Patent ID: 7317611
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: F16M,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A mount for operably attaching a flat panel display to a fixed structure, the flat panel display presenting a display screen, the mount comprising: a mount bracket adapted to be operably coupled with the fixed structure; a device interface bracket adapted to be operably coupled with the flat panel display; at least one swing arm operably coupling the device interface bracket and the mount bracket so that, when the mount bracket is operably coupled with the fixed structure and the flat panel display is operably coupled with the device interface bracket, the at least one swing arm is selectively positionable along a path of travel between a folded position wherein the flat panel display is disposed proximate a horizontal plane extending through the mount bracket, and an extended position wherein the at least one swing arm depends downwardly from the mount bracket and the screen of the flat panel display is positioned in a generally vertical orientation; and a friction element operably coupled with the mount bracket and the at least one swing arm, the friction element disposed so as to apply a first frictional resistance force to the at least one swing arm to resist positioning of the at least one swing arm toward the extended position and to apply a second frictional resistance force to the at least one swing arm to resist positioning of the at least one swing arm toward the folded position, the magnitude of the first frictional resistance force being greater than the magnitude of the second frictional resistance force, wherein the friction element comprises a hinge including: a housing defining a bore, the housing operably coupled to one of the mount bracket and the at least one swing arm; a friction bushing in the bore; a hinge axle extending through the bore and operably coupled to the other of the mount bracket and the at least one swing arm, the hinge axle having a head portion, an intermediate portion, and a shaft portion, the intermediate portion slidingly confronting the friction bushing; and a one-way bearing on the shaft portion of the hinge axle, the one-way bearing presenting an outer surface confronting the friction bushing, the first frictional resistance force being substantially provided by the sliding motion of the outer surface of the one-way bearing together with sliding motion of the intermediate portion on the friction bushing when the at least one swing arm is pivoted about the hinge toward the extended position, and the second frictional resistance force being substantially provided by the sliding motion of only the intermediate portion on the friction bushing when the at least one swing arm is pivoted about the hinge toward the folded position.