Techniques and apparatus for mounting a housing on a personal communication structure (PCS)

• US 9,703,320 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CityBridge LLC
• Original Assignee: Civiq Smartscapes, LLC
• Inventors: Bowers, Kyle R., Lee, Benjamin P., Shah, Parag N., Gray, Kenneth J., Lawler, Benjamin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US14/857,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20170083043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

Techniques for operating a personal communication structure (PCS) are described. A personal communication structure (PCS) may include a frame, a housing, and a mounting system coupling the housing to the frame. The mounting system may include a plurality of four-bar linkages. Each of the four-bar linkages may include two links, first pin joints coupling first ends of the respective links to the frame, and second pin joints coupling second ends of the respective links to the housing. Rotation of the links of the mounting system results in displacement of the housing relative to the frame along an arcuate path.

Claims

1. A personal communication structure (PCS) comprising:

a frame adapted to be mounted to a ground support, the frame including a first side member, a second side member opposing the first side member, and a cross-frame member coupled to the side members to form an I-shaped structure;

a housing disposed in an orientation relative to the frame in a closed position; and

a mounting system coupling the housing to the I-shaped structure, the mounting system including a plurality of four-bar linkages, each of the four-bar linkages including two links, first pin joints coupling first ends of the respective links to the I-shaped structure, and second pin joints coupling second ends of the respective links to the housing,

wherein rotation of the links of the mounting system results in displacement of the housing relative to the frame along an arcuate path from the closed position to a servicing position while maintaining the orientation of the housing relative to the frame.

2. The PCS of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises aluminum.

3. The PCS of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a housing frame, a transparent covering secured to the housing frame, and a display panel secured to the housing frame and disposed within a cavity formed by the housing frame and the transparent covering.

4. The PCS of claim 1, wherein each of the four-bar linkages is a substantially planar four-bar linkage.

5. The PCS of claim 4, wherein the plurality of four-bar linkages comprises a first four-bar linkage and a second four-bar linkage arranged in a substantially parallel configuration.

6. The PCS of claim 1, wherein the housing is a first housing, wherein the mounting system is a first mounting system, wherein the PCS further comprises a second housing and a second mounting system coupling the second housing to the frame.

7. The PCS of claim 6, wherein the first housing and the second housing are mounted to opposing sides of the PCS, and wherein a minimum distance between the first and second housings is at least approximately 1.875 inches.

8. The PCS of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the frame disposed adjacent to and with the first and second housings forms an internal cavity.

9. The PCS of claim 8, wherein the cross-frame member comprises a heat sink disposed in the internal cavity.

10. The PCS of claim 6, wherein the first housing comprises a first display panel, wherein the second housing comprises a second display panel, and wherein the first and second display panels are arranged in a substantially parallel configuration.

11. The PCS of claim 10, wherein viewing surfaces of the first and second display panels face in substantially opposite directions, and wherein a distance between the viewing surfaces of the first and second display panels is less than approximately 11 inches.

12. The PCS of claim 1, further comprising a counterbalance mechanism disposed between the housing and the frame and configured to support the housing relative to the frame along the arcuate path.

13. The PCS of claim 12, wherein the counterbalance mechanism comprises at least one spring coupled to the frame and at least one of the four-bar linkages.

14. The PCS of claim 13, wherein the at least one spring comprises a first spring coupled to the frame and a link of a first of the four-bar linkages, and a second spring coupled to the frame and a link of a second of the four-bar linkages.

15. The PCS of claim 14, wherein the first spring is coupled between the frame and the first four-bar linkage via a pulley.

16. The PCS of claim 14, wherein the displacement of the housing relative to the frame along the arcuate path increases extension of the first spring.

17. The PCS of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizing mechanism operable to prevent movement of at least one of the four-bar linkages when the housing is in the servicing position.

18. The PCS of claim 17, wherein engagement of the stabilizing mechanism prevents rotation of at least one link of the at least one four-bar linkage relative to the frame.

19. The PCS of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism adapted to prevent movement of the housing away from the closed position.

20. The PCS of claim 19, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one housing connector coupled to the housing and adapted to mate with an interlocking frame connector coupled to the frame.

21. The PCS of claim 1, wherein the second pin joints coupling the links to the housing comprise quick-release mechanisms.

22. The PCS of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the housing relative to the frame comprises a substantially vertical orientation.

23. A personal communication structure (PCS) comprising:

a frame;

a housing movable between a closed position and a servicing position;

a mounting system coupling the housing to the frame, the mounting system including a plurality of four-bar linkages, each of the four-bar linkages including two links, first pin joints coupling first ends of the respective links to the frame, and second pin joints coupling second ends of the respective links to the housing; and

a stabilizing mechanism operable to prevent movement of at least one of the four-bar linkages when the housing is in the servicing position,

wherein rotation of the links of the mounting system results in displacement of the housing relative to the frame along an arcuate path,

wherein engagement of the stabilizing mechanism prevents rotation of at least one link of the at least one four-bar linkage relative to the frame, and

wherein the stabilizing mechanism comprises a movable pin biased toward an aperture formed in the at least one four-bar linkage, to stabilize the at least one four-bar linkage when the housing is in the servicing position.

24. The PCS of claim 23, wherein retraction of the movable pin from the aperture permits movement of the housing from the servicing position.

25. A personal communication structure (PCS) comprising:

a frame;

a housing movable between a closed position and a servicing position;

a mounting system coupling the housing to the frame, the mounting system including a plurality of four-bar linkages, each of the four-bar linkages including two links, first pin joints coupling first ends of the respective links to the frame, and second pin joints coupling second ends of the respective links to the housing; and

a locking mechanism adapted to prevent movement of the housing away from the closed position,

wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one housing connector coupled to the housing and adapted to mate with an interlocking frame connector coupled to the frame, and

wherein the housing connector comprises a pin and the frame connector forms an L-shaped receptacle.

26. The PCS of claim 25, wherein the pin comprises a pin joint of one of the four-bar linkages.

27. The PCS of claim 25, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a release mechanism operable to move the frame connector between a lock position and a release position.

28. The PCS of claim 27, wherein the release mechanism comprises a control mechanism selected from the group consisting of a lever, a cam, a solenoid, a motor with a drive gear, and a combination thereof.

29. The PCS of claim 27, wherein the release mechanism is biased toward the lock position.