Patent Abstract:
A computer lift has a stationary lift assembly and a movable monitor mount containing a gas spring cylinder fixed at one end, using a pulley assembly and cable to double the stroke of the gas spring cylinder by floating the pulley assembly. A positive lock allows the lift to stay in position after moving to a desired height, while maintaining easy movability.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/532,787, filed on Sep. 9, 2011, hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to computer lifts and in particular the present disclosure relates to adjustable height lifts for computers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As more and more workers use computers for large portions of a workday, more problems associated with improperly placed keyboards, monitors, and the like can cause health issues. Health issues that may arise from improper keyboard and/or monitor height include back problems, neck problems, wrist problems, circulation problems, and the like. As awareness of the benefits of proper ergonomic placement of computer monitors and keyboards continues to improve, the shortcomings of many monitor and keyboard stands are becoming more and more apparent. 
         [0004]    Other monitor mounts capable of supporting a large monitor use a series of a plurality of pulleys, and typically require adjustment with tools so that the amount of tension provided in the lift equals the weight on the lift. If a user leans on any platform of the lift, or changes the weight so that it is heavier or lighter, the lift will move. Other lifts use a counter-weight that may also require adjustment, or only work for a monitor of a certain weight, or within a very small weight range. 
         [0005]    For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an improved computer monitor and keyboard lift. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a computer lift according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the computer lift of  FIG. 1  in an extended position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the computer lift of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial cutaway side elevation of a computer lift according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a partial cutaway side elevation of a computer lift according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partial cutaway side elevation of the computer lift of  FIG. 5  in an extended position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a view of a pulley case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is another view of the pulley case of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a view of a mounting of a computer lift; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a view of an alternate mounting of a computer lift; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a view of another alternate mounting of a computer lift; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the mounting of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a computer lift  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The computer lift  100  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a lowered position. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the computer lift can be extended to an upper position. Various other positions between the lower position and the upper position may also be used. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the computer lift  100  comprises a base  102  supporting a movable monitor mount  104 . The monitor mount  104  in turn supports a monitor  106  or other display device, and a platform  108 , from which a keyboard rest  110  is supported via support  112 . As shown in greater detail in perspective view in  FIG. 2  and in side elevation view in  FIG. 3 , the monitor mount  104  is slidably movable on a lift assembly  202  attached to the computer lift base  102 , and which extends within a hollow center of the monitor mount  104 . 
         [0023]    Also in  FIG. 3 , positive locking mechanism  302  is shown. Further detail of positive locking mechanism  302  is provided in  FIG. 4 . Positive locking mechanism  302  allows for the monitor mount  104  to be positively locked in one of a plurality of positions of raised or lowered monitor/display and keyboard. Positive locking mechanism  302  in one embodiment comprises a spring attachment  402  connected between one end  403  of a spring  404  and a lock arm  406 . The lock arm is in turn connected to lock  408 . The spring  404  is attached as mentioned at end  403  to the lock arm  406 . The other end  405  of the spring  402  is attached to the platform  108 . The spring is normally biased to urge the lock arm and lock  408  toward the locking bar  412  of lift assembly  202  in the direction of arrow  409 , so as to engage the lock  408  into one of a plurality of detents  410  formed in locking bar  412  of lift assembly  202 . The locking mechanism  302  is in one embodiment disengaged by using a handle or the like attached to the lock arm  408 , the spring attachment  402 , or the like to allow a user to overcome the normal spring bias of spring  404  and disengage the lock  408  from a detent  410  by moving the lock arm  406  and therefore the lock  408  in a direction indicated by arrow  411 . 
         [0024]    Further detail of the lift assembly  202  and its interaction with the monitor mount  104  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which show, respectively, the lift  100  in partial cutaway side view in a lowered ( FIG. 5 ) and raised ( FIG. 6 ) positions. In the lowered position shown in  FIG. 5 , a gas spring cylinder  502  having a main body  504  and an inner cylinder  506  is shown. Gas spring cylinder  502  is attached to the monitor mount  104  at attachment point  508 . Inner cylinder  506  is attached at its distal end  510  to a pulley case  512 , for example by threaded engagement with a recessed threaded portion  514  of case  512 . Pulley case  512  contains a pulley  516  mounted within pulley case  512  to be freely rotatable within pulley case  512 . Pulley cable  702  (shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) is attached at one end at attachment point  508 , threaded through the pulley case  512  around pulley  516 , and to attachment point  518  on lift assembly  202 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , the gas spring cylinder  502  is in an extended position, where the inner cylinder  506  is extended from the main body  504  when the upright is in its upper, or raised, position. 
         [0025]    While the gas spring cylinder  502  is attached to the monitor mount at attachment point  508 , the pulley case  512  and inner cylinder  506  are free-floating within the monitor mount  104  and lift assembly  202 . This allows for a doubling of the stroke of the gas spring cylinder, since the pulley case  512  and the distal end of the gas spring cylinder are floating. This doubling of the stroke allows for a greater range of motion of the monitor mount than simply using a gas spring cylinder that is fixed at each end. The gas spring pressure keeps the cable  702  from getting slack during movement of the monitor mount  104  from its lowered position to its raised position. 
         [0026]    The gas spring in the computer lift with the pulley and cable combination allows for travel of the monitor mount  104  approximately twice the stroke of a spring of the gas spring cylinder  502 . There is no force required for raising or lifting the monitor mount  104 , as the force is counterbalanced by the force of the cylinder. Therefore, no adjustment is required for moving the monitor mount  104  since the cylinder  502  does a majority of the work. 
         [0027]    Further, the use of the pulley/cylinder system allows for the height of the lift assembly to be shorter than traditional designs. In one embodiment, the computer lift, when mounted to a standard working height desk/table/surface is adjustable to fit a user from 62 inches up to 76 inches in height. 
         [0028]    As may be seen referring also to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , pulley  516  extends in one embodiment through slots  706  in the wall of the pulley case  512 , allowing the cable  702  to be seated on the pulley  516  securely so that it does not slip off pulley  516 . 
         [0029]    A top cutaway view of the lift assembly  202  and monitor mount  104  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The view is taken along the lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 1 . The attachment points  508  and  518 , as well as gas cylinder  502 , pulley  516 , lift assembly  202  and monitor mount  104  are shown. 
         [0030]    The computer lift  100  of the present disclosure is amenable to mounting to a desk or other surface in a number of ways, allowing for flexibility in mounting. Various mounting embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 10-13 . For example only, and not by way of limitation,  FIG. 10  shows a mounting where the computer lift  100  is attached directly to a desk/table/surface  1000  via a mounting fastener such as screws, bolts or the like  1002 .  FIG. 11  shows a mounting where the computer lift  100  is mounted to a desk/table/surface  1000  using a plurality of clamps  1100  in a front-mount embodiment.  FIGS. 12 and 13  shown a mounting where the computer lift  100  is mounted to a desk/table/surface  1000  using a plurality of clamps  1200  at a rear of the desk/table/surface connected to the computer lift  100  by extending bars, straps, or the like  1202 . In another alternative mounting, a VELCRO type system for mounting may be used. 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0031]    Computer lift embodiments have been described that include a computer lift with a smaller height profile than existing computer lifts. This is accomplished using a gas spring cylinder, pulley, and cable system allowing the doubling of the stroke of the gas spring cylinder using a fixed mounting at one end of the gas spring cylinder and a floating second end of the gas spring cylinder. The computer lift 
         [0032]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8