Abstract:
A flat-panel display stand in accordance with the present invention includes a modular assembly for supporting a display on a horizontal surface so that the display tilt can be adjusted by the user. The stand has a modular design with only two modules: a retainer clip and supporting leg that are uniquely hinged together and connected to the rear of the display.

Description:
RELATED PATENT DATA 
     Cross-Reference to Related Application 
     This application claims priority to PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2009/051422, which was filed on Jul. 22, 2009 which is herein included by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to flat-panel monitors, and more particularly to an adjustable modular stand for supporting a flat-panel display, such as an LCD or a plasma-type display. 
     With the advent of compact LCD displays there have been a plethora of new designs adapted for mounting the displays vertically or for supporting the displays for free-standing upright use on a desktop or table. These mounting mechanisms range in design from elaborate support apparatus, such as the multi-position articulating bracket shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,185, to very simple designs, such as the A-frame bracket shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,251,125. Each would seem to have some advantage over the other whether in cost, size, appearance, or functionality. Some stands are free-standing while others are designed to be attached to the monitor itself and have their own base or other means of support. Those with telescopic support members or with articulating arms often provide continuous vertical adjustment to position the monitor at a particular height and tilt relative to the desktop or to the user. Still others provide rotational or swivel adjustment of the monitor screen for use in different multiple planes. All of these designs have different features to appeal to particular users. The more complex multi-functional designs are almost always more costly to fabricate than the simpler designs, even though the simpler designs often provide sufficient utility to many users. 
     For many purchasers of computer-type monitors, size, weight, cost, durability, and case-of-use are the primary factors in deciding on what type of monitor and support stand to purchase. Although style, appearance, and functionality often play a major part in selecting what type of monitor and stand a purchaser wants. Then for others, such as students or office workers, the physical “foot print” of the supporting stand and monitor is an important consideration along with its portability. Obviously there are many factors that go into the decision of what type or brand of monitor to purchase and it is also true that there is no single stand that fits everyone&#39;s needs. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a low cost, portable, compact, adjustable, modular stand for a flat-panel monitor that is easy to use while occupying a minimum amount of desk space and providing sufficient adjustment latitude for the majority of users. 
     While the following discussion and teachings focuses primarily on computer-type monitors, the invention has utility for other flat panel displays, such as electronic book readers (e-books/e-readers), digital picture displays, medical multi-function monitors, and other types of electronic display devices. 
     Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one skilled in the art, through comparison of such devices with a representative embodiment of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention as well as further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of a flat-panel monitor showing the supporting stand mounted to the rear of the monitor in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the flat-panel monitor in  FIG. 1A  showing the support stand in greater detail as it mounts to the rear of the monitor in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view illustrating the flat-panel monitor with the stand shown in an extended position. 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the rear of the flat-panel monitor  101  with the stand assembly shown detached from the monitor. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side-perspective view illustrating the two major sections of the stand assembly shown disconnected from each other in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is another side-perspective view illustrating the two major sections of the stand assembly shown disconnected from each other and depicting an alternate variation of retainer clip  130  in accordance with another representative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view illustrating the two major sections of the stand assembly shown connected together to better illustrate how the retainer clip can attach to the rear monitor housing. 
         FIG. 6  is another bottom perspective view illustrating only the retainer clip  130  portion of the stand assembly in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the supporting leg  120  illustrating the location of slots  128   a  and  128   b  in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the supporting leg  120  illustrating the preferred contour of the supporting leg and the other design aspects of this part in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to a representative embodiment of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be practiced without these specific details 
       FIG. 1A  is a side view of a flat-panel computer monitor  101  showing a supporting leg  120  mounted on the rear housing  110  of the flat-panel monitor. The display assembly enclosure  100  is preferably constructed of a hard durable molded thermoplastic, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic or PC (polycarbonate) plastic. The rear housing  110  is a hard plastic shell that covers the electronics portion of monitor  101  and is also preferably integrally molded into the plastic monitor housing itself. A removable retainer clip  130 , constructed of the same plastic material, is adapted to selectively engage openings in the rear housing  110  as is better shown in  FIGS. 1B and 3 . The function of retainer clip  130  is to provide a support structure that attaches supporting leg  120  to rear housing  110  in such a way to permit supporting leg  120  to pivot about an AXIS shown in  FIG. 1B . In the side view as depicted in  FIG. 1A , supporting leg  120  is in an extended position to provide the maximum tilt of the monitor relative to the supporting desktop surface. 
       FIG. 1B  shows a cross section of the supporting leg  120  and retainer clip  130 . Since supporting leg  120  pivots at the junction with rear housing  110  about the AXIS shown in  FIG. 1B , the bottom portion of the leg can be manually pivoted closer to the bottom of monitor  101  thereby reducing the vertical tilt of the monitor. Rotation stops  131   a  and  131   b , shown better in  FIG. 3 , prevent supporting leg  120  from collapsing to the plane of the monitor, since that would cause the monitor either to be in a very unstable nearly vertical configuration or to collapse altogether. Alternatively the bottom portion of the leg can be manually pivoted farther from the bottom of monitor  101  thereby increasing the vertical tilt of the monitor. The range of tilt from a vertical posit (is typically from 10° to approximately 30°. And for storage purposes supporting leg  120  and retainer clip  130  can be removed from rear housing  110  by simply unclipping assembly snaps  135   a  and  135   b  (not shown in  FIG. 1A  or  1 B) from rear housing  110 . This is also advantageous for shipping the monitor and stand assembly  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the rear section of monitor  101  is shown with the stand assembly operationally connected to the rear housing  110 . Air vents  111  are typically provided in rear housing  110  to allow air to circulate thereby dissipating heat generated from within the monitor. The electrical power and signal cables (partially depicted as cables  201  and  202  respectively) can either be channeled through opening  122  or dressed completely around supporting leg  120  depending on the placement of a computer (not shown) and the location of a power outlet. The top or upper end portion  211  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) of supporting leg  120  that makes pivoting contact with monitor housing  110  has a rotating pivot mechanism to permit the bottom  123  of supporting leg  120  to be manually moved closer to the monitor or farther away to optionally change the vertical tilt of monitor  101  as desired by the user. As an option the bottom portion  123  that makes contact with the desktop or table can be fitted with a rubberized coating to provide some sliding resistance of supporting leg  120  on a hard surface such as a desktop. This is to add greater stability to the entire display assembly  100 . The width “W” of supporting leg  120  is depicted in  FIG. 2  as approximately 30% of the width of the monitor. This is discretionary with the manufacturer, but less than 10% to 15% of the width of the monitor can potentially cause stability problems. Similarly the top portion  211  should be positioned to make contact with monitor housing  110  at least half-way up from the monitor base so that the center of gravity of the monitor is not above the connection ( 211 ) point with supporting leg  120  otherwise the monitor is apt to tip over backwards. (If the center of gravity of monitor  101  were below the midpoint of the monitor, then the connection point could be lowered accordingly without adding an instability to the overall structure.) 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4A ,  FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of flat-panel monitor  101  in a face down orientation, with supporting leg  120  and retainer clip  130  shown detached from monitor rear housing  110 ,  FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the same supporting leg  120  and retainer clip  130  but separated from each other and in a slightly different orientation to better illustrate details of both components. As is illustrated in these figures, the stand comprises two modular components: a retainer clip  130  and a supporting leg  120 . Retainer clip  130  is adapted to selectively engage positioning slots  302  and  301  in rear housing  110  when locator tabs  132   a  and  132   b , respectively, are inserted therein. (Both retainer tabs  132   a  and  132   b  are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .) Supporting leg  120  has an integral elongated tubular section, defined by end plates  121   a  and  121   b , designed to rotationally engage a similar mating tubular section in retainer clip  130 . In the joined configuration the tubular sections form a type of hinge mechanism permitting supporting leg  120  to pivot about the center-line axis CL depicted in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A, and  4 B. And when the two components ( 120  and  130 ) are coupled together, the one end,  211 , of the supporting leg engages rear housing  110  within a semicircular elongated receiving trough  320  molded a housing  110 . Receiving trough  320  has a smooth bearing surface to permit contacting surface  127  of supporting leg  120  to slide within the shallow trough thus allowing supporting leg  120  to partially rotate back and forth about an axis CL. As is shown therein the elongated tubular section of supporting leg  120  extending from end plates  121   a  to  121   b  fits snugly within the shallow receiving trough  320 . Similarly the tubular portion of retainer clip  130  fits snugly within the tubular section of supporting leg  120  to engage therein a friction surface. By pressing the tubular section of supporting leg  120  into trough  320 , this allows the combination to function as a hinge mechanism permitting supporting leg  120  to partially rotate within the limits set by the apparatus. To increase the frictional forces on the inner surface  125  of the rotational well, a thin rectangular strip of a rubberize compound is affixed to the surface therein to add rotational resistance when supporting leg  120  is rotated back and forth within receiving through  320 . A pair of support ribs  129   a  and  129   b  are adapted to glide into slots  128   a  and  128   b  of retainer clip  130  when the two parts are interconnected. (These two slots are seen in  FIG. 6 .) Support ribs  129   a  and  129   b  add torsional stability to supporting leg  120 . The dimensions of supporting leg  120 , retainer clip  130 , and slots  301  and  302  are such that when frilly assembled retainer clip  130  is forced tightly into the rotational well  125  to insure that supporting leg  120  cannot freely rotated therein without some amount of appropriate force applied to supporting leg  120 . And the depth of receiving trough  320  is sufficient to permit the base of the retainer clip  130  to sit flush on rear housing  110  while allowing partial rotation of supporting leg  120  within receiving trough  320 .  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  also show a plurality of additional support ribs  126  at strategic locations to provide additional strength and rigidity to overall frame of supporting leg  120 . The actual number and placement of these support ribs is a matter of design choice depending on the thickness of the molded plastic and other structural considerations. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the rear monitor housing  110  is adapted to receive retainer clip  130  via four openings in the housing ( 301 ,  302 ,  310 , and  311 ). Openings  301  and  302  are positioned so that locator tabs  132   b  and  132   a  may be inserted into these openings, respectively, and slid against the outside walls of each opening. The inner walls of  301  and  302  accommodate two resilient elongated clips  135   b  and  135   a , respectively, which are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . When inserted into the two holes on rear housing  110  a small inward-facing lip on both of these clips ( 135   b  and  135   a ) grabs the inside of rear housing  110  for a secure holding relationship to hold the lower end of retainer clip  130  in place. (Since rear housing  110  is a thin shell, clips  135   a  and  135   b  hold onto the inside of the shell to keep retainer clip  130  held securely in place.) Due to their inherent flexibility both retainer clips can be manually pushed out as shown in  FIG. 5  to unclip them from the housing allowing retainer clip  130  and supporting  120  to be removed when desired from rear housing  110 . 
     Retainer clip  130  and supporting leg  120  are shown in  FIG. 5  from the bottom perspective and apart from the monitor housing  110 . Assembly tabs  133   a  and  133   b , shown in both  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , are a molded part of retainer clip  130  and, when connected to supporting leg  120 , extend outward through slots  128   a  and  128   b  the tubular portion of supporting leg  120 . When inserted into receiving trough  320 , the two assembly tabs  133   a  and  133   b  fit into slots  311  and  310 , respectively, to engage the inside surface of rear housing  110  and hold the other end of retainer clip  130  securely in place on the housing. 
     From a functional standpoint supporting leg  120  travels from an almost vertical position until rotation stops  131   a  and  131   b  prevent the supporting leg  120  from collapsing to the upper plane of retainer clip  130 . An alternate means of preventing supporting leg  120  from collapsing to the upper plane of retainer clip  130  is shown in  FIG. 4B . An elongated plastic ridge  131   c  extending across a portion of top plane of retainer clip  130  performs the same stopping function as the two rotations stops  131   a  and  131   b , but has the advantage of providing a little more rigidity to the frame of retainer clip  130 . The other extreme travel position (the open position) of supporting leg  120  occurs when the leg is fully extended and the inclined face  212  of support leg  120  impacts the surface of rear housing  110  adjacent receiving trough  320 . Once the inclined face  212  impacts the surface of rear housing  110 , supporting leg  120  cannot rotate (counterclockwise as shown in  FIG. 1B ) any further. The inclined face  212  is shown more clearly in  FIGS. 5 and 8 . To increase the maxima amount of monitor tilt, one needs to reduce the depth of the trough  320  to increase the center-line AXIS above the back plane of housing  110 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of supporting leg  120  which shows a design feature of supporting leg  120 . In addition to being slightly tapered, the bottom end portion  123  has a slight bend to add more stability to the overall stand. 
     While aspects of the present invention have been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the representative embodiments of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of a representative embodiment of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that embodiments of the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but that representative embodiments of the present invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.