Tablet and monitor support systems

• US 9,660,466 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Ergun, Mustafa A., Tischer, William Dale, Lindblad, Shaun Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): WARREN, DAVID S
• Application Number:
  US14/921,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/043 adjustable, foldable
• 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: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Support systems and related methods for supporting tablets and monitors. A stand that includes a monitor support portion configured to support a monitor and a tablet support portion configured to support a tablet.

Claims

1. A monitor support comprising:

a front portion and a rear portion, the monitor support front portion configured to support a monitor, the monitor support rear portion configured to attach to a support structure, and

a top portion having a top edge, the top edge having a length, the top portion defining a recessed region that extends along at least a portion of the length of the top edge, the recessed region defining a mobile computing device support portion that is configured to receive and releasably support an edge of a mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device support portion is positioned behind the supported monitor, and wherein the mobile computing device support portion supports the mobile computing device behind a rear portion of the supported monitor.

2. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is a tablet computer.

3. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is a cellular phone.

4. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the monitor support and mobile computing device support portion are positioned such that a perimeter of a supported monitor overlaps with a perimeter of a supported mobile computing device in front plan view.

5. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the monitor support and mobile computing device support portion are positioned such that a perimeter of a supported monitor does not overlap with a perimeter of a supported mobile computing device in front plan view.

6. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the front portion includes a support arrangement.

7. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the support arrangement is a VESA mount.

8. The monitor support of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connection that has a first connector and a second connector, the first connector configured to connect with a port on a supported mobile computing device, the second connector configured to connect to the supported monitor, such that a connected mobile computing device and a connected monitor are configured to be in electronic communication.

9. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device support portion further comprises a docking station that releasably supports the mobile computing device, the docking station having the first connector, the docking station configured to align the mobile computing device, as the mobile computing device is positioned in the docking station, such that the port in the mobile computing device aligns with, and connects to, the first connector.

10. The monitor support of claim 1, further comprising a base configured to rest on a horizontal surface, wherein the base supports the support structure.

11. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein a screen of the supported monitor is parallel to and facing the same direction as a screen of a supported mobile computing device.

12. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein a screen of the supported monitor is parallel to and facing the opposite direction as a screen of a supported mobile computing device.

13. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device support portion is integral with the monitor support or the monitor.

14. The monitor support of claim 1, further comprising a tilt mechanism.

15. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a vertical riser.

16. The monitor support of claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a height adjustment mechanism.

17. A monitor support comprising:

a front portion and a rear portion, the monitor support front portion configured to support a monitor, the monitor support rear portion configured to attach to a support structure; and

a top portion having a top edge, the top edge having a length, the top portion defining a recessed region that extends along at least a portion of the length of the top edge, the recessed region defining a tablet support portion that is configured to receive and releasably support an edge of a tablet, wherein the tablet support portion is positioned behind the supported monitor, and wherein the tablet support portion supports the tablet behind a rear portion of the supported monitor.

18. The monitor support of claim 17, wherein the monitor support and tablet support portion are positioned such that a perimeter of a supported monitor overlaps with a perimeter of a supported tablet in front plan view.

19. The monitor support of claim 17, wherein the monitor support and tablet support portion are positioned such that a perimeter of a supported monitor does not overlap with a perimeter of a supported tablet in front plan view.

20. The monitor support of claim 17, further comprising an electrical connection that has a first connector and a second connector, the first connector configured to connect with a port on a supported mobile computing device, the second connector configured to connect to the supported monitor, such that a connected mobile computing device and a connected monitor are configured to be in electronic communication.