Abstract:
A pivotal support arm structure is disclosed and has an elastic force adjustment arrangement in order to accommodate the various loads. One end of the support arm structure may be secured to the edge of a desk and the other end thereof may be secured to an article (e.g., LCD display) to be held in use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to support arms and more particularly to an improved pivotal support arm structure having an elastic force adjustment arrangement in order to accommodate the various loads when one end of the support arm structure is secured to the edge of a desk and the other end thereof secured to an article (e.g., LCD (liquid crystal display) display). 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Mounts, stands, and supports for articles (e.g., LCD (liquid crystal display) display, computer monitor, television (TV), notebook computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, mobile phone, or the like) are well known in the art. However, such prior devices are typically relatively complex in constructions, trouble-prone, troublesome to manipulate or operate, and impossible of adjusting its spring force. Thus, the need for improvement still exists. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a pivotal support arm structure having an elastic force adjustment arrangement in order to accommodate the various loads when one end of the support arm structure is secured to the edge of a desk and the other end thereof secured to an article. 
         [0006]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a support arm structure according to the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the support arm structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the support arm structure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  where another preferred embodiment of the support arm structure is shown; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1  with the seating member removed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the support arm structure secured to a clamp in an offset manner and the clamp is mounted on an edge of a desk; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the clamp and the quick release; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of  FIG. 8  with the seat member and the lower portion of the clamp removed; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the support arm structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  are front view, side elevation, rear view, and bottom view of the outer assembly respectively; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 15 and 16  are front view and side elevation of the inner assembly respectively; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 17 ,  18  and  19  are top views, side elevation, and front view of the seating member respectively; 
           [0020]      FIG. 20  is a front view of the inner assembly with the tube, the spring, and other components disposed therein and the outer assembly removed; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 21 and 22  are side elevations showing the spring before compression and after compression respectively; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 23 and 24  are side elevations showing the spring before adjustment and after adjustment respectively; 
           [0023]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the support arm structure directly secured to a clamp which is mounted on an edge of a desk; 
           [0024]      FIG. 26  is an exploded view of two cylinders, a yoke member, and a joint according to still another preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 27  is a side elevation of the support arm structure of  FIG. 1  secured to a mounting assembly which is in turn secured to article to be supported with the support arm structure being adjusted from a vertical or horizontal orientation to an orientation of about 45 degrees; 
           [0026]      FIG. 28  is a top plan view of the mounting assembly, the article, and the seating member of  FIG. 27 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 29  is a side elevation of the extension of the outer assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 29 , a support arm structure in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
         [0029]    An outer assembly  1 , an inner assembly  3 , and a seating member  2  on the tops of both the outer assembly  1  and the inner assembly  3  are provided. The inner assembly  3  comprises a U-shaped member  31 . A cylindrical spacer member  5  is provided between the lower ends of the outer assembly  1 . A seat member  6  is provided on the lower ends of the outer assembly  1 . An upper guide member  46  is provided on the upper portion of the outer assembly  1 . A lower guide member  48  is provided on the lower portion of the inner assembly  3 . A bolt  49  is driven through a top through hole  47  of the upper guide member  46 , a nut  45 , and a fastening plate  43  to threadedly secure them together. The fastening plate  43  is seated upon a tube  40  with a helical spring  42  put thereon. A lower portion of the tube  40  is inserted into an axial hole  481  of the lower guide member  48 . A tool (e.g., screw driver) may be inserted into a top hole  25  of the seating member  2  to manipulate the bolt  49  so as to adjust the compression extent of the spring  42  (see  FIG. 23 ). 
         [0030]    The outer assembly  1  has a section of U and comprises a main member  11  having a longitudinal opening  12  on one side, the opening  12  having a toothed mouth, the main member  11  having two opposite extensions  13  on the bottom, a central hole  14  through either extension  13 , two opposite arcuate grooves  15  on the extension  13  with the hole  14  disposed therebetween, two opposite risers  16  on the top, and a hole  17  through either riser  16 . Two rectangular recesses  111  are provided on two opposite sides of the main member  11  for increasing the structural strength. Alternatively, an extension portion  151  can be formed at one end of the groove  15  for permitting a further angular movement of a second pin  19  (see  FIG. 29 ). 
         [0031]    The inner assembly  3  is a section of U and comprises a main section  31  having a longitudinal opening  32  on one side, the main section  31  being received in the main member  11 , the main section  31  having two opposite lower yoke arms  33  on the bottom, a lower hole  34  through either lower yoke arm  33 , two opposite upper yoke arms  35  on the top, and a hole  36  through either upper yoke arm  35 . The inner assembly  3  is fitted in the outer assembly  1 . A distance between the hole  36  and the hole  34  on the same side is the same as that between the hole  16  and the hole  14  on the same side. Two lower threaded holes  38  are provided on the main section  31  proximate the lower yoke arms  33 . 
         [0032]    The seating member  2  comprises a main section  28  including an inner surface  29 , an outer surface  21 , and a top surface  22 ; and two surfaces  23  on both sides of the main section  28 . Either side surface  23  has an upper hole  26  and a lower hole  27 . Further, a hole  25  is provided on the top surface  22  and four holes  24  arranged in a square are provided on the outer surface  21 . 
         [0033]    The cylindrical spacer member  5  is provided between the extensions  13  and comprises a central, axial through hole  51  and two opposite through holes  52  aligned with the through hole  51 . 
         [0034]    The spring assembly  4  comprises the fastening plate  43 , the nut  45 , the bolt  49 , the upper guide member  46 , the lower guide member  48 , the tube  40 , and the spring  42 . 
         [0035]    The upper guide member  46  is shaped as an inverted L and is provided on the upper portion of the main member  11  of the outer assembly  1 . The upper guide member  46  comprises a longitudinal wall  461  and a top surface  462  having a through hole  47 . In this embodiment, the upper guide member  46  is secured to the main member  11  by soldering (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0036]    The lower guide member  48  is provided on the lower portion of the main section  31  of the inner assembly  3 . The lower guide member  48  has an axial hole  481  of oval, two threaded holes  482  on the outer surface, and two side surfaces  483 . Two fasteners (e.g., screws)  39  are driven through the threaded holes  38  into the threaded holes  482  to fasten the lower guide member  48  in the main section  31 . 
         [0037]    The tube  40  has a latched annular member  41  on the top end. The tube  40  has a lower portion inserted into the axial hole  481  of the lower guide member  48 . The spring  42  put on the tube  40  is adapted to exert a downward expansion force on the lower guide member  48 . The spring  42  can be replaced with a different one depending on different load requirements (e.g., 1.5 kg to 6 kg, 3 kg to 8.5 kg, or 5 kg to 15 kg). 
         [0038]    The fastening plate  43  is provided in the upper portion of the main section  31  of the inner assembly  3 . The fastening plate  43  is shaped as a square and has a lower extension  431  and a longitudinal threaded hole  44  through itself and the extension  431 . The bottom of the fastening plate  43  is resiliently seated upon the slotted annular member  41  with the extension  431  surrounded by the slotted annular member  41 . The bolt  49  is driven through the top through hole  47  of the upper guide member  46 , the nut  45 , and the threaded hole  44  of the fastening plate  43  to threadedly secure them together. The nut  45  has an upper extension and an axial threaded hole  452 . Also, the nut  45  is biased between the top surface  462  of the upper guide member  46  and the fastening plate  43 . Note that the bolt  49  and the nut  45  are corotated. The diameter of the through hole  47  is sufficiently larger than that of the shank of the bolt  49 . Hence, the bolt  49  is adapted to rotate about the through hole  47 . The fastening plate  43  may move upward or downward in response to the turning of the bolt  49  since the fastening plate  43  is retained in the main section  31 . And in turn, the tube  40  may lift or lower. As a result, the spring  42  may be either compressed to urge against the lower guide member  48  when the tube  40  lowers or loosened to decrease its elastic force exerted upon the lower guide member  48  when the tube  40  lifts. In short, a rotational turning of the bolt  49  can adjust the compression extent of the spring  42  so as to accommodate different load requirements (e.g., LCD (liquid crystal display) display, computer monitor, television (TV), notebook computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, mobile phone, or the like). 
         [0039]    A seat member  6  comprises a longitudinal hollow cylinder  62  and a lateral yoke  61 . On either yoke  61  there are provided a plate  65 , an intermediate hole  63 , and upper and lower holes  64  aligned with the hole  63  in an oblique manner. A yoke member  60  comprises a bottom member  66  and two side yoke arms  67  each having an intermediate hole  68  and upper and lower holes  69  aligned with the hole  63  in an oblique manner. The yoke member  60  is fitted around the extensions  13 . 
         [0040]    A first pivot pin  10  is provided through the holes  63 ,  68 ,  14  and the through hole  51 , a second pin  19  is inserted through the upper hole  64  on one plate  65 , the upper hole  69  on one yoke arm  67 , one arcuate groove  15  on one extension  13 , one through hole  52 , one arcuate groove  15  on the other extension  13 , the upper hole  64  on the other plate  65 , and the upper hole  69  on the other yoke arm  67 , and a first pin  18  is inserted through the lower hole  64  on one plate  65 , the lower hole  69  on one yoke arm  67 , the other arcuate groove  15  on one extension  13 , the other through hole  52 , the other arcuate groove  15  on the other extension  13 , the lower hole  64  on the other plate  65 , and the lower hole  69  on the other yoke arm  67  to assemble the seat member  6 , the yoke member  60 , the spacer member  5 , and the outer assembly  1  together. As a result, the spring assembly  4  is assembled. 
         [0041]    Moreover, a second pivot pin  20  is inserted through the holes  17 ,  26 , and a fourth pin  30  is inserted through the holes  35 ,  27  to assemble the seating member  2 , the outer assembly  1 , and the inner assembly  3  together. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , a quick release  50  comprises a C-shaped member  53  having a recess  55  and a threaded hole  56  at one end, and a threaded hole  57  at the other end opposing the threaded hole  56 ; and a gap  54  between the both ends of the C-shaped member  53 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a clamp  7  comprises a top cylinder  70  inserted through the C-shaped member  53 . Next, a truncated cone-shaped bushing member  59  is fitted between the cylinder  70  and the C-shaped member  53 . A screw  57  is driven through the threaded holes  56 ,  57  to tighten the C-shaped member  53  around the bushing member  59  which in turn tightens the cylinder  70 . Hence, the seat member  6  and the cylinder  70  are assembled together. It is thus possible of adjusting the relative position of the seat member  6  and the clamp  7  (i.e., height of the spring assembly  4 ) by manipulating the quick release  50 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the clamp  7  is a C-clamp and comprises a frame  72 , a ring  71  on the top surface  731  of the frame  72  with the cylinder  70  being fastened through, a hole  74  through the bottom surface  73  of the frame  72 , a bolt  75  driven through the hole  74  and having a slotted head  76  and a flat end  751 , a moveable jaw  77  having a bottom cavity  78  with the head  76  secured therein, and a fastening plate  79  provided on the top of the moveable jaw  77 . It is understood that an individual may put the empty portion between the top surface  731  of the frame  72  and the fastening plate  79  on the edge of a desk and then tighten the bolt  75  to upward move the moveable jaw  77  until the desk edge and the clamp  7  are secured together. 
         [0045]    Alternatively, the inner assembly  3  is replaced with two opposite plates  500  each fastened between the lateral yoke  61  and the extension  13  of the same side (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0046]    Still alternatively as shown in  FIG. 25 , the seat member  6  and the cylinder  70  are eliminated with the yoke member  60  directly pivotably secured on the top of the clamp  7 . Moreover, the outer assembly  1  has a section of rectangle with a raised portion  101  formed on one side surface  100 . Further, a longitudinal slit  102  is formed on the raised portion  101  and a longitudinal hole  103  is formed within the raised portion  101 . 
         [0047]    Still alternatively as shown in  FIG. 26 , the seat member  6  is eliminated, an outer cylinder  70  is provided in addition to an inner cylinder  70 , and a joint  9  is provided. The joint  9  has a first sleeve  91  adapted to secure to the inserted outer cylinder  70  and a second sleeve  92  adapted to secure to the inserted inner cylinder  70 . Further, the enlarged head of the outer cylinder  70  is pivotably secured to the yoke member  60 . 
         [0048]    Still alternatively as shown in  FIGS. 27 and 28 , an individual may pivot the outer assembly  1  about the first pivot pin  10  and pivot seating member  2  about the second pivot pin  20  to dispose the outer assembly  1  in any desired orientation such as vertical, 45 degrees, and horizontal as shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         [0049]    A mounting assembly  8  is provided and comprises a first pivotal section  81 , a second pivotal section  82 , and an interconnection  87 . The first pivotal section  81  is adapted to pivot in a direction as indicated by either left arrow in  FIG. 28 . The first pivotal section  81  comprises a frame  83  threadedly secured to the outer surface  21  of the seating member  2 , two opposite first damping members  873  of the interconnection  87  each frictionally secured between a central member  871  of the interconnection  87  and either side of the frame  83 , two first cover plates  89  each provided on either side of the frame  83 , and a first pivot  881  provided across the frame  83 , the first damping members  873 , and the central member  871 . Hence, the first pivotal section  81  is adapted to pivot about the first pivot  881  as indicated by either left arrow in  FIG. 28 . 
         [0050]    The second pivotal section  82  is adapted to pivot in a direction as indicated by either right arrow in  FIG. 28 . The second pivotal section  82  comprises first, second and third members  84 ,  85 ,  86  in which the third member  86  is adapted to secure to an article (e.g., an LCD display)  80 , a second damping member  872  of the interconnection  87  frictionally secured around a second pivot  882 , and two second cover plates  89  provided on top and bottom surface of the second damping member  872 . Hence, the second pivotal section  82  is adapted to pivot about the second pivot  882  as indicated by either right arrow in  FIG. 28 . 
         [0051]    It is noted that the spring assembly  4  may be configured in an orientation opposing that described above. For example, the upper guide member  46  is provided in the lower portion of the outer assembly  1 , the lower guide member  48  is provided in the upper portion of the inner assembly  3 , and other associated components are provided accordingly. Thus, the spring force adjustment is done from the lower portion of the spring assembly  4 . Moreover, the upper guide member  46  may be provided in the inner assembly  3 , the lower guide member  48  may be provided in the outer assembly  1 , and the fastening plate  43  is provided accordingly. All of the above are contemplated by the invention. 
         [0052]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.