APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING PERSONALIZED FIXTURES TO PERSONAL COMPUTER AND WORKSTATION MONITORS

Abstract: A device (10) for attaching personalized fixtures (16) to a video monitor (12). The device contains at least one track (14) with a first and second surface; the first surface contains adhesive (34), and the second surface is comprised of a splined receptacle (38). In one embodiment, the device contains at least two separated personalized fixtures, each of which is integrally connected to a splined connector (40) adapted to mate with the splined receptacle.

Description: Description Apparatus for Attaching Personalized Fixtures to Personal Computer and Workstation Monitors Technical Field A device for attaching one or more personalized fixtures to a video monitor. Background of the invention Assemblies which can attach a device to a computer monitor are well known. Thus, e.g., such assemblies are shown in United States patent 5,301,915 of Bahniuk et al . To the best of applicant's knowledge, the prior art does not provide an assembly which allows a user to decide among several possible configurations which provide one or more personalized fixtures located at one or more places on the periphery of the monitor screen. It is an object of this invention to provide an assembly for attaching one or more personalized fixtures to a video monitor in a multiplicity of positions at a multiplicity of locations. Disclosure of the invention In accordance with this invention, there is provided a device for attaching personalized fixtures to a video monitor. The device contains at least one track with a first and second surface; the first surface contains adhesive, and the second surface is comprised of a splined receptacle. In one embodiment, the device contains at least two separate personalized fixtures, each of which is integrally connected to a splined connector adapted to mate with the splined receptacle. Brief description of the drawings The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the assembly of this invention attached to a computer monitor; Figure 2 is a partial, exploded view of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 2A is a schematic representation illustrating how the splined connector of this invention may be disposed at various angles with regard to the splined receptacle of this invention; Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1, showing a personalized fixture in one of several possible positions with respect to the computer monitor; Figure 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the assembly of this invention attached to a computer monitor; Figure 5 is a schematic representation illustrating how the track of the assembly of Figure 1 may be attached to the front of the computer monitor; and Figure 6 is a front view of one embodiment of a personalized fixture. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of an attachment assembly 10 attached to a computer monitor 12. Although Figure 1 depicts assembly 10 being attached to monitor 12, it will be apparent that assembly 10 can be attached to other surfaces of other devices such as, e.g., the case of a central processing unit, a keyboard, a laptop computer, a file cabinet, etc. For simplicity of description, reference will be made to attachment of the assembly 10 to a video monitor in the remainder of this specification. In one preferred embodiment, assembly 10 is attached to a video monitor such as, e.g., the video monitor described in United States patent 5,301,915. As is illustrated in Figure 1, and in the embodiment depicted therein, assembly 10 comprises a track 14 and, removably attachable thereto, personalized fixture 16. In this embodiment, track 14 is removably attached to the side 18 of monitor 12. Alternatively, or additionally, track 14 may be attached to sides 20, 22, or 24 of monitor 12 and/or to front surfaces 26, 28, 30, and/or 32 of such monitor. Only one track 14 is illustrated in the embodiment depicted in Figure 1. One may use two, three, four, or more of such track 14 's. Referring again to Figure 1, and in the embodiment depicted, track 14 can be attached to side 18 of monitor 12 by removing tape 34 from the bottom surface of track 14 and then pressing track 14 in the direction of arrows 36 until adhesive on such bottom surface (not shown) contacts side 18. Track 14 comprises a splined receptacle 38 into which splined connectors 40 and 42 may be inserted. Connectors 40 and 42 may be aligned with receptacle 38 and then moved in the direction of arrows 44 to effect the removable interconnection of personalized fixture 16 and track 14. Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the teeth 41 of splined connector 42 do not extend around the entire periphery of connector 42; the portion 43 of connector 42 does not contain such teeth. It is preferred that the teeth disposed about the periphery of splined connector 42 extend over from about 50 to about 100 percent of such periphery and, more preferably, from about 70 to about 90 percent of such periphery. In an even more preferred embodiment, the teeth 41 extend from about 70 to about 80 percent of such periphery. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, only one splined connector 42 is shown integrally attached to personalized fixture 16. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, two splined connectors 42 are shown integrally attached to personalized fixture 16. In other embodiments, not shown, three, four, five, or more splined connectors 42 are attached to a personalized fixture. Figure 2 illustrates only one of many splined connectors 42 which may be used in the apparatus 10 of the invention. Thus, one may use other splined connectors such as, e.g., those disclosed in United States patents 5,605,337, 5,599,282, 5,592,761, 5,588,404, 5,542,686, and the like. Additionally, or alternatively, one may use non-splined connectors such as, e.g., slotted connectors, T connectors, socket connectors, and the like. Referring to Figure 2, splined connector 42 can be moved in the direction of arrow 44 until it is interlockably disposed within splined receptacle 38. Referring to Figure 3, by rotating splined connector 42 in the direction of arrows 46 or 48, one may vary the angle at which fixture 16 is attached to the computer monitor. The splined receptacle 38 is adapted to receive one or more of splined connectors 42 and removably and lockably form a connection with such connector ( s ) . Means for forming such a splined connection are well known as is disclosed, e.g., in United States patents 5,601,380, 5,584,584, 5,573,346, 5,566,816, and the like. Figure 2A is a schematic representation illustrating ow the splined connector 42 and the assembly 16 to which it is attached may be disposed at various angles with regard to the splined receptacle 38 of assembly 10. The splined receptacle 38 is comprised of a cavity 52 (see Figure 2) which is adapted to extend around at least about 50 percent of the periphery of the splined connector 42. As used in this specification, the term cavity refers to an aperture which encloses at least 50 percent of the periphery of a device inserted within it. Referring again to Figures 2 and 2A, cavity 52 preferably contains grooves 50 adapted to receive splined teeth 41 only over a portion of its cross sectional shape, but over at least about 50 percent of its cross-sectional shape. The shaded portion 54 of cavity 52 does not contain grooves 50 in order to facilitate the ready insertion of connector 42 into receptacle 38. In one embodiment, it is preferred that at least about 60 percent of the cavity 52 contains a multiplicity of grooves 50, and the shaded portion 54 of cavity 52, which does not contain such grooves 50, is from about 15 to about 40 percent of the total periphery of the cross-sectional shape. In one embodiment, at least about 30 percent of the cross-sectional shape of cavity 52 doesn't contain grooves 50. Referring to Figures 1, 2, 2A, 3, and 4, and in the preferred embodiments depicted therein, the splined grooves 50 extend substantially the entire length of track 14. In another embodiment, not shown, such splined grooves 50 extend from about 70 to about 90 percent of the length of track 14. Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that, by choosing the angle at which connectors 40 and 42 are inserted within receptacles 38, the fixtures may be disposed in various positions. Thus, in the embodiment of Figure 3, the angle formed between positions 56 and 58 of fixture 16 is about 45 degrees, and the angle formed between positions 58 and 59 also is about 45 degrees. Referring to Figure 4, four track 14' s are used, and the personalized fixtures 60 and 62 are disposed on track 14 connected to the front face 32 of computer monitor 12. More or fewer of such track 14 's may be used, they may be disposed at different and/or additional locations on monitor 12, and the personalized fixtures may be disposed at the same and/or different angles on one or more of these tracks. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 4, self-stick note pad dispenser and organizer 60 and note pad holder 62 are removably attached to monitor 12. One may use other personalized fixtures, such as, e.g., pen holders (see, e.g., U.S. patents 5,405,024, 5,259,095, 5,178,285, 4,948,172, 4,669,617, and the like), tape dispensers (see, e.g., U.S. patents 5,595,626, 5,562,262, 5,482,182, 5,472,560, 5,456,790, and the like), calendar holders (see U.S. patents 4,457,088, D371,387, D369,828, D338,914, D, 323, 188, and the like), business card holders (see U.S. patents 5,572,815, 5,275,288, D377,808, D343,638, D335,028, etc.), calculator holders (see U.S. patents 4,832,191, 4,801,059, D333,159, D333,158, D253,438), self-stick note holders (see U.S. patents 4,427,254, 5,286,546, D357,838), note-pad holders (see U.S. patents 5,598,921, 5,458,944, 5,480,037, 5,472,128, 5,427,254), picture frames (see U.S. patents 5,596,829, 5,585,240, 5,581,925, 5,546,689, 5,533,290), dry erase boards (see U.S. patents 5,527,768, 5,496,036, D377,968), cork boards and/or bulletin boards (see U.S. patents 5,527,568, 5,507,459, 5,342,665, 4,721,644, 4,319,422), accessory holders, media holders, mirror holders, mouse holders, copy holder (see, e.g., U.S. patent 5,549,268), speakers, antiglare screens, and the like. The entire disclosure of each of the aforementioned United States patents is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. In one embodiment, not shown, the track 14 is integrally connected to a video monitor 12. In another embodiment, not shown, track 14 is integrally connected to a device similar to monitor 12. Figure 5 illustrates one preferred means for attaching track 14 to the front surface of computer monitor 12. The bottom surface 64 of track 14 preferably contains a self- stick, pressure-sensitive adhesive 34 which, when track 14 is pressed in the direction of arrows 66, conforms to the slightly curved surface 32 and securely attaches track 14 thereto. In the embodiments depicted in Figures 1 and 5, a double sided tape 34 preferably containing pressure-sensitive adhesive is used. One may use any suitable pressure-sensitive adhesive in these embodiments such as, e.g., the adhesives disclosed in United States patents 5,623,000, 5,622,783, 5,616,670, 5,614,311, 6612,440, and the like. Figure 6 depicts a dry erase board 68 which is integrally connected to a splined connector 70 which extends substantially the entire length of dry erase board 68. It will be apparent that one splined connector 70 (or a similar splined connector) may be used for each personalized fixture to be attached, or one may use two or more such splined connectors .

Claims: We claim : 1. An apparatus for attaching a fixture to a video monitor comprising a first track, a first fixture, and a second fixture, wherein: (a) said first track is comprised of a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface contains adhesive material, and said second surface is comprised of a splined receptacle, and wherein: 1. said splined receptacle is comprised of a cavity with a cross-sectional shape defined by a periphery, wherein: (a) said periphery of said cross-sectional shape of said cavity comprises a first section and a second section, (b) said first section of said periphery is comprised of a multiplicity of grooves extending outwardly from said periphery, (c) said first section of said periphery has a circumference which is at least 50 percent of the total circumference of said cross-sectional shape, (d) said second section of said periphery does not contain any of said grooves extending outwardly from said periphery, and (e) said second section of said periphery has a circumference which is at least 15 percent of the total circumference of said cross-sectional shape, 2. said splined receptacle extends from about 70 to about 100 percent of the length of said track, and 3. each of said first fixture and said second fixture is integrally attached to a splined connector . 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said grooves extend from about 70 to about 90 percent of the said length of said splined receptacle. 3. A video monitor comprised of a first track attached to said video monitor, wherein said first track is comprised of the splined receptacle described in claim 1. 4. The video monitor as recited in claim 3, wherein said first section of said periphery has a circumference which is at least 60 percent of the total circumference of said cross- sectional shape. 5. The video monitor as recited in claim 4, wherein said second section of said periphery has a circumference which is from about 15 to about 40 percent of the total circumference of said cross-sectional shape. 6. The video monitor as recited in claim 3, wherein said splined receptacle extends from about 70 to about 100 percent of the length of said track.

Inventors: COMPEAU MARC S, CORNETT MARK J, KRAUS STEVEN G, COMPEAU, MARC, S., CORNETT, MARK, J., KRAUS, STEVEN, G.
Applicants: COMPEAU MARC S, CORNETT MARK J, KRAUS STEVEN G, COMPEAU, MARC, S., CORNETT, MARK, J., KRAUS, STEVEN, G.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B41J11
IPC codes: A47B21, F16B5, G06F1, G09F9, H04N5