Abstract:
A height-adjustable support system including a vertically elongated support track having a top end and a bottom end and a plurality of parallel channels extending therebetween, 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, said carriage assembly including a support plate adapted to support a computer monitor and a keyboard support, and an actuator assembly being operable to releasably retain said carriage assembly along said support track.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/080,069, which was filed Apr. 5, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    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 
       [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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 
       [0005]    One object of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket for a supporting a monitor and a keyboard. 
         [0006]    Another object of the invention is to provide mounting bracket having a track for attachment to a vertical wall or post. 
         [0007]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a height-adjustable monitor support for slidably engaging the track. 
         [0008]    Still another object of the invention is to provide mounting bracket having a keyboard support. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an autoflip rotatable keyboard support. 
         [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    The present invention is still further directed to an adjustable support bracket for mounting a device, including a vertically elongated support track having a plurality of parallel channels extending vertically, a carriage assembly having a support surface and channel engaging members wherein said carriage assembly is retained by and slidable along said channels, an actuator assembly including a gas spring assembly that includes a valve, wherein said gas spring assembly releasably retains said carriage assembly at desired locations along said support track, and said actuator assembly further includes a lever that is connected to a rod having an actuator trigger operatively connected to the valve of said gas spring assembly, wherein the lever is movable to open and close said valve. 
         [0014]    The present invention also is directed to a height-adjustable support system, 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, a carriage assembly having a support surface and channel engaging members wherein said channel engaging members of said carriage assembly are retained by and slidable along said channels of said support track, said carriage assembly including a support plate spaced apart from and being positioned above a keyboard support, an actuator assembly including a movable rod having an actuator trigger at one end and being pivotally connected to an actuator lever at an opposed end, the actuator trigger being connected to a valve of a gas spring assembly that is connected at a first end to said support track and at a second end to said carriage assembly, and wherein said actuator assembly releasably retains said carriage assembly at positions along said support track. 
         [0015]    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 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the adjustable support bracket; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the track extrusion; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the track extrusion; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the track extrusion of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the carriage assembly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the actuator assembly; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is enlarged view of the actuator trigger block of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the actuator chassis of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the actuator trigger; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the lever; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the autoflip keyboard support; and, 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the autoflip keyboard support of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a second example adjustable support bracket; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a front exploded perspective view of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 14 , without the wallmount plate used to connect to a wall; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a rear perspective view of the carriage assembly; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a top view of the track extrusion of adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is a rear exploded perspective view of the track extrusion and wallmount plate of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of the actuator assembly of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 20  is a rear perspective view of the actuator assembly of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 21  is a rear exploded perspective view of the actuator assembly of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 22  is a front perspective view of the autoflip keyboard support of the adjustable support bracket of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 23  is a rear perspective view of the autoflip keyboard support shown in  FIG. 22 ; and, 
           [0039]      FIG. 24  is a front exploded perspective view of the autoflip keyboard support shown in  FIG. 22 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0040]    The preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to two example embodiments, shown in  FIGS. 1-13  and  14 - 24 , respectively. 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. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 1 , a mount or adjustable support bracket  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 or adjustable support bracket  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 . 
         [0042]    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  is formed and extends the length of the extrusion  28 . Four flanges  34  extend from the recesses  32  and engage wallmount flanges  22  and  24  when the track extrusion  28  is connected to the wallmount 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 . 
         [0043]    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 . 
         [0044]    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. 
         [0045]    A pair of end caps  58  and  60  joins the wallmount plate  20  and the track extrusion  28  together and keeps 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 . 
         [0046]    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. 
         [0047]    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 . 
         [0048]    Actuator chassis  100  includes a lever  102 . Lever  102  as shown in  FIG. 11  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. 
         [0049]    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 , 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  passes through these parts and is connected to a 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 a first arm  234  of the torsion spring  226 . A second 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. 
         [0050]    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 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 . 
         [0051]    It should be understood that the rigid materials used in the manufacture of the mount or adjustable support bracket  10  unless specifically identified can be aluminum or other suitably rigid materials such as other metals or plastics. 
         [0052]    A second preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 14-24 . 
         [0053]    In  FIG. 14 , an adjustable support bracket  310  is shown having an elongated vertical section  312  having a plate  314  for attachment to a computer monitor or the like (not shown) and a horizontally extending surface  316  suitable for supporting a computer keyboard (also not shown). Now with reference the exploded views of  FIGS. 15 and 18 , the adjustable support bracket  310  includes a wallmount plate  320  which is designed to be fixedly secured by conventional fasteners to a vertical surface such as a wall or post. The wallmount plate  320  is preferably formed of substantially rigid material, preferably aluminum or other suitable material and is generally flat. The wallmount plate  320  includes pairs of upper and lower flanges  322  and  324 , respectively, extending outwardly from a main body  326 . 
         [0054]    A track extrusion  328  formed of rigid material and preferably aluminum or other suitable material is shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  15 ,  17  and  18 . Looking at the rear wall  330  of the track extrusion  328 , in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , a pair of recesses  332  is formed and extends the length of the extrusion  328 . Four flanges  334  extend from the recesses  332  and engage wallmount flanges  322  and  324  when the track extrusion  328  is connected to the wallmount plate  320 . Track extrusion  328  as seen in  FIGS. 15 and 17  includes a pair of channels  336  and  338  extending vertically preferably the entire length of track extrusion  328 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , channels  336  and  338  each include a slot-forming flange or rail  340 ,  342  respectively. Track extrusion  328  includes a central tube  344  extending the length of the track extrusion  328 . A slot  346  is formed through a front wall  348 . Opposed channels  347  of the track extrusion  328  receive covers  349  for a more finished appearance. 
         [0055]    A carriage assembly  350  is moveably mounted to the track extrusion  328 . As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , carriage assembly  350  includes a generally elongated front flat surface  352  and carriage bushing supporting strips  354  on each side of the front flat surface  352 . The carriage bushings  356  are retained on the bushing supporting strips  354  by friction and by being located within the channels  336  and  338 . The plate  314  also is pivotally connected at post  357  to the carriage assembly  350 . 
         [0056]    The carriage assembly  350  is mounted to the track extrusion  328  by inserting the carriage bushings  356  on the bushing supporting strips  354  into channels  336  and  338 . The carriage bushings  356  are then retained in channels  336  and  338  by flanges  340  and  342 , respectively, but are free to slide within the channels  336  and  338 . 
         [0057]    A pair of end caps  358  and  360  joins the wallmount plate  320  and the track extrusion  328  together and keeps them from sliding relative to each other. End caps  358  and  360  also provide stops for the carriage assembly  350  and keep it from sliding out of the channels  336  and  338 . 
         [0058]    An actuator assembly  370  will be described with respect to FIGS.  14  and  19 - 21 . The actuator assembly  370  preferably includes a gas spring cylinder  372  having a gas spring rod  374 . The gas spring cylinder  372  is mounted to a footing plate  376  preferably by a threaded fastener assembly  378 . The footing plate  376  is attached at the foot of the track extrusion  328  and is covered by end cap  360 . The gas spring cylinder  372  extends into the central tube  344  of the track extrusion  328 . 
         [0059]    At the top  380  of the gas spring rod  374  is a valve  382  which allows air into and out of the gas spring cylinder  372 . Operation of the valve  382  is accomplished by movement of an actuator trigger  384  at the upper end of a flat rod  385  that is slidably held by an actuator trigger block  386 . The actuator trigger block  386  is efficiently connected to the carriage assembly  350 . The actuator trigger block  386  has flanges  388  that extend outwardly. The actuator trigger block  386  is inserted rearwardly through an aperture  390  in the carriage assembly  350  until the flanges  388  engage the front surface  352  thereof. Fasteners  392 , such as screws, rivets or other suitable fastening means, then are passed through apertures  394  in the carriage assembly  350 . The trigger block  386  extends through the slot  346  in the front wall  348  of the track extrusion  328  where it is connected to the gas spring rod  374  of the gas spring cylinder  372  that is located within the central tube  344  of the track extrusion  328 . 
         [0060]    The components of the actuator assembly  370  are best seen in FIGS.  15  and  19 - 21 . The rod  385  of the actuator assembly  370  is pivotally connected at its opposite end  395  to a post  396  on a lever  398 . The lever  398  has a handle  400  at one end for grasping by a user and the opposite end  399  is pivotally connected to a post  402  on the rear of a lever chassis  404 . The posts  396  and  402  are spaced apart, such that pivotal movement of the lever  398  drives the rod  385  up or down. A biasing member  406  biases the lever  398  upwardly to a position that closes the valve  382 . The lever chassis  404  is connected to the carriage assembly  350  by fasteners  408 , such as conventional screws, rivets or other suitable means of connection. The lever chassis  404  has rearward and downward extending bayonet type hooks  410  that are inserted into slots  412  in the front surface  352  of the carriage assembly  350 , while a lower flange  414  on the lever chassis  404  is inserted into a further slot  416  in the face  352  of the carriage assembly  350 . The lever chassis  404  then is moved downward to engage the hooks  410  and lower flange  414  with the carriage assembly  350 . Fasteners  418 , such as screws, rivets or other suitable fastening means are then used to fix the lever chassis  404  in a position connected to the carriage assembly  350 . 
         [0061]    Now with reference to FIGS.  14  and  22 - 24  an auto flip keyboard support assembly will be described. Preferably at the flat front surface  352  of the carriage assembly  350 , a keyboard support assembly  400  is connected. The keyboard support assembly  400  is attached to an auto flip chassis  402  having a base member  404  for attachment to the flat front surface  352 . The base member  404  includes an arcuate base wall  406  having a pair of spaced apart circular shaped flanges  408  extending therefrom. Each of the flanges  408  includes a central opening  410  for receiving preferably a bushing  412 . The bushing  412  includes a washer portion  414  that contacts the outer side of the flange  408 . A keyboard plate  415  includes a pair of pivot lobes  416 . The keyboard plate  415  is connected to the base member  404  by using shoulder bolt  417 , washers  418 , and a nylock nut  420 . The head of the bolt  417  and nut  420  are covered, respectively, by a pair of bore caps  424 . 
         [0062]    Located between the flanges  408  is an alignment bushing  428  that is received through the center of a torsion spring. The torsion spring is not shown in  FIG. 24  but may be similar to the torsion spring  226  of the first example embodiment. An arm of the torsion spring engages the keyboard plate  415  to cause rotation of the keyboard plate  415  relative to the base member  404 . A cover  430  fits over the torsion spring and alignment bushing  428  and includes a flange  432  by which the cover  430  is held in place when the base member  404  is connected to a keyboard support tray  434 . A pair of set screws  436  is attached to the keyboard plate  415  in threaded bores  438  and may be rotated to advance inward and engage apertures  440  in the flanges  408  in the base member  404 . Optionally, a set screw  442 , such as the set screw  232  from the first example embodiment, engages an arm of the torsion spring and may be used to adjust the tension of the torsion spring, as desired. The base member  404  is connected to the carriage assembly  350 , and the keyboard support tray  434  is connected to the keyboard plate  415 , by fasteners, such as screws or other suitable fastening means. 
         [0063]    In operation, the actuator assembly  370  permits vertical adjustment of the plate  314  and the keyboard support assembly  400  in a single handed motion vertically by moving the lever  398  downwardly, which in turn moves the rod  385  and its actuator trigger  384  and opens the valve  382  of the gas spring cylinder  372 . Once the valve  382  is opened, the carriage assembly  350  can be slid upward or downward on the track extrusion  328 . To lock the carriage assembly  350  in a desired position, the lever  398  is simply released and valve  382  is closed by the actuator trigger  384 . 
         [0064]    It should be understood that the rigid materials used in the manufacture of the adjustable support bracket  310  unless specifically identified can be aluminum or other suitably rigid materials such as other metals or plastics. 
         [0065]    While this disclosure describes preferred example embodiments, it is understood that the designs may be further modified or adapted while still practicing the general principles of the invention. The claims are not limited to the preferred embodiments and have been written to preclude such a narrow construction using the principles of claim differentiation.