Abstract:
An adjustable support for supporting a device such as a note pad. The support has a fixed cylindrical ball support, the top of the ball support having a part-spherical depression. The support includes a ball on the top of the ball support resting snugly but movably in the depression. A casing has a lower cylindrical portion snugly covering the ball support and an upper portion covering at least part of the ball and normally, in a locked position of the casing, retaining the ball on the ball support so the ball cannot move. There is an opening in the top of the upper portion of the casing, the device to be supported connected to the top of the ball through the opening. The casing is slidable on the ball support. A handle projects radially from the casing, aligned with the ball support. The handle can be rotated to move axially toward or away from the ball support to move the casing to unlock or lock the ball against movement. When the ball is unlocked for movement, the device being supported by the ball can be tilted and/or rotated by the operator to a desired position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This invention relates to an adjustable support. The invention is also directed to adjustable guide means, particularly adjustable guide means for use with the adjustable support. The invention is particularly directed toward an adjustable support used to support a note pad or like device. The adjustable support is particularly useful in vehicles for use by the vehicle operator. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    Adjustable supports for note pads or like devices are known. Usually however the supports do not permit much adjustment to vary the position and/or attitude of the device being supported so that it would be in a comfortable position for use. Supports that have better adjustment usually require operation of at least two different controls to position the device in a comfortable location for the user. The adjustment process can be difficult particularly when the support is used in a vehicle. 
         [0005]    Adjustable supports used in vehicles are subjected to vibration. If the components of the support become loose, due to wear, it becomes difficult to read a device supported by the support due to the vibrations transmitted to the device by the support from the vehicle. It becomes expensive to replace parts on the support to eliminate the vibrations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable support for a device such as a note pad that is simple and easy to use. It is a further purpose to provide an adjustable support that can be easily adjusted using a single handle. It is also the purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable support that is relatively compact. It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable guide means, particularly useful for the adjustable support but not limited thereto, that can be easily adjusted to compensate for wear to maintain a tight construction that minimizes the effect of vibrations. The present adjustable support, with the adjustable guide means, minimizes vehicle vibrations being transmitted to the device. With the single handle, the operator can, with one hand, adjust the support to move the support toward or away from him and can, with the handle, unlock part of the support carrying the device to be able to tilt and/or rotate the device to the desired angle and position and to lock it when the desired angle and position is obtained. The handle can be moved out of the way when not needed. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an adjustable support comprising a ball mounted on a ball support, the ball have connection means at its top to connect the ball to a device to be supported. The ball support is dished on the top to snugly receive the ball and is fixed to a slidable bottom plate. A casing snugly surrounds the ball support and extends up and partly over the ball to maintain the ball on the support and prevent its movement, and thus movement by the device supported thereon, by pressing down on it. The casing is slidable upwardly to unlock the ball allowing the ball to tilt and/or rotate, thus permitting rotation and/or tilting of the supported device by the operator. Cooperating cam means are provided on the ball support and the casing for moving the casing relative to the ball support. A single handle is provided for moving one of the cam means with respect to the other cam means to allow movement of the casing. Once the device has been properly positioned, the handle is used to move the casing against the ball to lock it in the desired position. 
         [0008]    Adjustable guide means are provided for guiding a plate that is slidable relative to a base it rides on. The guide means, mounted on the plate, contact opposed sides of the base to guide the plate during its movement. If the guide means become worn, the guide means can be easily adjusted to compensate for the wear by moving the guide means nearer the sides of the base. The guide means are particularly useful with the present support means since it will be used mainly in vehicles which can vibrate the support means. A vibrating support means makes it difficult to read the device supported by the support means. 
         [0009]    The invention is particularly directed to an adjustable support for supporting a device such as a note pad or the like. The support has a fixed cylindrical ball support, the top of which has a part spherical depression. A ball is loosely mounted on the top of the ball support resting snugly in the depression. The support has a casing having a lower cylindrical portion and an upper portion, the lower portion snugly covering the ball support and the upper portion covering at least part of the ball and normally, in a locked position of the casing, retaining the ball on the ball support so the ball cannot move. An opening is provided in the top of the upper portion of the casing, so that the device to be supported can be connected to the top of the ball through the opening. The casing is slidable on the ball support. Cooperating cam means are provided on the ball support and casing. Movement of one of the cam means relative to the other causes movement of the casing. Cam moving means are provided for moving the one cam means to be able to move the casing, and thus the upper portion of the casing away from its locked position on the ball to an unlocked position. This allows the ball to move thereby allowing rotation and/or tilting of the device supported by the ball to a desired position by the operator manipulating the device. 
         [0010]    The invention is also particularly directed toward adjustable guide means for guiding a bottom plate slidably along a base, the base having two opposed side walls. The bottom plate has guide means on each of two opposed sides of the plate abutting the side walls on the base. Each guide means comprises a thin block with a circular hole extending through the block, and a screw extending through the hole into the bottom plate to attach the block flat onto the bottom plate. The center of the hole is offset with respect to the center of the block. When the block becomes worn, the block can be loosened and repositioned on the bottom plate to provide a tighter fit between the side walls on the base. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the support; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the support; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross section view of the support; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is more detailed cross-section view of the support without the bottom plate and base; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a detail view showing the connection of the handle to the casing; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the cam pin; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the base with the bottom plate on the base; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is plan view of one of the guides on the bottom plate 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The support  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , has a bottom plate  3  on which is fixedly mounted a ball support  5 . The ball support  5  has a generally cylindrical body shape. The bottom plate  3  is relatively thin and square with a shallow, cylindrical bore  9  in the center of the top surface  11  of the plate for receiving the bottom of the ball support  5 . Screws, not shown, extend up from the bottom  13  of the plate  3  into the support  5  through its bottom  15  to securely hold the support  5  centered in the bore  9  on the plate  3 . The heads of the screws are countersunk flush into the plate  3  so that the bottom  13  of the plate  3  is flat. There is a circumferential cam groove  17  in the outer circumferential side  19  of the ball support  5 . The bottom side wall  21  of the groove  17 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is parallel to the bottom  15  of the support  5 . The upper side wall  23  of the groove angles downwardly toward the bottom  15 , from the outer side  19  of the support at an angle β to the bottom side wall  21 . The top  25  of the support  5  is dished inwardly to provide a shallow, part-spherical, depression  27  to receive the bottom portion of a ball  29 . The diameter of the ball  29  is the same as the diameter of the ball support  5 . The ball  29  seats loosely yet snugly in the depression  27  of the ball support  5  and is free to rotate and tilt in the support  5 . There is a short cylindrical extension  31  on the top of the ball  29 . 
         [0020]    A vertically movable casing  35  encloses the ball support  5  and partially encloses the ball  29  on the ball support. The casing  35  has a bottom cylindrical skirt portion  37  which encloses the ball support  5 . The bottom edge  39  of the skirt portion  37  normally rests within the bore  9  on the plate  3  between the vertical wall  40  of the bore  9  and the side  19  of the ball support  5 . The casing  35  has a cylindrical bore  41  through its wall  43  in about the center of is cylindrical skirt portion  37 . The bore  41  is generally centered with respect to the cam groove  17  in the support  5  and opens into it. The casing  25  has an upper ball retaining portion  45 , attached to and extending up from the top of the cylindrical skirt portion  37 , the upper portion  45  tapering inwardly toward its top  47 . The upper portion  45  is part spherical to fit closely on the ball when retaining it in the depression. The top  47  of the upper portion  45  of the casing is truncated and open as shown at  49 . The upper portion of the ball  29  including its top cylindrical extension  31  extend through the opening  49 . The casing  35  is free to slide up and down on the ball support  5 . 
         [0021]    A top mounting plate  51  is attached to the flat top  53  of the cylindrical extension  31  on the ball  29  with screws  55  that extend into the ball. The heads of the screws  55  are countersunk into the mounting plate  51  and the extension  31  so that the top  57  of the mounting plate  51  is flat. Attaching means, not shown, can be provided on the mounting plate  51  for using in attaching an electronic device, such as a note pad on the top  57  of the plate. 
         [0022]    A handle  61  is attached to the casing  35 . The handle  61  has a slightly enlarged, cylindrical, head  63  that is attached at one end to one end of a shaft  65 , the other end of the shaft carrying a knob  67 . The head  63  is threaded, as shown at  69 , for most of its length from its front end  71 . A shallow channel  73  with vertical side walls  75  circumscribes the head  63  adjacent its rear end  77 . A blind, axial bore  79  extends into the head  63  from its front end  71 . A sleeve  81  is fixedly mounted in the bore  41  of the skirt portion  37  of the casing  35 . The interior of the sleeve  81  is threaded as shown at  83 . The sleeve  81  projects slightly from the casing  35  when mounted in the bore  41 . The outer portion of the sleeve  81  is enlarged with a shoulder  85 . There is a small threaded bore  87  extending radially through the shoulder  85  of the sleeve  81 . The interior of the sleeve  81  is aligned with the cam groove  17  in the ball support  5 . 
         [0023]    A cam pin  91  is mounted in the axial bore  79  in the head  63  of the handle  61 . The cam pin  91  has a stem  93  which fits snugly in the bore  79 , the stem  93  carrying a truncated, conical, cam  95  at its leading end. The cam pin  91  can be press-fit in the bore  79 . The cam  95  rests against the front end  71  of the head  63  on the handle  61  when the stem  93  is mounted in the head  63 . The side  97  of the cam  95  tapers inwardly toward the front  99  of the cam and extends at an angle β to the axis  100  of the pin  91  which angle is the same angle β the upper side wall  23  of the cam groove  17  in the support  5  makes with the bottom side wall  21  of the groove. 
         [0024]    The handle  61 , with the cam pin  91  in place, is mounted on the casing  35  by screwing the head  63  of the handle into the sleeve  81 . The handle  61  is screwed in until the side  97  of the cam  95  on the pin  91  abuts the tapered side wall  23  of the cam groove  17 . In this position, the channel  73  in the head  63  of the handle  61  is aligned with the bore  87  in the shoulder  85  of the sleeve  81  and a fastener such as a screw  101  is threaded into the bore  87  a sufficient distance to extend into the channel  73  to lock the handle  61  to the casing  35 . The cam  95 , carried by the handle  61 , retains the casing  35  on the ball support  5 . The handle  61  can be rotated in the sleeve  81  to move the cam  95  axially forwardly or rearwardly, the channel  73  on the handle  61 , receiving the screw  101 , wide enough to permit limited axial movement of the handle. 
         [0025]    The casing  35  has an interior groove  105  in its upper part-spherical portion  45 . A resilient o-ring  107  is mounted into the groove  105  to project slightly past the inner surface  109  of the casing  35  into the interior of the casing. The groove  105  is parallel with the top opening  49  in the casing  35  and is located closer to the top than the bottom of the upper portion  45 . 
         [0026]    In use, a PC or other electronic device is detachably mounted on the top mounting plate  51  with suitable mounting means (not shown). The user then rotates the handle  61 , on its longitudinal axis to withdraw the handle slightly from the casing  35 , unlocking the ball  29  and thus the mounting plate  51  for movement. As the handle  61  is slightly withdrawn from the cam groove  17  in the ball support  5 , the casing  35  is free to move slightly upwardly, raising the o-ring  107  off the surface of the ball  29 . This allows the user to move the mounting plate  51  with one hand to a desired rotational position and a desired angle at this rotational position, the ball  29  supporting the plate  51  rolling and rotating in the ball support  5  within the casing  35  during movement. The angular position of the plate, relative to the horizontal, is limited by the plate  51  contacting the peripheral edge of the top  47  of the casing  35 . The hole  49  is made large enough; the casing  35  curved inwardly at the top enough; and the extension  31  high enough; to allow the plate  51  to tilt a sufficient amount to locate the device on the plate at a suitable angle for the operator to view it. It has been found, when the unit is used in vehicles that a tilt up to about thirty degrees from the horizontal is sufficient. The withdrawn handle  61 , and the casing  35 , can rotate three hundred and sixty degrees about the vertical axis of the support  1  to a desired position. 
         [0027]    Once the device on the mounting plate  51  is in the desired position, the user rotates the handle  61  in the opposite direction to cause the cams to move the casing  35  down to lock the ball  29  against movement with the o-ring  107  and thus lock the plate  51  against any movement. As the handle  61  is rotated to move inwardly, the cam  95  on the pin  91  in the head  63  moves into the cam slot  17  and is cammed downwardly by the angled side  97  of the cam  95  riding on the angled side  23  of the slot  17 . As the pin  91  is cammed downwardly, the attached handle  61  and attached casing  35  move down with it. 
         [0028]    When the casing  35  moves downwardly, the o-ring  107  that it carries on the inner surface  109  of the upper semi-spherical portion  45  bears against the surface of the ball  29  to prevent its movement. The support is now locked against both tilting movement of the support plate  51  and rotational movement of the handle  61  about the ball support  5 . The upward-downward movement required is incremental-no more than a sixteenth of an inch. It will be seen in  FIG. 4  that the bottom  39  of the casing  35  does not quite reach bottom  15  of the ball support  5  when the casing is released from the ball  29 . Thus there is room to cam the casing  35  down to have the o-ring  107  tightly grip the ball  29  preventing its movement. 
         [0029]    The bottom plate  3  is slidably mounted on a base  110 . The base  110  has a rectangular shape with end rails  111  mounted at the narrow ends of the base. The end rails  111  are joined to side rails  113  extending along the long sides of the base  110 . The side rails  113  are undercut on their inner side  115  to provide slots  117  to slidably receive opposed sides of the bottom plate  3  of the support  1 . One end rail  111  is removable to slide the bottom plate  3  onto the base  110  between the side rails  113 . The bottom plate  3  is relatively loose in the slots  117 . The square bottom plate  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , mounts guide members  125  on its top surface  11  at its four corners. Two guide members  125  bear against each side rail  113 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to guide the bottom plate  3  for longitudinal movement between the side rails  113 . The fit between the guide members  125  and the side rails  113  is snug enough to prevent minimal lateral movement of the plate  3  relative to the rails  113  while still permitting the plate  3  to slide along the base  110 . 
         [0030]    The guide members  125  are identical so only one will be described in detail. Each guide member  125  is a relatively thin, square block  127  with four sides  129 ,  131 ,  133 , and  135 . The block  127  has a central opening  137  for receiving a screw  139  to detachably connect the block  127  to the bottom plate  3 . The opening  137  in the block is offset so that the distance between the center  141  of the opening  137  and the sides  129 ,  131 ,  133  and  135  of the block varies, the distance increasing in equal increments from shortest distance to the longest distance. A first side  129  is the shortest distance from the center and a second, adjacent side  131  is the second shortest distance from the center. The fourth side  135  opposite the second side  131  is the third shortest distance from the center and the third side  133  opposite the first side  129  is the longest distance from the center. The block is suitably marked in a manner to indicate the relative distance of each side from the center of the opening relative to the other sides. Each block  127  is first mounted with its side  129  nearest to the center of the opening  137  closest to the side rail  113 . 
         [0031]    As the device is used, the one side  129  of the blocks wears down very slightly sliding along the rail and the bottom plate  3  becomes very slightly loose between the side rails  113 . Since the support is intended to be mainly used with vehicles, the motor of the vehicle, when running, can cause vibration in the support making it difficult to read the device on the support if the bottom plate  3  becomes loose on the base  110 . To tighten the plate, the guides  125  are each rotated a quarter turn on the bottom plate  3  to place a second side  131  of the guides  125 , that is slightly farther away from the center  141  of the opening  139  than the first side  129  against the side rail. Since the sides  131  of the guides  125  are now farther apart, the plate is more tightly held between the rails. The process can be repeated as the plate loosens to bring the fourth side  135  into use and then the third side  133 . 
         [0032]    The handle  61  can be used to position the support  1  longitudinally in the base  110  between the end rails  111 , sliding the support on its bottom plate  3 . If desired, spring biased stops can be located at spaced points along the length of the base  110  on the inside of the side rails  113  to enter depressions formed in the sides of the bottom plate  3  riding in the slots  117 . The stops would hold the support in the desired selected position along the length of the base plate.