Patent Abstract:
A monitor support structure generally comprises a clamping unit, a rotatable arm, a support arm, a pivotal connecting unit, a linking rod, and a shiftable unit. The clamping unit is provided for fixing so as to allow the monitor support structure to hold and support an article. The pivotal connecting unit allows the support arm to shift upward or downward for adjusting the tilt angle of the article. Besides, the elastic devices provide the elastic force for pulling the support arm downward so as to share the weight of the article. Moreover, the linking rod can balance the weight of the article for steadily supporting the article.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a monitor support structure for angle adjustment, and more particularly to a monitor support structure that provides the steady support effect and disperses the supported weight effectively. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The monitor support structure must be angle-adjustable, frontward/backward adjustable, and leftward/rightward adjustable, besides providing the basic support function. With the gradual improvement in high-tech product, the traditional CRT monitor is gradually replaced by the LCD monitor. The LCD monitor has certain volume and weight even if it is thin and light and occupies smaller space. Therefore, the user must apply a certain amount of force for adjusting the angle of the support structure. 
   Furthermore, there exists a tendency to provide the LCD monitor with a bigger screen size, which makes the LCD monitor heavier. As a result, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a monitor support structure with better support torque and make it suitable for all view angles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a monitor support structure for adjusting the tilt angle of a LCD monitor. The elastic devices provide the elastic force for pulling the support arm downward so as to share the weight of the article. Besides, the linking rod can balance the weight of the article for steadily supporting the article. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevational diagram of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is partially exploded diagram of present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is exploded diagram showing the support arm and pivotal connecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a first partially, perspective diagram showing the assembled pivotal connecting unit and support arm of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a second partially, perspective diagram showing the assembled pivotal connecting unit and support arm of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective diagram showing the internal structure of the support arm of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing the operation status of the linking rod of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is schematic diagram showing the utilization status of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  8 , a monitor support structure of the present invention generally comprises a clamping unit  1 , a rotatable arm  2 , a support arm  3 , a pivotal connecting unit  4 , a linking rod  5 , and a shiftable unit  6 . 
   In the present invention, the clamping unit  1  can be fixed on a tabletop  7  so as to allow the monitor support structure, which is constructed of the clamping unit  1 , the rotatable arm  2 , the support arm  3 , the pivotal connecting unit  4 , the linking rod  5 , and the shiftable unit  6 , to hold and support a LCD monitor  8 . The aforesaid clamping unit  1  has a support pillar  11  pivotally connecting to one end of the rotatable arm  2 . The rotatable arm  2  is leftward and rightward rotatable. A pivot unit  21  is extended from the other end of the rotatable arm  2 , and pivotally fixed between two bottom plates  43 , which are located on one side of the pivotal connecting unit  4 . 
   The pivotal connecting unit  4  has a shaft hole  41 , a penetrated guide slot  42  for holding a shaft  46 , a penetrated hole  48 , and a pair of hooking ears  44  on the other side of the pivotal connecting unit  4 . After penetration, the shaft  46  is sealed and fixed by a plug cover  461 . Besides, the pivotal connecting unit  4  is connectedly assembled to the support arm  3 . 
   The support arm  3  is a bar-shaped unit, and the support arm  3  is covered with a cover  36 . The support arm  3  has a chamber for orderly holding, for example, signal and power cables of the LCD monitor  8 . The support arm  3  has two clamping plates  32  bilaterally on the bottom for coupling with the pivotal connecting unit  4 . The support arm  3  further has two lateral plates  31  having respective symmetric long slots  311  on the respective upper portions. The lateral plates  31  have respective fixing units  312  closely under respective long slots  311  for fixing respective first ends of a pair of elastic devices  47 . One of the clamping plates  32 , which is located on the bottom of the support arm  3 , has a center hole  321 , a pin hole  322 , and several positioning holes  323  on the inner surface. In addition, the other clamping plate  32  has a center hole  321 , a slotted hole  324 , and several positioning holes  323  on the inner surface. A pair of friction devices  37  is disposed between the clamping plates  32  to touch the pivotal connecting unit  4 , thereby avoiding the attrition between the support arm  3  and the pivotal connecting unit  4 . Thus, the support arm  3  and the pivotal connecting unit  4  are smoothly pivotally rotatable. Each friction device  37  has a shaft hole  371 , a pin hole  372 , and several pins  373 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , the assembly between the support arm  3  and the pivotal connecting unit  4  is shown. Each of the friction devices  37  is located between the clamping plate  32  and the pivotal connecting unit  4 . The pins  373  of the friction device  37  can be inserted into and coupled with the positioning holes  323 . The shaft hole  41  of the pivotal connecting unit  4 , the center holes  321  of the clamping plates  32 , and the shaft holes  371  of the friction devices  37  are penetrated through by a threaded rod  34 . Next, a screw nut  341  is screwed onto the threaded rod  34  for pivotally fixing the pivotal connecting unit  4 , the clamping plates  32 , and the friction devices  37  together. The center hole  321  of each of the clamping plates  32  is covered with a coupling cover  35 . The pin hole  322  of the clamping plate  32 , the pin holes  372  of the friction devices  37 , and the guide slot  42  of the pivotal connecting unit  4  are penetrated through by the shaft  46 , wherein one end of the shaft  46  is held in the slotted hole  324  of one of the clamping plates  32 . In addition, the other end of the shaft  46  is held in the pin hole  322  of the other clamping plate  32 , and covered with the plug cover  461 . 
   Besides, the penetrated hole  48  is formed on the pivotal connecting unit  4  above the shaft hole  41  for holding a shaft rod  49 , wherein first ends of the elastic devices  47  are fixed respectively on the fixing units  312  of the lateral plates  31  and second ends of the elastic devices  47  are respectively fixed on the both ends of the shaft rod  49 . 
   Moreover, the pivotal connecting unit  4  has the hooking ears  44  on rearward for holding a second shaft sleeve  52  that locates on one end of the linking rod  5 . The second shaft sleeve  52  is fixed on the hooking ears  44  by shaft assemblies  45 . The linking rod  5  has a first shaft sleeve  51  on the other end, wherein this first shaft sleeve  51  is held in the long slots  311  of the lateral plates  31  of the support arm  3  by respective screw assemblies  33 . In addition, two elastic sheets  331  are disposed between the first shaft sleeve  51  and the long slots  311 , respectively, for adjusting the tightness between the linking rod  5  and the screw assemblies  33  that screw thereon. 
   Two wing plates  313  are coupled with the respective upper ends of the respective lateral plates  31  of the support arm  3 , and connected to a joint unit  62  that couples with a mounting frame  61  of the shiftable unit  6 . The LCD monitor  8  is mounted on the shiftable unit  6  such that the LCD monitor  8  is leftward and rightward rotatable. 
     FIGS. 1 and 8  illustrate the assembled structure of the present invention. If there is a need to adjust the LCD monitor  8  to the optimum operation angle, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the user can shift the support arm  3  upward or downward to adjust the tilt angle. Because the pivotal connecting unit  4  is pivotally fixed on the rotatable arm  2 , the rotation of the clamping plates  32  of the support arm  3  including the friction devices  37  that couple thereto allows the movement of the shaft  46  in the guide slot  42 . Therefore, the tilt angle of the support arm  3  is changed by the movement of the shaft  46 . In addition, the linking rod  5  is upward or downward shiftable within a sliding slot  361  of the cover  36  such that the first shaft sleeve  51  of the linking rod  5  is shiftable within the long slots  311  of the support arm  3 . Besides, the movement of the support arm  3  provides the elastic devices  47  with the elastic force, which pulls the support arm  3  downward for sharing the weight of the LCD monitor  8 . After the adjustment is completed, the linking rod  5  can be tightly positioned by the screw assemblies  33  so as to provide the support arm  3  with the reliable tilt angle. Besides, the shiftable unit  6  that couples with the support arm  3  further allows the LCD monitor  8  to make the leftward and rightward movement. 
   While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5