Pivotal supporting device for remote member

A pivotal supporting system includes a pivotal supporting device disposed on a supporting base for supporting a remote member on the supporting base, the pivotal supporting device includes a housing having two apertures, a shank engaged into the housing and includes two pathways aligned with the apertures of the housing, the pathways of the shank include arc lengths different from each other, two spring biasing members are engaged onto the housing and each include a tongue engaged into the apertures of the housing for engaging with the pathways of the shank, and a control ferrule is rotatably engaged onto the housing and includes two protrusions for forcing the tongues of the spring biasing members to engage with the pathways of the shank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pivotal supporting device for a remote member, such as a monitor, displayer, portable phone, television, keyboard, or the like, and more particularly to a pivotal supporting device including an adjustable structure or configuration for adjusting and/or limiting the pivotal movement of the remote member and the pivotal supporting device relative to the supporting base.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical supporting devices or apparatuses have been developed and provided for supporting a remote member, such as a monitor, displayer, portable phone, television, keyboard, or the like.

However, the typical supporting devices normally comprise a structure or configuration that may not be adjusted and/or limited to pivot relative to the supporting base.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pivotal supporting device including an adjustable structure or configuration for adjusting and/or limiting the pivotal movement of the remote member and the pivotal supporting device relative to the supporting base.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pivotal supporting system comprising a supporting base, and a pivotal supporting device disposed on the supporting base for supporting a remote member on the supporting base, the pivotal supporting device includes a housing engaged onto the supporting base, the housing including a first aperture and a second aperture formed in the housing, a shank engaged into the housing, and the shank including a first pathway and a second formed in the shank and aligned with the first and the second apertures of the housing respectively, the first pathway of the shank including an arc length different from an arc length of the second pathway of the shank, a first spring biasing member engaged onto the housing, and the first spring biasing member including a first tongue engaged into the first aperture of the housing for engaging with the first pathway of the shank, a second spring biasing member engaged onto the housing, and the second spring biasing member including a second tongue engaged into the second aperture of the housing for engaging with the second pathway of the shank, and a control ferrule rotatably engaged onto the housing, and the control ferrule including a first protrusion for engaging with the first spring biasing member and for forcing the first tongue of the first spring biasing member to engage with the first pathway of the shank, and the control ferrule including a second projection for engaging with the second tongue of the second spring biasing member and for forcing the second tongue of the second spring biasing member to engage with the second pathway of the shank and to control and guide or limit the shank to pivot or rotate relative to the barrel and/or the housing.

The housing includes a peripheral track formed in the housing, and the control ferrule includes at least one protrusion extended from the control ferrule for engaging with the peripheral track of the housing and for anchoring the control ferrule to the housing and for preventing the control ferrule from being disengaged from the housing and limiting and guiding the control ferrule to rotate relative to the housing.

The first spring biasing member includes at least one anchor for engaging with the housing and for anchoring the first spring biasing member to the housing. The housing includes at least one cavity formed in the housing for engaging with the anchor of the first spring biasing member.

The second spring biasing member includes at least one anchor for engaging with the housing and for anchoring the second spring biasing member to the housing. The housing includes at least one cavity formed in the housing for engaging with the anchor of the second spring biasing member.

The first spring biasing member includes a seat portion, and the first tongue of the first spring biasing member is extended from the seat portion of the first spring biasing member. The second spring biasing member includes a seat portion, and the second tongue of the second spring biasing member is extended from the seat portion of the second spring biasing member.

The pivotal supporting device includes a barrel engaged into the housing, and the barrel includes a first orifice aligned with the first aperture of the housing for engaging with the first tongue of the first spring biasing member, and a second orifice formed in the barrel and aligned with the second aperture of the housing for engaging with the second tongue of the second spring biasing member.

The barrel includes a peripheral flange engaged with the housing for positioning the barrel to the housing. The housing includes at least one slot formed in the housing, and the barrel includes at least one key engaged with the slot of the housing and for anchoring the barrel to the housing and for preventing the barrel from being rotated relative to the housing and for limiting and guiding the barrel to slide longitudinally relative to the housing only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially toFIG. 1, a pivotal supporting system in accordance with the present invention comprises a pivotal supporting device1to be provided or disposed or engaged onto a supporting stand or a supporting base9for pivotally supporting a supporting lever or arm8and/or a remote member80, such as a monitor, displayer, portable phone, television, keyboard, or the like.

As shown inFIGS. 2-4, the pivotal supporting device1includes an outer tubular or cylindrical member or housing10to be disposed or engaged or secured onto the supporting base9, the housing10includes an annular or peripheral groove or track11and one or more (such as two) annular or peripheral recesses12,13formed or provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof and offset or spaced or separated from the peripheral track11of the housing10, for example, the one or first peripheral recess12of the housing10is formed and arranged or located above the peripheral track11and the other or second peripheral recess13of the housing10, but may also be formed and arranged or located below the peripheral track11and the other or second peripheral recess13of the housing10.

The housing10further includes one or more (such as two) apertures14,15formed therein and communicating with the first and the second peripheral recesses12,13respectively, and further includes one or more (such as four) notches or cavities16,17formed therein and communicating with the first and the second peripheral recesses12,13respectively, it is preferable, but not necessary that the aperture14,15is formed and arranged or located between the respective cavities16,17of the housing10. The housing10further includes one or more (such as two) passages or slots18formed therein, such as oppositely formed in the inner peripheral portion of the housing10and communicating with the inner compartment or chamber19of the housing10(FIGS. 3, 4).

One or more (such as two) spring biasing blades or members20,21are disposed or engaged into the first and the second peripheral recesses12,13respectively, and each include one or more (such as two) latches or catches or anchors22formed or provided thereon for engaging with the cavities16,17of the housing10respectively and for anchoring or retaining or positioning the spring biasing members20,21to the housing10respectively. The first and the second spring biasing members20,21each include a base or seat portion23formed or provided formed therein, such as formed on the middle or intermediate portion thereof, and a projection or tongue25,27extended therefrom, such as extended from the respective seat portion23for selectively engaging with the aperture14,15of the housing10and for resiliently engaging into the inner chamber19of the housing10(FIGS. 8, 9).

Another tubular or cylindrical member or barrel30may further be provided and selectively engaged into the chamber19of the housing10, and includes a peripheral flange31extended radially and outwardly therefrom for engaging with the upper portion of the housing10(FIGS. 8, 9) and for anchoring or retaining or positioning the barrel30to the housing10and for preventing the barrel30from being moved or engaged into the chamber19of the housing10. The barrel30further includes one or more (such as two) protrusions or keys32extended radially and outwardly therefrom for engaging with the slots18of the housing10respectively and for further anchoring or retaining or positioning the barrel30to the housing10and for preventing the barrel30from being pivoted or rotated relative to the housing10.

The barrel30further includes a chamber or compartment33formed therein, and further includes one or more (such as two) openings or orifices34,35formed therein and communicating with the chamber19of the housing10, and aligned with the apertures14,15of the housing10respectively for selectively receiving or engaging with the tongues25,27of the first and the second spring biasing members20,21respectively. A stem or shank40is engageable into the compartment33of the barrel30and/or the chamber19of the housing10, and includes one or more (such as two) grooves or pathways41,42formed therein and aligned with the first and the second orifices34,35of the barrel30, and/or aligned with the first and the second apertures14,15of the housing10respectively for selectively receiving or engaging with the tongues25,27of the first and the second spring biasing members20,21respectively. Alternatively, without the barrel30, the shank40may also be directly engaged into the chamber19of the housing10.

The pathways41,42of the shank40include arc lengths different from each other for selectively receiving or engaging with the tongues25,27of the first and the second spring biasing members20,21respectively and for guiding and limiting the shank40to pivot or rotate relative to the barrel30and/or the housing10. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the first pathway41of the shank40includes an arc length of about one half of the outer peripheral portion of the shank40and is smaller than the second pathway42of the shank40which includes an arc length equals to the outer peripheral portion of the shank40. In operation, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 8, when the tongue25of the first spring biasing member20is engaged with the first pathway41of the shank40, the shank40is guided or limited to pivot or rotate relative to the barrel30and/or the housing10for about one half of the circle of the barrel30and/or the housing10. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 9, when the tongue27of the second spring biasing member21is engaged with the second pathway42of the shank40, the shank40is freely rotateable relative to the barrel30and/or the housing10.

A control sleeve or ferrule50is pivotally or rotatably engaged onto the housing10, and includes one or more keys or protrusions51extended radially and inwardly therefrom for engaging with the peripheral track11of the housing10and for pivotally or rotatably anchoring or retaining or positioning the control ferrule50to the housing10and for preventing the control ferrule50from being disengaged or separated from the housing10. The control ferrule50includes a first bulge or projection52and a second bulge or projection53extended radially and inwardly therefrom and offset from each other for engaging with the first and the second spring biasing members20,21respectively and for forcing or moving the first and the second tongues25,27of the first and the second spring biasing members20,21to engage with the first and the second pathways41,42of the shank40respectively.

In operation, when the control ferrule50is pivoted or rotated relative to the housing10to disengage or to separate the projections52,53of the control ferrule50from the seat portions23and the tongues25,27of the spring biasing members20,21, the tongues25,27of the spring biasing members20,21may be moved and disengaged or separated from the pathways41,42of the shank40for allowing the shank40to be freely pivoted or rotated relative to the barrel30and/or the housing10. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 8, when the tongue25of the first spring biasing member20is forced by the first projection52of the control ferrule50to engage with the first pathway41of the shank40, the shank40may be guided or limited to pivot or rotate relative to the barrel30and/or the housing10for about one half of the circle of the barrel30and/or the housing10. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 9, when the tongue27of the second spring biasing member21is forced by the second projection53of the control ferrule50to engage with the second pathway42of the shank40, the shank40is freely rotateable relative to the barrel30and/or the housing10.

Accordingly, the pivotal supporting device in accordance with the present invention includes an adjustable structure or configuration for adjusting and/or limiting the pivotal movement of the remote member and the pivotal supporting device relative to the supporting base.