Display adjustably positionable about swivel and pivot axes

• US 7,410,138 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TGR Intellectual Properties LLC
• Original Assignee: TGR Intellectual Properties LLC
• Inventors: Parsons, Shannon G.
• Primary Examiner(s): King; Anita M
• Application Number:
  US10/708,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20040178312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 248/125.7, 248/274.1, 248/276.1, 248/278.1, 248/281.11, 248/324, 248/917, 361/681, 403/53, 403/57, 403/58, 403/73, 403/74, 403/78
• US Class Current: 248/278.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/10 Parts, details or accessories surgical drape sheets A61B46/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 15/10 Parts, details or accessories A61G15/14 takes precedence; dental instruments A61C
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 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 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/043 mounted by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/16 on hinges or pivots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

An electronic display assembly for viewing by a person in a resting position includes a first arm rotatable about a swivel axis, a second arm coupled to the first arm that is pivotable about a pivot axis orthogonal to the swivel axis, and an electronic display coupled to the second arm. The display is adjustably positionable both about the swivel axis and about the pivot axis. The assembly further includes an apparatus for receiving a person in a resting position, with the electronic display being suspended above the apparatus. The electronic display is adjustably positionable about the swivel axis generally independent of its positioning about the pivot axis, and the electronic display is adjustably positionable about the pivot axis generally independent of its positioning about the swivel axis.

Claims

1. An arrangement for variably supporting a display, the arrangement comprising,

(a) an overhead track,

(b) a carriage coupled to said overhead track such that said carriage can be variably positioned along said overhead track,

(c) a first arm coupled to and suspended from said carriage such that said first arm can be variably swiveled about the coupling to said carriage,

(d) a second arm coupled to said first arm such that said second arm can be variably positioned in different inclinations to said first arm and such that said second arm can be variably swiveled relative to said first arm about a first swivel axis, and

(e) a display coupled to said second arm by a subassembly, said subassembly comprising,

(i) a swivel member,

(ii) a mounting member affixed to a housing of said display, and

(iii) an elongate member extending between and connecting together said swivel member and said mounting member,

(iv) wherein,

(A) said swivel member is coupled to said second arm such that said mounting member can be variably swiveled relative to said second arm about a second swivel axis, said second swivel axis generally extending in parallel relation to said first swivel axis,

(B) said elongate member is mounted to,

(I) said swivel member for movement relative to said swivel member about a first pivot axis, and

(II) said mounting member for movement relative to said mounting member about a second pivot axis, said second swivel axis extending through said elongate member, and

(C) said first pivot axis is coplanar with said second swivel axis,

(f) wherein said second arm comprises a pair of parallel elongate members joined to form a four-bar-linkage parallelogram such that said first swivel axis and said second swivel axis remain in parallel relation during movement of said second arm between positions having varying inclinations to said first arm, and

(g) wherein said first pivot axis intersects said second swivel axis.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said second swivel axis extends through said display.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for receiving a person in a resting position.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a dental chair.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said dental chair includes a headrest, and wherein said overhead track extends directly over said headrest of said dental chair.

6. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said dental chair includes a headrest and wherein said display is adjustably suspended vertically above said headrest of said dental chair, with a display screen of said display disposed in a horizontal orientation, for viewing by a dental patient received in said dental chair.

7. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said dental chair includes a headrest and wherein said display is adjustably suspended vertically directly above said headrest of said dental chair, with a display screen of said display disposed in an orientation facing said headrest, for viewing by a dental patient received in said dental chair.

8. An arrangement for variably supporting a display, the arrangement comprising,

(a) a first arm mounted to a support by a coupling such that said first arm can be variably swiveled about the coupling to said support,

(b) a second arm coupled to said first arm such that said second arm can be variably positioned in different inclinations to said first arm and such that said second arm can be variably swiveled relative to said first arm about a first swivel axis, and

(c) a display coupled to said second arm by a subassembly, said subassembly comprising,

(i) a swivel member,

(ii) a mounting member affixed to a housing of said display, and

(iii) an elongate member extending between and connecting together said swivel member and said mounting member,

(iv) wherein,

(A) said swivel member is coupled to said second arm such that said mounting member can be variably swiveled relative to said second arm about a second swivel axis, said second swivel axis generally extending in parallel relation to said first swivel axis,

(B) said elongate member is mounted,

(I) to said swivel member for movement relative to said swivel member about a first pivot axis, and

(II) to said mounting member for movement relative to said mounting member about a second pivot axis, said second swivel axis extending through said elongate member, and

(C) said first pivot axis is coplanar with said second swivel axis,

(d) wherein said second arm comprises a pair of parallel elongate members joined to form a four-bar-linkage parallelogram such that said first swivel axis and said second swivel axis remain in parallel relation during movement of said second arm between positions having varying inclinations to said first arm, and

(e) wherein said first pivot axis intersects said second swivel axis.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said first arm is mounted to a wall.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said first arm is mounted to a ceiling.

11. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said second swivel axis extends through said display.

12. An arrangement for variably supporting a display, the arrangement comprising,

(a) an overhead track,

(b) a carriage coupled to said overhead track such that said carriage can be variably positioned along said overhead track,

(c) a first arm coupled to and suspended from said carriage such that said first arm can be variably swiveled about the coupling to said carriage,

(d) a second arm coupled to said first arm such that said second arm can be variably positioned in different inclinations to said first arm and such that said second arm can be variably swiveled relative to said first arm about a first swivel axis,

(e) a display coupled to said second arm such that a display screen of said display may be disposed in a horizontal orientation, and

(f) a dental chair for receiving a person in a resting position, wherein said dental chair includes a headrest,

(g) wherein said display is adjustably suspended vertically directly above said headrest of said dental chair, with said display screen disposed in an orientation facing said headrest, for viewing by the person received in said dental chair, and wherein said display is coupled to said second arm by a subassembly, said subassembly comprising,

(i) a swivel member,

(ii) a mounting member affixed to a housing of said display, and

(iii) an elongate member extending between and connecting together said swivel member and said mounting member,

(iv) wherein,

(A) said swivel member is coupled to said second arm such that said mounting member can be variably swiveled relative to said second arm about a second swivel axis, said second swivel axis generally extending in parallel relation to said first swivel axis,

(B) said elongate member is mounted,

(I) to said swivel member for movement relative to said swivel member about a first pivot axis, and

(II) to said mounting member for movement relative to said mounting member about a second pivot axis, said second swivel axis extending through said elongate member, and

(C) said first pivot axis intersects said second swivel axis, and

(D) said first pivot axis is coplanar with said second swivel axis.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein said second arm comprises a pair of parallel elongate members joined to form a four-bar-linkage parallelogram such that said first swivel axis and said second swivel axis remain in parallel relation during movement of said second arm between positions having varying inclinations to said first arm.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said overhead track extends directly over said headrest of said dental chair.

15. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said display screen of said display is disposed in a horizontal orientation.