The present embodiments relate to displays and touchscreens, and more particularly, to displays and touchscreens that can be hidden below a conference room table or other working surface and that can “pop-up” to a raised position above the table or the working surface.
In many settings, it is desirable to provide a display, touchscreen, or other screen that extends above a table or other working surface when used but which can be hidden below the table or working surface when not in use. As an example, in a conference room or workspace setting, a display is desired that can extend above a conference room table or desk for use and lowered below that surface when not in use.
Typically, known devices for raising and lowering a display use electric motors to move the display up and down. Such devices typically require a power supply to drive the electric motor and require space under the table for the motor and other associated controls. Moreover, such electric motors are often prone to failure, leaving the display stuck above or beneath the surface.
It is therefore desirable to provide a device which can move a display up and down from a table or other surface using a simple mechanism.
It is to be understood that both the general and detailed descriptions that follow are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive.
In accordance with an aspect, an apparatus drives and guides movement of a display assembly that includes a display unit. The apparatus includes: at least one track extending along at least one side of the display assembly and defining a path along which the display assembly is driven; a plurality of pins extending from the display assembly to the at least one track; and at least one constant force spring having at one end a coiled part that is rotatably coupled to the display assembly, and an opposing end fastened to a fixed mounting location, and an uncoiled part extending between the coiled part and the opposing end; the at least one constant force spring being configured to drive the display assembly from a lowered position to a raised position while the plurality of pins travels along the at least one track and guide movement of the display assembly.
According to a further aspect, an apparatus drives and guides movement of a display assembly that includes a display unit. The apparatus includes: a housing having a plurality of walls and a bottom; a pair of tracks disposed within the housing on opposing sides of the display assembly and defining a path along which the display assembly is driven; a respective pair of pins extending from each of the opposing sides of the display assembly to an adjacent one of the pair of tracks; and at least one constant force spring having at one end a coiled part that is rotatably coupled to the display assembly, and an opposing end fastened to a fixed mounting location, and an uncoiled part extending between the coiled part and the opposing end; the at least one constant force spring being configured to drive the display assembly from a lowered position, in which the display assembly is disposed entirely within the housing, to a raised position, in which the display assembly is partially disposed within the housing with the display unit being at least partially disposed outside the housing, while the respective pairs of pins travel along the pair of tracks and guide movement of the display assembly; each one of the pair of tracks including a straight part that guides the movement of the display assembly along a straight line from the lowered position, and a curved end part that guides further movement of display assembly to the raised position and that guides the display unit to a tilted position.
According to a still further aspect, an apparatus drives and guides movement of a display assembly that includes a display unit. The apparatus includes: a housing having a plurality of walls and a bottom; a pair of tracks disposed within the housing on opposing sides of the display assembly and defining a path along which the display assembly is driven; a respective pair of pins extending from each of the opposing sides of the display assembly to an adjacent one of the pair of tracks; a pair of constant force springs, each having at one end a respective coiled part that is rotatably coupled to the display assembly, a respective opposing end fastened to a respective fixed mounting location on the housing, and a respective uncoiled part extending between the coiled part and the opposing end; the pair of constant force springs being configured to drive the display assembly from a lowered position, in which the display assembly is disposed entirely within the housing, to a raised position, in which the display assembly is partially disposed within the housing with the display unit being at least partially disposed outside the housing, while the respective pairs of pins travel along the pair of tracks and guide movement of the display assembly; each one of the pair of tracks including a straight part that guides the movement of the display assembly along a straight line from the lowered position, and a curved end part that guides further movement of display assembly to the raised position and that guides the display unit to a tilted position; a catch part coupled to the display assembly; a hooking part coupled to the bottom of the housing and configured to releasably hold the catch part, wherein when the hooking part holds the catch part, the display assembly is held in the lowered position, and upon the hooking part releasing the catch part, the display assembly is driven from the lowered position by the at least one constant force spring; a driving mechanism configured to move the hooking part between a holding position in which the hooking part holds the catch part and a released position in which the hooking part does not hold the catch part; a release switch configured to control power to the driving mechanism such that the hooking part is moved from the holding position to the released position; a pair of slide rails coupled to one of the plurality of walls of the housing; a slider affixed to the display assembly; the slider being disposed between, and contacting, the pair of slide rails such that while the display assembly is moved from the lowered position to the raised position, the pair of slide rails slow the movement of the slider, thereby slowing the movement of the display assembly; a gear rotatably coupled to the display assembly, and a gear rack coupled to the one of the plurality of walls of the housing, the gear rack being mated with the gear such that while the display assembly is moved from the lowered position to the raised position, the gear moves along the gear rack and slows the movement of the display assembly.
The accompanying figures further illustrate the present embodiments.
The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The present embodiments provide a pop-up display that can be set in an opening in a table or other working surface, and which can be stored below or raised above the table or working surface.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.
The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings in numerical order.
The embodiment described herein in the context of displays and working surfaces, but is not limited thereto, except as may be set forth expressly in the appended claims.
Referring first to
An electronics housing 410 is located below the display unit 102 and comprises a display assembly together with the display unit 102. A pair of curved parts 418 are disposed at the top of the display frame 402, and a pair of pins 416 extend respectively through the curved parts 418. Each of the pins 416 also extends into a lower part of the connecting piece 420 so that the electronics housing 410 is rotatably coupled to the connecting piece 420 about the pins 416. Alternatively, a single pin 416 extends through both curved parts 418 as well as through the connecting piece 420 to provide the rotatable coupling about the single pin.
The rotatable coupling between the display unit 102 and the connecting piece 420 and the rotatable coupling between the connecting piece 420 and the electronics housing 410 combine to allow the display unit 102 to have a sufficient degree of free movement such that it can travel from the fully vertical orientation to the fully tilted orientation.
A pair of constant force springs 430 provides an upward force on the electronics housing 410 and the display unit 102. The constant force springs 430 are each coiled at one end around a corresponding one of a pair of drums 434. Each one of the pair of drums 434 is rotatably coupled to a lower part of the electronics housing 410 about a corresponding one of a pair of pins 436 (shown in
A staple catch 414 extends from a bottom of the electronics housing 410. A latch hook 450 is movable between an engaged position where it hooks the staple catch 414, as shown in
As the display unit 102 and the electronics housing 410 continue to travel upward, the pins 304, 306, shown in
To raise the display unit 102 from its fully lowered position, a user merely depresses or otherwise activates the release switch 106, causing the latch hook 450 to move and release the staple catch 414 so that the force always exerted by the constant force spring 430 on the electronics housing 410 can now drive the display unit 102 and the electronics housing 410 to travel upward. Because the constant force springs 430 are used, the display unit 102 travels upward at a constant speed. The slider 444, which is attached to the display unit 102, concurrently moves between the slide rails 442 to guide the upward movement of the display unit 102 while the friction between the slider 444 and the slide rails 442 dampens the force exerted by the constant force spring 430 to slow down this movement. Further, the gear (not shown) also travels with the display unit 102, and the interaction between the gear and the gear rack 440 also guides the upward movement of the display unit 102 while dampening the force exerted by the constant force spring 430 to slow down this upward movement. The upward movement of the display unit 102 is further guided by the movement of the pins 304, 306 along the side track 302 with the curved portion of 303 at the upper end of the side track 302 guiding pins 304, 306 to cause the display unit 102 to tilt.
Conversely, to lower the display unit 102 from its fully raised, fully tilted position to its fully lowered position, the user merely presses down on the display top cover 112 until the staple catch 414 is engaged by and held by the latch hook 450.
In this manner, the display unit 102 of the pop-up display device 100 can be raised and lowered by simple operations.
To solve the aforementioned problems, the present embodiments provide a pop-up display that utilizes constant force springs and dampers to raise a touch panel display to above a surface.
Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the embodiments.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/507,148, filed Oct. 21, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17507148 | Oct 2021 | US |
Child | 18534943 | US |