Abstract:
A portable, adjustable support system for large scale, flat monitors and associated hardware. The portable support system is fully self-contained and is fully adjustable so as to allow a user to interact with the monitor from a range of positions including standing, sitting, or lying down through actuated variation of the height and/or angle of the monitor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of, and priority from, U.S. Provisional Application 60/779,384 having a filing date of Mar. 3, 2006 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as is fully set forth herein. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to video display platforms and more particularly to a mobile station adapted to support a flat panel display and associated peripheral equipment which is adjustable to satisfy ergonomic and operational needs. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Portable stations incorporating video monitors are generally known. However, such portable stations typically provide limited capacity for adjustment of the video monitor and/or a work surface used in conjunction with the video monitor. In this regard, it is believed that existing systems are particularly ill equipped to incorporate large, flat panel monitors of substantial width and mass. 
   As will be appreciated, flat panel monitors are typically heavy, bulky, and difficult to maneuver. Moreover, the clarity of images on such monitors is typically highly dependent upon the orientation relative the viewer. Thus, a person utilizing such a flat panel monitor either as a passive viewer or as part of a workstation or other interactive system may be required to adjust his or her body position relative to the monitor in order to provide good viewing. However, such body adjustment may be undesirable and/or impractical for many users. In particular, such adjustment may cause undesirable muscular or skeletal strain if engaged in for prolonged periods of time. Likewise, persons with limited mobility such as those confined to wheel chairs or hospital beds may find such adjustment impossible to make even for short periods of time. Moreover, even for those users who can readily adjust their body positions, it may be desirable to change positions from time to time such as from a sitting to a standing orientation so as to avoid issues such as deep vain thrombosis, carpal tunnel syndrome and the like which may be more pronounced when a user maintains substantially the same position over prolonged periods. Thus, while there is a desire to utilize interactive monitors of increasing size, there is a lack of systems to support and transport such video systems and associated interactive hardware. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides advantages and/or alternatives over the known art by providing a portable, adjustable support system for large scale, flat monitors and associated hardware. In particular, the portable support system is fully self-contained and is full adjustable so as to allow a user to interact with the monitor from a range of positions including standing, sitting, or lying down through variation of the height and/or angle of the monitor. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification illustrate exemplary constructions and practices in accordance with the present invention and, together with the general description above and the detailed description set forth below, serve to explain concepts of the invention wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fully assembled flat panel display support system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary base for the support system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary cross-member adapted for mounting on the base of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  illustrating the support system in a raised elevated position; 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  further illustrating an adjustable user interface platform supporting a keyboard and mouse; and 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the support system of  FIG. 5  in an elevated condition. 
   

   While the invention has been illustrated and generally described above and will herein after be described in connection with certain potentially preferred embodiments and practices, it is to be understood that in no event is the invention limited to such illustrated and described embodiments and practices. On the contrary it is intended that the present invention shall extend to all alternatives and modifications as may embrace the general principles of this invention within the full and true spirit and scope thereof. 
   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made to the various figures wherein like elements are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various views.  FIG. 1  illustrates a flat panel monitor support system  10  such as may be used to support a flat panel monitor  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 . As illustrated, the support system  10  includes a base  14  incorporating a plurality of casters  16  or the like to permit the base  14  and attached structures to be readily moved by rolling from place to place. In the illustrated and potentially preferred embodiment, the base  14  incorporates a pair of lateral legs  18  with an interconnecting support structure  20  extending between the lateral legs  18  to form a substantially “U” shaped platform framework. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the interconnecting support structure  20  may serve as a platform for housing hardware such as a computer, external drives, a DVD player or the like used in conjunction with monitor  12 . 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the base  14  includes a pair of telescoping support arms  22  extending upwardly from the lateral legs  18 . As shown, the support arms  22  preferably incorporate a multiplicity of telescoping segments so as to permit extension to varying heights. In this regard, it is to be understood that while the telescoping sections are illustrated as being substantially rectangular in configuration, any other suitable geometry including circular cross-sections, square cross-sections, and the like may be used as desired. 
   As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the terminal ends of the support arms  22  are preferably attached to a cross-member  30  such as a hollow beam of rectangular beam cross-section or the like. As shown, the cross-member  30  houses a supporting framework on the beam portion including a pair of spaced finger plates  32  disposed between a pair of upwardly projecting lateral support plates  34 . A pair of surface mounting plates  36  preferably extends away from the interior edge of the cross-member for mounting to an underside of a table surface  40  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) such as by screws or the like. 
   As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the lateral support plates  34  preferably have a substantially pyramidal profile with an upper apex portion projecting through aligned slot openings in the table surface  40  for attachment to legs  42  of a mounting plate structure  50 . An adjustable length linkage  52  such as a telescoping arm, extensible piston or other adjustable length structure is preferably operatively connected at a position between the upwardly curved spaced fingers  32  such as by a pin connection or the like (not shown) extending through openings in the fingers  32 . The adjustable length linkage extends from the operative connection at the fingers  32  of the cross-member framework to the mounting frame of the mounting plate structure  50 . Thus, by extending or retracting the adjustable length linkage  52 , the mounting plate structure may be caused to rotate around the connection points between the legs  42  and the lateral support plates  34 . As will be appreciated, when a monitor  12  is supported on the mounting plate structure  50 , such rotation translates to a vertical tilt adjustment of the monitor  12 . 
   It is contemplated that the extension and retraction of support arms  22  and adjustable linkage  52  may be activated and controlled by a user through use of actuators such as electro-mechanical motor driven actuators, mechanical actuators, pneumatic actuators or the like as will be well known to those of skill in the art. In this regard, it is contemplated that either a single actuator or multiple actuators may be used to carry out vertical adjustment so as to raise or lower the cross-member  30  and all attached components. In the event that multiple actuators are used such as a separate actuator for each of the support arms  22 , such multiple actuators will preferably be synchronized so as to lift or lower in concert with one another. Of course, it is also contemplated that manual adjustment techniques such as the use of spring loaded pins engaging spaced apart openings along the length of the telescoping member may be used if desired either alone or in combination with appropriate actuating devices. 
   As previously indicated, the interconnecting support structure  20  running between the lateral legs  18  provides a support surface for hardware used in conjunction with the monitor  12 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , this support surface is bounded by a forward wall  60  disposed across the interior edge of the interconnecting support structure  20  and a rear wall  62  affixed along a rear edge of the interconnecting support structure  20 . In the illustrated and potentially preferred embodiment, a cable collection terminal  64  such as a hollow structural sleeve member or the like extends between the forward wall  60  and the rear wall  62  adjacent the upper edges of those walls. The cable collection terminal  64  thus assists in stabilizing the wall structures  60 ,  62 . The cable collection terminal  64  also preferably includes openings for acceptance of cables from support devices to be fed through a flexible cable sleeve  66  mounted between the cable collection terminal  64  and an opening in the underside of the cross member  30  or other position as may be desired. Thus, cables may be run from a computer or other device housed on the interconnecting support structure  20  though the cable collection terminal  64  and into the flexible cable sleeve  66  for passage through the cross member and final exit through a slot  70  or other opening in the table surface for ultimate connection to the monitor  12 . 
   As will be appreciated, by providing a support surface for equipment such as computers and the like in conjunction with a connection system which permits substantial adjustment of the monitor position, the entire system is readily transportable and adjustable to a wide variety of environments. In moving the system, there is no requirement to disconnect hardware from the monitor in order to move such hardware separately. 
   As previously noted, the support system may be particularly useful as a workstation for interactive use by a person.  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate an embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for use with a keyboard  172  or other user interface device. In these figures, elements corresponding to those previously described are designated by like reference numerals increased by 100. As shown, a keyboard support  174  is disposed at the underside of the table surface  140  held in place by an extensible arm element  176  such as a telescoping rotating arm or the like extending from the cross member. Thus, a user may pull the keyboard support downwardly and away from the underside of the table surface to a level and distance away from the table surface as may be desired for manipulation of the keyboard  172 . The keyboard support  172  preferably includes an attached pad support  173  which may be used for the manipulation of a mouse or other electronic interface and/or as a support for hand writing. 
   In an interactive configuration as shown, the interconnecting support structure may support a computer  180  or other device operated through commands at the keyboard  172  and/or mouse. In a potentially preferred practice, the keyboard  172  and mouse are preferably wireless in order to avoid cable entanglement, however, wired hardware components may likewise be utilized if desired. A construction as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  may be particularly well suited for graphics applications such as drafting and the like. However, such a construction may also be used for any number of other purposes as may be desired. 
   In operation, the support system  110  may be manipulated into place such as by rolling using the casters  116 . Once the appropriate position is obtained, a first set of vertical actuator controls  190  may then be used to raise or lower the table surface  140  to a desired height. Upon achieving a desired height, a second set of actuator controls  192  may then be used to adjust the tilt angle of the monitor  112  so as to tilt the monitor either toward or away from a user who may be either seated or standing in front of the keyboard support. Likewise, the keyboard support  174  may be pulled down and away from the table surface to any extent as may be desired. Thus, a user is provided with at least three independent adjustments which may be used in combination to obtain a desired configuration. 
   As will be appreciated, the various embodiments of the invention provide substantial benefits in terms of the mobility and manipulation of systems utilizing a large flat panel monitor. In particular, both the monitor and all supporting devices including computers and the like may be readily transported from place to place without the need to disconnect components. In addition, the monitor itself may be adjusted to varying heights and/or angles without necessitating any such disconnection. Accordingly, substantially enhanced freedom of use is obtained. 
   It is to be understood that while the present invention has been illustrated and described in relation to potentially preferred embodiments, constructions, and procedures, that such embodiments, constructions, and procedures are illustrative only and that the invention is in no event to be limited thereto. Rather, it is contemplated that modifications and variations embodying the principals of the invention will no doubt occur to those of skill in the art. It is therefore contemplated and intended that the present invention shall extend to all such modifications and variations as may incorporate a broad concept of the invention within the true spirit and scope thereof.