Abstract:
A height-adjustable support system, comprising a vertically elongated mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a support surface and said mounting bracket including a vertically elongated support track having a top end and a bottom end and a plurality of parallel channels extending between said top end and said bottom end and a carriage assembly having a support surface and channel engaging members wherein said carriage assembly is adapted to be retained by said channels and slide along said channels and said carriage assembly including a support plate adapted to support a computer monitor and said carriage assembly further including a keyboard support and an actuator assembly being operable to releasably retain said carriage assembly in a fixed position relative to said support track.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a support apparatus and more particularly an adjustable support bracket for height adjustably supporting a display device and input apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In order to maximize accurate and convenient data input and retrieval, it has become common for industries and particularly the hospital industry to have computer terminals located at various locations throughout the building instead of a dedicated office or desk. These locations include hallways and patient rooms as well as offices so that these terminals or workstations can be used by various individuals on different shifts. Few, if any of the workstations are dedicated to an individual user. Therefore, instead of having office space dedicated to a single user and workstation, the workstations are placed where they are accessible by staff as needed and are usually accessed from a standing position. 
         [0003]    Therefore it is important to have a workstation that does not take up much space and accommodates frequent use for short periods at a time. Furthermore, since users come in a variety of heights, it is necessary that the support bracket for the workstation be vertically adjustable. It is also desirable that the workstation when not in use takes up as little space as possible and can be retracted to avoid being bumped by carts or passersby. The invention as described herein addresses these issues and provides advantageous solutions. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    One object of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket for a supporting a monitor and a keyboard. 
         [0005]    Another object of the invention is to provide mounting bracket having a track for attachment to a vertical wall or post. 
         [0006]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a height-adjustable monitor support for slidably engaging the track. 
         [0007]    Still another object of the invention is to provide mounting bracket having a keyboard support. 
         [0008]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an autoflip rotatable keyboard support. 
         [0009]    It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present invention need include all of the aforementioned objects of the present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or none of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. 
         [0010]    In summary the present invention is directed to an adjustable support member for mounting a device, comprising a vertically elongated support track having a top end and a bottom end and a plurality of parallel channels extending between said top end and said bottom end and a carriage assembly having a support surface and channel engaging members wherein said carriage assembly is adapted to be retained by said channels and slide along said channels and an actuator assembly being operable to releasably retain said carriage assembly in a fixed position relative to said support track. 
         [0011]    The present invention is further directed to a height-adjustable support system, comprising a vertically elongated mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a support surface and said mounting bracket including a vertically elongated support track having a top end and a bottom end and a plurality of parallel channels extending between said top end and said bottom end and a carriage assembly having a support surface and channel engaging members wherein said carriage assembly is adapted to be retained by said channels and slide along said channels and said carriage assembly including a support plate adapted to support a computer monitor and said carriage assembly further including a keyboard support and an actuator assembly being operable to releasably retain said carriage assembly in a fixed position relative to said support track. 
         [0012]    The present invention is further directed to a spring-biased keyboard support, comprising a substantially flat keyboard support surface and a spring-biased hinge connected to said keyboard support surface and to a second support surface whereby said spring-biased hinge operates to automatically flip said keyboard support surface upright. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the adjustable support bracket; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the track extrusion; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the track extrusion; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the track extrusion of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the carriage assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the actuator assembly; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is enlarged view of the actuator trigger block of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the actuator chassis of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the actuator trigger; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the lever; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the autoflip keyboard support; and, 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the autoflip keyboard support of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    The preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-13 . The appended claims are not limited to the preferred forms and no term and/or phrase used herein is to be given a meaning other than its ordinary meaning unless it is expressly stated otherwise. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 1 , a mount  10  is shown having an elongated vertical section  12  having a plate  14  for attachment to a computer monitor or the like (not shown) and a horizontally extending surface  16  suitable for supporting a computer keyboard (also not shown). Now with reference the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , the mount  10  includes a wallmount plate  20  which is designed to be fixedly secured by conventional fasteners to a vertical surface such as a wall or post. The wallmount plate  20  is preferably formed of substantially rigid material, preferably aluminum and is generally flat. The wallmount plate  20  includes pairs of upper and lower flanges  22  and  24  extending outwardly from the main body  26 . 
         [0028]    A track extrusion  28  formed of rigid material and preferably aluminum is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 . Looking at the rear wall  30  of the track extrusion  28  in  FIG. 3 , a pair of recesses  32  are formed and extend the length of the extrusion  28 . Four flanges  34  extend from the recesses  32  and engage wall mount flanges  22  and  24  when the track extrusion  28  is connected to the wall mount plate  20 . Track extrusion  28  as seen in  FIG. 4  includes a pair of channels  36  and  38  extending vertically preferably the entire length of track extrusion  28 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , channels  36  and  38  each include a slot-forming flange or rail  40 ,  42  respectively. Track extrusion  28  also includes a central tube  44  extending the length of the track extrusion  28 . A slot  46  is formed on front wall  48 . 
         [0029]    A carriage assembly  50  is moveably mounted to the track extrusion  28 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  6 , carriage assembly  50  includes a generally elongated front flat surface  52  and carriage roller wheel supporting strips  54  on each side of the front flat surface  52 . The carriage roller wheels  56  are retained on the supporting strips  54  by shoulder bolts  58 . 
         [0030]    The carriage assembly  50  is mounted to the track extrusion  28  by inserting roller wheels  56  into channels  36  and  38 . The roller wheels are then retained in channels  36  and  38  by flanges  40  and  42  respectively, but are free to roll within the channels. 
         [0031]    A pair of end caps  58  and  60  join the wallmount plate  20  and the track extrusion  28  together and keep them from sliding relative to each other. End caps  58  and  60  also provide stops for the carriage assembly  50  and keep it from rolling out of the channels  36  and  38 . 
         [0032]    Now the actuator assembly  70  will be described with respect to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 . The actuator assembly  70  preferably includes a gas spring cylinder  72  having a gas spring rod  74 . The gas spring cylinder  72  is mounted to a footing plate  76  preferably by a threaded fastener assembly  78 . The footing plate  76  is attached at the foot  78  of the track extrusion  28  and is covered by end cap  60 . The gas spring cylinder  72  extends into the central tube  44  of the track extrusion. 
         [0033]    At the top  80  of the gas spring rod is a valve  82  which allows air into and out of the gas spring cylinder  72 . Operation of the valve  82  is accomplished by movement of an actuator trigger  84  held within the actuator trigger block  86 . The actuator trigger block  86  is connected by conventional screws to the flat front surface  52  of the carriage assembly  50 . The actuator trigger  84  as shown in  FIG. 10  is generally rectangular and has a recess  88  on the bottom thereof and a U-shaped forked slot  90  on one end. The recess  88  engages the valve  82  to limit airflow and when the trigger  84  is released air is allowed to flow into or out of the valve  82 . A trigger pivot screw  92  is provided to adjust the degree of movement of the trigger  84 . The U-shaped forked slot  90  receives the top end  94  of pull cable  96 . Pull cable  96  extends downwardly from the trigger block  86  to actuator lever chassis  100 . 
         [0034]    Actuator chassis  100  includes a lever  102 . Lever  102  as shown in  FIG. 10  includes a chiseled end  104 . Spaced from chiseled end  104  is a horizontal opening  106  for receiving a pivot pin  108 . Pivot pin  108  is fixed to the actuator chassis  100  and retains the lever  102  within the chassis  100 . Spaced from horizontal opening  106  is a round vertical opening  110  having a slot  112  extending along the lever  102  away from chiseled end  104 . Opening  110  and slot  112  are adapted to receive and retain the second end  114  of the pull cable  96 . Pull cable  96  includes an outer housing  116  which includes upper fasteners  118  and lower fastener  120  to connect the housing  116  to the trigger block  86  and the actuator chassis  100 . A compression spring  122  is located within the actuator chassis  100  and operates to bias the lever  102  upwardly. A plunger screw  124  operates to engage the chiseled end  104  of the lever  102  to limit movement of the lever  102 . When the plunger screw  124  is backed off, the lever  102  is free to rotate. 
         [0035]    Now with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  12  and  13  the auto flip keyboard support assembly will be described. Preferably at the flat front surface  52  of the carriage assembly  50 , a keyboard support assembly  200  is mounted. The keyboard support  200  is attached to an auto flip chassis  202  having a base member  204  for attachment to the flat front surface  52 . The base member  204  includes an arcuate base wall  206  having a pair of spaced apart circular flanges  208  extending therefrom. Each of the flanges  208  includes a central opening  210  for receiving preferably a brass bushing  212 . On each outer side of the circular flanges  208  are preferably fastened a nylon washer  214 , a pivot lobe  216 , an SAE washer  218 , a nylock nut  220  and a pair of bore caps  224 . Located between the circular flanges  208  is a torsion spring  226  and an alignment bushing  228 . A shoulder bolt  229  connects to the nylock nut  220  to hold the parts together. A keyboard attachment plate  230  is preferably screwed to the pivot lobes  216 . A set screw  232  is attached to the base member  204  and engages an arm  234  of the torsion spring  226 . The other arm  238  of the torsion spring engages the keyboard plate  230  so that the spring can cause rotation of the keyboard plate  230  relative to the base member. The set screw  232  can be adjusted so that tension on the torsion spring  226  can be increased or decreased. 
         [0036]    In operation, the actuator assembly  70  permits vertical adjustment of the plate  14  and the keyboard support assembly  200  in a single handed motion vertically by moving the lever  102  downwardly to which causes pull cable  96  to move actuator trigger  84  and open valve  82  of the gas spring cylinder  72 . Once the valve  82  is opened, the carriage assembly  50  can be slid upward or downward. To lock the carriage assembly  50  in a desired position, the lever  102  is simply released and valve  82  is closed by the actuator trigger  84 . 
         [0037]    It should be understood that the rigid materials used in the manufacture of the mount  10  unless specifically identified can be aluminum or other suitably rigid material such as plastic. 
         [0038]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that the preferred design can be further modified or adapted following in general the principles of the invention and including but not limited to such departures from the present invention as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains. The claims are not limited to the preferred embodiment and have been written to preclude such a narrow construction using the principles of claim differentiation.