Display positioning apparatus and method

• US 9,080,721 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• 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:
  US14/340,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20140332653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/50.02, 108/90, 108/137, 108/152, 108/147, 108/147.111, 108/50.01, 108/147.11, 248/918, 248/920, 248/917
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/033 with parts added to the original furniture to enlarge its surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2009/185 being positioned between the table top and the legs or underframe
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2023/049 Desk stand for laptop computer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0073 liftable above the desk top
• 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 21/04 characterised by means for holding or fastening typewriters or computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0076 Vertical technical column supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/04 supported from table, floor or wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/10 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/12 with flexible height-adjusting means, e.g. rope, chain
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/18 with additional top or additional legs for varying the height of the top
• 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 12/2009 actuated by rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• 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 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• 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 11/28 : Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• 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 13/022 : repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 : for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/047 : for balancing translational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/048 : for balancing translational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 : with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/068 : being part of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for positioning an electronic display. The apparatus 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 first work surface, the apparatus comprising:

a base including a bottom surface for supporting the base upon the first work surface;

a support column extending upward from the base at an obtuse angle with respect to the first work surface;

a mounting portion movably coupled to the support column through an angled range of travel relative to the first work surface, the mounting portion configured to simultaneously move the electronic display and the keyboard within the vertical range of travel; and

a second work surface coupled to the mounting portion and configured to simultaneously move with the electronic display and the keyboard within the range of travel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a clamp configured to attach the base about a front edge of the first work surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a clamp configured to attach the base about a back edge of the first work surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first support member configured to attach to the mounting portion, the first support member configured to support a keyboard.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the range of travel includes:

a first position in which the mounting portion positions the first support member below the bottom surface of the base; and

a second position in which the mounting portion positions the first support member above the bottom surface of the base.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a second support member configured to attach to the first support member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second work surface is configured to support a keyboard.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to support two electronic displays, the apparatus comprising:

a crossbar coupled to the mounting portion;

two display mounts, each display mount configured to support one of the two electronic displays, each display mount coupled to the crossbar.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be attached to the first work surface via a through hole in the first work surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base is configured to be attached to the first work surface via a through hole in the first work surface.

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

a base including a bottom surface for supporting the base upon the first work surface;

a support column extending upward from the base at an obtuse angle with respect to the first work surface;

a mounting portion movably coupled to the support column through an angled range of travel relative to the first work surface, the mounting portion configured to simultaneously move the electronic display and the keyboard within the range of travel; and

a first support member configured to attach to the mounting portion, the first support member configured to support a keyboard,

wherein the base comprises a clamp configured to attach the base about a back edge of the first work surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, 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.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the clamp comprises a c-clamp.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the clamp includes an upper bracket and an adjustable lower bracket coupled to the upper bracket.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, 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.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the clamp comprises a wedge.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, 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.

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

a base including;

a bottom surface for supporting the base upon the first work surface, and

a clamp configured to attach the base about an edge of the first work surface;

a support column extending upward from the base with respect to the first work surface; and

a mounting portion movably coupled to the support column through a range of travel relative to the first work surface, the mounting portion including an upwardly extending portion to which the electronic display is configured to be attached using a display mount, wherein the upwardly extending portion is directly coupled to the support column; and

a first support member coupled to the mounting portion, the first support member configured to support the keyboard,

wherein the mounting portion is configured to simultaneously move the electronic display and the keyboard within the range of travel.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the range of travel includes:

a first position in which the mounting portion positions the first support member below the bottom surface of the base; and

a second position in which the mounting portion positions the first support member above the bottom surface of the base.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, comprising:

a second work surface coupled to the mounting portion and configured to simultaneously move with the electronic display and the keyboard within the vertical range of travel.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first support member is configured to attach to the second work surface.

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

a base including a bottom surface for supporting the base upon the first work surface;

a support column extending upward from the base;

a mounting portion movably coupled to the support column through a range of travel relative to the first work surface, the mounting portion configured to simultaneously move the electronic display and the keyboard within the vertical range of travel; and

a second work surface coupled to the mounting portion and configured to simultaneously move with the electronic display and the keyboard within the range of travel.