Tilter apparatus for electronic device having bias assembly

• US 7,472,458 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Human Active Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Oddsen, Odd N. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US10/461,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 248/292.13, 248/297.11, 248/292.11, 248/280.11, 248/297.1, 248917-923, 248/274.1, 248/176.1, 406/06, 406/08, 162/58, 162/61, 162/64, 162/55, 163/33, 163/42
• US Class Current: 16/255
• 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 11/2092 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: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A tilter assembly is provided for positioning an electronic device such as a flat panel display. The tilter assembly includes a tilter shaft holder having an opening aligned along an axis and a shaft received within the opening. The shaft is rotatable about the axis, and may be coupled to a support. The tilter shaft holder is coupled to the electronic device. The tilter assembly also includes a spring device in operative association with the shaft to provide a bias or counterbalance to the electronic device, thereby preventing undesired rotation about the axis.

Claims

1. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate adapted for attaching to a user device; and

a tilter assembly including;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having a first opening therein, the first opening being aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the first opening, the tilter shaft holder being rotatable about the axis and rotatable relative to the shaft;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support for supporting the tilting device during use;

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end; and

a spring having a first end directly connected to the adapter plate and a second end directly connected to the second end of the tilter arm, the spring being operable to provide counterbalance to the user device and to restrict rotation of the user device, the adapter plate and the tilter shaft holder relative to the shaft and the arm mount.

2. The tilting device of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a plurality of springs connecting the adapter plate to the second end of the tilter arm.

3. The tilting device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of springs is removable to adjust the counterbalance for the user device.

7. The tilting device of claim 1, further comprising a bushing received within the first opening in the tilter shaft holder, the bushing receiving the shaft therein.

11. The tiling device of claim 7, wherein the tilter shaft holder comprises a pair of tilter shaft holders, and the bushing includes a pair of bushings received within the pair of tilter shaft holders.

12. The tilting device of claim 11, wherein a first one of the pair of tilter shaft holders is disposed at a first end of the shaft and a second one of the pair of tilter shaft holders is disposed at a second end of the shaft.

13. The tilting device of claim 7, further comprising a retaining ring adapted to engage an end of the bushing and to prevent movement of the bushing along the axis.

14. The tilting device of claim 13, further comprising a cap engaging an end of the tilter shaft holder and covering the retaining ring and the bushing.

15. The tilting device of claim 1, further including at least one screw coupling the tilter shaft holder to the adapter plate.

16. The tilting device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the tilter arm is angled so that the tilter arm does not interfere with action of the spring.

17. The tilting device of claim 16, wherein the second end of the tilter arm is J-shaped.

4. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate adapted for attaching to a user device; and

a tilter assembly including;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having a first opening therein, the first opening being aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the first opening, the tilter shaft holder being rotatable about the axis and rotatable relative to the shaft;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support;

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end; and

a spring having a first end connected to the adapter plate and a second end connected to the second end of the tilter arm, the spring being operable to provide counterbalance to the user device and restrict rotation of the user device, the adapter plate and the tilter shaft holder relative to the shaft and the arm mount;

wherein the arm mount is inserted through the shaft substantially perpendicular to the axis.

5. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate adapted for attaching to a user device; and

a tilter assembly including;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having a first opening therein, the first opening being aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the first opening, the tilter shaft holder being rotatable about the axis and rotatable relative to the shaft;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support;

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end;

a spring having a first end connected to the adapter plate and a second end connected to the second end of the tilter arm, the spring being operable to provide counterbalance to the user device and restrict rotation of the user device, the adapter plate and the tilter shaft holder relative to the shaft and the arm mount;

a locking mechanism for engaging the tilter shaft holder and adapted to restrict rotation about the axis.

6. The tilting device of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism is a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder.

8. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate adapted for attaching to a user device; and

a tilter assembly including;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having a first opening therein, the first opening being aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the first opening, the tilter shaft holder being rotatable about the axis and rotatable relative to the shaft;

an arm mount coupled to the shaft and adapted to engage a support;

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end;

a spring having a first end connected to the adapter plate and a second end connected to the second end of the tilter arm, the spring being operable to provide counterbalance to the user device and restrict rotation of the user device, the adapter plate and the tilter shaft holder relative to the shaft and the arm mount;

a bushing received within the first opening in the tilter shaft holder, the bushing receiving the shaft therein; and

a set screw adapted to threadedly engage the tilter shaft holder and restrict rotation about the axis,

wherein the tilter shaft holder and the bushing each have a slot disposed along the axis, and when the set screw fully engages the tilter shaft holder both the tilter shaft holder slot and the bushing slot are compressible to restrict rotation about the axis.

9. The tilting device of claim 8, wherein the tilter shaft holder slot extends the entire length of the tilter shaft holder.

10. The tilting device of claim 8, wherein the bushing slot extends the entire length of the bushing.

18. A tilting device, comprising:

an adapter plate for attaching to a user device;

a tilter shaft holder coupled to the adapter plate and having an opening aligned along an axis;

a shaft received within the opening, the tilter shaft holder being rotatable about the axis and rotatable relative to the shaft; and

a spring device in operative relation to the shaft and the adapter plate, wherein the spring device is adapted to provide counterbalance to the user device and restrict rotation of the user device, the adapter plate, and the tilter shaft holder relative to the shaft, wherein the spring device is received substantially entirely within the shaft.

19. The tilting device of claim 18, further comprising a bushing received within the opening, the bushing receiving the shaft therein.

20. A tilter assembly for counterbalancing a user device, comprising:

a tilter shaft holder having a first opening aligned along an axis;

a shaft adapted to be coupled to a support for supporting the tilting device during use, the shaft received within the first opening, the tilter shaft holder being rotatable about the axis and rotatable relative to the shaft; and

a spring device in operative association with the shaft for counterbalancing the user device when attached to the tilter assembly and for restricting rotation of the user device and the tilter shaft holder relative to the shaft;

wherein the spring device comprises;

a tilter arm having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end remote from the first end, the tilter arm being adapted to rotate about the axis upon rotation of the shaft;

a spring of the spring device having a first end operatively coupled to the user device and a second end directly connected to the second end of the tilter arm.

21. The tilter assembly of claim 20, wherein the spring comprises a plurality of springs.

22. The tilter assembly of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of springs is removable to adjust the counterbalance for the user device.