Height adjustment mechanism for electronic equipment

• US 7,474,522 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bliven, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): King; Anita M
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, NKEISHA
• Application Number:
  US11/146,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20060289706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 248/917, 248/919, 248/920, 248/162.1, 248/161, 248/157, 248/176.1, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.22
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/047 for balancing translational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment

Abstract

A height adjustment mechanism for electronic equipment is disclosed. The height adjustment mechanism includes a first sliding component that includes a first set of mechanical structures for engaging a second set of mechanical structures, a first mechanical sub-component coupled to the first sliding component and coupled to a second mechanical sub-component that includes the second set of mechanical structures and a second sliding component coupled to the first sliding component. The first set of mechanical structures and the second set of mechanical structures are configured to mesh. A movement of the first sliding component causes either an expansion or a retraction of the first mechanical sub-component.

Claims

1. A height adjustment mechanism, said mechanism comprising:

a first sliding component that comprises a first set of mechanical structures for engaging a second set of mechanical structures;

a first mechanical sub-component coupled to said first sliding component and integrated with a second mechanical sub-component that forms a peripheral portion of said first mechanical sub-component and comprises said second set of mechanical structures; and

a second sliding component coupled to said first sliding component for sliding in a direction opposite to the sliding direction of said first sliding component, wherein said first mechanical sub-component and said second mechanical sub-component are located between said first sliding mechanism and said second sliding mechanism and said first set of mechanical structures and said second set of mechanical structures are configured to mesh wherein a movement of said first sliding component causes either an expansion or a retraction of said first mechanical sub-component through rotation of the second mechanical subcomponent;

wherein the first mechanical sub-component comprises a spring and the second mechanical sub-component comprises a gear.

2. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said height adjustment mechanism is for electronic equipment.

3. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first sliding component is a nested slide plate.

4. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second sliding component is a nested slide plate.

5. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first set of mechanical structures are rack teeth.

6. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second set of mechanical structures are gear teeth.

7. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said expansion of said first mechanical sub-component comprises an unwinding of said spring.

8. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said retraction of said first mechanical sub-component comprises a winding of said spring.

9. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein a nesting of said first sliding component and said second sliding component with said spring and said gear positioned in-between serves to minimize torque.

10. A monitor assembly, comprising:

a monitor;

a base;

a tilt mechanism; and

a height adjustment coupled to said monitor and to said base via said tilt mechanism, wherein said height adjustment mechanism comprises;

a first sliding component that comprises a first set of mechanical structures for engaging a second set of mechanical structures;

a first mechanical sub-component coupled to said first sliding component and integrated with a second mechanical sub-component that forms a peripheral portion of said first mechanical sub-component and comprises said second set of mechanical structures; and

a second sliding component coupled to said first sliding component for sliding in a direction that is opposite to the sliding direction of said first sliding component, wherein said first set of mechanical structures and said second set of mechanical structures are configured to mesh wherein a movement of said first sliding component causes a winding or unwinding of said first mechanical sub-component;

wherein said first mechanical sub-component comprises a spring and said second mechanical sub-component comprises a gear.

11. The height adjustment apparatus mechanism of claim 10, wherein said height adjustment is for electronic equipment.

12. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said first sliding component is a nested slide plate.

13. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said second sliding component is a nested slide plate.

14. The height adjustment mechanism of claims 10, wherein said first set of mechanical structures are rack teeth.

15. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said second set of mechanical structures are gear teeth.

16. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said expansion of said first mechanical sub-component comprises an unwinding of said spring.

17. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said retraction of said first mechanical sub-component comprises a winding of said spring.

18. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said monitor comprises a flat panel display.

19. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein a nesting of said first sliding component and said second sliding component with said spring and said gear positioned in-between minimized torque on said tilt mechanism.

20. A height adjustment mechanism for electronic equipment, said height adjustment mechanism comprising:

a first nested slide plate that comprises a first set of mechanical structures for engaging a second set of mechanical structures;

a first mechanical sub-component integrated with said first nested slide plate and coupled to a second mechanical sub-component that forms a peripheral portion of said first mechanical sub-component and comprises said second set of mechanical structures; and

a second nested slide plate component coupled to said first nested slide plate for sliding in a direction opposite to the sliding direction of said first nested slide plate, wherein said first mechanical sub-component and said second mechanical sub-component are located between a first sliding mechanism and a second sliding mechanism;

wherein said first set of mechanical structures and said second set of mechanical structures are configured to mesh wherein a movement of said first nested slide plate causes either an expansion or a retraction of said first mechanical sub-component;

wherein said first mechanical sub-component comprises a spring and said second mechanical sub-component comprises a gear.

21. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 20, wherein said first set of mechanical structures are rack teeth.

22. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 20, wherein said second set of mechanical structures are gear teeth.

23. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 20, wherein said expansion comprising an unwinding of said spring.

24. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 20, wherein said retraction comprises a winding of said spring.

25. The height adjustment of mechanism of claim 20, wherein said electronic equipment is a monitor comprising a flat panel display.

26. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 20, wherein a nesting of said first nested slide plate and said second nested slide plate with said spring and said gear positioned in-between served to minimized torque.