Edge mount positioning apparatus, system, and method

• US 9,188,275 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Ergun, Mustafa A., Cain, John, Segar, Peter, Lindblad, Shaun C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McKinnon, Terrell
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNICHOLS, ERET C
• Application Number:
  US13/294,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 248/123.11, 248/295.11, 248/919
• 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 include an apparatus for positioning items such as an electronic display, a keyboard, and/or a work surface. The apparatus can be attached proximate an edge of a generally planar support member to provide a multi-position workstation. In some cases the apparatus includes a display mount coupled to a support column and configured to support an electronic display and a keyboard. The support column may be movable with respect to support member between 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 support member, the apparatus comprising:

a riser comprising;

a bracket;

a support column having a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, the support column movably coupled to the bracket;

an energy storage member positioned within the support column; and

a first lift mechanism integrated within the support column;

an attachment member including a clamp for removably attaching the attachment member about an edge of the support member, the attachment member coupled to the bracket and the riser and configured to attach the riser proximate the edge of the support member having a planar surface, wherein in an attached state the first lift mechanism movably couples the bracket and the support column through a vertical range of travel defined by a portion of the length of the support column and relative to the support member, and wherein the support column is movable relative to the support member;

a display mount coupled to the support column, the display mount configured to support the electronic display; and

a keyboard tray coupled to the support column;

wherein the support column is movable relative to the bracket and the attachment member to simultaneously move the display mount and the keyboard tray within the vertical range of travel, and

wherein when the clamp is attached to the edge of the support member the first end of the support column remains above the planar surface of the support member and the second end of the support column remains below the planar surface of the support member as the support column moves through the vertical range of travel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support column follows a path of travel that is substantially vertical as it moves through the vertical range of travel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support column moves both vertically and horizontally with respect to the attachment member as the support column moves through the vertical range of travel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical range of travel extends above and below the surface of the support member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keyboard tray is positioned below the surface of the support member in a lowest position in the vertical range of travel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a movable work surface coupled to the riser.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the movable work surface is positioned between the display mount and the keyboard tray.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the movable work surface is sized and shaped to replace an existing work surface.

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

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the vertical range of travel is between about 14 inches and about 24 inches.

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

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment member is configured to fixedly attach to the surface of the support member proximate the edge.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard tilt mechanism for adjusting an angle of the keyboard tray.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard extension mechanism configured to support the keyboard tray along a horizontal range of travel with respect to the support column.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a mouse tray, a document holder, a movable work surface, and a telephone holder coupled to the riser.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display mount comprises an electronic display mount.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the display mount further comprises a tilt mechanism and/or a rotation mechanism.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising multiple electronic display mounts.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a notebook tray and/or a notebook docking station.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the display mount and the keyboard tray is movable relative to the other of the display mount and the keyboard.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a display lift mechanism configured to vertically move the display mount relative to the keyboard tray.

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

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the balance mechanism comprises a cam.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the balance mechanism comprises at least one of a gas spring and a constant force spring.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lift mechanism comprises a telescoping lift mechanism.

26. A system for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard, comprising:

a support member having a planar surface and an edge;

a riser comprising;

a bracket;

a support column having a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, the support column movably coupled to the bracket;

an energy storage member positioned within the support column; and

a first lift mechanism integrated within the support column;

an attachment member coupled to bracket and to the riser and attached to the support member proximate the edge of the support member, wherein the first lift mechanism movably couples the bracket and the support column through a vertical range of travel defined by a portion of the length of the support column and relative to the support member, and wherein the support column is movable relative to the support member;

a display mount coupled to the support column, the display mount configured to support the electronic display; and

a keyboard tray coupled to the support column;

wherein the support column is movable relative to the bracket and the attachment member to simultaneously move the display mount and the keyboard tray within the vertical range of travel, and

wherein the first end of the support column remains above the planar surface of the support member and the second end of the support column remains below the planar surface of the support member as the support column moves through the vertical range of travel.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the support member is an existing work surface.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the support member is a mounting platform.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising first and second work surfaces positioned on opposite sides of the support member.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the support member is attached to the first and the second work surfaces.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising a movable work surface coupled to the riser, the movable work surface sized and shaped to extend between the first and the second work surfaces to provide a substantially continuous work surface from the first work surface to the movable work surface to the second work surface at a first vertical position.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the support member is configured to attach to a wall.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the wall comprises partitions and vertical support bars, wherein the support member is configured to attach to at least two of the vertical support bars.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the edge of the support member defines a vertical edge plane perpendicular to the planar surface and wherein as the support column moves through the vertical range of travel it follows a path of travel that is entirely located opposite the vertical edge plane from the support member.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the path of travel is parallel to the vertical edge plane.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the vertical range of travel extends above and below the surface of the support member.

37. The system of claim 26, wherein the keyboard tray is positioned below the surface of the support member in a lowest position in the vertical range of travel.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein the vertical range of travel is at least about 14 inches.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the vertical range of travel is between about 14 inches and about 24 inches.

40. The system of claim 26, wherein the vertical range of travel extends between a sitting position and a standing position.

41. A system for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard, comprising:

a support member having a planar surface and an edge;

a riser comprising;

a bracket;

a support column movably coupled to the bracket;

an energy storage member positioned within the support column; and

a first lift mechanism integrated within the support column;

an attachment member coupled to the riser and attached to the support member proximate the edge of the support member, wherein the first lift mechanism movably couples the bracket and the support column through a vertical range of travel defined by a portion of the length of the support column and relative to the support member, wherein the vertical range of travel extends above and below the surface of the support member, and wherein the support column is movable relative to the support member;

a display mount coupled to the riser, the display mount configured to support the electronic display; and

a keyboard tray coupled to the riser.

42. A system for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard, comprising:

a support member having a planar surface and an edge;

a riser comprising;

a bracket;

a support column movably coupled to the bracket;

an energy storage member positioned within the support column; and

a first lift mechanism integrated within the support column;

an attachment member coupled to the riser and attached to the support member proximate the edge of the support member, wherein the first lift mechanism movably couples the bracket and the support column through a vertical range of travel defined by a portion of the length of the support column and relative to the support member, and wherein the support column is movable relative to the support member;

a display mount coupled to the riser, the display mount configured to support the electronic display; and

a keyboard tray coupled to the riser and positioned below the surface of the support member in a lowest position in the vertical range of travel.