Display positioning apparatus and method

• US 8,826,831 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Hazzard, Joel, Fluhrer, Robert W., Segar, Peter, Theis, John W., Ergun, Mustafa A., Trish, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US13/191,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20120187056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.04, 108/50, 108/50.02, 108/90, 108/137, 108/152, 108/147, 108/147.11, 108/11, 108/111, 248/918, 248/920, 248/917
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/06 with means for balancing weight of blackboards or the like, e.g. connected to wall means for balancing weight of drawing boards A47B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/20 using clamps, clips, wedges, sliding bolts, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/2009 actuated by rotary motion
• 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 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• 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 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/048 for balancing translational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

An apparatus for positioning an electronic display can be combined with an existing work surface to provide a multi-position workstation. In some cases the apparatus includes a mounting portion configured to support an electronic display and a keyboard. The mounting portion may be movable with respect to the work surface between multiple positions, including for example, a sitting position and a standing position. Methods for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard are also included.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard relative to a work surface, the apparatus comprising:

a base comprising

a bottom surface for supporting the base upon a work surface, the work surface formed at least in part by a planar member, and

a clamp for removably attaching the base about an edge of the work surface planar member;

a support column extending upward from the base;

a mounting portion comprising a frame, an electronic display mount coupled to the frame, and a keyboard tray coupled to the frame; and

a lift mechanism movably coupling the mounting portion and the support column so that the mounting portion is translatable with respect to the support column, thereby providing the mounting portion with a vertical range of travel relative to the base;

wherein the vertical range of travel comprises a first position in which the frame positions the keyboard tray below the bottom surface of the base and a second position in which the frame positions the keyboard tray above the bottom surface of the base; and

wherein the base positions the clamp between the keyboard tray and the support column, so as to position the keyboard tray out beyond the edge of the work surface planar member in an attached configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp comprises a first clamping element, a second clamping element, and an adjustable screw threadedly coupled to the first and the second clamping elements such that turning the screw a first direction moves the first and the second clamping elements together to loosen the clamp and such that turning the screw a second direction moves the first and the second clamping elements apart to tighten the clamp.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp comprises a c-clamp.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the clamp includes an upper bracket and an adjustable lower bracket coupled to the upper bracket.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lower bracket comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein a length of the first leg is longer than a length of the second leg, and wherein the first leg is configured to couple to the upper bracket in a first configuration and the second leg is configured to couple to the upper bracket in a second configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp comprises a wedge.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the clamp comprises a lower leg having an inclined surface and wherein the wedge is configured to move along the inclined surface to tighten and loosen the clamp.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises a keyboard tilt mechanism for adjusting an angle of the keyboard tray.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a first end and a second end with an elongated section extending between the first end and the support column.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongated section is generally parallel to a plane defined by movement of the mounting portion through the vertical range of travel.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongated section has a width approximately the same as a width of the support column.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the widths of the elongated section and the support column are equal to or less than about 5 inches.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the widths of the elongated section and the support column are equal to or less than a width of the electronic display mount.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mounting portion comprises a portion generally parallel to the elongated section.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the elongated section has a width approximately the same as the generally parallel portion of the mounting portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongated section of the base has a thickness of about 1 inch or less.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clamp is positioned at the first end of the base for attaching the base about a front edge of the work surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base comprises one or more stabilizing portions extending out from the base.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism comprises a balance mechanism.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the balance mechanism comprises a cam coupled to a spring for balancing a changing force exerted by the spring.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the lift mechanism is located partially within the support column and partially within the base.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical range of travel is at least about 14 inches.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical range of travel is between about 14 inches and about 24 inches.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical range of travel extends between a sitting position and a standing position.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises an elongated section between the electronic display mount and the keyboard tray, the mounting portion further comprising a movable work surface attached to the elongated section of the mounting portion.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises at least one of a mouse tray, a document holder, a movable work surface, and a telephone holder.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises two or more electronic display mounts coupled to the frame for attaching two or more electronic displays to the mounting portion.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least one of the two or more electronic display mounts further comprises a tilt mechanism and/or a rotation mechanism.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises a notebook tray and/or a notebook docking station.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises another lift mechanism movably coupling the electronic display mount and the frame so that the electronic display mount is vertically translatable relative to the keyboard tray.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism comprises an energy storage member that provides a biasing force to assist movement of the mounting portion through the vertical range of travel.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the energy storage member is selected from the group consisting of a gas spring, an extension spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring, a spiral spring, and a constant force spring.

31. An apparatus for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard relative to a work surface, the apparatus comprising:

a base comprising at least one clamp for removably attaching the base to a generally horizontal work surface formed at least in part by a planar member;

a support column extending upward from the base and away from the at least one clamp at an obtuse angle with respect to the base;

a mounting portion comprising a frame, an electronic display mount coupled to the frame, and a keyboard tray coupled to the frame; and

a lift mechanism movably coupling the mounting portion to the support column so that the mounting portion is translatable with respect to the support column, thereby providing the mounting portion with a vertical range of travel relative to the base;

wherein the frame positions the keyboard tray below the base in a lowest position in the vertical range of travel and above the base in a highest position in the vertical range of travel.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the base comprises a first end, a second end, and a front portion extending between the first end and the support column.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one clamp is positioned at the first end of the base opposite the front portion from the support column.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the frame comprises a first vertical portion coupled to the electronic display mount, a second vertical portion coupled to the keyboard tray, and a generally horizontal portion coupled between the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the generally horizontal portion of the frame has a width approximately the same as or less than a width of the support column.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the front portion of the base comprises an elongated section generally parallel to the generally horizontal portion of the frame.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the elongated section of the base has a width approximately the same as or less than the width of the generally horizontal portion of the frame.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the lift mechanism comprises an energy storage member that provides a biasing force to assist movement of the mounting portion through the vertical range of travel.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the energy storage member is a gas spring.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the energy storage member is a spring and further comprising a cam coupled to the spring for balancing a changing force exerted by the spring.

41. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the vertical range of travel is at least about 14 inches.

42. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the vertical range of travel extends between a sitting position and a standing position.