Apparatus and method for automatically maintaining the viewing angle of a customer display

• US 7,445,189 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cox, Aaron Roger, Sluchak, Thomas John, Tennant, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US11/467,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 248/664, 248/665, 248/130, 248/131, 248/289.11, 248/291.1, 248/919, 248/922, 248/415, 361/681
• US Class Current: 248/415
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for automatically maintaining the viewing angle of a first display, mounted to a second display, regardless of the viewing angle of the second display. In one embodiment, such an apparatus includes a first display and a pivot mechanism to connect the first display to a second display. The pivot mechanism enables the first display to pivot relative to the second display. An angle retention mechanism is provided to automatically maintain the viewing angle of the first display regardless of the viewing angle of the second display.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically maintaining the viewing angle of a first display, mounted to a second display, regardless of the viewing angle of the second display, the apparatus comprising:

a first display supported by a second display;

a pivot mechanism pivotally connecting the first display to the second display and the first display to pivot relative to the second display; and

an angle retention mechanism comprising a weight coupled to the first display configured to automatically maintain the viewing angle of the first display regardless of the viewing angle of the second display by the force of gravity exerted on the weight.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the angle retention mechanism relies on a mechanical device to maintain the viewing angle of the first display.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the angle retention mechanism utilizes a crank and arm to maintain the viewing angle of the first display by adjusting the angle of the first display relative to the second display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an angle adjustment mechanism to initially set the viewing angle of the first display.

5. A method for automatically maintaining the viewing angle of a first display, mounted to a second display, regardless of the viewing angle of the second display, the method comprising:

providing a first display supported by and pivotally connected to a second display;

setting the viewing angle of the first display;

adjusting the viewing angle of the second display; and

automatically maintaining, without user intervention, the viewing angle of the first display regardless of the viewing angle of the second display using a weight coupled to the first display by force of gravity exerted on the weight.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein automatically maintaining comprises maintaining the viewing angle of the first display using a mechanical device.