Display Positioning Apparatus and Method

• US 20120187056A1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• 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, Ergun, Mustafa A., Trish, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/26
• 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

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, comprising:

a base configured to attach to a work surface;

a support column extending upward from the base; and

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

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to rigidly attach to the work surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base is configured to rigidly attach to the work surface through a hole in the work surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a fastener and an attachment plate configured to receive the fastener inserted through the hole in the work surface, the fastener coupling the attachment plate and the base through the hole in the work surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to removably attach to the work surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the base comprises a clamp for removably attaching the base about an edge of the work surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, 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.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the clamp comprises a c-clamp.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the clamp includes an upper bracket and an adjustable lower bracket coupled to the upper bracket.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, 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.

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

12. The apparatus of claim 11, 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.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises a keyboard tray configured to support the keyboard.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the keyboard tray is positioned below the work surface in a lowest position in the vertical range of travel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the keyboard tray is positioned above the work surface in a highest position in the vertical range of travel.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mounting portion comprises a keyboard tilt mechanism for adjusting an angle of the keyboard tray with respect to the work surface.

17. 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.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the elongated section is generally parallel to a plane defined by movement of the mounting portion through the vertical range of travel.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the elongated section has a width approximately the same as a width of the support column.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the widths of the elongated section and the support column are equal to or less than about 5 inches.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the mounting portion includes an electronic display mount and the widths of the elongated section and the support column are equal to or less than a width of the electronic display mount.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the mounting portion comprises a portion generally parallel to the elongated section.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the elongated section has a width approximately the same as the generally parallel portion of the mounting portion.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the elongated section of the base has a thickness of about 1 inch or less.

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

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the base comprises a clamp at the second end for attaching the base about a back edge of the work surface.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the base comprises one or more stabilizing portions extending out from the base.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first lift mechanism movably coupling the mounting portion to the support column through the vertical range of travel, the first lift mechanism comprising a balance mechanism.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the balance mechanism comprises a cam and an energy storage member.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first lift mechanism is located partially within the support column and partially within the base.

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

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

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

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises an electronic display mount, a keyboard tray, and 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.

35. 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.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises one or more electronic display mounts for attaching one or more electronic displays to the mounting portion.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein at least one of the one or more electronic display mounts further comprises a tilt mechanism and/or a rotation mechanism.

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

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises a keyboard tray and an electronic display mount movable relative to the keyboard tray.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the mounting portion comprises a second lift mechanism configured to move the electronic display mount vertically relative to the keyboard tray.

41. An apparatus for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard, comprising:

a base configured to attach to a generally horizontal work surface;

a support column extending upward from the base;

a mounting portion comprising an electronic display mount configured to attach the electronic display to the mounting portion and a keyboard tray configured to support the keyboard; and

a first lift mechanism movably coupling the mounting portion to the support column through a vertical range of travel, wherein

the keyboard tray is positioned below the work surface in a lowest position in the vertical range of travel and the keyboard tray is positioned above the work surface in a highest position in the vertical range of travel.

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

attaching a positioning apparatus to a work surface, the positioning apparatus having a base configured to attach to the work surface, a support column extending upward from the base, and a mounting portion movably coupled to the support column through a vertical range of travel relative to the work surface;

supporting the electronic display with the mounting portion;

supporting the keyboard with the mounting portion; and

moving the mounting portion within the vertical range of travel to simultaneously move the electronic display and the keyboard relative to the support column and the work surface.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising rigidly attaching the base of the positioning apparatus to the work surface.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein rigidly attaching the base comprises inserting a fastener through the work surface.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising removably attaching the base of the positioning apparatus to the work surface.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising clamping the base to the work surface.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising moving the mounting portion within the vertical range of travel so that the keyboard moves from below the work surface to above the work surface.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising moving the mounting portion within the vertical range of travel so that the keyboard and the electronic display move between a sitting position and a standing position relative to the work surface.

49. The method of claim 42, further comprising moving the mounting portion so that the electronic display moves independently from the keyboard.

50. The method of claim 42, further comprising adjusting an angle of the keyboard with respect to the work surface.