Patent ID: 7637463
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: F16M,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A height-adjustable support, comprising: a stand unit having an upper end; a friction-providing assembly disposed on said upper end of said stand unit and including a stationary member and a movable member, said stationary member being disposed stationarily on said upper end of said stand unit, said movable member being movable relative to and in frictional contact with said stationary member; a link assembly having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion being coupled to said movable member of said friction-providing assembly such that pivoting movement of said link assembly results in at least rotational movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member; said link assembly including a housing and a pair of pins, said housing having left and right side walls each formed with a pair of upper and lower passages, said upper and lower passages in said left side wall being aligned horizontally and respectively with said upper and lower passages in said right side wall; wherein said movable member of said friction-providing assembly includes left and right wheels adjacent respectively to said left and right side walls of said housing, and a bridge extending between said left and right wheels, each of said left and right wheels being formed with a pair of upper and lower pivot slots, said upper and lower pivot slots in said left wheel being registered respectively with said upper and lower passages in said left side wall of said housing, said upper and lower pivot slots in said right wheel being registered respectively with said upper and lower passages in said right side wall of said housing; a mounting seat disposed on said distal end portion of said link assembly and adapted to support a load; and a biasing assembly coupled at one end to said movable member of said friction-providing assembly and at an opposite end to said stand unit; wherein a biasing force exerted by said biasing assembly on said movable member and a frictional force generated between said stationary member and said movable member of said friction-providing assembly cooperate to balance the weight of the load and position said link assembly to sustain the load at an arbitrary height.