Tilter apparatus having bias assembly

• US 7,604,210 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Office Products, LLC (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Derry, Bradley A., Oddsen, Odd N. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterling; Amy J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/948,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20060060735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 248/371, 248/372.1, 248/919, 248921-923, 162/80, 162/95, 162/85, 162/97
• US Class Current: 248/280.11
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• 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 head having an opening aligned along an axis and a tilter bar received within the opening. The tilter head is rotatable about the axis, and may be coupled to a support. The tilter assembly also includes a spring, such as a torsion spring, coupled to the tilter bar to provide a bias or counterbalance to the electronic device, thereby preventing undesired movement of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An adjustable extension arm for mounting a device, comprising:

a first channel member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a pair of sidewalls extending from the first end to the second end;

a second channel member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a pair of sidewalls extending from the first end to the second end;

a first endcap having first and second ends, the first end of the first endcap being coupled to the first channel member about the first end thereof and to the second channel member about the first end thereof, and the second end of the first endcap being attachable to a support;

a second endcap having first and second ends, the first end of the second endcap being coupled to the first channel member about the second end thereof and to the second channel member about the second end thereof; and

a tilting apparatus comprising;

a tilter head having a main body and a shaft, the shaft including a first end secured to the main body and a second end coupled to the second end of the second endcap, the tilter head being rotatable relative to the second end of the second endcap about a first axis, and the main body of the tilter head having an opening aligned along a second axis;

a tilter bar received within the opening and rotatable about the second axis, the tilter bar adapted to be coupled to the device; and

a pair of torsion springs, a first one of the torsion springs coupled between a first end of the tilter bar and the tilter head, and a second one of the torsion springs coupled between a second end of the tilter bar and the tilter head;

wherein each torsion spring is received within the opening of the tilter head.

2. The adjustable extension arm of claim 1, further comprising a forearm extension coupling the second endcap to the tilter head.

3. The adjustable extension arm of claim 1, wherein the pair of torsion springs each has an adjustable tension.

6. The adjustable extension arm of claim 1, further comprising a bushing received within the opening and at least partly enclosing the tilter bar.

7. The adjustable extension arm of claim 6, further comprising a set screw threadedly coupled with the tilter head, and when the set screw engages the bushing, the set screw compresses the bushing against the tilter bar to limit rotation of the tilter bar about the second axis.

8. The adjustable extension arm of claim 1, further including an assembly for adjusting the torsion of the pair of torsion springs.

9. The adjustable extension arm of claim 8, wherein the assembly includes a pair of tilter caps, each of the tilter caps having a receiving portion for engaging one of the torsion springs.

4. An adjustable extension arm for mounting a device, comprising:

a first channel member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a pair of sidewalls extending from the first end to the second end;

a second channel member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a pair of sidewalls extending from the first end to the second end;

a first endcap having first and second ends, the first end of the first endcap being coupled to the first channel member about the first end thereof and to the second channel member about the first end thereof, and the second end of the first endcap being attachable to a support;

a second endcap having first and second ends, the first end of the second endcap being coupled to the first channel member about the second end thereof and to the second channel member about the second end thereof; and

a tilting apparatus comprising;

a tilter head coupled to the second end of the second endcap, the tilter head having an opening aligned along an axis;

a tilter bar received within the opening and rotatable about the axis, the tilter bar adapted to be coupled to the device;

a pair of torsion springs, a first one of the torsion springs coupled between a first end of the tilter bar and the tilter head, and a second one of the torsion springs coupled between a second end of the tilter bar and the tilter head; and

a pair of tension mechanisms;

wherein each torsion spring is received within the opening of the tilter head, each torsion spring has an adjustable tension, and a first one of the tension mechanisms is for pre-tensioning the first one of the torsion springs, and a second one of the tension mechanisms is for pre-tensioning the second one of the torsion springs.

5. The adjustable extension arm of claim 4, further comprising a tilter mount for connecting to the device, wherein the first and second tension mechanisms are connectable to the tilter mount.