The present invention relates to mounting systems for flat panel displays. Recently, there has been a marked growth in the popularity of flat panel displays such as a flat screen computer monitors or flat screen televisions. It is becoming common to have flat panel displays attached to a work area with a display arm. These display arms may be non-movable providing only a single viewing position. In such situations, vertical adjustment of the display requires detaching the display arm and physically raising or lowering the point of attachment to the work area. In other embodiments, display arms may be hinged providing for vertical movement of the attached display. A locking mechanism will typically be utilized to fix the display arm at the desired position.
Current-generation hinged display arms typically utilize a gas cylinder to support the weight of the monitor and fix the display arm at the desired position. In addition to being bulky, the gas cylinders are failure-prone. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a durable mechanism for fixing a hinged display arm at the desired position, while still allowing easy adjustment of the vertical position of an attached flat panel display. Such mechanism should be capable of being mounted directly to a work station, and should allow a user to effortlessly adjust the display height across a range sufficient to accommodate different-sized users.
The invention disclosed herein is generally directed to an adjustable display arm for mounting a flat panel monitor or flat panel display. The adjustable display arm utilizes a single motion, friction-locking hinge mechanism which allows a user to adjust the height of the display screen to enable a comfortable, sustainable working posture. The display arm's hinge mechanism will provide minimal resistance to a user raising an attached flat-panel display. However, the hinge mechanism will provide resistance to the lowering of the arm assembly, thereby supporting the weight of an attached flat-panel display and effectively locking the adjustable display arm in the desired position.
An adjustable display arm having features of the present invention comprises an arm assembly having a lower arm bracket, an upper link, a hinge mechanism connecting the upper link's first end to the lower arm bracket, and an upper arm bracket attached to the upper link's second end. The hinge mechanism can have a shaft, a clutch bearing, and a friction pack. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The clutch bearing has an inner periphery and an outer periphery, with the inner periphery mounted to the shaft and the outer periphery mounted within the aperture in the lower arm bracket. The friction pack can comprise a hinge cap and a threaded fastener. The hinge cap can be attached to the shaft's first end such that the hinge cap rotates as the shaft rotates. The threaded fastener can extend through the hinge cap to engage a threaded bore in the shaft.
Another embodiment of an adjustable display arm having features of the present invention comprises an arm assembly having a lower arm bracket, an upper link, a hinge mechanism connecting the upper link's first end to the lower arm bracket, and an upper arm bracket attached to the upper link's second end. The hinge mechanism can have a shaft, a clutch bearing, and a friction pack. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The clutch bearing has an inner periphery and an outer periphery, with the inner periphery mounted to the shaft and the outer periphery mounted within the aperture in the lower arm bracket. The friction pack comprises a first hinge cap, a second hinge cap, and a threaded fastener. The first hinge cap is attached to the shaft's first end, while the second hinge cap is attached to shaft's second end. The threaded fastener extends through the second hinge cap and the shaft to engage a threaded bore in the first hinge cap.
Another embodiment of an adjustable display arm having features of the present invention comprises a base assembly, and arm assembly, and a mount assembly. The arm assembly has a lower arm bracket, an upper link, a hinge mechanism connecting the upper link's first end to the lower arm bracket, and an upper arm bracket attached to the upper link's second end. The hinge mechanism can have a shaft, a clutch bearing, and a friction pack. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The clutch bearing has an inner periphery and an outer periphery, with the inner periphery mounted to the shaft and the outer periphery mounted within the aperture in the lower arm bracket. The friction pack comprises a first hinge cap, a second hinge cap, and a threaded fastener. The first hinge cap is attached to the shaft's first end, while the second hinge cap is attached to shaft's second end. The threaded fastener extends through the second hinge cap and the shaft to engage a threaded bore in the first hinge cap.
The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every possible implementation. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
The adjustable display arm 1 described herein utilizes a single motion, friction-locking hinge mechanism to support the weight of an attached flat-panel display. Referring to
A. Embodiments of the Arm Assembly
Referring to
A spring 260 can be utilized to bias the arm assembly 200's vertical position. The spring's first end 262 can be attached to the upper link's first end 242, and the spring's second end 263 can be attached to the lower link's second end 253. In other embodiments, a gas cylinder may be substituted in place of the spring 260.
An embodiment of the hinge mechanism is depicted in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The first and second keyed washers 224, 234 can be mounted on the bodies of the first and second hinge caps 222, 232, respectively. As depicted in
Referring again to
The first bushing 225 can be fixedly coupled to the upper link's first side 245, while the second bushing can be fixedly coupled to the upper link's second side 246. In the embodiment depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
The friction pack 220 functions to provide frictional resistance to the lowering of the arm assembly 200. When the friction pack 220 is assembled, the first keyed washer 224 will abut the first bushing 225 to provide a first bearing surface, and the second keyed washer 234 will abut the second bushing 235 to provide a second bearing surface. The first and second bushings 225, 235 will also abut opposite ends of the shaft 217 to provide third and fourth bearing surfaces. As depicted in
Referring to
The arm assembly 200's single motion, friction-locking hinge mechanism operates as follows. As a user raises the arm assembly 200, the upper link 240 will pivot about the hinge assembly 215. The pivoting of the upper link 240 in an upward direction will cause the first and second bushings 225, 235—which are attached to the upper link 240—to rotate in the first direction. Because the first and second bushings 225, 235 are in frictional engagement with the first and second washers 224, 234 respectively, the rotation of the first and second bushings 225, 235 in the first direction will drive the first and second washers 224, 225 to rotate in the first direction, which in turn will drive the first and second hinge caps 222, 232 and the shaft 217 to rotate in the first direction. Because the clutch bearing 218 allows the shaft 217 to rotate freely (i.e., freewheel) in the first direction, the arm assembly 200 will provide minimal resistance to a user raising an attached flat-panel display.
The arm assembly's single motion, friction-locking hinge mechanism will provide resistance to the lowering of the arm assembly 200, thereby supporting the weight of an attached flat-panel display. The weight of the attached flat-panel display will exert a downward force, biasing the upper link 240 to pivot about the hinge assembly 215 in a downward direction. The pivoting of the upper link 240 in a downward direction will cause the first and second bushings 225, 235—which are attached to the upper link 240—to rotate in the second direction. Although the first and second bushings 225, 235 are in frictional engagement with the first and second washers 224, 234 respectively, the rotation of the first and second bushings 225, 235 in the second direction will not drive the first and second washers 224, 234 to rotate in the second direction. Rather, the first and second washers 224, 225 will be locked in position. The first and second washers 224, 225 will be locked in position because the clutch bearing 218 locks when rotated in the second direction, thereby preventing the shaft 217, the first and second hinge caps 222, 232, and all other components mounted thereto from rotating in the second direction. Because the fastener 231 is exerting a clamping force, friction will exist at the first, second, third, and fourth bearing surfaces. This friction, which can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the fastener 231, provides the resistance to the lowering of the arm assembly 200. When the fastener 231 is tightened to the appropriate tension, the arm assembly's single motion, friction-locking hinge mechanism effectively locks the attached flat-panel display in the desired position. The arm assembly 200 will remain at the desired height until the user applies a downward force to the arm assembly 200 sufficient to overcome the resistance provided by the hinge mechanism 215.
An alternative embodiment of the hinge mechanism 215 is shown in
Still referring to the embodiment depicted in
While
B. Embodiments of the Mount Assembly
The mount assembly 300 is designed to give a user the ability to tilt an attached flat-panel monitor both horizontally and vertically. The mount assembly 300 also utilizes a quick release feature, which allows the user to quickly detach the flat-panel monitor from the adjustable display arm 1 without any tools.
An embodiment of the mount assembly 300 is shown in
The pivot bracket 301 has a horizontal ring and a vertical ring. A pivot bracket cap 305 extends through the pivot bracket 301's horizontal ring to pivotally attach the pivot bracket 301 to the arm assembly's upper arm bracket 290. A fastener 302 engages the pivot bracket cap 305 to secure the pivot bracket 301 to the upper arm bracket 290. A lower bearing 303 and an upper bearing 304 can be used to facilitate the horizontal pivoting of the pivot bracket 301 with respect to the upper arm bracket 290.
The mounting bracket 310 is pivotally attached to the pivot bracket 301's vertical ring. A right bearing 306 and a left bearing 307 can be used to facilitate the vertical pivoting of the mounting bracket 310 with respect to the pivot bracket 301.
The mounting bracket 310 has a slot which accepts the tongue 330. Thus, when the tongue 330 is secured to the mounting plate 340, the mounting plate 340 and tongue 330 can slidably engage the mounting bracket 310. A flat-panel monitor or display device can be attached to the mounting plate 340 by bolts, screws, or any other conventional means.
A mounting bracket cover 320 can be attached to the mounting bracket 310. The mounting bracket cover 320 has a flexible quick release handle 321 which engages the top of the tongue 330 to lock the tongue 330 in engagement within the mounting bracket 310. A user can disengage the tongue 330 from the mounting bracket 310 by applying a force to the quick release handle 321.
An alternative embodiment of the mount assembly 300 is depicted in
The ball joint bracket 360 defines a horizontal ring attached to a ball component. A pivot bracket cap 350 extends through the ball joint bracket 360's horizontal ring to pivotally attach the ball joint bracket 360 to the arm assembly's upper arm bracket 290. A fastener 351 engages the pivot bracket cap 350 to secure the ball joint bracket 360 to the upper arm bracket 290. A lower bearing 352 and an upper bearing 353 can be used to facilitate the horizontal pivoting of the ball joint bracket 360 with respect to the upper arm bracket 290.
When assembled, the ball joint bracket 360's ball component is disposed between the first ball joint case 365 and the second ball joint case 370. The first ball joint case 365 can be attached to the second ball joint case 370 by fasteners, clamps, rivets, glue, or any other means known in the art. First and second ball joint cups 375, 376 can be disposed around the ball component to stabilize the ball component within the ball joint casing.
The second ball joint case 370 can also feature a slot which accepts the tongue 330. Thus, when the tongue 330 is secured to the mounting plate 340, the mounting plate 340 and tongue 330 can slidably engage the slot in the second ball joint case 370.
A quick release spring 380 can be attached to the second ball joint case 370 by fasteners, clamps, rivets, glue, or any other means known in the art. The quick release spring 380 engages the top of the tongue 330 to lock the tongue 330 in engagement within the second ball joint case 370's slot. A user can disengage the tongue 330 from the second ball joint case 370 by applying a force to the quick release spring 380. A quick release handle 385 can be attached to the quick release spring 380.
C. Embodiments of the Base Assembly
The base assembly 100 is designed to give a user the ability to secure the adjustable display arm 1 to a desk or table. An embodiment of the base assembly 100 is shown in
The upper end of the base 110 is attached to the lower arm bracket 210 by a connecter shaft 201, while the lower end of the base 110 is attached to the first base bracket 120 by fasteners, adhesives, or any means known in the art. The second base bracket 130 is attached to the first base bracket 120. The second base bracket 130 features a threaded aperture which is engaged by a threaded rod 134. A clamping plate 136 can be attached to the upper end of the threaded rod 134, while a knob 132 can be attached to the lower end. When assembled, the clamping plate 136 will be substantially parallel with the lower end of the base 110. The base 110 forms a first clamping surface, while the clamping plate 136 forms a second clamping surface. A user can secure the adjustable display arm 1 to a desk or table by positioning the desk surface between the first and second clamping surfaces. The knob 132 can then be rotated in a first direction to raise the clamping plate 136 into contact with the underside of the desk surface.
In other embodiments, the base assembly 100 can feature a base pad 111 positioned between the base 110 and the first base bracket 120. A third cable guide 115 can also be attached to the base 110.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.