Arm apparatus for mounting electronic devices with cable management system

• US 6,609,691 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovative Office Products, LLC (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc. (IOP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Oddsen, Odd N. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, ANITA M
• Application Number:
  US09/776,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 248/274.1, 248/278.1, 248/280.11, 248/282.1, 248/919, 248/558, 248/276.1, 248/281.11, 248/284.1, 248/917, 248/921, 248/922
• US Class Current: 248/278.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0088 Appliance support having rotary joint or articulated connection
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• 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 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/063 Parallelogram arms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

An adjustable extension arm for mounting an electronic device includes interconnected members which are rotatable or pivotable relative to each other. The interconnected members provide a cable pathway through which a cable for the electronic device may extend for protecting and/or obscuring the cable from view.

Claims

1. An adjustable extension arm for mounting an electronic device thereto, said extension arm comprising a forearm extension having a first end and a second end for attachment of a device thereto, said forearm extension having a first opening at said first end and a second opening adjacent said second end, said first and second openings in communication with each other through a channel provided within said forearm extension between said first and second ends, a first endcap having a first end rotationally attached to said first end of said forearm extension, said first endcap having an opening extending therethrough in communication with said first opening within said forearm extension thereby providing a cable pathway extending from said first endcap to said second opening of said forearm extension, a second endcap having a first end attachable to a support structure, and elongated first and second channel members nested together to form a channel therebetween, said first and second channel members having first ends pivotably attached to said first endcap and second ends pivotably attached to said second endcap.

2. The extension arm of claim 1, wherein one of said channel members has an elongated opening between said first and second ends providing communication between the exterior of said channel member and said channel formed therein.

3. The extension arm of claim 1, wherein said channel formed between said first and second channel members is in communication with said opening extending through said first endcap.

4. The extension arm of claim 1, further including a gas cylinder within said channel formed between said first and second channel members, said gas cylinder retaining said first and second endcaps and said first and second channels in parallelogram shape.

5. The extension arm of claim 1, wherein said first and second endcaps have vertical axes, said axes maintained in parallel alignment while said first and second channel members are pivoted at their respective first and second ends about said first and second endcaps.

6. The extension arm of claim 1, wherein said forearm extension includes an elongated top opening in communication with said channel therein and said first and second openings.

7. The extension arm of claim 6, further including a cover removably received within said top opening, said cover permitting external access to said channel within said forearm extension through said second opening.

8. The extension arm of claim 7, wherein said second opening is arranged between one end of said cover and said second end of said forearm extension.

9. The extension arm of claim 7, wherein said forearm extension includes a bottom wall, said second opening extending between said bottom wall and said cover adjacent said second end of said forearm extension.

10. The extension arm of claim 1, wherein said forearm extension includes a bottom wall, said second opening arranged in said bottom wall adjacent said second end of said forearm extension.

11. The extension arm of claim 1, further including a tubular member having one end received within said opening within said first endcap and another end received within said first opening within said forearm extension.

12. The extension member of claim 11, wherein said tubular member has a side opening therein providing communication between said channel formed between said first and second channel members and said channel provided within said forearm extension.

13. The extension arm of claim 1, further including a mounting assembly attached to said second end of said forearm extension, said mounting assembly having a support plate for attachment to an electronic device.

14. The extension arm of claim 1, further including a shaft extending from said first end of said second endcap for rotatably mounting said second endcap to a support structure.

15. The extension arm of claim 1, further including a plurality of ribs within said first channel member extending between a pair of spaced apart sidewalls of said first channel member.

16. An adjustable extension arm for mounting a device thereto, said extension arm comprising a forearm extension having an internal elongated channel opening upward and extending between first and second ends of said forearm extension, a first endcap having a first end to which said first end of said forearm extension is rotationally mounted, said first endcap including an opening extending therethrough in communication with said internal elongated channel within said forearm extension, a second endcap attachable to a support structure, a nested pair of elongated members forming an internal elongated channel therein, one common end of said elongated members pivotably attached to said first endcap and another common end of said elongated members pivotably attached to said second endcap, wherein said extension arm has a cable pathway through said opening extending through said first endcap and said internal elongated channel within said forearm extension.

17. The extension arm of claim 16, wherein at least one of said members has an outer wall provided with an elongated opening communicating with said internal elongated channel provided between said nested pair of elongated members.

18. The extension arm of claim 16, wherein said cable pathway further extends through said internal elongated channel within said nested pair of elongated members.

19. The extension of claim 16, wherein said opening in said first endcap provides communication to the exterior of said first endcap.

20. The extension arm of claim 16, further including a cover removably attachable to said forearm extension overlying said internal elongated channel.

21. The extension arm of claim 20, wherein said cover forms an opening at one end thereof to provide external access to said internal elongated channel.

22. The extension arm of claim 21, wherein said opening formed by said cover is arranged adjacent said device mounting assembly.

23. The extension arm of claim 16, wherein said forearm extension includes a bottom wall having an opening adjacent said device mounting assembly, said opening providing external access to said internal elongated channel.

24. The extension arm of claim 16, further including a gas cylinder within said nested pair of elongated members.

25. The extension arm of claim 16, wherein said first and second endcaps have vertical axes, said axes maintained in parallel alignment while said nested pair of elongated members are pivoted at their ends.

26. The extension arm of claim 16, further including a tubular member within said first endcap, said forearm extension being rotationally attached to said tubular member.

27. The extension arm of claim 26, wherein said tubular member has a side opening therein providing communication between said internal channel formed between said first and second channel members and said internal channel provided within said forearm extension.

28. The extension arm of claim 16, further including a shaft extending from said second endcap for rotationally mounting said second endcap to a support structure.

29. An adjustable extension arm for mounting an electronic device thereto, said extension arm comprising a forearm extension having a first end and a second end for attachment of an electronic device thereto, said first end having a through hole connected to said second end by a U-shaped member having a bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls, said U-shaped member forming an elongated first channel in communication with said through hole, a cover releasably attachable to said forearm extension overlying said through hole and a portion of said U-shaped member for enclosing said elongated first channel, at least one opening in said forearm extension in either said bottom wall adjacent said second end or between said second end and a portion of said cover;

a first endcap including a first end and a second end having a through hole extending between said first and second ends;

a tubular member received within said through hole within said first endcap having an interior in communication with said first channel within said forearm extension, said tubular member having a sidewall provided with a cutout, said forearm extension rotatably attached to said first endcap by said tubular member being received within said through hole within said first end of said forearm extension;

a second endcap having an end rotatably attachable to a support structure; and

elongated first and second channel members nested together to form a channel therebetween, said first and second channel members having first ends pivotably attached to said first endcap and second ends pivotably attached to said second endcap, one of said channel members having an elongated opening between said first and second ends providing communication between the exterior of said channel member and said channel formed therein, wherein said extension arm forms a cable pathway extending through said through hole within said tubular member and said first channel within said forearm extension.

30. The extension arm of claim 29, wherein said cable pathway further extends through one of said channel members.

31. The extension arm of claim 29, wherein said first and second endcaps have vertical axes, said axes maintained in parallel alignment while said first and second channel members are pivoted at their respective first and second ends about said first and second endcaps.

32. The extension arm of claim 29, further including a gas cylinder within said nested pair of elongated members.

33. The extension arm of claim 29 further including a cover removably attachable to said opening within one of said channel members.

34. The extension arm of claim 33, wherein said cover forms an elongated opening providing a cable pathway therethrough.