Abstract:
The viewing angle of a display is controlled by a stand which is selectively lengthened. In one embodiment, at least one cascaded tubes are employed to allow for elongation of the stand. The stand, in one embodiment, can be rotated against the body of the device thereby creating a relatively shallow display slope angle. In a further embodiment, a plurality of cascaded tubes are disposed parallel of each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to concurrently filed and commonly assigned U.S. design patent application Ser. No. [Attorney Docket Number 65744-D006US-10610645], entitled “Ultrasound Display Apparatus,” and U.S. design patent application Ser. No. [Attorney Docket Number 65744-D008US-10612315], entitled “Tilt Control Support,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to tiling stand for use with medical apparatus and more particularly to systems and methods for changing the angle of presentation of medical data using a medical device display screen. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electronic devices are now commonplace and are used in many situations. For example, in the medical field some devices, such as sonogram monitors are now portable and have display screens for monitoring of the procedure. When the operator is standing the display need to have one slope angle and when the operator is sitting the angle needs to be changed to accommodate the differing viewing heights. 
         [0004]    In addition, adjustments need to be made depending upon the height of the surface upon which the device is positioned. These adjustments in slope angle must be made quickly and easily and must not add bulk or weight to the portable device. A further requirement is that the positioning device, while necessarily light in weight and bulk, must also be able to withstand the rigors imposed by certain embodiments, such as hospitals, battle fields and disaster scenes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The viewing angle of a display is controlled by a stand which is selectively lengthened. In one embodiment, at least one cascaded tubes are employed to allow for elongation of the stand. The stand, in one embodiment, can be rotated against the body of the device thereby creating a relatively shallow display slope angle. In a further embodiment, a plurality of cascaded tubes are disposed parallel of each other. 
         [0006]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a side view of a display having a slope created by a stand in accordance with one aspect of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a user preparing to elongate the stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the stand in one elongated position; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows the display having a slope created by the stand being rotated flat against a back surface of the display. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment  10  of a side view of display  101  having a slope (e 1 ) created by stand  100  in accordance with one aspect of the invention. Device  101  has display  102  which is sloped with respect to surface  120 . The slope of the display can, as will be discussed, adjusted so that a user of device  101  can have a clear view of the display and other controls. In one embodiment, device  101  is a medical device, such as, for example, a sonogram monitor. 
         [0013]    Stand  100  can be elongated along its longitudinal axis from a length of d to a length of d′ as shown in  FIG. 3 . Stand  100  can also be rotated so that it folds against back surface  103  of device  101 . One embodiment to accomplish such rotation is shown where pin (or other fastening device)  23  is positioned through a hole in portion  130  of stand  100 , through a hole in bracket  22  and into portion  140  of stand  100 . Bracket  22  is secured to rear surface  103  of device  100 , for example, by a fastener, such as fastener  202 . Rear surface is essentially parallel to display surface  102 . Bottom portion  104  of device  101  can be positioned on surface  120  to form a line of support for device  101 . 
         [0014]    Stand  100 , in the embodiment shown, has two support portions  11  and  12 . Support portion  11  is adapted to pivotally mate with bracket  22  (as discussed above) at its proximal end. Support portion  12  is adapted at distal end  105  to mate with a surface, such as surface  105 , upon which device  101  is positioned so as to form a second contact point. In conjunction with bottom portion  104 , length d of stand  100  creates a particular slope with respect to surface  120 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a user preparing to elongate stand  100  by gripping support portion  12 , perhaps with the assist of protrusions  24 , and pulling portion  12  toward its distal end and away from support portion  11  which is affixed to the rear surface of device  101 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of stand  100  with support portion  12  pulled outward (away from display  101 ) thereby increasing the length of stand  100  to length d′. This in turn then changes the slope of display  102  to e 2 . In the embodiment shown, portions  11  and  12  are connected together by at least two parallel elongating portions  31 . The elongating portions, as shown, have a plurality of nesting (cascading) tubes  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c ,  31   d ,  31   e  that are connected at distal end  31   e  to support  12  and at proximal end  31   a  to support  11 . This connection is, in one embodiment, relatively permanent and can be accomplished in any one of a number of ways, such as, for example, gluing or pinning. The cascading sections each slide inside a next larger tube and the total length can be a designer&#39;s choice. The tube sections are constructed in the well known manner so that they do not come all of the way out of the next larger tube. Note also that one or more stops can be created so that the elongation length of stand  100  (and thus the slope of display  102 ) can be controlled as desired. 
         [0017]    Distal end  301  of support  11  is adapted to physically mate with proximal end  302  of support  12 . Any type of mating relationship will work. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows the slope of device  102  reduced to angle ø 3  by rotating stand  100  up against rear surface  103  of device  101 . In this configuration, ridges  24  mate with surface  105  to form the desired slope. 
         [0019]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.