Apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors having adjustable distance to a viewer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
- a plurality of monitors;
a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface;
a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing mountings supporting the plurality of the monitors above the platform;
wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; and
one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers, each wheel or roller having an extent that rotatably contacts the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for mounting a plurality of display monitors is disclosed, wherein the apparatus is provided at a user'"'"'s desk or workstation. The apparatus can be easily moved toward and away from the user such that all the monitors mounted on the apparatus move in unison in the direction indicated by the user. Accordingly, the apparatus accommodates the visual preferences of virtually all users of the desk or workstation so that eye and skeletal muscle fatigue are reduced.
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Citations
94 Claims
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1. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a plurality of monitors; a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing mountings supporting the plurality of the monitors above the platform; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers, each wheel or roller having an extent that rotatably contacts the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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7. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves above the upwardly facing surface; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; and a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing support for mountings, wherein the mountings connect a plurality of the monitors to the frame above the platform; one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers; and wherein the wheels or rollers are at least partially recessed within the platform. - View Dependent Claims (9, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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10. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of computer monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves relative to the upwardly facing surface; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; and a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing support for mountings, wherein the mountings have both frame attachments to engage the frame, and monitor attachments to attach to the monitors; wherein the computer monitors are provided along an arc of the frame such that for a corresponding display for each of at least two-thirds of the computer monitors, and for at least one position facing the displays, a distance between; (a) the at least one position, and (b) a center of the corresponding display, varies by no more than about 5% from a distance between the at least one position and a center of the corresponding display for each of the other computer monitors of the at least two thirds of the computer monitors. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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11. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing support for mountings, wherein the mountings have both frame attachments to attach to the frame, and monitor attachments to attach to the monitors; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers, each wheel or roller having an extent that rotatably contacts the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path; and wherein for each position of a plurality of operative user positions for viewing the monitors wherein a corresponding display for each of the monitors faces the position, the monitors are adjustable on the frame so that for each of the corresponding displays, a line of sight thereto from the position has no greater than a 5 degree deviation from a normal to the corresponding display. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69)
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12. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts a substantially horizontal upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves across the upwardly facing surface, wherein the guide telescopes in a direction of the path; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame including at least one rail for supporting a plurality of the monitors above the platform; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers, each wheel or roller having an extent that rotatably contacts the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path; and wherein the monitors are provided along an arc of the frame such that for a corresponding display for each of at least two-thirds of the monitors, and for at least one position facing the displays, a distance between; (a) the at least one position, and (b) a center of the corresponding display, varies by no more than about 5% from a distance between the at least one position and a center of the corresponding display for each of the other monitors of the at least two-thirds of the monitors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 70, 71)
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13. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts a substantially horizontal upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves across the upwardly facing surface, wherein the guide telescopes in a direction of the path; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame including at least one rail to support a plurality of the computer monitors above the platform; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within an operatively constraining track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers, each wheel or roller having an extent that rotatably contacts the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path; and wherein for each monitor of at least some of the monitors, a corresponding mounting attaches the monitor to the rail wherein the corresponding mounting provides a horizontal range of rotation of the monitor relative to the rail, wherein the horizontal range of rotation is at least 120 degrees for the monitor. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66)
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16. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contact an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing mountings for supporting a plurality of the monitors above the platform upon a substantially horizontal rail, wherein each of the mountings have both a corresponding frame attachment to attach the frame and a corresponding monitor attachment to attach to one of the monitors; wherein at least one of the mountings includes a member for vertically adjusting a height of a monitor supported on the rail, wherein the member includes a plurality of vertical adjustment positions, and wherein at least one of the mountings includes, between its corresponding frame attachment and corresponding monitor attachment, a tilt adjustment for vertically adjusting a tilt of one of the monitors; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers.
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17. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path on the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame having thereon mountings for supporting at least some of the plurality of the monitors above the platform via a substantially horizontal rail of the frame, wherein each of the mountings have both a frame attachment to attach to the frame and a monitor attachment to attach to one of the monitors; wherein for at least one position where a user is able to operatively view each of the at least some of the monitors that are mounted on the rail, a variation in distances from the position to a center point of each of the at least some of the monitors is less than 1.5 inches; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers; and wherein the monitors are provided along an arc of the frame such that for a corresponding display for each of at least two-thirds of the monitors, and for at least one position facing the displays, a distance between; (a) the at least one position, and (b) a center of the corresponding display, varies by no more than about 5% from a distance between the at least one position and a center of the corresponding display for each of the other monitors of the at least two thirds of the monitors. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73)
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18. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a path on the upwardly facing surface when the ;
platform moves on the upwardly facing surface;a frame extending above the platform, and attached thereto, for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the path, the frame having thereon mountings for attaching at least some of the plurality of the monitors above the platform on a substantially horizontal first rail of the frame, and for attaching at least one of the monitors, not supported by the first rail, from a substantially horizontal second rail of the frame spaced vertically apart from the first rail; wherein the monitors are provided along an arc of the frame such that for a corresponding display for each of at least two thirds of the monitors, and for at least one position facing the displays, a distance between; (a) the at least one position, and (b) a center of the corresponding display, the distance varies by no more than about 5% from the a distance between the at least one position and a center of the corresponding display for any each of the other monitors of the at least two thirds of the monitors; wherein for at least one position where a user is able to operatively view each of the at least some of the monitors, a variation in distances between; (i)the position to a center point of any of the at least some monitors, and (ii) the position to the at least one monitor, is less than 2 inches; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75)
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19. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a path on the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the path, the frame providing support for mountings on a substantially horizontal rail of the frame, wherein the mountings support the plurality of the monitors above the platform via the substantially horizontal rail ; wherein for each monitor of the plurality of monitors, a corresponding one of the mountings includes a member that moves vertically relative to a rail attachment portion of the corresponding mounting, the member for vertically adjusting a tilt of the monitor relative to the substantially horizontal rail; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contact an upwardly facing surface having an extent underneath the platform, wherein the guide maintains the platform along a predetermined path of the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame having thereon mountings for supporting a plurality of the monitors above the platform, wherein each of the mountings has a corresponding frame attachment for attaching to the frame and a corresponding monitor attachment for attaching a corresponding one of the monitors to the frame, and wherein at least one of the mountings includes, between its corresponding frame attachment and corresponding monitor attachment, an angular adjustment component that provides for adjusting a display face of the corresponding monitor for the at least one mounting, wherein angular adjustment component provides one of a vertical tilt of the display face, and a horizontal angular adjustment of the display face; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; at least one member extending downwardly to the extent for supporting the platform thereon, wherein the member rotates on the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers.
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22. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide is downwardly directed from a downwardly facing surface of the platform, and wherein the guide contacts a substantially horizontal upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves across the upwardly facing surface, wherein the guide telescopes in a direction of the path; and a frame extending above the platform, and fixedly attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame including at least one rail for supporting a plurality of the computer monitors thereon along a curved path above the platform; wherein for each monitor of the plurality of monitors, there is a corresponding mounting for mounting the monitor to the at least one rail, wherein the corresponding mounting includes a member that is movable, relative to a frame attachment member of the mounting, for adjusting a horizontal angular orientation of a display of the monitor relative to the at least one rail, and independently of an angular adjustment of at least one other of the monitors; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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31. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing mountings for supporting a plurality of the computer monitors above the platform; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers wherein such a track or channel would operatively constrain the platform to the predetermined path. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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57. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto, wherein the guide also contacts an upwardly facing surface so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path along the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves on the upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame providing mountings for supporting a plurality of the computer monitors above the platform; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another within a space between the upwardly facing surface and the platform; and one or more wheels or rollers for rolling the platform on the upwardly facing surface, wherein the wheels or rollers move over the upwardly facing surface without traveling within a track or channel for at least a portion of a travel extent for the wheels or rollers, each wheel or roller having an extent that rotatably contacts the upwardly facing surface when the platform moves along the predetermined path; and wherein the mountings include a monitor mount, the monitor mount including a frame attachment portion for attaching to the frame, and an angular adjustment component that adjusts a display face of one of the monitors attached to the monitor mount, wherein the angular adjustment provides one of a vertical tilt of the display face, and a horizontal angular adjustment of the display face. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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76. A computer monitor mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of monitors, comprising:
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a platform having at least one guide attached thereto for moving the platform above and relative to an exterior upwardly facing surface, wherein the guide is attached to a support structure that supports the platform so that the guide maintains the platform on a predetermined path when the platform moves above and relative to the exterior upwardly facing surface; a frame extending above the platform and attached thereto for moving with the platform when the platform moves along the predetermined path, the frame having attached thereto a plurality of mountings for supporting a plurality of the computer monitors on the frame, each of the mountings aligns in a predetermined relationship with a corresponding attachment portion of one of the monitors when the one monitor and the mounting are attached to one another; wherein the guide includes parts that move relative to one another when the platform moves along the predetermined path, and wherein the parts are offset from the exterior upwardly facing surface in a direction of the platform; and wherein when the platform is fully extended toward a front of the apparatus where a user views displays of the plurality of monitors attached to the computer monitor mounting apparatus, a first portion of the guide, fixedly attached to the platform, extends further toward the front than an entire portion of the guide that is both;
(i) fixedly attached to the support structure, and (ii) engages the first portion at least one position for maintaining the platform on the predetermined path. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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Specification