivotally securing said screen housing to said base, wherein said hinge includes a compression mechanism including a spring mechanism, wherein the compression mechanism exerts a compressive force against the spring mechanism such that the friction generated by the opposing forces prevents said screen housing from pivoting with respect to said base when no external pivoting force is applied to said screen housing and allows said screen housing to pivot with respect to said base when an external pivoting force is applied to said screen housing, wherein said spring mechanism includes one or more Bellville spring washers.

2. The adjustable display assembly of claim 1 wherein said spring mechanism provides approximately four hundred fifty pounds of spring force.

3. The adjustable display of claim 1 wherein said compression mechanism includes a pivot post that mates with an anti-rotation washer, a screw coupling said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer, one or more locking screws for locking said screw within said pivot post, a plurality of Bellville spring washers located between said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer and a first bracket and a second bracket held between said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer.

4. A hinge assembly comprising:

a compression mechanism including a first bracket, a second bracket and a spring mechanism, wherein said compression mechanism exerts a compressive force against said first bracket, said second bracket and said spring mechanism such that said first bracket and said second bracket are held in a static relationship with respect to each other unless a force is applied to the hinge assembly to exceed the frictional resistance between said first bracket, said second bracket and said spring mechanism, wherein said spring mechanism is one or more Bellville spring washers.

5. The hinge assembly of claim 4 wherein said compression mechanism includes a pivot post that mates with an anti-rotation washer, a screw coupling said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer, one or more locking screws for locking said screw within said pivot post, a plurality of Bellville spring washers located between said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer and a first bracket and a second bracket held between said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer.

6. A stenographic writing machine with an adjustable display comprising:

a stenographic writing machine; and

a screen assembly, wherein said screen assembly is held in one of three or more positions with respect to said stenographic writing machine by a hinge assembly comprising a compression mechanism including a spring mechanism, wherein said hinge assembly holds said screen assembly in a static relationship with respect to said stenographic writing machine unless a force is applied to the hinge assembly that exceeds the frictional resistance of said hinge assembly, wherein said hinge assembly includes a pivot post that mates with an anti-rotation washer, a screw coupling said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer, one or more locking screws for locking said screw within said pivot post, a plurality of Bellville spring washers located between said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer and a first bracket and a second bracket held between said pivot post and said anti-rotation washer.